Slaves - Part 1

                                         The word ‘Slave’ sends shivers down the spine when we read about the slave trade from ancient times till the 17th century when it flourished, peaked and subsequently declined. The Africans in Latin America and West, indentured Indian labor in West Indies, Fiji etc remind us about the ghastly practices of the past adopted by effluent Western Nations. The abominable past on which the glamorous present of West is based has umpteen skeletons hidden in their cupboards. The influence of West which was based on technology and innovative ideas transformed the societies world over while destroying the glorious ancient cultures and civilizations .

                                           Many primitive civilizations couldn’t withstand the onslaught of the West and succumbed to their greed, thus wiping out completely from the world. Others that were subdued were savagely plundered but somehow survived with permanent scars. The colonial powers which were scientifically, technologically, economically and militarily far superior from natives loosened their grip and eventually faltered from continuing with colonialism due to subsequent World Wars, which were also, the tipping point of race to control more land and resources while all the ideology and morality propagated to justify the cause is nothing short of lies which these Nations have perfected and inculcated among impressionable minds since 1945.

                                         If  we observe the world order today, we can clearly see through the smokescreen ,(web of lies) the precarious condition of the erstwhile colonies that are still at the mercy of the developed world. Nothing much has changed since the end of Second World War. There is a web of lies which is marketed by powerful Western media which gives us a semblance of accomplishment, unity and International brotherhood . Globalization gives us a farce sense of living In global village where nothing as such thing exists. Any country that doesn’t agree to the diktats of club (developed world) is reprimanded and severely punished. Any country unwilling to toe the line of club is isolated and penalized without any repercussions on the club so where is the universal brotherhood ?

                                           After Second World War in 1940’s and 1950s , new unprecedented realities emerged when scores of colonies threw off the colonial yoke. Ever since they have been struggling to stand on their feet as the Imperialist West devised and perfected new strategies to maintain their hegemony. After attaining freedom, colonies discovered that their economies were very strongly bound to those of their previous masters. For trading they were dependent on the "world market" where pricing of goods was not in their hands, and where numerous discriminatory practices existed. Technological progress, of which they had been deprived, enabled the industrialized countries to offer superior goods at lower prices. And when these ex-colonies wanted to upgrade their technology by their own research and development effort, or even by purchasing foreign technology, the response from most of the developed countries was not helpful. This often made the governments of these countries weak and unstable as it is easy to sow seeds of sedition among poor and illiterate.

                                            Creating dissensions and supporting insurgencies in the name of ‘Human rights’ plays well in the hands of Developed world who eventually becomes arbitrary and makes the developing colonies economically and politically dependent client states. Right now, there exists a cumulative backlog of poverty, ill-health, unemployment and untold misery among vast sections of populations in these countries and these problems are mounting day by day making these countries precariously vulnerable to exploitation by Developed world .

Throwing Caution To The Wind

                                    तुमसे पहले जो इक शख्स यहां तख्तनशीं था//
                                       उसे भी अपने खुदा होने का इतना ही यकीं था..
                                                                                  'हबीब जालिब'

                                After the demise of corrupt govt in 2014, the BJP came to power with resounding victory on the back of hopes and aspirations of millions of Indians who voted for BJP. There were multiple factors like corruption, arrogance, pseudo secularism that led to the undoing of Congress led govt . People read the script narrated by BJP favorably and voted in mass to decimate UPA. One block that stood for BJP throughout testing times was middle class, and it emerged as strong loyal base . There was hope among middle class that the new dispensation at the center would be economically beneficial, but after four years of BJP rule it seems hope is beginning to wear a bit thin now. The disappointment among these loyal support base isn’t ideological rather it is economical.

                                      Starting on robust ground, the enthusiasm of the newly elected govt. was a welcome relief from the erstwhile paralyzed governance that compromised on major policy decisions. To its credit BJP govt initiated several steps to gain vital investor confidence swelling the coffers of govt, upsurge in Sensex testified it, further increasing the stature and confidence of govt all around. In its zeal to unleash reforms, many radical moves have been attempted and measured on a scale of sheer boldness, they were impressive. The problem is many of these policies have been ill conceived, inadequately debated or pondered over and badly implemented. Demonetisation, GST, wiped out lakhs of jobs in the primary sector where bulk of unskilled and semiskilled workers were employed. Although the reforms were necessary, yet no one can argue these were hasty half baked measures. Thankfully the negative impact of such measures are waning fast as evident from GDP projections but not without shaking the confidence of formidable loyal block. 

                                 The middle class is facing the onslaught of reduced job opportunities in manufacturing sector which is shying away from initiating new projects. The proverbial saviour- service sector is already stretched and has since witnessed muted job growth. The jobs in government and agriculture sector are already contracting. No wonder then the staunch supporters are lately disillusioned with economic policy of the govt. The expectations of relief in budget were dashed again when the demand of IT exemption being raised to 5 lakhs wasn't met rather introducing Long Term Capital Gains tax added insult to injury. With small savings schemes of the government giving dismal returns, addition of 10% tax on mutual funds is woefully wrong decision that too at the worse timing possible. This economic harakiri adopted by govt has alienated large number of even Modi admirers not to forget party supporters as well.

                                 The political headwinds for BJP are strong as is witnessed in recently concluded Gujrat elections where sizeable population voted for NOTA. Warning bells should be ringing not stop after Rajasthan by-poll result debacle for the BJP . While the social welfare schemes to support poverty stricken has struck chord with middle class and they wholeheartedly approved govt initiatives, but in its frenzy to become messiah of poor, the message seems to have been given out of abandoning this section. BJP  appears to have become complacent and is relying on scattered opposition and TINA(there is no alternative) factor to swim across in 2019 . The over confidence smashed Vajpayee govt hopes to be reelected in 2004, the incumbent govt appears to be heading in same direction. 

                               The need of the hour is the prompt action by govt to calm down tempers of salaried class and take measures to assuage the feeling of 'let down' . If the BJP govt remains unperturbed to popular sentiments of its loyal supporters, it should buckle up to stare at nasty surprise in 2019.

Happy Republic Day

                                     On this auspicious day of Republic Day, I am sharing some brave stories of women freedom fighters who have etched their names in the pages of history . The names are long forgotten and the dust have settled on those pages ,as not many have the appetite and patience to dwell and deliberate on past in ‘Modern’ India of today, where people in certain quarters hurl epithets “Nationalist” or “Patriot” in a fashion that it sound as insults. I am here trying to apprise my fellow readers with few women freedom fighters, who made supreme sacrifice in the service of their beloved motherland. It is due to the concerted efforts of our freedom fighters that laid the foundations of the Republic—Liberty, equality, fraternity .

Kittur Chennamma -

                                  Chennamma was born in Kakati, a small village in Karnataka and became ‘Queen of Kittur’ after her marriage to Raja Mallasarja. After their son's death in 1824 she adopted Shivalingappa, and made him heir to the throne , which was rejected by British as they wanted to usurp the kingdom. Interestingly, policy of lapse has yet not been implemented by then. This led to the war, and, Rani Chennamma lead an armed rebellion against the British East India Company in 1824. Rani Chennamma fought valiantly and caused severe loses to the British and became victorious in the first wave of attack by British which was repulsed, but soon reinforcements came to strengthen British forces.The British incurred heavy loses, which includes death of nephew of Thomas Munro. But due to limited resources to continue the war, Rani was ultimately captured and imprisoned at Bailhongal Fort, where she died on 02 February 1829. Rani Chennamma's legacy and first victory are still commemorated in Kittur, during the Kittur Utsava held on 22–24 October annually.

Pritilata Waddedar --

                                     Pritilata Waddedar was a Bengali revolutionary nationalist . Born in a middle-class Vaidya-Brahmin family at Chittagong (Bangladesh). Being a meritorious student, she pursued her graduation in philosophy with distinction from Bethune College, Calcutta. Under the influence of nationalists, while pursuing her education destiny gave her opportunity to put her contribution in freedom struggle. Her colleague Kalpana Dutta introduced Pritilata to the revolutionary leader Surya Sen. Although Surya Sen was reluctant to include Pritilata in his group, but her determination to eliminate British supremacy impressed Surya Sen immensely who accepted Pritilata as the woman comrade and member in his revolutionary group. It was Pritilata’s intelligence, strategy and efforts that helped Surya Sen and other members to attack the armory raid, telegraph office, railway lines and make the uprising of Chittagong successful on on 18 April 1930. To avenge the death of innocent teenage comrades in Jalalabad encounter, Surya Sen’s next strategy was to attack the Pahartali European club which had a board titled – “Dogs and Indians are not allowed”. Surya Sen selected Pritilata who led a team of fifteen revolutionaries and attacked the club on September 23rd 1932. Although the attack on the club was successful and the club was torched, Pritilata was injured with bullet, she consumed cyanide capsule and embraced death to escape being arrested.

Suniti Choudhury & Santi Ghose -
                                        The two brave hearts , who made me sit and drop my jaw in admiration were Suniti Choudhury and Santi Ghose.

                                      Suniti Chowdhury was born on 22 May 1917 in Comilla of Comilla District of Bengal (present Bangladesh) while Santi Ghose was born on 22 November 1916 in Calcutta, India. Both of them were fierce nationalists and joined Jugantar party, a militant revolutionary organization which "used murder as a political technique to dislodge British colonial rule like Anushilan party in Bengal . On 14 December 1931, Ghose, then 15, and Suniti Chowdhury, who was 14, walked into the office of Charles Geoffrey Buckland Stevens, a British bureaucrat and the district magistrate of Comilla , notorious for cruelty, under the pretense that they wanted to present a petition to arrange a swimming competition amongst their classmates. While Stevens looked at the document, Ghose and Chowdhury removed automatic pistols which were hidden under their shawls and shot and killed him. In February 1932, Ghose and Chowdhury appeared in court in Calcutta. Being a minor, both of them were sentenced to jail for 10 years but in 1939, after having served seven years of her sentence they were released because of the amnesty negotiations between Mahatma Gandhi and the British Indian government.

Judiciary In India

                                         In our democracy, the three arms of the state namely the Executive, the Judiciary and the Legislature on which rests the smooth functioning of the country are in dire need of reforms. It is not without reason that people are disappointed with present state of judiciary, numerous cases(corruption cases etc.) have recently highlighted the flaws and shortcomings of our judicial system. Legal experts, social activists, civil society have been unequivocally asking to initiate reforms but the apathy of the present establishment is disheartening. Time and again,we keep hearing about necessity of reforms and efforts by govt but situation doesn’t alter on ground.

                                     In present circumstances, the legal apparatus and infrastructure have faltered and failed to keep pace with the rising population, changing times, transformed societal structure. The judicial apparatus appears obsolete, stuck in time zone and completely oblivious of ground realities. Riddled with old fashioned procedures, it has almost become defunct. A section of politicians, corrupt business houses, media, judges etc. are in league to maintain status quo, taking comfort in dysfunctional judiciary as it serves their interests.

                                        There are many instances in public domain about the corruption in judiciary, many incidents of the judiciary misusing its official position for personal gain but the matter is not pursued efficiently to nail and punish the culprits. Indian Constitution made Indian judiciary sort of a self-regulatory independent body but in house accountability system seems ineffective .  The judiciary is self protective except in rear case of Former Calcutta High Court judge C S Karnan or impeachment proceeding of Calcutta high court judge Soumitra Sen which are publicized and known . The judiciary has used its immense power provided in Constitution only to stonewall both criticisms and accountability.

                                  One of the potent weapon in the hands of judiciary, is the ‘Contempt of Court’. It is an effective tool to stifle public criticism or independent evaluation of the judiciary. While deterring people from making unwarranted attacks on judiciary, the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, has also stifled debate. That’s why judiciary’s conduct is hardly discussed or debated in the media.And now attempts are made to exempt the judiciary from the purview of the Right to Information Act. These steps only make the judicial system opaque causing doubts on the integrity of the system in people’s mind.

                                    The recent turmoil in judiciary when the four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court in an unprecedented manner, broke ranks and publicly questioned the leadership of Chief Justice of India . The grievances of esteemed judges over allocation of cases or other issues further showcased the necessity to implement judicial reforms thus improving the  transparency and accountability . There is no doubt that the judiciary is in dire need of speedy and effective reforms, ranging from appointing of judges, to instituting a transparent and non-partisan structure.

                                   In the eyes of common man, Judiciary has yet not lost its prestige. People still believe that when the walls of establishment becomes deaf , oppressive and arrogant the judiciary is the savior of downtrodden, the conduct and decision making by courts isn’t questioned. The courts are considered final authority and verdicts are respected and believed fair even when decisions are not according to one’s preference. For a vibrant democracy, it is essential and prudent to have a well oiled judicial system for speedy justice and swift disposal of cases so that faith over judiciary remains unchallenged.