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INDIA-CHINA THE NEW BHAI-BHAI AT AN ‘INFORMAL SUMMIT’, MODI AND XI SIGNAL THAT INDIA RNI NO. 28587/75 RNI NO. AND CHINA CAN BE PARTNERS IN A FRACTIOUS WORLD. BUT CAN THEY KEEP THEIR TRADITIONAL CONFLICTS ON HOLD?

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INDIA CHINA THE NEW BHAI BHAI AT AN ‘INFORMAL SUMMIT’, MODI AND XI SIGNAL THAT INDIA RNI NO. 28587/75 RNI NO. AND CHINA CAN BE PARTNERS IN A FRACTIOUS WORLD. BUT CAN THEY KEEP THEIR TRADITIONAL CONFLICTS ON HOLD?

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Aroon Purie GROUP EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Raj Chengappa he signs were out there. India ties with Russia and both standing up to EDITORS: Kaveree Bamzai (Special Projects), Ajit Kumar Jha (Research) took extra care to honour Chinese and engaging with China are the broad GROUP CREATIVE EDITOR: Nilanjan Das; GROUP PHOTO EDITOR: Bandeep Singh MANAGING EDITORS: Kai Jabir Friese, Rajesh Jha sensitivities on the Dalai Lama, aspects of the emerging Modi world view. EXECUTIVE EDITORS: Damayanti Datta, S. Sahaya Ranjit, T and China endorsed India’s de- The two leaders will meet each Sandeep Unnithan DEPUTY EDITORS: Prachi Bhuchar, Uday Mahurkar, Manisha Saroop mand to include a specific anti-terrorism other again at the Shanghai Cooperation Mumbai: M.G. Arun Hyderabad: Amarnath K. Menon Chandigarh: Asit Jolly section in the BRICS’ Xiamen summit in Organi sation summit in early June. Un- SENIOR EDITORS: Shweta Punj, Sasi Nair, Alokparna Das Jaipur: Rohit Parihar September, barely a week after the sudden der Xi, China is said to be practising what SENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Kaushik Deka, Ashish Mukherjee end to a 72-day border stand-off. The its state media calls ‘Xiplomacy’ which Mumbai: Suhani Singh, Kiran Dinkar Tare; patna: Amitabh Srivastava ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Shougat Dasgupta, Chinki Sinha bluster gave way to quiet diplomacy and combines strong nationalism and asser- Kolkata: Romita Sengupta; Bhopal: Rahul Noronha; Thiruvananthapuram: Jeemon Jacob; BeiJing: Ananth Krishnan the sabre-rattling was replaced by low-key tiveness on China’s core interests and ter- ASSISTANT EDITOR: pune: Aditi S. Pai communication. China’s English newspa- ritorial disputes. With America retreating PHOTO DEPARTMENT: Vikram Sharma (Deputy Photo Editor), Rajwant Singh Rawat (Principal Photographer), per, The Global Times, a mouthpiece of the from global affairs except occasionally Chandra Deep Kumar (Photographer); Mumbai: Mandar Suresh government, even invoked an old Chinese threatening to nuke North Korea and ac- Deodhar (Chief Photographer), Danesh Adil Jassawala (Photographer); ahmedabad: Shailesh B Raval (Principal Photographer); proverb to describe the relationship tually bombing Syria, China is poised for Kolkata: Subir Halder (Principal Photographer); Chennai: N.G. Jaison (Senior Photographer) between China and India today: Friends a new proactive approach, moving away PHOTO RESEARCHERS: Prabhakar Tiwari (Chief Photo Researcher), are often made after a fight. After the from non-interference in international Saloni Vaid (Principal Photo Researcher), Shubhrojit Brahma (Photo Researcher) Doklam stand-off on whichindia today disputes and its past practice of not main- CHIEF OF GRAPHICS: Tanmoy Chakraborty did a cover story asking if there would be taining foreign military bases. Xi calls this ART DEPARTMENT: Sanjay Piplani (Senior Art Director); Jyoti K. Singh (Art Director), Vikas Verma (Associate Art Director); war, there was a calm interrupted only by the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese na- Bhoomesh Dutt Sharma (Senior Designer) Siddhant Jumde (Senior Illustrator) a series of high-level visits beginning with tion”, which coupled with a better life for PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT: Harish Agarwal (Chief of Production), Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s India people at home, something he describes Naveen Gupta (Chief Coordinator), Vijay Kumar Sharma (Senior Coordinator) trip in December. The elevation of Vijay as the “Chinese dream”, is how he plans to PUBLISHING DIRECTOR: Manoj Sharma Gokhale, former ambassador to Beijing, bolster the legitimacy of the Communist ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Anil Fernandes (Impact) to the post of Foreign Secretary, hastened Party of China. An insightful report from IMPACT TEAM Senior General Manager: Jitender Lad (West) this breaking of ice, with three significant our Beijing correspondent Associate Edi- General Manager: Mayur Rastogi (North), visits to China in quick succession in tor Ananth Krishnan on the Xi Doctrine Upendra Singh (Bangalore), Kaushiky Gangulie (East) April—of National Security Advisor Ajit explains how China wants to be a status GROUP CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER: Vivek Malhotra Assistant General Manager: Garima Prashar (Marketing) Doval, External Affairs Minister Sushma superpower validated not by what it is SALES AND OPERATIONS: D.V.S. Rama Rao, Chief General Manager Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala doing, but with a focus on what it needs— Deepak Bhatt, General Manager (National Sales) Vipin Bagga, Deputy General Manager (Operations) Sitharaman. The grand culmination? The resources and markets. Rajeev Gandhi, Regional Sales Manager (North) The thaw comes at a critical time Arokia Raj L., Regional Sales Manager (South) visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Wuhan for informal talks with newly- for both countries. The rising tide of empowered Chinese President Xi Jinping, protectionism that is threatening the recently made de facto “president for life”. world order has left both alarmed, as has Under Prime Minister Modi, India a period of unusual global uncertainty. has pursued a more pragmatic approach China, especially, is unnerved by Trump’s Volume XLIII Number 19; For the week to international relations, whether it was threats of a trade war. There are other May 1-7, 2018, published on every Friday not letting protocol get in the way of his global issues like climate change where l Editorial/Corporate Office Living Media India Ltd., India Today Group Mediaplex, visiting former Pakistan prime minister both countries are on the same page. This FC-8, Sector-16A, Film City, Noida - 201301; Phone: 0120-4807100 l Subscriptions: For assistance contact Customer Care India Today Group, B-45, Nawaz Sharif’s home town to attend his summit of the leaders of the two most Sector-57, Noida (UP)-201301; Phones: Toll-free number: 1800 1800 100 (from BSNL/MTNL lines); (95120) 2479900 from Delhi and Faridabad; (0120) 2479900 grand-daughter’s wedding in 2015 or populous countries in the world without from Rest of India (Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.); Fax: (0120) 4078080; Mumbai: 022-66063411/3412, Kolkata: 033-40525327, Chennai: 044-24303200; inviting Xi to Ahmedabad in 2017. 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SAFFRON 30 HAND How the RSS and its affiliates like the Swadeshi Jagran Manch are shaping government policy on education and the economy

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COVER STORY 40 Even as PM Modi and Xi Jinping signal A FRESH that India and China can be partners in PEOPLE’S START a fractious world, can the two nations CM 18 actually keep their conflicts on hold? Pawan Kumar Chamling becomes ELDERLY India’s longest serving chief minister. A look at his political 52 journey DEMOGRAPHIC DOWNSIDE Even as branded corporate eldercare is thriving, the welfare Cover by NILANJAN DAS of senior citizens remains in doubt Cover imaging by AMARJEET SINGH NAGI

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www.indiatoday.in EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DRY ATMs AND SHOULD WE

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:‘DEMON’ Aroon SHIVERS Purie HANG RAPISTS? GROUP PGEDITORIAL 4 DIRECTOR: Raj Chengappa he signs were out there. India ties with Russia and both standing PGup 4 to EDITORS: Kaveree Bamzai (Special Projects), Ajit Kumar Jha (Research) took extra care to honour Chinese and engaging with China are the broad GROUP CREATIVE EDITOR: Nilanjan Das; GROUP PHOTO EDITOR: Bandeep Singh MANAGING EDITORS: Kai Jabir Friese, Rajesh Jha sensitivities on the Dalai Lama, aspects of the emerging Modi world view. EXECUTIVEVISA EDITORS: CLAMPDOWN Damayanti Datta, S. Sahaya Ranjit, T and China endorsed India’s de- The two leaders will meetTHE SORRY each FATE Sandeep Unnithan DEPUTYON EDITORS: H1B Prachi VIA Bhuchar, H4 Uday Mahurkar, Manisha Saroop mand to include a specific anti-terrorism other again at the ShanghaiOF NOMAD Cooperation TRIBES MumbaiPG: M.G. 9 Arun Hyderabad: Amarnath K. Menon Chandigarh: Asit Jolly section in the BRICS’ Xiamen summit in Organi sation summit in early June.PG Un 11- SENIOR EDITORS: Shweta Punj, Sasi Nair, Alokparna Das Jaipur: Rohit Parihar September, barely a week after the sudden der Xi, China is said to be practising what SENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Kaushik Deka, AshishUPFRONT Mukherjee end to a 72-day border stand-off. The its state media calls ‘Xiplomacy’ which Mumbai: Suhani Singh, Kiran Dinkar Tare; patna: Amitabh Srivastava ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Shougat Dasgupta, Chinki Sinha bluster gave way to quiet diplomacy and combines strong nationalism and asser- Kolkata: Romita Sengupta; Bhopal: Rahul Noronha; Thiruvananthapuram: Jeemon Jacob; BeiJing: Ananth Krishnan the sabre-rattling was replaced by low-key tiveness on China’s core interests and ter- ASSISTANT EDITOR: pune: Aditi S. Pai communication. China’s English newspa- ritorial disputes. With America retreating PHOTO DEPARTMENT: Vikram Sharma (Deputy Photo Editor), Rajwant Singh Rawat (Principal Photographer), per, The Global Times, a mouthpiece of the from global affairs except occasionally Chandra Deep Kumar (Photographer); Mumbai: Mandar Suresh government, even invoked an old Chinese threatening to nuke North Korea and ac- Deodhar (Chief Photographer), Danesh Adil Jassawala (Photographer); ahmedabad: Shailesh B Raval (Principal Photographer); proverb to describe the relationship tually bombing Syria, China is poised for Kolkata: Subir Halder (Principal Photographer); Chennai: N.G. Jaison (Senior Photographer) between China and India today: Friends a new proactive approach, moving away PHOTO RESEARCHERS: Prabhakar Tiwari (Chief Photo Researcher), are often made after a fight. After the from non-interference in international Saloni Vaid (Principal Photo Researcher), Shubhrojit Brahma (Photo Researcher) Doklam stand-off on whichindia today disputes and its past practice of not main- CHIEF OF GRAPHICS: Tanmoy Chakraborty did a cover story asking if there would be taining foreign military bases. Xi calls this ART DEPARTMENT: Sanjay Piplani (Senior Art Director); Jyoti K. Singh (Art Director), Vikas Verma (Associate Art Director); war, there was a calm interrupted only by the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese na- Bhoomesh Dutt Sharma (Senior Designer) Siddhant Jumde (Senior Illustrator) a series of high-level visits beginning with tion”, which coupled with a better life for PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT: Harish Agarwal (Chief of Production), Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s India people at home, something he describes Naveen Gupta (Chief Coordinator), Vijay Kumar Sharma (Senior Coordinator) trip in December. The elevation of Vijay as the “Chinese dream”, is how he plans to PUBLISHING DIRECTOR: Manoj Sharma Gokhale, former ambassador to Beijing, bolster the legitimacy of the Communist ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Anil Fernandes (Impact) to the post of Foreign Secretary, hastened Party of China. An insightful report from IMPACT TEAM Senior General Manager: Jitender Lad (West) this breaking of ice, with three significant our Beijing correspondent Associate Edi- General Manager: Mayur Rastogi (North), visits to China in quick succession in tor Ananth Krishnan on the Xi Doctrine Upendra Singh (Bangalore), Kaushiky Gangulie (East) April—of National Security Advisor Ajit explains how China wants to be a status GROUP CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER: Vivek Malhotra Assistant General Manager: Garima Prashar (Marketing) Doval, External Affairs Minister Sushma superpower validated not by what it is SALES AND OPERATIONS: D.V.S. Rama Rao, Chief General Manager Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala doing, but with a focus on what it needs— Deepak Bhatt, General Manager (National Sales) Vipin Bagga, Deputy General Manager (Operations) Sitharaman. The grand culmination? The resources and markets. Rajeev Gandhi, Regional Sales Manager (North) The thaw comes at a critical time Arokia Raj L., Regional Sales Manager (South) visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Wuhan for informal talks with newly- for both countries. The rising tide of empowered Chinese President Xi Jinping, protectionism that is threateningFACING the THE HEAT recently made de facto “president for life”. world order has left both alarmed,CJI as Dipak has Misra Under Prime Minister Modi, India a period of unusual global uncertainty.

VIKRAM SHARMA VIKRAM has pursued a more pragmatic approach China, especially, is unnerved by Trump’s Volume XLIII Number 19; For the week to international relations, whether it was threats of a trade war. There are other May 1-7, 2018, published on every Friday not letting protocolIMPEACHMENT get in the way of his global issues like climate change where l Editorial/Corporate Office Living Media India Ltd., India Today Group Mediaplex, visiting former Pakistan prime minister both countries are on the same page. This FC-8, Sector-16A, Film City, Noida - 201301; Phone: 0120-4807100 l Subscriptions: For assistance contact Customer Care India Today Group, B-45, Nawaz Sharif’s home town to attend his summit of the leaders of the two most Sector-57, Noida (UP)-201301; Phones: Toll-free number: 1800 1800 100 (from BSNL/MTNL lines); (95120) 2479900 from Delhi and Faridabad; (0120) 2479900 grand-daughter’s wedding in 2015 or populous countries in the world without from Rest of India (Monday-Friday,JUDICIARY 10 a.m.-6 p.m.); Fax: (0120) 4078080; IS ABOVE JUDGE Mumbai: 022-66063411/3412, Kolkata: 033-40525327, Chennai: 044-24303200; inviting Xi to Ahmedabad in 2017. He any formal agenda is unprecedented and e-mail: [email protected] By Faizan Mustafa l Sales: Direct all trade enquiries to General Manager (Sales), Living Media India has not always followed the rules, mixing could be historic in many ways. Limited, B-45, Sector 57, Noida-201301 (UP) l Regd. Office: K-9 Connaught Circus, New Delhi-110001 surprise moves, such as an invitation to Group Editorial Director Raj l Impact Offices: 1201, 12th Floor, Tower 2 A, One Indiabulls Centre, (Jupiter Mills), S.B. Marg, Lower ParelS President(West), Mumbai-400013; Franklin Phone: 66063355; D. Roo- Israeliby next-in-line Prime Minister CJI Ranjan Benjamin Gagoi Netan and- Chengappa,Vice-President’s who orderhas covered in the Supremeforeign Fax: 66063226 l E-1, Ground Floor, Videocon Towers, Jhandewalan Extn, yahu, with grand gestures, such as hosting affairs for decades, co-wrote this issue’s New Delhi l Guna Complex,sevelt 5th Floor, hadMain Building, once No.443, said: Anna Salai,“We have Madan Lokur. The unfortunate events Court even though there is some Chennai-600018; Phone: 2847 8525 l 201-204 Richmond Towers, 2nd Floor, all 10 ASEAN leaders for the Republic cover story, putting this extraordinary 12, Richmond Road, Bangalore-560025;reached Phones: the 22212448, point 22213037, as a nation of the past few months including the merit in their argument that the Rajya 22218343; Fax: 22218335; l 52, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, 4th Floor, Day celebrations this year as chief guests summit in perspective amid the see- Kolkata-700071; Phones: 22825398;where Fax: we 22827254; must l 6-3-885/7/B, take Somajiguda, action to press conference by the four dissenting Sabha chairman cannot, on his own, Hyderabad-500082;U Phone: 23401657, 23400479, 23410100, 23402481, to mark the 25th anniversary of the sawing relationship between the two 23410982,save 23411498; the Fax: Constitution 23403484 l 39/1045, Karakkatt from Road, theKochi 682016; Court judges, the notice of impeachment and at the stage of admission itself, pass a Phones: 2377057, 2377058 ; Fax: 2377059 l 2/C, “Suryarath Bldg”, 2nd Floor, Asia-Pacific club. Promoting security in countries. The thorny bilateral issues Behindand White House, the Panchwati, Court Office from C.G. Road, itself.”Ahmedabad-380006; India’s Phone: Su- its rejection have created an unprec- judgment on charges—and call them l are unlikely to be resolved overnight but 26560393,preme 26560929; Court Fax: 26565293 is Copyrightpassing Living Mediathrough India Ltd. All a simi- theedented Indian crisisOcean, of managinglegitimacy the for diffiour- ju- ‘imaginary’ and ‘scandalous’. If there is rights reserved throughout the world. Reproduction in any manner is prohibited. cult neighbourhood, dealing firmly with if they can avoid confrontation in the Printedlar and crisis. published byOur Manoj judgesSharma on behalf are of deeply Living Media divided diciary, and a full-court hearing on the some substance in the charges, and the India Limited. Printed at Thomson Press India Limited, Pakistan on terrorism, revitalising the future and deal jointly with some global 18-35among Milestone, Delhi themselves. Mathura Road, Faridabad-121007, The letters (Haryana) written judicial side seems necessary to discuss required number of House members and at A-9, Industrial Complex, Maraimalai Nagar, District Act East policy, strengthening bonds with issues—that would be great progress. Kancheepuram-603209,by senior judges (Tamil Nadu). to Published CJI Dipakat K-9, Connaught Misra outstanding institutional issues. has signed the impeachment motion, the US and Japan, engaging with Europe, Circus,are New anDelhi-110001. indication Editor: Aroon of Purie. the trust deficit One also hopes better sense will he should ideally admit it—and leave it l in dia today does not take the responsibility for returning unsolicited building stronger links with the Gulf publication material. between them. The CJI should now countriesprevail withwhile the also political fully normalising Opposition, ties to an inquiry committee to determine All disputescall a are full-court subject to the meetingexclusive jurisdiction as requested of and it will desist from challenging the whether the charges have been proved competent courts and forums in Delhi/New Delhi only with Israel, preserving the closeness of (Aroon Purie)

MAY 7, 2018 INDIA TODAY 3 8 INDIA TODAY MAY 7, 2018 UPFRONT

beyond reasonable doubt. But it’s equally wrong to argue CURRENCY CRUNCH that he has no power to examine the contents of an impeachment motion and should mechanically admit it without even looking at the material submitted to him. The correct position lies between these extremes: he OF DRY ATMs should examine the charges to see if, on the face of it, there is need for a probe. He cannot assume the role of an inquiry AND ‘DEMON’ committee. Evidence has to be presented to the inquiry committee, and it is the inquiry committee that has to de- SHIVERS cide if there has been ‘proved misbehaviour’. No allegation can be definite and, therefore, Vice-President Venkaiah everal states, such at Rs 45,000 crore, Naidu’s rejection order stating that the impeachment mo- as Andhra Pradesh, a subsequent State tion itself has used words like ‘maybe’ and ‘appears’ and STelangana, Karnataka, Bank of India (SBI) does not bring out ‘proved misbehaviour’ is untenable. Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya report pegged it at It is common knowledge that most CJIs pick, for Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Rs 70,000 crore. It benches they lead, judges with whom they have a better Pradesh, faced an acute cur- was attributed to understanding; that is why the CJI’s opinion is invari- rency crunch in recent weeks, all sorts of reasons: ably the majority opinion. A rare exception was the triple with thousands of ATMs run- the forthcoming as- talaq judgment where CJI J.S. ning dry—a throwback to the sembly elections in Karnataka, Khehar authored a dissenting post-demonetisation days in a tendency to hoard Rs 2,000 The CJI’s opinion. A CJI may even write 2016 when a severe scarcity of notes, and so on. Although, administra- for the entire bench, as CJI currency notes led to serpen- currency worth Rs 18.29 lakh tive writ R.C. Lahoti did in PA Inamdar tine queues at ATMs and bank crore is in circulation, well must be (2005) —a judgment on the branches across the country. rights of minorities he au- This time, the government reviewed; the The government Constitution thored on behalf of all the seven found itself on the backfoot. is supreme judges. Even in respect of other “The temporary shortage pegged the short- benches, the CJI will always caused by sudden and unusual fall at Rs 45,000 consider the mutual comfort increase in some areas is being crore, but an SBI and understanding of judges sitting together. Any CJI will tackled quickly,” said Union have a fairly good idea of the ideological positions of other finance minister Arun Jaitley. report said it was judges and their views on most issues, and could, there- Although the government Rs 70,000 crore fore, constitute a bench likely to lean one way or another. initially estimated the shortfall Justice P.N. Bhagwati, in the Bachan Singh case (1980)— where the doctrine of ‘rarest of rare’ was invoked—said death or life imprisonment decisions depend on the personal philosophy of judges on the bench. INDEX A review of judgments like Prakash Chand (1998), Kamini Jaiswal (2017) and Ashok Pandey (2018), which held CJI as the ‘master of rolls’ with absolute powers, is Should We Hang Rapists? urgently needed to make the constitution of benches more Growing public anger over the rape of an eight-year-old participatory on the lines of the collegium. Even if we con- Muslim girl in Jammu and the rape of a teenager in Unnao, cede the present CJI has not misused his powers, there is UP, has prompted the government to bring in an ordinance enabling courts to sentence those convicted of raping girls likelihood of abuse in future. Constitutionalism as an idea under 12 to death; it is unclear if the ordinance applies to boys. of limited powers is the only shield against totalitarianism Critics claimed the order was a populist sop. Is there evidence, of any constitutional authority and, therefore, the powers the Delhi High Court asked in response to a petition, that the of the CJI as the ‘master of rolls’ must be revisited. Yes, he death penalty serves as a deterrent? The Justice Verma com- is a high constitutional authority and deserves respect, mission, formed in the aftermath of the 2012 Nirbhaya case, but his administrative actions, including the constitution argued that it didn’t. National crime statistics show sexual vio- of benches, cannot be arbitrary, violative of fundamental lence against children is on the rise. Nobel laureate and child rights and contrary to the principles of natural justice. It is rights activist Kailash Satyarthi calls it a “national emergency”. the Constitution that is supreme, not the CJI. n The author is an expert in Constitutional Law, and Vice- 39,068 Chancellor, NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad Victims of rape in 2016, according to NCRB data. 16,863 (43%) minors under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. 14 INDIA TODAY MAY 7, 2018 2116 (5.4%) victims below 12 years old of cash turn lethargic,” says a former deputy governor of the RBI, not ruling out hoarding. “People find it easier to hoard Rs 2,000 notes.” An analysis by IndiaSpend says India’s currency stocks have not kept pace with the need, and there are no reserves to cope with sudden spikes in demand. It also debunked the belief that digital transactions have substituted cash payments. Al- though digital transactions peaked to Rs 149 lakh crore in value in March 2017, they fell 22 per cent to Rs 115 lakh crore in February 2018. According to economic affairs PARVEEN KUMAR/GETTYPARVEEN IMAGES secretary Subhash Chandra Garg, the government plans to increase over Rs 17.98 lakh crore just before cash supply by printing daily Rs demonetisation, it is yet to catch up 500 notes worth Rs 2,500 crore, with the nominal GDP growth. Ac- instead of the earlier level of Rs 500 cording to the SBI report, based on crore earlier. Experts say it’s not a the nominal GDP growth of 10.8 per good idea to wait for a crisis to begin cent and 9.8 per cent in 2016-17 and printing more currency. “A decision 2017-18, respectively, currency with on printing of notes is normally the public would have been Rs 19.4 taken at the start of the year since lakh crore by March 2018. But this orders have to be placed for paper did not happen. and ink,” says a banker, questioning Some blamed the government’s the government’s claim of a five-fold thrust on digitisation for the crisis. increase in printing. “You can have “When the prime minister says he two shifts and double the work. wants to make the country cashless, That’s more convincing ,’’ he adds. n those in the business of distribution —M.G. Arun

12 89% Rapists of girls under Of cases under this age will now POCSO still awaiting be sentenced to a trial at the end of minimum of 20 years, 2016. Though trials up to life in prison or have to be completed death. Gang rapists within 1 year, the face either life backlog will take sentences or death decades to clear

10 94.6% 53 Years, the new Victims in 38,947 Years for pending minimum sentence for reported cases (2016) cases under POCSO rape of women over knew their attacker, to be cleared in 16, up from 7 years; says Human Rights Gujarat if no new 20 years minimum for Watch. In 630 cases, cases are reported rapists of children accused was victim’s after 2016, estimates between 12 and 16; life father, brother, Kailash Satyarthi’s sentence minimum for grandfather or son; foundation; 99 years gang rapists 10,520, neighbour in Arunachal Pradesh MAY 7, 2018 INDIA TODAY 11 UPFRONT

BOOKS THE CHURN IN THE OCEANS By Ananth Krishnan

he almost 4,000 km-long this does not mean they must accept but grateful neighbourhood client- undemarcated land bound- it on Chinese terms. states, which leaves China incapable ary that separates India and Perhaps easier said than done. of addressing the deep apprehensions China tends to occupy much John Garver, the American Sinolo- about its rising power. of the attention when it gist, offers a fascinating psycho- For Garver, the danger is that the Tcomes to the thorny bilateral relation- logical analysis of China’s neigh- failure to do so will inevitably see ship. But increasingly, it’s not just on bourhood strategy, which, “shows China’s neighbours gravitating to land but at sea where the two Asian certain resem blance to autism” in each other in search of collective se- powers are rubbing up against each its inability to grasp its neighbours’ curity (already evident in the nascent other with growing frequency, wheth- views. This he attributes to “deeply reunion of the Quad) while the rising er in the Indian Ocean or in the South rooted and emotionally powerful” Chinese tendency to view any appre- China Sea. And unlike on land, where Chinese beliefs of their country’s hensions as insidious “anti-China” both countries have painstakingly “glorious” imperial history and my- coalitions may eventually lead it to come up with as many as four differ- thologised relations with its “inferior” “embrace a forceful move to break out ent agreements that lay out detailed of this looming encirclement”. confidence-building and conflict- Garver’s disturbing conclusion is reducing measures, there is, till date, that India may be the weak target if nowhere close to an understanding on Beijing chooses to do so, and that the managing their encounters on sea. PLA’s rapid acquisition of capabili- The problem is any prospect of ties aimed at fighting and winning addressing this dilemma appears to a war against the United States over be dim, or so say the fine strategic Taiwan leaves it increasingly capable, minds whose essays make up this if it wishes, of seizing the Andaman new volume. David Brewster, a senior islands. “The point is not that China research fellow with the National Se- is about to seize the Andamans,” he curity College at Australian National says, “but that it continues to enhance University who has edited the book, the material capability to do that”. As argues that there’s a fundamental Garver reminds us, China is literally failure by both sides to grasp the moving ever closer with its moves other’s motivations and concerns on to expand its presence in the South the seas. In India, he says, most are China Sea. Today, the straight line dis- India & China at Sea: Competition convinced that every Chinese action for Naval Dominance in the tance between Fiery Cross shoal (the in the Ind ian Ocean is being directed Indian Ocean PLA’s main base in the Spratlys) and at India, which is further fuelled by a by David Brewster Port Blair is only double the distance Chinese refusal to recognise some of Oxford University Press from Visakhapatnam, and with every India’s legitimate concerns. `950; 256 pages passing day, the distance narrows. Strategists have long debated the The India-China relationship has “string of pearls” of Chinese military always involved a sensitive balance of bases and the motivations of Beijing’s competition and cooperation. This Indian Ocean intentions. Today, the China is moving ever book serves a timely reminder that any fact is that an active Chinese presence lasting attempt at maintaining this is no longer just speculation, argues closer to India with its balance and preventing a slide into Australian scholar Rory Medcalf. moves to expand its conflict would not be impossible with- India and other resident powers need presence in the South out solving this emerging—but long to adjust to this reality, he says, but China Sea ignored—challenge from the sea. n

16 INDIA TODAY MAY 7, 2018

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INDEX 1 4.7 million Hour given to Estimated domestic Get Paid for discoms to resolve a power users in Power Cuts customer’s complaint of “no Delhi current” The Aam Aadmi Party, as if to remind voters that it plays a role `50 6,526MW in governing Delhi and is not forever embroiled in conflict Compensation paid Delhi’s record power with the Centre, has made the by discoms for the demand, on June 6, capital the first city in India to first 2 hours of an 2017, compared with force errant distribution com- unscheduled power summer peaks of panies to pay compensation for cut. Rs 100 for every 3,700 MW in Mumbai, subsequent hour 2,100 MW in Kolkata unscheduled power cuts. Anil Baijal, the lieutenant governor, approved the proposal last ` MW week. According to the policy, 5,000 250 - 270 Delhi’s discoms must resolve Payable to Per hour per month unscheduled power cuts within consumers if consumed by a typical the first hour, or pay custom- compensation electrified household in ers for each subsequent hour of goes unpaid, or 5x Delhi, says Centre for blackout. The effective fine will compensation owed, Policy Research; about the be reflected in customers’ bills. whichever is higher same as Germany Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal gleefully tweeted that the policy was “revolution- minutes ary and very innovative”. It 3 313 puts pressure on the discoms, Number of discoms in Delhi Of power cuts p.m. on average pressure they should welcome responsible for supplying power across India. Maharashtra since they claim to be meeting to the city. Load shedding, they performs best at just 51 minutes Delhi’s demands at unprec- claim, down to 0.06% of energy p.m., says ministry of power edented levels. usage in FY 2017-18 website; statistics NA for Delhi

With Friends CHATTER Like These 1 The week in social media The nearly septuagenarian choreographer Saroj Khan @ShougatDasgupta offered a peeved defence to an interviewer asking about the Our Food, Their Food so-called casting couch. “Film The Union ministry for health took a standard image–a industry ke peechhe kyun pade well-meaning stock photo of the food choices that ho,” she asked. “Woh kam se kam roti toh deti hai. Rape kar supposedly make some girls slim and others less ke chhod toh nahin deti... Tumhare paas art hai toh tum kyun so–and posted it as health advice. Coming from a bechoge apne aap ko?” Young actresses without connections, government-approved handle, this naturally ruffled Khan appears to be arguing, should be able to stand up to feathers. The ‘good’ choices were fresh fruit and older, powerful ‘bigwigs’ who hold the keys to the kingdom. n vegetables, including, for most Indians, such outré selections as raspberries, kiwis and avocados. While the ‘bad’ included doughnuts, fizzy drinks, With Friends Like These 2 fries, sausages, bread, butter and eggs. The advice is, of course, Abhishek Mishra, a member of the Vishva Hindu Parishad and scientifically dubious. Some deplored the “fat-shaming”. Others wondered self-proclaimed “Hindutva thinker”, tweeted that he cancelled if this was an attempt to promote vegetarianism by stealth. More paranoid an Ola cab because the driver was Muslim and he didn’t want to still were the occasional foreign ‘India-watchers’ who noted that the give his money to “Jihadi people”. His Twitter feed is a cesspit of unhealthy foods were all “firangi”. It sticks in the craw of some to receive predictable prejudice and stupidity. That such a person counts banal dietary ‘advice’ from a government that has politicised diet. Without cabinet ministers among his social media followers is embar- explanation, the ministry beat a sheepish retreat and deleted the tweet. n rassing, even shameful. n US VISA Getting at H1B via H4

yper-nationalism begets Michael Kugelman, senior associ- anti-outsider sentiment, ate at the Woodrow Wilson Center in which has made victims of Washington, foresees a similar effect H ‘immigrants’ in many na- of ending the H4 visa programme: tions. US President Donald Trump, “[it] will have a major impact on who came to power on his protection- Indian spouses… [and] cause com- ist ‘America First’ agenda, has been plications for corresponding H1B visa under immense pressure, ever since he holders, and those wanting to come to came to power in 2017, to secure jobs the US in future.” Indians account for for Americans. In April 2017, Trump more than half the 85,000 H1B visas signed a ‘Buy American, Hire Ameri- currently being issued every year. can’ executive order, which has served In March 2018, the USCIS sus- to justify several recent changes in pended premium processing of all H1B policy vis-à-vis H1B visas, of which visa petitions for fiscal 2019, which India was always a big beneficiary. will make acquiring visas a much more The latest blow is the move by the tedious process. In the penultimate Trump administration to put an end year of Prime Minister Narendra to H4 dependent visas that allowed Modi’s first term, when he is struggling spouses of H1B, or ‘high-skilled’, visa to create jobs, the new rules could send holders to work in the US. Director back or keep at home a lot of young of the United States Citizenship and “high-skilled” workers. Chandrashek- Immigration Services (USCIS) Francis har points out how the politics of the Cissna, in a three-page letter dated US move is at odds with even their own April 4 to the US Senate Judiciary economic compulsions: “US businesses Committee, had proposed “regula- need these skilled professionals. The tory changes to remove H4 dependent employment of American high-skilled spouses from the class of aliens eligible labour is almost 100 per cent, yet there for employment authorisation”; the is a shortage of about 2 million STEM proposal has now been put into action. (science, technology, engineering and In 2016, more than 41,000 H4 mathematics) professionals, of which visa holders were issued work au- 1 million are from the IT/ computer thorisation. By June this year, 36,000 science sector.” more were to have been issued work Interestingly, while Modi and permits. R. Chandrashekhar, former Trump have worked with great keen- Nasscom president, says the move ness in strategic areas, there has been will make the H1B less attractive to no synergy on the economic front, be Indian professionals “…especially for it the US visa policy or trade talks. families with two breadwinners, and “Economic ties are the Achilles heel of that constitutes a significant number US-India relations,” says Kugelman. n of professionals from India”. —Geeta Mohan

Illustration by TANMOY CHAKRABORTY UPFRONT

GLASSHOUSE MODI IS WRONG NUMBER rime Minister Narendra COMING P Modi dialled Andhra Pradesh chief minister fter BJP president Amit N. Chandrababu Naidu Shah’s lacklustre campaign to wish him on his 68th in Karnataka, the party A birthday on April 20. Naidu, was looking to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hit the high sitting on a 12-hour-long fast notes on the campaign trail. The in Vijayawada to protest the state unit even tweeted ‘Modi is Centre not granting special coming’ Ned Stark memes from status to the state, didn’t Game of Thrones to warn the take his call. Just to rub the Congress. Modi is coming, but only point home, he answered for a very truncated campaign. President Ramnath Kovind’s The PM’s Europe tour and now call. There’s something to his two-day summit meet with Xi be said about the game of Jinping in Wuhan are eating into political phone tag. his campaigning. From a planned two-dozen rallies, Modi will now attend scarcely a dozen public SIDDHANT JUMDE SIDDHANT meetings in Karnataka until May Pawar Play 10 when the campaigning ends, spending a little over a week. But CP chief Sharad Pawar’s behaviour has wan- a week, as they say, is a long time by Illustration N in politics. nabe allies and partymen on tenterhooks. A few months ago at an NCP convention, he HARVARD f actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) made public a meeting with I chief Kamal Haasan is taking time to spell Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thac- BUSINESS REVIEW out his plans for Tamil Nadu, it’s because they keray. The Sena chief was are being formulated by his 17-member team fuming because the clandes- of advisers at Harvard University. Team ‘H 17’ tine agenda at the meeting is devising an economic development strategy was delicate: an NCP-Sena for the state in the light of a ballooning tie-up. Pawar’s partymen are Rs 25,000 lakh crore budget deficit now in a spin. NCP work- projected by 2020. The star’s vision is to be ers, whose halla bol rallies rolled out in the MNM’s ideology document to had the Devendra Fadnavis be released in October. He’s not called ‘Ulaga government on the backfoot, Nayagan’ (global star) for nothing. were shocked to see Pawar sipping tea with BJP Mumbai president Ashish Shelar at his residence. Keep ’em guessing, THE WEEK IN POLITICAL SYMBOLOGY Pawar style.

New Ayodhya Mamata’s War Cry Star Squatter Double-barrelled Uttar Pradesh The West Bengal CM Tejashwi Yadav gun chief minister has penned a song continues to stay in the What party daily, Yogi Adityanath’s ‘Bangla e koro na hamla, official bungalow, now Namadhu Puratchi project for a 500- aage Dilli shamla’ (Don’t allotted to Sushil Kumar Thalaivi Amma, called acre residential- create trouble in Bengal, Modi. He has told the the AIADMK’s informal commercial hub first secure Delhi) to administration to evict alliance with near the ancient city take on the BJP him, if they dare the BJP

Sandeep Unnithan with Anshuman Tiwari, Amarnath K. Menon, Sahil Joshi, Ashish Misra, Romita Datta and Amitabh Srivastava UPFRONT

POINT OF VIEW Where Do They Go from Here? By Vasant Saberwal

he rape and murder of an eight-year- on the goodwill of the communities they old girl has put the spotlight on a encounter while on migration. But only by T group of people most of us know little embarking on long-distance migrations can about—the Indian pastoralist. Much of the they maintain large herds, and take advan- recent conversation is rightly focused on the tage of seasonal and geographic variability in brutality of the act and the need for justice. available forage. Reports speak of the violence as an attempt Many pastoralists have proven to be resil- to intimidate. And to the extent that this little ient and learnt the art of accommodation, girl’s family of Bakarwals started on its sum- negotiating complex relationships to obtain mer migration a month early, that objective the forage they need. Over the years, they appears to have been met. have built relations with the communities The truth is that pastoralists in India— they pass through and individuals will return estimated to be 34 million—have always been again and again to the same farmers’ fields. an easy target. Across the country, migratory They have used political contacts to hold the pastoralists have spoken of growing insecu- Forest Department at bay. Formerly paid by rity, and at multiple levels. Over the past two communities to bed their cattle on their fields decades buffalo herding Gujjars have been for their manure, herders now pay communi- gradually evicted from the Rajaji National ties for the right to graze village forests. They Park. Gaddi shepherds in Himachal speak of have done what it takes to meet their resource encounters with armed thieves who make off needs, despite the odds stacked against them. with 20-30 animals shoved into the back of But violence and bigotry may be the last a truck. Similar accounts have emerged from straw. What do the Bakarwals do this winter? Rajasthani Raikas, while migrating through Do they dare return to Jammu? And if not, Madhya Pradesh. In Kutch, mangrove forests what possible alternatives do they have? The grazed by camels are being destroyed by cor- family of the murdered child has undoubt- porate houses. edly grazed their animals in the same Jammu Every pastoralist you speak to talks of the forests for decades. There is no other land growing difficulties of finding adequate graz- they can go to, and the winter snows will force ing—there are simply too many claimants for them from the high meadows. too few resources, and migratory pastoral- A younger generation of herders is ists are often the first to be denied. Over the increasingly of the view that there are simply past century-and-a-half, these communi- too many challenges to their way of life. And ties have had to contend with a hostile forest many will move on with other alternatives What do the department, convinced that marauding herds they can tap into—the second son turning to will decimate forests. Further, broadly-held agriculture, becoming a truck driver, Bakarwals do cultural norms see ‘mobility’ as an earlier, looking for work in urban India, even as a part this winter? less civilised life form, that must give way to of the family stays on in herding. A communi- Do they dare settled agriculture. So, there is the continual ty settles, one family at a time, but what does a return to stereotyping—thieves, dirty, simple-minded, whole community do in the face of overt hos- Jammu? There irrational. These then are occupational haz- tility? Who does it turn to? And how do we as is no other ards for all pastoralists, irrespective of faith, a nation act now to protect this group of citi- land they can sect, or geography. Throwing communal zens, which has bred India’s remarkable ani- go to. Winter bigotry and politics into this mix makes for a mal diversity, been integral to our meat, wool, deeply worrying situation. leather and dairy industries, and today finds will force them Pastoralist vulnerability derives in large itself more vulnerable than ever before? n from the high part from the fact that they spend so much of meadows their lives as outsiders, separated from their The author is Director, communities and almost entirely dependent Centre for Pastoralism

Illustration by TANMOY CHAKRABORTY MAHARASHTRA: WEST BENGAL: THE CASTE ARITHMETIC Hyderabad-Karnataka PAWAR ON DOCTORS’ PROTEST Region-wise seats breakup Stronghold of Lingayats, PG 14 PG 1 7 minorites & Dalits Key players Congress and BJP Mumbai- Karnataka Stronghold of Central Karnataka Lingayats (including Malnad) Key player BJP 40 Stronghold of Lingayats and Vokkaligas 50 Key players 3-way fight between Congress, STATES BJP and JD(S), which is expected to make inroads 28 Bengaluru region Key players Cong + BJP Coastal Karnataka 19 28 Old Mysuru Stronghold of Stronghold of Minorities and 59 Vokkaligas and Lingayats Hindus Key players Key players BJP JD(S) + Cong; JD(S) likely belt, but Congress to gain ground will make inroads

WHO HELD SWAY Caste-wise break-up of 9 16 winners, 2013 2

Lingayats 4 Congress BJP JD(S) Others 50 seats 1

11 2 9 0

8 1 Vokkaligas Minorities 2 4 53 seats 14 seats

9 27

8 11 2 3 BATTLE STATIONS SCs/ STs 6 OBCs JD(S)’s Kumaraswamy 2 KASHIFMASSOD (left) campaigns in 54 seats 32 seats Chamundeshwari KARNATAKA

MID CONTESTING CLAIMS by the rul- Analyst N.L. Prakash, a Minister Siddaramaiah to file a ing Congress and the BJP, the Janata Dal Mysuru University scholar, agrees second nomination from Badami WHILE THE (Secular) (JD(S)) could emerge as the dark that the JD(S), headed by former (in addition to Chamundeshwari Ahorse—gaining traction as election day prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda, in Mysuru). The central Karnataka BIG GUNS draws closer in Karnataka. Encouraged by the re- has been “growing in strength”. constituency, with a big section of bellions in the rival camps following ticket alloca- Neither of the two national parties, the CM’s Kuruba (OBC) commu- BENGALURU FIGHT... tions, JD(S) leaders are now saying the party could he says, is in a position to offend nity, is seen as a ‘safer’ seat for him. even cross the 50-seat mark in the 224-member the regional party any longer. But A. Veerappa, a Bengaluru- The infighting in the BJP, Congress state assembly. If that happens (as it did in 2008 In fact, the perception that the based analyst, believes Siddaram- has the JD(S) dreaming big when JD(S) won 58 seats), the Congress and BJP JD(S) was regaining pre-eminence aiah’s decision to contest in two will invariably be forced to vie for a post-poll alli- in its erstwhile stronghold of Old seats will backfire and “consoli- By Aravind Gowda ance with the JD(S). Mysuru was what prompted Chief date votes in favour of the JD(S)

States-May7.indd 20-21 4/25/2018 3:59:54 PM THE CASTE ARITHMETIC Hyderabad-Karnataka Region-wise seats breakup Stronghold of Lingayats, minorites & Dalits Key players Congress and BJP Mumbai- Karnataka Stronghold of Central Karnataka Lingayats (including Malnad) Key player BJP 40 Stronghold of Lingayats and Vokkaligas 50 Key players 3-way fight between Congress, BJP and JD(S), which is expected to make inroads 28 Bengaluru region Key players Cong + BJP Coastal Karnataka 19 28 Old Mysuru Stronghold of Stronghold of Minorities and 59 Vokkaligas and Lingayats Hindus Key players Key players BJP JD(S) + Cong; JD(S) likely belt, but Congress to gain ground will make inroads

WHO HELD SWAY Caste-wise break-up of 9 16 2 winners, 2013

Lingayats 4 Others Congress BJP JD(S) 50 seats 1

11 2 9 0

8 1 Vokkaligas Minorities 2 4

53 seats 14 seats

9 27

8 11 2 3 SCs/ STs 6 OBCs 2 54 seats 32 seats

Analyst N.L. Prakash, a Minister Siddaramaiah to file a Mysuru University scholar, agrees second nomination from Badami that the JD(S), headed by former (in addition to Chamundeshwari prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda, in Mysuru). The central Karnataka has been “growing in strength”. constituency, with a big section of Neither of the two national parties, the CM’s Kuruba (OBC) commu- he says, is in a position to offend nity, is seen as a ‘safer’ seat for him. the regional party any longer. But A. Veerappa, a Bengaluru- In fact, the perception that the based analyst, believes Siddaram- JD(S) was regaining pre-eminence aiah’s decision to contest in two in its erstwhile stronghold of Old seats will backfire and “consoli- Mysuru was what prompted Chief date votes in favour of the JD(S) STATES

SEAT SHARE IN 2013 MUMBAI 6 4 0 2 2 1 4 MAHARASHTRA 0

Total Vidhana 1

Soudha seats: 224 Congress BJP KJP JD(S) Others PAWAR elsewhere too”. The fact that a number of Congress rebels, like Prasanna Kumar, P. Ramesh, L. Revannasiddaiah, H. Vish- KEEPS THE w anath, Shashikumar and Altaf Khan, made a beeline for the JD(S) after being denied tickets lends credence to this view. And it’s not just the Congress. A POT BOILING number of BJP rebels too, inclu ding Prakash Khandre, former minister The NCP supremo rallies opposition Revu Naik Belamaggi, Hemachandra Sagar and G.H. Ramachandrappa, have leaders and takes up the farmers’ cause in declared their allegiance to the JD(S). a bid to make a comeback in state politics The influx from the Congress and BJP is clearly good news for the regional party. “I By Kiran D. Tare am happy with the faith reposed by these leaders in our party,” says Deve Gowda. The infighting among its rivals could help the party gain four seats in central Karnataka in addition to the six it has hen NCP chief Devendra Fadnavis. On January held since 2013. In Shikaripura, for Sharad Pawar 2, a day after the caste violence in instance, the BJP’s chief ministerial can- stood beside others, Maharashtra’s Koregaon Bhima, didate B.S. Yeddyurappa faces a bigger W including Sharad Pawar blamed ‘Hindutva forces’ challenge from the JD(S)’s H.T. Baligar Yadav, Omar Abdullah, D. Raja for the trouble; on February 22, than from the Congress municipal coun- and Hardik Patel at the ‘Samvid- in a televised conversation with cillor nominee. But it is Old Mysuru (59 han Bachao’ rally this Republic Maharashtra Navnirman Sena seats) where the JD(S) is likely to make Day, many saw it as a gesture that (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, he the biggest gains. The party is confident did not reflect his iconic stature. advocated reservations based on of vastly improving its 2013 tally of 25 Earlier, on December 12, when economic status. seats. Former CM and JD(S) state presi- Pawar, unexpectedly, joined a But Pawar soon realised dent H.D. Kumaraswamy is contesting protest march demanding relief his suggestion could irk the from two neighbouring constituencies— for the state’s beleaguered farm- Marathas, who comprise 70 per Ramanagara and Channapatna. But un- ers, it was his first major political cent of the farming community. like with Siddaramaiah, it’s an assertion outing in the state in years. All He quickly changed his stance to of his party’s supremacy in the region. signals that the Maharashtra support quotas for farmers of all Party insiders say the JD(S) is keeping strongman is looking to make a castes. The former chief minister its post-poll options open. Most analysts political comeback in his state. and Union minister dismissed believe that should both the BJP and Addressing farmers at the suggestions that his presence Congress fall short, Kumaraswamy will protest march in December, at the January 26 rally was a seek the BJP’s support to form govern- the Nationalist Congress Party climbdown. “Elders like me de- ment with himself as chief minister. A (NCP) supremo had urged them cided to give our blessings to their JD(S) leader suggests such a scenario not to pay power bills till they (younger leaders’) efforts,” he said. would also “meet the BJP’s ambition of received the full loan waiver Some analysts say Pawar’s creating a Congress-mukt Bharat”. n promised by Chief Minister unusual engagement in Maha-

14 INDIA TODAY MAY 7, 2018

JOINING FORCES Pawar with Sharad Yadav, Omar Abdullah, Sanjay Nirupam, Hardik Patel and others at the Samvidhan Bachao rally in Mumbai

MANDAR DEODHAR

rashtra politics after years of hiber- examine the alleged scam, involving 12 political space.” nation could well be catalysing the irrigation projects in the Konkan re- Analysts believe the expected divi- agrarian unrest against the Fadnavis gion, has pointed fingers at Ajit Pawar. sion of the 35 per cent Maratha vote government. They believe that with While state irrigation minister Girish base largely between the Congress and Congress leaders Prithviraj Chavan Mahajan hasn’t divulged details, BJP the NCP will help the BJP. In such and Ashok Chavan lacking any mass national president Amit Shah issued a scenario, Pawar is looking to bank connect and NCP leaders such as Ajit a warning during his Mumbai visit on the 11 per cent Dalit votes polarised Pawar and Sunil Tatkare facing cor- April 6. “Wait for the action. The state by Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar, ruption charges, Pawar is looking to fill government still has one year to com- who heads the Bharipa Bahujan the vacuum. Political analyst Hemant plete in its tenure,” Shah said. Mahasangh. There is even talk of his Desai says Pawar’s re-entry has built On Pawar’s political move, his close backroom deal with the NCP. the mood against the BJP regime. aide and NCP legislator Hemant Takle NCP insiders say Pawar is also back- The NCP chief, who met Congress says, “Someone had to take on the gov- ing Raj Thackeray to weaken the BJP in president Rahul Gandhi twice in past ernment. Pawar has been doing that Pune, Thane, Nashik and Mumbai. He weeks, has made it clear that, despite for six months. He is not working to get is, perhaps cleverly, ech oing Thackeray’s widespread speculation to the contrary, line of attack: that Narendra Modi the party would stand by the more ‘acc- is pushing his home state’s interests, ommodating’ Congress and spurn the NCP INSIDERS SAY against those of Mah arashtra. However, BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. He what could be a damper for Pawar’s denied being under pressure on account PAWAR IS BACKING ambitions are the corruption allegations of the ongoing probe against nephew THE MNS AGAINST against his own party leaders—includ- Ajit Pawar or Tatkare in the Rs 26,000 ing nephew Ajit Pawar. This was an crore irrigation scam in Maharashtra. THE BJP IN PUNE, issue that cost the NCP dearly in the But senior state government 2014 elections when it was reduced to a sources say a committee set up to NASHIK, MUMBAI historic low in the state assembly. n

MAY 7, 2018 INDIA TODAY 15 STATES WESTBENGAL The Doctor Is Not In Government doctors protest the political interference in hospitals

By Romita Datta HOT SEATS New BJP state chief Rakesh Singh with CM Chouhan est Bengal, already struggling promised them 4,000 additional police with an abysmal doctor-pa- personnel as guards in hospitals, as well W tient ratio (1:1,850), now faces as CCTV cameras and signage spelling a new threat that could well derail health out the law to potential offenders. BHOPAL services in the state: mass resignations The doctors, however, say it was the by government physicians. As many CM who kicked off the trend in Feb- as 85 doctors have quit in the past few ruary 2017, when she lit into private

PANKAJ TIWARI months and some 350 others say they are medical practitioners and hospitals, MADHYA PRADESH planning to leave the service. charging them with medical negligence On March 23, seven organisations of and f leecing patients. They say this gave doctors and allied professionals staged a licence to her party henchmen as well as demonstration at the health secretariat, patients’ relatives. Swasthya Bhawan, to demand protec- Notably, during her first term in Chouhan’s Man tion from the assaults and political hoo- May 2011, Banerjee had suspended a se- liganism in hospital premises, besides nior neurosurgeon, S.P. Gorai, for tick- New BJP state unit chief Rakesh Singh has to hit the ground running ending the “politicisation” of ing her off when she visited By Rahul Noronha the state medical service. The the M.R. Bangur Institute of protesters decried the Ma- Neuroscience hospital with a mata Banerjee government’s large retinue of followers and he appointment of Jabalpur Singh Tomar back for the third time. student politics together. ambivalence despite over 85 reporters. Gorai remained Lok Sabha MP Rakesh Singh The Tomar-Chouhan combination Singh’s critics, however, say his 100 incidents in the past year DOCTORS under suspension till his re- Tas the new state BJP president was a winner in both 2008 and 2013. induction just six months ahead of where doctors and other staff from the state’s tirement in March 2018 and on April 18 clearly signals that Chief Tomar, who currently holds the rural the assembly polls may be too little were assaulted in government public hospitals even after that has been un- Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has development, panchayati raj and too late. It’s also being pointed out hospitals and health centres. have quit in the able to claim pension benefits been able to prevail on the party high mines portfolios at the Centre, re- that besides his stint as the BJP’s Rezaul Karim, who heads past few months because his service book has, command in Delhi. portedly declined the offer. The CM, co-in-charge for Maharashtra, Singh the West Bengal Doctors Fo- suspiciously, gone missing. While former state unit chief however, has ensured his involve- doesn’t have a great deal of organ- rum, says the government has Another doctor, Arun- Nandkumar Singh Chauhan’s exit ment as convenor of the BJP’s state isational experience. And he’s got not registered a single FIR, achal Choudhury, was simi- had been “imminent” since the par- election committee. his tasks cut out for him, the first of despite the Medicare Act, 2009, pre- larly punished with an unceremonious ty’s defeat in the recent Mungaoli and New party chief Rakesh Singh which will be to identify seats where scribing stringent punishment for any suspension on November 10, 2017, after a Kolaras bypolls, Singh’s induction was given his first big break by Union incumbents need to be dropped. The such attacks. Interestingly, after pay- Facebook post alleging the state govern- clearly shows that the saffron leader- minister Uma Bharti (then MP chief new state BJP chief will have to be ing them no heed for a year-and-a-half, ment was ‘fudging’ facts and figures in ship isn’t willing to chance anything minister) who backed his nomination proactive here, in minimising the the chief minister invited the doctors’ the dengue epidemic that hit the state. in a crucial election year. for the Jabalpur Lok Sabha seat in inevitable rebellion following alloca- associations for talks on April 2. Baner- The mayhem is also discouraging re- This is despite intense lobbying 2004. He is also known to be close to tion of tickets for the assembly elec- jee’s motives were clear. She couldn’t af- cruitment. A recent West Bengal Direc- for the position by nearly half a dozen former Union minister and Damoh tions scheduled for later this year. ford a breakdown of the health services torate of Health Services advertisement BJP leaders, including state minis- MP, Prahlad Patel. The two entered The new BJP president will ahead of the panchayat elections. She to fill 300 vacancies found few takers. n ters Narottam Mishra and Lal Singh also have to retain a semblance of Arya and former Union minister independence, and not get reduced SUBIR HALDER Faggan Singh Kulaste. Other names to playing ‘second fiddle’ to the like those of national general secre- SINGH’S FIRST TASK chief minister. This, while he keeps tary Kailash Vijayvargiya and former grizzled veterans like Babulal Gaur Union minister Prahlad Patel also WILL BE TO IDENTIFY and Sartaj Singh in good humour. did the rounds but were considered Signalling that he knows what he’s up HEALTH SEATS WHERE SCARE unlikely given their strained rapport against, Singh said on taking charge, A doctors’ with the chief minister. INCUMBENTS HAVE “I met Sartaj Singh-ji... all BJP work- protest in Chief Minister Chouhan was re- TO BE DROPPED ers will work unitedly for the next Kolkata portedly keen on bringing Narendra elections.” If only it were so easy. n

16 INDIA TODAY MAY 7, 2018

States-May7.indd 24-25 4/25/2018 4:01:47 PM WEST BENGAL The Doctor Is Not In Government doctors protest the political interference in hospitals

By Romita Datta

est Bengal, already struggling promised them 4,000 additional police with an abysmal doctor-pa- personnel as guards in hospitals, as well W tient ratio (1:1,850), now faces as CCTV cameras and signage spelling a new threat that could well derail health out the law to potential offenders. services in the state: mass resignations The doctors, however, say it was the by government physicians. As many CM who kicked off the trend in Feb- as 85 doctors have quit in the past few ruary 2017, when she lit into private months and some 350 others say they are medical practitioners and hospitals, planning to leave the service. charging them with medical negligence On March 23, seven organisations of and f leecing patients. They say this gave doctors and allied professionals staged a licence to her party henchmen as well as demonstration at the health secretariat, patients’ relatives. Swasthya Bhawan, to demand protec- Notably, during her first term in tion from the assaults and political hoo- May 2011, Banerjee had suspended a se- liganism in hospital premises, besides nior neurosurgeon, S.P. Gorai, for tick- ending the “politicisation” of ing her off when she visited the state medical service. The the M.R. Bangur Institute of protesters decried the Ma- Neuroscience hospital with a mata Banerjee government’s large retinue of followers and ambivalence despite over 85 reporters. Gorai remained 100 incidents in the past year DOCTORS under suspension till his re- where doctors and other staff from the state’s tirement in March 2018 and were assaulted in government public hospitals even after that has been un- hospitals and health centres. have quit in the able to claim pension benefits Rezaul Karim, who heads past few months because his service book has, the West Bengal Doctors Fo- suspiciously, gone missing. rum, says the government has Another doctor, Arun- not registered a single FIR, achal Choudhury, was simi- despite the Medicare Act, 2009, pre- larly punished with an unceremonious scribing stringent punishment for any suspension on November 10, 2017, after a such attacks. Interestingly, after pay- Facebook post alleging the state governing them no heed for a year-and-a-half, ment was ‘fudging’ facts and figures in the chief minister invited the doctors’ the dengue epidemic that hit the state. associat ions for talks on April 2. Baner- The mayhem is also discouraging re- jee’s motives were clear. She couldn’t af- cruitment. A recent West Bengal Direc- ford a breakdown of the health services torate of Health Services advertisement ahead of the panchayat elections. She to fill 300 vacancies found few takers. n

SUBIR HALDER

HEALTH SCARE A doctors’ protest in Kolkata COVER STORY H INDIA-CHINA A FRESH START A world in flux is making India and China see common cause. But with a long list of differences, can the Modi-Xi summit in Wuhan repair India’s strained relations with China?

By Ananth Krishnan and Raj Chengappa Wuhan/ New Delhi

18 INDIA TODAY MAY 7, 2018 THE MODI-XI MEET WAS A FREE-FLOWING COVER STORY H INDIA-CHINA DISCOURSE WITH NO AGREED OUTCOMES, DISCUSSING ALL ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO MAXIMISE OPPORTUNITIES AND MINIMISE RISKS A FRESH START A world in flux is making India and China see common cause. But with a long list of differences, can the Modi-Xi summit in Wuhan repair India’s strained relations with China?

By Ananth Krishnan and Raj Chengappa Wuhan/ New Delhi

THE ROAD TO WUHAN began, meeting with a reluctant President as many stories of rapprochements Xi Jinping, who for all intents and do, in the most unlikely of purposes appeared to play the role of circumstances. For 72 days a grudging host who needed India’s beginning last June, Indian and participation to ensure his BRICS Chinese soldiers had been eyeball to Summit in the coastal city of Xiamen eyeball on the remote border plateau went off without a hitch. Much to of Doklam. And for most of those 72 Xi’s surprise, Modi had raised the days, the People’s Liberation Army Doklam confrontation with him (PLA) and China’s government when the two leaders ran into each GREG BAKER/AFP turned the heat on India, accusing other on the sidelines of the G20 Indian troops of “trespassing” and summit in Hamburg on July 7, and and Xi in Wuhan, eight months to the and, two, that a bilateral relationship THE WUHAN TANGO not ruling out the use of force to said that the two countries should day of the Doklam disengagement. Modi had promised a that was acquiring global importance expel them. China’s state media, for be talking to each other rather than “From the crisis came the oppor- positive shift in ties needed to assert its relevance at a As the leaders of the world’s most the first time in decades, used the ‘w’ at each other and also discussing a tunity,” says a senior official. Insiders with China when he time of increasing global disorder, populous country and the globe’s word, while the PLA spokesperson range of other concerns. Xi agreed, in Beijing and Delhi say the Xiamen came to power in from protectionism in the West to an largest democracy sat down to have a reminded India of the “lessons of and that informal understanding meeting on September 5 saw Modi 2014. Here he is at unravelling Middle East. And fulfill- freewheeling chat in the picturesque history”, referring to the 1962 war. paved the way for the end of the and Xi work on two important points the G20 Leaders ing these objectives, the two lead- surroundings of Wuhan, they were Summit at Hangzhou Eight days after the August 28, stand-off several weeks later. That of agreement. One, that in a world in in September 2016, ers agreed, would require that they conscious that, together, they repre- 2017, disengagement, Prime Minister meeting also set the ball rolling for flux, India and China needed to be extending a hand engage at the top leadership level, to sented close to a third of humanity. Narendra Modi found himself set for what would be an unprecedented forces of stability rather than allow ensure “a meeting of minds” on issues India’s relations with China have what was expected to be an awkward summit meeting between Modi differences to descend into conflict of strategic importance. always been a mix of competition

18 INDIA TODAY MAY 7, 2018 MAY 7, 2018 INDIA TODAY 19

CS-China & India-May7.indd 26-27 4/25/2018 11:09:10 PM COVER STORY H INDIA-CHINA

1 and cooperation, played out over bilateral, regional and global realms. It has also always been a relationship of contradictions. China is India’s largest trading partner with trade crossing $84 billion last year. It was also the biggest contributor to India’s trade deficit, with the imbalance crossing $50 billion. Both countries share the longest disputed land boundary in the world that is close to 3,500 km—and the source of both mistrust and frequent border incidents—yet not a bul- let has been fired in four decades.

ODI HAD PROMISED a positive

shift in relations with China when BIJU BORO/AFP M he came to power in May 2014. But the first summit meeting between the two in 3 September that year only flattered to deceive. Even as the two leaders were photographed chatting comfortably on a jhoola in Ahmed- abad, the PLA made sneak intrusions on the Line of Actual Control in Demchok and Chumar in Ladakh. The issue took months to sort out, and distrust set in. After that, relations between the two countries went 2 steadily downhill. Boundary negotiations remain stalled. M ZHAZO China remains forever suspicious of India’s motivations on Tibet, as the country that is home to the largest population of Tibetan exiles. Even on multilateral issues, once seen as a positive counterweight to the bilateral strains, commonalities on climate change and global trade have been overshadowed by differences, from China’s blocking of India’s attempt to designate the Pakistani terrorist 4 Masood Azhar at the UN Security Council to Beijing’s continued stalling of India’s entry SAEED KHAN/AFP VIKRAM SHARMA into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). 5 Even on connectivity projects, where both countries aspire to take the lead in Asia and ostensibly have much to jointly benefit from, mistrust dominates, with India opposing China’s Belt and Road Ini- tiative (BRI) which has framed as a flagship project the China Pakistan Economic Cor- ridor (CPEC), that runs through Pakistan- occupied Kashmir (PoK). Before Modi and Xi sat down, both sides made it clear what the meeting was not about. A senior government official told india today, “We are not terming this a reset. In digital terms, a reset means wiping METIN AKTAS/GETTY IMAGES

20 INDIA TODAY MAY 7, 2018 out the past and rebooting the rela- ever “informal” summit hosted by tions. Historical and legacy issues— Xi, and only the second time he’d what the Chinese call core concerns travel out of Beijing to receive a for- and we term sensitive zones—will eign leader, the first being his 2015 remain. We’re not ready to alter our hosting of Modi in Xian. This was POINTS OF position on these issues.” his signal, as an official put it, “that Lest expectations arise from India matters to him and China”. CONTENTION the unusual meeting of the two The optics were certainly impor- leaders, officials were clear that this tant, meant to send a clear message 1. BOUNDARY 3. TIBET could not be labelled a summit or to the world—that India and China DISPUTE China remains for- compared to the Rajiv Gandhi-Deng were back on talking terms. Modi The Doklam stand- ever suspicious of Xiaoping breakthrough meeting in was in any case travelling to the off between India India’s use of “the and China high- Tibet card” and the 1988. Such summits were carefully coastal city of Qingdao in China for lighted the strains Dalai Lama, and choreographed and the outcome de- a meeting of the Shanghai Coopera- on the undemar- was angered by cated 3,500 km-long his visit last year to border. The process Tawang. Low-key of clarifying the LAC celebrations for THE OPTICS WERE CERTAINLY remains stalled and this year’s anniver- a solution remains sary events were IMPORTANT, MEANT TO SIGNIFY elusive, even as both ensured to prevent sides are discussing a disruption in ties. THAT INDIA AND CHINA WERE ways to strengthen BACK ON TALKING TERMS border mechanisms 4. TERRORISM to prevent the China’s concerns recurrence of face- on terror, with an offs. Meanwhile, uptick in violence termined even before the two leaders tion Organisation in early June. But efforts to beef up in Xinjiang, are shook hands. Instead, the Modi-Xi both leaders felt that rather than a infrastructure on growing. Yet its both sides of the reluctance to meeting in Wuhan was kept as a structured dialogue, a frank and free LAC continue apace, pressure Pakistan free-flowing discourse where there exchange without the burden of ei- with India moving to has emerged as a would be no agreed outcomes, but ther the past or immediate outcomes close the gap. barrier in forging every subject of importance was would be far more productive, and common cause open to discussion. There was no set the tone of how the two nations 2. TRADE with India, with “dhobi list” of concerns that India would deal with each other. Trade is growing, Beijing refusing to would raise, whether the listing of The meeting was preceded by but so is China’s sanction Jaish-e- Azhar or the NSG, although the high-level engagements that saw surplus, which Mohammed chief conversation touched upon larger minister for external affairs Sushma crossed $50 billion Masood Azhar. related issues, from terrorism to Swaraj, defence minister Nirmala last year. Indian access to civilian nuclear technology. Sitharaman, national security advi- IT and pharma com- 5. THE PAKISTAN The focus was to discuss overarch- sor Ajit Doval, foreign secretary panies complain of FACTOR ing issues, including restructuring Vijay Gokhale and NITI Aayog The China Pakistan no market access the UN, the action plan on climate vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar interact Economic Corridor in China, while change, dealing with the threat of with their Chinese counterparts. So Chinese invest- through PoK shows terror, global energy security, rising by the time Xi and Modi met, they ments have been no signs of slow- protectionism and xenophobia, and were both up to date on key bilateral pouring into India, ing down even as but not where Beijing deepens its disaster management. issues facing the two countries. Delhi favours them: embrace of Islam- Among India’s objectives for the Chinese companies abad by pledging THE NEW RED CARPET summit, as the official put it, was “to are buying Indian $50 billion. Xi’s pet regain some of the trust and good- start-ups, while Belt and Road Ini- As a show of goodwill for a fresh will between the two countries that they are slow to tiative has emerged start, China wanted to offer India had been lost after the recent rounds invest in the Make as the latest stick- an “unprecedented” red carpet. To of confrontation on various issues”. in India programme. ing point. begin with, this would be the first For India, the summit had

MAY 7, 2018 INDIA TODAY 21 COVER STORY H INDIA-CHINA

become imperative, especially as relations with China in the past year had emerged as the Modi government’s most important foreign policy concern. The Doklam confrontation, the differences over the BRI issue and Chinese assertions over the status of Arunachal Pradesh put the relations on a dangerous path of confrontation that both could ill afford. As China turned aggressive, India’s counter was to quietly encourage the setting up of the Quad—a loose grouping of US, Japan, Australia and India formed ostensibly to cooperate on Indo-Pacific issues but in reality meant to contain and restrain China. The move did worry China, but India was careful not to overplay the Quad card and kept the first meet-

ing in Manila on the sidelines of the HALILSAGIRKAYA/GETTY IMAGES ASEAN summit in November 2017 at the lowest working level possible. Delhi The group photo of was conscious of not relying solely on world leaders at the market forces and the structure of the US or other nations to tackle its G20 Leaders Summit in world trade. Delhi believes the time issues with China. Hamburg in July 2017 is right to push China to take long Modi’s meeting with Xi comes overdue steps to open up market ac- after another world leader, Germany’s cess in services, where Indian IT and Angela Merkel, invited him for an pharma companies have struggled to impromptu summit in Berlin while he make inroads. It has told China that was on an official trip to Europe. India that they are both nuclear powers and if progress is to be made in bilateral saw the meeting with Xi as part of a have high stakes, at the Xiamen meet- relations, then trade is the key. China process to interact with major leading days after the Doklam confronta- cannot be content in making portfolio ers so as to be relevant, current and tion, Modi and Xi agreed they needed investments or playing the merger contemporary with the rapid develop- to work out a modus vivendi on how and acquisition game—companies ments sweeping the world. Modi has to conduct bilateral relations. That de- from Alibaba to Tencent are plough- been following a highly proactive manded that the two leaders have free ing in money into Indian startups— foreign policy that is more transactio- and frank conversations frequently on but should be making greenfield nal and pragmatic, and less preachy. key issues. As a top Indian official said, investments in manufacturing that The focus has been to garner foreign “The time had come to understand would provide a much-needed invest- investment, secure India’s energy sup- each other’s growth trajectories and ment stimulus as well as jobs. ply, take its rightful place in important see where each was headed and where multilateral bodies such as the UN, they could cooperate and where they N 2014, XI pledged to invest $20 boost neighbourhood connectivity and could avoid confrontation.” If there billion in India over five years. Not trade and bring a global consensus on would be an outcome in the Modi-Xi I even a quarter of that has materia- combating terror to restrain Pakistan. meeting in Wuhan, it would be as an lised. Chinese projects have been official put it, “to maximise opportuni- slow to take off, from real estate giant THE CHINA CHALLENGE ties and minimise risks”. Wanda’s ambitious industrial park in These goals are tall asks. Where Haryana, which has been troubled by Dealing with China has perhaps been India sees the maximum opportunity what India sees as the Chinese com- the biggest challenge. With the two is getting China to correct the adverse pany’s unreasonable demands and the Asian giants continuing to grow in trade balance it currently faces. conglomerate’s own financial troubles economic size and clout, they had be- India has trashed China’s argument at home, to a slow-moving automobile gun rubbing against each other. Given that the imbalance exists because of park in Maharashtra, announced with

22 INDIA TODAY MAY 7, 2018 of uncertainty in India’s response that China is uncomfortable with. China has tried to persuade India by saying that it would stand to gain economically by joining the initiative, which would in the long term also benefit India by bringing stability to Pakistan. But India made it clear that there is no guarantee that this would happen. Nor could it hold China up to its assurance. That China did not consult India before it initiated the CPEC, especially in PoK, had angered the Modi government. India had protested when China invested and built the Karakoram Highway, which runs through PoK when it was started in 1959 and completed 20 years later. Several governments headed by the Congress had been critical of the development. So Modi can hardly be seen to be lenient or indulgent on CPEC. The other obj- great fanfare by Modi and Xi. At the ection India has raised is that even for April Strategic Economic Dialo gue construction of projects, there is no between the NITI Aayog and China’s transparency and the conditions are powerful National Development and skewed in Chinese companies’ favour. Reform Commission, both agreed they will accelerate long-planned in- OR THE MOMENT, Beijing frastructure and railway projects. As a appears to have adopted a start, India has offered China two rail- F reluctantly pragmatic approach way stations for development—Agra to go forward with economic proj- and Jhansi—and to help raise speeds ects regardless of India’s BRI stand. between Chennai and Bengaluru. This was evinced in the unusual SCO foreign ministers’ statement issued SHELVING DIFFERENCES in Beijing on April 24 that saw seven of the eight ministers, barring India’s Then there is the challenge of manag- Sushma Swaraj, endorsing the BRI. ing long-persisting differences that On the border, too, the focus is aren’t likely to go away anytime soon. on managing, rather than resolv- For China, India’s opposition to Xi’s ing, differences. A beefed-up border pet BRI plan is a huge setback, espe- mechanism to prevent the recurrence cially in the regional context. With of stand-offs is under consideration. the massive investment it is making, India is aware that China is playing a especially in CPEC, it is concerned game of waiting. Beijing believes that, that India may engage in covert activ- as it gets even stronger, time is on its ity and destabilise its plans in the side and it would like to wrest as many region. Modi’s decision to conduct sur- concessions from Delhi as it can on gical strikes and also confront China the border settlement. China also sees on Doklam—where India came to strategic value in using the border dis- the rescue of Bhutan—were worrying pute to hang a sword over India’s head. signs for Beijing that Delhi’s actions No longer on the table is Deng’s offer of were no longer on predictable lines. a status quo ‘swap’—where India gives These incidents introduced an element up its claims to 38,000 sq km in Aksai

MAY 7, 2018 INDIA TODAY 31 COVER STORY H INDIA-CHINA

Chin and China gives up its 90,000 sq km claims on Arunachal, with minor adjustments in the largely settled middle sector. Now, Beijing insists that it would require a concession on the east, and especially in the Tawang region which it sees as significant to its sovereignty over Tibet. India, for its part, has met China halfway in addressing its concerns on Tibet. China is wary of what Beijing strategists like to call “the Tibet card”. It knows that Delhi has been careful to contain the Tibetan resistance groups staying in India. But China remains paranoid over the Dalai Lama’s influence. Beijing has been appreciative of India’s recent willingness to address its sensitivities, although India has made it clear that it has not changed its stand on Tibet and that the Dalai Lama remains a revered guest. Indian officials say that a note to government officials in February to not attend -an niversary events marking the start of the 60th year of the Dalai Lama’s exile

was merely a reiteration of past prac- HATTA/GETTYNAOHIKO IMAGES tice—that the previous government also adhered to—and was, in fact, sent out on every prominent anniversary. CHINA HAS TRIED TO PERSUADE INDIA THAT THE BRI WILL HELP IT THE XI FACTOR GAIN ECONOMICALLY AND ALSO India’s assessment of China’s current BENEFIT INDIA BY BRINGING strategy is that Xi is working towards making his country the world’s leading STABILITY TO PAKISTAN superpower and closing the gap with the United States. This also includes slowing down any regional rivals. Xi, Delhi believes, has roughly divided with—and views its place in—the muscle-flexing, from the South China countries into three categories: those world. Under Xi, China’s diplomacy is Sea to Doklam, coinciding with sweep- neutral to China’s rise, those they can undergoing a major transformation ing military reforms that centralised subordinate and those that China as he pushes a new doctrine—coined the party’s authority over the military. needs to try and control. India falls ‘Xiplomacy’ by China’s state media— This has led to pushback from its into the third category. Hence Beijing’s that combines strong nationalism and neighbours. Wang Fan, a leading stra- wariness at cognising a greater global assertiveness on China’s core interests tegic scholar and vice-pre sident of the status for India, whether through its and territorial disputes, coupled with China Foreign Affairs University, says objection to India’s bid for member- a more proactive Chinese diplomacy the current focus is on engaging with ship of the NSG or its aversion to allow in the neighbourhood, that is riding the periphery. Hence the outreach to India to sanction JeM chief Masood on, by Chinese standards, an extraor- India, with Beijing aware that Delhi, if Azhar as an international terrorist. dinarily personalised role for China’s it chooses to, could at its will scale up Having consolidated power at leader (see The Xi Doctrine). the still modest Quad. “China’s turn- home and stamped his authority Given Xi’s position of strength, ing into a global power from a regional over the Communist Party, Xi is now what were his motivations in reach- power, so its diplomacy too is shifting leaving his mark on how China deals ing out? Xi’s first term certainly saw to reflect the country’s rejuvenation,”

24 INDIA TODAY MAY 7, 2018 Pakistan foreign minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif with President Xi Jinping in Beijing in April 2018 remarkable North-South rapproche- ment—watching from the sidelines as he says. “But to become a global Trump took credit for his muscular power, China first needs to have a diplomacy—and hastily arranged a peaceful environment.” He adds a red-carpet visit for Kim Jong-un, to note of caution: this doesn’t mean forestall the embarrassing prospect of China will take a softer line when it Kim meeting the South Korean and comes to issues of sovereignty. Quot- American presidents before supposed ing Xi’s pledge at his party con gress, ally Xi. It took Kim six years to make he says China “won’t give up an inch”. his first China visit.

LOBAL PRESSURES ALSO A FRESH BEGINNING appear to be pushing this G course correction. It is hence Officials in Delhi and Beijing -ac no surprise that for China, forging knowledge that the many issues that common cause with India on protect- challenge relations aren’t going to go ing the world order that it has so away. Nor was the intention for them benefited from was one of the prime to dominate Modi’s and Xi’s attention motivations in repairing relations. in Wuhan. The hope is not to solve Wang Yi, the Chinese foreign minis- outright the issues that trouble ties, ter, said that one of China’s hopes for such as the boundary question, but the Wuhan summit was to forge com- to create the right environment that mon cause with India on preserving a would allow both countries to man- threatened global order. Not naming age, if not gradually address, these Donald Trump, he said, “It falls to long-pending thorny issues, says Chi- both countries to jointly uphold the na’s point man on India, Vice Foreign UN-centred multilateral system, and Minister Kong Xuanyou. Doklam, he to jointly preserve the WTO-centred says, exposed “a lack of mutual trust” international trading rules.” He in relations. “India didn’t initiate this believed both sides would reach “a summit. China didn’t initiate this strategic conclusion” on their views on summit. This was a joint initiative,” the global order in flux. This appears he says. “What we want is to come up possible. China was thrilled to hear with an overarching long-term vision NITI Aayog’s Rajiv Kumar at the for the next 100 years... to deepen recent Beijing dialogue lambast “the bilateral cooperation and prop- unseemly protectionist noises from erly handle differences to bring both the Atlantic basin”, and more than countries to a new starting point.” that, offer India’s soybean exports to “These issues are not going to be offset the tariff-hit American imports resolved overnight,” adds a senior as a result of the Trump trade spat. Indian official. “The question is, can Another reason for the reach-out, we find a long-term, overarching blue- Delhi believes, is that China has been print to manage them?” The Wuhan unnerved by Trump’s trade tariffs, summit, he adds, wasn’t conceived with the belated realisation that the as “a platform where we go down the US president did, in fact, mean what list of specific issues and tick them off he said when he pledged to crack one by one” but one where both sides down on “cheating” China. Trump has find ways to manage differences while already pledged to impose tariffs of 25 preventing an all-important relation- per cent on up to $100 billion of Chi- ship from descending into outright nese imports, including high-value discord that would exact a heavy price electrical machinery. Then there are on their missions of national renewal. the fast-moving developments on the But as with all new beginnings, a long Korean peninsula that have, to some road lies ahead. Meanwhile, the two degree, left Beijing playing catch- countries need to ensure it doesn’t up. China was a bystander in the result in old endings. n

MAY 7, 2018 INDIA TODAY 33 COVER STORY H INDIA- CHINA THE XI DOCTRINE What the Chinese president’s vision for a more nationalistic and internationally proactive Beijing will mean for India and the world

By Ananth Krishnan KEVINFRAYER/GETTY IMAGES

‘INFORMAL SUMMITS’, for policy and shattering past protocol. For the past three decades, China’s much of China’s recent diplomatic By doing so, Xi is implicitly taking leadership has stressed what it calls history, were an oxymoron. Not ownership of China’s overseas engage- the country’s ‘peaceful rise’ as its since the days of Mao and Nixon ment—the rewards and risks—a re- abiding doctrine for engaging with have Chinese leaders engaged with sponsibility shared in the past by the the world. Taking off on former leader their foreign counterparts without president, premier and the Politburo Deng Xiaoping’s maxim of ‘biding all the trappings and formal rituals Standing Commi ttee. (Xi’s prede- time, hiding brightness’, it framed that Communist China inherited cessor, Hu Jintao, was a stickler for China’s engagement as essentially from its imperial past. No protocol and rarely directly engaged cautious and as a follower, rather than unscripted chit-chat here. with India’s prime ministers, which as shaper, of the US-led world order. But India is no longer deal- he left to his premier.) ing with the old China. In October “We are looking at a situation HAT, HOWEVER, isn’t Xi’s last year, Xi Jinping was effectively where the country, nation, state and vision, which is closely tied to coronated president for life, by hav- party rise and fall with Xi,” says Xie T his populist domestic agenda. ing his name written into the Party Yanmei, senior China policy analyst at A growing international profile for Constitution. In March, this was Gavekal Research in Beijing. And that China—what Xi calls the “great formalised when presidential term is only part of the shift. More signifi- rejuvenation of the Chinese nation”— limits were abolished as Xi began his cantly, Beijing appears willing to play coupled with a better life for people at second term in a position of unques- a greater role in shaping global insti- home—or the ‘Chinese dream’ as Xi’s tioned strength. tutions, taking a lead in mediating in campaign frames it—is at the heart of The Wuhan summit between international disputes and pushing how he plans to bolster the Commu- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China’s authoritarian capitalist model nist Party of China’s (CPC) legitimacy Xi is the clearest indicator yet of abroad as the solution for the world. at home. “Xi understands that so far, how the Chinese president is taking The Xi doctrine, experts and legitimacy has been transactional in complete—and extraordinarily per- diplomats in Beijing say, will present nature and essentially performance sonalised—control of China’s foreign a marked shift in China’s global role. legitimacy for the party,” adds Xie,

26 INDIA TODAY MAY 7, 2018 who want to speed up their development” and “offers Chinese wisdom and a Chinese approach to solving the problems facing mankind”. “Abroad, China doesn’t want to be a power like the US—it knows the risks,” says Brown. “It wants to be a status superpower and receive validation, but with a focus on what it needs—resources and markets.” However, with rising influence comes growing demands. Gone is the avowed Chinese diplomatic principle of ‘non-interference’—one of the tenets of ‘Panchsheel’ that India, China and Myanmar propagated in the 1950s for the developing world. This has already been evident from Afghanistan to South Sudan and Myanmar, where Beijing has stepped in to play the role of political mediator, underpinned by its deep economic interests in all three cases. Pakistan is emerging as a test case for Xi in how far Beijing is prepared to intervene when major interests are at stake. It’s clear Beijing has the appetite to do CHAIRMAN so politically and take sides, even if it FOR LIFE isn’t doing so militarily just yet, mind- Xi Jinping at the National India remains wary of China’s deep- ful of both its limitations and risks. People’s Congress on March 20 ening regional influence, primarily China is planning $50 billion through the Belt and Road Initiative worth of projects through the China- (BRI), which Xi sees as not only a Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). vehicle to deepen China’s clout but as CPEC is a huge qualitative and quan- the analyst, contingent on it delivering holding domestic value in showcasing titative shift in China-Pakistan ties high growth rates. The good times, Xi his country’s emergence. “The BRI is and will see China involving itself in knows, cannot last forever. “He wants essentially a festival of validation for almost every aspect of the Pakistani a more visceral faith, both in him and China,” says Kerry Brown, profes- economy—what some critics have the party. And international prestige sor and director of the Lau China called an economic colonisation. The for China is part of his vision.” And, Institute at King’s College, London. high stakes mean Beijing will now be perhaps, prestige for Xi as well. “At home, it is offering an emotionally an active player domestically as well, What Beijing’s mandarins like to intoxicating message, of China on its and perhaps go only so far in its rap- call Xi’s new ‘proactive’ approach is own terms conquering modernity.” prochement with India. about far more than personality and It is also the platform for Xi to ri- “CPEC necessitates even more protocol: it is already overturning val the US—both in presenting the al- dealings with even more actors across long-held foundational principles of ternative of a different kind of super- Pakistan, and these dealings are Chinese diplomacy, from ‘non-interfer- power, and in championing its view of becoming more and more localised,” ence’ in international disputes to not globalisation as a contrast to ‘America says Andrew Small of the German operating foreign military bases. China First’ isolationism. Xi has given the Marshall Fund and author of The has already opened its first base in Dji- green light for a more concerted push China Pakistan Axis. “Beijing is bouti, overlooking the Indian Ocean, to spread ‘the China model’ over- aware that dealing with the central and more are on the way—Gwadar in seas, primarily through BRI. At the government alone is inadequate.” In Pakistan, the Seychelles and perhaps October Party Congress in Beijing, Xi Afghanistan as well, China’s role has even Vanuatu in the Pacific. said the China model provides “a new changed from being a mere provider Regardless of Wuhan’s outcomes, option for other countries and nations of infrastructure to a key political

MAY 7, 2018 INDIA TODAY 27 ONE BELT, ONE ROAD REUNIFICATION XI’S WORLD From Pakistan to Afghanistan For long the holy grail for and Europe, Xi will push his China’s leaders, bringing The likely priorities for Xi pet infrastructure initiative Taiwan back into the fold in Jinping’s second term to deepen China’s economic some form would allow Xi influence abroad to surpass Mao’s legacy

GREAT POWER RIVALRY Managing relations with China’s great THE NEIGHBOURHOOD MUSCLE-FLEXING rival while closing Beefing up border infrastructure Having already controversially the power gap and will continue from Doklam to militarised reclaimed islands in diluting American Ladakh, as will China’s inroads the South China Sea, the Belt Silk Road economic belt influence is key to Xi’s into the Indian Ocean, from Sri and Road is aimed at buying Maritime silk route of the rejuvenation agenda Lanka to the Maldives silence and dividing ASEAN 21st century

player, even hosting talks in China and a lack of transparency. After all, sion—along with new committees on between the Taliban and the Afghan part of the ‘China approach’ is also national security, economic issues and government. doing business with regimes in the reforms—that will give the CPC the India, for its part, has emerged shadows, with little thought given to leading role in diplomacy, as opposed as among the most vocal critics of bringing on board local communities. to the foreign ministry. He also an- the BRI. But the fact is the BRI has Hence, the protests by local com- nounced a new Chinese aid agency to been largely welcomed in Asia, given munities in Myanmar against the give more heft to overseas projects. Xi the widespread need for financing, Myitsone Dam and in Hambantota will chair the commission while it will especially for infrastructure projects, in Sri Lanka. be directed by Politburo member and and the lack of an alternative. former top diplomat Yang Jiechi. But Xi’s project has not been with- HETHER OR NOT China’s “Making the central authority out bumps. An April study by Japan’s diplomacy is nimble more capable is a key instrument for Nikkei on BRI projects in Indonesia, W enough to address these Xi to achieve his vision for the coun- Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, risks remains unclear. Xi is certainly try,” says analyst Xie Yanmei. “The Poland, Laos and Pakistan found seri- attempting to do so, evident in his bottom line is all institutions are sub- ous delays, including in a $6 billion overhaul of China’s diplomatic estab- ordinate to the party, and there will no railway in Indonesia and in projects lishment. At the National People’s longer be any competing centres with in Kazakhstan and Bangladesh. Ris- Congress in March, Xi pushed their own authority.” For Xi, success ing debt in Sri Lanka, the Maldives through a major restructuring of in pushing his vision will boost the and Laos have left future initiatives in the Party-State, which will see CPC party’s legitimacy at home, and raise the balance, and have to some degree organs take on an active role when China’s profile abroad. Failure, on the validated India’s stand. earlier, they functioned in the back- other hand, will rest squarely on him, Concerns in many host countries ground. Xi has set up a new Party-led given his concentration of power. The are rising over financing costs, debt Central Foreign Affairs Commis- stakes cannot be higher. n

28 INDIA TODAY MAY 7, 2018 Graphics by TANMOY CHAKRABORTY Exclusive Politoons by India Today Group

WATCH NOW SWADESHI

THE pany along with their existing brands. education bodies All India Council for “We will definitely be interested in Technical Education (AICTE) and the making sure that Air India remains in University Grants Commission (UGC). Indian hands. Not more than 49 per And the BMS has stalled labour cent will go to foreigners,” says civil reforms and selloffs of public sector SAFFRON aviation minister Suresh Prabhu. On undertakings. T April 23, exactly a week after the Sangh Meanwhile, the SJM is opposed to How the RSS and its affiliates are chief’s speech, MoS (civil aviation) Jay- India joining the WTO or big multilat- reshaping government policy—from ant Sinha met SJM national co-conve- erals because it fears an adverse impact economic issues to education The RSS sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhag- nor Ashwani Mahajan over breakfast on Indian industry. It has pressured HAND wat chose the time, place and audience to allay their fears over the sale. commerce minister Prabhu to block carefully to mark a departure from his The stalemate, though, continues, the US-led developed countries’ bid to By Anilesh S. Mahajan principle of not publicly opposing the but the SJM had managed to bring take on new issues like e-commerce Narendra Modi government’s poli- Sinha to the negotiation table (the and investment concerns at the forum cies. On April 16, addressing a packed next meeting is due in the first week of till old ones like a permanent solution audience of fund managers and stock May). Four years into the government, for public stockholdings of foodgrains brokers at the Bombay Stock Exchange, an outsized family of Sangh affiliates is not resolved. Even at the cost of a the heart of India’s economic capital, like the SJM and BMS, has been able collapse of talks at the ministerial con- the RSS chief questioned the govern- to advance the Sangh’s line on crucial ference in Buenos Aires in December. ment’s policy to sell off its loss-ridden issues—from labour, education and Last May, the SJM forced the govern- national carrier Air India. ment to discontinue plans to disband “If Air India has not been run the National Pharmaceutical Pricing properly,” Bhagwat said, “then give Authority (NPPA), a body which it says it to those who will be able to run it SENSING THE SJM’S helps slash prices of several life-saving properly.” He added later that “it should GROWING CLOUT, THE drugs and critical medical equipment— be an Indian as you should not let your NITI AAYOG INVITED IT and is a crucial part of PM Modi’s Jan- skies be controlled by someone else” . TO THE PM’S MEETING Aushadhi plan of providing affordable The RSS chief was only articu- WITH TOP ECONOMISTS healthcare. The SJM and Bharatiya lating what Sangh affiliates like the Kisan Sangh (BKS) have successfully Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), which IN JANUARY blocked the clinical trials of geneti- lobbies for domestic industry, and cally modified (GM) crops. Sensing the the labour union arm, the Bharatiya SJM’s growing clout, the NITI Aayog Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), have been say- invited it to the PM’s meeting with top ing for months about the sale—that it economy to even healthcare. economists in January. would be a raw deal for employees and Organisations like the Laghu ‘Dharmakshetra’, the SJM’s nonde- that the government should instead Udyog Bharti forced corrections in the script headquarters in the middle-class divest a minority stake in the stock implementation in GST and expan- residential colony of R.K. Puram in the market to raise capital. sion of the definition of SMEs. The capital, has seen several high-profile The RSS chief’s statement saw SJM has ensured that the old format of visits, from BJP party chief Amit Shah the civil aviation ministry swing into free trade agreements (FTA) has been to finance minister Arun Jaitley just damage control mode. The ministry discontinued (which it feels jeopardises before the budget in February. Rajiv has assiduously worked over the past Indian industry) and continues to be Kumar, vice-chairman of NITI Aayog, BULL CHARGE 10 months to offload its majority stake the biggest hurdles for FDI in multi- became the first head of any think-tank RSS chief Mohan in the airline, but has struggled to find brand retail, brownfield pharma and to visit the Sangh affiliate. Last year, Bhagwat at the buyers. Within a week of Bhagwat’s security agencies. In education, the Kumar had replaced Columbia Univer- Bombay Stock speech, the ministry reworked the pre- Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad sity academician Aravind Panagariya, Exchange, where liminary information memorandum (ABVP), along with the Shiksha who, together with former RBI gover- he gave a lecture (PIM) on Air India’s strategic disin- Sanskriti Utthan Nyas (SSUN), have nor Raghuram Rajan, had topped the on April 16 vestment to make it more attractive for stalled the recommendations of the hit list of the Sangh and its influential Indian players. The new structure will T.S.R. Subramanian committee to ideologue, S. Gurumurthy. The SJM allow existing players to incorporate the HRD ministry in 2016. They are had held them guilty of pushing free Air India under a single holding com- also pushing for the restructuring of market economic policies and opposing PTI

MAY 7, 2018 INDIA TODAY 31

Swadeshi-May7.indd 38-39 4/25/2018 11:17:05 PM pany along with their existing brands. education bodies All India Council for “We will definitely be interested in Technical Education (AICTE) and the making sure that Air India remains in University Grants Commission (UGC). Indian hands. Not more than 49 per And the BMS has stalled labour cent will go to foreigners,” says civil reforms and selloffs of public sector aviation minister Suresh Prabhu. On undertakings. T April 23, exactly a week after the Sangh Meanwhile, the SJM is opposed to chief’s speech, MoS (civil aviation) Jay- India joining the WTO or big multilat- ant Sinha met SJM national co-conve- erals because it fears an adverse impact The RSS sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhag- nor Ashwani Mahajan over breakfast on Indian industry. It has pressured wat chose the time, place and audience to allay their fears over the sale. commerce minister Prabhu to block carefully to mark a departure from his The stalemate, though, continues, the US-led developed countries’ bid to principle of not publicly opposing the but the SJM had managed to bring take on new issues like e-commerce Narendra Modi government’s poli- Sinha to the negotiation table (the and investment concerns at the forum cies. On April 16, addressing a packed next meeting is due in the first week of till old ones like a permanent solution audience of fund managers and stock May). Four years into the government, for public stockholdings of foodgrains brokers at the Bombay Stock Exch ange, an outsized family of Sangh affiliates is not resolved. Even at the cost of a the heart of India’s economic capital, like the SJM and BMS, has been able collapse of talks at the ministerial con- the RSS chief questioned the govern- to advance the Sangh’s line on crucial ference in Buenos Aires in December. ment’s policy to sell off its loss-ridden issues—from labour, education and Last May, the SJM forced the govern- national carrier Air India. ment to discontinue plans to disband “If Air India has not been run the National Pharmaceutical Pricing properly,” Bhagwat said, “then give Authority (NPPA), a body which it says it to those who will be able to run it SENSING THE SJM’S helps slash prices of several life-saving properly.” He added later that “it should GROWING CLOUT, THE drugs and critical medical equipment— be an Indian as you should not let your NITI AAYOG INVITED IT and is a crucial part of PM Modi’s Jan- skies be controlled by someone else” . TO THE PM’S MEETING Aushadhi plan of providing affordable The RSS chief was only articu- WITH TOP ECONOMISTS healthcare. The SJM and Bharatiya lating what Sangh affiliates like the Kisan Sangh (BKS) have successfully Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), which IN JANUARY blocked the clinical trials of geneti- lobbies for domestic industry, and cally modified (GM) crops. Sensing the the labour union arm, the Bharatiya SJM’s growing clout, the NITI Aayog Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), have been say- invited it to the PM’s meeting with top ing for months about the sale—that it economy to even healthcare. economists in January. would be a raw deal for employees and Organisations like the Laghu ‘Dharmakshetra’, the SJM’s nonde- that the government should instead Udyog Bharti forced corrections in the script headquarters in the middle-class divest a minority stake in the stock implementation in GST and expan- residential colony of R.K. Puram in the market to raise capital. sion of the definition of SMEs. The capital, has seen several high-profile The RSS chief’s statement saw SJM has ensured that the old format of visits, from BJP party chief Amit Shah the civil aviation ministry swing into free trade agreements (FTA) has been to finance minister Arun Jaitley just damage control mode. The ministry discontinued (which it feels jeopardises before the budget in February. Rajiv has assiduously worked over the past Indian industry) and continues to be Kumar, vice-chairman of NITI Aayog, 10 months to offload its majority stake the biggest hurdles for FDI in multi- became the first head of any think-tank in the airline, but has struggled to find brand retail, brownfield pharma and to visit the Sangh affiliate. Last year, buyers. Within a week of Bhagwat’s security agencies. In education, the Kumar had replaced Columbia Univer- speech, the ministry reworked the pre- Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad sity academician Aravind Panagariya, liminary information memorandum (ABVP), along with the Shiksha who, together with former RBI gover- (PIM) on Air India’s strategic disin- Sanskriti Utthan Nyas (SSUN), have nor Raghuram Rajan, had topped the vestment to make it more attr active for stalled the recommendations of the hit list of the Sangh and its influential Indian players. The new structure will T.S.R. Subramanian committee to ideologue, S. Gurumurthy. The SJM allow existing players to incorporate the HRD ministry in 2016. They are had held them guilty of pushing free Air India under a single holding com- also pushing for the restructuring of market economic policies and opposing

MAY 7, 2018 INDIA TODAY 31 SWADESHI ECONOMY SANGH ORGANISATION: Swadeshi Jagran Manch, Laghu Udyog Bharati KEY MOVERS: Ashwani Mahajan, Kashmiri Lal, Bhagwati P. Sharma ISSUES OF INTEREST: Alternative economics, trade balance with China, GST, public policy MOST RECENT WIN: Alterations in the LABOUR ISSUES disinvestment clauses of PSUs AGRICULTURE SANGH ORGANISATION: Bharatiya Mazdoor and changes in the GST SANGH ORGANISATION: Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Laghu Udyog Bharati implementation, tax slabs Sangh, SJM KEY MOVERS: Saji Narayanan, Vrijesh KEY MOVERS: Prabhakar Kelkar, Upadhyay, B. Surendran, Jitender Gupta Badrinarayan Choudhary and others ISSUES OF INTEREST: Labour reforms, PSU ISSUES OF INTEREST: MSP, access to selloffs, railway/ defence production markets, irrigation, nixing GM seeds MOST RECENT WIN Revival of National MOST RECENT WIN: Bamboo mission; Social Security Board for Unorganised re-emphasis on farmer-producer Workers (got three members on organisations; 1.5x MSP board), halted PM Modi’s SAFFRON commitment in budget; halted labour reforms, PSU sale BROTHERHOOD introduction of GM seeds AT WORK HOW SANGH ORGANISATIONS ARE EDUCATION ADVANCING THE RSS’S COMMERCE KEY ORGANISATION: ABVP, Shiksha SOCIAL AGENDA SANGH ORGANISATION: SJM Bachao Andolan, Shiksha Sanskriti KEY MOVERS: Ashwani Mahajan, Utthan Nyas, Vidya Bharati, R. Sundaram, Subhash Sharma Rashtriya Shaikshik Mahasangh et al ISSUES OF INTEREST: India’s stand at KEY MOVERS: Sunil Ambekar, Dinanath WTO, multilaterals and bilaterals, Batra, Atul Kothari, Kapil Kapoor et al FDI, anti-dumping, patents ISSUES OF INTEREST: New education MOST RECENT WIN: Overhaul of FTA policy, alternative history strategy; over 100 anti-dumping MOST RECENT WIN: Hindutva ideologues HEALTH duties on Chinese imports; halted appointed in key educational KEY ORGANISATION: SJM, National FDI in multi-brand retail, brownfield institutions Med i cal Organisation, pharma, security agencies Arogya Bharati KEY MOVERS: Ashwani Mahajan, Anil Sharma ISSUES OF INTEREST: Health for all, Arogya Bharat, Ayushman Bharat, generic drugs, healthcare MOST RECENT WIN: Halted introduction of RUTF, HPV, re-emphasis on National Health Insurance

the alternative theories propounded by him, says, “I don’t have any hesitation price (MSP) for kharif crops will not RSS ideologues Deendayal Upadhyaya in engaging with the SJM or any other trigger inflation as feared. It was on and Dattopant Thengadi. affiliates, but they will not have veto the instance of the SJM and BKS that “The RSS is running the govern- power in policy making.” Jaitley included the MSP commitment ment,” fumed Congress president Ashwani Mahajan, a professor of in the budget this year. Mahajan, along Rahul Gandhi at an election speech economics in Delhi University and with the BKS, has also successfully in Karnataka this February. “It has SJM co-convenor, sports a blue busi- halted the charge of GM crops, and planted its people everywhere. Even ness suit, matching cuff-links and a is now pressing for a seed bill, declar- secretaries in ministries are appointed cravat as he works with associates on ing the farmer as the real owner of the by the RSS.” NITI Aayog’s Rajiv a paper for the government—it argues seed. Their stand got a boost with the Kumar, who has had fingers pointed at that an increase in minimum support Delhi High Court judgment on April

32 INDIA TODAY MAY 7, 2018 11 declaring that patents can’t be The smooth flow of information issued on seeds under Indian law. “If is the reason why one top finance the ownership of the seed goes to the ministry official says the Sangh did farmer, this will permanently block not oppose the Goods and Services the entry of GM products in India,” Tax (GST) last year. “They realised says Badrinarayan Choudhary, BKS that though it created trouble for general secretary. their core constituents—small and medium entrepreneurs—it was LEARNING FROM THE PAST good for the country,” says a top offi- The Sangh remains wary of Modi’s cial in the finance ministry. pro-reform and pro-liberalisation The Sangh philosophy also influ- postures. The early days of the Modi ences government policy making, government had suggested a return says one senior cabinet minister. He to the open warfare seen during defines this as “bringing Indic values NDA-I. There were serious disagree- in culture, commerce, economy, ments between the Sangh affiliates agriculture, education and health”. and the government on FDI and Many policies now directly take labour reforms. The Sangh was furi- from RSS ideologue Deenda yal ous at not being consulted on issues Upadhyay’s ‘antyodaya’ and ‘integral like opening up FDI in retail, bring- humanism’ concepts. These include ing the land acquisition ordinance, energy access to the poorest, afford- labour reforms, and de-reserving of able healthcare, improving acc ess MSME exclusive segments. The protest from its ideological parent saw the SANGH AFFILIATES SAY Modi regime withdraw the THEY CAN OVERLOOK FDI IN land bill in 2015 and slow ADVT down labour reforms. RSS CERTAIN SECTORS, BUT THEY heavyweights like Krishna HAVE A LIST OF NO-GO AREAS Gopal, Dattatreya Hosabale and Suresh Soni stepped in to iron out the differences between the two sides. This resulted to education, “or the governance in an idea that never took off during models of state moving out of welfare NDA-I: bi-monthly coordination to development mode, towards committee meetings. These meet- labour oriented policy making. We ings are chaired by BJP chief Amit are already doing this, if they have Shah with Union ministers relevant inputs, it’s welcome,” says Gopal to the issue at hand. Krishna Agarwal, the BJP’s national Sangh officials say they have spokesperson on economic affairs. learned two big lessons from the On the contentious disinvestm- past—improving communication ent issue, BMS chief Saji Nar a ya- with the Centre and allowing affili- nan C.K. says, “A national debate is ates to float think-tanks to make needed on the role of PSUs and how inputs more informed are key. or why they should not be disinvest- The SJM publicly attacked the ed.” Kashmiri Lal of the SJM says, NDA government for liberalising “Selling PSU stakes to private players FDI norms in 2016 and has taken is a western model of liberalisation, up a public campaign to create awa- we need to find our own way.” re ness against dumping of cheap Equally critical to the Sangh Chinese goods in India. There is, is the issue of opening up FDI in however, no danger of a blow-up. retail. At a coordination meeting on “We’ve learned our lesson,” says a December 26 last year, Jaitley asked senior member of the Modi cabinet. the SJM leadership to consider the “The NDA SWADESHI government’s biggest contribution would be to be receptive to fresh ideas. Good ideas can come from anywhere— problem with an open mind: would one should pick what they consider it if all products sold in the is good for the country retail shop were Made in India? Jaitley and for education was under pressure from Harsimrat Badal’s food processing ministry and as a sector” the NITI Aayog. The SJM rejected ATUL KOTHARI the proposal outright. Privately, SJM General secretary, leaders admit that FDI is a “desirable Shiksha Sanskriti devil”. “All we ask is for an ecosystem to Utthan Nyas develop the domestic market too. This means rationalisation of import duties and strengthening access to capital. We are glad the government is doing it,” says a Sangh ideologue. REUBEN SINGH Sangh affiliates say they can overlook FDI in certain sectors, but they “We don’t pressure ministers, have a list of no-go areas: multi-brand retail, security and manpower indus- but give them inputs. Sangh try, brownfield pharmaceuticals and organisations work with investments from China. people and are aware of their aspirations. It is the duty of the CHINESE CHECKERS government to listen” The last mentioned area is why Modi’s outreach to China in 2018 will be vetted MANMOHAN VAIDYA Joint general secretary, RSS very carefully. The Sangh has a very clear line on China: it is not a friend of India. “Initially, the government told us the 21st century is of India and China,” says Kashmiri Lal. “But we explained to them that China is not our friend.” the commerce ministry, nearly 220 by states like Rajasthan and Madhya The SJM believes its shrill cam- were against Chinese imports and du- Pradesh. Within a fortnight of the meet- paigns after the border stand-off at ties were levied on 120-odd products. ing, the PM had formed a five-member Doklam forced the government to pull The SJM is already pushing for ministerial group. By August-end, the plug on several projects allotted setting standards for various prod- eight of the union’s 12 demands were to the Chinese, including rail transit ucts, and amendments in the General met. This ministerial group still exists, equipment manufacturer CRRC’s Financial Rules (GFR) to curb cheaper and continues meetings with not only Nagpur project for metro coaches, Chinese imports. Imports of low-end the BMS but other labour groups as installation of a smart grid and a bid products like toys, for instance, dropped well. That said, there are fierce disputes for a train sets manufacturing unit at by less than half after the government still—it has opposed the introduction of Kanchrapara in West Bengal. mandated tougher quality criteria and ‘fixed term employment’ in the budget Part of the SJM’s pique has to do certification by accredited agencies last speech of Jaitley, which led to nation- with the trade deficit between the two September. Before this, Chinese toys wide protests and a threat to boycott countries crossing $50 billion and the accounted for 70 per cent of India’s the Indian Labour Conference (ILC) dumping of Chinese goods in India. Rs 5,000 crore toy industry. due in February this year (the PM was It has run a massive campaign to scheduled to attend it). Fearing an em- push anti-dumping duties of products LABOUR PAINS barrassment, the government cancelled ranging from steel, pharmaceuticals, In July 2015, Modi invited the BMS’s this year’s edition of the ILC. chemicals, fishing nets, electrical Narayanan to the PM’s residence for tea. The PM’s Economic Advisory Cou- equipment, to mobile handsets and The union was angered by the govern- ncil chairman Bibek Debroy says there more. Of the 370-odd complaints ment pushing for changes in labour is a need for harmonisation of labour received by the Directorate General rules like the Apprentices Act, 1961; the laws—some were framed as far back of Anti-Dumping & Allied Duties Factories Act, 1948, and Labour Laws, as 1885. “But this is voluminous work, (DGAD)—a quasi judicial body under 1988, along with the relaxations offered and we need a consensus on this,” he

34 INDIA TODAY MAY 7, 2018 “We are their (the government’s) conscience- keepers. We stand with them when they are right, we oppose them if we find their decisions are anti-people” It submitted its report to HRD ASHWANI MAHAJAN minister Prakash Javadekar in the Co-convenor, Swadeshi Jagran Manch first week of April. The new policy, they say, will bring more synergy with skills, an emphasis on values and study of history along with creating more space for teaching in vernacular languages. In 2014/15, just after the NDA took charge, Atul Kothari and Dinanath Batra of SSUN also ensured the removal of discrepancies in the CSAT and UPSC exams. This allowed for a level playing field for those from vernacular mediums. The revival of Sanskrit is another item on the Sangh’s agenda. Affiliates like the Sanskrit Bharati are pushing for the study of science and technology as reflected in Sanskrit literature, along with an inter-disciplinary study of Sanskrit and modern subjects. In 2016, all IITs and IIMs were asked by the HRD ministry to offer elective language courses in Sanskrit. In Janu- ADVT REUBEN SINGH ary this year, IIT Kanpur started text and audio services related to Sanskrit and Hindu texts. says. In the past four years, the BMS has The HRD ministry is also pushed the envelope on many fronts. being lobbied with demands like a This includes the revival of the National faster review of the Right to Edu- Social Security Board for Unorganised cation and state-wise regulators Workers. The body has an advisory role, for education. Ambekar is pushing but the BMS has a 14-point agenda, infor the introduction of state-wise cluding affordable housing, upgradation regulators to curb the “commer- of skills, improvement of public health, cialisation” of education. “Regula- provisions of old age homes etc. tors played a pivotal role in both telecom and civil aviation sectors EDUCATION BOOSTER where the entry of private players Sangh affiliates like the ABVP reckon not only improved services but that a major test of its influence will also reduced the cost for consum- be the new education policy which will ers,” he points out. overhaul the one formulated in 1986. While the Sangh affiliates now The ABVP, led by its powerful national form a huge pressure group on the organising secretary Sunil Ambekar, government, they chafe at the slow successfully opposed the T.S.R. Sub- pace of policy implementation. ramanian draft of the New Education A senior RSS pracharak blames Policy submitted to the HRD ministry the bureaucracy. “Sometimes, we in 2016. Ambekar is an influentialpra - get the vibe that they don’t take us charak and his opposition led to the for- seriously,” he says. Clearly, another mation of the new committee, headed area of convergence between the by former ISRO chief K. Kasturirangan. Sangh and the government. n BIG STORY | CPI(M) AND CONGRESS LEFT TURN AHEAD Shedding its ideological rigidity, the CPI(M) declares itself open to electoral ‘understanding’ with the Congress and other parties to keep the BJP in check

By AMARNATH K. MENON

VIKRAM SHARMA FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS Congress president Rahul Gandhi with Sitaram Yechury

n April 22, about 5,000 activists in an alternative policy framework against the BJP,” said enemy’, the BJP. Yechury’s minority view of ‘an open approach to secular, red shirts and berets, some waving Sitaram Yechury, who was re-elected as party general democratic forces’ found strong resonance among members from Ma- red flags, marched 5 km through the secretary. It was a pyrrhic triumph for Yechury who had, harashtra and West Bengal. It signals a re-think on the broad position streets of Hyderabad to a rally marking in January, lost his argument to keep the door open for adopted by the CPI(M) since 1964, with the rank and file virtually defy- the culmination of the 22nd Commu- coordination with the principal opposition party, the ing the party’s elite to adopt a more conciliatory ‘tactical line’ on other nist Party of India (Marxist) congress, Congress. The proposal was rejected 55-31 by the party’s political parties. signalling clearly that the Marxists, central committee in Kolkata, forcing him to offer to Some 390 of the 786 delegates attending the party congress were though down, are not out. After hem- step down. But the central committee asked Yechury to pushing the Yechury line. At one stage, the Maharashtra and Bengal ming and hawing over whether or not continue till his tenure ends in April. groups even suggested a secret ballot to decide on the party’s line. While Oto join hands with other political parties, the CPI(M) At the party congress in Hyderabad, Yechury had his the Bengal lobby had all along treated the BJP as a political pariah and, announced that it is open to reaching an understanding way, with the draft political resolution being rephrased therefore, underscored the need to get secular parties, including the with others, including the Congress, for prospective gains (‘without having an understanding or electoral alliance Congress, on board against the ‘threat of communalism’, the Maha- in the general elections next year. The party would first with the Congress party’ was changed to ‘without having rashtra lobby has recently woken up to the need for a united resistance consider the policies of the ‘secular and democratic par- a political alliance with the Congress party’). It was a against the BJP. But for them, the hardline approach of general secretary ties’ that wish to become part of an alternative and then happy compromise of sorts without putting the issue to Yechury’s predecessor Prakash Karat, who enjoys the backing of Kerala decide on alliances at an appropriate time. secret ballot, as was demanded by many. chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, may have prevailed. “If there is any single message that should go from this To those who don’t identify with the Left, this reflects Beyond word play, what is much more than a debating conflict is root- 22nd CPI(M) congress to the rank and file, to the country, how realpolitik has started to weigh over dogmatism ed in electoral reality. It is the challenge of fighting the Congress, which and particularly to our class enemies, it is that the party within the CPI(M), paving the way for popular fronts leads the United Democratic Front, in Kerala while allying with the has emerged united and is determined to put forward with left-of-centre forces in order to defeat the ‘greater party elsewhere, with the possible exclusion of Bengal. “When it comes

36 INDIA TODAY MAY 7, 2018

CPM-Congress-May7.indd 44-45 4/25/2018 10:23:27 PM FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS Congress president Rahul Gandhi with Sitaram Yechury enemy’, the BJP. Yechury’s minority view of ‘an open approach to secular, democratic forces’ found strong resonance among members from Ma- harashtra and West Bengal. It signals a re-think on the broad position adopted by the CPI(M) since 1964, with the rank and file virtually defying the party’s elite to adopt a more conciliatory ‘tactical line’ on other political parties. Some 390 of the 786 delegates attending the party congress were pushing the Yechury line. At one stage, the Maharashtra and Bengal groups even suggested a secret ballot to decide on the party’s line. While the Bengal lobby had all along treated the BJP as a political pariah and, therefore, underscored the need to get secular parties, including the Congress, on board against the ‘threat of communalism’, the Maha- rashtra lobby has recently woken up to the need for a united resistance against the BJP. But for them, the hardline approach of general secretary Yechury’s predecessor Prakash Karat, who enjoys the backing of Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, may have prevailed. Beyond word play, what is much more than a debating conflict is rooted in electoral reality. It is the challenge of fighting the Congress, which leads the United Democratic Front, in Kerala while allying with the party elsewhere, with the possible exclusion of Bengal. “When it comes BIG STORY | CPI(M) AND CONGRESS

to elections, we have made it very clear that appropriate women—a growing trend since its bastion West Bengal fell electoral tactics will be adopted to maximise pooling of in 2011. And this year’s defeat in Tripura, after a reign of the anti-BJP vote,” said Yechury. about 25 years, couldn’t have come at a worse time. The endorsement of Yechury’s line by the CPI(M) That debacle and people’s disenchantment with the as well as his re-election should boost the opposition’s same old faces is perhaps prompting the CPI(M) to appoint efforts to forge an anti-BJP front for the Lok Sabha elec- younger members to its area, district and state commit- tions. With his cross-country appeal and acceptance as a tees. At the state conference in West Bengal, 12 leaders, mediator between parties, Yechury may perhaps emerge approaching 70 or past it, were dropped, the exception as the real inheritor of Harkishan Singh Surjeet’s legacy, being 76-year-old Left Front chairman Biman Bose. In essaying the role his mentor played during the 1996 and Maharashtra, 16 inductions into the state committee are 2004 Lok Sabha elections. “We will have no political alli- from the 40-45 age group. In Tamil Nadu, 11 new state ance with the Congress. But we will have an understand- committee members are under 50 while 10 invitees to the ing with it both inside and outside (Parliament) to check committee are under 40. In Kerala, seven new state com- communalism,” explained Yechury. “A myth is being mittee members are below 45. generated whether or not there will be a Congress-led There are other positive signs. Loss of seats in a state alliance. In 1996, the United Front was formed after the assembly or Parliament is a weak alibi, claim several senior elections, and in 2004, the UPA (United Progressive Alli- party leaders. “Even with just one MLA, the Left, with ance) was formed after the elections. These things depend the weakest foundation in the Maharashtra assembly, on specific political conditions in each state.” has proven it can mobilise people if it comprehends the issues plaguing the people,” says Ashok Dhawale, central eft intellectual Jayati Ghose feels it’s pointless to committee member and architect of the March 2018 Long “be rigid and obsessed about party line” when the March by farmers from Nashik to Mumbai. “The unstinted political situation is so fluid. “The time has come and spontaneous support from other parties, including L to explore every possible opportunity from every the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party, cannot be possible angle—be it legal, political, judicial—and try undermined.” Dhawale, however, admits that translating and take like-minded people and forces along,” she says. the high turnouts in rallies into votes is a challenge. “Joining or not joining the Congress is basically a reflec- Analysts say the CPI(M) needs to reinvent itself in tion of the ego battle and shows lack of genuine political order to remain relevant. There were no ostensible signs understanding.” of it at the Hyderabad Beyond poll pacts with other parties, the CPI(M) has event, except Yechury’s deeper worries about its own existence. The party has call to defeat the BJP- nine members in the Lok Sabha, down from 16 in the “APPROPRIATE RSS. Drawing parallels previous House, while its national vote share has shrunk ELECTORAL with Duryodhana and from 5.33 per cent in 2009 to 3.28 per cent in 2014. TACTICS WILL Dushasana from the Yechury’s immediate challenge is to stop this steady ero- BE ADOPTED Mahabharata, he said sion of support and refurbish the party. To this end, the the BJP was dominated strength of the politburo, the CPI(M)’s highest decision- TO MAXIMISE by only Narendra Modi making body, is up from 16 to 17. While octogenarian S. POOLING OF and Amit Shah although Ramachandran Pillai was given a special exemption and THE ANTI-BJP it has many bigwigs, retained, A.K. Padmanabhan was dropped. Tapan Sen, while the Marxists were general secretary of the party’s trade union CITU, and VOTE,” SAYS like the Pandavas, few former MP Nilotpal Basu are the newcomers. YECHURY in number but firm on The central committee, whose strength has risen to 95 ousting the Kauravas from 91, is now a tad younger than the average of 72 years from power. in Yechury’s first term. This is even after 16 veterans were Analysts argue that the CPI(M)’s disconnect with the replaced and 19 new faces inducted. The search for aspirational middle class, especially the young, is also con- a woman leader to occupy the vacant seat in the committee tributing to its decline. The party congress did not address continues, but it now has more Dalit and tribal representa- this vexed issue. “The Left needs to recast itself in theory tives. The committee is dominated by the Karat group. as well as in practice,” says psephologist-turned-politician The rift between the purists and pragmatists apart, Yogendra Yadav. “It needs to unburden much of its past the CPI(M) membership is on the decline, dropping, ac- and start afresh. That will be possible if it can stop looking cording to the party’s organisational report, by 6 percent- at India and its problems through its European spectacles.” age points between 2014 and 2017—the sharpest fall in Perhaps its ‘tactical line’ too. But, as of now, it’s easier said its history. The decline is sharpest among the youth and than done. n with Romita Datta

38 INDIA TODAY MAY 7, 2018

The Marathon Man POLITICS / SIKKIM Name: Pawan Kumar Chamling Age: 67 Educational qualification: School dropout Previous profession: Police constable, Class I contractor Assets: `10 crore PEOPLE’S Family: Two wives, four sons and four daughters Political record: On April 28, he became India’s longest serving CM, holding on to the chair for 23 years and 137 days, since CM December 12, 1994. He broke the record of Jyoti Basu, who was in charge of West Bengal Pawan Kumar Chamling recently achieved the between June 21, 1977, and November 5, 2000 distinction of being the longest-serving chief Also known as: Kiran, his pen name; has minister in the country. While there’s no authored 19 books in Nepali, English and Hindi serious threat to his position, Chamling knows A chief minister he admires: Madhya that he needs to be more cautious of both Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan Fitness mantra: Sticks to organic opponents and allies than ever before vegetables, does yoga and cardio exercises; is a teetotaller By Kaushik Deka Stress buster: Rajesh Khanna and Smita Patil films, old songs by Mohammad Rafi, Kishore n the rainy evening of April 23, Sikkim Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling Books that influenced him: Roots: The was anxiously waiting in the living room Saga of an American Family by Alex Haley and of his official residence in Gangtok for Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela a letter from the PWD department. Two days ago, during his 32-day-long O statewide visit, he had met a 32-year-old been careful not to allow anyone to sully his image mother of three at Bermiok, West Sik- as a champion of democracy—the day he formed his kim. She had recently lost her husband, YASIR IQBAL party he announced that no member of his family had no source of regular income, and would ever join politics, and he has kept his word. sought the CM’s help to find her a livelihood. Cham- From 1994 to his death in 2009, Bhandari ling, who travels with his entourage of ministers and the department of economics, Sikkim University. Chamling remained Chamling’s main political opponent. secretaries during such mass connect programmes, A weak opposition alone, however, cannot define joined poiitics The SDF’s electoral gains were unprecedented. In immediately asked the PWD secretary to give her Chamling’s uninterrupted reign. Despite allega- in 1985, and 2004, it won 31 of the state’s 32 seats and all in became the a job in his department at a monthly salary of Rs tions of corruption and nepotism levelled against chief minister 2009. In 2014, the challenge came from former 9,000. It was not just a politician’s promise to be for- his government by the main opposition party, the for the first colleague and head of SKM, Prem Singh Tamang, gotten later. He wanted to see the appointment letter. Skkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM), formed mostly time in 1994 better known as P.S. Golay, who tried to replicate It’s this micro management of governance and by rebels of the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), what Chamling had done to Bhandari. A three- direct connect with the people of the state that ex- Chamling has managed to keep his vote base intact, time MLA and a minister in Chamling’s cabinet plains Chamling’s incredible achievement of beat least among the rural population, which consti- since 1994, Golay was considered the second most coming the longest-serving chief minister of the tutes 75 per cent of the total population. powerful man after Chamling in the party. country. On April 28, he eclipsed the record of Jyoti Perhaps the 67-year-old CM, who came to power The SKM won 10 urban seats, but the SDF’s Basu, who helmed the neighbouring West Bengal after rebelling against his former mentor and chief thrust on “development, peace and security” pre- for 23 years and 137 days. minister, Nar Bahadur Bhandari, knows how to vailed over SKM’s rising call for parivartan or Chamling first became the chief minister on keep rebels at bay himself. In 1992, Chamling, then change. Later, Chamling wooed seven of the 10 December 12, 1994, and since then has returned a member of Bhandari’s Sikkim Sangram Parishad SKM MLAs to join the SDF, taking his party’s tally to power for a fifth consecutive term. According (SSP), dramatically announced his rebellion against to 29. What made the road ahead smoother for to social and political observers, the leader of the the CM by lighting a candle in the assembly to search Chamling was that Golay was convicted in a cor- Sikkim Democratic Front doesn’t face any serious for democracy. Calling Bhandari an autocrat, he ruption case during his tenure as a minister and has threat to his chair. “He is the best option as the Op- formed his own party, the SDF, mobilised public since been imprisoned. “The 2014 results worked as position is too weak,” says Komol Singha, head of support and seized power in the 1994 polls. He has a wake-up call. A lot of changes had to be factored

40 INDIA TODAY MAY 7, 2018

Chamling-May7.indd 48-49 4/25/2018 11:01:54 PM The Marathon Man

Name: Pawan Kumar Chamling Age: 67 Educational qualification: School dropout Previous profession: Police constable, Class I contractor Assets: `10 crore Family: Two wives, four sons and four daughters Political record: On April 28, he became India’s longest serving CM, holding on to the chair for 23 years and 137 days, since December 12, 1994. He broke the record of Jyoti Basu, who was in charge of West Bengal between June 21, 1977, and November 5, 2000 Also known as: Kiran, his pen name; has authored 19 books in Nepali, English and Hindi A chief minister he admires: Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan Fitness mantra: Sticks to organic vegetables, does yoga and cardio exercises; is a teetotaller Stress buster: Rajesh Khanna and Smita Patil films, old songs by Mohammad Rafi, Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar Books that influenced him: Roots: The Saga of an American Family by Alex Haley and Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela

been careful not to allow anyone to sully his image as a champion of democracy—the day he formed his YASIR IQBAL YASIR party he announced that no member of his family would ever join politics, and he has kept his word. From 1994 to his death in 2009, Bhandari

Chamling remained Chamling’s main political opponent. joined poiitics The SDF’s electoral gains were unprecedented. In in 1985, and 2004, it won 31 of the state’s 32 seats and all in became the chief minister 2009. In 2014, the challenge came from former for the first colleague and head of SKM, Prem Singh Tamang, time in 1994 better known as P.S. Golay, who tried to replicate what Chamling had done to Bhandari. A three- time MLA and a minister in Chamling’s cabinet since 1994, Golay was considered the second most powerful man after Chamling in the party. The SKM won 10 urban seats, but the SDF’s thrust on “development, peace and security” prevailed over SKM’s rising call for parivartan or change. Later, Chamling wooed seven of the 10 SKM MLAs to join the SDF, taking his party’s tally to 29. What made the road ahead smoother for Chamling was that Golay was convicted in a corruption case during his tenure as a minister and has since been imprisoned. “The 2014 results worked as a wake-up call. A lot of changes had to be factored Q+A POLITICS / SIKKIM in and we are working on those now,” says SDF Lok “YOU NEED A Sabha MP P.D. Rai. Whether he gets a sixth term or not, there is BIG HEART TO unanimity even among his critics that Chamling has been rewarded by his voters for bringing about OCCUPY A BIG unprecedented development in the state. As per data released by the Union ministry for statistics and programme implementation, Sikkim’s GDP growth has CHAIR” consistently been above the national average and its Pawan Kumar Chamling spoke to KAUSHIK DEKA on being per capita income is the third highest among states— the country’s longest serving chief minister, the Sikkim develop- at Rs 2,10,394, it’s double the national average of ment model and Gorkhaland. Excerpts from the interview: Rs 1,03,219. The population below the poverty line has come down to 8 per cent from over 40 per cent Q. How did you build such a In 1989, I won elections again, when Chamling took charge. “By 2020, we will have long innings in politics? winning 96 per cent of the one-storeyed pucca house for all, we have almost A. Without people’s trust, I’m votes. During oath-taking, completed 90 per cent of the work,” says Chamling. nothing. They appreciated my peo ple clapped more when my His development model revolves around exploit- ing the natural advantages of the state—agriculture work and I got an opportunity name was announced than and tourism. “The state’s agriculture became 100 to serve them. for the then chief minister, per cent organic in 2015. Sikkim has emerged as a Nar Bahadur Bhandari. This major producer of cardamoms and the second largest Q. What are your big achieve antagonised him, and two producer of spices in the world,” says Professor Ajay ments as chief minister? years later, I was thrown out Chhibber, former assistant secretary general for the A. Today, Sikkim is a clean, of the cabinet. I launched my Asia-Pacific, UN. The state has emerged as a major prosperous state, where there own party. Bhandari slapped tourist destination, attracted huge investment from is no poverty. The second big a number of cases against me. the pharmaceutical industry, earned self sufficiency achievement is that today Sik- I went underground for three in power generation through hydro power and is kim is emotionally integrated months and came back with considered one of the best-managed small states in with India. When I came anticipatory bail. On Septem- the country. And unlike neighbouring northeastern to power in 1994, I coined ber 9, 1992, I lit a candle in states, Sikkim has remained peaceful. a slogan: “Desh hamara the assembly, walked across “There is no doubt that he is relentless in his mis- Hin dustan, Sikkim hamara the stunned House looking for sion to develop Sikkim. Unlike most politicians, he Sukhistan (Our country is democracy, finally reached the is flexible, quick to recognise his mistakes and make Hindustan, Sikkim is our CM’s chair and said, “Now I amends. He reads a lot and keeps himself abreast land of peace)”. Among all see the killer of democracy in of global development models,” says activist Tseten the northeastern and border this candlelight.” For those five Lepcha, who has been at loggerheads with the CM. states, Sikkim’s the most minutes, I felt as though I was The willingness to accept mistakes was evident when peaceful. We’re dra fting a law the only person alive in the Chamling admitted that his red carpet to pharma to declare basic needs—hous- assembly, the rest were dead. companies did not yield the desired results in terms ing, water, power, roads, Two years later, my party came of generating employment. schools, hospitals—as a legal to power and since then, my Critics argue that most of his schemes right holding the state govern- politics has revolved around have been populist, but Chamling’s ment and local bodies respon- solving people’s problems. If the numbers reflect that biggest critic in sible for providing these. you are occupying a big chair, these schemes have helped recent times has you must have a big heart. in improving social indi- Q. Describe your political cators. The government been the BJP. Its journey. Q. Sikkim’s per capita income offers free medical treat- general secretary A. I was born in a poor family is among the highest in the ment to all within the Ram Madhav and dropped out of school. I country, less than 10 per cent state. When a patient is worked as a writer-constable people are below the poverty referred to hospitals out- calls the SDF in the police department for line. What’s the Sikkim model side the state, they get ‘Sikkim Dictatorial three years and quit because I of development? Rs 2 lakh as assistance Front’ wanted to work for the people A. I don’t want Sikkim to be a from the government. If in my village. I joined politics consumer state. Our devel- the patient belongs to the in 1985 and became an MLA. opment model is based on

42 INDIA TODAY MAY 7, 2018 utilising human and natural re- Q. You’re a BJP ally at the Cen sources. It began with the launch tre. Yet, it poached three of your of ecotourism and blending it with members and is talking of an the promotion of local culture. The alliance with other parties against next step was making the state the SDF. organic. Initially, it was difficult A. I’ll keep my promise to the to convince people, motivate prime minister, follow the Con- bureaucrats and replace chemical stitution and support the central fertiliser with organic. This not government. only boosted the rural economy but also increased life expectancy Q. During the 2017 gram pan by 10 years. Agriculture contrib- chayat polls, you warned people utes 50 per cent to CO2 emission. against a party that practises the If we stop using chemical fertil- politics of religion and is trying to iser, it will reduce CO2 emission. gain a foothold in Sikkim. Was it We hope to be self-sufficient in not an attack on the BJP? foodgrain production in the next A. Sikkim is a sensitive border five years. Development can never state. We have Doklam on our be at the cost of environment. north. We are India’s sentinels. We Sikkim has many power projects, don’t pelt stones at armymen. We but only seven households were will pelt stones at China. This is displaced due to these dams. Since because the people of Sikkim are I came to power, the forest cover united. There is no discrimination has grown by four per cent. on the basis of religion or caste. Some parties want to create divi- Q. Your critics say enough jobs sion for political gain; people must have not been created in the state. guard against them. A. Our growth rate shot up because the state saw huge private Q. Are you happy with the way the investment in the past decade. Centre has dealt with China? You This was propelled by a 10-year said Sikkim did not join India to tax incentive between 2007 be sandwiched between China and 2017 under the Northeast and Bengal. Industrial Development Policy A. I was misquoted, I wanted and the conducive socio-political to highlight how Sikkim suf- environment. Fifty pharmaceuti- fers when its lifeline, NH10, gets cal companies have set up plants blocked. Regarding the Union here. But they are not recruiting government’s policy on dealing the local youth. I’m bringing in an with China, I have full faith in act which will make it mandatory Narendra Modi’s leadership. for private companies to offer 90 per cent jobs to locals. If the local Q. The West Bengal government youth are not skilled enough, the often criticises you for your sup companies must train them. port to Gorkhaland. A. I extended my support to the Q. BJP leader Ram Madhav says Gor khaland agitation to earn the SDF is ‘Sikkim Dictatorial Front’. goodwill of those blocking the A. Those saying this want to rule national highway. I thought they’d Sikkim. I’ve been in politics for 40 let foodgrains reach Sikkim. But years not to rule but to empower my stand now is, it’s Bengal’s in- people. When I launched the SDF, ternal issue. We’ll cooperate with I said as long as I am in politics, the West Bengal government and no member of my family will join the CM has promised free passage politics. I’ve kept my word. on the roads to Sikkim. n / SIKKIM POLITICS SIKKIM DOMINATING BPL category, the government will bear FRONT political science at Sikkim University. the entire expense. The state offers free In the first decade of power, the SDF’s Maintenance of social harmony education till college. There is also 30 popularity peaked with 70% vote share; among the three major ethnic groups— the second decade saw a decline with the per cent reservation for women in gov emergence of a new challenger, SKM Nepali, Bhutia and Lepcha—has been ernment jobs and higher education; 50 one of the biggest achievements of per cent seats are reserved for women in SEATS WON Chamling. “Chamling, who comes from urban local bodies and gram panchay l SDF l SSP l Congress l SKM a modest Nepali background, came to ats. “We can see a growing number of 1 power on the slogan of Bhasha Na, Bhat women in government jobs,” says Dr (it’s not the language, but the food we 7 31 32 Sandhya Thapa, head of the sociology 10 10 share that matters), and has been able to department at Sikkim University. 24 provide leadership to diverse sections of Chhibber counts several other achi 22 society,” says Professor Manish, former 19 eve ments—lowest fertility rate in the head of the department of international country, 100 per cent electrification and relations at Sikkim University. sanitation and now a target of 100 per Despite Chamling’s dominance cent literacy by the yearend. “The state over the social and electoral landscape has also outperformed the national av 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 of Sikkim, opposition parties are not erage on a broad range of social para willing to give up without a fight. The meters as evidenced in our analysis of SDF VOTE SHARE (%) SKM has alleged that the government the social progress index. Apart from has failed to provide infrastructure and performing well on health and educa 42 52 71 66 55 bring in reforms in the education sector, tion indices, Sikkim does an exceptional 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 Congress state president Bharat Basnett job of ensuring personal rights and safe Total number of assembly seats: 32 alleges that Chamling has diluted provi ty,” says Amit Kapoor, chairman of the sions of Article 371 (F) meant to protect Institute for Competitiveness. the indigenous people of Sikkim, that Empowerment of the people thro CHANGING farmers are still using chemical fertiliser ugh decentralisation and institutional smuggled from West Bengal, and the governance has been one of the high BATTLEFIELDS CM is using money and muscle power lights of Chamling’s tenure. As Rai ex In the past five elections, Chamling to win elections. There has also been plains, the slogan of the SDF has been to has contested from four different criticism over lack of infrastructure de constituencies; his personal popularity inspire villagers to take control of their saw a sharp decline in 2014 velopment, especially road connectivity governance. “He has established unique and public transport. Kapoor dismisses forums of direct civic engagement that l Victory margin 81 such criticism, claiming that Sikkim has include undertaking walks through the managed to build an extensive network l Vote share (%) state to listen to people and address of roads with the length of national their concerns,” says Rai. 81 highways increasing by more than five He has also championed decentral 5,956 times since 2008 and the length of state ised governance to ensure that people in highways increasing by more than four the remotest parts have their demands times during the same time period.

4,644 64 met,” says A.K. Shiva Kumar, a devel 72 Chamling’s biggest critic in recent opment economist who has helped the 70 times has been the BJP, its ally in the state government prepare a human de northeast and at the Centre. BJP gen 3,142 velopment index. Since 1994, the SDF 3,086 eral secretary Ram Madhav has named government has introduced several leg 55 Chamling’s party ‘Sikkim Dictatorial 2,441 islations and amendments to strengthen Front’’. On his part, Chamling has sent grassroots democracy, increase popular out an indirect warning to his people:

participation in the decisionmaking DID NOT CONTEST beware of communally divisive parties. 1,084 process, conduct regular elections and Political observers, however, don’t see 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 maintain activity mapping. “Chamling any threat to his government, either believes that in the ethnically heteroge from the BJP or the Congress. neous state, local government can create gang Meanwhile, the letter from the

nonviolent platforms for interethnic Damthang Damthang Damthang PWD department reached the chief and intergroup discussion relating to minister’s home late in the evening. CONSTITUENCY local issues and allocation of resources,” Poklok-Kamrang The woman has been appointed with Rangang-Yan says Durga Prasad Chettri, who teaches Namchi-Singhithang Namchi-Singhithang effect from May 1.n

44 INDIA TODAY MAY 7, 2018 Graphics by TANMOY CHAKRABORTY GET YOUR MONEY’S WORTH DIVIDEND TAX ON EQUITY FUNDS

CAPITAL GAINS TAX ON EQUITY

AUTO LOAN CLOSURE

Illustration by TANMOY CHAKRABORTY SMART MONEY DIVIDEND VS GROWTH AN EXPENSIVE DIVIDEND Equity mutual funds just became less attractive with the dividend distribution tax

 NEW INVESTMENTS Experts advise exercising the growth option for fresh investments under the new tax regime. “The growth option is the best option in the post-equity Long Term Capital Gains (LTCG) tax scenario, particularly because of the 10 per cent DDT on dividends from equity,” says Rahul Parikh, CEO, Bajaj Capital. Not reinvesting this dividend in a similar instrument entails an opportunity cost, he adds. If reinvested and then held for more than a year, it again attracts LTCG tax on SHUTTERSTOCK profit above a lakh. If you need a regular n the budget this the introduction of taxation cash flow from your invest- year, Union finance on dividend income in the IN A ment, you may still consider minister Arun Jaitley last budget.” What are your the growth option. “Mutual I announced that divi- options then for existing NUTSHELL funds offer facilities like dend income from equity and fresh investments? the Systematic Withdrawal and equity mutual fund l Plan or SWP, in which schemes would henceforth  EXISTING INVESTMENT SWITCH investors can opt for regular attract dividend distribu- If you have selected the from dividend cash flow in the growth tion tax (DDT) of 10 per dividend option in your option to growth option depending on their cent. What does this mean existing investment or l individual requirements. for your existing mutual systematic investment plan EVALUATE In this option, capital gains funds that pay a regular (SIP), change over to the exit load and short up to Rs 1 lakh are exempt dividend? Does it call for growth option. You can term capital gains from tax,” says Gupta. The a tweak in your overall do this by submitting a tax while switching advantage of SWPs is that l investment strategy? written application to your an investor can regulate OPT The dividend op- fund house. For tax-saving the amount of cash flow in for SWP for tion of mutual funds has schemes or equity-linked accordance with his needs, regular cash flow been popular with inves- saving schemes (ELSS), you unlike the dividend option tors looking for a regular need to wait until the lock- which relies on distribut- cash flow, especially from in period gets over. able surplus and prevailing equity-oriented hybrid However, you need to and investment in the other market conditions. funds. However, as Radhika keep a few things in mind option of the same scheme. All is not lost in the new Gupta, CEO, Edelweiss while considering the other It may, therefore, attract an tax regime. Some wise plan- Mutual Fund, says, “Eq- investment option. The exit load as well as short- ning and you can still make uity Mutual Funds offering switch from one option term capital gains tax if the handsome returns on your monthly dividend have to another is treated as period of your investment investment. n become less attractive after redemption from one option was less than 365 days. —Kundan Kishore

46 INDIA TODAY MAY 7, 2018 SMART MONEY MUTUAL FUNDS

case, because the net taxable LTCG of Rs 75,000 (that is, Rs 2 lakh minus Rs 1.25 lakh) is less than Rs 1 lakh, the investor is saved from having to pay LTCG tax.

 PROFIT BOOKING AND REINVESTING The other way to minimise the tax is to churn your portfolio, since the actual cost of acquisition is considered for calculating LTCG. By churning your portfolio, you can keep changing the cost of acquisition. Sup- pose you bought 1,000 units in an MF scheme at a net asset value (NAV) of MAKING EQUITY Rs 180 on April 20, 2018, and the NAV rose to Rs 260 by April 2019, you’d have WORK FOR YOU made LTCG of Rs 80,000. A few legitimate ways in which you can avoid paying If you sell all the units on long-term capital gains tax on equity investments April 27, 2019, and buy them back, your acquisition price will be reset to Rs 260 ong Term Capital members. “Dividing the term capital loss arising and the date of acquisition Gains (LTCG) tax portfolio among your family from some other investment will become April 27, 2019. on equity is back members results in low or either in equity shares or Now if the NAV rose to Rs L again after almost no tax as each individual in equity-oriented mu- 345 in another year, your 14 years. From April 1, gets the benefit of Rs 1 lakh tual funds. For instance, if a gains will be Rs 85,000 and 2018, equity mutual fund exemption,” says Brijesh person has LTCG of, say, Rs under the Rs 1 lakh limit. investors are liable to 10 per Dalmia, founder, Dalmia 2 lakh on an investment in Not many, however, advise cent LTCG tax on gains over Advisory Services. If invest- equity mutual fund scheme this strategy. “If you keep Rs 1 lakh per annum. How- ing in the name of your A and a long term capital churning your portfolio ever, thanks to a grandfather clause, gains made up to the end of financial year The LTCG tax will apply to gains made after 2017-18 will be exempt from April 1, 2018. Profits made up to FY 2017-18 will the tax. Here are some ways benefit from the grandfather clause to minimise the incidence of LTCG tax: children, remember they loss of Rs 1.25 lakh in equity based not on the perfor-  INVEST IN THE NAMES should be above 18 years of mutual fund scheme B, the mance of a scheme or the OF FAMILY MEMBERS age to avail of the benefit. loss from scheme B can be equity market but to dodge Gifts from specific mem- set off against the gain from taxes, you are not investing bers of the family (father,  SET OFF LONG-TERM scheme A. The set-off is in equity but rather in tax wife, children) are exempt CAPITAL LOSS allowed even if the investor laws,” says Gaurav Mashru- from tax. Experts, there- One can save LTCG tax on has incurred long-term capi- wala, a Mumbai-based cer- fore, advise a division of equity-oriented mutual tal loss from investments in tified financial planner. n the portfolio among family funds by setting off a long- direct equity shares. In this —Kundan Kishore

Illustration by TANMOY CHAKRABORTY SMART MONEY AUTO LOANS

THE KEY TO HASSLE-FREE OWNERSHIP Your auto loan requires some attention, even after you have paid the last EMI

Illustration by TANMOY CHAKRABORTY

uto loans have inform you about the total To remove the hypoth- made buying cars a outstanding amount to be ecation, you need to collect breeze, but closing settled, which includes out- MUST DOs the no-dues certificate and the loan can be a bit standing principal, accrued Form 35 (for termination of A l tedious and requires some interest and other charges, hypothecation) from your care with the paperwork. and a date by which the CLEAR ALL DUES lender. A no-dues cer- payment needs to be made. with lender tificate, or ‘closure letter’, is  FINAL PAYMENT Don’t forget to collect a re- issued to the borrower after l While paying the final EMI ceipt of the final payment. s/he has repaid in full and of your loan, check with the NO DUES closed the outstanding loan CERTIFICATE lender for dues. If a cheque  GET PAPERS IN ORDER account. Once this letter Also, get Form 35 or ECS (electronic clearing Bringing down your loan has been issued, the loan ac- from the lender service) bounced during the dues to zero is not enough. count is closed in the books loan period or a payment “The biggest mistake a bor- l of the bank. was made late, there could be rower makes is to assume APPLY WITH RTO Form 35 is a declara- some principal outstanding that paying the last EMI to remove hypo- tion of termination of lien or or interest that needs to be completes the loan process. thecation from RC agreement between you and paid. “In case of a bounced The vehicle’s papers still the bank. It mentions that cheque/ ECS, one may need belong to the lender,” points l the hypothecation stands to visit the bank to initiate out Vikram Raichura, GET OWNERSHIP cancelled. “Banks or NBFCs loan closure proceedings by co-founder & CEO, Infin8 details updated (non-banking financial paying the outstanding bal- Capital. When you take an with the insurer companies) should ideally ance,” says Jose K. Mathew, auto loan from a financial give you the loan closure l executive vice president, institution, the lender gets documents, such as NoC, CIBIL SCORE Federal Bank. “Ensure there your car hypothecated with within two weeks of payment Check it to rule are no dues after payment the regional transport office of the final EMI,” says Rishi out errors of the final EMI and the (RTO). The hypothecation Mehra, CEO of wishfin.com. loan outstanding has been is mentioned on the vehicle’s “If you don’t receive the docu- brought down to zero.” registration certificate sell your vehicle only after ments within two weeks, ap- If you wish to foreclose (RC). You become the legal the hypothecation has been proach the lender.” Once you a loan, the lender will owner of your car and can removed from the RC. get the NoC, you will need

48 INDIA TODAY MAY 7, 2018 to apply for removal of hypothecation within 90 days. After that, a duplicate copy of the NoC can be taken from the lender on payment of a fee.

 REMOVING HYPOTHECATION Removal of hypothecation from your vehicle’s RC requires a visit to the RTO. Carry the NoC in original, the RC book or smart card, completed Form 35, insurance papers, pollution under control (PUC) certificate, PAN card and a valid proof of address. The RTO will issue a receipt while admitting your application. The receipt will serve as a temporary RC till the time you receive the updated RC book or smart card.

 INFORM THE INSURER Inform your insurer once the hypothecation has been removed. “The loan closure must get updated with the insurer so that you are eligible for insurance if an accident happens,” says Mehra. To update your records with the insurer, submit photocopies of the updated RC book, NoC and insurance documents. The insurer will issue a letter confirming cancella- tion of hypothecation.

 CREDIT REPORT Check your CIBIL (Credit Infor- mation Bureau India Limited) report to ensure it’s error-free. “Sometimes, even after closing a loan, due to slow reporting systems in financial institutions, there is a possibility that your credit report will show the same auto loan as zero outstanding but as an active loan,” says Anil Rego, founder and CEO, Right Hori- zons. “Depending on the bank, it could take 2-3 months to get the loan closure updated in the CIBIL report,” says Mehra. n —Naveen Kumar GUEST COLUMN Don’t Blame the Teacher

AZIM PREMJI

hen I took over the responsibility of Wipro in 1966, I had no experience of working in business. I was 21 then, having left Stanford with my degree unfinished, in the wake of the tragedy of my father passing away at a relativelyW young age. The first few years at Wipro were bewildering. Everything was new and had to be learnt. There were many good people to help and support me, but eventually the responsibility was mine and I felt that acutely. I learnt most by accompanying the salespeople in the street. We would go from shop to shop, to convince the owners to stock the vegetable oil that we used to make at that time. This gave me an intimate view of the industry, from its human to its economic dimensions. It also taught me that our organisation was eventually only as good as our salespeople they were our most important people. I also learnt how complex and demanding the sales job was. Our teacher education system This is a lesson I have seen to be true everywhere. needs a complete overhaul. The When we started the Azim Premji Foundation 17 years ago, and started working with government schools, I knew desultory teacher training must nothing about education. But I knew that the best way to be stopped. Teachers must be learn was to go and spend time with the frontline, which in empowered, trusted, supported this case was the teachers and principals. I have done this systematically over the years, and every such instance has given me a glimpse of the extraordinary complexity of a teacher’s role and her challenges. Let me use an experience The head teacher’s ingenuity was reflected in many from a particular trip to illustrate this. things, including the baal mela, being hosted by his My visit to Barmer district in Rajasthan was an unfor- school, which we visited. The purpose of the event was to gettable experience. During lunch in one school, the head generate awareness amongst teachers from nearby schools teacher insisted on pouring ladles of ghee on the bajra about effective pedagogic practices. The baal mela had roti. Of his own accord, he said, “you must be wondering required an ability to convert educational ideas into an about this ghee”, and then he explained. The school has 265 effective and interesting mechanism that would attract students. The quantity of grains that they get for the mid- teachers. His ingenuity was combined with sincerity and day-meal is based on the norm set on a per child basis. But sound educational understanding. He led a group of five on any given day five to 10 children are absent from the motivated teachers. The result was a school where chil- school. He makes sure that the quantity cooked is appro- dren were happy and learned well, one the community priate and saves the grain that was meant for the absent took great pride in. This, despite the complex challenges students. Over a few weeks he saves enough to trade it in that the school confronted. Most children faced extreme for some ghee and sweets with the village grocery shop. poverty at home, and a tough trudge to school, five teach- And this he uses for the students. ers had to handle the work of nine, and so on. Clearly, mid-day meals need a lot more funding from In the three days that I was in Barmer district, I met the government for the nutritional content to be improved, over 200 government school teachers. Their commitment in all schools across the country. But within the existing and sincerity were very moving, especially seen in the con- constraints, this head teacher does the best that can be text of the difficult conditions and constraints that they done for his school. It was some of that ghee that he was have to work with. sharing with the guests of the school. In district after district across the country, I have seen

50 INDIA TODAY MAY 7, 2018 Illustration by TANMOY CHAKRABORTY the same. There is a sizeable proportion of teachers, who, despite all constraints and challenges, do remarkable work through their initiative and ingenuity. There is also a large proportion of teachers who do a good job when they are given support and the right environment, while a small proportion is disengaged. This is not very different from large organisations in business or other fields. With about nine million teachers across the country, this implies that there are millions of teachers with sincerity and commitment. We need good curricula, infrastructure and administration. But teachers are the real frontline in education. And even when all other factors are against them, good and committed teachers make a big difference. It is this frontline that will determine the success of our education, and it is education that shapes our society. But over the past decades we have systematically undervalued and underinvested in teachers. How can we have good education if this is the importance that we give to our teachers? Many interventions for our teachers are absolutely essential and we need to do these urgently, if we want to improve our education. Let me mention just three. First, our teacher education system, which prepares our teachers through the BEd programmes, needs a complete overhaul. Very large number of BEd colleges are virtually degree shops with no real interest in education—they need to be shut down. We must abandon the archaic short BEd programmes, and move to an integrated four-year programme, with real curricular imagination. All colleges must be run well, with integrity and educational rigour. Making this happen will require substantial public and philanthropic investment. But unless we invest in preparing our teachers, how can we expect them to have the capacity to perform their roles adequately?

he current problems in school education are substantially because of the pathetic state of our teacher education system. It is heartening that the T Union government has taken the first concrete steps towards these reforms, but it will require at least a decade of sustained work to make a difference. Second, the existing nine million teachers must be supported and empowered. This will require developing effective on-the-ground modes of professional development of teachers. The desultory teacher training that has been the norm must be stopped. It will also require more and better resourcing of schools. Some states such as Karnataka have made a good beginning on professional development of teachers. Third, we must stop blaming teachers for all the ills in our education system. Instead, we must give them their due place in society—as the archi- tects and developers of a good society. They must be empowered, trusted and supported. This requires a cultural revolution in our education system and society at large. The progress of India will be determined by the capacity and motivation of the frontline in all fields of human development. We must invest in and value the frontline. We have not done this till now, so it needs urgent and dramatic change. Human capacity in the frontline supported by an empowering culture is the crux of making our country more just, equitable, humane and sustain- able. We must put all our national might behind this. n

The author is Chairman, Wipro Ltd ASHKARORUMANAYUR

ELDERCARE DEMOGRAPHIC DOWNSIDE

The famed ‘dividend’ is destined to age and India’s elderly population will grow dramatically by mid-century. While branded corporate eldercare is thriving, the welfare of senior citizens remains a quiet crisis

By Romita Datta D

Defying the wind and chill of the of life.” The statistics ministry report Sundarbans delta, a group of about 30 shows that the old-age dependency men and women are huddled over a ratio, a measure of the pressure on the bonfire. They’re singing along to old, economically productive section of the half-forgotten tunes. There’s some population, rose from 10.9 per cent in clapping, some camaraderie over 1961 to 14.2 per cent in 2011. Though whiskey glasses. This night out by the 41.6 per cent of the elderly population Matla river is the highlight of a short still works (with significant differences holiday for these septuagenarians and between rural and urban, men and octogenarians, residents of Thikana women), few feel financially secure. Shimla, the Kolkata old-age home that The large majority of the elderly in the organises these biannual retreats. It’s a workforce are rural men (66.4 per cent welcome distraction from the debilita- over 60 work, compared to just 11.3 per ting effects of ageing, the aches and cent urban men) and for mal pension pains, the impaired hearing, the myo- coverage is limited and largely inad- pia, even dementia and depression. equate. A 2016 survey by the Agewell For all the talk of India’s demogra- Foundation with 15,000 rural and phic dividend, its bulging youth popu- urban respondents showed 65 per cent lation, the country is also greying rap- reported themselves as either financial- idly. According to a 2016 report by the ly dependent or facing a financial crisis. ministry for statistics and programme Nearly 80 per cent of those in financial implementation, India has 103.9 mil- trouble said it was due to medical costs. lion elderly, people above age 60, about Meanwhile, a 2015-16 AISCCON 8.5 per cent of the population. These survey shows that 60 per cent of elderly numbers are reliant on the 2011 census. people living with their families face The elderly population has grown at abuse and harassment, 66 per cent are about 3.5 per cent per year, double the either ‘very poor’ or below the poverty SOBHA rate for the population as a whole; a line and 39 per cent have been either HERMITAGE 2014 report by the non-profit HelpAge abandoned or live alone. The associated VADAKKANCHERY, India shows that while India will be mental health issues of living alone, KERALA the youngest country in the world by especially for the elderly, are so serious No. of rooms: 50 2020, by 2050, as many as 325 million that the United Kingdom appointed a Fee: Interest-free people, or 20 per cent of the popula- Minister for Loneliness this January. refundable deposit tion, will be ‘elderly’. While the overall India spends just 1.2 per cent of its of Rs 7 lakh per population of India will have grown by GDP on healthcare. Prime Minister room plus monthly about 40 per cent between 2006 and Narendra Modi has said that by 2025, rent. As part of 2050, the report adds, the elderly popu- spending on healthcare as a propor- CSR, some rooms lation will have grown by 270 per cent. tion of GDP will rise to 2.5 per cent, are reserved for What are the economic and social a move the British medical journal residents with a policies being put into place to tackle Lancet said indicated a worrying “lack monthly income of this exponential growth in India’s eld- of ambition... when the global average 7,500 or less erly population? “The life expectancy of for countries is about six per cent.” In those above 70 has increased by 18 per the most recent budget, the govern- cent,” says S.P. Kinjawadekar, presi- ment announced the Ayushman Bharat dent of the All India Senior Citi zens’ national health programme, promising Confederation (AISCCON), “but it has health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per not necessarily improved the quality family per year, suggesting it under-

MAY 7, 2018 INDIA TODAY 53 ELDERCARE

stands the need to step up spending on public health. Under a previous scheme, now subsumed under Ayushman Bharat, elderly Indians were eligible for insurance up to Rs 1 lakh, with those above the poverty line responsible for paying their own premiums. Some 100 million families will be covered under the new scheme that the Indian government is calling the largest in the world. Certainly, the extra money will be welcome. A National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO)report showed that in 2014, the average urban hospital stay cost 176 per cent more than it did in 2004, with rural patients paying 160 per cent more than they did a decade before. NSSO data also showed that a household comprising only elders spends 3.8 times more per month on healthcare than one without elderly kin. No wonder so many elderly Indians are financially dependent on their families. It’s the sort of dependence that leaves the likes of Shyamali Pal Jash, a ANTARA, DEHRADUN 65-year-old schoolteacher in Bur dwan No. of apartments: 190; Price: from Rs 2 crore for district, especially vulnerable. Her son, 1 BHK to Rs 7 crore for penthouse

% % GREYING POPULATION 71.8 63.9 HIGHEST LIFE LOWEST LIFE INDIA WILL SEE A SPECTACULAR RISE IN THE NUMBER OF ITS ELDERLY PEOPLE EXPECTANCY EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH AT BIRTH ESTIMATED INCREASE IN POPULATION BETWEEN 2000 AND 2050 KERALA ASSAM 19.3% 15.4% 56% HIGHEST LIFE LOWEST LIFE 700% 326% EXPECTANCY EXPECTANCY Total 80+ 60+ AT AGE 60 AT AGE 60 PUNJAB ASSAM + MP 21.6% 20.2% HIGHEST HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF 60-PLUS ACROSS INDIAN STATES IN 2011 FEMALE LIFE MALE LIFE 12.3 EXPECTANCY AT EXPECTANCY AT 10.3 8.5 AGE 60: KERALA AGE 60: PUNJAB 6.5 6.5 7.6

NATIONALLY: LIFE Assam Delhi Haryana West Himachal Kerala 16.9 Bengal Pradesh EXPECTANCY AT 19 60 (%) Sources: ‘State of Elderly in India’’, 2014 (HelpAge India); UNEPA India Ageing Report, 2017; Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation Male Female

54 INDIA TODAY MAY 7, 2018 P A N K A J T I W A R I

THE NEST BHOPAL No. of units: 30 studio, 30 1BHK and 15 2BHK apartments Price: Rs 75 lakh, Rs 36 lakh and Rs 57 lakh repectively

an IIT graduate who went abroad, cut five years later, he claims there are “at off all ties. Shyamali had separated least 100 start-ups” offering at-home from her husband, in part she says due services and Aaji Care “still grows at to his quarrels with their son. Left be- about 40 per cent year on year”. reft by her son’s subsequent abandon- HelpAge India, which has been ment, she left for Kolkata where the around for 40 years now, aims to police found her wandering the streets, help the elderly lead a dignified life a vagabond in tattered clothing. through healthcare, financial as- On the other side of the spectrum, sistance and social security. “We have Prasad Bhide, an IT professional, left formed 2,000 self-help groups across his job in the United States to attend the country to ensure a steady flow of to his bedridden mother in Mumbai. income for the needy aged,” says its Unable to find quality homecare, he president Prakash Borgaonkar. set up Aaji Care in 2012 to fill that In a typically Indian story, where gap. “With people working long hours the government has lagged behind, and children living away from their private services have mushroomed. For ageing parents,” Bhide says, “there is a price, lonely old people, their children just a growing need for elderly care in and grandchildren far away or indiffer- metros as well as Tier 2 cities.” Aaji of- ent, can even rent young people to keep fers at-home services for convalescing them company. But if a dizzying array elderly patients, and in 2016, opened of services is available, particularly in Aarambh in the quiet Mumbai suburb cities like Mumbai and Delhi, there of Powai, an old-age home and daycare are not enough old-age homes and centre designed to help elderly patients few affordable facilities. In Delhi, for recover from hospitalisation. Bhide instance, the beleaguered AAP govern- says when he began Aaji, there were ment announced this month that vari- hardly any competitors. Now, over ous administrative and bureaucratic ELDERCARE

RAJESH KUMAR wrangles had meant it could only begin work on two of a promised 10 old-age homes. In Kerala, last month, a three- member committee constituted by the chief minister, found 18 problems that required immediate redressal, including a severe shortage of trained nursing staff in old-age homes, as well as overcrowd- ing in some homes and vacancies in others, and the abandonment of elderly people by their relatives at religious sites. At 12.6 per cent, according to the 2011 census, Kerala has a higher proportion of elderly people than any other Indian state. Equally unsurprisingly, Kerala boasts the highest life expectancy in In- dia for women, with the average lifespan stretching 21.6 years after 60.

or the comparatively minuscule population of F affluent over-60s, there has never been more choice. Geriatrician Kusum Doshi, who works RAJKIYA VRIDDHA “An old age home,” De Sarkar says, with A Silver Amore, an “assisted living EVAM ASHAKT GHAR “whatever its cost, must be more than elder care home” in Thane, Mumbai, says DURGAKUND, VARANASI just bricks and mortar, it must believe that children and their parents, particu- in quality of life, in building com- Capacity: 22 larly after 75, prefer life in these deluxe Cost: Free for destitute, munity.” In The Nest, a self-declared old-age homes. A Silver Amore, for abandoned elderly “commune” for senior citizens in instance, has 14 doctors on call round Bhopal, retired schoolteachers Arun the clock. Some retirement complexes and Suman Ojha revel in their access offer so many conveniences, even healthy to home theatres and rooftop gardens. elderly people choose to live there rather “People think we’ve been deserted by than in their own homes or with their our children,” Suman says, “but we’re families, preferring the on-call doctors, happy leading independent lives.” the help desks, the dedicated security Of course, such stories of luxury and the company of other retired folk. and self-sufficiency are rare. In India, Perhaps the premium example of as AISCCON reports show, the elderly such a complex is Antara, outside Dehra- are disproportionately vulnerable to dun. Its 190 apartments cost between crime, whether violent, or, increasin- Rs 2 and Rs 7 crore and the service is at gly, electronic, with bank and cre dit luxury hotel level. Maintenance fee can card frauds. AISCCON wants monthly be as much as Rs 50,000 a month. This THE MENTAL pensions to increase from Rs 3,500 to is eldercare at its most chi-chi, with well- HEALTH ISSUES Rs 7,000. Most importan tly, it needs preserved retirees taking art and yoga OF LIVING the central and state governments classes, or enjoying buckwheat waffles ALONE, to recognise the needs of a growing for breakfast after an early morning SPECIALLY FOR elderly population. On June 15, India dip in the swimming pool. There are, THE OLD, ARE SO recognises World Eld erly Abuse Day. of course, more humble options, with Last year, hundreds gathered at Jantar Ami tava De Sarkar, of Kolkata-based SERIOUS, THE UK Mantar in Delhi to swap horror stories Thikana Shimla, mentioning a “hermit- APPOINTED A and protest institutionalised indiffer- age for the elderly” being built in West LONELINESS ence. More is planned this year. Too Bengal’s Purulia district with 300-450 MINISTER RECENTLY much still has to change to make India sq ft studios selling for Rs 5 or 6 lakh. a country for old men. And women. n

56 INDIA TODAY MAY 7, 2018 MERCURY 13: MISSING MARK TWAIN: THE BOAT LIVE IN BOMBAY! PG 6 1 PG 6 2

USHA SILAI: Q&A: RADHIKA PERFECT STITCH APTE PG 6 3 LEISURE PG 6 4

PROFILE MAKING THE BODIES COUNT

t the beginning of Ankush Saikia’s new A novel, More Bodies Will Fall, detective Arjun Arora is hunkered down in Delhi, off booze for a month, when the brutal murder of an office worker transplanted from Nagaland draws him back into the turbulent

ANKUSH pol itics of the Northeast. As SAIKIA’SMore detective novels go, it’s a fam

new thriller, , gives iliar scenario. But over the Bodies Will Fall ‘mainland Indians’ course of three Arjun Arora a window into books, Saikia has raised the the Northeast bar for Indian noir—evoking the grim banality of lawless India with literary flair. It’s a peculiar challenge, EMBOR SAYO EMBOR LEISURE

says Saikia, who helps run his mother’s bakery, Moinee’s headlines, like the plots of Dead Meat and Remember Death, Bakes, in Shillong when he’s not writing. In safer societies, in his latest, Saikia evokes the lives of Northeastern trans- like crime novel-crazed Sweden, the murder tale is a titillat- plants to Delhi. The plot turns on the strangulation of a girl ing flirtation with danger and disorder, wrapped up in a nice from Nagaland in her Delhi barsati, and resonates with the bow at the end. But Indians are confronted with gruesome, ongoing public discourse on sexual assault and the percep- cynical, unsolvable crimes—nested in webs of conspiracy tion of women from the Northeast. But Saikia, like Greene, and political sniping—in the news every day. The wide- explores the intersection of humanity and “issues” with spread hatred and distrust for the cops makes an ordinary a deft touch. The mystery of Amenla Longkumer’s death police procedural a nonstarter. And the detective novel’s morphs into the mystery of her life, as Arora investigates the classic payoff—the breakdown and restoration relationship with her posh Delhi boyfriend and of order—would be too fantastic to work. “I a star-crossed past romance with a boy from always thought Delhi was well-suited to a dark across the Kuki-Naga divide. sort of treatment. There’s always violence some- Having spent more than a decade in Delhi, where in the background,” Saikia says. where he spent more time roaming around on Saikia is something of an accidental crime his motorcycle than attending literary events or novelist. He rarely read crime novels growing thinktank talking shops about the Northeast, up and his first book,Jet City Woman, was Saikia’s eye for detail is impressive—justifying more in line with the relationship novels that the praise he’s received earlier as a sort of bard have since taken Indian publishing by storm. of the city’s underbelly. He also succeeds in cap- Even his first crime thriller, the well-regarded turing the air of rapid social change without the The Girl from Nongrim Hills, was undertaken moralising tone common to noir. That makes it as a lark, more or less to see if he could pull it easy to imagine Arora becoming the foreigner’s off, and only became a novel at the urging of window into Delhi the way Aurelio Zen has been then Penguin India editor Chiki Sarkar (who MORE BODIES for Italy or Kurt Wallander has been for Sweden. now runs Juggernaut Books). “It was just for my WILL FALL But in More Bodies Will Fall, Saikia also own enjoyment, you know. Growing up we’d see by Ankush Saikia offers “main land Indians” a similar window PENGUIN INDIA these thriller movies, and I always asked myself, into the Northeast (chiefly Nagaland), as Arora `399; 320 pages ‘How come there’s nothing set here?’” returns to the troubled area where he spent his That book was set in Shillong—where Saikia formative years and military service. Long- spent most of his childhood—and the protago- kumer, the murder victim, is the daughter of a nist of Jet City Woman was also a young man who’d moved member of one of the Naga militias. To investigate a possible to Delhi from Meghalaya for work. But More Bodies Will Fall link to her childhood boyfriend and the insurgency-drug is the first Arjun Arora story in which the ex-soldier returns trade nexus, Arora must draw on his old military network— to the Northeast. It’s also the most political of Saikia’s books, and confront the corrupt officer behind his decision to leave with a plot that hinges on the internecine wrangling among the army. Naturally, along the way he narrowly avoids getting the insurgent groups in Nagaland and Manipur. killed himself and, of course, beds a beautiful woman. “If you Saikia’s father was a big fan of Graham Greene, and the want somebody to buy something you can’t be boring, even if influence of the British master of the literary thriller—who you’re doing something serious,” says Saikia. If the baker gets wrote both serious literature and what he called “enter- his just desserts, the book will sell like hot cakes. n tainments”—is evident. Taking a story ripped from the —Jason Overdorf

CRIME CONTENDERS

MURDER IN A RISING MAN THE IRON BRA MAHIM Abir Mukherjee Ashok Banker Jerry Pinto The Indian side- From before he The literary novel- kick/ stiff upper lip turned to the ist takes a stab British detective Ramayana, and at crime in this trope may grate, the big bucks, serious contender but the Raj era book one of for bragging rights plot keeps you Banker’s Mumbai in the genre hooked noir series

58 INDIA TODAY MAY 7, 2018 SEVENTEEN by Hideo Yokoyama RIVERRUN `499; 416 pages

The Dead Line rime novelist Hideo no doubt around the world. What is Yokoyama’s Seventeen is uniquely Japanese is how the modali- billed as a thriller. But it’s ties of hierarchy and deference play C really a newsroom drama, out. Yuuki is constantly plagued by and as such nothing like Six Four—the questions of ‘big lives’ and ‘small first of the bestselling author’s novels lives’. He loses a scoop to a rival to be translated into English. newspaper and then his position at Set in the offices of the fictitious the headquarters when he decides North Kanto Times in 1985, it cen- to publish a controversial letter to tres on the trials of the journalists the victims’ families. Eventually, it is covering the crash of a Japan the ethics of journalism that drive Air Lines (JAL) jumbo jet the plot. that killed 520 passen- While Six Four incor- gers—a real story that SEVENTEEN porated elements of the centres on the Yokoyama covered trials of reporters thriller to depict the inner when he worked at covering a JAL air world of police bureau- the Jomo Shimbun crash, a real story cracy, there is no “crime” Yokoyama had newspaper in Gunma covered as such in Seventeen. The Prefecture. only mystery is the fate of On August 12, 1985, Yuuki’s friend, Anzai, who falls newspaper offices across Japan into a vegetative state after sheer went into a frenzy changing layouts exhaustion from overwork—a casu- for the next day’s paper as stories alty of Japan’s now well-documented of a crashed JAL flight trickled in. At problem with exhausting work cul- the fictional North Kanto Times, desk tures. (Last year, police concluded editor Kazumasa Yuuki finds him- that a 31-year-old reporter had liter- self the reluctant supervisor of the ally worked herself to death, logging crash coverage, attempting to man- 159 hours of overtime.) age flaring egos, personal rivalries Like Six Four, though, the deep and political intrigues. The tantrums, dive into the murk is well worth it if conspiracies and hushed-up sexual you crack open Seventeen with the harassment Yokoyama depicts are right expectations. n common to newsrooms in India and —Farah Yameen WEB SERIES LOST SOULS COURTESY NETFLIX

his is a golden age for Handmaid’s Tale, The Expanse, even The idea of seeing whether or not writ- television science fiction, the off-kilterInto the Badlands. ers can make something interesting out T thanks to the popularisa- What’s disturbing is that both of a dated, ridiculous concept is enough tion of long-running sto- HBO and Netflix, arguably the biggest to generate endless internet articles and ries and the new economics that have innovators, are already experimenting get people to check out a few episodes. resulted from cable/ streaming origi- with the sort of bland material that But trying to hang a serious show on a nals. Watch a ‘regular’ TV pilot from ori ginates in the marketing depart- ridiculous frame is needlessly difficult, America and you can immediately see ment before it’s farmed out to writers. forcing the creators to bust out the big why—every interesting thing that’s Close on the heels of HBO’s sententious special effects and bombastic score. (As going to happen in the season has to be reboot of Westworld, Netflix pushed out in Rogue One, the uberdramatic Star packed into the first 40 minutes. “summer blockbuster” style films on the Wars-like score here just underlines That’s because in advertising- small screen in the form of the terrible the familiarity of the territory we’re supported broadcast TV, if you don’t Will Smith-starrer Bright, the Sam treading.) Though casting Parker Posey win enough eyeballs with your first Worthington-starrer The Titan, and as the Machiavellian Dr Smith was episode, you’re on track for cancella- now a slick but soulless reboot of Lost in inspired, every moment of Lost in Space tion before your story even gets off Space—a campy 1960s series that capi- looks and feels like a moment the ground. In the new, subscription- talised on the rocketry craze of we’ve seen done better before. based system, cable and streaming the so-called ‘Space Age’. They even did it better in the channels (HBO, Showtime, Netflix Like all these reboots— “DANGER, ridiculous but charming and Hulu are the big guns) go all-in from TV’s ultra-serious WILL ROBINSON” original series; it’s clear As the iconic robot’s when they buy a series. And they’re Battlestar Galactica to line suggests, there’s from the iconic robot’s content to grab a niche piece of the the big screen’s by-the- peril ahead for final line of episode one: viewers too market to build their overall subscriber numbers Star Wars: Rogue “Danger, Will Robinson!” n base. The result: Stranger Things, The One—it’s barely watchable. —Jason Overdorf

60 INDIA TODAY MAY 7, 2018 WATCHLIST LEISURE

DOCUMENTARY MISSING THE BOAT

ORBIT9 Directed by Hatem Khraiche, this Spanish-language sci-fi film is more romance than space opera—with a contemplative pace like that of Solaris. Netflix COURTESY NASA COURTESY

MARS NatGeo combines interviews with ew on Netflix,Mercury 13 is the story of a missed oppor- scientists and dramatic footage tunity. Thirteen female pilots prove they are fit to be in this mash-up docu-series that astronauts. But NASA never sends them to space. The imagines the colonisation of the one-hour documentary juxtaposes archival footage with Red Planet as soon as 2033. N fresh interviews of two of the women from the “Mercury Hotstar 13”—Wally Funk and Sarah Ratley—as well as Janey Hart’s daughter and Bernice Steadman’s husband. Jackie Lovelace Johnson recounts how her father, physician William Randolph Lovelace, began the programme in 1959. As head of NASA’s Life Sciences department, he’d developed a series of rigorous tests for the selec- STAR TREK tion of astronauts. Then, influenced by iconic Another perennial victim of reboots, pilot Jackie Cochran, he began privately test- The Original Series rocks in retro ing female pilots to see if they’d make the cut. animated form. Makes you wonder After three phases of oddball tests, Lovelace why they bother with that 3D stuff. selected 13 women who came to be known as Netflix the Mercury 13. But when NASA got wind of this, it shut down the programme. It was never revived, and NASA did not send its first female astronaut into space until Sally Ride in 1983—20 years after the Russians sent Valentina Tereshkova into space in 1963. Opposition to the Mercury 13 came from all corners. Though the sexual revolution was under way, men were convinced they were cooler under pressure. Besides, military regulations prevented women from flying fighter jets, so they weren’t eligible to be astronauts. Although Jerrie Cobb and Janey Hart fought hard to change policy by presenting their case to Congress, Cochran’s shocking opposition to the mission seemed to be the final nail in the coffin. Eileen Collins, the first American woman to pilot and command the space shuttle, offers a stirring tribute to the Mercury 13. But the real highlight of the documentary is the comment by astronaut Gordon Cooper after the Russians sent Tereshkova into space. Maybe we should have sent a woman on the Mercury-Atlas, he says, instead of a chimpanzee. n —Moeena Halim

MAY 7, 2018 INDIA TODAY 61 THEATRE aughter is all we are left with. Nothing can stand against an assault of laugh- ter!” Canadian playwright Gabriel REINCARNATING Ema n uel imagines Mark Twain conclud- Ling during an 1896 talk at the Novelty Theatre in Bombay. To recover from financial losses, the much MARK TWAIN loved writer of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn came to India as part of a global speaking tour. Over a century later, Emanuel has recreated the lecture he might have given in Bombay, though he had no written record to follow. Appropriately, Mark Twain: Live in Bombay! opened last week in the city of its title, though director-actor Vinay Sharma is based in Kolkata. At the opening at Prithvi Theatre, the audience chuckled through Sharma’s impersonation of the sharp-witted author who, in Emanuel’s imagination, satirises swamis, patriots and racism and offers delightful takes on monkeys, frogs, cats and dogs. After extolling Bombay as “a bewitching place”, he adds, poker-faced, “If it is true that the end of the world is near, I’d rather be in Bombay because everything happens here 10 years later.”

MARK TWAIN: LIVE IN BOMBAY! will be staged at Kolkata’s Padatik Theatre on April 29 and later in New Delhi

More witticisms follow. Christened as Samuel Clemens, the American humorist came up with the pseudonym Mark Twain from the phrase boatmen shouted when they came upon shallow water. “I was always attracted to trouble so I adopted it as my name,” he deadpans. After he was wrongly declared dead, he famously told journalists, “Reports of my death were grossly exaggerated.” With silver-white hair, a thick bottlebrush moustache and a short-stepped gait, Sharma looks strikingly similar to Twain. Considering there are no audio-visual records, barring a one-minute moving image, how did he bring alive the writer so convinc- ingly? “You find the man. You discard the man. And you discover the performance,” he said. n —Alpana Chowdhury LEISURE

FASHION Perfect Stitch

Designers at the Usha Silai event at OGAAN, Delhi, on April 18

he sewing machine silai schools in Rajasthan, West is at the centre of the Bengal, Gujarat and Puducherry. T universe,” says Chhaya “They were very happy to receive Sriram, director of the additional income,” says Dr Priya Usha International, nodding at the Somaiya, executive director, Usha N.S. Harsha painting of astronauts Social Services. “They said they will floating around a sewing machine stop working in the fields or doing on the wall by her office window. odd jobs to focus full-time on this.” “We see it like that.” One of the women, Raziaben, This month, Usha is trying to get who uses a prosthesis, walked the India to see things that way, too, with runway when the collection debuted the launch of a high-street fashion at the Lakme Fashion Week in label, Usha Silai, that’s designed to February in Mumbai. “There was a promote creativity and highlight the lot of pride,” adds Somaiya. talents of women from rural India. Sriram says while shooting for In partnership with 50-odd an ad film in Bhuj, she saw team NGOs, Usha runs some members fascinated 16,000 Silai Schools by local craft and across India, training paying Rs 5,000 to women in stitching, tai- one of the women loring—and repairing from the Usha clus- machines. Now, with ter for a local skirt. IMG Reliance, the com- “We “We understood pany has tied up with understood there was a market designers Soham Dave, there was a for local craft. When Amit Vijaya, Richard market for the opportunity Pandav and Sayantan came, we took up the Sarkar to showcase the local craft.” challenge,” she says. n work of women from CHHAYA SRIRAM —Chinki Sinha KUMAR CHANDRADEEP BY PHOTOGRAPS Director, Usha International Q A

Crime, actor, Queen on working with Q. What was it like to work with Rajinikanth (Kabali) and Akshay Radhika Apte Kumar (PadMan)? superstars, juggling independentSacred Gamesand Both are extraordinarily commercial movies, and the much- professional, disciplined and down anticipated crime series to earth. You feel like you are with a co-actor and not a co-star. Akshay is extremely punctual, works for eight hours. I wish everybody worked like that.

Q. Any difference in working on a small, independent film and one with a bigger budget and mass appeal? There is more intellectual com-promise in some of the bigger films. Films take forever to finish because nobody’s dates are available. There are songs that take forever. You have to wait a lot. My complaints are stupid because it’s all part of the job.

Q. You made a mark in Sriram Raghavan’s Badlapur. You are also doing his next thriller, Piano. It’s a fantastic story. I came on board very late. I will do anything for Sriram and Anurag [Kashyap]. Like blindly. I trust them so much that they can give me any part and I will do it.

Q. Speaking of Kashyap, tell us about your role in Sacred Games, which he and —with Suhani Singh Vikramaditya Motwane have directed. I am a R&AW agent who gets involved in a case and works with Sartaj Singh (Saif Ali Khan) to crack it. I am also doing another Netflix show Ghoul. It’s a story that will be better appreciated on a platform like Netflix.

64 Volume XLIII Number 19; For the week May 1-7, 2018, published on every Friday Total number of pages 76 (including cover pages)