Established 1946 1 Pages 16 Price : Rupees Five

Vol. 71 No. 23 Avoidable distraction July 3, 2016 Sandeep Pandey Quality of journalism Kuldip Nayar On 21 June, International Yoga for the achievement of Sustainable Day was celebrated with much Development Goals' this time. SDGs Negotiating with fanfare utilizing the popularity of were adopted by UN General undeclared Emergency Yoga which already existed Assembly on 19 July 2014 as a Pushkar Raj worldwide before the present BJP desirable set of 17 goals which the government came to power. The countries around the world would Ecological protection Prime Minister may have just like to achieve by 2030. These goals and justice consolidated the self-motivated mainly include ending of poverty Bharat Dogra separate efforts and has been able to and hunger, achievement of food market it as of uniquely Indian security, promotion of sustainable origin. The United Nations has also agriculture, ensuring healthy lives, M.M. Thomas and Emergency acknowledged it by agreeing to ensuring inclusive and equitable Varughese George dedicate June 21 for this cause since quality education, achievement of the last year. It definitely holds a gender equality, ensuring The idea of India - II great symbolic value. Its main availability of water and sanitation Irfan Habib attraction is its offer of mental and for all, promoting inclusive and physical well being, which are sustainable economic development, increasingly becoming scarce in the ensuring work for all, reducing BJP/RSS icon modern society globally. Otherwise inequality, ensuring sustainable was a collaborator it is like any other stream of production and consumption, Shamsul Islam spiritualism which offer solace at an combating climate change, individual level. But what is the conserving oceans and forests and achievement beyond that? How is providing access to justice for all. It Editor : celebrating Yoga internationally is not clear how Yoga is going to G. G. Parikh going to solve any of our achieve this ambitious set of agenda. Managing Editor : Guddi international or national problems? From among the above set of Does it even have a collective value? objectives it has a direct role in D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Most people take it up for purely 'ensuring healthy lives' only and that Naushir Bharucha Marg, individual health reasons. too only for a very restricted section Mumbai - 400 007. of population as we'll shortly see. India's Permanent Mission to the The danger is Yoga can give us a Email : [email protected] UN organised an event titled, 'Yoga sense of complacency. Most of the 2 JANATA, July 3, 2016 abovementioned problems require Between The Lines serious policy making exercise based on concrete research followed by strong political will for Quality of journalism implementation of right kind of policies and programmes. In spite of Kuldip Nayar best of our efforts we're going to fall ruefully short of the declared goals When l was studying in a understand the judges having by the time 2030 arrives. Creating journalism school abroad, l was told commitment to the Constitution, but confusion that Yoga has any role in by my professor that a news story not to a person however high he or solving these problems will only be should be like a skirt: long enough she might be. an avoidable distraction. This is a to cover the subject and short enough typically Narendra Modi to be attractive. Over the years, the What Indira Gandhi was programme - high on publicity, low story has assumed the shape of demanding from the judges was a in content. pontification and inevitably padded. commitment to follow her way of thinking. That is the reason she 90 percent of Indians and When senior journalists are appointed Justice Ray, a junior judge significant population around the kicking the bucket, the question that in the Supreme Court, as the Chief world which is engaged in hard stares at us is what kind of Justice, ignoring the seniority of labour to earn its living doesn't need journalism will be there in future. Of three others. She did not show even Yoga nor will you see them in any course this is not confined to India. the courtesy of informing them of the high profile collective All countries, whether in the West beforehand. They heard the news on organisation of Yoga sessions or any or the East – barring the totalitarian All India Radio. of the paid or unpaid Yoga classes. regimes – are asking the same It is only the educated class, and only question: which is the Lashman This kind of political 10 percent of Indian students make rekha that journalists should not manipulation runs contrary to the it to college level education beyond cross? Or should there be any transparency that a democratic their schooling, which constitutes Lakshman rekha at all? system cherishes. Indeed the the middle class still dominated by structure of democracy stands on the upper caste, which willingly or Individuals are increasingly pillars of both the division and unwillingly becomes part of the posing the question why journalists limitation of power. For example, ruling elite, who have been cut off are prying into their private affairs. the army does not interfere in the from physical labour because of the Journalists in turn defend themselves affairs of government because it is a nature of education that s(he) has on the grounds that if they were not force under the civil administration. received, who need Yoga to keep to probe, the skeletons would not Some countries like Pakistan have themselves fit. Most of the people come out of the closet. The gone under because the military, belonging to this category have government has a standard reply: although it has recently gone back sedentary jobs or jobs involving some things cannot be disclosed in to the barracks, is still very much little physical work. Or their nature the public interest. In this way even there. The same is true of of job is too mundane. Therefore big scandals are covered up. Bangladesh, although in that country they need to take time out to engage some journalists do dare to criticize in physical activity or an activity I recall that when l wrote against the armed forces. which can be mentally refreshing. the supersession of three Supreme Court judges, Hegde, Grover and Democracy expects all its wings Some of them play some sports or Shalat, l was criticized by the then to function independently but still in do jogging in the morning or prime minister, Indira Gandhi, who a way that sovereignty stays with the evening. Some prefer cycling or argued that journalism did not mean people. It is another matter that swimming. With increasing prices of preaching about the "commitment" rulers themselves become fossil fuels now more bicycles can of judges. She did not elaborate what authoritarian and behave like the (Continued on Page 4) that "commitment" was. I can worst of the Mughal emperors. JANATA, July 3, 2016 3 Those who ensure that democracy Negotiating with functions in the interests of the people are the judges who even have undeclared Emergency power to go into the pronouncements of the legislature. Pushkar Raj The debate about whether the judiciary is supreme or the executive is an ongoing discussion. Last month, Hyderabad police a condescending view of them. If there is criticism of what judges registered a case against Prof. According to a US based democracy do, or even the manner in which the Kancha Ilaiah for writing an article advocacy group, Freedom House’s legislature functions, that comes in a Telugu daily, entitled ‘Is God 2015 report, after the 2014 elections, from journalists. It is the duty of not a democrat’? The article at least 18 people were arrested and journalists to do so. If they are afraid questioned inequality in society and questioned for anti-Modi posts on of carrying out what is expected discussed concept of god. For doing online forums such as Twitter and from them, it is unfortunate for the so the professor was reproached for Facebook. system. I have experienced how insulting sentiments of a community during the Emergency, which and charged for promoting enmity Arundhati Roy has rightly said completed forty-one years this week between different religious groups that one is unable to say things that on June, 26, the entire Press caved under section 153 (A) and 295 (A) Dr. Ambedkar could say in 1936 as in. Initially, there were protests and of Indian Penal Code. one risks being put into jail (Janta a large number of journalists – ka reporter, 31 May 2016). It is including editors – assembled at the This is an example of hundreds apparent that there is an atmosphere Press Club in Delhi to pass a of incidents that take place in of fear, where journalists, writers, resolution that Press censorship, an different parts of the country artists, intellectuals feel defenseless integral part of the Emergency, was revealing absurdity to which a law and dispensable leading to engaging not acceptable to them. Yet, as days in India could be interpreted and in what Human Rights Watch terms went by, fear gripped them and they applied to target an individual or ‘self-censorship’ (Human Rights became part of the system, even civil society organization (CSO) Watch Report release press accepting the orders of Mrs holding a dissimilar view on an statement, 24May, 2016). Gandhis’s son, Sanjay Gandhi, an issue or advocating a different extra-constitutional authority. narrative of history and society. At the same time, the government is not secretive about its resolve to I recall that as a member of the Last week, Prof. Mahesh suffocate and persecute the Press Council of India, I went to its Chandra Guru of Mysore University CSOs that oppose its ideology, then chairman, Justice Iyer, to urge was charged for insulting Prime policies or actions. The suspension him to summon a meeting of the Minister Narendra Modi, Human and cancelation of license of Press Council, an apex body. I did Resource Development Minister Sabrang Trust and Lawyers not know by then that fear had also Smriti Irani and god Rama on two Collective to receive foreign funding made him subservient. He told me different occasions. The professor is in line with the series of actions there was no use of summoning a was arrested when he appeared against those CSOs that the meeting of the Press Council before a Mysore district court in the government considers opposed to it. because there would be no publicity second case when his bail Earlier, organizations like INSAF, about its proceedings. My argument application was rejected and he was People’s Watch and Green Peace was that if there were no protests sent to jail (Hindustan Times, 21 have also experienced similar then many years later, when the June, 2016). actions based on deliberate archives would be opened of this misinterpretation of vague terms shameful chapter, there wouldn’t be Though the previous such as ‘political activity’ and any record about any protest by the governments have not been admirers ‘public interest’ under the Foreign Press Council, the journalists. After of civil liberties in any ways, the Contributions (Regulation) Act, (Continued on Page 7) present administration seems to have 2010. 4 JANATA, July 3, 2016

It is ironic that while the Prime the union minister of education’s values embedded in Indian history, Minister goes around the world veiled statement that saffronisation culture and constitution. This might soliciting foreign funding for of education would take place as (if) be easier when there are alliances country’s economic development, it is good for the country (The Indian across movements and groups and his home ministry ensures that select Express, 20 June, 2016). It is a sharing of experiences of civil society organizations are blinkered understanding of constructive and non-violent prevented from receiving foreign contemporary history and politics as methods to assert democratic rights funding which is critical to assisting talibanisation and islamisation of by engaging and organizing people millions of Indians in pursuing their education in Afghanistan and through education. In the words of legal, cultural and social Pakistan has not done any good to investigative journalist Will Potter, development. Besides, as the UN those countries. like sunlight education is an repertoire on human rights noted that activist’s best weapon. (Will Potter, the ability to access foreign funding The challenge before the civil Ted.com). is vital to human rights work and is society today is to confront this an integral part of the right to saffron mindset replacing secular Email: [email protected] freedom of association (The Wire, 17 June 2016).

Apart from a direct attack on (Continued from Page 2) People who have figured out individuals and organizations, a some method of keeping themselves be seen on road. Even the more sinister ‘hunt’ (social) physically engaged will not feel the government is promoting cycle movement of conformity by need of doing Yoga. It is only a very tracks. coercion is in operation under the small section of our and international society which doesn't do anything to broad banner of Hindutava with Mahatma Gandhi used to spin a scores of its regional organizational keep themselves physically fit who Charkha. While the important reason need to do Yoga. Its importance must varieties mushrooming in the was the 'Swadeshi' ideology but country. The Hindu right not be overemphasized and its role another reason might have been to must not be exaggerated. People will organizations are using what the associate oneself with production peace activist Scilla Elworthy do it voluntarily and at an individual activity in at least one of the three level. describes political and physical areas of primary economy - food, violence to intimidate and emotional clothing, shelter - which fulfill basic The PM and the government have and mental violence to needs of human being. Mahatma more pressing problems to worry undermine. One of such Gandhi's idea of education was to about, like price rise, rather than be organizations have allegedly killed involve learning some useful part of some kind of international writers and intellectuals such as Dr production activity too along with jamboree with only a symbolic Dabholkar, Dr Panasare and Prof reading, writing and mathematics. value. The timing of announcement Kalburgi for holding views on However, this idea could not become of opening up of civil aviation and religion that displeased certain part of our education system and we defence sectors for 100 percent Hindu fanatics (The Indian Express, adopted an essentially British model Foreign Direct Investment, on the 22 June 2016). which was meant only to produce eve of Yoga day, also raises certain people who could help run the The present administration has doubts about government's administrative system of the forced withdrawal of some history intention. This move is definitely not government. It is not surprising that books (Wendy Doniger’s, The in national interest and it is quite Civil Services remains such an Hindus: An Alternative History) and possible that the time was so chosen active proposal for educated youth, is busy rewriting history in other that any criticism would be drowned especially in north India, whereas a parts where it can (Christophe in the mood of jubilation on Yoga very small number of students go for Jaffrelot, The Indian Express,7 June day. higher education and research 2016). Meanwhile a process is on to careers. [email protected] saffronise education as indicated by JANATA, July 3, 2016 5 Ecological protection and justice cannot be postponed any longer

Bharat Dogra

The most critical question of our succeeding. Around the same time Several senior scientists have times is that our world, our planet is an MIT study titled’ Imperilled been concentrating on this work of on the brink of a survival crisis - an Planet’ by Edward Goldsmith and critical importance at the Stockholm unprecedented situation in the others stated, "we are now disrupting Resilience Centre (SRC). According history of earth when human made the very processes that keep the Earth to Johan Rockstrom, director of factors threaten the life creating a fit place for higher forms of life." SRC, the human pressure on the conditions on earth. All important Earth System has reached a scale decisions have to be taken against However such warnings—and where abrupt global environmental the background of this there were quite a few of these— disaster can no longer be excluded". overwhelming reality. were ignored and instead of urgent united action to tackle the emerging The scientists at SRC first If this appears like an crisis the world got embroiled in identified the Earth System exaggeration then consider this such monumental follies as the processes and potential biophysical statement released by as many as invasion of Iraq. In fact following thresholds, which, if crossed, could 1575 of the world’s most the accumulation of enough generate unacceptable distinguished scientists way back in evidence regarding the emergence of environmental change for humanity. 1992: "We the undersigned, senior a survival threat at least a quarter of They then proposed the boundaries members of world’s scientific a century has passed which can be that should be respected in order to community, hereby warn all called the wasted years as no actions reduce the risk of crossing these humanity of what lies ahead. A great coming even close to tackling the thresholds. The nine boundaries change in our stewardship of the serious threats were taken. In fact in identified were: climate change, Earth and the life on it is required if some contexts the situation was stratospheric ozone, land use vast human misery is to be avoided allowed to go from extremely bad change, freshwater use, biological and our global home on this planet to even worse. According to UN diversity, ocean acidification, is not to be irretrievably mutilated." data, annual global carbon dioxide nitrogen and phosphorus inputs to emissions from fuel combustion the biosphere and oceans, aerosol This statement signed by more grew by about 38 per cent between loading and chemical pollution. The than half of all living scientists who 1990 and 2009, with the rate of study suggests that "three of these were awarded the noble prize further growth faster after 2000 than in the boundaries (climate change, warned against "the irreversible loss 1990s. biological diversity and nitrogen of species, which by 2100 may reach input to the biosphere) may already one-third of all species now living." The result of the inaction and have been transgressed". In addition, follies of these wasted years is that it emphasizes that "the boundaries The reason for quoting this very the crisis has worsened during the are strongly connected — crossing significant 24-year old statement is last 25 years or so. In its recent report one boundary may seriously threaten that the evidence of something Global Outlook 5 the United Nations the ability to stay within safe levels approaching a survival crisis was Environment Programme warned of the others." available as early as 1990 or so. By that urgent changes are needed " to this time enough evidence of the avoid exceeding critical thresholds There is enough evidence seriousness of climate change was beyond which abrupt and generally regarding the emergence of a very available and it was also clear that irreversible changes to the life serious environmental crisis which any efforts for doing away with support functions of the planet could can be called a survival crisis. The nuclear weapons were not occur." world leadership has mounds of 6 JANATA, July 3, 2016 evidence available to it regarding the On RSS reality of the emergence of such a very serious crisis and yet nothing very effective has been done about it. The general tendency has been to A few days ago, the Times of to declare whether or not he/she is a carry on with a business as usual India reported that the Modi regime member of RSS," minister of state approach. Of course very big is all set to repeal 1966 law, Jitendra Singh told TOI last conferences on issues like climate reiterated subsequently in 1975 and Thursday, June 9. change and some international 1980, requiring those joining agreements have been reached but government service, to declare that This present move, it is reported, the total impact of all such efforts is they are not affiliated to to withdraw the standing order still far from achieving success in either Rashtriya Swayamsevak issued in 1966 after Indira Gandhi checking this fast drift towards Sangh (RSS) or Jamaat-e-Islami. assumed office as PM, and reiterated in 1980 and 1975, when RSS was disaster. This design or model, banned comes after reports that a This is not to say that solutions implemented already in BJP-run central government department had states like Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and cited it to ask new recruits in Goa to are not available. To make a very Madhya Pradesh subverts declare they didn't belong to RSS. promising beginning world governance at the very basic level, According to the 1966 order, anyone leadership can work overtime to affecting the neutrality of the civil who holds membership of RSS or minimise the possibility of war and services. Jamaat-e-Islami would not qualify to reduce the production of weapon for any central government job. by perhaps as much as 80 per cent An RSS-ridden civil service However, the order was not followed or so. cannot work, that is implement, a strictly and these facts came to light secular constitution. recently with the Goa episode. Prime The wider challenge is to link the Minister Narendra Modi and home required reduction in greenhouse gas The parliamentary system is minister Rajnath Singh and other emissions with the fulfillment of based on a professional, politically Union ministers have always taken basic needs of all people. Working neutral civil service. The RSS is pride in their primary allegiance to out this equation in all its details will embarked on a major exercise to RSS. reveal how curbing all wasteful subvert the present constitutional consumption and production is not order. It may be reassuring for some to just desirable but even unavoidable hear that Narendra Modi, a RSS in the new situation. Hence a much The news report in The Times of pracharaks (full-time stronger case emerges for reducing India also stated that the department propagandists), first and foremost, inequalities in a big way. of personnel and training now plans recently said in his much-lauded to hold consultations with the home speech to the US Congress that "the The overall need emerging very ministry on the need to do away with Indian Constitution is a holy book". strongly now is for a new this "unreasonable and absurd" Though he occupies a prime development paradigm based on a norm, with a senior government Constitutional position at present, balanced combination of functionary pointing out how RSS his grooming was in an organisation, environment protection, justice and had always maintained that "it is a the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh peace. The need for such a basic cultural and non-political (RSS) that views the Indian organisation". This will be part of change in the development paradigm Constitution with ambivalence at the government's drive to repeal has always been there but it was best and antipathy at worst. defunct and archaic laws. "The never so pressing as it is now in the present government has not issued Rejecting the modern foundation times of climate change and a this circular (on debarring RSS of Bharat as laid down in Article 1 survival crisis. members from taking up of the Indian Constitution, one of the government jobs). It does not expect foundational documents of the anybody joining government service Sangh, Bunch of Thoughts by M S JANATA, July 3, 2016 7

Golwalkar (at Page 119), rejects and Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, said: "I without changing its form, by debunks ‘the absurdity of the need hardly emphasise that an merely changing the form of the concept of territorial nationalism’. efficient, disciplined and contented administration and to [sic] make it Golwalkar says, "They (we presume service … is a sine qua non of sound inconsistent and opposed to the spirit by this the RSS means the Leaders administration under a democratic of the constitution". in the Constituent Assembly) forgot regime even more than under an that here was already a full-fledged authoritarian rule. The service must Given the overt moves to severely ancient nation of the Hindus and the be above party and we should ensure affect the neutrality of the civil various communities which were that political consider-ations either service, a Platform for living in the country were here either in its recruitment or in its discipline Constitutional Rights has been as guests, the Jews and Paris, or as and control, are reduced to the launched. We invite one and all to invaders, the Muslim and Christians. minimum, if not eliminated become part of the campaign. They never faced the question how altogether."An RSS-ridden civil –Ravi Nair, Tapan Bose, all such heterogeneous groups could service cannot work a secular Dr Sunilam, Teesta Setalvad be called as children of the soil constitution. For, "it is perfectly merely because, by an accident, they possible to pervert the constitution, [email protected] happened to reside in a common territory under the rule of a common enemy. " (Continued from Page 3) heights that we once enjoyed? There was a time when we were able to The RSS is also unashamed about hearing me, he reluctantly convened bring before the public such scandals its aim : a meeting of local Press Council as the Mundhra insurance scam members. To my horror I saw in the during the time of Finance Minister "....We have been sufficiently white paper issued after the lifting T.T. Krishnachari. Jawaharlal Nehru, fooled uptil now by their exhortation of the Emergency that he had written then the prime minister, forced him that we Hindus, who are having a to the then information minister, to resign from the cabinet. But even great philosophy of human V.C. Shukla, explaining how he when I subsequently met TTK, he brotherhood, catholicity of spirit and (Justice Iyer) was able to stall the did not seem to realize the harm he so on, should not narrow ourselves effort by Kuldip Nayar to convene a had done to the polity. by the talk of Hindu Nationalism and meeting of the Press Council. all such 'communal', 'medieval' and India is oblivious to the privations 'reactionary' ideas! We must be able The same question about the of individuals. In contrast the UK to see through the game and revert independence of journalists comes media has in the past been prepared to the truth of our nationalism as an before us again and again in different to take up the cudgels on behalf of ancient fact and the Hindus being the situations. And I find that innocent victims from different national society of Bharat, so clearly increasingly we, the journalists, are walks of life. For example, restated by our revered founder failing in the standards required from the Sunday Times, for which I was when he decided the word us. None of this has been helped by a stringer, is still remembered with 'Rashtriya' for our organisation. We the new digital technology that affection and gratitude for the work must once again stand up in our true promotes very short stories or sound it did on behalf of those parents and full stature and boldly assert that bites. In fact things have deteriorated whose children were born we shall elevate the Hindu National to such an extent today that news handicapped because of the Life in Bharat to the peak of glory columns can be bought. It is an open Thalidomide drug prescribed to the and honour, which has been its secret that several stories are nothing patient. Public pressure eventually birthright since hoary time. (Page more than paid news. Some leading forced the drug manufacturing 127, Bunch of Thoughts, MS newspapers feel no shame in selling company to pay out the needed Golwalkar) the space to whoever wants to buy compensation. Can we emulate it. For them it is purely a question those examples today when our very Importantly, on April 27, 1948, of revenue. integrity as journalists is being Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first home questioned, not to speak of the high minister, in a letter to Prime How low have we sunk from the standards we once followed? 8 JANATA, July 3, 2016 M.M. Thomas and Emergency

Varughese George

When M. M. Thomas returned without amplifier for police refused and urged M. M. to contest from from Geneva after completing his to allow it. The government did not Mavelikara Parliamentary term as central committee chairman dare to arrest these elder statesmen constituency, for M. M. had by then of WCC, national Emergency had fearing the national repercussions it become a symbol of resistance to been in existence in India. The might have created. authoritarianism. M. M. politely national committee of Peoples refused. He continued his Union for Civil Liberties chaired by To give a philosophical and involvement with the civil liberties V. M. Tharkunde invited M. M. to theological basis of his activism movement. By then PUCL was be the chairman of the Kerala state against national Emergency M. M. reorganized and M. M. was re- unit of PUCL. The former wrote regularly deploring elected as President of the state unit. parliamentarian P. Visambharan was Emergency in the weekly Guardian, The naxalites had then assassinated its secretary. M. M. also took despite the press censorship, from a landlo0rd, Madathil Mathai in initiative in forming the Detenues July 1975 to February 1977, from Wayanadu. Since then police Family Distress Relief Fund to help the very first month of declaration excesses were reported on CPI(ML) the families of political prisoners. of Emergency till its relaxation. activists in Wayandu and a fact The committee used to meet at the When the Guardian weekly was finding team including M.M, M.J, Legislators’ hostel at Trivandrum in proscribed by the censors, M. M. V.G,K.M.T and Vincent the presence of EMS started a regular cyclostyled Panikulanghara visited the area and Namboothiripad. Rev. M. J. Joseph newsletter and distributed it. I police stations. Police excesses were was its Secretary. M. M. was also remember a policeman from the state exposed in a press conference to the careful in organizing a number of intelligence to have been to M.M.’s utter embarrassment of the then left civil liberties groups in and around house every week to collect a copy front government in Kerala. That Tiruvalla, his hometown. It included of it! These writings were later was M. M. He was true to his cause Clergy for Human Rights led by compiled by George Mathew and and had the courage of conviction. Rev. V. T. Kurian and Rev. A. P. published as a book titled, ‘Response Jacob. The Students for Human to Tyranny’. The Head of the Mar Rights was led by this writer and Thoma Church, metropolitan Yesudas Athyal. A women’s Yuhanon Mar Thoma, who was Madhu Dandavate movement had already been close to M. M. had written a letter working there to mobilise village to Indira Gandhi requesting her to By women under the dynamic lift the Emergency and free the leadership of Annamma Joseph. A political prisoners, and an B. Vivekanandan group of knowledge workers authenticated copy of this letter was including M. P. Joseph, George M. handed over to M.M. by Price: Rs. 20/- Philip, Mammen Varkey, John M. metropolitan. The CSI youth Itty, V. C. John, K. M. Thomas and movement also in its annual general Roy Nellicala helped in the meeting held at Changanacherry Janata Trust mobilisation of resources against affirmed its solidarity with the Emergency and Ravi and Chandran campaign to restore civil liberties D-15, Ganesh Prasad, helped in the distribution of taking a cue from M. M. Naushir Bharucha Marg, literature. M. M. along with freedom Grant Road (W), fighter C. Narayana Pillai and After the lifting of Emergency in Gandhian M. P. Manmadhan started March 1977, general elections were Mumbai 400 007. a journey from Trivandrum speaking declared to the Lok Sabha. E. M. S. against Emergency in crowded halls Namboodiripad came to Tiruvalla JANATA, July 3, 2016 9 The idea of India - II

Irfan Habib

They were mostly poor. Unlike his whole patriotic past saying he homage to Bhagat Singh. So, it is the Non-Cooperation Movement of will not oppose British government. wrong when our newspapers say that 1921, Civil-Disobedience He never did so, he only opposed Bhagat Singh had been forgotten by movement was the movement Muslims, propounding a two-nation the Congress or that Subhash Bose largely of the poor and that was the theory even before Mohammad Ali once praised the RSS. Serious new thing. Once the movement took Jinnah. What is RSS doing now? It biographies of Subhash Chandra this form it became increasingly is looking for other figures like Bose show that he never had any difficult for British rule to continue. Bhagat Singh to count among its dealings with the RSS. RSS heroes I want here to bring to your attention heroes! What Bhagat Singh has to like Shyama Prasad Mukherjee or something which appeared in the do with the RSS, the man who in the Deen Dayal Upadhyay did nothing Dawn, the Muslim League organ night before execution wrote Why I against British rule. Why are you from pre-1947 days which comes am An Atheist, the man who said that exhibiting the latter’s photographs out daily from Karachi. There was if there can be any leader from the in the JawaharLal Nehru Museum? an article abstracted from it in that Congress he supports, it is Jawahar What did he do in the national article, the writer said that "we have Lal Nehru. The man who wrote that movement? Where was he? a problem in Pakistan our movement Hindu communalism is worse than Nowhere! Shayama Prasad for Pakistan as a nation has no any other opponent of the National Mukherjee was a minister in Bengal martyr, no hero. Because it never Movement, how can he be your along with the Muslim League at the opposed the British rulers, it only hero! As for Vallabh Bhai Patel, do time of the Quit India movement opposed our fellow subjects (the not you know that he always said (1942). He remained a minister. He Hindus). What shall we look to"? that he was a close follower of never lifted his finger against British Indeed those went to prison against Mahatma Gandhi? Another hero— rule but only against Muslims. So British rule in what became they claim—is Subhash Chandra the Hindutva forces can claim no Pakistan, they were Khudai Bose. Did Subash Chandra Bose hero in the National Movement. Khidmatgars, Congressmen of the ever say that there should be Hindu Their entire theory and entire beliefs Punjab, nationalists of Sindh, and Rashtra? He even made Iqbal’s are totally opposed to those of the not the Pakistan leaders. Pakistan is, poem "Sare Jahan Se Achchha National Movement. Who in the however, not alone in this problem. Hindostan Hamara" the National National Movement ever said It shares it with those who are now Anthem of the Indian National "Hindi, Hindu, Hindustan"? None, in power in India. The Hindu Army. He made Urdu and Hindi It was only Hindu Mahasabha! Who Mahasabha, and the Rashtriya official languages of Azad Hind in the National Movement said Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have the Fauj. "Hindu Raj Amar Rahe"? None, It same psychological problem. The was only RSS! So, you had those RSS was founded in 1925 and if you Look at the name–Azad Hind slogans, then you say that you ask them what did you do for twenty Fauj! He said—Jai Hind, he never actually opposed the British two years [till 1947]? Why didn’t said Hindu Rashtra! RSS men never government! Or is it that you really you join the National Movement and say ‘Jai Hind’, nor ‘Inquilab supported the British government go to the prison? Why don’t you do Zindabad’, the slogan Bhagat Singh because you tried to divide the something against the British if you used to employ. Before 1947, I was National Movement, you tried to are such great patriots? You ask the present at many Congress meetings separate the Hindus and Muslims Hindu Mahasabha the same and I remember that the meetings and so weaken the National question. Savarkar in the Andamans always started with the audience Movement. You always raised the gave an apology thus washing away shouting—Inquilab Zindabad in issue of communalism! The RSS 10 JANATA, July 3, 2016 men have not changed, they are the demands of the fast? One was that along with sweeper unions, same! People say why does not the Muslims must be protected and tongawalas and factory workers. Prime Minister Modi issue a those people who had been leading statement [on Akhlaq’s lynching]? I mobs against Muslims must sign that Thereafter crowds surrounded the say: what is the use that would be they would not do such thing again. houses of Hindu Mahasabha and always hypocritical, so let him And there were names of RSS and RSS leaders forcing them to agree remain silent about Dadri! Hindu Mahasabha leaders in his list. to sign pledges and bringing them And Muslims should be allowed as practically by force to Gandhi Ji’s I now turn to two things. Fight for have not gone to Pakistan to return site of fast until all of them had so Secular India and Fight for to their homes so that refugees from submitted. And when Gandhi Ji Prosperous India. These are the two Pakistan were being asked to vacate ended his fast, and the government objects for people of the nation. for Muslims. This was the first paid fifty five crores of rupees to Since you are students of Aligarh demand and you can see what a huge Pakistan, violence was over, almost Muslim University, I want you to demand it was in the circumstances. simultaneously in both countries. remember August 1947. Aligarh had The second demand was that Rs. So, you are not speaking of an been described as the fortress of the fifty five crores, an immense amount ordinary man when you speak of Muslim League. We had insulted at that time, should be paid to Gandhi. We are speaking of a man Abul Kalam Azad when he passed Pakistan because Pakistan officials of immense courage who didn’t care through the Aligarh railway station. had not received salaries for a month for his personal status or dignity for What was to be our fate now? The and India had withheld that pledged the larger cause. He was always first thing was that Nehru sent the amount. Can you imagine a man walking barefoot in total dirt among Kumaon Regiment to protect the going against his own government the homeless victims but he never Aligarh Muslim University. But in favour of a foreign government? minded it. He would go again and could it protect the whole district, And when he was asked, he said I again to both Hindu and Muslim when the whole of what is now am as much an Indian as I am refugee camps for giving his Haryana was in flames? Pakistani. I belong to both countries! message that Hindu and Muslims When the fast began on 13 January should be brothers and sisters. So, it In Tappal, there was a massacre all through Delhi the slogan was has been such people who have of Muslims. Muslim corpses were ‘Gandhi Murdabad’. There was a made us a nation. Things didn’t fall coming, to the morgue in our procession marching with such of themselves from the heavens. neighborhood from somewhere. All slogans towards Gandhi Ji’s prayer What happened after independence, the time the Kumaon Regiment was meetings. But on the third day of the I would not go into in great details trying to protect the city and the fast JawaharLal Nehru addressed a but shortly one must remember –to university with huge flares by which meeting of ten thousand people in a Muslim audience it may not sound they could see a crowd at a distance front of the Red Fort. I always ask very great, but for India, it was an at night. Any time the crowd could who called that meeting? Did Patel immense thing that the Hindu Code come. Only one man seemed to call that meeting? Did Rajendra was legislated in 1955-56. Hindu stand forth to prevent the destruction Prasad call it? Who had the courage women had no right to inheritance, of this University and massacres of to call it and face the crowd? And they have now. They had now equal Muslims in western Uttar Pradesh, yet by the time Nehru had spoken rights except in very few matters. It and that was Mahatma Gandhi. He the crowd was with him. And then represented a total overthrow of was insulted when he went to within two further days there was a Dharma Shastra and not through a Muslim refugee camps at Jama procession of a hundred thousand coup but through a general election. Masjid and he was insulted when he people in Delhi. Peasants of Aligarh, The Congress went into that election went to Hindu refugee camps! Day peasants of Meerut, peasants also saying that women should have in and day out, he suffered insults. from Muzaffar Nagar—perhaps equal rights with men. Jan Sangh He went to Panipat trying to protect fathers and grandfathers of some of and Ram Rajya Parishad stood up Muslims. On 13th January 1948, he those who participated the riots for the Dharmashastra, and surely went on fast. And what were the recently— were in that procession need to be asked today, why did you JANATA, July 3, 2016 11 oppose the Hindu Code bill in BJP/RSS icon was a collaborator of 1950s? Don’t you think men and women should have equal rights? British rulers and Muslim League But they were totally rejected by the electorate—Jan Sangh, the pre- Shamsul Islam cursor of the BJP as well as Hindu Mahasabha and Ram Rajya Parishad. So, India became a Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee polarize the anti-British liberation democracy, it changed civil laws (1901-1953) is a prominent movement. where men and women, at least 80 Hindutva icon for the RSS/BJP percent of population, were made brigade. It was he who, on the advice In pre-Independence times he was equal though unfortunately of M.S. Golwalkar, the second chief a prominent leader of the Hindu unfavorable social customs, like of RSS and its most prominent Mahasabha, which was led by V.D. dowry, continue. And ideologue, founded the Bharatiya Savarkar. When in 1942 Congress simultaneously came the agrarian Jana Sangh (BJS), precursor of gave a call to the British rulers to reforms. Millions of peasants present BJP, in 1951 and became the leave India immediately by throughout India got land. UP once first president of the political arm of launching Quit India Movement, the had of the most radical Zamindari the RSS. He died in Srinagar, Jammu rulers responded to this mass Abolition Acts besides Kashmir but and Kashmir, on 23 June 1953, when movement by unleashing a reign of every state had such Acts. Finally he was under arrest. His death is terror. Congress was banned, its came the ceilings legislations of mourned every year as ‘End Article provincial governments were 1960s and the construction of the 370 Day’ and ‘Save Kashmir Day’. dismissed, whole of India was turned Indian public sector. The basis of into a jail and thousands died in the new India, with all its weaknesses The Hindutva brigade is fond of repression unleashed by armed that still remain, was thus laid in the declaring Dr. Mookerjee as great forces of the British and native 1950s and 1960s. It’s all the nation’s nationalist and patriot who laid rulers. The crime of many of those gift! Well, the real thing is how the down his life for the unity of the who were killed was that they were poor have fared? They haven’t fared nation. Modi described him as "a carrying a Tricolour. Hindu very well. statesman, thinker and a patriot who nationalist organizations namely, devoted his life towards Hindu Mahasabha and RSS with If you read an essay by Utsa strengthening national Muslim nationalist organization, Patnaik, The Republic of Hunger, integration".The Hindutva rhetoric Muslim League not only boycotted you will see that until 1989 the per about patriotism of Dr. Mookerjee Quit India Movement but also capita calorie intake continuously needs to be cross-checked with the decided to support the British increased. Even in years of drought contemporary documents available government in its repressive this was maintained by Food even in RSS and Hindu Mahasabha campaign. Corporation’s operations, subsidies archives.Perusal of these documents and so on. Do you know what has clearly shows that the claim that Dr The Hindu Mahasabha president happened after 1991? Calorie intake Syama Prasad Mookerjee was a ‘Veer’ Savarkar chronicled this per capita declined! By 2003, it ‘selfless patriot’ and a great patriot ganging up of Hindu Mahasabha reached the level that it was under right from his birth is a white lie. Dr with the Muslim League in his British rule. When Mr. Modi and Co. Mookerjee never-never participated presidential speech to the 24th speak of capital inflow, or go to in the anti-colonial freedom struggle. session of the Hindu Mahasabha at various countries where, they can If patriotism means being part of the Kanpur in 1942 in the following give away billion dollars, as in freedom struggle and making words: Mongolia, they are only supporting sacrifices, Dr Mookerjee not only the corporations. The RSS and kept aloof from it but also betrayed "In practical politics also the Hindu Mahasabha, very much like it by collaborating with the British Mahasabha knows that we must Muslim League, never had an rulers and the Muslim League in advance through reasonable (Continued on Page 15) order to crush and communally compromises. Witness the fact that 12 JANATA, July 3, 2016 only recently in Sind, the Sind- "The question is how to combat resonated with the RSS also. MS Hindu-Sabha on invitation had taken this movement(Quit India) in Golwalkar, the then chief of RSS the responsibility of joining hands Bengal? The administration of the admitted: with the League itself in running province should be carried on in coalition Government. The case of such a manner that in spite of the "In 1942 also there was a strong Bengal is well known. Wild best efforts of the Congress, this sentiment in the hearts of many. At Leaguers whom even the Congress movement will fail to take root in that time too the routine work of with all its submissiveness could not the province. It should be possible Sangh continued. Sangh vowed not placate grew quite reasonably for us, especially responsible to do anything directly. However, compromising and sociable as soon Ministers, to be able to tell the public upheaval (uthal-puthal) in the minds as they came in contact with the that the freedom for which the of Sangh volunteers continued. Hindu Mahasabha and the Coalition Congress has started the movement, Sangh is an organization of inactive Government, under the premiership already belongs to the persons, their talks are useless, not of Mr. Fazlul Huq and the able lead representatives of the people. In only outsiders but also many of our of our esteemed Mahasabha leader some spheres it might be limited volunteers did talk like this. They Dr Syama Prasad Mookerji, during the emergency. Indian have were greatly disgusted too."[v] functioned successfully for a year or to trust the British, not for the sake so to the benefit of both the for Britain, not for any advantage Nowhere in pre-Partition RSS communities."[i] that the British might gain, but for literature have we found references the maintenance of the defense and to any work which RSS might have Later this coalition arrangement freedom of the province itself. You, done ‘indirectly’ for Quit India was extended to NWFP also. as Governor, will function as the Movement. constitutional head of the province Following the Hindu Mahasabha and will be guided entirely on the In a more shocking development, directive to co-operate with the advice of your Minister.[iii] the Hindu Mahasabha of Dr British, the Hindutva icon, Dr. Mookerjee decided to help the Mookerjee assured the British A prominent historian R.C. British rulers in World War II. It was masters through a letter dated July Majumdarwho is also regarded as a the time when Subhash Chandra 26, 1942. Shockingly, it read: ‘Hindu’ historian by the Hindutva Bose, known as Netaji, was brigade commenting on this letter organizing the INA (Azad Hind "Let me now refer to the situation wrote: Fauj) in a military campaign to force that may be created in the province the British out. The extent to which as a result of any widespread "Shyam Prasad ended the letter the Hindu Mahasabha was willing movement launched by the with a discussion of the mass to help the British masters is clear Congress. Anybody, who during the movement organised by the from the following directive issued war, plans to stir up mass feeling, Congress. He expressed the by Savarkar as President of the resulting internal disturbances or apprehension that the movement Mahasabha: insecurity, must be resisted by any would create internal disorder and Government that may function for will endanger internal security "So far as India’s defence is the time being" [ii] during the war by exciting popular concerned, Hindudom must ally feeling and he opined that any unhesitatingly, in a spirit of His letter to Bengal governor that government in power has to suppress responsive co-operation, with the the Fazlul Haq led Bengal it, but that according to him could war effort of the Indian government Government, along with its alliance not be done only by persecution…. in so far as it is consistent with the partner Hindu Mahasabha In that letter he mentioned item wise Hindu interests, by joining the Army, (Mookerjee being Deputy CM in the steps to be taken for dealing with Navy and the Aerial forces in as this ministry) made concrete the situation…"[iv] large a number as possible and by suggestions for crushing the QIM. securing an entry into all ordnance, He wrote: The Hindu Mahasabha decision ammunition and war craft to betray Quit India Movement factories…. Again it must be noted JANATA, July 3, 2016 13 that Japan’s entry into the war has Goa camp exposed us directly and immediately to the attack by Britain’s enemies. Consequently, whether we like it or A study camp for the activists of the Socialist Party(India) with every not, we shall have to defend our own the Socialist Party(India) was held participant having its copy in hand, hearth and home against the ravages at Azad Bhavan, Parvari, Goa on was conducted by Prof. Nutan of the war and this can only be done 24th and 25th Jun 2016. 72 from Malavi (Wardha) and Santosh by intensifying the government’s Maharashtra, 4 from Goa and 10 Thakur (Tara). Many questions were war effort to defend India. Hindu from Kerala attended There were 26 asked and discussed threadbare. Mahasabhaites must, therefore, women. Age-wise breakup was: rouse Hindus especially in the below 30 yrs—24, between 30 and In the second session, discussion provinces of Bengal and Assam as 60—50, above 60 yrs-22. on gender equality was initiated by effectively as possible to enter the Kamal Parulekar, president of the military forces of all arms without After Vinayak Naik, president of statewide organization of losing a single minute." [vi] Goa state unit, welcomed the Anganwadi sevikas. She said that in gathering, Baban D’Souza, senior 1991, there were only 917 female to Despite all these shocking facts leader inaugurated by lighting a 1000 male. After the first World being available in the Hindutva lamp. Bharat Latkar and Baba Women’s Conference at Beijing in archives, the Hindutva brigade Nadaf, RSD activists led two 1975, mass awakening campaign continues to falsify history. The inspiring chorus songs, one of the was conducted on the issue as a Hindutva juggernaut is in full steam conveners recalled long association result of which the ratio improved demolishing the great, heroic and of the socialists with Goa. to 992:1000 in 2011. A woman never cooks to satisfy her likes and dislikes selfless sacrifices of thousands of As news of the Brexit came in the but does so for others. Girls’ Indian who laid down their lives for morning, a short discussion was held education is generally neglected the freedom of India against the on it. It was pointed out that because people feel that only son colonial masters and their stooges formation of European Union (EU), will look after them in old age. Due like Princes and Muslim League. after the end of the second world war, to spread of education and women The Hindutva gang is trying to was welcomed by many countries. getting gainful employment, replace the braves and heroes of anti- It was recalled that it was the daughters are increasingly colonial history with stooges and imperialist rivalry of a few European shouldering that responsibility. So collaborators. It makes one fact very countries like Britain and France on people should stop discriminating as clear that BJP/RSS do not have a the one hand and Germany and Italy between sons and daughters. Women single person to be presented as on the other that forced the people of should be treated on equality basis freedom fighter. However, it is many countries to face great loss of in all walks of life. Anita Nawale of terribly sad that those who love life and dislocation of normal lives Asu, explained the problems and martyrs of the great anti-colonial of the millions. As all those countries hardships faced by single women struggle and respect glorious , 28 in all, came under one umbrella, like widows, deserted and spinsters liberation struggle are not there to the world heaved a sigh of relief and gave information about the encircle places in protest where the hoping that no more war would be movement carried by those women. Hindutva denigrates the real martyrs thrust on them. Ordinary people can Prod. Benzir Tamboli (Pune) and freedom fighters and attempts lead their life well only if there is discussed problems of Muslim to establish collaborators as patriots. peace. Formation of EU was women and narrated how welcomed with the expectation that [email protected] nationwide movement is being one currency would come to be carried on for abolition of oral talaq References: accepted by all countries sooner or for which first morcha was later. All those hopes were dashed organized by the great reformer [i] VD Savarkar, Samagra by the Brexit. Hamid Dalwai long back in 1967. Savarkar Wangmaya Yashodhara Potanwar gave (Collected Works of Savarkar), In the first session collective information about gender equality (Continued on Page 15) reading of the Policy Statement of movement in Vidarbha. 14 JANATA, July 3, 2016

In the next session, Prof. Railway is a standing tribute to the not to increase subsidy to local Shamsuddin Tamboli, president of socialists’ exemplary work. Socialist farmers. The large corporates are the Muslim Satyashodhak Mandal, MLAs had also raised many trying to grab natural resources like discussed how fundamentalism of important issues related to the land, water, forests and minerals by the Hindus and Muslims are common people. Pannalal Surana denying the traditional commons mutually encouraged by each other. added that socialists should feel rights of the local communities. Communal riots were started under proud about the fact that the Indian the British Rule and are increasingly polity accepted (1) use of regional Shri Surana asserted that the indulged into by the Hindu fanatics languages in the administration of all Socialist Party is totally opposed to while a handful of Muslim youths the States, (2) appointment of capitalism and globalization. It are resorting to terrorist activities. Mandal Commission for the OBCs asserts that the American model of Sober elements in both the and implementation of its development must be discarded and communities should join hands to recommendations and (3) need for indigenous one, with primary negate the atmosphere of mutual abolition of caste system along with objective of full employment be suspicion and hatred and concentrate pursuit of economic rights of the evolved. Primacy must be accorded on promoting programs for the toiling masses. to agriculture, dairy, fishery and betterment of all the countrymen. forestry which can generate The Prophet had specifically stated In the final session, Shri Surana employment at a much faster pace that his commands that there is only spoke on capitalism, globalization besides producing goods that can one Allah and the believers should and Socialism. He observed that as upgrade standard of living of the pray for him are mandatory. In the capitalists are interested only in common people. Consumers’ goods regard to worldly matters, decisions maximizing their profits, they be produced through diffused small be arrived at by mutual discussion exploit both the labourers and the scale industries. Capital goods be and dictates of the conscience. Shri consumers at large. They cause produced only in public sector units. Tamboli informed that Muslim heavy pollution of air and water No foreign capital be allowed in Satyashodhak Mandal has started thereby enhancing the menace of Defence production, insurance, and organizing blood donation camps to global warming. Establishment of banking. India can finance its observe Eid. World Trade Organisation ushered development projects because its in the globalisation which asks for rate of saving is 34 per cent which Next, Dr. T.S. Patil (Kolahapur) free flow of capital and goods from is quite good .We should strive to who has done his Ph.D. on the rich countries to the poor ones but be self-reliant. history of Socialist Party in debars that of labour from the poor Maharashtra (1934 to 1977), to the rich countries. It is a fact that In the last session devoted to focused on main achievements like globalization process has achieved organizational matters, it was participation in freedom struggle, only jobless growth thereby decided to undertake the following struggles of peasants and workers in aggravating unemployment problem programs to be completed by 30 many industrial centres. In the realm in many countries besides enhancing November, 2016: Enrolment of of ideology, socialists emphasized inequality as between classes as also 10,000 party members; Organising the importance of avoiding violence between nations. Insistence of WTO study camp one each in Marathwada and carry on mass movements on a particular kind of Patent Act, and Vidarbha: Organising debates on peacefully and uphold sanctity of increased prices of seeds and Elctoral Reforms in 44 colleges; To fundamental rights of the citizens insecticides, and declining prices of dispel the sense of insecurity and how the socialists participated agricultural produce like cotton due amongst the fellow-brethen in Sanyukta Maharashtra movement to throwing open the markets of the belonging to minority communities and anti-Emergency struggle 1975 underdeveloped countries to the and strengthen the bonds of to 1977. In Parliament, the imports from the advanced ones solidarity organize Hindu-Muslim performance of socialist MPs like were responsible for large number Bhaichara Meets at 34 places. Nath Pai, Madhu Limaye, suicides by the farmers. The rich S.M.Joshi., N.G. Goray, Madhu countries refuse to lower the rates –Kamalakar Subhadar Dandavate and George Fernandes of subsidy which they pay to their Hasan Desai used to be quite effective. Konkan farmers but force the poor countries JANATA, July 3, 2016 15

(Continued from Page 15) opposition to religious fanaticism picture of Indian history and of economic programme. The poor i.e. Hindutva can be tolerated. Even Indian Constitution. Therefore, on mean nothing to them; only the rich an ordinary history text book which the shoulders of the educated people fund-givers are important. says that the Rigveda was compiled in India or those who can answer Therefore, in order to rule they must in 1500 BC—and by implication not them in print, on paper, in speech, a continue to raise the communal in 8000 BC—is unacceptable. great responsibility rests today. A issues, which is the only way in Therefore, what is happening massacre of Muslims is not just an which they can continue to get votes. today—the murders of Dabholkar, attack on Muslim community, it is They are not the first to do so, the Pansare, and Kalburgi—is part of a an attack on India and large number Nazis did it by raising the racial pre-determined pattern: by threats of people are realizing it. Read question in Germany. Golwalkar, the they want to silence people. The newspapers, the realization is amply RSS guru, actually praised Hitler for Congress didn’t much care who there on their pages every day. This his policy towards the Jews saying served in the ICHR, ICSSR, is the time for us to forget our small that same policy should be resorted JawaharLal Nehru Museum but RSS grouses and grievances and stand up to in India against Muslims. So, to cares! Everywhere they are filling against the conspiracy of the BJP keep up the anti-Muslim fervor is places with fanatics. Everywhere and RSS against the very "Idea of now the RSS watchword. No they are giving a totally wrong India".

(Continued from Page 13) Hindu Mahasabha, Poona, 1963, p. 479-480 Country’s borders in jeopardy

[ii] Mookherjee, Shyama Prasad, Leaves from a Dairy. Oxford By allowing a 100 percent discord and on the other, it has University Press.p. 179. foreign direct investment in many decided to break the security key sectors, including the system around the country’s [iii] Cited in A G. Noorani, The defence, the BJP government at borders. Decision has proved that RSS and the BJP: A Division the center has put the borders of the RSS, who was not concerned of Labour. LeftWord Books. the country in danger. According for the independence of the pp. 56–57. to this decision, the responsibility country during the freedom of the security of the country’s struggle, does not care for it even [iv] RC Majumdar, History of borders has been snatched away today. Modern Bengal. vol. 2, G. from the Indian government and Bharadwaj& Co, Calcutta, the forces and given to the The Socialist Party believes p. 350. American-NATO network. Now that our consitutional pledge is to even the defence sector has make the nation independent and [v] Shri Guruji Samagra Darshan become the profit-making self-reliant and not the ‘the (collected works of Golwalkar business of the national and biggest open economy for the in Hindi), volume IV, Bhartiya international corporate houses. foreign direct investment in the Vichar Sadhna, Nagpur, nd, p With this decision of the world’ to be looted by the 40. government, the truth of corporate houses. swadeshi ideology of the RSS has [vi] V.D. Savarkar, Samagra completely unravelled in front The Socialist Party calls for a Savarkar Wangmaya: Hindu of the people of the country. On countrywide resistance on this Rashtra Darshan, vol. 6, the one hand, RSS breaks the serious matter. Maharashtra Prantik internal intergrity and strength of Hindusabha, Poona, 1963, p. the nation through communal –Abhijit Vaidya 460. General Secretary Socialist Party (India) –countercurrents R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, July 3, 2016 Postal Registration No. MCW/275/2015-2017 License to Post without prepayment WPP License No. MR/Tech/WPP-210/West/2016 Published on Sunday, July 3, 2016 & Posted on Wednesday July. 6, 2016 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

An infrastructure company established since 1924

REGD. OFFICE : New Excelsior Building, (3rd Floor), A.K. Nayak Marg, Fort, Mumbai 400001. Tel. : 022 2205 1231 Fax : 022-2205 1232

Office : Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai & New Delhi

Printed and Published by G.G. Parikh on behalf of Janata Trust. Printed at Mouj Printing Bureau, Khatau Wadi, Girgaum, Mumbai-400 004 and published at D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Naushir Bharucha Marg (Sleater Road), Mumbai - 400 007. Established 1946 1 Pages 16 Price : Rupees Five

Vol. 71 No. 24 Bloodbath at Dhaka July 10, 2016 Kuldip Nayar

Is UP turning Right ? Varughese George The killing of dozens of people there is little place for science or by terrorists at Dhaka is not an technology. aberration, but the product of a committed mind that has been India is probably the only country Indo-Pak War 1971— which has compulsorily introduced Field Marshal Manekshaw brainwashed by fanaticism. Prime Rajindar Sachar Minister Sheikh Hasina is quite right science in madrassas. But the when she says that this is not Islam, mullahs and maulvis are not happy yet the Muslims all over must with this and wherever they can— The meaning of Brexit introspect why their co-religionists in remote parts of the country—they Jeffrey D. Sachs are striking all over and at regular do away with teaching in science. intervals. Dhaka’s Information Of course, there are exceptions like Minister Hasanul Haq has blamed former President Abdul Kalam and Saving crony capitalists from Pakistan for the attack. This may Pakistan’s A.Q. Khan. They Raghuram Rajan well be true, but there has to be represent the brilliant mind behind M. K. Venu evidence. Otherwise, the criticism the finished product they brought will be considered a part of inimical before the wider world. But the attitude by Dhaka towards weapon they are able to anvil can Castes in India Islamabad. be lethal and destructive. B. R. Ambedkar First in Paris, then Brussels and I recall when I interviewed the now Dhaka, the message is always Bihar-born Dr A.Q. Khan he warned the same. Non-believers have no me that “if you ever drive us to the Editor : space if they do not accept Islam as wall,” as was the case when East G. G. Parikh the one religion nearest to God. True, Pakistan seceded, “we will use the this mocks at ideologies like Bomb straight away.” In fact, I have Managing Editor : Guddi secularism and democracy. But if the heard some people saying in discipline of Islam is to be accepted, Pakistan that they would use the D-15, Ganesh Prasad, there is no place for dissent. The Bomb first and destroy India. But I Naushir Bharucha Marg, madrassas all over the world teach argued with Khan that “you might Mumbai - 400 007. the tenets of Islam and make you destroy Northern India but that remember the Koran by heart. But would also be the end of Pakistan. Email : [email protected] 2 JANATA, July 10, 2016

India would still be able to rebuild ground for nuclear adventure. This that we would be in a minority, just the country with the resources will also involve a concerted drive as Muslims would be in India. But available in the south.” against the fundamentalists. For both will be living peacefully. This example, persons like Hyderabad- did not happen because the It is strange that A.Q. Khan based Owaisi who are trying to win bureaucracy on both sides was also remains a hero in Pakistan, although headlines by taking a stand which is divided on the basis of religion. he has sold the nuclear knowhow at palpably wrong but probably an exorbitant price to countries from acceptable in the eyes of fanatics. We in Sialkot experienced how North Korea to Iran. It is a the Muslim police connived at the frightening scenario, but thanks to I wish the media wouldn’t give looting and killing of non-Muslims Khan, a dirty nuclear Bomb is a him the publicity he is getting because similar was the case in East possibility anywhere in the Islamic because his eyes are fixed on the Punjab. In the process we killed one world. Imagine also some terrorists space he gets in the media. But then million people of each other’s getting hold of the Bomb. They can it is also understandable the media communities. Till today there is no hold the world to ransom. cannot ignore the provocative accountability and I personally think statements he makes. If we look back that non-Muslims in India should What happened at Dhaka was at the subcontinent’s history the offer an apology to the Muslims on indiscriminate killing at the posh seeds of separation were sown by the other side, just as they should do Gulshan restaurant in an exclusive two Lahore-based newspapers, the same to us. part of the city earmarked for Zimidar representing the Muslims, diplomats. Suppose those same and Pratap, the Hindus. They incited This may not make amends for terrorists had at their disposal a dirty both communities and made Hindus the horrors, but at least it might Bomb? What could have been the and Muslims feel they belonged to begin a new chapter of healing. The consequences? Instead of a few two separate nations. terrorists who are the product of dozen casualties the numbers of those terrible times may then be those killed would have been in I recall that the feeling of being condemned by the people hundreds of thousands and different came to be cultivated at themselves and they would not be stretching across the border. Law College, Lahore, where l was able to get the backing they need. studying. The common kitchen Then the happening in Dhaka will This should make the eventually was divided into Hindu be recalled with horror and governments in South Asia kitchen and Muslim kitchen, just humiliation. conscious of the fact that terrorism like they started selling Hindu paani is not now confined to distant places and Muslim paani at the railway in Syria and Yemen. ISIS is already station. Fortunately, most students present and it claims to have local were not affected by this. At the Law Janata Subscription support. To build a dirty Bomb it is College dining room Muslim Annual Rs. : 260/- not necessary to hijack finished students would get food from their Three Years : 750/- nuclear weapons. All that is required kitchen, Hindu students would in is access to any civil nuclear turn get food from their kitchen. But Demand Draft / Cheque facilities, either power reactors like we all sat and ate together. on Kanupp in Karachi or research Mumbai Bank centres at Trombay near Mumbai. I feel that even though we did not in favour of There cannot be any foolproof ban bother about the separation of the on the procurement of key strategic kitchen, yet it gave birth to the idea materials needed for the Bomb. of division and this ultimately led JANATA TRUST to partition of the subcontinent. But D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Countries in South Asia have to we never imagined that there would Naushir Bharucha Marg, come together on this specific issue be forced migration of populations. Mumbai 400 007 and devise suitable steps so that this We who decided to stay in Sialkot region doesn’t become a hunting city, now part of Pakistan, thought JANATA, July 10, 2016 3 Is UP turning Right ?

Varughese George

The Uttar Pradsh politics since was a mute witness of the transition help those being attacked by the mid-sixties was dominated by the of the socialist party to a party of mobs. There is not a single shred of Lohiaite discourse of caste as class Bombay socialites”.1 evidence to prove that police acted and consolidated further by the against the mobs that freely Mandal issue of 1990s. The After the exit of Amar Singh who attacked and killed their neighbours backward classes and Dalits used was mainly responsible for the drift and looted and burnt homes’.2 caste as a means of political of the party along the corporate mobilization and seized power in lines Mulayam Singh steered clear In spite of the inept handling of UP which had once been a citadel the party and brought it to its old the communal riot, the Muslim of Congress politics. The moorings. There had been much community stood solidly behind the majoritarian communal party, BJP criticism in the socialist groups Samajvadi Party in the 2014 Lok emerged as a major contender in UP about the dithering of the party’s Sabha elections. They were still politics in the aftermath of Mandir commitment to socialist principles. loyal to Mulayam Singh who stood politics marginalizing the Grand Surendra Mohan called the with courage of conviction at the Old Party, Congress and in the mainstream socialists a thousand time of Babri masjid. Though it midst of splits among the socialists. suns away from Lohia. In the won only five seats it was able to The split among the secular votes ensuing year that celebrated Lohia’s secure 22 percent votes and the and the search for good governance birth centenary Mulayam main reason was Muslim support helped BJP to secure a landslide addressing many meeting even while Yadav support showed victory in UP in the Lok Sabha reconnected SP’s legacy to Lohia. a decline.3 elections of 2014. The people elected Samajvadi party in the Legislative Assembly But the party’s debacle in The Samajvadi Party that largely elections of 2012 and gave it a electoral terms was devastating. The represented the socialists in UP had resounding victory. The party got brilliant victory by BJP has been suffered fatal backlash in the 2014 206 seats in the 400 hundred strong interpreted from many angles, but Lok Sabha elections. The nature of House and Mulayam’s son Akhilesh the most extensive and excellent the Samajvadi Party has been became the Chief Minister. study seemed to be that of Prof. changing for sometime as the A.K. Varma published in EPW as present author noted in an article in That might be a generational part of NES of CSDS on 27 Mainstream as early as March20, change. But the Muzafarnagar riots September 2014. Prof. Varma 2010. It said, ‘the entry of corporate turned everything upside down. A attributes many factors that helped captains and Bollywood stars as fact team of civil society activists the unprecedented BJP vicory parliamentarians on behalf of including Nivedita Menon, Harsha including peoples urge for Samajvadi Party caused revulsion in Mander and Kamal Chitra Chenoy transcendence from caste to good the party…The party’s taking sides who visited Muzafarnagar reported governance, clinical organization of with Reliance brothers’ dispute with such: ‘ the state government was election campaign, Modi’s decision the oil ministry was not to its core unable to contain the violence after to contest from Varanasi, Amit spirit, though the cadres silently it broke out… the police was absent shah’s deft and dexterous handling endured it with discipline and with not a single incident being of election machinery, thorough dignity…Mulayam Singh also reported by the villagers of police support of RSS in the campaigns cannot be absolved of the shift in intervention to either arrest leaders and Modi’s rapport with the people party’s ideological orientation. He making provocative statements or to (Continued on Page 5) 4 JANATA, July 10, 2016 Indo-Pak War 1971— Field Marshal Manekshaw

Rajindar Sachar

Some inside facts of Indo-Pak further told General that when he pointing towards General (who was war of 1971 are not so well known comes for breakfast, he should come in full military uniform) told in public. Broadly, one knows of in Army uniform. Naturally, General Kissinger that if USA Government, Anti-India slant of President Nixon felt surprised and asked whether he USA President cannot control the but recently some declassified had heard rightly that she wanted situation then I am going to ask him documents throw a fresh and him to come in the uniform at the (meaning the General) to do the interesting light on this crucial war. breakfast because it was naturally a same. very strange suggestion. Mrs. The hostile aggressive stand Gandhi was straightforward and told There was stunning silence for a taken by Nixon was sought to be him “yes, she wanted him to come minute and the sharp message was justified by the false premise that for breakfast but in uniform. So, conveyed to Kissinger in a very stark Indira Gandhi was, right from the General Manekshaw went for manner. As a matter of fact, General beginning, determined to attack East breakfast in full uniform and soon was himself surprised and suddenly Pakistah. This however was a lie and they were joined by Kissinger. understood the purpose as to why he Nixon above all the people knew had been asked to come in uniform that on the other hand she tried her At that meeting Indira Gandhi rather than in civilian clothes at best to avoid confrontation with was persistent in asking Kissinger to apparently, a harmless function of Pakistan. As a matter of fact Indira plead with Nixon that he should try breakfast. Obviously, Nixon and Gandhi tried her best to persuade to restrain Pakistan for what was Kissinger had their egos deflated and Nixon to intervene at an early stage being done in East Pakistan because were not going to forgive Mrs. to help her do so. the conditions there were becoming Gandhi for such an attitude. intolerable and it was almost In July 1971 Kissinger had a stop becoming impossible for India to It is to the credit of General over in India on his secret visit to remain silent. Kissinger however, Manekshaw that as a strategist he China. At that time mass fleeing went on prevaricating and would not opposed immediate attack and form East Pakistan and terror by really give a straight answer. Rather waited to make full preparations till Pakistan army were creating havoc he tried to underplay the situation. December, 1971. in West Bengal and rest of the Mrs. Gandhi, however, still insisted, country. Mrs. Gandhi, was but to no avail. Kissinger would not Mrs. Gandhi had no other course obviously under a big strain. She give any assurance that Nixon would but to create world opinion in favor therefore invited Kissinger for a do something about it. of India. She requested J.P., the private breakfast to be able to socialist and legendary hero of discuss the matter urgently. Obviously rattled, Mrs. Gandhi freedom struggle, to go on world said if that was the position she may tour to explain India’s case, which However, on the evening before, have to do something herself which the patriot that he was he willingly Indira Gandhi telephoned General she was reluctant to do. At this undertook. But still the matters were Manekshaw, our Army Chief and Kissinger again expressed his getting worse, yet India could not told him that she would like him to inability on his and Nixon’s behalf directly intervene. Refugees were come and meet her at breakfast next to do anything and asked her rather continuing to pour in from East morning. She did not disclose as to ironically as to what she intended to Bengal. Sidharth Shankar Ray was who her other guests were. She do. At that time she stood up and in charge of borders. On one of the JANATA, July 10, 2016 5 usual visits by Mrs. Gandhi to border The movements of Pak army were temperament that even when where a public meeting was being leaked in detail by Mukti Bahni and 100,000 Pakistan soldiers were in held to reassure the public that the their volunteers to Indian army the custody of India, he did not boast matter was being looked after whose task was made smooth but publically said ‘Pakistani properly. On this visit to West (though no doubt India lost quite a soldiers fought well’ – that shows Bengal she told Ray that after public few thousand of armed forces). To grace and self-confidence even in meeting she would go back to Delhi, make matters still easier Indian air victory. and Ray should stay for some days force had no opposition and in Calcutta and come later. bombard General Niazi’s official I, must however, caution against bangalow. As one of the Air Chiefs using this unfortunate Indo-Pak At the public meeting while Mrs. told me “you can’t imagine the history as a glorious victory. We Gandhi was addressing, one of her panic, the utter helplessness at being should, rather feel sorrow at this aides handed her a small paper – she bombarded from above by enemy unfortunate aspect of history and read it and put it in her pocket and planes, knowing fully well that you rather work whole-heartedly for a continued as usual with her speech. can’t even send one plane to stop future Indo-Pak friendship and After the meeting ended when going them. It was inevitable that Niazi harmony. In this alone, lies the to the airport she told Ray that he surrendered without much delay. future prosperity of both our should come along with her to Delhi. countries. Ray was a little surprised at this Again General Manekshaw sudden change of his programme. showed grace and gentlemanly [email protected] But her followers did not ask questions of Indira Gandhi – there was implicit compliance. After about (Continued from Page 3) Varma says, since through this the 15 minutes of flight onward to Delhi upper caste dominated BJP made a Mrs. Gandhi leaned back in her seat, with his rallies and speeches. link with the most backward castes. a bit relaxed, took out paper given Though I am in conformity to Prof. Thus while BJP consolidated its to her at public meeting and told Ray Varma in finer details mentioned base, the secular parties let who was sitting next to her, here is above I totally disagree with his themselves disintegrated by the information “Pakistan has analysis in the core aspects. The disunity. Mayavati seemed to have attacked”. At first blush it would most important factor seems to be helped transfer of votes to BJP by seem strange that Mrs. Gandhi that there was no credible national her low profile campaign in the should seem relaxed on knowing alternative to BJP. The Congress constituencies where her party about Pak attack. But there was was in shambles. The non-Congress contested, with the ultimate aim of obvious logic – India was reeling non-BJP parties spoke about only a cornering SP to a tight spot. under refugee’s influx and yet it post-poll alliance. They were not Though BSP contested in all 80 dared not attack East Bengal, willing to come to a joint platform seats and secured one fifth of total because then the world opinion and every one contested on their votes polled, it could not win a would call it the aggressor. An own. These parties secured more single seat. That not a single excuse was necessary and Pakistan percentage of votes than BJP. The Muslim candidate won this time had now conveniently provided it. BJP’s vote share was 42.3 while SP from Uttar Pradesh proves a point: Of course, let us be objective: war got 22.2 per cent, BSP 19.6 per Is UP turning towards Right? on East Bengal front was all weighed cent, RLD 0.9 per cent and in favor of India – as General Arora Congress 7 per cent. The secular 1 told me, though to start with some votes were divided and BJP could Mainstream 20 March 2010 2 hard knocks were taken it was romp home with 71 Lok Sabha Centre for Policy Analysis 3 smooth march – the whole seats. Its alliance with Apna Dal EPW 27 SeptemberUP turning population of East Bengal was was a brilliant masterstroke, as Prof. Right 2014 against Pakistan. 6 JANATA, July 10, 2016 The meaning of Brexit

Jeffrey D. Sachs

The Brexit vote was a triple on women and girls by migrants in In the UK, these two powerful protest: against surging immigration, Germany and elsewhere. political currents – rejection of City of London bankers, and immigration and class warfare – European Union institutions, in that In the US, Trump backers were joined by the widespread order. It will have major similarly rail against the country’s sentiment that EU institutions are consequences. Donald Trump’s estimated 11 million undocumented dysfunctional. They surely are. One campaign for the US presidency will residents, mainly Hispanic, who need only cite the last six years of receive a huge boost, as will other overwhelmingly live peaceful and mismanagement of the Greek crisis anti-immigrant populist politicians. productive lives, but without proper by self-serving, shortsighted Moreover, leaving the EU will visas or work permits. For many European politicians. The wound the British economy, and Trump supporters, the crucial fact continuing eurozone turmoil was, could well push Scotland to leave the about the recent attack in Orlando is understandably, enough to put off United Kingdom – to say nothing of that the perpetrator was the son of millions of UK voters. Brexit’s ramifications for the future Muslim immigrants from of European integration. Afghanistan and acted in the name The short-run consequences of of anti-American sentiment (though Brexit are already clear: the pound Brexit is thus a watershed event committing mass murder with semi- has plummeted to a 31-year low. In that signals the need for a new kind automatic weapons is, alas, all too the near term, the City of London of globalization, one that could be American). will face major uncertainties, job far superior to the status quo that losses, and a collapse of bonuses. was rejected at the British polls. Warnings that Brexit would lower Property values in London will cool. income levels were either dismissed The possible longer-run knock-on At its core, Brexit reflects a outright, wrongly, as mere effects in Europe – including likely pervasive phenomenon in the high- fearmongering, or weighed against Scottish independence; possible income world: rising support for the Leavers’ greater interest in Catalonian independence; a populist parties campaigning for a border control. A major factor, breakdown of free movement of clampdown on immigration. however, was implicit class warfare. people in the EU; a surge in anti- Roughly half the population in Working-class “Leave” voters immigrant politics (including the Europe and the United States, reasoned that most or all of the possible election of Trump and generally working-class voters, income losses would in any event be France’s Marine Le Pen) – are believes that immigration is out of borne by the rich, and especially the enormous. Other countries might control, posing a threat to public despised bankers of the City of hold referendums of their own, and order and cultural norms. London. some may choose to leave. In Europe, the call to punish In the middle of the Brexit Americans disdain Wall Street Britain pour encourager les autres – campaign in May, it was reported and its greedy and often criminal to warn those contemplating the that the UK had net immigration of behavior at least as much as the same – is already rising. This is 333,000 persons in 2015, more than British working class disdains the European politics at its stupidest triple the government’s previously City of London. This, too, suggests (also very much on display vis-à-vis announced target of 100,000. That a campaign advantage for Trump Greece). The remaining EU should, news came on top of the Syrian over his opponent in November, instead, reflect on its obvious refugee crisis, terrorist attacks by Hillary Clinton, whose candidacy is failings and fix them. Punishing Syrian migrants and disaffected heavily financed by Wall Street. Britain – by, say, denying it access children of earlier immigrants, and Clinton should take note and to Europe’s single market – would highly publicized reports of assaults distance herself from Wall Street. only lead to the continued JANATA, July 10, 2016 7 unraveling of the EU. Saving crony capitalists So what should be done? I would from Raghuram Rajan suggest several measures, both to reduce the risks of catastrophic feedback loops in the short term and M. K. Venu to maximize the benefits of reform in the long term. Sometime ago I had asked a the central bank on September 6 and highly reputed economist advising has expressed his desire to go back First, stop the refugee surge by the Modi government what he to teaching economics at the ending the Syrian war immediately. thought of a piquant observation Chicago University. His decision This can be accomplished by ending made by Sanjay Subrahmanyam, will disappoint the global investing the CIA-Saudi alliance to overthrow one of India’s foremost historians, community at large as he was seen Bashar al-Assad, thereby enabling that the government was more easily as a big stabilising influence on Assad (with Russian and Iranian able to accept globally trained monetary policy and financial backing) to defeat the Islamic State economists but not historians or market functioning in India. and stabilize Syria (with a similar sociologists who mostly reject the approach in neighboring Iraq). culturally fixed views of the Sangh Rajan too has strongly believed America’s addiction to regime parivar. The foreign trained that for sustained growth, India had change (in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, economist reflected on the matter for to move away from a big business- and Syria) is the deep cause of a few seconds before responding, “It oriented policy framework to a much Europe’s refugee crisis. End the is not necessary that we economists more broad based, pro-market one. addiction, and the recent refugees endorse all the policies of the His first public remarks against the could return home. government, whether UPA or NDA. entrenched big business came For instance, I strongly feel the around end 2014 when he said many Second, stop NATO’s expansion government must structurally move big business houses in India enjoyed to Ukraine and Georgia. The new away from a pro-business policy “riskless capitalism”; in good times Cold War with Russia is another US- they enjoy profits and in bad times contrived blunder with plenty of framework to a genuinely pro- they are bailed out by the banks. European naiveté attached. Closing market one where the benefits are the door on NATO expansion would more evenly spread. This is a Incidentally, such remarks had make it possible to ease tensions and continuing problem with the Indian directly targeted some of the top normalize relations with Russia, policy regime”. Put simply, India’s indebted business groups whose stabilize Ukraine, and restore focus economic policies are often tailored names were listed by reputed on the European economy and the to benefit big business houses in the independent research institutions as European project. name of “development and defaulting on loans. Credit Suisse employment creation.” India had been regularly putting out Third, don’t punish Britain. the names of the top ten business Instead, police national and EU The economist in question had groups that owed about Rs 7.5 lakh borders to stop illegal migrants. This expressed this opinion to Prime crore to the banks and nearly 50 per is not xenophobia, racism, or Minister Narendra Modi too but cent of this was close to default fanaticism. It is common sense that probably did not see much change status as per private credit rating countries with the world’s most on the ground. The reason why I am agencies. generous social-welfare provisions recounting this story is because it has (Western Europe) must say no to a lot to do with the way RBI Rajan had begun to turn the heat millions (indeed hundreds of Governor Raghuram Rajan has on some of these powerful business millions) of would-be migrants. The chosen to leave his job even before houses, including the controversial same is true for the US. hearing from New Delhi about his Essar Group, Vedanta, Jindal Steel, possible extension for another two Anil Ambani-led companies, Adani Fourth, restore a sense of fairness years, making it a five year tenure – Group, JP Associates, GMR, GVK, and opportunity for the disaffected something that all RBI governors Lanco and Bhushan Steel. Many of working class and those whose have got since 1991. Rajan these entities had already got their (Continued on Page 15) completes three years at the helm of loans restructured – a euphemism for 8 JANATA, July 10, 2016 postponement of interest and But when the pain exceeds a certain RSS leadership. Rajan may not have principal repayment — during the limit, these businesses begin to fully understood the complex nexus UPA regimes, especially after the forcefully encash their IOUs for past between business and politics when global economic slowdown political funding. One has recently New Delhi encouraged him to deepened post 2012. But how long heard murmurs from senior nominally go after the big loan could the banks postpone receiving ministers like Nitin Gadkari that the defaulters. The politicians in Delhi interest and principal back from the ‘CBI, Central Vigilance are known to run with the hare and companies without declaring them Commission and judiciary cannot hunt with the hounds. Look at the bad loans? This problem is still to run the administration’. Gadkari has ease with which Mallya, declared a be resolved except that PSU banks also said banks will have to be more proclaimed offender, attended a have begun to make heavy pragmatic about dealing with bad function co-sponsored by the Indian provisions against these loans over loans. This too is a euphemism for High Commission in London. the past six months and have shown adopting a softer policy on loan huge losses in their books. Rajan defaults by big business houses. Modi too tries to project himself also instructed the banks to tighten When Rajan made a caustic remark as a crusader against crony the screws on the big business against Vijay Mallya’s lavish display capitalism, but the circumstances houses that had not repaid interest of wealth, some official surrounding Rajan’s exit shows that and principal for a considerable ventriloquists in New Delhi tried to entrenched interests have struck period. The banks, which had been counter the RBI governor by saying back successfully. In public lax for some years, suddenly started personal lifestyle should not be perception the Modi government pressuring these groups to sell their dragged into business dealings. Last appears more and more profitable assets to pay back the debt fortnight Rajan retorted that personal compromised now. How else do you on projects that had not taken off, lifestyle must certainly be explain no action being taken on the especially in the infrastructure commented on if the promoter has elaborate investigative findings of sectors. So Essar, with a total loan given personal guarantees against the economic enforcement agencies, exposure of over Rs 1.15 lakh crore, the bank loans. The public has a which have reported massive over- has been negotiating to sell its claim on the promoter’s personal invoicing of power equipment profitable refinery project to pay wealth in such situations. imports by the very top business back its debt in steel and power, groups that are struggling to pay while the Anil Ambani group and JP Obviously, Rajan’s attitude has back bank loans? By unduly Associates have sold some not gone down well with the big inflating the value of imports, these businesses to pay back their massive business interests, which have run a companies have reportedly diverted loans subterranean campaign against him. excess bank funds out of the country, Some powerful ideological advisors and put them away in tax havens in In the past, Essar, politically of the Sangh parivar have been Dubai and the British Virgin Islands. connected to both national parties, carrying out a strong campaign This is a classic case of funds never felt compelled to sell its assets against Rajan’s policies for over a diversion and qualifies to be to pay back loans. In 1999-2000, at year. The campaign is couched described formally as wilful default the peak of the downcycle in politically correctly as a dire need if these companies are unable to pay business after the Asian financial for lower interest rates for small back their bank loans. Will Modi crises, Essar had nearly defaulted on businesses but clearly there are ever take action on these reports? its debt obligations. But it managed multiple agendas at work. It must With someone like Rajan to retain all its assets and ride also be noted that prominent supervising banks at such a critical through the downcycle, of course industrialists running their business juncture, the political class might with some help from the banks and well with modest debt from banks have even felt a bit uncomfortable their political masters. This does not have supported Rajan fully and and insecure. So it was best to send seem to be happening now as, under endorsed a second term for him. Rajan back to Chicago with a thank Rajan’s supervision, the PSU banks you note. Rajan must realise it is not have been quite emboldened and Some of the business groups in so easy, after all, to rescue capitalism have refused to even meet some of Credit Suisse’s top indebted from capitalists in real life. these promoters to negotiate deals. companies’ list are also known to Modi has supported this upto a point. have strong historical links with the -The Wire JANATA, July 10, 2016 9 Should RSS Volunteers be permitted to join government services?

Ram Puniyani

An old controversy resurfaced state apparatus by sending its trained direct political organizations, first lately. After the alleged denial of swayamsevaks to work in different Bharatiya Jana Sangh and then BJP government jobs to candidates areas of bureaucracy in states as well (after earlier floating Rashtra Sevika linked to the RSS, Minister of State as at Center. In addition to these Samiti in 1936 and ABVP in 1948). in the PMO, Jitendra Singh, said last elements the ‘social common sense’ It acted as controller of Jana Sangh week that “the central government is so doctored that in the times of and whosoever disagreed with its has not issued any such order violence a big chunk of police and polices was removed from being the (prohibiting government staff from other state officials aid and abet the office bearer, Balraj Madhok, the joining RSS activities) recently”, violence against minorities, putting President of Jana Sangh who was and “if any old order exists, we aside the norms of constitution and removed from his post for will review it.” (16 June, 2016) RSS even the civic decency. Thus far disagreeing with RSS line. Many Prachar Pramukh Manmohan many a reports on the communal more examples abound. In 1998 one Vaidya had already stated that, carnage have indicated the role of saw it dictating the process of “Banning RSS members from RSS and the complicity of police cabinet making, the allotment of joining government service; is unjust and other officials in the anti- portfolios, like wanting to have and undemocratic. Such bans hardly minority pogroms. Such permission Yashwant Sinha as Finance minister, affect RSS work and morale of to the civic service opens the flood instead of Jaswant Singh. It came out swayamsevaks.” (Indian Express 11 gates for the total communalization openly against Lal Krishna Advani, June 2016) of the civil service which is the when he stated that Jinnah was a backbone of the state apparatus. secular. As such civil servants are banned from participating in the political What about the argument that In one of the affidavits filed, organizations. RSS calls itself RSS is not a political organization; miscellaneous application No 17 of cultural organization, and that’s what it is an organization which is 1978, two of its functionaries, has been used as a ruse by the state cultural, committed to build a Hindu Deoras and Rajendra Singh, stated, governments on couple of occasions nation. This claim itself gives the “The work of RSS is neither to permit the civil servants in joining game away; building a nation is a religious nor charitable, but its RSS. In Gujarat when this political process so how can this objects are cultural and patriotic as permission was granted (Jan 2000), organization claim to be merely a contra-distinguished religious or the President on receiving the cultural one? After seeing the actions charitable. It is akin to political protests intervened, and the Mr. of RSS and its role in the political purposes, though RSS is not at Vajpayee prevailed upon the state arena, its role in dictating its political present a political party as much as BJP and got this permission revoked. progeny, the BJP, any doubt about RSS constitution…bans active Later in Madhya Pradesh Chouhan it’s being a cultural organization participation by the RSS as such, as Government lifted the ban; thereby vanishes into thin air. RSS is a a policy…Tomorrow the policy the government servants could join political organization which could be changed and RSS could and carry on the RSS work operates through its different participate even in day-to-day openly(2006). progeny, some of which claim to be political activity as a political party non-political to achieve its political because policy is not a permanent The basic premise of Indian goal. or irrevocable thing.” constitution and parliamentary democracy is that the civil service Initially, it was just training the How do we assess the nature of should be neutral. Already RSS has political volunteers, swayamsevaks, organizations, by their own claims infiltrated into various wings of the and from 1952 it started floating the or from the outcome of their 10 JANATA, July 10, 2016 activities? One has to note the claims openly participating in RSS the permitted to be part of RSS and vice of RSS being a cultural organization divisive processes will move faster versa. is a pure make believe. It operates and running the administration on in the political arena by remote the lines of Indian Constitution will The present opinions being control, by mechanisms which are become all the more difficult. articulated by RSS leaders should direct as well as indirect. Its Despite knowing that such a neither be legally permissible nor are swayamsevaks have been involved provision is not legally tenable, in tune with the principles of in Gandhi murder, murder of Pastor many in the seat of power are asking Constitution of India. Stains, demolition of Babri Masjid for government servants be [email protected] and running of political parties. Two noteworthy incidents are: one, when the Jana Sangh component of Janata Party broke away from Janata Party Lessons from Brexit since their double membership, of RSS and of Janata Party was The results of the referendum in it would have been had the EU not challenged; second, when Vajpayee Britain that signaled the exit of this been brought into existence.” himself claimed with pride that he leading member from the European was first a swayamsevak and than Union have been extensively Yet the basic idea of the EU of the prime minister of India. Recently regretted. In Britain the short and eliminating the possibilities of war faced with similar criticism Home medium term implications are a within a region and creating Minister Rajanath Singh said ‘we are decline in the value of the pound and conditions of peace, stability and RSS’. also a decline in the exports to the cooperation which are likely to biggest market of the European enhance the possibility of prosperity Different progenies of RSS have Union. Then there is the very real of all member nations cannot be been allotted the work in diverse possibility of the secession of faulted. However basically sound or social arenas to be able to control Scotland and possibly even North even noble this project was, it was the basic thought process of society, Ireland, regions that voted strongly administered within the overall starting from Saraswati Shishu for remaining in the European framework of inequality based and Mandir right up to RSS shakha Union. inequality enhancing globalization where through the bauddhiks the led capitalism. This created several indoctrination into political ideology It has been discussed that the contradictions as the EU remained is carried on. It does monitor all its longer term harm to the entire very much an important part and a progeny and coordinates their European Union project can be even pillar of an unjust and unequal global activities through All India more serious if the demand is taken system and never challenged it in Pratinidhi Sabha (All India up even more strongly by the rightist any basic way. Hence several Representatives Association) which parties of other nations like France, conflicts were bound to appear meets regularly to coordinate their Holland and Austria that have been sooner or later within its stated aims activities. Its goal is political, its gaining strength rapidly. Perhaps the and the real situation. actions are political and its outcome fear voiced by George Soros may be is political through and through. closer to reality than what many Such unions of many nations in people believe today. In a much various regions are certainly needed Even without being in power it is discussed comment he said recently, but these need a wider vision of able to control the politics through “All of Europe, including Britain, justice, equality, environment various mechanisms. Currently would suffer from the loss of the protection, peace and compassion through the compliant Government common market and the loss of for all forms of life. In addition these its agenda runs exponentially faster, common values that the EU was efforts should be very conscious of the way Gujarat and many other designed to protect. Yet, the EU truly the need to think up and evolve states have demonstrated. Now its has broken down and ceased to alternatives to capitalism and agenda is running from bottom to top satisfy its citizens’ needs and globalization dominated by and top to bottom both ways since aspirations. It is heading for a multinational companies. the BJP is the ruling party at the disorderly disintegration that will centre. With the employees being leave Europe worse off than where –Bharat Dogra JANATA, July 10, 2016 11 Castes in India: their mechanism, genesis and development

B. R. Ambedkar

The paper by Dr. Ambedkar was presented at an Anthropology Seminar taught by Dr. A. A. Goldenweizer at Columbia University on 9th May 1916 and was first published in Indian Antiquary Vol. XLI (May 1917)

[1] Many of us, I dare say, have India: Their Mechanism, Genesis extraneous matters only when it is witnessed local, national or and Development.” necessary to clarify or support a international expositions of material point in my thesis. objects that make up the sum total [4] I need hardly remind you of of human civilization. But few can the complexity of the subject I intend [5] To proceed with the subject. entertain the idea of there being such to handle. Subtler minds and abler According to well-known a thing as an exposition of human pens than mine have been brought ethnologists, the population of India institutions. Exhibition of human to the task of unravelling the is a mixture of Aryans, Dravidians, institutions is a strange idea; some mysteries of Caste; but Mongolians and Scythians. All these might call it the wildest of ideas. But unfortunately it still remains in the stocks of people came into India as students of Ethnology I hope you domain of the “unexplained,” not to from various directions and with will not be hard on this innovation, say of the “un-understood.” I am various cultures, centuries ago, for it is not so, and to you at least it quite alive to the complex intricacies when they were in a tribal state. should not be strange. of a hoary institution like Caste, but They all in turn elbowed their entry I am not so pessimistic as to relegate into the country by fighting with [2] You all have visited, I believe, it to the region of the unknowable, their predecessors, and after a some historic place like the ruins of for I believe it can be known. The stomachful of it settled down as Pompeii, and listened with curiosity caste problem is a vast one, both peaceful neighbours. Through to the history of the remains as it theoretically and practically. constant contact and mutual flowed from the glib tongue of the Practically, it is an institution that intercourse they evolved a common guide. In my opinion a student of portends tremendous consequences. culture that superseded their Ethnology, in one sense at least, is It is a local problem, but one capable distinctive cultures. It may be much like the guide. Like his of much wider mischief, for “as long granted that there has not been a prototype, he holds up (perhaps with as caste in India does exist, Hindus thorough amalgamation of the more seriousness and desire of self- will hardly intermarry or have any various stocks that make up the instruction) the social institutions to social intercourse with outsiders; peoples of India, and to a traveller view, with all the objectiveness and if Hindus migrate to other from within the boundaries of India humanly possible, and inquires into regions on earth, Indian caste would the East presents a marked contrast their origin and function. become a world problem.” in physique and even in colour to the Theoretically, it has defied a great West, as does the South to the North. [3] Most of our fellow students many scholars who have taken upon But amalgamation can never be the in this Seminar, which concerns themselves, as a labour of love, to sole criterion of homogeneity as itself with primitive versus modern dig into its origin. Such being the predicated of any people. Ethnically society, have ably acquitted case, I cannot treat the problem in all people are heterogeneous. It is the themselves along these lines by its entirety. Time, space and acumen, unity of culture that is the basis of giving lucid expositions of the I am afraid, would all fail me, if I homogeneity. Taking this for various institutions, modern or attempted to do otherwise than limit granted, I venture to say that there primitive, in which they are myself to a phase of it, namely, the is no country that can rival the Indian interested. It is my turn now, this genesis, mechanism and spread of Peninsula with respect to the unity evening, to entertain you, as best I the caste system. I will strictly of its culture. It has not only a can, with a paper on “Castes in observe this rule, and will dwell on geographic unity, but it has over and 12 JANATA, July 10, 2016 above all a deeper and a much more intermarry nor eat nor drink with [8] To start with Mr. Senart. He fundamental unity—the indubitable any but persons of their own draws attention to the “idea of cultural unity that covers the land community.” pollution” as a characteristic of from end to end. But it is because of Caste. With regard to this point it may this homogeneity that Caste 3) According to Sir H. Risley, “a be safely said that it is by no means becomes a problem so difficult to be caste may be defined as a a peculiarity of Caste as such. It explained. If the Hindu Society were collection of families or groups usually originates in priestly a mere federation of mutually of families bearing a common ceremonialism and is a particular exclusive units, the matter would be name which usually denotes or is case of the general belief in purity. simple enough. But Caste is a associated with specific Consequently its necessary parcelling of an already occupation, claiming common connection with Caste may be homogeneous unit, and the descent from a mythical ancestor, completely denied without explanation of the genesis of Caste human or divine, professing to damaging the working of Caste. The is the explanation of this process of follow the same professional “idea of pollution” has been attached parcelling. callings and are regarded by those to the institution of Caste, only who are competent to give an because the Caste that enjoys the [6] Before launching into our opinion as forming a single highest rank is the priestly Caste: field of enquiry, it is better to advise homogeneous community.” while we know that priest and purity ourselves regarding the nature of a are old associates. We may therefore caste. I will therefore draw upon a 4) Dr. Ketkar defines caste as “a conclude that the “idea of pollution” few of the best students of caste for social group having two is a characteristic of Caste only in so their definitions of it: characteristics: (i) membership is far as Caste has a religious flavour. confined to those who are born 1) Mr. Senart, a French authority, of members and includes all [9] Mr. Nesfield in his way dwells defines a caste as “a close persons so born; (ii) the members on the absence of messing with those corporation, in theory at any rate are forbidden by an inexorable outside the Caste as one of its rigorously hereditary: equipped social law to marry outside the characteristics. In spite of the with a certain traditional and group.” newness of the point we must say independent organisation, that Mr. Nesfield has mistaken the including a chief and a council, [7] To review these definitions is effect for the cause. Caste, being a meeting on occasion in of great importance for our purpose. self-enclosed unit, naturally limits assemblies of more or less plenary It will be noticed that taken social intercourse, including authority and joining together at individually the definitions of three messing etc., to members within it. certain festivals: bound together of the writers include too much or Consequently this absence of by common occupations, which too little: none is complete or correct messing with outsiders is not due to relate more particularly to by itself and all have missed the positive prohibition, but is a natural marriage and to food and to central point in the mechanism of the result of Caste, i.e. exclusiveness. questions of ceremonial Caste system. Their mistake lies in No doubt this absence of messing, pollution, and ruling its members trying to define caste as an isolated originally due to exclusiveness, by the exercise of jurisdiction, the unit by itself, and not as a group acquired the prohibitory character of extent of which varies, but which within, and with definite relations to, a religious injunction, but it may be succeeds in making the authority the system of caste as a whole. Yet regarded as a later growth. Sir H. of the community more felt by the collectively all of them are Risley makes no new point sanction of certain penalties and, complementary to one another, each deserving of special attention. above all, by final irrevocable one emphasising what has been exclusion from the group.” obscured in the other. By way of [10] We now pass on to the criticism, therefore, I will take only definition of Dr. Ketkar who has 2) Mr. Nesfield defines a caste as “a those points common to all Castes done much for the elucidation of the class of the community which in each of the above definitions subject. Not only is he a native, but disowns any connection with any which are regarded as peculiarities he has also brought a critical acumen other class and can neither of Caste and evaluate them as such. and an open mind to bear on his JANATA, July 10, 2016 13 study of Caste. His definition merits pointed out before, the peoples of known to need any explanation. consideration, for he has defined India form a homogeneous whole. With the growth of history, however, Caste in its relation to a system of The various races of India occupying exogamy has lost its efficacy, and Castes, and has concentrated his definite territories have more or less excepting the nearest blood-kins, attention only on those fused into one another and do possess there is usually no social bar characteristics which are absolutely cultural unity, which is the only restricting the field of marriage. But necessary for the existence of a criterion of a homogeneous regarding the peoples of India the Caste within a system, rightly population. Given this homogeneity law of exogamy is a positive excluding all others as being as a basis, Caste becomes a problem injunction even today. Indian society secondary or derivative in character. altogether new in character and still savours of the clan system, even With respect to his definition it must, wholly absent in the situation though there are no clans; and this however, be said that in it there is a constituted by the mere propinquity can be easily seen from the law of slight confusion of thought, lucid of endogamous social or tribal matrimony which centres round the and clear as otherwise it is. He groups. Caste in India means an principle of exogamy, for it is not speaks of Prohibition of artificial chopping off of the that Sapindas (blood-kins) cannot Intermarriage and Membership by population into fixed and definite marry, but a marriage even between Autogeny as the two characteristics units, each one prevented from Sagotras (of the same class) is of Caste. I submit that these are but fusing into another through the regarded as a sacrilege. two aspects of one and the same custom of endogamy. Thus the thing, and not two different things conclusion is inevitable [14] Nothing is therefore more as Dr. Ketkar supposes them to be. that Endogamy is the only important for you to remember than If you prohibit intermarriage the characteristic that is peculiar to the fact that endogamy is foreign to result is that you limit membership caste, and if we succeed in showing the people of India. The various to those born within the group. Thus how endogamy is maintained, we Gotras of India are and have been the two are the obverse and the shall practically have proved the exogamous: so are the other groups reverse sides of the same medal. genesis and also the mechanism of with totemic organization. It is no Caste. exaggeration to say that with the [11] This critical evaluation of the people of India exogamy is a creed various characteristics of Caste leave [12] It may not be quite easy for and none dare infringe it, so much no doubt that prohibition, or rather you to anticipate why I regard so that, in spite of the endogamy of the absence of intermarriage— endogamy as a key to the mystery the Castes within them, exogamy is endogamy, to be concise—is the only of the Caste system. Not to strain strictly observed and that there are one that can be called the essence of your imagination too much, I will more rigorous penalties for violating Caste when rightly understood. But proceed to give you my reasons for exogamy than there are for violating some may deny this on abstract it. endogamy. You will, therefore, anthropological grounds, for there readily see that with exogamy as the exist endogamous groups without [13] It may not also be out of rule there could be no Caste, for giving rise to the problem of Caste. place to emphasize at this moment exogamy means fusion. But we have In a general way this may be true, as that no civilized society of today castes; consequently in the final endogamous societies, culturally presents more survivals of primitive analysis creation of Castes, so far as different, making their abode in times than does the Indian society. India is concerned, means the localities more or less removed, and Its religion is essentially primitive superposition of endogamy on having little to do with each other and its tribal code, in spite of the exogamy. However, in an originally are a physical reality. The Negroes advance of time and civilization, exogamous population an easy and the Whites and the various tribal operates in all its pristine vigour working out of endogamy (which is groups that go by name of American even today. One of these primitive equivalent to the creation of Caste) Indians in the United States may be survivals, to which I wish is a grave problem, and it is in the cited as more or less appropriate particularly to draw your attention, consideration of the means utilized illustrations in support of this view. is the Custom of Exogamy. The for the preservation of endogamy But we must not confuse matters, for prevalence of exogamy in the against exogamy that we may hope in India the situation is different. As primitive worlds is a fact too well- to find the solution of our problem. 14 JANATA, July 10, 2016

[15] Thus the superposition of necessary to maintain a numerical [19] First: burn her on the funeral endogamy on exogamy means the equality between the marriageable pyre of her deceased husband and creation of caste. But this is not an units of the two sexes within the get rid of her. This, however, is easy affair. Let us take an imaginary group desirous of making itself into rather an impracticable way of group that desires to make itself into a Caste. It is only through the solving the problem of sex disparity. a Caste and analyse what means it maintenance of such an equality that In some cases it may work, in others will have to adopt to make itself the necessary endogamy of the it may not. Consequently every endogamous. If a group desires to group can be kept intact, and a very surplus woman cannot thus be make itself endogamous a formal large disparity is sure to break it. disposed of, because it is an easy injunction against intermarriage solution but a hard realization. And with outside groups will be of no [17] The problem of Caste, then, so the surplus woman (= widow), if avail, especially if prior to the ultimately resolves itself into one of not disposed of, remains in the introduction of endogamy, exogamy repairing the disparity between the group: but in her very existence lies had been the rule in all matrimonial marriageable units of the two sexes a double danger. She may marry relations. Again, there is a tendency within it. Left to nature, the much outside the Caste and violate in all groups lying in close contact needed parity between the units can endogamy, or she may marry within with one another to assimilate and be realized only when a couple dies the Caste and through competition amalgamate, and thus consolidate simultaneously. But this is a rare encroach upon the chances of into a homogeneous society. If this contingency. The husband may die marriage that must be reserved for tendency is to be strongly before the wife and create a surplus the potential brides in the Caste. She counteracted in the interest of Caste woman, who must be disposed of, is therefore a menace in any case, formation, it is absolutely necessary else through intermarriage she will and something must be done to her to circumscribe a circle outside violate the endogamy of the group. if she cannot be burned along with which people should not contract In like manner the husband may her deceased husband. marriages. survive his wife and be a surplus man, whom the group, while it may [20] The second remedy is to [16] Nevertheless, this encircling sympathise with him for the sad enforce widowhood on her for the to prevent marriages from without bereavement, has to dispose of, else rest of her life. So far as the objective creates problems from within which he will marry outside the Caste and results are concerned, burning is a are not very easy of solution. will break the endogamy. Thus both better solution than enforcing Roughly speaking, in a normal the surplus man and the surplus widowhood. Burning the widow group the two sexes are more or less woman constitute a menace to the eliminates all the three evils that evenly distributed, and generally Caste if not taken care of, for not a surplus woman is fraught with. speaking there is an equality finding suitable partners inside their Being dead and gone she creates no between those of the same age. The prescribed circle (and left to problem of remarriage either inside equality is, however, never quite themselves they cannot find any, for or outside the Caste. But compulsory realized in actual societies. At the if the matter be not regulated there widowhood is superior to burning same time to the group that is can only be just enough pairs to go because it is more practicable. desirous of making itself into a caste round) very likely they will Besides being comparatively the maintenance of equality between transgress the boundary, marry humane it also guards against the the sexes becomes the ultimate goal, outside and import offspring that is evils of remarriage as does burning; for without it endogamy can no foreign to the Caste. but it fails to guard the morals of the longer subsist. In other words, if group. No doubt under compulsory endogamy is to be preserved [18] Let us see what our widowhood the woman remains, and conjugal rights from within have to imaginary group is likely to do with just because she is deprived of her be provided for, otherwise members this surplus man and surplus natural right of being a legitimate of the group will be driven out of woman. We will first take up the case wife in future, the incentive to the circle to take care of themselves of the surplus woman. She can be immoral conduct is increased. But in any way they can. But in order disposed of in two different ways so this is by no means an insuperable that the conjugal rights be provided as to preserve the endogamy of the difficulty. She can be degraded to a for from within, it is absolutely Caste. condition in which she is no longer JANATA, July 10, 2016 15 a source of allurement. solution can hardly be expected to the surplus man in the group, be realized. On the other hand, as is therefore, fails both theoretically and [21] The problem of the surplus very likely to be the case, if practically. It is in the interest of the man (= widower) is much more the surplus man remains in the Caste to keep him as a Grahastha important and much more difficult group as an active participator in (one who raises a family), to use a than that of the surplus woman in a group activities, he is a danger to the Sanskrit technical term. But the group that desires to make itself into morals of the group. Looked at from problem is to provide him with a a Caste. From time immemorial man a different point of view celibacy, wife from within the Caste. At the as compared with woman has had though easy in cases where it outset this is not possible, for the the upper hand. He is a dominant succeeds, is not so advantageous ruling ratio in a caste has to be one figure in every group and of the two even then to the material prospects man to one woman and none can sexes has greater prestige. With this of the Caste. If he observes genuine have two chances of marriage, for traditional superiority of man over celibacy and renounces the world, in a Caste thoroughly self-enclosed woman his wishes have always been he would not be a menace to the there are always just enough consulted. Woman, on the other preservation of Caste endogamy or marriageable women to go round for hand, has been an easy prey to all Caste morals as he undoubtedly the marriageable men. Under these kinds of iniquitous injunctions, would be if he remained a secular circumstances the surplus man can religious, social or economic. But person. But as an ascetic celibate he be provided with a wife only by man as a maker of injunctions is is as good as burned, so far as the recruiting a bride from the ranks of most often above them all. Such material wellbeing of his Caste is those not yet marriageable in order being the case, you cannot accord concerned. A Caste, in order that it to tie him down to the group. This is the same kind of treatment to may be large enough to afford a certainly the best of the possible a surplus man as you can to vigorous communal life, must be solutions in the case of the surplus a surplus woman in a Caste. maintained at a certain numerical man. By this, he is kept within the strength. But to hope for this and to Caste. By this means numerical [22] The project of burning him proclaim celibacy is the same as depletion through constant outflow with his deceased wife is hazardous trying to cure atrophy by bleeding. is guarded against, and by this in two ways: first of all it cannot be done, simply because he is a man. [24] Imposing celibacy on (To be Concluded) Secondly, if done, a sturdy soul is lost to the Caste. There remain then only two solutions which can (Continued from Page 7) migration from today’s poor and conveniently dispose of him. I say conflict-ridden regions will become conveniently, because he is an asset livelihoods have been undermined overwhelming, regardless of to the group. by financial crises and the migration policies, if climate outsourcing of jobs. This means change, extreme poverty, and lack [23] Important as he is to the following the social-democratic of skills and education undermine group, endogamy is still more ethos of pursuing ample social the development potential of Africa, important, and the solution must spending for health, education, Central America and the Caribbean, assure both these ends. Under these training, apprenticeships, and family the Middle East, and Central Asia. support, financed by taxing the rich circumstances he may be forced or I and closing tax havens, which are All of this underscores the need should say induced, after the manner gutting public revenues and to shift from a strategy of war to one of the widow, to remain a widower exacerbating economic injustice. It of sustainable development, for the rest of his life. This solution also means finally giving Greece especially by the US and Europe. is not altogether difficult, for without debt relief, thereby ending the long- Walls and fences won’t stop millions any compulsion some are so running eurozone crisis. of migrants fleeing violence, disposed as to enjoy self-imposed extreme poverty, hunger, disease, celibacy, or even to take a further Fifth, focus resources, including droughts, floods, and other ills. Only step of their own accord and additional aid, on economic global cooperation can do that. renounce the world and its joys. But, development, rather than war, in given human nature as it is, this low-income countries. Uncontrolled TRANSCEND Media Service R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, July 10, 2016 Postal Registration No. MCW/275/2015-2017 License to Post without prepayment WPP License No. MR/Tech/WPP-210/West/2016 Published on Sunday, July 10, 2016 & Posted on Wednesday July. 13, 2016 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

An infrastructure company established since 1924

REGD. OFFICE : New Excelsior Building, (3rd Floor), A.K. Nayak Marg, Fort, Mumbai 400001. Tel. : 022 2205 1231 Fax : 022-2205 1232

Office : Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai & New Delhi

Printed and Published by G.G. Parikh on behalf of Janata Trust. Printed at Mouj Printing Bureau, Khatau Wadi, Girgaum, Mumbai-400 004 and published at D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Naushir Bharucha Marg (Sleater Road), Mumbai - 400 007. Established 1946 Price : Rupees Five Pages 16

Vol. 71 No. 25 Death be not proud July 17, 2016 Kuldip Nayar

Enlightenment in education AS the memory of the massacre would be killed if he did not want to Sandeep Pandey at Dhaka recedes, examples of stand aside. Faraaz preferred to bravery are coming to the fore. One stand with and by his foreign friends. of them is that of Faraaz Hossain. And he knew that the price he would Castes in India He was on a vacation at Dhaka pay could be his possible death. The B. R. Ambedkar from his college in the US where he terrorists showed no mercy and was pursuing higher studies. He killed all of them. spent less time at home but used the Justifying crime, opportunity to meet his friends from Today when the massacre order of the day at Dhaka is recalled, people talk Valson Thampu foreign climes at Gulshan’s famous Spanish restaurant, the Holey about the courage of Faraaz. Artisan Bakery. Probably, this is the only Dr. Zakir Naik’s “Peace TV” compensation for his parents and When ISIS terrorists struck, grandparents whom I know well. In On Kashmir Faraaz was having food with his fact, I have had dinner at their friends at the restaurant. The ISIS house at Dhaka. They lead a simple killers were singling out and and austere life. Looting of public funds separating Bangladeshis from the in day light others before using weapon. They I met Faraaz at his grandparents’ came to the table where Faraaz was house. I recall exchanging notes with sitting. Then they asked him whether him about America where I had gone he was a Bangladeshi and, when he to North Western University to earn said yes, they pushed him aside before an MSC in journalism. He was raw Editor : asking others about their nationalities. in his attitude but steadfast in his views, even though he belonged to a G. G. Parikh When all except Faraaz said that very wealthy family. There were no Managing Editor : Guddi they were non-Bangladeshis, they airs about him. He was curious to opened fire from the only gun they know about India, which he said he D-15, Ganesh Prasad, had among them. Faraaz protested would visit at leisure. He was Naushir Bharucha Marg, and told them that he was a part of impressed by our composite culture, Mumbai - 400 007. his friends’ group and would not like something which he wanted to be treated separately. The Bangladesh to cherish because it too Email : [email protected] terrorists then told him that he too had a large number of Hindus, nearly 2 JANATA, July 17, 2016 12 million, making Bangladesh the Enlightenment in education third largest Hindu state in the world after India and Nepal. Sandeep Pandey I have tried to pick up every detail about the killings. There is no doubt that Faraaz sacrificed his life for his Rita Kanaujia, a widowed While I was on a fast from 6th foreign friends who were the real domestic help who lives in a slum to 15th June, 2016 at Gandhi Statue, targets of the terrorists. This does in Chembur, Mumbai, desires to Hazratganj, Lucknow demanding not make amends for the brutal have her son admitted to Junior implementation of Allahabad High killing, but it does tell a saga of Kindergarten class at Lokmanya Court order that children of unbelievable bravery. True, he is Tilak High School in Tilak Nagar. everybody receiving a government mentioned with great respect in Two of her daughters are already salary must attend government every Bangladeshi home and cited studying in Classes III and IV here. schools, Ramesh who pulls a as an example of courage, but The school wanted her to make a rickshaw in Lucknow and hails from distraught parents and grandparents payment of Rs. 19,500, which she Village Nakki Madhia in Mishrikh can never be consoled. A promising was incapable of after the death of area of adjacent Sitapur District child has been lost from their family. her husband due to cancer in 2014. used to come regularly to express She moved the court. Due to court’s his solidarity. He also sat at the fast Such examples of self-sacrifice intervention the school gave a site on some days for several are by no means unique in the East. concession but still insisted on a hours. He recently wrote a note They are typical of value systems in payment of Rs. 10,500. Rita agreed saying that people should consider the East which do not weigh to make the payment in installments who is more important for them - a individuals on the scales of wealth as to which the school didn’t agree. Chief Minister who merely eats with is the case in the West. Mahatma Justice V.M. Kanade and M.S. the poor but doesn’t agree to send Gandhi is an example. He preferred Sonak asked the school not to deny his children to the same school to be called a naked faqir, as he was the child education just because of where the children of poor study or characterized by the West, rather the inability of mother to pay the a person who goes hungry so that than be known for either wealth or entire sum in one go. Justice children of poor and rich could study erudition even though he had access Kanade even offered to pay the together? This is the best to both. child’s fees. compliment I’ve got related to my recent movement. Ramesh has The West cannot understand or In 2011 the District Collector of become a campaigner for the cause. appreciate the non-violent movement Erode in Tamil Nadu, A. He has now hung a placard from of Gandhi. Hundreds of volunteers Anandhakumar got his daughter A. his rickshaw and distributes went to the sea at Dandi to break Gopika admitted to a Tamil medium pamphlets demanding common the law by making salt and they panchayat union school in school system. suffered police lathi charges but Kumuilankuttai giving instructions to never hit back because of the ideals the headmistress that his daughter Ramesh is also informing his fellow of their movement. would eat the midday meal served villagers about the provision of Right at school along with other students to Education Act, 2009 which offers Faraaz may not have been a and should not be given any admission to children belonging to Gandhi follower but he did represent preferential treatment. The school disadvantaged groups and weaker his spirit and discipline. In India, toilet started getting cleaned twice sections in any nearby school of their wherever Faraaz’s name has been and extra care was taken to keep choice up to 25 per cent strength at mentioned, people bring in Gandhi’s the premises clean. Most importantly the entry level and subsequently free name. Had Gandhi been living today, the teachers became punctual. This education from classes I to VIII. Two I have no doubt that he would have shows what transformation can take of my neighbours, one on either side, travelled to victims-stricken Dhaka, place if children of senior have also used this Act to submit government officials start attending applications on behalf of their (Continued on Page 5) government schools. domestic help. JANATA, July 17, 2016 3

61 years old Rajni Saxena is a and get Zulekha admitted to some parts of country. It is a narration of resident of A-895 Indira Nagar in school in neighbourhood under the change country in going through in Lucknow. Her domestic help Nagma RTE Act. She asked her daughter- its thinking towards education. While has been with her for the last 20 in-law Tasneem Mahmud, an Image on one hand poor have become years. Nagma was so interested in and Transformation consultant and conscious of the importance of education that with Rajni Saxena’s trainer of soft skills, to go with Jamrul education for their children, the elite help she slowly picked up even and get her forms submitted for have, at last, accepted the fact that reading English. After getting getting the income and residence children of poor deserve the same married to Raju and birth of her first certificates made. Zulekha’s form education that their children avail of. child she was worried about getting was also submitted with the BSA on It is heartening to note how some Mohammed Imran some decent the same day, 23 June. The ordinary housewives have started education. The husband was least preferences of schools mentioned on taking a proactive stand in getting interested. Imran was admitted to Zulekha’s form include Springdale, children of their domestic help Dabble Academy where his monthly City Montessori School, City admitted into good schools so that fees is Rs. 1,250. Considering that International and Gurukul Academy. children of these labourers could Nagma’s monthly income is mere break the vicious cycle of poverty Rs. 4,000 one can imagine how she When the BSA takes a decision, and do something more worthwhile must have been struggling to make hopefully in favour of children, they with their lives. It also appears that both ends meet. Rajni Saxena will study in the best of schools in Judiciary has an important role if the decided to use the RTE Act so that their neighbourhood. Legislature or Executive will drag its Imran could get education in the feet on the issue of implementation same school free of cost upto Class These are inspiring examples of of Common School System. VIII. She guided Nagma to submit several happenings from different her applications for getting her [email protected] income and caste certificates made from the District Magistrate’s office. With the receipt issued, after Nagma On Kashmir was made to run four times, Rajni Saxena went and personally submitted Imran’s application to We write this in anguish at another circumstances of Wani’s killing are Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) of alarming spiral of violence in yet to be fully explained. It is Lucknow, Praveen Mani Tripathi, on Kashmir, when a discredited old nonetheless ironic that it occurred 23 June, 2016. Gurukul Academy, St. playbook has yet again been on the very day the Indian Supreme Dominic, City Montessori School and deployed to wreak havoc with civilian Court issued a far-reaching Dabble Academy have been given life. Kashmir’s escalating violence judgment in the context of fake as possible preferences where Imran follows a familiar pattern: a killing, a encounters in the state of Manipur, would like to study. funeral where rage is vented through emphasising the illegality of the use slogans and stones, and volleys of of excessive and retaliatory force Yasmin Mahmud lives in A-885, lethal gunfire in response. In 2010, by the army, security forces and Indira Nagar. Her 27 years old this cycle rolled on repeatedly police. These strictures apply even domestic help for the last few years through four months, claiming over in disturbed areas under AFSPA. Jamrul Nisha from Baddupur in 110 lives, mostly of Kashmiri youth, Kashmir is an arena where the adjoining Barabanki District is including a number who were too Supreme Court’s observations that separated from husband after her young to know. the rule of law would apply “even first child Zulekha Bano was born. when dealing with the enemy”, and Zulekha is now 7 years old and Nothing has been learnt from that that indeed, whatever the Jamrul is worried about her year of catastrophe. The trigger for challenges, “the country’s education. 66 years old Yasmin the current surge of unrest in commitment to the rule of law Mahmud, who recently lost her Kashmir was the killing on July 8 of remains steadfast”, are breached on husband, a retired Indian Railways Burhan Wani, a militant of the a daily basis. vailable accounts of officer, decided to take the initiative Hizbul Mujahedin. The Burhan Wani’s life in militancy 4 JANATA, July 17, 2016 indicate that he was as a 16-year The upsurge of civil unrest comes forces in aid of civil authorities old, embittered and radicalised after a long sequence of intelligence always is predicated on the premise during the 2010 turmoil by the reports that flagged rising discontent that “normalcy would be restored casual humiliations heaped on at the new political arrangements in within a reasonable period”. If ordinary Kashmiris by the mass Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP’s normalcy is not restored for a deployments of security personnel. arrival in the portals of power and “prolonged or indeterminate period”, He witnessed repeated violent its determined pursuit of a it would be firm evidence of the incursions into his home and the majoritarian agenda, have much to “failure” of the civil administration harassment of near relations in what do with this. or of the armed forces, or both. are called “crackdowns”, in terminology that has entered the Curiously, the intelligence Whatever the case, an unending youth argot of the valley. The death warnings have focused on widening state of unrest could not “be a fig of his brother in a police encounter, access to the internet and social leaf for prolonged, permanent or when he had nothing to do with the media as a disruptive influence. This indefinite deployment of the armed militancy, is believed to have further diagnosis which focuses on the forces as it would mock at our hardened his resolve. symptoms rather than underlying democratic process”. realities, has fed directly into the Burhan Wani’s life story should shutdown of internet services in The time is long past, if ever be cautionary warning that the Kashmir, the thirteenth such there was one, when a solution to heavy-handed, militaristic Indian closure in three years. the Kashmir problem could be approach to Kashmir, has only led achieved through force. Continuing to a quarter century of siege and Certain recent observations of the recourse to this option and the growing alienation. Supreme Court, though made in prolonged and bloody stalemate that reference to Manipur, bear repetition has ensued, have fuelled a mood of Wani’s funeral on July 9 in the as general principles. Mass anger and despair in Kashmir. southern Kashmir town of Tral deployment of the army and security witnessed a gathering of several tens –Ravi Nair and others of thousands. As protests broke out in this and other locations, security forces responded with maximum Looting of public funds in day light force. The death toll of thirty in a matter of three days, tells its own During the Lok Sabha elections – situation the government should grim story. 2014 campaign, Shri Narendra Modi, make all out efforts to recover the Prime Minister of India made false loan amount from borrowers without Excessive and indiscriminate promises. One of the promises was showing any mercy to the heartless lethal force continues to be used for that if his party is voted to power, he business community because it is purposes of law enforcement. This would bring back black money of public money. is in brazen contempt of the U.N. Indians deposited in Swiss Banks and he would credit Rs. 15,00,000/- In this connection, I wish to Basic Principles on the Use of , in bank accounts of every Indian. reproduce below relevant extracts Force and Firearms by Law But after BJP was voted to power, from the article published under the Enforcement Officials, which do not this promise lost its relevance. title “Strategic Disinvestment of allow for departure even in Public Sector” by Bharat exceptional circumstances such as I state that the government Jhunjhunwala in the Free Press internal political instability or public should make efforts to bring back Journal dated June 4, 2016. emergency. Pellet guns, introduced black money in Swiss Banks which in 2010 for crowd control, purportedly will take some more time, but the The Vijay Mallya episode brought on the ground that it injures and does Public Sector Banks which have to light the deep rot in the PSBs. not kill, have caused permanent sanctioned huge amount by way of Mallya has accused the State Bank injuries and irreversible loss of loans to the business community of India of providing loans even eyesight to at least 92 young men. failed to recover the loans and in that though the Bank was aware of the JANATA, July 17, 2016 5 problems being faced by the From the above facts, it is clear by defeating a particular party, but it Kingfisher Airlines. ‘The Bank is that the government cannot touch is difficult to make India corruption equally responsible’, he said. The business community as interests of free as the PSBs and the business Secretary of the All India Bank politicians are involved. By this way community do not afraid of looting Officers’ Association has said that the public is cheated and looted in public funds by way of NPA or bad “A powerful nexus between day light. This is nothing but loans. What is expected is to take a Chairmen of Boards, auditors, committing of a national economic drastic action against anti-social Reserve Bank of India and the bank crime. The borrowers and elements actively functioning in boards is behind the country’s Non guarantors are not sent to jail. In financial institutions. PSBs NPA or Performing Assets and a willful short, it is very easy to win elections bad loans must be treated as sedition. defaulter. He could not be closer to truth. –R. D. Prabhu

There is a fundamental difference (Continued from Page 2) in the attitude of top management of just as he went to Noakhali after the This has nothing to do with a Public Sector and Private Sector fierce riots between Hindus and particular religion to which you Banks. The Chairman of the State Muslims in Calcutta. And he would belong, but represents the core of Bank of India who granted the loan have lauded a person like Faraaz who every religion: faith in the people to Kingfisher Airlines did not lose a really represented a figure of noble to rise above parochial paisa from her salary and perks due ideals, decency and self sacrifice. considerations and think of to the loan having gone bad. She may humanity as a whole. have even made gains from the Just as statues of Bhagat Singh Unfortunately India, instead of grease money paid by Kingfisher. have been erected all over India, rising above petty parochial The income of the toip management Faraaz should also be remembered appeals and serve as an example of the PSBs is not necessarily related in the entire subcontinent and I am to the world, has become a prey to profits made by the PSBs that he confident that people would name to the propaganda of the fanatic may be heading. their sons and statues after him, not fringe. only in Bangladesh but also in India The PSBs continue to provide and elsewhere. Since the advent of Prime loans mainly to big businesses, and Minister Narendra Modi’s regime, not the poor. Worse, the PSBs are At least school textbooks should the fringe party is trying to giving bad loans and losing money. have a chapter on him, not for the represent the whole. Taslima The government is imposing more purpose of accelerating the idea of Nasrin, who was ousted from taxes on the common man to raise Hindu-Muslim unity, but for making Bangladesh for having written the the money to infuse more capital in the youth feel proud about Faraaz. story of oppression of women, has the Bank. The Banks were They should be able to tell the elders asked the followers of Islam to nationalized to serve the common that a person like Faraaz has given introspect and find out how they man, but the system has turned the an example of the true spirit of the have strayed from the real content policy around. Poor are being taxed youth, as well as a demonstration of of the religion. Faraaz would have to support corruption and inefficiency culture in the East and its value approved such an approach. of the PSBs. This has happened system. because officials of the PSBs have Come to think of it, this is the only much to gain by making bad loans. I wonder how his non- approach that is cogent, logical and Bangladeshi friends are recalling his human. The fanatic fringe among It is difficult to regulate the Public memory. They should propagate the Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Sector Banks, because the owner and example of Faraaz in their own Christians should be made to realize the regulator coalesce into one. The countries so that people of different that India is a tolerant country and Secretary of Finance is both the religions and race feel proud of how those who are trying to disturb the ‘Owner’ of the PSBs as well as their an ordinary young man stood by his equation among the communities are regulator. This has led to the PSBs companions when he could have disfiguring India and all that it stands wild horses without any control. easily escaped from death. for. 6 JANATA, July 17, 2016 Dr. Zakir Naik’s “Peace TV”

Dr. Zakir Naik’s ‘Peace TV’ Quranic command to Muslims not to Those who eat pigs behave like pigs. preaches contempt, if not hatred, for ridicule the beliefs of others. Nearly other religions. a millennium ago the message which - In demolishing the historic the highly regarded Sufi, Ibn Arabi Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan, We appeal to all peace-loving gave to fellow Muslims was this: the Taliban were “educating Indians in general and Muslims in “Do not praise your own faith Buddhists”. Lord Buddha never particular to expose Zakir Naik’s real exclusively so that you disbelieve all approved of statues. agenda and warn Muslim youth to the rest… God, the Omniscient and beware of his toxic theology. the Omnipresent, cannot be confined A frightening flirtation with words: to any one creed”. And at a time of global concern over We demand that Zakir Naik and spreading terror in the name of Islam, all hate-mongers, irrespective of Dr Naik’s Islam is contrary to the instead of warning his millions of religion, be probed and prosecuted Islam preached and practiced for followers in unambiguous words for promoting enmity between centuries in our subcontinent by against extremism and terrorism he different religious groups. numerous Sufi saints, including Baba chooses to flirt with words. Farid, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Khwaja Since the July 1 terror attack in Moinuddin Chisti (‘Gharib Nawaz’). - “Every Muslim should be a Dhaka there have been several His Wahhabi fulminations are an terrorist… for anti-social elements”. reports in the media that security assault on Islam’s tolerant tradition; agencies in India and Bangladesh seeks to destroy India’s age-old - “If he (Osama bin Laden) is are probing the possible role of Dr. tradition of unity within diversity, its fighting the enemies of Islam, I am Zakir Naik in aiding and abetting syncretic culture (Gunga-Jamuni for him… If he is terrorising America terrorist acts in Islam’s name. tehzeeb) and shared heritage the terrorist, the biggest terrorist, he’s (saajhi virasat). following Islam.” Whether the televangelist is guilty of complicity in terrorist activity or The following examples of Misogynist message: Zakir Naik not can only be established through ‘Naikspeak’ speak for themselves. sermonises that women who step out an unbiased, fair investigation. But of their homes without being clad in of one thing there can be little doubt. Contempt for other religions: a burqa have only themselves to Dr. Naik is no messenger of peace. blame for sexual violence. Far from promoting peace, his - Islam is the “only true religion”, ‘Peace TV’ promotes contempt, if only Muslims have real knowledge Two pretty sisters are walking not hatred, for other religions and its in this subject. Therefore, “we” down the road. One is in a miniskirt followers. have the right not only to build or shorts, the other is fully covered mosques across the globe but also in a burqa. Who do you think is Dr. Naik’s and his benefactors’ to prohibit “sinful” religious asking for trouble? agenda is simple: To uproot the practices, disallow construction of centuries-old tolerant, vibrant churches or temples in Islamic Islam permits Muslim men to tradition within Islam and replace it countries. have sexual relations with their with the rigid, supremacist, intolerant, wives and slaves. But vice versa is dry-as-the-desert Saudi-promoted - Accepting prasad after Ganesh not permitted. [And that’s exactly Wahhabism/Salafism which is hostile Puja offered by a Hindu is haraam what the ISIS is currently doing]. not only towards other religions but (forbidden, sinful) for a Muslim; so even towards other Islamic traditions is wishing ‘Merry Christmas’ to a Death for a Muslim apostate: and schools of thought. Christian. While Zakir Naik claims the right of Muslims to propagate Islam The brand of Islam that Dr Naik - Pig is the only animal where the throughout the world, his prescription promotes does violence to the clear male indulges in ‘wife-sharing’. (Continued from Page 13) JANATA, July 17, 2016 7 Castes in India: their mechanism, genesis and development -II

B. R. Ambedkar

This paper by Dr. Ambedkar was presented at an anthropology seminar taught by Dr. A. A. Goldenweizer at Columbia University on 9th May 1916 and was first published in Indian Antiquary Vo. XLI (May 1917)

[24] Imposing celibacy on widower; and (4) wedding him to a not customs and morals are like the surplus man in the group, girl not yet marriageable. Though, as fossils that tell their own history. If therefore, fails both theoretically and I said above, burning the widow and this is true, our task will be amply practically. It is in the interest of the imposing celibacy on the widower rewarded if we scrutinize the solution Caste to keep him as a Grahastha are of doubtful service to the group the Hindus arrived at to meet the (one who raises a family), to use a in its endeavour to preserve its problems of the surplus Sanskrit technical term. But the endogamy, all of them operate man and surplus woman. problem is to provide him with a wife as means. But means, as forces, from within the Caste. At the outset when liberated or set in motion [27] Complex though it be in its this is not possible, for the ruling ratio create an end. What then is the end general working the Hindu Society, in a caste has to be one man to one that these means create? They even to a superficial observer, woman and none can have two create and perpetuate endogamy, presents three singular uxorial chances of marriage, for in a Caste while caste and endogamy, customs, namely: thoroughly self-enclosed there are according to our analysis of the always just enough marriageable various definitions of caste, are one (i) Sati or the burning of the women to go round for the and the same thing. Thus the widow on the funeral pyre of her marriageable men. Under these existence of these means is identical deceased husband. circumstances the surplus man can with caste and caste involves these be provided with a wife only by means. (ii) Enforced widowhood by which recruiting a bride from the ranks of a widow is not allowed to remarry. those not yet marriageable in order [26] This, in my opinion, is the to tie him down to the group. This is general mechanism of a caste in a (iii) Girl marriage. certainly the best of the possible system of castes. Let us now turn solutions in the case of the surplus from these high generalities to the In addition, one also notes a great man. By this, he is kept within the castes in Hindu Society and inquire hankering after Sannyasa Caste. By this means numerical into their mechanism. I need hardly (renunciation) on the part of the depletion through constant outflow premise that there are a great many widower, but this may in some cases is guarded against, and by this pitfalls in the path of those who try be due purely to psychic disposition. endogamy and morals are preserved. to unfold the past, and caste in India to be sure is a very ancient institution. [28] So far as I know, no scientific [25] It will now be seen that the This is especially true where there explanation of the origin of these four means by which numerical exist no authentic or written records customs is forthcoming even today. disparity between the two sexes is or where the people, like the Hindus, We have plenty of philosophy to tell conveniently maintained are: (1) are so constituted that to them writing us why these customs were burning the widow with her history is a folly, for the world is an honoured, but nothing to tell us the deceased husband; (2) compulsory illusion. But institutions do live, causes of their origin and widowhood—a milder form of though for a long time they may existence. Sati has been honoured burning; (3) imposing celibacy on the remain unrecorded and as often as (Cf. A. K. Coomaraswamy, “Sati: 8 JANATA, July 17, 2016

A Defence of the Eastern Woman” individualism in the 18th century will [30] Having explained the in the British Sociological appreciate my remark. At all times, mechanism of the creation and Review, Vol. VI, 1913) because it it is the movement that is most preservation of Caste in India, the is a “proof of the perfect unity of important; and the philosophies grow further question as to its genesis body and soul” between husband and around it long afterwards to justify it naturally arises. The question of wife and of “devotion beyond the and give it a moral support. In like origin is always an annoying question grave,” because it embodied the manner I urge that the very fact that and in the study of Caste it is sadly ideal of wifehood, which is well these customs were so highly neglected; some have connived at it, expressed by Uma when she said, eulogized proves that they needed while others have dodged it. Some “Devotion to her Lord is woman’s eulogy for their prevalence. are puzzled as to whether there could honour, it is her eternal heaven: and Regarding the question as to why be such a thing as the origin of caste 0 Maheshvara,” she adds with a most they arose, I submit that they were and suggest that “if we cannot control touching human cry, “I desire not needed to create the structure of our fondness for the word ‘origin,’ paradise itself if thou are not satisfied caste and the philosophies in honour we should better use the plural form, with me!” Why compulsory of them were intended to popularise viz. ‘origins of caste.’” As for myself widowhood is honoured I know not, them, or to gild the pill, as we might I do not feel puzzled by the Origin of nor have I yet met with any one who say, for they must have been so Caste in India for, as I have sang in praise of it, though there are abominable and shocking to the established before, endogamy is the a great many who adhere to it. The moral sense of the unsophisticated only characteristic of Caste and eulogy in honour of girl marriage is that they needed a great deal of when I say Origin of Caste I reported by Dr. Ketkar to be as sweetening. These customs are mean The Origin of the follows: “A really faithful man or essentially of the nature of means, Mechanism for Endogamy. woman ought not to feel affection though they are represented as for a woman or a man other than ideals. But this should not blind us [31] The atomistic conception of the one with whom he or she is from understanding the results that individuals in a Society so greatly united. Such purity is compulsory not flow from them. One might safely popularised— I was about to say only after marriage, but even before say that idealization of means is vulgarised—in political orations is the marriage, for that is the only correct necessary and in this particular case greatest humbug. To say that ideal of chastity. No maiden could was perhaps motivated to endow individuals make up society is trivial; be considered pure if she feels love them with greater efficacy. Calling society is always composed of for a man other than the one to whom a means an end does no harm, classes. It may be an exaggeration she might be married. As she does except that it disguises its real to assert the theory of class-conflict, not know to whom she is going to be character; but it does not deprive it but the existence of definite classes married, she must not feel affection, of its real nature, that of a means. in a society is a fact. Their basis may for any man at all before marriage. You may pass a law that all cats are differ. They may be economic or If she does so, it is a sin. So it is dogs, just as you can call a means intellectual or social, but an individual better for a girl to know whom she an end. But you can no more change in a society is always a member of a has to love before any sexual the nature of means thereby than you class. This is a universal fact and consciousness has been awakened can turn cats into dogs; consequently early Hindu society could not have in her” (History of Caste in India, I am justified in holding that, whether been an exception to this rule, and, 1909, pp. 2-33.). Hence girl regarded as ends or as as a matter of fact, we know it was marriage. means, Sati, enforced not. If we bear this generalization in widowhood and girl marriage are mind, our study of the genesis of [29] This high-flown and ingenious customs that were primarily caste would be very much facilitated, sophistry indicates why these intended to solve the problem of for we have only to determine institutions were honoured, but does the surplus man and surplus what was the class that first made not tell us why they were practiced. woman in a caste and to maintain itself into a caste, for class and caste, My own interpretation is that they its endogamy. Strict endogamy could so to say, are next door neighbours, were honoured because they were not be preserved without these and it is only a span that separates practiced. Any one slightly customs, while caste without the two. A Caste is an Enclosed acquainted with the rise of endogamy is a fake. Class. JANATA, July 17, 2016 9

[32] The study of the origin of question I have to answer is: How to kill his ghost. He lives like a caste must furnish us with an answer did the institution of caste spread disembodied spirit and is appealed to, to the question—what is the class among the rest of the non-Brahmin and I am afraid will yet live long. that raised this “enclosure” around population of the country? The One thing I want to impress upon itself? The question may seem too question of the spread of the castes you is that Manu did not give the law inquisitorial, but it is pertinent, and all over India has suffered a worse of Caste and that he could not do an answer to this will serve us to fate than the question of genesis. so. Caste existed long before Manu. elucidate the mystery of the growth And the main cause, as it seems to He was an upholder of it and and development of castes all over me, is that the two questions of therefore philosophised about it, but India. Unfortunately a direct answer spread and of origin are not certainly he did not and could not to this question is not within my separated. This is because of the ordain the present order of Hindu power. I can answer it only common belief among scholars that Society. His work ended with the indirectly. I said just above that the the caste system has either been codification of existing caste rules customs in question were current in imposed upon the docile population and the preaching of Caste Dharma. the Hindu society. To be true to facts of India by a law-giver as a divine The spread and growth of the Caste it is necessary to qualify the dispensation, or that it has grown system is too gigantic a task to be statement, as it connotes universality according to some law of social achieved by the power or cunning of their prevalence. These customs growth peculiar to the Indian people. of an individual or of a class. Similar in all their strictness are obtainable in argument is the theory that the only in one caste, namely the [34] I first propose to handle the Brahmins created the Caste. After Brahmins, who occupy the highest law-giver of India. Every country what I have said regarding Manu, I place in the social hierarchy of the has its law-giver, who arises as an need hardly say anything more, Hindu society; and as their incarnation (avatar) in times of except to point out that it is incorrect prevalence in non-Brahmin castes is emergency to set right a sinning in thought and malicious in intent. derivative, their observance is neither humanity and give it the laws of The Brahmins may have been guilty strict nor complete. This important justice and morality. Manu, the law- of many things, and I dare say they fact can serve as a basis of an giver of India, if he did exist, was were, but the imposing of the caste important observation. If the certainly an audacious person. If the system on the non-Brahmin prevalence of these customs in the story that he gave the law of caste population was beyond their mettle. non-Brahmin Castes is derivative, as be credited, then Manu must have They may have helped the process can be shown very easily, then it been a dare-devil fellow and the by their glib philosophy, but they needs no argument to prove what humanity that accepted his certainly could not have pushed their class is the father of the institution dispensation must be a humanity scheme beyond their own confines. of caste. Why the Brahmin class quite different from the one we are To fashion society after one’s own should have enclosed itself into a acquainted with. It is unimaginable pattern! How glorious! How hard! caste is a different question, which that the law of caste was given. It is One can take pleasure and eulogize may be left as an employment for hardly an exaggeration to say that its furtherance; but cannot further it another occasion. But the strict Manu could not have outlived his law, very far. The vehemence of my observance of these customs and the for what is that class that can submit attack may seem to be unnecessary; social superiority arrogated by the to be degraded to the status of brutes but I can assure you that it is not priestly class in all ancient by the pen of a man, and suffer him uncalled for. There is a strong belief civilizations are sufficient to prove to raise another class to the in the mind of orthodox Hindus that that they were the originators of this pinnacle? Unless he was a tyrant the Hindu Society was somehow “unnatural institution” founded and who held all the population in moulded into the framework of the maintained through these unnatural subjection it cannot be imagined that Caste System and that it is an means. he could have been allowed to organization consciously created by dispense his patronage in this grossly the Shastras. Not only does this [33] I now come to the third part unjust manner, as may be easily seen belief exist, but it is being justified of my paper regarding the question by a mere glance at his “Institutes.” on the ground that it cannot but be of the growth and spread of the I may seem hard on Manu, but I am good, because it is ordained by the caste system all over India. The sure my force is not strong enough Shastras and the Shastras cannot 10 JANATA, July 17, 2016 be wrong. I have urged so much on are a disguised form of the Petitio artisan and menial class. Particular the adverse side of this attitude, not Principii of formal logic. To attention has to be paid to the fact because the religious sanctity is illustrate: Mr. Nesfield says that “ that this was essentially a class grounded on scientific basis, nor to function and function only. . . was system, in which individuals, when help those reformers who are the foundation upon which the whole qualified, could change their class, preaching against it. Preaching did system of Castes in India was built and therefore classes did change not make the caste system; neither up.” But he may rightly be reminded their personnel. At some time in the will it unmake it. My aim is to show that he does not very much advance history of the Hindus, the priestly the falsity of the attitude that has our thought by making the above class socially detached itself from the exalted religious sanction to the statement, which practically amounts rest of the body of people and position of a scientific explanation. to saying that castes in India are through a closed-door policy became functional or occupational, which is a caste by itself. The other classes [35] Thus the great man theory a very poor discovery! We have yet being subject to the law of social does not help us very far in solving to know from Mr. Nesfield why is it division of labour underwent the spread of castes in India. Western that an occupational group turned differentiation, some into large, scholars, probably not much given to into an occupational caste? I would others into very minute, groups. The hero-worship, have attempted other very cheerfully have undertaken the Vaishya and Shudra classes were the explanations. The nuclei, round task of dwelling on the theories of original inchoate plasm, which which have “formed” the various other ethnologists, had it not been for formed the sources of the numerous castes in India, are, according to the fact that Mr. Nesfield’s is a typical castes of today. As the military them: (1) occupation; (2) survivals one. occupation does not very easily lend of tribal organization etc.; (3) the rise itself to very minute sub-division, the of new belief; (4) cross-breeding; [38] Without stopping to criticize Kshatriya class could have and (5) migration. those theories that explain the caste differentiated into soldiers and system as a natural phenomenon administrators. [36] The question may be asked occurring in obedience to the law of whether these nuclei do not exist in disintegration, as explained by [40] This sub-division of a society other societies and whether they are Herbert Spencer in his formula of is quite natural. But the unnatural peculiar to India. If they are not evolution; or as natural as “the thing about these sub-divisions is that peculiar to India, but are common to structural differentiation within an they have lost the open-door the world, why is it that they did not organism,” to employ the character of the class system and “form” caste on other parts of this phraseology of orthodox apologists; have become self-enclosed units planet? Is it because those parts are or as an early attempt to test the laws called castes. The question is: were holier than the land of the Vedas, or of eugenics—as all belonging to the they compelled to close their doors that the professors are mistaken? I same class of fallacy which regards and become endogamous, or did they am afraid that the latter is the truth. the caste system as inevitable, or as close them of their own accord? I being consciously imposed in submit that there is a double line of [37] In spite of the high theoretic anticipation of these laws on a answer: Some closed the door: value claimed by the several authors helpless and humble population, I will Others found it closed against for their respective theories based now lay before you my own view on them. The one is a psychological on one or other of the above nuclei, the subject. interpretation and the other is one regrets to say that on close mechanistic, but they are examination they are nothing more [39] We shall be well advised to complementary and both are than filling illustrations—what recall at the outset that the Hindu necessary to explain the phenomena Matthew Arnold means by “the society, in common with other of caste-formation in its entirety. grand name without the grand thing societies, was composed of classes in it.” Such are the various theories and the earliest known are (1) the [41] I will first take up the of caste advanced by Sir Denzil Brahmins or the priestly class; (2) psychological interpretation. The lbbetson, Mr. Nesfield, Mr. Senart the Kshatriya, or the military class; question we have to answer in this and Sir H. Risley. To criticise them (3) the Vaishya, or the merchant connection is: Why did these sub- in a lump would be to say that they class; and (4) the Shudra, or the divisions or classes, if you please, JANATA, July 17, 2016 11 industrial, religious or otherwise, Another of Tarde’s laws of imitation of more than mere imitation, but at become self-enclosed or is: that the extent or intensity of least of imitation; and if he lives in endogamous? My answer is because imitation varies inversely in an endogamous enclosure, should not the Brahmins were so. Endogamy proportion to distance, or in his own the rest follow his example? Frail or the closed-door system was a words “The thing that is most humanity! Be it embodied in a grave fashion in the Hindu society, and as imitated is the most superior one of philosopher or a frivolous housemaid, it had originated from the Brahmin those that are nearest. In fact, the it succumbs. It cannot be otherwise. caste it was whole-heartedly imitated influence of the model’s example is Imitation is easy and invention is by all the non-Brahmin sub-divisions efficacious inversely to its distance difficult. or classes, who, in their turn, became as well as directly to its superiority. endogamous castes. It is “the Distance is understood here in its [43] Yet another way of infection of imitation” that caught all sociological meaning. However demonstrating the play of imitation these sub-divisions on their onward distant in space a stranger may be, in the formation of castes is to march of differentiation and has he is close by, from this point of view, understand the attitude of non- turned them into castes. The if we have numerous and daily Brahmin classes towards those propensity to imitate is a deep-seated relations with him and if we have customs which supported the one in the human mind and need not every facility to satisfy our desire to structure of caste in its nascent days be deemed an inadequate imitate him. This law of the imitation until, in the course of history, it explanation for the formation of the of the nearest, of the least distant, became embedded in the Hindu mind various castes in India. It is so deep- explains the gradual and consecutive and hangs there to this day without seated that Walter Bagehot argues character of the spread of an any support—for now it needs no that, “We must not think of . . . example that has been set by the prop but belief—like a weed on the imitation as voluntary, or even higher social ranks” (Ibid., p. 224). surface of a pond. In a way, but only conscious. On the contrary it has its in a way, the status of a. caste in the seat mainly in very obscure parts of [42] In order to prove my thesis— Hindu Society varies directly with the the mind, whose notions, so far from which really needs no proof—that extent of the observance of the being consciously produced, are some castes were formed by customs of Sati, enforced hardly felt to exist; so far from being imitation, the best way, it seems to widowhood, and girl marriage. But conceived beforehand, are not even me, is to find out whether or not the observance of these customs varies felt at the time. The main seat of the vital conditions for the formation of directly with the distance (I am using imitative part of our nature is our castes by imitation exist in the Hindu the word in the Tardian sense) that belief, and the causes predisposing Society. The conditions for imitation, separates the caste. Those castes us to believe this or disinclining us to according to this standard authority that are nearest to the Brahmins believe that are among the obscurest are: (1) that the source of imitation have imitated all the three customs parts of our nature. But as to the must enjoy prestige in the group and and insist on the strict observance imitative nature of credulity there can (2) that there must be “numerous and thereof. Those that are less near have be no doubt” (Physics and Politics, daily relations” among members of imitated enforced widowhood and 1915, p. 60). This propensity to a group. That these conditions were girl marriage; others, a little further imitate has been made the subject present in India there is little reason off, have only girl marriage; and of a scientific study by Gabriel to doubt. The Brahmin is a semi-god those furthest off have imitated only Tarde, who lays down three laws of and very nearly a demi-god. He sets the belief in the caste principle. This imitation. One of his three laws is up a mode and moulds the rest. His imperfect imitation, I dare say, is due that imitation flows from the higher prestige is unquestionable and is the partly to what Tarde calls “distance” to the lower or, to quote his own fountain-head of bliss and good. Can and partly to the barbarous character words, “Given the opportunity, a such a being, idolised by scriptures of these customs. This phenomenon nobility will always and everywhere and venerated by the priest-ridden is a complete illustration of Tarde’s imitate its leaders, its kings or multitude, fail to project his law and leaves no doubt that the sovereigns, and the people likewise, personality on the suppliant whole process of caste-formation in given the opportunity, its nobility” humanity? Why, if the story be true, India is a process of imitation of the (Laws of Imitation, tr. by E. C. he is believed to be the very end of higher by the lower. At this juncture Parsons, 2nd edition, p. 217). creation. Such a creature is worthy I will turn back to support a former 12 JANATA, July 17, 2016 conclusion of mine, which might have into a caste, the Brahmins, by virtue have no mercy for a sinner who has appeared to you as too sudden or of this, created non-Brahmin caste; the courage to violate the code. The unsupported. I said that the Brahmin or, to express it in my own way, while penalty is excommunication and the class first raised the structure of closing themselves in they closed result is a new caste. It is not caste by the help of those three others out. I will clear my point by peculiar Hindu psychology that customs in question. My reason for taking another illustration. Take India induces the excommunicated to form that conclusion was that their as a whole with its various themselves into a caste; far from it. existence in other classes was communities designated by the On the contrary, very often they derivative. After what I have said various creeds to which they owe have been quite willing to be humble regarding the role of imitation in the allegiance, to wit, the Hindus, members of some caste (higher by spread of these customs among the Mohammedans, Jews, Christians and preference) if they could be admitted non-Brahmin castes, as means or as Parsis. Now, barring the Hindus, the within its fold. But castes are ideals, though the imitators have not rest within themselves are non-caste enclosed units and it is their been aware of it, they exist among communities. But with respect to conspiracy with clear conscience them as derivatives; and, if they are each other they are castes. Again, if that compels the excommunicated to derived, there must have been the first four enclose themselves, the make themselves into a caste. The prevalent one original caste that was Parsis are directly closed out, but are logic of this obdurate circumstance high enough to have served as a indirectly closed in. Symbolically, if is merciless, and it is in obedience to pattern for the rest. But in a Group A wants to be endogamous, its force that some unfortunate theocratic society, who could be the Group B has to be so by sheer force groups find themselves enclosed, pattern but the servant of God? of circumstances. because others in enclosing themselves have closed them out, [44] This completes the story of [45] Now apply the same logic to with the result that new groups those that were weak enough to the Hindu society and you have (formed on any basis obnoxious to close their doors. Let us now see another explanation of the the caste rules) by a mechanical law how others were closed in as a result “fissiparous” character of caste, as are constantly being converted into of being closed out. This I call the a consequence of the virtue of self- castes to a bewildering multiplicity. mechanistic process of the formation duplication that is inherent in it. Any Thus is told the second tale in the of caste. It is mechanistic because innovation that seriously antagonises process of Caste formation in India. it is inevitable. That this line of the ethical, religious and social code approach, as well as the of the Caste is not likely to be [46] Now to summarise the main psychological one, to the explanation tolerated by the Caste, and the points of my thesis. In my opinion of the subject has escaped my recalcitrant members of a Caste are there have been several mistakes predecessors is entirely due to the in danger of being thrown out of the committed by the students of Caste, fact that they have conceived caste Caste, and left to their own fate which have misled them in their as a unit by itself and not as one without having the alternative of investigations. European students of within a System of Caste. The result being admitted into or absorbed by Caste have unduly emphasised the of this oversight or lack of sight has other Castes. Caste rules are role of colour in the Caste system. been very detrimental to the proper inexorable and they do not wait to Themselves impregnated by colour understanding of the subject matter make nice distinctions between kinds prejudices, they very readily and therefore its correct explanation. of offence. Innovation may be of imagined it to be the chief factor in I will proceed to offer my own any kind, but all kinds will suffer the the Caste problem. But nothing can explanation by making one remark same penalty. A novel way of be farther from the truth, and Dr. which I will urge you to bear thinking will create a new Caste for Ketkar is correct when he insists that constantly in mind. It is this : the old ones will not tolerate it. The “All the princes whether they that caste in the singular number noxious thinker respectfully called belonged to the so-called Aryan race, is an unreality. Castes exist only Guru (Prophet) suffers the same or the so-called Dravidian race, in the plural number. There is no fate as the sinners in illegitimate were Aryas. Whether a tribe or a such thing as a caste: There are love. The former creates a caste of family was racially Aryan or always castes. To illustrate my the nature of a religious sect and the Dravidian was a question which meaning: while making themselves latter a type of mixed caste. Castes never troubled the people of India, JANATA, July 17, 2016 13 until foreign scholars came in and Apart from its practical importance arrive at a serviceable truth. We began to draw the line. The colour the subject of Caste is an all- must, however, guard against of the skin had long ceased to be a absorbing problem and the interest approaching the subject with a bias. matter of importance” (History of aroused in me regarding its theoretic Sentiment must be outlawed from Caste, p. 82). Again, they have foundations has moved me to put the domain of science and things mistaken mere descriptions for before you some of the conclusions should be judged from an objective explanation and fought over them as which seem to me well founded, and standpoint. For myself I shall find as though they were theories of origin. the grounds upon which they may much pleasure in a positive There are occupational, religious etc., be supported. I am not, however, so destruction of my own ideology, as castes, it is true, but it is by no means presumptuous as to think them in any in a rational disagreement on a topic, an explanation of the origin of Caste. way final, or anything more than a which, notwithstanding many We have yet to find out why contribution to a discussion of the learned disquisitions, is likely to occupational groups are castes; but subject. It seems to me that the car remain controversial forever. To this question has never even been has been shunted on wrong lines, and conclude, while I am ambitious to raised. Lastly they have taken Caste the primary object of the paper is to advance a Theory of Caste, if it can very lightly as though a breath had indicate what I regard to be the right be shown to be untenable I shall be made it. On the contrary. Caste, as path of investigation, with a view to equally willing to give it up. I have explained it, is almost impossible to be sustained: for the (Continued on Page 6) difficulties that it involves are for any Muslim who opts of Islam and prosecuted for promoting enmity tremendous. It is true that Caste and preaches his new faith is death. between different religious groups rests on belief, but before belief His explanation: apostasy is the same (Section 153-A of IPC). comes to be the foundation of an as treason. institution, the institution itself needs Lastly, we appreciate Prime to be perpetuated and fortified. My The most disturbing thing about Minister Modi’s belated statement, study of the Caste problem involves Dr Zakir Naik and his ‘Peace TV’ “Preachers of hate and violence are four main points: (1) that in spite of is that his supremacist, exclusionary, threatening our society.” While the composite make-up of the Hindu divisive message is being lapped up making this statement we hope that population, there is a deep cultural by millions of gullible young the prime minister had not only Dr unity; (2) that caste is a parcelling Muslims well-educated in worldly Zakir Naik in mind but also some into bits of a larger cultural unit; (3) subjects but with little grounding in ministers and MPs of his own party that there was one caste to start with; Islam and the tolerant traditions and the numerous leaders from his and (4) that classes have become within it. sangh parivar. Castes through imitation and excommunication. The last thing that Indian Muslims – –Javed Anand and others who are already victims of prejudice, [47] Peculiar interest attaches to discrimination, Islamophobia, Janata Subscription the problem of Caste in India today; recurring communal violence – need as persistent attempts are being are the teachings of Zakir Naik. Annual Rs. : 260/- made to do away with this unnatural Instead of promoting communal Three Years : 750/- institution. Such attempts at reform, harmony he and his ‘Peace TV’ have Demand Draft / Cheque however, have aroused a great deal been promoting communal discord. of controversy regarding its origin, on as to whether it is due to the We appeal to all peace-loving Mumbai Bank conscious command of a Supreme Indians in general and Muslims in in favour of Authority, or is an unconscious particular to expose Zakir Naik’s real growth in the life of a human society agenda and warn Muslim youth to JANATA TRUST under peculiar circumstances. Those beware of his toxic theology. who hold the latter view will, I hope, D-15, Ganesh Prasad, find some food for thought in the We demand that Zakir Naik and Naushir Bharucha Marg, standpoint adopted in this paper. all other hate-mongers be probed Mumbai 400 007 14 JANATA, July 17, 2016 Justifying crime, order of the day

Valson Thampu

It’s true. Nothing afflicts us, obscenely wasteful lives in full view We must call these party except the ghost of our omissions and of a starving, impoverished people, retainers, ‘social climate-changers.’ commissions. We are tormented a crime and an insult? No, it’s “India Like in the environmental climate today by the demons we let loose shining”. change scenario, they are the yesterday. This is a hoary truth. It is unscrupulous agents of ‘social there in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Stealing kidneys from warming,’ who degrade our human unsuspecting patients and trucking ‘environment’. It is there in Shakespeare’s the harvest into the megabucks organ Macbeth in which the eponymous bazaar. Is it a crime? No, it is only a The alarming rise of crime - and hero realises, too late in the day, that stray lapse in medical ethics. When its metastasis through the body- the evil returns to plague its inventor. thousands of crores of rupees politic - is a function of this human It is there in our ancient wisdom that disappear overnight from degradation and ‘social warning.’ the consequences of a person’s evil nationalised banks, is it crime? No, Our society today is much like the deeds will plague his stock for it is a mystic process of creating grisly Uttarakhand forests, lacking generations. It is embedded in the “non-performing assets”. In an just a spark to go up in flames. doctrine of karma, with its inexorable incomprehensible way, our assets, transmission of karmic debt across though non-performing, are Forest fires kill. They kill the births. increasing! vulnerable. Those who degrade the environment and suck the last drop All this notwithstanding, we Let’s face it. We are infecting of moral sap from the social trunk, continue to pretend that we are every particle of life with crime. remain secure at a distance; whereas victims of forces external to us. As This is done by those who enjoy the Nirbhayas, the Jishas and the flies to wanton boys, wrote prestige and public visibility: the thousands in similar segments of Aeschylus, we are to the gods; they ‘opinion makers’. What has done vulnerability, pay with their life. kill us for their sport. In the language maximum harm to our society in of the common man, this delusion the recent years are the nationally We shall not make any progress in underlies the question, “Why me?” televised news hour programmes shackling the wild beast of crime so in which party spokespersons are long as we stay in denial of this reality. The scariest thing is not that given an eternity of time and Legislation of more draconian laws hideous acts of crime that erupt unfettered licence to justify cannot help or heal our society. It is from time to time. It is that the moral the unthinkable and the like trying to eradicate malaria by discernment, the sense and abominable. legislating that no patient shall betray sensitivity, to see crime as crime has symptoms of malaria, like chill and all but vanished. Is unleashing large No one minds that this has the rigor. The thing to do is to prevent the scale communal violence to win effect of socialising, legitimising and proliferation of mosquitos. elections a crime? We call it strategy. valourising crime. The BJP justifies Is corporate greed poisoning millions its corruption by alleging the The underprivileged emulate the of people to slow death a crime? Congress to have been equally ways of the privileged who seem to corrupt. The Congress returns the be licensed to get away with murder. No, better call it a sliver of compliment. All other parties too are Remember, for example, the corporate shrewdness. Is choking corrupt. The message that goes out Uttarakhand MLA who broke the leg the spirit of a nation through mega to the common man is, corruption of Shaktiman, with a lathi, snatched scams, a crime? No, it’s “system and crime are the norm. The proviso from a policeman on duty? Nayak failure.” Such loot is not real, we are is that you can enjoy immunity only and khalnayak merge into one under told. It’s only ‘notional.’ Is living if you are in power. the proscenium of power. JANATA, July 17, 2016 15

Amitabh Bachchan became “Big Zanjeer and to overleap the Deewar, at large in the social jungle. This B” - a larger than life character - by as the young Bachchan did. social equalisation of crime should splashing on the silver screen with spike a chill through our souls. In all unattached thespian skills, the lurid This could happen, half a century of this, let us not forget that those colours of rebellion, offering vicarious ago, only in the akhara of art. It is we deprecate today for their fulfilment to the masses. For the this that has now changed. And it is depravity are not the ones who let underling, to rebel is to behave like scary. Crime has been the genie out of the bottle, in the first the privileged. It is to break one’s democratised. It is on parole and now place. RBI's wrong advise RBI wrongly advises banks to to encourage banks/financial- Since credit-rating of any person/ submit data of defaulting borrowers institutions to evade ‘Right of body is personal information, CICs to Credit Information Companies Privacy’ of loan-seekers by sharing should rather give a royalty to them rather than to RBI. their details (often incorrect) with on income generated by CICs on Credit Information Companies sharing their information, apart from It refers to shocking response (CICs) which usually form data- providing copy free-of-cost to credit- from Reserve Bank of India (RBI) base of loan-seekers on basis of rated ones. It will make credit-rated revealing that RBI has advised wrong-doings of Direct Sales persons file corrections if so needed. banks/financial-institutions to submit Associates (DSAs) which lodge Union government has also reason data regarding defaulting borrowers loan-applications with too many to intervene because even public- to Credit Information Companies banks and NBFCs without sector banks rely on credit-ratings (CICs) and not to RBI from knowledge of loan-takers, thus provided by CICs, as also advised December 2014 onwards. adversely affecting credit-ratings of by RBI. loan-seekers. RBI-step is neither justified nor –Subhash Chandra Agrawal proper. It is significant to note that it has not so far complied with Supreme Court verdict dated 16.12.2015 in the After Karpoori Thakur’s successful period as Chief Minister, there matter ‘RBI vs PP Kapoor’ (Civil was a ghastly murderous happening at Arawal in 1985. I had retired 94 of 2015) where RBI has not so by December, 1985 Karpoori Ji asked Tarkunde Ji (PUCL leader) to far made public details of default in ask me to come to Patna to hold an enquiry. My committee’s other loans taken from public sector banks member was General Sinha, I was so embarrassed when I landed at by industrialists, out of the list of Patna to find Karpoori Ji personally there. I remonstrated with him defaulters, top 100 defaulters, names that he has been and now again was my leader and he should not of the businessmen, firm name, have come to the aerodrome. principal amount, interest amount, date of default and date of availing But more important was that before finalizing our report I told the loan etc. RBI is rather duty- Karpoori Ji that I would like to meet Director General Police and one bound in larger national and public or two others high officers to enquire about certain vital facts interest for getting information about concerning the enquiry, and that he may fix my appointment with loan-defaulters from banks to make those officers and I will go to their office to meet them. But Karpoori it public under ‘name and shame’ confidently said that they will come to meet me at the guest house policy to have an effective check on where I was staying. The next day those officers came the guest increasing loan-defaults. Banks house – this showed the respect he enjoyed amongst public that the should also be directed to put such officers (notwithstanding that there was another government) their lists on their respective websites. respect for him was continuing.

Considering lots of irregularities –Rajindar Sachar in mode of having database of loan- seekers, it is highly improper for RBI R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, July 17, 2016 Postal Registration No. MCW/275/2015-2017. License to Post without prepayment WPP License No. MH/Tech/WPP-210/West/2016 Published on Sunday, July 17, 2016 & Posted on Wedenesday July 20, 2016 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

An infrastructure company established since 1924

REGD. OFFICE :

New Excelsior Building, (3rd Floor), A. K. Nayak Marg, Fort, Mumbai 400 001. Tel.: 022 2205 1231 Fax : 022-2205 1232

Office : Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai & New Delhi Established 1946 Price : Rupees Five Pages 16

Vol. 71 No. 26 Let’s Await Court’s Ruling July 24, 2016 Kuldip Nayar

Land Reforms Should be There is a vast difference the country and abroad even today. Integral Part of Agricultural between perception and evidence. At that time the RSS elements were Development When Congress vice-president Rahul on the defensive and generally Bharat Dogra Gandhi says that the RSS is preferred to keep quiet. This only responsible for the assassination of confirmed the perception that the Is Superstition Limited to Mahatma Gandhi, he is conveying Mahatma was killed by Nathuram Hindus? the general perception. In fact, the Godse, a fanatic Hindu. K. S. Chalam then Home Minister Sardar Patel imposed a ban on the RSS which he I was working with an Urdu A World Gripped by the withdrew when the organization newspaper, Anjaam, then. We were Cancer of Terror gave in writing that it was only a all sitting at the office when the PTI Ram Puniyani cultural outfit. However, the teleprinter machine’s bell alerted for perception has remained till today. a flash. We rushed to the machine How Exactly Does the Indian The BJP, which is said to be a and the cryptic message was: Gandhi Media Define a Terrorist? political wing of the RSS, has always shot at! I wasted no time and went straight to the Birla House on my Shoaib Daniyal denied the charge. But there is no clinching evidence either with the scooter. My office was situated near BJP elements or those opposed to Jamma Masjid and I rode through Bhumi Adhikar Andolan it.. Darya Ganj area. The locality was calm and oblivious to the great When the party was in power at tragedy. the Centre—they ruled for more than 50 years—it could have published There was a wooden gate at Birla Editor : the intelligence reports or some other House and there was no security to documents to suggest that the stop any visitor. I went to the raised G. G. Parikh assassination was the doing of the platform where Gandhi’s body, Managing Editor : Guddi RSS. Nor did the BJP, when it was swathed in white khadi, was lying. in power, could release anything Lord Mountbatten, the last British D-15, Ganesh Prasad, which would remove the charge Viceroy, came after I had reached Naushir Bharucha Marg, once and for all. the venue. He saluted the body; both Mumbai - 400 007. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru What Rahul Gandhi has said was and Home Minister Patel, who Email : [email protected] the perception prevailing throughout followed him in the queue, were 2 JANATA, July 24, 2016 openly crying. The crowd had started Land Reforms Should be Integral swelling by then. Part of Agricultural Development The assassin, Godse, who did not escape was still there and surprisingly without any remorse. Bharat Dogra The Raj Path through which the cartage was carried, with Nehru One of the most unfortunate per cent in South Korea and 33 per and Patel sitting on either side, to aspects of agricultural policy in cent in Japan.” what is today called the Rajghat. recent times has been that land Ironically, Gandhi who had spread reforms have been almost entirely Thus it is clear that many the new philosophy of non-violence ignored and marginalized. Although countries which recorded very to the world was taken for his last no formal announcement has been significant increase in agricultural rites in a military vehicle which the made to this effect but for all production and productivity had first Mahatma would not have liked. practical purposes it is clear that the implemented land reforms on a largely unfinished agenda of land significant scale and secondly, it is Rahul Gandhi was not even born reforms is now being given up equally clear that the land reform then. But he had the privilege of almost entirely. This is highly efforts in India have been very being a scion of the family which regrettable as land reforms are not inadequate. It follows that more and gave its all to the national struggle. only an essential component of any stronger efforts in this direction He has every right to find fault agricultural development agenda would have been good not just for with the RSS and he is not a third based on justice and equality but in justice but also for increasing party to the entire episode of addition land reforms are also production and productivity; but this courage and sacrifice. The entire necessary for creating conditions in has been ignored. conspiracy to kill the Mahatma has which the full productive potential of been placed before the public, the most hard working sections of Instead it has been propagated though bit by bit. And there is no the peasantry can be properly falsely that when landless poor doubt that the RSS elements were realized. have been given land they have behind it. not used it productively. On the Summarising the experience of contrary this writer has met In a letter addressed to jailor the most important component of several beneficiaries of land Arjun Das at Ambala, where he was land reforms in India a former distribution efforts who worked detained, Godse confessed his hand distinguished Secretary of Rural very hard and with great creativity and had argued that the Congress Development in the Government of to obtain good harvests even from leaders at that time were weakening India S. R. Sankaran wrote,” … the the low quality land they were the country, making it an easy prey efforts of the central and state reluctantly given in some villages. for Pakistan. This was a flimsy governments to enact, revise and In other villages more powerful argument which did not go down well implement the ceiling laws, spread landowners put several obstacles with the public when the letter was over 35 years, resulted in the in their ability to cultivate the ultimately released. redistribution of only 1.25 per cent allotted land and spread the canard that these people just don’t want The dust of time has covered of the operational area.” to work. The more general many a footstep and it is very This seniormost official of rural experience has been that difficult to find out today who else development then went on to make wherever supportive conditions at the Nagpur headquarters of the a comparison with some other have been provided including some RSS had blessed the heinous countries which had achievedgood support to improve almost crime. This was probably the first progress in agriculture. He wrote,” uncultivable land and to provide crime committed in the name of …the extent of land redistributed some protective irrigation new ideology. Things have, however, was 43 per cent of agricultural land land allottees have given very (Continued on Page 3) in China, 37 per cent in Taiwan, 32 good results. JANATA, July 24, 2016 3

The International Labour their fields. The new land allottees remain without any land. Organisation estimated in a series can be the front rank contributors Communities based on equality and of studies that equal distribution of to a programme of environment justice are inherently more land has the potential of increasing regeneration which also enhances sustainable in the longer term food output by 10 per cent in the productivity of their newly although there may be some Pakistan, 28 per cent in Colombia acquired land and includes better disruption for some time which can and 80 per cent in north-eastern soil and water conservation as be handled with proper governance Brazil. The fact that small farms well improved irrigation and skills. Communities based on equality are more productive than large drainage. and justice are also inherently more farms has been confirmed by even capable of working together for the World Bank for Argentina, In addition more equal land protection of environment, Brazil, Thailand and some other distribution has the potential of regeneration of pastures and forests countries. The Food and Agriculture creating more stable rural and other important constructive Organisation of the United Nations communities compared to a situation tasks beneficial to the entire said more specifically in the context where a large number of people community. of India, “Redistribution of only 5% of farmland in India, coupled with (Continued from Page 2) improved access to water, could changed now because the described him as a running dog of reduce rural poverty levels by 30% atmosphere has been politicized imperialism. The communists under what they would be, so that and there are very few voices left, should make amends for their in Indian conditions land and water whose credibility is beyond mistakes and hang the picture the reform would be a key approach. “ reproach. The RSS is still riding the Mahatma at their headquarters in high horse and refusing to join Kolkata. Thus several studies confirm the issue. positive contribution that land My advice to the RSS and BJP reforms can make to both The fact that the matter has been is the same. Gandhi is an apostle increasing farm production and given to the party spokesman to of the marginalized and the reducing rural poverty. When food handle shows that the Congress is backward. He represented the production increases on the fields already making preparations for national struggle and India’s of the poorest sections then clearly diluting its stand. If it does so, the emancipation from the British. there are higher chances of party would lose the face, more so This is the point on which all the reducing hunger and malnutrition Rahul Gandhi, who is being political parties meet and they while improving food security.The projected to lead the party in the should have no hesitation in chances of organic and eco- next Lok Sabha elections. This is collectively recognizing the fact friendly agriculture also improve a tough case before the Supreme that Gandhi rolled up the 150 years with land reforms as poorer Court because it is going to be of foreign rule. farmers keen to use low cost damned if its verdict goes either in methods and at the same time favour of the Congress or the RSS. As for the allegations of Rahul willing to contribute more manual Gandhi, the Supreme Court has labour make important What saddens one is that the taken note of them. In the wake of improvements in composting and secular forces in the country are the court hearing, many skeletons other related technologies based on not marshalling their strength to may tumble out of the closet. Now making more productive use of face the biggest challenge to the that the Congress vice-president local natural resources. idea of India, democratic and anti- has refused to apologize—one can Enthusiastic first generation communal. The struggle for only hope that he will stick to his farmers who are cultivating their independence was for the ethos of statement—the fat is on fire and own land for the first time are likely pluralism and egalitarianism. Once the public may see an ideological to contribute with a lot of vigour to Gandhi was portrayed as a non- warfare in the court itself. Rahul repair and improvement of existing violent communist and he did not Gandhi is either made or marred. irrigation sources as well to the take any offence to the comment, emergence of new sources near although the communists had [email protected] 4 JANATA, July 24, 2016 Is Superstition Limited to Hindus?

K. S. Chalam

Karnataka state is in the news Practices and Black Magic Bill, 4 Reductio ad absurdum in a once again for all the wrong reasons 2016”, in detail and it seems no potential infinite - this time for differing on the consensus was reached due to proposed anti-superstition bill. difference of opinion on certain Oriental Reasoning Karnataka is perhaps one of the few practices. The discussion in the states in the country, may be a lone cabinet should have been made 1. 200 B.C. algebra: no formalisation region that has been championing the public to initiate a debate in the cause of reason and rationality not country on an important national 2. Positional system, matrices only during the modern period, but issue that involves the prospects of (system of the rods) also for the last more than a our ethos and the constitutional millennium in this part of the country. provision to promote scientific 3. Solving equations by means of The revolt initiated by Basava, a temper. I am told that there are algebraic manipulations with the traditional Brahmin, against the several reasonable individuals even strategies: i) making equals, ii) inhuman and barbarous practices, in the Hindu Parivar who could making homogeneous, iii) particularly in relation to caste and support this if a public debate is research for fundamental the solution provided by him against organised. In fact, the issue is so algorithms. the caste prejudices had eventually porous that the debate within the ended with him to vanish in oblivion cabinet and in informal circles was 4. Existing infinity of operations or might have been butchered by the perhaps confined to the practices that The basic point is that “the sanatana dharma purveyors. are by tradition related to the lower aspirations of ancient Greek tradition Therefore, one need not be surprised castes while the practices of the represented by Euclid, which to learn that the conflict between upper castes, sanskritised sudras, the proposed deducing all mathematics orthodox barbarians and followers of converted elite are not touched at all. from a single set of indemonstrable reason in the present Karnataka in I think this is the crux of the problem but evident axioms, were not shared the episodes of Kalburgi, Dabolkar, of not being able to arrive at a by the Chinese at least until the Pansare are not new. In fact the consensus on defining what is modern age. In China, as a matter intellectual influence of the present superstition? of fact, the goal was not axiomatic- state of Karnataka was not confined deductive demonstration, but to its present boundaries, it had a The Western or occidental gathering unifying principles from all wide spectrum of whole of the South reasoning is different from Oriental of mathematics.” Though the article including the Deccan (Maharashtra). orientation. I have come across a is related to comparison of Greek Therefore, the entire country is recent study on the differences and Chinese traditions to represent looking for a solution to come out of between these two systems of Occidental or Western, and Oriental superstitions through the proposed reasoning in mathematics, the simple or Asian, the Chinese example is to bill, though there are states that approach for scientific reasoning, and a large extent true in the case of passed acts against superstition to the authors classified the two India. We had a tradition of show off that they are modern, but systems briefly as follows: materialism not only in the so-called encourage myths in practice. Dr Lokayata or Charvaka schools of Narasimhaiah and several others in Occidental Reasoning Brahminical thought, but the Karnataka have laid the foundation doctrines of Ajivikas who were the for the present bill. 1. 1200 algebra: no formalisation pre-Jain-Buddhist sects (see A. L. 2. Paradigm of geometry, Equations The Siddaramaiah Cabinet Basham) that had deep roots in the discussed, “ Karnataka Prevention 3. Aprioristic formulas that hide the native Indian epistemology. The and Eradication of Human Sacrifices processes, favouring, with the native Indian episteme was different and other Inhuman Evil and Aghori result, determinism from the alien or Aryan. In fact the JANATA, July 24, 2016 5 alien practices were rooted in the It is very easy to dismiss the cult intellectuals who are critical about Sumerian soil and had a direct practices of the lower castes as other faiths do not look at the influence on the pre-Abrahamic and “sigh of the oppressed”. But, they superstitions like no. 13, wine as Brahmic (Vedic) religious pantheon have been in existence since much blood of Jesus, faith healing, that carry some remote memories in before the emergence of pre-class remarriage, contraceptives, beliefs in the epics. That is why it is said that society and are being used as devils, Satan, etc.The Muslims do Christianity had a hidden Vedanta identity, though the core of it was also believe in the same practices as and Hindu and Islamic faiths had in appropriated by the Brahminical or that of Christians and have their common several heretical practices. Sanskritised Hinduism and are being superstitions about certain numbers, The Hindu bug on the net in recent treated with respect. Similarly the black cat, biting nails, glass breaking times produces blogs to show that Abrahamic and Brahmic (Vedic) as good omen, owl as bad (some Islam and Christianity had derived faiths have several beliefs that are may be typical to India) etc. We may their theology from Vedas. In a way common and touted as spiritual as also find comparable beliefs among they are arriving at the idea of long as they are practiced by the the Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs and Vasudhaivakutumbakam to justify elite. The Christian missionaries in others. In fact all the faiths including their hegemony. This is fabulous. their strategy to attract the lower Brahminical Hinduism believe in Then why is it that the practices of castes deliberated and found that the horoscopes, date of birth, paying the lower castes alone are subjected lower castes have certain strong huge money as zakat/donation to to scrutiny and the beliefs, traditions beliefs that should be made places of worship, etc. Not all and customs, while old callous blasphemous and superstitious so customs of the alien faiths are dogmas of the elite are either that the space created can be filled unscrupulous and superstitious; respected or preserved? with Jesus (see Henry Whitehead). some are institutionalised for the They have started belittling the betterment of the society. The point Interestingly, very few of the traditional practices of the is that there are several such modern rationalist or western untouchables as superstition and practices among the lower castes (including Christian rationalists) new persuaded some of them to convert. that were used in the past as norms atheist thinkers including a section The Hindu, Muslim and other alien and practices of a traditional society of the dialectical materialists never faiths have never resisted the at its primitive stage or proto- looked at the literature produced by treachery. In fact they are together scientific stage have remained with great scholars like D. P. in denouncing the Native Indian them as residuals as the believers Chattopadhyay, N. N. Bhattachrya, traditions. The practice, it is reported were considered as untouchables. A. L. Basham - to name few. is still prevalent in Andhra Pradesh The Pambalas of Telangana is a Nevertheless, the literary and it is alleged that majority of the classic example: how their attire, interpretations of D. D. Kosambi did SCs and some artisans are living conditions, etc, have remained not enhance our understanding of the converted and the dalit leadership the same from the time of Tantrism continuous existence of cults of lament that the masses are not till to date. lower classes. In a way the present available for any social movement, trend demonstrates the alleged except their leaders. In the Muslim The mainstream society never presence of the kind of discrimination dominated Kerala districts, the looked at the customs of the locals and deceit against the native belief/propaganda that vaccines are with understanding except smuggling traditions even in the intellectual essentially haram took away the life some that are used for therapeutic exercises of modern India. All of us of Mohammad Afzaz(14) who was practices in the name of Ayurveda, who are trained in the traditions of not allowed the administration of Yunani, etc. A few years ago there “rational man” are guilty of vaccine for diphtheria, is being was huge hue and cry reportedly by neglecting this very important and reported in the media as victim of the so-called Brahminical professors foundational tradition of India. Now, superstition today. The so-called against the method used by a lower the debate on the Karnataka godless Dravidian movement seems caste person called Ramar Pillai in superstition bill has opened a new to be in distress in this respect. Tamil Nadu, who claimed to have vista into the cosmos of life and living produced petrol from leaves. As he conditions of the poor and the Interestingly, the so-called rational was subjected to several elite tests wretched of India. missionaries including those which he never knew, it was alleged 6 JANATA, July 24, 2016 that the gentleman resorted to all by the Brahmin or elite in the places to open a debate on the topic, the kinds of tricks to prove it and we all of worship are touted as rational or note is sent despite some have forgotten about it by now. But, core of the faith. This is simply double infirmities on references.) the mainstream scientists have standard or mockery. (This is only drawn massive grants to experiment [email protected] with Jatropha plant as an alternative source of petrol. The point here is that the kind of traditional practices including some of the belief systems A World Gripped by the Cancer of Terror based on the living conditions of the lower castes were never studied Ram Puniyani scientifically and rationally to weed the grass from grain. Now after the The current times are very growth of Islamist extremism in advent of the ICT and media, we are disturbing as so many innocent lives Bangladesh can be easily traced now watching in almost all the are being lost and social resources back to the Jamaat-e-Islami (JEB) channels whether religious or secular, being destroyed due to the dastardly and its militant student wing, Islami telling us about the rationale behind phenomenon of terror. To cap it all, Chhatra Shibir. the so-called upper caste or elite this phenomenon has been linked to beliefs. A separate social class and religion in the popular perception. Just What connects these diverse huge infrastructure and trillions of during last two weeks (July 2016) destructive phenomena? At the rupees are behind such we witnessed with horror the surface it seems these are the arrangements. It does not mean that massacre of 49 people at the Pulse manifestations of Islamic terrorism, we should use the so-called post- club in Orlando, US. This deadly as the phrase has become popular modernist, instrumental rationality to incident had two interpretations, one since 2001 after the 9/11 tragedy. If justify all nonsense. Instrumental that it is an act of Jihadi terror and we go slightly deeper we can discern rationality is often seen as a specific two it was prompted by a man some clear strands of very different form of rationality using reason as a gripped by homophobia. One of the underlying pathologies operating in tool, focusing on the most efficient commentators pointed out, “It turns each of these. The one in Orlando or cost-effective means to achieve out that he may have been motivated has a lot to do with the prevalent gun a specific end, but not in itself by both homophobia and Islamic culture in US. and has woken up the reflecting on the value of that end. radicalism…Terrorism or law makers to the prevalent norms Horkheimer argues that instrumental homophobia? The answer is yes. of possession of the gun. While this rationality plays a key role in the Both.” may be most horrific of such cases, oppressive industrial culture similar ones at lesser intensity have of capitalism as it doesn’t bother In another incident 119 people been occurring in US off and on about the evil effects or negative were killed in Baghdad blast by unrelated to the Islamic terrorism so impact on society. I am not saying Islamic State. to say. In case of Baghdad mostly it here that some of those who are is the one related to the Islamic State. critical about the superstitions are In Bangladesh on 1st July 28 subjecting the practices of the lower people were killed. Those who lost As far as the case of Bangladesh castes with instrumental rationality, their lives were identified as terror is concerned this seems to be but I feel that we should look at the foreigners. There are some reports a continuation of the terrorism which practices pragmatically within the that the terrorists belonged to Jamaat has roots in the fundamentalist social and historical background of Ul Mujahideen and were not streaks in Bangladesh politics. Such India. Otherwise, it would amount to affiliated with Islamic State. One terror acts have been stalking another kind of discrimination and commentator points out that ISIS Bangladesh since quite some time, disgrace meted out to the socially and the Al Qaeda are currently manifested in the murders of disadvantaged, if only the Aghori engaged in a fierce competition progressive-secular liberal bloggers and other practices of the lower across our sub-continent aiming to and Hindus. This has indigenous castes are critiqued while astrology, outdo each other in spreading their origin to which the present regime palmistry, numerology, etc practiced terror tentacles. But the malignant had turned a blind eye and violence JANATA, July 24, 2016 7 came to the fore in this dastardly in Pakistan and brought in the cover to enhance their political goals. way due to the failure of the state Maulana Wahab’s version of Islam. Recognizing this may be a major step and society to curb the rising Here the major focus is killing the in combating terrorism, and make it fundamentalist trends in politics. infidel (kafir) as a part of jihad. In clear that it is political agenda Currently in many countries of South this variety the central focus is on masquerading as religion. Asia the militancy has origins in violence against those differing with fundamentalism-communalism as the dominant groups. It had a reason; [email protected] seen prominently in Pakistan, as they wanted to fight communism, Bangladesh and India among others. Soviet occupation of Afghanistan Chau khamba Raj and so the killing of infidel. If we In Pakistan fundamentalist see the case of Pakistan one can see Prominent intellectuals and doctrine was given the official status the Islamization of Pakistan during leaders from Delhi and all over during Zia Ul Haq’s regime. To get Zia’s regime getting a continuum Punjab participated in a state the cover for his dictatorial through the Al Qaeda variety taking level function on July 14, on ambitions he resorted to alliance over later, and Al Qaeda in turn laid Chau-khamba raj, a concept with feudal forces and Mullahs and the ideological foundations of Islamic propounded by Dr. brought in the doctrines of Maulana State. Hillary Clinton clarified the Rammanmohar Lohia, at Maududi (Deoband Islam). This is US role very succinctly. There is Hoshiarpur organised under the what is referred to as Islamization adequate reference to show that US stewardship of Balwant Singh of Pakistan. The focus of this was has been supporting the terrorist Khera ,vice president Socialist to push back the civic social norms groups in more ways than one. Party(India). around the Sharia as interpreted by Maududi; the focus was to bring in So two strands of terrorist actions While addressing the function feudal conservative values, are creating havoc in contemporary prominent sociologist Prof. suppression of women and of civil times. One has the motive of Anand Kumar said that the liberties. In India the politics in the restoring the pre-modern values as concept of four pillars name of religion manifested more in seen in the case of Pakistan (inspired governance ushering in village the form of communalism, by Maulana Maududi), Bangladesh level government found its communal violence, where the (similar variety), India (Hindutva) and echo in late Prime Minister religious minorities have been the in Myanmar and Srilanka as well. Rajiv Gandhi’s 73rd and 74th victim. The extreme form of this The latter have used particular constitutional amendments for ideology manifested in organizations interpretation of Buddhism. The empowering PR upholding Hindutva ideology which other has its support system derived have been alleged to be responsible from the global politics of oil control. –B.S. Balli for the acts of terror in Malegaon, The tragedy is that both these Makka Masjid (Hyderabad), Ajmer varieties draw their foundation and and Samjhauta Express. The legitimacy in the name of religion, Janata Subscription communal-fundamentalist ideology particularly Islam. Religion has many is an attempt to restore pre-modern, streams, like Islam has Sufi as well Annual Rs. : 260/- feudal values of birth based as Wahabi tendencies and Hinduism Three Years : 750/- hierarchy of caste/class and gender has Bhakti and Brahmanism. US in the garb of Sharia law or glorious picked up Wahabi version for political Demand Draft / Cheque traditions of the past, presented as goals in West Asia, Zia had picked on religion. up Maududi for strengthening Mumbai Bank dictatorship, Hindu nationalism- in favour of Terrorism related to Al Qaeda- Hindutva has picked up neo- Islamic state variety has its roots in Brahmanism, for its own political JANATA TRUST the politics of oil control in which the agenda. Various streams of religion policies of United State has played do prevail as such but become D-15, Ganesh Prasad, a major role. It is the policy of US dominant only when propped up by Naushir Bharucha Marg, which funded the Madrassas based political forces which can use that Mumbai 400 007 8 JANATA, July 24, 2016 How Exactly Does the Indian Media Define a Terrorist?

Shoaib Daniyal

On July 10, India woke up to either by Arnab Goswami-esque Pisacane was clear that as a tool of startling pictures of massive crowds jingoism and/or India’s highly troubled revolutionary instruction, violence at the funeral of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen relationship with Kashmir. was a far better teacher for commander Burhan Wani in Tral, the masses than a book or a Kashmir. History of the word “terrorism” speech.

The disconnect between Kashmir There are few words in the The first group to take up and the rest of India was captured English-language which have had as Pisacane’s ideas were the Russian by the fact that even as Wani was a tumultuous a life as “terrorism”. In revolutionaries, Narodnaya Volya figure of mass adulation in the Valley, fact, the word didn’t even start its (literally, “people’s will”). Using the large sections of the Indian media life in English but in French where doctrine of the “propaganda of the had described him as a “terrorist” the regime de la terreur was a label deed”, the organisation assassinated as it had reported on his killing by adopted by the new French state to prominent people – including the Tsar Indian security forces on July 8. establish order after the first himself in 1881 – in order to spur a uprisings of the French Revolution mass revolt against the Russian This included the Times of India, in 1789. The first avatar of the word monarchy. Between 1881 and 1914 Times Now as well as NDTV–even “terrorism” was therefore almost other assassinations inspired by as the Telegraph, Indian Express completely different from its modern Pisacane’s ideas, often undertaken and Business Standard stuck to the meaning. by libertarian anarchists, were King plain vanilla “militant”. Umberto I of Italy, King Carlos I of Firstly, it was applied to the Portugal and King George I of How these respective functioning of a state, whereas today Greece. organisations differentiated between it is used to almost always describe a “terrorist” and a “militant” was non-state actors. Even more Note that while the terrorists till unclear and undefined. strikingly, at the time, it had decidedly today subscribe to the “propaganda positive connotations. The of the deed” – using violence as a This might seem like hair splitting “terrorism” of the French state was way to shock – they differed starkly around semantics but it’s actually far pressed into ideals that many would with most anarchists of that period deeper than that – even if this is a today consider the foundations of the in their goals. Like the French discussion that’s not been had in modern world: Liberté, égalité and Revolution, the anarchists of the time India. fraternité. Given this connotation, the subscribed to ideas such as state used it as a badge of honour democracy or human rights, which “Terrorism” and “terrorist” are with revolutionary leader Maximilien would generally be viewed as words laden with value judgment, de Robespierre proclaiming that, positive today, and used “terrorism” used often by political players as a “terror is nothing but justice, prompt, to combat autocratic regimes. means of getting their own message severe and inflexible; it is therefore Consequently, “terrorism” was and viewpoint across. In reality, there an emanation of virtue.” mostly a value-neutral term are few definitions of the word describing a type of action rather “terrorist” accepted across the In its more modern form, as a than something pejorative. It is in this board. Indeed, it is for this reason tool used by people against the context that Indian revolutionaries that a number of global publications state, terrorism traces itself to an such as Bhagat Singh have strict guidelines on how to use Italian revolutionary called Carlo are called ”terrorists”. In fact, in its the term. In India, however, few Pisacane who in 1857 theorised the 1929 manifesto, Bhagat Singh’s press outlets seem to have rules “propaganda of the deed”. Holding party the Hindustan Socialist about the T-word and much of its actions, and not ideas, to be the Republican Association was quite use in the country, it seems, is driven driving force of human civilisation, open to admitting that “terrorism” JANATA, July 24, 2016 9 was a part of its policy to pull down the violent act is regarded in a more definitions of the act involve attacks the British Raj. sympathetic, if not positive (or, at the on civilian targets but sections of the worst, an ambivalent) light; and it is Indian media consistently use the Civilians in the firing line not terrorism”. term “terrorism”/”terrorists” to also describe cases of military targets Post World War II, revolutionary Global media being attacked. nationalists such as the Irish Republican Army, Jewish Zionist, Given this vagueness, many global In Kashmir, for example, sections Palestinians and Sri Lankan Tamils media outlets are reluctant to use the of the Indian media have consistently would use techniques similar to the term “terrorist”, preferring more described attacks on military Anarchists but with one crucial banal -– and unambiguous – words installations as “terrorism”. For a difference -– now mass civilian such as “gunman”, “bomber” or November, 2015 attack on an Indian causalities were also involved. This “militant”. “There is no agreed Army base in Kashmir, is, of course, how modern terrorism consensus on what constitutes a while NDTV, Times Now and is defined. This change also made terrorist or terrorist act,” the BBC the Times of India described the the word a pejorative one. Post lays out in a guide for its reports. attackers as “terrorists”, Reuters World War II, there are few self- “The use of the word will frequently and The Telegraph in contrast, stuck described terrorists. involve a value judgement.” It goes to “gunmen” and “militants”. on to add: In the modern-age, “terrorism” as Yet, even with respect to attacks a term has famously avoided a The word “terrorist” itself can be on Indian security forces, there common definition – Saudi Arabia a barrier rather than an aid to seems to be no consistency. In even defines atheists as “terrorists”. understanding. We should convey to Manipur, for example, attacks on The US State Department goes by our audience the full consequences Indian forces have been reported this: “premeditated, politically of the act by describing what by NDTV, Times Now and the Times motivated violence perpetrated happened. We should use words of India using the word “militant”. against noncombatant targets by which specifically describe the The value-laden term “terrorist”, it subnational groups or clandestine perpetrator such as “bomber”, seems, is easier to abjure when the agents”. The academic and “attacker”, “gunman”, “kidnapper”, location isn’t Kashmir. terrorism expert Bruce Hoffman has “insurgent”, and “militant”. We a five-part test: violence for political should not adopt other people’s Meaningless words goals, aims to influence a broader language as our own; our audience, involves an organised responsibility is to remain objective In his sparkling 1946 essay group, targets civilians and carried and report in ways that enable our Politics and the English Language, out by a non-state actor. audiences to make their own British writer George Orwell assessments about who is doing criticises the use of what he calls No matter the definition, what to whom. “meaningless words”: “terrorism” as a term is a highly pejorative one today and used by Many other organisations agree The word Fascism has now no political players to tar their with the BCC. Reuters calls the meaning except in so far as it opponents. “The decision to call word “terrorism” and “terrorism” signifies ‘something not desirable’. someone or label some organisation “emotive words” and advises The words democracy, socialism, “terrorist” becomes almost reporters to not use them unless freedom, patriotic, realistic, unavoidably subjective, depending quoting someone in direct speech. justice have each of them several largely on whether one sympathises different meanings which cannot be with or opposes the person/group/ Indian media’s use of the term reconciled with one another. In the cause concerned,” explains Bruce case of a word like democracy, not Hoffman. “If one identifies with the The Indian media, though, seems only is there no agreed definition, but victim of the violence, for example, to have no fixed guidelines on the the attempt to make one is resisted then the act is terrorism. If, however, issue and the word “terrorism” is from all sides. It is almost universally one identifies with the perpetrator, used without any consistency. Most felt that when we call a country 10 JANATA, July 24, 2016 democratic we are praising it: Bhumi Adhikar Andolan consequently the defenders of every kind of regime claim that it is a democracy, and fear that they might Three-day long national State to find political solution, have to stop using that word if it were convention of the Bhumi Adhikar promote democratic processes and tied down to any one meaning. Andolan was held at Gujarat undertake peace initiatives in wake Words of this kind are often used in Vidyapeeth, Ahmedabad on July 16- of provocations by the non-state a consciously dishonest way. That 18, 2016 in the wake of the actors. is, the person who uses them has his increased attack of the global capital own private definition, but allows his unleashed by brazen corporatisation The convention agreed that it was hearer to think he means something and unbridled FDI in key sectors after a long drawn struggle and quite different. resulting into high price rise, sacrifice that the Land Acquisition inflation, and naked loot of the Act 1894 was repealed and new “Terrorism” is, of course, exactly natural resources by corporates, all Land Acquisition Act was legislated the sort of “meaningless word” that facilitated by the policies of the in 2013 by the Parliament. Although Orwell railed against, used not for Union government and certain state there were inadequacies in it, it had its lexical meaning but to serve governments. The convention was some progressive elements like the various political agendas. attended by more than 500 activists principle of prior informed consent, of 15 states who dwelled on the Social Impact Assessment, In most cases, the Indian media on-going struggles in their regions; safeguards for food security, uses it either to suit the purposes of ground situation of the alliance enhanced compensation etc that the state or various nationalist building processes; centre and state gave some protection to land losers narratives. The sharp difference governments attempt at subverting and dependents on land. However, between the way it is used when democratic processes by changing after the Narendra Modi-led BJP Muslims/Kashmir are involved laws and issuing notifications and government came to power it versus other instances such as the obsession of the political elite with brought a draconian Land North-East also points to a subtle the current GDP based growth Acquisition Amendment Ordinance anti-Muslim bias. model. It discussed the unfolding that tried to do away with the need situation at various levels where the to seek consent, have SIA or The nationalist pressure on the precariousness of the nature safeguard food security and allowed Indian media is, of course, apparent resource based communities was for unbridled forcible land and, in the case of Burhan Wani’s increasing and life of toiling workers acquisition. death, has even been written about and masses was becoming harder by journalist Rajdeep Sardesai. As everyday, as the impact of 25 years The united issue-based opposition Sardesai explains, even in Britain of the reforms becomes visible built against the BJP Government’s during the 1983 UK-Argentina everywhere and inequality in the move to impose the draconian Falklands War, the BBC came society reachess its zenith. Ordinance (promulgated thrice) had under intense pressure to appear forced the Government to withdraw more patriotic. However, at the The Convention also took note of the move at least temporarily. time, the organisation resisted, with the massive unrest in the society Bhoomi Adhikar Andolan played a director general John Birt caused by the economic hardships significant role in building up a reaffirming that the BBC was not faced by the society and in particular momentum and public opinion an “extension of the political dalits, adivasis and marginal against the Ordinances. The authority”. Its first journalistic communities. It also discussed the Government had to concede its first commitment was to the truth, not to growing attack on the minorities and defeat by not issuing the Ordinance the nation state – a principle that the sense of insecurity; massive political for the fourth time. The withdrawal Indian media has unfortunately not unrest in certain parts of the country of the Bill from the Parliament is stuck to when using the terms demanding reservation for certain still pending and we must remain “terrorism” and “terrorist”. caste groups; and rights violations of vigilant about it. the people in conflict areas due to –Scroll.in heavy militarisation and failure of the Building on this political victory, JANATA, July 24, 2016 11 the convention deliberated upon Large tracts of land are being them by all means. 15th December, plethora of issues facing the country forcibly acquired in the name of 2016 will mark tenth anniversary of and made these observations, industrial corridors, economic the FRA and Bhumi Adhikar assertions, and put forth demands corridors, smart cities, National Andolan will organise massive rally upon the government and also for its Investment and Manufacturing at Jantar Mantar with clear demand own constituency: Zones, (NIMZ), SEZs, industries and of effective implementation of the infrastructure development. Lakhs Act and challenge any attempts at 1. No forced acquisition and of acres are under the potential threat amending the Act. displacement: Keeping in view the of acquisition under the DMIC, nation-wide build-up against its BMIC Economic Corridor, 3. Bring a national Land attempts to dilute the 2013 Act and Bangalore-Chennai Economic Use Policy to protect farm land withdraw whatever little progressive Corridor, Vishakapatam–Chennai from large scale diversion to non- content and safeguards the Act Coastal Corridor and such Projects. agricultural purpose like offered, the BJP Government has Loot of land, mineral and forest industry and infrastructure, changed its strategy. It has come up resources as well as common prioritise housing rights for poor with a move to try and sidestep such property resources have been in the urban land-use and not united opposition by calling upon rampant as the corporates and land promote evictions and States to come up with land mafia have been given a free hand. displacement in name of Smart acquisition legislations facilitating Cities: A comprehensive Land Use easy land grab. Already Gujarat have We envisage protecting land from policy should be made which legislated laws like SIR Act and other acquisition without people’s prior protects farm land from large scale to dilute the Land Reforms informed consent and democratic conversion for non-agricultural legislations and facilitate land grab. Social Impact Assessment. Plunder purpose, with clear regulation and In Odisha, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, of forest and mineral resources will public participation. Priority should Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and other be resisted. We also envisage be given to food security and States also such moves are afoot. occupation of lands remaining livelihood security, focusing not only Odisha also is now planning to allow unutilised and demand re-distribution on irrigated multiple-crop land but purchase of Tribal land. On the other to landless with the slogan of also single-crop land in rainfed areas hand it is declaring traditional forest ‘Zameen Wapsi’. which form 60% of cultivated area. cultivators and tribals as land Gram Sabha and Panchayat should grabbers. 2. Empower local self have control over the utilization of government institutions and public lands which serve common The interim period from their role in Development purpose such as grazing, with clear December 2014 to August 2015 when Planning, implement Forest provisions to ensure access and use the Land Acquisition Ordinance was Rights Act, PESA and ensure by the most needy communities such in place Andhra Pradesh government protection of constitutional rights as Dalits and tribals. In some cities, managed to acquire thousands of as per the Fifth and Sixth agricultural and livestock rearing has acres of land in the name of the State Schedules: We believe effective been banned, facilitating easy Capital and several other Projects implementation of the provisions for conversion of land use, this needs to through land pooling. Rights of the FRA and PESA would empower be changed. peasantry and dependents on land the Gram Sabhas and Panchayats to have been disregarded across the play their constitutionally mandated No common land including country. In all these legislations the role, as per 73rd and 74th amendment, wasteland be diverted for industrial rights of Dalits and Adivasis are in the development planning and purposes without the consent of the being undermined. The rights of the communities would get control over Gram and Basti Sabha. Most often Narmada Dam oustees as well as natural resources and secure their these are being encroached upon by hundreds of other Projects are being livelihoods. Any attempt at the the powerful caste and capital denied and there have not been any subversion of these acts will only interests and State has turned blind effective rehabilitation and undermine the democratic processes eye to them, often acting only against resettlement. and people’s movements will resist the poor, dalits and adivasis. 12 JANATA, July 24, 2016

Clear provisions should be made PCPIR and so on trampling upon the landlessness is rising, allocation for for reclamation of wasteland into rights of the traditional fishworkers. MGNREGA is being drastically cut, agricultural land, protection of green All this would lead to massive farmers are not getting cover to prevent soil erosion, displacement and permanent denial remunerative prices for their degradation and groundwater of land rights of the landless. Lakhs products despite ever increasing depletion, and improving agricultural of acres of land acquired in the name costs of production. sugarcane land to make it more suitable for of industrialisation, SEZs etc is farmers are to get thousands of effective production. Coastal land remaining unutilised. crores of arrears from the and fragile areas such as Western corporate sugar lobby. Trade Ghats should be protected applying 5. Ban illegal mining, liberalisation and indiscriminate entry the environmental laws and ensure inter generational parity into Free Trade Agreements is regulations. in resource utilisation, and leading to dumping of cheap implement SC guidelines in Goa agricultural products including dairy Urban land-use should be Foundation case: The scourge of products thereby pushing our planned with priority to housing, illegal mining is haunting the farmers into distress. Procurement amenities and livelihood for the poor hinterland as well as the river beds facilities are being curtailed, with in-situ housing projects for poor and sea coasts, polluting water extension services systematically localities. There should be no cut- sources, running streams, and dismantled and farmers are getting off date for Right to Shelter, causing massive damage to ecology prices far below the actual cost of whereas appropriate cut-off dates and economy both. The rampant production. can be designated for government mining and extractives based allotted subsidized housing including economic growth model is leading to 7. MSPs should be declared middle class. Urban Land Ceiling destruction of the nature and mother at 50% above cost of cultivation. Acts should be revived. Land-use earth and contributing to the large Ensure that farmers get MSP in planning should be participatory with scale climate change. Hence, the all 25 crops through public hearings in communities need for no mining in ‘No-Go’ areas procurement, market above 3000 families. (and build upon this criteria), dense intervention and price forests and climate sensitive forests guarantee: The BJP Government In the name of Smart Cities, poor areas. has gone back on its election promise and working class is being evicted of providing Minimum Support from the cities and that needs to be 6. Address agrarian crisis, Prices according to Swaminathan stopped. The whole concept of smart implement SC judgement on Commission Recommendation of cities like its predecessor JNURM tackling draught, ensure income C2+50% i.e at least 50 percent is anti-poor and pro-corporate. Any security for every agricultural above Cost of Production and had planning has to be done keeping in household, and establish a filed an affidavit to that effect in mind the needs of the most permanent Farmers’ Income Supreme Court. It has also banned marginalised and working classes in Commission: Over 3.2 lakh procurement from States which the cities. farmers have committed suicide provide bonus over and above the since 1995 at the rate of one farmer MSP. The Government is kowtowing 4. Changes to Environment committing suicide every half an to diktats of the USA, EU and other Laws not acceptable: Based on the hour according to conservative countries in the WTO and cutting recommendations of the T S R estimates put forward by the down food and agricultural subsidies. Subramanian Committee, National Crime Records Bureau. In The entire agricultural policy is to aid environment laws are also being reality the human tragedy is of a profiteering by seed monopolies and changed to suit the demands of magnitude unheard of in the entire agribusinesses at the expense of the corporate sector and take away the history of humanity. The people. The Bhoomi Adhikar rights of the people and local self- Government is cutting down public Andolan stands opposed to all such government institutions. Slums are investment for agriculture and rural policies and will strive for alternative being forcibly cleared and even development, rural credit is policies that will ensure food and coastal land is being encroached increasingly inaccessible to poor and livelihood security to all as well as upon for ports, big infra projects, marginal farmers, indebtedness and decent standard of living including JANATA, July 24, 2016 13 housing, health and education. in leaving out a big chunk of support from the government. We Bhoomi Adhikar Andolan stands population, which is often due to demand that the allocation to the resolutely against unequal Free systems inefficiency and denies a MGNREGA be increased to ensure Trade Agreements, WTO diktats, large number of poor and vulnerable 300 days work and 300 Rs wages trade liberalisation and against any population access to their daily. In addition, to deal with the such monopolistic deals with other entitlements. farm labour crisis due to high countries. migration recognise agriculture, as 9. Rights of Tenant a work should be brought within the 8. Implement Land farmers, Sharecroppers and MGNREGA, that way the workers Reforms–Give land to landless Women farmers should be and farmers both would benefit. In agricultural workers not upheld. The real cultivators addition, a number of suggestions and corporates: There should be should get full recognition and guidelines have been issued by the renewed focus on land reforms to benefit of all support systems: Supreme Court of India to give ownership of land to deprived Tenant farmers, sharecroppers and effectively deal with the draught sections, especially Dalits, adivasis, women farmers are the worst- situation in the country. women, project-displaced families, affected in the agrarian distress in Unfortunately, the implementation by and so on. Ceiling limits should be many parts of the country, because this by the Union and State properly enforced stopping the they get left out of all government governments has been extremely exemptions and loopholes allowing support systems including low- poor and tardy. thousands of acres to be taken over interest bank loans, disaster by a few individuals and corporates, compensation, crop insurance, With the growing precariousness and making surplus land available for subsidies, etc. They are the real and distress time has come that the distribution. cultivators not only working hard but Minimum Wages Act be mandatorily also taking the risks of production applicable to the agricultural Ensure Food Sovereignty and – tenant farmers and sharecroppers labourers as well. In addition, on lines Food Security and sort out the cultivate more than 30% of the area, of the Social Security Act for the massive corruption within the and women perform 70% of tasks construction workers should also be Food Distribution System: Food in agriculture. Their rights should be implemented for the agrarian security doesn’t mean giving upheld. There should be a workers. subsidised food alone but comprehensive system of recording empowering communities to produce and recognizing the real cultivators 11. Comprehensive support their own food and securing land including tenant farmers, for shift from high-input chemical rights which will make them self- sharecroppers and women farmers, agriculture to low-external-input reliant. In that regard it is also so that they get the benefit of all ecologically sustainable important that farmers have government support systems and agriculture: One of the biggest complete control over the seeds and eligibility for all provisions in case of causes of the crisis is the model of the systems of production and not land acquisition. The Model high-input chemical agriculture be made slaves to the big Tenancy Act by Niti Ayog must be promoted in the past few decades – multinationals claiming their IPRs. withdrawn. leading to indebtedness, damage to No company should be allowed soil fertility, declining productivity, exclusive intellectual property rights 10. Rights of the Agrarian depletion of water, and poisoning of over seed in any crop. Workers, unorganised sector food and water system. While workers to be protected and accepting the importance of However, there is also the need minimum wages and social increasing production and for effective implementation of the security measures implemented: productivity, the emphasis should be National Food Security Act, given Today 93% of the labour force is in on sustainable productivity. The many state governments have failed the unorganised sector and a majority policies and support systems should to do so. In the name of rooting out of them is dependent on agriculture be fully reoriented to ensure a time- corruption linking of ration delivery and other related activities. This bound shift to low-input ecologically with the Aadhar and other electronic section is under tremendous attack sustainable agriculture, using many identification programmes is resulting due to farm crisis and decreasing viable models demonstrated and 14 JANATA, July 24, 2016 established across India in the past unprecedented strike was witnessed agenda of the education and their two decades. on 2nd September, 2015 in which the pandering to the market needs is Bhoomi Adhikar Andolan extended solely driving the education policy 12. Reverse the injustice solidarity. The Central Trade Unions today leading to complete erosion of done to rainfed agriculture : also took up some of our demands the values and democratic principles Though 60% of Indian agriculture is and spoke against the Land necessary for functioning of a vibrant rainfed, it is highly neglected Acquisition Ordinance. We extend democracy. compared to irrigated agriculture; solidarity to the united working class consequently much of the distress strike called on 2nd September, 2016 Access to education by all and farmer suicides is in rainfed and will work actively to make it a remains a cause of concern. The areas. We demand a comprehensive success. demand for a common school mission to revive rainfed agriculture system has been there for long and by promoting dryland crops, animal 15. Resistance to divisive is responsible for the continued husbandry and fodder, revival of and fascist politics: Faced with inequality and the perpetuation of minor irrigation, and targeted growing protests and the discrimination within the support. Providing protective unprecedented unity of people universities. SC/ST communities irrigation to the first crop in rainfed against the policies of the BJP face discrimination at every level areas should be the first priority Government at the Centre and in the education system from rather than irrigation for second and States the BJP-RSS and their admission, recruitments, third crops. affiliates are resorting to divisive promotions or opportunities for politics and deliberate growth. The fact that a brilliant 13. No privatization of water communalisation. Rationalists and student like Rohith Vemula had to resources and services; Priority cultural personalities are being commit suicide due to continued to drinking, domestic use and physically attacked and killed, harassment and caste based agriculture: Water should be dissent is brutally being discrimination indicates towards respected as a natural resource suppressed. In the name of systemic crisis within the education essential to human life and food protection of the cow, systematic system today. The demand for production, and attempts to privatize attacks are being launched on Rohith Act by the student water bodies and services, and give minorities and Dalits. Deliberate community needs support from all control to corporates should be communal and casteist violence is the organisations and Bhumi completely stopped. Water for being resorted to in different parts Adhikar Andolan express its drinking, domestic use and of the country. A spontaneous solidarity with the movement and agriculture should receive priority response against such efforts is demand. over other uses, with further developing. Bhoomi Adhikar prioritization for food crops and one- Andolan will resist such divisive 17. End Caste based crop protection in dry regions. efforts and work for building Discrimination and Ensure Landless families should also be communal harmony and strengthen Effective Implementation of the given rights over water to ensure the unity of toiling masses. SC/ST Act: The resource struggle more equitable use and to redress is also inherently a caste and class the inequity in land ownership. 16. Curb attack on the struggle and Dalits and Adivasis autonomous functioning of the have been at the receiving end. The 14. Resist attempts to dilute universities, corporatisation of caste based violence and systematic labour laws and express education, and suppressing of elimination of the rights and dignity solidarity and active support to dissent within the universities of the community is being done in workers’ strike of 2nd September and enact Rohith Act: University collaboration with the political and 2016: Workers’ rights are being campuses across the country are in caste elite leading to their further curtailed and the Narendra Modi-led turmoil and there has been a growing impoverishment and BJP Government has been attack on the students and attempts disempowerment. The inability of tampering with labour laws in the are being made to suppress any the system to ensure justice to victims name of “ease of doing business”. dissent, free thinking and free flow of the caste-based violence on every Against such attacks an of exchange of ideas. The corporate count has ensured its continuation JANATA, July 24, 2016 15 without fear of any impunity. This is often feeding in to the vicious circle muzzling dissent, restricting condemnable and unacceptable. of continuing violence. The freedom of association, assembly Supreme Court and Higher Court continued unrest is also due to heavy of citizens to criticise anti people must take suo-moto cognizance of militarisation within these areas, policies of the government and these offences and ensure fast which often leads to hardships for control or close down any tracking of the cases on line of the the citizens of those areas. democratic spaces available for violence against women cases. This free speech and gathering. These will not only ensure justice but also 20. Assert democratic attempts by the State and vigilante prevent future attacks on the rights of association, freedom groups are not acceptable in the community. of expression and raise voice largest democracy of the world, against any incursion: A climate and are completely violates the Bhumi Adhikar Andolan reasserts of fear and intimidation is being ideas and principles enshrined in and reaffirms its faith in the promoted specifically targeted at the Indian constitution. reservations provided for the SC/ST communities by the Indian Constitution as a way to address the historical injustice. The ongoing attempts to subvert that by some political forces and caste groups in the name of economic justice is not acceptable and any heed to that by the governments and political parties is primarily based on vote bank calculations.

18. Withdraw all fabricated cases from the social and cultural activists, tribals, dalits, farmers and students: a number of activists have been framed on numerous false charges and incarcerated. In the current political climate, the targeting of activists has increased manifold and thus their victimisation as well. As Bhumi Adhikaar Andolan, we extend support and solidarity to the activists and movements facing police oppression and support the effort to establish a people’s commission to defend the rights of the activists.

19. Repeal AFSPA and Stop increased militarisation in conflict regions: Recent judgement of the Supreme Court has validated the long term demand of the movements for withdrawal of the AFSPA from J&K, and many of the North East states. Under AFSPA, many heinous crimes have been committed without any prosecution R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, July 24, 2016 Postal Registration No. MCW/275/2015-2017. License to Post without prepayment WPP License No. MH/Tech/WPP-210/West/2016 Published on Sunday, July 24, 2016 & Posted on Wedenesday July 27, 2016 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

An infrastructure company established since 1924

REGD. OFFICE :

New Excelsior Building, (3rd Floor), A. K. Nayak Marg, Fort, Mumbai 400 001. Tel.: 022 2205 1231 Fax : 022-2205 1232

Office : Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai & New Delhi Established 1946 Price : Rupees Five Pages 16

Vol. 71 No. 27 A page from Quit India Movement July 31, 2016 Kuldip Nayar

The solution to As India prepares to Ballia offers a small insight into Kashmir problem commemorate 68 years of freedom the realities of colonial rule where Sandeep Pandey from British imperial rule, it may be ‘lesser breeds’ like the Indians worth remembering a dusty town in suffered unimaginable miseries at Uttar Pradesh that suffered the the hands of their white rulers. Growing inequality consequences of declaring itself an Some of those tortures resulting in in Kerala society Varughese George independent country for a few days death, whether it involved in 1942. bayoneting or being forced to lie on blocks of ice for hours on end, An Explosive Report by Justice The sovereign Republic of Ballia, were not all that different from Mootham of Allahabad in 1955 headed by Chittu Pandey, managed what the Jews endured at the hands Chandra Bhal Tripathi to survive for some seven days of the Nazis. before British-led military and police forces managed to regain control The difference is that what Recent crimes linked to media and unleashed a series of atrocities happened in places like Auschwitz Bharat Dogra that are still remembered by the in Germany has been well descendants of those who were documented and some of those raped, beaten and killed by shooting, responsible for what happened in the Nepal urf Lattha Par ki Diary firing and burning. concentration camps have been Madan Lal Hind brought to justice, if not by the allied At the orders of an English police powers and post Nazi Germany at Pellet Guns in Kashmir officer called Fletcher, an estimated the international court of justice in Ravi Nair 130 leaders of the local independence the Hague, then certainly by the movement were hanged. Those who modern state of Israel. Editor : were not hanged were forced to climb G. G. Parikh trees where they were bayoneted. Atrocities committed in places like Those who managed to avoid the tree Ballia that joined in the Quit India Managing Editor : Guddi punishments were taken to local jails movement of 1942 are still not fully where they were suspended by their documented. As for the likes of D-15, Ganesh Prasad, legs and starved. Those who avoided Commissioner Fletcher, no one to Naushir Bharucha Marg, the leg suspension torture were forced this day knows what happened to him Mumbai - 400 007. to sit together on the floors of the jails and whether he was ever held to where they were fed chapattis that account for the murders of so many Email : [email protected] gave them dysentery. innocent civilians. 2 JANATA, July 31, 2016 In recent years it has become The solution to Kashmir problem fashionable among some historians to suggest that 200 years of colonial rule were not all that bad and that Sandeep Pandey India gained more than it lost from interacting first with the East India On 8th July, 2016, the Supreme of organisations from across the Company, a gang of thugs dressed Court said that Armed Forces border which are ever willing to train up as so-called gentleman traders, Special Powers Act, 1958, in force such youth in use of arms and and then face-to-face with the in parts of Northeast and J&K, explosives and guerilla warfare, even British government. cannot be an excuse for extrajudicial though Burhan is not believed to have In practice there was not that killing - whenever such allegations received training in Pakistan. He was much difference between the surface they have to be investigated the commander of Hizbul Mujahideen brutality and exploitation practiced regardless of whether the person is at the young age of 22 years. by the company and the government. dreaded criminal, terrorist or Basic question is who or what is One small example should suffice. insurgent. On the same day a young responsible for the birth of militants: It was British government militant Burhan Wani was killed in Pakistani terror organisations or representatives who forced baptism an encounter by the security forces. policy of Indian state which alienates on Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s son and We don’t know whether it was a the youth of valley? Why is the heir, Duleep Singh. And it was British case of extrajudicial killing. Prashant demand of Omar Abdullah as the government officials, including Lord Bhushan says it was a fake then Chief Minister of J&K and for Dalhousie who, after presiding over encounter. Extrajudicial killings have which Irom Sharmila has been the looting of the Lahore treasury, been going on quite freely. The case fasting in Imphal for the last 15 years ‘persuaded’ young Duleep Singh to in which above judgment has been - removal of AFSPA - not being met? hand over the fabled Kohinoor delivered has a list of 1528 deaths in Only a reduced presence of security diamond in person to Queen counter insurgency operations in forces can lead towards a situation Victoria. Today that same Kohinoor Manipur from which the Court has of normalcy. But the security forces forms the centre piece of the British sought details on 62 which are scuttle this idea. monarch’s crown. suspected extrajudicial killings. And Manipur is a small state compared A political problem cannot be Back to the benefits of ‘gora’ to J&K. treated like a law and order problem. rule. It was the British after all, so Indian state must accept that there the argument goes, who introduced Moreover, the turnout at Burhan is disaffection in Kashmir and the Indians to the English language and Wani funeral indicates two things - political views of national political helped to develop the country’s either the killing was perceived to be parties and the people of Kashmir infrastructure, whether by bringing extrajudicial or he is viewed by probably differ greatly. The only way in piped water, electricity and Kashmiri youth more than just a out is dialogue with not just political sewerage facilities to urban areas, militant. He represents the aspirations parties but all sections of separatists or laying the foundations both of the of Kashmiri youth because of which and insurgents in Kashmir which the railways and the posts and telegraph they like to associate themselves with current BJP government at centre services. And it was the British again him even taking the risk of facing fire seems to be disinclined towards. It who introduced key religious and from Indian security forces. is not that government doesn’t talk social reforms such as the abolition Experience of Burhan Wani at the to such groups. In Nagaland they of Sati and child marriage in 1829 hands of Indian security forces when have had an agreement with and the Widows Remarriage Act of they beat him up and humiliated him separatist groups. Moreover, if the 1856. is the same that every Kashmiri youth faces at some point or the other and government is not talking to Yet the Indians were quite capable even repeatedly. Most simply pocket separatists in Kashmir then it is a of behaving like gentlemen. When the insult. Some like Burhan Wani sure recipe to push them towards revolt against it and in the process Pakistan, for which then the (Continued on Page 3) become a militant. There are a number government should not blame them. JANATA, July 31, 2016 3

In the time of grief and crisis a (Continued from Page 2) saying that Britain would never give refreshing approach has been up its Indian Empire. offered by the former Home the East India company established Minister P. Chidambaram. He has control in the name of trade in His recoded comments include, “I differentiated between the land of 18th century India, its officers duly hate Indians. They are a beastly Kashmir and the people of Kashmir. went about trebling the taxes that the people with a beastly religion.” Just He argues that successive local peasants were obliged to pay. as shocking were his earlier governments of India have worried These taxes remained in places even comments about Mahatma Gandhi. about the territory of Kashmir in during times of dire famine. How “It is alarming and nauseating to see their zeal to maintain Kashmir as different it was when local rulers Mr Gandhi, a seditious Middle integral part of India but have failed were in charge and dispensed with Temple lawyer, now posing as a fakir to take the people along. The people taxes during times of calamity. of a type well known in the east, have become more and more striding half naked up the steps of alienated because of government’s In Ballia 200 years later it is the vice regal palace, while he is still policies. instructive to recall just how the organizing and conducting a British administration was treated by campaign of civil disobedience, to Considering that P. Chidamabram the leaders of the independence parlay on equal terms with the was Home Minister, it is movement. British officials and their representative of the Emperor- commendable that he has expressed local toadies were gathered together King.” his opinion so candidly and take a and peacefully ushered across the position very radically different from railway line that divided the civil and Churchill did not and could not the traditional official position of military lines of the town. None anticipate that Ballia would ignite the government. were harmed in any way. fire which five years later would engulf and destroy colonial rule both Chidambaran advocates Even more instructive was the in India and beyond. Ironically, the honouring the promises made by unity that prevailed in those days statues of both Gandhi and Churchill India to J&K at the time of its between Hindus and Muslims. today stand close to each other in a accession to India. He argues for Inevitably, when they returned the prestigious location opposite the more autonomy to J&K allowing British committed all kinds of British parliament in London. EOM them to frame their own laws as atrocities. They did not want the much as possible as long as they national flag to be hoisted in Ballia don’t conflict with the Constitution and they shot and killed any who of India. He calls for Indians to dared to do so. Emerging from the Janata Subscription respect the identity, history, culture shadows of the town was a young and religion of people there. Muslim who was killed when he tried Annual Rs. : 260/- to raise a flag that was not the Union Chidambaram has made a Jack. It is still a matter of local pride Three Years : 750/- surprising revelation that he was in in Ballia that before the flag fell to favour of withdrawal of armed the ground, another volunteer took it Demand Draft / Cheque forces from civilian areas and for upon himself to grab and support that on them to be posted only in border symbol of national pride. Some 11 areas but the defence establishment men were killed one after another Mumbai Bank did not agree to it. In any case he by soldiers of the crown. thinned the security forces by in favour of 10,000. He also wanted the state Significantly, this gesture of government to be responsible for day defiance by the citizens of Ballia was JANATA TRUST to day law and order situation but never reported in the British media. D-15, Ganesh Prasad, again the security forces were not This was during the Second World Naushir Bharucha Marg, agreeable to this proposition. War when Winston Churchill was Mumbai 400 007 Prime Minister. As the war was (Continued on Page 5) coming to a close he is recorded as 4 JANATA, July 31, 2016 Growing inequality in Kerala society

Varughese George

We have been talking about the 7 government. Then it has to be making the effects of even the most per cent growth rate in Kerala redistributed among the landless. thorough-going, act only partially economy, above the national average, Prof. M A Oommen wrote that at felt.”(P-172). but the question is does this reflect that time there were 7.82 lakh reality? Is this growth meaningful in hectors of surpus land. But Now times have changed. The the life of the poor, the dalits, and subsequent governments since then dalits, adivasis and fish workers have adivasis and fish workers, the Outlier made no earnest effort to physically started asking for a piece of land. Society as John Kurien calls it. take over this surplus land and Two major private plantation redistribute it among the landless. Till companies have in their possession Prof. Amartya Sen is talking now, only 40343 hectors were more than two lakh hectors of about two types of opportunities; the redistributed. Surplus cultivable land government land in lease. There are economic opportunity and social thus, was wasted and transferred to also other private plantations with opportunity. Either you give them the benami hands. 1000-2000 acres each with land, the economic opportunity, or government land in their hands as education and health, the social Secondly in pre-land reform lease. The lease period to most of opportunity. The census of India Kerala, landless tillers were of two these estates are over. The govern- 2001 shows that of all scheduled broad categories, as Radhakrishnan ment should take over such land. casts in Kerala cultivators account writes, those without any leased-in for 1.7 percent only. Every third land who worked as hired agricultural Secondly regarding private scheduled cast worker in Kerala is laborers and those who had small owned plantations, a ceiling has to an agricultural labourer. They parcels of leased-in land. The be fixed, whether it is 100 or 200 account for 33.7 percent of majority of those who have acres. The surplus land above the scheduled castes. benefitted by the land transfers ceiling has to be physically taken through the land reform act over. Even PCK has given 1000 On 21st July 2009 the Hon. conferring ownership rights belong acres of land to Adivasis in Kannur Supreme Court instructed Kerala to the category of cultivating tenants. and in Kannur we are left with only Government to allot land to adivasis The real cultivators of land, the 140 ha. If the public sector can part within 6 months. But the state agricultural laborers did not get land. with its land for re-distribution among governments since then have made the landless, why not the private no effort to implement the order. Thirdly, the plantation was sector? The Constitution clearly Land has since been appropriated for excluded from the ceiling limit. That stipulates that as per Article 39(B), stadiums, national highways, etc., but might have been logical at that time the state shall, in particular, direct the when it comes to the question of since rubber plantation seemed to be policy towards securing that the adivasis the approach is different. the most organized industry at that ownership and control of the material The fisher folk also have no land. time. The trade unions also stood resources of the community are so against partition of plantation, lest it distributed to subserve the common The partial resolution of this might disintegrate the plantation good. Article 39(c) stipulates that the problem could be made through a labor. But as early as 1980s P. operation of the economic system second land reform. The land reform Radhakrishnan, in his landmark does not result in concentration of act brought at the time of the first study ‘Peasant struggles, land wealth and means of production to EMS government was a reforms and social change, 1836- the common detriment. revolutionary one. For the first time 1982’ wrote that “the exclusion of ceiling was brought for the vast areas of plantations from We are not giving land, economic proprietorship of land. All land after successive land reforms enactments opportunity to the poor. At least, give the ceiling limit of 15 acres was to has to be seen as a major limiting them social opportunity: education physically taken over by the factor of Kerala land reforms, and health. If you look into the national JANATA, July 31, 2016 5 health profile of 2013, we can find holders constitute 1.5 percent. The (Continued from Page 3) that the highest incidents of chicken SC/ ST department states that the gunya fever in 2009 was in Kerala drop out of SC children in 9 and 10 If Chidambaram and Omar numbering 13349 and dengue in 2013 classes in the year 2010-11 were Abdullah were allowed to work on numbreing 7911 including 25 deaths. 2828 and in college 25338 the same their ideas situation would have been Chicken gunya fever was wide spread year. completely different today. People in Pathanamthitta district and social would have been spared the profile show that SCs, STs and OBCs The slum population is increasing. presence of security forces among were the most affected. The mid- As per the report of the committee them which can be oppressive and term appraisal of XIth plan prepared on slums in Kerala in 2014 it was humiliating. If people had felt more for Planning Commission for CDS 541314, in 2015 it will be 543671 and involved in running their own states that between 1999-2006 the in 2016, 545906. In the aftermath of government they would have also state could not make any significant Tsunami that struck on 26.12.2004 felt the responsibility to maintain progress with regard to malnutrition the centre, state and voluntary peace. It is possible that still some in children and women. One out of agencies built homes, 46 tsunami extremists would have continued to every 4 children aged below 5 years colonies in Kollam, 12 Tsunami operate. But then it must have been are stunted or too short for their age. colonies in Alappuzha and 3 Tsunami left to the Kashmiris to deal with Caste wise differentials are very colonies in Ernakulam District. In their fellow citizens to try to convince severe, with 34 perecent among these colonies 2000 families are them to leave the path of violence. scheduled castes being stunted, living and the houses are dilapidated followed by other backward castes - and unlivable. There is water scarcity Right now presence of Indian 26 percent. in these colonies. security forces for such a prolonged period makes it look like an This study also states that more Regarding the status of tribals, As occupying force. P. Chidambaram than one fifth of the children below Ajmal Khan points out, Kerala has says we cannot preach to Sri Lanka 5 years in Kerala are underweight. comparatively less population of to respect the democratic rights of Between NFHS 2(1998-99) and tribals, the scheduled tribal population its Tamil minority when we’re not NFHS-3(2005-2006) surveys the is 364189. They form just 1.2 per cent able to do it with Kashmiris. percentage of children with anemia of the total population. But according increase from 44 percent to 56 per to an undisclosed survey prepared If human rights violations take cent. by the ST Development Report and place because of the presence of brought out by Indian Express on 19 security forces we cannot expect the Among women also, malnutrition May 2014 through its correspondent Kashmiris to trust the government. is a major problem. Among women M.S.Vidyanandan said that a total of The ultra-nationalist view of the aged 15-49 years nearly one over of 13.09 of the tribal families were present government in power in New every 5 women is too thin. Anaemia affected by malnutrition and their Delhi makes things worse. They continues to be a major health number was maximum in Wayanad know only one way to deal with their problem among women in Kerala. District followed by Palakad and Idiki opponents - that is to remain tough. One third of women aged 15-49 Districts. A total of the 18 percent of It is beyond their imagination to talk years are anaemic. the families had members who were to people whom they consider anti- differently abled or mentally nationals. They just can’t perceive With regard to education we are challenged. The drop out rate was 62 that whom they consider anti- living and moving in a knowledge percent in general. Thus Kerala nationals may not be so in the eyes society. Knowledge society is a society hailed as just and of people of Kashmir. They could society that has universal access to participatory has become divisive and even be their heroes. Unless the sharing of knowledge. But in Kerala inequality is growing. government starts seeing things from there is a knowledge divide. The the Kashmiri perspective there is no census of 2001 shows that among (Paper presented in the headway towards resolution of the scheduled castes graduates and Seminar, Kerala Economy: Kashmir conflict. above are just 2.1 percent while non- Challenges and Way Forward, at technical and technical diploma K.N. Raj Centre, Kottayam) [email protected] 6 JANATA, July 31, 2016 Why is Kashmir boiling?

PUCL expresses its deepest encounter after luring him to the a real encounter but without the scale concerns about the manner in which place where he was killed with his of current uprising. the Indian security establishment has two friends. Most lamentably, the handled the protests that erupted circumstances and manner of Wani’s It is important to point out that the across the Kashmir valley as a killing are being concealed from the alleged terrorists are being treated consequence of the killing of Burhan people, but the people of Kashmir as worse than Nathuram Godse, who Wani in a suspected fake encounter know it and are seething with anger. murdered Mahatma Gandhi and last Friday, 8th July, 2016. By many Ajmal Kasab, the Pakistani terrorist, accounts, Wani was shot at from Some newspapers have reported involved in Mumbai terror attack of close quarters of about 4 feet in a the circumstances and manner of 2008. None of them was shot dead cold blooded murder and not in an Wani’s killing but placed it at some like Wani. They were tried giving them encounter. Two other persons obscure place. For example, The the opportunity to defend themselves accompanying Wani were also killed Dainik Bhaskar, Muzaffarpur edition and finally punished according to the by a special team of the security (11.7.2016 on page 17) has published law. That is what the adherence to forces. Such cold blooded killings an account of the encounter based the constitution and the rule of law camouflaged as “encounter” in an on an interview of Upmita Bajpayee mandates and is the basis of our claim alleged gun-fight is unacceptable in with an officer involved in the to be a civilized nation. a democracy. PUCL condemns both operation. According to the officer, a honey trap was set with a girl known It is a shame that the rest of India the Central Government and the is not protesting against the cold PDP-led J &K government for to be close to Wani. She lured him to visit her at her house at the village blooded murder of Wani and his launching an operation to liquidate friends. Their being a terrorist was suspected or real terrorists in fake Badmura. The security forces were tipped and were also informed that not a greater crime than Gandhiji’s encounters instead of respecting the murderer or Ajmal Kasab’s role in rule of law and prosecuting them. the terrorists were not heavily armed. The house was surrounded and was Mumbai terror attack. Our law as During the last few months, many set on fire to force him out, as the reiterated by the apex court from time terrorists have been killed in Kashmir Islamists do not want to die in a fire to time does not permit killing of without noticeable protest, but as it is like ‘Dokhaj’ (Hell). As the terrorists in fake encounters and treats following Burhan Wani’s killing the fire raged, Wani reportedly came out it as plain murder. The general valley is on fire. The widespread supported by two of his friends. The indifference or support for the killing protests in the valley has led to the security forces shot him from a of Wani in the rest of India smacks of firing in which as many as 34 distance of 4 feet. They also killed a double standard and angers and unarmed Kashmiris have been killed both of his friends though they initially further alienates the people of and over 92 people injured including wanted to capture them alive but Kashmir. those hit in the eye by the so-called killed them, too. The heading of news The PUCL demands that ‘non-lethal’ weapons firing pellets, item is KHUD JAAL ME FANSA regardless of the difficulties, the instead of bullets. THA WANI, SENA NE GHERA State must fight terrorism within the TAB NASE ME THA, 4 FEET frame-work of the constitution and It is important for the rest of India DOOR SE MARA GOLI (Wani to ask why there is so widespread the law of the land to win the trust walked into the trap himself, when of the people in the fairness of the and determined protest now when the armed forces surrounded him, he there was no protest at such a scale Indian State and arrest further was inebriated, was shot from a alienation of the Kashmiris. The every time alleged terrorists were distance of four feet ). killed? The obvious reason is that lawless ways of the State are bound though the protesters accept that Kashmir would not have been on to add to the legitimate anger and those who fight with arms must the boil if Wani were not killed in alienation of the Kashmiris. expect to be countered with arms as cold blood in a fake encounter after Dr. Prabhakar Sinha V. Suresh is the rule of war as well as peace, setting a honey trap. Most likely his President, General Secretary but to them, the killing of Wani was death would have been protested like Peoples Union for Civil Liberties not in a real encounter but in a fake other cases of killing of terrorists in JANATA, July 31, 2016 7 An Explosive Report by Justice Mootham of Allahabad in 1955

Chandra Bhal Tripathi

I refer to an explosive, not yet Centre and another became the DG get this explosive booklet published, published, secret report by the late of Police in UP and later a BJP MP. it was stolen from my suitcase. Justice Mootham of the High Court Obviously someone staying in that of Allahabad in 1955 who inquired I prepared a 24-page manuscript room in the garb of a confidante of into the ugly incident of the titled The Truth about Raj Narain ji was an agent of the convocation of Allahabad University. Allahabad after my return to UP Police- Special Branch. This The communist/socialist student Lucknow. I had come from a far- secret document is of historical leaders of that university held a black off place where I was doing importance. I would urge upon the flag demonstration against K M anthropological field work and so I Government of UP to retrieve it as Munshi, the autocratic Governor of stayed in the room of the firebrand well as my manuscript and make U.P. and Chancellor of Allahabad socialist Raj Narain in Darul-Shafa, these public to expose all University, and were brutally the residence of MLAs. I was the dramatis personae and the then assaulted by lathis by the RSS shocked to find that before I could communal and conspiratorial forces. activists. Eight student leaders were expelled and the University remained closed for at least six Black day for Indian children months. As the President of the UP Branch of the National Union of Lok Sabha has passed 26 July 2016 age group of 5 to 14 years as per Students of India (established in 1950 Child Labour (Prohibition and 2011 census. The amended Bill at Bombay as the Federation of the Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2012 to might give a first impression that the University and College Unions of allow child labour below the age of Government is taking a stringent India— now defunct due to the 14 years in family enterprises is a measure to end child labour upto 14 conspiracy of the Congress Party) I regressive move. years. But a closer look at this went with my good friend Robin reveals that it is hardly the case. Of RTE Forum, a coalition of ten Mitra to Allahabad to explore the course there are some relevant thousand grass-root organizations, possibility of a solution to the measures in the new bill such as a people’s movement, educationists imbroglio. We somehow got access jail term of up to 2 years for those and teachers organizations, has said to Justice Mootham’s secret report employing children below the age of that “Today is black day for the for 4-5 hours one night. It was an 14 for labour activities. Activists who millions of Indian children; they will explosive report containing the have been fighting for rights of now be deprived from all their rights evidence of the witnesses. A highly children have been critical of the bill. which they have achieved after the placed teacher and administrator of decades long struggles, like, right to The Government has made an the University in his deposition had education, equal opportunity for exemption that the child can help his accused Governor Munshi being quality learning, play, protection and family or family enterprise after his closeted in his saloon at Allahabad enjoyment of their childhood.” school hours or during vacations. Jn. station for 15 minutes with the The government has made the RSS student leaders and two senior The Labour Ministry and the amendments on the hypothesis that professors having paid money to Government have completely education and work for children can them buy lathis from a shop in negated the voice of Child Rights go hand in hand but this defeats the Katra for being used to assault the Activists of this country and also the very purpose of protecting the leftist student leaders opposed to recommendations of the Parliamentary children from exploitation and also Governor Munshi. I remember the Standing Committee on Labour. the Right of Children to Free and names of all the dramatis personae. Compulsory Education Act. One of the RSS student leaders There are 1,01,28,663 child became the HRD Minister at the labourers in the country between the RTE Forum has expressed deep 8 JANATA, July 31, 2016 concerns about the insensitive Recent crimes linked to media approach of ruling party towards children of this country and said that this is a clear violation of existing Bharat Dogra Fundamental right to Education (Article 21A). RTE Act, which is Two major crimes were busted murder told the Hindu , “ The guaranteeing right to education up to in Delhi on July 9 and highlighted in killers were inspired by a crime 14 years, is now planning to move next day’s crime stories in show on television. They thought as a legal entitlement towards newspapers. Both these stories that no trace would be left if a man secondary education. This were reported to have some was buried in an unknown amendment will affect the retention linkages to media. agricultural field.” The headline in rate of children in schools and this newspaper said, “Killers increase drop outs of marginalized A gang of chain snatchers was inspired by crime show.”The story especially girl children. Goal 4 of busted in Model Town leading to also started with the words— Sustainable Development Goals the arrest of five men who, ”Inspired by a crime show on (SDGs) declared by United Nations according to the police, were television —.” is also pushing for the involved in 65 cases of chain universalization of education till the snatching . These gangsters The Rashtriya Sahara secondary level. generally used motorcycles and confirmed this by reporting that the scooters to speed past people on criminals had informed the police The employers and contractors roads and snatch their gold chains in the process of interrogation that will be benefited by this amendment and mobile phones. they learnt about this method of and children are now forced to be disposing a body from a crime exploited through this amendment. The police said that these serial.The Times of India added gangsters were inspired by a popular ‘Family’ has been defined as another dimension to this media Hindi film Dhoom. A leading child’s mother, father, brother, sister connection by reporting that the headline in the Hindu made the and father’s sister and brother and murderers had also looked for connection amply clear—‘ Dhoom mother’s sister and brother; ‘Family guidance on how to dump a body gang busted’. The Times of India enterprise’ has been defined as any on YouTube (All quotes from added to the media connection by work, profession, manufacture or newspapers dated July 10 ) . informing that one of the gangsters business which is performed by the earlier used to act in a TV serial. Several such incidents have members of the family with the The Rashtriya Sahara reported been reported in the past when engagement of other persons. This further that the crimes were linkages between crimes and media means a child can work in any committed on the pattern of what programmes were reported. In fact manufacturing or business unit if it was seen in the film. A headline in the film Dhoom had been involved is owned by his/her relative. the Hindustan said, “ They learnt earlier also in such reports. In a Several Parliamentarians have crime methods from watching TV diamond robbery case in Hyderabad also criticized the bill saying “we show.” the gang leader admitted to be should not do to other children what inspired by this film, as was the In another case reported on the we do not do to our own”. Some of case earlier in at least one bank same day, a Delhi businessman was the members in the opposition have robbery. A teenager in Delhi who abducted by hostile persons known said strongly that none of them would faked his own kidnapping was stated to him and beaten till he became like their children to do labour, family to have learnt some tricks from a unconscious. He was then taken in business or not, apart from studies. Hindi film Khiladi. In a shocking a car and buried alive in the case reported from Amravati, two sugarcane fields of one of the boys stated to be influenced by a –Ambarish Rai, attackers. Hindi film Divyashakti kidnapped National Convener Right to and disrobed a girl, then drew vulgar Education Forum A senior investigator of this pictures on her body. JANATA, July 31, 2016 9 Perhaps the most serious linkage Nepal urf Lattha Par ki Diary between crime and media was drawn in the context of a terrorist attack in Ahmedabad which was Madan Lal Hind said to be influenced by the plot of a Hindi film Contract. In this film “Nepal urf Lattha Par ki of arms for the volunteers of the the villain plans low intensity Diary”, written in Hindi by Ravinder Nepali Congress. Similarly, at the explosions followed by a bigger Bharati, is a historic book on the request of Jayaprakash Narayan, explosion when people rush to underground movement to fight the Subedarji, a veteran of the Azad Hind hospital. A somewhat similar autocratic Rana rule and to establish Fauj, had been helping the Nepal sequence was also seen in the a democratic set-up in Nepal. Congress foot soldiers for years. actual attack. Bharati is a well-known poet, writer and socialist political activist of Patna, They developed the “Muktagami While all this is certainly cause Bihar. He has been a product of the Radio” (Liberation Radio of Nepal). for concern, the linkage should not JP Movement. This Radio worked overtime to give be exaggerated to the extent of the latest news of the struggle. It saying that in all such cases the The contribution of B. P. Koirala, played a major role in forming public crime would not have taken place Ganesh Man Singh and whole lot of opinion against the oppressive Rana at all if the exposure to some film others to the fight for the democratic rule. Government’s Nepal Radio or TV scenes had not taken place. future of Nepal has been widely could not match the Muktagami A number of factors taken together acknowledged and documented. But Radio in its reach, efficiency and are responsible for any increase in few books have talked of small dispassionate coverage. crimes, and increase in certain types workers who gave their lives for of media exposure is only one Nepal. The Diary, for a change, talks “Nepal urf Lattha Par ki important factor among othe about the sacrifices of the unknown, Diary” graphically describes how several important factors. unsung heroes of this battle. the transmitter of the Muktagami Radio was literally carried on the Certainly there is need for In this sense, Bharati has done back of renowned Hindi writer greater caution in the way crime full justice to the dramatis personae Phanishwar Nath Renu. Renu was is depicted. Romanticised of the theatre of the war for the soul a passionate socialist in India and a depiction of crime should be of Nepal. The book gives a graphic close associate of B. P. Koirala in avoided. In other countries there account of the struggle waged by Nepal. have been reports of the film Ram Harakh, Kusheshwar Jha, ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ leading to Sivadhari Sahu, Chander, Divya Devi The Muktagami Radio began its crimes based on romanticized acts and many other soldiers. All of these day with a liberation song. Then it shown in the film. Such allegations Madhesies died fighting for continued to give the news day and have appeared in India in the democracy in their country. night with the slogan “Jai Nepal” context of a more recent hit film (Victory to Nepal). “Bhairhava has in Hindi Bunty and Bublee. Socialist leaders Dr Rammanohar been captured. Birgunj has gone into Lohia and Jayaparaksh Narayan the hands of Muktagami soldiers.” Another suggestion for caution were the source of inspiration for the “After the fall of the Rana is that crime films and TV shows leaders like Bisheshwar Prasad Government, an interim government should concentrate more on Koirala and Krishna Prasad has been formed in Birgunj and ‘whodunnit’ tracing the criminal Bhattarai. The Diary delineates the Butwal.” So on and so forth. than on detailing methods of role JP and Lohia played behind the committing crimes. In this context scene for Nepal. Veteran socialist commander Dr objections were raised in India to Kuldip Jha has been martytred. some episodes of the TV detective This reviewer, for instance, did not “What? It is impossible. Dr. Jha serial Vyomkesh Bakshi which know that the socialist government cannot die”, says the driver of the in Burma (now Myanmar) sent, at bus going from Purnea to (Continued on Page 12) the instance of Dr Lohia, planeloads (Continued on Page 12) 10 JANATA, July 31, 2016 Pellet Guns in Kashmir

Ravi Nair

The government of India and the anywhere in India. During a crowd control operation, state government of Kashmir must only two to five officers should have immediately order their police Stone throwing does not give non-lethal weapons and banners forces to immediately stop using police the right to shoot at protestors should be used to warn the unlawful pellet guns and the lethal cartridges indiscriminately. Deadly force assembly prior to the deployment that they use. Any further usage of should only be used when it is of any force. Additionally, the such weapons, which have caused unavoidable and proportionate to the document states that when firing extensive, arbitrary deaths and crowd’s actions. Proportionality, becomes necessary, which is only grievous wounds, would be not just necessity and calibration are key after efforts are made to disperse callous, but a criminal act. principles governing the use of force a crowd without force, every within national and international law. attempt should be made to fire Since July 9, 2016, in the below the waist. With the number aftermath of the killing of Hizbul Pellet guns were first introduced of eye injuries Kashmiri citizens are Mujahideen leader Burhan Wani, in Kashmir in 2010 for crowd facing, it is hard to believe that any large scale protests and funeral control as a “non-lethal” alternative attempt was made to fire below the gatherings have been taking place to other deadlier weapons. waist. across the Kashmir Valley. The Nevertheless, in 2010, 14-year-old apparently indiscriminate use of Irshad Ahmad Parray and 20-year- Moreover, if shooting is resorted allegedly “non-lethal” old Mudasir Nazir lost their lives to, firing must be in single shot mode. weapons like pellet guns to control to pellet gun injuries. These boys Yet pellet guns fire hundreds of tiny crowds has resulted in 43 civilians are two of ten victims who have shots with each cartridge. This goes having lost their lives so far. been killed by pellet guns since hand in hand with the requirement Hundreds have been blinded and a 2010, yet these guns are considered that fire only be directed towards few thousand injured. the better option, a “non-lethal” the most violent sections of a stone- choice to control crowds. It is pelting mob, not the mob in its A curfew remains in effect in reported that at least 92 people entirety. Pellet guns do not offer several parts across the Kashmir have lost their eyesight and at least effective aim to target the crowd Valley. Additionally, mobile 1,500 people have sustained serious accordingly and many peaceful telephone networks and internet injuries from pellet guns since 2010. protestors and bystanders have services remain dismantled, been injured during their use. reportedly to prevent further Domestic procedures on crowd agitation. Newspapers failed to control should reflect international Furthermore, this document publish for five consecutive days expectations of proportionality and orders that women and children due to raids on their offices and necessity. In an unnamed official demonstrators only be dealt with by printing presses, till they started document, provided by a female officers and that water again on July 21. confidential source, it is dictated cannons, tear gas smoke, and if that crowd control tactics must necessary stun grenades be used Protests in Kashmir have aim to minimise collateral damage to disperse these demonstrators. primarily involved stone throwing and avoid the loss of human life, The number of young victims from demonstrators, with police and and that during training, an affected by the current crowd security force personnel responding emphasis should be placed on control measures in Kashmir, with gunfire from firearms or pellet respecting human rights. On particularly young boys, and the use guns. The indiscriminate and paper, these procedures should of pellet guns on women and excessive force used by state forces protect Kashmiris, but in reality children refutes that this objective in Kashmir has no parallel they are not followed. has been upheld. JANATA, July 31, 2016 11

Regrettably, the current state of Execution Victim Families harm has been inflicted, particularly law in India grants government Association v. Union of involving people’s eyesight, far too officers impunity for even the most India discussing fake encounters in many bystanders, including children, serious human rights violations, Manipur and “the illegality of the have been injured and medical including the current pellet attacks use of excessive and retaliatory assistance comes only at the risk and breakdowns in crowd control force by the army, security forces of being arrested and prosecuted. procedure. The Indian Criminal and police”. The Supreme Court Procedure Code (CrPC) produces noted that the rule of law applied When the police are involved in de facto immunity for police “even when dealing with the crowd control efforts, they must officers, members of the armed enemy”. This commitment, distinguish between violent forces and other government however, is breached everyday in protestors, peaceful protestors and officials. Section 197 of the CrPC Kashmir. The court went on to hold bystanders. The pellet gun says that no court has jurisdiction that an unending state of unrest cartridges in Kashmir fire a large over an alleged criminal offence could not “be a fig leaf for number of small pellets over a wide committed by a government official prolonged, permanent or indefinite range, they are not targeted. Even “while acting or purporting to act deployment of the armed forces as the inspector general of the Jammu within the discharge of his official it would mock at our democratic and Kashmir police acknowledged duty”, without first obtaining process.” that pellets do not have a authorisation from the requisite predictable trajectory. central or state government. The Indian government is violating international standards with Basic principles 13 and 14 discuss In contrast, the case of Shaimaa’ its current response to protests in protests, stating, “in the dispersal El-Sabbagh, in undemocratic Egypt, Kashmir. Specifically, the of assemblies that are…non-violent, illustrates accountability not seen government is violating the UN law enforcement officials shall avoid within India’s legal system. El- Basic Principles on the Use of the use of force” and “in the Sabbagh was a 31-year-old activist Force and Firearms by Law dispersal of violent assemblies, law who died during a public assembly Enforcement Officials and the UN enforcement officials may use as a result of birdshot injuries. This Code of Conduct for Law firearms only when less dangerous case resulted in the sentencing of a Enforcement Officials. The basic means are not practicable”. Further, police officer to 15 years for her principles state that, “Law firearms can only be used in the death. enforcement officials…(must) apply conditions stipulated under principle non-violent means before resorting 9 – “self-defense or defense of Moreover, following the to the use of force”. Additionally, others, against the imminent threat Koothuparamba incident in 1994, in provision five states, “whenever the of death or serious injury, to prevent Kerala, police officers were lawful use of force and firearms is serious crime involving grave threat charged with murder and had to unavoidable, law enforcement to life…” fight the case on appeal for officials shall: (a) exercise restraint exoneration. The officers were in such use and act in proportion to All of the conditions stipulated exonerated as a result of the the seriousness of the offence… pose a much greater risk than stone impunity available to them. (b) minimize damage and injury… throwing. The magnitude of the (c) ensure that assistance and circumstances is hardly comparable, Although both of these were rare medical aid are rendered to any yet pellet guns are being used on cases of prosecution, Kashmiris are injured or affected person at the the people of Kashmir and have unable to even fathom charges of earliest moment…” been since 2010. this nature being levied against a police officer. In Kashmir, restraint is not being Moreover, the basic principles exercised, injury is not being require that, “in cases of death and Ironically, the same day that minimised and medical assistance serious injury or other grave Burhan Wani was killed, the is not ensured. Pellet guns are not consequences, a detailed report shall Supreme Court of India made a a proportional response to the be sent promptly to competent decision in Extra Judicial current protests. Far too much authorities.” Hence, authorities 12 JANATA, July 31, 2016 should be reporting and investigating banned. Since 2010, these “non- humanitarian law. These weapons every instance of serious injury lethal” weapons have caused have neither been used resulting from the use of pellet guns. serious injury and severe harm to proportionally nor in compliance However, instead of investigating thousands of Kashmiris. The use with international standards on the these injuries, police personnel are of pellet guns in Kashmir in reaction use of force or domestic standards attacking ambulances and searching to the current protests is a clear on crowd control. hospitals to make arrests. violation of human rights and [email protected] Under article 3 of the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement (Continued from Page 9) Officials, “law enforcement officials detailed how some objects of the number of murders, rapes and may use force only when strictly everyday use could be used as assaults over a period of several necessary”. The code continues, “in weapons of murder. decades. general, firearms should not be used except when a suspected offender Moreover the question is not just So while allegations of media offers armed resistance or of the impact of a particular film or linkage in the context of some otherwise jeopardizes the lives of TV show but also of the overall specific cases can be debated, there others”. Furthermore, the impact of excessive depiction of is no doubt that certainly there is introduction to the code states, crime and violence in media. For need for caution and restraint as “every law enforcement agency example the well known study of the reach and impact of media are should be representative of and Prof. Centerwell of the University increasing and on the whole responsive and accountable to the of Washington has concluded that excessive depiction of violence and community as a whole”. However, the overall impact of the introduction crime in unrestrained ways can the current state of conflict in of TV in the USA and Canada has certainly lead to several kinds of Kashmir illustrates a clear divide resulted in a substantial increase in problems. along religious and cultural lines. (Continued from Page 9) In 2013, the Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission Kathmandu. “Dr Jha had promised (the couple of bullocks) of Munshi (SHRC) stated that, “the use of me that he would come back for Premchand. pellet guns by government forces sure after unfurling the flag of was a serious threat to life”. The democracy in Kathmandu”, wails the Ravinder Bharati seems to be SHRC declared that the petitions driver, tears rolling down his face. greatly influenced by the world- submitted regarding ten people who Bihar socialist leader Karpoori famous tome “Ten Days that received serious bodily injury from Thakur, who is also in the bus, pats Shook the World” of John Reed pellet guns made out a prima the back of the inconsolable driver. about the Russian Bolshevik facie case of a human rights Revolution. The style is the same. violation. The commission also The Diary also records the Love for minutest details is the reminded law enforcement agencies contribution of the socialist same. And the urge for accuracy that they must follow standard journal Hindi “Weekly Janata” is the same. Bharati’s prose tends operating procedure and use published from Patna to the to be sheer poetry at times. Proof- minimum force. movement for democracy. It was reading mistakes here and there then published under the editorship are rather jarring, though. That same year, the Jammu and of great socialist Hindi writer Kashmir high court rejected a Rambriksha Benipuri. The book On balance, “Nepal urf Lattha petition filed seeking a ban on the highlights how Dulari Master and Par ki Diary” is an eminently use of pepper gas and pellet guns Ganouri Mahto took Janata to every readable book, particularly for for crowd control. nook and corner of Nepal at the risk those who are interested in the of their lives and limbs. Nepali history of the democratic The use of pellet guns as a Congress leaders used to call these transformation of Nepal from the crowd control tactic must be two workers “Do Bailon ki Jodi” despotic Rana reign. JANATA, July 31, 2016 13 Open letter to M. J. Akbar

Respected Akbar ji, Akbar ji, when you came from often use the photo of our Prime Greetings, journalism into politics, did people call Minister on their profiles and use you a pimp too, abuse you, vilify you- symbols of the Rashtriya Eid Mubarak. That you have like they do me (especially after the Swayamsevak Sangh. Many of become the Minister of State for episode with the black screen them follow ministers and many are External Affairs is no less a special aired?) Then when you came back followed by ministers. They occasion than Eid. We journalists from the Congress into journalism, identify some as against the BJP should be very happy that you first did people - especially the then and heap praises on the rest. became a spokesperson for the opposition whose member you are Bharatiya Janata Party and then a today - see you as a pimp for 10 Definitely there has been a parliamentarian and now a minister. Janpath (the headquarters of the decline in journalism. It wasn’t You fought an election on a Congress Congress) or any other party? What there at all when you fought an ticket. Then you came back to explanations did you give yourself election, won, lost and came back become an editor. Then you again then to carry on? Can you share to become an editor. That must went from an editor to a those explanations with me? I need have been the golden age of spokesperson and then a minister. your help. journalism. It can be called the Perhaps I will never know what you Akbar age if those who abuse us thought about journalists becoming In journalism, I have done many don’t take offence. All this means netas and the work ethics that come a bad report. Some have been that today some journalists have into play with that. exceptionally terrible. But until become an unannounced extension three years ago, no one used to call of the spokesperson. Those who Did you ever pass through a crisis me a pimp. Neither did they drag abuse me don’t call these people of conscience? Even though there in my sister or mother into it. pimps. The section that does is the are no Gods in journalism, during Akbar sir, I am not a pimp. But do same that trolls Smriti Irani. these times, did you ever fear God? tell me what should I do to become Akbar. When Murli Manohar Joshi As a colleague, in your Foreign Akbar ji, I am writing this letter used to be a minister in the Ministry, you will find General VK to you with a certain degree of Vajpayee government, I used to Singh who coined the word bitterness as well. But you are not debate the saffronisation of ‘presstitute’ for journalists. In the reason for that. You may help education a lot. Back then, no one Hindi, the crowds that agree and me out of it. For the last three years in your party office spoke to me support him call us ‘preshya’ - a I have been called a pimp on social with hostility. Dr Joshi even had tea combination of press and vaishya media. The political change that served to me after interviews and (prostitute). Because I work for veteran journalists like you call great asked for sweets to be brought in. NDTV, they replace N with an R for India has also forged the culture He never said you are asking these and call it Randi TV. of shouts of “pimp” and “hustler” questions because you are a pimp trailing news stories and news of the Congress. Due to his age, Do you think when journalists bringers. It has come so far that even he often got angry but never did ask difficult questions, they are my mother has been called a whore he decline an interview or hint the pimping another party? Which - a woman who could never go to government was annoyed at me. question can make one a pimp? school, who does not even know If editors like you can tell me, I what an anchor is, or what is prime But now everything has can learn a thing or two. I can time. She has never seen the studios changed. There is a new culture tell young reporters don’t of NDTV. All she asks is if I am of political control. There is now a become Ravish Kumar, if you keeping well. But she does read the horde of people who try to find must become somebody become newspaper very closely. When she political leaning and meaning Akbar because maybe even found out that I am abused like this, behind every news story. This Ravish Kumar will one day she could not sleep well for days. horde is flagrantly abusive. They become an Akbar. 14 JANATA, July 31, 2016

I am a bit of an emotional organisations have gone to the Rajya Affairs. Once again, Eid Mubarak. person. I’ve definitely been shaken Sabha. With the Congress, you From the heart. by these attacks. That’s why after fought for the Lok Sabha, and with seeing you, I thought you could help for the BJP, you fought for the Rajya Your minion, me. For the last three years, before Sabha. I am happy that Prime every report, I have been struck Minister Narendra Modi has kept Ravish Kumar by the thought that those people this tradition of the Congress who are celebrating India’s cultural government alive of putting Senior Executive Editor, ascent may call me a pimp and my journalists in Parliament. People NDTV India mother a whore, but my mother is singing the praises of Indian culture the only real Mother India. I am perhaps did not notice that popular Translated by bringing up my mother again and Atal ji was himself a journalist and Divyanshu Dutta Roy again because people of your party after becoming Prime Minister, he understand ‘Ek Ma ki bhavna’ the could not abandon his love for his best. When you take the name of paper Veer Arjun. You can find quite Supreme Court and RSS your mother, it’s the end of an a few other examples. No judicial court advises any argument. I haven’t jumped into politics just suspect or accused to tender Akbar ji, I am writing this letter yet. If I do, you will be of great help. apology so as to escape with a lot of hope. Your response will That is why you should tell me what defamation prosecution. There are be an example for future journalists journalists should do. Should they cases where even after the who these days pay Rs. 10 to 15 fight elections, become ministers, and accused had tendered an apology lakhs to study journalism. In my eyes, then become journalists again? Will in a defamation case, the court, a generation that pays so much to they be able to report then? When after trial, convicted him and study journalism is not worth much, one becomes a reporter in the name awarded punishment. Throwing but your response can boost their of national interest, should they all norms to the winds, our confidence. always be on the lookout of political Supreme Court advised, or rather opportunities? threatened the Congress vice- When you returned to journalism president Rahul Gandhi that he from politics, did you worry about I hope that in the name of will have to face trial if he does the party and its ideology when principles, those who hurl abuses are not tender apology to the RSS for writing about them? Were you able welcoming you. They should also leveling charge against it regarding to hold your ground? How firmly? shower flowers on you. Your complicity in Mahatma Gandhi’ s When you returned to politics from competence is without doubt. You murder. Let the whole world journalism, did you start doubting are a hero for all of us. Those of us know, once again, know the true what you wrote? Did you ever feel who consider journalism to be a facts about such a grave matter. that you wrote what you did religion could not see how you have Is not RSS capable to defend expecting a reward? I believe that upheld its rituals. Because anchors itself? It is very shocking to find we journalists write in the pressure these days show their importance a high pillar of our Republic of our times and context. based on their TRPs, I would say I running to help an organization Switching between journalism and am a zero-TRP anchor. The TRP which is engaged in poison- politics, can one be free from these meter tells me no one watches me. spreading campaign against the moral dilemmas? Did you manage On these grounds, you can overlook minorities. The Supreme Court to do it? my letter. But being a minister, you would do well not to transgress are principally answerable to each boundaries of its role and To avoid being like Twitter trolls, and every citizen of this country. So functioning. I don’t want to bring up what you based on this, you can respond. The –Pannalal Surana, wrote about the riots in the country one with the top TRPs won’t ask you including Gujarat. I am just asking how a minister can respond to Chairman, Central Parliamentary this on a personal level. Even before someone with zero TRPs. And that Board, Socialist Party (India). you, people from a number of media too a Minister of State for External JANATA, July 31, 2016 15 R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, July 31, 2016 Postal Registration No. MCW/275/2015-2017. License to Post without prepayment WPP License No. MH/Tech/WPP-210/West/2016 Published on Sunday, July 31, 2016 & Posted on Wedenesday August 3, 2016 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

An infrastructure company established since 1924

REGD. OFFICE :

New Excelsior Building, (3rd Floor), A. K. Nayak Marg, Fort, Mumbai 400 001. Tel.: 022 2205 1231 Fax : 022-2205 1232

Office : Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai & New Delhi Established 1946 Price : Rupees Five Pages 16

Vol. 71 No. 28 Segregation in democracy August 7, 2016 Kuldip Nayar

Yet another Dalit family was system prevails in Islam. For hacked to death because it was example, Sayyds are considered the Brief note on NEP suspected to have eaten beef. The Brahmins of the community and they Ramesh Patnaik laboratory tests of the “beef” practise the same kind of showed that it was some other cattle. discrimination as the Hindus do when Some time ago, the Kerala House in it comes to marriage or death. They British Raj in india Delhi was attacked by gau refuse to consign the bodies at the Chandra Bhal Tripathi rakshks because beef was served common burial ground. Rammanohar Lohia there. But the most shameful aspect is that there was no repentance In fact, an ordinary Muslim suffers from both sides—one Political parties and among the upper caste and even the our Constitution leaders of the RSS, who are because he is poor and, two, because Jawaharlal Jasthi supposed to work for the social he is considered not at par with the upliftment, did not utter a word of well-placed Muslims. Here, the either condemnation or sorrow. economic factor has come into play. Mahatma Gandhi's Speech And then it has got mixed with All religions indulge in social, preferences and prejudices, making economic or political discrimination the poor Muslims’ plight still more but it is not the part of the religion pitiful. True, the Indian constitution itself as it is among the Hindus. And does not allow discrimination on the for centuries, it is going on without basis of religion. But it is practised much challenge. There are still all over and even the police force certain parts of India where the Dalit has come to be contaminated and it cannot use the road or well which connives at the violation of the upper Editor : are frequented by the upper castes. caste without a demur. G. G. Parikh The worst part is that the funeral ground which the upper caste use is The practice has become more Managing Editor : Guddi exclusive for them. glaring and persistent since the advent of Prime Minister Narendra D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Islam which teaches equality has Modi’s regime. That the upper caste Naushir Bharucha Marg, also been affected and the burial people have been appointed to key Mumbai - 400 007. places of those placed high in life positions in universities and other cannot be used by ordinary Muslims. institutions at the behest of the Email : [email protected] In fact, a different kind of caste government make some of the best 2 JANATA, August 7, 2016 brains rot. The RSS makes it sure Brief note on NEP that the people appointed are from the “right” background to ensure that the Hindutva philosophy is taken as Ramesh Patnaik the guideline.

Not long ago, the Pune film The Ministry of Human Resources agencies. So, naturally government institute went on strike for months Development preferred not to put doesn’t speak about ‘Common together when its head was replaced T.S.R. Subramanian Committee School System’ and least about by a television artiste who had the Report (30 April, 2016) on Draft New Common Education System. Multi blessings of the RSS. The Education Policy (NEP 2016) in standard institutions, in terms of government did not change its public domain. Keeping the nation in infrastructure and teaching faculty, decision even in the midst of dark about a report of a public would continue both in public and widespread discontentment. committee is most undemocratic and private sectors. The government is Ultimately, the students had to give highly condemnable particularly when going to proceed with globalisation in because their career was at peril. it is related to education, a of trade in education services by fundamental right of the people. Now, preparing ground by tribunalisation Time has come for introspection. it has issued a document of its own of justice and multi-nationalisation of The upper castes have not accepted with a title ’Some Inputs for Draft accreditation along with bringing the presence of Dalit or even National Education Policy 2016' legislation for allowing foreign members of other backward classes and is seeking response from the universities. The document gives in their midst. The numerous people before 31st July which we may assurance in weak terms for agitations in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh call as Proto-NPE because, the allocation of 6 per cent GDP for or, for that matter, in other parts of government will not change it in education. But, its stress on the country have not jolted the essence unless there is a strong commercialisation would only prove conscience of the upper castes. peoples’ movement against the the things otherwise. On the other These are the results of the nefarious designs built into it. The hand, it does not even hint at government pursuing with document plans for a great deal of cumulative gap mounted over 30 reservations despite the 10-year commercialization and communa- years from the time of NPE 1986 time-limit set by the Constituent lization of education as expected. due to far lower allotments over the Assembly way back in 1950. period made to education against the This is a most ill conceived assured 6 per cent of GDP in the I recall that during the debates of document on education from the policy. the Constituent Assembly when Dr central government ever. Though the B.R. Ambedkar, a revered Dalit MHRD played safe by stating that On the other hand the leader, declared that they did not it is only an input from the government proceeds with its project want any reservation. He was government in making the policy, it of reestablishing Manu Dharma not persuaded by the assurance that the speaks clearly the mindset of the only by denying education to the period will not be more than 10 years. government. The government does SCs, STs, and all disadvantaged Now the situation is such that as soon not propose abolition of sections and minorities – religious as the period is over, parliament commercialisation of education. and linquistic but also confining the unanimously extends it to another 10 That is the first acid test in deciding sections to skill training which all years. No political party, including the the nature of any policy document probability would reproduce caste communists, has stood up to resist in education. Government is rather system. Drop outs will be and say enough was enough. going to facilitate the growth of encouraged by rigorous screening commercialisation of education akin to Brahminical practices and the Now that elections in Uttar further. Again, it is now clear that children so dropped out, mostly from Pradesh, the largest state in the the government will pursue more disadvantaged sections, will be country, are scheduled to take place vigorously the pet policy of the ruling diverted for ‘skilling’. Child labor is in 2017, Dalit leader Mayawati is classes - Public Private Partnership not going to be abolished and rather (Continued on Page 8) to siphon public funds to private will be institutionalized by providing JANATA, August 7, 2016 3

‘alternate schools’. Open schools, document and it makes a clear The thrust will not be knowledge open colleges and open educational indication of the government and enlightenment of individual and facilities on one hand and skilling on approach to mitigate the contributions development of the people and the the other hand will be the main of the period in development of the country but skilling individual and thrusts of the government and all civilization of this land. The benefiting corporate market. disadvantaged will be pushed communal approach which this Further, it seeks the increase of towards these thrust areas. government pursues leads to neglect caste discrimination, religious, Increasing majority of the or playing down of contributions of cultural and linguistic discriminations, disadvantaged sections on all counts, all religious and linguistic minorities, gender and normal body caste, religion, region, gender and tribes and suppressed casts and discriminations. The policy is not linguistic-cultural group will be denied marginalized sections. Coming to the interested in reservations, hostels formal, liberal and really professional campus democracy, there will be and stipends to support poor and education. Majority of them will be selective ban on student and teacher disadvantaged sections rather it denied even upper primary education activists to curb opposition to the stands for screening and excluding as the diversion would start as early projects of neo-liberalism and the poor and disadvantaged and as at class V for them. communalism in the campuses. High divert them for vocational training level of bureaucratization of and open learning. It is opposed to Though government in the administration and centralisation of mother tongues of the people. Now, document talks of social justice, curricula is sought on one hand to the rights and entitlements of the nowhere it talks about need of regiment thought and on the other poor and disadvantaged are at reservations, applying reservations to hand to subordinate education stake. It seeks to centralize all institutions and at all levels and system to global market in content curricula, bureaucratize applying rule of reservation in and form. The document nowhere administration and globalize privately run schools and colleges. gives a clear historical understanding accreditation and tribunalise justice There is no even mention of need of of what education stands for. to facilitate multi-lateral and hostels and other affirmative Further it does not give recognition plurilateral possible agreements in measures to bring the poor and to the fact that education was denied ‘trade in education service’ either socially disadvantaged to the schools, to vast majority of this country in the under World Trade Organisation or colleges and universities. Languages name of caste and gender. Neither outside of it. Government is highly of the people will be looked down. the document notes the historical allergic to the rights of the students Mother tongue as a medium of development of the present and teachers, autonomy of the education will be confined only up education system, the contributions universities and is out to weed out to class V. Again, the state of reformers nor does it think for a any opposition to its project of governments are given free hand to scientific secular democratic commercialisation and introduce English medium even at education system for future. It does communalisation of education. It primary level. The government is not look like a policy document or seems out of place to expect clearly against mother tongue as a like a document in preparation of a something like transformative medium of education only to produce policy framework. It is a techno- education from this government and cheap labor for corporate service managerial document than a socio- inclusion of subjects like civil sectors and consumers for their political one. It only tried to reorient liberties, human rights, subjects to products. Sanskrit will be introduced the education system to sub-serve sensitize the students about social in all states at school level and college the interest of the corporate capital discriminations and cultural levels and the glory of a particular - domestic and foreign on one hand diversities, alternative models of religion, a particular culture, a and to communalize education on development and subjects like public particular language, a particular the other hand by interfering with policy for sustenance of small caste and a particular gender against the system in a post-modernist holding peasant economy and so on the rest will be sung through it in the method. and so forth. The government policy name of glorious past. The perspective seems is meant to serve medieval period of Indian history The government wants through the ruling classes and the neo- (which RSS consider as Muslim this policy to further commercialise Period) is not even referred to in the and communalize education system. (Continued on Page 15) 4 JANATA, August 7, 2016

Thus spoke Mahatma Gandhi

It is a well known fact that on the night of December 22-23, 1949, idols were put under the central dome of the Babri mosque, at Ayodhya by some miscreants and an FIR was lodged by the police constables posted there at that time. The 1949 violation was a result of premeditated collusion between bigoted sections of the then ruling Congress party and the local Faizabad bureaucracy led by a deputy commissioner whose blatant partisanship was proved by his subsequent admission to the Bharatiya Jan Sangh.

Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru expressed his distress at the 1949 incident in a series of letters, to Deputy Prime Minister Vallabhbhai Patel, to Governor-General C. Rajagopalachari, to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Govind Ballabh Pant and to a close friend K.G. Mashruwala (The Babri Masjid, edited by A.G. Noorani). In a December 26, 1949, telegram to Pant, he presciently described the installation as a “dangerous example” that will have “bad consequences.” To Mashruwala (letter dated March 5, 1950), Nehru confessed that the district officer in Faizabad “misbehaved,” further that while UP CM Pant “condemned the act on several occasions” he refrained from “taking definite action.” In a letter dated April 17, 1950, to the U.P. Chief Minister, the Prime Minister Nehru poured out his anguish: “… U.P is becoming an almost foreign land to me … I find that communalism has invaded the minds and hearts of those who were the pillars of the Congress in the past. It is a creeping paralysis and the patient does not even realize it ... It seems to me that for some reason or other, or perhaps mere political expediency, we have been far too lenient with this disease …”These exchanges conclusively nail the lie that the 1949 installation of idols was an act of faith on the part of the Hindu masses.

In this context here is an important speech delivered by Mahatma Gandhi in Delhi at prayer meeting on 27-28th November 1947, well before the Ayodhya controversy erupted.

–Qurban Ali

Brothers and Sisters, they are not true, it is a matter of completed my studies there and shame for the newspapers. Thus it attended college for a few months, Yesterday I wanted to mention is a matter of shame for either side. and that too at Bhavnagar. Even for one point but since I had to talk about I have also told you what the Sardar the examination I could not go many other things, it was left out. has to comment on the matter. He beyond Ahmedabad. That was my came today also and told me that condition. I saw everything that I have received many telegrams whatever reports came from there happened there and, later too, kept from Kathiawar. I have already told were not worth mentioning. They contact with the people by visiting you about what I heard and what were highly exaggerated. But the them. So, the sender of that telegram subsequently appeared in the telegram I have received from says that I am greatly worried on Pakistani newspapers. Those papers Rajkot is worth noting. It is a fairly their account, and, in turn, my worry are read by thousands of people long telegram and I would like to has become their worry. He says it there. May be some ten thousand or mention it to you in brief. After all, I is true that some Hindus in so. I do not know how many people know the Muslims of Kathiawar. I Kathiawar had lost their balance, but must be reading them. But nothing do not know them individually, but I is there any place where this has not would be achieved if I started know the Khojas, Meenas, Vaghers happened. They resorted to violence thinking whether those things had and some Kumbis among the and even harmed some Muslims. really happened. Hence it was good peasants, and Mahers. After all, I They destroyed their houses and that I placed before you what I had was born there and lived there for even burnt them down. read in those newspapers. I do not almost 17 years. In fact I lived there know if all those things are true. If for full 17 years, because I did not But, he says, the Congressmen did they are true, they are a matter of go out to study anywhere. My father not let the situation go far. They were great shame for Kathiawar. And if never sent me anywhere. I under the leadership of Dhebarbhai. JANATA, August 7, 2016 5

I know him very well. He went have happened there and are still undertake or that they abide by forward to protect the Muslims and happening. I do not know whether I everything I say. But is not succeeded to a great extent. Not all should believe the telegram from Kathiawar the same as Bihar? If Hindus were involved in those acts Bombay or the one from the other someone wants me to set up a of loot and arson. Had that been the Muslim gentleman. But I doubt the commission in Bihar, do you think I case, all Muslim houses in Rajkot truth about the telegram from would oblige? I am at their disposal would have been set ablaze, there Bombay because it has been sent myself. People there love me and would have been large-scale from Bombay, while the other one listen to me. And so, it would not be violence and some people would has been sent by those who are right proper to set up any commission have been killed. But things did not in Kathiawar. Moreover, the people there. I have also received several reach that point. The Congressmen of Kathiawar cannot deceive me. letters from the Muslims in Rajkot. and others took every precaution. Where would they escape after Many of them are friendly with the Dhebarbhai was abused and deceiving me? Hence I feel that the Hindus and also happy with the manhandled. Even though he is a big telegram from Bombay gives an Congress. Then, who belongs to the man and also a lawyer, when the exaggerated version. The actual Hindu Mahasabhaand the mob gets excited all considerations situation would be known to me in Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh? I of big and small are forgotten. They due course. For the present, let me can have no enmity towards them. harassed him because he was trying at least put all this before you. They think theirs is the only way of to protect the Muslims. Some people saving Hinduism. But I believe that who accompanied Dhebarbhai write, There is also a telegram from Hinduism will not be saved in that that, though some injury was caused, Bhavnagar. It is from the Maharaja manner. They believe in violent Dhebarbhai was saved by other of Bhavnagar. I know him too, opposition to those who commit an people. The telegram also mentions because I have lived there for three evil act. But I would ask how fighting help from the Thakore Saheb and the or four months. So he felt concerned an evil by another evil will help. We police. In that case, who are left to about me and wondered why I was have got our own Government. Take be suspected of creating the trouble? so much worried. He has said in the it to task and demand an explanation They say “the Hindu Mahasabha telegram that I need not worry. He as to why such things are happening. and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak says that they are all vigilant. The Moreover, our Government is vigilant Sangh— these organizations have Hindus also are vigilant. They would and it is trying its best. And so I would certainly done some mischief—their not let any harm come to the Muslims like to tell the Hindu Mahasabha aim was to drive out the Muslims at and I should have no doubt at all and also the Rashtriya least from Rajkot. However they about it But there is a telegram from Swayamsevak Sangh—both are could not do so. But now we have Junagadh sent by some Muslims. Hindu organizations and many nothing more to worry and there is They say that I am being deceived, influential and educated people are no danger to the Muslims. So you and I should set up a commission and associated with them as in other also should not worry. We are inquire whether the Muslims are organizations—that they cannot save watching the situation elsewhere too being harassed or not. Similar Hinduism in this manner. Is it true and we would send you another telegrams have also been sent to that they have harassed the telegram.” I have received a Jawaharlal, the Sardar and others. I Muslims? If not, who has? The telegram from a Muslim gentleman would like to say that it is not possible Congress has not harassed them, nor from the same place. He expresses to appoint a commission for anything has either of the Governments done his extreme gratitude to the and everything. Setting up a it. Who then are the other Hindus Congressmen and others who tried commission is no joke. Where is the who did it? their best to save the life and need for having a commission even property of the Muslims. But there though some harm might have been Today all the Hindus and Sikhs are is yet another telegram from Bombay done? As for Kathiawar, I am like a to be blamed for this just as in also sent by a Muslim gentleman. He commission myself. If anything Pakistan all the Muslims are to be states that what I had said earlier comes to my notice, I can check it. I blamed, and rightly so. That is why I about Kathiawar was correct but can handle the Princes as well as would suggest that those who are what I have been told later about it the people of Kathiawar. I do not innocent and yet are accused should is not correct. That lots of things claim to succeed in everything I clear their names. The Muslims in 6 JANATA, August 7, 2016

Junagadh can get justice if they should offer to repair the mosques that he is insulting the Koran. The want. Why then should we set up a which have been damaged. But the Koran does not ordain that people commission? Having talked about the Sardar says that the Government should be compelled to accept it. situation there let me also talk about would bear the expenses of the That is why I very respectfully wish the situation here. The Sardar has repairs of those mosques. Why to tell the Hindu Mahasabhaand made some arrangements and he is should the Government do it? Is it the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh going to protect all the mosques we not because we are not doing it and others who wish to listen to me have here. You must have read the ourselves? The Government has to and also the Sikhs that the Sikhs are notice sent by him in the newspapers protect everybody. But it would be great and if they turn good and that the occupied premises of the a matter of shame for us all—Sikhs become true followers of Guru mosques should be vacated in a and Hindus today. Nanak, the Hindus would then week’s time otherwise they will be automatically become good. I have vacated with the help of the police. Of course I have not heard about great respect for the Sikhs in my But I ask you what will he gain by any Sikh having installed the idols, heart but today, everybody, whether sending the police? If some Hindus for the Sikhs have only one idol or, Hindu or Sikh is going astray and have installed an idol in some say, the holy treatise, that is, the India is being destroyed. Are we mosque—the idol may be of gold or Granthsaheb. I have not known of going to drag India into dust after silver or brass or earth or stone— any Sikh having kept the raising her high? Are we going to but it is said, and I also believe, that Granthsaheb in any mosque. Even destroy our religion, our so long as it has not been sanctified if any of them has done so he has achievements and our country? May and not worshipped by pure hands, insulted the Granthsaheb. The God save us from all this. in my view it is not an idol but a mere Granthsaheb can be kept only in a piece of stone or gold. Gurudwara. Only the holy Sikhs [From Hindi] Vide “Speech at keep it on a high pedestal after Prayer Meeting”, 27-11-1947 and Such idols have been installed in nicely decorating it. Somebody like “Speech at Prayer Meeting”, 28- the mosque at the corner of me would wrap it in a nice khadi 11-1947. Prarthana Pravachan— Connaught Place (in New Delhi). In cloth. But today, even though people II, pp. 144-50.(Abridged) my view, there is no Hanuman in do not think in terms of swadeshi or The Collected Works of those idols. To me it is a mere piece foreign things we do manufacture Mahatma Gandhi of stone which has been shaped like beautiful woolens and silks by hand. Hanuman and to which some If we spread such silk cloth and Vol. 97: 27 September, 1947 - 5 sindoor has also been applied. In my keep the Granthsaheb on it, it would December, 1947 view it is not worthy of worship. It be worthy of worship. And if any can be worshipped only if it is Sikh goes and keeps it in a mosque, Janata Subscription legitimately installed and sanctified. he insults the Granthsaheb and then But all this was not done. Hence it it cannot be worthy of worship. A Annual Rs. : 260/- is the duty of those who have Muslim gentleman came to see me installed the idols to remove them today. I could not make out what he Three Years : 750/- from there at daybreak and then wanted to say. But he was holding a keep them wherever they choose. copy of the Koran which was half Demand Draft / Cheque By thus installing idols in the burnt. Even that was sacred for him on mosques they are desecrating the and so he had wrapped it in a very mosques and also insulting the idols. clean cloth. He opened the cloth and Mumbai Bank As followers of Hinduism we are showed the burnt Koran to me. He in favour of idol-worshippers, but worshipping did not say anything but looked at any idol in this manner is not religion me with tearful eyes and then went but the opposite of it. So, why should away. He talked a few things with JANATA TRUST the Sardar send the police there? Brajkishan, since I was busy with my D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Those who are Hindus among you work. Similarly, if any Muslim comes Naushir Bharucha Marg, should become watchmen and here and installs the Koran here and Mumbai 400 007 remove the idols so installed. We beats you and me up, I would say JANATA, August 7, 2016 7 Forgotten history of misrule of British Raj in india

Chandra Bhal Tripathi

An article by Dinyar Patel that It is a pity that after UP town Basti. The shameless appeared on BBC News-India on Independence the Government of British Government never June 11, 2016 is heartrending. In the India decided to remain in the British apologised to the Indian people for famine in Orissa in 1866 one million Commonwealth by dropping the their cruel deeds. What prevents us people perished. All due to the word ‘British’ and even today from giving up this vestige of the policies of the British colonial rulers. continues to acknowledge the British colonial rule? Cannot we do it even What a shame that we all have monarch as the Head of now? But we perhaps cannot expect forgotten this tragedy. We salute the Commonwealth. It was a British any such self-respecting step from great Dadabhai Naoroji, President, Labour Party MP, Fenner Brockway, people like Narasimha Rao, Indian National Congress and the who strongly urged India to leave the Manmohan Singh, Narendra Modi first Indian Member of the British Commonwealth. I read his brilliant who feel happy in House of Commons, to have article in the Congress Socialist Party being chamchas of their new seriously investigated into the issues weekly Janata in 1948. We continue masters, the United States of of Indian poverty. We also salute the to pay homage to the British monarch America. Even in recent years more great nationalist and historian and yet claim to be a free country. than 3,00,000 kisans have committed Ramesh Chandra Datt, also Burma severed all links with Britain suicide due to highly discriminatory President of the INC who thoroughly in 1948 under the leadership of Gen. policies of World Bank and exposed the British misrule. In this Aung Sain, father of Nobel laureate International Monetary Fund which article he has been quoted as follows: Suu Kyi Aung Sain. are nothing but appendages of the US Govt. For serious drought “By 1901, Romesh Chunder Dutt, The cruelties of the British situation in parts of Maharashtra another leading nationalist, colonial rulers are galore. and some other States and perennial enumerated 10 mass famines since Jallianwala Bagh is a permanent scarcity areas of Orissa our Central the 1860s, setting the total death toll blot on the British rule. I remember and State Governments are at a whopping 15 million. Indians were the man-created Bengal famine of squarely responsible though now so poor - and the government so 1943 when my revered mother, a indirectly to an extent the indifferent in its response - that, he selfless social worker, organised exploitative US Government, WB stated, “every year of drought was a commendable relief work for Bengal and IMF cannot absolve themselves year of famine.” famine victims in our small eastern of their complicity.

The following are some more excerpts from the BBC News article: “In modern-day Orissa state, the people into agriculture. This, in turn, desperation of peasants no longer worst hit region, one out of every made the Indian economy much more able to afford rice. three people perished, a mortality dependent on the whims of seasonal rate far more staggering than that monsoons. “All of this did little to stir the caused by the Irish Potato Famine. colonial administration into action. In “It can, we fear, no longer be the mid-19th Century, it was common “Famine, while no stranger to the concealed that we are on the eve of economic wisdom that government subcontinent, increased in frequency a period of general scarcity,” intervention in famines was and deadliness with the advent of announced the Englishman, a unnecessary and even harmful. The British colonial rule. Calcutta newspaper, in late 1865. market would restore a proper balance. Any excess deaths, The East India Company helped “The Indian and British press according to Malthusian principles, kill off India’s once-robust textile carried reports of rising prices, were nature’s way of responding to industries, pushing more and more dwindling grain reserves, and the overpopulation. 8 JANATA, August 7, 2016

“On a flying visit to Orissa in nationalist, Dadabhai Naoroji, to of a million and a half lives in one February 1866, Cecil Beadon, the begin his lifelong investigations into famine is a strange illustration of the colonial governor of Bengal (which Indian poverty. worth of the life and property thus then included Orissa), staked out a secured.” similar position. “Such visitations of ndated picture of Indian famine providence as these no government victims “His point was simple. India had can do much either to prevent or enough food supplies to feed the alleviate,” he pronounced. “As the famine abated in early starving - why had the government 1867, Mr Naoroji sketched out the instead let them die? While Orissans “Regulating the skyrocketing grain earliest version of his “drain perished in droves in 1866, Mr prices would risk tampering with the theory”—the idea that Britain was Naoroji noted that India had actually natural laws of economics. “If I enriching itself by literally sucking exported over 200m pounds of rice were to attempt to do this,” the the lifeblood out of India. to Britain. He discovered a similar governor said, “I should consider pattern of mass exportation during myself no better than a dacoit or “Security of life and property we other famine years. “Good God,” Mr thief.” With that, Mr Beadon have better in these times, no doubt,” Naoroji declared, “when will this deserted his emaciated subjects in he conceded. “But the destruction end?” Orissa and returned to Kolkata (Calcutta) and busied himself with (Continued from Page 2) quashing privately funded relief efforts. being wooed by all political parties. No legislation is going to help, as She has said that her party would go has been India’s experience. “In May 1866, it was no longer it alone and there is every possibility Ultimately, it depends on the upper easy to ignore the mounting that she might return with a majority. castes to change their attitude. They catastrophe in Orissa. British Her advantage is that the Dalit voter believe in democracy but not in administrators in Cuttack found obediently follows her instruction. equality which is the integral part of their troops and police officers She is the only one who can get the the system. People in the world feel starving. The remaining inhabitants Dalit votes transferred to some other hard to believe that the country of Puri were carving out trenches community. Even though the which has sent rocket to the Mars, in which to pile the dead. “For Congress has traditionally fought for something which the advanced miles round you heard their yell social justice, Mahatma Gandhi was countries envy, practise for food,” commented one the only leader who believed in giving discrimination against human beings. observer. equal status to the Dalits. True, they did not like the title “Harijan” (sons Their horror is glaring when they “As more chilling accounts of God) given by him because they see that a democratic country where trickled into Calcutta and London, thought it was too patronizing. people queue before the ballot box Mr Beadon made a belated attempt to choose their leader cannot get to import rice into Orissa. It was, Dr Rajendra Prasad after finishing over the prejudice which they have with cruel irony, hindered by an his task as the president of the inherited from the time even before overabundant monsoon and constituent assembly was appointed the British who divided the society flooding. Relief was too little, too as the food minister. He went to caste-wise and religion-wise to make late, too rotten. Orissans paid with Gandhiji to seek his advice on his their rule easy. their lives for bureaucratic foot- accommodation. The Mahatma, who dragging. was living then in Whatever parliament does to a bhangi (sweeper) colony told him eliminate this malady will not help “For years, a rising generation of to live in the cottage next to the one until the upper castes realize that western-educated Indians had he was residing. Dr Rajendra Prasad what they are doing is against the alleged that British rule was grossly was so horrified over the idea that democratic polity which they cherish. impoverishing India. The Orissa he went to the then Prime Minister, The sooner this realization takes famine served as eye-popping proof Jawaharlal Nehru and complained on place, the better it would be for the of this thesis. It prompted one early Gandhiji’s suggestion. country and its polity. JANATA, August 7, 2016 9 Letter to H. J. Laski Central Jail, Agra (No date)

Dear Prof. Laski, orders of transfer to another copies of my applications to the province and the proceedings were Lahore High Court. These were “As the newspapers of my scotched. In the order dismissing seized from me on my transfer from country have not yet learnt to cut my applications, the Judge also felt Lahore to Agra. the question hour in your that the ‘sole motive’ of the India Parliament, I have to trouble you Government in detaining me was not I do not intend to detail to you my over something you would know to torture me. I regret I am unable rather long experience in the Lahore nothing about. The Under- to give you the exact wording of Fort. Should your Parliamentary Secretary for State, India, Mr. this strange order. I may add that I Party or any of its members be Arthur Henderson, has said that I was arrested in Bombay in May genuinely interested, they could have made unfounded allegations in 1944, and kept there for a month. easily obtain the two applications to respect of my detention in the If it was the Government’s intention the Lahore High Court and the third Lahore Fort. “I doubt if the Under- to secure the King’s peace, that to the Federal Court as court Secretary knows what my could have been very well achieved documents. I must add that these accusation is. The amazing thing is by continuing to hold me in the applications are a definite the repose with which the British Bombay jail or taking me to another understatement of what I had to go Government has asked my country as now, in my home province, the through. In the first place, I have to dismiss my accusation when, in United Provinces. In respect of avoided mention of vulgarities and, practice, it has made some very prisoners ill-treated in the Lahore in the second, the short scope of a awkward though successful Fort, the Punjab Government has court application and inadequate attempts at suppressing its often amused the country by talents would have made me sound publication. Aside from odd bits, my passing the responsibility on to the dramatic, if I had tried to country does not to this day know Government of India. The British communicate the dull but ugly cruelty of what I have accused the Under-Secretary has now almost as I felt it. I had hoped that the Government. While still a prisoner passed it back to the Punjab hearing in the court would bring it in the Lahore Fort, but after I was Government. out more fully. I would here indicate allowed to write to the High Court, that I was ill-treated in one way or I made a Habeas Corpus application So far as it concerns me, the another for over four months, that I in December 1944, and Government of India is the culprit, was kept awake day after day, night supplemented it with somewhat for I have been its prisoner in law as after night, the longest single stretch fuller details in January 1945. When in fact and recurrent orders for my running into ten days; and that, when the hearing was held, the Judge ill-treatment emanated from it, and I resisted the police in their efforts ordered it to be secret. The the Punjab Government is an to make me stand, they wheeled me Government had earlier taken an associate in crime. No Government round on my manacled hands on the added precaution and banned, under in your country could so interfere matted floor. It took me some time one Ordinance or another, all with Justice or shirk a criminal to learn as a physical feat, and a reference in the newspapers to this charge against it. On my transfer to lesson I should like never to forget, Habeas Corpus case. At the this jail, I made an application to the that no pain is actually unbearable; hearing, the Judge declared his Federal Court, but the Chief Justice it has either been unbearable in the intention to go into the merits of my of India felt that he had no jurisdiction past, but then the man is insensible application and I was examined on of any sort. After several months’ or dead, or it appears to be oath, and they were on the way to delay, I have succeeded in contacting unbearable as an imagined state of enquiring into my accusation, when my lawyer Mr. Madanlal Pittie, but the next moment. “It is true that I he accepted the Indian I do not know how much longer it was not beaten nor were needless Government’s plea that I was under would be before he is supplied with driven under toe-nails. I do not wish 10 JANATA, August 7, 2016 to make comparisons. A European, Aside from my regret that we had Parliamentary Labour Party who can more than another, with his better not enough time together, it is as bring this out? Should it be said that sensibility to the human body and if well that he is freed from the doers of these atrocities are in he is not dulled with horrors, may successive imprisonments and large numbers my own countrymen realise what I underwent. But, worse in his own country, and from in British employ? I do not deny that beating and bastinadoing to death or the oppressive sense of a nation’s there is a great deal of rottenness in near about it and forcing the human suffering that goes with these. my country and that is what makes mouth to considerable atrocities— it so galling, but the Englishman these and worse have also taken I have given you the national thinks he would not be here unless place. I will give you one or two picture to fit into it my own he made use of it. instances, as readily come to my experience as very small bit. The mind. British Labour Movement, as any Miss Usha Mehta’s case other socialist movement, has been One man swallowed poison in a erring, because it views foreign rule Not wanting to release me, the police outpost of the Bombay on the ground of democracy or Under-Secretary has also said that Province, another threw himself fascism or other political forms at the Government is considering the down a well in a United Provinces home. If pre-conceived notions are question of my prosecution. I am jail; and of those who died through cast away, it is just possible that now under detention for over a year beating or illtreatment after their the British system of ruling my and a half, apart from my arrest, there is no checking up country may be found to be slightly imprisonment of two years early in except that in one Orissa jail out of worse than any other, or it may be the war, and if the Government has over 300 in the country, the number slightly better. That would depend not yet completed considering this of deaths among political prisoners on one’s understanding of facts. No question, it may as well go on doing rose to around 29 or 39—I cannot one would deny that British rule in so indefinitely. There is a young exactly recollect. My country has Hindustan has, as a young brute, woman in a Bombay jail, Miss Usha gone through a great deal in the been heinously atrocious. It is again Mehta, perhaps the only woman past three and a half years. Men becoming so, now that it is declining political in the jails of that province, have been shot dead by the into an aging ogre. The middle who is doing a term of four years thousand, some out of moving period of secured and for running a freedom radio. I am vehicles as a test of marksmanship comparatively orderly rule is gone not quarrelling with her sentence, or to instil terror, women have been beyond recall. I do not know if it is although, had this young woman of strung up on trees and lacerated or at all possible to prevent or even to rare attainment and rare courage raped on the public road, and houses mitigate the ugly doings of this ogre. been Spanish or Russian, your razed in the Lidice or Becassi But this I know that the British countrymen would have glamorised fashion, though not as intensive in Labour Movement will not even her into a heroine. She was held a single area but in the total vaster have made an attempt, if it under detention for a year and for by the score. This is not surprising. theorises foreign rule on any other several months more as an under- Once it is understood that the view than that of bloody youth and trial, so that, if this judicial lapse had country was reconquered in terror crueller decline, with the middle not taken place, she might have well and vengefulness, the fact that period, at any rate in my country, completed her term and be out now. nothing more massive than the dead and gone. In face of all this, I might add that her trial and that of August Rebellion is known to the Under-Secretary has had the her colleagues was banned from the modern history explains itself. Three brass to call me a liar. newspapers. to four million died in the created famine. Already there was beating All Governments, as known to Of the eight to ten thousand of an another kind fifteen years ago. everybody, tell lies on the plane of political prisoners, a large number of My father, who died in a bus two high policy, but when a Government whom are classified as ordinary weeks back, was beaten does so at the level of persons and criminals, almost the entire lot are unconscious in the wholly peaceful minor things, it must be wholly held in prison, aside from the inherent raid of the Dharsana Salt Depot. mucked. Isn’t there one man in the inequity of their sentence or JANATA, August 7, 2016 11 detention owing to one lapse or Movement, but I felt that there In lending the smallest another even under the existing law. was not at that time a worthy countenance to Government’s plea A few days back, ten persons serving enough head of the movement that everybody still in prison is a life terms were released, because the nor any actively favourable element Socialist and advocate of violence, Allahabad High Court found they to whom such an appeal could be the British Socialist is deliberately had been convicted on the evidence sent. enabling the British Fascist in this of an ‘unmitigated liar’. country to work out his lawless ire Then the charge is levelled against against the Indian Socialist. Jayaprakash Narayan us that we have tried to achieve our aim through violence. It is a vague If Mr. Stephen Davies, a member Mr. Jayaprakash Narayan, charge and as such has no validity of your Parliamentary Party, thought General Secretary of the Socialist in law nor a place in any coherent it worthwhile to question the Under- Party, is now under detention for over political discussion. The drawing of Secretary about me he should also two years, apart from his earlier the line between violence and have acquired necessary information conviction and detention of nearly nonviolence as a method of political to bring out through supplementaries three years, and the India endeavour is an essentially Indian how inept and unworthy the answer Government, on its own declaration, beginning and is wholly distinct from was. Questions asked in a hurry and has been considering the question of the accepted opposition between in pursuit of an unpleasing duty or to his prosecution ever since his arrest. constitutional and unconstitutional create illusion are worse than no It will presumably go on considering means. It must, therefore, await questions at all. For the present, at the question, meanwhile holding him recognition, until, if at all, the Indian any rate, I have little desire for in prison. National Congress is able to create release and there is no urgency of a State with its politics. Such an any sort whatever. The British I do not know what kind of an event will also radically alter the Government is welcome to hold me answer Mr. Leopold Amery would concept of Government and its in prison as long as it lasts in this have returned, had he been asked obligations. Meanwhile, it does not country. But the fact remains that about my detention and presuming lie in the mouth of the British there was not one man in your that he had still wanted to hold me Government or of any other, to throw Parliamentary Party who could tell in prison. I like to think that he about this charge, for the right to the Secretary with facts that he was would have taken his stand on the violence is, in the dominated world, lying, that he has not so far, nor shall, usurper’s unhedged power and linked up with some of the finest put me up for trial, that he did his would have just said that I was efforts of man. If I were to follow habitual screening to make my detained under the laws of the land, the British Prime Minister, Mr. detention more palatable to the whatever they might be. That would Clement Attlee, or the Archbishop stupid. have been better than a Labour of Canterbury, I would have to call Under- Secretary’s screening of a it the sacred right to violence. For All writing from a slave country bad deed. the rest, the Indian Penal Code is to the ruler’s land is largely drastic enough, more drastic than any ineffectual, and wearies, but I hope The Government is afraid of now prevalent. There is ghastly you have not asked yourself why I placing us on trial and it will continue provision in it against the political have not addressed this letter to your to be so a freighted. Our trial may kind of killing, or the very vaguest Parliamentary Party. end up in its own trial. Except for association with it, or sedition, or the the Indo-Russians, no one can mere owning of arms. I have not Please accept my warm possibly think that we have worked been put up for trial on any of these greetings. for Axis victory in intention or even counts, nor the many hundreds, who Yours sincerely, in the unintended results of our have been detained almost deeds. In fact, Mr. Jayaprakash throughout the war and are still in Rammanohar Lohia. Narayan had wanted that an appeal prison several months after the last be sent from the Freedom Press of fascist was let out in your own (From The Price of Liberty, this country to the British Socialist country. Edited by Yusuf Meharally) 12 JANATA, August 7, 2016 Political parties and our Constitution

Jawaharlal Jasthi

Every one born is deemed to structure is invented for the purpose. shall be appointed by the President belong to a religion and a caste. The judicial review of laws by the on the advice of the Prime Minister.” Similarly every individual is supposed courts is considered one of the basic What is the criterion for the to belong to some political party or structures of the constitution. But the President to appoint the Prime other. We cannot, or not willing to, very first amendment restricted that Minister? Can it be an arbitrary think of politics without parties. right by opening the Ninth Schedule. choice? Why is it not stated directly Strangely, there is no mention of At that time the doctrine was not that the person enjoying the support political parties in our constitution as invented and in spite of objections of majority of elected members shall drafted originally and also in the from some of the judges, it was be appointed as Prime Minister? constitution of the USA. It is not that declared valid by the court. The Art.75(3) states that “The Council the framers of the constitution were courts accepted it and continue to of Ministers shall be collectively not aware of the existence of political honor it even after the doctrine is responsible to the House of the parties at that time. There were applied later. That first amendment People.” Nowhere is it mentioned as political parties even before the has changed the basic structure of a party in majority or a party in constitution was written and while it the constitution radically. The change opposition. Political party is was being written. But the parties itself is now the part of basic mentioned in Art.75(1B) which is did not find a place in the constitution structure. introduced after the Tenth Schedule as it was originally finalized and was added to the constitution. adopted on 26th January, 1950. It Giving constitutional recognition to Similar provision is made under must have been a deliberate the political parties also is such a Art.164 in regard to the constitution omission. change that has shattered the basic of the Council of Ministers for the structure of the constitution. It has states. We, at present, are not able to also made real democracy think of politics without parties. impossible by replacing Party affiliation is considered to When they are so fundamental for representatives of people with be an essential requirement for a political practice, why did the representatives of the political member of legislature which is constituent assembly refused to give parties. Even the Representation of negation of his character as a them a place in the constitution? It People Act, one of the earliest Acts representative of the people. is felt necessary to raise this passed, did not contain any Art.102(2) states that “A person question because the parties are reference to political parties. Part shall be disqualified for being a introduced into the constitution with IVA was added to the Act after the member of either House of effect from 1 March 1985 by the 51st Ninth Schedule was added to the Parliament if he is so disqualified amendment. The need for it and its constitution. It replaced people with under the Tenth Schedule.” Similar justification is to be verified in the political parties. This is clearly against provision is made under Art.191(2) light of the latest judicial decisions the intentions of those 300 in regard to members of state of the highest court of the country. intellectuals, who framed the legislatures. What is this Tenth constitution after deliberating for Schedule that has become so In the course of judicial review, nearly three years. If they were effective that it can override the the validity of any law passed by the convinced of the need for political main provisions of the constitution? legislature and anything done by the parties, they would have mentioned In the normal drafting process, a executive is tested against the so at the time of constituting the schedule is supposed to serve as an constitution. But when the Council of Ministers. Art.75(1) of the adjunct to the main provision in the constitution itself is amended, there constitution states that “The Prime Act. Usually it may contain some is no reference frame to verify the Minister shall be appointed by the details of procedures or validity of it. The doctrine of basic President and the other Ministers explanations. But here the main part JANATA, August 7, 2016 13 of the legislation is incorporated in not allowed in our system all these parties are supposed to have the Tenth Schedule and the main days. A change in the stand of a different programs. That itself is a provisions are sought to be changed member is taken as a defiance of myth. There is less difference to fall in line with it. How strange! the party to which he is supposed to between the programs of the parties, The tail is wagging the dog. belong. This gave rise to the slogan: nothing to choose from. Moreover, “Aya Ram, Gaya Ram”. It led to they never try to fulfill the promises A need was felt to regulate the horse trading and a change in the made in the programs, manifestos. behavior of members elected to the government and started instability. They promise the heaven knowing legislature and it is shown as a That is because the members are not fully well that it is an impossibility. justification for the provisions made allowed to express their preferences People know it as well and they vote in the Tenth Schedule. The need on the various issues freely. And based on other considerations. The itself arose because of some what is wrong if there is frequent purpose in forming a party is to come erroneous presumptions that were change in government? At one stage, to power. The basic conviction is that allowed to rule the body politic of there were changes of government they cannot do anything unless there the country against the will of the within three months in Italy. But that is power in the hands. Many more framers of the constitution. The condition did not last long. People things can be done if there is power constitution did not say that the Prime learnt the lesson and the system got in hands. To get the power it is Minister shall be selected based on stabilized. The real merit and necessary to form a group of people his support in the House. He, along justification for democracy is that the who are willing to contribute to their with his Council of Ministers, shall people get the government they philosophy. There is no party in be responsible to the House. It is deserve. They learn only if they are which the members have a implied that he shall have the support allowed to learn. homogeneous outlook. The main of the majority of members in the criterion is the possibility of coming House. It was never the intention that The elected members are to power. If the party has no the majority must belong to a party. supposed to be members of a possibility to come to power, the It was not the intention that a political party and are expected to member discards it and joins the particular group of members hold the tow the line of the party. How is it party which is in power or which has House under their control. It is not democracy? A strange logic is more possibility to come to power. democracy. The government has to adopted to sanctify the subordination That is why the floor crossing deal with so many problems and to the party. The members contest happens. The reason is that there is solutions are to be proposed. Those the election as representatives of the nothing like a commitment to any who support the government on one party and so they must act according particular theory or program of issue may not support in all other to the dictates of the party. By that action. issues. That is their prerogative. On the members became representatives other issues, some other members of the party and ceased to represent In fact the comprehensive will support the government. It may the people who elected them. In fact, program of a party, if any, put before include some of the original the people are supposed to have the electorate, confuses the voter. members and some new members elected the party and not the An ordinary voter is not concerned who opposed the government on the candidate. That concept was given with many of the areas covered in earlier issue. What is wrong in it? It hold even if there is no base for it in the manifesto. The common man in depends on the nature of the problem the constitution in the name of the village is not concerned with the and its effect on the people whom practicability. foreign policy or with nuclear they represent. Just because the agreements. He is concerned more proposal of the government was not Here the nature of a political party with the local issues, which affect approved by the legislature, the has to be studied. The party is him closely. In fact, he may find some government need not fall. If the supposed to consist of members who aspects that are not to his liking and government is persistently doing have a common program on the some to his liking. In such a situation things not acceptable to the members various issues that face the country what is he expected to do? When he in general, they can bring a ‘no and the program is the basis for the votes for a candidate in election, he confidence motion’ and get a new people to vote to the candidates of is not voting for all the points in the government. But such a situation is that party. The various political manifesto. But he votes as there is 14 JANATA, August 7, 2016 no alternative. Similar is the case existence. If politics is allowed as a democracy is the most fundamental with the elected member. He finds career, naturally a tendency part of the basic structure of the that what the government is develops to get himself perpetuated constitution and the same is now proposing is quite reasonable and in the career line. The son of a doctor allowed to be destroyed. could be supported, but his party is tends to become a doctor, because against it for no other reason except the facilities are made readily In this respect, the system that they are not in the government. available. The son of an advocate followed by the Americans appears The party has its own plans and its tends to become an advocate for the to be pragmatic. The candidates are own way of dealing with the same reason. So also the son of a allowed to contest elections in the government. The main aim is to politician. Politics is family business. name of parties. But the elected come to power and to create the It is a career, not a service. The members are free to vote on the situation favorable for that. The entire picture of politics is changed. various issues according to their member knows that it is wrong. But It is an area of struggle for existence own preference. Parties do not he is not allowed to express his and efficiency in perpetuating interfere. In fact many of the bills opinion. That is the result of giving themselves in the field. No other introduced by private members are recognition to political parties. That values stand in the way. sponsored by two members each is now constitutionally valid. It strikes belonging to one of the two parties. at the very root of democracy. It has You cannot forbid the formation It frequently happens that the bill shattered the basic structure of the of political parties. It is part of proposed by the government is constitution itself. fundamental right to form opposed by some of the members associations. It is true. It is not of the same party and supported by It is usually argued that parties necessary to forbid the formation of some of the other party. It gets make it possible to devise a basis for parties. Let them have any number passed and becomes an Act. There government and seek the approval of parties and any sort of regulations. are many Acts that are passed like of the people for it. Even if they are But they shall not be allowed to rule that. The merit is that parties are not not in power they form an alternative the legislature. What the Tenth allowed to dictate the members on and make the party in power behave. Schedule did is exactly that. The how to vote on the various issues. That is the fundamental mistake in Schedule recognizes the right of They remain the representatives of understanding democracy. The parties to issue “whips” and the the people of their constituencies. At problems will not remain the same, members are supposed to follow the worst, they may play for their own the same solutions will not hold good dictates of the party. Instead of the interests at times, but that does not in all circumstances. New problems elected members, the parties are amount to much. arise. New solutions have to be involved in the legislation process devised. The situation is dynamic. with constitutional support. By This right given to parties The party refuses to take note of it defying the whip of the party, the becomes more sinister as the law while the elected member is capable member is losing not only the does not exercise any right to of it. He must be allowed to reflect membership of the party but also the regulate or control the parties. Even his opinion, the intention of the people membership of the legislature which when the parties were asked to who elected him. It is not the party is unwarranted and beyond reveal information about the funds that the voter chooses. It is the comprehension by any logic. It helps received and spent by them, they candidate that is visible and the government to be partisan and claimed exemption from the answerable to him. retain its power even after losing the provisions of the Right To support of majority of members. Information Act (RTI) and the By recognizing the parties, Because, all the members of the government stood helpless. That is opportunity is given to make politics party that is supporting the because the government itself a career. It legitimized the collection government are not happy with it, but belongs to a party and depends on of money, black and green, and are not allowed to express their the support of parties and not of accumulate funds in the name of reservations. The democratic nature members themselves. If the whip is party. Money is the cement for the of the legislature is destroyed. It is not recognized on the floor of the edifice of the party. Families like against the fundamental feature of legislature, by defying the whip the “political families” have come into the constitution. It is agreed that member may lose the party JANATA, August 7, 2016 15 membership at the most, but not the proceedings of the legislature cannot elected body is undermined. It is membership of the legislature which be questioned in any court. That is more regrettable that the judiciary is his constitutional right. Even when what is happening in most of the that has invented and adopted the all the conditions prescribed in the legislatures now. The recognition to doctrine of basic structure so Tenth Schedule for disqualifying a political parties by virtue of the Tenth zealously, did not care to raise any member are fulfilled, the Speaker Schedule has undermined the objection to the Ninth Schedule or may refuse to announce the independence of the elected to the Tenth Schedule which have disqualification. Nobody can do members and made them undermined the very basic anything as he has the support of the subordinates to the respective democratic structure of the majority party in the House and the parties. The democratic nature of the constitution.

(Continued from Page 3) middle class that emerged in the and establishment of common diversified and rich cultures and course of enforcement of neo- education system fully funded by languages and education system liberal economic, political and state and administered in should stand for all that. Education cultural model. The neo-liberal and decentralized and participative system should work for lessening all the fascist agenda of the party in democratic mode. We should fight inequalities and democratizing all power are through in this policy for a common education system that diversities and shall stand as a social document of the government and stands against all inequalities based process for radical reconstruction of there is an all out attack on the on economic capacity, caste, religion, society on the basis of equality and constitutional values and belief, language, culture, gender and social justice. We shall work for prescriptions. normal body and consider diversity building a democratic, secular, as the potentiality of the country. We egalitarian, scientific and enlightened People of this country cannot take shall fight for free, equal and quality education system rooted in socio- these attacks unprotected. ‘We the education for all from KG to PG and cultural, religious and linguistic people of India’ should defeat it and Research. We shall fight against plurality of India, in consonance with proceed further to achieve abolition age-old bigotry and stand for the values enshrined in the preamble of commercialisation of education scientific temperament. India has got of the constitution. R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, August 7, 2016 Postal Registration No. MCW/275/2015-2017. License to Post without prepayment WPP License No. MH/Tech/WPP-210/West/2016 Published on Sunday, August 7, 2016 & Posted on Wedenesday August 10, 2016 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

An infrastructure company established since 1924

REGD. OFFICE :

New Excelsior Building, (3rd Floor), A. K. Nayak Marg, Fort, Mumbai 400 001. Tel.: 022 2205 1231 Fax : 022-2205 1232

Office : Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai & New Delhi Established 1946 Price : Rupees Five Pages 16

Vol. 71 No. 29 The voice of history August 14, 2016 Quit India

The following is the text of the resolution passed by the All – India Congress Brief note on NEP Committee on the evening of August 8, 1942 : Ramesh Patnaik “The All India Congress Chinese fronts and conveys to the Committee has given the most Russian and Chinese people its high British Raj in india careful consideration to the appreciation of their heroism in Chandra Bhal Tripathi reference made to it by the Working defence of their freedom. This Rammanohar Lohia Committee in their resolution dated increasing peril makes it incumbent July 14, 1942, and to subsequent on all those who strive for freedom events, including the development of and who sympathise with the Political parties and the war situation, the utterances of victims of aggression, to examine our Constitution Jawaharlal Jasthi responsible spokesman of the British the foundations of the policy so far Government, and the comments and pursued by the Allied Nations, criticisms made in India and abroad. which have led to repeated and Mahatma Gandhi's Speech The Committee approves of and disastrous failure. It is not by endorses that resolution and is of the adhering to such arms and policies opinion that events subsequent to it and methods that failure can be have given it further justification, and converted into success, for past have made it clear that the experience has shown that failure is immediate ending of British rule in inherent in them. These policies India is an urgent necessity, both for have been based not on freedom so the sake of India and for the success much as on the domination of of the cause of the United Nations. subject and colonial countries, and Editor : The continuation of that rule is the continuation of the imperialist G. G. Parikh degrading and enfeebling India and tradition and method. The making her progressively less possession of empire, instead of Managing Editor : Guddi capable of defending herself and of adding to the strength of the ruling contributing to the cause of world Power, has become a burden and a D-15, Ganesh Prasad, freedom. curse. India, the classic land of Naushir Bharucha Marg, modern imperialism, has become the Mumbai - 400 007. “The committee has viewed with crux of the question, for by the dismay the deterioration of the freedom of India will Britain and the Email : [email protected] situation on the Russian and United Nations be judged, and the 2 JANATA, August 14, 2016 peoples of Asia and Africa be filled with hope and countries conferring together for their mutual advantage enthusiasm. and for their co-operation in the common task of resisting aggression. Freedom will enable India to resist aggression “The ending of British rule in this country is thus a effectively with the people’s united will and strength vital and immediate issue on which depend the future of behind it. the war and the success of freedom and democracy. A free India will assure this success by throwing all her “The freedom of India must be the symbol of and great resources in the struggle for freedom and against prelude to the freedom of all other Asiatic nations under the aggression of Nazism, Fascism and Imperialism. This foreign dominations. Burma, Malaya, Indo-China, the will not only affect materially the fortunes of the war, Dutch Indies, Iran and Iraq must also attain their but will bring all subject and oppressed humanity on the complete freedom. It must be clearly understood that side of the United Nations, and give these Nations, whose such of these countries as are under Japanese control ally India would be the moral and spiritual leadership of now must not subsequently be placed under the rule or the world. India in bondage will continue to be the symbol control of any other Colonial Power. of British imperialism and the taint of that imperialism will affect the fortunes of all the United Nations. “While the A.I.C.C. must primarily be concerned with the independence and defence of India in this hour of “The peril of today, therefore, necessitates the danger, the Committee is of opinion that the future peace, independence of India and the ending of British security and ordered progress of the world demand a domination. No future promises or guarantees can affect World Federation of free nations, and on no other basis the present situation or meet that peril. They cannot can the problems of the modern world be solved. Such a produce the needed psychological effect on the mind of World Federation would ensure the freedom of its the masses. Only the glow of freedom now can release constituent nations, the prevention of aggression and that energy and enthusiasm of millions of people which exploitation by one nation over another, the protection of will immediately transform the nature of the war. national minorities, the advancement of all backward areas and peoples, and the pooling of the world’s “The A.I.C.C. therefore repeats with all emphasis the resources for the common good of all. On the demand for the withdrawal of the British Power from establishment of such a World Federation, disarmament India. On the declaration of India’s Independence a would be practicable in all countries, national armies, Provisional Government will be formed and Free India navies and air forces would no longer be necessary, and will become an ally of the United Nations, sharing with a World Federal Defence Force would keep the world them in the trials and tribulations of the joint enterprise peace and prevent aggression. of the struggle for freedom. The Provisional Government can only be formed by the co-operation of the principal “An independent India would gladly join such a World parties and groups in the country. It will thus be a Federation and co-operate on an equal basis with other composite government, representative of all important nations in the solution of international problems. “ Such sections of the people of India. Its primary functions must a Federation should be open to all nations who agree be to defend India and resist aggression with all the armed with its fundamental principles. In view of the war, as well as the non-violent forces at its command, together however, the Federation must inevitably, to begin with, with its Allied powers, to promote the well-being and be confined to the United Nations. Such a step taken progress of the workers in the fields and factories and now will have a most powerful effect on the war, on the elsewhere, to whom essentially all power and authority peoples of the Axis countries, and on the peace to come. must belong. The Provisional Government will evolve a scheme for a Constituent Assembly which will prepare “The Committee regretfully realises, however, that a constitution for the Government of India acceptable to despite the tragic and overwhelming lessons of the war all sections of the people. This constitution according to and the perils that overhang the world, the governments the Congress view, should be a federal one, with the of few countries are yet prepared to take this inevitable largest measure of autonomy for the federating units, step towards World Federation. The reactions of the British and with the residuary powers vesting in these units. Government and the misguided criticism of the foreign The future relations between India and the Allied Nations press also make it clear that even the obvious demand for will be adjusted by representatives of all these free India’s independence is resisted, though this has been JANATA, August 14, 2016 3 made essentially to meet the present peril and to enable struggle on non-violent lines on the widest possible scale, India to defend herself and help China and Russia in their so that the country might utilise all the non-violent strength hour of need. The Committee is anxious not to embarrass it has gathered during the last twenty-two years of in any way the defence of China or Russia, whose freedom peaceful struggle. Such a struggle must inevitably be under is precious and must be preserved, or to jeopardise the the leadership of Gandhiji and the Committee requests defensive capacity of the United Nations. But the peril him to take the lead and guide the nation in the steps to grows both to India and these nations, and inaction and be taken. submission to a foreign administration at this stage is not only degrading India and reducing her capacity to defend “The Committee appeals to the people of India to face herself and resist aggression, but is no answer to that the dangers and hardships that will fall to their lot with growing peril and is no service to the peoples of the United courage and endurance, and to hold together under the Nations. The earnest appeal of the Working Committee leadership of Gandhiji, and carry out his instructions as to Great Britain and the United Nations has so far met disciplined soldiers of Indian freedom. They must with no response, and the criticisms made in many foreign remember that non-violence is the basis of this movement. quarters have shown an ignorance of India’s and the A time may come when it may not be possible to issue world’s need, and sometimes even hostility to India’s instructions or for instructions to reach our people, and freedom, which is significant of a mentality of domination when no Congress Committees can function. When this and racial superiority which cannot be tolerated by a happens, every man and woman, who is participating in proud people conscious of their strength and of the justice this movement must function for himself or herself within of their cause. the four corners of the general instructions issued. Every Indian who desires freedom and strives for it must be “The A.I.C.C. would yet again, at this last moment, in his own guide urging him on along the hard road where the interest of world freedom, renew this appeal to Britain there is no resting place and which leads along ultimately and the United Nations. But the Committee feels that it to the independence and deliverance of India. is no longer justified in holding the nation back from endeavouring to assert its will against an imperialist and “Lastly, whilst the A.I.C.C. has stated its own view of authoritarian government which dominates over it and the future governance under free India, the A.I.C.C. prevents it from functioning in its own interest and in the wishes to make it quite clear to all concerned that by interest of humanity. The Committee resolves, therefore, embarking on mass struggle it has no intention of gaining to sanction for the vindication of India’s inalienable right power for the Congress. The power when it comes, will to freedom and independence, the starting of a mass belong to the whole people of India.” 4 JANATA, August 14, 2016

LokaSwara Lecture. 2016 Social democracy, Welfare state system and India

B. Vivekanandan

If politics is about people and their welfare, the political connotations. For example, in the social democratic leadership of the state should follow a vision, based on a parlance, the term freedom implies opposition to all kinds sound ideology. of dictatorship. It also implies freedom from fear and want, freedom from ignorance and exploitation, people’s The pivotal position of ideology in the development of enjoyment of political and civil rights, guaranteed by an a vision was once explained to us by Dr. Bruno Kreisky, independent judiciary, and so on. From the perspective former Socialist Chancellor of Austria, at a meeting held of socialists, all these freedoms are essential for a person in New Delhi. Dr Kreisky was in Delhi in 1985 to receive to lead the life of a worthy citizen. the Jawaharlal Nehru Award. At that time, Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister. During a conversation, Dr Kreisky Similar is the term equality. It implies equal value of asked the young Indian prime minister a pointed question all human beings. It means that all men and women should whether he had studied any ideology. Rajiv Gandhi replied have equal rights, equal responsibilities and equal ‘No’. After this meeting with Rajiv Gandhi, Dr Kreisky opportunities to develop in freedom and equality. Equality came to our meeting – a meeting of the Indian Centre for is also a pre-condition for the full development of a Democratic Socialism, organised by my friend Pradip personality. Bose, a nephew of Subhas Chandra Bose. After narrating his conversation with Rajiv Gandhi, Dr Kreisky observed: Similarly wide is the meaning of justice. Justice “I wonder, how, without studying any ideology, and a includes distributive justice, which means that jointly vision based on it, this young man is going to lead this vast achieved social product should be evenly distributed to country.” Kreisky proved right. Rajiv led India with the bring about a social equilibrium among various groups in skill of a manager. As a result, during that period, the society. Justice also implies the establishment of a welfare Indian polity suffered drift and degeneration. People’s state system for building caring societies. welfare counted for less and less. The point is that, every leader in politics, and every political party in the country Similar is the term democracy. It means, democratic should have an ideology and a vision based on it to guide functioning at all levels of organisation in society. Universal the state policies and programmes. adult franchise is an essential part of it. Democracy should not be limited to periodic elections. It should take the As a student of political science, economics and form of a participatory system. international relations, I had opportunities to study various ideologies and to visit countries which followed different And finally the term solidarity. For socialists, the term shades of ideologies. And, among them, I found the solidarity means collective responsibility of individuals for democratic socialist/social democratic ideology most one another and for the community. Indeed, solidarity is beneficial, because of its endeavour to organise the living the fulcrum of social democracy. Conceptually, solidarity conditions of ordinary people on the basis of equality is togetherness, supported by a mentality of sharing a part and equal justice. of one’s own earnings and services, for the benefit of fellow humans. It also implies joint effort to collective Ideologically, some of the core principles of democratic wellbeing. Indeed, in a solidarity based society mutual socialism/social democracy, like Freedom, Equality and assistance among people will be a permanent feature, Solidarity, are drawn from the watchwords of the French which would engender a new form of relationship, based Revolution, like Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. With on cooperation, mutual concern and mutual sharing. As them, the socialists have added two more principles - is in the case of concern and support among family Democracy and Justice. members, solidarity can be fruitfully promoted among people, whether in a state, region or in the world, for In the socialist movement these terms carry wider attaining the highest level of wellbeing for the people. JANATA, August 14, 2016 5

While I have explained the wider meaning of the core Finland, have developed such a system in during the last principles of socialism or social democracy, I must 80 years. If I take Sweden as a case study, the turning underline that all these principles are of equal importance. point was the Great Depression, a severe economic crisis, A joint realisation of them, through a string of appropriate of late 1920s and early 1930s, which caused untold programmes, will result in the establishment of a social suffering to ordinary people in the country. In order to democratic society. meet the challenges of Depression, and the consequent high unemployment and people’s miseries in the country, The best way to measure the worth of an ideology, or the Swedish socialists came out with a programme based a system based on it, is to test its social relevance by on full employment and the construction of a welfare using the yardstick of how much is its potential to enhance system in the country. The main focus of this programme the quality of life of ordinary people and help the elevation was the common man and his needs and aspirations to of the whole population. lead a meaningful life, based on equality, justice and solidarity. In the parliamentary elections held in Sweden It is in this context that I would like to present before in 1932, the Swedish Social Democratic Party was voted you the validity of the welfare state system, and the vision to power. And they remained in power for the next 44 it provides for future. The welfare state system is the years continuously, either alone or in coalition. It was applied form of the principles of social democracy. during this period that they have built up the welfare Therefore, basically, the welfare state system is a socialist state system, which we find in Sweden today. It is the or social democratic construct. result of a systematic, long-term planning with a vision, and with people’s informed support. What does a welfare state system connote? It connotes that a benign democratic state would assume The bedrock of the Swedish welfare state system was the main responsibility of the welfare of the whole laid on a full-employment policy, with a resolve to put population of the state, through appropriate, public every able bodied person in the country to productive funded institu-tionalised mechanisms. It means that the work. It has ensured growth and prosperity, and promoted government would assume direct responsibility for the equality in society. provision of social security, health care, medical care, education, social services, pensions, family allowances, The Swedish socialists have conceived the welfare child allowances, etc., for everyone in the state. And state system to promote equality and distributive justice all these provisions would be funded substantially from in Sweden, and to increase the State’s responsibility for the state revenues. A welfare state system accepts the people’s well-being. The Swedes call their system, as role of the state both as a regulator and, also as a cradle-to-the-grave welfare state system. They call it so provider. It accepts that a judicious and benign because the welfare state benefits begin to reach a person intervention of the state, in the economy and social life, as soon as the person is born. The sequence of it is like is necessary, since the system involves a huge transfer this: As soon as a child is born, the mother receives a gift of state funds to the local authorities, for providing the packet from the Government, with the official seal on it, welfare state benefits to the people. Adoption of a containing baby clothes and other baby care items needed welfare state system is also a recognition of the social for the new born. After the child’s birth, the parents begin rights of every person in the state, to enjoy a fair share to receive a child allowance, every month, for ensuring of the fruits of growth in society. It also provides the healthy growth of the child. They receive this allowance incentive for the promotion of a mentality, among the till the child reaches 17 years of age. The child’s education people, to share a part of the fruits of their labour with is free; the study material is free; daily school lunch is fellow humans, in a spirit of solidarity. Indeed, the free; and the public transport for school going children is establishment of a welfare state system is a civilised free. After the completion of education, it is the democratic solution to the prevalent inequality and responsibility of the government to find him/her a gainful injustice in the world. job, failing which, till such time a job is provided, the government is duty bound to pay a maintenance allowance As to how such a welfare state system can be built to him/her. When a person becomes a wage-earner, he/ up for the benefit of the whole population, I would like to she becomes a tax-payer and thereby becomes a financier illustrate by focusing on the way Sweden, and other of the welfare state system. On retirement, a person gets Scandinavian countries like Denmark, Norway and about 65 per cent of salary as pension, which means that 6 JANATA, August 14, 2016 the person can maintain almost the same standard of between the lowest-paid and the highest-paid employees living after retirement as well. Healthcare of all senior came down to 1:4. Then he showed me another chart, citizens is free. Social services provided to them are also showing the comparative position of incomes between free. When a person dies, the funeral/burial expenses are the lowest and the highest income-receiving families. The also met by the state. That is how the cradle-to-the-grave income difference between families was astonishingly welfare state system operates in Sweden. low - the ratio between the low-income and high-income families was only 1:2. Now, due to globalisation, and due Social security system in Sweden encompasses the to the activities of the multi-national companies there, right to work, right to education, a decent place to live there are some changes in these ratios in recent years, and so on. Under the system, the entire population is but not big changes. However, no other country or insured against illness. Everyone gets equal opportunity system in the world has achieved such a high level of for education. The system protects all employees from income equality. This has been achieved democratically, work-related accidents and sickness. All employees are through the parliamentary reform process. It blurred the entitled to compensation for industrial injury. Housewives class distinctions in Sweden. are entitled to annual holidaying anywhere in the country at the governmental expenditure. All mothers receive Similarly, the government has paid special attention to maternity grants. Under a family law, either father or people’s housing need. This was done through the mother is entitled to 7 months’ leave with full pay, after establishment of the state-owned Housing Banks, and the birth of a child. also through the promotion of cooperative house-building schemes. In this matter, the Government followed a motto, There is a highly developed pension scheme in that: “No one should make a profit of somebody’s housing Sweden. Under the old-age pension scheme, all old people need.” Do we follow any such motto? Look at the are entitled to a pension. Similarly, all disabled people, flourishing real estate business in our country. after the age of 16, are entitled to a pension. If a person is fully disabled, he would get a full disability pension, This is how the Swedish welfare state system which is equal to the old-age pension. Similarly, parents functions. More or less the same is the state of the are entitled to childcare allowance, if they themselves welfare state systems in other Scandinavian countries nurse their disabled children. like Denmark, Norway and Finland.

In Sweden, medical care is free, except a nominal The key to the successful construction of the welfare prescription fee. state system in Sweden, and other Scandinavian countries, is its universal application, which has made A notable feature of the Swedish welfare State system everybody a partner in the programme, both as a is that it is attuned to promote egalitarianism in society. contributor and as beneficiary. The welfare state benefits The steeply progressive income-tax system, and the are universal and non-discriminatory. All people are solidarity wage-structuring, has substantially reduced the entitled to social benefits as a matter of social right. The income disparity between the take-home pays of the low- wealth of the community and the State’s resources are paid and high-paid employees. used for the benefit of the whole population, and not of a section, nor of a few sections, of it. I went to Sweden in 1985 to study the changes which the welfare state system has brought about in that What is the impact of the welfare state system on the country. At that time, the Swedish Prime Minister Olof society and social behavior? The welfare state system in Palme’s Economic Adviser, Dr Klaus Eklund, showed Sweden and Scandi-navia has shown that it is good me some charts which he prepared for the Prime economics, good politics and good sociology. It is a splendid Minister. First, he showed me a chart, pertaining to the example of how public spending on welfare creates general gross salaries of wage-earners in Sweden, which showed conditions for economic growth and how preventive a big difference between the salaries of the lowest-paid policies reduce potential social problems and engenders and the highest-paid employees in the country. Then, he the development of a healthy, stress-free society. It has showed me another chart, which showed the take-home virtually freed the people of the region from worrying pays of all wage-earners, after applying the steeply about their own security or about the future security of progressive income-tax. In that chart, the income ratio their children and grand-children, as they are sure that the JANATA, August 14, 2016 7 welfare state system will take care of all of them, when world to take the initiative and move on to establish time comes. Therefore, people in this region are generally welfare state systems in their countries. free from stress-based diseases, which are increasingly a phenomenon in all non-welfare state societies. I have no doubt that the welfare state system, based on equality, justice and solidarity, provides a great vision At another level, the impact is more profound. The for future reconstruction of the world, on egalitarian lines. welfare state system has brought about a remarkable It is, indeed, the most civilised, and the most civilising, change in the psyche and ethos of all Scandinavian system in the world. countries. In this context, we must recall that historically, Scandinavia is known as the homeland of the legendary Pertinently, I am happy that a wind of change in favour Vikings, who were nightmares of the then mighty powers of democratic socialism and welfare state system is like Russia, Prussia, France, England, etc., through their blowing even in the United States, the citadel of forays for plundering those countries, between 8th and inequality-breeding capitalist system in the world. With 11th centuries. But, today, under the impact of social Senator Bernie Sanders as the torch-bearer, millions of democracy and the welfare state system, these people young Americans today are demanding reform of United present the picture of the most honest, courteous, civilised States into a welfare state, based on equality and and peaceful humans in the world. They now hesitate distributive justice. The surge of enthusiasm with which even to use an offensive language against their they have supported Bernie Sanders’ demand for adversaries. That is my experience, during the last 3 providing all Americans with free health care, free decade of my active interactions with them. As there is education, stable gainful jobs, etc., is a clear sign of not much disparity in income and standard of living impending change that is beckoning the United States in between the people in the state, their general behavior the coming years. Eight decades after the New Deal and interaction with each other, are marked by mutual Reforms of 1930s in US by President Roosevelt, under respect. They are totally free from corruption. Indeed, the decisive influence of the American socialist leader people in these countries have no incentive, nor any Norman Thomas, the American youth, under the compulsion, to become corrupt. leadership of Bernie Sanders, is marching forward to put the hitherto stalled New Deal reform process back I have explained the welfare state system in Sweden on rails, to lead the United States also to become a and Scandinavia, and its impact, in detail to underline modern welfare state. That way, Bernie Sanders’ contest how important, and how practical is the construction of for Democratic Party nomination for US Presidential a welfare state as the most civilised system in the world. elections in November 2016, signals a turning-point for Equally laudable is the fact that the welfare state system the future of welfare state system in the world. has taken all these Scandinavian countries, among the top ten in the human development index in the world. Where does India stand in this spectrum? What are the prospects of transforming India into a welfare state There is no doubt that from all angles, and from among system? No doubt, India has every potential to become a all the systems the world has tried, the welfare state welfare state. It is immensely rich in resources, including system is the best one. This is because it takes care of in human resources. In fact, India should have moved everybody equally, irrespective of their socio-economic up considerably in the scale of building up a welfare state background, and age and gender differences, with equal system in the country, if there were nurtured a national facilities and equal entitlements, based on distributive vision in that direction, and a political will to realise it. justice and human solidarity. This has been demonstrated in all societies where the welfare state system has been The Indian Constitution contains a number of provisions established. in the ‘Preamble’, and in its Chapters on Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy, for Therefore, the pertinent question is: When a section building up a welfare state system in India. The of the world population enjoys the fruits of a superior, Preamble, for example, has envisaged social economic universal welfare state system, is it fair to deny such and political justice for all people, and wanted the state benefits to the rest of the population in the world, by not to work for the wellbeing of all people. It has envisaged adopting similar system in their countries? The answer that India should become a society based on equality is ‘No’. Therefore, I urge the political class across the and justice. In pursuit of that objective, many provisions 8 JANATA, August 14, 2016 have been made in Chapters on Fundamental Rights and state industrial policy, etc., they remained more or less Directive Principles of State Policy of the Constitution. half-hearted measures. The ruling Congress party Equality of opportunity, right to freedom, right against followed a lukewarm approach towards it mainly because, exploitation, etc. are all parts of it. unlike the Indian socialist parties, the Congress party was not ideologically equipped or committed to pursue the More distinctly, the Directive Principles of State Policy welfare state agenda in the country. Perhaps, it could not is pointing the way for the development of India into a comprehend the dynamism of the welfare state system. welfare state. Article 38 of the Constitution says that Therefore, it was found pursuing rather a narrow path of “The state shall strive to promote the welfare of the people remaining in power with rich man’s money and poor man’s by securing and protecting ... a social order in which vote. It seldom pursued a vision beyond that. Tokenism justice, social, economic and political shall inform all the and expediency characterised its basic approach. Unlike institutions of national life.” Similarly, Article 39 speaks what the Swedish Social Democratic Party and its about the rights of all people for adequate means of Government did in Sweden during its long years in power, livelihood, equal pay for equal work, healthy work the Congress party and its governments in India made no environment, protection of children against exploi-tation serious attempt to make the establishment of a welfare and material abandonment. Under this Article, it is state system in the country a national vision, and to make incumbent on the state to ensure that “the ownership the people to share that vision. In that sense, India has and control of the material resources of the community wasted about 70 years of its independence. During the are so distributed as best to subserve the common good.” last 25 years, even that limited, rudiment, welfare state Article 41 makes the state responsible to make measures, have been undermined to promote market forces effective provisions “for securing the right to work, to and private enterprises. Under Dr Manmohan Singh’s education, and to public assistance in case of stewardship, steps were taken, since 1991, to increasingly unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement, and roll back the state from the sphere of public welfare in other cases of undeserved want.” Similarly, Article 42 services. In pursuit of that, government hospitals have and 43 make the state responsible for provision of been starved of funds, staff and medicines, to promote maternity relief, and for securing all workers jobs, “a extortionist private hospitals. Funding of children’s living wage, conditions of work ensuring a decent education has been systematically transferred from public standard of life and full enjoyment of leisure and social funds to the shoulders of parents, or of children themselves, and cultural opportunities.” Article 45 provides for who are forced to take education loans from banks. In compulsory education for all children up to 14 years. addition, a new category of self-financing colleges have Similarly, there are also provisions which stipulate that been mushroomed all over the country, which take big children should be provided with opportunities and bribes, in the name of capitation fee and donation, for facilities to grow and develop in a healthy manner, and in admissions, have been promoted. I have no doubt that conditions of freedom and dignity. such education shops can only corrupt our system beyond repair, like the poisoning of the sub-soil water. These provisions in the Constitution make clear that the architects of our Consti-tution wanted India to move However, today, childcare, care of the old, infirm and towards a welfare state system, and made suitable the handicapped, etc., are of marginal responsibility of provisions in it to build it. the Indian state. The budget allocation for public welfare in India has been kept around a meagre 4 per cent of Despite the presence of these provisions in the the national budget, compared to 37 per cent in the Constitution, the progress of India made in this direction national budget of a welfare state like Sweden. However, has been negligible. The main reason is that those who cumulatively, the welfare state content in India has been occupied the seat of power here did not display enough steadily slashed down during the last 25 years. Public political will to do it. It is axiomatic that a fruitful healthcare services have been weakened to such an implementation of a programme is best done by those extent that even poor people are forced to approach the have a deep commitment to that programme. Though in new extortionist private hospitals for simple ailments. This 1950s, during Jawaharlal Nehru’s prime ministership, the situation must change. country saw the infusion of the rudiments of a welfare state system, through a limited expansion of free public 1 have no doubt that if market forces and private education, free public healthcare services, labour-intensive service providers establish a firm grip on the public JANATA, August 14, 2016 9 welfare sector, the democratic state, as a political entity, development. In my view, this national approach, though will lose its centrality for organising a welfare state system valid to start with, is an inadequate framework for future. for the benefit of the whole population. That will be We all know that our planet Earth is endowed with detrimental to the poorer sections of our society. bountiful natural resources and products, much more than Therefore, the centrality of the state to provide such poor what is needed for everybody to lead a happy and people with free high quality services, through public contented life. Various continents hold rich divergent institutions, must be preserved and promoted at all costs. natural resources. But, they are complementary. Pooling We must realise that richer the welfare state, better will of these natural resources would show the richness of be the conditions of the poor in the country, and vice the bounty, with which the nature has blessed the versa. Therefore, it is imperative that the Indian state humanity. Yet, in the absence of a co-ordinated global should be kept strong, resourceful and sovereign. welfare state system, the vast majority of people in the world are deprived of their due share of the benefits of As Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said, India should have a these resources, including knowledge resources like national vision about its future. In my view, that national technology. Therefore, inter-continental produces do not vision should be to transform India into a caring welfare get evenly distributed among countries and continents, state. The objective should be to build a new society and their peoples. The vested interests in the world have based on equality and distributive justice. It should follow erected many walls, including patenting laws, to prevent the principle of universalism, so that everybody participates people from unfettered enjoyment of their collective in it both as a contributor and as a beneficiary. It should wealth, and fruits of inventions and discoveries in the be pursued under the framework of human solidarity in world. They are also instrumental in preserving inequality the country, which will spectacularly change the face of in the world. But, we have to recognise the fact that the India during the next 30 or 40 years. world is shrinking fast due to communication revolution. As a result, physical barriers are bound to give way to In the pursuit of building a welfare state system, India the urge of humanity for equality and distributive justice. should adopt a full employment policy. It entails that all socio-economic and technology policies in India would Keeping that also in view, we have to find a remain employment friendly all the time. It is my conviction comprehensive solution to the prevalent inequality and that a full-employment policy and a drive for achieving mal-distribution of resources and produces in the world. full-employment hold the key to India’s prosperity, The application of equity, justice and solida-rity greatness, and social peace in the 21st Century. internationally and inter-continentally is the solution. We have to ensure that whether a person is born in Asia, Similarly, India should affirm its faith in the public sector Africa, America, Australia or Latin America, he/she should in areas of public utilities, and position the public sector have equal rights and equal facilities to lead a comparable, as a strong pillar of India’s welfare state system. meaningful, life in the world, based on equality, justice and solidarity. We have to seek ways and means of how to India has all the potential to become a successful expand the welfare state system universally across the welfare state. But, for its realisation, we should develop world. Pooling of destinies and resources of people across a national vision of it through large-scale open debate on the world by invoking principles of equality, equal justice, the virtues which the welfare state system promises for and inter-continental solidarity, is the right way to re- the present and future generations in India. Politically, organise people’s lives in the world. The ‘One World’ to realise that vision in letter and spirit, it is imperative to concept, which Wendell Willkie envisaged in 1943, will build up an All-India political party, like a Socialist/Social have to be elevated to a qualitatively higher level of a Democratic Party, for example, which has an abiding ‘Global Welfare State System’, anchored in inter- faith in the establishment of a welfare state system in Conti-nental solidarity. In short, for the future wellbeing India. of the humanity, it is imperative to plan and establish a global welfare state system. My next book is going to be IV precisely on this theme. In conclusion, I would say that at present the welfare Thank you. state system is conceived and established at national Bhubaneswar levels, taking the nation state as a unit of its planning and 9 July 2016 10 JANATA, August 14, 2016 Movements and Institutions: Their Interlinkages.

T. K. Oommen

I

An institution may be viewed as a cluster of interrelated events which constitute it. Thus the Quit India roles resulting from the institutionalization of socially ‘movement’ is but one event of mobilization in the desirable and legitimized values, norms, rules and numerous events in anti-colonial movement; there were procedures. But institutions are not eternally stable and other events such as Salt Satyagraha or Champaran institutional legitimacy is continually questioned. Thus, Satyagraha. It is equally pertinent to keep in mind that the response to institutionalization may manifest itself in the vitality of movements vary across time; sometimes different forms: conformity, differential interpretation, they are calm and on other occasions they are turbulent. acceptance of values but rejection of the institutional role- No movement can sustain its high vitality for a long incumbents and opposition, among others. This means time. institutionalization can occasion both bureaucratization and mobilization, that is, the process of institutionalization Analysts from and of liberal democracies counterpose may and often does provide the moment for movements the state with the party, the party with the movement, to emerge. movements with institutions, and obstinately insist that this should be so not only for these societies but for other Movements are conscious collective actions informed societies as well. But this is simply not true. Let me recall of ideology, aided by an organizational weapon and a well-known example. initiated by a core person/group to bring about change in any direction (past/future) using any means (violent/non- The primacy of the political party in socialist systems violent). In other words, movements are deliberately attests to its importance as a structure/institution. The initiated and guided collective mobilizations to bring about party is projected as the most important agent for initiating, relatively rapid social transformation. But to consolidate guiding and leading collective actions. That is, an and stabilize the gains of a movement one needs the institution is viewed as an instrument of collective instrumentality of the institution. Often the organizational mobilization. This is reflected in the formation and core of the movement provides the nucleus of the functioning of front organizations for the youth, peasantry, institution. We may say that a movement contains within women, students or workers of political parties even in it the embryo of an institution. In the process of non-socialist polities. institutionalization of a movement, the characteristic activity of the movement, namely, mobilization may be It is instructive to recall here that the conventional relegated to the background and becomes less salient. party-movement dichotomy was obliterated in some cases in the West recently as exemplified in the relationship While it is useful and necessary to make an analytical between the Green Movement and the Green Party. distinction between a movement and an institution it While the conceptual distinction between the two is should not render us impervious to the empirical reality maintained by the supporters, they seem to recognize on the ground. It is equally important to avoid the the organic linkage between the Green Movement and confusion between a movement and the numerous the Green Party.

II

In contemporary mainstream social science collective For example, the establishment of socialist and welfare actions and movements are viewed as being disengaged states often necessitates that the state itself sponsor from institutions and structures. This vein of thinking and mobilizations, movements, and even ‘revolutions’. mode of conceptualization cannot adequately account for several aspects of the emerging social movements. In the ‘new states’ of Asia and Africa, movements JANATA, August 14, 2016 11 are often piloted by organizations or associations of Movements emerge not only to correct the deficits of primordial collectivities. While these associations praxis in the prevailing institutions, but to identify the ordinarily operate as institutions, the mobilizational aspect gaps in theory as well. That is, movements not only is often encapsulated in them. Thus, one scarcely comes produce collective actors but also provide them with new across the sharp disengagement believed to exist between values. These values are to be rendered ‘collective’ to movements and institutions. begin with, for which the involvement of people is a prerequisite. But if the resultant mobilization is left There are several reasons for conceptualizing unchartered it will not lead to the pursued goal, the institutions and movements as disengaged entities. institutionalization of a new set of values. Mobilization First, the inadequate accounting of the time element and institutionalization are counterposed in contemporary in the analysis. The transformation of movements into social science theory, often forgetting that they fall into institutions, and vice versa, is generally gradual and a continuum. The prevalent tendency is to view seldom sudden. There is a social state between the movements and mobilizations as degenerating into two phases - movements and institutions - and social institutions and institutionalization. In contrast, it should scientists have scarcely paid attention to this dimension be noted that institutionalization of values pursued by of social reality. It is crucial to recognize the interim movements is possible only through building appropriate state between ‘solid state’ (institutions) and ‘fluid state’ institutions. (movements). It is a truism that movements surface when institutions Second, movements are usually defined and perceived fail and the emerging collective conscience is articulated as large-scale or mass efforts. Be that as it may, most through movements. Yet, if a movement does not create movements, however large they might become eventually, institutions embodying the new values it upholds and would usually have small beginnings in the form of a articulates, it serves no purpose; it vanishes without any small group, association or sect. That is, the formation impact. Sometimes movements tend to retain their ‘glory’ of an institution or structure could be the starting point of by dissolving themselves after achieving their goal. But a movement. Alternatively, a movement may trigger off what really happens is that even as a movement is from a sudden event. But soon an organization becomes disbanded formally, it actually takes on a new incarnation a necessary accompaniment for the survival of the either in the form of a political party or as a new movement. That is, there exists a processual linkage movement with a new goal. It should be emphasized between institutions and movements. Thus, one can here that if a movement wants to translate its ideology conceive of empirical situations wherein the intertwining into reality it needs an institutional vehicle, for example, between movements and institutions is perennially a party. This in turn leads to institutionalization of power present. and authority in a few hands which is an unavoidable prerequisite. But the tendency in social science writings If institutions do not ‘produce’ movements, that is, if has been to decry this development as pathological and they do not respond to the challenges posed to them undesirable. periodically, they will become structurally and culturally obsolete; they will perish. Therefore, institutions require Institutions and movements are reciprocally linked in movements for their very survival through periodic three significant ways. First, institutions and structures replenishment. Movements provide institutions with the are cleansed by movements. What are often labelled possibility of re-legitimation, if and when the latter ‘fundamentalist’ or ‘revivalist’ movements are essentially experience an erosion of their legitimacy. On the other attempts to rescue institutions from their current hand, unless movements crystallize into institutions, unless ‘degeneration’ and render them back to their original state the visions of movements are translated into reality of pristine purity as defined by the visionaries of these through institutional mechanisms, they will embody mere movements. Movements which challenge the basis of aspirations. That is, institutions are the instruments authority in the existing institutions succeed only in movements employ to translate ideology into programme, cleansing the old structure. Conversely, institutions tend theory into praxis, without which they remain shells to correct movements from their ‘adventurism’. It is well without substance. In fact, every movement is in search known how the rebels in institutions are contained or of a structure – party, institution – capable of translating liquidated depending upon the nature and intensity of its vision into reality. threats posed by them to institutions. 12 JANATA, August 14, 2016

Second, movements deliberately create institutions themselves into a body of voluntary workers for the social which are new vehicles to fulfil the present visions and reconstruction of India. A minority of his followers did aspirations. Similarly, institutions may float movements dissociate themselves from the INC and launched a new to sustain their legitimacy. Third, movements tend to movement to pursue the second major Gandhian objective, redefine old institutions, the effort being not simply to namely, sarvodaya (upliftment of all), as the first, namely, purify and inject institutions with new verve and vitality, swaraj (political freedom) had already been achieved. nor to abandon them completely and create new ones, However, the majority of the freedom fighters either but to recreate them. The break from the past is evident continued with the INC, converting it into a party, or but the link is not simply tenuous. On the other hand, established new parties. Almost all political parties in free institutions tend to revitalize movements in such a way India emerged out of the INC. Thus, the Congress that the balance between stability and change is Socialist Party, the precursor of the Communist Party of maintained. India (CPI) functioned as a ‘group’ within the Congress party in the beginning. The CPI later split into two leading It is important to remind ourselves here that the to the creation of the CPI(M) which also split cleansed, created, and recreated institutions co-exist: subsequently and the Communist Party of India (Marxist- accretion rather than displacement takes place. Further, Leninist) was born. The Indian National Congress too movements require institutions to concretize their visions; split several times, giving birth to several region-based institutions need movements to sustain their legitimacy. caste-oriented and person-centred parties. But what is It is helpful to recall here some empirical evidence from important to note here is that in each of these cases the Indian politics. new party and the old one were linked through a movement and/or common mobilization. While the new The Indian National Congress (INC) was the segments of parties claimed to be the genuine ones organizational weapon of the Indian national liberation upholding the original vision, the old segments of parties movement. But this over-arching movement encapsulated invariably tried to discredit them. Mobilizations and within it three types of solidarity, each of which created counter-mobilizations were inevitably involved in this a series of movements. While civic and occupational process. collectivities, such as the peasantry, the students or workers, and socio-biological collectivities, such as youth That is, with the emergence of new parties, movements or women, did not pose any threat to the original vision did not disappear. Many of them only redefined their of the INC, primordial collectivities did pose such threats. goals and re-invented their enemies. In fact, most of what As a consequence communalism (that is, the claim of are labelled as ‘movements’ in India are collective actions religious collectivities that they are political communities), initiated and guided by these parties through their front crystallized as a countervailing solidarity to nationalism. organizations. Alternatively, a large number of new The Indian polity could encompass within it the communal ‘movements’ are the result of splits and factionalization interests of all religious groups except those of the of political parties. But this does not mean that once they Muslims. And Muslim communalism was legitimized as move from the fluid state to the solid state they remain nationalism when a new structure representing it, the in that state forever. These parties often function as state of Pakistan, emerged. But the process did not stop movements even as they develop elaborate party here, and with the crystallization of a new solidarity based bureaucracies. on language, a new movement emerged, which in turn gave birth to a new structure – the state of Bangladesh. The attempts to differentiate between parties and Similarly, in India a multiplicity of solidarities which lay movements in principle but combine in practice, have frozen were animated, several of which created new created enormous problems for the smooth functioning structures representing their ideas and interests – political of governments in India. Hence, the formal distinction parties, trade unions, women’s organizations. Thus, the in membership sought to be made between the interpenetration between movements and institutions is Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (a militant Hindu obvious. voluntary organization) and the Jana Sangh (a political party sponsored by it) by some of the constituents of After independence, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the Janata Party (which was a coalition of several the chief architect of the anti-colonial struggle, advised political parties) led to the fall of the Janata government the freedom fighters to dissolve the INC and constitute (1977-79). JANATA, August 14, 2016 13

The situation in different regions and states of India and visible linkage between parties/ institutions and is no different. The relationship between the Dravidian movements in contemporary India. And yet the movement and Dravidian parties of Tamil Nadu, in prevalent tendency is to counterpose them as if they south India, the Akali movement and the Akali party belong to different social species, which imparts a in Punjab in north India, the Assam movement and sense of estrangement between conceptualization and the ruling party in east India demonstrate the intricate empirical reality.

III

The prevalent tendency to view movements and The institutionalization of a movement is believed to institutions as mutually antagonistic is essentially in line occur when the goals it pursues are achieved, or an with the natural history or life-cycle approach to the elaborate machinery for the implementation of movement analysis of social movements, by now conventional in goals emerges, or associational proliferation of movement social science. The argument runs roughly as follows: goals crystallizes, or associational proliferation takes The development of an organization, however place leading to the substitution of the movement by these rudimentary, is inevitable for the realization of movement associations. goals. But the emergence of such an organization inevitably sets in motion influences which defeat the very The basic thrust of my argument is that the process purpose which occasioned it. A paradoxical situation of mobilization and institutionalization are to be viewed arises: that which is needed as an instrument – that is, essentially as two different dimensions of a movement an organization – for the translation of movement rather than mutually inimical processes. However, the ideology into specific programmes often tends to become emphasis on different movement aspects would vary at instrumental in frustrating the very purpose for which it different phases of a given movement. had emerged. Thus, the emergence of movement organizations lead to routinization of charisma, As a movement moves from the mobilizational phase development of bureaucratic structures, persistence to the institutionalization phase, several aspects beyond the purpose for which it emerged, all of which undergo changes. Yet it seems safe to conclude that: invariably lead to the institutionalization of social (a) at the initial stages of a movement, mobilizational movements. In this strand of thinking, institutions are activities are likely to continue unabated. In fact, the viewed as degenerate entities emerging out of process of institutionalization may provide new movements. occasions for the continuance of mobilazational activities, in so far as the lag between the induction of In contrast, it is necessary to define and perceive a set of norms and their actual acceptance by the institutions as indicators of goal fulfilment of movements. critical collectivity is universal; and (b) the pace of As and when institutions become rigid and non- mobilization may continue and persist, if the degree responsive to the purpose for which they emerged, it of institutionalization is kept within certain limits, that becomes imperative to challenge and de-legitimize them. is, if bureaucratization of social relations are not That is, the relationship between movements and pursued beyond a point. In the final analysis, institutions is dialectical and multipolar. Second, there is mobilization is not displaced by institutionalization but no inherent tendency towards institutionalization of a both go hand in hand to a large extent and often the movement and even when it occurs, it does not latter process may accentuate the former. Admittedly, necessarily stop or even decelerate the process of movements and institutions are to be viewed as mobilization which is so fundamental and primary to the processually linked. Institutions often trigger off very survival of a movement. In fact, mobilization and movements; movements encapsulate within them institutionalization co-exist and, furthermore, the process seeds of institutions. Therefore, to characterize them of institutionalization provides new possibilities for in mutually exclusive terms is to create a wedge mobilization. between concept and reality. 14 JANATA, August 14, 2016 The Clandestine Congress Radio: An untold story

Madhuker Upadhyay

Coincidences almost always surprise. More so, if they East India Company rule seemed to be on the run, thir are in completely unrelated fields separated by thousands days looked numbered. ‘Sitara Gir Padega’ was the of miles, even continents. That is what Radio and the common refrain of the people. Historians may argue and Congress have in common. describe the 1857 revolt as ‘failed’; the truth, however, is that it ended the hundred year old Company rule in In the closing years of the nineteenth century two India. mega developments were making modest beginnings. Across the Atlantic, and in Europe, experiments were During World War II, yet another rumour was that being conducted in Wireless Telegraph Technology. It the ‘Japanese are coming’ to India. Historian Indivar had taken just a few toddlers’ steps but the realisation of Kamtekar quotes a document saying ‘British are its potential as the medium of communication for the preparing to run away from the country.’ Rumours were future was not uncertain. Wireless communication was one common thread amongst many that links the two already being discussed and planned as the next big thing Indian wars of independence separated by good eighty on the horizon. five years. Rammanohar Lohia called the Quit India movement ‘the history of the unarmed common man’ Around the same time in India, a group of people had and wrote ‘our unarmed and leaderless people rose in a several meetings discussing the British Rule and the magnificent revolt.’ In a letter to Linlithgow he said, aspirations of the common people. Theosophical Society ‘passion is an elusive substance. Hounds cannot track it, under the leadership of A. O. Hume was working on the nor bullets kill it...Happen what may, this passion will idea of matching the two. It was decided in Madras to haunt you until you break.’ have a formal pressure group to be called The Congress. In 1885, a telegraph company headed by Thomas Alva For a variety of reasons, Indian struggle for Edison applied for patent in Wireless Transmission and independence was perhaps one of the most complex and the same year, at a meeting in Bombay, Indian National colourful freedom movements in the world. It was a queer Congress was formed with seventy odd people in mix of common people and great personalities, so diverse attendance. In the next ten years, Radio became a reality in their approach that they became too much for the and a force to reckon with and so did t0he Congress. It British to handle simultaneously. A Vice-regal report in had become a force that could not be ignored. the late forties summed up the unparalleled mosaic saying it had an ‘Enigmatic’ M. K. Gandhi, ‘Charismatic’ The two grew in their respective areas unconnected Jawaharlal Nehru, ‘Down to earth’ Sardar Patel and a and it was not until the next fifty-odd years after their ‘Cold’ M. A. Jinnah. Apart from these strong birth that Congress and Radio converged in Bombay personalities, it had movements within movements. Many during the freedom struggle. It was amidst rumours that smaller, yet significant battles were being fought on social, though the Congress was entirely an indigenous people’s cultural and economic fronts. movement, Radio had a Japanese connection. For the British, in the backdrop of the raging world War, this Matured as a political outfit that had support of the became more worrisome than the activities of the countless masses, The Congress was leading the Congress. movement when the Second World War broke out. The leadership was of the opinion that freedom from the Rumours are probably one of the worst sources one British was well within its grasp which ‘just got delayed’ can rely on while dealing with history. Yet, it cannot be because of the War. The general upsurge of the masses denied that, at times, they play a major role in shaping up and the positivity among the political big-wigs had started events that change the course of nations. Rumours of reflecting in many ways. In 1930, the Congress passed the fall of ‘John Company’ were rife in 1857 and it added the Lahore resolution demanding ‘Poorna Swaraj’ and to the passion of many segments of the society. The Mahatma Gandhi headed for Dandi to break the Salt JANATA, August 14, 2016 15

Act. This generated tremendous response shaking the Babubhai Khakar about setting up a transmission machine foundation of the all-powerful empire. and the time it will take to do so. The idea about the clandestine Congress Radio started to take shape. Other Early next decade, with the demand for complete than Khakar, Vitthaldas Jhaveri, Nariman Printer and independence gaining momentum and the people getting Usha Mehta were part of the team. They also had the restless forced the Congress leadership to take the next privilege of support from Usha Mehta’s uncle, Ajit Desai big step. In the Bombay Gowalia Tank convention, the who was a radio technician and freedom fighter known Mahatma gave the ‘Quit India’ and ‘Do or Die’ call to many in the Congress. electrifying the already charged atmosphere. Despite more than fifty years of existence, radio in Barely a few hours after the Congress resolution was those days was still high-end technology not available to passed, the police and administration came down heavily many. Within four years of the first radio news broadcast on the leadership arresting hundreds of thousands of on Empire Radio (Later BBC), radio stations were set people across the country. Also, the administration put up in Bombay and Calcutta as private ventures. Madras gag orders on newspapers. Despite this, the news of had a station under licence before that. It was only in arrest of leaders and police atrocities travelled far and the thirties that the government took over the radio wide. Situation became even more difficult to handle as operations. Getting licences for radio broadcast, in those rumour mills started working over time. days, was not difficult and any trained person could get the same. But all those licences were either impounded A couple of days before the convention, it was a fairly or cancelled as the Second World War broke out. Printer common assumption that all major Congress leaders may was trained in London and had one such radio license to be arrested soon. A party worker, Vitthaldas Madhavji be used for training but, like everyone else, he was to Khakar, popularly known to his friends as Babubhai, had dismantle and deposit the transmitter with police gathered a few young sympathisers to discuss the possible authorities. Khakar was aware that Printer dismantled scenario and other ideas about reaching out to the people. the transmitter but did not surrender it in police station. Bringing out yet another newspaper, to them, was a futile idea. They were aware of the poor rate of literacy among On August 9, 1942, the group decided to fast track the masses. the preparations for their radio station. The station was named ‘The Voice of Freedom’ and since the location But they had seen the impact of the spoken word. had to be kept secret, the tagline was ‘Speaking from Mahatma Gandhi was not a great orator but his choice somewhere in India.’ Arranging finances certainly was of words and the transparent conviction behind them, an issue but they moved thinking it was not materially turned him into a communicator par excellence. Nehru important. More pressing concern was getting material and Patel had mastered the art of speaking. Jayaprakash needed for getting a transmitter up and running. Narayan too was known for his convincing oratory skills. Some of the younger leaders, particularly Achyut Once convinced, Printer moved swiftly. Assisted by Patwardhan and Rammanohar Lohia, the two who Babubhai Khakar, in charge of the Congress Radio evaded arrest and became underground, were able to operations, he could assemble the transmitter ready for establish direct contact with the masses through their broadcast within a week. On August 13, 1942, they went idiomatic language. Not to mention Subhas Chandra Bose ‘On Air’ with the words ‘This is Congress Radio speaking whose thunderous voice mesmerised the people. The from somewhere in India on 42.34 meter bands.’ The big question was how to reach the people with the words voice was not that of Usha Mehta. Official and court of wisdom and use the power of motivation of these records state it was a ‘Parsee lady who did not wish to hugely popular leaders? Most were behind the bar, unlikely be identified.’ Printer himself did some broadcasts in the to be released any time soon. initial days. A quick learner, Mehta understood the basics of broadcasting in a short time and became the voice of Khakar’s group of young sparks, barely in their Congress Radio till the day police swooped on them and twenties, put all heads together thinking about a solution all were arrested. to this communication conundrum. One in the group, slightly older who was trained in radio technology and Some senior Congress leaders saw potential in this had assembled a transmitter earlier, was asked by initiative and contacted them. In a meeting with Radio 16 JANATA, August 14, 2016 in-charge Khakar and others, underground leader links.’ In his opinion the personality and antecedents of Rammanohar Lohia assured them to ‘support the the people connected with the Congress station and the endeavour financially.’ Others also stepped in assuring nature of its broadcast suggested it was the work of regular supply of news material and speeches of leaders ‘Congress and Congress Socialist people and that it recorded elsewhere. According to Madhu Limye, as derived its inspiration from Congress and Congress leader of the radio group Khakar was ‘answerable Socialist leaders and not from the enemy.’ directly to Rammanohar Lohia.’ Lohia was so hands-on dealing with Congress Radio he once sorted out an ego Madhu Limaye’s reading of Congress Radio clash within the group. Vitthaldas Jhaveri was trying to experiment was that the ‘transmissions generally were set up a separate transmitter and broadcast independently. unclear. It may not have caused great harm to the A technical hand of the Chicago Radio Company was government but it was a challenge nonetheless for helping him when the matter was brought to the notice the power and prestige of the rulers. This certainly of Lohia. In order to avoid duplication of work, Lohia was a symbol of resistance and morale booster for separated broadcasting from recording. Vitthaldas was the people.’ entrusted with recordings while Babubhai and others were assigned broadcasting. After the arrest of the protagonists, police prepared a charge sheet largely based on Printer’s submissions and The Congress Radio experiment was short-lived and other investigations. Case number 7 of 1943 came up lasted less than three months. Police raided and seized for hearing in the court of special judge, N. S. Lokur and the transmitter. The pressure was such that even in that it listed ‘Emperor Vs Others.’ There were five names in small period of time everybody along with the transmitter all for trial and on top of the list, not surprisingly, was moved to six different locations to avoid detection and Babubhai Madhavji Khakar. Vitthaldas Jhaveri, Usha arrest. They started from Sea View Building in Mehta, Chandrakant Jhaveri and Nanak Motwane were Chowpatty, moved to Ratan Mahal on Walkeshwar Road also made accused in that order. and then to Ajit Villa on Laburnum Road. The broadcast continued for ten days from Parekh Wadi at Girgaum Before delivering the judgement, Justice Lokur Back Road and finally shifted to Paradise Bungalow near lamented the fact that ‘men like Printer, Mirza and R. A. Mahalaxmi Temple. It was from this bungalow they were Mehta, who played a very prominent part in the picked up by the police on Novembaer 12, 1942. conspiracy and actively carried out its objects in various ways, had to be examined as witnesses instead of being In fact, in a raid at an earlier location Printer was placed in the dock to be tried along with the accused.’ arrested and under serious questioning turned informant. He also noted that many of the witnesses seemed to Usha Mehta ranted ‘that traitor’ on seeing him with the have a ‘soft corner’ for the accused. police during the Paradise Bungalow raid. Justice Lokur convicted the brain behind the Congress The British government was not unduly worried about Radio, Babubhai Khakar to undergo rigorous the Congress Radio but suspected that the agents of the imprisonment for five years, Usha Mehta for four years enemy ‘Fifth Columnists’ may be behind it. They were and Chandrakant Jhaveri for a period of one year. also surprised at the speed of making the transmitter Accused No. 2, Vitthaldas Jhaveri, a partner in the well and going On Air. A team was, however, constituted known Bombay firm of jewellers and accused No. 5, monitoring the broadcasts to see if Japan had any role in Director of the Chicago Radio and Telephone Company, this daring adventure. Studying the broadcasts, senior Nanak Motwane were acquitted of all charges and official H. V. R. Iyengar said the Radio had ‘No enemy discharged. Established 1946 Price : Rupees Five Pages 16

Vol. 71 No. 30 Implications of raising August 21, 2016 Balochistan and Gilgit issues

Sandeep Pandey It is a real shame Kuldip Nayar Prime Minister Narendra Modi has India for a recent suicide attack in raised the issue of Balochistan, Gilgit, Quetta killing 80 people, believed to Freedom from AFSPA Baltistan and Pakistani occupied have been perpetrated by Taliban. in J&K and Manipur Kashmir in his Independence Day Such allegations are as common as Pushkar Raj speech on 15th August, 2016 in in the Indian media, fed by response to Pakistan dedicating its government agencies, Pakistan is Independence Day, celebrated a day blamed for any violence in Kashmir Commercialisation earlier, to ‘Freedom of Kashmir.’ This or terrorism incident in India. and communalisation is the first time India has officially of education expressed support for the cause of Modi has obviously responded to Balochistan. People in these areas obnoxious Pakistani statements on are unhappy with the Pakistani Kashmir offering aid after the Ten Lessons from government. While there is a full violence in the aftermath of Burhan Chernobyl and Fukushima fledged movement in Balochistan Wani’s killing. For long India- David Krieger going on to demand autonomy from Pakistani relations have been marked Pakistan, people in Gilgit-Baltistan by tit-for-tat policy. So there is nothing want basic civic rights and democracy. new about it but what is new about Premchand and Pay Commission the Balochistan statement is that from Uma Shankari Pakistan has said that this is a now on India will have to support the proof of India’s involvement in cause of people fighting in Balochistan. While it may be not a Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and well known fact in India, people in Pakistan occupied Kashmir on the Editor : Pakistan widely believe that just like issue of human rights violations in G. G. Parikh Pakistan aids secessionist movement these areas, unless it was an in J&K, India is helping the separatists impulsive reaction to the pre- Managing Editor : Guddi in Balochistan. It is also a common Independence day Pakistani belief that India through the adventure. If India is taking a moral D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Afghanistan border provides military high position then it’ll have to stand Naushir Bharucha Marg, and other assistance to the freedom by the people of Balochistan, Gilgit- Mumbai - 400 007. fighters there through its intelligence Baltistan and PoK like it has done agency Research and Analysis Wing. with Tibetans taking on the Chinese Email : [email protected] Pakistani government has blamed wrath. 2 JANATA, August 21, 2016 The question which then will be It is a real shame raised is if India is so concerned about the human rights violations by the Pakistani Army and actually supports Kuldip Nayar the cause of freedoms in Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and PoK then why does it carry out human rights There were great hopes from the country won their last gold medal, for violations in its own Kashmir? India largest ever Indian contingent but the eighth time. Subsequent to that as a soverign country has a right to when it came to the performance it there was a great decline in the sport deny entry to UN Human Rights fell well short of expectations. as India never reached even the Commission in Kashmir only if it Hockey, which we taught to the West, semifinals in any Olympics to this responsibly dealt with its people. is nowhere in the subcontinent. With date. Using pellet guns on its own people change of rules, in the name of making In contrast, India won the first including women and children is no the sport more attractive, the West World Cup in 1983 in cricket and since sign of a mature government has come to monopolize hockey. But then the sport has started looking up. sensitive to human rights concerns. it would be unfair to blame it on the rule changes alone. The bane of the Today, cricket has thrown up several The right wing nationalists are problem with our players is lack of opportunities and icons which make complimenting Modi for giving a stamina and scientific approach. the game even more lucrative. That befitting reply to Pakistan but in the explains why cricket is only next to long run such belligerent attitude will Women seem to do better than men religion in India in terms of frenzy. not help. If we accept the fact that but that is in spite of the hard work With the Board of Control for Cricket dialogue and not war will solve the demanded. In the next few years, in India (BCCI) making a lot of money, India-Pakistan problem, then Modi our dismal performance will be in there was never any need for has just taken us away several steps sharp contrast to even smaller nations government support. from the process for establishing that are mere dots on the world map. But, at the same, too much politics peace and friendship. Of course, the Counting by population, India ranks has seeped into sport, including Pakistani side is equally to be blamed the last in Olympic medal number. cricket. Leaders of different political for provoking India. There are more reasons for this. parties are holding one post or another In a way Modi has done a repeat We, in India, have a budget of in every national federation and of Vajpayee. Before India tested the roughly Rs 250 crore per state apart cricket is no exception. This has had nuclear weapons in Pokaran, India from the central budget of Rs 1500- an adverse effect on the sports as enjoyed a traditional military odd crore for sports. There is sports such because of politicians using them superiority over Pakistan. However, infrastructure in a few states but they for their name and fame. chest thumping declaration of having lack maintenance and regular use. Unfortunately, the situation made a nuclear weapon gave a The states and the centre have no prevailing is that some ministers or chance to Pakistan to carry out its holistic approach to sports. The result top bureaucrats’ association is sought tests too, thereby starting a nuclear is that sports are just an item in the by every sport federation in the weapons arms race which has acted budget but nothing from the point of country for bringing in money to them. as a leveler in terms of destructive view of excellence in any particular In return, these politicians also attain power of two neighbours now. So far discipline. stature and importance by clinging to as India concerned itself with only Cricket has come up because the the posts offered by federations. In Kashmir, Pakistan was seen as an public is crazy about it just as it was other words, it is a win-win situation intruder and India received about hockey some years ago. This for both. international sympathetic support on only underlines the fact that there is this issue. Now India’s public position no proper planning or scientific The recent Supreme Court ruling of Kashmir being an integral part of approach to sports. Hockey was the in the aftermath of Justice Lodha India will be weakened as from now iconic sport for India until the panel report on BCCI and its (Continued on Page 3) Moscow Games in 1980 when the functioning is an eye-opener. The JANATA, August 21, 2016 3 recommendations of the panel, to be they have to worry about nothing, not glory on the Olympic arena by implemented, put restrictions on even education. But in India, we choosing young talent in fewer politicians and bureaucrats occupying stress on academics at the expense disciplines and concentrating fully any top positions in BCCI or, for that of sports. rather than frittering away precious matter, in federations. It is an open little funds on all 28 Olympic secret that people like Sharad Pawar, In a country starved of medals— disciplines. Additionally, the Arun Jaitley, Farooq Abdullah, Rajiv we won six medals at London—there government can make a sport Shukla and many others have been are some silver lining performances policy—not the one they are insisting an integral part of whatever the setup like that of Dipa Karmakar, the first on now—that will guarantee a career has been. They are primarily there ever Indian gymnast to make it to the option to sportspersons. Just giving because they have been able to get Olympics and also the final of the away piecemeal incentives will not funds from official and other sources. vault event. Her fourth position is no fetch medals. And we should wait less than winning a medal because until six months prior to the next Once they vacate, what she had been training with little Olympics to realize that the machinery will federations have to facilities back home in Tripura. preparation we started is again late, generate funds in the face of very like it has been the case so far. Let’s little financial assistance provided by Looking at the future, India should forget Rio, think about Tokyo and start the state? Corporate funding is too think of ways and means to achieving preparing from today. little and too meager, cricket being (Continued from Page 2) the only exception. But the biggest drawback is the absence of sports on both countries will accuse each it must also support Tamilians in Sri development in rural India. This is other of interfering in their internal Lanka. But instead of admitting our the place where the raw talent is matters. With Modi’s posturing India failure in having won the hearts of galore but there is no proper way to is going to lose certain credibility on people of Kashmir if we continue to tap it. Kashmir issue. Whether we like it or blame Pakistan for all the wrongs in not Pakistan has been able to make Kashmir, we are not going to be able Unfortunately again, India does inroads in the Kashmiri psyche to solve this problem. As we kept not have any sports culture. The whereas India does not have any alienating Kashmiris, Pakistan’s government has only added to the emotional relationship with Balochis. interference increased. Just as woes of federations as it has At best it can offer a long distance Pakistan’s failure to keep people in withdrawn whatever little funding moral support. Balochistan, Gilgit, Baltistan and PoK they provided for hosting happy is giving India a chance to raise international events in junior India will also have to face the the issue now. sections. How does the government uncomfortable question from both expect excellence without proper dominant parties in Tamil Nadu and Leaders of both Pakistan and support to nurture young talent? internationally on why did it not stand India must realise that we are not Just by allocating Rs. 300 odd crore up for the rights of Tamilians when engaged in some competition where for the Olympians that qualified for they were being massacred by we can score points over each other the Games under TOPS will not help Sinhalese dominated Sri Lankan with our display of nationalism and that too three months prior to government? Tamilians in Sri Lanka fervour of the jingoistic kind. There Rio. are ethnically closer to people of Tamil are real people in Indian J&K, PoK, Nadu than people from Balochistan Gilgit, Baltistan, Balochistan and Sri Only a sustained effort and are to people anywhere in India. Lanka. The two governments must consistent funding, spread over years, Balochis are fighting for an respect the sentiments of the people will help get us medals. Take the case independent country with Balochis and cooperatively solve the issues of China. It picks up talent at a very from Iran and Afghanistan. so that local people’s aspirations are young age and nurtures to the point taken care of. A right wing of seeing the boys and girls winning As a matter of principle India must dominated thinking which treats it medals at Olympics. The moment support the people of Balochistan, as a prestige issue is doing this only they are inducted in national centres Gilgit, Baltistan and PoK just as it is at the cost of people’s lives and they become the state subject and supporting Tibetans. At the same time sensitivities. 4 JANATA, August 21, 2016 Freedom from AFSPA in J&K and Manipur

Pushkar Raj

As India celebrates its anniversary bus stop, were killed. Evidently, it was many a times. Jeevan Reddy of independence from the British rule, a retaliatory use of force against the committee (2004) and Santosh Hegde it is worthwhile to ask when the people innocent people who were unarmed committee (2013) questioned its of Jammu and Kashmir and Manipur and going on their daily errands. It content and operation. Irom Sharmila will get freedom from the Armed was ghastly act of terrorizing and has undertook, perhaps world’s Forces (Special Power) Act 1958 punishing innocent citizens under the longest fast, against the law. The (AFSPA) which is no less than being shield of AFSPA. No one ever got Supreme Court too recently held in living under the colonial rule. punished! its judgment that there cannot be an absolute immunity from trial by a The law that the British conceived For the last twenty six years, criminal court (The Hindu, 9 July in the wake of Quit India movement AFSPA is in operation in Kashmir. 2016). Then why is that the Indian of 1942, was first promulgated in 1958 Thousands have got maimed, killed government is not listening and to counter a parallel government and disappeared. There are officially treating its own citizens as enemy? established by the militant groups in acknowledged unmarked graves and the Naga Hills. In a war like situation visible disfigured faces. Pellet gun It seems that the laws like AFSPA the security forces were empowered wounds have left thousands of young suit the establishment. The contention to assert the sovereignty of the state men scarred in body and soul. It is gets credence from the statement against an armed ‘internal enemy’. justified to ask whether government of Irom Sharmila, who in an But presently in J&K and Manipur is using AFSPA as a substitute for a interview said that the government there are elected governments. In policy on Kashmir. If so then and the army are colluding to defraud such a situation, AFSPA’s use in the government has been executing a people implying that the both are civilian areas does not stand scrutiny blunder. beneficiaries of the ‘disturbed areas’ at first sight. grants from the centre without As a policy AFPSA can never financial and administrative It needs no repetition that the succeed because the repressive laws accountability (The Hindu, 5 March AFSPA is a draconian piece of have a tendency to alienate general 2013). legislation and when in operation, a public of a region, thereby expanding citizen is under a constant shadow of the support base of discontent of In Kashmir too, militancy has fear that he may be turned into which militancy could be one of the become an industry that serves an a victim by the security forces at any off shoots that may also have some elite while common masses continue time while going about his normal daily covert community support. to be fodder for fire. The chores such as travelling to the office continuation of AFPSA seems to or visiting friends. As the region is Secondly, under the protection of serve and benefit a powerful section declared a ‘disturbed area’, the laws like AFPSA the acts of omission of the establishment of the state security personnel can randomly and commission by the security including the Army, political question people and can be rude to forces allegedly result in mass killings, leadership, police and civil the extent of causing bodily injury, rapes, disappearances and torture. administration as well as the rape and death while at the same time In the process the state loses ‘separatists’. No wonder J&K going unpunished, for under the law legitimacy and moral authority to rule. continues to be India’s one of the top they enjoy impunity. This is what has happened in Kashmir corrupt states. It also serves to brand presently. The elected Chief Minister victimized population as ‘anti- Sixteen years back in November of the state is unable to face her own national’ therefore deserving 2000, what is now known as ‘Malom people. punishment without invoking moral Massacre’ ten innocent people, outrage in rest of India against the including an eighteen year old national Interestingly, the AFPSA has come killings. bravery award winner waiting at a under scrutiny and fire of the judiciary (Continued on Page 6) JANATA, August 21, 2016 5 Commercialisation and communalisation of education

Continuing with the nefarious · The document replicates the commercialization. design of commercialising and techno-corporate spirit of communalising education in line with Ambani-Birla Report released · The democratic rights of brahminical-hindutva agenda of the during the NDA-I regime students especially in higher RSS, the BJP-led NDA government advocating rampant privatisation education institutions have been has released a document titled ‘Some and commercialisation through attacked in favour of Inputs for Draft National Education Public-Private Partnership corporatized model of Policy 2016’ purportedly seeking (PPP). management to curb any voice response from the general public on of protest in university or before 16th August. The fact that · Multi-standard institutions, in campuses. It also opens door for this document is released only in terms of infrastructure and intense privatisation, FDI and English and not in any other teaching faculty, would continue fee hike in public institutions. languages spoken by the people of both in public and private our country shows the true anti- sectors. · Though the government democratic mindset of the document talks of social justice, government. This also exposes the · It seeks to centralize curricula, nowhere it talks about need of fact that all high talk of ‘participatory’ bureaucratize administration reservations, applying policy making is nothing but a sham through the proposal to set up reservations to all institutions as the government only intends to an Indian Educational Service and at all levels and applying rule impose the agenda dictated by (IES) cadre directly under the of reservation in private corporate capital on one hand and MHRD, corporatize educational institutions. RSS on the other. accreditation and tribunalise justice to facilitate possible · There is no mention of hostels It should be noted that the MHRD multi-lateral and ‘plurilateral’ and other affirmative measures did not officially release the T.S.R. agreements in education either to bring the poor and socially Subramanian Committee Report on under World Trade Organization disadvantaged to the schools, Draft New Education Policy (NEP or outside it thus intensifying colleges and universities. 2016). Rather it brought out its own neo-liberal globalization in document ‘Some Inputs for Draft education. · The heavy dropout of the National Education Policy 2016’. children before they complete The government document if · It seeks to promote PPP by class X (All 47.4, SC 50.1 and becomes a policy will demolish not instituting 10 lakh EWS and 10 ST 62.4) though is noted but not only every semblance of equality, lakh ‘open’ scholarships for addressed. The Gross Enrolment social justice, scientific temperament, reimbursement of costs of Ratio in Higher Education diversity and federalism in our private institutions. remains very low at 23.6 education system that people of this percent in 2014-15 for all country have struggled for, built and · The document speaks in weak sections while the GER for SCs protected since the days of terms about allocating 6% GDP is 18.5% and STs is 13.3% again reformation movements but also the for education. However, it does is simply noted without measures very possibility of realising the not even hint at the cumulative to address the problem. dreams of the founders of the gap of financial resources constitution to establish a nation on accumulated over the last · The government proceeds with the basis of the values. If this decades. This huge gap can be its project of re-establishing document is not exposed and the bridged only by allocating at Manu Dharma not only by government designs are not least 15% of GDP for education. denying education to the SCs, thwarted, they could create a fertile Instead of this, the government STs, and all disadvantaged ground for entrenchment of all out only indicates of further cutting sections and minorities – fascism. public resources by promoting religious and linguistic but also 6 JANATA, August 21, 2016

confining the sections to skill changing the law that will push democracy, secularism, training which would reproduce children into caste-based, family socialism and social justice that caste system. Dropouts will be based occupations at age 10 yrs the struggle inspired. encouraged by rigorous - i.e. into a childhood of labour screening akin to brahminical and ‘alternate schools’ · Every child’s right to be taught practices and the children, in mother-tongue is finished. mostly from disadvantaged · In fact, the document seeks to States will decide whether sections, will be diverted for completely subvert ‘education’ ‘regional’ language, English, or ‘skilling’. in favour of ‘skill’ which is in ‘multi-lingual’ (only for tribal consonance with the agenda of children) schooling will be · Tests at upper primary and making India a hub of cheap and provided up to class V. There above with professional skilled labour which is a after the child has no option for counsellors to direct students to favourite ‘vision’ of the current mother tongue or regional vocational/ skilling courses will PM. language further ensure that disadvantaged will simply be · The very Preamble of the Now, it is high time to expose the unable to reach secondary and document ignores the plural government document and intensify higher secondary therefore the philosophical traditions of the struggle for democratic, secular, claim that universalizing at this country and presents a false egalitarian, scientific and enlightened stage will mean only Sanskritized brahminical history education system rooted in socio- ‘completion’ by ‘enrolled deliberately ignoring the rich cultural, religious and linguistic students’. diversity and history of languages plurality of India, in consonance with of the people. Marginalisation of the values enshrined in the Preamble · Open schools, open colleges and the non-brahminical cultures, of the Constitution, and affirmed in open educational facilities on one languages, regions and the Fundamental Rights and hand and skilling on the other knowledge systems is the Fundamental Duties and especially hand will be the main thrusts of ‘hallmark’ of the Preamble of the for developing scientific temper, the government and all government document. humanism and spirit of enquiry and disadvantaged will be pushed reform to build a democratic and towards these thrust areas. · The medieval period of Indian progressive society. history (which RSS consider as · Increasing majority of the Muslim period) is not even –All India Forum for disadvantaged sections on all referred to in the document and Right to Education counts, caste, religion, region, it makes a clear indication of the (Continued from Page 4) gender and linguistic-cultural government approach to group will be denied formal, mitigate the contributions of the Recognizing that the unrest in liberal and professional period in development of the Kashmir and Manipur is for justice, education and will be diverted to civilization of this land. The democracy, , rule of law and right to ‘skill education’ from class V communal approach which this be heard; and it is the only way to itself permanently shutting doors government pursues leads to break the present jinx as Rajiv Gandhi of formal education for the vast neglect or playing down of showed in regard to Nagaland and majority. This is indicated clearly contributions of all religious and Atal Bihari Vajpaee in the past by intention to retain the ‘no- linguistic minorities, tribes and attempted in relation to Kashmir detention policy’ of RTE Act only suppressed casts and with accolades. It is about respecting till Class V after which children marginalized sections. the values enshrined in the preamble from targeted sections and areas of our constitution and extending them will be sent for skill · Similarly there is no reference to our own people who are also part development. to the diverse struggles of of an ‘independent’ India. Unless we national liberation leading to do so, Independence Day will have · Already the government has India’s freedom and the ideas of little meaning for the people of legitimized child labour by republican citizenship, Kashmir and Manipur. JANATA, August 21, 2016 7 Ten Lessons from Chernobyl and Fukushima

David Krieger

George Santayana famously said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” The same may be said of those who fail to understand the past or to learn from it. If we failed to learn the lessons from the nuclear power plant accident at Chernobyl more than three decades ago or to understand its meaning for our future, perhaps the more recent accident at Fukushima will serve to underline those lessons. Here are ten lessons drawn from the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters.

Nuclear power is a highly complex, Hubris on the part of the nuclear borders. The wind will carry long- expensive and dangerous way to boil industry and its government lived radioactive materials around water. Nuclear power does nothing regulators, along with the world and affect the people more than provide a high-tech and complacency on the part of the and environment of many countries extremely dangerous way to boil public, have led to the creation and regions. The radiation will also water to create steam to turn turbines. of vast amounts of high-level affect the oceans of the world, radiation that must be guarded which are the common heritage of 1. Accidents happen and the worst- from release to the environment humankind. case scenario often turns out to be for tens of thousands of years, worse than imagined or planned far longer than civilization has 7. Radiation releases from nuclear for. Although the nuclear industry existed. accidents cannot be contained in continues to assure the public that time and will adversely affect nuclear power plants are safe, the 5. Nuclear power plants can countless future generations. The plants continue to have accidents, catastrophically fail, causing vast radioactive materials from nuclear some of which exceed worst-case human and environmental damage. power plant accidents, as well as projections. The corporations that run the from radioactive wastes, are a power plants, however, are legacy we are bequeathing to 2. The nuclear industry and its experts protected from catastrophic future generations of humans and cannot plan for every contingency economic failure by government other forms of life on the planet. or prevent every disaster. limits on liability, which shift the Although it was known that economic burden to the public. If 8. Nuclear energy, as well as nuclear Fukushima is subject to the corporations that own nuclear weapons, and human beings earthquakes and tsunamis, the power plants had to bear the cannot co-exist without the risk of nuclear industry and its experts did burden of potential financial losses future catastrophes. The survivors not plan for the combination of a in the event of a catastrophic of the atomic bombings of 9.0 earthquake and the larger- accident, they would not build the Hiroshima and Nagasaki have long than-expected tsunami that plants because they know the risks known that nuclear weapons and followed. are unacceptable. It is government human beings cannot co-exist. The liability limits, such as the Price- Fukushima accident, like that at 3. Governments do not effectively Anderson Act in the US, that make Chernobyl before it, makes clear regulate the nuclear industry to nuclear power plants possible, that human beings and nuclear assure the safety of the public. leaving the taxpayers responsible power plants also cannot co-exist Government regulators of nuclear for the overwhelming monetary without courting future disasters. industry often come from the costs of nuclear industry failures. nuclear industry and tend to be too No other private industry is given 9. The accidents at Fukushima and close to the industry to regulate it such liability protection. Chernobyl are a wake-up call to effectively. phase out nuclear energy and 6. Radiation releases from nuclear replace it with energy 4. Hubris, complacency and high- accidents cannot be contained in conservation and more human- level radiation are a deadly mix. space and will not stop at national and environmentally-friendly forms 8 JANATA, August 21, 2016

of renewable energy. For decades geothermal, ocean thermal, but if faced with courage doesn’t need it has been clear that various forms currents, tides, etc. to be lived again.” We need the of renewable energy are needed courage to phase out nuclear power to replace both nuclear and fossil The nuclear power plant accident globally and replace it with energy fuel energy sources. Now it is at Chernobyl was repeated, albeit conservation and renewable energy clearer than ever. The choice is with a different set of circumstances, sources. In doing so, we will not only not between nuclear and fossil at Fukushima. Have our societies yet be acting responsibly with regard to fuels. The solution is to disavow learned any lessons from Chernobyl nuclear power, but will also reduce both of these forms of energy and and Fukushima that will prevent the the risks of nuclear weapons to move as rapidly as possible to a people of the future from experiencing proliferation and strengthen the global global energy plan based upon such devastation? As poet Maya foundations for the abolition of these various forms of renewable Angelou points out, “History, despite weapons. energy: solar cells, wind, its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, -TRANSCEND Media Service Premchand and Pay Commission

Uma Shankari Sometimes writers are better than double. At one shot their minimum level of income on par with conscience keepers of the nations incomes are doubled. But some of the Government servants. than others. Take the plight of them are still cribbing; they are seeing farmers. Many writers wrote about injustice in the calculations. In making such a demand the them in their novels, short stories and farmers are not being greedy or lazy. plays : Munshi Premchand, Shivaram Come on, can’t you see the They don’t want unholy doles. They karanth, Rabindranath Tagore. In injustice in the larger society? are saying, let there be an Act and a every language one can find such statutory Commission (like the Pay writers. They wrote about farmers: Farmers and citizen groups (who Commission), a Farmers Income about the poverty and the hardships, sympathise with farmers) in this Commission, which, after conducting the cheating by middlemen, the country are asking in what way are due surveys and studies, after taking miseries of the women, the they less than the government into account the subsidies, the exploitation by money lenders, the servants or sportsmen or actors/ insurance, the credit, etc. etc. gullible peasant, the caste actresses that they should live on available to the farmer, will violence,etc. … many films too have miserable incomes? They are saying: objectively recommend a been done on the miserable plight of we are not beggars, begging for guaranteed income at par with the farmers: Do bigha zamin will ever food; in fact we are the ones who minimum pay of government be a classic. We continue to live in grow food for the people of this servants; and let the government of Premchand’s country. But we seem country; and some for people of the day implement and enforce to have lost our conscience. How other countries as well. People do them. They are not asking a otherwise can one explain the silence eat food, isn’t it, three times a day? minimum guaranteed income for all about the 7th Pay Commission? How can this society let us live like families. Not for families whose beggars? Doesn’t this society have incomes exceed the minimum level The government servants, the a conscience? of income of government servants. beneficiaries of the 7th pay Therefore income tax paying Commission have almost 24% Farmers are demanding a farmers are already out. Farmer increase in their pay and allowances; guaranteed income at par with the families who earn an income in the the minimum pay would be Rs.18000 government servants. Their slogan organised sector- teachers, doctors, per month instead of Rs.7000; more has been: “Announce Farmers etc. are already out. Only for those than double. The maximum pay Income Commission before 7th Pay families whose incomes fall below would be Rs.2,50,000 per month Commission”. They want an Act, a the minimum declared income may instead of rs.90,000; again more legislation, which will guarantee a be protected by the Act. JANATA, August 21, 2016 9

Why are they making such a earner earns more than the farmer! ensure parity between agriculture demand today? The present day government has sector and other sectors, and to announced that it will double farmers ensure food production and self- “The National Sample Survey income in the coming 5 years. Even sufficiency. Even countries poorer Organisation, in its situation if it happens it will still be around Rs. than ours take care of their farmers. assessment survey of farmers 6000! And for it to happen there But government after government in (SAS), conducted once every 10 should be a 11% growth in the farm India are still doling out piecemeal years, assesses the major sources of sector! The present rate of growth measures, a loan waiver here, a half- income of an average Indian farmer. in the farm sector ranges from zero hearted crop insurance there. Every The latest required information is to 4%. It is but natural that farmers year the both state and central available for agri-year 2012-13. The are seething with anger and governments keep saying they have SAS 2002-03 results are also frustration. increased the budget for agriculture, available, which we use for but the farmers’ incomes remain comparison purposes. The income of Large numbers of farmers are pathetic. What should they do? farming households is shown under leaving agriculture. They are of Whom should they complain to? four heads: Cultivation of crops, course free to leave farming for farming animals, rural non-farm better paying jobs. But are these jobs If India doesn’t ensure income activities (RNF) and wages/salaries available? The employment growth security now and forces its small (WS). in the organised sector has been farmers to quit agriculture, we will pathetic. “Since 1990, in spite of end up giving huge subsidies to big The SAS 2012-13 counts 9 crore massive investment in the private corporates later – as it is happening agricultural households in India, with organised sector, its direct in the U.S. and European Union. each earning on an average Rs employment increased from 7.5 Perhaps that is what the 77,112 per annum. This was more million then to 9.5 million now while governments in India are wishing to than three times of what it earned in the workforce has increased from do; let down its farmers, party with 2002-03, that is Rs 25,380. In real 250 million to 450 million. It has the corporates. terms (using the consumer price almost led to a jobless growth.” index of agri-labourer or the CPI- (Source: Arun Kumar, Tribune) AL as the deflator with base 2004- Janata Subscription 05), however, the average agri- It is not that the people who leave household’s income increased from agriculture are sitting idle; they end Rs 26,901 pa in 2002-03 to Rs 38,096 up as underpaid, undernourished pa in 2012-13. The 10 year part-time workers, joining the Annual Rs. : 260/- compounded annual growth rate unorganised urban labor market and (CAGR) of the respective incomes providing cheap labour for the Three Years : 750/- was 11.8 per cent in nominal terms corporate industry and commerce. and 3.5 per cent in real terms. This Neither the government nor the Demand Draft / Cheque means that it took about six years employers take any responsibility for for nominal incomes to double and it their survival or their welfare. They on would take about 20 years for real are left to their own devices in this incomes to double!” (Source: Ashok devil-may-care economy. And the Mumbai Bank Gulati, Shweta Saini, June 20 2016) government has no qualms or even in favour of pretensions about it. After all, just That is, in real terms, even after the other day it was ready to remove ten years, the average monthly the word “socialism” from the very income of agricultural household has Constitution of the country, quietly JANATA TRUST increased from around Rs. 2500 in and clandestinely. D-15, Ganesh Prasad, 2003 to Rs. 3100 in 2013. What a shame! It is even less than the Across the world, governments Naushir Bharucha Marg, statutory minimum wage, which is have adopted different systems of Mumbai 400 007 Rs. 160 per day. That is a daily wage income security for farmers to 10 JANATA, August 21, 2016 PM Modi’s address from the Red Fort

PM Narendra Modi spoke for a (ii) Pakistan’s continued terrorism in and autonomous institutions couple of hours from the rampart of J&K and elsewhere in India under HRD by the ex-Minister Red Fort on the 69th anniversary of through terror modules; Smriti Irani, a second grade TV our Independence Day. He is a actress who is not even a forceful speaker but not inspiring as (iii) Indiscriminate killing and rape of graduate. Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Kashmiris by our army and the Shastri, Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Central police forces; blinding or At Lucknow in October 2015 I Vajpeyi were. The rest like Morarji semi-blinding of at least 100 had predicted that the BJP would be Desai, Charan Singh, Rajiv Gandhi, Kashmiris by pellet guns defeated and Laloo-Nitish combine VP Singh, PV Narasimha Rao, HD including a girl studying in her would come to power. The miracle Devagowda and IK Gujral were first floor room; of Delhi is likely to be repeated by ordinary and the most insipid was AAP in Punjab where it had hardly Munmun Singh (Manmohan Singh). (iv) Killing of Muslims in many States any presence, resignation of Navjot Gulzari Lal Nanda (Acting PM) and on suspicion of cow slaughter and Singh Siddhu from the BJP is Chandra Shekhar did not get an eating of beef (80 per cent of ominous. I predict that if the Congress, opportunity to address the nation on beef export companies are the Laloo-Nitish Combine, Mayawati, Independece Day from Red Fort. owned by Hindus and Jains and Mamata Banerji, Biju Patnaik and the they include some BJP leaders DMK form an alliance the BJP will Narendra Modi just narrated and too); be routed in the next General Election exaggerated his government’s in 2019. They lack a charismatic developmental achievements but (v) Killing, rape and other atrocities leader like NT Rama Rao. Even the cleverly avoided current burning on Dalits - the Una incident in Congress will fare better if Priyanka issues like Gujarat may prove to be the were to be made the leader in place graveyard of the BJP goverment of her dull brother. But the ‘palace (i) China’s continuing incursions into and party in Gujarat; politics’ has its own limitations and Indian territory and atrocities on faults. I am not in active politics since Tibetans and violation of human (vi) Atrocious treatment of the 1956 but understand it. Central Universities, IITs, IIMs rights; –C. B. Tripathi Let’s await court’s ruling.

I refer to the above article by I was, like others, working with kill Gandhiji. They were angered renowned thinker and Jounalist, my employers when the ticker by the proposed fast threatened Kuldip Nayar (Janata July 24, 2016). flashed Gandhiji’s assassination. I, by Gandhiji to pressurize the and other volunteers, rushed to the Government of India to pay the His comments are, as usual, based office of our captain, late Shri Vagal amount due to Pakistan. on firsthand knowledge, but age to seek guidance on further action withers the memory which is often though we were aware that none 2. Godse was the leader and he first based on perceptions. I too was a could do anything. I, thereafter, touched Gandhiji’s feet and then small time participant in the freedom closely followed the progress of the shot him. movement as an active and prominent case till Nathuram Godse’s hanging. member of Bombay National Guards, The sequence of events was as 3. Badge turned approver and the volunteer organization comprising of under: trial was held ‘in camera’ right up young and enthusiastic freedom to hanging. fighters, but unattached to any 1. Nathuram Godse, Badge, and political party. Therefore, I too have another person whose name I do Any cognizable offence is an some recollections about Gandhiji’s not remember now resigned from offence against the State and, assassination on 30-01-1948. RSS and thereafter conspired to (Continued on Page 14) JANATA, August 21, 2016 11

Open Letter Why do moderate Ulema stay silent... Janab Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangimahali Saheb, All-India Muslim Personal Law Board general secretary I have been watching you on partners. Westerners also do the coherent fatwa, citing verses from television channels in the last few same.” Naik has made insulting Quran and narrations of Hadith, of days, defending Islam as a religion other religions in the guise of the Hyderabadi Maulana, seeking to of peace, calling the so-called comparative study or interfaith prove that Islam asks beleaguered Islamic State “un-Islamic”, dialogue his speciality. But I find Muslims to fight and not sit helplessly expressing sentiments and opinions almost the entire fraternity of Muslim when they perceive being under that I entirely agree with. But this ulema coming out in his defence attack by non-Muslims whom he has made me wonder why do you when it was discovered that his calls “infidels” and “idol- and your fellow ulema keep discourse inevitably inspired several worshippers” or kafirs and mushriks completely silent when self-styled people around the world who took respectively. Khalifa al-Baghdadi and his to the path of terrorism. followers say repeatedly that “Islam In a booklet entitled “Use of has never been a religion of peace, Worst of all, you and all other Force in the light of Quran,” written not even for a day,” and that “it has ulema kept quiet when Maulana in response to Dr. Nejatullah Siddiqi’s always been a religion of war and Abdul Aleem Islahi of Hyderabad essay renouncing offensive violence conflict.” asked Muslims to pray for the in the name of Islam, Maulana Islahi, Islamic State. In a press release says: I didn’t see you or any other ulema available online he said: questioning your Nadwi colleague “Condemnation of their (Islamic The summary of whatever Dr from Lucknow, the influential State’s) action may not be called Saheb (Dr Nejatullah Siddiqi) has Salman Nadwi when he became the sagacity and will be considered written is that … no matter what the first Indian Muslim alim (Islamic against the spirit of Islam. … they flag bearers of Hindutva may do, scholar, singular of ulema) in July have tried to fulfil the dream of a taking any step against them or 2014 to convey his allegiance to the large section of Muslims and their confronting them with the use of same Khalifa, addressing him as determination has infused a new life force will be wrong from the point Ameer-ul Momineen, leader of the into the concept of Caliphate. Their of view of Shariah and harmful for global Muslim community. No announcement (of caliphate) has the Muslims. wonder, his name now figures in the surpassed Maulana Abul Kalam list of ulema who have influenced Azad and Maulana Abul Ala On Page 10/11, in a chapter Indian Muslim youth who have joined Maududi’s powerful writings and entitled “Jihad is not violence,” he and some even migrated to the so- speeches about Caliphate and has says, “In the light of the Quran and called Islamic State. realized the concept practically. … hadith, calling punishment for crime This has sparked a new life in the violence is very wrong. It is an un- I didn’t see you questioning the dormant political life of Islam and Islamic idea. In fact, the punishment notorious tele-evangelist Dr. Zakir this might have certainly heartened that is given for preventing the Naik when he said: “all Muslims religious Muslims as more or less criminal from committing crimes is should be terrorists” or when he said: after one hundred years Caliphate not violence and atrocity but a “Quran allows Muslims to have sex has come to existent (sic). In other benevolent act and a blessing. with female slaves.” Indeed, you all words, Islamic Caliphate is no longer However, whatever meaning the kept quiet when Naik made hateful a concept but seems to have become word ‘violence’ may convey, calling remarks like the following: “People a reality.” violence permissible only in two in the west eat pork and hence situations by Dr (Nejatullah Siddiqi) behave like pigs. Pigs are the only Most disturbing of all is your and Saheb is also extremely erroneous animals in the world that invite their other ulema’s complete silence over and is akin to striking a hard blow at friends to have sex with their a seemingly very well-reasoned, the purpose of the prophethood of the 12 JANATA, August 21, 2016 holy Prophet. Please see Surah struggle for the domination of Islam when it became known that Maulana Tauba, Chapter 9 of the Quran, verse over false religions and subdue and Islahi had inspired the Indian No. 29: subjugate ahl-e-kufr-o-shirk (infidels Mujahedin group. Perhaps your and polytheists) in the same way as problem is that you cannot, as you ”And fight against those who do it is the duty of the Muslims to yourself cannot but believe in what not have faith in God and in the Day proselytise and invite people to Maulana Islahi says. What Maulana of Judgment and declare haram what Islam. The responsibility to testify to Islahi or Zakir Naik are saying is God and his prophet have declared the Truth and pronounce the Deen primarily based on the current halal, and among those people of the (religion) God as entrusted with the theology, the theology that you all Book do not accept the true faith Muslims cannot be fulfilled merely have studied and teach in your until they pay the Jizyah with their by preaching and proselytising. If it madrasas and universities. How you own hand and are subdued.” (Quran were so there would be no need for can condemn that. 9: 29) the battles that were fought. The most authoritative book of “In this verse, fight has been “And fight them until there is no Islamic jurisprudence to date, Al- ordained against those under three fitnah (mischief) and [until] the Mausu’ah al-fiq-hiyah al- conditions until they pay jizyah: a) religion, all of it, is for Allah. And if Kuwaitiyyah (Kuwaiti they do not profess faith in God and they cease - then indeed, Allah is Encyclopaedia of Islamic Day of Judgment; b) do not accept Seeing of what they do.” (Quran. Jurisprudence), prepared in Kuwait as haram what God and his prophet 8:39) by a consensus of ulema from all have declared haram; c) do not schools of thought, after nearly half- accept Islam as their religion.” “Jihad has been made obligatory a-century’s effort, and whose Urdu to make the Deen (religion) version was released on 23 October One of the cornerstones of dominate and to stop the centres 2009 by Vice President Hamid moderate Islam is the often-quoted of evil. Keeping in view the Ansari in Delhi, defines Jihad thus: verse “La ikraha fiddin,” (Let there importance of this task, the “Terminologically, Jihad means to be no compulsion in religion.): Quran significance of Jihad in the name fight against a non-Zimmi unbeliever 2: 256. But the way Maulana Islahi of God has been stressed in the (a kafir who is not paying jizya to an turns it around is worth noting. He Quran and Hadith. That’s why Islamic State), after he rejects the says: “This does not mean that ahl- clear ordainments have been call towards Islam, in order to e-Kufr, (infidels) should be left totally revealed to Muslims about fighting establish or raise high the words of free on earth with their un-belief and all the Kuffar (infidels). Allah.” should not be made accountable. If this were true, what do we mean “United, fight the polytheists as Clearly, the consensus Maulana when we say that the religion of God they fight against you.” (Quran. 9:36) Islahi claims for his Islam has been revealed to dominate the supremacism, exclusivism and world? On Page 17, Maulana Islahi says: xenophobia is not wrong. Making “Let it be known that, according to Islam dominant over all other “It is He Who has sent His Islamic jurisprudence, fighting the religions is indeed the goal of all Messenger (Muhammad sallallahu infidels (kuffar) in their countries is ulema, past and present. All the alaihi wa-sallam) with guidance and a duty (farz-e-Kifayah), according intolerance and xenophobia of the religion of truth (Islam) to make to the consensus of ulema.” political Islam flows from there. It’s it superior over all religions even only when one studies these though the Mushrikoon (polytheists, Maulana’s entire essay is a call theological tomes one can see that it idolaters, etc.) hate it.” (Quran. 9: 33) for the Indian Muslims to fight the is not possible for you ulema to refute forces of Hindutva. But none of you your Jihadi ideologues in any “What will this verse mean then ulema, Maulana Firangimahali meaningful way. Making dishonest, and what relevance will the obligation Saheb, have refuted Maulana Abdul false statements of peace and of jihad have? Aleem Islahi, as you have not pluralism to the non-Muslim media denounced Dr. Zakir Naik or is also allowed under the Doctrine “It is the duty (of Muslims) to Maulana Salman Nadvi. Not even of Taqaiyya mainly derived from the JANATA, August 21, 2016 13

Quranic verse: 3:28: “Let not the carry out terror attacks in Iraq, Suyuti (1445-1505) interprets 9:73 (O believers take the disbelievers as Syria and even within India Prophet, fight against the disbelievers auliya (supporters, helpers, etc.) and the hypocrites and be harsh upon instead of the believers, and To tell you the truth, you are not them. And their refuge is Hell, and whoever does that will never be deceiving any one, not the least our wretched is the destination) as a case helped by Allah in any way, unless children who are running away to the of postponing the fight until Muslims he does it out of fear or taqaiyah so-called Islamic State, even when become strong. His argument is that (pious dissimulation). And Allah you call it the “un-Islamic State.” “when Muslims were weak, God warns you against Himself (His Intelligent, educated, they all know commanded them to be patient.” Punishment) and to Allah is the final the truth. You recite peaceful Another revered Quran exegete, return.” This doctrine used to be Meccan verses of pluralism, co- taught in all madrasas and mainly part of Shia jurisprudence, but existence, good-neighbourliness, departments of Islamic studies in it seems Sunnis have also adopted it exhortations of patience in times of universities, is Ibn-e-Kathir (1301- under the onslaught of global media adversity, etc., in your appearances 1372). He says that the sword verse that is now asking informed on television or when forced to issue (Quran 9: 5) “abrogated every questions. a fatwa against terrorism. But you agreement of peace between the teach in your madrasas, tafasir Prophet and any idolater, every Nothing is thus going to change, (interpretations) of Quran like, say, treaty, and every term...” Similarly, unless all you ulema are prepared to the Tafsir Jalalain, considered one Ibn Juzayy (d. 1340), another move forward from your present of the most authentic. It explains the respected Qur’an exegete says: The position, renounce the theology of Doctrine of Abrogation, widely Verse of the Sword’s purpose is violence and exclusivism, intolerance accepted by ulema, whereby “abrogating every peace treaty in the and supremacism, that exists today peaceful Meccan verses are said to Qur’an.”” in the form of Islamic theological have been abrogated by the later literature and help us ordinary folk Medinan verses of war. By and Then there are ahadith (plural of evolve a new theology of peace and large the doctrine is based on the hadith, so-called sayings of the pluralism. Islam is undoubtedly a following verse of the Quran: 1: 106, Prophet pbuh) that terror ideologues religion of peace and pluralism, love in which God says: “None of Our use to justify terror and you Maulana for all and spiritualism. It does indeed revelations do We abrogate or cause Firangimahali and your fellow ulema teach harmonious co-existence. But to be forgotten, but We substitute consider akin to revelation. Islamic theology of today, as taught something better or similar: Knowest in madrasas and universities, thou not that Allah Hath power over Take, for instance, the most widely doesn’t. The theology that you ulema all things?” quoted hadith in this context: “I have have studied and teach to our been commanded to fight all hapless children is a theology of The so-called sword verse alone, mankind till they testify that there is supremacism. Islam is in crisis today. according to Jalalain, abrogates no none worthy of worship but Allah, It has become practically less than 19 Meccan verses and that Muhammad is the synonymous with terrorism. exhorting peace and patience in the messenger of Allah, and they face of persecution. This Verse establish prayer perfectly and pay Wake up, Maulana Firangimahali (Quran 9:5) says: “When the sacred zakat. If they do this, they have Saheb, and start taking remedial months are over, slay the idolaters protected their lives and their wealth action at least now. If you can’t do wherever you find them. Arrest from me except for Islamic laws and that, at least stop deceiving the world them, besiege them, and lie in their reckoning will be with Allah the through your peaceful ambush everywhere for them. If Almighty.” pronouncements. We are now living they repent and take to prayer and in a world of internet. Scholarship is render the alms levy, allow them to — Sahih Bukhari (Vol.1. Book available on fingertips. Everyone is go their way. God is forgiving and 2, Number 24, page 402) as well a scholar. You can’t hide anything. merciful.” as (Sahih Muslim, 31:5917), the two books of Hadith considered the The Islamic State is making One of the Jalals, Jalal al-Din most reliable and authentic by all efforts to recruit Indian youths to ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr al- ulema. 14 JANATA, August 21, 2016

My problem with this Satanic parents kafir? And for good reason. Khalifa Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and Hadith is: Can the prophet (pbuh) do You teach the children Jihad in the other Jihadi ideologues do, or or say something against the express sense of Qital against all infidels and renounce your theology of violence exhortations of the Holy Quran, as polytheists (kuffar and Mushrikeen) and supremacism and let us common he seems to be doing in this case, and ask them to practice peace and Muslims evolve a new and coherent violating the universal declaration of pluralism, and co-exist with the same theology of peace and pluralism, co- Quran, quoted above, Quran 2: 256; kuffar and Mushrikeen. Please be existence and acceptance of all “La ikraha fiddin,” (Let there be no honest, call for war against the so- religions as valid paths to eternal compulsion in religion) and many called infidels and idol-worshippers, salvation. other similar Meccan verses of as Maulana Abdul Aleem Islahi, peace, pluralism and co-existence, Yours Sincerely, teaching Muslims to be patient while A concerned Muslim facing persecution? I would say, Sultan Shahin, Founding Editor, New Age Islam NO, the Prophet can never do or say anything that violates universal (Continued from Page 10) declarations of the Quran, which is therefore, against the people of were made to ban RSS, but the the word of God revealed to him. India. The people have a right to Court came in the way. Finally, the know, understand and form their But you Maulana Firangimahali Governments gave up. own opinion on the proceedings. I and your fellow ulema would say the have still not understood the logic My memory too might have following: “this hadith (“saying” of and intention of Nehru Government been influenced by perceptions but the prophet) is as good as a revelation to black out the entire trial. Leading I must make it clear that I belong and since it came, like similar war- mourner was Nehru. It is a to OBC and never was a supporter time verses, later than the previous different matter that the Sardar of anti-Dalit or other anti-minorities universal declarations of freedom of was pushed to the background but attitudes or actions and never a religion, pluralism and co-existence, he, as Dy. Prime Minister and member of RSS. I, therefore, look it has abrogated not only the above Home Minister wasted no time in forward reactions which may but many other peaceful verses banning the RSS outfit. enable me to stand corrected at this revealed earlier at Mecca when the fag end of my life. foundation of the religion of Islam The Court set aside the ban. was being laid.” You all will say this Thereafter also several attempts –B. M. Rao because all the universally revered exegetes of Quran say the same thing, except Mu’tazilah (rationalist) scholars like Abu Muslim Al- Footprints of A Crusader Asfahani. You read these secondary Islamic literature, the exegeses and (The Life Story of Mrunal Gore) interpretations by Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, (Jamie Al-Bayan: 7/646), Ibn-e- Kathir (1/207 and 2/774), Jalalain (51 by mention of abrogation in numerous Rohini Gawankar places in Tafsir al-Jalalain), Al- Qurtubi (Al-Jamie Li Ahkam Al- Quran 10/157), etc., believe in these Published by analyses and exegeses Kamalakar Subhedar, unquestioningly, and teach this in Secretary, Samata Shikshan Sanstha, your madrasas. Tafseer Ibn Pareira Wadi, Mohili Village, Sakinaka, Ghatkopar(W), Mumbai 400072. Katheer: Mobile: 9820092255 Contribution: Rs.300+ Do you know how many children in India have started calling their JANATA, August 21, 2016 15 R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, August 21, 2016 Postal Registration No. MCW/275/2015-2017. License to Post without prepayment WPP License No. MH/Tech/WPP-210/West/2016 Published on Sunday, August 21, 2016 & Posted on Wedenesday August 24, 2016 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

An infrastructure company established since 1924

REGD. OFFICE :

New Excelsior Building, (3rd Floor), A. K. Nayak Marg, Fort, Mumbai 400 001. Tel.: 022 2205 1231 Fax : 022-2205 1232

Office : Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai & New Delhi Established 1946 Price : Rupees Five Pages 16

Vol. 71 No. 31 Dalits' emancipation August 28, 2016 from humiliating vocations

A Dalit Asmita Yatra was taken reforms have not taken place in spite out in Guajrat by the Una Dalit of the implementation of land ceiling Atyachar Ladat Samiti from law and the people fear that any Complicating Ahmedabad to Una, where the surplus land will be given to private Kashmir issue obnoxious incident took place on July corporations rather than landless Sandeep Pandey 8, when some Dalits were beaten labourers, it may not be a bad idea for skinning dead cows, between to revive the call for nationalization July 31 and August 15, 2016. of land, following Dr. Ambedkar. Congress must set its Symbolically, on the Independence There should be a way of more house in order Day the Dalits demanded that they equitable use of land. This will give Kuldip Nayar must be freed from the task of Dalits the opportunity to give up disposal of cattle carcasses and vocations which are inhuman. instead they should be given land so A night in Istanbul that they may survive by doing The young convenor of the Ladat Megh Apte agriculture, in any case a more Samiti, Jignesh Mevani says that he respectable vocation than what they doesn’t want it to just remain a Dalit have been traditionally doing. Any movement. He would like to invite Human nature: landless Dalit is in any case entitled other progressive forces to join this an evolutionary paradox to receive land from the panchayat. movement for emancipation of John Scales Avery Essentially the demand is to Dalits. He invokes Shaheed Bhagat implement the provision in law for Singh also in his speeches. There is Dalit. Even in cases from around the appeal for promoting inter-caste and country where Dalits have been interfaith marriages and also to given land titles by Panchayats they strengthen Dalit-Muslim unity as are not able to take control of their Muslims too have been at the Editor : land sometimes. Encroachment over receiving end of the cow protection G. G. Parikh Dalit land is a fairly common campaign. In fact, so long as it was problem. The police and only Muslims getting killed or Managing Editor : Guddi administration tend to favour the attacked by cow vigilante groups the powerful upper caste people who Prime Minister kept quiet. It was only D-15, Ganesh Prasad, encroach upon the land of Dalits, just when the Una incident received bad Naushir Bharucha Marg, like they did in the Una incident. publicity and threatened the electoral Mumbai - 400 007. prospects of BJP in forthcoming Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was for elections in Punjab and UP, that Email : [email protected] nationalization of land. As land Narendra Modi in quite an 2 JANATA, August 28, 2016 unexpected about turn came down Now it is up to the class which is the Dalits must be freed from. heavily upon these groups. the consumer of leather items to worry about how they would remove It is only when the Dalits are freed However, the PM’s outburst the skin of dead cattle so that it may from the inhuman tasks that it will doesn’t seem to have had any effect be used by leather industry. The cow give a chance to Dalit children to think on the cow vigilante groups. Hindu vigilante groups have also protested about a more respectable future for Jagarana Vedike has killed Praveen against the use of cow leather for themselves by adopting alternative Poojary, interestingly a BJP worker, making various items. With the Dalits careers after getting educated. who was accused of carrying cattle in Gujarat having resolved on a big Wherever Dalit families have got a in a vehicle for slaughter house. So, scale not to skin dead animals, it has chance they have left such humiliating it appears that PM’s apparent anger already become a problem for the professions. But the problem is that was more for public consumption than government there. It is thinking of most Dalits engaged in menial tasks actually intended to stop such employing machines to perform the live in conditions of poverty which incidents. In any case Vishwa Hindu task and dispose of the dead body. don’t allow them to unshackle from Parishad and other Hindutva groups The leather industry may be under their situation. Even a Free and have condemned PM’s accusation serious threat because of the Compulsory Right to Education Act, that 80 per cent of cow vigilantes are misplaced enthusiasm of the cow which got implemented in the country anti-social elements by the night. It vigilantes and a right wing in 2009, is not able to pull all their certainly cannot be denied that they government not too keen to suppress children out and get them admitted to take law into their own hands. The the ‘Hindu’ sentiment. schools. When 23 Valmiki community faith seems to be given more which is traditionally involved in importance than our Constitution. In any case, a number of sanitation work, children were to be humiliating tasks which are admitted along with another 8 Muslim The Dalit Asmita Yatra received performed by Dalits including getting children to the prestigious City good response in Gujarat and has down into sewer lines to clean them Montessori School in Lucknow last given a platform to Dalits for assertion should have been mechanised long year under the RTE, the school of their rights. The method of protest back. Just as this Yatra was to end opposed their entry tooth and nail. they have chosen, of abandoning the in Una news came in of four people Only by a Court order 13 Valmiki cattle carcasses, reflects the agony dying in Madhapur in Hyderabad children got admitted to the school in of their profession. Earlier Dalits are because of suffocation when they 2015. The school again wanted them known to have given up this task in had entered a manhole to clean it. It out in the current academic year. The 19 villages of Mehsana district of is really shameful that in the era of Supreme Court has reprimanded it Gujarat. Unless they give up these modernisation when most inhuman for this. The elite class has made the menial jobs their children will not be tasks involving drudgery are being life of children of sanitation workers able to go to schools and generation mechanised, we still make live miserable, humiliating them at every after generation they will remain in human beings enter the hell which is step. the same tradition. sewer line. This is another task that Complicating the Kashmir issue Even after lot of criticism, the statement by Arun Jaitley made in or police. But the PM is now known government continues to use pellet Samba of Jammu region where he to initiate damage control when guns in J&K against protestors. said that militancy and stone pelting situation worsens and starts Recent victims include a 8 years need to be dealt with firmly and no affecting his political prospects. old Junaid whose lung has been laxity should be shown in dealing Rajnath Singh, earlier said that ruptured and Adil who has been with such situation. Although instead of stones, bricks and blinded. 30 patients, victims of Narendra Modi, in a meeting with firearms in the hands of Kashmiris pellet guns, in a day clearly shows opposition leaders the next day in he would like to see pen, computers that government is in no mood to Delhi, said that he shared the pain and jobs. Both Rajanth and Jaitley relent. of Kashmiris. He said it is a matter have blamed Pakistan for of distress whether the lives lost fomenting the current trouble in This reflects the tenor of are of our youth, security personnel Kashmir. JANATA, August 28, 2016 3

It is unbelievable that BJP leaders Palestinians but then Israel doesn’t controversy is created. Then if hold such simplistic ideas about have the kind of relationship with questions are raised about this, the Kashmir. Their approach is only Palestine which India claims to have Hindutva brigade will take to streets going to worsen the situation. with Kashmir. and create a scene. Nobody will question the original action. Only the When Rajnath or Modi say they BJP seems to know only one reaction will be attacked. For would like to see development in way to deal with the problem - to example, there is noise about J&K, do they really think economic remain tough. The curfew, already registering case against Akhlaq’s prosperity is the answer to unrest in the longest in the history since J&K family in Dadri but nothing is said Kashmir? If economic well being became part of India, has been about the people who killed him in would have guaranteed happiness there for more than a month and the first place. then youth of Punjab would not have half now. Police have given up. taken to drugs. Mental happiness is People are directly facing the brunt But commendably Ramya has no less important than physical well of military and paramilitary. Security stood her ground. The irrational being for peace to return to the forces which are trained to face behaviour of Sangh Parivar affiliates valley. That can happen only when enemy at the border, start treating will have to be pointed out and a political solution which is agreeable people like enemies. It doesn’t look questioned whatever the cost to Kashmiris is arrived at. Most likely that security forces being required to be paid. They are commentators say it will have to be present there in such large numbers masquerading Hindu nationalism as some kind of autonomy. will help create an atmosphere the only form of nationalism, which which can pave the way for is quite in variance from the idea of Jaitley must be asked why did normalcy to return. BSF has been nationalism which our freedom women and children pick up stones? called out after 13 years which is fighters believed in. Actually, since Stone pelting was people’s answer not a good sign. the BJP has come to power there is to use of force against them by the sheer display of hooliganism in the Indian government. Jaitley must Modi has appealed for peace to name of nationalism and it must not thank people of Kashmir as most of return to valley so that dialogue could be tolerated. Communal harmony them have shown restraint and not begin. Jaitley thinks that the stone was integral part of our nationalism picked up guns. Only a small throwing protestors are the legacy which is now sought to be minority indulges in the kind of aggressors but in reality the security dismissed in the name of minority violence which can kill security forces are the bigger aggressors appeasement. forces. It is a pity that while security given their power of ammunition. So, forces can easily save themselves it is in the hands of government to Ramya is right. People in Pakistan from stones, or at least will not bring peace to valley. The are just like us. People don’t hate suffer fatal injuries, they have no government only cuts a sorry figure each other. It is the governments qualms about using pellet guns by blaming Pakistan for even the which have created an atmosphere against people with serious stone pelting implying that Pakistan of enmity. Why should the people be consequences. No security is able to influence proceedings in dragged into it? personnel are getting killed, except Kashmir while it has completely for the two who died initially, in the failed to have an impact. In Pakistan 48 per cent people present round of everyday violence. enjoy the benefit of improved Only the number of civilians getting Defence Minister Manohar sanitation whereas the figure for killed is going up. Kashmiris are Parikkar has also referred to India is merely 34 per cent. right is doubting whether they are Pakistan as ‘hell,’ to which south Proportion of underweight children considered equal citizens of India, Indian actress and former Congress in India is 43 per cent whereas in when pellet guns are used only MP has given a very rational reply. Pakistan it is merely 31 per cent. against their agitation and not There are protests against her and Hence for certain poor sections of elsewhere in the country. No an advocate has sought sedition population Pakistan may not be so sensitive government would use case to be filed against her. This has much of a ‘hell’. such inhuman methods against their now become a trademark strategy own citizens. Israelis use it against of the Hindutva brigade. First a –Sandeep Pandey 4 JANATA, August 28, 2016

Between the Lines Congress must set its house in order

Kuldip Nayar

Can the Congress Party be different religions, castes and regions along “without resorting to arms.” retrieved? This was the question together. The hand-written words in the text posed to me. Another one is whether are retained by the National or not the party is relevant. Answering Shastri did succeed Nehru but died Archives of India. Although many the last question first, I said that a early because of heart attack at people in Pakistan doubt this but 150-year-old organization which has Tashkent where he had gone to sign the fact remains that General Ayub loyal members even in the remotest a peace agreement with General did sign the peace treaty because rural areas cannot be irrelevant. The Ayub Khan, martial law administrator he, as the army chief, knew what Congress led the independence of Pakistan. My feeling is that had he the devastation the wars caused. movement and has ruled the country lived, relations between India and for more than five decades. Pakistan would have normalized. I With such long and big heritage, recall that after hearing the sudden the Congress Party cannot be written For my generation, Jawaharlal death of Shastri, Ayub came to dacha off. In fact, the very history of Nehru and Sardar Patel who were where the Russians had put up the independent India begins with the the top two leaders of the Congress Indian Prime Minister up. movement which helped the country are icons and I cannot forget the roll back the British Raj. It is true sacrifices the people made under General Ayub said in my presence that the Congress has come down their leadership. Their words that “had he (Shastri) lived Pakistan from the pedestal it had once counted and people would gather at and India would have become long- occupied but it does not mean that it their call whenever or wherever they lasting friends.” Ayub also became has become irrelevant. made. Then, the Congress was India the pallbearer of the coffin that and India was the Congress. carried Shastri’s body to the aircraft Can the party be retrieved is a which flew it to Delhi. I think Ayub difficult question to answer. It had The situation began to change did echo the feelings of Pakistan two major segments of followers: after the death of Lal Bahadur because when I visited the country Dalits and Muslims. Mayawati, the Shastri, who succeeded Nehru. I had subsequently people recollected dalit leader, has cornered the people the privilege of working as the press Shastri’s friendship. whom the Hindu religion itself had officer with Shastri. He had doubts categorized as sudras about Nehru’s succession plans and Zulfikhar Ali Bhutto, then (untouchables). In fact, there is no would often say that unke dimaag Pakistan’s foreign minister, was the religion in the world which makes me to un ki putri hai (he has his spoiler. He did not want to sign a discrimination against its own people daughter in mind). But, Shastri would, treaty which would shun violence in as part of its traditions. add that it would not be easy. settling issues between India and Pakistan. And he flew straight from In fact, if the Hindus were to This turned out to be true because Tashkent to Islamabad and analyse they would find that the after the death of Nehru, Morarji propagated that Ayub had sold the Muslims are converts from Hinduism Desai was the first one to throw his country to India. What Ayub had because it did not treat them as hat in the ring. Congress president conceded was that the differences equals, something which the Islam K. Kamaraj did not want Morarji between India and Pakistan would did. Today when the RSS raises the who he considered intractable and be settled peacefully. banner of ghar wapsi, it should not accommodative for a country realize that such a thing cannot where it was essential to be Shastri had made Ayub to write happen until the Hindus give up conciliatory to take the people of on the peace draft he had brought untouchability which is rampant in JANATA, August 28, 2016 5 rural India. People of different If the Congress wants to retrieve We have included secularism in the castes may have begun sitting on the its lost influence, it would have to preamble of the constitution, but we same bed, yet they still have separate cleanse its own house. Secularism are far from practising it. And, wells and separate cremation has become just a word and many sometimes, I feel that India is trying grounds. Congress leaders are as rabid as the to follow Pakistan where people BJP fanatics. Secularism is a wear religion on their sleeves to The Muslims, after the commitment, an aptitude of mind. prove that they are firm Muslims. establishment of Pakistan, have sought a party which is secular. The Drop FIR against Amnesty Congress, however, was not as firm in its ideology as it was during the days of Nehru and Patel. Still the PUCL condemns the actions of encounters or enforced Muslims had no choice because the the Bengaluru Police in foisting a disappearances. The meeting itself only alternative available to them case of sedition, creating enmity and included showing video films of after the Congress was the other charges against Amnesty testimonies of other victim families, a Communist Party. But this did not International India and unnamed staff panel discussion, musical th fit into their scheme of things and for holding a meeting on 13 August, performance and skit. was too totalitarian and 2016 in Bengaluru on human rights disciplinarian. abuses in Kashmir in which families PUCL sees the recent of victims participated. From the registration of an FIR for sedition For a religion which has a holy statement of Amnesty it is evident against Amnesty International, India book to follow, there was very little that the police had been informed and the witch hunt into the finances/ leeway. Islam attracted converts about the meeting, were present at funding of the organisation as yet because it gave a sense of the venue and had observed firsthand another instance in the long string equality. Hadeesh (the spoken the event and therefore had of events where the State has used words) did give room for personal knowledge that the allegations of the right wing majoritarian groups to interpretations. But the loyal say that VHP about the meeting were stifle dissent, prevent discussion and there could be no deviation from the politically motivated and false. That control debate. There is a visible book of roughly 1400 years old the Karnataka police chose to pattern across the country – from because these were the world of register a FIR despite all this only the incidents in JNU, Hyderabad Allah. highlights the dangers of arming the Central University, Allahabad state with such draconian laws like University, or the witch hunt against Yet the Islam over the years has the anti-sedition laws. Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand changed. If it could severe from and their organisation CJP, Indira th the rigid path, Hinduism should The 13 August, 2016 event itself Jaisingh and Anand Grover of have no problems of in overhauling was in the backdrop of the 2015 Lawyers Collective, Green Peace itself in the face of modern Amnesty International report ” and now Amnesty International – challenges. However, Denied: Failures in accountability for where, in every meeting discussing discrimination against dalits is so human rights violations by security human rights violations suffered by deep that I do not expect many force personnel in Jammu and minorities and dalits, or excesses strides in this field. This is a Kashmir”. The Report focused on of security forces whether in challenge before the Hindus. the travails of families of persons Kashmir, North East or in Maoist who lost their loved ones due to regions, a small fringe group The experience so far has been excesses by security forces. This creates a commotion, which is far from happy. At the time of report is in the public domain. used to first disrupt the meeting elections, some appeals are made Families of victims of State violence and thereafter to harass the and even top Hindu leaders from the were present to narrate in first organisers by slamming cases Congress eat at the houses of dalits. person, the situation in Kashmir and against them. Seldom is any But all this wears off once the polls the difficulties in claiming justice and action initiated against the individuals are over and people are back to their accountability in cases where who disrupt meetings in the first old moorings of discrimination. innocent people are killed in place. 6 JANATA, August 28, 2016

For instance, in the present Kovan in TN for criticising the been repealed while India continues incident, the local police were government’s liquor policy and to retain it. informed and were present at the against Hardik Patel for rallying the meeting. Why were the disruptors anti-reservation struggle involving PUCL appeals to all concerned not removed by the police present in Patels or Patidars in Gujarat; the citizens, democratically minded the venue or why was no FIR latest to join this long list of infamous groups and human rights movement registered against the persons who sedition cases is the present case to once again give a call for appeared to have come prepared to against Amnesty International India repealing sec. 124 A IPC and to disrupt and actually disrupted the launched by the Congress launch a mass citizen’s campaign meeting? government in Karnataka. In all to make ordinary citizens aware of these cases, what weighed were the dangerous, anti-democratic It also needs to be highlighted political considerations of the ruling nature of this archaic, colonial era that the repeated invocation of the parties and governments dealing a provision of law. anti-sedition offence (sec. 124 A death blow to the rule of law and IPC) over any other section of IPC functioning of the criminal justice PUCL also demands that the is mainly to create a public opinion system. Government of Karnataka and the that those who demand Karnataka Police immediately accountability of the state and its It has been a long held position of withdraw the FIR lodged against agencies, including the police, PUCL that the anti-sedition law (sec. Amnesty International, India for the paramilitary and security forces, 124A IPC) should be repealed meeting organised by it on are essentially “anti-national”. This immediately. It is ironical that in 13th August, 2016 in the United creates a negative image about Britain itself the sedition clause has Theological College in Bengaluru. them amongst common people; the `anti-national’ tag, in turn, ensures –Prabhakar Sinha V. Suresh that the state can further persecute People’s Union For Civil Liberties them without much adverse public opinion.

It is in this context that we need Saffron agenda to also notice that irrespective of political party in power, most Muslims for Secular It is for this reason that very many governments tend to abuse the Democracy (MSD) strongly Muslims find Surya Namaskar extremely coercive, anti-democratic, protests the decision of the Brihan objectionable since Islam forbids anti-sedition provision, sec. 124A Mumbai Municipal Corporation to bowing before or worship of anyone IPC to silence dissent and crush make Surya Namaskar compulsory except God. criticism. There is little difference in the over 1,200 schools run by between a BJP government invoking the civic body. MSD believes that sedition provisions against Dr. notwithstanding its posturing, the Binayak Sen in Chhattisgarh or the The BJP claims Surya Namaskar BJP’s decision to impose Surya AIADMK government invoking is beneficial in leading a healthy life, Namaskar on all students sedition laws against peaceful, anti- improves concentration and has irrespective of religion is an integral nuclear protestors in Koodankulam nothing to do with any religion. While part of its saffronisation agenda. in Tamil Nadu or cartoonist Aseem the combination of yogasana Trivedi being arrested in postures involved may well be It therefore supports the demand Maharashtra or the case launched beneficial for good health, Surya for a rollback of this unconstitutional by the TMC government in West Namaskar does mean “salutations to decision of the BJP and its ally, the Bengal against academics; more Lord Surya (The Sun), the giver of Shiv Sena. recently in the last one year itself, is energy to the world” and is widely the sedition case against JNU regarded as “a wonderful regular –Hasan Kamaal, Javed Siddiqi, Students Union leader, Kanhaiya routine of exercise, prayer and Noorjehan Safia Niaz, Javed Kumar in Delhi, the Tamil folk singer worship given in the scriptures”. Anand, Feroze Mithiborwala. JANATA, August 28, 2016 7

A night in Istanbul

Megh Apte

History is laden with incidences Eastern countries of Saudi Arabia, was not some rudimentary attempt; wherein the ruling classes due to their Iran , Iraq and Syria. The secularists after all, Turkey has endured the test decisions caused discontent amongst and the Kurds (who have been of time wherein the generals have their subjects. There are have been demanding for the creation of an ruled the country; this was a numerous tales where kings have independent Kurdistan within sophisticated and a well planned been assassinated because they Turkey) comprise the minority within conspiracy. I say well planned wielded excessive power, and there Turkey. because, the moment the coup was have been incidences when the taking place, Mr Erdogan was on a people as a collective unit have ran The President of Turkey, Recep vacation on a seaside resort a revolution due to the abuse of Tayyip Erdogan who was elected in overlooking the Aegean Sea . The power by the establishment. The 2014 as Head of State has rather rebel factions had F-16 fighter jets, French and the Russian Revolutions turned the destiny of Turkey towards tanks and a well stocked supply of coupled with the Arab Spring are authoritarianism as opposed to the ammunition with them, which was examples of just how powerful a democratic ideals it was based upon, indeed alarming. These fighter jets weapon the people can be. But, Mr Erdogan is the first leader since carried out an air strike on the there are incidences when the Kemal Ataturk to wield such Turksat broadcasting station so as to guardians of the frontier turn rogue tremendous power. The saying, create an Iron Curtain, however, the and decide to run the country ‘power corrupts and absolute power strike could not permanently damage themselves, for this is what happened corrupts absolutely’ would need a the station as a result of which the on the night of 15th July 2016 in small modification, as Ram private broadcasting networks were Turkey. Jethmalani, a very senior lawyer in able to air the news that a coup was India, rightly said in the Supreme being staged. The moment the news Turkey is a medium sized country Court, that modification being: All started trickling through, Mr which falls under both Europe and power corrupts – and the fear of Erdogan resorted to Apple’s Asia, though for trade, politics and losing power corrupts absolutely! Facetime and urged his countrymen alignment, it comes under the This fear has made Mr Erdogan to stand up to this threat against jurisdiction of the European Union, paranoid about every independent democracy, which is all the more the historic city of erstwhile institution in place whose job is to ironic, given Mr Erdogan’s distaste Constantinople, known today as maintain a system of checks and for the social media and internet Istanbul, has an unique feature of balances and to ensure the presence activism. The Turkish people gave being the only city in the world to be of rule of law. In addition to it, he an overwhelming response to this a part of two continents. The has suppressed the media to such an message and the coup was failed, beautiful and the magnificent river extent that the tiniest criticism is seen but Mr Erdogan should not delude which is called as the Bosphorus by as a security threat. His party, himself, this response was given in those living in Istanbul separates the Justice and Development Party has order to save Turkey from a military Asiatic and European area of been heavily under the scrutiny of regime and not to save Mr Erdogan. Istanbul. its political opponents, Mr Erdogan’s policies have been an extremely The aftermath Turkey has a 99.8 % Muslim nutritious fodder for the opposition population, of which 80% are the one for their election campaign. The next morning, retribution was belonging to the Sunni sect and the easily visible on the streets of remaining 20% belong to the Shia Fast forward to 15th July 2016, and Ankara and Istanbul after the rebels sect. However, these two sects have a small faction of mid-level military had been overcome. Mr Erdogan in lived in harmony as compared to the officers tried to stage a coup d’etat, a public address declared ‘This bloody history these two sects share which is a French word which uprising is a gift from God to us amongst themselves in the Middle translates as seizure of power. This because this will be a reason to 8 JANATA, August 28, 2016 cleanse our army’. Mr Erdogan Even today, in its fight against the To make matters worse, Turkey certainly did not mince his words Islamic State (IS), the US views has been facing a strained when he made this statement for Turkey as a valuable ally. After all, relationship with the European 6000 servicemen had been arrested, the base at Incirlik in southern Turkey Union as well, who is its largest amongst them 100 were generals is used to carry out air strikes on IS. trading partner. Turkey has made a and admirals, he has not stopped Turkey has however been not a part deal with the European Union which there, 8000 policemen have been of the North Atlantic Treaty included, Turkish effort to reduce the sacked, 3000 Judges and Organization (NATO). If Turkey inflow of refugees to Greece in prosecutors have been suspended or were to apply to the NATO today, exchange for accelerating the detained. University professors, they would not succeed, the reason abolition of short term visas for teachers and civil servants (about being, NATO lays down a set of Turkish tourists and businessmen 350 from the Prime Minister’s office) criteria known as the ‘members and fund Turkish efforts to support have been pushed out of service. action plan’, the criteria laid down in refugees. The criticism the deal These incidences beg the question, it need to be strictly followed by an faced was that the EU had what if the coup was something aspiring applicant . designated Turkey as a ‘safe planned by Erdogan himself? So as country’ for refugees, this failed to make the incident as a blank The criteria are as follows coup has put a dent to that reputation cheque to oust democracy and as well. establish an authoritarian regime, the Ø A stable democratic system latter form of government is on its Economic analysis way since a three month (with effect Ø Pursue the peaceful settlement of from 20th July 2016 ) state of territorial and ethnic disputes There is one thing any sort of Emergency has been imposed in the coup holds in common, they are country. Ø Have good relations with always unexpected by their neighbouring countries nature, whose objective is to catch The blame of having incepted the the government unawares. The coup has been put on Fetullah Gulen Ø Show commitment to the rule of past three years have seen , who is a Muslim cleric having gone law and human rights successful coups in Egypt and in into self-exile in the United States Thailand and several failed ones since 1998. Mr Gulen and Mr Ø Establish a democratic and a in other countries. Jonathan Erdogan were partners in crime civilian control of their forces Powell and Clayton Thyne of the when the going was good, however, University of Kentucky have Ø Have a market economy on attaining power, Erdogan realized collected immense data on this that Gulen was becoming a power subject and have reached to the Of all these criteria which have centre himself and Gulen was conclusion that between the years been laid down, Turkey fulfills only accused of running a ‘parallel state’ 1950 and 2010 there have been the last criteria. Over the past few within the established government. 457 coup attempts in total, out of months Erdogan has been overtly Gulen is a person who has openly which 227( 49.7%) were suspicious of America since the US professed an idea of an Islamic successful and 230( 50.3%) were has an alliance with the Syrian Caliphate in the past which gives unsuccessful, however post-2003, Kurdish militia known as the People’s Erdogan all the more reason to plotters of a coup have attained Protection Units, it is recognized by suspect him. a decent hit rate of 70%, which America as the most effective ground indicates a certain amount of force against IS in Syria. However, Turkey’s relationship sophistication the plotters have there is a slight problem since this with NATO, EU and USA attained over the years which is militia is also demanding an indeed an alarming sign. Historically, Turkey played a independent Kurdistan. Such crucial role in the Cold War, it was alliances are viewed by Turkey as Coups have been not so regular the place closest to the erstwhile acts of having ‘double standards’ over the years. Their heyday was Soviet Union where the United since America is directly supporting the mid-1960s, when nearly 15 took States could establish a military base. separatist views in Turkey. place every year, this can be easily JANATA, August 28, 2016 9 equated with the Cold War, since 2. The jihadist elements which will European Union, otherwise it will the 1960s was the time when US– now be more active due to this cause growing discontent amongst Soviet relations were most strained failed coup need to be carefully the people as already and both countries tried to create surveilled. demonstrated by the people of unrest in the countries which Great Britain. belonged to the Eastern and the 3. The power of the army needs to Western bloc. However, the be curtailed by way of legislation 8. Mr Erdogan needs to balance his current trend is that the occurrence so that such an incident does not own political ambitions with the of coups is declining, the main happen again. ambitions of his subjects, if the reason, the world has got richer. vested interests overwhelm public Looking at a sample size of 121 4. If the majoritarian attitude of interest and if there is a damage countries, John Londregan and Erdogan does not cease, Turkey to the economy of Turkey, Mr Keith Poole, of Carnegie Mellon is destined for doom since nothing Erdogan can see himself being the University, concluded in 1990 that ever comes out of ethnic discord next Hosni Mubarak, the Turkish coups were 21 times more likely and hatred for the minority. For, a people will have the final say in to take place in poor countries as country is judged by how it not the second round and there will compared to rich ones. Using treats its majority, but how it treats be no army to save Mr Erdogan another group of countries, Paul its minority. this time. Collier and Anke Hoeffler of Oxford University found in 2007 5. The NATO needs to relax some Reference that the risk of coups fell about by of its criteria for membership 27% as the level of income per since they are slightly hypocritical 1. Fali Nariman’sautobiography : person doubled. By the same token in nature. Many of the other Before Memory Fades growth rates matter. Raising it by NATO members have violated one percentage point reduces the those criteria on numerous 2. The Economist risk of a coup by 4.4%. The occasions. corollary is, of course, that slower growth rate raises the risk of a 6. A military government so close to Janata Subscription coup. There is no automatic the European Union would have threshold, North Korea is a perfect set a very dangerous precedent example where the soldiers have since the gateways of terror would not rebelled against their leader be wide open and the threat of Annual Rs. : 260/- despite having a disastrous growth war would be more imminent. I rate. make this statement because, however despotic, spineless Three Years : 750/- Lessons Nawaz Sharif might be as the Prime Minister of Pakistan, he Demand Draft / Cheque still is a ‘democratically’ elected 1. Turkey has a long march ahead on of itself now, this failed coup may leader, he is accountable to the be the making or breaking of a people to a very limited scale, but country. Erdogan has the chance still he is. Opposed to that, a Mumbai Bank government headed by the Inter to instill a spirit of democracy and in favour of constitutionalis. Constitutionalism Services Intelligence and the essentially means having a system Pakistani Army would be a major of checks and balances in place headache for the Indian subcontinent since both the in order to prevent abuse of power JANATA TRUST by one wing of the government countries have got nuclear viz. Legislature, Executive, and weapons. D-15, Ganesh Prasad, the Judiciary. Mr Erdogan can Naushir Bharucha Marg, start unmuzzling the press which 7. The refugee crisis needs to be Mumbai 400 007 has been suppressed for so long. handled more maturely by the 10 JANATA, August 28, 2016 Human nature: an evolutionary paradox

John Scales Avery

Today, human greed and folly are of Eden. This story can be seen as Our emotions have an extremely destroying the global environment. containing elements of historical long evolutionary history. Both lust As if this were not enough, there is truth. and rage are emotions that we share a great threat to civilization and the with many animals. However, with biosphere from an all-destroying Humans were originally hunter- the rapid advance of human cultural thermonuclear war. Both of these gatherers. Populations were so evolution, our ancestors began to live severe existential threats are due to sparse that gathering roots, berries together in progressively larger faults in our inherited emotional and fruits from their environment groups, and in these new societies, nature. gave them enough to eat. our inherited emotional nature was Occasionally they obtained often inappropriate. What once was From the standpoint of additional protein from the meat of a survival trait became a sin which evolutionary theory, this is a paradox. animals that they were able to kill. needed to be suppressed by morality As a species, we are well on the road Then agriculture was invented. and law. to committing collective suicide, Populations rapidly became so driven by the flaws in human nature. dense that humans were no longer Today we live in a world that is But isn’t natural selection supposed able to live simply by gathering entirely different from the one into to produce traits that lead to fruit from the Garden of Eden. which our species was born. We survival? Today, our emotions are not Expelled from the garden, they face the problems of the 21st leading us towards survival, but were henceforth forced to sweat century: exploding populations, instead driving us towards extinction. for their daily bread. vanishing resources, and the twin What is the reason for this paradox? threats of catastrophic climate What about “original sin” and the change and thermonuclear war. We Some stories from the Bible role of the Devil in the world? In face these severe problems with our the Bible, the Devil, or Satan, appears poor cave-man’s brain, with an The Old Testament is the as a fallen angel who tempts humans emotional nature that has not common heritage of the three to commit sins, i.e to break the rules changed much since our ancestors Abrahamic religions, Christianity, of their societies. The existence of lived in small tribes, competing for Judaism and Islam. Some of the Satan is the biblical explanation of territory on the grasslands of Africa. stories which it contains can be seen the presence of evil in the world. An as attempts to explain the paradoxes alternative explanation is given by the The expression of emotions of human emotional nature: Why are doctrine of “original sin”, which in man and animals we born with emotions that drive us maintains that humans are born with to commit the seven deadly sins? a sinful nature. In the long run, because of the Why are pride, envy, wrath, gluttony, terrible weapons that have already lust, sloth and greed so much a part Like the story of the Garden of been produced through the misuse of human nature? The story of Adam Eden, these biblical concepts may of science, and because of the even and Eve and the Garden of Eden also chronicle true historical events more terrible weapons that are likely attempts to answer this question, as in human evolution. A sinful human to be invented in the future, the only do stories about the role of Satam in is sometimes described as “behaving way in which we can ensure the the world. like an animal”. In fact, what is survival of civilization is to abolish regarded a sin in humans can be a the institution of war. According to the biblical account, necessary survival trait in an animal. Adam and Eve ate apples from the It would be ridiculous to say “Thou But is this possible? Or are the Tree of Knowledge and were shalt not steal” to a mouse or “Thou emotions that make war possible so therefore expelled from the Garden shalt not kill” to a tiger. much a part of human nature that we JANATA, August 28, 2016 11 cannot stop humans from fighting any doubted that young pointers will and Animals, Darwin says “I more than we can stop cats and dogs sometimes point and even back other thought it very important to from fighting? Can biological science dogs the very first time they are taken ascertain whether the same throw any light on the problem of why out; retrieving is certainly in some expressions and gestures prevail, our supposedly rational species seems degree inherited by retrievers; and a as has often been asserted without intent on choosing war, pain and death tendency to run round, instead of at, much evidence, with all the races instead of peace, happiness and life? a flock of sheep by shepherd dogs. I of mankind, especially with those To answer this question, we need to cannot see that these actions, who have associated but little with turn to the science of ethology: the performed without experience by the Europeans. Whenever the same study of inherited emotional young, and in very nearly the same movements of the features or body tendencies and behavior patterns in manner, without the end being known express the same emotions in animals and humans. (for the young pointer can no more several distinct races of man, we know that he points to aid his master may infer with much probability, In The Origin of Species, Charles than the white butterfly knows why that such expressions are true Darwin devoted a chapter to the she lays her eggs on the leaf of the ones, – that is, are innate or evolution of instincts, and he later cabbage). I cannot see that these instinctive.” published a separate book, The actions differ essentially from true Expression of the Emotions in Man instincts…” To gather evidence on this point, and Animals”. Because of these Darwin sent a printed questionnaire pioneering studies, Darwin is “How strongly these domestic on the expression of human considered to be the founder of instincts habits and dispositions are emotions and sent it to missionaries ethology, the study of inherited inherited, and how curiously they and colonial administrators in many behavior patterns. become mingled, is well shown parts of the world. Darwin received when different breeds of dogs are 36 replies to his questionnaire, many Behind Darwin’s work in this field crossed. Thus it is known that a coming from people who were in is the observation that instinctive cross with a bulldog has affected contact with extremely distinct and behavior patterns are just as reliably for many generations the courage isolated groups of humans. inherited as morphological and obstinacy of greyhounds; and characteristics. Darwin was also a cross with a greyhound has given The results convinced him that impressed by the fact that within a to a whole family of shepherd dogs our emotions and the means by given species, behavior patterns a tendency to hunt hares.” which they are expressed are to a have some degree of uniformity, and very large extent innate, rather the fact that the different species Darwin believed that in nature, than culturally determined, since within a family are related by desirable variations of instinct are the answers to his questionnaire similarities of instinctive behavior, propagated by natural selection, just were so uniform and so just as they are related by similarities as in the domestication of animals, independent of both culture and of bodily form. For example, certain favourable variations of instinct are race. In preparation for his book, elements of cat-like behavior can be selected and propagated by he also closely observed the found among all members of the cat kennelmen and stock breeders. In emotions and their expression in family; and certain elements of dog- this way, according to Darwin, very young babies and children, like or wolf-like behavior can be complex and highly developed hoping to see inherited found among all members of the dog instincts, such as the comb-making characteristics in subjects too family. On the other hand, there are instinct of honey-bees, have evolved young to have been greatly small variations in instinct among the by natural selection from simpler influenced by culture. members of a given species. For instincts, such as the instinct by example, not all domestic dogs which bumble bees use their old Darwin’s observations convinced behave in the same way. cocoons to hold honey and him that in humans, just as in other sometimes add a short wax tube. mammals, the emotions and their “Let us look at the familiar case of expression are to a very large extent breeds of dogs”, Darwin wrote in The In the introduction to The inherited universal characteristics of Origin of Species, “It cannot be Expression of the Emotions in Man the species. 12 JANATA, August 28, 2016

Ethology In other experiments, Tinbergen explained this by saying that the explored the response of newly- sheep-dogs regard the shepherd as The study of inherited behavior hatched chicks of the common their “pack leader”; and since driving patterns in animals (and humans) domestic hen to models representing the prey towards the pack leader is was continued in the 20th century a hawk. Since the chicks were able part of the hunting instinct of wolves, by such researchers as Karl von to recognize a hawk immediately it is easy to teach the dogs this Frisch (1886-1982), Nikolaas after hatching, he knew that the maneuver. Tinbergen (1907-1988), and Konrad response must be genetically Lorenz (1903-1989), three scientists programmed. Just as he had done in Driving the prey away from the who shared the Nobel Prize in his experiments with herring gulls, pack leader would not make sense Medicine and Physiology in 1973. Tinbergen experimented with for wolves hunting in a pack; it is various models, trying to determine not part of the instinctive makeup of Karl von Frisch, the first of the the crucial characteristic that was wolves, nor is it a natural pattern of three ethologists, is famous for his recognized by the chicks, causing behavior for their remote studies of the waggle-dance of them to run for cover. He discovered descendants, the sheep-dogs. honeybees. Bees guide each other that a crude model in the shape of to sources of food by a genetically the letter T invariably caused the As a further example of the fact programmed signalling method, the response if pulled across the sky with that learning is usually built on a famous waggle dance, deciphered in the wings first and tail last. (Pulled foundation of genetic predisposition, 1945 by von Frisch. backwards, the T shape caused no Tinbergen mentions the ease with response.) which human babies learn languages. Among the achievements for The language learned is determined which Tinbergen is famous are his In the case of a newly-hatched by the baby’s environment; but the classic studies of instinct in herring herring gull chick pecking at the red astonishing ease with which a human gulls. He noticed that the newly- spoon the beak of its parent, the baby learns to speak and understand hatched chick of a herring gull pecks program in the chick’s brain must be implies a large degree of genetic at the beak of its parent, and this entirely genetically determined, predisposition. signal causes the parent gull to without any environmental regurgitate food into the gaping beak component at all. Learning cannot On aggression of the chick. play a part in this behavioral pattern, since the pattern is present in the The third of the 1973 Tinbergen wondered what signal young chick from the very moment prizewinners, Konrad Lorenz, is causes the chick to initiate this when it breaks out of the egg. On more controversial, but at the same response by pecking at the beak of the other hand (Tinbergen pointed time very interesting in the context the parent gull. Therefore he out) many behavioral patterns in of studies of the causes of war and constructed a series of models of the animals and in man have both a discussions of how war may be parent in which certain features of hereditary component and an avoided. As a young boy, he was the adult gull were realistically environmental component. Learning very fond of animals, and his tolerant represented while other features is often very important, but learning parents allowed him to build up a were crudely represented or left out seems to be built on a foundation of large menagerie in their house in entirely. He found by trial and error genetic predisposition. Altenberg, Austria. that the essential signal to which the chick responds is the red spot on the To illustrate this point, Tinbergen Even as a child, Lorenz became tip of its parent’s beak. Models which called attention to the case of an expert on waterfowl behavior, lacked the red spot produced almost sheepdogs, whose remote ancestors and he discovered the phenomenon no response from the young chick, were wolves. These dogs, Tinbergen of imprinting. He was given a one although in other respects they were wrote, can easily be trained to drive day old duckling, and found, to his realistic models; and the red spot on a flock of sheep towards the intense joy, that it transferred its an otherwise crude model would shepherd. However, it is difficult to following response to his person. As make the chick peck with great train them to drive the sheep away Lorenz discovered, young waterfowl regularity. from their master. Tinbergen have a short period immediately JANATA, August 28, 2016 13 after being hatched, when they up over a period of time. In the case to the team-spirit exhibited by a identify as their “mother” whomever of human aggression, according to football side. Heroic behavior in they see first. In later life, Lorenz Lorenz, the nervous energy has to defense of one’s community has continued his studies of imprinting, be dissipated in some way, either been praised throughout the ages, but and there exists a touching harmlessly through some substitute the tendency to such behavior has photograph of him, with his white for aggression, or else through actual now become a threat to the survival beard, standing waist-deep in a pond, fighting. Thus, for example, Lorenz of civilization, since tribalism makes surrounded by an adoring group of believed that violent team sports help war possible, and war with goslings who believe him to be their to reduce the actual level of violence thermonuclear weapons threatens mother. Lorenz also studied pair in a society. civilization with catastrophe. bonding rituals in waterfowl. Although the cathartic model of In an essay entitled The Urge It is, however, for his controversial aggression is now widely believed to to Self-Destruction, Arthur book On Aggression that Konrad be incorrect, it seems probable that Koestler says: “Even a cursory Lorenz is best known. In this book, the communal defense response glance at history should convince Lorenz makes a distinction between discussed by Lorenz will prove to be one that individual crimes, intergroup aggression and intragroup a correct and useful concept. The committed for selfish motives, play aggression. Among animals, he communal defense mechanism can a quite insignificant role in the points out, rank-determining fights be thought of as the aspect of human human tragedy compared with the are seldom fatal. Thus, for example, emotions which makes it natural for numbers massacred in unselfish the fights that determine leadership soldiers to kill or be killed in defense love of one’s tribe, nation, dynasty, within a wolf pack end when the of their countries. In the era before church or ideology… Wars are not loser makes a gesture of submission. nuclear weapons made war fought for personal gain, but out of By contrast, fights between groups prohibitively dangerous, such loyalty and devotion to king, of animals are often fights to the behavior was considered to be the country or cause…” death, examples being wars between greatest of virtues. ant colonies, or of bees against “We have seen on the screen the intruders, or the defense of a rat pack Generations of schoolboys have radiant love of the Führer of the against strange rats. learned the Latin motto: “Dulce et Hitler Youth… They are transfixed decorum est pro patria mori” – it is with love, like monks in ecstasy on Many animals, humans included, both sweet and proper to die for religious paintings. The sound of the seem willing to kill or be killed in one’s country. Even in today’s world, nation’s anthem, the sight of its proud defense of the communities to which death in battle in defense of country flag, makes you feel part of a they belong. Lorenz calls this and religion is still praised by wonderfully loving community. The behavioural tendency a “communal nationalists. However, because of fanatic is prepared to lay down his defense response”. He points out the development of weapons of mass life for the object of his worship, as that the “holy shiver”, the tingling of destruction, both nationalism and the lover is prepared to die for his the spine that humans experience narrow patriotism have become idol. He is, alas, also prepared to kill when performing a heroic act in dangerous anachronisms. anybody who represents a supposed defense of their communities, is threat to the idol.” related to the prehuman reflex for In thinking of violence and war, raising the hair on the back of an we must be extremely careful not to The emotion described here by animal as it confronts an enemy, a confuse the behavioral patterns that Koestler is the same as the reflex that makes the animal seem lead to wife-beating or bar-room communal defense mechanism larger than it really is. brawls with those that lead to (“militant enthusiasm”) described episodes like the trench warfare of in biological terms by Lorenz. In Konrad Lorenz and his followers the First World War, or to the nuclear On Aggression, Konrad Lorenz have been criticized for introducing bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. gives the following description of a cathartic model of instincts. The first type of aggression is similar the emotions of a hero preparing According to Lorenz, if an instinct is to the rank-determining fights of to risk his life for the sake of the not used, a pressure for its use builds animals, while the second is more akin group: 14 JANATA, August 28, 2016

“In reality, militant enthusiasm is mime the ‘hero face’ familiar from There are some semantic a specialized form of communal the films. On the back and along the difficulties connected with aggression, clearly distinct from and outer surface of the arms, the hair discussions of the parts of human yet functionally related to the more stands on end. This is the objectively nature that make war possible. In primitive forms of individual observed aspect of the shiver! one of the passages quoted above, aggression. Every man of normally Konrad Lorenz speaks of “militant strong emotions knows, from his “Anybody who has ever seen enthusiasm”, which he says is both own experience, the subjective the corresponding behavior of the a form of communal aggression and phenomena that go hand in hand male chimpanzee defending his also a communal defense response. with the response of militant band or family with self-sacrificing In their inspiring recent book War No enthusiasm. A shiver runs down the courage will doubt the purely More, Professor Robert Hinde and back and, as more exact observation spiritual character of human Sir Joseph Rotblat use the word shows, along the outside of both enthusiasm. The chimp, too, sticks “duty” in discussing the same human arms. One soars elated, above all the out his chin, stiffens his body, and emotional tendencies. I will instead ties of everyday life, one is ready to raises his elbows; his hair stands use the word “tribalism”. abandon all for the call of what, in on end, producing a terrifying the moment of this specific emotion, magnification of his body contours I prefer the word “tribalism” seems to be a sacred duty. as seen from the front. The inward because from an evolutionary point rotation of the arms obviously has of view the human emotions “All obstacles in its path become the purpose of turning the longest- involved in war grew out of the unimportant; the instinctive haired side outward to enhance the territorial competition between small inhibitions against hurting or killing effect. The whole combination of tribes during the formative period one’s fellows lose, unfortunately, body attitude and hair-raising when our ancestors were hunter- much of their power. Rational constitutes a bluff. gatherers on the grasslands of considerations, criticisms, and all Africa. Members of tribe-like groups reasonable arguments against the ‘This is also seen when a cat are bound together by strong bonds behavior dictated by militant humps its back, and is calculated to of altruism and loyalty. Echoes of enthusiasm are silenced by an make the animal appear bigger and these bonds can be seen in present- amazing reversal of all values, more dangerous than it really is. Our day family groups, in team sports, in making them appear not only shiver, which in German poetry is the fellowship of religious untenable, but base and dishonorable. called a ‘heiliger Schauer’, a ‘holy’ congregations, and in the bonds that Men may enjoy the feeling of shiver, turns out to be the vestige of link soldiers to their army comrades absolute righteousness even while a prehuman vegetative response for and to their nation. they commit atrocities. making a fur bristle which we no longer have. To the humble seeker Warfare involves not only a high “Conceptual thought and moral for biological truth, there cannot be degree of aggression, but also an responsibility are at their lowest ebb. the slightest doubt that human militant extremely high degree of altruism. As the Ukrainian proverb says: enthusiasm evolved out of a Soldiers kill, but they also sacrifice ‘When the banner is unfurled, all communal defense response of our their own lives. Thus patriotism and reason is in the trumpet’. prehuman ancestor.” duty are as essential to war as the willingness to kill. As Arthur Koestler “The subjective experiences just Lorenz goes on to say, “An points out, “Wars are not fought for described are correlated with the impartial visitor from another planet, personal gain, but out of loyalty and following objectively demonstrable looking at man as he is today: in his devotion to king, country or cause…” phenomena. The tone of the striated hand the atom bomb, the product of musculature is raised, the carriage his intelligence, in his heart the Tribalism involves passionate is stiffened, the arms are raised from aggression drive, inherited from his attachment to one’s own group, self- the sides and slightly rotated inward, anthropoid ancestors, which the sacrifice for the sake of the group, so that the elbows point outward. same intelligence cannot control, willingness both to die and to kill if The head is proudly raised, the chin such a visitor would not give mankind necessary to defend the group from stuck out, and the facial muscles much chance of survival.” its enemies, and belief that in case JANATA, August 28, 2016 15 of a conflict, one’s own group is effectively. Since several tribes might other groups. One of the illustrations always in the right. be in competition for the same shows the marks left by ritual territory, intertribal aggression might, scarification on the faces of the Tribalism under some circumstances, increase members of certain African tribes. the chances for survival of one’s own These scars would be hard to If we examine altruism and tribe. Thus, on the basis of the group counterfeit, and they help to establish aggression in humans, we notice that selection model, one would expect and strengthen tribal identity. members of our species exhibit great humans to be kind and cooperative altruism towards their own children. towards members of their own Seeing a photograph of the marks Kindness towards close relatives is group, but at the same time to left by ritual scarification on the also characteristic of human sometimes exhibit aggression faces of African tribesmen, it is behaviour, and the closer the towards members of other groups, impossible not to be reminded of the biological relationship is between two especially in conflicts over territory. dueling scars that Prussian army humans, the greater is the altruism officers once used to distinguish their they tend to show towards each One would also expect intergroup caste from outsiders. other. This profile of altruism is easy conflicts to be most severe in cases to explain on the basis of Darwinian where the boundaries between (to be Concluded) natural selection since two closely groups are sharpest where marriage related individuals share many genes is forbidden across the boundaries. TRANSCEND Media Service and, if they cooperate, the genes will be more effectively propagated. Tribal markings, ethnicity and pseudospeciation To explain from an evolutionary Footprints of point of view the communal defense In biology, a species is defined to mechanism discussed by Lorenz, the be a group of mutually fertile A Crusader willingness of humans to kill and be organisms. Thus all humans form a killed in defense of their single species, since mixed (The Life Story of communities, we have only to marriages between all known races imagine that our ancestors lived in will produce children, and Mrunal Gore) small tribes and that marriage was subsequent generations in mixed likely to take place within a tribe marriages are also fertile. However, rather than across tribal boundaries. although there is never a biological Under these circumstances, each barrier to marriages across ethnic by tribe would tend to consist of and racial boundaries, there are often Rohini Gawankar genetically similar individuals. The very severe cultural barriers. tribe itself, rather than the individual, would be the unit on which the Irenäus Eibl-Ebesfeldt, a student evolutionary forces of natural of Konrad Lorenz, introduced the selection would act. word “pseudospeciation” to denote Published by cases in which cultural barriers Kamalakar Subhedar, The idea of group selection in between two groups of humans are Secretary, evolution was proposed in the 1930’s so strongly marked that marriages Samata Shikshan Sanstha, by J.B.S. Haldane and R.A. Fisher, across the boundaries are difficult and more recently it has been and infrequent. Pareira Wadi, discussed by W.D. Hamilton, E.O. Mohili Village, Wilson and R. Dawkins. According In his book The Biology of War Sakinaka, Ghatkopar(W), to the group selection model, a tribe and Peace, Eibl-Eibesfeldt discusses Mumbai 400072. whose members showed altruism the “tribal markings” used by groups Mobile: 9820092255 towards each other would be more of humans to underline their own likely to survive than a tribe whose identity and to clearly mark the Contribution: Rs.300+ members cooperated less boundary between themselves and R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, August 28, 2016 Postal Registration No. MCW/275/2015-2017. License to Post without prepayment WPP License No. MH/Tech/WPP-210/West/2016 Published on Sunday, August 28, 2016 & Posted on Wedenesday August 31, 2016 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

An infrastructure company established since 1924

REGD. OFFICE :

New Excelsior Building, (3rd Floor), A. K. Nayak Marg, Fort, Mumbai 400 001. Tel.: 022 2205 1231 Fax : 022-2205 1232

Office : Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai & New Delhi Established 1946 1 Pages 16 Price : Rupees Five

Vol. 71 No. 32 Kashmir first, Pakistan later September 4, 2016 Kuldip Nayar

Let not Article 370 of Indian Constitution be weakened Rajindar Sachar Home Minister Rajnath Singh has freedom which any country in the met around 300 people at Srinagar. world enjoys. Their representatives Pakistan, too, has offered to have invited me to Srinagar last month. I Who should be blamed for alienating Kashmiris? talks on Kashmir. Both steps, found them really agitated but quite Prabhakar Sinha however laudable, are late by two clear about what they want. to three years. The Kashmiris then wanted a settlement through a To call them fundamentalists or Review of literature on student dialogue. Leaders like Yasin Malik anti-India will not be fair. True, they organizations and politics and Shabbir Shah did take part in the want Srinagar to be like Washington B. G. Kulkarni conclaves held at Srinagar and New or London and they do no links with Delhi. Islamabad. They argue that their foreign policy will be decided by the Human nature: The topic at that time was to make elected members of the State an evolutionary paradox - II New Delhi realize that the state had assembly and not dictated by New John Scales Avery acceded to the Union of India only Delhi or, for that matter, Islamabad. three subjects: Defence, Foreign Dalit Uprising and After Affairs and Communications. But I told them that I believed their Subhash Gatade overzealous Jagmohan and demand was understandable but how governors like N. N. Vohra and his could India create another Islamic predecessors spread themselves all country on its border when it already over. They did not keep in mind that has a bad experience of having one accession was limited to only three Islamic state, Pakistan. They Editor : subjects. The Kashmiri leaders were shrugged their shoulders when I G. G. Parikh unhappy but felt helpless. argued with them that the Lok Sabha, with a majority behind Prime Managing Editor : Guddi Today, the young generation has Minister Narendra Modi, would not gone beyond what their elders had concede their demand. This was D-15, Ganesh Prasad, promised. The youth now want your problem they said. Naushir Bharucha Marg, independence, with freedom to chalk Mumbai - 400 007. out their foreign policy. In fact, their The quantum of autonomy can be concept of sovereignty is like the a matter of debate but certainly not Email : [email protected] 2 JANATA, September 4, 2016 the accession. By going back to the Let not Article 370 of Indian very raison d’être of Pakistan, we would start another kind of a debate Constitution be weakened and might disturb the equanimity which Hindus and Muslims have Rajindar Sachar achieved despite an unequal situation. The Supreme Court of India, provisions of Article 139-A of the Those who pelted stones in notwithstanding some controversial Constitution which empowers Srinagar may be the misguided decisions in the matter of Supreme Court to transfer a case youth in one way. But they represent constitutional interpretation has by pending before one High Court to the aspirations for independence in far and large contributed to the itself or to another High Court also the other way. They have gone far upholding the rights and privileges has no application to the cases at hand ahead of Yasin Malik and Shabbir of the States and individuals. as the Constitution 42nd Amendment Shah, who are in jail. The youth Act, 1977 which inserted the said resent the very accession to India. But with a decision Ajay Kumar provision itself has no application to But they are equally indignant Pandey Vs. State of J & K & Anr. the State of Jammu and Kashmir. against Pakistan, although some decided by Constitution Bench on extremists are trying to cloud. July 19th, 2016 there has arisen the Thus while accepting that a apprehension of interfering with the litigant has no right to seek transfer I think that till a couple of years autonomy of J & K, guaranteed of a civil or a criminal case pending ago, the matter could have been under Article 370 of the Constitution in the State of Jammu and Kashmir settled between the governments at of India. to a Court outside the State or vice New Delhi and Srinagar but today versa., still the Court not with the Kashmiris would have to be part The Constitution Bench has standing these formulations went on of any dialogue on the future of the decided that the Supreme Court has to answer the question whether state. The UN resolution for a the power to transfer a civil or independent of all these provisions plebiscite in Kashmir or the Shimla criminal case pending in any Court contained in the Codes of Civil and Agreement between Indira Gandhi in the State of Jammu and Kashmir Criminal Procedure there is there and Pakistan’s Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to a Court outside that State and vice still a source of power which the has lost relevance. The situation versa. It was common case that the Supreme Court can invoke for today is different. provisions of Section 25 of the Code directing transfer of a case from the of Civil Procedure and Section 406 State of Jammu and Kashmir or vice It is regrettable that neither India of the Code of Criminal Procedure, versa. The Court has held that it has nor Pakistan realizes this or, at least, which empower the Supreme Court such a power invoking the principle gives that impression. It is now a to direct transfer of civil and criminal of “access to justice” being triangular and all the three points cases respectively from one State to fundamental right and secondly the will have to be touched for an the other, do not extend to the State powers given under Article 142 of amicable settlement. Another of Jammu and Kashmir and cannot, the Constitution. The court relied on delegation to Srinagar may be a therefore, be invoked to direct any principle of our law that every futile exercise because the such transfer. It was also common citizen has a right of unimpeded Kashmiris feel that promises made ground that Jammu and Kashmir access to a court and referred to earlier have not been made good. Code of Civil Procedure, 1977 and Raymond v. Honey 1983 AC 1 the Jammu and Kashmir Code of (1982 [1] All ER 756) where Lord Former chief minister Omar Criminal Procedure, 1989 do not Wilberforce described it as a ‘basic Farooq Abdullah, who now leads the contain any provision empowering right’. But with respect, the attention National Conference, is quite right the Supreme Court to direct transfer of the Supreme Court was not when he says that he finds no utility of any case from that State to a Court brought to the specific observations in delegations visiting Srinagar when outside the State or vice versa. of Lord Wilberforce and its affirmation in this very case; (Continued on Page 5) It was common ground that the emphasizing the exception that; “a JANATA, September 4, 2016 3 citizen’s right to unimpeded access not drawn to an earlier five judges’ the bounds of its own jurisdiction.” can only be taken away by express judgment of Supreme Court (1998) enactment… and we accept that such wherein the court said, “Article 142, More serious than the concern rights can as a matter of legal even with the width of its amplitude, mentioned above, this judgment has principle be taken away by cannot be used to build a new edifice in an indirect manner nullified the necessary implication.” Here in the where none existed earlier, by mandatory provision of Article 370 present case the provisions ignoring express statutory of the Constitution. J & K. mentioned above specifically provisions dealing with a subject and Legislature has specifically provided negative the right of a litigant to have thereby to achieve something that court will have no such power a case transferred out of J & K, but indirectly which cannot be achieved to transfer cases from J & K Courts still the court has held otherwise. directly,.……….that the Court will outside the State. In such a situation take note of the express provisions to invoke the powers of Article 142 The Supreme Court then dealt of any substantive statutory law and to pass orders contrary to J & K with the question namely whether regulate the exercise of its power and legislation is a serious breach of Article 142 of our Constitution discretion accordingly. It must be Article 370 having grave empowers the Supreme Court to remembered that wider the consequences. I hope the Union of direct transfer in a situation where amplitude of its power under Article India and State of J & K will seek neither the Central Code of Civil 142, the greater is the need of care review of this judgment to avoid Procedure nor the Central Code of for this Court to see that the power serious constitutional and political Criminal Procedure empowers such is used with restraint without consequences, so as to ensure people transfer to/from the State of Jammu pushing back the limits of the of J&K that there will be no and Kashmir. The Court thereafter Constitution so as to function within weakening of their autonomy. concluded that the powers under Article 142 are wide enough to empower the Supreme Court to Who should be blamed direct such a transfer in appropriate situations, no matter whether Central for alienating Kashmiris? Code of Civil and Criminal Procedures do not extend to the State Prabhakar Sinha nor do the J & K State Codes of Civil and Criminal Procedure contain any provision that empowers this court It is a self deception to were ready to accept that misrule in to transfer cases. It is unfortunate underestimate the alienation of a East Pakistan led to its alienation that the attention of the court was large number of Kashmiris from from Pakistan and went to war with not drawn to a seven judge’s bench India and a crime to blame them for Pakistan to liberate it, but refused to case A.R. Antulay V. R.S. Nayak it. Despite an urge for Azadi among learn from Pakistan’s experience. 1998 (2) SCC 602 where court held; a sizeable section from the The lesson to be learnt was clear. “Thirdly, however wide and plenary beginning, the Kashmiris remained Don’t take the people for granted. If the language of the article, the peaceful and created no problem for Muslims of Bengal, who were in the directions given by the court should India from 1947 to 1989. During forefront of the battle for a Muslim not be inconsistent with, repugnant these 42 years, India fought two Pakistan, could rise in revolt against to or in violation of the specific wars with Pakistan (in 1965 and the country they had shed their blood provisions of any statute. If the 1971) without the Kashmiris to create, the Muslims of Kashmir, provisions of the1952 Act read with creating any problem for India or too, could do it if ill treated. They Article 139-A and Section 406-407 showing a preference for Pakistan. continued to be taken for granted and of the CrPC do not permit the Khalistanis took to terrorism in denied even the right to elect a transfer of the case from a Special 1980s, but Kashmir did not take to government of their choice. It is no Judge to the High Court, that effect arms before 1989. Who is to blame secret that the elections in the state cannotbe achieved indirectly.” for the present crisis in Kashmir? with few exceptions were rigged. The rigging of the election of 1987 It is also unfortunate that the The blame lies with the rulers of was a turning point. When Farooq attention of Supreme Court was also India - past and present. We Indians Abdullah joined hands with the 4 JANATA, September 4, 2016 Congress, he ceased to enjoy the Landmark decision trust of the Kashmiris, who were for Kashmiriat and had reposed their faith in the Abdullah family. He was National Alliance Of People’s for private corporations and for now looked upon as a stooge of Movements welcomes the Supreme profiteering in the name of the public Delhi. Court’s land mark decision quashing purpose. Supreme Court’s the forcible land acquisition of 1000 judgement today is again a Muslim United Front (MUF) was acres by the West Bengal vindication and reaffirmation of the formed to oppose the National government in 2006 for the Tata car positions we have taken, where Conference and Congress alliance to factory. The decision by Justices V. anything and everything has been have a government representing the Gopala Gowda and Arun Mishra that justified in the name of public forces of Kashmiriat i.e. of the the land be returned to the original purpose. Any forcible land Kashmiris, who resented losing their land owners of Singur, marks acquisition for corporate profit in the identity and wanted to retain it. The another chapter in the long history name of public purpose and front had a massive public support, of resistances by the people’s development of nation is not but lost the election thanks to movements against forcible land acceptable and is completely anti- massive rigging. As if that was not acquisition in name of public farmer and anti-people and enough the MUF leader Muhammad purpose for private corporations. unconstitutional, as reiterated by Yousuf Shah was arrested and Singur marked a turning point in Supreme Court judgement today. persecuted (he is currently known as 2006 when the resistance against the Syed Salahuddin, the Chief of Special Economic Zones were just A number of people’s movements Hizbul Muzaheeddin and is gathering steam and it emboldened today have joined hands with the mass organisations of the Left directing the operation from our collective struggles all around. parties on the need for protecting Pakistan). It was natural for a people We congratulate farmers of land rights and oppose forcible land to be convinced that they could not Singur who fought the ten years long acquisition across the country. This shape their life and future through legal battle and kept the pressure for unity has led to defeat of the NDA fair elections and have to explore return of the land with the help of government’s design to amend the other means. The other means they the Trinamool Congress led West 2013 land law and extend support adopted was insurgency. The Bengal government. We also and solidarity to community pertinent question is whether they welcome the fact that the farmers organisations opposing forcible land chose it or were driven to it by Delhi don’t have to return the money and acquisition. With the West Bengal and whether it is they or the Indian the Jutsice Gowda’s observation that government backing Singur farmers, rulers who are responsible for the land acquisition for a private and Left parties also standing with insurgency and terrorism in company to build a car plant doesn’t people’s movements, we do hope Kashmir. constitute ’public purpose’. This is that a collective consensus will in line with what we have been emerge from West Bengal on a The anti-Muslim tirade of the saying for long and only vindicates people-centric development agenda Sangh Parivar and the hate speech our position. and industrialisation, where interests of Modi’s Ministers, M.Ps. and the of the workers, peasants and farmers leaders of the BJP have been Since, the enactment of the new will be at the centre of it and not frightening and alienating even the land law in 2013, the governments profit and corporate greed. minorities of the country dealing a have been bypassing the law to grievous blow to the cause of acquire land for private corporations We once again congratulate the national integration. The Sangh and and not adhering to the consent farmers of the Singur for their the BJP have kept the cauldron of clause and need for conducting valiant struggle! anti-Muslim feelings boiling. The social impact assessment and ban on eating beef, killing of Aqlakh limiting it only to cash –Medha Patkar, Samar Bagchi, in UP, asking any Muslim to go to compensation. The NDA Prafulla Samantara, Dr Sunilam, Pakistan at the drop of a hat, government even thrice brought Amitava Mitra, Gautam portraying a slight rise in the Ordinances to amend the law to Bandopadhyay, Bhupender Singh (Continued on Page 10) facilitate easy acquisition of the land Rawat, Madhuresh Kumar JANATA, September 4, 2016 5

(Continued from Page 2) material but they are oblivious to this normalizing the border bristling with fact at present. armies of the two countries. the reports prepared by the earlier ones are accumulating dust in the New Delhi is quite right in India should sort out the problem Home Ministry corridors. New Delhi demanding a discussion on terrorism in Kashmir first before sitting with will have to prove its bona fides first before discussing Kashmir. The Pakistan. This can be done by before the thread can be picked up dialogue which Pakistan has offered accepting what Sheikh Abdullah, from where it was left off earlier. can start with terrorism and also friend of Jawaharlal Nehru, embrace Kashmir because they are demanded. The Sheikh said that After all, what was the demand the two sides of the same coin. The India should withdraw all laws that of Sheikh Abdullah who had to army which calls the shot in Pakistan went beyond the scope of the three spend some 12 years at Kodaikanal may have its own agenda but cannot subjects originally acceded to the in the south? He wanted New Delhi be opposed to a dialogue for Union of India to recognise that the state had joined the Union by conceding of only three subjects. It was not for the Union to usurp more powers without Footprints of a Crusader consulting the unit that had acceded (The Life Story of Mrunal Gore) to it. by Maybe, much water has flowed down the Jehlum since. But the Rohini Gawankar situation can be retrieved by rolling back all laws which go beyond the The life story of Mrunal Gore, one of the leading socialist activists, scope of the three subjects. The is an inspiration to men and women alike, but it is especially a model youth in Kashmir may not feel for activists, social workers and politicians. Coming from a middle happy but this is one possibility, class family with no political connections, Mrunal Gore blazed a although a remote one, to bring back unique path, beginning as a grassroots organizer of women in the state on its tracks. suburban Mumbai, a people’s representative at the lowest level of self-government and moving ever higher, till she rose to the ranks During my talks with the students of a Member of Parliament. Throughout the course of this amazing at Srinagar, I told them that it was journey, she stayed true to values and principles, never using her not possible to meet the demand of power for personal or narrow gains, but always striving to do the full independence. India is already maximum good for the majority of the people. The suffering and suffering from the pinpricks of deprivations of the common man became the sparks that inspired Pakistan. By granting full numerous agitations and fights which Mrunal undertook against independence to Kashmir, New injustice and inequity. Told through the eyes of a personal friend, Delhi will only be increasingly its the story recounts all the important events and achievements of her problems. I also argued with the life, while also highlighting the sterling qualities that made Mrunal students that the land-locked valley Gore a role model for the generations that followed in her footsteps. would have to depend either on India or Pakistan for business. Published by Kamalakar Subhedar In reply, they said that they would Secretary, Samata Shikshan Sanstha be like Switzerland, a tourist resort and would earn money from visitors Pareira Wadi, Mohili Village, of different lands. They would not Sakinaka, Ghatkopar (W), Mumbai 400072. have a standing army, the upkeep of which costs a huge amount. They Mobile: 9820092255 would still have the problem of Charity contribution: Rs.300+ finding a market for their men and 6 JANATA, September 4, 2016 Review of literature on student organizations and politics

B. G. Kulkarni

Review of literature is an sporadic and spontaneous outbursts, mission. It analyses the important aspect of research. It all planned student political activists transformation of ATSU from a non- throws light on previous researches are an extension of partisan interests. political body of Tai Ahom students that have taken place in the The main focus of this study is: to a highly politicized organization concerned field. It provides strong student organizations are more actively concerned with all political foundation to the theoretical frame political than student oriented. Such issues affecting Assam as a whole work for the present investigation. organizations may, however serve a for uplifting not only the Tai Every researcher reviewed the useful purpose if they have truly community but for the Assamese related literature from different ideologically committed cadre and society. resources that includes books, the ideology perused by them is not Rashid Ali Syed’s (1997) study articles, dissertations, abstracts and inconsistent with the value of the is perhaps the first full-fledged study thesis and most important in the Indian political system. of student leadership in India. It modern times the internet access. It Ningthoukhongjam Urmila chiefly aims to explore the personal, is in this context that an attempt has (2007) argued that like other states social-economic, academic, extra- been made to present a detailed of India, Manipur students have curricular, agitational and political account of review of literature been engaging in their own political backgrounds of student leaders pertaining to student organizations action. But, unlike many others, the under study. It also seeks to know and politics. student politics in Manipur did not the mind of these leaders both on Haridwar Singh (1983) stated that originate from the nationalist or student situation and on some wider students don’t inherit democratic independence struggle. It was only issues facing the country. Attempt values by birth but they learn it in post-independence period that has also been made to strike a through the process of political some political parties like the comparative note on the socialization. As a result of political Manipur Pradesh Congress and characteristics of both student socialization process the majority of Socialist Party tried to rally the leadership and student protest in students in India has developed a students in their party activities. But India. The author brings out the sense of perceiving the political during the mid-60s with the dynamic aspects of student politics, system in right direction and has formation of all Manipur Students’ both at the micro level and macro regarded democracy as the best form Union, the state witnessed a new turn level. of the government. Besides it, they in student politics. The history of the D. K. Mohanty’s (1999) study is have also developed a strong sense all Manipur Students’ Union reflects based on student activists in Orissa of political efficacy, it may be not only the different activities of with special reference to the city of assumed, would lead the students youth and students in the state, but Rourkela. The primary focus of the towards effective participation in the also the changing political ideas study is on the student activists who political decision making process of which have penetrated the collective are politically oriented and the country. mind, the psyche of the student politically articulate. The present community. Binodanand Jha (1998) work makes an attempt to analyze mentioned that student politics in Manoj Phukan (2005) made an and evaluate student politics and India is not an independent attempt to examine as to under what leadership. phenomenon. It is closely allied to circumstances the All Tai Ahom S. K. Pattnaik’s (1982) study and even guided by an outside Students’ Union began to get highlights on the political profile of agency whose interests are not involved in politics of the state the student such as ideological limited to those of the students, but despite being a non-political orientation, levels of political are just part of its broader political organization and how far they have efficacy, levels and forms of political programme. Excepting sudden, been successful in their declared JANATA, September 4, 2016 7 participation and opinion about the social injustice. The main analysis been co-opted by the parties in turn place of politics in the campus. of the researchers is on the Gandhian curbing its potential to effect change. Various factors contributing to the model of development, crisis Anil Rajimwale (2001) discussed process of politicization such as management and the role of youths questions related with origins, proximity to the corridors of power, in strengthening the panchayats. development and contributions of existence of student wings of Rukchana Rahman (2008) in her student movement in India. Very few national political parties and paper critically examined how youth people know that student inherent linkages of the political and activism as a social phenomenon movements have been precursors of educational systems etc, have been influences the democratic some of the great movements and studied to explain the politicization governance in Assam, particularly in organizations in various parts of this of a student body. the matter of popular participation. country. Organizations existed in the Philip G. Altbach (2012) stated She also examined how youth remotest and most unexpected that the age of the student movement activists motivate people to places and times. Assam, Bihar, in India seems to have ended, and participate in democratic politics. Bombay, Orissa and several ideological politics play a very small supposedly backward areas, which Prayag Mehta (1977) in his article part among the students. Almost all were not exactly as they are today, analyzed that student activism has of the national student organizations contributed number of fruitful often been made use of by politicians are bureaucratic structures rather youth/ student organizations way to further their own interests. The than functioning movements. No back in the late 19th early 20th alienated and angry youth one, the governments, politicians centuries. There was tremendous sometimes gets stimulated to agitate and educators included, have been amount of spontaneous grassroots on small issues and even on non- able to arouse the students. In level work inspired by endeavors to issues. However, student activism essence, the Indian student reform and improve the society, by became meaningful and socially community is without direction and struggling to achieve a free India. purposeful because of its contact without ideology. Life remains But it would be misplaced feeling with meaningful political-civic difficult on the subcontinent, and to see only the political motivation activities. Participation in such students are much involved in the for student movement. In fact activities like election campaign, day-to-today struggle for existence student activism had much to do tend to enhance the sense of political and future employment. with debates, discussions, sports, efficacy, political involvement and culture, social reform, besides, of G. Palanithurai and M. A. awareness and consciousness. Such course student activism. Thirunavakkarasu (2010) in their democratization may raise the level study observed that sincere people of student activism from pretty Padhy K. S. and Choudhary S. are not coming forward for public issues to a meaningful level. (1981) in their article discussed the space and as a result, bad ones come process of political socialization of Amanda Snellinger (2005) in his to the public space and people have the students of Berhmpur town of article briefly detailed the history of no choice but tolerate them. Against Ganjam district in Orissa. It is student political activity and the this background, they made an defined in this article that political nascent relationship between the attempt to document the leadership socialization is a process by which student organizations and their role of the youth at the grassroots. an individual becomes acquainted mother organizations, the political How does new leadership emerge with the political system and it parties in order to demonstrate the from below, how do they develop determines his perceptions of limitations and the ideals attributed new democratic culture, how do they politics and his reasoning to political to students role in politics by the build a new vision for development phenomena. The study also reveals students, the politicians and the and how do they shape that the knowledge, attitude and public. All of these actors draw on organizational culture? These are the values, which are inducted in the student politics historicity to either major aspects covered in this minds of the young students, apply substance to their role or document. It also discussed at length contribute to the system’s stability dismiss it as contrived political as to how they struggled to achieve and persistence. tactics. But within this articulation success in their war against it is clear that the youth are perceived Philip G. Altabach (2012) in his corruption, gender inequality and to have political capital and that has article ‘Student Politics and Higher 8 JANATA, September 4, 2016

Education in India’ stated that the sports besides student activism. Concept Publishing Company (P) emphasis of student movement has Ltd, New Delhi-. Pp – 20 9. The emphasis of the student shifted from societal concerns to movement has shifted from Rukchana Rahman, (2008) ‘Youth campus ones. Even organizations societal concerns to campus ones. Activism and Challenges of that have a basic ideological Democratic Governance in Assam, 10. The Indian student community commitment such as the All India India’ paper presented in is without direction and without Student Federation have appealed to International Conference on ideology. students on the basis of single issues, Challenges of Governance in South usually directly related to campus Asia in Kathamandu Nepal -2008. Pp conditions. Further he argued that -01 student political involvement References Prayaga Mehta, (1997) ‘Dynamics continues in India, stimulated in Haridwar Singh (1983) of Student Activism’ Vikalpa, Vol.2 large part by several stresses evident “Democratic Orientation of Students No.4, October 1977, pp -296 in Indian social and economic life, in India”, Concept Publishing and student activism will continue Company, New Delhi. Pp -133 Amanda Snellinger, (2005) ‘A as long as India suffers from social, Crisis in Nepali Student Politics? Binodanand Jha, (1998) “Student economic and educational tensions Analyzing the Gap between Organisations and politics”, Inter- and inadequacies. Politically Active and Non- Active India publications, New Delhi. Pp- Students’ Peace and Democracy in Conclusion 180 South Asia, Volume 1, Issue 2, 2005. Theis review of literature on Ningthoukhongjam Urmila, (2007) Pp – 35 ‘student organizations and politics’ “ The Student movement in Anil Rajimwale, (2001) “History indicates that, Manipur”, Akansha Publishing of Student Movement in India”, House, New Delhi. Pp-11-12 1. The student politics in India Manak Publication Pvt. Ltd, New originated from the nationalist or Manuj Phukan, (2005) “Student Delhi. Pp -6-7 independence struggle. Politics in assam”, Anshah Padhy K. S. & Chowdhury Publishing House, Delhi. Pp -17 2. The student politics in India is not S,(1981) “Political Socialization of an independent phenomenon. It is Rashid Ali Syed, (1997) “Culture the High School Students of an Orissa closely allied or associated with of Student Politics”, Inter-India Town, An Empirical Study, Punjab outside agency. Publications, New Delhi. Pp -17 Journal of Politics, July-December 1981” quoted by Neena Sharma, 3. The Indian student activists have D. K. Monhanty, (1999) “Higher “Political Socialization and its to acquire a wide social Education and student Politics in impact on Attitudinal Change perspective. India”, Anmol Publications Pvt.Ltd, Towards Social and Political New Delhi. Pp -220 4. Students learn democratic values System”, Inter-India Publications through the process of political S. K. Pattnaik, (1982) “Student New Delhi. Pp - 17 socialization. politics and Voting Behaviour”, Philip G. Altabach, (2012) Concept Publishing Company, New 5. Student organizations are “Student Politics and Higher Delhi. Pp – 11 bureaucratic structures rather than Education in India” in Pawan functioning movement. Philip G. Altabach, (2012) “The Aggrawal (ed) “A Half Century of Transformation of the Indian Student Indian Higher Education Essays by 6. Student politics is delinked with Movement” in Pawan Aggrawal (ed) Philip G. Altabach”, Sage ideological politics. “ A Half Century of Indian Higher Publications, New Delhi. Pp – 428 Education Essays by Philip G. 7. Student activism will continue as S. D. Kolekar & G. Haresh, Altabach”, Sage Publications, New long as India suffers from social, ‘Review of Literature on India’s Trade Delhi. Pp – 405 economic and educational with SAARC Countries’, Southern tensions and inadequacies. G. Palanithurai and M.A. Economist, Vol-52, No-21, March 1, 8. Student organizations have much Thirunavakkarasu, (2010) “Youth as 2014 Catalysts and Change Makers” to do with social reform, culture, [email protected] JANATA, September 4, 2016 9 Human nature: an evolutionary paradox - II

John Scales Avery

Surveying the human scene, one of ethnic identity is language, and mechanism for perpetuating tribal can find endless examples of signs within a particular language, dialect traditions and culture. Like that mark the bearer as a member of and accent. If the only purpose of language, and like the innate facial a particular group, signs that can be language were communication, it expressions studied by Darwin, thought of as “tribal markings”: would be logical for the people of a religion is a universal characteristic tattoos; piercing; bones through the small country like Denmark to stop of all human societies. All known nose or ears; elongated necks or ears; speaking Danish and go over to a races and cultures practice some sort filed teeth; Chinese binding of feet; more universally-understood of religion. Thus a tendency to be circumcision, both male and female; international language such as religious seems to be built into unique hair styles; decorations of the English. However, language has human nature. Otherwise, religion tongue, nose, or naval; peculiarities another function in addition to would not be as universal as it is. of dress, kilts, tartans, school ties, communication: It is also a mark of veils, chadors, and headdresses; identity. It establishes the boundary Religion is often strongly caste markings in India; use or of the group. associated with ethnicity and nonuse of perfumes; codes of honour nationalism, that is to say, it is and value systems; traditions of Within a particular language, associated with the demarcation of hospitality and manners; dialects and accents mark the a particular group of people by its peculiarities of diet (certain foods boundaries of subgroups. For culture or race. For example, the forbidden, others preferred); giving example, in England, great social Jewish religion is associated with traditional names to children; significance is attached to accents Zionism and with Jewish knowledge of dances and songs; and diction, a tendency that George nationalism. Similarly Islam is knowledge of recipes; knowledge of Bernard Shaw satirized in his play, strongly associated with Arab common stories, literature, myths, Pygmalion, which later gained nationalism. Christianity too has poetry or common history; festivals, greater fame as the musical comedy, played an important role in many ceremonies, and rituals; burial My Fair Lady. This being the case, aggressive wars, for example the customs, treatment of the dead and we can ask why all citizens of Crusades, the European conquest of ancestor worship; methods of England do not follow the example the New World, European colonial building and decorating homes; of Eliza Dolittle in Shaw’s play, and conquests in Africa and Asia, and the games and sports peculiar to a improve their social positions by wars between Catholics and culture; relationship to animals, acquiring Oxford accents. However, Protestants within Europe (notably knowledge of horses and ability to to do so would be to run the risk of the Thirty Years War). ride; nonrational systems of belief. being laughed at by one’s peers and Even a baseball hat worn backwards regarded as a traitor to one’s own Many of the atrocities with which or the professed ability to enjoy local community and friends. School the history of humankind is stained atonal music can mark a person as a children everywhere can be very were committed in conflicts member of a special “tribe”. cruel to any child who does not fit involving groups between which Undoubtedly there be many people into the local pattern. At Eton, an sharply marked have involved what in New York who would never think Oxford accent is compulsory; but in Iren us Eibl-Eibesfeldt called of marrying someone who could not a Yorkshire school, a child with an “pseudospeciation”, that cultural appreciate the paintings of Jasper Oxford accent would suffer for it. barriers have made intermarriage Johns, and many in London who difficult and infrequent. Examples would consider anyone had not read Next after language, the most include the present conflict between all the books of Virginia Wolfe to important “tribal marking” is Israelis and Palestinians; “racial be entirely outside the bounds of religion. As mentioned above, it cleansing” in Kosovo; the civilization. seems probable that in the early devastating wars between Catholics history of our hunter-gatherer and Protestants in Europe; the By far the most important mark ancestors, religion evolved as a Lebanese civil war; genocide 10 JANATA, September 4, 2016 committed against Jews and Gypsies Most of the widely practiced Our astonishing scientific and during World War II; recent religions of today contain the cultural advances have been genocide in Rwanda; intertribal principle of universal human achieved through the cooperative massacres in the Ituri Provence of brotherhood. This is contained, for efforts of all of humanity. In addition Congo; use of poison gas against example, in Christianity, in the to the darker traits in human nature, Kurdish civilians by Saddam Sermon on the Mount and in the our species also has a genius for Hussein’s regime in Iraq; the Parable of the Good Samaritan. The cooperation; and it is this genius for massacre of Armenians by Turks; Sermon on the Mount tells us that cooperation that is the key to a happy massacres of Hindus by Muslims we must love our neighbor as much future. and of Muslims by Hindus in post- as we love ourselves. independence India; massacres of TRANSCEND Media Service Native Americans by white When asked “But who is my conquerors and settlers in all parts neighbor?”, Jesus replied with the of the New World; and massacres Parable of the Good Samaritan, (Continued from Page 4) committed during the Crusades. The which says that our neighbor may population of Muslims as a threat, list seems endless. belong to a different ethnic group exhorting Hindu women to produce than ourselves, or may be separated at least four children to compete with Religion often contributes to from us by geographical distance. the Muslims and announcing a date conflicts by sharpening the Nevertheless, he is still our neighbor by which there would be no non- boundaries between ethnic groups and he still deserves our love and Hindu in India may be an effective and by making marriage across those assistance. To this, Christianity adds means to polarise the people on boundaries difficult and infrequent. that we must love and forgive our communal lines to win elections but However, this negative role is enemy, and do good to those who is bound to frighten and alienate the balanced by a positive one, persecute us, a principle that would minorities. These attacks by the whenever religion is the source of make war impossible if it were only Sangh Parivar and BJP Ministers ethical principles, especially the followed. Not only in Christianity, and other functionaries accompanied principle of universal human but also in Hinduism, Buddhism, by P.M Modi’s deafening silence are brotherhood. and Islam, the principles of bound to strike terror in the hearts compassion and universal human Many of the great ethical teachers brotherhood hold a high place. of many members of the Muslims of history lived at a time when community. The strategy is a blatant cultural evolution was changing The religious leaders of today’s attack on the national integration. Is humans from hunter-gatherers and world have the opportunity to it a wonder if some of the young pastoral peoples to farmers and city contribute importantly to the Muslims turn to terrorism or are dwellers. To live and cooperate in solution of the problem of war. They attracted by IS? larger groups, humans needed to have the opportunity to powerfully overwrite their instinctive behavior support the concept of universal Is it natural for the Kashmiri patterns with culturally determined human brotherhood, to build bridges Muslims to be attracted to an anti- behavior involving a wider range of between religious groups, to make Muslim India? The Kashmiris have cooperation than previously. intermarriage across ethnic not been enamoured of Pakistan boundaries easier, and to soften the despite its being an Islamic State, but This period of change is marked distinctions between communities. If if they have to choose between an by the lives and ideas of a number they fail to do this, they will have India ruled by an anti-Muslim party of great ethical teachers – Moses, failed humankind at a time of crisis. determined to change India into a Buddha, Lao Tse, Confucius, ‘Hindu Rashtra’ and a Muslim Socrates, Aristotle, Jesus, and Saint Human nature undoubtedly Pakistan, their choice is bound to be Paul. Mohammed lived at a slightly contains emotions of tribalism, a ‘Muslim Rashtra’ rather than a later period, but it was still a period which nationalist and fascist leaders ‘Hindu Rashtra’. And if any of transition for the Arab peoples, a find it very easy to exploit. But Kashmiri feels repelled by India and period during which their range of education, ethics and law can is thinking of other options, the cooperation needed to be enlarged. overwrite primitive and blame lies with Indian rulers rather anachronistic emotional tendencies. than the Kashmiris. JANATA, September 4, 2016 11 Dalit Uprising and After Why Hindutva Would Not Be The Same Again

Subhash Gatade

When I was born I was not a child I was a dream, a dream of revolt that my mother, oppressed for thousands of years , dreamt. Still it is untouched in my eyes Covered with wrinkles of thousand years, her face her eyes, two lakes overflowing with tears have watered my body..... –Sahil Parmar*

Well known Gujarati poet Sahil Parmar’s poem ‘When I Was Born’ perhaps reverberates these days in Gujarat when we are witnessing a Dalit Upsurge- a first of its kind at least in that region’s history. It will be a talk of folklore for times to come how flogging of dalits in a village in Saurashtra by Hindutva fanatics suddenly erupted into a mass movement of dalits which could catch imagination of the people cutting across different sections of society. An attempt is being made here to understand the dynamics of the movement and its likely impact on the future trajectory of Hindutva. I Love Cows, Hate Human Beings ?

There are moments in the reverberates all over the state. And party to the anti-minority violence trajectory of any authoritarian/ their demand before the state in 2002, would one fine morning fascist/rightwing project where one government that within next one turn their backs on them and would of its closely guarded secrets month - by 15th of September - it readily join hands with the ‘other’ suddenly tumbles out in the open and starts distributing five acres of land demanding a life of human dignity then it becomes difficult for it to fix to each rural dalit family for and putting in jeopardy the it. The Hindutva brigade today finds rehabilitation is reaching far and very raison detre of the project. itself in a similar situation - thanks wide and gathering fresh support. to the dalit upsurge in Gujarat which And as can be expected in such a is still unfolding before our eyes. None from the Hindutva situation, they literally floundered fraternity had ever imagined that in when they were asked to react to The historic march to Una town their so called ‘model state’ itself, this uprising. The multiple voices of Saurashtra region - under the they would be faced with such a which emerged from the broader banner of Una Atyachar Ladat challenge which would put their ‘Parivar’ were an indication of their Samiti - might be over; thousands carefully crafted pan Hindu social confusion. and thousands of dalits who had coalition to test. It was beyond their gathered there from different parts comprehension that dalits - the most No doubt talking in multiple of the state and outside might have downtrodden section in tongues has always been part of their returned home but their resolve not the Varna hierarchy - who had been overall strategy but this time it also to undertake the despicable caste slowly roped in down the years in demonstrated disorientation in their practice of manual scavenging and the Hindutva politics and a section own ranks. The moot question disposing of cattle carcasses still amongst them had also become a became whether to uphold the 12 JANATA, September 4, 2016 perpetrators - who were following one of their key agenda centering topnavdropdown) Apart from Dalits, the script - or support the victims. around cow politics - which has who have come under increasing And thus one found the Prime served them well till date - the more attack at the hands of overzealous Minister exposing majority of the there is possibility that their dream ‘cow protectors’ and are slowly cow vigilantes as being anti-social of Hindu Unity would see further turning against the ‘Parivar’ itself , elements and asking the home fissures. ( Vidya Subrahmaniam large section of peasant population department to prepare a dossier describes it as ‘A reverse Ram is peeved over the fact that politics about them and another significant Mandir Moment’ in her article on around cow has made their life leader of the same ‘family’ present situation in UP.http:// miserable as they are not able to do denouncing such characterisation as www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/ away with cattles who have become being ‘anti-Hindu’. The confusion its-mayawati-versus-modi-in-up/ old or have stopped producing milk. was understandable. In fact, it was article9022511.ece? One of the couplets by Saint Tulsidas for the first time in recent times that ref=topnavwidget&utm_source= captures Hindutva’s plight Hindutva Supremacists are topnavdd&utm_medium=topnavdropdo beautifully ‘Bhayal Gati Saap discovering that the more they push wnwidget&utm_campaign= Chachunder Jaisi..’.

II “Rashtravadi toh hamare saath hain, humein Dalit aur pichchde ko saath lana hai.”

Everybody knows that there was arrests as well but the commotion of suspicion that they were carrying nothing ‘unusual’ - as far as died down soon and in fact the beef and how there has been no depradations unleashed by Hindutva perpetrators of this massacre were action against them from the law and fanatics under the name of cow decorated as ‘cow protectors’. order people. protection were concerned - about what happened to dalits from Mota In fact, most such earlier attacks But thrashing of Dalits from Mota Samadhiyala village when they were in recent times had been rather more Samadhiyala village by cow skinning a dead cow. brutal. To name a few, lynching of vigilantes, uploading the video of two young men near Latehar after their ‘valour’ on social media has One can recollect that such their brutal torture near Latehar, proved to be a turning point. attacks were common even in those Jharkhand by cow vigilantes; killing days when BJP did not have majority an adolescent near Udhampur who Anybody can see that the Dalit of its own at the centre. A classic was sleeping in truck by throwing Uprising which the Una incident has example has been killing of five petrol bomb under the suspicion that triggered has inadvertently or so dalits in Dulina (Jhajjar ) - hardly the truck was carrying beef; near riot unearthed the ‘well guarded secret’ fifty kilometres away from the like situation which emerged in behind this exclusivist project - national capital - who were similarly Palwal, Haryana because of cow where it is clear even to a layperson skinning dead cows, by a cow vigilantes’ attack on a truck carrying now that for Hindutva, dalits or other vigilante mob (2003) before Dulina meat or the way two transporters marginalised are lesser human police station itself with leading were fed cow dung laced with urine beings or the ‘other’, whatever officers of the police and when they were found transporting might be its claims about the administration remaining mute cattle for sale near Gurgaon. Scan great samrasta it upholds. There is witnesses. A leading Hindutva leader the internet to watch the ‘valour’ of a growing realisation that the formal (dead sometime back) even these fanatics and you will find posturing of Hindutva politics, ‘justified’ the killings by citing scores of such criminal attacks on where it is presented/understood in reference to ancient Hindu scriptures innocents. Videos after videos are the form of religious imaginaries claiming that ‘in Puranas cows were available which show how these self where ‘minorities - may be Muslim more valued than human beings’. proclaimed cow protectors or Christian - are portrayed as the The killings definitely led to an brutalised people for carrying cows ‘other’ is one thing but essentially outrage, there were few symbolic from one place to other or because the whole idea of Hindu Rashtra is JANATA, September 4, 2016 13 an attempt to further legitimise the nationalists are with us, we need to towards the plight of the dalits Brahminical project of bring Dalits and backward groups.” (forget those bollywood type hegemonising and homogenising of (http://indianexpress.com/article/ dialogues where it was declared that Indian society where secondary india/india-news-india/nationalists- ‘Shoot Me but Do Not Shoot My position of Dalits has received are-with-us-lets-reach-out-to-dalits- Dalit Brothers’) could also be religious sanction also. An inkling backwards-pm-modi-to-party- gauged from the fact that when the of how they view Dalits and the 2993281/) Dalit Upsurge was at its peak in the backwards - when they are talking state, the provocative statement by among themselves - can be had from Was it just slip of tongue or an one of their own MLAs from the recent comments by PM Modi admission of the truth that for Telangana who ‘justified’ the when he spoke at length at a meeting Hindutva non-backwards, non-dalits beatings and uploaded a video on which was attended by 400 top i.e. upper castes have sole claim over facebook did not prompt them to leaders of the BJP, at the end of the15 nation and dalits as well as take any action. His words were “Jo day patriotism drive. Newspaper backwards to be outside its purview Dalit gaye ke maas ko le ja raha tha, reports tell us that he called on his who need to be brought closer. jo uski pitai hui hai, woh bohut hi party to continue playing (http://scroll.in/article/814769/the- achhi hui hai [Those Dalits who nationalism card which is ‘central to daily-fix-what-did-modi-mean- were taking the cow, the cow meat, the BJP’s ideology.’ Perhaps the when-he-said-there-is-a-chasm- those who were beaten, it was a very most telling comment made by him between-dalits-and-nationalists) good thing to happen],”(http:// was the following : “Rashtravadi toh scroll.in/latest/812903/anyone-who- hamare saath hain, humein Dalit aur Perhaps a marker of their kills-cows-deserves-to-be-beaten- pichchde ko saath lana hai.” The continuing indifference or disdain says-bjp-mla-raja-singh).

III. Unpacking the Gujarat Model !

Recently Jignesh Mewani, “We (Dalits) are not going to Explaining the genesis of the convener of the ‘Una Dalit Atyachar clean up people’s dirt any more. movement and why the flogging Ladat Samiti’ which is spearheading Modiji, now you are welcome to incident of Dalits by self proclaimed this upsurge was in the capital to experience the spirituality that is cow vigilantes affiliated to a communicate the message of the supposed to be there in scavenging.” Hindutva organisation triggered the movement to a broader audience and uprising he shared details of the lives also garner support for the Rail Roko (http://www.telegraphindia.com/ of deprivation and discrimination programme organised by the front 1 160821/jsp/frontpage/ and atrocities faced by Dalits under from 15th Septemember. He story_103638.jsp#.V74anPl97IU) the much talked about Gujarat underlined the resolve of the dalits Model. According to him that they are firm in their decision Jignesh - who is an advocate and not to clean up other people’s dirt, an activist - was referring to - there are thousands of cases of nor to lift carcasses of dead cattle. Karmayog, a collection of Modi’s atrocities against Dalits every He told the audience how twenty speeches to trainee IAS officers, year thousand dalits had gathered in their brought out by a Gujarat PSU, in rally in Ahmedabad and have taken which he had said that scavenging - atrocities continued to rise the oath not to undertake any such was an “experience in spirituality” during Mr Modi’s chief profession which they have been for the Valmikis (a sub-caste of ministership which lasted for condemned to do because Dalits). (See : https://kafila.org/ 13 years of Varna hierarchy and are further 2014/02/12/modi-and-the-art-of- stigmatised because of that. In a disappearing-of-untouchability/) - there are more than 55,000 tongue in cheek comment he added dalits who are still engaged in 14 JANATA, September 4, 2016

the work of scavenging under the name of Development the In another instance, in Navsari state can allocate thousands of acres district, Gujarat government - 1 lakh sanitation workers who of land at throwaway prices to the declared that between 2006 are still not getting minimum Ambanis, Adanis and the Tatas why and 2008, while Modi ruled the wages dalits should be denied their rightful state, it had “allocated” land to due.’ He also explained how the 7,542 landless beneficiaries, - dalits in 119 villages in Gujarat recent changes undertaken by the but a year later, it admitted the are living under police state government under the land land titles were yet to be given protection acquisition act have many to 3,616 beneficiaries. ‘draconian’ provisions inherent in it “However, now, on the basis - rate of conviction in cases of where the ‘consent’ clause has been of an RTI reply, we know that Dalit atrocities is merely three deleted - means if the government things have not changed even per cent. wishes to hand over land to the in 2015. corporates for ‘development’ work, According to him glaring then it can simply take over the In an article published in “Dalit example of denial of justice to Dalits peasant’s land supposedly for Adhikar”, a Gujarati has been the killing of three Dalits ‘public goods’, offer some symbolic periodical, Jignesh Mewani by the police with ‘AK 47 rifles as compensation and need not seek her/ says, “Information with us if they were terrorists’ in Thangarh his consent. suggests that the Gujarat in Gujarat in the year 2012 and government, in all, acquired despite the fact that more than a lakh To the poser that if Dalits leave 163,808 acres land under the Dalits demonstrated against these their ‘traditional profession’ which Gujarat Agricultural Land killings there was no action by the grants them some sort of ‘economic Ceiling Act, 1960, and we feel government against the accused security’ he quoted Ambedkar who most of it has been allocated police personnel.( As we go to the had asked his followers during the to the landless only on paper. press one hears that Gujarat historic Mahad Satyagrah (1927) The landless, mainly Dalits, government has announced an SIT that they should get ready to ‘die of tribals and belonging to the to look into the killings and has also hunger’ to live a life of dignity but other backward classes raised compensation for affected should never undertake such (OBCs), haven’t yet got actual families). stigmatised professions. possession of land.”

When someone in the audience Fresh facts have come to light Mewani says, “Chief posed a question about availability suggesting that, in Gujarat, beneficiaries of the land-to- of land in the state, Jignesh shared there has been extremely the-tiller policy have been figures about availability of land questionable progress in the upper caste Patels. About under various schemes and how allocation of surplus land to the 55,000 Patels were allocated dominant castes/classes have been in landless, acquired from big 12 lakh acres of land declared, actual possession of such land meant landlords under the Gujarat mainly in Saurashtra and for the exploited and the Agricultural Land Ceiling Act, Kutch regions of Gujarat. But marginalised. According to him 1960. Based on RTI as for Dalit landless thousands of acres of land with the applications, the district agriculturists, they have state which it got during Bhudan registrar of land records, received not even 12 inches of aandolan has also not been Junagadh, has admitted that land. Only a very small distributed. He also shared lesser out of 11 of 16 villages for section, which is very close to known provision about SC-ST sub which information was sought, the powers-that-be, has plan which talks about ‘purchase of “no survey of surplus land has gained.” land for its distribution to the taken place” for the last 24 landless’ in case of its unavailability. years, hence there was no According to Mewani, “Let us His simple poser which struck a deep allocation. give a sample of the Gujarat chord with the audience was that ‘if government’s good JANATA, September 4, 2016 15

governance: We made in all 65 than only Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. expressed concern over such RTI applications between 2011 (Indian Express, 20th March 2009). anticipatory bails granted ‘in and 2015 to find out facts atrocity cases in the state of about allocation of just 6,500 A 23-page confidential report Gujarat’. acres of land in different submitted by the state Social Justice villages. Yet, officials are Department to the State Chief In fact a detailed and systematic refusing to give copies of land Secretary and legal departments study of 400 judgements done by titles which may show that provides glaring examples of Vajibhai Patel, Secretary of Council land has been actually handed ‘mishandling of cases registered for Social Justice (March 2005, Year to the beneficiaries.” under Prevention of Atrocities Act 11, No.106, http://www.sabrang. against SC/ST. (Express, September com) had compelled the government Associated with Jan Sangharsh 15, 2006). The rate of conviction of to work on this 23-page report. It Manch, a Gujarat-based cases under the Prevention of tells us that utterly negligent police human rights organisation, Atrocity Act against SC/ST in investigation at both the higher and Mewani says, “Of the 163,808 Gujarat is mere 2.5 per cent while lower levels coupled with a acres of surplus land, 70,000 rate of acquittal is 97.5 per cent. distinctly hostile role played by the acres of land is under dispute public prosecutors is the main reason with the revenue tribunal, The report provides details of for the collapse of cases filed under Gujarat High Court and the how cases are not investigated the atrocities act. It is worth noting Supreme Court. While this properly by the police and the hostile that he has meticulously land may not be allocated, role played by public prosecutors documented these judgements there is a need to answer as to during time of trials. delivered under this act since April why the rest of the land, too, 1, 1995 in the Special Atrocity remains unallocated.” – Act clearly stipulates that Courts set up in 16 districts of the offence which are registered state. The study also blasts the In fact, says Mewani, there are under this act cannot be common perception that the 15,519 acres of surplus land, investigated by an officer below inefficacy of this law is due to false on which there is “no dispute” the rank of Dy SP but more than complaints being lodged or at all, yet the Gujarat 4,000 such cases have been compromises between the parties, in government is “refusing to investigated by Police Inspector actuality it is a complicit State that act,” .. or Police Sub Inspector. has rendered the Act toothless. (To Be Concluded) (http://www.milligazette.com/ – Acquittal of the perpetrator news/13251-gujarat-model- because victim not identified as dalit-tribal-obc-landless- member of SC or ST community. denied-surplus-land-patels- Reason, not attaching caste Janata Subscription received-12-lakh-acres) certificate of the victim with the Annual Rs. : 260/- case papers Three Years : 750/- Jignesh’s claims about continuous denial of justice to Dalits or the great – Public prosecutors’ false claims Demand Draft / Cheque hiatus which exists between claims before the courts that act has been on by the government and the actual modified by the state government Mumbai Bank situation on the ground is a fact although it is known that it is a in favour of which even earlier reports by NHRC central act have admitted. A cursory glance at its 2009 report had declared that – Granting of anticipatory bails JANATA TRUST Gujarat accounted for 3,813 although there is no such D-15, Ganesh Prasad, complaints of human rights violation provision in the act. Interestingly Naushir Bharucha Marg, of the total of 94,559 cases from the Parliamentary Committee on Mumbai 400 007 across the country, which was less SC and ST affairs had also R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, September 4, 2016 Postal Registration No. MCW/275/2015-2017 License to Post without prepayment WPP License No. MR/Tech/WPP-210/West/2016 Published on Sunday, September 4, 2016 & Posted on Wednesday September 7, 2016 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

An infrastructure company established since 1924

REGD. OFFICE : New Excelsior Building, (3rd Floor), A.K. Nayak Marg, Fort, Mumbai 400001. Tel. : 022 2205 1231 Fax : 022-2205 1232

Office : Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai & New Delhi

Printed and Published by G.G. Parikh on behalf of Janata Trust. Printed at Mouj Printing Bureau, Khatau Wadi, Girgaum, Mumbai-400 004 and published at D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Naushir Bharucha Marg (Sleater Road), Mumbai - 400 007. Established 1946 Price : Rupees Five Pages 16

Vol. 71 No. 33 Shameless act by UP Government September 11, 2016 Sandeep Pandey

When on August 1 the Supreme Moreover, when an Court ordered eviction of official underprivileged person applies for It’s Kashmir again bungalows allotted to six former chief housing under any urban or rural poor Kuldip Nayar ministers of Uttar Pradesh within two government housing scheme he/she months, the UP government instead has to submit an affidavit that he/she of complying with the order brazenly doesn’t own any other house Sharad Rao (1940-2016) decided to amend the Uttar Pradesh anywhere. Shouldn’t there be a Qurban Ali Ministers (Salaries, Allowances and similar clause for former CMs if they Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1981. were being provided with government The 2016 amendment says that a housing lifetime? If they have their Dalit Uprising and After - II government residence shall be own house then at some point in time Subhash Gatade allotted to a former chief minister of based on security threat assessment state, at his/her request, for lifetime, they should be asked to move into on payment of such rent as may be their own house. Even a former Prime Neoliberal assault determined from time to time by the Minister is only allowed to retain his/ on knowledge: Estate Department. Security her official residence up to ten years Madhu Prasad requirement of former CMs has been after retirement. given as a justification for this action. It doesn’t make sense to award a Nuclear weapons in South Asia Now security threat perception house for lifetime to a former CM or changes over time. As a former CM for that matter to anybody including a threat to his/her life is likely to a former President or a Vice President, reduce. For example, among the six who enjoy such a privilege at present. past CMs who would have been It is quite likely that after his/her death Editor : affected by the SC order if the the relatives and followers would ask G. G. Parikh amendment was not introduced, the house to be converted into a Narayan Dutt Tiwari probably museum and then it will be occupied Managing Editor : Guddi doesn’t face the kind of threat which forever. requires any special arrangement for D-15, Ganesh Prasad, him. Hence giving a privilege for Another Bill was introduced to Naushir Bharucha Marg, lifetime just based on one- time keep certain influential sections of Mumbai - 400 007. security assessment is not justified society happy and more importantly and is frittering away public so that it would not appear as if the Email : [email protected] resources. government was worried only about 2 JANATA, Septrember 11, 2016 privileged former chief ministers. No Between The Lines need to say that the present CM also stands to benefit from this. The Allotment of Houses Under Control It’s Kashmir again of the Estate Department Bill, 2016 was introduced and passed to provide houses to journalists, political parties, Kuldip Nayar Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Legislative Assembly, gazetted A few years ago when I Hurriyat is only a combination of officials, officers of judicial services persuaded Yasin Malik, the first three factions. One is led by Yusaf and trusts. Among these except for militant in the valley of Kashmir, to Raza Gillani, who still wants trusts, who’ll be charged market rent, give up his fast unto death, his accession to the Islamic state of rest all will have to pay ‘such a rate demand was that the International Pakistan, the other by Yasin Malik as may be prescribed.’ This is blatant Amnesty should visit the valley to and the third by Shabir Shah. misuse of power as Estate verify the violation of human rights. Department can prescribe arbitrarily He broke the fast when I gave an Gillani is their leader because he low rents depending on how well undertaking that I would myself head represents anti-India feelings on the connected the occupant is. a team to Srinagar to prepare a report one hand and the Islamic content on on the violations of human rights. the other. The government has also used the opportunity to introduce another Today that kind of confidence has My feeling is that at least two of amendment in the Uttar Pradesh gone. The Hurriyat has refused to them have become irrelevant in the Ministers (Salaries, Allowances and meet the delegation because the present situation in the valley. They Miscellaneous Provisions) Act to Hurriyat is not sure whether the still prefer a settlement through a increase the salaries and other delegation can deliver. There is yet dialogue. The youth have, however, benefits for CM and ministers. The another reason. The Hurriyat wants gone back to gun because they do basic salary of the CM has gone up to rehabilitate itself in the eyes of not find either Yasin Malik or Shabir from Rs. 12,000 per month to Rs. Kashmiris, who have gone beyond Shah delivering what they want, that 40,000. With a 40% increase in gross the stage of talks. They want a is Azadi. The gun is no solution salary the CM will now take home separate, sovereign country. And either. Rs. 1.4 lakhs. This is in addition to the they feel that the Hurriyat failed Rs. 75,000 salary which he gets as a them in the past because it sought Over the years the oil producing legislator. It is not clear when there solution within the Indian union. Islamic nations’organization has lost was already an increase in the salaries its importance in India. Even the of legislators in 2015, what was the Home Minister Rajnath Singh of Muslim population, some 25 million need to increase the salary of CM’s the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party cares little about what it says. post? In a state where the daily wages (BJP) headed the delegation. The Therefore, it was not surprising that in Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Home Minister was justified in the Indian media did not even report Employment Guarantee Scheme are saying that the Hurriyat, refusal went that the OIC had asked for merely Rs. 161 per day, that too up to against the spirit of Kashmiriyat, referendum in Kashmir. The Muslim a maximum of 100 days a year, and which disseminated message of love countries are themselves to blame Samajwadi pension scheme grants and harmony. The Hurriyat does not for this because they blatantly Rs. 500 per month to a needy family, seem to recognise that. It gives little support Pakistan, just because it is a it is splurging public money at the importance to the fact that the ruling Muslim country. cost of poor. party came to power through free ballot box, the democratic way of Unlike Pakistan, where the last Dr. Rammanohar Lohia, whom the measuring support in the country. word is with the army chief, India is government members revere like a The BJP has secured a majority in ruled by parliament. The Hurriyat has legend, has famously said that the 543-member Lok Sabha on its insulted it. To insult it is to insult the difference between the income of own, with no alliance before or after Indian people. It was the suggestion (Continued on Page 3) the polls. On the other hand, the by the CPI(M) that the delegation JANATA, September 11, 2016 3 went. Yaechuri, the party’s Delhi’s step-motherly treatment (Continued from Page 2) secretary, was insistent that the talks meted out to the language. And it is should begin with the Gillani group. generally believed that it is poor and rich should not be more than Raising the anti-India slogans when languishing in neglect because Urdu ten times. Akhilesh Yadav is now the delegation reached Gillani’s is considered the language of earning 40 times more than a daily residence may be helpful in placating Muslims. If New Delhi were to own wage (MNREGA) worker, whose the hardcore. But it does not address and encourage Urdu, the Kashmiris funding source has presently dried the core of the problem. Raj Nath would have at least one reason less up, and 400 times more than a Singh has made it clear that Kashmir to feel aggrieved. Samajwadi pensioner. was an integral part of India and will remain so. This has put an end to People are generally poor like the Mayawati was criticised for having the dialogue on Kashmir that rest of India and they want jobs built her own statue. Now Akhilesh Pakistan has been relentlessly which they realize will come through Yadav has got his portrait installed in demanding. Where do we go from only development, including tourism. the Assembly in the series of former here? There is no option to talks. But they are not themselves picking CMs. Is he already preparing for Even a limited war can become the up the gun or any other weapon to retirement? nuclear one. drive militants out. One, they are afraid of them and, two, there is a Akhilesh Yadav should take lesson What New Delhi has to appreciate feeling that what the militants are from his party’s MLA from Balha in is that the Kashmiris’ desire to trying to do is to give them an identity. District Bahraich, Bansidhar Bouddh. distance themselves from India may Therefore, the criticism that there is The dalit MLA still lives very simply. not be considered in any meaningful no resistance to the militants from He has a mud house which collapsed transfer of power from New Delhi within the valley should be in recent floods. He and his wife to Srinagar. Yet the impression that understandable because it is part of Lajjawati farm their agricultural fields the Kashmiris rule themselves has alienation. and tend their cattle themselves to be sustained. The National without any help. Bansidhar used to Conference waged a long war to get I still believe that the 1953 have only a second hand motorcycle rid of Maharaja Hari Singh and had agreement which gave India the till recently. Now he is a Minister but an icon like Sheikh Abdullah to control of defence, foreign affairs still there is no change in his lifestyle provide a secular and democratic and communications can improve except that he has a government rule to the state. But the party part of the situation in the state. vehicle. suffered defeat in the assembly polls The Kashmiri youth who are angry because it was seen too close to over the state’s status as well the In a democracy Bansidhar is an New Delhi. situation can be won over by the ideal people’s representatives and not assurance that the entire Indian Akhilesh Yadav, who has promoted The People’s Democratic Party market is available to them for lavish and feudal culture for ministers (PDP) won because its founder, business or service. in addition to being a symbol of Mufti Mohammad Sayyed, kept dynastic politics. Bansidhar distance from New Delhi, without But this alone may not do. New represents politics as a service. alienating it. The Kashmiris voted for Delhi will have to withdraw all the Akhilesh Yadav represents politics as him because he gave them a feeling acts relating to the fields other than aggrandisement. People are going to of defiance. Omar Farooq Abdullah defence, foreign affairs and prefer representatives like Bansidhar had to pay the price of National communications. The Armed Forces over Akhilesh Yadav. As soon as that Conference’s image of being pro- (Special Powers) Act which was happens politics will fulfill its real role Delhi. Kashmir’s link with India is promulgated some 25 years ago to and the idea of democracy will be too close to challenge it beyond a meet the extraordinary situation in realised. As public funds would be point. Still the opposition, however the state is still in operation. Were properly utilised the benefits of small, gives the Kashmiris a vicarious the government to withdraw the act, development will reach the poor. satisfaction of defying New Delhi. it would placate the Kashmirs on the Right now it the politics represented one hand and make the security by Akhilesh Yadav which sustains the Kashmir feels strongly about New forces more responsible on the other. disparity and inequity. 4 JANATA, Septrember 11, 2016 Sharad Rao (1940-2016)

Qurban Ali

Veteran trade unionist and standards of the workers has been Mumbaikars had to accept the auto socialist leader Sharad Rao died in invaluable. He brought together the fare increase. However, in 2013, Mumbai on September 1, 2016, after labour class from the Brihanmumbai he refused to join a trade union a two-year fight with chronic Municipal Corporation, strike claiming the issues of pancreatic cancer. He was 76.The Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply autorickshaw, taxi drivers were aggressive union leader breathed his and Transport Undertaking, being addressed by the government last at Nanavati Hospital in Vile Chatrapati Shivaji International and that of the civic workers by Parle. He is survived by his wife Airport, Thane Municipal the BMC administration. Shanta Rao, son Shashank and Corporation, Maharashtra State daughter Shilpa. Mr. Rao credited Electricity Board, and the Hind While the upper-class for uniting over a dozen labour Mazdoor Sabha, while heading the Mumbaikars were worried for the unions under his leadership auto rickshaw, hawkers’ and commotion hawkers caused in posh controlled a large chunk of the gumasta unions. neighbourhoods, Mr. Rao’s agitation Mumbai public transport and civic in April 2013, ensured that the services system through the BEST Over the last four decades, he BMC did not evict hawkers Workers Union, Municipal Mazdoor fought hard for an increase in overnight even though the Centre Union and Mumbai Auto wages of the sanitation workers in had passed the Street Vendors Bill, rickshawmen’s Union and several the BMC, ensuring permanent jobs 2013, for their protection. Under his others which were part of the Hind for thousands of contract workers leadership, wages of the sanitation Mazdoor Kisan Panchayat. at Mumbai airport. He pushed for workers reached Rs. 25,000 per the auto rickshaw drivers to receive month from the initial Rs. 80 over Son of a bus conductor, Sharad constant fare hike, stepped up the two decades ago. Rao was born on February 9, 1940, pressure on the BMC to issue in a family hailing from Talapady- licenses to more hawkers, and “He was the last of the Kannur in Dakshina Kannada and pushed for an effective generation of leaders who intensely was relocated to Mumbai after implementation of the national fought for the cause of the workers Independence. As a youth, he policy on urban street vendors. and the labourers. There will not worked closely with socialist leader be another leader like him,” said George Fernandes, and took charge In 2000, Rao led BMC workers Prashant Kakade, his long-time of the unions after Mr. Fernandes in a major strike over festival friend and president of Federation graduated to national politics in bonuses, disrupting essential civic of Aviation Workers. Delhi but the two parted ways when services, including hospitals and Fernandes joined the NDA led by public transport. After his union Union leaders said Mr. Rao’s loss Bharatiya Janata Party. He was members dared to shut water supply is irreparable. “We will never be also a close associate of many to the city for two days, the high able to find a replacement for other prominent trade union leaders court stepped in and threatened to someone who ensured workers’ of left and socialist parties. have the army take over the city living conditions improved and their administration. families remained intact. He fought While the working Mumbaikars hard to ensure that the auto drivers may only remember him for his In September 2012, the Rao-led work in a third shift and run share frequent calls to strikes by the auto rickshaw union had threatened to trips in Mumbai,” said Govind rickshaw drivers, Mr. Rao’s go on strike for a fare revision. Kamtekar, who had been a close contribution to improving the living Though there was no strike, associate since 1987. Labour union JANATA, September 11, 2016 5 leaders fear Mr. Rao’s loss will Electric Supply and Transport He was the working committee leave a gaping hole as Bharatiya Union’, ‘Mumbai Auto Rikshaw member and City worker in BMC Janata Party-ruled States push for Union’ and Labourers of Mumbai in 1978. He was active in several aggressive labour reforms. The Municipal Corporation. The organizations including Bombay port labour movement suffered a setback departed leader always used to think trust. Rao who was staying in following the death of Sharad Rao. for welfare of labourers he said. Goregaon had contested in Vidhana Sabha elections in 2005 and 2009 “At a time when there is so much Sharad Rao was leading as Nationalist Congress party twisting and tweaking with labour Hindustan Lever Limited union from candidate from Goregaon west rules and laws, and stress is just on 1957 to 1967, later Trade union constituency. Sharad Rao was bringing in business, his presence movement, Bombay Clerk’s union popular as labour leader for the last will be felt more,” said Pradeep in 1970 and Save Octroi movement. five decades. Menon, union leader and a friend since Mr. Rao’s early days as labour leader at Hindustan Unilever Limited.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed grief at the demise of Rao and recalled his lifelong struggles for the rights of the common workers through his different unions. “In Mr. Rao we have lost an aggressive leader for the organised and the unorganised workers. Starting his struggles with the Bombay Labour Union, Mr. Rao had a great influence on workers. This is a big loss to the labour movement. He had a huge impact on the working class. He stood up for all when they needed him till his last breath. He will be remembered by all.” Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu also condoled the demise of Sharad Rao whom he described as a great union leader and a longtime friend.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also condoled death of Sharad Rao in Mumbai. In his condolence message, Kumar described the deceased as veteran socialist and leader of the workers who was heading a number of effective labourers’ unions. Rao gave leadership to ‘Greater Mumbai 6 JANATA, Septrember 11, 2016 Nuclear weapons in South Asia: programmes, plans and dangers

What is the status of the nuclear and defense purposes)’. The inactive after the 1974 test. Instead, arsenals of India and Pakistan? development of nuclear the nuclear establishment refined What dangers come from the infrastructure by the Atomic Energy nuclear weapon designs and lobbied postures and plans they have establishment took into account the for more weapons tests. A missile adopted? What influences do China possibility that the facilities programme was also set up that and the United States wield in the constructed and expertise gained resulted in the design and production region? could be used for military purposes. of the Prithvi and Agni missiles that In particular, the CIRUS reactor could deliver nuclear weapons. These and other topics were the that started operating in 1960 and subject of Dr. M. V. Ramana’s talk the Trombay reprocessing plant that During the 1990s, increased on ‘Nuclear Weapons in South Asia: was completed by 1964 allowed activity by the bomb lobby, a group Programmes, Plans and Dangers’ India to produce plutonium that of people who advocated India that was organised by Dr. Asghar could be used to make nuclear developing nuclear weapons, Ali Engineer Memorial Advisory weapons. succeeded in getting India to vote Committee and Coalition for Nuclear against the Comprehensive Test Ban Disarmament and Peace (CNDP) on Ramana then described the public Treaty. In parallel, the rise of Hindu 27th August 2016 at Mumbai debate about developing nuclear nationalists and the Bharatiya Janata Marathi Patrakar Sangh. The talk weapons that took place after the Party, with their militarist worldview, was dedicated to the memory of death of Nehru and the first Chinese coming to power also created the Praful Bidwai, illustrious journalist, nuclear weapon test in 1964. The conditions for the May 1998 nuclear activist and social science debate revolved around questions of tests. That involved five explosions researcher, who, among various security, cost, morality, and prestige. on May 11 and 13, including that of other issues, worked tirelessly for Although it did not result in a decision a boosted/thermonuclear weapon nuclear disarmament and peace. to produce nuclear weapons, a series (hydrogen bomb); there has been a of developments eventually led to recurring debate over whether that Dr. Ramana began by talking nuclear weapon test in 1974 in particular design was successfully about how the early history of Pokharan, which was described as tested. nuclear power in India, starting with a peaceful nuclear explosion. The the bill enabling the creation of an decision to conduct that test was Ramana also briefly described the organization aimed at working on reportedly taken soon after 1971 trajectory of Pakistan’s nuclear atomic energy introduced in the war with Pakistan and the creation programme, starting with the Constituent Assembly in 1948, of Bangladesh. Ramana pointed out strategic relationship the country barely a few months after that the decision to test was not taken established with the United States, independence, shows the importance in a moment of insecurity but in a shortly after independence, in the given to nuclear power by the moment of success (in breaking up context of the Cold War. Pakistani leaders of the country right from its Pakistan, India’s chief regional rival, scientists were first trained by the inception as an independent nation. into two countries). The timing of the United States as part of its Atoms Although the purpose of the test also undermines the argument for Peace programme. After the development of atomic energy was of some who see China’s nuclear 1965 India-Pakistan war, where the said to be for ‘peaceful purposes’, test as a cause for India’s weapons. United States did not aid Pakistan it was revealing that Pandit (whereas China did), some Jawarharlal Nehru, soon to be Although India did not follow the Pakistanis, in particular the US- India’s first Prime Minister, had to path taken by other nuclear weapon educated Foreign Minister Z.A. concede that he did ‘not know how states and weaponise its nuclear Bhutto, called for a bomb. This call to distinguish the two (peaceful design, the weapons program wasn’t was to intensify after 1971 war that JANATA, September 11, 2016 7 resulted in division of Pakistan and end of 2014 in India is 3.2 ± 1.1 tons One saving factor was that because Bhutto launched nuclear weapon with a U-235 content of 1.0 ± 0.3 they were so far apart, the United program in 1972, one month after tons. This is said to be primarily for States and the Soviet Union had a taking office as President. After the the nuclear (Arihant) submarine longer time period to confirm missile 1974 Indian nuclear test, the US programme. However, because the launches; the travel time for a Soviet halted nuclear cooperation and A.Q. estimated stockpile vastly exceeds missile to reach the United States or Khan, a metallurgist based in what might be needed for all vice versa is approximately 30 Holland, offered his services to help envisioned nuclear submarines, it is minutes due to the geographical with the Pakistani nuclear possible that the HEU might be used distance between the two. But that programme, going on to set up the in nuclear weapons. About 25 kg is is not the case in South Asia. India uranium enrichment programme. sufficient to produce one nuclear and Pakistan share boundaries and Revelation about this secret weapon. For Pakistan, the stockpiles the time taken by a missile from one programme led the United States to are estimated to be 3.1 ± 0.4 tons of country to hit the capital city of the impose sanctions on Pakistan, which HEU and 190 kg of plutonium as of other would be only 6-13 minutes was then reversed after the Soviets the end of 2014. depending on where it was launched. invaded Afghanistan in 1979 and the Once you take away the time it takes United States started using Pakistan Both countries have tested to detect the launch and confirm that as a staging ground to engage with numerous missiles and other delivery the missile is indeed directed towards the Soviets indirectly. The sanctions vehicles. India is in the process of the other country, there would be were re-imposed in 1989 only after developing two technologies that are barely a couple of minutes for the the Soviets left Afghanistan. In the profoundly destabilizing: Ballistic Indian or Pakistani leadership to meanwhile, Pakistan had produced Missile Defense and Early warning make a decision to respond. Because highly enriched uranium and systems. Ramana talked at some any technology is capable of errors developed bomb designs that were length about early warning, which and accidents, deploying an early tested in May 1998. There were five involves setting up radars and warning system will increase the risk explosions on May 28 and one on satellites to detect the launch and of inadvertent or accidental nuclear May 30, 1998. These were all of flight of missiles. Although India has war. fission weapons and Pakistan did not a ‘no first use’ policy, it is not clear conduct a thermonuclear weapon how this commitment of no first use Turning to a different aspect of test. translates into actual deployment and nuclear weapons in south Asia, action. In principle, this policy means Ramana pointed out that the In the aftermath of the 1998 waiting for an incoming missile to argument that nuclear weapons deter nuclear tests, both India and Pakistan explode before retaliating. But war failed within a year of the have been involved in the creation setting up early warning systems nuclear tests, when India and of doctrines and command suggests that the leadership does not Pakistan had a military conflict over structures to plan for the potential envision waiting for such an explosion Kargil in Kashmir. The Kargil war use of nuclear weapons. In India, the and might launch missiles as soon as was the first large scale military military has gained greater control there is warning of an impending engagement between any two of nuclear weapons. Peace talks attack; in other words, it would no nuclear weapon states in the world. between the countries have primarily longer be a strict no first use It involved a dozen or more nuclear been attempts at proving that India commitment. threats by high-level officials in both and Pakistan are responsible states countries, and there were reports that and no substantial measure has been Early warning technology has nuclear weapons were prepared for agreed upon. great potential for errors and use on both sides. accidental launches. Ramana As of 2014, the estimate of provided examples from the Cold The greater danger is in the weapon-grade plutonium in India is War era where U.S. leaders received longer-term, and this has to do with around 600 kilograms. About 5 kg is false warnings that indicated Soviet the lessons learnt by the Indian and sufficient for one nuclear weapon. nuclear missiles were approaching Pakistani military establishments in The estimated stockpile of Highly the United States when there was the aftermath of Kargil. For Pakistan, Enriched Uranium (HEU) as of the actually no such attack underway. the main lesson was that its nuclear 8 JANATA, Septrember 11, 2016 arsenal prevented India from prop up India as a counterweight to diplomacy, NSG and even possibly launching a massive attack, which China. As Condoleeza Rice, who the Security Council. The question India’s conventional military went on to becoming Secretary of that Ramana says we need to ask advantage could have allowed it to State, wrote in 2000: “India is an ourselves is – is this the role India persecute. The strategy adopted in element in China’s calculation, and should be playing? Is this Kargil had earlier been presented to it should be in America’s, too. India competition with China desirable? Benazir Bhutto in 1996, but she had is not a great power yet, but it has rejected it then. For Indian military the potential to emerge as one.” Ramana concluded by pointing out planners, the problem was that India that there’s essentially a four-way would have to find ways of waging Under the 2004 Next Steps in race happening between India- limited wars despite presence of Strategic Partnership, the United Pakistan-China-United States. Pakistani nuclear weapons. Similar States agreed to help India with Pakistan seeks military and lessons were also inferred by the civilian nuclear activities, civilian economic help from China and United two countries after the 2001-02 space programs, dual-use high- States to balance India. India seeks military crises that followed the technology trade and missile support from United States to attack on the Indian parliament. defense. In other words, India’s further its great power ambitions. nuclear weapons ceased to be seen China is trying to establish itself as There are news reports as something to be concerned about, an emerging global power able to re- suggesting that in 2004, the Indian and instead became seen as a order the international system. The military adopted a strategy called necessity to keep China off balance. United States is trying to limit its Cold Start that would involve a “shift This policy has continued even in the decline as the dominant world power from defensive to offensive Obama administration, which signed by constraining and balancing the rise operations at the very outset of a a Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia- of Chinese power and influence. The conflict… not giving Pakistan any Pacific and Indian Ocean Region. dangers of this military and nuclear time to bring diplomatic leverages An important clause in the vision race and the build-up of nuclear into play vis-à-vis India”. Pakistan’s was the joint affirmation of “the weapons are extremely worrisome. response to this development has importance of safeguarding maritime Also of concern is the fact that all been to lower the threshold for use security and ensuring freedom of of this is happening out of sight and of nuclear weapons, with talk about navigation and over flight throughout is therefore out of the minds of the developing ‘Battlefield Nuclear the region, especially in the South general public. Weapons’ for use against incoming China Sea”. U.S. support for India’s tanks. This game of lowering the NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group) The session was chaired by Anand threshold for the use of such membership should be seen in this Patwardhan and Darryl D’Monte catastrophic weapons is profoundly light. represented the Dr. Asghar Ali dangerous and destabilizing. Engineer Memorial Advisory There are two questions relevant Committee on the dais. The Lastly, Ramana mentioned the to the NSG discussion. What does audience consisted of students from role of United States and the dangers India gain by becoming a NSG various institutes, people who are of a four-way race that has member? According to Ramana, engaged in struggles in Jaitapur and intensified in recent years. U.S. India has nothing to gain in material nuclear issues, professors and relations with India changed radically terms since it already had access to researchers. The question and during the Bush administration nuclear reactors and uranium. The answer session that followed the talk (2000-08). The Bush only possible benefit is purely was wide-ranging, involving administration’s foreign policy was symbolic – being able to sit at the discussions about topics as varied as guided by neo-conservatives that high table with the big boys. the relationship between deterrence saw the world in highly polarized But what does India have to lose and terrorism, and the ethical terms. China was perceived as the or pay to join NSG? According to quandaries associated with the chief barrier to U.S. supremacy and Ramana, the stakes are quite clear production of radioactive waste that dominance in the international world – it is part of the United States’ ploy is hazardous for centuries. order. Members of the Bush to get India on to their side against Administration, therefore, wanted to China in multiple spheres – –Pratiksha Nair JANATA, September 11, 2016 9 Dalit Uprising and After - II Why Hindutva Would Not Be The Same Again

Subhash Gatade

‘Keep Cow’s Tail With You, And Give Us Our Land’ ..on March 20, 1927, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar led the Mahad satyagraha – for drinking water from the Chavdar tank at Mahad. This was the “foundational struggle” of the dalit movement, a movement for water – and for caste annihilation. In his statement at the time, Dr. Ambedkar put the movement in the broadest possible context. Why do we fight, he asked. It is not simply for drinking water; drinking the water will not give us very much. It is not even a matter of only of our human rights, though we fight to establish the right to drink water. But our goal is no less than that of the French Revolution. .. And so dalits went to drink the water at Mahad. They were met with ferocious repression: an attack by caste Hindus followed. The dalits retreated, came back several months later on December 25 for a renewed struggle, and since the collector had given an injunction against any further attempt, Ambedkar decided to honor this and instead burned the Manusmriti. A fitting climax to the first battle of dalit liberation! (https://seekingbegumpura.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/the-mahad-satyagraha/)

Dalit Uprising in Gujarat and the communalism and puts forward a No doubt that there was lot of manner in which it has rattled the positive demand to fight material spontaneity in the movement but the state government and has severely deprivation - which has been an way it moved ahead and has added impacted the BJP’s well laid out plans integral part of the sanctified new edge to dalit assertion could not to consolidate its support base among hierarchy of caste. have been imagined without the Dalits has been a whiff of fresh air young leadership which took charge. for every peace and justice loving The emphasis of the movement Their inclusive approach also helped person in this part of Asia. that Dalits leave the ‘stigmatised them rope in activists of other professions’ - which has condemned organisations or attract many such What has caught imagination of them to be the lowest position people who are opposed to or the people is the key slogan of the on Varna/Caste hierarchy - and uncomfortable with Hindutva politics movement which says ‘Keep Cow’s wholehearted participation of on a common agenda. Inclusiveness Tail With You, And Give Us Our thousands and thousands of Dalits of the movement was also evident Land’. It is a single slogan which in it, the militancy it has added to the in the fact that Muslims - who have encapsulates question of caste Dalit movement has broken a new been put in very miserable condition discrimination as well as ground in the dalit movement. post 2002 carnage - also joined 10 JANATA, Septrember 11, 2016 the Azaadi Kooch to Una. careful silence was maintained about agraharam/), or countrywide Many welcomed it on the way in economic issues. As a revolutionary movement - where students and large numbers and also travelled to activist shared in his email ‘[a]n youth were in the forefront - after Una in their hundreds for the 15th important thing to note is that the Una the ‘institutional murder of Rohith August independence day rally held Struggle can also be seen as part of Vemula’ (https://kafila.org/2016/01/ there. a continuum where social 22/long-live-the-legacy-of-comrade- movements connects itself with anti- vemula-rohith-chakravarthy- A less discussed aspect of this systemic struggles.’ statement-by-new-socialist- upsurge is the fact that dalits are initiative-nsi/), or the massive mass merely seven per cent of the state’s Definitely the Una struggle which mobilisation against demolition of population and have not had a long has sent shivers down the spine of Ambedkar Bhavan in Mumbai by the history of militant movement but the Hindutva Supremacists cannot BJP led government or the ‘Zameen despite these limitations the impact be seen in isolation. It is rather a Prapti Movement’ in Punjab led by of the movement has been continuation of growing dalit revolutionary left where Dalits have phenomenal. Not only it compelled assertion against Hindutva come together to form collectives, the BJP to change its Chief Minister depradations especially after the etc, one can easily see that such for mishandling the movement but it ascendance of Modi led regime at assertion is increasing in its intensity also disturbed its dalits outreach plans the centre. The realisation has and militancy. elsewhere. slowly sunk in that not only it wants to attack affirmative action ..In Punjab, the share of the Dalits Remember barring the historic programmes but its economic in the 1,58,000 acres of Panchayat struggle led by Dadasaheb Gaikwad policies - coupled with its regressive land is 52,667 acres. There are also - a close comrade of Dr Ambedkar sociocultural agenda - are bringing legal entitlements for them in the - in late 1950s in Maharashtra where ruin to the dalits and other Nazool Lands. However, the actual issue of land was highlighted, rare marginalised sections of society. It possession of these lands has have been the occasions in post- is becoming more and more clear to remained with the landlords and rich independence times that issue of them that the people in power want peasants. As per the agricultural material deprivation of dalits was a docile/pliable dalit polity which can census 2010-11, the SCs in Punjab, creately integrated with socio- dance to their tunes. They want who are a third of its population, cultural discrimination and political Ambedkar but not the real one but owned just 6.02% of the land marginaliation. Una has changed the his sanitised version. How much holdings and 3.2%of the land area picture. It has also raised many they are scared about real of the state. Of these operational unheard of slogans in the dalit Ambedkar and his ideas can be holdings also a large proportion movement. ‘Dalits of the World learnt from a decision of the Anandi (nearly 85%) are said to be unviable Unite’, ‘Workers of the World Unite’ Patel led government. It literally due to the small size of less than 5 or ‘Jai Bhim’, ‘Lal Salam’ and Jai dumped four lakh copies of hectares. Savitribai’. (https:// Ambedkar’s biography which it had www.youtube.com/ printed for massive distribution as Since 2014, the Dalit peasantry watch?v=9jqgA75o5PE) the author of the book had also organized under the banner of ZPSC included 22 vows which Ambedkar (Zameen Prapti Sangharsh Samiti) Analysts have rightly put it that recited with his followers at the time and holding its red flag with the dalit movement in recent times has of conversion to Buddhism. blazing sun firmly aloft, has begun largely remained limited/focussed on to assert their claim over what is what can be called issue of ‘Identity/ And this realisation has given rise rightfully theirs. These lands used to Asmita’ but Una marks a new to a tremendous reaction. Ranging be auctioned to dummy candidates beginning where issue of ‘existence/ from the successful campaign of landlords; a gaushala in Sangrur astitva’ has also come to the fore. against derecognition of Ambekdar district has been given land for 30 Possibly gone are the days when Periyar Study Circle active in years at the rate of Rs 7000 an acre ‘victimhood’ was highlighted or Chennai IIT by the management by the Akali-BJP Govt. of the state rhetoric of ‘Brahminism down-down’ (https://kafila.org/2015/06/05/no-to- whereas the price for Dalits is over was repeated ad nauseam and a ambedkar-periyar-in-modern-day- Rs 20,000 an acre. This spreading JANATA, September 11, 2016 11 struggle in districts of South Punjab section of Dalit masses - for various bulldoze every element of dalit has been met with police and reasons - towards BJP was an assertion - the battle lines have been landlord repression, false FIRs important factor in its ascent to finally drawn. against ‘unknowns’ but the struggle power in the year 2014, this growing rages on like a spreading blaze. assertion of dalits is a proof that they And the unfolding Dalit Uprising cannot be hoodwinked anymore. has added new lustre to it. (https://nbsdelhi.wordpress.com/ With the real agenda of these ( *translated from original 2016/08/24/hail-the-assertion-by- Hindutva Supremacists out in the Gujarati by G K Vankar, http:// landless-dalits-of-punjab-and- open - which is witnessed not only roundtableindia.co.in/lit-blogs/ gujarat-of-their-right-to-land-land-to- in its attacks on right to life and right ?tag=sahil-parmar) the-tiller-key-to-annihilating-caste/) to livelihood of every exploited and marginalised section but also in its Peoples Media Advocacy & If the unexpected shift of a hurry to co-opt Ambedkar but Resource Centre

Western Railway Employees Union Grant Road Station Building (E), MUMBAI – 400 007.

WREU, the oldest trade unions in the country, earlier known as BB&CI Railway Employees’ Union, is in the services of Railway men since 1920. WREU, a free, independent and democratic trade union, is a founder member of AIRF and HMS.

WREU fought for upliftment of railway men and their family in particular and labour class in general for the last 94 yea.rs. WREU/AIRF is instrumental in creation of PNM, grievance solving machinery in 1951, payment of PLB to Railway men since 1979, implementation of series of Cadre Restructuring in Group ‘C’ and ‘D’ categories in Indian Railways, implementation of recommendations of the 4th, 5th and 6th CPCs with modifications and RELHS Scheme for Railway men.

WREU was led by prominent trade union leaders, viz. late Miss. Maniben

Kara, Late Com. Jagdish Ajmera, Late Com. Umraomal Purohit, Late Com. Chandrashekar Menon, etc. In memory of late Maniben Kara, WREU established a charitable trust namely “Maniben Kara Foundation” with the objective of lighting against the evils of the society.

Apart from trade union activities, various non-bargaining activities such as organizing Health Check-up Camps, Blood Donation Camps, Family Planning Camps, Anti-Dowry campaigns, HIV-AIDS Awareness Campaigns, Safety Seminars, Trade Union Education Class,’ Adult Education, Guidance Camp, etc. are conducted for the benefits of the railway men and the general public. 12 JANATA, Septrember 11, 2016 Neoliberal assault on knowledge: education reduced to acquisition of ‘skills’.

Madhu Prasad

The formal adoption of the (NFE), as a low-cost alternative to significant limitations to the neoliberal reforms programme by the be treated as ‘equivalent to “enforceable right” restricted it to Government of India (GOI) in 1991 schooling’ for the working poor, the children between 6 to 14 years of had a far more pervasive impact on marginalized and children in “difficult age and provided for education only the education system and policy than circumstances”. When the Supreme “as the State may, by law, is usually recognized. The Court in its 1993 judgement determine”. The limitations allowed commercialization and marketization (Unnikrishnan vs the State of a retreat from the original of education put it outside the grasp Andhra Pradesh) stated that the constitutional responsibility and of the majority of India’s population, constitutional Directive Principle 45 denied millions of children access to 78 per cent of whom were living on should be read in conjunction with quality education. The RTE Act 2009 less than twenty rupees per day Article 21, it established that the right legalized the inequity. (Arjun Sengupta Committee report), to education flowed from the and altered the concepts of fundamental right to life thereby A genuine right to education law knowledge, education and its converting “the obligation created by would have encompassed curricular content. the article (45) into an enforceable completely free and compulsory right”. This required the 86th Early Childhood Care and Education The democratic deficit was the Constitutional amendment in 2002, (ECCE) and, following the adoption most obvious feature of the National which was tailor-made to coincide of the 10+2 system, extended up to Policy of Education (NPE 86-92). It with neoliberal dictates to reduce Class XII thus covering all children introduced non-formal education public spending on education. Two from 0 to 18 years. 1 It must be emphasized that this is has the right to the fullest appropriately situated and to ensure no left-wing revolutionary demand. development of his abilities and that no child fails to attend school.” From the mid-nineteenth century society wrongs individuals twice Modern states regard education as onwards, in industrializing nations the over when it makes ignorance a a legal duty, not merely as a right: responsibility for providing education necessary consequence of poverty.” “parents are required to send their had been taken up by modern states (Marx–Engels Collected Works Vol. children to school, children are that arose with the rise and 4. P 253). required to attend school and the state consolidation of capitalism to fulfill is required to enforce compulsory the productive and ‘democratic’ Emphasizing that no country had education.” The state is bound to needs of Capital for a better successfully ended child labour protect children from the educated and ‘free’ labour force. without first making education compulsions on impoverished Engels had upheld the rationale of compulsory, American political parents and from would-be the demand during a speech theorist Myron Weiner also noted exploiters. (“India’s Case Against delivered at Elberfeld in February that Asian States which made Compulsory Education”, Seminar, 1845: The “general education of all education compulsory - Japan in 413 (January). P 83-86) children without exception at the 1872, the two Koreas, Taiwan and expense of the state – an education China after WWII - were all poor Independent India’s first which is equal for all and continues when they undertook the task. Their Education Commission (1964-66), until the individual is capable of development was founded on the D.S. Kothari Commission, emerging as an independent member successfully taking up “the legal examined the failure to achieve the of society. . . would be only an act obligation of the state to provide an Constitutional goal of education for of justice. . . . for clearly, every man adequate number of schools, all up to the age of 14 years by 1960. JANATA, September 11, 2016 13

It recommended far-reaching recently been reiterated in a enterprises’, this ‘education’ policy structural changes for setting up a landmark judgement of the will reinforce caste distinctions and national system of free and Allahabad High Court (August 18, ensure that the majority of India’s compulsory education through 2015). children from oppressed and schools of comparable quality. This marginalized sections will be could not be left to private institutions Achieving universal access to condemned to a childhood of labour. like the elite schools “transplanted education was recognized as not just in India by British administrators and a question of reaching a numerical This outcome is not accidental. It we have clung to it so long because target. It could not be divorced from follows from the neoliberal policies it happened to be in tune with the its democratic content and purpose. of marketization of education as a traditional hierarchical structure of However, Indian capital had aligned ‘private good’, and of knowledge as our society. Whatever its place in with sections of the feudal a tradable `commodity’ or `service’, past history may be, such a system landowning elite and accommodated that have been pursued by has no valid place in the new with Brahmanical ideology which successive governments for more democratic and socialistic society we sanctioned harshly exploitative caste than two decades. Since the 1970’s desire to create.” (1.38) divisions among the toiling masses. `neoliberalism’ has emerged as the This allowed both classes to gain `solution’ favoured by international The report strongly advocated the economically and politically but it finance capital to recover from the establishment of state-funded was at the expense of the ruin of severity of its recurring economic common neighbourhood schools with the majority of peasants, artisans, crises. Public funds are diverted a socially, culturally and tribals and working people. Having through Public Private Partnerships economically diverse student body failed to break out of the vicious (PPP) to allow “opening up” of the as the authentic institution of a cycle of inequality the goal of entire range of human activities to pedagogically sound and egalitarian universalizing school education could penetration by private capital. This national system of education which never be achieved. The education imposes a heavy burden on the most would “provide `good’ education to system inevitably sank into deep vulnerable sections of society and all children because sharing life with crisis which was aggravated each has a very negative impact on the common people is, in our time a policy decision further education, health, employment and opinion, an essential ingredient of narrowed access with multi-track job security, food security, housing good education.” (10.19). Echoing discriminatory arrangements and provision of public utilities. its logic, The Report of the (alternate schools, multi-grade Production and consumption by the Committee of Members of teaching, education guarantee masses are kept under tight control Parliament on Education (1967) centres, use of contractual and para- through “austerity measures” and asserted that “the unhealthy social teachers, the RTE Act 2009). the modern `welfare’ state of the 20th segregation that now takes place Century is transformed. People’s between the schools for the rich The present regime’s proposed control over their own lives shrinks and those for the poor should be National Policy of Education 2016 as corporations take over decision- ended; and the primary schools (NEP 2016) promises to accelerate making in the name of “efficiency” should be the common schools of this process. Amendments to the and “professional management”. the nation by making it obligatory on already flawed RTE 2009 will allow all children, irrespective of caste, for ‘alternate’ schools which do not However, unlike knowledge, creed, community, religion, ‘require’ the basic infrastructural and commodities are produced primarily economic conditions or social status, pedagogical norms laid down in the for exchange for profit rather than to attend the primary school in their Act, limit the no-detention policy to for any intrinsic value. In highly neighbourhood. This sharing of life lower primary (class V) and developed systems of commodity among the children of all social vocationalize the elementary production like capitalism all market strata will strengthen the sense of curriculum in targeted areas. Dove- exchanges are affected by being one nation which is an tailed into the Skill Development scarcities, monopolies, manipulated essential ingredient of good program and the amended child tastes and more or less accidental education.”(Government of India labour law which now permits under variations in supply and demand. 1967: p 2). This principle has 14-year-olds to work in ‘family Thus the ‘commodification of 14 JANATA, Septrember 11, 2016 knowledge’ would appear to be a framework of skill acquisition. favourable. When they are contradiction in terms unless “Competencies” and “outcomes” are unfavourable, during periods of knowledge is degraded to the units to be monitored, measured, recession and slow growth as they ‘acquisition of skills’ required for graded and readied for the market. are now, this work-force will become ‘services’ that are available in the The purpose of education is the Capital’s essential buffer, the market. grooming of ‘human resource’ to “reserve army of labour” that keeps create a work-force that will enter wages low, jobs contractual, and The entire terminology of the NEP the market-place as and when supply workers afraid to unionize and fight 2016 is devised within the and demand movements are for their legitimate democratic rights. 2

The failure to universalize The World Trade Organization capital markets which generate the elementary and secondary education (WTO) and the General Agreement maximum jobs and the biggest was used to propagate the idea of on Trade in Services (GATS) made salaries. Neoliberalism has altered higher education as an ‘elite’ their entry into the arena of higher the focus of syllabi from values of privilege and a ‘non-merit good’ education. Prof. Nigvekar, then critical-thinking to “skills” such as undeserving of public subsidies. UGC Chairperson, articulated GOI’s “teamwork,” “communication” and From 1998 institutions of Higher position that education had become “leadership.” The language and ethic Education (IHE) were advised to “a tradeable product and knowledge of the corporate world sends out the “raise their own resources by raising has become commodified”. In wrong message that education must the fee levels, encouraging private countries like India, GATS equip individuals with marketable donations and by generating regulations will negatively impact skills, and that the ultimate goal is revenues through consultancy and educational access, impose one “productivity”. Unfortunately, other activities.”The millennium year model of private, commercial and influenced by policy makers and the 2000 was a water-shed year for the import-oriented education, weaken media, even students, parents, and higher education sector in India. The national systems due to foreign society at large have begun to Ambani-Birla Report, entitled A competition and effect domestic accept education as a “private good” Policy Framework for Reforms in regulation and authority. Yet, despite so that both `providers’ and Education, was authored by growing opposition, an offer made `consumers’ adopt a market prominent industrialists and produced in 2005 to put higher education on perspective by viewing education as by then Prime Minister Vajpayee’s the WTO-GATS table as a tradable a means to recoup investments made Council on Trade and Industry! It service was not withdrawn at the either in providing or in acquiring it. explicitly stated that privatization and recent Tenth Ministerial Conference commercialization were the chief held in December 2015 at Nairobi. All over the world disciplines and instruments for reform in higher areas of research that are education and that the ‘user-pays’ Commercialization of education foundational to innovative systems of principle would ensure profits for provides autonomy to capital by knowledge depend significantly on investors. With its companion Model opening up a market for investment state funding and philanthropic Act (2003) prepared by UGC, it as knowledge is now a key support. Replacing this with profit- demanded restructuring of higher component in economic development oriented enterprise means that these education on the model of market- but its impact on the academic disciplines suffer deterioration and oriented enterprises promoting community is decidedly anti- the critical and transformational corporate values. Shelved because democratic and has grave purpose of educational institutions of strong opposition from consequences for the very declines. As they become more academicians and teachers and conception of education as a public financially autonomous but less students unions, its basic features good. The privately-borne high cost socially accountable ‘producers of continue to provide the framework of education shrinks the range and graduates and research outputs’, the within which higher education influence of subjects and courses most important objective of these policies are conceived and sought to that are not directly linked to the ‘entrepreneurial institutions’ is to be legislated today. demands of national and international generate profits. JANATA, September 11, 2016 15

Education serves a broad public The `excellence’ of education is (MichelHenry,Barbarism.2012.P121). purpose as it critically conceptualizes measured by exorbitant fees Market orientation encourages values and goals for national because market logic dictates that certain qualities in individuals but development and for strengthening those who pay more, get more; those may be indifferent, or even opposed civil society. Both are necessary who pay less, should expect less and to the general development and components of Indian society’s those who lack resources should articulation of critical faculties. With unfinished agenda of democratic simply be brushed aside. today’s `common-sense’ reflecting transformation. The impact of the neoliberal redefinition of the neoliberal policy on educational “To limit knowledge to what will individual, no longer a productive institutions in general, but particularly actually be put into practice. . .is social being or citizen but an on IHE’s, threatens their very the deliberate reduction of one’s economically autonomous fiction, the existence as environments fostering being to the condition of a cog in `consumer’, this obvious truth can the process of “educating oneself”. the techno-economic machine.” become blurred. 3 On campuses across the country, ‘sons’ have the ‘duty’ to defend her. examination to arrive at truths or protests against privatization, curbing Within this Hindu majoritarian search for alternate avenues of democratic rights of students and conception, ‘others’ are second class knowledge. This is exactly the faculty, and in support of social justice citizens restricted by the will of a self- conception of knowledge promoted have been called “anti-national” by appointed governing class, the by votaries of the instrumentalist view the present regime. But here we are ‘Hindus’. But ‘Hindus’ themselves of commercialized education. The confronted with opposing concepts are defined as those who exemplify degree holder has to be packaged in of nation and nationhood. The first, the ideology of the Sangh Parivar! a way that conforms to the generated through collective The ‘nationalism’ of the Sangh requirements of the market. The struggle, finds expression in the civil Parivar is fundamentally anti- training which is `valued’ makes liberties and equal rights protected democratic and anti-constitutional. workers fiercely competitive in by the Constitution. These liberties relation to fellow workers, but docile and rights are enabling conditions for On July 27, 2016 HRD Minister in dealings with superiors. an on-going politics of democratically Javadekar held a closed-door six-hour negotiated nationalism. long meeting with the RSS and its The communalization of education, affiliates including ABVP to discuss like the commercialization and The opposing Hindutva concept is how NEP 2016 could “instill commoditization of education a communal-patriarchal construct, an nationalism, pride and ancient Indian generates an anti-democratic socio- ideological imposition that seeks to values in modern education.” political environment in which discipline the ‘other’ by Conformism and a slavish mentality neoliberal capitalism flourishes. communalization, marginalization, bred by indoctrination in a particular Strong fascistic tendencies surface dispossession. Symbolized as Bharat ideology is sought to be cultivated in governments that aggressively Mata, the nation is identified as a through the curriculum with no space advocate neoliberal economic woman in need of defense. Her Hindu for critical reasoning and rigorous policies. Footprints of A Crusader (The Life Story of Mrunal Gore)

by Rohini Gawankar

Published by Kamalakar Subhedar, Secretary, Samata Shikshan Sanstha, Pareira Wadi, Mohili Village, Sakinaka, Ghatkopar(W), Mumbai 400072. Mobile: 9820092255 / Contribution: Rs.300+ R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, September 11, 2016 Postal Registration No. MCW/275/2015-2017. License to Post without prepayment WPP License No. MH/Tech/WPP-210/West/2016 Published on Sunday, September 11, 2016 & Posted on Wedenesday September 14, 2016 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO- 1

An infrastructure company established since 1924

REGD. OFFICE :

New Excelsior Building, (3rd Floor), A. K. Nayak Marg, Fort, Mumbai 400 001. Tel.: 022 2205 1231 Fax : 022-2205 1232

Office : Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai & New Delhi Established 1946 Price : Rupees Five Pages 16

Vol. 71 No. 34 Parivar of anti-social elemrnts September 18, 2016 Sandeep Pandey

When pushed to the corner after Sangh Parivar, has been repeatedly some dalits were flogged in Una, used by Modi to serve his political Scene of linguistic chauvinism Gujarat for skinning dead cows purpose. Kuldip Nayar which resulted in a political storm that cost the chief ministership of In Varanasi the late Socialist Anandi Ben Patel, a Narendra Modi leader Jayaprakash Narayan Behind the Debate nominee, the Prime Minister came established a Gandhian Institute of on GM Mustard up with a startling statement that 70- Studies in 1962. JP ran it for 16 years Bharat Dogra 80 per cent cow vigilantes were anti- from funds personally raised by him. social elements and that they had set When Janata Party came to power, up shops in the name of cow the Central and the UP governments JNU Elections protection. Modi added that cow jointly took responsibility for running Kuldeep Kumar vigilantes made him angry. the institution. However, with Murali Manohar Joshi as the HRD minister, Modi made this statement after the funds were stopped and a lady Amnesty Report on Kashmir : keeping mum on such incidents Professor Kusumlata Kedia, Neha Dabhade which have been going on almost for associated with RSS, slowly a year beginning with the killing of encroached upon the property. The Mohammed Akhlaq in September, judicial process was influenced to get Bhumi Adhikar Andolan 2015, in which people have either a governing council, consisting of been killed or beaten on the suspicion members who had nothing to do with of eating beef or taking cows for Gandhian thought, established after slaughter houses. Sangh Parivar the registration of the society knows that Modi’s statement is for responsible for running the institute Editor : public consumption. He is probably was cancelled. Gandhian Institute of G. G. Parikh angry because these incidents have Studies ceased functioning and RSS now become an irritant for him as took over. Sanskrit Bharti, a Sangh Managing Editor : Guddi they hurt his political cause. Parivar organisation, started running Sanskrit classes. D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Modi invoked Gandhi and Vinoba Naushir Bharucha Marg, Bhave to say that people should not Muniza Rafique Khan, Registrar Mumbai - 400 007. take law into their hands to disturb of the GIS, has been involved in the harmony. It is strange that Gandhi, long drawn struggle to save the Email : [email protected] who is otherwise not tolerated by institute. She has received a threat 2 JANATA, Septrember 18, 2016 on 3rd September from one Jagdish, Scene of linguistic chauvinism a teacher of the Sanskrit classes held on campus, on behalf of Sanskrit Bharti on its letter head, saying that Kuldip Nayar she may have to pay with interest inside her home for the media Horrors of partition came to my both states had been at each other’s campaign she is running against mind when I saw television beaming throat. So, what is happening in Sanskrit Bharti, an international pictures of rioting and killing in Bengaluru today is a mere repetition. organisation, accusing it of illegally Bengaluru. It was the same way I occupying the Gandhian Institute. felt when partition took place and we, But what is the way out? the people living in the newly- Nobody can challenge the It appears that Sanskrit Bharti, in constituted state of Pakistan, had to Supreme Court’s decision, but the addition to teaching Sanskrit, is also leave our home and hearth to migrate problem can be solved by sitting in the business of issuing threats and to India. across the table and arriving at a taking law into their own hands. The solution, particularly when anti-social nature of the person who I never imagined that a people’s emotions are involved. wrote this threat is obvious. cosmopolitan city like Bengaluru Since the river water dispute could be the scene of linguistic between Karnataka and Tamil This is the modus operandi of chauvinism, which would go to the Nadu is a sensitive issue, I recall most of Sangh Parivar outfits. extent of killing ofTamils by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Probably what Narendra Modi Kannadas. Leading IT firms Vajpayee’s idea of evolving a inadvertently said about Gau preferred to open their offices there consensus to handle the issue. Rakshaks applies to the whole of because they considered the city Sangh Parivar. They don’t believe liberal and peaceful. If someone had Knowledgeable circles have been in democracy or dialogue. They asked me at that time that such scene warning the nation against the believe in using violence to subdue could be repeated at a place like dangerous consequences of letting their opponent. They don’t care Bengaluru, I would have said: No the river water dispute linger on. about the law and order, the judiciary and never. Karnataka’s unilateral decision to or the Constitution of this country. abrogate all the inter-state river Yet this has happened because the water agreements has created a In another incident at Banaras people known to be liberal were situation, the like of which the nation Hindu University on 6th August, 2016 swept off their feet over appeals in has not experienced. And to cap it Professor J.P. Rai of the Law the name of parochialism. Fortunately, all, all chief ministers of the states Department rained lathis over Tamil Nadu chief minister J. have been indulging in a slanging protesting students along with the Jayalalithaa’s determination not to match, which does not go well with security personnel indicating the reign allow similar incidents happening in the idea of a federal structure which of terror that the administration has the state prevented any reprisals. She the Indian constitution demands. unleashed on campus. These rightly deserves the kudos for students were protesting the filing of handling the problem before it could Needless to say, it is difficult to fake case against nine students under assume a proportion leading to find a consensus on the sharing of section 307 of IPC without any indiscriminate violence. river waters than on any other evidence. The nine students were subject. The protracted war of among those who sat on fast earlier There is a long-standing dispute nerves between the two states on to demand reverting to the previous between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu the sharing of Cauveri waters is a arrangement of opening the cyber on sharing of the Cauvery water. case in point. Consensus can be library 24 hours and were suspended This is not the first time that evolved only when political parties by the university administration. The Karnataka has refused to abide by rise above their parochial interests Vice Chancellor G.C. Tripathi is the Supreme Court verdict on the to use their vision to make water into against the all night opening of cyber amount of water to be released to a factor that unites our country. They library as he believes that students Tamil Nadu. Earlier, whenever such need to have the necessary will to (Continued on Page 4) a situation had arisen, the people of achieve this noble goal. It is not JANATA, September 18, 2016 3 impossible to find a formula Behind the Debate on GM Mustard protecting the interests of both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Bharat Dogra I had always thought our real problem was population. I did mention this to an American Nobel There has been a fiercely Panel (ISP) have drawn this Prize winner who contradicted me contested debate on the possibility conclusion after studying various and said: “Your problem is going to relating to the introduction of a aspects of GM crops, “GM crops be water.” We were discussing the genetically modified (GM) variety of have failed to deliver the promised ordeals that India would face in the mustard which is called the benefits and are posing escalating years to come. Our views did not transgenic mustard hybrid DMH-11. problems on the farm. ....GM crops tally even after a long discussion. Very powerful interests are at work should be firmly rejected now.” What happened at Latur in just now to ensure that this variety In his widely acclaimed book Maharashtra some time ago has gets approval in the near future to ‘Genetic Roulette’ Jeffrey M. Smith renewed the American’s warning to become the first GM food crop has summarised the results of a lot of me. He had also given me an variety of India. research on the health hazards of GM optimistic side: There is an ocean of Although this particular variety is crops/food, “Lab animals tested with water under Yamuna-Gangetic plan supposed to have been developed by GM foods had stunted growth, waiting to be tapped. I wonder if this university scientists, lobbyists of impaired immune systems, bleeding is true. Had it been so, the world’s biggest multinational stomachs, abnormal and potentially government would have done a companies who had earlier tried their precancerous cell growth in the scientific study by this time to best to get approval for Bt brinjal are intestines, impaired blood cell estimate the collected water. I have now no less active to somehow ensure development, misshapen cell not heard of any such plan so far. that GM mustard is approved. The structures in the liver, pancreas, and India has seven major rivers— reason is well-known and the game testicles, altered gene expression and the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Indus, is well understood by these powerful cell metabolism, liver and kidney Narmada, Krishna, Godavari and and well-connected lobbyists who lesions, partially astrophied livers, Cauveri—and numerous tributaries. have penetrated deep into decision inflamed kidneys, less developed New Delhi has set up the Central making and influencing circles. brains and testicles, enlarged livers, Water and Power Commission to pancreases, and intestines, reduced It is well understood by all of them have a systematic plan to harness digestive enzymes, higher blood sugar, that it is only a matter of first getting not only water but also generate inflamed lung tissue, increased death the door opened somehow for GM power. This has worked to a large rates, and higher offspring mortality.” food crops and then it is only the extent but in certain parts of India multinational companies who will get In a review of recent trends titled the fallout has been a series of the main benefits as the entire GM ‘Food Without Choice’ Prof. Pushpa disputes which even after decades technology is heavily concentrated M. Bhargava (who was nominated remain unsolved. Nearer home, in the hands of a few multinational by the Supreme Court of India in the Haryana, then part of Punjab, has companies at the world level. Genetic Engineering Approval refused to release water to Committee to protect safety Rajasthan and Delhi. This goes Eminent scientists who have concerns), internationally acclaimed contrary to the stand New Delhi had examined the technology of authority on this subject, drew taken when the Indus Water Treaty genetically engineered (GE) or pointed attention to the “ attempt by was signed. At that time we argued genetically modified (GM) crops a small but powerful minority to that we wanted more water have come to a clear conclusion that propagate genetically modified (GM) because we had to irrigate it is a highly hazardous and risky crops to serve their interests and Rajasthan, which has a large part of technology. For example eminent those of multinational corporations desert. scientists from several countries who (MNCs) (read the US), the (Continued on Page 5) comprise the Independent Science bureaucracy, the political setup and 4 JANATA, Septrember 18, 2016 a few unprincipled and unethical These wider aspects of the debate alarming facts relating to the scientists and technologists who can on GM crops should also be kept in problems in the testing process and be used as tools.” Further he has mind to understand the wider the serious lapses in the regulatory warned, “The ultimate goal of this implications of the possible approval process and organisation where attempt in India of which the leader of GM Mustard for which such high specific examples of conflict of is Monsanto, is to obtain control over pressure lobbying is being done at interest have been pointed out. It Indian agriculture and thus food present. appears that those who are a part production. With 60 per cent of our of the GM lobby have themselves population engaged in agriculture and It is heartening to know that been given a decision making role! living in villages, this would several scientists as well as In such conditions the role of essentially mean not only a control organizations of farmers, independent and aware citizens’ over our food security but also over environmentalists as well as social groups becomes even more our farmer security, agricultural activists have come forward to important in protecting public security and security of the rural warn about the dangers of GM interests relating to health, sector.” mustard. They have pointed out environment and livelihoods.

(Continued from Page 2) watch pornography in late night and The day may not be far when the university authorities are oblivious early morning hours. It just goes to attending RSS shakhas may be made to the ongoing struggle. RSS is also show how far removed the VC may compulsory for students and lathi known to be insensitive to human have been from any kind of academic wielding skill may be considered a suffering unless it can get them activity during his career. Such moral pre-requisite for faculty recruitment. political advantage. policing in an institution of higher With a RSS VC at the helm of affairs learning is ridiculous. The university such things are not completely The anti-social nature of the authorities have dragged the names inconceivable. Professor G.C. Tripathi, BHU VC, of protesting students, in an incident is also obvious. of brawl among another set of The RSS has either completely students and medical doctors on shut down progressive institutions e-mail: [email protected] campus, to intimidate them. One of like the Gandhian Institute of Studies them Vishnu Yadav was participating or is interfering in subtle ways like Janata Subscription in a NCC tournament at Amroha on at BHU. Overall, it has destroyed the date of incident. Similarly, the the academic culture of our other eight were also not present on institutions and is imposing its the site of brawl. Clearly, the ideology through people, legally or Annual Rs. : 260/- university is being vindictive towards illegally, thrust upon these dissenting students. institutions. The atmosphere of Three Years : 750/- serious teaching and research is A university professor taking to getting affected as the academic Demand Draft / Cheque lathi over students protesting for their community is expected to toe the on democratic rights is an unusual thing. RSS agenda. The RSS doesn’t want Not if you’re at BHU. The Rashtriya thinking individuals, it wants obedient Mumbai Bank Swayamsewak Sangh associated citizens. VC has given preference to RSS in favour of affiliated persons in hiring and other Some daily wagers are sitting on things. Sanskrit Bharti is running the BHU main gate in support of Sanskrit classes on campus and RSS their demand to make them regular shakhas are common. Since lathi according to a resolution adopted in JANATA TRUST wielding is part of RSS tradition, it an Executive Council meeting of the D-15, Ganesh Prasad, should not come as a surprise that a university in 1997. It has been over Naushir Bharucha Marg, professor displayed his latent talent 70 days and a few workers have Mumbai 400 007 in this field publicly. also started an indefinite fast. But JANATA, September 18, 2016 5 Withdraw the Yash Bharti Award to Dr. Gandhi

Praveen Srivastava

Yash Bharti is the highest state- society in Class 1 and Nursery as 2011. Despite the order of the Court, level award conferred by the per the provisions of the Right of CMS did not admit these students Government of Uttar Pradesh for Children to Free and Compulsory immediately. In July, 2016, the excellence in literature, fine arts, Education (RTE) Act, 2009. Supreme Court of India rebuked classical music, folk music and CMS when it had filed a petition sports. In addition to Prize Money CMS authorities misbehaved with before the Court to transfer these of 11 lakhs, the Government of Uttar 31 parents when they approached 13 students to some other school. Pradesh provides Rs 50,000 monthly the school on April 16, 2015 after the pension to the recipients of Yash deadline for admission completion This year also, CMS has refused Bharti. passed. Aggrieved and devastated, to admit 58 students belonging to parents staged a peaceful protest socially and economically In March 2014, the Government outside the school, led by Magsaysay disadvantaged groups under S. 12 of of Uttar Pradesh announced the Awardee, Dr. Sandeep Pandey. RTE Act, 2009. name of Dr. Jagdish Gandhi, Founder-Manager of City When ordered by Basic Shiksha The real face of Dr. Jagdish Montessori School, as a recipient of Adhikari of Lucknow to admit these Gandhi has got exposed as he is the Yash Bharti Award stating that students, the school through its violating the fundamental right of he has contributed remarkably to the Founder Manager challenged the education as enshrined under Article field of education. same before the Lucknow Bench of 21A of the Indian Constitution. Allahabad High Court. However, Dr. Jagdish Gandhi is Therefore, in light of these facts, not an educationist in the real sense. Vide order dated 6.8.2015, the it is necessary that the Government In 2015, Dr. Jagdish Gandhi’s City Court ordered CMS to admit 13 of Uttar Pradesh should withdraw Montessori School (CMS, Lucknow) students in the respective classes for the Yash Bharti Award given to Dr. had refused to admit 31 students the academic session 2015-16 Jagdish Gandhi. Continuance of the belonging to socially and adhering to the provisions of the RTE Award to Dr. Jagdish Gandhi is an economically deprived sections of Act, 2009 and the UP RTE Rules insult to the country and its people.

(Continued from Page 3) Unfortunately, several However, the situation is living together for hundreds of years incongruities are responsible for inter- different in the south. Both became strangers soon after partition state water disputes. Even after 70 Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are ruled and had no compunction even in years of independence, the disputes by parties other than the BJP. New raping women. They were facing on are far from settled. When the Delhi should have stepped in long a large scale the situation which Congress ruled both at the Centre ago. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are and in the states, the problems never who claims to have united different encountering on a small scale today. assumed an ugly shape. The Bhartiya parts of the country into one unit Sometimes I shudder that the disputes Janata Party (BJP), which then only looks distant from the problem that among the states may take the shape commanded a few Lok Sabha Karnataka and Tamil Nadu face. of some kind of partition. When members, did not count much. It is a His statements have been general. friends and neighbours could different scenario today. Now that it What is needed is tackling of the suddenly become strangers because has a majority in parliament, the party country’s problem arising out of they pursued a different religion, what sees to it that the states run by it get language, border or water. the Kannadas did on the streets of the maximum benefit, rules or no Bengaluru could well be a page from rules. Hindus and Muslims who were the history of partition. 6 JANATA, Septrember 18, 2016 Why the left shouldn’t get too comfortable after its JNU victory

Kuldeep Kumar

The central message of the wrote, “Jawahar Lal Nehru given the government the best Jawaharlal Nehru University promoted higher educational and opportunity to shut it down for ever, Students’ Union (JNUSU) elections research institutions as factories of cut its financial losses, and get rid of is that the ‘Stand With JNU’ socialist ideology which could provide a factory that produces only spongers campaign has decisively defeated the intellectual input for his and later and malcontents.” He mocked the the ‘Shut Down JNU’ campaign. The Indira Gandhi’s social and economic agitating students by describing them latter, which was launched by agenda.” as “subsidy-deprived.” saffron pseudo-nationalists and their fellow travellers, wanted to destroy The article was written by It was very clear that JNU was one of the finest universities in the somebody who claimed that he had facing a very well-strategised attack country merely because it offended studied at JNU and had “often heard from all sides – JNUSU officer their sensibilities – JNU’s emphasis JNU professors discuss means and bearers were arrested along with on the freedom of thought, the measures to undermine national unity some other students, BJP lawyers academic excellence that results and culture at events organised by physically attacked JNU students, from such freedom, the institution’s anti-national organisations”. His teachers and media persons inside democratic culture of discussion and experiences made him realise that Patiala House, home minister debate and the ideological hegemony “JNU is home to a large chunk of Rajnath Singh commented on the of the Left were all too much for anti-national groupings which have need for tough action against ‘anti- the ‘Shut Down JNU’ wallahs. the singular aim of disintegrating national’ elements, and Smriti Irani, India.” who was human resources The RSS, through its publications, development minister at the has been attacking JNU and its liberal The arrests and sedition charges time, and vice-chancellor Jagadesh intellectual culture for a long time, failed to dampen the fighting spirit Kumar’s attitude towards these making the same allegations that of JNU’s students and teachers and events had the university surrounded were levelled against the university they began staging by criticism. after the events of February 9, when protests, aligning with Dalit students some people allegedly shouted anti- from Hyderabad University after The JNUSU elections took place India slogans at a public event. On Rohit Vemula’s suicide came to light. against this background. For many November 3, 2015 Firstpost quoted Very soon JNU’s critics launched on campus, it was clear that ABVP an article published in the latest issue a ‘Shut Down JNU’ campaign and its Hindutva-based brand of of RSS’ Hindi weekly through social and mainstream nationalism posed the greatest publication Panchajanya, that media. Surprisingly, the movement danger to the university’s culture of described JNU as an institute “where even received support from some free debates, discussions, nationalism is considered an BJP members who should have disagreements and intellectual offence”, Indian culture was known better given their educational independence. The way the media presented in a “distorted way” and backgrounds. For instance, BJP created a nationalist frenzy and “removal of Army from Kashmir is Rajya Sabha member Chandan portrayed JNU as a centre of sedition supported” besides various other Mitra, owner and chief editor of The made it even more imperative to “anti-national activities” taking place Pioneer group of publications, safeguard JNU’s distinctive there. started his career teaching history character by forging unity among its at Delhi University (DU) and has a democratic and secular forces. As I have previously written, Ph.D from Oxford University, but However, Left as well as non-Left Jawaharlal Nehru has always been still lent his support to this campaign. organisations were not able to look a hate figure for the RSS. Little Attacking JNU, he opined that “the beyond their organisational interests wonder then that Panchajanya self-destructive agitation at JNU has and focus on the single issue of JANATA, September 18, 2016 7 saving JNU as an institution. This should be united in this fight against call to them. The message is very resulted in AISA – the student wing fascist tendencies. clear to the victors as well as to other of the Communist Party of India organisations like the DSF, AISF, (Marxist-Leninist) – and SFI, which If one looks at the JNUSU BAPSA and SFS (Students for is linked to the CPI(M), entering into election results, it seems that the Swaraj). If they continue to fight an alliance without AISF, Kanhaiya ABVP has suffered a definitive among themselves and fail to forge Kumar’s parent organisation, which defeat. In their youthful enthusiasm, the broadest possible group against is the student wing of the Communist students even took out a funeral the ABVP, they will not be able to Party of India. Thus it was obvious procession for an ABVP effigy. repeat this feat in the future. There that all was not well in the Left camp. However, a closer look reveals that is a message for the ABVP too. In Similarly, Democratic Students’ the situation is not all that simple. The keeping with its ideology, it should Federation (DSF), a splinter group ABVP candidates for the office feel free to attack the Left and other of the SFI, too abstained from bearers’ posts have polled more than political adversaries, but refrain from joining the alliance. This made it 1,000 votes, that is between 20 to attacking the very institution where clear that the Left vote would split. 25% of the total votes polled. Had its members are studying. It brings AISA and SFI not come together, to mind the famous episode from The unity that was forged between ABVP could have easily won the Kalidasa’s life where he was cutting the Left and the Ambedkarites during election. It is obvious that their the branch of the very tree he was the many months of struggle also support base remains intact – even perched on. Is it a coincidence that amounted to little as the Birsa if it has not expanded after the the ABVP won the sole councillor’s Ambedkar Phule Students’ nationwide frenzy that was created seat from the Centre for Sanskrit Association (BAPSA) decided to by RSS and its affiliates and was Studies? confront the ‘savarnvad‘ (upper enthusiastically supported by casteism) of the Left by contesting dominant sections of the media. –The Wire on its own. BAPSA obviously wanted to take advantage of the An unusually high number of disarray in the Left camp. If the students have exercised their right ABVP played up the identity politics to not vote for any candidate and tick of Hindutva, BAPSA tried to NOTA on the ballot paper. In the articulate its Dalit identity, asserting case of the vice-presidential position, that only Dalits could understand the number went up to 415. It shows their own problems and get them that either these students are resolved. Convinced that it was apolitical or are so disappointed with going to win the elections, the two- the existing political formations on year-old organisation went to the campus that they do not wish to extent of equating red with saffron choose any of them. In a university and bracketing the Left organisations where the average political with ABVP for representing people consciousness of students is from the upper castes. supposedly much higher than other places, such indifference is highly Despite the grave challenges surprising. This should force student faced by JNU, Anand Kumar and activists of all hues to think about its Yogendra Yadav too put up causes. Left organisation should be candidates from their Swaraj more worried than others about this Abhiyan. In 1973, it was Kumar who phenomenon. brought all the anti-Left elements together under one umbrella The recently concluded JNUSU organisation called Free Thinkers. elections do not give any reason to This time too, he failed to appreciate the victorious Left organisations to that JNU was fighting for its survival gloat over their success. In fact these and all freedom-loving students results should serve as a wake-up 8 JANATA, Septrember 18, 2016 Amnesty Report on Kashmir : an attempt to uncover a narrative of denied justice

Neha Dabhade

An FIR was recently registered relatives in Kashmir when there are To elaborate the consequences of against Amnesty International India human rights violations and the role such a system, the Report narrates (AII) on charges of sedition and played by the security forces in this. the story of 17 year old Javaid other IPC sections. Amnesty The salient points of the Report are Ahmad Magray who disappeared on International India had organized a mentioned below. 30th April, 2003. His parents panel discussion which included searched high and low for him after Kashmiri Pandits and others. This The Amnesty Report begins with seeing bloodstains on the pavement discussion was a part of the defining the scale of human rights and security personnel outside the campaign supported by AII to violations in Kashmir that have been gate. The authorities at the army promote justice for victims of human perpetrated by security forces camp gave evasive answers as to rights violation in Jammu and personnel with glaring impunity. The the whereabouts of Javaid stating that Kashmir. The Kashmiri Pandits Report states that from 1990 to 2011, he was taken by them for present at the discussion chanted the Jammu and Kashmir state questioning until finally admitting that slogans hailing the Indian Army, government reportedly recorded a he was declared dead at the Soura which was met with pro-freedom total of over 43,000 people killed. Of Medical Institute. The parents found sloganeering by some of the youth those killed, 21,323 were said to be out that Javaid was wounded in an in the audience. Though AII clarified ‘militants’ 10 13,226 ‘civilians’ (those encounter with the army who that it doesn’t take any positions on not directly involved in the hostilities) claimed that Javaid was a militant. self determination with regards to killed by armed groups, 5,369 security When an inquiry was carried out by Kashmir, the government insisted force personnel killed by armed the District Magistrate, it was that the event is ‘anti-national’, like groups, and 3,642 “civilians” killed concluded that Javaid was not a the ABVP (Indian Express, 2016). by security forces. militant and the army’s version of the In the midst of the chaos and din killing was false. His parents wrote raised by the ABVP, the Report that This impunity is greatly accorded to the Ministry of Defence for Amnesty has published to uncover to the security forces by laws like sanction to prosecute the guilty the plight of Kashmiris in Jammu and Armed Forces Special Powers Act, officers under Section 7 of the Kashmir got sidelined if not 1990 (AFSPA) which gives them Jammu and Kashmir Armed Forces completely invisibilised. Kashmir sweeping powers that lead to Special Powers Act, 1990. After a today is like a war zone where on extrajudicial executions and other long and painful wait, in 2012 they one hand there is violence human rights violations. Section 7 of got a reply from the Ministry denying perpetrated by the militants and on the AFSPA makes it mandatory to permission to prosecute stating, the other hand, a strong presence of seek the prior sanction of Central and “…the individual killed was a militant the Indian Army and internal security State authorities in order to from whom arms and ammunition forces fighting against these prosecute any security force were recovered. No reliable and militants. There have been rising personnel in civilian courts. Under tangible evidence has been referred concerns on the excesses committed the pretext of protecting national to in the investigation report.” by the Army and internal security security, the excesses of the security forces against the citizens leading to forces go unchallenged. 96% of all Unfortunately this is not a stand- worst forms of human rights complaints brought against the army alone case where sanction to violations. The Report, published in in Jammu & Kashmir have been prosecute was denied. The practice 2015, is called “Denied” Failures in dismissed as “false and baseless” or of the Ministry of Defence and the Accountability in Jammu and “with other ulterior motives of Ministry of Home Affairs, which Kashmir. It outlines the obstacles maligning the image of Armed sanctions prosecutions of the army faced by the victims and their Forces”. and internal forces personnel JANATA, September 18, 2016 9 respectively, has been to either deny Principle 29 of the Updated Set of system in which there are four types sanction or remain silent on such principles for the protection and of court martials: general court- applications without citing any promotion of human rights through martial (GCM); district court-martial reason. The family members are not action to combat impunity also states: (DCM); summary general court- required to be informed about the “The jurisdiction of military tribunals martial (SGCM); and summary court status of the sanction, whether it is must be restricted solely to martial (SCM). In each type, granted or denied. They often specifically military offences members of the court martial are a assume that the sanction is denied. committed by military personnel, to part of the executive chain of This frustrating wait compels the the exclusion of human rights command, meaning that there is a relatives to give up the pursuit of violations, which shall come under notable lack of independence. justice which closes all avenues of the jurisdiction of the ordinary Court-martial proceedings are appeal. Most of the times, the domestic courts…” subject to judicial review under families are not even aware of the Article 32 of the Constitution of India procedures to apply for permission Similarly, with respect to (before the Supreme Court) and to prosecute. investigations, an inquiry that is Article 226 (before the High Court). conducted by the same authority Thus, it is theoretically possible to AFSPA by nature seems colonial, accused of the crime raises serious challenge the verdict of a court- where similar laws were used by the questions about the independence martial by filing a writ petition under British to preempt any legal and impartiality of those proceedings. either Article 32 or 226. However, challenge to their violence in India. International law requires that crimes there are no known instances of AFSPA is considered draconian in under international law be persons not subject to military law the light of opinions and investigated by an independent in Jammu and Kashmir challenging recommendations against it as authority, namely, an authority not court-martial decisions through writ expressed by committees constituted involved in the alleged violations. The petitions. by the State and also by UN Indian Army’s Human Rights Cell rapporteurs on violence against reported that as of 2011, it has Furthermore, the members have women; and on extrajudicial, dismissed over 96 percent of the no qualifications or legal training of summary or arbitrary executions. allegations of human rights violations courts, thereby jeopardizing the They have repeatedly pointed out brought against its personnel since prospects of justice. that AFSPA had bred a culture of 1993. The army had received 1,532 violence, especially against women, allegations of human rights violations In order to understand the and eroded the principle of (995 from Jammu and Kashmir, 485 implications of lack of independence transparency and accountability of from North-Eastern states, and 52 of military courts, the Report the state. The recommendations complaints from other states) out of narrates the story of range from review of the law to its which 1,508 were investigated, and Mushtaq. Mushtaq Ahmad Hajam repealment. 24 investigations remained pending was returning home after his prayers as of 2011. Out of a total of 995 at a local mosque in Nowhatta, Another important issue complaints of human rights violations Srinagar on the 17th of August 1990, highlighted by the Amnesty Report against the army in Jammu and where he was shot at by a CRPF is that since all cases are tried in Kashmir, 986 have been investigated constable, leaving him fatally military courts, civilians have limited by the army to date, while 9 wounded. An FIR was filed by the options to appeal against judgments investigations currently remain family members of Mushtaq. The of these courts. The Supreme pending. The army says it found that CRPF report, however, stated that Court’s extraordinary appellate 961 of these allegations were “false, the constable fired in “self-defence”, jurisdiction, the Special Leave baseless” through internal enquiries. though the police investigation Petition, is barred from reviewing In the 25 cases found to be “true,” it wanted to convict the constable decisions made by military courts says 129 army personnel were under Section 7 of the Armed Forces under the Constitution of India. This punished. (Jammu and Kashmir) Special problematizes the jurisdiction to try Powers Act in 1996. The CRPF court cases of human rights violations that The Report points out inherent of inquiry and the Central is vested with the military courts. defects within the military justice government have however been 10 JANATA, Septrember 18, 2016 reiterating time and again that no members guarded the body for more Subsequently, Ghulam filed a habeas criminal cases can be pressed on the than 15 hours to ensure that the army corpus writ in the High Court, and accused, and also that the case doesn’t take his picture and label him the court ordered a judicial enquiry. cannot be tried in civilian courts. a militant in front of the authorities. Ghulam and his family never got to Mushtaq’s family still awaits justice. What followed was a gruesome know the contents of the report. denial of justice, as the army refused Neither were they informed about According to the Report, the first to cooperate with the Sub-Divisional the outcome of the judicial obstacle is the reluctance of the Police Officer who had sent letters proceedings. They were offered police itself in filing of the complaints. to the Commanding Officer of the compensation to settle, but they did Furthermore, the police does not take 13 Rashtriya Rifles regarding the not. The investigation was then taken action until compelled to by the court details of the army personnel up by the State Home Department, and subsequently there are long involved in the operation on the which seeked the Centre’s drawn out cases. Sheila’s story 30th of June, 2013, repeatedly. This permission to execute two army elaborates this aspect. Sheila was uncooperative demeanour extended personnel, which was denied in allegedly subjected to torture and in case of the army officers and December 2011. All through this, sexual violence at the hands of the personnel too, who, despite being Ghulam’s family was kept out of the Deputy Superintendent of Police summoned for testifying, remained loop, and they eventually decided to who was investigating the death of absent from all scenarios of give up on the case. her neighbor. However, she investigation, eventually leading to experienced a lot of resistance from the police abandoning the After facing harassment and the police when she went to register investigation unfruitfully. trauma during the investigations as her complaint. Subsequently, the seen above, the lack of adequate Inspector General of police visited What is perhaps the most heart financial compensation to families her family and offered an amount of rending experience of the Kashmir adds insult to their injuries. Most of 200,000 rupees, and jobs for both of conflict is the plight of the relatives the times, the victims are the sole her brothers. She refused to accept and the families of those who breadwinners in the families. In spite these, fearing future harassment. disappear or become victims of of this fact, procedures for access The State Human Rights extrajudicial executions. Their quest to compensation remain weak. For Commission whom she approached for justice becomes painful when no instance, families are often in 2004 passed a judgement in 2008 information is given to relatives about intimidated by the concerned stating that compensation be the investigations. The police station authority to withdraw cases by provided to Sheila’s family and a refuses to divulge information to offering them compensation. Many police complaint be registered. relatives and most of the times don’t take compensation viewing it Neither of these recommendations officers don’t even meet them. as a tacit bargain to withdraw their were implemented, however. Ghulam Mohammad’s son Abdul cases. In addition, conditions are Hamid Dar was arrested on the placed on eligibility for financial relief The next obstacle comes in the 29th of December, 1995 by the army, like, not being involved in militancy form of lack of cooperation of the and they later confirmed he was which in the first place is the army and security forces with being held at the Sheeri camp in allegation to be proved. Another investigations by the police. This Baramulla. When he was allowed to condition is that the death certificate ranges from not being present for meet Abdul at Boniyar camp on the of the victim has to be furnished. This questioning, to not responding to 8th of January, they were allowed to is impossible in cases of enforced requests for the rosters of personnel see him from a distance, and his disappearances since the victims are involved in operations, records of body seemed to be propped up on a declared dead only after 7 years of weapons and ammunition used, etc. bench, unmoving. Ghulam believes the disappearance. This has led to justice being denied that his son was killed by the army to many. When Irfan Ganai and his and it disposed off his son’s body Recommendations: cousin Reyaz stepped out of house when the police station refused to to investigate a gunshot, fearing accept it. Ghulam tried filing an FIR · The provisions of prior sanction stolen cattle, a subsequently fired at Sheeri police station, but it was for prosecution from the State gunshot hit killed him. His family not filed until six months later. (Continued on Page 15) JANATA, September 18, 2016 11 Bhumi Adhikar Andolan

The Bhumi Adhikar Andolan growing attack on the minorities and for the fourth time. The withdrawal Convention extends its solidarity to sense of insecurity; massive political of the Bill from the Parliament is still the ongoing struggles within the unrest in certain parts of the country pending and we must remain vigilant Gujarat and resolved to work with demanding reservation for certain about it. them and work towards building a caste groups; and rights violations of more equitable and just society and the people in conflict areas due to Building on this political victory, people centre development. heavy militarisation and failure of the the convention deliberated upon State to find political solution, promote plethora of issues facing the country Three day long national democratic processes and undertake and made these observations, convention of the Bhumi Adhikar peace initiatives in wake of assertions, and put forth demands Andolan was held at Ahmedabsad provocations by the non-state actors. upon the government and also for its in the wake of the increased attack own constituency. of the global capital unleashed by The convention agreed that it was brazen corporatisation and unbridled after a long drawn struggle and 1. No forced acquisition and FDI in key sectors resulting into high sacrifice that the Land Acquisition displacement : Keeping in view the price rise, inflation, and naked loot Act 1894 was repealed and new nation-wide build-up against its of the natural resources by Land Acquisition Act was legislated attempts to dilute the 2013 Act and corporates, all facilitated by the in 2013 by the Parliament. Although withdraw whatever little progressive policies of the Union government and there were inadequacies it had some content and safeguards the Act certain state governments. The progressive elements like the offered, the BJP Government has convention was attended by more principle of prior informed consent, changed its strategy. It has come up than 500 activists of 15 states who Social Impact Assessment, with a move to try and sidestep such dwelled on the on-going struggles in safeguards for food security, united opposition by calling upon their regions; ground situation of the enhanced compensation etc that States to come up with land alliance building processes; centre gave some protection to land losers acquisition legislations facilitating and state governments attempt at and dependents on land. However, easy land grab. Already Gujarat have subverting democratic processes by after the Narendra Modi led BJP legislated laws like SIR Act and other changing laws and issuing government came to power it to dilute the Land Reforms notifications and obsession of the brought a draconian Land legislations and facilitate land grab. political elite with the current GDP Acquisition Amendment Ordinance In Odisha, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, based growth model. It discussed that tried to do away with the need Tamilnadu, Karnataka and other the unfolding situation at various to seek consent, have SIA or States also such moves are afoot. levels where the precariousness of safeguard food security and allowed Odisha also is now planning to allow the nature resource based for unbridled forcible land purchase of tribal land. On the other communities was increasing and life acquisition. hand it is declaring traditional forest of toiling workers and masses was cultivators and tribals as land becoming harder everyday, as the The united issue-based opposition grabbers. impact of 25 years of the reforms built against the BJP Government’s becomes visible everywhere and move to impose the draconian The interim period from inequality in the society reachess its Ordinance (promulgated thrice) had December 2014 to August 2015 when zenith. forced the Government to withdraw the Land Acquisition Ordinance was the move at least temporarily. in place Andhra Pradesh government The Convention also took note of Bhoomi Adhikar Andolan played a managed to acquire thousands of the massive unrest in the society significant role in building up a acres of land in the name of the State caused by the economic hardships momentum and public opinion capital and several other projects faced by the society and in particular against the Ordinances. The through land pooling. Rights of dalits, adivasis and marginal Government had to concede its first peasantry and dependents on land communities. It also discussed the defeat by not issuing the Ordinance have been disregarded across the 12 JANATA, Septrember 18, 2016 country. In all these legislations the 73rd and 74th amendment, in the Gram and Basti Sabha. Most often rights of Dalits and Adivasis are development planning and these are being encroached upon by being undermined. The rights of the communities would get control over the powerful caste and capital Narmada Dam oustees as well as natural resources and secure their interests and State has turned blind hundreds of other projects are being livelihoods. Any attempt at the eye to them, often acting only against denied and there have not been any subversion of these acts will only the poor, dalits and adivasis. effective rehabilitation and undermine the democratic processes resettlement. and people’s movements will resist Clear provisions should be made them by all means. 15th December, for reclamation of wasteland into Large tracts of land are being 2016 will mark tenth anniversary of agricultural land, protection of green forcibly acquired in the name of the FRA and Bhumi Adhikar cover to prevent soil erosion, industrial corridors, economic Andolan will organise massive rally degradation and groundwater corridors, smart cities, National at Jantar Mantar with clear demand depletion, and improving agricultural Investment and Manufacturing of effective implementation of the land to make it more suitable for Zones, (NIMZ), SEZs, industries and Act and challenge any attempts at effective production. Coastal land infrastructure development. Lakhs amending the Act. and fragile areas such as Western of acres are under the potential Ghats should be protected applying threat of acquisition under the 3. Bring a national Land the environmental laws and DMIC, BMIC Economic Corridor, Use policy to protect farm land from regulations. Bangalore-Chennai Economic large scale diversion to non- Corridor, Vishakapatam – Chennai agricultural purpose like industry and Urban land-use should be planned Coastal Corridor and such Projects. infrastructure, prioritise housing with priority to housing amenities and Loot of land, mineral and forest rights for poor in the Urban land-use livelihood for the poor with in-situ resources as well as common and not promote evictions and housing projects for poor localities. property resources have been displacement in name of Smart There should be no cut-off date for rampant as the corporates and land Cities: A comprehensive Land Use Right to Shelter, whereas appropriate mafia have been given a free hand. policy should be made which cut-off dates can be designated for protects farm land from large scale government allotted subsidized We envisage protecting land from conversion for non-agricultural housing including middle class. acquisition without people’s prior purpose, with clear regulation and Urban Land Ceiling Acts should be informed consent and democratic public participation. Priority should revived. Land-use planning should be Social Impact Assessment. Plunder be given to food security and participatory with public hearings in of forest and mineral resources will livelihood security, focusing not only communities above 3000 families. be resisted. We also envisage on irrigated multiple-crop land but occupation of lands remaining also single-crop land in rainfed areas In the name of Smart Cities, poor unutilised and demand re-distribution which form 60% of cultivated area. and working class is being evicted to landless with the slogan of Gram Sabha and Panchayat should from the cities and that needs to be ‘Zameen Wapsi’. have control over the utilization of stopped. The whole concept of smart public lands which serve common cities like its predecessor JNURM 2. Empower local self purpose such as grazing, with clear is anti poor and pro-corporate. Any government institutions and their provisions to ensure access and use planning has to be done keeping in role in Development Planning, by the most needy communities such mind the needs of the most implement Forest Rights Act, PESA as Dalits and tribals. In some cities, marginalised and working classes in and ensure protection of agricultural and livestock rearing has the cities. constitutional rights as per the Fifth been banned, facilitating easy and Sixth Schedules: We believe conversion of land use, this needs to 4. Changes to Environment effective implementation of the be changed. Laws not acceptable : Based on provisions for the FRA and PESA the recommendations of the T S R would empower the Gram Sabhas No common land including Subramanian Committee, and Panchayats to play their wasteland be diverted for industrial environment laws are also being constitutionally mandated role, as per purposes without the consent of the changed to suit the demands of JANATA, September 18, 2016 13 corporate sector and take away the investment for agriculture and rural decent standard of living including rights of the people and local self development, rural credit is housing, health and education. government institutions. Slums are increasingly inaccessible to poor and Bhoomi Adhikar Andolan stands being forcibly cleared and even marginal farmers, indebtedness and resolutely against unequal Free coastal land is being encroached landlessness is rising, allocation for Trade Agreements, WTO diktats, upon for ports, big infra projects, MGNREGA is being drastically cut, trade liberalisation and against any PCPIR and so on trampling upon the farmers are not getting remunerative such monopolistic deals with other rights of the traditional fishworkers. prices for their products despite ever countries. All this would lead to massive increasing costs of production. displacement and permanent denial Sugarcane farmers are to get 8. Implement Land of land rights of the landless. Lakhs thousands of crores of arrears from Reforms – Give land to landless of acres of land acquired in the name the corporate Sugar lobby. Trade agricultural workers not corporates: of industrialisation, SEZs etc is liberalisation and indiscriminate entry There should be renewed focus on remaining unutilised. into Free Trade Agreements is land reforms to give ownership of leading to dumping of cheap land to deprived sections, especially 5. Ban illegal mining, ensure agricultural products including dairy Dalits, adivasis, women, project- inter generational parity in resource products thereby pushing our farmers displaced families, and so on. Ceiling utilisation, and implement SC into distress. Procurement facilities limits should be properly enforced guidelines in Goa Foundation case: are being curtailed, Extension stopping the exemptions and The scourge of illegal mining is services systematically dismantled loopholes allowing thousands of haunting the hinterland as well as the and farmers are getting prices far acres to be taken over by a few river beds and sea coasts, polluting below the actual cost of production. individuals and corporates, and water sources, running streams, and making surplus land available for causing massive damage to ecology 7. MSPs should be declared distribution. and economy both. The rampant at 50% above cost of cultivation. mining and extractives based Ensure that farmers get MSP in all Ensure Food Sovereignty and economic growth model is leading to 25 crops through procurement, food security and sort out the destruction of the nature and mother market intervention and price massive corruption within the food earth and contributing to the large guarantee: The BJP Government has distribution system: Food security scale climate change. Hence, the gone back on its election promise of doesn’t mean giving subsidised food need for no mining in ‘No-Go’ areas providing Minimum Support prices alone but empowering communities (and build upon this criteria), dense according to Swaminathan to produce their own food and forests and climate sensitive forests Commission Recommendation of securing land rights which will make areas. C2+50% i.e at least 50 percent them self reliant. In that regard it is above Cost of Production and had also important that farmers have 6. Address agrarian crisis, filed an affidavit to that effect in complete control over the seeds and implement SC judgement on tackling Supreme Court. It has also banned the systems of production and not draught, ensure income security for procurement from States which be made slaves to the big every agricultural household, and provide bonus over and above the multinationals claiming their IPRs. establish a permanent Farmers’ MSP. The Government is kowtowing No company should be allowed Income Commission: Over 3.2 lakh to diktats of the USA, EU and other exclusive intellectual property rights farmers have committed suicide countries in the WTO and cutting over seed in any crop. since 1995 at the rate of one farmer down food and agricultural subsidies. committing suicide every half an The entire agricultural policy is to aid However, there is also the need hour according to conservative profiteering by seed monopolies and for effective implementation of the estimates put forward by the agribusinesses at the expense of the National Food Security Act, given National Crime Records Bureau. In people. The Bhoomi Adhikar many state governments have failed reality the human tragedy is of a Andolan stands opposed to all such to do so. In the name of rooting out magnitude unheard of in the entire policies and will strive for alternative corruption linking of ration delivery history of humanity. The policies that will ensure food and with the Aadhar and other electronic Government is cutting down public livelihood security to all as well as identification programmes is resulting 14 JANATA, Septrember 18, 2016 in leaving out a big chunk of work and 300 Rs wages daily. In Though 60% of Indian agriculture is population, which is often due to addition, to deal with the farm labour rainfed, it is highly neglected systems inefficiency and denies a crisis due to high migration recognise compared to irrigated agriculture; large number of poor and vulnerable agriculture, as a work should be consequently much of the distress population access to their brought within the MGNREGA, that and farmer suicides is in rainfed entitlements. way the workers and farmers both areas. We demand a comprehensive would benefit. In addition, a number mission to revive rainfed agriculture 9. Rights of tenant farmers, of suggestions and guidelines have by promoting dryland crops, animal sharecroppers and women farmers been issued by the Supreme Court husbandry and fodder, revival of should be upheld. The real cultivators of India to effectively deal with the minor irrigation, and targeted should get full recognition and benefit draught situation in the country. support. Providing protective of all support systems: Tenant Unfortunately, the implementation by irrigation to the first crop in rainfed farmers, sharecroppers and women this by the Union and State areas should be the first priority farmers are the worst-affected in the governments has been extremely rather than irrigation for second and agrarian distress in many parts of the poor and tardy. third crops. country, because they get left out of all government support systems With the growing precariousness 13. No privatization of water including low-interest bank loans, and distress time has come that the resources and services; priority to disaster compensation, crop Minimum Wages Act be mandatorily drinking, domestic use and insurance, subsidies, etc. They are applicable to the agricultural agriculture: Water should be the real cultivators not only working labourers as well. In addition, on lines respected as a natural resource hard but also taking the risks of of the Social Security Act for the essential to human life and food production – tenant farmers and construction workers should also be production, and attempts to privatize sharecroppers cultivate more than implemented for the agrarian water bodies and services, and give 30% of the area, and women perform workers. control to corporates should be 70% of tasks in agriculture. Their completely stopped. Water for rights should be upheld. There should 11. Comprehensive support drinking, domestic use and be a comprehensive system of for shift from high-input chemical agriculture should receive priority recording and recognizing the real agriculture to low-external-input over other uses, with further cultivators including tenant farmers, ecologically sustainable agriculture: prioritization for food crops and one- sharecroppers and women farmers, One of the biggest causes of the crop protection in dry regions. so that they get the benefit of all crisis is the model of high-input Landless families should also be government support systems and chemical agriculture promoted in the given rights over water to ensure eligibility for all provisions in case of past few decades – leading to more equitable use and to redress land acquisition. The Model Tenancy indebtedness, damage to soil fertility, the inequity in land ownership. Act by Niti Ayog must be withdrawn. declining productivity, depletion of water, and poisoning of food and 14. Resist attempts to dilute 10. Rights of the agrarian water system. While accepting the labour laws and express workers, unorganised sector importance of increasing production solidarity and active support to workers to be protected and and productivity, the emphasis should workers’ strike of 2nd September minimum wages and social security be on sustainable productivity. The 2016: Workers rights are being measures implemented: Today 93% policies and support systems should curtailed and the Narendra Modi led of the labour force is in the be fully reoriented to ensure a time- BJP Government has been tampering unorganised sector and a majority of bound shift to low-input ecologically with labour laws in the name of “ease them is dependent on agriculture and sustainable agriculture, using many of Doing Business”. Against such other related activities. This section viable models demonstrated and attacks an unprecedented Strike was is under tremendous attack due to established across India in the past witnessed on 2nd September, 2015 farm crisis and decreasing support two decades. in which the Bhoomi Adhikar from the government. We demand Andolan extended solidarity. The that the allocation to the MGNREGA 12. Reverse the injustice Central Trade Unions also took up be increased to ensure 300 days done to rainfed agriculture : some of our demands and spoke JANATA, September 18, 2016 15 against the Land Acquisition Access to education by all that a brilliant student like Rohith Ordinance. We extended solidarity remains a cause of concern. The Vemula had to commit suicide due to the united working class Strike demand for a common school system to continued harassment and caste called on 2nd September, 2016 and has been there for long and is based discrimination indicates will work actively to make it a responsible for the continued towards systemic crisis within the success. inequality and the perpetuation of the education system today. The demand discrimination within the universities. for Rohith Act by the student 15. Resistance to divisive SC/ST communities face community needs support from all and fascist politics: Faced with discrimination at every level in the the organisations and Bhumi Adhikar growing protests and unprecedented education system from admission, Andolan express its solidarity with unity of people against the policies recruitments, promotions or the movement and demand. of the BJP Government at the Centre opportunities for growth. The fact (To be concluded) and States the BJP-RSS and their affiliates are resorting to divisive politics and deliberate (Continued from Page 10) communalisation. Rationalists and and Central authorities must be · Become party to international cultural personalities are being removed from AFSPA and instruments/ conventions against physically attacked and killed, dissent criminal procedure code to torture and enforced is brutally being suppressed. In the ensure that trials are independent disappearances. More name of protection of the cow, and fair in civilian courts. In the importantly, national laws should systematic attacks are being meanwhile, the families and be framed accordingly and launched on Minorities and Dalits. applicants seeking sanction to implemented effectively. Deliberate communal and casteist prosecute must be informed violence is being resorted to in about the status of their · Right to truth will be upheld by different parts of the country. A application. keeping families informed about spontaneous response against such the procedures and status of efforts is developing. Bhoomi · Make information regarding the applications even when the Adhikar Andolan will resist such proceedings and verdicts inquiry is led by the National divisive efforts and work for building conducted in court martials Human Rights Commission. communal harmony and strengthen public by making it more the unity of toiling masses. accessible through RTI/ online. · Review the provisions of compensation ex gratia to the 16. Curb attack on the · Repeal AFSPA in order to families of victims where there autonomous functioning of the ensure compliance with UN is no impossible conditionality universities, corporatisation of Principles for the Prevention of and threats or intimidation from education, and suppressing of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and the authorities. Compensation dissent within the universities and Summary Executions and other should be adequate and ensured enact Rohith Act: University instruments India is signatory to. especially to survivors of sexual campuses across the country are in violence. turmoil and there has been a · Definitions of torture and growing attack on the students and disappearance in Indian law On a concluding note, one can attempts are being made to suppress should be consistent with the only hope that the State will take any dissent, free thinking and free ones mentioned in UN notice of this Report and implement flow of exchange of ideas. The Convention against Torture and its recommendations in the light of corporate agenda of the education other Cruel, Inhuman or the recent unrest and protest and their pandering to the market Degrading Treatment or happening in Kashmir which reflects needs is solely driving the education Punishment and International the disaffection of the people policy today leading to complete Convention on the Protection of stemming from years of violations of erosion of the values and All Persons from Enforced their human rights. democratic principles necessary for Disappearance functioning of a vibrant democracy. –Secular Perspective R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, September 18, 2016 Postal Registration No. MCW/275/2015-2017. License to Post without prepayment WPP License No. MH/Tech/WPP-210/West/2016 Published on Sunday, September 18, 2016 & Posted on Wedenesday September 21, 2016 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO- 1

An infrastructure company established since 1924

REGD. OFFICE :

New Excelsior Building, (3rd Floor), A. K. Nayak Marg, Fort, Mumbai 400 001. Tel.: 022 2205 1231 Fax : 022-2205 1232

Office : Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai & New Delhi Established 1946 Price : Rupees Five Pages 12

Vol. 71 No. 35 A Pre-Requisite for any Dialogue in Kashmir September 25, 2016 Sandeep Pandey

Uri is Only a Symptom While the Indian security forces whereas a not-so-democratic Kuldip Nayar were busy tackling the internal Pakistan is letting it have access to protests in Jammu & Kashmir in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. What which over 80 civilians have been is India afraid of? Is the difference A Reality Check on killed since 9 July, 2016, the most between Indian and Pakistani Jammu and Kashmir recent victim being a 11 years old Kashmirs the use of pellet guns by Pushkar Raj Nasir Shafiq Qazi who died of Indian forces against the recent pellet injuries, a surprise militant round of protests by people? India attack has taken place from across will probably face more flak for Religious Bigotry the border killing 17 Indian soldiers preventing the visit of UN team and Corruption in in the biggest such incident so far rather than the human rights the Contractor Raj in the history. Clearly, things are violations that its security forces are K. S. Chalam going out of the hands of responsible for. government at the centre whose problem is that after the making of India’s problem is compounded March of the Marathas nuclear weapons by both India and because of its inability to Bhalchandra Mungekar Pakistan, it cannot engage in a full- conclusively prove that the terrorist fledged war with Pakistan, attacks from the across the border, howsoever provocative the whether it was Mumbai in 2008, A Living Experiment Pakistani infringement might be. Pathankot in 2016 and now Uri are in Communal Harmony actually sponsored by Pakistan India is also losing international because Pakistan denies its role in support by recently denying access any of these. On the contrary it to United Nations Human Rights challenges India to provide evidence Editor : Council in J&K. The question that of its involvement. On the other G. G. Parikh will be asked is if the Indian claim hand the human rights violations in about Pakistan instigating violence Kashmir, especially because of the Managing Editor : Guddi in Kashmir is true then why doesn’t unrestrained powers the army Indian government let the UNHRC enjoys under Armed Forces Special D-15, Ganesh Prasad, unravel this truth by conducting an Powers Act, are something that Naushir Bharucha Marg, enquiry there? The world will not cannot be hidden. Mumbai - 400 007. miss the contradiction that a democratic India is preventing India has recently queered the Email : [email protected] UNHRC from visiting J&K pitch in its relationship with Pakistan 2 JANATA, Septrember 25, 2016 when Narendra Modi talked about Kashmiri people before trying to long fast to demand repeal of insurgency in Balochistan, Gilgit, seek support from outside. If India AFSPA. The government must Baltistan and PoK during his were confident that the Kashmiri withdraw AFSPA first and later the Independence Day speech. Even people were with it then it would Army itself if it is serious about though Pakistan blames it for doing not have to go around the world to normalcy returning to Kashmir. this in order to divert attention from seek support. Army’s role must be limited to human rights violations in Indian border areas. It is only then that Kashmir, the reality is that suffering The fact is that in spite of offering we can think of any dialogue. of people in J&K doesn’t reduce all kinds of package to J&K and by India raising the stakes in such even to potential immigrants from Only high flown statements like a manner. During the regime of Pakistan occupied Kashmir and the ‘fully engaged in normalizing the previous central governments at Home Minister going to Srinagar situation as soon as possible’ or that least a semblance of democracy for dialogue the people of Kashmir ‘Indian democracy has all that it was observed in J&K but the are not happy with the Indian requires to address legitimate present regime in its over- government. They don’t feel that grievances,’ will not suffice. This enthusiasm of dealing with the the Indian government is showing withdrawal of AFSPA and army problem in Kashmir with a tough sensitivity towards them. For must be discussed with people of hand, has completely overrun the example, while continuing to urge Kashmir as a confidence building state government. It wants to people to give up violence, there measure. It would be better if the directly control things in Kashmir. was no let down in violence, what government were to invest time and It might as well impose Governor’s to talk of withdrawing of the by energy in this direction. No solution rule there. But its approach is now infamous pellet guns, by the to the problem of Kashmir is clearly failing. It is inviting more security forces before the Home conceivable without first restoring violence from inside the Kashmiri Minister went for dialogue. Does conditions of democracy and society as well as from across the the government actually think that respect for human rights. border. Democracy is a direct it can continue to use pellet guns victim of violence. People of on one hand and expect people to Kashmir are the ultimate sufferers show up for dialogue on the other? Janata Subscription in this. Any dialogue is a war like situation is preceded by cease fire. In response to the Pakistani Prime Minister having decided to A lot of right wing people are Annual Rs. : 260/- send 22 parliamentarians as alarmed at the possibility of representatives to as many capitals Kashmir becoming independent of Three Years : 750/- of the world to intimate the world India. For them it is a prestige issue. leaders about situation of Kashmir They ask, ‘Can we just let Kashmir Demand Draft / Cheque and seek their support in the United go like that?’ It is a matter which on Nations, the Indian government has can be decided by Kashmiris alone. decided to send Rajnath Singh to People from outside Kashmir, Mumbai Bank US and Russia in a counter move. whether in India or Pakistan have no territorial rights over Kashmir. in favour of The India-Pakistan relations have This is a feudal mentality often been marked by tit-for-tat policy. masqueraded as nationalism. Hence it doesn’t come as a surprise that India is following the Pakistani We must introspect. If the approach to mobilize world opinion. government of India has to keep Kashmir under military rule for so JANATA TRUST But if India is genuinely long, it is not a normal situation. D-15, Ganesh Prasad, concerned about Kashmir and the Same is true about some areas of Naushir Bharucha Marg, Kashmiris then it would have been Northeast where Iron Sharmila has Mumbai 400 007 better for it to first win over the just ended her decade and a half JANATA, September 25, 2016 3

Between the Lines Uri is Only a Symptom

Kuldip Nayar

Baluchistan in Pakistan is like our Shabbir Shah had wanted some However, we also know the limit Kashmir, an integral part but still years ago. It is another matter that to which the elected rulers can go in rebellious after almost 70 years of Yasin has now joined the chorus. the two countries since both possess Maharaja Hari Singh’s accession to nuclear weapons. But what I fail to India. However, in India’s case first Pakistan has now become understand is why Islamabad had Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru relevant for the people in the valley been reluctant to take action against gave an undertaking to hold a because they, too, have changed their terrorists who have been identified plebiscite as soon as things had demand from autonomy to an Islamic living in Pakistan. Whatever it has settled in the valley. He could not independent country. The attack on done so far against the terrorists, it fulfill the promise. the Indian soldiers on the border is is not on India’s request but on the culmination of their anger. Washington’s word. Nehru found out that things will Pakistan, too, has found the climate be reduced to a slogan, Gita versus somewhat suited to it and has In India, except for a few Koran, and people would be so increased the number of infiltrators warmongers, there is a realization driven by religious sentiments that into the valley. that there is no option to peace. It they would not be exercising their is also time for the politicians of franchise. When the acclaimed But this is not the first time that the two countries to introspect their leader Sheikh Abdullah joined the Pakistan has sent infiltrators into conduct. Even if they do not talk Union, he conceded the point that India. Nor will it be the last occasion. about war, their speeches and the a popular verdict had been There have been several such body language is far from friendly. obtained and it amounted to a instances, including the attacks on They appear to run with the hare plebiscite and, with it, the Indian Parliament, Mumbai and and hunt with the hound. Why are accession was complete. Pathankot. After every such they stoking the fires of hatred incident, a war-like cry was heard when people on both sides are What happened in Uri is a in the rest of the country to retaliate. surcharged? symptom, not the disease. The So immense was the pressure this disease is that the youth which is now time on the government that it had France and Germany had fought leading a movement want a country to assure the public that “retaliation for more than hundred years. Today of their own. In the same way, would take place at a place and time they are the best of friends. Qaide- Baluchistan wants to secede from of our liking.” e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah gave Pakistan and have an independent me this example when I asked him country. That, if granted, would be But people want action on the before partition that Hindus and another Islamic country on our border. ground even at the expense of a war. Muslims would jump at each other’s I recall what happened soon after the throat once the British had left. He I told the Kashmiri students during attacks on Parliament, Mumbai or said we would be the best of friends. my recent visit to Srinagar at their Pathankot. Our reaction then was in I have no doubt that one day this invitation that the Lok Sabha would the shape of stationing troops on the would come about. Former Prime be in no mood to endorse anything borders for almost one year or beyond. Ministers Atal Behari Vajpayee and like what they wished. They said it This time, the anger is deeper and Manmohan Singh have said many a was “your problem how you bring wider. Yet the government is showing time that the destiny has thrown India about the change.” The demand by restraint, though Prime Minister and Pakistan together and they the youth for an independent Narendra Modi has assured that cannot but be good neighbours. sovereign country is in contrast to the perpetrators would not go what leaders like Yasin Malik and unpunished. (Continued on Page 10) 4 JANATA, Septrember 25, 2016 A Reality Check on Jammu and Kashmir

Pushkar Raj

Jammu and Kashmir is again in asylum in Europe following Syrians, only to the Indian part then without news for violence and counter Afghans and Iraqis. Australian taking into consideration the views violence. Again, several solutions are immigration report 2013-2014 also of the people of Jammu and Ladakh proposed. Any such exercise, reveals that largest number of region it is unlikely to move any however, need to be informed of a people who sought humanitarian visa farther. reality check if peace is to return in on arrival came from Pakistan the state in a foreseeable future. (Elibritt Karlsen: 2014, Parliament of The demand of freedom for only Australia). the valley of Kashmir is fraught with The present unrest began after a moral dilemma in the light of about killing of Burhan Wani, a local Pakistan’s human rights record on a half a million Kashmiri pundits’ commander of Hizbul Mujahidin, an Baluchistan has also been virtual exile from the region. Besides, organization that vows to liberate disconcerting. Since the last decade freedom for Kashmir will have a Kashmir by unleashing suicide about 18,000 people have allegedly ripple effect in Muslim majority bombers in Kashmir (Times of India, involuntarily disappeared in the districts of Poonch and Rajouri and 4 September 2016). The unrest is province. According to the Voice for Kishtwar and Doda, separated by restricted to the Kashmir valley Baloch Missing Persons, 157 Hindu majority districts of Jammu comprising 7.1 percent of land and mutilated bodies were found and 463 and Udhampur, which will further 54.9 percent of population of the people disappeared in the state in add to the instability in the region. state numbering 6.8 million (Census 2015. (Balochwarna News, 3 of India, 2011). In a fresh round of January 2016). The prime suspects Another difficulty to the freedom bloodshed over seventy people have in these incidents are the security for Kashmir is use of violence and died and thousands are injured. forces. terrorism as a method to achieve it. Contemporary history shows that a To defuse the situation, one of the Pakistan-administered Kashmir violent movement does not produce solutions being offered is merger with is no better. Of $38 bn proposed a sustainable democratic state as is Pakistan and other ‘freedom’ from investment in energy sector under seen in many African countries India. The third solution - the status China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which were inspired by various quo, is supported by the major Gilgit-Baltistan has not received any violence based ideologies. political parties, though with differing allocation as against other provinces caveats. (The Dawn, 12 May 2016). On the And finally, there are reports that contrary, planning minister of mosques are used for mobilization of Merger with Pakistan Pakistan warned the protesting people and ISIS flags are waved in farmers of the region that the rallies in Kashmir. (Indian Express, The merger with Pakistan is terrorism act would be invoked August 21, 2015). Successful incongruous for a simple reason that against them if they obstructed the culmination of such a movement can Kashmiris will be an additional project (Times of India, 18 August only lead to a theocratic state that minority group in Pakistan that has 16). would be against the spirit of a disturbing record towards its ethnic ‘kashmiriyat’, which has already and sectarian minorities including Freedom suffered considerable erosion in the Mohajir, Baloch, Pashtun, Ahmadis valley. and Hazaras. Many of these people The option of freedom for J&K are forced to seek refuge in other is equally fraught with problems. If Way Forward countries. According to the United freedom is a demand for all the five Nations High Commissioner for regions of the state, then it seems a The central government owes it refugees’ latest figures, Pakistanis non-starter given the Indian and are the sixth largest group seeking Pakistan position on it; and if it relates (Continued on Page 6) JANATA, September 25, 2016 5 Religious Bigotry and Corruption in the Contractor Raj

K. S. Chalam

For about three decades, we have indicate that there are fundamental and the mode of production been reading and listening to differences between the experiences approach in arriving at successive catchwords like License-Permit raj, of European nations which are by stages of socioeconomic formations rent seeking public servants, and large nation states and India in India. How it is that capitalism and inefficient public sector units and which is a multicultural, multiethnic religious fundamentalism are hands unworkable socialist policies were ( settlers) complex society regulated in glove? We may get some answers operating in India. Strangely, there by a wily fulltime occupational group if we sincerely reflect on the writings are no such debates or discourses for ages. It seems that there is no of Phuley, Sankalia, Bhandarkar and now in the public realm, though the other country or faith in the World other Pune based intellectuals and country is slipped into the same drift where God’s marriage and nuptials not necessarily Kosambi who under a corporate-contractor- are ceremoniously celebrated and ignored them (and others who bureaucrat raj. Is the situation the devotees are made to listen to sincerely followed him or made to different from what some experts with apt attention (without knowing follow). envisioned? the meaning) the vulgar act narrated in the devotional songs as Ever since the NDA government The socialist thinkers, both Marxist if the devotees get instant mukti. We or the so-called parivar or the and no-Marxist groups, considered are not sarcastic here as we respect extended family rule came to power religion, faith, beliefs and the the sentiments of believers if they with absolute numbers in 2014, tricks institutions built on them in traditional are told or know the meaning of the are played to show that they are societies, are largely grounded on recitations and crave for mukti in the above corruption. The media houses economic base. The metaphor base real sense of the term. (As I mostly of the corporate bodies or the and super structure was eminently explained in one of my articles ones that depend upon their ads keep fitin to the first generation of upper earlier, other faiths in India are not on telling us that there is no caste English educated leftists to feel immune to this bigotry. All of them corruption in the Modi government a sigh of relief not to be apologetic have accumulated huge properties.) and everything is transparent. Yes, for ignoring the Indian realities The devotees are not ordinary it is transparent for the select few converging only with the western people, most of them are scientists, business houses and their nominees thought. (M N Roy and Lohia were judges, Harvard returned scholars in the bureaucracy who prepare exceptions, but they succumbed to claiming to be capable to run the documents of policy for the mainstream thinking and Ambedkar economy an solon. If we go through government on the basis of the was an untouchable). Some of them the writings of Phuley, Periyar, dictates of the corporates to whom have even ignored the traditional Ambedkar and others, we realise they owe their allegiance. We have Indian materialistic traditions of how they perceived the drift. But, been listening to the kind of Lokayata and Buddhism in their Marxists like Kosambi (taken just for skirmishes between chief minister of anxiety or scheme of finding example) down to some of the Delhi Mr Kejriwal and the alleged solutions to inequalities.The above present day radicals never Ambani nominee as Lt Governor of theory or analytic is broadly based considered Hinduism and the Bhats, Delhi Mr Jung. Interestingly there is on the experiences of the West, to beare precarious and cunning to absolute agreement between the though Joti Rao Phuley a survive attempts to reduce their previous government and the NDA contemporary of Marx was deeply importance, and could compromise in matters of economic policy and involved in exposing the bigotry of with forces that are publicly declared the issues that follow. In fact the Hinduism or Brahminical conspiracy as adversaries, like the beef eating NDA is sincerely implementing what against the illiterate farmers in India Americans. This is really baffling for the UPA had been doing for decades during the same period. The parallel those of us who are followers of with every important Congress man between Marx and Phuley clearly materialistic interpretation of history got involved in some scam. The 6 JANATA, Septrember 25, 2016 difference is: Modi and his masters to the corporates. It is alleged by the Steel in the above two issues. It is have selected some contractors and unions that around 20 public sector without shame that the parivar corporates only as their nominees to units are going to be handed over to functionaries talk about corruption of carry the business, while the private corporates. The NITI experts others while their own members are Congress used to talk about do the exercise with the help of their deeply involved in the above secularism and go to Ayodhya up to paid experts or intellectuals. One economic operations that involve Hanuman feet. Happily the BJP / important example is that of one of trillions of rupees. It would be known RSS direct its groups to indulge in their members has produced a study later that these mergers or all kinds of petty mafia activities of report as to how to privatise Railways investments had been under the lynching dalits, Muslims and others and submitted it to PMO and now the direct control of the corporates to divert the attention of the common time has come to operationalize it transferring public properties and man about the economic plunder. through the budget? resources like BALCO, VSNL, 2G, The voices of Swadeshi Jagaran and CIL under UPA. How is it that Manch are very feeble. One can It is under this background, it is not named as corruption even if notice that there will be an several incidents are happening in the news is moderated by the media? orchestrated social tension created the name of agreements and policy by the cohorts of parivar whenever changes involving not billions but The kind of transfers and a serious contract of transferring trillions of rupees worth of public handovers of government companies huge public resources is involved. sector resources. Now Adani is and peoples resources to individuals The nexus is never analysed and considered to be the most efficient is much deeper now than before. understood by our public person than hundreds of trained The corrupt labelled Congress is intellectuals. executives in making Coal and Oil silent on the issues as it was they sectors productive. Therefore, it is who brought all this muck and may People in the South allege that reported (Times of India, 21 be some of their business cohorts or whenever Modi or Naidu of Andhra September) that Indian Oil contractors are behind some of Pradesh go out on foreign tour, they Corporation and GAIL is going to these operations with tacit take an entourage of corporates and invest in Adani’s Dhrma project in understanding with NDA, if not the bureaucratic clique along with Orissa worth Rs 5000 crores. If shifted to the party yet. Oneneeds them to get agreements signed not Adani had any problem with capital to expose this cheating in day light for the country or people but for the adequacy or incurring losses in his by the NDA government. How it is chosen corporates. Once the papers ventures, public sector units are there that one individual like Adani or are ready, a signal goes to the to come to his rescue and by Ambani is more intelligent than the headquarters to create issues of intelligently showing his prowess both whole system of government? It is diversion in the form of social tension in financial and government loyalty simple sham? Let the intellectuals or display huge festival or a yagna to to him, he would expand his empire. expose the nexus for a debate! divert the attention of the gullible In all the tours of Modi, it is alleged, (Continued from Page 4) people and in the melee displayed by the Gujarati Banias are following the media, the agreements would be (whispers of opponents in the to the constitution of India to restore signed. Now, the budget is going to corridors of power). Another civil liberties by withdrawing the laws be introduced along with the Railways important business deal initiated by like AFSPA from civilian areas, in February hinting that the the Steel ministry is that of Laxmi ensure accountability for human government departments are ready Mittal of UK who is in trouble will rights violations, secure transparent for transfer to private companies. be given the responsibility of governance, launch de-radicalisation They brought in, it seems, some promoting SAIL through may be programs and identify a genuine Business economists who were merger or joint ventures. leadership in the valley for a dialogue. advisers to corporate entities to do Nationally, toning down the saffron the exercise of privatisation and kept It is strange that no one is raising nationalism might greatly assist. It is them in the Yojana Bhavan and called the issue of corruption that involved the only way forward for a humane it NITI Ayog. Their job, it is reported direct cabinet Ministers in the case and democratic Kashmir. by the workers’ unions, is to identify of Orissa, Mr Pradhan of Petroleum [email protected] the units, resources that can be given Ministry and Mr Singh, Minister of –Kashmir Times JANATA, September 25, 2016 7 March of the Marathas

Bhalchandra Mungekar

The Devendra Fadnavis professors, teachers, university and basis of the commission’s government in Maharashtra has been college students and even recommendations, the government taken aback by lakhs of people housewives, the last being may suggest suitable measures for belonging to the Maratha community unconventional so far as the their advancement. This was the case taking to the streets, unprecedented community is concerned. Second, the of the Mandal Commission that has in the socio-political history of the participants in the protest marches provided 11 criteria, that is, four each state since it was formed in 1960. belong to all political parties — that are social and economic in nature This has happened after the murder Congress, NCP, BJP and Shiv Sena and three educational. If the Maratha of a Maratha girl in Kopardi village — and include their MLAs, MLCs community wants reservations as the of Ahmadnagar district on July 13. and MPs, to show solidarity with the SEBs, commonly known as the More than 150 incidents of atrocities community and ensure that its political OBCs, they should be ready to be were committed against Dalits, some fortunes are not harmed. Third, the seen to be socially on par with the brutal murders, in Ahmadnagar OBCs in the state are not allowed to OBCs, who are lower in the social district in the last four-five years. Yet, join these protests, the reason being hierarchy. Further, they need to not a word of protest was uttered by that they are the beneficiaries of qualify the majority of the criteria, as any section of society in the state, let reservations. prescribed by the Mandal alone the Maratha community, other Commission. If not, the government than the Dalits. This once again Fourth, these protest marches needs to find some appropriate underlines that community sensitivity were so far organised mainly in alternative method within the or conscience even in the crime of Marathwada and Western framework of the constitution, rape is determined by one’s caste. Maharashtra, but are now spreading because this demand of the Maratha This time, four Dalit youths have been to the Vidarbha and Konkan regions. community has been pending for the accused of the crime. It is understood that about 25 lakh of last 20 years or so. Again, the present these protesters from across the state system vis à vis the SCs, STs and I visited the village on July 26 and will be marching to Mumbai in OBCs must remain unaffected. The met the girl’s parents, both poor brick- October. Fadnavis government should take the workers. With no words of call at the earliest. consolation, I met some villagers. It The community has three main was gratifying that despite being about demands: Punishing the guilty of Third, the demand for scrapping 2,000 in number, the Maratha Kopardi, scrapping the SC and ST ( the POA is totally unjustifiable. The community collectively decided on a Prevention of Atrocities ) Act, 1989 POA was passed by the Parliament policy of restraint towards the Dalits, (POA), and getting reservations to in 1989 and extends to the whole numbering about 150 to 200, as they the community in education and public country, except Jammu & Kashmir. were not collectively responsible for employment. Let me deal with each It is the prerogative of the Parliament the crime. This is contrary to what of these demands. alone to amend it, if necessary. Thus, normally happens in the northern parts it was amended in 2015 to make it of the country. It was equally First, it is not only the demand of more effective. But no state has been gratifying that the entire Dalit the Maratha community, but of all implementing it with a sense of community demanded, I was told by sections in Maharashtra, including the commitment and honesty, mainly for the chief of the Dispute-Free Village Dalits, that the guilty be punished. political considerations. Maharashtra Community, that the guilty must be The state government must hasten is no exception — out of a total 7,345 hanged. the process. Second, as regards cases of atrocities brought for trial in reservations, Article 340 of the the state in 2014, only 59 persons were Now, nearly a month after the Constitution empowers the president convicted, making the conviction rate gruesome incident, the Maratha to constitute a commission to look 0.8 per cent of the cases. Of 36 community has started the protest into the difficulties of the “socially districts in the state, only three have marches, mobilising lakhs of people, and educationally backward classes” special courts, the least in the country. including doctors, engineers, lawyers, (SEBCs) in the country, and on the The bogey of misuse of the POA is 8 JANATA, Septrember 25, 2016 unfounded. Yet, in cases where this happens, it is the state government’s A Living Experiment in Communal Harmony responsibility to punish the offenders instead of making it an argument Tahmina Lashkar against the law itself. Sandeep Pandey The true remedy is the creation of an atrocity-free society where the Living amidst hundred percent of the community. Faisal Khan too POA is rendered irrelevant. But all Muslim population is Dr. Kush was more interested to speak about said and done, I would suggest, the Kumar Singh. Dr. Singh is a social issues than religious ones. Dr. Dalits in Maharashtra must resist being provoked for many reasons. In vegetarian and a very religious Singh then thought that if he were to the end, I must come to the real person. Is it not an interesting probe his thoughts and notions he genesis of the story that is forging combine? In an age when people needed to live amongst the unity among the Maratha community refuse to rent out houses to someone community. Dr. Singh decided to live in the state. from a different religious belief than with Faisal Khan in the Khudai their own this creates curiosity. In Khidmatgar office itself which The Kopardi incident is just the our society many baseless rumors do doubles up as Faisal’s home. Given immediate cause. Though the rounds among Hindus and Muslims the present conditions, to decide to Maratha community has been ruling which affect the relations among a live in a locality having dense Muslim the state since its inception in 1960, larger part of the population. In such population was nothing short of a irrespective of the ruling party or circumstances Dr. Singh’s decision revolution. He took that chance parties and irrespective of who was to reside amidst Muslims gives rise however. He then started living with the state’s chief minister, the ordinary, to many questions and answers them Faisal Khan. This was quite poor and resourceless of the same as well. Dr. Singh stays in Gaffar challenging for him but still he community could not avail themselves of any special benefits over these Manzil with Faisal Khan in Delhi’s considered it like a spiritual mission years. Their hardships were the Jamia Nagar area. Dr. Singh met and went to Jamia Nagar for this same as those of the other poor except Faisal Khan in Apollo Hospital. He social experiment. May be many had their so-called higher social status was on his duty and Faisal Khan was then questioned Dr. Singh on his (next only to Brahmins). They on his social duty. Faisal has decision, yet it did not deter him from remained away from the real power redefined social work. It was not a making an effort in understanding centres comprising the cooperative surprising thing that a non-Muslim religion, dedication, love and sugar factories, thread mills, banks, has a negative image of Muslims in sacrifice. As on today he already has trade and commerce, construction general. Dr. Singh also had such a lived for about three years here. All industry and private educational mentality. Then he chatted with kinds of preconceived notions that institutions controlled by their elite Faisal Khan and got to know about he had have cleared in this period. fraternity. They, and particularly the his organization, Khudai Khidmatgar. His peaceful and dedicated presence educated among them, are also These conversations continued for also helped Muslims to dispense victims of the growing unemployment, and have been a long time. Dr. Singh spoke on many some of their doubts. A lot of Muslim suffering from the unaffordable fees failings of the Muslim community friends who came to Faisal Khan charged for professional courses, openly with Faisal Khan. Dr. Singh would see and meet Dr. Singh, this thanks to the uncontrolled used to think that Muslims are helped in the community realizing its privatisation, nay, commercialisation fundamentalists in matters of religion own shortfalls and removing their of education. Hence the demand for and they do not listen to any other doubts about non-Muslims. Dr. Singh reservation. point of view. He thought the is an educated man who lived his life community never opens up to other in such an exemplary way that he The demand has been pending for communities. But as he spent more became an ideal for many. We are nearly 25 years. The state time conversing with Faisal Khan his speaking of this precious friendship government must act sooner rather original thoughts started to get between a Hindu and a Muslim than later in the interest of the socio- altered. But this change of attitude because it would freshen up the stale political stability in the state. was only limited to Faisal Khan, he air of communalism that is –The Indian Express was yet to have a favourable view (Continued on Page 9) JANATA, September 25, 2016 9 Reminiscences of Frontier Gandhi and his Khudai Khidmatgars

Chandra Bhal Tripathi

The inspiring narrative by Dr. Sandeep Pandey and Tahmina Lashkar on a unique legacy of Khudai Khidmatgars observed in Jamia Nagar, New Delhi, has prompted me to record my reminiscences of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan aka Frontier Gandhi and Badshah Khan and his Khudai Khitmatgars. Like millions of Indians I am an admirer of Frontier Gandhi who was a unique figure during the entire freedom struggle. I had the privilege of having his darshan at Allahabad Jn. station in 1946 when he was accompanying Bapu either to Bihar or Noakhali. Major Gen. Shah Nawaz of INA fame was also accompanying the two Gandhis. The second time I saw him was at the Meerut Congress on 23 November 1946. The other members of the Congress Working Committee were staying in well furnished tents near the venue of the session in Pyare Lal Sharma Nagar, but Badshah Khan stayed in a tent with his Khudai Khidmatgars three miles away where four groups of volunteers were lodged: Congress Sewa Dal, INA, All India Students’ Congress leaders and workers and Khudai Khidmatgars. Badshah Khan used to dine with his Khudai Khidmatgars - big sized rotis, dal and vegetables. Frontier Gandhi was an epitome of simple living and high thinking. He normally had only two pairs of Khadi long kurtas and salwars of ‘militia’ cloth. He used to wash his clothes daily and wear them without ironing. His grandson (regretfully I forget his name), who was the President of the NWFP Students’ Congress, was also putting up there and we became friends. The President of the AISC, Ram Sumer Shukla, was staying elsewhere with Poornima Banerji (younger sister of Aruna Asaf Ali) but the members of the Working Committee of the AISC like Raj Narayan Singh, Prabhu Narayan Singh, Dr, Ram Chandra Shukla and other important student leaders like Jang Bahadur Singh (am not sure if Anandeshwar Prasad Singh was there or not) and less important workers like me were staying in those camps. I remember Major Gen. Shah Nawaz and Dr. Ram Chandra Shukla, C-in-C of the AISC Volunteer Corps in their glittering uniforms taking salute at the national flag hoisting ceremony there. I was totally impressed by the personality of Frontier Gandhi who performed the miracle of turning Pathans from dreaded armed men into true believers in non-violence preached by Mahatma Gandhi. This is an incredible event in world history ignored by Western historians. Frontier Gandhi was among the three leaders who had opposed the partition plan at the AICC meeting in Bombay in 1946. He told his colleagues that they were throwing the people of the NWFP into the mouths of wolves. When he visited many important places in India on the occasion of the celebration of Gandhiji’s birth anniversary in 1969 he expressed his anguish at the role of many top leaders of the Congress at the time of the Partition. My former colleague, Sri V. Kalyanam, who was steno or secretary to Gandhiji in Noakhali and worked later as Asstt. Commissioner for SC &ST in early 1950s at Madras, met Frontier Gandhi at Madras, he often talked of his memories of Gandhiji and Frontier Gandhi and showed me hundreds of letters/ notes written by Gandhiji on scraps of paper including the reverse of used envelopes. I don’t know what happened to that priceless treasure. In December 1946 I also had the privilege of meeting the Presidents and General Secretaries of all the PCCs called by the Congress President Acharya JB Kripalani at a special camp of the top national leaders at Allahabad. They included, among others, Dr. Khan Sahib, Premier of the NWFP and brother of Frontier Gandhi, Abdus Samad Khan, the Balochi Gandhi, Dr, Saifuddin Kitchlew, President of Punjab PCC (who had presided over the historic Jallianwala Bagh meeting in Amritsar), Jairamdas Daulatram and Choithram Gidwani from Sindh, Seth Damodar Swaroop from UP, Saadullah from Assam. etc. Those were intoxicating days of the last days of the freedom struggle. Today we salute the memories of those noble souls who sacrificed their lives in the service of the motherland.

(Continued from Page 8) suffocating us these days and it will the good word. Dr. Singh himself problems, fears and concerns and to have an impact on our collective says that people belonging to the accept them as their own. Then only conscience as well. We spread evils majority should live amongst the a beautiful India is possible. He also fast but don’t make efforts to spread minorities to understand their advises the minorities to engage 10 JANATA, Septrember 25, 2016 themselves with the rest of the them towards goodness, it’s our with Khudai Khidmatgar was a population and avoid walking the duty. He says, ‘Religion now a days practical experiment which has path alone. The minority should also is in the hands of opportunistic removed many misconceptions that learn to judge a person by his deeds people who use it to serve their I had earlier. We all should live rather than his/her religion. He goes own agendas. Religion is meant to together in harmony and give time on to add that more minorities should make a person a better soul and to to understand each other with love get educated and become open elevate humanity to higher and sacrifice. Then only a stronger, minded so that a beautiful India can pedestal.’ He appreciates the fact beautiful and development oriented be envisioned and realised. that Khudai Khidmatgar instead of India would emerge which was rejecting religion has presented the dreamt of by our forefathers. May Dr. Kush Singh works in the human face of religion. He adds our children play and rejoice in this Metropolis Lab in Mohan Estate. His that Khudai Khidmatgar highlights beautiful and smiling India for which Lab had a tradition of distributing messages of harmony on both we are putting in our efforts.’ He sweets on Diwali. Realising that 18- Prophet Mohammed’s birthday as narrates that whenever he mentions 20 staff members out of 60-65 were well as Ram Navmi and this is why to his office colleagues that he lives Muslims he got sweets distributed on it is winning hearts and making a in Jamia Nagar they stare at him Eid too this year. For his Muslim secular space among communities. for a while in disbelief and this colleagues as well as his He thinks both Gandhi and Frontier surprise sometimes leads to administration this was a welcome Gandhi also used this strategy for meaningful conversations. Dr. Singh surprise. The Lab administration has peace and brotherhood during their is a mirror to the society, a ray of now taken the resposibility upon itself times. He says, ‘The time I spent hope, light of love. to distribute sweets on Eid every year in addition to Diwali. (Continued from Page 2) Dr. Singh is part of the national I admired the courage and those arrested after the Mumbai core team of Khudai Khidmatgar commitment of people, however carnage would have the front door now. He is involved in day-to-day small in number, lighting candles at of their house shut while the back activities of Khudai Khidmatgar. He Karachi or taking out a procession door was open. is also been made a trustee the at Lahore some years ago in Khudai Khidmatgar Trust. He memory of those who had died in No world power, except believes other organisations like the Mumbai attack. This is the time Germany, has directly accused the Khudai Khidmatgar should go when India needs understanding. Pakistan government for the attacks among people and conduct This is also the occasion when faith on Mumbai. Investigators believe dialogues and meetings for culutural in good relations between India and that all attacks on India are linked to exchanges between communities Pakistan is tested. members of one terrorist group or without any delay so that the other in Pakistan. Whatever misunderstandings between the But at the same time, Pakistan evidence that had India provided in communities can be removed. He should understand and appreciate the past Pakistan has failed to prod thinks extremism is rapidly India’s anger. Those who attacked Islamabad. spreading among educated youth. Mumbai or Pathankot might be the He says, ‘I am a doctor and I know Al-Qaida and the Taliban who are The National Investi- that when we are among our own playing havoc in Pakistan as well. gation Agency (NIA), which is community how vicious and vile we These are the organizations which probing into the recent Uri incident, get.’ Earlier when his friends used are helping, training and arming was set up with a fanfare in 2009 to to say things against other them. Why have such extremists assuage public anger over a similar communities he used to be remained beyond the pale of law? series of failure leading up to 26/11. perplexed as to what extent people Even when some of them were They were entrusted with cases but can go to hate each other. He used “detained” after the attack on India’s the result so far has been dismal. to answer his friend that even if Parliament, they were practically What the NIA will do in the present we agree that people in our country free to preach and spread poison. case is to be seen. The nation is are bad it’s us only who can take India suspects that waiting for a retaliatory action. JANATA, September 25, 2016 11 Bhumi Adhikar Andolan-II

End caste based activists has increased manifold and heavy militarisation within these discrimination and ensure effective thus their victimisation as well. As areas, which often leads to hardships implementation of the SC/ST Act: Bhumi Adhikaar Andolan, we extend for the citizens of those areas. The resource struggle is also support and solidarity to the activists inherently a caste and class struggle and movements facing police Assert democratic rights of and Dalits and Adivasis have been oppression and support the effort to association, freedom of expression at the receiving end. The caste establish a people’s commission to and raise voice against any incursion: based violence and systematic defend the rights of the activists. A climate of fear and intimidation is elimination of the rights and dignity being promoted specifically targeted of the community is being done in Repeal AFSPA and Stop at muzzling dissent, restricting collaboration with the political and increased militarisation in conflict freedom of association, assembly of caste elite leading to their further regions: Recent judgement of the citizens to criticise anti people policies impoverishment and disempower- Supreme Court has validated the long of the government and control or ment. The inability of the system to term demand of the movements for close down any democratic spaces ensure justice to victims of the caste- withdrawal of the AFSPA from J&K, available for free speech and based violence on every count has and many of the North East states. gathering. These attempts by the ensured its continuation without fear Under AFSPA, many heinous crimes State and vigilante groups are not of any impunity. This is condemnable have been committed without any acceptable in the largest democracy and unacceptable. Supreme Court prosecution often feeding in to the of the world, and are completely and Higher Courts must take suo- vicious circle of continuing violence. violates the ideas and principles moto cognizance of these offences The continued unrest is also due to enshrined in the Indian constitution. and ensure fast tracking of the cases on line of the violence against Socialist Party (India) women cases. This will not only ensure justice but also prevent future National Committee of the Party will be held on 12 and 13 attacks on the community. Socialiat Party met at Delhi on 15- November, 2016 at Chediram 9-2016. Girish Kumar Pandey, Dharmashala, Lucknow. Three Bhumi Adhikar Andolan reasserts working president was in the chair. delegates from every such district in and reaffirms its faith in the Prominent among those present which party members are enrolled reservations provided for the SC/ST were Pannalal Surana, Sandip so far will participate in the National communities by the Indian Pandeyy, Satish Agrawal, Faisal Conference. State Secretaries Constitution as a way to address the Khan, Rajshekharan Nair, Shriniwas, should communicate their names and historical injustice. The ongoing Harminder Singh Mansahia, postal addresses to Janakiprasad attempts to subvert that by some Sacchidanand Singh, Renu Gambhir, Goud, President, U.P. State before political forces and caste groups in Neeraj Kumar, Shashank and 20 October, 2016. the name of economic justice is not Janakiprasad Goud. The committee acceptable and any heed to that by took the following decisions: 4. Mobilise party organization the governments and political parties to contest Assembly elections in is primarily based on vote bank 1. As Jayanti Panchal had U.P. Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Goa. calculations. tendered resignation from the post Membership enrolment drive to be of treasurer, Neeraj Kumar was concluded by 31 December.2016. Withdraw all fabricated cases elected as the treasurer. from the social and cultural activists, 5. Chairman of the Central tribals, dalits, farmers and students: 2. Neeraj Kumar and Adv. Parliamentary Board will appoint a number of activists have been Shashank were authorized to form Election Committees for U.P. and framed on numerous false charges national committee of the SYS. Punjab very soon. and incarcerated. In the current political climate, the targeting of 3. National Conference of the –Pannalal Surana R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 12 JANATA, September 25, 2016 Postal Registration No. MCW/275/2015-2017. License to Post without prepayment WPP License No. MH/Tech/WPP-210/West/2016 Published on Sunday, September 25, 2016 & Posted on Wedenesday September 28, 2016 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

Appeal

Dear Friend

Hindi medium school for children of migrant labourers coming from Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Nepal: This school was started two years ago in order to provide education to the children of labourers so that they do not work as child labourers. Children of this school are taught in Hindi language. Today this school is running from two different areas of Mundra taluka, namely, Mundra and Samagoga, catering to the educational needs of more than 700 children.The education is provided free of charge to these children. Besides, they are provided with bus facility, uniform, books and mid-day meals. The school has also got recognition from the Gujarat government for classes 1 to 8 of these schools.

We need your support in our effort to provide education to these children.We are requesting you to sponsor atleast one child, at a cost of Rs. 2000/- per child per annum. Our target is to raise sponsorship for 500 children.

The donations to the YMC are tax-exempt under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961.Your Cheque/Draft may please be drawn in favour of “Yusuf Meherally Centre” and sent to the following address:

Hindi medium school for children of migrant labourers coming from Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Nepal: This school was started two years ago in order to provide education to the children of labourers so that they do not work as child labourers. Children of this school are taught in Hindi language. Today this school is running from two different areas of Mundra taluka, namely, Mundra and Samagoga, catering to the educational needs of more than 700 children.The education is provided free of charge to these children. Besides, they are provided with bus facility, uniform, books and mid-day meals. The school has also got recognition from the Gujarat government for classes 1 to 8 of these schools.

We need your support in our effort to provide education to these children.We are requesting you to sponsor atleast one child, at a cost of Rs. 2000/- per child per annum. Our target is to raise sponsorship for 500 children.

The donations to the YMC are tax-exempt under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961.Your Cheque/Draft may please be drawn in favour of “Yusuf Meherally Centre” and sent to the following address: Dharmendra Kumar The Project coordinator Yusuf Meherally Centre At+post –Bhadreshwar, Tal-Mundra, Kutch, Ph-02838282375, [email protected] The donations can be sent to us by way of bank transfer too. Our bank details are: Name of the Account: Yusuf Meherally Centre Account No. 071510003139, Dena Bank, Branch: BHADRESHWAR IFSC Code: BKDN0330715 (used for RTGS, IMPS and NEFT transactions) Branch Code : 330715, Mundra, Kutch, Gujarat, India