Vol: 28 | No. 10 | October 2020| R20

www.opinionexpress.in A MONTHLY NEWS MAGAZINE

Cover Story CORRUPTION CAULDRON It’s a way of life and an accepted evil in , despite PM Modi’s best efforts Thank You BIPL %DODML,QIUD3URMHFWV/LPLWHG www.balaji.co.in www.dighiport.in editorial

RNI UPENG01809 Volume 28, No 10 Institutional corruption kills EDITOR Prashant Tewari Associate Editor the soul of vibrant democracy Dr Rahul Misra orruption is so rampant in India that it has more or less become Political Editor a way of life, an accepted evil, this is despite of the best efforts of Prakhar Misra Prime Minister Modi and his clean image. Now the mega political BUREAU CHIEF C Anshuman Dogra (DELHI), Diwakar Shetty scams are restricted but the crony capitalist have con- (MUMBAI), Sidhartha Sharma (KOLKATA), tinued their practice unabated leading to a slowdown Lakshmi Devi (BANGALORE ) DIvyash Bajpai (USA), KAPIL DUDAKIA (UNITED KINGDOM) in technological advancement, a lack of competition Rajiv Agnihotri (MAURITIUS), Romil Raj which could even border on collusion, and higher pric- Bhagat (DUBAI), Herman Silochan (CANADA), es for consumers. Dr Shiv Kumar (AUS/NZ), Nithya Ramesh (Fashion & Entertainment ) While we must give the present government some Principle Correspondent credit for its implementation of the GST, we cannot Shakila Makandar ignore the fact that shadow economies lead to an un- Content partner organized workforce, wherein workers face problems The Pioneer Pratham Pravakta regarding salaries, job security, contract agreements, Legal Advisors working conditions, etc.An informal workforce hampers the growth of Vishnu Sharma Adv manufacturing firms through lower degrees of productivity. It should not Vijai Krishna Adv be surprising that India is a country which largely consists of an informal Advertisement / Marketing Director workforce, and the continuation of such which will have an effect on both Diwakar Shetty Gopal Chopra the quantitative and qualitative aspects of growth in the long run. Administrative Director The present government was clear with its agenda when it came into Amit Pandey power six years ago, and to some extent the intention to rid society of cor- Bal Mukund Gaur ruption could be seen, namely through the two main economic reforms Corporate Communication / PR Sanjay Mendiratta that the government introduced (demonetisation and GST). The real- M M Upadhaya ity of the situation however reflects the plain and simple fact that either Graphics & Design nothing has changed or it has merely gotten worse. The PNB scam is a Writeword Commuications (Studio 8) clear indication of this, and of course the situation has been reflected in Photographer the Transparency International’s global corruption index. A lower rank- Ratan Shukla ing for India compared to previous years is certainly a black mark on the Overseas Marketing OEMCL Ltd (Mauritius), OEHCL ltd (DUBAI) BJP government’s report card.Bofors Scam, Spectrum Scam, CWG Scam, Advertisement / Circulation: , FCI Scam, Coal Scam, Aircel Maxis Scam, National Herald Delhi / NCR - Hemant Sharma: D 239 Scam, Banking Scams of Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, Vijay Mallya, Sande- Defence Colony New Delhi 110024 INDIA Tel – 011 49060350 sarabrothers have largely gone in sleep mode. Congress or BJP, fraudsters Mumbai - Vijay Kalantri – Advisor: New have mastered the art to over-power the system. ExcelsIor BUILDING, 6tH Floor, A.K. NAYAK All wings of the democracy are infected by corruption virus. Legisla- MARG, Fort, MUMBAI - 400001 (INDIA). tive, Executive, Judiciary and Media are overpowered by corporate money Phone: 91 - 22 - 22019265 / 22019160 FAX : 91-22- 22019764 / 22019760 power. Today, elections are heavily funded by corporate money The magazine is published and printed by Rajiv hence the irrespective of the outcome, they decide the leadership issue. Agnihotri for Opinion Express Communications The prime posting in the key government positions for bureaucrats are & Entertainments Pvt Ltd, from Kumpu Graphic decided by third party in consultation with the ruling elites to secure their Press 2 Ashok Nagar, Lucknow & printed at Kumpu Graphic Press 2 Ashok Nagar, Lucknow – 226001 interest. In the recent times, appointment of Judges in the higher judiciary Tele : 91-522-4060880 & is pushed by vested interest groups to safeguard their interest and lastly, Nikhil Offset An ISO 9001 : 2008 Certified Company 223, DSIDC Complex, Okhla Industrial Area Phase the national media is completely controlled by select big pocket corporate - I, New Delhi - 110020 Tele : 91-26812316, houses directly or indirectly to set up narrative that suits the interest of 26810097, 26810458, FAX:91 45792362 E-Mail : their business. The essence of democracy is crushed by the vested inter- [email protected], [email protected] Registered Office: OPINION EXPRESS HOUSE est lobbies and the common man on the street is left off-guard to secure 24-A Clyde Road, Lucknow-226001 (India) his basic rights guaranteed in the constitution. It is conclusively said that Phone: 91-522-4060880 Fax: 91-522-2208242 unless the nexus between the money and governance is smashed, com- # 24x7 mobility +91 9984437000 email: [email protected] mon citizen of the country will be treated as the consumer by the so-called All disputes are subject to be under jurisdiction of ruling elites and their super bosses and the dream of establishing an ideal courts in Delhi. democracy will remain an illusion. All content published may be subject to copyright, seek written permission to re-produce. Opinion —Prashant Tewari, Express is trade mark brand of Opinion Express Editor-in-Chief Communications & Entertainment Private Limited. Opinion Express October 2020 3 A Monthly News Magazine October 2020 Cover Story Graft Games India’s big corruption cases and its aftermaths P 5-12

PM Modi: The 14 planned rise to 50 Prime Minister Artist par The Genesis of excellence 20the Issue

India and 26 China- The new 44 world order! Covid martyrs Himalayan in khaki 34 Rebellion The Deadly 2021 Virus And The 35 India Fit Cure

4 October 2020 Opinion Express Cover story Graft Games India’s big corruption cases and its aftermaths

J Gopikrishnan

ue to Covid-19 pandemic, many ongoing major corruption cases are de- layed and the Accused people might be relived. Be it 2G case appeal in Delhi High Court or former Finance Minister P Chidambaram involved bribery cases in INX Media and Aircel-Maxis deals or politically sensi- tive National Herald case in trial courts and its linked appeal cases by Dthe Accused persons Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in Supreme Court on tax evasion and Herald House eviction. Now CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) sought daily hearing in the 2G case appeal in Delhi High Court citing the retirement of the current Judge Justice Brijesh Sethi on November 30. In corruption cases, what we see generally the backdoor games in the trial stage, after the public attention fizzles out later. Classic example is the Bofors case. When you look at the timeline of the past 22 years, politicians from Congress and BJP wanted to save their preferred accused persons in Bofors case. Congress leadership wanted to save OttavioQuattrocchi and BJP leadership of late 90s wanted to save Hinduja broth- ers. These two are the major kickback money distributors.Still the case filed by Adv.

Opinion Express October 2020 5 Ajay Agarwal (BJP’s candidate against pending in Supreme Court. In 2018, ing to probe into the new angle aired Sonia Gandhi in 2014 Lok Sabha elec- CBI made a curious petition in Supreme in TV channel. Anyway Supreme Court tion in Rae Bareli) against the CBI Court to revive the case on a flimsy an- trashed CBI’s new flimsy funny petition closure report is pending in Supreme gle. The flimsy angle was based on a and still Ajay Agarwal’s petition pend- Court. Bofors scam was a turning point revelation in 2018 by retired Swedish ing. Don’t know why Ajay Agarwal lost in Indian politics which smashed out Police Officer in the newly launched interest. Congress party’s single party regime in Republic TV Channel. Fun is the same India. The scam linked to Prime Minis- CBI filed closure and facing the appeal After Bofors ter Rajiv Gandhi’s family collapsed the of Ajay Agarwal against closure in Su- After Bofors Scam, Jain Hawala prospectus of Congress party which was preme Court filing a petition based on Dairy Scandal shook the Country. Actu- having 425 MPs in Lok Sabha and got a Republic TV saying that they are go- ally this whole episode started with the reduced to 220 MPs in the 1989 Gen- eral Election, leading to the united Op- position from BJP to Socialists to Left parties led India’s first coalition Gov- ernment. Congress party’s downfall started with the exposes in Bofors scam from 1988. There were lot of twists and turns in Bofors case and Opposition lost steam on the matter after the assassi- nation of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991, leading to the re- turn of Congress party which remained in power up to 1996. Though BJP led Government came to power from 1998 to 2004, the situation has not changed. BJP’s Law Minister Ram Jethmalani became Advocate of Hinduja Brothers, who was part in the gang of middlemen in the Bofors deal. Next Law Minister Arun Jaitley was also not keen on the matter though he was the Additional Solicitor General in the case in 1989. Jaitley many times said publicly that he drafted the chargesheet in Bofors. Next Congress led UPA Government, simply forced CBI to close the case. Still the main petitioner Ajay Agar- wal’s appeal against CBI closure is

6 October 2020 Opinion Express arrest of a JNU student from Kashmir in connection with money trail from ter- ror linked outfits in late 1990 by Delhi After Hawala Diary scandal, two corruption cases Police. The money trails lead to the Ha- rocked the country. One was Magazine’s wala operators Jain brothers in Delhi and Police got a long list of names from sting operation on Defence deals. It collapsed then diaries kept by them. Obviously case got ruling BJP’s President Bangaru Laxman, who was frozen for 3-4 years due to the names in the dairy ranging from so many politi- caught on camera accepting few lakhs of rupees. He cians. In 1994, the diary names were exposed in media, ranging from LK was convicted and later out on bail he is no more Advani to many politicians and Cabinet now. Recently in August 2020 another accused Jaya Ministers. Still people say names in di- ary were leaked by top leadership Con- Jaitly, who was companion of then Defence Minister gress and BJP to settle their internal George Fernandez was convicted by trial court along rivalries. Activist and Journalist Vineet Narain, lawyers Ram Jethmalani and with former military officers. Prashant Bhushan approached Courts. Meanwhile as usual Ram Jethmalani switched the side to save Advani and Judgment popularly known as Vineet After Hawala Diary scandal, two became his Advocate and won the case. Narain Judgment which changed the corruption cases rocked the country. Case got collapsed after Supreme Court entire structure of CBI and ED and got One was Tehelka Magazine’s sting op- said that mere naming in diaries can’t the Supreme Court’s monitoring and eration on Defence deals. It collapsed be treated as evidence. Though the case strict norms for the appointment of of- then ruling BJP’s President Bangaru collapsed, the outcome was a landmark ficers in these probe agencies. Laxman, who was caught on camera accepting few lakhs of rupees. He was convicted and later out on bail he is no more now. Recently in August 2020 another accused Jaya Jaitly, who was companion of then Defence Minister George Fernandez was convicted by trial court along with former military officers. Somehow she was lucky to manage bail from Delhi High Court in the evening itself, while other accused still languishing in jail. How got bail on the same evening from High Court is a matter of debate. Sometimes justice is delivered on seeing face. Tehelka Maga-

Opinion Express October 2020 7 zine exposed how pliable are people in Mega scams rocks Congress Kalmadi and his displeasure letters politics and bureaucracy, and army. The led UPA Government leaked into media became the Scam. sting operation exposed how BJP first First major scam rocked the UPA Interestingly, though the budget of time landed in power pliable in deals. Government was Commonwealth the CWG was more than Rs.75,000 The Defence Minister’s companion and Games (CWG) scams from 2009. The crore, the scam allegations were only BJP President were caught for accept- CWG Scam started by a movement limited to Suresh Kalmadi (might be ing money on the sting operation. called India Against Corruption (IAC) his stars not correct that time) who After this Tehelka’s reporter An- which was essentially blessed by RSS, had spending power of below Rs.1700 iruddha Bahal in 2006 exposed a big and supporters of spiritual leaders Sri crore. He also picked fights with big sting operation through his website Sri Ravi Shankar and Baba Ramdev. media organizations on advertisement Cobrapost. This sting operation actu- That time main Opposition party BJP allotments in the Games. Anyway all ally shook the Parliament revealing was in shambles due to their electoral jumped on him on purchases and CBI how MPs were taking money for ask- defeat in May 2009 Lok Sabha elec- case was registered and was injail for ing questions. This expose exposed how tions.Congress led UPA got rattled some months. The case is still on trial questions and matters were raised by and shaken in 2G Scam followed by and expected to take more than 2-3-4 MPs by taking money from Corporate Coal Scam. years to finish. That is our system in Houses and their rivals. After an inter- The CWG Scam was limited to the judicial process. nal probe, Parliament expelled all the role of the Games Committee Chair- Interestingly two big cases related nine MPs caught in the sting operation. man and Congress leader Suresh Ka- to CWG were later closed by CBI. One This was a black chapter in the Indian lmadi. Actually then Sports Minis- was regarding Rs.15,000 crore worth Parliament. ter Mani Shankar Aiyer was against construction of flyovers in connection

The Supreme Court verdict of February 2012, cancelling all 122 licenses and subsequent Presidential Reference led to the auction of all natural resources. This Judgment also affected the Coal Scam cases and auction of Coal Mines. From auction of Telecom Spectrum alone, the Country during 2010-2016 earned Rs.3.6 lakh crores in the exchequer.

8 October 2020 Opinion Express with the CWG in Delhi in 2010. The series of 100s of reports from Decem- subsequent Presidential Reference led over expenditure in the construction ber 2008 leading to Telecom Minis- to the auction of all natural resources. of the flyovers (Barapullah Flyover) ter A.Raja’s resignation in November This Judgment also affected the Coal was pointing to none other than then 2010. This case changed my career Scam cases and auction of Coal Mines. Delhi Sheila Dikshit. prospectus as a Journalist. I am al- From auction of Telecom Spectrum Second one was much bigger scam ways thankful to my Editor Chandan alone, the Country during 2010-2016 of about the Rs.35,000 crore spend Mitra and Bureau Chief Navin Upad- earned Rs.3.6 lakh crores in the exche- on the construction of CWG Village. hyay for assigning this mega work, quer. The 2G Scam led CAG to find oth- The builder MGF Group was so close where God smiled at me. This was er scams like Telecom AGR hushed up to Sonia Gandhi’s family and case the first case where Comptroller and revenues which now found the payment reached nowhere and ultimately CBI Auditor General (CAG) fixed the role of Rs.1.65 lakh crore by telecom giants closed the case. Now CWG cases are of Corporate Houses. BJP leader Sub- to the public exchequer. limited only to Kalmadi and small ramanian Swamy and noted lawyer However unfortunately criminal cas- cases against Municipal officers in the Prashant Bhushan deserves the full es in 2G Scam collapsed in trial court. I long trial stages. credit for their legal fights which ul- am not commenting on the very very timately collapsed the mighty Sonia bad Judgment passed by the trial Judge The 2G Scam Gandhi controlled UPA regime. OP saini. His Judgment acquitting the The Congress led UPA Govern- So many good things happened in scamsters is so bad in law and laugh- ment got collapsed in the 2G Scam the Country due of the 2G Scam expose. able. Now CBI and ED have approached which was highlighted by “The Pio- The Supreme Court verdict of Febru- the Delhi High Court for speedy hearing neer” newspaper through continuous ary 2012, cancelling all 122 licenses and in September 2020.

Opinion Express October 2020 9 Coal Scam As the trial court Judge Bharat Parashar was a bold Judge many are convicted in the Coal Scam including the former Coal Secretary HC Gupta. However, then Prime Minister Man- mohan Singh escaped from the Scam, as CBI decided to shut his eyes. Man- mohan Singh was summoned by the trial court but he managed a stay from another Bench of Supreme Court. Why CBI not challenged it? Certain things, you don’t have answers.

Niira Radia Tapes and CBI Director Ranjiit Sinha’s case Controversial lobbyist NiiraRadia’s conversations made tremors in many sectors. There were more than 6000 conversations, though only around 500 conversations landed in public domain. From Ratan Tata to who is who in in- dustry, media, bureaucracy and poli- tics got hit in the Radia Tapes expose. Supreme Court in late 2012 Ordered CBI to probe into 12 matters of cor- rupt practices mentioned in the tapes. However the case lost steam after CBI reported back to the Court that there was no criminality found in these con- versations. The Court also did not pur- sue in the matter on findings submitted in sealed cover. Another biggest shocking incident was in late 2014, the CBI Director was caught for meeting many 2G Scam and Coal Scam accused Corporate tycoons. This was exposed by certain good officers in CBI by verifying tainted Ranjit Sinha’s visitors’ book kept at his residence. Supreme Court’s 2G Bench had removed Sinha from the cases and Coal Scam Bench had ordered probe on Sinha’s dubious activities. Even after the Supreme Court indicted, Modi Gov- ernment did not take any action against the tainted CBI Director. CBI has not yet filed FIR on this regard against its tainted former Director.

Cases against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and P Chidambaram After winning the 2G cases in Su- preme Court, BJP leader gone ballistic. He got Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in National Herald case. His expose in Aircel-Maxis scam led to the fall of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, who during the probe trapped in another bribery case known as INX-Media case. All these cases are in the trial stages which 10 October 2020 Opinion Express are expected to take 2-3 years in judi- cial process. The Income Tax case in National Herald case and Herald House The Income Tax case in National Herald case eviction cases are pending in Supreme and Herald House eviction cases are pending in Court. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gan- dhi lost in all forums and their appeal Supreme Court. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi is pending before the Supreme Court. Enforcement Directorate has attached lost in all forums and their appeal is pending before the Mumbai and Panchkula properties the Supreme Court. Enforcement Directorate has in the National Herald case. Now we have to wait for the normal working of attached the Mumbai and Panchkula properties in courts after the Covid-19 pandemic is the National Herald case. Now we have to wait for controlled. Lot of scams exposed during 2012- the normal working of courts after the Covid-19 2014. One of the KG Basin loot where pandemic is controlled. Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Group was caught. Another was the humongous scam in the Civil Aviation sector where main culprits were Jet Airways and Tata ment. Only once a retired High Court CBI. In his Order, Justice Chelameswar Group. Somehow Prashant Bhushan’s Judge was arrested was in September said how CBI officers capable to deal a case against the illegalities in the Reli- 2017 in medical college scam. CBI took case involving the role of certain Judges ance Jio not became successful. The a bold step to arrest retired Judge IM in Supreme Court. But next day, Chief case ended with open tussle in Supreme Quddussi which ultimately led to the Justice Dipak Misra took over the case Court between then Chief Justice of In- culmination of the controversial press illegally or not as per custom and di- dia TS Thakur and Prashant Bhushan, conference by the senior most four luted the matter. This was the trigger who later walked out from the Court. judges of the Supreme Court in January of the four Judges press conference The merits of the case lost in the war 2018. Four senior most Judges Justices against the Chief Justice of India. This of words between the two. Certain high J Chelameswar, Madan B Lokur, Kuri- incident shows the grey areas and rot- flying cases end up like this in mysteri- an Joseph and Ranjan Gogoi conducted ten side in the Judiciary. ous way. press conference expressing displea- It is not easy to probe into the cor- sure on the style of functioning of Chief ruption in judiciary. It is not easy in Corruption in Judiciary Justice of India Dipak Misra. lower level of judiciary also though For long time there are allega- Rtd Justice Quddussi was caught by Police is empowered to register cases. tions of corruption in Judiciary and it for fixing a case and handling bribery Once a district level Judge was arrested reached nowhere. Simple reason for with a case involving a medical college by CBI in a bribery case of allowing bail this is only action available against listed in Supreme Court. Justice Che- in Bellary mining case. Some Judges High Court Judge and above is possible lameswar ordered for senior most five in District and subordinate level were only through Impeachment by Parlia- Judge to probe rather than probe by punished by the High Courts and ended

Opinion Express October 2020 11 up in termination of their service. In 2G case, the ED has come out with the report that a week before the controversial acquittal judgment, the stock prices of the companies owned by Accused persons were shot up in multiple times. Somehow no action was taken.

Political changes BJP and AAP became the benefi- ciaries in the anti-corruption move- ment started from December 2010. In politics so many twists and turns will be witnessed. In November 2013, AAP led Arvind Kejriwal came to power in Delhi State with the help of Congress party which they opposed for past two years. The AAP was formed against the corruption of Congress party and in 2015 and 2020 Delhi Assembly elec- tions; it is a well known fact that AAP got support of Congress in sidelining BJP in Delhi. BJP which came to power in May 2014 was not keen fixing the corrup- tion cases to its logical conclusion. There happened many deals under the table. There were open attempts to derail the cases against Chidambaram and in 2G casesby certain people in power. Many Officers dealing corrup- tion cases faced all kind of hardships. Subramanian Swamy was sidelined in BJP and Prashant Bhusan was re- moved from AAP. The worst was the dilution the Prevention of Corruption Act by the BJP Government.

Conclusion My experiences in studying and reporting the corruption cases taught me sp many lessons. Main thing is who ever come to power the Corporate Houses somehow control them. Politi- cians may lose job but the Corporate Houses, the bribe givers remain as the politicians we elect lack courage to tackle these buccaneers. What we need is the educated and vigilant pub- lic and fight against the corruption is not like an item which is like the items to be delivered immediately like in fast food counters. The fight against cor- ruption is a long battle and one should not lose heart during the setbacks. We have to remember that at the end truth and only ultimate truth will win – Satyameva Jayate.

(J Gopikrishnan is a Jour- nalist working with ‘The Pio- neer’ newspaper )

12 October 2020 Opinion Express Opinion Express October 2020 13 PM Narendra Modi: The planned rise to Prime Minister Sanjit Paul Singh

Dreaming and Doing How does a young kid, one of six siblings, born in a lower income fam- ily in Vadnagar, Gujarat, schooled in a government school, working in his free time to supplement parental in- come, find the motivation to develop, upgrade his knowledge, learn multiple languages, to emerge as one India’s greatest orators and a two term Prime Minister. Let’s look at his unique jour- ney. Young Narendra after completing his schooling, left home on a path of self discovery, traversing the Himalayas and other parts of India, spending time at various missions imbibing the teach- ings of Swami Vivekanand and under- standing different cultures. He returned to Ahmedabad and at the ripe age of 17 joined the RSS. Married at an early age he explained to his spouse that his life was dedicated to the nation, and they lived separately thereafter. His sheer hard work, executing assignments with- out ever complaining, endeared him to his mentors leading him to be made the youngest ever Pracharak for the city of Ahmedabad at the age of 24. He learnt to lead, and work with elders. In 1987, the RSS felt that he had the ability to contribute to the political space, and as- signed him to the BJP as General Secre- trous earthquake in Jan 2001, leaving rendra Modi was absolved by the courts tary for Gujarat. over 2 lacs dead and Bhuj totally devas- of any negligence or wrongdoing. tated, and relief work was languishing. This singular event changed CM The emergence of a Becoming Chief Minister at the age of Modi’s attitude and narrative. He trans- Challenger 52, and having barely settled into the formed the state bureaucracy by em- He was a key organiser in the long role, catastrophe struck. On 27/2/2002 powering officials and plunging into the marches and rath yatras of party doyens a train carrying returning Kar Sevaks reconstruction of Bhuj in record time as Dr. Joshi and Mr. Advani. In the 1995 from Ayodhya had a bogy torched at his redemption. He pushed Gujarat to- state elections in Gujarat, as the chief Godhra leading to 59 charred bodies. wards rapid industrialization, agricul- strategist he brought the party victory. This triggered a violent state wide car- tural growth and rural infrastructural In 1996 he was moved by the party as nage and the state administration and development. Gujarat’s PSU’s were re- the State head for Haryana, and then police was overwhelmed for 3 long days vived and made profitable. New ports, in time was given charge of Himachal and nights with over 2000 dead, and power projects-thermal, solar and wind and J&K also. In 1998 he became the multiple properties gutted. This event were set up. A sleepy state became food General Secretary Organisation of the was subject to multiple state and centre surplus, and challenged Maharashtra BJP and held the post till October 2001, led enquiry commissions, a Supreme and Tamil Nadu in industrialization. A when he was sent to Gujarat as Chief Court monitored Special Investigation, new breed of politician had emerged, Minister. and subsequent prosecution and convic- one who was administratively compe- Gujarat had been struck by a disas- tions over the next fifteen years, but Na- tent, had people connect, empathized

14 October 2020 Opinion Express with the poor, and wanted develop- ment of the state as his new identity. He demonstrated the trait of finding the best quality resource, absorbing and learning rapidly across a spectrum of subjects, putting in 16 hour days, and creating a breed of bureaucrats and pol- iticians who could keep pace with him. The mandarins within the congress identified the long term challenger very early, and used legal, administra- tive and extra-constitutional means to hound him. They used their loyal media cohorts to keep raising the Godhra riots , globally identify him as a right wing pariah, got his travel visa blocked in a few major countries, and set the NGO armies to tie him down in litigation. Little did they know the resolve of the man. Whilst they understood power, he was a master of oratory and people connect. He converted Sonia Gandhi’s vicious personal attacks like “maut ka saudagar” into attacks on Gujarati As- mita, uniting a global Gujarati diaspora in supporting him. It was truly a Da- vid mocking Goliath with an arrogant “bring it on” attitude. He was re-elected CM for three successive terms, setting a precedent in the BJP that adminis- tratively competent people should lead states. This rise to becoming the Prime Ministerial face not an easy one. He had to take on his mentor Lal Krishan Advani, the man responsible for hav- abdicating his duty, who by his silence mality. Mr. Modi now had control of the ing resurrected the party along with conceded defeat in the eyes of the pub- government and the party. Mr. Vajpayee when it faced political lic. The shadow PM Modi in 2013 put oblivion in 1984 winning only two seats together a war room with talent sourced PM Modi 1.0: in parliament. Mr. Advani had stood globally. Many retired and serving bu- PM Modi once again had a baptism with him in 2002, in the process politi- reaucrats now came out of the closet by fire. He realized that the coffers were cally emasculating his friend of five de- sensing a major change. A nation buf- empty, the bureaucracy was used to be- cades. However Mr. Advani had lost the feted by scams, frauds, incompetence ing a power centre, many had benefited 2009 election to Dr. Manmohan Singh, and indifference gave the BJP the num- from the previous regime, and were and was now in his mid eighties. In the bers to cross the line on its own. The major roadblocks to his plans. New Goa conclave in 2013, younger leaders hopes of Modi challengers were over, Delhi was dominated by power brokers like Manohar Parrikar and Arun Jait- and a new era in Indian politics began. with deep roots and deeper pockets. He ley who had been his strategist for the Victory in 2014 had been credited needed something to give him momen- three Gujarat elections and the Godhra to the pull effect of Narendra Modi, but tum and needed it fast. Dr.Manmohan litigations endorsed him, and with cad- victory at the polls comes from a power- Singh had conceived the underlying res sensing potential victory pushed his ful organizational machinery that deliv- concept of what has become the “JanD- candidature through. ers consistently in getting committed han AAdhar Mobile aka” JAM trinity, The Congress led UPA had won voters to polling stations. The man who brought Nandan Nilekani from Infosys 2009 on the back of Dr. Manmohan delivered on the ground was his “strike to deliver the creation of a national IT Singh’s tough stand on the nuclear deal force” from Gujarat, the “chanakya” backbone on which multiple applica- with the USA. Thereafter Sonia Gan- Amit Shah, tasked with taking on a for- tions could reside. Unfortunately he dhi led National Advisory Council took midable challenge of Samajwadi and did not display the spine to overrule over the reigns of the country, and we BSP stronghold in Uttar Pradesh and its the likes of Mr. Chidambaram who os- witnessed a wave of nepotism, crony 80 seats in the Lok sabha. The rout of tensibly stymied and delayed the proj- capitalism, loot of national resources, every other party was so unprecedented ect even though the project would save defence needs being ignored, surge in that the BJP swept 73 seats and even Rs.40000 crores annually. PM Modi terrorism, and ceding of territory to won in muslim dominated areas. With took less than 24 hours to issue the ad- China. CM Modi led consistent verbal such a performance the anointment of ministrative orders to get the process attacks on PM Manmohan Singh for Amit Shah as party President was a for- moving.

Opinion Express October 2020 15 The rest is history. Within 6 months most ambitious project was Aayush- and plugging the leakages has been the largest global “financial inclusion” man Bharat, a health insurance scheme the mainstay of government finances. program was implemented by making which covers 50 crores people and pro- Very early in his term the PM realized the Nationalised Banks open 33 crores vides free hospitalization. Never before that India’s global image had taken a new bank accounts for the poor who was this scale of social security been severe beating, and needed work. The had never entered the portals of a bank contemplated or seen even in China the PM travelled relentlessly, rallying the earlier. A nationwide exercise to issue world’s poster boy. Indian community, having their travel Aadhar a de-facto national identity card Faced with the unique challenge of pinpricks resolved, created a feeling of to every citizen was completed. Citizens the Nationalised Banking sector collaps- confidence and positivity. He engaged already had mobile phones. By linking ing with over Rs.11 lac crores of NPA’s world leaders and built relationships. all three, we had the perfect delivery thanks to fiscal profligacy of 10 years of India’s stature with the polity of na- platform for any Direct Benefit Trans- UPA. The government had to find 2 lac tions rose as he used Trade & Market fer System. Emboldened by the early crores to fund capital requirements of Access in a highly transactional world. success, he implemented the Ujjwala banks. It also needed a legal framework FDI flows to India started rising, and Yojna by providing a free first cylinder which would enforce accountability and the government focused on improving and subsidized subsequent ones to 6 change of management. The Insolvency our ranking from 140+ in ease of doing crore village homes-50% of them were and Bankruptcy code implemented in business to reaching 60+ by the end of SC/ST. He created a national furore by 2016 is path breaking in this regard. the first term. addressing the issue of open defecation Mr. Modi’s government was fiscally There were two actions taken by the and had over 9 crores new toilets con- responsible, the deficits reduced consis- PM in the country’s long term interest structed. Infrastructure sector logjams tently and yet massive social welfare and which could be termed controversial in had a crisis with banks facing nearly social security projects were executed. timing and implementation. The first Rs.4 lac crores of NPA’s from incom- Where did the money come from? An was the “demonetization” of currency. plete projects. He gave Mr. Nitin Gad- absolute no brainer-the brave also need In an attempt to curb black money or kari a free hand to resolve and build. their share of luck. Global oil prices col- the parallel economy, the government Within six months the former party lapsed. Duties collected by the UPA var- overnight abolished Rs.500 and 1000 president had all projects moving, and ied between Rs. 3-5 a litre, but the NDA currency notes, ostensibly 99 % of his ministry delivered the construction did not pass on the price reduction to notes in circulation by value. Overnight of roads at 27 Km per day compared to the consumer. Duties today are nearly the SME sector collapsed as working 12 Km in the UPA period. Mr. Modi’s Rs.30 per litre. This oil revenue largesse capital cycles of these businesses broke.

16 October 2020 Opinion Express Real estate transactions stopped.The RBI/Bank’s slow execution increased the misery of citizens. Yet 70% of India who had never seen or held such notes exulted. They had found a champion who could stick it to the rich. The politi- cal dividend was huge and the BJP won a landslide victory in Uttar Pradesh In- dia’s largest state. The second was the implementation of GST. The need for “one nation one tax” has been a no brainer, but no one had the political will to finally imple- ment it. The discussions and resolution of issues with states amicably and unani- mously was perhaps Arun Jaitley’s swan song. However the hurry to implement without fully testing the system, resolv- ing all Information Technology issues for once showed gaps in project man- agement. This is probably where the PM erred in trusting his friend and lost oversight on a flagship project. Coming immediately on the back of demoneti- zation, it set back India’s SME sector to- tally and led to consolidation in favour of large industry. A decade from today, history will credit Mr. Modi for having the stature and political will to imple- ment a path breaking legislation which is good for India, and was one more of Dr. Manmohan Singh’s conceived but incomplete agendas. This was delivering justice to all muslim jobless growth. The government knew Every Indian PM has the romanti- women in India. that something out of the box was need- cised notion of resolving issues with our Delivering safety to citizens of In- ed. They conceived the Mudra scheme rogue neighbor, and PM Modi was no dia was a key poll plank, and The NSA which would give uncollateralized exception. Yet one rebuff was enough Mr. Doval was tasked with this, a task loans to self-employed entrepreneurs for him to recalibrate and change strat- he has performed admirably. Working upto Rs. 1 lac, so that they could have egy. When Pakistani terrorists killed 17 closely with the Defence Chiefs, the crit- adequate working capital and grow, sleeping unarmed soldiers in an army ical backlog in our defense arsenal is be- perhaps employ one/two helpers each. camp in Uri, the army was given a free ing filled very quickly. Terrorist activity Over the 5 year term nearly 3.7 crores hand to cross into Pakistan and in a dar- is now localized in the Kashmir valley, people were funded. This provided a ing surgical strike the army killed 65+ being specifically targeted with many critical mass of economic activity gen- to send a clear message that rules of en- leaders eliminated. There has been a eration at the bottom of the pyramid. gagement had changed. When Pakistan perceptible improvement in India’s re- Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna, a program erred by using a suicide bomber to kill lations with Middle East nations to the to complete 1.5 crore dwelling units by 40 CRPF men in Pulwama, another first chagrin of Pakistan, that they get neg- providing assistance to weaker sections was initiated and the Indian Airforce ligible backing in Islamic nations now. was a resounding success with great last hit a terrorist camp in Balakote which The PM also gets the credit for success- mile delivery. media claimed killed nearly 300. These fully resolving the 43 year injustice to In 2018 the global economy started two raised PM Modi’s stature as the sec- Armed Forces on “one rank one pay”. slowing down, foreign trade started ond Iron Man of India with the masses. This sent a very strong signal that the contracting, the BJP lost three state PM Rajiv Gandhi had under pressure government is sensitive to men in uni- elections in a row in MP, Rajasthan and from Muslim men in his close circles form and would overrule the civil ser- Chattisgarh where they had incumbent which included MJ Akbar had reversed vices in such matters. governments. The entire opposition the Supreme Court decision on Triple The economy remained a challenge tried coming together as one force to Talaq in parliament in 1986, a cross the during Mr. Modi’s entire first term. take on the BJP directly or tactically. Congress carries to this date. PM Modi Capital formation was at an all time The BJP faced the scenario of going into instructed the law ministry to throw its low due to huge capacity expansions elections in 2019 with declining growth weight behind a fresh case in the Su- in the preceding decade. The services rates, high fuel prices, and a globally preme Court on the same subject, and sector was growing with productivity orchestrated attack on being anti-sec- in a landmark judgement the court has improvements and incremental job cre- ular. They structured a strategy which held Triple Talaq illegal, and corrected ation was dropping. The economy could would focus on demonstrated delivery the wrong done in Parliament in 1986. be dubbed to be moving in a phase of of welfare schemes, India’s security and

Opinion Express October 2020 17 defence, and the government’s integ- brought in the Citizenship Amendment countries responded with their own rity. The opposition fell in the trap of Act to provide all non muslims of Indi- versions of lockdowns to prevent/slow- attacking Mr. Modi personally, and the an origin who emigrated to India under down community spread. India’s shut- more vicious the attack, the stronger duress post independence till 2014 with down with 70 percent of the population the backlash from the poorer sections citizenship rights. Kapil Sibal admitted having staying power of less than one across the country. They could identify in parliament that the Act takes away week, has been really challenging. The with the theme of a poor man’s son be- no one’s citizenship. PM has addressed the nation frequently ing attacked by vested classes, because The government moved to appoint keeping the morale of people up. By ex- he stood up to their plunder. The land- a Chief of Defense Staff in General Bi- tending the free food security for over slide victory was now credited to one pin Rawat to improve co-ordination be- 800 million poor till the end of Novem- person only-Narendra Modi. Like it or tween all wings of the armed forces and ber 2020; the PM has recognized that not, such is his personal charisma and development of combined sectoral strat- COVID battles are not going away in credibility. egies. This was a much needed structure a hurry and empty stomachs must be and had been delayed by decades. Modi taken care of. This social welfare pro- PM Modi 2.0 watchers were expecting the next step gram entails providing free food-grains The second term started with the to be the introduction of the Uniform to 2.5 times the USA’s population for 8 government focusing on correcting Civil Code to correct another Nehruvian months. pending historical errors. The first act blunder in the mid 1950’s when he had In his latest address to the nation, was to abolish Article 370 which gave unanimous parliamentary support but the PM delivered a firm reprimand to special status to J&K, and make it “one recanted. But then early this year Covid sections of society who have let their country, one law, one constitution”. It 19 struck and Chinese belligerence to guard down on social distancing, wear- signaled to Pakistan and the world that divert world attention from their culpa- ing masks, and hygiene thereby trigger- we intend to take POK back sooner than bility has changed priorities. ing a fresh wave of infections. Implied later. Excluding China and Pakistan the Covid 19 has resulted in a global was that penalties for non-compliance world accepted it as an internal reorga- economic meltdown with over one would come from administrative ac- nization in India. The government then crore people infected worldwide. All tions. Recognizing that there is no fiscal

18 October 2020 Opinion Express headroom to alleviate the honest tax- the glory earned by the regiment paying middle class, the PM publicly The face-off with the has been insulted by his alliance part- acknowledged his gratitude to them ner, and till now the PM has not fired and the farmers for being the backbone Chinese in Galwan valley a salvo, which comes election season to survive this challenge. He also an- which resulted in 20 could be an erupting volcano. nounced the proposed implementation In the midst of all the action The of a one nation ration card, which would Indians and over forty “make in India” and “localization” be portable across members of a family themes, attracting relocating supply unit in multiple locations. This is a clear Chinese soldiers dead chains to India need attention. We need preparatory signal for bringing migrant has crossed another red inter-ministerial task forces with specif- workers back to work areas and miti- ic, measurable, time-bound objectives gating the hardship they faced in April/ line. These are the first of getting at least 300 companies mov- May. It is also a signal to Industry to get casualties in fifty years. ing out of China to India. Every major its game plan in place before November leader gets into a comfort zone out of so that the economy could get back on By taking on the Chinese his/her language, exposure and expe- the rails fast. rience, but the PM is in this new term In the interim, there is clear engage- head-on and helped broad-basing his key talent resources ment by the PM in launching short term by the bravery of the beyond his home state, a very welcome employment generation programs in development. The untimely demise of rural areas to ensure that buying power Indian Army, the PM has both Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj is created, and people are not sitting grabbed the opportunity have left a serious vacuum in the BJP, idle. Unemployment numbers as per and the PM will need to nurture young- CEI fell from 26% to 8.5% in May. So of occupying the global sters to step up. while the PM is personally the face for The PM is nearing seventy, and 65% employment and welfare of the poor, he leadership vacuum of our population is below the age of 35 has let the Finance Minister front end caused by China’s and communicating with them needs SME and large industry issues. a prominent presence on Social Media The face-off with the Chinese in Gal- belligerence. platforms with a stated public position wan valley which resulted in 20 Indians on multiple issues. It is also a medium and over forty Chinese soldiers dead which is unforgiving in terms of error has crossed another red line. These are embolden all COVID affected countries or attacks by trolls. Coming from a gen- the first casualties in fifty years. By tak- to make China hurt if they follow India’s eration that did not have computers or ing on the Chinese head-on and helped lead. India’s State governments are con- internet in their adaptive years, he has by the bravery of the Indian Army, the tributing their bit to add to the pressure proved he is a constant learner. The fact PM has grabbed the opportunity of oc- by cancelling all infrastructure con- that youngsters turn out and vote for him cupying the global leadership vacuum tracts awarded to Chinese companies. massively signifies that he has mastered caused by China’s belligerence. India The center has joined the USA led move their psyche and connects successfully. now is positioned as a key member of to eliminate Chinese equipment from It would not be out of place to accept that the Quad (USA, Japan, Australia, Chi- the future Telecom and Power sector. the PM has a presence that would make na) and last month become a member Despite the country facing a health, any global statesman envious. of the G10. In his address to the nation economic, and defense challenges si- With great power and popularity honouring our fallen braves in Galwan, multaneously, the Central Government come very heightened expectations. Mr. the PM was actually addressing the has brilliantly positioned itself as a Modi communicates an image of impec- world audiences telling them that the mature, unflappable leadership, which cable personal integrity, demonstrated invincibility myth of the People’s Liber- responds to its critics with equanimity. consistent hard work, a man who is ation Army had been busted. The con- When Delhi CM Kejriwal raised the red action oriented, a fantastic negotiator, trast in behavior of PM Modi and his flag on COVID going out of control in and one who has a mailed fist in a velvet Chinese counterpart is truly contrast- his domain, the Home Minister quietly glove. He loves the big stage, loves to ing. The PM courageously flew to Ladd- stepped in to provide infrastructure and win, give him a platform and an audi- akh with the CDS to honour the fallen operational support with no politicisa- ence and you see the Pied Piper at work. army-men and bolster morale of troops tion. The AAP who have drubbed the What this image masks successfully is who are doing duty in that terrain. His BJP at the hustings twice in a row, and also a master strategist who is incred- counterpart has not even acknowledged has been their virulent critic, is quietly ibly detailed both in planning and exe- the deaths of his soldiers, and is not vis- sharing and ceding the stage to them. cution, and the next few months will tell ible at a time when his country is being Similarly, on the Chinese face-off, all at- how PM Modi and India’s second “tryst ravaged by floods. tacks by the Congress have been totally with destiny” moment plays out. This week India banned 59 Chinese ignored, pushing the grand old party owned telecom Apps on grounds of to desperation, and now often making Writer is managing Partner, S&S national security risks and sent global a mockery of themselves. It reached a Associates shock waves. Overnight Chinese com- stage when Congress allies like Sharad Disclaimer: I am not a member panies lost 1 Billion Indian subscribers, Pawar and Mayawati have snubbed of any political party. The views ex- approximately 30% of their global us- them. In Bihar, a besieged Lalu Yadav pressed are personal. I am stakeholder ers. The knock to their business models trying to provide a challenge to the Nit- in my country, and I exercise my con- and valuations is significant. It will also ish/ Modi juggernaut is distraught that stitutional right to vote.

Opinion Express October 2020 19 The Genesis of the Issue Emergence of the dragon as the global bully

Percival Billimoria tion its role in the outbreak of COVID19 in the several explanations for this bel- and threatened the speaker of the Czech ligerence, (ranging from internal pres- ince the outbreak of the pan- Republic’s senate saying it would pay a sures to taking advantage of a distract- demic, China has puzzled many “heavy price” for visiting Taiwan. ed world), analysts are yet to formulate by assuming the role of a global In June, the PLA walked into the a coherent view of the problematic con- bully. Contrary to the Sino- Himalayan region bordering India, up- duct. BritishS declaration of 1984, it subverted When the cold war ended, military the democratic process in Hong Kong, planners wondered which war they and openly threatens to invade Tai- CHINA’S GAMBIT should plan for against which enemy. wan, at one point, reportedly exhort- PART I The belief that it was now a unipolar ing its soldiers to write goodbye letters world ignored the fact that only one of to their families. Despite the ruling of setting the equilibrium across an un- the two communist regimes of the world the Tribunal of the Permanent Court of demarcated border (the “line of actual had imploded. This consensus, coupled Arbitration in The Hague, (that it has control”) which has sustained without with the fact that the cold war had also no legal basis to claim the resources a gunshot being fired in anger for more exhausted the West, led it to brush the within its so-called “ninedash line”), it than five decades. Having first occupied Tiananmen Square massacre under the continues to claim exclusive dominion a buffer zone area, it then had the audac- carpet, after some clucking of tongues. over the South China Sea, and snarls at ity to unilaterally claim large swathes of Within a short time thereafter, China any international presence. It breathes the region to be its own. became a member of the WTO. fire at Australia for “daring to” ques- While there may be strands of truth China knew that a kinetic war with

20 October 2020 Opinion Express the West was out of the question. The meltdown of the Soviet Bloc illustrated the dangers of economic isolation. The West did not realise the dangers of a totalitarian regime whose advent into the W.T.O now afforded it the oppor- tunity to first ensure that it would not collapse under its own weight, unlike its Bolshevik neighbour and thereafter to strengthen its economic power to the point where it would seek to colonise much of Asia, Africa and Central Eu- rope. When China became a member of the W.T.O. in 2000-01, the West be- lieved, in the words of President Clinton, that “It represents the most significant opportunity that we have had to create positive change in China”. Acknowledg- ing that “China is a one-party state that does not tolerate opposition. It does deny citizens fundamental rights of free speech and religious expression. It does defend its interests in the world, and sometimes in ways that are dramatical- ly at odds from our own”, Mr. Clinton then articulated the great blunder in the belief that “Membership in the W.T.O., of course, will not create a free society in China overnight or guarantee that China will play by global rules. But over time, I believe it will move China faster and further in the right direction, and certainly will do that more than rejec- tion would”. The engagement with China, in di- rect contrast to the shunning of the Soviet Union, was predicated on the expectation of its tariffs falling by half or more, enabling access to the biggest market in the world. Mr. Clinton’s words on that fateful day are telling. He went on to state that, “ … our companies will economic system cannot be divorced The scourge of the world was the be able to sell and distribute products in from the political framework. While communist regime of the Soviet Union China made by workers here in America Karl Marx’s ideals are commendable, and not its people, who were oppressed without being forced to relocate manu- the difficulty is that communism, as an and denied of all rights, just as the Chi- facturing to China, sell through the Chi- economic system necessarily requires nese people remain victims of the Chi- nese government, or transfer valuable a dictatorial form of Government. One nese Communist Party. Unfortunately, technology — for the first time. We’ll be does not have to be a historian to un- the world has yet to realise the dangers able to export products without export- derstand that the two (communism of a totalitarian communist regime. A ing jobs”. and totalitarian regimes) cannot be China believing in the supremacy of its One barely resists the temptation to decoupled. Nor does one need to have Han ancestors and its culture and the scoff. Considering that it was the isola- studied history to know that Stalin and inevitability of it becoming the domi- tion of the Soviet bloc which caused it Mao were strongmen, who would not nant global power, cannot be persuad- to self-destruct, one wonders whether blink at genocide for the sake of their ed to “change in the right direction” by the expectation of a communist regime ideology. One cannot remember them doing business with it. The direction it changing “in the right direction” is at- today without thinking of Siberia and sets out for itself has nothing to do with tributable to the naivety of the times, the gulags. China convinced world lead- Western democratic ideals. Given this, or the fact that the U.S. and the West ers, fatigued by the cold war and believ- it is not difficult to see why China (mis) believed that supporting China’s entry ing in the invincibility of the capitalist used free trade to garner economic pow- into the W.T.O., was in their economic system, that it was only a different sys- er. How they did so, and the propensity interests. Clearly, the threat percep- tem of Government born, after all, of a of the West to turn a blind eye as long as tion from a “third world nation” failed revolution of the people but which was there is a perceived economic benefit is to take into account a truism – that an business oriented. another story worth telling.

Opinion Express October 2020 21 Free Trade and Globalisation How world turned blind eye to Chinese excess

Percival Billimoria commitments which China made were eye to the excesses of a one-party re- far more stringent than ever before, gime, in the hope that a market econ- t is argued that the Chinese eco- especially after the Uruguay round of omy, would inevitably foster demo- nomic juggernaut, was already on talks, which went beyond trade to in- cratic values. What was not apparent, a roll before China’s membership clude agriculture and intellectual prop- nor deliberated, is the reason why this of the W.T.O. It’s GDP, trade gaps erty. transition would assuredly take place. Iand foreign investment numbers right It was believed that China agreed As it turns out, China to-day is neither from the mid-seventies till the end of to the protocol commitments only be- a market economy nor anywhere near a the last century, amply demonstrates cause of the imperative of transitioning democracy. this truism. The bilateral trade deficit to a market economy, so as to increase While Indian planners discounted of the U.S. with China had already ex- the possibility of harnessing water re- ceeded that with Japan. Mr. Clinton sources as a source for electricity, owing and his Western allies cannot therefore CHINA’S GAMBIT to the social upheaval which would arise be faulted for thinking that the way to PART II from diverting rivers and submerging close or narrow the ever-increasing large tracts of land, China built a dam trade gaps was to bring China into the the living standards of its people. China visible from space. China’s heavy-hand- fold, enabling freer access to its large convinced global leaders that this was ed approach to what the communist domestic market. Indeed, the protocol the case, and the world turned a blind party believed to be in its national in-

22 October 2020 Opinion Express terest was winked at and even justified as the reason for its rapid development. Astonishing double standards for coun- tries which otherwise were keen on ex- porting democratic values. Even now, while calling out its ‘wolf warrior’ diplomacy, there are still many in the West who would love to wish away the fact that it has created a new evil empire, far worse than the Soviet Union could ever be. The world is ready to overlook its misplaced belief that free trade would inevitably result in a mar- ket economy, which would in turn fos- ter a democracy. There is no explana- tion for how this transition was hoped to be achieved and if there is one, it is at best fallacious, at worst delusionary. The view that free trade would some- how persuade China to adopt a more open form of Government failed to recognise that totalitarian communist regimes march to the beat of a differ- ent drummer. The ideals and interests of such a regime are very different from that of the West. Moreover, trading or doing business, is not the same thing as being a market economy. State-owned enterprises, or States themselves, do both. A State controlled economy differs from a market economy not in the iden- tity of its constituents, but rather the ex- tent of influence and control exercised markets with far cheaper products, ginseng than China consumed wheat, by the State. Why does it take a pan- ruining local manufacturers. This is a the increased demand for Yuan (to im- demic of dubious origin and an increas- predatory practise, which comes with port the Ginseng) would make it dearer, ingly aggressive foreign policy to realise a cost which is then recouped in higher resulting in the price of Ginseng to also that Chinese companies are owned and prices. rise. This would continue until the in- controlled by senior functionaries of the While these practices which are creased price results in the demand for communist party? Or that the People’s quite visible, were tolerated due to an Ginseng to fall, consequently lowering Liberation Army owes allegiance to the inherent vested interest of the Western the trade gap in the hypothetical case. party and not the country. economies, what many missed is the This is the reason why no trade gap can In over two decades and some, what one singular flaw in the W.T.O. mecha- increase steadily – trade equilibrium started as a labour arbitrage for easy nism, which is that there is nothing to would result, unless of course, either to manufacture components, has cul- prevent currency manipulation. There the price of the goods is cheaper (be- minated into an estimated 30% of the can be no free trade leave alone a free cause of hidden subsidies) or the value world’s supply chain being dependent market, in that case. The problem here of the currency falls (because of cur- on China’s manufacturing sector and was also that many who cried foul did rency manipulation). China has cleverly the trade deficit of the U.S. as well as the not fully understand the mechanics of used a combination of both. Frequent rest of the world has burgeoned into un- foreign exchange markets and how a market interventions and flooding the manageable proportions. A large part of country manipulates the value of its currency markets and the U.S. reserves this may be attributed to China’s clever currency to keep it artificially low rela- with yuan by buying up U.S. bonds, tightrope walk of the W.T.O.’s flawed tive to the dollar. leads to a relatively lower currency enforcement mechanism, allowing for- The impact of currency manipula- value. The inevitable result is a vicious eign investment in tion can best be explained by an illustra- cycle where Americans invest in China, industries on the condition of trans- tion. Suppose the intrinsic value of 1 kg and purchase their goods, while China fer of technology and building in subsi- of wheat equals that of 1 kg of ginseng. buys US debt and property. dies to local units. Although, direct sub- One could either barter the goods with Whether the American multination- sidies such as tax exemptions have been the U.S. shipping the wheat to China als were complicit in the creation of documented, there are other covert, in- and taking ginseng in exchange, or else this monster or not, there has been a centivebased methods, such as afford- payment would be made, exchanging collective failure to recognise that this ing exporters preferential or cheaper (say) $1 for Y1. If this was the only trade situation is unsustainable. Now that the access to land or finance. Another com- between the countries, there would be chickens have come home to roost, one monplace strategy is “dumping”, where exchange rate parity. may well ask – what lies ahead? quite simply Chinese exports flood the However, if the U.S. consumed more ____

Opinion Express October 2020 23 What Should We Expect Now Making sense of China and its designs

here is no such thing as a conflict which could quickly snowball ceptance as a permanent member of the “China Expert.” Such is the and assume unmanageable propor- UN Security Council and opposing it at secretive nature of China’s tions. every opportunity in the Nuclear Sup- communist party that infor- Another reason why the two coun- pliers Group. India’s significant role in mationT barely trickles out of the ‘bam- tries are locked in an eyeball to eyeball the Quad and fears that the Quad could boo curtain’ and is seldom verifiable. confrontation is that the rivers of India, become militarised can only be cata- Many China analysts are left red-faced Bangladesh and South East Asia origi- lysts to China’s quest to teach India a when their assumptions are disproved, nate in the Himalayan region. Anyone lesson. Viewed through this prism, it or their analysis turns out to be based who has thought about the reasons why is clear why a Chinese strategist in Bei- on untenable facts. The resulting chasm the next great war will be about water jing, would consider the pandemic to be in understanding China, its culture and an opportunity to put India in its place, global objectives cannot be plugged by CHINA’S GAMBIT before it becomes a huge spoiler. This making Sun Tzu a part of the curricu- realisation may be a rude but inevitable lum at Sandhurst or West Point. Small PART III shock since even if there were no long- wonder that in times of the pandemic, term strategic reason, if China’s objec- the reaction to China’s much more will realise the strategic importance of tive is world dominance, it must first muscular approach in its geopolitics this region and China’s desire to control cut India down to size. ranges from the absurd to the specula- it. It is not fanciful for analysts to con- tive. Baseless theories such as an over- China has consistently, equated In- sider the rivalry between the two most reaction from a beleaguered regime dia with Pakistan, obstructing its ac- populous countries as being civilisa- abound. One theory which may not be far from the truth is that it is an integral part of a grandiose strategy for world domination. There is no denying the fact that China’s objective is to colonise weaker economies right up to Central Asia, South America and Africa by imposing terms for debtor nations to allow access to ports and other critical infrastruc- ture facilities. Looking at the map of the ‘Belt-and-Road Initiative’ it is easy to see how countries up to Europe would become dependant on the BRI, dubbed as the new silk route. This could be ac- centuated if the maritime routes were to face a blockade - the Strait of Hor- muz by a belligerent Iran or the Strait of Malacca by India or the Quad for in- stance. The crisis in the Himalayas is not accidental and the West would be fool- ish to dismiss it as a territorial squabble over a few hundred kilometres of bar- ren land caused by faulty British cartog- raphy. The areas which have sparked the conflict overlook the China-Paki- stan-Economic-Corridor which passes through territory which India has his- torically claimed to have been forcibly occupied by Pakistan and now ceded to China. If Pakistan cedes more of the disputed Kashmir region to China, the world will be unable to prevent a bloody

24 October 2020 Opinion Express tional. Students in Chinese universities them to circumvent their national pri- ity. When Chinese people do not trust will tell you that China sees itself as a orities in deference to its own dictates. their money to remain safe in their own superior culture, suppressed so far be- In large part this is because the allies country, how will the rest of the world cause of Western colonialism. Although being western democracies were inher- do so? In plain terms - does any econo- Indian history dates back much further, ently aligned on the core issues. Every mist seriously believe that the best and it sneers at India as an inferior and member of the family was at the din- the brightest will stop making a beeline weaker civilisation. ing table, even if some were allergic to New York and California and head Meanwhile, academics such as to the soup. China, on the other hand, instead to Beijing? There is a reason the virulently anti-American, Profes- attempts to use its financial muscle to why China has had to resort to stealing sor Madhubani believe that China has coax, bully and threaten nations into intellectual property and will continue already won the race for ascendancy. co-operating with it in an attempt to to need to do so. Oblivious of the fact that it is fatal to spread its own version of what it hopes The central fallacy is in ignoring underestimate America, the fallacy in will be a new world order. This can suc- the close relationship between eco- their argument lies in assuming that ceed only up to a point, beyond which nomic and political systems. A country economic growth in GDP terms is the the countries in its sphere of influence which has no qualms about tracking the sole measure of a nation’s success. GDP will face internal strife and unseating of movements of its people, censoring free is merely the sum total of all transac- those in power. speech and stamping out political op- tions in an economy. Even if China does Dim-witted economists conclude position will never prosper to the point surpass the USA in this metric, this by otherwise on the assumption that be- of fostering a creative and progressive itself, would not make it the new eco- coming the largest trading partner of environment which breeds innovation nomic powerhouse, leave alone the the rest of the world equates insur- and prosperity. Both these attributes world’s dominant power. mountable power and influence. Yet, arise out of respect which is a much The United States became a global there is no reason whatsoever for the more subtle measure than the GDP. The power after the second great war due world to shift to the Yuan as its central failure to understand that power and in- to a new world order which was driv- reserve currency. How many countries fluence flow from respect and not bare en by the inherent needs of its allies. would be comfortable maintaining its muscle is stark. There is a close nexus Quite simply, the dollar would be the reserves in the currency of a nation between economic power and politico- central reserve currency, fuelling its which had Tiananmen Square and social values and those who think that economic dominance, while the U.S.A. continually attempts to impose its he- economic size will result in China im- would guarantee the security needs gemony across the globe? The kind of posing the Yuan as the central reserve of its friends and allies. Aptly labelled flux that such instability brings cannot currency, are unrealistic at best. The by some commentators as the “guns be underestimated. We have already efficacy of an economy depends not so for butter” deal, this quid pro quo was witnessed this when according to some much on its quantum and size but more not entirely transactional. Despite dif- reports, there was a flight of capital of so on the quality of the produce and the ferences with its allies and diplomatic around $1.5 trillion when China briefly lives of its citizens. arm-twisting, America did not expect allowed capital account convertibil- _____

Opinion Express October 2020 25 India and China- The new world order!

Shakila Makandar

he gigantic two, the histor- ic two, the ancient two, the skilled two and the two old- est civilizations in the world- INDIAT and CHINA. Give it credit of lasting for 5000 years, retaining the es- sence of their lands and maintaining a great order and relationship as neigh- bours. Buthas it all come to an end with this pandemic- COVID 19? Opinion Express Principle Cor- respondent in evening conversa- tion with Ambassador K P Fabi- an, has revealed a lot of insight into this rumbling thought. Ambassador Fabian, currently serv- ing as Professor- Indian Society of In- ternational Law and Distinguished Fel- low Symbiosis University, has walked a long path as most sort after Diplomat serving Indian Foreign Service since 1964 upto 2000. His multilateral ex- perience includes representing India at the United Nations Industrial De- velopment Organization, International Atomic Energy Agency, International Civil Aviation Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development. Ambassador Fabian is also an active member of India International Center, actively working in the corporate sector action everything seems too mysterious 40000 familiesthat was spread across besides contributing greatly to uplifting to a lay man’s eyes. Is it truly a creation 4-5 days to end on 18th January. De- many social causes. He is an author of of man, or is it a natural occurrence of spite the whistleblower Mayor went two bestselling books namely- Com- a predated virus that has muted itself or ahead with his plan and then we know monsense on the War on Iraq (2003) is it an act of global politics, what is it? how the “Virus went Viral”. The truth and Diplomacy: Indian Style (2012). It is very pertinent question. I beg to of this epidemic came to light when a This evening Ambassador Fabian has differ on the part that it was any sort of Virologist from Beijing went live on Na- enlightened us with more insights on predated virus mutation and state that tional Television and declared its exis- India China Relationship, thus enabling the pandemic was originated in Wuhan tence. us to hope for new sunshine when the for the fact sometime late in Novem- This is the story that is now known pandemic is over. Excerpts from the in- ber 2019, by a young research doctor as the origin of COVID-19. China is un- terview: Li Wenliang, who later took up to So- doubtedly the creator and is responsible Quick understanding on cial Media to disclose the details about for the present global scenario. China is COVID-19 as a manmade Corona’s creation. Eventually in retali- to be held responsible for such an inhu- pandemic! ation the mayor rebuked him in denial man act not only in acting accordingly Corona Virus that started as an act publicly. Dr. Li Wenliang deteriorated but also for communications with WHO of human trial has turned out to be a soon after due to pneumonia. It is to be (World Health Organization). global pandemic endangering lives of noted that Mayor who is in power had a many people across the globe, is this thing or two to do with CPC (Commu- Borders and Boundaries- an true? With rumors about its formula- nist Party of China). He had organized unending tension zone! tion/ formation to its natural course of abanquet event for a huge gathering of From Siachen to South Sea to Strait

26 October 2020 Opinion Express of Malacca making a pass way in waters between Indonesia and Lakshadweep- what is China trying to gain?Is it gaining or losing? What are the borders that are defined and what is undefined? Where does India stand in terms of security? This takes us back to LAC i.e., Line of Actual Control, an expression that is devoid of any meaning because this expression was explicitly used in 1993 by the then Indian Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, who visited Bei- jing and signed an agreement primar- ily focusing on maintaining peace and tranquility “Border Peace Tranquility Agreement”along the LAC. Historically in the 1959 when Zhou Enlai proposed to Prime Minister Jawa- harlal Nehru through a letter regarding discussions on the basis on LAC. Pt. Nehru refused to accept this as he found that during the formation of the nation the boundaries was sketched and both nations agreed a 20 KMS withdrawal of forces from the actual McMahon Line, however when the letter came through he noticed that China has been invad- ing into the boundaries over the years and hence it made no sense to pursue the discussion or negotiating it fur- ther, thus maintaining Status-Quo. In cant that the emphasis is on confidence 1980 Chinese made in roads and cre- building measures in the military field ated problem and because we couldn’t Thus, when the LAC was along the LAC, however none of these take military action against the Chinese legally signed in the 1959 efforts could define the final boundaries therefore Prime Minister PVNarasimha due to continuous disagreements from Rao thought it should be stopped some- calling for Peace and both countries. After acquiring Tibet, where and he went ahead with LAC the incursions have only increased and however in the agreement there was no Tranquility at border, thus continuous tense situation in the map to define the territories/ boundar- they utilized this to borders. ies, Chinese found an opportunity to in- vade from time to time. their favor and never What happened now? Thus, when the LAC was legally attached a map that has It could simply be irritation! There signed in the 1959 calling for Peace and are number of events that could have Tranquility at border, they utilized this demarcation, eventually irritated them, especially the one I re- to their favor and never attached a map causing perpetual call is overArticle 370. Our honorable that has demarcation, eventually caus- Home Minister made an unassessed an- ing perpetual problems to India by in- problems to India nouncement regarding getting Siachen vading at every possible spots across back, which has not just rubbed the the stretch. As it was to the Chinese, by invading at every Chinese the wrong way but also shaken they continued to change the LAC at ev- possible spots across the India’s credibility on international re- ery given opportunity- 1959, 1960, 1962 lationships. One should tread a careful and so on. stretch. path when such announcements are to Over the decades, Indian military be made that calls for global attention. has stood firm by the Peace and Tran- We should not forget that Chinese quility Agreement and has promised to fidence Building Measures in the Mili- are a paranoid lot! As India and USA maintain the sovereignty of the nation. tary Field along the LAC, 2005 Protocol relationships were strengthening, they However due to continuous incursions on Modalities for the implementation were gearing up to raising as a super- and counter-incursions there have been of the Confidence Building Measures power globally. Besides being watchful many such agreements that has sur- in the Military Field along the LAC, on our growing relations with USA they faced in the international affairs, such 2012 Agreement on the establishment also know the fact that India is their as: 1993 Agreement on Maintenance of of a working mechanism for consulta- only enemy that can fight at par. This Peace and Tranquility along the Line of tion and coordination on India-China Paranoia could be one of the reasons for Actual Control (LAC) in the India-China Border Affairs, 2013 Border Defence growing tensions. border areas, 1996 Agreement on Con- Cooperation Agreement. It is signifi- What we should also not ignore is

Opinion Express October 2020 27 China is primarily a self-reliant, pow- erful country in terms of Militancy, Economic and Manpower, it is in the Firstly, Indian military should stand strongly at the verge of transforming into superpower borders countering all the incursions. India and country, but only this time they be- haved hastily. In this haste of becom- China share a long border and there are advantage ing superpower like USA they are try- ing many ways to hamper India and its points to China, especially along the Tibet. India borders;hence they did what they did. should also identify such geographical point of I am glad that the “Status Quo Ante” has been initiated by the Chief of Army advantage and make firm basis to avoid further around the 16th of June, which basi- incursions. Indian military should pick multiple cally means that both country’s military set up such as troops, bases, tank guns such points and stop Chinese from making any etc., that have been amassed until now further progress. will be pulled back. Hopefully “Status Quo Ante” brings about the necessary change in the picture while we continue to watch every move carefully and tread so, China will be provoked to withdraw the world. Post pandemic China has along cautiously. any progress thereby pursuing the dis- been targeted as a bad neighbor, uneth- Firstly, Indian military should stand cussion with the Indian delegates for ical military incursions, inhumane and strongly at the borders countering all peaceful closure. Bringing China back unsympathetic. Should we call it “Ris- the incursions. India and China share to table to discuss should be our main ing China or Falling China”, which is to a long border and there are advantage motive. be anticipated? points to China, especially along the Low cost manufacturing, reserved This is certainly laughable and a Tibet. India should also identify such manpower, multiple global investments puzzle that one cannot decipher with- geographical point of advantage and in various business verticals, water base out knowing its history and its general make firm basis to avoid further incur- across south Asian continents and much mentality as a nation. Here, I would like sions. Indian military should pick mul- more progressive track records of China to make a personal reference to “The tiple such points and stop Chinese from till before the pandemic, put China on middle kingdom complex!” making any further progress. By doing world map as next economic center of China has a middle kingdom com-

28 October 2020 Opinion Express plex- a pre-dated communism mindset. its military offence with India’s Siachen India is getting closer to the USA in its There is an interesting story aligned to or the South China Sea where it intimi- military excellence and interoperability. refer to this. During the 18th century dated Vietnam, Philippines and other- Having said that, India should maintain the King of England- King George III neighbouring countries or it is about caution- Do not embrace USA- it can be sent Lord George Macartney as to Bei- creating those artificial islands and also asphyxiating and do not embrace their jing (then Peking) with a letter address its violation of the UN convention on military, not because I am saying but be- to Emperor Ch’ien Lungseeking ease of laws of the sea etc., innumerable errors cause this is what history has taught us trade regulations, and the opening of have added on to its shoulders, mak- and we are learn from our past.Simple more Chinese ports to trade. The Em- ing it heavier to rise up once again.To as Lord Palmerston, British Statesman/ peror rejected all such request coming add to that, with COVID there is a tense Prime Minister (1848) said in House of from English Empire reminding him situation smothering between USA and commons- “We have no eternal allies, that China was the heavenly kingdom China and a sort of cold war had begun and we have no perpetual enemies. Our and it is self-reliant in its own way which I personally feel may last during interests are eternal and perpetual, and and has no intentions of allowing any- Trumps presidency. We can only wait those interests it is our duty to follow”. one other than Chinese to set-up trade and what it could turn out to be. In the Therefore, it is absolutely in the interest missions. Thus, sending the envoy off world over, China is considered as new of USA to come to India’s rescue if there with a complex of “Middle Kingdom”. enemy and therefore I my opinion Chi- is a war that erupts between India and The idea of China being the civilized na’s raise has stopped, USA and China China. If China imposes another hu- center of the world and others should are on a steep decline and a new order miliating defeat as in 1962, then China patronize China is a complex that has may arise; democracies such as France, emerges as Supreme power in Asia and penetrated their governance since eons. Germany and Japan such countries will USA will find it very difficult to tackle. I am reminded of the book written by form a lose collision and start punch- With or without a Military embrace, Arvind Subramanian called“Living ing slightly in bringing the expected USA will come to India’s aid. under the eclipse of China’s economic new order and restructuring of security Countries have interests and these dominance” which speaks a lot about counter too. interests are permanent and country’s of China. A lot of premonitions on the will defend their interest. We have to futuristic happenings as of 2011 to to- India and China- India and deal with China knowing China’s in- day 2020, most of which seems to have USA- where do we stand as tentions and capabilities. As Chanakya come true. Therefore, China, although a nation? said- “Your neighbour is your natural powerful, is now sinking in its own ship India needs USA for Economic and enemy and the neighbour’s neighbour due to such idolatries. Security purposes if not for any other is your friend”. In India’s case we are Second, China’s peaceful rise is al- reasons currently well known for. privileged to have two neighbours who most over or rather somewhat come It is to be believed that India and consider India as their natural enemy to an end. Its nature of conducting in- USA should maintain a very good re- for various reasons. China- potential ternational affairs have disappointed lationship by and large for Economic rival, Pakistan- they exhilarate their many nations over the past. Whether Development and also for our Security. threat from India. If there is genuine

Opinion Express October 2020 29 democracy in both the nations the situ- is to be relooked with deeper sense of for this man-made Virus. Every country ation may change but even when there understanding into our historic agree- has evidently acted irresponsibly there- is civilian government ( referring to ments between both countries. fore, China, WHO, Trump, India etc., Pakistan) international relations are But what is done is done, it cannot are to act upon it as soon as possible. determined by Army, be it with India be corrected overnight, however with- Eg: Kerala was first attacked by COVID or China or USA and not by the Prime determined actions, good planning and in the month of February and although Minister. WE need to navigate through timing it is a possibility in the future. we all knew what was going on with Chi- these treacherous waters through con- The change must eventually happen, na and COVID there were no measures siderable care, firmly at the border and and the change has to be implemented taken to stop International flights ply- non-provocative manner. in a disciplined manned to be effective. ing from USA or China. India was busy It is not important to make headlines with multiple events and the highlight Economic War- an impact! with news, it is important to make im- was hosting President Trump. Thus, a In my humble opinion, it is high time pact. vaccine is the first in the list to the New we looked at our economic relations Secondly-do not advocate Trade World format. with China- logically and clinically, with blockade or war with China- it becomes 2. China will be first country to re- or without the border issues. This is to uncontrollable and threatening for In- store itself in production level and im- be handled differently and efficiently in dia as a neighbouring nation. From good prove GDP. But they might not be able all aspects.If one has observed keenly, governance perspective too, we cannot to export to the extent level required. over time the imports from China has start a trade war, but certainly perti- China’s relations with USA and India caused partial deindustrialization in In- nent actions can be imposed in timely (though they are not major importer) dia. The reason “It’s cheaper in China”. and orderly manner. For Eg: The Rail- has caused great damage to economic Indian entrepreneurs find it easier way Tender floated by the government stability in both nations, hence the to make money by importing from Chi- can issue order for Chinese companies Import from China is unlikely to pick na and distributing them, rather than to not qualify from participating. Such up.European Union- is under constant manufacturing the products in-house. “Smart Diplomacy” to be infused- India scrutiny to stop Chinese company that The very thought of spending less and and China has a colonial trade patter from entering into their zone and buy- earning more has hampered the manu- ing up companies under financial dis- facturing and production in India. Our Concept of New World and tress. Similarly, Chinese fought with the manufacturing has been thinning over New order! Australia. Japan has cancelled Chinese decades and reducing the GDP. This 1. A vaccine is to be soon released visit and made it a national resolution.

30 October 2020 Opinion Express Q&A with Ambassador K P Fabian

1. Don’t you think that once we became a nation, we should have confirmed our national boundaries with our neighbouring countries? Let us put it this way- A boundary is not settled unilaterally unless you are so powerful. We did speak about the McMahon Line again post 1949, post the Chinese Communist Revolu- tion. China could have resolved it then, however China asked for more time in the pretext of recent developments, such as laying roads and other infrastructural development. Around 1950s they were developing roads into some prominent In- dian territories. Although China never mentioned their devel- opments into Indian territory, India learnt about such deceit once they held a prominent position in Siachen, where India/ military had no presence.

2. Do you think that we made a mistake by accept- ing the takeover of Tibet by China? We could not have prevented it militarily or diplomatical- ly. Why I say this is because during the 1950s and 60s, Indian militancy was not completely formed and has many issues to deal with already, especially Pakistan. India had little or no means to protect or safeguard Tibet. From international re- lations perspective, United Kingdom passed guidelines for China to take over Tibet.

3. Since we accepted the LAC (Line of Actual Con- These are some of the problems that they have created trol) all these years, should China not have raised the to themselves, nevertheless China will still be the first to issue to demark it the same on Maps? recover, concentrating mainly on general consumption. LAC (Line of Actual Control) is a confused notion, there is 3. USA- should bring a good change in governance no substantial data that defines LAC. In all discussions LAC and administration. In certain aspects USA has created seems to have existed but there are no exact references to the weaklings and should take up strong leadership and hope demarcation. Infact in the year 1993 when the Peace agree- that the successors will do that. ment was signed India should have insisted for a map but that 4. There is a strong tendency to stop on globaliza- did not happen. Every time there was a discussion on LAC un- tion during early COVID period. Current globalization is fortunately there was no mutually agreeable map that either good but need corrections as the current globalization is of the countries could settle for. Maybe we could have asked primarily focused on commodities and monies changing for 2 separate maps from each country i.e., one from India and borders and not human beings/ manpower. one from China, therefore finalizing the boundaries, perhaps! 5. India rising is a great possibility but with good poli- AS far as the Central Governance is concerned, there did cies, to be able to assert itself more and more. A clear initiate a map and shared it China, however China returned distinction between Diplomacy (implies a clear cognition the map. China never had the intention to clarify on the LAC. of the plan) and Foreign policy (broad framework to con- China always pushed this matter without any resolution, natu- duct relations) is imperative. rally to gain an advantage to threaten India from time to time. If you want to be a leader, don’t announce but talk The 4 points that were intruded is at the advantages point for sensibly and responsibly afterall we are taking decisions China while leaving no room for India to position well. on International matters. I am saying this with reference to what happened to PM of Bangladesh during her visit 4. How is India placed against China in collision? she planned for India. Today, as we speak, our military power is far superior, It is important to take a leading role when there is however we definitely would need support from the USA. USA scope for it. Remember during Nehru, the times were will align with India if there is any war, not because of India hard, and India was weak in many areas, but India played but because of its own interest. Like Chanakya says- If you vital role in many historic events, such as Korean war, cannot match your enemy then you for alliance. This is similar Indo-China. Finally, with more matured diplomacyour to what Indira Gandhi did back then, she formed an excellent leadership will be recognized by the world without even alliance with the Soviet Russia. The USA, India alliance in case announcing it. of war will ensure China’s defeat. Writer is principle correspondent

Opinion Express October 2020 31 Luxury on the wheels Khanabadosh offers a slice of exotic gypsy life

Geetika Khanna

ong back, a lit- tle girl listened to stories every night- stories of Lvalour and friendship, love and spiritualism, wealth and magic, strug- gles and religions. With them, her young mind wandered the battlegrounds of Ancient India, sat by the mighty rivers of the East, shivered in the cold snow bound mountains of the North, danced in the magnificent tem- ples of the South. She travelled through those stories, like a gypsy, awestruck and falling in love with something new every evening. Years later, she craved to go back to them, to bring out that gypsy again, to make her travel to new lands, the sun come up in front, winning bat- Elsewhere on the property, framed live in different homes, wake up to dif- tles with villainous fluffs of white and handwritten notes from the owners ferent sunrises…and tell those stories. grey. You’ll also see tiny wild flowers mother adorn the walls and tell stories To do that, she moved out of the city wake up, and smile at the effulgence, of shared laughs and conversations . and chose Mashobra, in beautiful Hi- blood apples in the trees shyly join- Antiques painstakingly collected from machal Pradesh as her first home. The ing in. Look hard enough, and you’ll around the world are placed throughout endeavour was for this home to absorb see cobwebs in the Jurrasic grass, tiny the property and reflect the the gypsy the local colours, aromas, tastes, stories spiders glistening like moon dust. But- soul of the place. and culture of HP and then move on in a terflies dutifully say hello to suede soft Guests delight in a fabulous assort- few years, to a new environment, a dif- pansies that hold lens clear drops of ment of luxurious amenities when they ferent place. Just like a gypsy. And this water, like proud trophies. Vagabond travel, and rightly so. Here at Khanaba- is how Khanabadosh, the travelling Bed poppies line the fringe of the garden. dosh, they truly push convention and & Breakfast came to be! Dew drops glisten on gigantic colocasia try and give their patrons something Ever visited some place, where you leaves like mini moons. There is a magi- unique. Beyond the lotions and potions, felt you belonged? Where you breathed cal scent in the air and you’ll instantly guests get a choice of coloured and easy and your mind became quiet… recognise it as geosmine - the smell of white towels and fluffy robes that one where you instantly saw beauty in every- the earth and when you close your eyes could get lost in, in heated restrooms. thing you looked at, not because it was and breathe in deep, the melange regis- Every room has a tea/coffee caddie with there but because you were never more, ters as a sweet mix of apples, roses, love a selection of teas including Green Pea in the now. Khanabadosh in Mashobra and grass vapour. A clean, heavenly, Flower, Jasmine and Matcha. is one such place, a beautiful, luxurious, intoxicating smell. This is the little vil- Undoubtedly the heart of Khana- modern B&B in soulful touch with the lage of PuraniKoti in Mashobra where badosh is its hearth. Heavenly aromas local earthiness. The magical quality of Khanabadosh is located. 18km from the waft out of the kitchen, that is not out of mountain air coaxes you to chug, not madding crowds that throng Shimla, bounds for anyone, another first. Infact, sip; the slow pace—of your feet, heart this place if the perfect refuge for those if there’s something that you particu- and soul; the need to stop ever so often seeking peace and tranquility. larly liked during a meal, they’ll happily to gaze amazed, hear in awe or smell in With just 4 beautifully appointed invite you to learn and try your hand rousing. Children, women, men of all rooms, it is a truly private escape with at it - all this, at no extra cost. Sump- ages, colour, religion or sexual orienta- impeccable service. The decor is quirky, tuous food is available all day start- tion are welcome here. Artists, writers, yet elegant with plush beds piled high ing with an elaborate breakfast feast poets and people who appreciate their with pillows and cloud soft eiderdowns, with freshly squeezed apple juice (fruit skills will especially rejoice. You’d want antique wood furniture and unique from their own garden), moving on to to return, for sure. Here, in Mashobra flourishes. Our favourite was The Kings afternoon tea, pre-dinner snacks and a or who knows where. For,Khanabadosh Room, the only room on the second elaborate dinner spread served lovingly will surely move when it needs to as it’s floor. Originally an attic, it now boasts by the host herself in the gorgeous liv- blissfully oblivious of boundaries and of a 200 yr old four poster bed, exqui- ing room. gleefully aware of soul-stirring places. site jamawar throws and antique brass And oh! Then there’s “The Secret”. If you are an early riser, you’ll see statues. For those who wake in the dead of the

32 October 2020 Opinion Express night, hungry, each day at Khanaba- dosh, they organize a snack or make some cookies and conceal them in someplace accessible. Its location and the fare changes with each sunset. Make sure, you find out what’s on and where. For in the mountains, nightly hunger pangs aren’t uncommon! You could just stay here, unwind, sleep, meditate, eat, read, paint, write, sketch, dream, laugh, fall in love, find yourself. The possibilities endless, the choices yours. Discover a beautiful trail, go out bird watching or hunting for mushrooms and baby fiddlehead ferns. They also have mountain bikes if that’s your preferred mode of discovery. Yoga by the huge Stone Buddha in the garden can do as much, if not more, for your soul, as it would for your body. Nothing like a crackling fire late in the evening… the aromas from the kitchen tantalizing, the laughter with friends unforgettable, the fire-gazing theraupetic, the star-gaz- ing magical. Cozy up on the couch in the library or just soak in the warm moun- tain sun sitting under the parasol. There is an extensive Library in the house, books bought and collected from all over during Khanabadosh’s varied travels. But they understand how difficult it can become sometimes to decide what to read…fiction or his- tory? Philosophy or maybe a book on travel? So they’ve made it easy and hopefully some fun for the guests. Head to the first floor lobby. The table there has a selection of some favou- rites, albeit covered in brown paper, with a short description on the cover. Try your luck with a ‘Blind Date with a Book’. Who knows, you might end up falling in love! Team work is imperative in the successful running of any establish- ment and it is no different here. Often guests find themselves being served by the original Khanabadosh herself. Her man Friday can be seen flying around the house, sans his broom. A shy but cheerful lady comes in ev- eryday, the clinking of her bangles announcing her arrival. She is the housekeeper. This is the team that runs Khanabadosh to perfection. But the real owners, are the three over- sized Goldens, Gabbar Singh, Bruce Lee and Sultan. They eat fallen ap- ples, sleep, roll around in the vast gardens and cuddle with guests - not necessarily in that order. The biggest attractions of this place, they’ll wel- come you with vigorous tail wags and wide doggie smiles!

Opinion Express October 2020 33 Himalayan Rebellion People-to-people interaction will sideline the power gimmicks of Nepalese and Chinese Heads of State

Dr Kunwar Pushpendra Pratap Singh by falsely horrifying the issue of the with the similarities between/among sparts Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpi- the cultures of the people. India and he present yadhura grabbed by India. Such small Nepal do not appear to be different sets communist issues could be settled even in one talk of culture. Almost all people of Nepal Prime Min- between India and Nepal. Almost all are Hindusbarring a few Muslims who ister who is Nepalese families are in some way or have migrated in very recent decades. adamantT the disman- the other very much associated and at- Thus it is very clear that Nepal is singu- tle and demolish to tached with Indian families. Fortunate- larly a Hindu country and that’s why the break the Indo Nepal ly, both countries are the same. No any shrine of Pashupatinath is the central emotional fraternity cultural demarcation exists between source of their religiosity. The ultimate between the people of India and Nepal. It is the China who is goal of a every Nepali Hindu is to visit these two countries using Nepal against India. and perform their rituals at Kashi, Bodh will face a severe setback soon. Despite Truly speaking, it is the people that Gaya, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Prayag, his Chinese designed craft of getting decide the national psyche and collec- Dwarika, Jagganath, Kanchi, Ramesh- passed some resolutions against In- tive wisdom of any land. Sovereignty is waram, etc. Politically Nepal and India dia in Nepalese Parliament, the people represented by the people and ruling are two autonomous entities but both even with communist ideology are now party is supposed to be the representa- possess the identical, social, religious sensing the ulterior mindset of Mr. Oli tive of majority choice of the elector- and spiritual identities. In such an or- and feeling extreme uneasiness to ac- ate. Only recorded history is not the ganic symbiotic existence how can Nep- commodate with Chinese people and evidence of all past. We do not know alese people think of socio-cultural and their cultural life styles. Only in a hur- at what time of juncture, theborder of religious dominance of and mixing with ried effort and under alluring mischief the countries were identified and de- Chinese people. It is only the Chinese of China, the PM of Nepal has succeed- marcated. We guess and understand cunning gimmick that Nepalese people ed in tabling the will in the parliament the closeness of neighbouring countries voted for communist led politicians to

34 October 2020 Opinion Express rule them. It is the most unfortunate that the present communist PM of Ne- pal has forgotten his own lineage and genesis of meaning of his own name Khadag Prasad Sharma Oli. How will he satisfy himself with Chinese name and culture?He couldn’t think of amicable settlement of the issue of Lipulekh, Ka- lapani and Limpiyadhura. It could have been settled even on a cup of tea in a meeting of both the PMs of India and Nepal. Even the political ideologues and activists of Nepali Congress failed to understand the Chinese utter selfish diplomacy. It is worth reviewing that when Chi- na has finally succeeded to see the Indo- Nepalese relations tense, China itself has Now, it is explicitly manifest that started grabbing lands of few villages of there is traditional oneness of our cul- Nepal and water of about a dozen rivers. It is worth reviewing that ture of India and Nepal. People are Now the people of Nepal are shocked to when China has finally interacting every moment to maintain see the nefarious attitude towards Ne- the conducive climate and now rising pal. China is really a dragon which nev- succeeded to see the to consolidate their solidarity to op- er believes in compassion, coexistence Indo-Nepalese relations pose Chinese gimmick. Very soon the and cooperation. She (China) is a great nationalist politicians of Nepal will rea- cheater and betrayer and that’s why no tense, China itself has lise their mistakes and voice for refer- country in the world is her friend. China endum to know the collective psyche of has been siding Pakistan only for her started grabbing lands of Nepalese people. The communist rule own political purposes. Pakistan’s most few villages of Nepal and in Nepal will be overthrown very soon pitiable condition has arisen due to its and the nationalist forces in Nepal will exploitation by China. China has been water of about a dozen succeed in getting the mandate of the using Pakistan as the best buyer of war- rivers. Now the people Nepalese people for amicable settle- fare meaning by tanks, missiles, fight- ment of petty issue of Lipulekh, Kala- ers etc. The economy of Pakistan has of Nepal are shocked pani and Limpiyadhura. It is also the miserably drowned and now the lives moral responsibility of India to guide of Pakistani people have become hell. to see the nefarious true nationalist political forces of Nepal The common people of Pakistan are on attitude towards Nepal. by behaving as an elder brother. Not the road crying for bread. This will also only this, but every educated and sen- happen with Nepal. China is plotting China is really a dragon sible citizen of India should come for- for the same. Hence, here is high time which never believes in ward to educate the Nepalese families that true nationalist political parties living in India to communicate to their of Nepal rethink for the sustenance of compassion, coexistence counterparts in Nepal for realising our their religion, culture, civilisation and religio-cultural unity. The media, so- nationalism. It is only possible by heart and cooperation. cial reformers, social leaders, religious searching by the people of Nepal and priests and all other friends must take their patriotic politicians. The only way economic support rather it is the ques- it on top priority to interact emotionally of continuation of cordial relations be- tion of synthesis and saneness of Indo- and intimately with Nepalese people tween India and Nepal is possible and Nepalese culture. The innocent and pure to maintain the unbreakable solidarity feasible by enlightening the people of citizens of Nepal had not imagined the between the people of India and Nepal. India and Nepal for intimate, immedi- crookedness of the present communist The callous and inhuman cunningness ate and intensive interactions. ruling party of Nepal and its leaders. The of the two heads of the two countries Xi Let us envisage the mechanisms of glaring example is that many Nepalese Jinping and Oli must be side-lined by reviewing our mistakes and regaining nationals are employed in the high rank managing positive,pious and patriotic our intimacy by accomplishing person services of India. The border between people to people interaction between to person, family to family and people to India and Nepal has never been burden two fraternal twin countries of the people interactions between India and and barricade. Each family of India on world. The dragon must be driven away Nepal. It is not merely a slogan that In- the border has matrimonial relations and pro- dragon dogs of Nepal must dia and Nepal have relations of ‘roti and with Nepalese families on the border be dethroned. May lord Pashupatinath beti’ rather it is a bare reality since time and vice-versa. Border is volatile but our and Vishwanath bestow good sense on immemorial. Even today, the Gorkha cultural relations are vital and broader. the people of India and Nepal for flour- regiment of India is the strength of Indi- The families in Nepal and India are so ishing the fraternal intimacy as usual. an army and millions of millions of Nep- closely tied with each other by blood that (Writer is the expert of Interna- alese are just like our family members they will never imagine to approve Chi- tional Relations and Strategic Affairs. in India. It is not merely the question of nese dominance over Nepal. Email:[email protected])

Opinion Express October 2020 35 Seven faces of Krishna Which One for You? From Chubby Baby to Romantic Dancer to Commander in Chief…

he most colourful and lovable and nature in general is delicate and divine figure in Indian mythol- blissful. It has the power to take us to a ogy is Lord Krishna. The word higher plane. ‘Krishna’ means the one who ‘Teenager’ Krishna who grabbed the attracts,T one who is like a magnet and clothes of young girls bathing in River one whose presence immediately cre- Yamuna and returned them only ates love in thousands of people. when they exposed their breasts to Lord Krishna’s flute indicates cel- him? ebration, love, song and dance but he Rajnish: The Teenager. In all other has many sides to his identity. Seven of roles, there is an element of divinity. In these aspects were selected for are cent the role of a teenager, he is totally hu- survey for a few hundred Osho lovers man like you and me. who know of Lord Krishna. Here are ‘Romantic’ Krishna who played his the outstanding responses which high- flute and his female friends, including light their personal perception of Lord Radha, came running to dance the night Krishna. away in divine ecstasy? Most women imagine to be Krishna’s The first to respond, Richa, a senior Radha. This is the most interesting out- surgeon, wrote: Romantic Krishna, of come of this survey. But they over look course. two major qualities to follow Radha: A dialogue followed : Why? Way to total and utter surrender and spiritual samadhi. progress to identify the divinity instead Yes, but you go for Romantic Krish- of just romance, song and dance. These na as a woman in love with him... Every responses make spicy reading. woman yearns for a god to love who can Next comes Krishna of the Geeta. completely fulfil her. Does every wom- Their answers displayed their intellect an first surrender totally like Radha or and understanding of the Gita, the song ‘Baby’ Krishna, the cutest, chubby Meera? celestial; and, of course, their spiritual infant, who stole butter so innocently… Does every woman rise to His spiri- quotient. Thus, these answers are en- Urvashi: Baby Krishna for his mis- tuality to discover his divinity? lightening. chief and mischievous looks. A medical student in final year, The most unusual response was Shweta: The little Krishna as his Kiran: Romantic Krishna is my favou- from a senior citizen with great knowl- naughtiness is very infectious. Yet he is rite. In Indian mythology, gods areal edge of the Geeta and has delivered so aware. ways seen with seriousness and with many discourses to explain this scrip- Archna: As In ever thought to like pious eyes that make them appear far ture to others. Most unconventionally, one out of all seven. Basically, I am fas- from human. Lord Krishna’s romantic he opted for teenage Krishna who want- cinated side makes it fun and lively and human ed to glimpse the bare breasts of the By Bal Gopal and also impressed yet godly. It’s refreshing. bathing Gopis. by Krishna who has given Geeta from Can yous urrender totally to Lord Osho says, “Krishnais utterly in which I and humanity learn a lot. Krishna to becomea Gopi? I don’t think comparable; he is so unique. Firstly, his Note: All mothers. so. Not everyone can let go of the ego uniqueness lies in the fact that although ‘Cowboy’ Krishna who herded cows and entanglements to totally surrender Krishna happened in the ancient past and saved them from a massive storm oneself. But no one is immune tot he he belongs to the future, is really of by lifting up amount a in… charms of Krishna. Meera and Radha the future. Man has yet to grow to that Second- year university student, and many, many women who surren- height where he can be a contemporary Rhea: My favourite side of Krishna is dered were lovers and devotees to him... of Krishna’s. He is still beyond man’s the cow herding Krishna. I am able that devotion is uncommon. understanding; he continues to puzzle to relate to the bond of love between Dance instructor and chorographer and battle us. Only in some future time Krishna and the cows, the attachment Ruchi: Hahaha....it’s hard for someone will we be able to understand him and is really heart-warming. He knew them who understands the intricacies of the appreciate his virtues. like the back of his hand, and would go human relationships.... but if I had to Let’s read the responses now. Here searching incase anyone went missing. choose one.... then I would choose.... we go! When I visualise Krishna in the green Krishna as a lover .... as also romance- Which one of these six Krishna meadows with the cows, it fills me with and shringaar (adornment) is consid- personality is YOUR favourite? a sense of joy and tranquillity. The si- ered the mujadara of human relation- And why? lent exchange of humans with animals ships...Krishna’s love is spiritual not

36 October 2020 Opinion Express emotional. Obviously, we know that.... but he is as human (gross) and as spiri- tual (subtle)...... Spirituality is for those- with antennae. Sufi whirling expert Meera: Tough to select the best one.. but if you insist.... Gopis gave him their hearts... with their total surrender. May we dissolve com- pletely. All is Osho. Our Krishna Bud- dha Jesus is Only Osho. Nothing left of us as we know… A committed Krishna devotee, Priti: All.... Seems he had done these Lilas.He was just present.... His presence...his love. Manifested in these lilas.. hedid nothing. Mukta: Romantic Krishna. I seemy- lover in Romantic Krishna. Are you his Radha? I wish. Yajna: Romantic Krishna because of his charm because women like to be pampered. Krishna’s charm is so good. Keirti: Romantic Krishna… sending lots of love and happiness. Shraddha: Romantic Krishna. Are you Radha? Not always, sometimes. Ameera: I think the Romantic the Supreme Lord. ing Raas Leela). Krishna is my favourite.... Why? Be- Medical doctor Sangeeta: Don’t Devotional singer Charanjeet: I cause of the celebration, the laughter, know....He seems to me my beloved. loveall roles,but to choose the best,it is the dance,the music and the joy.... All Also, diplomat Krishna... Best one is ‘Romantic’ Krishna. Because of course! so beautiful... Geeta’s Krishna.... there is ecstasy there. In this role, he The onlymale in this category, Ra- Chirag: All of them are lovely but if I is not rolling, he is as he exists, but in jpal: Romantic Krishna,I think this is have to choose one then sixth one is my other role she is in role due to others. I your favourite also. favourite because in this one, he com- love Krishna with in me while actingall ‘Diplomat’ Krishna who delivered pletes a human journey. roles. He is continually playing his An messages between two warring groups Goldy: ‘The Supreme Lord’ Krishna had Naad flute with in me. I always try of cousins to try and avert a war? who delivered the eternal unparalleled to keep listening this flute. Osho made Full of laughter, Hasya: My favourite message of Gitaon the battle field to in- me aware me about the real portrait diplomat Krishna. Because in this era, spire seek ersforten thousand years be- of Krishna. Later, the same explana- we need diplomat Krishna... His words cause his teachings are the best way to tion about Krishna I found in shapad are like a pep talk. Energetic and shows live life in today’s circumstances. of Guru Nanak. Today, I will sing a par- us how to handle tough situations Written a post-graduate the sison ticular shabad about Krishna. ‘The Supreme Lord’ Krishnawho Oshoon education Nidhi: As aseeker, I ‘Commander in Chief’ of Pandava delivered the eternal unparalleled mes- relate to this and Osho’s intensecom- army who led it to victory without tak- sage of Gita on the battle field to inspire mentary on him gavememany insights ing active part in fighting, and despite seekers for the ensuingten thousand to live myl ife. As a woman, I don’t like much lower number of soldiers and less years? Romantic Krishna at all. I need a lover outstanding fighters? Journalist and author Aekta: For me, who is simply mine, not attracting many No one appreciated Lord Krishnain Krishnais always the Supreme Lord who women with his flute or anything else. this role because it is not widely known. knows all, sees all and guides me through As a woman, I like Shiva. Going beyond truth and falsehood, my hands and eyes and words-- every- Manda:‘The Supreme Lord’ Krishna Krishna wins the war. Why? Because thing I think, speak and do is a manifes- for me because he inspired the seekers he is beyond duality and witnesses the- tation of His DivineGrace. For me, the for thousands of years. Simple! world as a ‘leela’ or a play. most challenging dharma has been to The males - Jain: The Supreme Lord To conclude: Lord Krishnais all surrender to His Will even if it demands Krishna because here he says, ‘I am the these seven identities and many more. supreme effort and sacrifice from me, beginning, middle and end of the cre- He walked this earth at least 5,000 years because as a me re mortal I some times ation’. And many greater great things ago, says Osho, and it will take another shy away from my own true purpose and he said in the Gita. And I also love the 5,000 years to understand him! pretend to ‘unsee’ what He wants of me. romantic form of him where he keeps Osho has talked extensively on Eventually He wins, of course! up his promises to love female friends Krishna, particularly in his path-break- Medial professional Neelam: The which he claims to be the females which ing book answer to this (survey) changes with want him in the past birth sand prom- ‘Krishna: The Man and His age. I would have liked romantic Krish- ised the mall to be with them all in the- Philosophy’where in he has answered nain my younger years but now I like future (and fulfilled their wishes by do- every possible question on Krishna.

Opinion Express October 2020 37 THE DEADLY 2021 VIRUS AND THE INDIA FIT CURE The new banking virus is more deadly than Covid 19: Expect more bank frauds, money laundering, regime change, riots, racial trade war Joginder (Jo) Singh Birring national laws. Many of them are using that were flagged as suspicious. Indian people, banks and companies This happened even after US au- ear 2020 has to assist them in money laundering, fi- thorities fined the institution for “earlier been a life nancial accounting frauds. The British failures to stem flows of dirty money”, changing year bank HSBC has a history of this and still the ICIJ report said. The leaked docu- in more ways continues to break many laws in Hong ments, which are known as the FinCen Ythan one for all people Kong and across the World. Files, include more than 2,100 suspi- and this planet. The The British Bank HSBC’s shares fell cious activity reports filed by banks happier joys of life to their lowest level in 25 years as the and other financial firms with the US and family have been bank faced allegations of money laun- Department of Treasury’s Financial chocked by the many dering and concerns about its ability to Crimes Enforcement Network. The dangerously dumb western politicians expand in Asia amid the fallout from the documents identified more than $2 tril- and their man-made “Pandemic” vi- Covid-19 pandemic. The London-based lion (Dh7.34tn) in transactions between rus fear fuelled by their lying medical bank’s Hong Kong shares slid 5.33 per 1999 and 2017 that were flagged by fi- monsters and their government funded cent to 29.30 Hong Kong dollars at nancial institutions’ internal compli- mainstream media news. The brain- market close on Monday and plunged ance officers as possible money launder- washed public carry on believing the 6.23 per cent in London to £285.05 at ing or other criminal activity, the report lies and following the stupid new laws 11.22am UK time. The stock has nearly said. The top two banks are Deutsche thus destroying their next generation. halved since the start of the year. The Bank, which disclosed $1.3tn of suspi- The 2021 western banking virus is British bank is among five global finan- cious money in the files, and JPMorgan, more deadly and must be stopped from cial institutions named in a report by the which disclosed $514 billion, the analy- infecting the Eastern World. As there International Consortium of Investiga- sis found. Other lenders include Stan- is little trade export and sales many tive Journalists that defied money laun- dard Chartered and Bank of New York western banks/financial institutes and dering crackdowns by moving “stagger- Mellon, the report found, with HSBC companies are brazenly breaking inter- ing sums of illicit cash” in transactions disclosing $4.48bn in transactions.

38 October 2020 Opinion Express The ICIJ report is another blow for HSBC, which is also a possible candi- date for China’s “unreliable entity list” that looks to penalise firms, organisa- tions or individuals that damage nation- al security, according to the Communist Party’s Global Times newspaper. Last month, HSBC reported a 65 per cent drop in pre-tax profits to $4.3bn for the first half of the year, a much steeper fall than analysts expected with the bank’s chief executive blaming a series of trig- gers. While HSBC is based in London, more than half of its profits come from Hong Kong. Europe’s biggest bank also set aside between $8bn to $13bn this year for bad loans as it expects more people and businesses to default on repayments amid the fallout from the Covid-19 outbreak.

HSBC Bank 2018 tax fraud probe in India The HSBC had acknowledged the fact that the regulatory and law enforce- ment agencies of various countries con- tacted the bank for information on per- sons and entities named in the leaked ‘Panama Papers’ which included hun- dreds of Indians who had indulged in alleged tax violations through offshore tax havens with the help of Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca. HSBC had set aside over Rs 5,000 crore ($773 mil- lion) as a provision for various tax and ley had also said about Rs 8,200 crore companies. money laundering-related matters. (including protective assessment of in- Instrumental in many business and Here are all the key points that come of Rs 1,497 crore) of undisclosed banking trades from India to the UK/ were related to the Indian investi- income was brought to tax in the last Europe and offshore locations is The gation against HSBC: two years on account of deposits made Hinduja Group of companies in the UK. - The Indian tax authority-initiated in unreported offshore accounts in In 2000 Corruption charges were filed prosecution against HSBC Swiss Pri- HSBC Bank but this is not just limited in Delhi, India against the three broth- vate Bank and an HSBC company in to India. Various tax administrations, ers in connection with one of India’s Dubai for allegedly abetting tax evasion regulatory and law enforcement au- biggest and longest running arms sales of four Indian families. thorities around the world, including in scandals, the 1986 Bofars affair. A $1.4 - According to the report, the Indian the US, France, Belgium, Argentina, are bn Indian government (Congress Party) tax authority had claimed they had suf- conducting investigations and reviews contract to purchase artillery guns from ficient evidence to initiate probe. of HSBC Swiss Private Bank and other the Swedish manufacturer Bofors. The - The HSBC annual report said Indi- HSBC companies in connection with Indian investigators based the charges an tax authorities in February 2015 had allegations of tax evasion or tax fraud, on bank documents that a Swiss court issued summons and request for infor- money laundering and unlawful cross released to India between February mation to an HSBC company in India. border banking solicitation. 1997 and December 2000. - - Also, two offices of the Indian tax Some Indian banks/financial insti- jas failed in an appeal to the Swiss courts authority sent notices to HSBC com- tutes are being assisted by NRIs/PIOs to have the release of the documents panies in August 2015 and November and the Indian overseas branches who blocked. The Hinduja brothers were 2015 on the matter. have closer relations with the many cor- acquitted of all charges in the Bofors HSBC’s disclosure on the Indian rupt western banks/financial institutes. affair in May 2005. Delhi’s High Court tax authority’s investigation came after Nirav Modi (PNB Scam), Vijay Mallaya threw out all charges against Srichand, the then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley (Kingfisher Airlines), Rana Kapoor (Yes Gopichand and Prakash Hinduja due to informed the Parliament earlier that Bank and DHFL Scam) would NEVER a lack of evidence. It is very interesting month that the Government detected have had the opportunity to commit that Indian government failed to appeal over Rs 16,200 crore in black money af- the financial crimes against Indian gov- against the high court judgement in the ter investigations on global leaks about ernment if the western banks/financial supreme court despite clear evidence Indians stashing funds abroad. In the institutes had not completed the wire due to the lack of Global expertise and written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Jait- transfers and formation of offshore offshore banking structures knowledge. Opinion Express October 2020 39 to be sent to FinCEN, even if they took place outside the US. The FinCEN files comprise 2,657 documents, including 2,121 suspicious activity reports, most of which were files that banks sent to the US authori- ties between 2000 and 2017. They raise concerns about what their clients might be doing. These documents, known as Suspicious Activity Reports or SARs, are some of the international banking system’s most closely guarded secrets. They reflect views by watchdogs within banks, known as compliance officers, reporting past transactions that bore hallmarks of financial crime, or that in- volved clients with high-risk profiles or past run-ins with the law. A bank must fill in one of these reports if it is worried one of its clients might be up to no good. The report is sent to the authorities.

India, IPL links Indian entities figuring in these doc- uments include “a jailed art and antique smuggler; a global diamond firm owned by Indian-born citizens named in sever- al offshore leaks; a premier healthcare and hospitality group; a bankrupt steel firm; a luxury car dealer who allegedly duped several high net worth individu- als; a multinational Indian conglomer- ate; a sponsor of the Indian Premier League (IPL) team; an alleged hawala One key point being that Hinduja Bank may not result in a successful transac- dealer”. A key finding is that in many Ltd was founded as a finance company tion. The other potential strategic in- cases, the very fact that individuals and in 1978 and became a Swiss regulated vestors include Canada Pension Plan companies are being probed by Indian bank in 1994. The Hinduja Bank has Investment Board (CPPIB), and Sin- agencies is part of the SAR flagged to its headquarters in Geneva and has a gapore’s GIC. All the investors were FinCEN. developed network in Switzerland in- warned in advance about the shady past In a majority of cases, domestic cluding offices in Zurich, Lugano, St of the Hinduja Group. branches of Indian banks have been Margrethen, and Basel. Hinduja fam- There is much more to this which utilised to receive or remit the funds; in ily have the backing of the IndusInd will be re-investigated in the coming some cases, bank accounts with foreign Bank which in May 2020 is planning months as well as many new investiga- branches of Indian banks, too, have to raise over $500 million to shore up tions and tracking of Indian banks/fi- been used to carry out these transac- its balance sheet as it grapples with bad nancial institutions and NRI/PIO com- tions. As many as 44 Indian banks fig- loans. The bank registered a 16% year- panies who are on the scanner of The ure in the FinCEN Files primarily be- on-year drop in net profit at INR30.1bn WHS Group’s “INDIA FIT” (Financial cause they are “correspondent banks” ($401m), which lead to a 56% rise Intelligence Troops) legal case data- to the foreign banks which have filed in bad loan provisions to INR244bn bases. In 2021 “INDIA FIT” is the new these SARs. Key in this list are Punjab ($3.24bn). Its stock prices also plunged healthy cure and right medicine shots National Bank, Kotak Mahindra, HDFC to more than 70% since the beginning that bring back more business trade Bank, Canara Bank, IndusInd Bank and of 2020. sales confidence and FDIs into good Bank of Baroda, among others. The bank, which is backed by Hin- clean healthy Indian companies that we There are a total of 3,201 transac- duja Group, is in talks with three strate- verify/certify a good clean bill of health tions which have been listed as “suspi- gic investors, including Japan’s Nippon to so that scams/frauds are eliminated cious” in nature and these add to $1.53 Life for the fundraising. According to and no international laws get broken. billion—but this is only those where sources, Nippon Life needs a bancas- complete Indian addresses linked to surance partner to boost its distribution What are FinCEN files? different entities (senders, banks, ben- network of insurance products in India. FinCEN is the US Financial Crimes eficiaries) are available. These are at- It also intends to bag huge corporate Enforcement Network at the US Trea- tached as spreadsheets in each SAR. treasury cash for its asset management sury who combat financial crime. They Over and above, are thousands of business in the country. However, the look into grievances and concerns about other transactions, also linked to Indian preliminary talks with Nippon may or transactions made in US dollars need entities where senders or beneficiaries

40 October 2020 Opinion Express have addresses in foreign jurisdictions, cantile Bank, Standard Chartered Bank ern Countries societies with terrorism/ the report added. (India operations), Bank of Baroda, false flag attacks. India and China Govts What was more revealing is that Bank of India, Allahabad Bank, Indian must amicably make land border deci- the Indian Premier League (IPL) has Overseas Bank, Indian Bank, Deutsche sions with lawful agreements while in- also landed on the US financial regula- Bank (India operations), UCO Bank, creasing more peaceful trade business tor’s radar in a network of transactions Karnataka Bank, RBS, Andhra Bank, ties so that it prospers people from both involving a leading US bank, a little- and Vijaya Bank. countries. known UK company, a Kolkata-based The present Indian government sponsor of an IPL team, and allegations and people of India have been robbed Why India’s financial sys- of fraud and forgery. by many of their own Indian people tem is vulnerable to hacks? In 2013, KPH Dream Cricket, which who were assisted by many on the India’s financial systems are ex- runs Kings XI Punjab, went to court Little British Island BK (Broken King- tremely vulnerable, because they still against team sponsor NVD Solar Inter- dom) and their offshore bank locations. rely on international banking networks national Ltd for “cheating and duping” The World Homeland Security (WHS) like Swift to make transactions. Inter- them of $3 million in sponsorship fee. Group of companies has undertaken national gateways are open vectors of The SAR, filed by , reportedly offers a financial investigations of misconduct, attack for India. Last year hackers were clue to what went wrong. bribery and corruption, as well as as- able to siphon off 900m rupees ($12m; In 2013, San Francisco-based Wells sessments of financial transactions, £9.7m) from Cosmos bank in the west- Fargo Bank had received “a $2,975,460 accounting irregularities, and regula- ern city of Pune through a malware at- SBLC (Standby Letter of Credit) from tory and compliance issues on behalf tack on one of its data suppliers. India Deutsche Bank AG in London” with of publicly and closely held companies, is among the top three countries in the KPH Dream Cricket as the beneficiary. private equity firms, government agen- world for and malware at- The SBLC for nearly $3 million was cies, municipalities, NGOs and high tacks. Although this comes down to the sought by Aerocom UK Ltd, an air tubes net worth individuals. India and China sheer size of India’s digital population, manufacturer, with no apparent links to must avoid conflict, making peace is the the population of France is added every the team or the sponsor. best path forward. Western warmon- month to the country’s internet: it is a The SBLC said that “in case of fail- gers need another war so that they can big concern because many first-time ure of the obligator, NVD Solar Interna- “Divide and Rule” while stealing more internet users are being pushed to use tional Ltd of Dhaka, Bangladesh, was to Eastern Countries resources, create re- digital payments. pay the amount due as per the terms of gime change riots and shatter the East- In November 2016, for instance, the contract”. However, according to the SAR filed by Wells Fargo, the SBLC turned out to be “fraudulent” and was “declined”. Wells Fargo’s SBLC unit found that none of the companies named in the request—applicant Aerocom UK, ben- eficiary KPH Dream Cricket, warrantor NVD Solar — were on the bank’s cus- tomer rolls. It concluded that the “SBLC is believed to be bogus, as a search of Wells Fargo electronic messaging sys- tem does not show receipt of this trans- action”, according to the SAR. An investigation by Wells Fargo’s Trade Finance Investigations unit also found out that the transaction also in- volved a forged signature. The IPL case is just one among the many transac- tions with India connections that were red-flagged in a SAR. According to the leaks, Indian banks received $482,181,226 from outside the country and transferred from India $406,278,962. These transactions were red flagged to the US authorities. So far, the Indian banks named by ICJI for du- bious transactions include State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Union Bank of India, HDFC Bank, Indusind Bank, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Ma- hindra Bank, Yes Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Canara Bank, Bank of Maharash- tra, Karur Vysya Bank, Tamilnad Mer-

Opinion Express October 2020 41 everyone to keep up with the sophis- ticated methods of hackers, especially when they are constantly changing tac- tics and methods. So, the onus has to be on regulators and payment firms to protect users. The other problem is that communication between the various cyber-security organisations is just not fast enough. The Computer Emergency Response Team (Cert), are sometimes too slow to respond to reported threats. But India is already aware of this. The country is formulating a national cyber- security policy for 2020 -2021 and of- ficials have identified six critical areas where policy needs to be where special attention is needed. Finance security is one of these areas. It is only then that India will be able to effectively respond to the risks that come with moving to a largely cashless economy. Even before the pandemic: the west- ern economies and majority of people when the government suddenly re- one trying to sell a table online might be were already crumbling into deeper moved 80% of the country’s cash from called by someone posing as a prospec- debts, bankruptcies, lost jobs/homes the economy by saying that 1,000 and tive buyer, offering to make an online and slow trade. The present British re- 500 rupee notes would no longer be payment. If that person says that he or gime is breaking international laws on valid, Prime Minister Narendra Modi she has made a payment and tells you the withdrawal agreement which was heavily promoted digital payments as that you will get a code via text message written agreed and signed by Clown an alternative. Mobile payment plat- to confirm the transaction, many users UK PM BoJo as their Brexit virus fi- forms both (Paytm) and (GooglePay) would think nothing of it, even if they nally gets cured. Stop your investments, have since become a massive industry are asked to tell that person the code. banking and credit loans to UK/Brit- in India. A report by Credit-Suisse es- The next thing they know is that the ish companies as you will suffer bigger timated that mobile payments in India money has been deducted from their losses in 2021 and beyond as their Br- would become a $1tn market by 2023. account. exit cure fails to work as do their public Credit and debit card payments are also fail to work (No new Jobs) because they popular, with an estimated 900m card What improvements can be were stupid enough to vote and elect operational in India today. Many of made? their clown prince BoJo and his highly the newest entrants to India’s internet One problem is that the systems useless mindless ministers who enjoy more than half the 600 million-odd to- themselves are not secure or transpar- breaking laws even when the little Is- tal users are from the middle or bottom ent enough. In the Cosmos fraud for land is in lockdown mode. of the pyramid. This means that very instance, the software was not able Many western politicians, compa- often, their digital literacy is low, or to throw up red flags when so many nies, Banks/financial institutes in the they are migrant labourers working in transactions were compromised. And West will increase more bank finan- states where they are not familiar with by the time the fraud was discovered, cial frauds, money laundering, regime the language hence, they are very vul- a huge sum of money had been lost. change, Riots, Western False Flag ter- nerable to fraud. And secondly, there is Furthermore, a lack of standardisation rorism acts in the East, More Plandem- inadequate reporting of fraud by banks, also makes transactions confusing, es- ic Virus BS lies and more Racial Trade which means sometimes consumers are pecially for first-time users. ATMs for Wars. More peace can prevail if good not even aware of what has happened. instance, come in many different forms people irrespective of one’s country, cul- What kind of fraud is happening? and each payment app in the country ture or religious beliefs learn to respect Financial fraud in India takes many has a different interface. In India, due more real truths without being swayed different forms. Some involve hackers to the lack of computer software edu- and misled into more darkness which fixing skimmers and keyboard cam- cation and correct security procedures will dim and destroy your children’s fu- eras to ATMs, which duplicate the card there is a human problem. People lack ture peaceful happy lives on this Earth details of unsuspecting users. Others even basic awareness of the dangers, if you do not peacefully unite now. It is involve calling people up and tricking leaving both themselves and sometimes not hard to make a decision when you them into handing over information. entire systems at risk. know what your “True” Values are. The problem is that in a digital trans- action lines are blurred and confusing. What is the government’s Writer is the Global Chairman In the real world there is a clear distinc- role? Group President of The World Home- tion between giving and receiving. But Given the rate of India’s internet land Security/Smartechno Group of on a mobile payment platform, this is growth, it is not possible to rely on just Companies. www.worldhomelandse- not always clear. For instance, some- education alone. It’s not possible for curity.one

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Opinion Express October 2020 43 Covid martyrs in khaki Mumbai Police on the forefront in battle against pandemic

Karuna Sagar “3820 infections, 55 dead,” read the headline in a popu- lar online newspaper. These figures didn’t refer to the scale of the spread of COVID- 19 in a major me- tropolis or a small country but merely of that within the Mumbai Police. The city’s police force which is per- haps India’s most feted has borne the brunt of the disease due to their roles as frontline actors in the fight against the raging pandemic. The Mumbai Po- the area of responsibility of the Border The role of the BSF in training the lice force is not alone in its misery, po- Security Force, the Indo-Nepal border Mukti Bahini and generating invaluable lice personnel across the country have is secured by the Sashastra Seema Bal, intelligence about the goings on with fallen to the disease, often unsung and and the Indo-China border falls within East Pakistan cannot be overstated. almost always unappreciated for the ar- the AoR of the Indo-Tibetan Border On the 9th of April 1965, the Central terial role they’ve performed in meeting Police. Each of these borders presents Reserve Police Force (CRPF) achieved the challenge that has brought even the unique challenges to the forces that a feat unheard of in global military his- mightiest powers in the world to their man them. tory when a small contingent of the 2nd knees. The BSF, raised in 1965 by the leg- battalion of the force repulsed a brigade The discourse in popular culture endary IPS officer KF Rustamji, finds strength Pakistani attack on Sardar Post surrounding the police has always oscil- itself engaged regularly by the Pakistan in the Rann of Kutch, killing 34 and lated between two extremes, policemen Army in cross-LoC fire and on quieter capturing 4 Pakistan Army soldiers. have either been portrayed as either days by the famously savage Border Ac- On a different day and a different larger than life ‘Singhams’, in pursuit of tion Teams populated variously with border a few years earlier on the 21st of justice with scant regard for their own army regulars as well as terrorists. It October, 1959, affairs took a tragic turn safety or indeed, the law, or as potbel- is also our first line of defence against when a combined patrol of the Intel- lied thugs working on behalf of the evil smugglers of an assorted variety and ligence Bureau and the CRPF was am- antagonist. The media on the other strives to keep the country safe from bushed and killed by the Chinese PLA hand often depicts an image of the po- the, often lethal objects of their trade in Hot Springs, Ladakh. October 21st lice as state backed tormentors suffer- such as drugs, arms, and the like. has since been observed as Police Com- ing from a colonial hangover and at the On the China front, the ITBP is often memoration Day, in remembrance of root of much of the evil that has befallen subject to the hostile and uniquely dis- the policemen who gave up their lives the republic. harmonious shenanigans of the Chinese in the frigid climes of Ladakh then and Where then does the truth lie? Who PLA when its not battling the vagaries those who we’ve lost in the line of duty is today’s policeman and where does he of nature in one of the worlds’ most in- since. fit in the gargantuan apparatus of the hospitable parts. Even a peaceful border Coming closer home it is important state? In order to answer these ques- brings to the police its own challenges. for us to understand the arterial role es- tions it is imperative that we locate the The SSB is on constant vigil against sayed by state and central police forces roles that a policeman is expected to criminal gangs trafficking people, to the in keeping the Union secure from en- perform in today’s day and age. The role designs of the Pakistani ISI which leaves emies within. Every single insurgency of a cop begins at India’s outermost ex- no route unexplored in seeking to infil- that has ever been crushed in India has tremities. Every single land border that trate their malevolent spawn into India been done through the intervention India shares with another country (with in pursuit of what passes for ‘strategic and under the leadership of its police the exception of Myanmar) is secured objectives’ in Aabpara.All this merely forces. by a police force designated for the pur- covers their role in times of peace, each The CRPF, a central police force has pose. of these organisations have also fought been deployed in virtually every the- Whereas the Indio-Pakistan and shoulder to shoulder with the armed atre of conflict in India. From the ver- Indo-Bangladesh borders fall within forces in times of war. dant valley of Kashmir to the jungles of

44 October 2020 Opinion Express Central India as well as the North East, lockdown are made to feel less so by cel- the CRPF has ably assisted state police ebrating their birthdays and anniversa- units in eliminating insurgencies that ries with them. From ensuring that have, in some cases, lasted for the bet- returning migrant workers are fed to ter part of the Republic’s existence. celebrating birthdays and anniversaries In fact, so extensive is the deploy- with senior citizens complete, in some ment of the CRPF across the country cases, with cakes and party hats. that it is jocularly referred to by its per- The latter has especially shown the sonnel as the Chalte Raho Pyare Force! humane side of the police force with ne- When it comes to insurgencies the role tizens across the country lauding them of the state police forces in ending them for their kind overtures. The truth how- cannot be overstated. Any insurgency ever, is this it is not a new phenome- requires not just the establishment non. Many states have institutionalized of physical control over territory but mechanisms by which the local police also the winning over of the hearts and keeps a tab on the wellbeing of senior minds of the people who form its politi- citizens who live alone and thus, regu- cal and material support base. larly celebrate their life’s milestones No force that is largely drawn from with them. What of police apathy then? outside of the conflict zone can hope to failure has ramifications far beyond the Or what about their brutal side? comprehensively do both. As the Amer- valley. The Special Operations Group In any democracy the police have to ican diplomat Henry Kissinger once of the force has become a byword for abide by the rule of law and remain pro- observed, the conventional army loses operational success and virtually every fessional at all times.But lets remember if it doesn’t win, the guerrilla wins if he CI operation conducted there is made they are ,before anything else, human. doesn’t lose. It is important hence, that possible due to the intelligence gather- 12-16 hour shifts where they have to no element of the insurgency, political ing as well as operational capabilities of grapple with crisis after crisis, enforcing or military, is left to thrive. this unit. the law in a country where even issuing This is where state police forces have So deep is its intelligence network that a simple traffic chalan to an errant driv- excelled. Their roots in their communi- it is rumored to have active intelligence er is met with protests and threats, can ties have not only helped them build in- sources within militant groups based in take a toll. It would make even the most telligence networks amongst strife torn Pakistan! Its clear as day then that the equanimous person irritable. India has communities but also helped the coun- geographical and political boundaries of made giant strides in the direction of ter-insurgency effort remain humane our country have been kept in pristine speaking about mental health but this and measured. Ensuring that the process order thanks to the consistent and re- conversation seems to have excluded of defeating the insurgency doesn’t cre- lentless efforts of our police forces. Wars, those who most desperately need to ate more insurgents. Examples of Police insurgencies, intelligence gathering etc., find a place within it. successes in this regard abound across are roles that the police performs in ad- India’s police force is not perfect, far states in India. The state of Tripura for dition to their core function of enforcing from it, but what it requires more than instance, was the worst hit by insurgen- the law which comes with its own set of anything else is to be looked upon with cies in the 1990s. Far more so than Ma- challenges. As a developing country we empathy not disdain. A demonized po- nipur, Nagaland, or Assam. face challenges that are typical of coun- lice force is a demoralized police force. This was when the Tripura Police tries such as ours. And India cannot afford for the mem- raised the Tripura State Rifles, a special- Unlike in wealthier nations where bers of one of its most critical institu- ized counter-insurgent force consisting every contingency is dealt with a spe- tions to be demoralized or feel beaten of locals from social backgrounds simi- cific agency, where police-public ratios down. the police response to COVID19 lar to that of the insurgents themselves. are manageable, where the police are has won them plaudits and many ad- The result was that Tripura became the equipped adequately, and training pro- mirers, let’s not allow this moment to first state in the North East to remove cesses are lavishly funded, Indian po- pass in vain. AFSPA from the entire state in 2015, lice forces make do with what they get. Lets acknowledge the sacrifices that due to the comprehensive destruction Police in India have been historically the force makes everyday to keep us of militancy there. The role of the Pun- and remain today, the most potent arm safe, lets ensure that the conversation jab Police led by the formidable KPS Gill of the state. around reform is informed by kindness in eliminating the pro-Khalistan terror They are the first responders in ev- and understanding rather than by anger groups has become the stuff of legend. ery crisis whether it is a personal crisis and ignorance. Prime Minister Modi in Even the ‘Red Corridor,’ once reputed faced by a citizen or a disaster, man- his Mann Ki Baat address on the 26th if to have extended from the foothills of made or natural. Nowhere has this been April stated, “Our policemen today are the Himalayas in Nepal to the Krishna- experienced as clearly as in the states’ feeding the poor, the needy, and provid- Godavari basin in Andhra has shrunk to response to the COVID19 crisis. The ing medicines. The way the police are miniscule proportions thanks to the ef- police have not only enforced what has coming forward to help, the human and forts of police forces across states from been dubbed the worlds’ most stringent sensitive side of policing has emerged Bihar to Andhra Pradesh. lockdown, but also found the time to es- in front of us, has touched our hearts.” The J&K Police meanwhile, has ac- say their regular functions. Lets hope for the sake of our republic quitted itself admirably in the manner What’s more, they have also gone that we don’t forget in a hurry the im- by which they’ve managed to clamp out of their way to ensure that those mense work that the police have indeed down on an insurgency whose success or who’re alone and vulnerable during the put in. Now and always.

Opinion Express October 2020 45 Man with many hats Ravinder Pal Singh an award winning technologist, rescue pilot, angel investor all rolled into one

avinder Pal Singh shies away fear”. towards collaboration to survive, keep- from attention, despite the fact His latest visionary creation is a ing health as a priority. Healthcare in- Rthat he’s one of the world’s most blueprint to help humanity in the fight frastructures across countries needs to sought out experts in the field of Arti- for survival against one of the most chal- be revisited and global uniformity has ficial Intelligence, Innovation and Ro- lenging health crises in the recent past. to be established. Thirdly, how we de- botics. Ravinder Pal Singh (Ravi), is an The impact of COVID-19 has prompted sign our lives – places where we live, award winning Technologist, Rescue a reluctant but much needed change. places where we work, places where we Pilot and Angel Investor with several According to Ravi, the cost of life should interact - should all change. The glo- patents. As an inventor, engineer, in- not come at the price of lifestyle. Intent rification of creating mega cities is no vestor, highly sought global speaker for compassion has to translate into longer sustainable. In fact, the history and storyteller, his body of work focus- actual actions by everyone and every- of the demise of past civilizations has es on making a difference within acute where and every day. Disparity and im- a commonality of 4 factors -- A combi- constraints of culture and cash, mostly balance take resources away from most nation of an epidemic plus population via commodity technology. Ravi’s latest people to live a basic life, so a minority movements plus the pressure urban- invention is arguably the world’s most can afford an expensive (lavish) life- ization put on rural lifestyles as well as affordable ventilator and what has fu- style, and this is no longer sustainable. climate change. There is still merit in elled him, in his own words, is – “Fear Secondly, the world, till now, has been non-political Gandhian theories based of human contact is not sustainable for driven by collaboration of conflict (po- on – De-centralization and Micro Mar- civilization. Everyone has to contribute tential of war) and/or economics (fiscal kets, Rural development (ideal cluster to overcome this fatigue and fatality of prudence), which should be changed of villages), Self-sufficiency while living

46 October 2020 Opinion Express harmoniously with nature and a greater equity or “distributive justice via creat- ing institutions than solely profit driven businesses. The inspiration for Ravi’s latest invention came from his own experi- ence at the frontlines. The world faces a severe and acute public health emer- gency due to the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic. It is a stark truth that COVID-19 can require patients to be on ventilators for significant periods of time and that hospitals can only ac- commodate a finite number of patients at once. Ventilator shortages are an unfortunate reality as the COVID-19 outbreak continues to worsen globally. Ventilators are expensive pieces of ma- chinery to maintain, store and operate. They also require ongoing monitoring by health-care professionals. To solve the above situation, Ravi has invented and prototyped an affordable ventila- tor for all, using a minimalistic design which can be easily operated by anyone. The key design element is the ability to build it quickly for mass production so governments around the world can en- courage existing industrial setups and start-ups to manufacture them locally to help save lives. Ravi was baffled with the thought of why one would require an engineering degree to design, produce and manufac- ture a ventilator. He has built two dif- ferent working prototypes on common platform design. The first version is the cial Intelligence Leaders in Asia and simplest and is an extremely portable featured as one of the world’s top 25 ventilator, one which is intuitive, can The inspiration for Ravi’s CIOs. Ravi is currently employed as be used by anyone and fundamentally latest invention came the Chief Innovation and Informa- takes air from the atmosphere, extracts tion Officer at Tata Singapore Airlines oxygen, controls pressure and pushes from his own experience (Vistara). Ravi is the advisor to a board the output to the lungs. The second one of nine enterprises where incubation is an advanced version of this particular at the frontlines. The and differentiation is a core necessity ventilator. It is on a similar design plat- world faces a severe and challenge. He sits on the advisory form which converges artificial intelli- council of three global research firms gence with electrical, mechanical, elec- and acute public health where he contributes in predicting tronics and instrumentation, with the emergency due to the practical future automation use cases capability to supply pure oxygen. It has and respective technologies. self calibration capabilities, a machine ongoing COVID-19 Established in 2016, the Annie J Ko- learning algorithm to adjust the air flow global pandemic shy - Media Consultant has developed a according to the needs and the resistive reputation for expertise in Media Rela- nature of the lungs of any patient. Both tions, PR and Promotion of those in the of them are based on common plat- arts, media and entertainment indus- form design thinking and that’s the real Ravinder Pal Singh (Ravi) is a tries, as well as in Marketing and Com- beauty of his patented design and plat- Harvard Alumni and Award Winning munity Outreach. The multi-award win- form thinking. The reason to work and Engineer with over several hundred ning media brand, has a vast network, produce outcomes has become purified Global Recognitions and Patents. His both within the South Asian as well as through the stark reality of death. Driv- body of work, mostly 1st in the world, the mainstream communities and has ing Ravi’s imagination and the core to is making a difference within acute the leverage to develop meaningful as- all of his inventions is the burning de- constraints of culture and cash via sociations amongst individuals, busi- sire to create a meaningful body of work commodity technology. He has been nesses and within the media fraternity. through compassion oriented design acknowledged as one of the world’s (www.anniejkoshy.com | www.findy- and architectural forms. top 10 Robotics Designers, #1 Artifi- ourselfseries.com)

Opinion Express October 2020 47 Teachings of divine masters

OE News Bureau

r. Sanjay Sharan is a retired Commissioner of Customs & MCGST from Government of India. He is a post graduate in History and has also done Management Devel- opment Program from IIM, Lucknow. He has also had trainings/interactions with London School of Economics, Cambridge University, Nyenrode Uni- versity (Holland), LKYSPP (Singapore University), Graduate School of Busi- ness of SKK University (South Korea) and IIM(Kozhikode). He is a Master Trainer of GST, and as part of his multifaceted personality, he is also an authentic expert on Life Skills, Yoga & Meditation, Stress Man- agement. He regularly takes sessions on GST, Stress Management and many other areas for a number of institutes and academies. He also takes online training sessions. He is an accomplished author. He has written a unique book for man- kind by name “Householder Ascetic”. This book is available worldwide on amazon-both as e-book and paperback. In India, it is available as e-book and can be sourced from amazon for Rs. 250/- only. For this, Kindle app has to be downloaded from play store or app store on mobile phone or laptop. Once purchased from amazon, it comes in kindle app and the same can be read with convenience. “Householder Ascetic “, written as a The book is mainly based on teachings from Divine book of fiction for ease of writing and reference only, is a reference book for Masters from India. The valid answers are given mankind across the globe giving au- through the replies to a number of questions that thentic and eternally valid answers to various questions and challenges that the characters of book ask for, as stated in the book. comes to human mind in day-to-day life. The book is mainly based on teach- The replies to questions and inquiries are authentic ings from Divine Masters from India. with eternal validity. The replies are also at times The valid answers are given through the replies to a number of questions supported with quotes from various scriptures. The that the characters of book ask for, as book derives several congruent, converging and stated in the book. The replies to ques- tions and inquiries are authentic with congenial messages from Bhagwat Gita, Holy Bible eternal validity. The replies are also at and Sri Guru GranthSahab. It also derives from times supported with quotes from vari- ous scriptures. The book derives several Islam, especially from Sufism. congruent, converging and congenial messages from Bhagwat Gita, Holy Bi- ble and Sri Guru GranthSahab. It also tion to facilitate ease of writing only, teachings for global understanding. derives from Islam, especially from Su- the book covers a bit of metaphysics, The book discusses, inter alia, fism. occult, history, geography and infor- the following: - Although written as a book of fic- mation about the land of India and her • It gives a number of truthful test-

48 October 2020 Opinion Express ing methods (type of mental tools) for A.D. This corresponds to Greek ideas of proper understanding of life situations Iron, Bronge, Silver and Golden Ages as and challenges that one comes across in suggested in the book. day-to-day life. • Reference has also been made to • It also authentically explains Yoga extra-territorial people (Galactic Alli- & Meditation, need of Yoga, how to per- ance), who, much advanced than us, form authentic Yoga, splendid results are helping the people of earth to avoid (like increasing longevity and manag- many disasters. Galactic Alliance is a ing stress) that one would find if one benevolent and helpful alliance of 435 is performing Yoga. All the salient fea- million planets in one third of milky tures and prescriptions for performing way It has been informed that the al- authentic Yoga like: liance helps humans on earth and has (i) where to concentrate saved us from many disasters, like sav- (ii) how to concentrate ing us from another Fukushima type di- (iii) direction to face when performing saster in year 2016. Yoga • Non killing of all creatures for (iv) best timings for performing Yoga peace and tranquillity in the word has (v) need for insulator been highlighted. (vi) posture of body and chin • Need for alkaline and vegetarian (vii) occasional recitation with most reci- food to do away with various diseases tations being mental Mr Sanjay Sharan have been explained. (viii) and all other prescriptions have • India has been reintroduced in the been comprehensively highlighted. world. (ix) However, as clearly stated, the Yoga The theory of It may be repeated with all emphasis must be from authentic school/organi- that clarifications and information given sation. Incarnation given by Sri by way of answers/ replies in the book, • The need of Guru( Preceptor or by way of conversations and dialogues Master) for the inevitable spiritual jour- Krishna, as contrasted between two or more individuals, shall ney for everyone ( sooner or later) and to birth and death, have remain valid for all time to come for the the tests to be conducted to do away humanity to help and guide mankind. with a charlatan Guru ( Preceptor or been explained with The author has crafted some beauti- Master), so as to avoid waste of time quotes from Bhagwat ful poem in the book, with lot of hidden and waste of one life ( incarnation), and suggestive meaning. have also been given- probably for the Gita (classic scripture Home sweet home, first time in the world. We emanated from Om, • The theory of Incarnation given by from India). The Om, Amen & Amin, Sri Krishna, as contrasted to birth and reasons for repeat of Is it not the same hymn, death, have been explained with quotes We came from thee, from Bhagwat Gita (classic scripture incarnations with the We merge into thee, from India). The reasons for repeat of two prerequisites to do We are birthless, incarnations with the two prerequisites We are deathless, to do away with reincarnation have been away with reincarnation Om sweet Om, authentically stated. The same is based have been authentically Thou art our home, on teachings of Divine Masters. Why do we roam, • The theory of karma, which is op- stated. The same is based When father wants us home, erative on we humans for our mundane When mother wants us home, and spiritual state (present status), have on teachings of Divine Why do we roam, been explained and clarified. Masters. Om sweet Om. • The immense potentialities that The larger purpose of book is to help a human can possess and exercise as and strengthen the mankind and to re- an uplifted soul have been mentioned, move inter-class and inter-religious which is available to all without any dis- • Emancipation (Moksha or Mukti) strife to make a better and saner world crimination, as stated in book. have been explained as also the pre- on sound and valid principles of under- • Some of secrets of creation like ex- requisites and need for achieving the standing and universal acceptance of all pectation of our Creator have also been same. faiths, beliefs and cults. explained as also why He created us and • The concepts of Yuga (Time period) what is the one attribute that He gave and the Time Period in which we are and Mr Sanjay Sharan is avail- us. will be in future have been mentioned. able for imparting of training • The oriental concepts of idolatry It has been informed that we are in and teaching, even for public lec- and polytheism, which are enigma to Dwapar Yuga, as against general under- tures. He can explain and answer western and other people, have also standing of Kaliyug, which commenced all questions concerning life of been aptly explained and clarified, so as about 1700A.D. This is ascending arch humans. He can be reached on to remove unnecessary inter-class con- of Dwapar Yuga. Then Treta Yuga will mail id sanjay_sharan@hotmail. flict and inter-religious conflict. come. Sat Yuga will commence in 4700 com

Opinion Express October 2020 49 Artist par excellence OE News Bureau USA

eeta is a self-representing con- temporary and impressionist Gartist. She was born and edu- cated in India. She graduated in Mas- ters of Art (Sociology) and Bachelor of Education. During her course of formal education, she also took in training for five years with renowned Indian art-

At present she regularly participates in exhibitions in Bay Area, California and has won well deserved awards. She is a regular contributor of her artworks for charitable causes. ist Rameshwar Broota at Triveni Kala Sangam Institute in Delhi. Geeta has travelled very widely. Since 1997 she has been living and trav- eling out of India with her husband. She left India in 1997 and lived in Estonia, Bulgaria, Malaysia, Bosnia and now spends most of her time between India, Singapore, and the United States. Trav- eling and living in different countries

opened her vision and understanding knife on canvas. She also does water- ofart. She appreciated the diversity color paintings on paper. She expresses and uniqueness of art in different cul- herself through paintings by using vi- tures across European countries and is brant colors and texture. Paintings are reflected in her paintings apart from a enriched with a variety of themes in- great touch of Indian culture. cluding landscapes, portraits, flowers, She had her first individual exhibi- Hindu Gods and abstract forms. tion in June 2011 at Zenica, Bosnia. She Before becoming a full-time free- has participated in many exhibitions lance artist, she also worked as a pro- and art colonies in Europe. At present fessional school teacher (the profession she regularly participates in exhibitions she also loved). During that period, she in Bay Area, California and has won well also painted and designed many stage deserved awards. She is a regular con- backdrops, magazine covers, murals tributor of her artworks for charitable and signboards for schools. She has au- causes. She uses oil and acrylic paints, thored a book “EASY GOING AND IN- loves to do textured art with a pallet TERESTING WORLD HISTORY.”

50 October 2020 Opinion Express