Voices heard at Cochabamba

"We are gathered here because the so-called developed countries didn't meet their obligation of establishing substantial commitments to cutting greenhouse gas emissions in Copenhagen," Morales said. "If those countries had respected the Kyoto Protocol and had agreed to substantially reduce the emissions inside their borders, this conference wouldn't be necessary."

"We are not part of the problem, we are part of the solution, we the indigenous peoples, the peasant communities, so let us offer you the solution because we are the ones suffering," said Justo Cruz, an Aymara indigenous leader. "Ordinary people are never allowed to talk, yet we are the ones paying the price for what the rich are doing to our planet, to our Mother Earth."

"It is not that it wasn't important what governments were discussing in Copenhagen but the problem is that it was discussed from a corporate perspective and here we are discussing it from an indigenous perspective we have a great deal of respect for Mother Earth, we have a direct accountability to her, something that developed nations seem not to have", says Vanessa Inarunekia, a Taino indigenous woman from Puerto Rico. "Human beings cannot survive without Mother Earth; Mother Earth can survive without us," she said.

Domingo Lechon, climate justice co-ordinator from Friends of the Earth Mexico, said: "Cochabamba represents a unique opportunity for popular demands to be adopted by governments. We will use this new people's agenda as a rallying call to mobilise movements of affected peoples, indigenous peoples, peasant farmers, trade unions and women to dismantle corporate power and force our governments into action."

All eyes on Cochabamba

World People's Summit on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth, the alternative climate change summit, will be starting in Cochabamba, Bolivia, from tomorrow. Evo Morales the president of Bolivia (incidentally the first indigenous head of state) has initiated this summit. The main focus of the summit would be “Structural Change for Environment”. It be recalled that last year the UN general assembly approved Morales initiative of launching the International Mother Earth Day every 22nd of April to protect the rights of the Andean divinity, Pachamama (Mother Earth), and of "all living beings". Also the symbolism of the city Cochabamba shouldn’t be lost. Almost a decade back people of this city fought attempts to privatize water. The organizers have attempted an inclusive forum and invited all 192 member states and indigenous communities, civil society (unlike Copenhagen). About 15,000 people are expected, including representatives from 100 governments and 10 heads of state.

The growing synergies between an increasingly powerful global grassroots movement for climate justice and small but increasingly vocal states seeking people inspired alternative proposals is sought to be consolidated. These movements for climate justice represent an important alternative path to face the climate crisis.

The summit is intended to give voice to the world's poorest people, those most affected by climate change, and to make governments more aware of their plight. The main goal is to present draft proposals to the UN climate meeting due to be held in Mexico later this year.

Morales will also use the meeting to announce what could be the world's largest referendum, with up to 2 billion people being asked to vote on ways out of the climate crisis. Bolivia wants to create a UN charter of rights and to draft an action plan to set up an International Climate Justice Tribunal (this blogger is extremely excited about this plan. It definitely is the time for ICJT)

Says Quispean, an Aymara indigenous leader, who is attending the summit "According to some analysis, about 80% of the world's pollution comes from developed nations and harms, mostly, developing nations. So we feel we have to do something, we must be heard, we must be compensated". This blogger would read 'developed nations' as consumption and wasteful culture of societies (and individuals) wherever located.

"Bolivia's positioning on environmental issues provides a beacon of hope which we encourage other governments and local authorities to follow. Despite being economically challenged, Bolivia has rightfully and bravely stood up to the divide-and-rule tactics that have been deployed by rich industrialized countries,” said Nnimmo Bassey, chair of Friends of the Earth International.

For more on this summit please visit http://pwccc.wordpress.com/

Dealing with the Naxals (or the Maoists)

This blogger has been reading lots of reactions on the Net with regard to recent happening in Dantewada and so on. The problem with reactions in the net is that views are unedited (and so they can write such vicious things…it’s not about this issue it’s about anything around, nationally and internationally. There seems to be so much venom in the world that I have crossed the stage of nausea to amazement. Although majority of netizens do indulge in trash there are some amazing people and thought provoking views. The reason why reading these can be quite fulfilling), the views do get polarized most of the times. Forget netizens even in the parliament as also around the country there seem to be no single solution. BJP and CPM seem to be the only set of people who have no qualms about how to deal with Naxals. “Eliminate them” “sanitize the region” are some of the kind of words used. For a moment one would mistake it for punch line of some cockroach spray in the market.

The issue is no doubt complicated. I guess 60years on we have reached a tipping point, something radical has to be included and institutionalized in the understanding of development. Development may be about revenue generated for few and economic indicators for many but unless it is equitable and sustainable it will lead to these situations. Most importantly poor and marginalised cannot be taken for granted; the world has changed quite drastically in recent times. Medieval methods may not work. In recent times world seem to be evaluating other nations in terms of economic clout which in turn is being defined by “growth rate” like GDP, export, consumption pattern, industrial production and so on. This in turn leads to employment generation, comfort and consumption. Now that puts pressure on the governments, they are forced to maintain these “growth rate” and make the nation investment friendly. Impetus seems to be on short term measures and benefits.

There seems to be a vicious cycle that the world has got into. And unless an immediate effort not taken this blogger doesn’t really know where it will all lead to (I don’t want to sound pessimistic). Inequitable development finally ends with poor getting further marginalised and threatened (unsustainable development leads to environment paying the price). The government is forced to exploit the natural resources (India is one of the largest producers of mineral and ores and the revenue generated goes into billions) and thus the poor too get exploited. It is inbuilt in such systems. There can be pressure groups that protest for poor, for environment, but at the end of the day government will have to show the “growth rate” (indeed the policy makers were proud that India was able to maintain steady growth despite financial crisis effecting the world). Increasing chasms in the societies around the world is now turning to surrealism. The incredibly rich and incredibly poor looks as if are aliens and the world is getting polarized not only at material level but at the level of incredulity. So malls are so overstocked with food and children die of malnutrition. Since I travel a lot the sights/experiences in recent times have severely shaken my senses, it wasn’t so acute and rampant a decade back. This not to deny the fact that more people have benefited materially in recent times around the country than few decades back, the symbols of prosperity is widespread.

Sometime back the French set up a committee to replace these definitions of development (members included Stiglitz and Sen) they don’t seem to have succeeded. If the world has to exist for market then we are really in for something nasty, the affects are getting compounded at an exponential rate (to start with: the whole idea of some brilliant people working to create amazing products and then leaving it to cretins to sell it assuming that the buyers-that is society- consist of juveniles is in itself incredibly rotten). There is a fake world being created that live on exaggerations and perceptions. Seeing societies as potential customers, seeing the world as market…these are the worldview that seems to have started to dominate the understanding in recent times. They are the people who seem to be influencing policy makers. Frankly I find it difficult to blame the politicians…they too are victims of this vicious cycle. This blogger requests the world community to come out with a system, or indicators that balances this vicious nature of market onslaught. It is having a devastating affect in poorer societies.

Indian government (and this true for most developing societies) will have to put high premium on natural resources and products arising from these. The socio-cultural cost is heavy and should be included. Steve jobs and Bill gates (to take some popular examples) are billionaires because of their ideas, skills and talents. But when you look at rich people in developing societies most seem to be rich because of natural resources (that also includes “property developers” -they were the ones who were behind SEZs), they are necessarily the product of corruption and nepotism, it’s about manipulations. Not denying that it does require talent!. The companies that make money exploiting natural resources will have to pay back to society. It is criminal lack on the part of successive governments that these have been kept as lucrative ventures, it is about rampant corruption. This the main reason why big industrialists over the decades have shifted to these easy opportunities instead of keeping themselves competitive by pumping money into R&D and so on (compare this with countries like Japan, Germany or Korea). Many of these millionaires have become like mafia and with this easy money have developed enormous political clout -take the case of Karnataka the place this blogger is based. It is an extension of feudalism that is being supported and perpetrated by economy driven corrupt system. So Bill Gates will spend his millions on philanthropy while Bellary brothers will make obscene display to temples and even have the audacity to threaten the elected government. This is the difference. The problem is some get huge money without going through the process thus are still primitive. Market seems to encourage these atavisms, the caveman’s primitive instinct to acquire. Latest technologies are used as aids to perpetuate these. Bellary brothers (they are only a small example, there are hundreds and thousands of them) know how lucky they are. Luck here is not providential. It’s about exploiting nature, corrupting people. Now you multiple this situations few thousand times and you will understand why there are Naxals and Maoists in places rich in natural resources, and why poor people live in mineral rich land get poorer. Add to this consumption oriented middle class and their hypocrisies. And then the free media to serve them.

To solve the issue of naxalism needs compassion. Compassion doesn’t come in short term packages they come from understanding livelihood needs and challenges people face. Tribals wouldn’t have deviated to Maoists if they had choices. This blogger expects government to deal with the violent element in the region severely (not to expect criminal elements in the groups is a mistake) but in the meantime open a channel for dialogue without any preconditions. There could be peace groups created through intellectuals/tribal activists/respected people from the region (like for instance ULFA issue was sought to be mitigated with help of likes of Indira Goswami and so on). This will have to be dealt innovatively.

What’s happening in Dantewada?

So many CRPF personnel killed with impunity by Naxals, we all keep hearing about landmine explosions on regular basis for last many years but the number of deaths this time is shocking. This blogger like most Indians expects the government to take stringent action to deal with this menace. There cannot be any question of tolerating violence whatever the grievance. This kind of massacre shouldn’t happen again. This is a terrible loss.

This blogger had been to Bastar few times (they have unique way of celebrating dushera festival…how I loved being part of it), that was many years back. Those days this menace was not very apparent. South part of Chattisgarh is quite a backward place that does lack basic amenities and tribals are exploited though I found them amazingly talented (they make quaint pieces of metal work). I had some wonderful time here.

Government will have to decide whether they are going to play CEO or represent the voice of the people. As we all agree investment opportunities for business to function and therefore society to prosper is important part of development. But whether it should lead to exploitation of people and short term gains for few? Elected representatives shouldn’t become tools in the hands of cunning exploiters.

This blogger when he covered the exploitative nature of carbonated colored water companies and how they are becoming threat to local community was expecting immediate laws to prevent these (and yes I spent substantial amount of money, time and effort) . But the power that be took it lightly (crude woman turd whom I sent these--well at that point blogs were not created otherwise why would I be bothered about this woman-- got busy in her PR to work out her small little life. Amazing!). If this is how they deal with situation wherein people protest and the government turns blind eye what do you expect? What kind of development is this?. How can exploitative companies use natural resources like this and make huge profit at the expense of common people. Extrapolate few hundred times this you know what is happening in backward places in India.

This blogger also need to repeat that Union Ministers are supposed to represent the nation and not TV channels (that is not only nepotism but criminal waste of money spent on them). India is not USA, even in US they have government spokesperson who speaks to media. India is not about Delhi or Mumbai it is about more than billion people but when you have all the officials hoarding in state capitals then it is clear they may not have much understanding of reality. You take the statistics of Union Ministers of last few decades (that includes Congress, BJP and so on) you will find a substantial numbers are based in Delhi!!

That however doesn't deny the fact that Mr.Chidambaram is quite a competent and astute minister.

Making Education a Fundamental Right

Wonder why it took so long? I recall during a Jan Sunwayi on education a Supreme Court lawyer on a question as to why education is not a fundamental right mentioned that it already is by the interpretation of ruling by the Supreme Court and went on to quote the ruling. But that really doesn’t answer the question, I thought, it need be done by the legislature and should be enshrined in the Constitution. Denying education is denying basic human right therefore formally declaring it as a fundamental right puts onus on all the citizens (doesn’t necessarily mean state is abdicating, it indeed is consolidation of intent). The blogger is quite excited about enforcing inclusive education (or community education as Kothari commission put it), this is something long overdue, and it was mischievous and serious irresponsibility on the part of successive governments not to implement these.

Learn it from Kendriya Vidyalayas: This blogger is proud to be alumni of Kendriya Vidyalaya (or central schools), except the first few years I have done all my schooling in KVs across the country. It was an amazing experience. The best part was the class consisted children from all strata of society so you have a boy whose father is a lance naik to a girl whose father is a brigadier and the class teacher could be wife of a General!! (incidentally I always found myself in the middle of things!). Not only that you have people from different region of the country right from Tamilians to Assamese to Himachalis!. So lunch time it was not rare to taste food that you haven’t tasted before. Though the socio-regional milieu was incredible the teaching was patchy (but overwhelmingly better compared to other schools), I even recall an English teacher who taught my class for almost three years without actually speaking any English, she taught English in Hindi!!. There were schools where teachers who gave children ‘games period’ or prefer dozing in class wherein they were supposed to teach (but nobody was complaining and we really had some great fun).

There were some incredible teachers too, I distinctly remember the physics teacher when I was in 8^th or 9^th standard whose husband was part of Antarctica mission, she really taught well with lots illustrations and pictures. Then there were teachers who preferred taking class under the tree than inside the classroom or under sun during winters (the best part of cantonments are there is always lots of open space, big playground and trees -must say Bangalore is being saved by cantonments) which really was great. In one school we even had personal garden for each class and we were supposed to maintain it (as part of SUPW classes), isn’t that incredible. Infact I came to know about the tools used for gardening (extend that to agriculture) like kurfi, fawda…names of plants in hindi as also words like kyari and so on. KVs are also known for instilling sense of discipline and they really took these very seriously, even checking whether the shoes are polished and asking to show the socks!!. Studying in KVs was incredible. There was this song we were taught about the greatness of KVs: bharat ka swarnim gaurav kendriya vidyalaya layega. takshashila nalanda ka itihaas lot kar ayega (KVs will bring back the golden age of India it will bring in the history of takshashila and nalanda)

Post script: in the last blog I wrote about the Bengali editor who lived in my neighborhood, there were many interesting characters. I recall an elderly man who lived below my floor in another part of Karol bagh, now this man was staying alone and had some property dispute with his family or something like that, he was also cheated by the bank he had worked and so every time I visited him he kept repeating the same case with file number and so on. He was amazingly sharp man. Incidentally he was a malayali and so would treat me with tea and some south Indian savories. Why am I writing about him here is that he wrote a book in Sanskrit shlokas that was on Narasimha Rao’s corruption. A copy of this book of shlokas on corruption can be found in Sahitya Akademi library (Delhi)under the name Mukundan. It is an unique piece of work!

Oye Nazrul kaha ja raha hai?

This was how my neighbor in one of the congested places in Karol Bagh (delhi), I used to stay many years back, addressed me everytime I crossed his path. He was a middle aged Bengali who was an editor of some small magazine- that really didn’t sell much, though it contained heavy porn stuff. He invited me many times to his one room flat finally one evening I dropped into his shack, smell of mustard oil wafted through the room. The man loved poetry and had grand plans for himself but somehow things didn’t work out for him so ended up editing seedy magazines. His wife children were in Bengal and he was insistent on not bringing them to Delhi “they shouldn’t know what I do”. Now this man said I looked like Nazrul Islam he showed excitement and was quite astonished when i told him i was not a bengali!!. He read Nazrul’s poems loudly, there was fervency and passion in his voice when he read those lines that seem so poignant to his surrounding. He liked me a lot though I avoided him and when he knew that I too scribble few lines here and there he tried to encourage “poetry is life long”. In retrospect I think I reminded him of his youth or something on that line…nothing could explain his genuine excitement every time he saw me. So even if I was across the street he would shout in his thick Bengali accent “oye Nazroool kaha ja raha hai thooo?” to my utmost embarrassment. Now when I am thinking about him as I write these I feel quite sad, I hope he is fine.

I had heard about Kazi Nazrul Islam as part of General Knowledge questions but hadn’t really read so went to the library and sat down and yes try to locate his pictures I had shade of him alright- atleast the way I looked in 1997-98. Nazrul Islam was an exciting discovery….

more about it in bird’s blog (go to the link)

Getting into the heart of the matter

So how was the world as we know created? How did matter get its mass?...the question we always asked.

The moments after the big bang is being recreated at CERN…opening up some real exciting possibilities. Experiments, verifying the results, studying, understanding …all these take years (it took 20years to construct this largest collider) but I hope I get to know more amazing aspect about the universe in my life time. This is incredible. Lots of things that we know maybe changed or some new spectacular understandings are distinct possibility. We are living in such exciting times.

It's Dubai world cup !!

What a spectacular opening ceremony, one of the best things I have seen for a long time (I did like last year’s opening ceremony too!); I liked that robotic flying falcon. And what a wonderful racecourse (though anticlockwise racing sand track needs bit watching acclimatization for people not used to), not to forget the cameras that covered the race, the top view was nothing short of spectacular, I really haven’t seen that one before. It was wholesome, now that’s the way things should be conducted. When you do something do it well, do it really well (or atleast make an attempt, the turf clubs in India haven’t really innovated much except maybe to increase the prize money). The main race too was exciting, the longer odds nicking it for millions dollar. What amazing sight of some the best horses and jockeys from around the world, it is a symphony. Meydan Dubai is the place to be in.

How about 2020 Olympics in Dubai?

Condoling Kanu Sanyal

Probably one of the greatest leaders India has ever seen. When the bourgeoisie state failed to protect the peasants, he showed what it means to fight back. If only Naxalism had spread all across India in 1950s and 1970s India would have been much egalitarian society. They would have thrown the ‘trickle down’ from Delhi out of window and demanded parity. Even after 60 years of independence the policies are elitist (now they have excuse of market which I am told means development. If you somebody could explain what is development?). Sanyal correctly denounced what has been practiced by Naxals in recent times. There is no place for violence, and I think we all like Sanyal condemn the acts of violence by Naxals. Naxal violence like any forms of violence should be dealt severely.

Sanyal was an amazing man. What is shocking is not Kanu Sanyal died as a broken man what is shocking is people like Pinrayi Vijayan and Budhadeb Bhattacharya are happy people. What is much shocking is Parliament is full of happy people like them. Happy millionaires who have taken up the business of serving people, meaning trickling down their gain. Meaning my family and friends lick more and you lick less. Meaning we stand for freedom so what’s your problem?!!

Coca cola should pay

Coca cola Pepsi (and other exploitative companies) should pay for each drop of water (that is common resource of society) sucked for profit. The exploitative products will have to pay for depleting natural resources and severely impacting the environment. In Plachimada and Pudushery (exploitative plants of Coca cola and Pepsi respectively in kerala) they have severely degraded the ecology of the region. There is a need for legal framework and exemplary punishment given for putting the basic need of society at threat. Coca Pepsi Cola should pay for each penny earned by sucking into what is common resource for ye pyaas hai badi morons in cities. This blogger believes even the bottled water shouldn’t be so cheap, though not really a luxury product but I should pay three to four times for half litre of water. It should be heavily taxed. In the same way products like Coca cola and Pepsi should be much costly, it is a product that is at the expense of misery of common people and serious ecological damage. Take for instance only for the period of 1999 to 2004 the damage is significant says the report “agricultural loss is pegged at Rs 84.16 crore, pollution of water resources is at Rs 62 crore, the cost of providing water is at Rs 20 crore, the damage to health at Rs 30 crore while wage loss and opportunity cost is at Rs 20 crore”. Imagine how much damage they have done over the decades.

Corrupt and feudal nature of society has been exploited by this billion dollar company. This blogger is quite acutely aware of these and has put in the blog visits to many of the sites around the country and reactions of people in the region. These exploitative products have caused nothing but misery. Governments should take serious notes of these at the earliest before the damage is irreversible. This blogger sincerely hopes enlightened leaders of Kerala provide (as always…Jai ho to that!!) an example and path to the entire country on these matters. Either Coca Cola Pepsi and other exploitative products pay or move out.

In the meantime Coca-Cola has continued to operate its bottling plant in Kala Dera (in Jaipur) even as the area has been declared a drought area last summer and the groundwater levels are falling sharply, leaving the largely agrarian community with severely restricted access to water. Data obtained by the India Resource Center from the Central Groundwater Board, a government agency, confirm that groundwater levels in Kala Dera fell precipitously again – a drop of 4.29 meters (14 feet) in just one year between August 2008 and August 2009, from 30.83 meters below ground level to 35.12 meters respectively. In the nine years prior to Coca-Cola’s bottling operations in Kala Dera, groundwater levels fell just 3 meters. In the nine years since Coca-Cola has been operating in Kala Dera, the groundwater levels have dropped 22.36 meters.

There are protests around the country but the “rare unanimity” among the leaders in the Parliament on these matters cannot be expected. Any guesses?!!.

Black presidents and women MPs do not alone mean equality and justice

This excerpts from an article by Garry Young in Guardian newspaper (http://www.guardian.co.uk) titled "Black presidents and women MPs do not alone mean equality and justice" (emphasis mine)

“I think that case could be made, but it is not the argument I'm making here. The fact that the first black president is presiding over deepening racial disparities is just one of the more potent illustrations of how the relationship between identity and electoral representation has become untethered from broader social, political or economic advances and rendered purely symbolic. The corporate model of diversity, which seeks to look different and act the same, has firmly stamped its imprimatur on a kind of politics that owes more to Benetton ads than black advancement. Where we used to seek equal opportunities, we have now become satisfied with photo opportunities – a fact that satisfies some liberals, annoys most conservatives and does little, if anything, for the lives of those whose interests are ostensibly being championed”.

He writes later “This is not just true for race. India's upper house last week passed a bill to reserve a third of all legislative seats for women. Given that India ranks 99th in the world for female representation, this would make a significant difference to the Indian parliament if it becomes law. The prime minister, Manmohan Singh, described the vote as a "historic step forward toward emancipation of Indian womanhood".

Not necessarily. There is no absolute causal link between gender representation and gender equality. Six of the countries that rank in the top 20 for women's representation are also in the top 20 for per capita rapes. Meanwhile, a global gender gap index, compiled by the World Economic Forum, which assesses how countries distribute resources and opportunities between the sexes, reveals glaring discrepancies. Angola and Nepal, which stand 10th and 17th respectively in terms of representation, are 106th and 110th in terms of equality. Ireland and Sri Lanka, which rank eighth and 16th respectively for equality are 87th and 125th for representation. In 2008, two female party leaders locked horns in elections in Bangladesh, producing the second female prime minster for the country in a decade. According to the WEF, gender inequality in Bangladesh is bad (it is 94th) and getting relatively worse (in 2008 it was 90th)”.

To read the entire article readers may visit the Guardian Newspaper website

Great verdict by Delhi HC

Permanent commission of women in the army is a great step forward. Wonder what took it so long?!!. I recall this issue being raised by women Army officers i happen to interview for a magazine (incidentally on the occasion of women's day) many years back. Extremely glad about this positive step.

Also happy to know that elitist Women's bill is facing tremendous opposition in the Parliament and outside it.

Why this belligerence?

They have been trying to push the Women’s bill for 14 years now and despite protest seem to come back with same document. Why this belligerence? Why can’t it be changed to suit the reality of this nation? This blogger strongly prefers the bottom- top model. Women who have done exceptional work at the panchayats and municipalities should have their voice protected and represented at the national level. The present bill doesn’t serve the purpose of majority of people in this country nor does it reflect their reality. Only women with proven credential of grass root political involvement can represent the gender reality and therefore their input is significant. The bill must safeguard/represent this section. Common people mustn’t be forced to choose what is not their reality. Lack of electoral reforms has seen to that the reality of nation is not being reflected, women’s bill in present form is going to perpetuate this inequality.

The UNDP Report released yesterday paints a bleak picture for this region in terms of gender discrimination. Incidentally south Asia does have no dearth of women at the top of political leadership. Please understand elitist representation is not going to change discrimination. This blogger had raised the issue of gender reservation in bureaucracy as these have direct impact on functioning, as also these go through a process and therefore cannot be misused for family and friends. These safeguards are important.

Note: despite high level of human development index, socio-political awareness, higher sex ratio, has not seen any significant political representation of women in Kerala (there is also sham of matriarchy which was nothing but control of patriarchal property through multipartner woman -squatter exploitation essentially prostitution-pimp relation). The Congress and Communists have consistently scuttled any gender political parity.

Needed electoral reforms at the earliest

The vested interests have seen to that electoral reforms were neglected over the decades. Last few years business-politics nexus has reached a level that is unprecedented, politicians have become emissary of business interest in the name of economic development. Money driven market media and their increasing influence among the policy makers has seen to a creation of a world that has reduced the realities of people into talking shops. Symbolism and perceptions are the way issues are tackled. It is as if majority of people and their problems have stopped to exist, even the issue of price rise is a focus when the middle class in cities feel the pinch (to take an example why middlemen in agriculture continue to exploit farmers and consumers alike and nothing could be done against them till now…why no ‘rare unanimity’ on these matters?). Our PM being a true economist refuses to come out of his dream world of GDPs.

It has made it difficult for common people to assert their rights. In 1950s and 60s money for fighting elections was not much of necessity as they had influence that was outcome of skewed social structure-a product of cultural-historical reasons, that denied the majority. The present parliament is a reflection of remnant feudalism that reasserts itself with money and family connections. They have bought the votes. The electoral system has failed the people. It is also about business interests, a nexus that seems to be getting institutionalized in the name of economic development. This parliament doesn’t reflect the reality of this nation. It reflects and accentuates the bias that people face. It is about money and nepotism. The present parliament is a joke on people. Take for instance more than 20 MPs are ex student of elite institution based in Delhi (St. Stephens). That is like representing many times over the entire population of people in north east!!. This is what the present Lok Sabha is all about. It is by product of flawed system.

The lack of electoral reforms and inability of election commission to prevent influence of money has led to this situation. Mr. Moily (apart from other things he also is our Law Minster) makes statements like ‘about mother love’ (that is something market media loves) and related crap. What has he done to initiate judicial reforms? Lakhs and lakhs of cases are pending in the court, many poor people languish in the jail as under trials. Cases take ages and people are frustrated with the system. Laws are archaic (some even existing for over a century, probably as a tribute to colonial British) What has he or any law minister done over the years?.

What is also not intriguing is the role of market media (which carries entrenched business interests), otherwise quite vociferous against ‘reservations and quotas’ they seem to have taken it as crusade. They know where the lick is. Also woman’s empowerment has a glow to it that has international ramification that other forms of ‘reservation’ lacks. It is about “we are the good people” in framework that west understands. Never mind social realities are different.

I want to give an example here that is very pertinent: few days back I was channel surfing and came across an interview with Najma Heptullah. I actually don’t know much about her so thought of spending some time listening to what she had to say. She is one of the major politicians with an advantage of ‘muslim’ name (and could have even become the President of this country. But our woman saw more lick in BJP so left Congress, these people don’t have much of ideology to right home about and when you are too long in ‘national’ politics you tend to live in small holes in Delhi and manipulate for big lick). She was telling the interviewer how children have become smart these days and that her grand daughter calls her on phone and request different brands of jewels (she mentioned few brands…I hope the company concerned will take note and may arrange for her election funding). The woman quite shamelessly even added that she told her grand daughter you got to marry someone rich to buy these. I didn’t listen after that, it made me cringe. It is unbelievable that such uncouth people were in important position. These are the kind of “woman” “muslim” “liberal” leaders. They know these reference points to create positive images and nowadays it is so easy to create tags for oneself (this also equally true for male leaders. There are PR agencies working in street corners). They don’t even seem to have basic ethical context (any home across the country will try to rectify the child, not the least the crude understanding of “smartness”)

So as said earlier (and crudely) replacing dicks with cunts is no empowerment. The fight in the parliament is basically about this. It is not about gender empowerment nor is it about common people. The fight in the parliament is about family and friends. The bill in the present form should be prevented by whatever means.

So much money and time spent on these jokes sickens me.

Did India really won freedom in 1947?

Indian parliament has been divided by interest groups, narrow agenda that there has been rarely any agreement on basic issues that plague the nation. This ‘rare unanimity’ on women’s bill clearly is not for any egalitarian reason (we clearly don’t live in that age), it is an indication or shall we say realization of benefits. We are back to sixties when all spheres of society were dominated by certain section, some of them actively participated in freedom struggle but the benefits of ‘freedom’ never really trickled down, that were accrued by a very minor section. The socio-cultural elite were able to capitalize the political freedom. And instead of initiating revolutionary social policies they played safe and accentuated the divisions (lack of land reform is just an example), looked for short term benefits. The initial phase of the national building did see some astute leaders who took decisions on providing stability but they were found to be woefully incapable to take bold decision that brought in egalitarian changes in social sphere thus the benefits of freedom was denied or restricted to majority of people. Understand this Gandhi (we all acknowledge his greatness) wouldn’t have even fraction of his following during 30s and 40s if he was a dalit or a tribal, I guess that is the easiest fact. Western people need to look at the struggle of blacks in America that is the closest comparison here (in case they are following the events here. It is not as simple it looks)

The reason why the lower strata have been able to assert itself was realizations of gain through political consolidation of identities that were being accrued by elites for long. This awakening took many decades and education as also economic security did play a major role. The reason why caste politics did became vicious, as also loosing grounds by mainstream political parties.

The ‘rare unanimity’ among politicians in parliament is that attempt to regain the lost space by elite in the last few decades. We are back to sixties. The rise of market media and money power has seen to a situation that huge economic clout is needed to even contest elections. Will there ever be any ‘rare unanimity’ on electoral reforms?. I doubt it. Let us get this right there is a serious gender discrimination at the middle and in particular the lower end of the society but the lack of political representation is very much because majority of women in this country lack socio-economic freedom, this also because of lack of basic education which has to do with lopsided policies that catered to elite education (it is same as lack of basic medical facility for majority while the country has billions rupees spent on specialty hospital that is of course inaccessible to most in this country).

Clearly the benefits of women’s reservation will definitely be accrued by elite section in urban and rural India, not only because of lack of economic clout but even lacking basic skills required to comprehend the nuances of manipulative politics. Clearly a sincere and competent women panchayat leader will not have enough clout to compete.

Women’s bill is hardly about women, it is about insidious nature of politics that is being practiced in this nation. It is about political gain and mainstream political parties (as also parties run by family) clearly stand to gain. Why was there never ‘rare unanimity’ on land reforms?. Why never any ‘rare unanimity’ in last many decades to improve education system in particular in rural India? Why no ‘rare unanimity’ to reform police forces despite commissions and recommendations over the decades? . The list is long. When it comes to common people it seems they have only lip service. The thing about symbolic gesture is that symbols are created from ‘people among us’ and others are expected watch this happening.

Women’s bill in the present form is dangerous and anti constitutional, it accentuates elitism and therefore a very regressive step. It will take the nation back to sixties wherein a minority section has the means to represent majority. It’s like this: in last few year golf seem to have captured the imagination of elite section. It has absolutely nothing to do with lack or non lack of competence in this game or that majority of people even know about this game. It is about money, even to play this game require substantial amount of money. That means majority of people in this country won’t even be anywhere near this game. So the competition is among few thousand people in a nation of billion. And this minor section will now represent the pride of the country, clearly their good is never good enough (centuries of inbreeding has produced some amazingly incompetent people, good at manipulation though- the reason why in India everything gets manipulated for short term gains. It has become a tradition. Even the best of people after initial laurels get into the business of small time manipulation, it is about capitalizing on the gains rather than striving for being better. Indian democracy seems to be about manipulation and not representation. Market has only institutionalized these. I find these very amazing).

This blogger hopes that women’s bill in the present form never gets the approval. It is a long procedure and I hope they are only positioning for spoils. Women’s empowerment need to start at the grassroot level. It has to be bottom to top and not vice versa as has been practiced for decades (if not centuries) for the benefit of few . Otherwise it is going to be another joke played on common people.

It doesn’t need an Einstein to understand what brought Congress, BJP, Communists, family run political parties and market media together it clearly is not gender issues.

Women’s reservation bill should be resisted

This blogger has written this earlier but the issue is back again. Women’s reservation bill in the present form is undemocratic and elitist to say the least. It will be a regressive step and therefore all right minded people should fiercely resist it. Sonia Gandhi’s enthusiasm on this matter is dangerously misplaced. All the aspect of this bill has been discussed in and out of the parliament many times so this blogger doesn’t want to get into it but some interesting observation is worth noting.

In the last decade or two people from the lower strata of the society have started to assert their right and refuse to elect people from elite section to represent them. Mayawati is a spectacular example of this. There are many leaders from lower strata as also some tribal leaders too, lack of space for leaders to grow among tribals by mainstream political parties over the years is one of the reasons for it to be hijacked by Maoists. Even the leaders who emerge get easily corrupted for favors on billion dollar natural resource (that is run by outsiders). The issue of corruption is all pervasive, and secondly lack of redistributive justice and policies have seen to that most political leaders from this section lack the economic clout that has become so important these days.

The national parties whether Congress or BJP or the Communists have strong element of feudalism in their structure. You just have to look at the socio-economic background of the entrenched groups in these parties to get a clear picture. In recent time their hold over the masses has been slipping. Women’s reservation will therefore help them regain that hold by pushing their family and friends. This is an uneven battle and issues of gender are being manipulated to serve their narrow end. The divide in the Parliament and outside reflect this reality. It is not surprising that most mainstream political parties are excited about this, they know thier benefit.

The power of money has been well documented in the recent elections, most of our MPs are millionaires (hows that for a country with 1/3^rd having no access to next meal!!) and yes there is strong social context to benefits of prosperity. There is rural urban divide too.

One needs to just look at the enthusiasm of market media to be cautious. Clearly this bill is going to benefit their section, growing cynicism towards political class also need to be put into this context. Probably I am saying this umpteenth time: many in media are as corrupt, irresponsible and greedy as worst of us can be. Return of elitism will hugely help urban based media. Already you see favoritism shown by government towards one media over other. Home Minister (of India, of course...also note that the Union home Secretary is specially concerned giving live feed to each TV channel separately during any crisis) could be seen in TV channels most of the time with more regularity than exploding bombs . Junior ministers are complaining they don’t have work. If this is a joke I am not able to understand. I as any other citizen of this country find these extremely alarming.

Women’s bill will have to have strong safeguards against misuse and benefits accrued by elite section (this has been the tragedy of this nation). This blogger is not a supporter of caste based reservation that is like replacing A with B. The bill must favor women who have proven track record of having worked at the grassroot decision making, meaning they should be members of Panchayaths or municipalities for a minimum period (to prevent misuse, this need to be objective). Increasing the reservation to 50% has been an amazing step (we need to thank Bihar- not Brinda Karat party ruling Bengal- for this initiative).

If women’s bill is attempted to be passed in the present form it is an affront to Indian democracy and insult on its people. Sadly money power has seen a feudalist nature of parliament formation and therefore a very genuine threat that it could be passed. I hope this is severely resisted and all attempts made to block it.

To put it crudely replacing dicks with cunts is no gender parity (that is aggressive western model, India has its unique problems) nor does it solve gender issues. Further if there is less representation that is the nature of society we live in has to be build from grassroot level. This blogger doesn’t think there is any significant gender discrimination in elite section nor are they uniquely qualified to understand problems of millions of women at the grassroot level. Even men in the elite section may understand problems as much as women in Juhu or Malabar hills (weekend visit to slums may not help much except maybe ‘discovering’ that there are people who don’t own car or ac and still are surviving!. It may influence the west, which is how it is positioned but we know what it is all about)

Women’s bill in the present form is seriously flawed and is nothing but symbolism at the expense of democracy- that indeed seems to be the only voice of millions of marginalised Indians who queue up every year in large numbers expecting some change in their godforsaken life. If any attempts are made to tamper, it will have to be done with utmost caution. Women’s empowerment sounds good but it has to be genuine attempt to bring parity and sensitive lawmakers. I don’t think the present bill does any justice.

PS: talking of dick and cunt. There is this girl, an artist, whom I knew many years back, she was more keen on installation work than painting and was quite outspoken. She once said to me “the difference between man and woman is that woman has got it pushed in what man has hanging out!” and added “they call it dick and cunt”. She probably was mildly drunk but she made lots of sense. Her works include being photographed with balls inside her T shirt!!. While the guy whom she stayed with expertised in covering his middle finger with saffron colored cloth and pushing it out his pant zip, photographing and then titling it “saffron dick”. He distributed that to everyone around. Presto we have all the making of liberal intellectual or maybe he is already one wonder how I missed it!.

Isn't there a case for stop funding Amnesty International?

Amnesty International seems to be affected by British arrogance (it’s quite natural being headquartered in London), it has lost its plot. Either dimwits who are running this organization (it is mix of lack of conscience and armchair world view or it is most likely that they are trying to add some excitement to their pretentious sick life) should be asked to quit or the people who volunteer money to these should stop it at the earliest. Amnesty international has erred quite badly and should rectify themselves immediately; they are accused of lacking sensitivity and application of basic intelligence, that is also quite natural with people who exist in theoretical world. I feel sorry for that gentle soul Peter Benenson. It need be added here that Amnesty International has done some wonderful work since it was created, therefore it is important that they have clarity on what exactly they are supposed to be doing, less verbal dexterity and more compassion would be good beginning. World needs them.

As mentioned in the earlier blog British arrogance is a threat to the world. This country should be declared as supporter/sponsor of terrorist and should therefore be put under watch list

Also visit www.human-rights-for-all.org

This a copy of "Global Petition to Amnesty International: Restoring the Integrity of Human Rights". Please visit the site "http://www.human-rights-for-all.org/spip.php?article15" to sign the petition and support, it is important all the readers of this blog do this now (emphasis mine).

Global Petition to Amnesty International: Restoring the Integrity of Human Rights
Saturday 13 February 2010

As organisations and individuals who stand for and support the universality of human rights, we have noted with concern the suspension of Gita Sahgal, Head of the Gender Unit at the International Secretariat of Amnesty International in London, for questioning Amnesty International’s partnership with individuals whose politics towards the Taliban are ambiguous.

We come from communities that recognize and appreciate the work of Amnesty International in defending human rights and women’s rights around the world. Many of us work closely with Amnesty International in their campaigns at various levels.

We believe that Gita Sahgal has raised a fundamental point of principle which is “about the importance of the human rights movement maintaining an objective distance from groups and ideas that are committed to systematic discrimination”.

This issue of principle is critical at the present moment, with the United States led “War on Terror” leading to the suspension of human rights and increased surveillance over individuals and the body politic. Ironically, the language of human rights and human rights defenders is being taken over by the US/NATO alliance in its efforts to legitimise a re-born imperialism. Equally disturbingly, this language is also being hijacked by organizations that espouse extremist and violent forms of identity-based politics. The space for a position that challenges both these is shrinking, and human rights are becoming hostage to broader authoritarian political agendas, whether from states or communities.

In this context, it is crucial for human rights defenders and organisations to clearly define principles and core values that are non-negotiable. Our commitment to countering, among others, Islamophobia, racism, misogyny and xenophobia should at no time blur our recognition of the authoritarian, often fascist, social and political agendas of some of the groups that suffer human rights abuse at the hands of the big powers.

The broader issue of principle which we raise here, is one which concerns all of us as human rights defenders from different parts of the world. Many of us who work to defend human rights in the context of conflict and terrorism know the importance of maintaining a clear and visible distance from potential partners and allies when there is any doubt about their commitment to human rights. Given the circumstances in which questions regarding the partnership with Cageprisoners appear to have been raised, we feel that Amnesty International should have refrained from providing them with a platform. It should have been possible for Amnesty International to campaign against the fundamental human rights abuses that have occurred at Guantanamo and elsewhere without making alliances that compromise Amnesty International’s core values, just as other human rights organisations have done.

History has repeatedly shown us that anti-democratic organisations can and do manipulate information and their own self-representation for narrow political advantage. In any situation of ambiguity, we feel that the benefit of doubt should have been given to the expert staff members of Amnesty International. We feel that in this instance there has been a lack of respect for the opinions expressed by Gita Sahgal, who is a senior member of staff, and a critical failure of internal democratic functioning at Amnesty’s International Secretariat.

What is needed is democratic debate, internally as well as in the public sphere, on the human rights principles that should guide Amnesty International and all of us in determining our alliances. We have to ensure that the partnerships we form are true to the core human rights values of equality and universality. Our accountability in this area, internally as well as externally, to all our diverse constituencies, cannot be put at risk. We need a rigorous examination of potential partners. Given the complex situations we work in, what is needed is open debate, not a censoring and closure of discussion on these important issues. Shifting the debate and turning this into a discussion about ‘Othering’ and ‘demonisation of Guantanamo prisoners’ is merely obscuring the real issues at stake. It puts at risk the work that Amnesty International is attempting to do in Afghanistan and other areas. Unfortunately, it also fails to answer the very serious questions that have been posed to which we are also seeking answers.

In the present context of ‘constructive engagement’ with the Taliban, as proposed at the recent Conference on Afghanistan in London, it is our obligation to ensure that we do not barter away the human rights of minorities and of women for ‘peace’. There are enough recent examples of such attempts which show that these deals are a chimera and do not result in either peace or security. Whatever the nature of ‘engagement’ with authoritarian groups, and whatever partnerships and alliances we enter into with individuals or organisations involved in such ‘engagement’, the positive conditionalities and checks based on human rights, which are universal and indivisible, must remain central and non-negotiable for human rights organizations and defenders.

We call on Amnesty International to clearly and publicly affirm its commitment to the above in all areas of its work; and to demonstrate its obligation to make itself publicly accountable, as it has so often demanded of others.

We extend our solidarity and support to Gita Sahgal, who is well known and widely respected for her principled activism on human rights internationally, for her courageous stand in raising this issue within and outside Amnesty International.

Drafted and initiated by:

• Dr. Amrita Chhachhi, Women, Gender and Development Program, Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, member Kartini Asia Network of Women/Gender Studies
• Sara Hossain, Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh
• Sunila Abeysekera, INFORM Human Rights Documentation Centre, Sri Lanka