, 10 | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2010

THINKITOVER WORDOFTHEDAY SECONDHAND DRINKING The worst misfortune that can A negative effect that a happen to any ordinary man is to drinker has on a non-drinker have an extraordinary father comment AUSTIN O’MALLEY

VOX POP Many chinks Bristling to belong [email protected] We need a new mindset to deal with in the shield Kashmir. Like other states, this state too must be allowed to have its The new Bill to protect whistleblowers is regional chieftain and regional pride Compassion in the face of vital. But its flaws must be ironed out first tragedy gives hope in humanity eyond the stone-pelters, a new voice is try- The report Leh turns ghost town n an interview to Time magazine, ing to make itself heard in Kashmir. A new (August 9) shows once again that in Julian Assange, the founder of ourtake century has brought a new generation, a spite of all the progress, we are still generation marked not by ideology but, like at the mercy of Nature’s fury. It’s WikiLeaks, said that only “transparency in government Byoung people all over , marked by amb- only during crises like these, that leads to reduced corruption.” We agree with Mr Assa- ition and self assertion. Unless Indian polic- ■ Yearning for India’s embrace: A supporter greets J&K one gets to see the compassionate ymakers junk their Islamophobic security-centred Chief Minister (left) in nature of people, which is rarely evi- nge wholeheartedly. To say that India is plagued with attitude towards Kashmir, we will fail to hear this new dent in this fast-paced world. It’s Icorruption would be an understatement; the rot has voice. The Kashmiri ‘intifada’ this time seems not to Delhi. Kashmir needs its Nitish Kumar. heartening to see people from differ- be totally centred on azadi. While azadi may be voiced Yet in times of galloping regional sentiment across gone much, much deeper. Even if we keep the Commonwealth ent parts of the country and foreign as a generalised sentiment or as a political lever by India, where regional parties are the norm, Kashmir tourists lending helping hand to Games funds fiasco aside, we have the telecom spectrum and the usual political players in the Hurriyat, much of is perhaps India’s only state where a single family has those who have been worst hit by the impetus behind the current youthful rage seems sought to monopolise the political space. However the recent flash flood in Leh. the mining scams to contend with. Plus, there are plenty more to be not to break away from India, but paradoxical- committed the Abdullahs may be to their home state, tucked away here and there. In such a scenario, the govern- ly, the urge to belong to India; the urge to be accept- the Kashmiri democratic space has to be widened and M.C. Joshi, Lucknow ed as children of India’s economic success — not as other players must be allowed to openly compete for Something’s got to give ment’s decision to provide a shield to whistleblowers is a posi- orphans to be held at gun-point behind the barbed political constituencies. The rise of the Peoples Demo- tive move. The Cabinet on Monday cleared the Public Interest wires of mental suspicion. cratic Party (PDP) and the successful government With reference to Pankaj Vohra’s Disclosure and Protection to Persons Making the Disclosure The teenagers pelting stones at the police are not that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was able to deliver article It’s time to wield the stick, just the children of two decades of Kashmir violence. during 2002-05 shows what a difference a local chief- Mr PM (Between Us, August 9), the Bill, 2010. Among other provisions, it aims to protect the iden- They are also children of a globalising attractive India tain as chief minister can make. people gave their mandate to the tity of citizens who reveal information about the misuse of with its democratic process, its well-advertised prog- Accusations of the PDP’s flirtation with separatist UPA for a second term, but it has ress and its exploding media. They are teenagers act- elements may be true, but the slow process of draw- failed miserably. We have seen Rahul public authority and public money and empower the Central ive on social networking sites and anxious to be heard ing in all sections of Kashmiris into democratic poli- Gandhi make token gestures and Vigilance Commission (CVC) to penalise those who reveal the bloody in the mainstream media. Observers point to the tics is certain to be painful and grimy. Creating Kash- talking about progress and develop- degree of approval that some Kashmiris have for Atal miri pride and a Kashmiri local leader won’t be a pro- ment. However, UPA-II has hardly identity of whistleblowers or threaten them. The first step mary Bihari Vajpayee for the elections of 2002, J.M. Lyngdoh cess that will get approval from safari suit-clad babus done anything to alleviate the prob- towards protecting whistleblowers was taken in 2004 when who is perceived to have delivered a fair vote and even lems of people. From Naxals, SAGARIKA GHOSEfor Morarjee Desai for the elections of 1977. IF THE BJP CAN HAVE A BHARAT BANDH, Kashmir, scams, price rise, to the the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions There are new role models too. Among today’s young Commonwealth Games fund misuse, notified a resolution that empowered the CVC to act on the Kashmiris, there is 21-year-old Pervez Rasool, the IF THE LEFT CAN HOLD MASS RALLIES, the list is endless. Let’s hope the gov- complaints of whistleblowers and protect them. Kashmiri cricketer who, in spite of being wrongfully KASHMIRIS HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO TAKE ernment tries to solve these issues, detained by the police during a cricket tournament TO THE STREETS, RAISE SLOGANS, STAGE for our patience is running out. However, there are some issues that need to be ironed in Bangaluru, went on to score 50 runs in 47 balls, Prakash F. Madhwani, Bangalore out if the government is really keen on making this law a pow- smiling broadly raised his bat and said, “I am a crick- DHARNAS, CARRY OUT MARCHES — IN eter, not a terrorist.” There is 27-year-old Shah Faisal II erful and effective one. For one, the power that will be given to who topped the civil services examination 2009 and SHORT, DO WHAT MLAS ACROSS INDIA DO the CVC — to issue summons — will not be enough if there has already chosen to become an IAS officer. There Pankaj Vohra aptly pointed out that is 33-year-old novelist Basharat Peer, whose book accustomed to textbook solutions. No doubt, recog- Prime Minister are no penal provisions. We all know how summons work in Curfewed Night is a bestseller at home and abroad. A nising Kashmiri pride could provide a breeding ground should be more decisive in his atti- this country — the entire operation is dependent on the police. small flickering flame of young Kashmir’s integration for separatist sentiments. But this is where the polit- tude. Despite his credentials he with India has already been lit. ical leadership, both at the Centre and in Srinagar, comes across as someone who lacks The Bill, as the draft indicates now, will cover complaints aga- So what then must be the building blocks of a ‘new’ will have to make a leap of faith. a voice. If he hopes to see India inst all central and state government employees as well as mindset towards Kashmir? The most important build- What will this entail? The leap of faith entails first, reach greater heights then he will public sector employees. Here is the important question: what ing block is to allow Kashmir to have its regional chief- using words like ‘separatist’ and ‘secessionist’ only have to adopt a zero-tolerance tain and allow the state its regional pride. Today, chief when there is good reason to do so. The leap of faith approach to corruption and laziness. about the politicians? Will a law with these provisions be able ministers across India evoke regional pride and region- entails recognising that Kashmiris — like Indians Rupesh Goel, via email to crack the nexus that exists between corrupt politicians and al nationalism. Nitish Kumar is the champion of Bihari across the country — have the democratic right to pride, stands for Gujarati asmita, protest. If the BJP can have a Bharat bandh, if the Left Sensitive only to criticism corrupt bureaucrats? Activists are also asking for re-energis- M. Karunanidhi is the leader of Dravida sub-nation- can hold mass rallies, Kashmiris have every right to ing the Lok Pal Bill, which has been pending in Parliament alism and Naveen Patnaik symbolises an anti-Delhi, take to the streets, raise slogans, stage dharnas, carry Finance Minister pro-Oriya cause. Across India, chief ministers are out marches — in short, do what MLAs across India should support his statements with since 1969. They say that a public-appointed Lok Pal can set embodying their regions’ culture and renaming their do. Democracy’s central mantra is ‘shout, don’t shoot’ actions when he claims that the matters right. The other issue is that the CVC is not bound to capital cities. Indeed, chief ministers increasingly and the Centre has to recognise that every Kashmiri government is sensitive to people’s stand forth as the champions of region. who shouts is no longer getting ready to shoot. troubles (This govt isn’t insensitive, act on every complaint. Is there a mechanism, a standard to So if we can have ‘Gujarati Pride’ and ‘Oriya Pride’ The leap of faith in Kashmir also means that a chief August 5). As of now, the central decide which one is frivolous and which one is not? and ‘Tamil Pride’ and ‘Bihari Pride’, why can we not minister must offer to resign or make amends if he government certainly doesn’t seem As far as the security cover is concerned, as of now a have ‘Kashmiri Pride’? Why should any championing finds he is not popular, as a mark of respect for the concerned about millions going hun- of Kashmiri regionalism immediately be seen as a people. The leap of faith in Kashmir means not brand- gry or tonnes of foodgrain rotting in person within the system and not an outsider (activists) will threat to India and an invitation to Pakistan? Should ing every teenage stone-pelter or as a Lashkar opera- government godowns. get it. In other words, a person like Satyendra Dubey, the azadi, even loosely defined, necessarily strike fear in tive and confronting him with overwhelming force. Shanti Bhushan, via email the heart of South Block? Why should Omar Abdullah Kashmir is crying not for azadi from India but azadi National Highway Authority of India engineer who was killed not be allowed to function as a ‘Kashmiri’ chief min- from the old Indian mindset. Manmohan Singh once We at Hindustan Times would like to know more in 2004, will get cover but not an Amit Jethwa, the Gujarat ister and why should the Centre demand that he remain liberalised our economy. Now he must liberalise our about what you want from your paper. So write to an agent of New Delhi? Kashmir has a right to its regi- attitudes towards Kashmir. RTI activist who was killed recently. In our view, both should. us at Hindustan Times House, 18-20, K.G. Marg, onal aspirations, it has a right to its pride and it has Sagarika Ghose is Deputy Editor, CNN-IBN New Delhi 110001 Phone: 91-011-66561234, The Bill has promise but if it is passed without trying to recti- a right to demand that it gets a chief minister who ■ [email protected] [email protected] fy its shortcomings, it will be that much less effective. stands up for the interests of Kashmiris vis-a-vis New The views expressed by the author are personal Comrade 007 Unravel the DNA of discourse Growing gains With his ‘never say never’ attitude, Prakash Karat Science can move beyond Petri dishes and microscopes. Two ‘experiments’ show how Surinder Singla KumKum Dasgupta he debate in Parliament on inflation could give many Bond aspirants sleepless nights turned into mudslinging last week on the he first time I went to a science museum was a couple Tcapabilities of Prime Minister Manmohan f there is one subject which has of years ago. I vaguely remember seeing a couple of Singh and his economic team. Perhaps it’s the thepundit T(uninspiring) exhibits and a superb documentary on right time to remind the Opposition that it was caused us quite a bit of heartburn, space and time. Other than me, there was a busload of gov- Singh, as finance minister, who had unleashed Iit is that of which Indian would ernment school students. Quietly — and aimlessly — they the forces of growth in 1991 by changing the make a convincing James Bond. No, it cannot be not butter- moved from one exhibition room to another. The museum country’s economic policy. It was only after had no staff to explain to them the exhibits and the securi- this shift that the economy broke the shackles wouldn’t-melt-in-his-mouth Ranbir Kapoor. It must be a man ty staff seemed more than happy when the group left. of the proverbial 3 per cent ‘Hindu rate of of mettle, Marxist mettle that is. It can only be none other So when last month at the Euroscience Open Forum in growth’ to enter the high-growth trajectory, Turin, Italy, I heard someone mention a session on ‘Tackling averaging more than 6.5 per cent for the last than dear old Prakash Karat, the now largely out-of-work social tension through science communication’, I was two decades, and the 9 per cent of the last four CPI(M) general secretary. He says ‘never’ is not a word he intrigued: can science actually be used to solve problems years of UPA-1. among communities? On the face of it, what the speakers The world today recognises India as an eco- would use when it comes to supporting the Congress. Clearly said at the session was simple: scientific research teaches nomic power and expects it to be an engine of this makes him a contender for a remake of that 007 classic us to question everything, even what is assumed to be ■ Break down the barriers: A session at the Bloomfield Science global growth in the future. Ours is now an true. If these principles of science can be inculcated in young Museum, Jerusalem economy of $1.73 trillion, a figure that is Never Say Never Again. adults, it will help them question dogmas and thereby lower expected to touch $2 tril- Steely-eyed Karat may not top the charts in the action the chances of future conflicts. out a communicator in an Arabic dress, such myths would lion by the end of this department, but then why not a brainy Bond? We can think of “Science museums are often seen as children’s play- be demolished then and there,” Halevy said. financial year. ground. But we see it as an opportunity to promote under- This creative combination of public and institutional It may be relevant to many Bondesque movies he could act in. One, of course, would standing between communities,” said Maya Halevy, Director spaces such as museums and the principles of science are mention here that the fictional Comrades Are Forever. Or Live And Let Lie in which of Jerusalem-based Bloomfield Science Museum. “Jerusalem also being used by a students’ group in Paris. After the 2005 Jaswant Singh of the BJP is place of competing ideologies: there are Jews, Arabs, racial riots in the ‘disadvantaged areas’ of the city, researchers had opposed the first he could have a soliloquy on why it’s important to seem unar- Christians and ultra-orthodox Jews. And it is here that we and university students like Livio Riboli-Saso, a PhD stu- Budget of Manmohan med with any logic but actually work to a script. Given his pen- are trying to use the principles of science to break the bar- dent, set up the Paris-Montagne Charity to make science Singh in 1991 and dubbed chant for lecturing to all and sundry, one sureshot role for him riers that exist between these communities”. accessible to poor students. The organisation’s programme it as one that “compro- The idea that a public space can be used for something targets high-school students interested in science but are ■ The man in the mised on or failed to pre- would be in A View To Shrill. Here he could get up to some much bigger than its mandate came to the museum author- not confident to enroll in under-graduate studies because middle: Singh serve the economic sov- ities while researching the profile of the visitors. They found of social and cultural barriers. ereignty of the country”. Goldfinger wagging to sundry villains bearing a resemblance to out that certain groups never visited the museum because After five cities in France, the fledgling campaign start- Warning that it was the “return of the East Congress party ministers and a rag-tag bunch dressed in saf- of various reasons: Arabs because of ethnic and language ed operations in the conflict-ridden Croatian city of Vukovar India Company”, former Prime Minister fron robes. He could tell them how he learnt the lessons of issues and Orthodox Jews for their own ideological dog- where Serb and Croat children still go to different schools. Chandrasekhar charged Singh of selling the mas. So to attract these communities, the museum is now The children of these two communities were brought togeth- country to multinationals. The exact reverse Marxism in a booklet entitled From China With Love and how kept open on Arab holidays, websites and leaflets are er to work on science puzzles and discussed the possible has happened. the philosophy of such stalwarts like Mao Zedong is always available both in Hebrew and Arabic. There are Arabic com- divergences in the collected data. “I learned that you need When the BJP-led NDA government was in municators also. After-school programmes for Jews and to get along even though you don’t know the people,” one power between 1998 and 2004, it continued more effective than a stun gun when confronted by danger. Arabs children together have been started. of the participants wrote after the meet. with the economic policies that were intro- But he might look further afield for inspiration, after all, Recently, a travelling exhibition called ‘Peace Labyrinth’ By the time the Turin conference got over, the discus- duced by the Congress governments before it. debuted here. It showcased conflicts, how they arise, and sion on whether there should be an ‘Islamic centre’ at the The BJP followed the policy of reforms The World is not Enough. Now that it is clear that he isn’t the the ways they can be resolved. Labyrinth’s format was rel- 9/11 Ground Zero had started. Though many are opposing because this was the best choice for India. I Man with the Golden Run, Karat may yet go down in history as evant to the dilemmas and issues surrounding Israel and it, maybe they should build one. Understanding is the key hope the BJP leadership, keeping all this mind, Jerusalem. The exhibition had two specific goals: first, to to peace — and in a strife-hit world, such creative/dual use restrains itself from questioning above anyone the person who had stirred but not shaken a national govern- develop awareness of points of view, such as stereotypes, of public spaces can become the game changers. else Manmohan Singh’s credibility as a practi- ment. As he hangs up his famous gun with which he was adept that influence us in conflict situations; second, to provide cal economist. at shooting from the lip, let’s hope that his role-playing will creative tools for managing interpersonal conflicts. KumKum Dasgupta attended the Euroscience Open Forum Surinder Singla is a former MP “There are many who believe that Arabs are uneducat- as part of the Robert Bosch Stiftung Fellowship Programme The views expressed by the author are personal afford him a Quantum of Solace. ed. So if a young student comes to the museum and finds ■ [email protected]