Whose power is it anyway?

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has put an end to ambiguity over the government’s policy on how it plans to implement the controversial nuclear power projects by saying the Kudankulam plant will start operations in the next couple of months.

The four reactors, built with Russian technology, are slated to provide 4,000MW to the national power grid and cater to both the domestic and industrial consumers.

One can’t help but wonder if the newfound panacea for our power woes will go the same way as the mega dams, which Jawaharlal Nehru had touted as “temples of development”. These projects provided electricity and irrigated millions of hectares but also displaced millions of people and drowned vast stretches of pristine forests.

Till Fukushima, Japan was the poster boy for champions of “safe, fail-proof” nuclear power and the tsunami nailed all the well-crafted and well-publicised lies. It has come to a point where even breast milk in the nearby precincts have been found contaminated by radiation.

If somebody wants to establish a firecracker factory next to your house won’t you want it shifted to some uninhabited area? Won’t you be worried for the safety of your family and that of the neighbourhood even if the top rocket scientist comes and tells you about its safeguards?

In a country where operations and safety features of all nuclear facilities are ‘classified’ and details opaque due to ‘national security’ concerns, it is only natural that the threatened population is up in arms.

Visuals of tribal folk near the Jaduguda uranium mines suffering from unknown diseases, congenital defects in newborns, sterility in young adults, and lung disease in mine workers, from Anand Patwardhan’s War and Peace (the filmmaker had to go all the way to the Supreme Court to get the censors’ cuts quashed) are enough to make anyone have second thoughts about ‘safe’ nuclear power production.

The prime minister’s soft voiced yet razor sharp concluding observation that Kudankulam protests were “overdone” smacks of arrogance and makes a mockery of the idea of democracy. Not surprising for a head of the government who is used to being dictated by a higher power.

When the whole world is phasing out nuclear power and replacing it with greener and sustainable technologies, it’s sad that our government is going for it — a policy with single-minded focus of burgeoning the wallets of private players at the cost of health and safety of public.

It's not a strip show stupid!

Moral police gets cops to stop Slutwalk Bangalore

In another feather on the cap of to the nation of tolerance and the truly cosmopolitan city (pun definitely intended), the Bangalore police cancelled permission for SlutWalk citing security concerns — read threat from the 'moral police'.

SlutWalk is an in-your-face name coined for a movement that exposes the hypocrisy of taking refuge in hallowed culture and traditions — no wonder the knee-jerk reaction of the self-styled guardians of collective morality.

The logic of the moral police for upholding the social fabric and integrity of the society is akin to locking up an entire population permanently to save them from rabid dogs.

The sheer refusal of the self-appointed vigilante's to even allow the SlutWalk organiser's the freedom of expression — yes, the same free that guarantees the right to prudish propaganda — betrays the shallow foundations of their cause.

The irony is that the police, who are supposed to ensure that every person enjoys the rights legally, were hand-in-glove with the moral police brigade in denying the SlutWalk activists permission to hold their program. If police can't guarantee security then why are they still in their jobs. Ever heard of a company (not PSU) retaining employees who can't deliver?

Every human being has the inalienable right to dignity and an environment where one has freedom of expression is inseparable from it. It's high time we pull our minds out of the Dark Ages and make them one with our bodies in the digital era.

Freedom of expression — Dam(n) it !

Tamil Nadu ban on Dam 999 shows lack of maturity

"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek and receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."

— Universal Declaration Of Human Rights (1948)

The row between Kerala and Tamil Nadu over the 117-year-old Mullaperiyar dam has entered the celluloid dimension with the latter on Thursday banning Dam 999, a movie that is woven around the collapse of a 100-year-old dam.

The Tamil Nadu government has banned the controversial movie saying it was against the interests of the State, after political parties, including the DMK, raised the pitch against its release. Theatre owners in the State had on Wednesday decided not to screen controversial movie. The opponents of the movie contend that it is based on the Mullaperiyar dam and the release of the movie will create panic and promote animosity between the people.

One wonders what happens to the artistic freedom as well as the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Indian Constitution. This is not the first instance where whims and fancies of the political class and interest groups have tried and succeeded in stifling voices of dissidence or difference.

Clause (2) of Article 19, added by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, defines the grounds on which restrictions on the freedom of speech and expression may be imposed. According to this amendment, public order signifies "that state of tranquillity which prevails among the members of political society as a result of internal regulations enforced by the government which they have established.”

Now, who has the time to lose their tranquillity over some movie? No one is forcing the public to watch any movie. If a movie is an affront to their feelings, it will become a dud at the box office. There is no need for political vigilantes to protect the sensitivities of the public (who are mature enough to drive, vote, drink and marry) from getting disturbed.

Six decades have passed since we attained independence from colonial yoke. However, the restrictions introduced by the white masters to keep the large populace enslaved is still popular, albeit in different forms and for different purposes.

Authors, artists, film-makers, social activists face the ire of those with vested interests who wants to retain their stranglehold over their traditional support bases by any means possible — even through populist measures that proclaim dearth of grey matter. The disgrace and embarrassment of a great artist such as MF Husain breathing his last in exile hasn't taught us anything.

Groups who are in power and those who aspire for it always tend to discover causes that need their intervention. For this, a pressing problem has to be created for the “knight in shining armour” to enter the scene riding on the popularity stallion to slay the evil opponents.

Today one can't throw a stone in this country without hitting a civil society activist (and it's likely that the same stone will rebound and hit a human rights activist). From the anti-graft icon who wants to flog tipplers to the Delhi top cop who blamed the rape victims' dress for their situation, every T, D and H has their share of opinions.

If Anna Hazare is not prosecuted for suggesting violence, if leaders in different hues of saffron and green can tell mass gatherings that the “other” group need to be crushed and can still become legislators and ministers, then why target a film-maker?

Our right to state and propagate our ideas rests on the foundation of tolerance from everybody else. When we forget that and deny that right to someone else, we are setting the bottle spinning — you never know when you will be at the receiving end.

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

Voltaire

Gandhi dreamed of Ram Rajya, got Scam Rajya

When Bapuji envisioned freedom for the country he hoped the empowerment would remove the social ills produced by centuries of monarchy, feudalism and colonialism. However, when the white man handed the spectre to the brown man nothing really changed.

It is difficult beat someone in his home turf. When corruption underwent 100 per cent indigenisation it became even more entrenched.

Such has become the state of affairs that more than the Right to Information Act, a comprehensive national list of bribes to be paid at each level of local, state and Central government would be more useful to the citizens.

The government says it would rather let foodgrains rot than give it poor so that the country's WTO-compliant image before the West stays intact. Repeated queries and directives from courts on social justice are given quiet burial in the labyrinths of red tape.

So what are the chances of your success in taking on corruption. The following are the possible scenarios:
1) Your requests are stone-walled by bureaucracy
2) Attempts to complain to higher authorities end up like complaining to Hitler about human rights abuse
3) You get locked up under one of those numerous security and terrorism laws for inciting unrest or conspiracy to wage war against the country
4) You are framed in false cases ranging from high treason to staring at someone for too long. Your family members are harassed.
5) You petition the courts and spend the rest of your life and energy in courtroom against top lawyers in the country.
6) You get killed in accident, during robbery attempt or will be gunned down by cops who launched an operation to bust the terror module you were running.

If only the country had the will to crack down on corruption....

Roaring dragon, freaked out tiger

The recent incident of China denying visa to a senior Army official, who commanded forces in J&K, because of the "disputed" nature of the territory smacks of arrogance of a bully.
India has always been meek in its response to political, economical and military rebuke by the giant neighbour.

China has beaten India in every department be it sports, economy, standard of living, defence and social spending. This is despite we having a 'vibrant democracy' for the last 6 decades.

India decided to let go of the socialistic economy and adopt open market policy under the stewardship of Manmohan Singh in the 90s. However, what was and is missing is political will power and the courage to execute policies to serve national interests.

Even today we find the policies in every sector being framed to suit the interests of a few leading private players in that sector.
In mid 1950s and early 60s, when People's Liberation Army was occupying vast swathes of Indian territory, a pussy-whipped Nehru kept ignoring the advice of field officials and held on to his lofty ideals where he expected the Soviet friends to deter a Chinese invasion.

As usual, the idealist's ideas went for a toss and India was put through a humiliating military defeat. China dictated terms of peace and territory from a position of strength and the tiger was reduced to a whimpering kitten.

India learned its military lesson and upgraded weapons and increased the number of troops. However, the country's leadership again failed to match China in the massive infrastructure in place.

Chinese continue to claim Arunachal Pradesh as their territory and keep insulting India by denying visa to people from the region. Those who travel to China get their visa stapled to passport and not stamped on the passport itself.

India, always on the idealistic high pedestal, keep "summoning the Chinese envoy and registering protest".

When an economically resurgent India began exploring overseas business options, the Chinese have beaten us in all continents in every field of business.
C
hina has been arming a belligerent Pakistan and supplying them with expertise and equipment to build a nuclear bomb — true exponents of Tsun Tsu.

On the economic front, China has been the hub of production of spurious goods with 'Made in India' label so as to discredit India in foreign markets. In UN, China has been blocking India's entry to the Security Council using every possible resource.

So where are we lacking?
1. Lack of a powerful political leadership which is ready to put national interest as a top priority
2 Mismanagement of national resources and allowing private players to reap its benefits
3 Outdated foreign policy approaches
4 Lack of infrastructure and long-term vision and development objectives
5 Excess bureaucratic flab bogging down growth and innovation in every sector
6 Overbearing corruption, which ensures sabotage of national interests
7 Inability to aggressively pursue national interests and take out enemies of the state

Unless we pull ourselves out of this quagmire, stop shadow boxing and face the real issues, we will be reduced to the status of a mutt living off the crumbs that fall of the grand Chinese buffet.

Does Mumbai need its tiger family?

The rise of Bal Thackeray and Shiv Sena in Bombay (oops... Mumbai) marked a turning point for a city that was built on the sweat of migrant population from all over the country.

Bombay, once the most favoured destination for those who wanted to realise the Indian Dream, acquired a character that was alien to it.

An average Mumbaikar, whose life goes on at hectic pace on crowded local trains, wouldn't notice any difference. However, the venom on ‘Them against us’ propaganda unleashed by the Sena has had its effect on the psyche of the city.

A state — which has given birth to great freedom fighters, social reformers, revolutionaries, legal luminaries and industrialists — has given in to the diktats of a few parochial bigots who hold the people to ransom for their whims and fancies.

It has come to a state of affairs where the 'local' mob bosses dictate the way of life that is 'culturally acceptable' and the dos and don'ts for those who want to live in peace among the Marathi manoos.

It goes to disgusting lows where the elected government tries to outdo these goons in placating the mob mentality by championing their cause.

The recent tirade of Dr Raj Thackeray — contagious diseases specialist — on how migrants are responsible for the spread of Malaria defies every logic; actually even beats his uncle Balasaheb.

I don't know if Dr Raj is aware of a certain insect called mosquito — he can do a Google search during is breaks between migrant-bashing sessions — which is a nationalist in its approach.

And of course we have outfits which are self-employed defenders of Maharashtra culture and its heroes. The attack on a foreign author for 'unacceptable' references to Shivaji shows how fragile and insecure these thugs in their ideology (do they have one other than 'slash and burn').

The Senas (both uncle and nephew versions) are averse to firangi way of life which involves celebration. Their goons go around bashing up couples whom they come across.

If they are so averse to West they should stop wearing western clothes, using vehicles and using electronic gadgets — all which have been developed in the West.

They should create rural enclaves where they can capture the spirit of real India and stay there rather than become a pain in the wrong place for every fun-loving Mumbaikar.

It is really a mystery why the angresi-hating Raj Thackeray's children study in Christian missionary school which has Mumbai in its name. Of course, the ignorant cadre cannot comprehend the vision (or the lack of it) of the their masters lest alone question the personal motives.

Let us says Bal-Uddhav-Raj cartel gets its way. How do they expect to run a city sans cheap labour provided by the migrants. Who is going to drive all those taxis and autos currently driven by the North Indians.

May be Reliance should shut shop in Maharashtra and move to Gujarat. Shah Rukh Khan and Bachchan should leave the state and so should every luminary who has made a name for themselves living in Mumbai.

Oye tiger clan... Don't you realise how messed up you guys are in your heads. Take a break. Visit a shrink. Do some Yoga.. Get laid — might help get rid of that frustration. Or just go jump into the sea.

Oh no don't do that. The sea can't take any more pollution after the recent oil spill.

Guys.. go get a life.

Bhopal - Does the government give a damn

So much of hype over verdict in Bhopal gas tragedy case! Wow, I'm impressed by the amazing speed at which justice was delivered to 15,000 dead and lakhs as-good-as-dead. May be civilians dying like flies in their sleep did not evince the interest of the government or civil society the way it did when Mumbai was targeted on 26, November 2008.
So what happened to the culprits. The person responsible at the highest level in the company - Warren Anderson - is living comfortably with handsome retirement savings in the US. The political top brass of the state - which allowed the company to function ignoring safety measures - are still roaming free.. or should i put it this way - ruling free.
Congress is struggling to prop halos on leaders, living, dead and killed, for it knows the otherwise lifeless Opposition will rise from its grave to make life miserable for them.
So who paid for the crime. All except those who had something to do with the disaster. What do we do now.. Of course..emulate the West.. hold candle light vigils...print t-shirts.. Hoorah..long live democracy..long live civil society..How little we realise how screwed we are as a nation when it comes to conscience and timely reaction