Is His Elevation to the President House a Loss to the UPA Govt?

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COVER STORY PRANAB LOGS IN Is His Elevation To The President House A Loss To The UPA Govt?

RNI UP-ENG70032/92, Vol 20, No 8 Rise & fall of Anna EDITOR PRASHANT TEWARI ASSOSIATE EDITOR movement Dr RAHUL MISRA POLITICAL EDITOR PRAKHAR MISRA ndia is a huge country, larger than a continent. BUREAU CHIEF Hetrogeneity, not homogeneity, has always been the GOPAL CHOPRA (DELHI), VEELAAS mantra of Social Homogeneity of Indian ethos, which is a KENJALE (MUMBAI), SOUMEN ACHARYA must for any progressive society.It boosts and develops (KOLKATA), DIVYASH BAJPAI (USA), KAPIL I adequate debates that ensure proper social and intellectual DUDAKIA (U.K.) RAJIV AGNIHOTRI (MAURITIUS), ROMIL RAJ (DUBAI), HER- churning to have the much needed social fermentation for a MAN SILOCHAN (CANADA), YASHWANT change, the Vyavasthaa parivartan, as both Baba Ramdev AMIN [AUS/NZ] and Anna Hazare say.There is no alternative to free thinking CONTENT PARTNER and frank expression for jettisoning the evil of hypocrisy. True,but Pratham Pravakta that is why the pre- Independence type Common Platform(C.P.) is required, which, like the LEGAL ADVISOR then Congress or the subsequent JP Movement, may not be bound and integrated for ever, it ASHOKA KUMAR THAKUR,GAURAV will at least play a very important role in bringing the urgently needed Second Freedom. BHATIA MARKETING DIRECTOR Corruption remains a restricted agenda for “have “ and certainly for not “have nots”in India DIWAKAR SHETTY hence the Anna movement created huge effect in urban India but it could not penetrate rural ADMINITRATION DIRECTOR India. Secondly,the rural India is driven by caste & religious divide hence an all India move- BAL MUKUND GAUR ment could not be constructed by Anna & Co. Team Anna targeted ruling Congress party with CORPORATE COMMUNICATION special focus on Sonia Gandhi, Is not Mrs. Sonia Gandhi a honourable Member of our QUEENIE SINGH Parliament, elected by none other than Indians? Ask the electorate if you dare, not the M.P. GRAPHICS & DESIGN She was a target for corrupt practices but important members of team Anna foucsed on sec- GREY CELLS ONLINE PRESENTATION ular image thus diluting core issue of corruption and the debate was expanded to Baba AMIT SONI Ramdev and later Narender Modi type of polity. It ensured that right wing people associated PHOTOGRAPHER with RSS & BJP were thrown out of the movement resulting in instant collapse of the entire K P SINGH movement. Let us be free from doubts. Let there be a C.P. and adequate social and political OVERSEAS MARKETING fermentation. The nectar of required awakening will be born automatically.The concept of OEMCL(Mauritius), OEHCL (DUBAI) Hindu votes, though ideal and all engulfing, is getting a shattering blow by the current I.T. and

ADVERTISEMENT / PR / CIRCULATION economic revolutions of modern age.Whether Hindu or Muslim, all vote banks will have to be VINAY GOYAL treated in a common crucible, as for example, done by competent persons like Narendra DHRUV JANAK & CO. R -51 BASEMENT, Modi,Nitish Kumar, and Shivraj Singh Chauhan who interpreted and transformed the Faith to RAMESH PARK,LAXMI NAGAR,DELHI-92 mean developments in their respective states of Gujrat, Bihar and M.P. Ultimately, it is devel- TELE: +919871232631FAX: 011-22056817 opment, not any religious leaning, that will survive the fermentation oriented test of time.It will need various gears. VIJAY KALANTRI - ADVISOR Look at China.Religion has utterly failed to bring social harmony, daal-roti,medicines,shel- NEW EXCELSIOR BUILDING, 6TH FLOOR, A.K. NAYAK MARG, ter and the sukoon for all, and above all the much needed National Pride and Gold for India, FORT, MUMBAI - 400 001 (INDIA). as possessed by a modern German or Japanese,and an old Brittisher. Anna group, not Anna PHONE : 91 - 22 - 2201 9265 / 2201 9160 Hazare himself.The confused group will get enlightened or dissolved in the healthy atmos- FAX : 91-22- 2201 9764 / 2201 9760 phere created by the apologists of the RASHTRANEETI on a C.P.Then the corruption oriented politics will be transformed/ reformed or ousted. Parishkaar or Bahishkaar. They opposed The magazine is published and printed by Congress and Modi simultaneously, that created more confusion than bringing solution to the Rajiv Agnihotri for Opinion Express entire movement against corruption. No body should ever now venture to ignore the perenial Communications & Entertainments Pvt sufferings of the hapless masses, which Maoists claim to highlight and amplify. It is a stark Ltd, from 2 Ashok Nagar, Lucknow And printed at Kumpu Graphic Press. reality that is impossible to understand by the opulence born welltodo ruling the roost in society,market, religion and the politics that intends to frame and tame all.Their representation

EDITORIAL & CORPORATE OFFICE on the C.P. will have to be there. Hegde seems to be a righteous and comfort loving gem of OPINION EXPRESS HOUSE society. He must be very happy to bless the C.P.once it is shaped.Let us pray that some apol- 24 - A Clyde Road, Lucknow-226001 (India) Ph: 91-522-4045728/4060880 ogist of the RASHTRANEETI becomes thread of the ANNA-RAMDEV needle to enter the flower Fax: 91-522-2208242 like hearts of honest Indians of consequences from every walk of life to form a coveted gar- 24x7 mobility +91 9984437000x Email: [email protected] land for Bharat Mata. Is Arvind Kejriwal ready for that ? Classicial error of entering electoral politics is a death nail to the entire movement, Indian are immune to certain way of life when it comes to politics. It is a pure game of give and take, All content published may be subject to copyright, team Anna with extremely limited resources may not be in a position to offer any tangible ben- seek written permission to re-produce. Opinion efits to hapless Indians, General Elelctions 2014 for team Anna will be a great disaster. What Express is trade mark brand of Opinion Express Communications & Entertainment a waste of huge effort and public support! Private Limited. Prashant Tewari

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S August 2012 03 AUGUST 2012 COVER STORY Congratulations, Mr. PRESIDENT Prez First Speech The hilarious chaos of the presidential race

P 6-14

ARNAB KAR IS AN UPCOM- A COMMITMENT ING FINE ART AND FASHION P 49 TO PEACE AND PHOTOGRAPHER PROGRESS P 15

Whom is Modi P 21 Helping?

Famine of political intent condemns P 24 India to droughts World Bank Mired In Dysfunction: Mess LORD MUNMEET P 19 Kapil Sibal P 28 Awaits New Head READY TO RELEASE a rare oasis in "ROKI NA" P 47 the desert P 34 Is Wal-Mart Destroying America? Is Death An Illusion? Evidence P 38 Suggests Death Isn't the End

Pantel Technologies: P 41 Bridging the Gap

04 August 2012 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S Ansari follows Radhakrishnan Only second veep to get the second term

istory repeated itself on Tuesday after five decades when United HProgressive Alliance nominee Hamid Ansari was re-elected Vice- President. He became the second Vice- President to get a second consecutive term after S. Radhakrishnan, who enjoyed two terms from 1952 to 1962. Mr. Ansari won with a thumping majority against the National Democratic Alliance candidate Jaswant Singh. He polled 490 votes against Mr. Singh’s 238. There was never any doubt about the victory of Mr. Ansari, given the numerical strength of the UPA and other parties supporting him. The NDA zeroed in on senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Mr. Singh essentially for political reasons. Having faced dissensions within its ranks in the presidential election, the alliance wanted to demonstrate that that was a one-off incident and no meaning should be read into it. Its purpose was served as it managed to line up all the constituents behind Mr. Singh. The JD(U) and the Shiv Sena broke ranks with the BJP and voted in favour of Pranab Mukherjee in the presidential election. Out of the 790 members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha who form the electoral college for the vice-presidential election, three are vacant — Mr. Mukherjee was elected President, Vijay Bahuguna became Chief Minister of Uttarakhand and the election of BJP MP J. Shanta was set aside by High Court. Of the remaining 787 members, 47 MPs did not cast their votes. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said 21 members from the Biju Janata Dal, 11 from the Telugu Desam Party, 6 from the Congress and supporting parties, including ailing Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, and two nominated members did not cast their votes. T.K. Vishwanathan, Lok Sabha Secretary General and Returning Officer, said eight votes were declared invalid. Congress president Sonia Gandhi had named Mr. Ansari as the second choice of her party for the Presidential election after Pranab Mukherjee. ness at the manner in which he one occasion, the first stint of the 75- As Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Mr. “abruptly” adjourned the House on the year-old former IFS officer and Vice- Ansari faced criticism when the night of December 29, 2011 during the Chancellor of Aligarh University was Opposition parties expressed unhappi- debate on the Lokpal Bill. Barring that devoid of controversy.

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S August 2012 05 COVER STORY CONGRATULATIONS, MR. PRESIDENT

06 August 2012 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S UPA's trouble-shooter faces no challenge PA Sangma no match to Pranab's popularity across the spectrum

OE Bureau

nited Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate Pranab Mukherjee Uwins the presidential race by beating NDA-backed PA Sangma by a huge margin as he scored more than 558,000 votes crossing the required half-way mark of 5,25,140 votes. His rival, former Lok Sabha speaker P.A. Sangma, was way behind with 239,966 votes as counting continued, Mukherjee's polling agent Pravin H. Parikh said. "He has crossed the halfway mark. He is the president- elect," Parikh said. The win was anticipated as Mukherjee had the backing of the Trinamool Congress, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the DMK, the Forward Bloc and Samajwadi Party but also National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ally Janata Dal-United and Shiv Sena. "I am very happy. I thank everybody for their love and support. I thank all the people of my country," Mukherjee told a Bengali news channel. "In the last one month I have covered the entire country. And with the emotions and feelings that I have sensed in the common people revolving round this presidential election, it felt like it was not a presidential election but a general election. "I am very happy, and I will strive to live up to the expectations and faith that people have bestowed on me," Mukherjee said in his first comments. Officials opened the ballot boxes in Room 63 of Parliament House with representatives from both candidates present. The first wooden box that was opened contained the votes of MPs cast in Delhi Thursday when the election took place. Congress leaders including Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office V. Narayanasamy and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla were in the room.

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S August 2012 07 Mukherjee will be administered the will celebrate only after he was sworn were taken up first for counting after oath of office by the Chief Justice of in. However, celebrations began at which those from the states were India on July 25 at the Central Hall of Mukherjee's native village Birbhum in opened. Parliament. West Bengal much before the results Pranab Mukherjee's win will bring The contest was between UPA can- were announced. Party leaders have an end the lament of Bengalis of not didate Pranab Mukherjee and opposi- also been visiting his residence with seeing a local boy occupying the high- tion-supported Purno Sangma, a former boxes of sweets to be distributed when est constitutional post of the country. Lok Sabha speaker. the results are announced. Mukherjee, often referred to as the The odds were heavily stacked The counting of ballots were con- best Prime Minister India never had, against Sangma the man who has ducted amidst tight security in began his political career in 1969 and never lost any election from 1977 till Parliament House in the presence of has served in every Congress cabinet 2008. And Sanga's defeat to authorised representatives of both since Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister. Mukherjee, would mean that for the Mukherjee and Sangma. The ballot Trinamool Congress (TMC), first time in 35 years that he would be boxes of votes cast in Parliament House Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), JD (S), CPI- left without any 'current' designation. M, YSR Congress and Forward Bloc Ever since he threw his hat into the The win was anticipated as have also extended their support to presidential ring, Sangma has been Mukherjee along with NDA partners clinging on to the 'conscience vote', Mukherjee had the backing Janata Dal-United and Shiv Sena. 'miracle' and 'hope' rhetoric. of the Trinamool Congress, About 95 percent of the 4,896 elec- Sangma had indubitably brought in the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the torate exercised their franchise to elect an element of excitement into the 2012 India's 13th president at polling centres presidential poll which even made for- DMK, the Forward Bloc and set up at Parliament House and 30 mer Uttar Pradesh chief minister Samajwadi Party but also state and union territories. Mulayam Singh Yadav fumble during National Democratic The president is elected by an elec- Thursday's poll, rendering his vote toral college of MPs and members of invalid'. Alliance (NDA) ally Janata state assemblies. Earlier in the day his daughter Dal-United and Shiv Sena. All MPs except those nominated to Sharmistha Mukherjee said the family parliament are eligible to vote. There

08 August 2012 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S Profile Son of Kamada Kinkar Mukherjee and Rajlakshmi Mukherjee, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, born on 11th December, 1935 in a small village, Mirati of Birbhum District in West Bengal. Kamada K Mukherjee was a respected freedom fighter spent more than 10 years in British jails. Pranab's father was an active member of Indian National Congress and was also a member of West Bengal Legislative Council from 1952 to 1964. So, it was quite obvious that K K Mukherjee's son Shri Pranab Mukherjee would join active politics following his father's foot-steps, after brief career in academic world (after obtaining masters degree in Political Science and History and degree of Law from Calcutta University, he joined as a professor in a college of Birbhum District of West Bengal). Shri Pranab Mukherjee's parliamentary career begun as a Rajya Sabha member from Congress Party in 1969. Thereafter, he re-elected in 1975, 1981, 1993, and 1999. His ministerial career begun in 1973 as the Deputy Minister, Industrial Development. After that he hardly looked back. When he was the are 776 MPs; each MP's vote equals Besides the support of the Finance Minister of India during 708 votes. 1982 to 1984, Euromoney There were 4,120 assembly UPA led by the Congress, members eligible to vote. The value Mukherjee enjoyed the Magazine rated him as the best of a legislator's vote is variable Finance Minister of the world. depending on the population of the backing of the Samajwadi Thereafter, barring a brief period, state the member represents. Party, Bahujan Samaj Shri Mukherjee, served the country Besides the support of the UPA led by the Congress, Mukherjee Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal as a cabinet Minister, more or less enjoyed the backing of the and Janata Dal-Secular. in every National Congress Ministry, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj At present, he is the External Affairs Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Mnister of Dr.Manmohan Singh's Janata Dal-Secular. Constituents of Janata Dal. cabinet and as a senior member of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led P.A. Sangma, a former Lok Sabha National Democratic Alliance, Speaker, jumped into the fray play- the Ministry, he is consulted by the Janata Dal-United and Shiv Sena, ing the tribal card with the initial sup- Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh also extended their support to the port of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and before taking any major decision former finance minister besides the the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra regarding welfare of the country and CPI-M and Forward Bloc. Sangma, a Kazhagam (AIADMK). his valuable comments and sugges- member of the Meghalaya assembly, The BJP and Akali Dal decided to is supported by the BJP, Akali Dal, back Sangma, who quit the NCP, the tions made him practically indispen- Asom Gana Parishad, Jharkhand party he founded with Sharad Pawar, sable. Mukti Morcha, AIADMK and Biju to contest the election.

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S August 2012 09 Prez First Speech

am deeply moved by the high honour to be what it was when the generation you have accorded to me. Such hon- Our national mission must of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Iour exalts the occupant of this office, Sardar Patel, Rajendra Prasad, even as it demands that he rises above continue to be what it was Ambedkar and Maulana Azad offered personal or partisan interests in the when the generation of us a tryst with destiny: to eliminate the service of the national good. Mahatma Gandhi, curse of poverty, and create such The principal responsibility of this opportunities for the young that they office is to function as the guardian of Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar can take our India forward by quantum our Constitution. I will strive, as I said Patel, Rajendra Prasad, leaps. There is no humiliation more on oath, to preserve, protect and abusive than hunger. Trickle-down theo- defend our Constitution not just in word Ambedkar and Maulana ries do not address the legitimate aspi- but also in spirit. We are all, across the Azad offered us a tryst with rations of the poor. We must lift those divide of party and region, partners at destiny: to eliminate the at the bottom so that poverty is erased the altar of our motherland. Our federal from the dictionary of modern India. Constitution embodies the idea of mod- curse of poverty, and create What has brought us thus far, will ern India: it defines not only India but such opportunities for the take us further ahead. India's true story also modernity. A modern nation is built is the partnership of its people. Our on some basic fundamentals: democra- young that they can take our wealth has been created by farmers cy, or equal rights for every citizen; sec- India forward by quantum and workers, industrialists and service- ularism, or equal freedom to every faith; leaps. providers, soldiers and civilians. Our equality of every region and language; social harmony is the sublime co-exis- gender equality and, perhaps most tence of temple, mosque, church, important of all, economic equity. For Bengal was savaged by a famine that gurudwara and synagogue; they are our development to be real the poorest killed millions; the misery and sorrow is symbols of our unity in diversity. of our land must feel that they are part still not lost on me. We have achieved Peace is the first ingredient of pros- of the narrative of rising India. much in the field of agriculture, industry perity. History has often been written in I have seen vast, perhaps unbeliev- and social infrastructure; but that is the red of blood; but development and able, changes during the journey that nothing compared to what India, led by progress are the luminous rewards of a has brought me from the flicker of a the coming generations, will create in peace dividend, not a war trophy. The lamp in a small Bengal village to the the decades ahead. two halves of the 20th Century tell their chandeliers of Delhi I was a boy when Our national mission must continue own story. Europe, and indeed the

10 August 2012 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S As Indians, we must of course learn from the past; but we must remain focused on the future. In my view, education is the true alchemy that can bring India its next golden age. Our oldest scriptures laid the framework of society around the pillars of knowledge; our challenge is to convert knowledge into a democratic force by taking it into every corner of our country. Our motto is unambiguous: All for knowledge, and knowledge for all. world, reinvented itself after the end of the Second World War and the collapse of colonization, leading to the rise of great institutions like the United Nations. Leaders who ordered great armies into the field, and then under- stood that war was more barbarism than glory, transformed the world by changing its mindset. Gandhiji taught by example, and gave us the supreme have been a beacon of maturity through where Centre and State are driven by strength of non-violence. India's philos- the trauma of whiplash wounds. Those the single vision of good governance; ophy is not an abstract in textbooks. It who instigate violence and perpetuate where every revolution is green; where flourishes in the day-to-day life of our hatred need to understand one truth. democracy is not merely the right to people, who value the humane above Few minutes of peace will achieve far vote once in five years but to speak all else. Violence is external to our more than many years of war. India is always in the citizen's interest; where nature; when, as human beings, we do content with itself, and driven by the will knowledge becomes wisdom; where err, we exorcise our sins with penitence to sit on the high table of prosperity. It the young pour their phenomenal ener- and accountability. will not be deflected in its mission by gy and talent into the collective cause. But the visible rewards of peace noxious practitioners of terror. As tyranny dwindles across the world; have also obscured the fact that the As Indians, we must of course learn as democracy gets fresh life in regions age of war is not over. We are in the from the past; but we must remain once considered inhospitable; India midst of a fourth world war; the third focused on the future. In my view, edu- becomes the model of modernity. was the Cold War, but it was very warm cation is the true alchemy that can As Swami Vivekananda in his soar- in Asia, Africa and Latin America till it bring India its next golden age. Our old- ing metaphor said, India will be raised, ended in the early 1990s. The war est scriptures laid the framework of not with the power of flesh but with the against terrorism is the fourth; and it is society around the pillars of knowledge; power of the spirit, not with the flag of a world war because it can raise its evil our challenge is to convert knowledge destruction, but with the flag of peace head anywhere in the world. India has into a democratic force by taking it into and love. Bring all the forces of good been on the frontlines of this war long every corner of our country. Our motto together. Do not care what be your before many other recognized its is unambiguous: All for knowledge, and colour-green, blue or red, but mix all the vicious depth or poisonous conse- knowledge for all. colours up and produce that intense quences. I am proud of the valour, con- The weight of office sometimes glow of white, the colour of love. Ours is viction and steely determination of our becomes a burden on dreams. The to work, the results will take care of Armed Forces as they have fought this news is not always cheerful. Corruption themselves. menace on our borders; of our brave is an evil that can depress the nation's There is no greater reward for a pub- police forces as they have met the mood and sap its progress. We cannot lic servant than to be elected the first enemy within; and of our people, who allow our progress to be hijacked by the citizen of our Republic. have defeated the terrorist trap by greed of a few. remaining calm in the face of extraordi- I envisage an India where unity of nary provocation. The people of India purpose propels the common good; Jai Hind

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S August 2012 11 The hilarious chaos of the presidential race Ashok Mitra

othing could be more bizarre. But, then, what else do you expect from this most bizarre Nof lands? Please take a look at the political geography of the country. The Congress has no control over the state administration in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Sikkim, West Bengal, Meghalaya, Tripura, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karnataka, Goa, Gujarat. It is a junior partner of the National Conference regime in Jammu and Kashmir. It has a chief minister in Maharashtra, where it shares power with the Nationalist Congress Party. Given the shameful scandal over the Adarsh apartments, in which the names of three successive Congress chief ministers have got involved, the party's rep- utation though is at its lowest in the state. Currently, Andhra Pradesh, too, has situation of touch and go. In Rajasthan a Congress chief minister. His To proceed further with the and Haryana, the Congress-led regimes dayswould however seem to be num- would appear to be in a somewhat sta- bered. The party hack, under whose narrative, in Uttarakhand, bler position. Even so, given the stewardship the Congress was able to the Congress heads the seething anger everywhere against cor- oust the Telugu Desam Party from the state administration, but ruption and rising prices, one never state government and who was duly knows what the immediate future installed as chief minister by the only with the help of some holds, more so since in both the states, party,succeeded in strengthening the independent members in the allegations of murky financial transac- Congress organization in the state to tions or even more murderous doings aremarkable extent; at the same time, assembly, it is really a are pending against quite a few he built a small egg nest of a few thou- situation of touch and go. In Congress ministers. In Delhi, despite sand crore of rupees through diverse Rajasthan and Haryana, the the party controlling the state adminis- shady deals; the party did not demur. tration, it has received a severe drub- He died in a helicopter crash. His son Congress-led regimes would bing in the recent municipal corpora- claimed to succeed his father as chief appear to be in a somewhat tion election. Travel to the East. Assam minister. His logic seemed impeccable: has a Congress chief minister. He has, if Rajiv Gandhi could be prime minister stabler position. however, his hands full with the nearly on the assassination of Indira Gandhi, intractable issue of separatism ever on and now Rajiv's son was being taken for financial empire his father had the boil. In such other northeastern granted as heir-presumptive for the bequeathed him. The people of Andhra states as Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, same position, what was wrong if in Pradesh did not like this. They have Nagaland or Mizoram, the colour of the Andhra Pradesh a similar arrangement made mincemeat of the Congress in government is really irrelevant, the was followed? The Supreme Madam in the recent series of by-elections in the modality of administration is by and New Delhi who takes all the crucial state and hailed the incarcerated large the Armed Forces (Special decisions in the Congress, turned down youngster as their new hero. Powers) Act. the son's prayer. He took the path of To proceed further with the narra- To sum up, over three-quarters of rebellion. To teach him a lesson, the tive, in Uttarakhand, the Congress the country and state governments Central Bureau of Investigation was set heads the state administration, but only have no allegiance to the party which after him, he was arrested and charged with the help of some independent heads the government at the Centre. for the sin of expanding the luscious members in the assembly, it is really a And, of course it has been of late a pre-

12 August 2012 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S The rate of industrial production is plummeting towards zero, GDP growth is way down, the same finance minister is now heard to squeak: everything is not lost, if the monsoon is good and the international price of crude petroleum dips, we could yet live to see another day. The international rating agencies take little notice of this finance minister's gibberish and make their own assessment. So do the scheming brains who decide on the trajectory of finance capital movements across the globe. They have voted their no-confidence in the Indian rupee and are pulling out of Dalal Street.

globe. They have voted their no-confidence in the Indian rupee and are pulling out of Dalal Street. The external value of the rupee is falling down, down, down in the manner of the London Bridge in the nursery rhyme. It is a bankrupt government run by a decrepit party. So what; the finance minister, who, along with the prime min- carious existence for the Congress-led distribution system. A finance minister, ister, has been at the helm of things United Progressive Alliance regime in who till the other day was asking coun- when these frightening developments New Delhi. Its prime minister, on his trymen not to worry while the rest of the affecting the economy were taking own admission, has no control over the world might go to the dogs, and that our place, is the choice of the Congress as government he nominally presides over, 'fundamentals' were very sound, the the next president of this august repub- supposedly because of the constraints rate of growth of gross domestic prod- lic. Everybody, almost everybody, is of coalition rule. The licensing system is uct was threatening to touch 9 to 10 per sprinting to endorse his candidature. long dead and gone, but allocation of cent, foreign exchange holdings were Rush, rush, rush, important sections of development blocks for oil and natural bursting at the seams, we had nothing even the leading Opposition alliance gas or telecommunication spectrums to fear except fear itself. The latest real- have opted to support the Congress has provided unbelievable opportuni- ity buzz tells another story. nominee. The party has been reduced ties to practise favouritism, leading to The rate of industrial production is to a rubbishy non-entity in the state the piling up of private fortunes of mind- plummeting towards zero, GDP growth where it was once the strongest - Uttar boggling magnitude. Charges of corrup- is way down, the same finance minister Pradesh. Nonetheless, both the tion fly thick and fast against ruling is now heard to squeak: everything is Bahujan Samaj Party, which ruled the politicians. Ministers get arrested. not lost, if the monsoon is good and the state for the preceding five years, and Prices keep soaring. The authorities international price of crude petroleum the Samajwadi Party, which has suc- themselves increase, or connive in dips, we could yet live to see another ceeded it, have sought to elbow out increasing, prices. The government's day. The international rating agencies each other in their eagerness to minions have the cheek to suggest that take little notice of this finance minis- announce their faith in the candidate of raising prices is the best way to fight ter's gibberish and make their own a party which has an insignificant pres- inflation. Money is spent like water in assessment. So do the scheming ence in their state. The media are in the name of national security while brains who decide on the trajectory of raptures over the prospect of a national there is no money for a universal public finance capital movements across the consensus emerging on the choice of

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S August 2012 13 the next * rashtrapati*. Ideology is, of course, long dead. Even issues of policy are of no concern. What apparently matters is to explore how to make one's way through the web of devious strategic calculations. For one or two leaders of this or that party, perhaps it is a deal struck behind the scene over a pending case before the CBI, or a deal to avert the possibility of the CBI launching a criminal prosecution. For some others, the calculation is a shade more far- sighted. Should the polls in 2014 lead to a parliamentary impasse, the person who is first called for consultation by the president for constituting the new government would be in an advanta- geous position; it would therefore be wise to try and develop a mutual relationship with the person who at this instance has emerged the best bet. That is it. The presidential race has been reduced to a phenomenon in the bettors' market. The stakes are high and, if the gossip is to be believed, money is no consideration. In this hilar- iously chaotic situation, there are still three outstanding developments calling for special comment. The first is the crisis the presidential poll has caused to the other assumed-to-be national party, the Bharatiya Janata Party. To it, the election of the new rashtrapati is a sub- sidiary issue, the occasion is being logical and policy fissures howsoever used to thrash out who should hold the But the most interesting fundamental. Would it not be more hon- party's mantle in the national polls two est on its part, someone could naughtily years hence. In the process, the lustre spectacle has unfolded in chip in, to dissolve itself and merge its of religious fundamentalism has, to all the ranks of the Left, till identity in the corpus which claims to be accounts, dimmed a bit. That calls for now, considered to be the the great national consensus, the celebration; after all, it is an ill wind that Congress? The second pretext proffered blows nobody any good. The second citadel of the policy of the by this party of the Left will do credit to a amusing development is the predica- principle. The leading dyed-in-the-wool regional formation. ment the lady chief minister of you- Rather than dilating on it, let us close know-which-state has landed herself in element in the Left has this discussion by narrating the gist of a on account of her over-arching ambi- decided that there is no way Bengali folk tale. The ruler of a small tion. It never rains but pours; a high for it not to support the kingdom loved to indulge in an innocent court judgment has been an additional little pastime. Every morning, the royal unkindly cut for her. After a long string Congress nominee - one of sentry would pick two down-and-out of successes, she is suddenly facing an the principal architects of vagabonds seeking alms in the capital's awesome debacle. Just as water finds main thoroughfare, bind them hand and its own level; so too, it seems, does neo-liberalism which has foot and throw them in the royal court- dishwater. brought the country to its yard. The officially designated royal tor- But the most interesting spectacle present mess and further turer would then take over, bow to the has unfolded in the ranks of the Left, till king, unleash his whip and start admin- now, considered to be the citadel of the immiserized the working istering by turn fierce lashes, 25 at a policy of the principle. The leading ele- classes - in the presidential time, on the two beggars until they ment in the Left has decided that there breathed their last. It so happened one is no way for it not to support the race. morning that one of the two beggars con- Congress nominee - one of the principal tributing to the entertainment, writhing architects of neo-liberalism which has discerned a fast growing convergence in pain, gathered the last reserve of his brought the country to its present mess of support for the Congress candidate strength and pride in his fading voice and further immiserized the working and has, like a good boy, chosen to fall and whispered to the other beggar: "How classes - in the presidential race. It has in line. It has thereby betrayed an lucky I am, this most honourable Royal mentioned two factors which have influ- innate passion for coming together with Torturer, what do you know, hails from enced its otiose decision. First, it has each and all, and this supersedes ideo- my own village." Then he died.

14 August 2012 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S A COMMITMENT TO PEACE & PROGRESS

President Hon'ble Rajkeswur Purryag & then Deputy Prime Minister of Mauritius in a earlier recorded interview The Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Rajkeswur Purryag explains why he is hope- ful of stronger India Mauritius relations in the future. According to Mr.Purryag, the present government of Mauritius under its dynamic leader Hon. Navinchandra Ramgoolam is committed for building even stronger ties between the two countries. Here, Mr.Rajkeswur Purryag in an exclusive interview with Rajiv Agnihotri touches all the relevant issues.

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S August 2012 15 I think there will be a greater movement of tourists and people between the two countries, thus not only the economic ties but the religious and cultural ties will be strengthened. The Indian community in Mauritius is frequently visiting India and I hope that the Indian citizens will also come to Mauritius.

eartest congraluations to Mr Hon’ble Rajkeswur Puryyag for been OE. It under the leadership of elected as the fifth President of Republic of Mauritius. Hon’ble Hon. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, that HPresident is blessed with rich political experience that includes the the relationship between the two countries has grown manifold, what post of Speaker of the National Assembly, Deputy Prime Minister of the coun- future do you foresee for strengthen- try, various important ministiral positions. It is said of him that he excercised ing the relationship even further in his duties with objectivity and impartiality throughout his political career. sectors like tourism and economy? Hon’ble President had a modest background.He patiently worked his way KP. Yes, I think the relationship to the top. Hon’ble President is an example for Gen next, specially to the PIO between India and Mauritius has been community to draw inspiration from the dedication and sense of purpose. further consolidated by Dr. Navin Hon’ble President became attorney in 1973 and joined the labour Party. Ramgoolam and we are working He contested general elections in 1976. He occupied various important min- together to set the economic sector isterial positions and became a huge influence on the politics of Mauritius within the Indian Ocean Rim eversince. He was Minister of Social Security in 1980 to 1982, Minister of Association for Regional Cooperation Health from 1984 to 1988, Minister of Economic Development & and we know this initiative was put Telecommunications from 1995 to 1997. He was appointed as the Deputy forward by Mauritius, and that today Prime Minister with the portfolio of Foreign Affairs And International Mauritius, India, Australia and other Commerce. In 2005, He was became Speaker of the National Assembly. member states of the Indian Ocean Hon’ble President Rajkeswur Puryyag is decorated with the highest con- Rim are playing a very important role to promote the economic interest of stitutional position of the country. Opinion Express have huge expectations the member states. I think within that from him. We have no doubts that he will “uphold the standard of the association, our relationship is further Presidency “ And leave a mark in the history of the island country as one of consolidated in the economic sector. the best serving President of the country. As for our tourist sector, we have Team “Opinion Express” congratulates H.E. Hon’ble President for the recently received many Indian busi- great achievement and we hope that it will facilitate consolidation of India nessmen who have come to Mauritius Mauritius bilateral relationship. to invest in the tourist sector and I know one or two groups who are actu- From Opinion Express Team – Mauritius. ally constructing hotels. Once this construction is over, it will enhance the relationship between our two countries. I think there will be a greater movement of tourists and people between the two countries, thus not only the economic ties but the religious and cultural ties will be strengthened. The Indian community in Mauritius is frequently visiting India and I hope that the Indian citizens will also come to Mauritius.

OE. Mauritius has done exceed- ingly well on the economic front in the last few years. The Island being the gateway of African continent can work as a catalyst between the

16 August 2012 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S Asian & African economic areas but unlike Hong Kong, Mauritius till date Again I must say that we have come out with a plan of action is not recognized as it should be, to review our educational system so as to adapt it within our what special efforts are being under- taken by your government to pro- concept of economic development and cater to our needs mote this vital issue on the global both in terms of infrastructure as well as human resource scale? KP. Yes, you see that Mauritius has development. We are doing a lot of work to prepare done very well not for the last two or ourselves in order to position Mauritius as a hub to provide three years but in the last two link as a gateway between Asia and Africa. decades. Since our independence, we are striving very hard to put in place a nomic activities and poised to become terms of infrastructure as well as strategy for the socio-economic devel- gateway between Asia and Africa. In human resource development. We are opment of the country and after thirty that context, we are creating a doing a lot of work to prepare our- years of independence, today we can freeport, as the Government of selves in order to position Mauritius say that we have achieved a certain Mauritius has invested a lot of money as a hub to provide link as a gateway level of economic development as you for the port of Mauritius just to create between Asia and Africa. know that and today Mauritius is con- support to attract business here and sidered as a success story of the we are trying to develop a very strong OE. Mauritius is an international African continent. Earlier Mauritius service economy. So, we are trying to tourist destination but the exchange was not known neither in the African re-engineer our economy in such a of tourists between India and continent nor in the international way that we have skills in Mauritius to Mauritius is in single digit percent- community. It is now that Mauritius is be able to become a service economy age to their overall tourist strength. being cited in all foras despite being and to provide necessary manpower. What measures are being taken at the small island, we have achieved Again I must say that we have come the Government level to boost tremendous growth in the economic out with a plan of action to review our tourist exchange between the two front. Therefore, we are doing every- educational system so as to adapt it countries? thing possible within our means today within our concept of economic devel- KP. You have rightly said Mauritius to position ourselves as a hub of eco- opment and cater to our needs both in as an international tourist hub. Today

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S August 2012 17 Well, we must say that India has made a lot of OE. What is your message for the progress in the industrial field and the progress people of India on the occasion of has been so much that India today has become an 50th year of their Independence? KP. Well, we must say that India industrial power in the world. India is an economic power in has made a lot of progress in the waiting, what is important is unity, peace and stability along industrial field and the progress has with the economic progress because unless you have peace, been so much that India today has become an industrial power in the stability and unity, economic progress in real sense cannot world. India is an economic power in be achieved. waiting, what is important is unity, peace and stability along with the OE. Indian businessmen are very economic progress because unless we receive more than 500,00 tourists keen to invest in Mauritius through you have peace, stability and unity, mainly from Europe. Freeport and MOBAA, what are the economic progress in real sense can- From India we have very little incentives that Mauritius offers? not be achieved. Similar conditions tourist inflow. We are doing our best to are existing in Mauritius, for example get Indian tourists to come to KP. There is a package of incen- coordination with all the main com- Mauritius but it all depends on the tives that has been put in place to munities here, we have been able to tourists themselves. attract businessmen in Mauritius spe- create a political and social stability in Mauritius has established a repu- cially in MOBAA. We have a bi-lateral order to make the economic develop- tation as a tourist destination which is agreement with India, which is one of ment. So I think that India since inde- known in India. I think that Ministry of the most favourable agreement. I pendence has made a lot of progress Tourism will perhaps hold certain think we have a very interesting pack- that needs to make more progress in manifestation in India to promote age which has to be taken into order to cater for its population and Mauritius as a tourist destination in account by future investors who want for this you need to have peace, sta- the Indian community. to invest in Mauritius. bility and unity.

18 August 2012 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S KAPIL SIBAL A RARE OASIS IN THE DESERT Pradeep B

recurrent theme in the Indian newspapers, over the past two decades, and one that is getting increasingly pronounced with the passage of time, has Abeen the lumpenisation of Indian politics. Given the misdeeds of A Rajas and Kalmadis, the image that has formed in the minds of the Indian masses of the archetypical Indian politician is one of shameless corruption, venality, nepo- tism and parochial regionalism. Add to these the blatant use of muscle power by political mafia dons and there emerges the picture of an utterly sordid state of political affairs and political actors. In fact, this state is the culmina- tion of a long process of lumpenisation of Indian polity that started in the 70s and became more and more pronounced in the succeeding decades. Gone are the days when Indian politics was peopled predominantly by legal luminaries, eminent educationists, social activists and visionary statesmen. The giants of yesterday have been replaced by the pygmies of today in all their short statured grotesqueness. In this murky world, the pursuit of Mammon and power has uprooted the anchors of values, ideals and ethics. It is thus refreshing to come across, even though sparingly, exceptions that stand out among contemporary Indian politicians. Kapil Sibal belongs to this rare, vanishing tribe of eminent individuals still left in Indian politics. His background, talents, accomplishments and above all values and ideals compare well with the best of India's glorious political past. Born to renowned advo- cate in what is now Pakistan, Sibal's family was uprooted in the wake of India's partition. Starting life afresh, the family settled in Delhi in the 1960s and young Kapil on the strength of his aca-

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S August 2012 19 demic excellence found his way into the free moments of peace and solitude he elite St. Stephens College from where His personal qualities mark gets during flights. Contrary to the pub- he graduated. In spite of getting select- him out from the run-of-the lic persona, he comes across as an ed for the premier Indian Administrative unassuming person with an old world Service in 1973 he chose to follow his mill Indian politician. A grace and impeccable manners exuding heart and joined the legal profession facile command over the a disarming charm. after acquiring possibly the best creden- There is however an irony in all this. tials therefor - a stint at the Harvard Law English language, razor- These very qualities of his, exceptional as School. Known for his almost ency- sharp wit, an astounding they are, sometimes make it a rather dif- clopaedic knowledge of law he made his grasp of complex issues, ficult for him to mix and match with the mark in the Indian courts and was hoi polloi of Indian polity - an impediment, appointed the additional Solicitor quick of repartee and even shortcoming, for any gifted politi- General of India in 1989. irresistible in debate, he has cian. People who do not interact with hIm His personal qualities mark him out closely, are thus likely to get the impres- from the run-of-the mill Indian politician. made his presence felt in sion of an aloof, even arrogant person. At A facile command over the English lan- Parliament as also as the times, this limits his effectiveness in guage, razor-sharp wit, an astounding Congress party's official moulding public opinion, persuading grasp of complex issues, quick of repar- political peers and attaching to the grass- tee and irresistible in debate, he has spokesperson. roots of the electorate. made his presence felt in Parliament as Nevertheless, we can take heart also as the Congress party's official never shied away from taking on ortho- from the fact that while Indian polity, spokesperson. Known for his deeply doxy and fascist forces. On the personal unfortunately, has its Rajas and secular outlook, a modern belief in sci- front his intellectual sophistication Kalmadis, we also have in our midst the entific and technological progress, hon- comes through in his penchant for writ- likes of a Kapil Sibal, a veritable oasis in esty and integrity, an instinctive aversion ing poetry which he taps out, on his own a vast desert of mediocrity. May his tribe to injustice and exploitation, he has admission, on his Blackberry in the few increase!

20 August 2012 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S WHOM IS MODI HELPING?

Rajinder Puri

roponents of strong Hindu nationalism view Gujarat Chief Minister Mr. Narendra Modi as their icon and India's future hope. Progressive and secular Pforces view him as a dangerous threat to the nation's unity. Both views seem to be misconceived. There seems to be a great difference between Mr. Modi's image and his reality. Either wittingly or otherwise his actions are harming the prospects of so-called Hindu national- ists and helping those of so-called progressive and secular forces. Mr. Modi swung into an overdrive in the last week of May this year. The pact he sealed with BJP President Mr. Nitin Gadkari to enable the latter get a second term was on the precondition that the party administer humiliating treatment to BJP leader Mr. Sanjay Joshi. The party's surrender provoked three quick responses in these columns that predicted what eventually occurred. Dissidence in the Gujarat BJP grew. Mr. Joshi started an anti-Modi poster campaign from which he dissociated himself only after the damage was done in order to avoid disciplinary action by the party. And Mr. Modi's growing stature as the future prime ministerial candidate created serious misgivings both in the central parliamentary leadership of the BJP as well as among the NDA allies.

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S August 2012 21 Mr. Modi bulldozing his party up to this point may be attributed to nothing Mr. Modi criticized Bihar's politics for being caste based more than vaulting ambition. Corporate India that owns media solidly backs and therefore the reason of the state's backwardness. him. Mainstream media commissions Surely Mr. Modi knew that the nation was in the thick of a opinion polls that hail him as India's Presidential election for which reason unity within the NDA greatest living vote-getter. It must be pointed out though that his vote-getting was absolutely essential? Even allowing for his unconcealed prowess has never yet been demon- ambition to be the prime ministerial candidate in the next strated outside Gujarat. Mr. Modi's impatience to get ahead was under- general election what need was there for Mr. Modi's tearing standable. What is less understandable hurry to initiate a dispute with his chief rival, Bihar chief is his unprovoked attack on Bihar politi- Minister Mr. Nitish Kumar? cians as recently as June 11th. Mr. Modi criticized Bihar's politics for being caste based and therefore the Presidential poll? Inevitably Mr. Kumar acquaintance of accused money laun- reason of the state's backwardness. responded to tear NDA unity to shreds. derer Hasan Ali, Mr. Ahmed Patel, to get Surely Mr. Modi knew that the nation BJP's Bihar leader Mr. Sushil Modi's elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha was in the thick of a Presidential elec- lame explanation that Mr. Narendra from Gujarat. The fact that Mr. Patel tion for which reason unity within the Modi was referring to the RJD and not subsequently reciprocated by his inter- NDA was absolutely essential? Even the JD-U did not wash. vention to help Mr. Modi get the central allowing for his unconcealed ambition The question arises: is Mr. Narendra government to lift the ban on cotton to be the prime ministerial candidate in Modi so apolitical as to be unaware export in March this year is another the next general election what need about the need for NDA unity at this matter. was there for Mr. Modi's tearing hurry to point of time? The Karachi Chambers of initiate a dispute with his chief rival, Indeed there are several past devel- Commerce invited Mr. Modi to address Bihar chief Minister Mr. Nitish Kumar? opments related to Mr. Modi that con- them in Pakistan to expound on Was he such a political novice as to be tinue to puzzle. There was no compul- Gujarat's model of economic develop- oblivious of the crucial need for NDA sion for Mr. Modi to allow Mrs. Sonia ment. This invitation could not have unity at this point of time during the Gandhi's political secretary, and been extended without the blessing of

22 August 2012 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S The fact is that so far Nitish did not see any challenge to his position in the NDA, because Advani, Sushma, Jaitly, Gadkari are busy pulling each other down. But now he sees Modi as a challenge. So he grabs the easiest-to-use stick "secularism" to hurl at Modi. In one of my earlier comments I had mentioned that "secularism" has been shamelessly used by politicians only at the time of elections to frighten the Muslims who vote en-bloc.

The fact is that so far Nitish did not see any challenge to his position in the NDA, because Advani, Sushma, Jaitly, Gadkari are busy pulling each other down. But now he sees Modi as a challenge. So he grabs the easiest-to-use stick "secularism" to hurl at Modi. In one of my earlier comments I had mentioned that "secularism" has been shamelessly used by politicians only at the time of elections to frighten the Muslims who vote en-bloc. And do you believe the denials of many commenta- tors about the existence of Muslim vote bank ? Let me try a prediction. If Modi does not back down then Nitish will join hands with the Congress before 2014. Congress will not mind because it has no hope of coming to power in Bihar. What happens to BJP is difficult to say because dreams of many of its leaders the Pakistan army and the ISI. China's proponents of secular and progressive have been shattered with the rise of Ambassador to India was feted in policies. One suggests that both sides Modi. Gujarat where he promised substantial review their opinions. They should ask: Krish Chinese investment in the state. This whom does Mr. Modi help, and whom 06/21/2012 followed Mr. Modi's several earlier trips does he harm? to China seeking investment. The 20-JJun-22012 Modi IS a politician. Even Ambassador also expressed satisfac- Gandhi,opposing Bose,supported tion with Gujarat schools for teaching Sir, can anyone deny the existence Seetharmiah for APCC President.Nehru Mandarin to their students. Beijing of of caste and religion based politics in totally blacked out Patel,Bose and course continues to violate its solemn India particularly when elections are many others. Why is it not feasible that written assurance given in 2005 that round the corner ? And if Nitish is a ISI and Pak Army supported Modi's invi- precluded China's claims on Indian ter- messiah of development and not caste tation to sow doubts about his charac- ritories with settled populations as exist why was he flustered with a remark that ter in his supporters'minds When in Arunachal Pradesh. All this does not was aimed at his predecessor and at Centre,responsible for our bordersover- bother Mr. Modi. the shameless politicians of UP ? look Chinese doublegame and invite It seems not to bother self-pro- Everyone seems to have ignored the their commerce,why not Modi? fessed proponents of strong Hindu fact that Modi had mentioned UP also v.haribabu nationalism or cheer the self-professed in the same breath. 06/21/2012

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S August 2012 23 Famine of political intent condemns India to droughts

Shankkar Aiyar

he question that begs to be asked is why the spectre of draught should haunt India 65 Tyears after independence. Later this week, the Government of India will come out of the closet. It will accept that the nation is faced with a drought. Don't expect the acceptance to be explicit; the exact phraseology defin- ing the condition is yet being coined. The possible implications for the economy are grave: lower output, higher prices, higher subsidies, higher deficit, higher inflation and lower GDP growth. On Tuesday, the Empowered Group of Ministers on drought will meet to discuss the steps that the government will take. There will be a lot of motion-PDS, supply of diesel, seeds and power, and of course, MGNREGA-but don't hold your breath for any strategic movement. The question that begs to be asked is why the spectre of drought should haunt India 65 years after Independence. It is the famine of political intent that condemns India to the spectre of droughts. This will be the third officially accepted drought in 10 years. India faces at an average two every decade. Across India, nearly 90 districts are classified as drought-prone and over 60 districts are notified as flood-prone. Which simply means, in any year, nearly 70 million hectares of cultivable land is prone to the vagaries of the rain gods. Consider the challenge. India has 2.5 per cent of the world's land and 4 per cent of fresh water resources to support 15 per cent of the world's pop- receives an annual precipitation-snow- ulation. By 2050-probably earlier-the The Empowered Group of fall and rain-of 4,000 billion cubic population is estimated to touch 1,650 Ministers on drought will metres. Allowing for evaporation/tran- million which means demand for food spiration, the runoff available in rivers will touch 450 million tonnes as against meet to discuss the steps is 1,869 BCM, of which India uses bare- current output of 250 million tonnes. that the government will ly a third, or 690 BCM. Very simply, two- Also, demand for water will rise. Already take. There will be a lot of thirds of the water we receive is wasted, water is being mined by farmers in draining into the ocean. Rainfall is nearly 100 districts; of the 400 towns, motion-PDS, supply of asymmetric, varying from 100 mm in nearly 200 are face water scarcity; gla- diesel, seeds and power, and Rajasthan to 11,000 mm over ciers are receding; and water bodies Brahmaputra. More importantly, 70 per being concretised. India in 2012 must of course, MGNREGA-but cent of rainfall occurs in 100 days while know it has to act. don't hold your breath for the need for water is spread across 365 The equation of supply promises a any strategic movement. days. India obviously needs to upgrade solution for rising demand. India storage and management of water. It is

24 August 2012 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S not an alien thought. India's track panel to implement the interlinking of record though is pathetically poor. The first step to a solution is rivers project. The project was mooted Over 553 irrigation projects are run- awareness. The government first in 1970s by irrigation minister K L ning behind schedule, over 150 dating Rao and then expanded upon by to 1960s. Of the 253 projects sanc- by its own admission is Captain Dinshaw Dastur. Costing over tioned under the Accelerated Irrigation unable to track the Rs 4.5 lakh crore, the "garland canal" Benefits Programme between October magnitude of scarcity or would transfer water from surplus river 1996 and March 2008, only 100 proj- basins to deficit regions by building 32 ects were reported as completed, of surplus. There is no record of dams and use a web of 29 links to which 12 were found "incomplete". Not destroyed water bodies. It deliver 173 BCM of water to irrigate 34 surprisingly, 65 years after million hectares, generate 34,000 MW Independence, India can store only 225 tracks the levels of only 81 of power and deliver drinking water to BCM of water-or less than 14 per cent reservoirs. 100 towns. of potential. Per capita storage at about The idea was revived in 2002 by the 190 cubic metres is miniscule com- and do we know where it has gone? In Vajpayee regime only to be dumped by pared to 2,486 cubic metres for China, 2010, the government created the mis- the UPA. The challenges of environment 3,388 metres for Brazil and 5,961 sion on micro irrigation but it would and cost are significant but so are the metres for US. As a result, half the 192 need micro forensic probe to figure out benefits. In 2008, an NCAER study said million hectares of cropped land is the outlays and outcomes. It could be a that over "a 13-year period, gains dependent on rains. hot thought so why do it in homeopath- amount to more than 5 per cent of GDP Maybe dams are damned. It is ic doses? Indeed, India spends barely on a cumulative basis" and that food arguable that an alternate idea-a com- Rs 26,000 crore on irrigation. To get an grain output would jump to over 390 bination of modern micro irrigation and idea of neglect, figure out the ratio to million tonnes. Although the Supreme heritage conservation methods man- GDP. Court asked the government to act in aged by communities-could work. Sorry, The first step to a solution is aware- February, no movement is visible. but there is no grand idea visible. The ness. The government by its own admis- This is not an argument for a solu- track record on the bits and pieces isn't sion is unable to track the magnitude of tion or the occasion to argue one solu- any better. The Planning Commission in scarcity or surplus. There is no record of tion versus another. It is about the lack its 12th Plan talks about millions of destroyed water bodies. It tracks the of urgency within the government about water bodies wherein "storage capacity levels of only 81 reservoirs. Ground what is a persistent crisis. In a democ- has been eroded by poor maintenance water depletion is a serious issue but it racy there is a cost to doing anything. and siltation". Restoration would has only 60,000 observatory wells in a There is also a cost to doing nothing. require resources, manpower and a country with 30 million ground water E-mmail the writer at capacity to involve communities. Since structures. Can we trust the govern- [email protected] 2009, the government has spent a total ment's judgement? (Shankkar Aiyar is a senior journal- of Rs 1,000 crore. So how many have In February this year, the Supreme ist who specialises in the politics of been restored? Point is: is that enough Court asked the government to set up a economics)

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S August 2012 25 BIG IDEAS FOR INDIA 2050

VIJAY GOVINDARAJAN & say, at least one-third of that- implying change. ANANT SUNDARAM 10x income growth, to $15,000- by An example of a purposeful idea is 2050. This would mean GDP addition the Ganga-Cauvery river link, one sug- ndia's growth has slowed. Inflation of over $20 trillion annually, or the gested four decades ago. Consider its is back, foreign direct investment equivalent of one-and-a-half times the potential implications for agriculture, has plummeted, and its currency is current US economy. drinking water, sanitation and trans- sinking. After two decades of Achieving such growth requires portation, while simultaneously miti- impressive growth, optimism three principles at its core: it must be gating flooding problems in the North Iappears to have ebbed. In the minds of purposeful, democratic, and sustain- and drought in the South. Moreover, it many, India's shine has dimmed. able. will generate millions of jobs and thriv- But today's woes are a mere bump. Why purposeful? Purpose gener- ing communities along the waterways, Consider the long-term potential: the ates excitement, is unifying and makes while creating upstream and down- US has GDP per capita of $45,000 growth transformational. In a country stream business opportunities. while India has one-thirtieth of that. No with deep socioeconomic, urban-rural There will be legitimate objections - one expects the average Indian to get and cultural divides, a sense of pur- notably around environmental conse- to US levels right away, but it is reason- pose is a necessary condition for its quences for river deltas- to overcome. able to expect that (s)he can aspire to, many factions to align behind deep But, in the decades since the idea was

26 August 2012 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S proposed, India has surely developed starter. Take the example of CO2 emis- learn from them a workable business the scientific, technological, and gover- sions. While the world produces every model that can be rapidly scaled? nance capabilities to address them. $1,000 of GDP by emitting three-quar- The larger point here is that India's Why democratic? Ensuring buy-in ters of a ton of CO2, India needs 1.5 growth aspirations cannot be put back for such growth requires people to tons. This inefficient fossil fuel utiliza- in the bottle. The examples offered believe that the resulting wealth cre- tion mirrors that in the use of other nat- here are just that. Why not take it a ation will be inclusive. While the past ural resources such as air, water, min- step further: let's design a contest two decades have created a great deal erals and metals. called "10 Big Ideas for 10x Growth." of wealth, it has also concentrated that India dismisses such concerns by The only requirement for submissions wealth. For example, the net worth of asserting its people are frugal: after all, should be for proponents to justify how just the 50 richest Indians now the average Indian emits one-twentieth their idea fosters national purpose, amounts to one quarter of GDP. the CO2 of the average American. India promotes democratic wealth creation Much of India's recent growth came also points to the inherent unfairness and sustains the environment. from taking advantage of globalization in the West having become rich by hav- We recognize that enabling such of markets, knowhow and resources. ing a 'carbon party' that made possible growth will require investments in edu- But India primarily adopted a 'gate- cheap wealth creation. But such asser- cation, rural development, and keeper' strategy: foreign companies tions miss the point. Given the scale of improved governance. The starting were welcome if a well-heeled Indian India's growth needs, resource use at point, however, has to be bold leader- partner could be found. This is an current levels of inefficiency- with ship - one driven by a sense of legacy. undesirable approach as it allows the attendant emissions, waste, and pollu- India's current leader was a key archi- already overly affluent gatekeepers to tion- will degrade the planet's natural tect in paving the liberalization path skim the wealth created from the 10x environment on an unimaginable two decades ago. To bookend his growth. scale. Pushback is inevitable. career, he must revitalize the country's India needs the best in capabilities Instead of viewing sustainability as sense of optimism, by proposing a that the global economy possesses in an imposed burden, India should see it growth platform based on our three order to grow. But getting those as an innovation opportunity. Here is core principles. requires a mindset change. India must an idea. Why not produce nuclear ener- Now, that could leave a lasting lega- not only refashion policy towards multi- gy from thorium, found abundantly in cy. nationals in an inviting manner, but India? Research into thorium - includ- Vijay Govindarajan, ranked #3 in also in a way that allows its middle ing by Indian scientists - goes back the 2011 Thinkers 50 list of greatest class to participate. India should con- decades. It could be a source of inex- management thinkers in the world, and sider, for example, requiring multina- pensive energy, be easily scaled, pres- Anant Sundaram are professors at the tionals to raise at least 49% of the ents no meltdown risk, uses existing Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth equity capital directly from the public. nuclear waste, degrades to safe College, USA Such a simple strategy not only obvi- radioactive levels in hundreds (rather WAY FORWARD For India to achieve ates a need for gatekeepers, but also than tens of thousands) of years, and a higher rate of growth in the coming democratizes future wealth creation. obviates weaponization possibilities. decades, it's important for its people to Why sustainable? Business-as- Can India fast -track and install, say, believe that future wealth creation will usual in natural resource use is a non- two or three demonstration projects to be inc.

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S August 2012 27 World Bank Mired In Dysfunction: Mess Awaits New Head

Bob Prouty, Forbes

t's presidential inauguration time in Washington. Not for the person who will helm the federal government- that comes in six months-but instead for Dr. Jim Yong Kim, the man taking the reins of an organi- Ization even more lumbering, and far less accountable: the World Bank. With 188 member countries and an army of 9,000 employees and consult- ants, Kim will lead one of the world's most powerful institutions-charged with saving the world's poor-but also one of its most dysfunctional. It is an endless- ly expanding virtual nation-state with supranational powers, a 2011 aid portfolio of $57 billion and little oversight by the governments that fund it. And-according to dozens of inter- views over the past few weeks, atop hundreds more over the past five years, plus a review of thousands of pages of internal documents- problems have got- ten worse, not better, at the World Bank despite more than a decade of reform attempts. Kim, the Dartmouth College president tapped by President Obama to lead the bank, stands little chance of fixing things, say insiders, unless he is some officials operated an off-budget prepared to completely revamp the cur- Part of the problem is system that defies cost control, while rent system. "The inmates are running structural: Internal reports, others used revolving doors to game the asylum," says a former director. the system to make fortunes for them- Part of the problem is philosophical: reviewed by FORBES, show, selves or enhance their positions within No one, starting with outgoing presi- for example, that even after the bank. Why not track all the cash? dent Robert Zoellick, has laid out an Good luck: Bank sources cite up to $2 articulated vision for what the World Zoellick implemented a billion that may have gone unaccounted Bank's role is in the 21st century. For budget freeze some officials for recently amid computer glitches. example, economic superpower China operated an off-budget Sadly, the last part is cultural: The remains one of the bank's largest and bank, those inside and outside it say, is most valued clients, even as it doles out system that defies cost so obsessed with reputational risk that development money to other countries control, while others used it reflexively covers up anything that and bullies the bank from aggressively could appear negative, rather than investigating corruption. revolving doors to game the address it. Whistle-blower witch hunts Part of the problem is structural: system to make fortunes for undermine the one sure way to root out Internal reports, reviewed by FORBES, themselves or enhance their problems at a Washington headquar- show, for example, that even after ters dominated by fearful yes-men and Zoellick implemented a budget freeze positions within the bank. yes-women, who-wary of a quick expul-

28 August 2012 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S sion back to their own countries- rarely offer their true opinions. Having successfully helped rebuild Europe and Japan, the Zoellick declined to speak with FORBES for this piece, though that's not World Bank eventually expanded into a truly global agency, surprising. I've covered the bank for the notably in the 1970s under the leadership of Robert past five years and have been ritually McNamara, who took on the goal of a poverty-free planet in denied access to anyone in a mid-to- top-level post. The blockade ended just his search for redemption after his role in the Vietnam War. before FORBES went to press, when the Donor nations fund the bank with billions of dollars bank conducted a carefully monitored conference call with two staffers who annually, which it then doles out to fight poverty worldwide. run the global "Open Data" initiative. The bank's media relations spokesman et in his search for redemption after his schools, even fish farms-although it has was permitted to be quoted by name. role in the Vietnam War. Donor nations muddied those boundaries over the last That this is considered openness epito- fund the bank with billions of dollars 20 years. Unlike the IMF, the bank mizes the problems that Kim now inher- annually, which it then doles out to fight deals with both the public and private its. poverty worldwide. sectors, and as the number of projects Like most out-of-control bureaucra- In terms of its governance, the and amounts of money have escalated, cies, the World Bank started with lofty World Bank has always operated under so has the mischief, corruption and and idealistic goals. Facing a planet in a gentleman's agreement that allows cover-ups, since no agency has the ruins near the end of World War II, it the U.S.-its largest shareholder with power to audit them. was created along with the 16% of the vote-to pick its president, In 2005 George W. Bush tapped International Monetary Fund at a con- while the other 187 member-govern- Paul Wolfowitz as president to clean the ference of leading Western economists ments flow into a 25-member board. place up. To his credit, Wolfowitz made -trying to find ways to address the eco- The process for its funding, grants and rooting out corruption his primary mis- nomic instabilities that they believed loans is absurdly complicated, but in sion. But the former Pentagon official led to war-and to guarantee it would essence it combines capital from its also came in like an occupying power. never happen again. donor -countries, plus self-generated According to internal documents Having successfully helped rebuild income through the sale of bonds. obtained by FORBES, the board and Europe and Japan, the World Bank While often confused with the IMF, Wolfowitz engaged in a game of trench eventually expanded into a truly global which provides financial stability to gov- warfare so vicious that the minutes of agency, notably in the 1970s under the ernments, the World Bank's role is at some board meetings had to be sani- leadership of Robert McNamara, who least supposed to be only development tized to keep the world from knowing took on the goal of a poverty-free plan- projects-like building dams, roads, what was really going on.

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S August 2012 29 These moves, however, all fell at the margins. The bank's core problems grew unabated. Zoellick appeared to continue Wolfowitz's corruption battle, boosting the budget and the number of investigators in the bank's corruption-fighting arm-which led to the bagging and debarring of a record number of companies for corruption and bribery, including Germany's Siemens and Britain's Macmillan Publishers.

"Certainly the World Bank in its official attitude has changed," Volcker tells FORBES. "Now I can't tell you how much that's penetrated into the field staff … or the people who make the loans." Last year a little-known internal bank review was done on the effectiveness of the bank's corruption-fighting efforts. At first, according to the report's lead author, Navin Giri-shankar, Zoellick's team asked the evaluators- based inside a semi-independent bank Perhaps Wolfowitz's heavy-handed 8,000 "datasets" going back 50 years. unit-not to review the Volcker restruc- style would have eventually paid divi- He ordered it to be given out for free turing until they had more time them- dends. He did, after all, declare war on and made available to all-except for the selves to see how it was working. The the bureaucracy. But he also fell prey to sensitive stuff-under what he calls the investigators agreed, focusing instead the insular culture, giving his girlfriend Open Data program. on the end results that ultimately mat- at the bank special considerations that These moves, however, all fell at the ter, anyway-the "quality of the bank's undercut his credibility and led to his margins. The bank's core problems operations," particularly in countries resignation. grew unabated. Zoellick appeared to that suffer heavily from corruption and So in came Zoellick. He had a stellar continue Wolfowitz's corruption battle, poor governance. resume, serving as the U.S. trade rep- boosting the budget and the number of The bank's corruption fighters are resentative, an assistant Treasury sec- investigators in the bank's corruption- too focused on specific development retary and deputy secretary of state. fighting arm-which led to the bagging projects and not enough on the budgets Joining the bank in 2007 he immedi- and debarring of a record number of of poor countries, where bank funds- ately calmed the waters. Facing a glob- companies for corruption and bribery, more than $50 billion since 2008-are al food crisis, followed by a financial cri- including Germany's Siemens and commingled with a country's income sis, he shoveled loans out the door at Britain's Macmillan Publishers. and may not be used for its intended record levels to help keep the world's But numerous managers and vice purpose. These funds go down a rabbit poorest from being buried alive. He presidents that I spoke with inside the hole and are almost impossible to then turned around and sought-and last bank say that corruption continues track. year received-healthy financial -increas- unabated. Five years ago a commission It was a bold report that shook the es from the bank's member countries. led by Paul Volcker drilled into the bank bank, and Zoellick's team worked hard When arriving at the bank he was and called it a massive problem. He rec- to discredit it. "In the beginning they flabbergasted at the glass ceiling for ommended restructuring the bank's wanted to push us toward examining women-despite 20 years of studies and corruption-fighting unit, including mov- countries where they felt there would internal promises to change it. Within ing the leadership into a more powerful be successes," says Girishankar, con- five years he could boast that half of his notch in the bureaucracy. Zoellick sidered one of the best analysts inside top managers were female. Zoellick adopted everything in the Volcker plan, the agency. "Then the sampling was was also shocked to learn that the bank but there are big questions today questioned, as were the findings that sold its old data and surveys in its whether it's having a deep impact. the bank is not consistent in fighting

30 August 2012 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S corruption and improving governments although Lapointe says she confronted across countries." At the most fundamental Zoellick before leaving, and he told her A similar report that the bank he'd been blindsided by his own top buried, attacked and then ignored was level the World Bank has a -managers. done by another respected internal mandate problem. At the most fundamental level the investigator, Anis Dani. This report Economist Adam Lerrick, a World Bank has a mandate problem. found a "dramatic dip" in the quality- Economist Adam Lerrick, a longtime meaning effectiveness, impact and longtime critic of the critic of the organization, argues that it results-of bank projects over the past organization, argues that it lost its bearings lending to middle- five years, says Dani. He also found a income countries "that don't need the seemingly premeditated effort to lost its bearings lending to money," like the BRIC -countries-Brazil, remove the only whistle-blower function middle-income countries Russia, India and China-rather than within the bank that dealt with all its "that don't need the sticking with development projects in projects, called the "Quality Assurance the world's poorest and most fragile Group." Zoellick's team dissolved it in money," like the BRIC states. 2010, and while the bank maintains -countries-Brazil, Russia, The bank argues that it makes that it is working on replacing it with money from lending to the BRICs, which something else, Dani calls that claim India and China-rather than allows it to lend still more money to the "hogwash." sticking with development poorest nations. In a 2006 study, how- The study, presented to the board in projects in the world's ever, Lerrick drilled down into the February of this year, was objected to by bank's books and found real annual the bank's senior managers, who pre- poorest and most fragile losses of $100 million to $500 million emptively produced their own Power- states. per year on its loans-although account- Point presentation that found a lot of ing maneuvers painted a rosier picture the same problems that Dani did. (That of the financials. It's hard to believe the report has never been released.) did," laughs a bank vice president who situation has improved in the wake of None of these apparent attempts to supported her. But it led to Lapointe the financial crisis. blunt unwelcome news comes as a sur- being gently walked out the bank's door "The World Bank should be in the prise to Carman L. Lapointe, who has in late 2009. "We were pretty blunt with development business, not the lending worked as the UN's chief internal watch- what had to be said, and that's not what business," says Lerrick. "Its scarce dog since 2010. Before that Lapointe those at the top of the bank want to donor-backed funds should be chan- was the auditor general of the World read," Lapointe tells FORBES. "The neled to countries that do not have Bank, where her team issued 60 inter- bank's management -didn't want to access to private-sector capital." nal reports per year on what was really hear the tough messages. They are very Volcker has previously likened the going on inside the agency. "Carman's reluctant to be held to account." The bank's we-must-lend attitude, ominous- reports were-how can I put it-a bit can- bank wouldn't comment on that, ly, to Fannie Mae.

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S August 2012 31 Hardly a month now passes without an announcement that the World Bank is lending China a ton of low- interest money-say $300 million to clean up a polluted lake-only to watch China turn around a few days later and announce a similar-sized zero-interest loan, or grant, to a poor sub- Saharan nation, winning extra global clout.

Nowhere is the problem clearer than with China, the world's second-largest economy-and the World Bank's second- largest customer behind Mexico, having borrowed more than $30 billion over the past few decades. When China in 2007 threatened to stop borrowing from the bank unless the agency toned down its new corruption-fighting plan- according to a secret internal bank memo, obtained by FORBES-the bank's top managers went into a panic and quietly caved. "The bank is desperate to keep its best clients," explains Lerrick. A decision was made inside the bank -- announced on its website but wrapped in diplomatic jargon -- that China. Case in point: In the China office Congressional earmarks. There are they would benchmark each country at the bank in Washington, one staffer's hundreds of them, funded by dozens of individually on corruption, rather than job, according to a recently retired sen- countries and dedicated to virtually against one global standard. The practi- ior bank official, is to closely examine every poverty-type project you can think cal result was an easing of the rules for every World Bank document the bank of. And they have been growing so phe- the biggest violators, such as China. creates that mentions Taiwan to make nomenally that they now provide $600 Zoellick, who prides himself on his sure that it uses language China million annually, or 30% of the bank's relations with China's leaders, did noth- approves of. If it doesn't, the language total administrative budget. ing to alter it. Indeed, in the report is altered. Many donor countries do this issued last year by Girishankar, he con- When Zoellick took office five years because they don't want their money firmed that this was happening. "There ago, he instituted, he says, a flat budg- sitting in a general bank fund that the are several countries, including those et on the agency-which, to outside eyes, bank can use for anything it wants. But with very big geopolitical influence and remains at roughly $2 billion annually since they have various arms of the a strong voice on the bank board, for administrative overhead. He did it bank administering these funds, there's where the bank had to find a way to because he felt it would instill discipline even less oversight than there would deal with it," he says. on the global staff and honestly felt have been otherwise. And while those It gets worse: Hardly a month now they could do more with less. trust funds are generally not supposed passes without an announcement that Unfortunately, FORBES has learned, the to go toward administrative overhead, the World Bank is lending China a ton of staff simply did an end-run around the they often do anyway, say bank insid- low-interest money-say $300 million to president. ers, which many countries are unaware clean up a polluted lake-only to watch "No one believed we had a flat budg- of. FORBES has turned up examples- China turn around a few days later and et except him," laughs a senior vice such as with Italy-in which arms of the announce a similar-sized zero-interest president. "We're spending trust funds bank have been charging headquarters loan, or grant, to a poor sub-Saharan like there's no tomorrow. So where is and individual countries for the same nation, winning extra global clout. the flat budget? Everyone just got salaries and expenses, helping to Meanwhile, inside the bank's money from bank owners in a different enrich bureaucratic fiefdoms. Washington headquarters, China is capacity." FORBES has also discovered a increasingly assertive on the board "Trust funds" are the World Bank's whole layer of bank officials who have level, while bank managers kowtow to dirty little secret, their version of learned how to game the system or

32 August 2012 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S expand their influence through its con- happening. One insider likened it to the That meant not taking big risks. In stantly revolving doors. It's not unlike game whack-a-mole-only with hundreds late 2008 Zoellick tapped former the way that U.S. officials retire and then of millions of dollars shooting up in dif- Mexican president Ernesto Zedillo to go to work for the contractors they asso- ferent spots and vanishing from others. chair an independent commission to ciated with while in government service. One possibility could be that it was study the issue of giving smaller and As just one example, "Lead massive hacking-an incessant problem poorer countries a bigger seat at the Education Specialist" Luis Crouch helps at the bank. Another explanation is that World Bank governance table. That manage the billion-dollar Global it was simply "Computers Gone Wild"- report was sent to Zoellick when it was Partnership for Education, run out of perhaps the IT network on its own play- completed last year, who promptly gave the bank's headquarters. Crouch is a ing a game. Others suspect the expla- it to the board-but not before adding a revolving door within a revolving door- nation may be more nefarious. One cover letter saying it doesn't necessarily over the past ten years he has shuttled thing for sure: It eroded confidence in represent his views. "Why did he have to back and forth between the bank and the World Bank's controls. do that?" Zedillo asks FORBES. "It was Research Triangle Institute, a nonprofit Zoellick's hands-off management very obvious it was an independent that sells education tests to the bank style didn't help, either. He delegated report. He didn't have to say that. He and USAID, according to a USAID con- most day-to-day functions to a deputy, was not the author of the report at all. I sultant familiar with the deals who says Caroline Anstey, as well as delegating to think he's afraid some country mem- Crouch consistently favors RTI. Asked her and two others the chairing of most bers will jump to his neck, blaming him about his apparent conflicts of interest, board meetings-which is normally the for the report. They can blame me if Crouch declines to comment, while function of bank presidents. The board they don't like it." bank spokesmen also decline. meets twice a week, and yet Zoellick One of the Zedillo commission's With such off-book shenanigans shows up maybe once a month. At the biggest conclusions is that "the board going on, perhaps it's not shocking that beginning they groveled for his atten- should be a real board and not an exec- last December more than $2 billion tion, until he started going behind their utive board," says Zedillo. "The board suddenly started appearing, disappear- backs to get information directly from should handle strategic matters and ing and reappearing across the online their bosses (the finance ministers of oversee seriously the activities of the budget accounts (and computer their countries). bank. Right now it has a conflict of screens) of bank units around the Indeed, Zoellick fashioned himself -interest. world, according to staffers responsible more in the role of a statesman than a "You cannot be the overseer and for those budgets. In some accounts bank CEO. He is rumored to be eyeing a also the approvers of the operations," they showed huge deficits where none senior job in a Romney Administration. he adds with a laugh. "But that's been a had been, while in others there were Given this, bank insiders say that practice since the bank was estab- sudden surpluses. This was popping up Zoellick's goal-with bigger career perch- lished. … Do they really think the World in unrelated units across the bank's es in mind-has been to simply manage Bank will be relevant in 10 to 15 to 20 computer networks-and driving every- the agency in a way that there is no noise years if you keep it the way it is now? one crazy trying to figure out what was or blame that could be -affixed to him. The answer is no."

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S August 2012 33 IS WAL-MART DESTROYING AMERICA? Facts About Wal-Mart That Will Absolutely Shock You

Kapil Dudakia, Bureau Chief UK

merica absolutely loves Wal-Mart. 100 million cus- tomers visit Wal-Mart every single week in this country. But is Wal-Mart good for America? That is a question Athat most people never stop and ask. Most of us love shopping in big, clean stores that are packed with super cheap merchandise, but the truth is that Wal-Mart is destroying America in a lot of ways. As you will see below, Wal-Mart has destroyed tens of thousands of small businesses and countless manufacturing jobs over the past couple of decades. Wal-Mart has become a gigantic retail behemoth that sells five times more stuff than any other retailer in the United States. Unfortunately, a large percentage of all the stuff sold at Wal-Mart is made overseas. What that is costing the U.S. economy in terms of Wal-Mart has become a gigantic retail behemoth that sells five times more stuff than any other retailer in the United States. Unfortunately, a large percentage of all the stuff sold at Wal-Mart is made overseas.

34 August 2012 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S THE FOLLOWING ARE FACTS ABOUT All over the country, WAL-MMART THAT WILL ABSOLUTELY independent retailers are SHOCK YOU.... going out of business because they cannot The average U.S. family The CEO of Wal-Mart 1 now spends more than 11 makes more in a single compete with Wal-Mart and $4000 a year at Wal-Mart. hour than a full-time Wal-Mart their super cheap Chinese In 2010, Wal-Mart had rev- associate makes in an entire products. Often 2 enues of 421 billion dol- year. communities will give Wal- lars. That amount was greater Tens of thousands of Mart huge tax breaks just to than the GDP of 170 different 12 Wal-Mart employees move in to their areas. But countries including Norway, and their children are enrolled Venezuela and the United Arab in Medicaid and are dependent what many communities Emirates. on the government for health- don't take into account is If Wal-Mart was a nation, it care. that the introduction of a 3 would have the 23rd Between 2001 and Wal-Mart is often absolutely largest GDP in the world. 13 2007, the value of devastating to small Wal-Mart now sells more products that Wal-Mart import- businesses.... 4 groceries than anyone else ed from China grew from $9 bil- in America does. In the United lion to $27 billion. States today, one out of every Amazingly, 96 percent four grocery dollars is spent at 14 of all Americans now Wal-Mart. live within 20 miles of a Wal- Amazingly, 100 million cus- Mart. 5 tomers shop at Wal-Mart The number of "inde- every single week. 15 pendent retailers" in Wal-Mart has opened more the United States declined by 6 than 1,100 "supercenters" 60,000 between 1992 and since 2005 alone. 2007. Today, Wal-Mart has more According to the Center than 2 million employees. 16 for Responsive Politics, 7 Wal-Mart spent 7.8 million dol- If Wal-Mart was an army, it lars on political lobbying during 8 would be the second 2011. That number does not largest military on the planet even include campaign contri- behind China. butions. Wal-Mart is the largest Today, Wal-Mart has 9 employer in 25 different 17 five times the sales of U.S. states. the second largest U.S. retailer According to the (Costco). Economic Policy 10 The combined net about free enterprise and competition Institute, trade between Wal- 18 worth of six members and working together to build up this Mart and China resulted in the of the Walton family is roughly country, and Wal-Mart is destroying all loss of 133,000 manufacturing equal to the combined net of that. jobs in the United States worth of the poorest 30 per- All over the country, independent between 2001 and 2006. cent of all Americans. retailers are going out of business because they cannot compete with Wal- lost jobs and lost revenue is incalcula- anything in order to cut costs. In the Mart and their super cheap Chinese ble. But Wal-Mart is a perfect example future, will we all be working for gigantic products. Often communities will give of where our economic system is head- communal entities that funnel all of the Wal-Mart huge tax breaks just to move ed. Our economy is becoming com- wealth and economic rewards to a very in to their areas. But what many completely and totally dominated by highly tiny elite? That sounds very much like munities don't take into account is that centralized monolithic predator corpo- how communist China works, and red- the introduction of a Wal-Mart is often rations that ruthlessly crush all compe- blooded Americans should want no part absolutely devastating to small busi- tition and that will stoop to just about of that. America is supposed to be nesses....

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S August 2012 35 A study of small and rural towns in Iowa showed lost sales for local busi- A study of small and rural towns in Iowa showed lost sales nesses ranging from -17.2% in small for local businesses ranging from -17.2% in small towns to - towns to -61.4% in rural areas, amounting to a total dollar loss of $2.46 BIL- 61.4% in rural areas, amounting to a total dollar loss of LION over a 13-year period. $2.46 BILLION over a 13-year period. When we buy stuff When we buy stuff made by people working for slave labor wages in China, made by people working for slave labor wages in China, we we destroy good paying American jobs destroy good paying American jobs and we make America and we make America poorer. This is a poorer. This is a point that I have tried to make over and point that I have tried to make over and over. over. Wal-Mart often tells one thing to the public and then does another thing in they could meet with us at our beautiful On the back of their trucks it was saying private. Sadly, the truth is that Wal-Mart Apparel Mart we had here in Dallas, "Bring it Back to America!" They had the does not care about U.S. manufacturing which has now been razed, because all big "keep it in America" program going jobs. Wal-Mart just wants to get prod- the independent merchants don't exist at that time on the big signs in the ucts as cheaply as they possibly can, that used to come to it. Two people from stores. Meanwhile when I reminded the and most of the time that means get- Walmart came down and they said they buyer of that, she told me, "that is just ting them from China. were going to be sourcing goods from for domestic consumption, we're going Just check out this first-hand testi- overseas and we would have to meet to buy at the cheapest we can any- mony from an 81-year-old retired appar- those prices for consumer products and where on earth." el manufacturer.... to get ready for it-we are going to be As I have written about previously, I was president of the Southwestern sourcing the world. Walmart was the the United States has lost more than Apparel Manufacturers Association. only company that came out and said 56,000 manufacturing facilities since There was a meeting sometime this. 2001. between 1985 and 1990. Walmart had It was sort of shocking: I was selling We are losing millions of good jobs contacted our organization and asked if them some merchandise at the time. that cannot be replaced. If you can

36 August 2012 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S Walmart's market power is so immense that the even the largest suppliers must comply with its demands for lower and lower prices because they cannot afford to have their goods taken off its shelves. Companies that used to manufacture products in the United States, from Levi's jeans to lock maker Master Lock, were pressured to shut their U.S. factories and moved manufacturing abroad to meet Walmart's demand for low prices.

support a family selling electronics or running a general store. But you can't support a family working at Wal-Mart. The vast majority of the jobs that Wal- Mart creates are very low paying. Large numbers of Wal-Mart employees are actually on welfare, and this is part of the reason why we have seen such an explosion in the number of the working poor in America. At this point, more than 40 percent of all jobs in America are low wage jobs and the middle class is rapidly disap- pearing. If we do not support American jobs and American manufacturers they will continue to go away and the welfare rolls in this country will continue to explode. There is not going to be any prosperity in this country without jobs. Unfortunately, most Americans simply believe it, the United States has actual- lower and lower prices because they do not understand how good jobs are ly lost an average of about 50,000 cannot afford to have their goods taken being systematically destroyed in manufacturing jobs a month since off its shelves. Companies that used to America every single day. China joined the World Trade manufacture products in the United The path that America is headed on Organization in 2001. States, from Levi's jeans to lock maker today is only going to end in complete Last year, the U.S. trade deficit with Master Lock, were pressured to shut and total disaster. We are being trans- China was the biggest trade deficit that their U.S. factories and moved manu- formed from a wealthy nation into a one nation has had with another nation facturing abroad to meet Walmart's poor nation. In the end, we will be dom- in the history of the world, and Wal-Mart demand for low prices. inated by a very tiny elite and everyone played a huge role in that. Unfortunately, the vast wealth that else will either be among the working In fact, Wal-Mart has actually been Wal-Mart is sucking out of our commu- poor or will be totally dependent on the forcing some U.S. manufacturers to nities is not put back into our communi- government. Our system is supposed to pack up and move overseas. The fol- ties. The profits are funneled out to Wal- be about open, honest competition. But lowing is from a recent article by Amy Mart executives and shareholders. We that is not what Wal-Mart is about. Wal- Traub.... may enjoy the low prices, but very little Mart is about crushing small business- Walmart's market power is so of the money that we give to Wal-Mart es and manufacturers here in America immense that the even the largest sup- gets recycled in our local areas. and getting us all to buy their super pliers must comply with its demands for In the old days, you could actually cheap Chinese-made goods.

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S August 2012 37 IS DEATH AN ILLUSION? EVIDENCE SUGGESTS DEATH ISN'T THE END

Robert Lanza

fter the death of his old friend, Albert Einstein said "Now Besso has departed from this strange world a little ahead of me. That means Anothing. People like us … know that the distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion." New evidence continues to suggest that Einstein was right - death is an illusion. Our classical way of thinking is based on the belief that the world has an objective observer-independent existence. But a long list of experiments shows just the opposite. We think life is just the activity of carbon and an admix- ture of molecules - we live awhile and then rot into the ground. We believe in death because we've been taught we die. Also, of course, because we associate ourselves with our body and we know bodies die. End of story. But biocentrism - a new theory of everything - tells us death may not be the terminal event we think. Amazingly, if you add life and consciousness to the equation, you can explain some of the biggest puzzles of science. For instance, it becomes clear why space and time - and even the properties of matter itself - depend on the observer. It also becomes clear why the laws, forces, and constants of the universe appear to be exquisitely fine-tuned for the existence of life. Until we recognize the universe in our heads, attempts to understand reality will remain a road to nowhere. Consider the weather 'outside': You see a blue sky, but the cells in your brain could be changed so the sky looks green or red. In fact, with a little genetic engineering we could probably make

38 August 2012 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S everything that is red vibrate or make a noise, or even make you want to have Or consider Heisenberg's famous uncertainty principle. If sex like with some birds. You think its there is really a world out there with particles just bouncing bright out, but your brain circuits could be changed so it looks dark out. You around, then we should be able to measure all their think it feels hot and humid, but to a properties. But you can't. For instance, a particle's exact tropical frog it would feel cold and dry. location and momentum can't be known at the same time. This logic applies to virtually everything. Bottom line: What you see could not be So why should it matter to a particle what you decide to present without your consciousness. measure? And how can pairs of entangled particles be In truth, you can't see anything through the bone that surrounds your instantaneously connected on opposite sides of the galaxy brain. Your eyes are not portals to the as if space and time don't exist? Again, the answer is world. Everything you see and experi- simple: because they're not just 'out there' - space and ence right now - even your body - is a whirl of information occurring in your time are simply tools of our mind. mind. According to biocentrism, space and time aren't the hard, cold objects go through both slits at the same time. exact location and momentum can't be we think. Wave your hand through the So how can a particle change its behav- known at the same time. So why should air - if you take everything away, what's ior depending on whether you watch it it matter to a particle what you decide left? Nothing. The same thing applies or not? The answer is simple - reality is to measure? And how can pairs of for time. Space and time are simply the a process that involves your conscious- entangled particles be instantaneously tools for putting everything together. ness. connected on opposite sides of the Consider the famous two-slit experi- Or consider Heisenberg's famous galaxy as if space and time don't exist? ment. When scientists watch a particle uncertainty principle. If there is really a Again, the answer is simple: because pass through two slits in a barrier, the world out there with particles just they're not just 'out there' - space and particle behaves like a bullet and goes bouncing around, then we should be time are simply tools of our mind. through one slit or the other. But if you able to measure all their properties. But Death doesn't exist in a timeless, don't watch, it acts like a wave and can you can't. For instance, a particle's spaceless world. Immortality doesn't

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S August 2012 39 We generally reject the multiple universes of Star Trek as fiction, but it turns out there is more than a morsel of scientific truth to this popular genre. One well- known aspect of quantum physics is that observations can't be predicted absolutely.

Einstein put it). Other experiments with huge molecules called 'Buckyballs' also show that quantum reality extends beyond the microscopic world. And in 2005, KHC03 crystals exhibited entan- glement ridges one-half inch high, quantum behavior nudging into the ordinary world of human-scale objects. We generally reject the multiple universes of Star Trek as fiction, but it turns out there is more than a morsel of scientific truth to this popular genre. One well-known aspect of quantum physics is that observations can't be predicted absolutely. Instead, there is a range of possible observations each with a different probability. One main- mean a perpetual existence in time, but Scientists in France shot photons into stream explanation, the "many-worlds" resides outside of time altogether. an apparatus, and showed that what interpretation, states that each of these Our linear way of thinking about they did could retroactively change possible observations corresponds to a time is also inconsistent with another something that had already happened different universe (the 'multiverse'). series of recent experiments. In 2002, in the past. As the photons passed a There are an infinite number of univers- scientists showed that particles of light fork in the apparatus, they had to es and everything that could possibly "photons" knew - in advance - what their decide whether to behave like particles happen occurs in some universe. Death distant twins would do in the future. or waves when they hit a beam splitter. does not exist in any real sense in these They tested the communication Later on - well after the photons passed scenarios. All possible universes exist between pairs of photons. They let one the fork - the experimenter could ran- simultaneously, regardless of what hap- photon finish its journey - it had to domly switch a second beam splitter on pens in any of them. decide whether to be either a wave or a and off. It turns out that what the Life is an adventure that transcends particle. Researchers stretched the dis- observer decided at that point, deter- our ordinary linear way of thinking. tance the other photon took to reach its mined what the particle actually did at When we die, we do so not in the ran- own detector. However, they could add the fork in the past. At that moment, the dom billiard-ball-matrix but in the a scrambler to prevent it from collaps- experimenter chose his past. inescapable-life-matrix. Life has a non- ing into a particle. Somehow, the first Of course, we live in the same world. linear dimensionality - it's like a peren- particle knew what the researcher was But critics claim this behavior is limited nial flower that returns to bloom in the going to do before it happened - and to the microscopic world. But this 'two- multiverse. across distances instantaneously as if world' view (that is, one set of physical "The influences of the senses," said there were no space or time between laws for small objects, and another for Ralph Waldo Emerson "has in most them. They decide not to become parti- the rest of the universe including us) men overpowered the mind to the cles before their twin even encounters has no basis in reason and is being degree that the walls of space and time the scrambler. It doesn't matter how we challenged in laboratories around the have come to look solid, real and insur- set up the experiment. Our mind and its world. A couple years ago, researchers mountable; and to speak with levity of knowledge is the only thing that deter- published a paper in Nature (Jost et al, these limits in the world is the sign of mines how they behave. Experiments 459, 683, 2009) showing that quan- insanity." consistently confirm these observer- tum behavior extends into the everyday dependent effects. realm. Pairs of vibrating ions were Robert Lanza has published exten- Bizarre? Consider another experi- coaxed to entangle so their physical sively in leading scientific journals. His ment that was recently published in the properties remained bound together book "Biocentrism" lays out the scientif- prestigious scientific journal Science when separated by large distances ic argument for his theory of everything. (Jacques et al, 315, 966, 2007). ("spooky action at a distance," as

40 August 2012 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S PANTEL TECHNOLOGIES: BRIDGING THE GAP

hile most of the technology makers are fighting for Pantel Technologies base tablet, Penta T-Pad IS701R is very their share in the market, reasonably priced, so as to make it affordable to the trying to fetch whatever extra penny possible masses. India being a developing country, more than half of Wfrom the customer's pocket, there are the population resides below poverty line. quite a few like Pantel Technologies, which plan to pave their own way. Pantel Technologies, a Noida based young, For an instance, Pantel 256MB RAM powering Android 2.3 Information Technology devices organi- Technologies base tablet, Penta T-Pad Gingerbread operating system and a zation unlike its competitor's wishes to IS701R is very reasonably priced, so as high resolution 7 inch touch screen. Its sell its devices for some good. Rather to make it affordable to the masses. added features like wireless connectivi- than simply selling their tablet pc, they India being a developing country, more ty with high-speed networking support, want to sell the concept; how their tablet than half of the population resides is good enough to help you stay con- pc can be of great use to the consumer. below poverty line. Reaching them has nected anywhere, anytime. Further Within its few months of investiture, it always been an issue; we have always Pantel Technologies alliance with BSNL has not just made a mark with its prod- fallen short of facilities for middle and adds to its reach and connectivity at uct's quality, but it has also gained lower classes. Penta T-Pad in such state affordable prices for all. respect for itself with its chosen deci- plans to connect people and decrease Thus, Pantel Technologies though a sions and path. It's tie-ups with various the rural-urban gap as much as possi- young organization, is taking all the brands in diverse sectors have made ble. Penta T-Pad IS701R is loaded with mature decisions to win the customer's statements throughout the country. 1GHz processor and inbuilt DDR2 and country's heart.

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S August 2012 41 PANTEL TECHNOLOGIES: TRANSFORMING INDIA

simple, small yet powerful largest communication service provider internet tablet pc holds the According to Pantel of India, has already started contribut- ability to revolutionlize the Technologies, an internet ing to the sector by subsidizing its Rs way things work. From educa- 7,500 Penta T-Pad to just Rs 3,000 for tion, healthcare, governance, tablet pc has the ability to rural students. And in times to come, Asocial welfare, disaster management, plans to come with the ability which accelerate learning. Through etc, every sector would eventually trans- digitized content, learning would let sharing and review of hand- form for its better, promises Pantel written notes possible; things like auto- Technologies. Pantel Technologies is a can be made available from matic grading, video tutorials would be young Information Technology devices anywhere, anytime and available on the tablet pc. Pantel company, based in Noida. Within few Technologies is also keen on network months of its investiture it has earned anyplace. With the help of independent applications, where users the credibility and status of one of the technology and real-time can download assignments for days, or most affordable tablet pc maker of the learning collaborations, weeks at a time and need not be online country. With times to come, Pantel always. Technologies with its range of tablets, tablet can aid in custom- A lot can be done in Healthcare marketed under the name of Penta T- made education to masses. arena. Right from the upcoming remote Pads plans to leverage its technical patient monitoring, to Telemedicine strength to be part of this transforma- The only hindrance that 2.0, internet tablets can help in better tion. education sector is facing care of the patients. This would facili- According to Pantel Technologies, today is cost and tate bedside patient scans, leading to an internet tablet pc has the ability to improved accuracy of data collected accelerate learning. Through digitized connectivity. and an increase in data efficiency. With content, learning can be made avail- tablet pc, doctors can also access data able from anywhere, anytime and any- and enormous task of generating digital at the bedside, the nurses' station, or place. With the help of technology and content, to switch thousands of courses from various other points of service real-time learning collaborations, tablet and materials to digital content. And with fewer disruptions in care. Thus, can aid in custom-made education to connectivity issues, to be able to con- Pantel Technologies plan to increase masses. The only hindrance that edu- nect to masses. the physicians mobility and accessibility cation sector is facing today is cost and Pantel Technologies in this regard, through its range of tablets. With the connectivity. Cost to procure a tablet pc with an alliance with BSNL, oldest and possibility of real-time communications,

42 August 2012 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S automation of forms, processes, and workflows, it wishes to ease the process for hospitals as well as patient. Genext Mobile Pantel Technologies affordable range of internet tablet pcs also opens avenues for government's e-governance projects. Pantel Technology Telephony Rides On believes a lot of gaps can be plugged through the use of technology in governance, including corruption. With apt applications, software, and connectivi- wireless Signals ty, the major source for corruption, lag in governmental projects, Intermediaries can be eliminated. With Internet tablet pcs fundamental func- ccording to the International PENTA in the Indian market, is keen on tionality, information on move; rather Telecommunication Union making most from this data connectivi- than physical file management, (ITU), over 85 percent of the ty opportunity. With its global presence through e-file management on cloud world's population is covered including its offices in London, Hong by a commercial wireless sig- Kong, Mauritius, Singapore, and Seoul - Anal and approx. 5 billion mobile phone apart from a network of offices across India is a land of opportunity subscriptions subsist in the world. The India, the organization has an edge in and poverty at the same growing penetration of these networks technology and research in national as in many low- and middle-income coun- well as in international market. Penta T- time. And Pantel tries surpasses other infrastructure Pads have been known for their afford- Technologies wishes to such as paved roads, electricity, and able rates and an extensive range of explore the opportunity by dwarfs fixed Internet deployment. This products in the global internet tablet pc means, it might not be physically possi- market. Pantel Technologies' products removing poverty. Pantel ble to reach at a place, but thanks to are available in multiple sizes of 7", 8" Technologies believes in the wireless technology, you could cer- and 10"; with varied options to stay con- tainly reach out to your friend, family or nected like Wi-Fi enabled, Dongle giving back to the society. It a patient through an internet able enabled and tablet pc's with SIM slots. believes through its device. And with the mounting speed of Pantel Technology believes in creat- technology it has so much to data transmission possibility, greater ing best use of technology in all the personalization and citizen-focused spheres of life. With increasing pres- give back, by educating, by public health and medical care is now sure on healthcare sector to perform aiding them facilities, by possible. under multiple health challenges, connecting them to the Pantel Technologies, an Information chronic staff shortages, and limited Technology and Communication budgets, the organization plans to world. devices organization, promoting novel come out with an affordable, handy ICT products under the brand name of internet tablet pc for healthcare sector, services, the information would be available anywhere, anytime for faster and better decisions for better governance. Cloud Services and internet tablet pc, are one of the best technological inventions till date. Together they not just make data, content available, use- ful in various sectors but also secure. India is a land of opportunity and poverty at the same time. And Pantel Technologies wishes to explore the opportunity by removing poverty. Pantel Technologies believes in giving back to the society. It believes through its technology it has so much to give back, by educating, by aiding them facilities, by connecting them to the world. Pantel Technologies might not be able to provide best of medical equipments, but it promises to connect you through best of doctors through internet, through internet tablet pc. The organization in the same direction has subsidized its rates for rural India.

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S August 2012 43 as an integrated physician's workflow makes it easier to get instant access to the respective patient with a tablet PC, solution. Pantel Technologies has listed drug related interactions, and at the providing instant access to results and out various ways in which it can aid in same time document the patient's reac- hence, prescription. medical care through its Penta T-Pad, tion to the drug. Medical Imaging: Internet Tablet pc including managing emergencies and Diagnosis Aid: Quite a lot of times a makes receiving imaging results on the disasters, telemedicine, appointment physician requires to consult notes, ref- fly possible. Physicians and specialists reminders, community mobilization and erences, previous cases history, or fel- for reference can have x-rays and other health promotion, treatment compli- low physicians when making a diagno- images in their tablet pcs and help ance, mobile patient records, informa- sis. Internet tablet PC, makes the patient immediately. Or in cases where tion access, patient monitoring, health process quicker and easier for a timely, a patient cannot go to the doctor, due to surveys and data collection, surveil- quality, and accurate diagnosis. its unavailability in the remote areas, lance, health awareness raising, and Treatment Care: With an internet can send its reports to the doctor in the decision support systems. tablet, it is possible to quickly create a city and get prescribed and hence A lot has been already done and a treatment plan, and then track progress cured. lot is in process regarding the same of the intended regimen. Lastly to conclude, the Penta T-Pad through a mobile, mHealth. With avail- Medical Updates: It is possible to through internet connectivity can facili- ability of smart phones, rural areas are stay updated with the latest medical tate two-way communication between getting connected through it. Countries updates on the move. You could sub- individuals and health service, consul- like Bangladesh, initiated with SMS scribe to any good medical magazine/ tation between health care profession- messages to educate the inhabitants als, inter-sectoral communica- on various health related issues, which tion in emergencies, health has educated and saved lots of life. monitoring and surveillance, Similar other projects have been car- and access to information for ried out under the mHealth umbrella. health care professionals at Through its range of internet tablet pcs, point of care. This would Pantel Technologies wishes to enhance mean, physician can be in the patient as well as healthcare's touch with patients and vice- experience. With wider screen, afford- versa, instantly form or revise able range, farther more abilities than a a medical record, implement smartphone, Penta T-Pad is a much the decided/ prescribed treat- better option. Further add-ons like dic- ment plan, check back the old tation, speech-to-text software, patient history, retrieve the portable keyboards, docking stations, results, wirelessly on the and stylus pen navigation all make it move. easier to use medical software to cap- ture, access, and transmit information. A lot has been already done and a lot is in process regarding A few ways in which an internet the same through a mobile, mHealth. With availability of tablet pc, Penta T-PPad can be used right away in healthcare sector would be: smart phones, rural areas are getting connected through it. Wound Care: Through the help of Countries like Bangladesh, initiated with SMS messages to an inbuilt camera, photographs of the wound can be clicked initially, and can educate the inhabitants on various health related issues, be compared with on further stages, which has educated and saved lots of life. Similar other aiding physicians to be well assured if projects have been carried out under the mHealth umbrella. the current prescription is giving the desired effect, or is it suiting the patient or not. online information website and the Penta's T-Pad is a scalable resolu- Patient Care: It is easier and better patient as well as physician can stay up tion to the growing healthcare chal- to keep a track of patients with an inter- to date. lenges, fabricated with latest technolo- net tablet pc. With the help of an RFID HIS: Hospital Information System is gies. It is functionally extensible and readers attached/ in-build in a tablet, aptly utilized with an internet tablet pc. competent enough to incorporate and that can scan barcodes at patient beds, In many cases, large errors have been interface with other systems effortless- the physician and the patient care/ introduced into the health records sys- ly. Its relevance are being tested in var- nurse can get automatic updates about tem when charts were written, and then ied scenarios as improving timely patients movement, or get alerts about copied, and then entered into the com- access to emergency and general patient's needs. puter later. With the help of Penta T- health services and information, man- Medication Management: Connectivity Pad, the internet tablet pc, it is possible aging patient care, reducing drug short- capabilities on tablet PCs through a to make an entry on real- time basis, ages at health clinics, enhancing clini- wireless/ dongle or SIM Slot helps in reducing errors in many cases and also cal diagnosis and treatment adher- streamlining the entire medication an ability to manage or access the sys- ence, among others. With times to process by sending orders quickly. For tem/ information from anywhere, any- come, Pantel Technologies through its pharmacies inside or outside the med- time. Penta T-Pad wishes to reach and treat ical facility, the physician can contact Lab Results: Instead of waiting for the remotest of areas and together built directly and get it asap. lab results, they can be sent instantly to a healthy India. Drug Interactions: Internet Tablet pc the physician and then on shared with

44 August 2012 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S SAREH FAR A Persian wonder in India

areh is a born artist. From VITAL STATS childhood she used to perform on stage as a theater Height |5'5 Q&A actor. That was just a pas- Bust | 32; Waist | 25 Hips | 36 sion, an interest beside edu- Shoulder | 14 Q Your inclination to stay and work in Scation and dance. Sareh have never Eyes color | Hazel India is guided by instinct or circum- learnt any specific form of dance but It Hair color | Light brown stances? comes as easily as breathing to her. Campaigns| MCdonald, Pantaloons, Inclination to stay here in india is all Studies were always an important Bare, Nitara, Monster job, jewellery about instinct...i love india and major part of her life. But Sareh shots for punita trikha, Amity cam- got a lot of joy and positive energy pus, Elite export house, launch of Q How do your demarcate Indian & from her involvement in creative fields Sony Ericsson, Ayur(beauty prod- Iran society? Can do draw any parity like dancing, anchoring and acting. It ucts) TVC, HDFC bank, VIVANTE real between them? has always been an attempt to follow estate, Burn drink promotion, Nokia India has freedom that no other coun- what she love the most. Sareh have TVC, Light house club. ICC T20 TVC. try offers. You could feel the freedom eas- completed bachelor in GENETICS and ily in India and the culture are in par- then for further study she moved to ity between India and Iran. India. A master in biochemistry and got from India but one some research more thing that she Q You are medical on Genetic have gained from professional, what disorders India which she inspired you to join arecould never be e n t e r t a i n m e n t what able to experi- industry? she ence it in Iran Dancing,acting is modeling ,modeling. they and fashion. are talking about Sareh art. I love art, all dedicates her are my passion. success to her better to say inter- liberal upbring- ests beside my edu- ing. She speaks cation. Studies are, on,"they have indubitably, an impor- been very sup- tant and major part of life. portive, encouraging But I get a lot of joy and posi- and have never tried to tive energy from my involvement in stop me from following my pas- creative fields,It has always been an sion. If it had not been for them, I attempt to follow what I love the most. would have never achieved whatev- When you know how to prioritize things, er I have achieved today. They have striking a balance is not at all difficult. always stood by me through thick and thin. That's why I carry knowl- Q What you like most about India? edge of science, knowledge of People. dance, knowledge of acting and (Inputs from Mumbai Bureau) fashion ".

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S August 2012 45 SALE ALERT AT METRO SHOES *Metro Shoes Ltd*., the leading footwear brand of India announces its annual sale starting from with Flat 50% discount on every shoe you lay your eyes on*. This sale will be across all stores of Metro Shoes present in Gurgaon, Noida and Gaziabad (Excluding Opulant Mall and Shipra Mall) Women can choose to their comfort from pointed-toed sling back sandals, flip-flops, wedges, boots to ballets, bridal footwear, clutches, bags, wallets and more! Men can also pick from a wide variety of slip-ons, loafers, formal shoes to edgy boots, chappals and more Discount : Upto 50% off* Availability : Across all Metro Shoes outlets *present in Gurgaon, Noida and Ghaziabad (Excluding Opulant Mall and Shipra Mall)

46 August 2012 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S LORD MUNMEET BROTHER OF SINGER 'RAMEE' READY TO RELEASE "ROKI NA" FT TIGERSTYLE -

London: Immediate Release Glaswegian based singer Munmeet Singh Sandhu aka Lord Munmeet went straight in to the top ten itunes chart in under 12 hours of release with his latest release "Roki Na" (Don't Stop Me) and is still riding high in the charts. This young talent has already been play listed across the world including, USA, Canada and Dubai and is ready to hit the stage up and down the country. After a much controversial stage name calling himself "LORD" Munmeet set the record straight on his twitter account by proving he is actually a Lord in Scotland for protecting land in Glencoe. The tweet showed a Munmeet had his first taste of fame with his debut album DIL MILDE which he released with his sister, who is now known as 'Ramee' most popularly known for her recent release Ghetto Refix with Mumzy Stranger and Tasha Tah. Their debut music album was produced by Bollywood music producer Atul Sharma and gave him their first taste of success worldwide certificate presented to Munmeet as Lord Munmeet Singh. Munmeet had his first taste of fame with his debut album DIL MILDE which he released with his sister, who is now known as 'Ramee' most popularly known for her Munmeet says he wants to keep his tur- by Guru ji - Prakriti Dutta - "She has recent release Ghetto Refix with Mumzy ban and still be fashionable " My state- taught me voice control and ragas. Not Stranger and Tasha Tah. Their debut ment look will be a disco Turla, it's some- just to rehearse the ragas and the music album was produced by thing I thought would stand out from the favoured popular sargams, but to invent Bollywood music producer Atul Sharma normal turla's. everyone is loving it so my own from changing shudh and komal and gave him their first taste of success far" Having been trained from an early notes" With all the experience and new worldwide. Lord Munmeet may be an age from the "RSNO - Royal Scottish look, Munmeet's career is just about to unusual name but everyone will find out National Opera" a separate institution take off! Roki Na is produced by why this young artist has named himself that dedicates to teach classical music Scotland based producers Tigerstyle with Lord in the next few weeks! With his in depth in Scotland. Munmeet has also who have also produced for Bollywood edgy style and supporting a "Disco Turla" trained with the Giani from the Sikh and known British Asian Artists. ROKI Munmeet brings the edgy look to the tra- Temple to perform Kirtan and Shabads. NA - is just the beginning for this young ditional turban. Being a Sardar, Munmeet then went on to being trained talent! Roki Na out now on itunes.

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S August 2012 47 Wise Synchronization - Prolific Brazil and Persistent India… Carlyta Maria Mouhini

i and Namashkar ! …………The similarities between Brazil and OIndia go back few centuries back with both India ( Goa ) and Brazil being a part of the Portugal colony and eventually Goa’s 50 th year liberation from Portugal and Brazil’s Independence from the Portuguese Empire . The Indians are as warm and effu- sive as Brazilians. India along with Brazil too has huge symbiosis. The ten- sion between wealthy south Brazil and Prez Dilma and PM Manmohan Singh Prez Lula and former India prez Mrs patil struggling north Brazil is striking like the difference between the leading benefits of policy reform and open cap- spends 6per cent. Brazil’s schools have metros and towns in all directional ital markets. The next step for Brazil is excellent infrastructure. Teacher India. The wealth quotient is heavily to adopt investment policies to reduce absence is not an issue as it is in India. measured and 20 per cent of popula- social inequities significantly. The sav- There is a teacher for every grade in 70 tion controls 88 per cent of the ing and investment story adds up to a per cent of Brazil’s schools, something Brazilian land. level of productive capital stock. that you can say about less than 30 per At a recent discussion in the BIRC Without investment, there is no capital cent of India’s school In India and Brazil (Brazil, India, Russia and China) stock growth. And without capital stock when the people act, we can force Summit recently held in Rio in June growth, there is little productive GDP politicians to listen. Brazilians did it to 2012, one of the speakers in a moment growth. The capital stock is constructed pass Ficha Limpa Bill, forced Dilma to of great introductory note mentioned as investment plus non-depreciated veto parts of the Forest Act and rallied that a country that has corruption at an capital. behind the open vote like time and organizational level can correct itself India in the past few decades has again in India the Chief Minister’s seat out of this spiral but India — where been tormented with terrorism whereas shifted from one politician to other ones retailing of corruption has been estab- Brazil is almost untouched by the low for momentary reforms! lished — has created a quagmire for measured terrorist attacks. Brazil is Ever since the Goldman Sachs itself. So we have situations where also 64 places ahead of India on the report said that Brazil, Russia, India there is a price for jobs or even school HDI ranking. Most significantly damag- and China will be among the largest admissions. ing for India’s hugely unbalanced social and fastest growing economies by India, China and Russia increased strata is that the urban elite and upper 2020, we pull out this gem at every con- their respective investment shares of middle class children have grown up in ceivable opportunity GDP over the latest decade- Brazil, too, a comfortable unknown planet According to Ms Patricia from the but at a much slower rate. India has cocooned comfortably from that inhab- Brazilian Consul – Bombay, “The BRIC done this mostly through reducing bar- ited by 42 per cent of India’s population report is over five years old. During this riers to inward foreign-direct investment that lives below the poverty line. Few time our economy has grown healthily and opening up free trade agreements months of compulsory internship in and our GDP today is a great advertise- between the Small and Medium scale India’s villages for all our youth would ment for the power of compounding (SMEs) industries. perhaps do a world of good! growth”. India’s ranking on the Human Brazil’s consumption is a large 80 per cent of India’s children who Development Index (HDI) has only wors- 63.1% of GDP, and that too unchanged study in rural schools, quality education ened and this year has slid down to over the latest decade. And for a devel- have remained uncertain. For the other 134. It clearly states that unless India oping economy, the investment share is 20 per cent who study in India’s urban addresses its education and social remarkably low in levels, 16.4% of GDP schools, it is a mind numbing routine of inequities, the projections of a sustain- in 2008 compared to India's 32.2% rote learning and a stampede to score able super economy will continue to be share. the highest marks in exams. Moreover unstable. In the context of the BRIC Currently India's average income is the Educational Trustees and report the comparison of Brazil and low compared to its peers. Among the Governmental funds never see the day- India have reflected that urban India’s BRIC countries, India's welfare measure light in the rural school management or elite and middle class should do more (per-capita income) is the lowest, and in the school premises due to the polit- to set standards in everyday life in that ranking is not expected to change ical corruptions and its jargon for self building empathy for India’s disadvan- by 2014! Brazil, on the flip side is still benefits! taged and India must address the all stuck on the economic adolescent. The On the other hand, India spends 4 pervasive ‘retailing of corruption’ in country is now enjoying the economic per cent of its GDP on education. Brazil order to fulfill its potentiality.

48 August 2012 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S Arnab Kar is an upcoming fine art and fashion photographer based out of Washington

DC, USA. Born in Calcutta, India and grew up in Ranchi (now in Jahrkand) and did his MBA from Bangalore. Arnab is an *hobbyistand semiprofes- sional photographer who is also a software engineer and has worked in various non-profits and multinationals including World Bank, Fannie Mae and Deloitte Consultancy. Although his first love is fashion photography he is equally enjoys nature photography. His unique style of photography involves combining fashion with nature and landscape. He has been published locally in various magazines for his photos of fashion shows including international fashion show 'Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week', Mercedes- Benz Swim Week, Miami. He has also worked with several designers for their fashion catalogs. His style of photography tends to be a bit on the edgy side and also part of the appeal.

O P I N I O N E X P R E S S August 2012 49 WIDE ANGLE

50 August 2012 O P I N I O N E X P R E S S

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