India Shastra by Shashi Tharoor

                                            The book “India Shastra” is written by an eminent Congress politician and author Shashi Tharoor. The author paints the picture of contemporary India and its state of affairs after recent unprecedented victory of BJP in parliamentary elections in 2014 . This book has 100 essays segregated into 8 chapters touching different aspects of political and personal triumphs in his life though a sizeable part is devoted to trivializing achievements of PM Modi and mocking Natwar Singh(Former External minister and Gandhi family loyalist).

                                              After reading the book, one can’t help but conclude that the landslide victory earned by the BJP in 2014 parliamentary elections (75 crore girlfriend jibe) has disturbed some people immensely and prompted Shashi Tharoor to devote a couple of sections to ridicule Modi in individual capacity and his government . The author can’t keep his political bias in check and indulged in his mischievous narrow one sided commentary to belittle government. The author halfheartedly appreciated some social schemes implemented by incumbent government (Swatchta Abhiyan or Beti Bachao Beti Padhao) as opposing such schemes would have risked readers wrath while going berserk in criticizing other policy decisions .

                                           The fun part is the accusations of continuing with the previous government policies by Modi government . In a democracy, a regime change at center doesn’t necessarily mean abandoning of all the policies of the previous government . He very shrewdly sidestepped the truth, that before implementing policies, they were debated in parliament as it should be and thereafter suitably amended. It would have been stupid to dump schemes merely because UPA governments inept leadership adopted them, the prudent thing was to tinker with wasteful part while implementing rest as taxpayers money isn’t politicians personal fortune.

                                           As a Congress MP and to be in good books of his party also to remain relevant at national scene, it was expected and customary of politicians from their self proclaimed secular front to trade communal charges at Modi government. Author could have spared readers from this mud slinging ‘Cricket’ but then author has the liberty to express himself which he claims is getting stifling under present dispensation . This is a non-fiction book and readable if you can ignore the blabbering and sympathize with pain these rich brats are undergoing as the power slipped out of their hands which they consider their birth right .

India's Bismarck-Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel by Balraj Krishna (Review)

                                        This is a detailed book about a giant of a political personality, who transformed the destiny of India . He was conferred the title ‘Sardar’ justifying the faith people had on his vision and his ability to surpass all odds to achieve success against tyrannical British empire . The successful political campaigns at Kheda, Nagpur, Surat , Ahmedabad made him leader of masses with devoted followers , his grit & determination and prudent maneuvering of tricky political situations to catch the bluffs of opponents led campaigns to its victorious conclusions.

                                      The book reveals the trust Gandhi ji had on his lieutenant Sardar , to stand firm against adversities , thus nominating him the actual PM contender for the Independent India. The extraordinary determination and discipline to unite 560 princely states (self-governing princely states were released from British suzerainty after Indian Independence Act 1947) along with rest of India was a herculean task accomplished miraculously by Patel earning him the title of ‘Iron man of India’. He was well versed with the weakness and unperturbed by vicious propaganda of few unrelenting Rulers and embarked on his successful pious job creating circumstances conducive of United India earning the title of ‘Bismarck of India’ .

                                     This book sheds light on the journey of Vallabhbhai Patel in our country’s history ,different phases of struggle from Indian Independence movement to becoming the first ‘Home Minister’ of Independent India. A comprehensive narration of events from participating in Satyagraha movements against repressive British to supervisory role in the functioning of Congress ministries post 1937 provincial elections. His understanding of ground situations and pragmatic approach had thwarted the balkanization of India much to the dissatisfaction of Jinnah who tried to outbid Congress with British help.

                                                   Much has been written and discussed about the role of Gandhi and Nehru, this book is an attempt to fill the gap by throwing light on stupendous achievements of Vallabhbhai Patel. He was a beacon of hope for countrymen and for disillusioned party men when other stalwarts had succumbed. He rose to the occasion after partition and was active behind the scenes to unite and consolidate Indian landmass.

                                         This book did tremendous job to your knowledge about circumstances and decisions taken by our leaders , a well researched book . In my opinion its a must readable book

Three Years Of BJP- Hits & Failures Part-2

                                The second frightening problem that needs immediate attention is the poor state of Indian Heath care system. The appalling Health care conditions prevalent in government hospitals are published in newspapers frequently and yet no reforms to correct the wrongdoing raises pertinent questions about the concern for the well being of masses to the government to which you lead Mr PM. How the deplorable conditions of Health care , the abysmal state it is in, which is evidenced in the recurring deaths on numerous epidemics outbreak or spat between patients and doctors don’t find any mention in your public address ? Health experts have repeatedly warned that the unprecedented growth in private Hospitals , indicates rapid commercialization of public health and that it has caused quality treatment to go beyond the reach of ordinary people. There are countless reports on how these commercially-run hospitals, clinics and pathological laboratories are thriving in urban areas in the backdrop of obsolete public Health care system.

                                   It seems there is no monitoring by the government for checking the activities at private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers and the general population who are at the mercy of these corporate hospitals are left to fend for themselves . Regulatory bodies are either incapable of monitoring the existing private hospitals, for exploitation of patients, or not interested, in exorbitant expenses incurred by helpless patients and their families.

                                     Another sector where your kind attention is warranted is the ever increasing taxation on middle class. While no body will object to the need to increase tax paying net, more people should pay their taxes as computed and GST will go a long way in addressing this under tax economy problem but my simple question is unabated levying of surcharge on one pretext or another. Why do an individual has to pay to bank for withdrawal or otherwise, in PSU banks? Is it not extortion or fleecing customers through different tactics ? As the majority shareholder why didn’t government not refraining bank management from pursuing such questionable policy? Or has the government implicitly supporting this hegemony of PSU banks to loot public ?

                              While “Ujjwala” scheme is praiseworthy and people from all walks of life have wholeheartedly supported your initiative by shunning their subsidy on gas cylinder and thus benevolently supporting noble initiative , still one question disturbs me how incentivizing farmers to not pay their farm loans will help country in long run when government has little means to support downtrodden due to paucity of funds ? Why socialist decisions to garner votes aren’t parted with ? Why out of box solutions aren’t found while increasing population in rural areas leading to declining agricultural income and thus subsequent debt traps isn’t debated and solutions deliberated?

                                 We all are aware that some parts of our country lies in rain shadow locations and receive scanty rainfall. We need to learn modern practices of farming drip irrigation, more emphasis on connecting rivers ,check dams etc. to overcome this menace of drought and support our agriculture sector. We need to dwell on efficient management of resources to supplement our loopholes in logistics for complete overhaul of agriculture sector not knee jerk reactions of farm loan waver as it is temporary and ineffective. Pushing the can down the road is in nobody’s interest least of all farmers.

                                    While big bang economic reforms were the need of the hour and PM stood firm to guide country out of disillusionment the need now is to usher revolution in social sector. The dismal 131 rank hogged by India in Human Development Index(UNDP) speaks for itself and doesn’t bodes well for us. There is need to increase spending on education and Heath care along with accountability fixed, from current 6% on Education and roughly 1% on Health of GDP.

                                         In all its endeavor to fight the sagging economy or supporting underprivileged your government is overburdening the middle class with taxes . Government shouldn’t take middle class for granted , while reforms supporting industry and concessions and liberal subsidy for lower strata is visible , but government has shown its indifference to the middle class so far which needs respite from ever increasing tax burden . In the endeavor to project as messiah of poor, it is the salaried class which is being hammered unrelentingly by government . A prudent and pragmatic approach is the need of the hour and complacency towards any section of society should be thwarted .

Three Years Of BJP- Hits & Failures Part-1

                                   After ‘Three’ years of Modi government , it is time to do reality check . How does the promise of “Acche din” holds true for general population ? With the earlier regimes engrossed in corruption, it was a sigh of relief to have government at the helm that on face of it at least hasn’t plunged itself into any corruption scandal till now. “Na khaunga na khane dunga” was the tagline which catapulted BJP under Modi leadership to rode on high hopes of majority and grabbed overwhelming majority leaving other political parties in tatters and to which opposition had no means to counter and thus succumbed. It is undebatable that BJP’s power and popularity grew leaps and bound under PM and is majestically growing which is unprecedented in history .

                                It is noteworthy to see, how a strong leader with complete faith of electorate can steer a confused nation out of morass and blew a new lease of life. How the administrative setup which was mocked for corruption and policy paralysis is transformed into efficient decision makers. With the latest success in Four assembly elections and stupendous success in UP state in particular only added to the sheen of PM Modi . Already some politicians have openly suggested to abandon harboring any hopes of capturing power in 2019 parliamentary elections while nudging their hopes on 2024. All these bodes well for BJP as the opposition is in hopeless disarray with none on horizon to challenge BJP.

                            One of the important factor for decimation of opposition is tethering pseudo secular policies apart from nepotism and corruption which eventually played havoc to their fortunes as people were unfazed and were in no mood to forgive their halfhearted midway course correction. A lot has been said and written and numerous times postmortem is done by political pundits on electoral defeat and is futile to prolong that review .

                                       In his book “Walking With Lions” Natwar Singh quoted Vietnamese General Võ Nguyên Giáp (who defeated the mighty French forces with ragtag but motivated Vietnamese Guerillas ) “Be careful when things go well. Don’t lower your guard, things start going wrong when they appear to be going well” . Is it not time to do some introspection and ask some tough questions of where the incumbent government fell ridiculously short of expectations. While all my questions are directed against PM Modi as I firmly believe when success is attributed to the captain of the ship so does the failure.

                                When PM Modi talks of big bang reform , be it GST or Demonetization, I as an ordinary Indian too have few questions to ask and seek answers. Sir, as we all are aware and agree of the need to educate masses as illiteracy is a curse, and for country like ours more emphasis is given on Human development as literate population is considered an asset. You yourself have given special attention on daughter education we all are aware of, so, I just want to ask you a simple question are you unaware of the education mafia ? May I ask you what steps have you taken to stop the thriving education mafia to curtail their power to extract money on flimsiest excuses from hapless parents ? Are you oblivious to donations and tantrums of private schools to extort money? Are you unaware of the ridiculous standard of teachers that are entrusted of imparting education to future generation in government schools ? Are you not aware of the pitfalls of our education system ?

                                   The problems plaguing our education system is that government schools are either simply not sufficient or grossly short of quality both in teaching staff and other requirements while Private school are money oriented act as a factory to cater to demand and supply situation and extract money according to their whims and fancies .

                               This is the state of elementary education , the lesser we speak about college degrees the better. How can a person of your caliber is so unperturbed by the mushrooming coaching facilities ? Does reforms in education sector that has the potential to change nations destiny skipped your thoughts ? Are you not aware of the mad rush to enter IIT’s or other prestigious organizations and parents forced to cough up unbelievable fees for coaching centers that you surely have seen thriving on every nook and corner of every town and city? Is the government so dumbfounded that no pragmatic solutions can be found to change the scenario?

                                 The recent reports circulating from different quarters suggest over 60% Engineering graduates are simply unemployable, why no measures are taken to stem the wroth in education sector which I am convinced you want to see flourishing.

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