Extremely relieved after the release of the eight Indian navy personnel from Qatar prison. I don’t want to go into the politics. I know my prime minister Shri Narendra Modi ji can move mountains, if he has to. Plus, India has enjoyed such a warm and trustworthy partnership/friendship with all the middle eastern nations so far. This one-off incident was like a thorn in the flesh that finally got removed. Strangely it is during the times of the Hindu nationalist party BJP that friendship and business deals with the OPEC nations got consolidated for India! UAE recently invited dignitaries from 42 nations to the first magnificent Hindu temple coming up in Abu Dhabi. The personal rapport shared by our prime minister with the world leaders and also with the support of Shri Ajit Doval and external affairs minister Shri Jaishankar, India shares excellent diplomatic relations with countries around the world. Resident of Qatar for over 15 years now. Its home away from home for us where we feel secure, wanted, respected and celebrated. Indians are prized possessions. Assets for gulf countries. Sheikhs are aware that without the Indian labour/engineers/medicos/teachers and schools and art and craft, their economies can come to a grand standstill. Most expats also spend a good percentage of the dirhams or riyals right in the host countries. Qatar changed my perceptions on Islam frankly. I respect their muted and understated success story. They are never splashy. There is a lot to learn from Qatar. I liked the way they handled the tensions with Saudi taking all the beating until things normalized. Small almost island country but with very sensible leadership with a vision of great future. Qatar helped us and millions lift up our standard of living. India for her part will always be a quiet but strong and dependable companion. I again admire the diplomatic tightrope that Modi government walked when things were not going right for Qatar and Saudi/Kuwait/UAE. India never antagonized the Saudi block but also was there for Qatar at the same time. Both nations are equally important to me. May god bless both countries! God bless UAE for giving Hindu expats our temples. UAE ensured that Shiva and Raam will always be there for them from here on.
Category: Political
Pre-poll Rigging: the Indian scenario.
Strangely added a new word to my vocab ‘pre-poll rigging’ from foreign media. Although the terminology is new to me, the process is not, for it is more prevalent in India, the world’s largest democracy over any other nation on earth.
The Kamal Hasan party ‘ MNM’ (Makkal Needhi Maiam) in Tamil Nadu is a case in point. Floated by the actor right before last Lok sabha/Assembly elections, the very purpose of the party was to divide votes and see to that ADMK supported by BJP would not return to power in the state. Where the funds poured in for the party remained a big question mark. It was alleged that Kamal converted to Christianity so church was funding him to take on BJP. Secondly there was a theory that he was fielded by the Dravidian lobbies to split the vote bank. ADMK lost the assembly precisely thanks to Kamal’s new political party that shot up like a mushroom from the previous evening’s downpour. The party that went ballistic from day 1 of its formation, was very short lived in reality. It is almost dissolved now. When DMK emerged as the majority party to form the state government, the party bigwigs resigned one by one. Soon nobody remained in the party and the curtains came down. Last heard from the party quarters: A BIG SNORE. That MNM is dysfunctional goes without saying. With pockets full, probably the instruments of pre-poll rigging were singing and hopping their way to the Swiss bank, who knows. Mission accomplished. ADMK did well on vote count even if they lost their key constituencies. The swing in the voting pattern was because of the MNM. However marginal, the swing votes decided the poll outcome.
Now that the general elections are around the corner, another popular Tamil actor is now in the fray. Leading superstar Vijay has announced his new political party and it will be interesting to wait and watch what happens to his party once the polls are over. MNM served its purpose: of splitting the vote bank and helping DMK form the state government and at the same time ousting the ADMK from the state assembly. This is a classical illustration of how pre-poll rigging works.
However it takes much more than all these petty gimmicks to work out anything of this kind at the center. Indian elections are a mammoth exercise that have no parallels in world history. India is 1.33 billion strong with about a million adult franchises eligible to cast votes. Lok sabha or the general elections are normally held over a month’s time in seven phases every five year, for security reasons. No more paper ballots (since last 20-25 years). We have the EVM or the electronic voting machine that has an added real time vote slip for cross-check if need be. Normally the matching is done before the results are announced. VVPAT (as the paper count is called) compatibility with the electronic vote tally ensures that there is no rigging or error in EVM functioning. Any mismatch may invite a re-election or re-casting of the electronic ballots. Rigging may not be altogether ruled out because, at the end of the day, electronics are electronics. EVMs also can fail at times despite cautions. There are always backups in such events. But then it may help us to remember that the congress govt too won with the EVM machines to form the government at the center. Moreover we can guess the popularity wave from the mood of the nation. However, always expect the losers to cry over suspected foul play! When congress won, BJP alleged EVM tampering and when BJP won, congress alleged EVM manipulation! That is what politics may be all about!
Cheating in Indian elections is getting increasingly difficult if not altogether impossible. Establishing the ID by itself is a documented process that must have been carried over months before (for a first time voter). You cannot vote in Indian elections with your ID alone which is the Aadhar card. You need the Voter ID which can be procured only if you have the Aadhar ID. You cannot exercise your right to cast your electronic ballot with any of your allowable Indian IDs if you do not have the voter ID on you.The voter ID app is permissible these days on your mobile. Your mobiles are screened/frisked before you enter a polling booth. The Indian election commission app is one of the best to have on your phone when it is time to cast your vote. Double checks ensure that securing a voter ID by itself is not without establishing proofs and laying trails all over. Aadhar records your bio-metrics and residence proof. Aadhar is the basic standard Indian ID. You won’t even be cremated without your Aadhar proof! Without the Aadhar and two more supporting IDs like the driving licence (DL), passport, PAN (Income tax permanent ID linked to your Aadhar ID and bank account) card etc., you cannot procure a voter ID. (In India, whether you are income tax assessee or not, you must hold PAN card. You cannot even open a fixed deposit or trade in stocks or register a property/sell or buy jewelry without the PAN. PAN records your financial activity.) Each ID is also interdependent. So unless you are a citizen of India having lived here as a resident, no way you can establish this chain of proofs that are inter-linked even to your registered mobile and primary bank account!
Yet the Bangladeshi are here illegally in large numbers to cast anti-Hindu and pro-muslim votes which makes CAA absolutely relevant. Bangladeshis with their sizeable illegal votes have already changed the destiny of Malaysia. CAA helps weeding out the illegal votes from immigrants who are supplied with fake IDs by vested interests. The immigrant votes can become influential in deciding the fates of nations.
EVMs do a fantastic job. In fact entire India polls can be done away with in a single day with the latest and updated versions of EVMs. The phasing is for security reasons. Now no more massive election rallies from months prior. No use of loudspeakers. No relentless canvassing. It is February and is there even a whisper about the elections in April? You have to walk on your own two legs the last half kilometer or so to the polling booth and cannot be dropped close to the booth. aStill, voting now is much more smooth. One wrong move and you could be handcuffed. Nothing is allowed to disturb the electoral process to facilitate seamless transfer of power. In this one agenda, our political parties stand united when it comes to holding free and fair elections. Nation comes first.The general elections always remind me why India is still ticking in spite of so much chaos. The discipline and the meticulous EVM procedures make the impossible possible.
The NOTA button in the EVM: This option can be exercised if you do not want to vote for any candidate. It ensures that your vote is not going waste. The sum-up of NOTA in every constituency and in the entire nation reflects the dissatisfaction of the Indian electorate. The mammoth Indian elections will be soon underway. Normally, not to disturb the schools and universities, elections are held in April-May months. Dates are yet to be announced for the upcoming Lok sabha elections.
BJP changed the way the voters can be reached. Social media started playing a significant role when it came to urban votes. Rural franchises are not be left behind. They are far more politically savvy than you may imagine. Even farmers and artisans from remotest Indian villages can now use smart phones and check their LPG subsidy credit in their bank accounts. They have free health insurance, other sops etc., that are banked in by the government. They matter-of-factly use the PayTM app to go cashless. They all have QR codes now! The qr code may be printed right on the coconut tree in a village where the poor villager may be selling you the fresh tender coconut from the coconut tree under which you may have parked! Pretty cool that is! Subzi vendor has the qr code printed on the onion sack! India is way too digital than most advanced western nations! To that extent our rural population can be tech savvy these days! I don’t think any gimmick can work effectively when it comes to influencing the Indian voter. Unless you perform, you perish. Even Modi haters want him because Modi is good for business. At the end of the day, we all want our country to prosper. We want inclusive growth. We want respectability in the world stage. We want a bold,strong leader who we can count on.
So rigging in Indian elections may be past history done away with paper ballot era that ended over a quarter century ago for us. But there can be no ruling out the pre-poll rigging, preparing the grounds for favourable results. My home state Tamil Nadu is a kiladi in playing that kind of manipulation game. It brings a smile to my face: that Modi is kiladi ke kiladi!!! Yaarkitta! Tamil Nadu BJP state chief Shri Annamalai is going great guns. It will take more than pre-poll rigging to diminish his growing popularity and the party’s increasing clout in the state. BJP will improve its vote bank no doubt. The party will make impressive inroads all across Tamil Nadu which is already ringing alarm bells in some quarters. So the Vijay arrival. It may take a while for the central party to form a government in Tamil Nadu, but I can foresee it happening someday in near future. No pre-poll rigging can stop us forever from achieving our long term goals. The General Janata is way too smart and intelligent. Never underestimate the power of the common man. After emergency Indira Gandhi lost from Chikmagalur and congress was routed. The Indian masses aspire for growth. Their vote is for propellers of growth and prosperity.
Maldivians: the thankless bastards
Having expressed my displeasure at the idea of Lakshadweep being opened to tourists that can wreck havoc with the fragile marine ecosystem we have there, it is time now to list what India has done for the ungrateful Maldives bastards.
I am posting a few links on Indian economic/defence/medical and emergency aid to Maldives as the island nation got repeatedly ransacked by nature and local political turmoil in last two to three decades.
and finally even the covid vaccine aid:
Here is a lesson to even the Modi govt. Too much of Arab investments in India is neither healthy nor advisable. It is vital to cap their stake to under 49% in every single sector. Overdependency on Islamic nations can render us economically vulnerable to them. No Arab or Muslim can be without an agenda when it comes to India, the Hindu majority nation. We are the sore reminder to them that we defy them with our existence and survival. Finally they are one Umma. When world condemned the epicenter of global terror Pakistan for hiding Obama and for arming and training terrorists and carrying out terror attacks around the continents from Asia and Europe to America and Australia, Malaysia was still doing business with Pakistan. Never mind, India is a major trade partner with Malaysia and that the Malaysian population constitutes of 7% ethnic Indians among others. Not a single islamic country in the world has ever condemned Pakistan for their export of terror ON RECORD.
Decoding the paranoia of the Middle Eastern countries.
As the war between Israel and Palestine rages, google and check out the geographical extent of these warring countries. Miniscule. Tiny. That is however average size of many Arab states/Middle Eastern countries barring a few larger ones like Saudi for instance. The limited terrestrial spread makes security a major and constant headache for these already volatile nations. Most share borders with at least two or three neighbours making them vulnerable to coup attempts etc. Basically Arabs are nomadic tribes and terrain wars are in their blood. They are best left undisturbed. The warring factions maintain a precarious balance that the outsiders unwittingly can tilt making it worse for them. There is fragile peace in existence that must be maintained at all costs. The prosperity of the oil exporting nations does not automatically guarantee them the sense of security. Typical example is Kuwait which was invaded by Iraq under Saddam Hussain. The very limited geographic territory as well as native population make the Arab states sitting ducks to militant coups and conspiracies by local tribes. A sultan may marry many women and beget a dozen sons who will all be raised in secrecy, in fear of their safety. Among those who survive, someone can ascend the throne at a later date. More than anyone we Indians know how Islamic societies/reigns function. In Mughal dynasties, siblings killing siblings, fathers disposing of sons, sons assassinating or imprisoning fathers etc., is not unheard of. In fact this is documented history. Family is dispensable for them for the sake of the throne. The trust factor among the ruling elite family members is practically absent. Wives conspire against each other’s sons, even when they remain married to the same sultan. Have you read about the bed chambers of Arabs? The men sleep in separate bedrooms. The queens sleep in their own chambers. The king will choose to spend the evening with whichever queen but later return to sleep in his own quarters for the night. Couples don’t sleep together in arab culture.
In Arab culture and in general islamic culture, men eat out of the same platter whether it is bread basket or biriyani. I used to be impressed by this brotherhood but later I was told that, this practice is in place from historical times fearing poisoning by conspirers. Eating from the same plate ensured that your life remained safe. To that extent, you can see paranoia in Arab society in every aspect of life. Nothing is to be taken for granted. Any son or crown prince can be assassinated by a mercenary even in foreign soil such as America or England. So the Arab royalty takes nothing for granted. They live forever fearing for their lives, for the safety of their families and a military coup or uprising any moment and especially at unexpected times. Which is why security in these nations is very detailed. The arab countries never take chances. They have very strong setup of ultra sophisticated security of many tiers instituted by western thinktanks. This is very much understandable. From poisoning to hit-and-run, anything can happen to Arabs in power anytime. The western countries are also gawking at them waiting for an opportunity to start a war and decimate them in the garb of global security or fight against terror. All these probabilities are practically factored in by intelligent Arabs these days who hire expert tech advisers in these matters. Remember with their kind of oil money, they can command any service to work for them.
At times, having lived in this hotspot for years, I do feel a heaviness when I think about the temporary nature of their survival. It always used to strike me that, at best the Arab nations can only postpone their chaos. The threat of instability lurked in every corner. It never took much to overthrow any sultan in the gulf states as history has revealed. Arabs award death sentence for dope suspect/drug carriers/conspiracy suspects because this is vital for their survival.
I am a citizen of India where thousands of uniformed soldiers guard our national frontiers in the boundaries we share with China and Pakistan. India is also a peninsula surrounded three sides by ocean which makes us safer geographically, to a large degree. We are not a landlocked nation. Our population of 1.3 billion is our strength. India is also the seventh largest country in the world. We are sizeable geographically that no military coup can ever overthrow our government for the simple reason that we are too big to contain by limited power. Small countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Belgium etc., amazed me therefore. They gave me a sense of insecurity in that, I imagined them being easily accessible in event of a war and being dependent economically overwhelmingly on neighbours or third party countries. Singapore looked forward to Malaysia even for their water supply. India is a safe heaven.
Arab countries may have oil money but that did not prevent Kuwait getting invaded. Arabs therefore impose stringent laws for their self-protection. Most places in arab countries are restricted zones where photography may be prohibited. Violation of laws can get you prosecuted landing you behind bars. Arabs are also acutely aware of the hostility they face in the rest of the world. So their strict laws are better adhered to. Never take anything lightly in Arab soil. Remember in Islamic societies, if a woman files a case of rape in a legal court, it is she who will be awarded sentence and not the man! Under worst circumstances, she could be sentenced to death. She could count herself lucky should she manage to get away with cane flogging or stoning! So where laws are different or skewed, foreign nationalities have to be extremely careful not inviting problems. Foreign citizens and even foreign governments also must contemplate on the heightened sense of insecurity most Arab states live with. There is no guarantee that any crown prince will take over the reins of the sultanate from his father. There is no possibility for democracy because in essence, Arabs are tribal groups, divided into rival gangs. Getting them united under one banner is not easy. Sabotage or suspected espionage therefore becomes an unpardonable ‘war against state’ in arab dictionary. If you get this simple logic, you will understand the arab paranoia.
All these may make the expatriates living/working in middle eastern countries develop sympathy for the Arab rulers. Self defense is valid reason for nations beefing up security. In today’s world, war first assumes at the tech sector. The expats respect the state of mind of arab states and the laws and rules and regulations they have put in place for their own security. Cyber-vigil and always on their toes anticipating unforeseen trouble, the middle eastern countries always are on their edge. Until forty years back, most arabs were still bedouin communities who led a nomadic life wandering the Arabian deserts with camel herds, not restricted by geographical divisions. The concept of nationhood and parcelling of lands into different nations is a product of the second world war – even if by and large we had an idea. The arab countries also like most of the world were torn apart in conflicting ways. Israel-Palestine problem is an outcrop from this situation. While some parts of the world have since cooled off, Middle east continues to be a flashpoint in this respect. Americans can be the last group of the humankind to ever attempt to understand the complexities of Asia and in specific the Middle east. ARabian gulf is a hornet’s nest. Do not disturb unless and until you are confident you can fix everything gone wrong there (in your high opinion that is). Otherwise stay away.
It is important to respect the territorial sanctity of geographically small nations as well. Just because we live in a well appointed villa, we can have no ethical or moral right to park in front of our poor neighbour or trespass or try to outright buy the adjacent property or simply squat/take over their possession. Every square inch of their national territory must be protected from illegal encroachments. Big, powerful nations of the world must give a thought to that. In your capacity, help the small nations survive amidst animosity and insecurities they may face from conspiracy groups.
and when they walked barefoot for him…
What impressed me most about the just concluded G20 summit in New Delhi is not the Delhi Declaration 2023 or the grandeur of the venue or the gala buffet, but the way the heads of most powerful states of the world walked barefoot to Rajghat, the samadhi or tomb of father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi, led by our prime minister Shri Narendra Modi ji. Such a respect for Bharat/India almost makes me weep. There are puddles of water from previous evening’s monsoons that must have dirtied their socks or plain foot (as in case of the UK PM etc) but they don’t seem to mind the one kilometer stroll in the wet grounds. The Japanese PM ‘s wife showcased the ultimate respect resplendent in a bottle green silk sari complete with a bindi on her forehead. Thank you world for putting your trust on Bharat/India. We shall live up to that through eternity.
Our prime minister is well past his retirement age. He is working overtime for the nation and he has nothing to show by way of personal/material gain. India used to breed brahmacharis like him. Hindu culture is full of men like him starting from Bhishma pitamaha in Mahabharat times to those like Vivekananda, Ramana Maharishi and even Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Abdul Kalam etc., in recent times. These men chose celibacy and bachelorhood over marriage and family life to serve the nation/community in various walks of life. Mentored from very younger years, they lived up to their promises and made a difference to the society at large. This rare cultivated breed is now dying in Bharat sadly as such a sense of selfless service is getting scarcer to find day by day.
The DELHI DECLARATION, 2023, G20, NEW DELHI, BHARAT
updated 10th, september
Bharat is scripting history hosting and chairing the G20 summit in the capital New Delhi, attended by the top 20 powerful nations on earth: United States, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, China, Russia, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Indonesia, Japan, Turkey, Germany, Australia, France, Italy, Canada, South Africa and the European Union. Notable absentees may be Russia (reason Ukraine) and China (delhi belly 😀 )that have sent their second level teams. The venue is Bharat Mandapam whose architecture, interior and decor reflect the rich ancient heritage of the oldest and only continuously surviving civilization on earth, which is also the world’s largest democracy. India is already reverted to ‘Bharat’ as one can observe from nameplates etc. Security in Delhi is beefed up. The guest countries include the UAE and Oman from Middle east and Mauritius, Bangladesh, Spain and the Netherlands among others. India seems to be breaking the ice with Turkey. For the first time in Independent India history, India-Pakistan ties couldn’t have been better. Modi-Jaishankar brand of diplomacy is phenomenal. Together with Doval, the trio are the greatest plus for India. The G20 talks focused on climate change. The Delhi Declaration is out and the joint statement is signed by the member countries who have principally and unanimously arrived at a consensus on the state of political affairs of the world (read Ukraine-Russia war). Very bold, yet mature and restrained drafting by Bharat (India) chairing the G20.
So is India, officially ‘Bharat’ already? We are only reverting to our original name after some three centuries. G20 is a good platform to make the official global announcement. Besides, Bharat is mentioned in our constitution. This is after all the land of Bharatha, ancestor of Lord Ram. Interestingly, I get to watch Pakistan tv here in Doha. Never have I heard them mention us as India. Their Urdu news bulletins and discussions always mention India as Bharat only. Tamil/Malayalam and other vernacular news channels also refer to us as Bhaaratham. Poet and freedom fighter Subrahmanya Bharathi sang thus: Paarukkulle nalla naadu, engal Bhaaratha naadu. And of course, Bharat it has been with national/desi Hindi news channels. Nothing new. So DMK hypocrites have lost deposit already in the subject. Matter closed for further discussions. Meanwhile China can keep out of Bharat’s internal matters as the communist country does not even grant the rights for debates to the Chinese citizens. I loved Modi ji’s picture with the Bangladesh PM draped in a sari. They seem to have an understanding friendship-partnership which is crucial for bilateral ties. This third world nation could have gone the Pakistan way but they chose not to repeat the historical mistake. The conscious choices individuals/nations make decide their destiny. India’s neighbourhood concerns me more over the distant west.
By the way, impressive menu for the statesmen for dinner hosted by President Smt. Droupadi Murmu as chef Sanjeev Kapoor reveals. The daawat is a spread of finest cuisine, pan India, put forth with the millet theme, millet having been the superfood of our Hindu ancestors. Millets are making back their way into our homes now like never before and are here to stay.
Here is the pretty picture! Sari goes well with the wife of the Japanese PM. She is comfortable draping the Benarasi which is commendable.
Before the closing note and wrap-up was the visit to the Raj Ghat by dignitaries led by PM Shri Narendra Modi where the leaders of G20 paid tributes to father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi. Good job India!
The Aadheenams have their day.
The Aadheenams of the most ancient temples of Tamil Nadu that have seen the Cholas had their day when the ‘Sengol’ of Thamizh (Chozha) kings was installed by our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in India’s new parliament building that was inaugurated with Sarva Dharma (all faith prayers) yesterday. Those who have grown up listening to Odhuvaar singing to Kapaleeshwara or Karpagaambal or Valleeshwara or even Abirami of Thirukadaiyur or Meenakshi of Madurai etc., may know that the Odhuvar tradition is now a dying tradition in our temples. Most temples not only in Tamil Nadu but also in all parts of INdia are controlled by the respective state governments that shamelessly use the Hindu temple fund for financing even the salaries of masjid workers for instance as we see in Kerala. Whereas the poor archakas of the temples are left high and dry with inadequate salaries, the government officials who have no connection with the temples drive latest sedans and SUVs drawing handsome pay packets. In Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirumala, there were even Christians employed in the Devastanams who were ready to fight legal battles for retaining their jobs. This is the true cost of secularism. Temples under the Aadheenam may be free of state government clutches but how are they deploying the funds from the temples under their administration from their overflowing coffers. How many temples in Kumbakonam, Mayavaram etc., are in dire need of basic repairs? Some temple towers (gopurams) that are over 1500 years old are even on the verge of collapsing. Worst maintained and not kept clean. Bribes in the abode of god, be it temple under Tamil Nadu temple and charitable trust (govt department) or those under the aegis of the Adheenams are a dampaner but I understand that special darshans are crowd management tactics. What melted my heart was hearing Thevaram and Thiruvasagam chantings reverberating from our seat of governance in Delhi. Most ancient mantras in Thamizh, the verses have the antiquity and sanctity and aura of the ages old Sanskrit scriptures. It was especially enthralling to note the Odhuvar attached to Kapaleeshwar temple, Mylapore play a pivotal role in the ‘grihapravesh’ or the housewarming ceremony. Interestingly the new parliament of INdia is triangular shaped representing the most powerful Sri Yantra. Two inverted Triangles overlapping each other represent union of Shiva and Shakthi: the static energy and the kinetic energy that is the driving force. Shiva is latent, Shakthi is the force.
Defining Moment For Pakistan.
When Pak PM Shri Shahbaz Sharif went aghast that the inferno that the nation saw in last few days reminded him of the 1971 war (with India), there was perhaps a a ring of truth to his words. Pakistan is off bounds for average Indian citizen. Our inputs are from media. However in our recorded memory, this is the first time ever that the Pakistanis went up in arms against their much feared armed forces which was brave of them. Imran Khan, who was illegally stripped off his premier post for batting against their army, was let off by the Supreme court after his illegal arrest by the law enforcement/security. The incident incited violence in the major cities that saw smoke billowing out of raging fires from buildings set ablaze, including on one of an army commander. Pakistan army has been directly behind the wars with India (read: without a justifiable rationale) that cost the nation dear – including the last one at Kargil. Musharraf, Pakistan’s ex general turned self-styled president was single handedly responsible for the unnecessary and costly blunder that set the relationship between the two hostile neighbours behind by a couple of more precious years. It reflected to us Indians, the sheer irresponsibility and inefficacy of their army chiefs and their ruling power as the Nawaz Shariff government at the center watched helpless and fell in line with the overruling army general. It underscored for us one more time, WHO IS THE BOSS in Pakistan. Soon Sharif was exiled to Saudi and Benazir was assassinated. Has Pakistan had a single prime minister who retired gracefully and in peace with wisdom to offer to the next democratically elected top man taking over the mantle from him or her? History has shown that whoever takes the chair either gets exiled or assassinated or his/her term truncated. Imran Khan’s case was the last as he too left the term incomplete. The Pakistan public reaction to the jungle rule of their armed forces comes as a breather. Pakistan military are infamous for their relentless corruption. The quickest way to prosperity is through enrolment in their army, whereas in countries like India, a career in the barracks is frowned upon by the youth normally. Our government has to entice young men and women to consider a stint in our armed forces with attractive sops. Army connections win one business contracts and licences in Pakistan. Army is the be-all, do-all. The all powerful Pakistan army also is the wealthiest organization in their country not surprisingly. Their spy agency will put those like we have in India to shame. Such a network! Pakistan has some good points such as their spy agency, cricket, hockey, ghazal, mountaineering etc. Pakistan natural resources mostly remain untapped. A vast potential herein has been sold over the counter just-like-that to Chinese who have taken over the Gwadar port for access to the Arabian sea. Pakistan is reeling not only under IMF loans but also against a burgeoning Chinese credit that they have to pay through their teeth. Media attributes the lawlessness to Imran Khan in Pakistan but as Pakistan national currency hovered at 299 rupees against US$ last evening, it is palpable that the public unrest is also manifestation of a peaking frustration as the cost of living is no more under control in their country and hooliganism is only the natural outcome of mass paranoia of the countrymen fearing famine and hopelessness in near future. As Pakistan stares at bankruptcy, we Indians keep our fingers crossed and await developments. For a healthy Pakistan is in Indian interests.
Should only Delhi be the capital of Bharat, ji?
Delhi was Indraprastha in Mahabharat from another plane of time. Delhi has been in the thick of things for centuries, believed to have been the capital of the Pandavas. India’s destiny is closely linked to how Delhi evolved with time. So the significance of continuing to have Delhi as India’s capital is understandable. Even so, why should not there be an alternative to Delhi. Today I was watching the you tube video of building plans for a new Indian parliament in Delhi. I was struck by a thought. Our capital city was also the seat of the Delhi sultanate. Aurangzeb ruled from Delhi. The British Raj functioned from Delhi where the viceroy’s residence was turned into Rashtrapathi Bhavan, the presidential palace, on India’s independence. India retained much of the colonial architecture from the British days and Delhi profusely was Mugal in make-up. I am yet to visit my capital city frankly! But from what I see in media I feel no soul connection to India’s capital. That kind of India is something most of us Indians cannot identify with. Lost is the Mahabharath umbilical cord to Delhi. Delhi is now more and more identified with its residual mogul imperialism. So average Hindu, especially a south Indian, can hardly connect to Delhi. We cannot reckon with our invaders from Middle east, Turkey, Persia and Afghanistan. Taj Mahal has got nothing to do with us. The south largely remained insulated to mogul invasions. Indian history still has the point of view of those who invaded and occupied India over native Indians. We seem to celebrate our invaders and we have forgotten our own golden ages of Chandra Gupta Maurya, Ashoka, Vijayanagara empire, Maratha empire and Shivaji, the Chera, Chola, Pandiya, Pallavas of the south. We have forsaken our ancient Bharat when our Maharajahs ruled just from the Delhi throne. Our history text books underplay local heroes and glorify the invaders. Good to have a multicultural society but not at expense of losing our own perspective. India’s Hindu heritage must be preserved. India’s soul is Hindu not anglicized or arabized. Delhi is hardly representative of the real Bharat. Why should not India have Her capital moved to, say, Orissa for instance. My vote is for this not-so-developed state of India which lies to our south east. The new capital city must not be raised over destroyed forests. Orissa and southern states were hardly touched by the Moguls in direct conflict even if some princely states down south could have become their vassals before falling in step with the British, the Travancore and the Mysore states being the glaring examples. Arcot in Tamil Nadu and Hyderabad in Andhra were administered by mugal vassals who reigned the region without winning a war. So south mostly retained the essence of Bharat without much of distortion. It is vital to build a capital for Bharat from where neither the British nor the Islamic invaders of India governed us. While we accept our pained history as it is, it is also important to break away from the slave mentality or the colonial mindset. We have to disconnect with our troubled past for which moving the seat of power to somewhere outside Delhi can be crucial. India is not merely the mugal empire or the british raj. India is an enigma and the Indian subcontinent is flanked by seas on three sides. We are a varied landscape and diverse population. We need to centralize things. The capital must be reachable, identifiable to all and by all Indian citizens. Even Andhra Pradesh or Telengana is a good choice to build our new capital. Tamil Nadu and Kerala may not be advisable because of easy access by sea. Orissa is a larger state and the capital can be situated far away from the coastline. Madhya Pradesh and Bihar have vast extent of reserve forest areas. We wouldn’t want India’s new capital to be built across our elephant corridors. Moving our capital to geographical center of our nation could give us better sense of inclusiveness in my opinion. Security issues need to be studied in detail. Just wondering!
Perception of popularity also can breed popularity!
That’s my takeaway today from international media. I don’t own this quote. I have borrowed the idea for my own contemplation in this private space of mine where I don’t have readers. So please don’t give it the plagiarist tag.
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I can cite quite a few political and economic developments/fall outs owing to this so-called perception of popularity. And then there is the timing. Ruling governments do advance the general elections if the going is good for them to cash in on their reigning popularity or perhaps the perceived popularity among masses. They probably bank their decision on flash midterm poll wins and local Panchayat (civil body) election seats. Media role also cannot be ruled out. Media invariably become mouthpiece for those in power projecting a false reality with their own opinion polls, exit polls, expert panel discussions etc. The center is always on the spotlight. Sometimes this can backfire as it happened when the BJP government called for early elections in 2004, a good six months ahead of the schedule by December. The Lok Sabha and Rajya sabha (lower and upper houses of parliament) went to polls simultaneously in phases in the April and May months (as it is always in India – in some six or seven phases considering our geographical extent and the mammoth 1.3 billion population – we are the world’s largest democracy) that the ruling party shockingly lost on very narrow margin. Their record was unblemished in that 4.5 year period and they were riding high on the popularity wave. The exit polls and opinion polls were in their favour. Finally the election fiasco was pinned on anti-the incumbency factor. Had the 2004 general elections in India been held by December, BJP could have won the elections hands down. Ironically their constructive term had been rudely cut short by their own making. It was the very first time in modern Indian history that a non Congress government completed a full term at office at the center. The surprise Congress win put the nation’s oldest party back in charge for the next ten years. BJP finally returned to power only in 2014. In 2019, they were reelected to power.
Opinion polls and exit polls are but about a selected sample and they cannot be used to extrapolate general predictions about a future outcome. This is especially true of India where the electorates are huge. A slice of sample is hardly representative of a vastly varied and diverse and populous electorate typical of the Indian subcontinent. There are variations to consider and it is entirely possible that the sample collected and analyzed could be that standard deviation. However, in favour of TRP ratings, the media houses miss this simple logic. No wonder their projections are skewed and are drastically different from ground reality. The media did predict rout of the BJP once again in 2019 that the party went on to win on a massive scale unprecedented in history.
There is this take on our EVMs, the electronic voting machines which have come under introspection. It is ironically always the opposition that is weary of the EVMs. When Congress was at the center, the BJP blamed their losses on EVMs. Now when the BJP is at the center, the congress party would like to attribute their dismal rout on the EVMs that they found to be faultless and defended when they were elected to power. INdia’s population makes it advisable that the EVMs are operational in our general elections. Battalions of election officers are enrolled all across the country and the actual election exercise in India starts two years prior to the election date. Mooted by the Election commission of India, the classroom hands-on training for official staff kicks off months earlier, and the materials and the EVMs are prepared and plans devised with a roadmap for the upcoming elections finalized accordingly. Its a gigantic national exercise worth a Phd for interested political studies candidates. I would recommend foreign journalists to study our case with our government written consent. Last elections in 2019 were held in seven phases over two whole months for both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha across our 29 states and 6 union territories. I have been casting my electronic ballot for over 20 years now. Its a great indigenous democratic exercise that India has perfected that even some first world nations have lost. Its not that easy to rig the EVMs and there are foolproof checks at every stage to rule out manipulation. Finally the manual voting is punched for the electronic vote that can be counterchecked for rigging if any party contests results. Even I have to agree that no one hundred percent foolproof system may exist when it comes to voting process. The EVM debate hots up every year before elections and there are the two sides for and anti EVMs as expected.
Sometimes the masses are taken for granted when it comes to their voting preferences or rather prejudices, which will not serve any purpose. Today in India, even the lowest middle classes or the BPL (below poverty line) families are politically aware and know the differences between the Lok sabha/Rajya sabha polls for the lower and upper houses of parliament as against the State assembly polls. You can see the way the public vote for the two. When it comes to Lok sabha elections, the masses vote for a strong center sometimes bypassing state interests. When it comes to state elections, they go for performing governments. Linguistic and regional politics take a natural precedence. If you are non performer, you will stand to lose your constituency in reelections. Modi is reelected not because of his BJP party or Hindutva alliance. Modi is winning because he is good for India and he has pushed for economic development raising our living standards. He has passed on benefits to rural India, the business community, to the common man and the industrial sector all at the same time never neglecting any quarter. Typically you can see the anti-government or pro-west or the left media focusing on nonperforming areas whereas his track records in reality may speak of a different story.
Perception of popularity breeding popularity sounds interesting! This is especially true of conspiracy theories. Brainwashing was happening all around in India during and after demonetization and GST introduction that without a shred of statistical evidence, based on media reports and on the rants and raves of the influential and opulent elite stashing black money, the public who willingly bore the brunt were made to wonder whether they were put to suffering to serve vested interests. The sacrifices of the common Indian on the street in this phase of time was phenomenal. Grudgingly the aam aadmi chugged along serpentine queues until the stroke of midnight for those freshly minted notes of currency in lieu of the old rendered useless overnight. The timeframe for tendering the old notes back to the reserve bank in exchange through commercial banks was limited. The lower middle classes I spoke to were happy participants in the exercise not grumpy always as made out by the media. The familiar leftists were on the discussion forums downplaying all that was received well in reality by the general janata. I am seeing how GST works only too very well and can recall the stiff opposition it met with. Now for whole of India, just one point tax and no more queuing up in the borders for our trucks: remember we are a 29 state country with trailers running on all-India permit. This saves time, precious oil, manpower and over all that double billing or double taxing.
As in Biden’s case, actions speak louder than words. The benefits realized will outweigh the criticisms.
Which is why I have totally stopped reading the Indian print media and don’t watch our mass media anymore. I directly discount our social media propaganda posts as well. Like fellow citizens I watch for translation of bills and/or legal statutes and accords and pacts into actual benefits for the public. I watch for the social development indicators. I will not gauge my country with the imported Audis. I measure my country with the locally made drab Ambassador which is the true indicator of my nation’s economic health. I don’t go by the stockmarket boom that can have no correlation with actual industrial growth and output. I go by the bonuses dispersed based on quarterly results booked by an FMCG corporation for instance. I go by the books. I look for the export quantum of wheat over imports. I keep tab with the varying interest rates. I watch for the infrastructural developments and how that directly affects my life. Metrorail saves the day for us and any government that mooted the project can hope for reelection. Not surprisingly the next state government is only adding more routes and further many kilometers to the viable project to win the popularity match. Today in India, whichever party is to form the government at the center or state level, they have got to perform. We cannot rule out bribes and red tape entirely from my country but the strong governments see to that this social corruption does not weaken the momentum of their economic engine.
You don’t have to be a literate to factor in the social indictors into your assessment methods to decide on who to vote for. I have seen how the mind of the blue collar workers functions. They are far smarter. They are even better politically aware. Nobody voted for BJP in Tamil Nadu, but the masses all got the Modi app in their phones and have subscribed to Modi health insurance! My maid’s mother received 40-60 radiations without paying a single paisa thanks to the state-central govt sops (still the woman died, can’t help) with the Modi health card and a driver’s aging father got a cardiac bypass surgery done for free at the state of art govt multispecialty hospital in Chennai with the same Modi card. The opinion on BJP is fast changing in the state. There is almost no Indian citizen today without at least a zero balance bank account introduced by Modi and the Aadhar ID is a great leveler.
Perform or Perish: now this is the slogan in India. This applies to any government that gets elected to office. Its not about Modi or BJP or Congress or even the State governments. Corrupt state governments are thrown out in the very next round of general elections. Perceptions can persist but practicality is different.
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I record my gratitude to my Journalist-writer guru who is a big influence on my spectrum of thoughts. I am a housewife and I write for just me myself, still it counts. I am interested in learning anything and everything and this is an offshoot subject from mainstream that has relevance to today’s political-economic scene we have here in India.
A juicy bit of news: General elections date are not fixed just like that in India. Astrological consultations are done in alignment with the birth star of the leader of the political party to ascertain which date is auspicious to contest elections and from which constituency from whatever direction. It reminds of me of how Mahathir Mohammad of Malaysia used to fix election dates in consultation with astrologers in Malaysia as the locals would tell us. Mahathir’s grandfather was Kerala muslim who migrated to Malaysia. As far as Indian general elections are concerned, more than anything, believe me or not, the kundalini (birthchart or horoscope) of the PM candidate plays a vital role in deciding dates and even the winning of the polls!
vijiravindran's 