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THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD 12 AN EPIPHANY OF IDEAS MONDAY, AUGUST 14, 2017

A thought for today Is this what 70 years of freedom Mission Possible: A New India means for our children? KAILASH SATYARTHI PM is using India’s high-quality, low-cost technology to lift 400 million out of poverty by 2022

MJ Akbar architect of our Constitution, Dr Babasa- heb Ambedkar, included this as a guiding On 15 February this tenet of our Constitution. Beef was banned Starved Of Oxygen? year, Isro placed 104 in most states by Congress governments. satellites into orbit Of late, cow vigilantes have attacked using only a single Muslims and Dalits on suspicion of eating Gorakhpur tragedy shockingly underlines launch of one vehicle, or transporting beef. Two incidents shabby state of UP’s public healthcare PSLV-C37. The video of attracted wide, and understandable, the event, available easily enough on the media coverage: of Pehlu Khan in he stark reality of UP’s failing public healthcare system has net, shows the familiar zoom of a rocket Rajasthan and Junaid in Haryana. been highlighted by the Gorakhpur tragedy, where over 60 entering space, and then little flicks No government can prevent crime. A T chase one another into the deep distance government’s bona fides are tested by children died at the Baba Raghav Das Medical College last until the mission is completed. Only what it does in pursuit of the criminal. In week. Significantly, the tragedy unfolded in chief minister Yogi three satellites were Indian; 96 were Rajasthan, seven suspects have been Adityanath’s home turf – Gorakhpur is a constituency he had repre- commissioned by two American compa- charged with murder. The state’s chief sented in Parliament since 1998, until March this year. His government nies, Planet Laks and Spire Global. minister Vasundhara Raje has dismissed has marshalled statistics to suggest that the fatalities are not unusual The acceleration in space, impressive as malicious the allegation that her given the high patient intake at the hospital. But on the most as it is, might be less spectacular than administration was biased and argued the disturbing charge that children died in the neonatal and encephalitis the change taking place on the ground. same in this newspaper, in an oped piece Prime Minister Narendra Modi has headlined ‘Mob violence is unacceptable’ wards because their oxygen supply was cut off, government’s denials initiated a transformation towards a (27 July). Comparisons are not an answer, remain unconvincing. If this charge is proved, it would be a case of new India in which historic burdens but she pointed out that murders and mob criminal negligence or worse. such as poverty and corruption have violence took a higher tally in Rajasthan Gorakhpur and its adjoining been eliminated, and inheritance ills in 2012, when Congress was in power. In districts have borne the major brunt like communalism and casteism are only Haryana, five were arrested but the main of the dreaded Japanese encephalitis. bad memory. His mission has a calendar; suspect escaped. Police traced him to the deadline is 2022, when India celebrates Sakri, in Maharashtra, where he thought It’s reported that with fatality rates its 75th year of independence. he had found safety in obscurity. He has for severe infections ranging between Transformative change needs radical now confessed to stabbing Junaid. 20-30%, the disease has been claiming thinking. The economic empowerment PM is using India’s proven capability in On 29 June, PM Modi expressed his the lives of over 500 infants in this of women is being used as a principal high-quality, low-cost technology to create anguish during the centenary event of area every year. Uninterrupted oxygen cure for poverty. Under Mudra, the PM’s efficient, sustainable and corruption-free Jan Dhan was an essential Mahatma Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram supply is actually the only lifeline signature project for those at the base of delivery systems for direct benefits to the first step. Critics sneered that in Gujarat, wondering how much pain the economic pyramid, loans worth poor on an unprecedented scale. Gandhi himself would have felt. Gandhi for critically infected children. Rs 3,55,590 crore have been disbursed. Jan Dhan was an essential first step. In these bank accounts were had offered to die for the cow, but never Adityanath should know this well – Remarkably, 78% of those taking these 2015, within three months, banks opened “cashless”. Unsurprisingly, advocated violence in its name. Finance in two decades serving as a parliamentarian he asked as many as 89 loans are women. 300 million accounts for those who had they had missed the point: minister Arun Jaitley has described the never crossed the doors of a bank before. incidents as barbaric. questions related to the health and family welfare ministry. The PM’s housing plan, for the banks were now serving those The broader problem is that no matter which governments come impoverished, is an equally big story in Critics sneered that these were “cash- Both voters and politicians are and go, lack of sanitation, open drains and waterlogged streets remain, gender emancipation. A woman can less”. Unsurprisingly, they had missed the without money, rather than increasingly dismissive of the motivated take this home loan as sole owner; but a point: banks were now serving those those with and fraying narrative of extended guilt. and during monsoons they spike Japanese encephalitis cases in man needs a woman as co-owner unless without money, rather than those with. Nitish Kumar, for instance, refused to eastern UP. What is needed is an extensive door-to-door immunisa- he is a widower or bachelor. This is a Use of technology for transparency the most popular PM in memory need buy this false propaganda of Congress, tion programme, where health officers reach out to people rather fundamental shift in the balance of power has also become mandatory in the bidding look no further than his comprehensive whose only electoral crutch now is the than the public scrambling to hospitals for basic treatment. Also within a family. Over 25 million women process for government contracts. In a co- assault on poverty and corruption. alleged insecurity of minorities. required is a massive upgrade of healthcare facilities especially at who thought that a gas cylinder was a untry where, particularly during the long It surely cannot be anyone’s case that In 2013, there was an assassination the district and village levels, where the needs of a burgeoning privilege of the middle class or rich, are decade between 2004 and 2014, contracts through some twirl of a magic wand, attempt on Narendra Modi during a rally now in smokeless kitchens. Swachh became synonymous with corruption, the India should suddenly become free of all in Patna. At that critical, volatile moment, population are dangerously underserved by a shortage of doctors Bharat is a means to dignity and better change is a virtual revolution, leaving ills. Among our difficult legacies is the he said that Hindus and Muslims had a and public hospitals. Here Niti Aayog’s proposal of synergising health for women. The list is long. sections of the old political-industrial politics of Hindu-Muslim differences, a choice: they could either fight each other, public and private sectors under the PPP model would be helpful. The objective is to lift about 400 million complex frustrated, angry and desperate tragedy that has simmered and often or they could unite to fight the true enemy, The immediate need is to provide all possible medical support to out of harsh poverty in five years by ensu- to restore the previous order. bubbled into conflict. One long-standing poverty. Fraternity and prosperity of all Baba Raghav Das Medical College. But this does not mean brushing ring that the first fruits and largest share New India is being fashioned from dispute has been over the cow, held sacred Indians is the only creed of Narendra Modi. institutional shortfalls under the carpet. Government inquiry of economic growth go to those who need embers of the old. Sceptics who cannot in Hinduism. Mahatma Gandhi urged an The writer is Union Minister of State for it most. In a complementary initiative, the fathom why Narendra Modi has become end to cow slaughter; and the lead External Affairs into the Gorakhpur tragedy must not pre-judge the matter but find out the truth about whether the infants’ oxygen supply was indeed cut off for non-payment of dues to the supplier. Such a crime must not go unpunished. ‘When a woman uses law, she is accused of misuse; when an Good Riddance Indian woman uses law, she is labelled with bad character’

The Supreme Court’s recent direction subjected to violence, Section 498A was a fide. Your comments? The court should direct its anger Despotic Pahlaj Nihalani is sacked, now stopping arrests or coercive action great respite. In the majority of Indian The judiciary cannot go by numbers against the police and law enforcement against accused husbands or their families, a newly-wed couple lives in a alone. It has to treat every individual agencies. Here the court has found a cure Prasoon Joshi must reform the Censor Board relatives charged in anti-dowry joint family, where the bahu is living case as per its merit. ‘Misuse of law’ worse than the disease. Police powers etter late than never. Government has finally heeded repeated complaints under Section 498A of the with her in-laws. If such a woman is is a sweeping generalisation, which then have been given to welfare committees, calls for sacking CBFC chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani. These Indian Penal Code without ascertaining tortured, physically or mentally, within becomes a benchmark, quoted in who will decide whether an offence B the veracity of the allegations marks a the first two years of marriage and is support of the next judgment. Rulings in has occurred and whether a woman has calls rose across the film industry, audiences and actually all shift in Indian jurisprudence on women- thrown out of her matrimonial house, such cases cannot be made based on faced violence. The purpose of powerful Indians who want to see the country’s soft power flourish. Because related issues. Indira Jaising, former she is left with no option but to resort to previous rulings, or mere police state- laws is defeated. under the direction of Nihalani CBFC grew particularly prone to additional solicitor general and senior SC legal action against her persecutors – ments or general public opinions. If the ■ Isn’t it true that educated women arbitrary “sanskari” decrees, frustrating varied creative visions. advocate, spoke to Sugandha Indulkar including her parents-in-law – who at judges wanted to establish that with high aspirations are the Many a filmmaker experienced this CBFC avatar as unenlightened, on why she thinks the order, which times connive with their son. women misuse the law, they ones who are misusing Section tyrannical and scissor-happy. Newly appointed chairperson stipulates that all states must set up Despite such ground realities, courts should have called for data from 498A of IPC? family welfare committees in each district are saying women are misusing the law experts. They should have analy- Q&A Not at all. If a woman has an Prasoon Joshi therefore has on his hands the task of significant to verify such complaints, will adversely by adding parents to sed at least a thousand cases of vio- unhappy marriage, she will file course-correction. Optimism on this front is affect anti-dowry cases: the FIR. This ruling lence against women and then come to a for a divorce. Educated women are not justified because as adman, lyricist and poet dilutes the very rational conclusion. manipulating law: they are walking out Joshi has a reputation for being thoughtful, ■ How you define ‘use’ and ‘misuse’ purpose of the law. ■ Do we need to have gender-neutral of the marriage. having a modern point of view and a good of law with respect to the recent SC ■ But the laws? Shouldn’t there be strong Section 498A comes into the picture understanding of the medium. directives on anti-dowry provi- judiciary has action taken against people who when a woman is subjected to violence. sions under Section 498A of IPC? pointed out abuse laws? If we condemn terrorists or arsonists, In the long run CBFC needs structu- The word ‘misuse’ is itself misu- that a large Across the world, women are how can we not be moved by the plight of ral reforms, decreasing its dependency sed by the courts. Whenever a woman number of subjected to domestic violence. This is a persecuted woman, who works hard for on the personal views of the person heading it. uses the law, she is told she is misusing cases where not unique to India. However, in India, the sake of her family, and tries in vain to It’s been more than a year since the government- it; shockingly, when an Indian woman elderly parents dowry deaths take this violence come to terms with the violence she is appointed committee headed by Shyam Benegal submitted its accesses the law, she is often labelled are being pro- leagues ahead of rest of the world, and subjected to? ■ report on the necessary reforms. The committee recommended as a woman of bad character. secuted are therefore, particularly here we need What has gone wrong? Why does It is a classic case of victim not bona strong laws. SC have to issue new directives? that CBFC should only be a film certification body categorising the blaming. Good women are I agree that strong action must The criminal justice system in suitability of films for different audience groups, on the basis of bound by ‘maryada’ and so be taken against anyone who abuses law. India has collapsed. I get complaints age. This would mean it would no longer be a censor board, its they don’t go to the law. The I do not support elderly men and women stating that when a complainant walks business of demanding beeps and cuts would come to an end. court too looks at the woman being arrested and roped in for no reason into a police station, he has to pay a These reforms must be implemented. But in the meantime, who demands application by anyone. No law should be misused by bribe to get his complaint registered. Benegal himself has underlined that the censorship guidelines are of Section 498A as: here anyone. An allegation by a woman is not There is a problem with police misusing comes another one who is enough to make an arrest. The police their powers to make a quick buck. not carved in stone, the censors bring their own sensibility and misusing the law. must investigate the matter and then It is then that such myopic directives get understanding of society to the interpretation of these guidelines. In a patriarchal society, register a complaint, under the sections issued. The court must direct its At the least the newly constituted board under Joshi’s chair- where women are often they deem fit. attention there. personship should stop cutting content just because the “length of the kisses were … unnecessarily excessive” or because it was a “lady dilbert oriented film” or because it focussed on “fantasy above life”. Sacredspace Become Wise How to become wise? Dandiya politics By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by It was a Rajya Soap-a opera in Gujarat, reflection, which is noblest; minor characters’ stock rose sharply Second, by imitation, which

[email protected] is easiest; and third by experience, which is In Gujarat, the all-powerful Shah-and-Shah has for once been the bitterest. bested by Patel rap. In the land of the dhokla, the ruling party was forced to admit someone had given it a dhokha. Never before Confucius in the history of Indian news television has so much air time been spent on a single Rajya Sabha seat as on Gujarat’s recent Rajya Soap-a opera. While BJP attempted to stage a Hum Log by gathering all MLAs under its umbrella, Congress’s Ahmed Patel proved that it’s best not to meddle with the old guard kyonki saas bhi kabhi bahu thi. Everything We Have, Belongs To Her The Gujarat face-off was also like a T20 match where the scoreboard kept shifting every hour. The eventual winner in the Amit Shah vs Ahmed Patel Pulkit Sharma swift progress. Mahalakshmi is the nature will be permanently trans- offer each and every part of his being to contest was decided by the Duckworth Lewis system with EC playing ‘neutral’ personification of divine beauty, formed into dynamic divine nature. the Divine Mother. No part of the self umpire. Batsman and bowler were the centre of attention but the ball was upreme consciousness becomes harmony and bliss and she encourages Evolution of consciousness can be should resist or shy away from this actually in the hands of a deep third man. Smanifest in various elements of us to refine our being so that there is possible only when two great powers movement under any pretext because For Gujaratis who expertly track the rise and fall of the stock market, this was creation through the play of the harmony and beauty within and around that are within us and also potentially grace is able to do its work only when a day when politics became dalal street. The characters in the drama, erstwhile Divine Mother. To realise that we are a us. Mahasaraswati is the epitome of present everywhere in the universe, surrender is total. Besides this, one minor netas who suddenly became national figures, saw their stock rise sharply part of the Supreme consciousness, we knowledge and excellence and bestows work in synchronisation. The first is a needs to cultivate plasticity so that the and command more political equity than ever before. The share price of the need to surrender to the Mother and upon us a relentless spirit of perfection relentless aspiration in the heart of the power of the Mother can enter within Gujarat MLA skyrocketed as the political market readied for a bull run. seek her grace. In Sri Aurobindo’s which encourages us to act jiva to become one with the and bring transformation. A lot of For example Chhotubhai Vasava, the single JD(U) MLA from a integral yoga, the Divine Mother is at according to the divine plan. Supreme and the second is times, higher power is waiting to remote constituency in Bharuch suddenly became a market sensation, the centre and everything that we have, When an individual the grace of the Mother. guide and uplift us, but because of our causing the madcap index to swing wildly. There were diametrically belongs to her. The purpose of our life is reaches a particular high point While the grace of the Divine tunnel vision and rigid notions, we are opposite reports about how Vasava had actually voted. While his party fulfilled only when we become an in spiritual development, these Mother is omnipresent, it is unable to receive it. Therefore, it is declared he had voted BJP, he kept insisting he had voted for Congress. In the instrument of the Divine Mother. four powers of the Divine often our aspiration that is crucial to let go of all preconceived end Chhotubhai became Patel’s bada bhai when it was ‘revealed’ he had in fact The Mother is one, but appears Mother find their harmony fickle. Therefore, we need to notions and become malleable to the voted for him. Another MLA, NCP’s Jayantbhai Patel Boskey, clearly felt he before us differently, each appearance and freedom of movement strengthen and refine our will of the Mother. held the key. Boskey played Big Boss, keeping both sides on the edge. representing her diverse powers and within jiva, the individual aspiration so that its flame The component of rejection requires Navratra came early to Gujarat with netas playing political dandiya. But facets. Maheshwari is full of wisdom, consciousness. Consequently, the burns perpetually. us to scan ourselves thoroughly and those who carried big sticks could not prevent others from dancing in circles. peace and compassion and she nurtures Mahashakti or universal speaking Sri Aurobindo elucidates identify everything within us that is Earlier we saw the Congress play the politics of the last resort to defeat BJP by everyone based on their intentions and mother becomes manifest and a three-pronged approach of false. Once we know it, we need to make airlifting its MLAs to Bengaluru. But this single setback in Gujarat is only a actions to march forward towards the unites us with the light and tree surrender, plasticity and repeated, unfailing efforts in rejecting it minor correction in the BJP’s sensex which is zooming to new heights. truth. Mahakali is the embodiment of bliss of Supreme consciousness. rejection through which we can work so that anti-divine forces do not impede Citizens however are suffering from market pessimism. In Gujarat, floods have staggering strength and force and she According to Sri Aurobindo, if this on our aspiration. Surrender needs to our transformation. Once we do our bit, claimed more than 200 lives this year and soon murky political floodwaters may vehemently uproots all anti-divine spiritual growth could be carried out at be constant, vigorous and complete. At the Divine Mother does the work. rise above voters’ heads. forces in individuals so that they make a substantial collective level, human all times, the individual must actively Post your comments at speakingtree.in