Retired Cabinet Secretary as a property developer

As mentioned earlier, Indian bureaucrats are the most insensitive sort of people (we don’t really blame them they have been trained in the colonial outfit, squatters are known to excel in these nuances). This fellow, TSR Subramanian, was a cabinet secretary, which ofcourse goes on to say what kind people end up at the top position. Since then he has been active in the TV studios (another of crude occupation, which again, some do quite well, even if we cringe) and so our man has finally got something to lick on, so is back from oblivion of retirement to serve the nation, ofcourse! He has taken up where Kasturirangan left, the henchmen are back as stooges of exploitative corporate.  Indian corporates (with some very rare exceptions) are suckers to government doles and expertise in ransacking natural resources. Read this mail I got the other day, and you will see the joke that bureaucrats play in the name of people. The fact that likes of TSR Subramanian are retired senior most bureaucrats makes these devious acts compelling as also template of exploitation that ‘follows all procedures’. Read the way they use the 'procedures' to circumvent the issue, you will know how pliable bureaucrat (most likely reason he ended up as Cabinet Secretary) with devious politicians and exploitative corporates work out development agenda...     

High Level Committee of Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change walks out of Public Consultation in Bangalore

The High Level Committee headed by Mr. T. S. R. Subramanian, former Union Cabinet Secretary, constituted by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change to review environment, pollution control and forest conservation laws, invited the public at large for a consultation between 12 and 1.30 pm today (27^th September) at Vikas Soudha, the high security office complex of the Government of Karnataka. Advertisements to this effect had been issued by the Karnataka Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment in various newspapers on 21^st September 2014, followed up by various press releases inviting the public to interact with the Committee. 

When various individuals and representatives of public interest environmental and social action groups turned up for the meeting, the police prevented their entry at the gates. It was only following a spot protest that the police consented to allow them to participate in the consultation. Despite this indignifying experience, all who gathered proceeded to the meeting hall with the intent of engaging with the High Level Committee.

The meeting commenced with introductory remarks by the Chairperson Mr. Subramanian. Broadly, he shared that the intent of the Committee was to hear views from across India on the type and nature of changes that were required in the environmental and forest protection laws. He stated that the Committee had the mandate of the Government to propose necessary changes that would help improve the quality of life and environment. But he said the need to ensure develop was primary, as the country was very poor (over 80% were poor he claimed) and thereby it is found essential to streamline environmental clearance processes that thwarted growth. Mr. Subramanian also shared that it was a matter of concern to the Government that several development projects were getting mired in litigation on environmental grounds, leading to needless delays. Concluding his introductory remarks he shared that the Committee is not in any manner guided by the Ministry and their recommendatory report would be submitted to the Union Government. The Committee's proceeding, he clarified, were not open to the public, unless the committee decided to engage with the public. Responding to a question, Mr. Subramanian said that nothing that was submitted to the Committee would be shared with anybody, and that only the report would be submitted to the Government. Mr. Subramanian also said that the Ministry never proposed a public consultation exercise, but he had suggested this should take place.

Mr. K. N. Bhat, Senior Advocate and a member of the Committee, shared that there were a variety of submissions the Committee had received and each of this would be considered. He aired that environment and development should go side by side and the objectives of the laws if not found sufficient to address current needs, need for their review exists. The industry in particular, he said, had raised concerns over delays in environmental and forest clearances when the Committee met with them.

On these introductory notes Mr. Subramanian asked the members of the public to suggest changes to the existing environmental law framework. Officials assisting the Committee did not provide any rationale for the Ministry proposing changes to existing laws. The Committee also did not have any procedure, excepting online submissions of opinions on the Ministry's website (limited to 1000 words).

When the turn of the public came, a submission was made by the Karnataka Planters Association about procedural difficulties in securing forest clearance and conforming with pollution control norms, and sought amendments for the benefit of plantations. Thereafter, Mr. A. C. F. Anand, an RTI Activist, suggested that all environmental laws must be translated so that it would be understood by all and thus the compliance rates improved.

Speaking next, Mr. Leo F. Saldanha of Environment Support Group requested the Committee to address the basis for its functioning, and whether the TOR constituting the Committee was sufficient for such a massive and onerous task that involved fundamentally reviewing all environmental laws that were intricately linked to Right to Life, Clean Environment and Livelihoods. He sought to know what it meant, as is main TOR, “"(t)o recommend specific amendments needed in each of these Acts so as to bring them in line with current requirements to meet objectives". 

Mr. Subramanian responded that neither he nor any other members of the Committee were influenced by the TOR in any manner and that they worked per their own understanding of the mandate given to them by the Government. But when Saldanha pressed to know how a Committee consisting of high ranking former civil servants, a former Judge and a Senior Advocate could at all have agreed to such vague terms, Mr. Subramanian reacted dismissively. He claimed that this was a non-substantive issue and sought to move on to hear others. Saldanha argued that it is disturbing that Mr. Subramanian unilaterally rules a legitimate concern over vague and weak TORs as being of trivial concern, when, in fact, it would have been fit and proper for the Committee to have first explained in the interest of public accountability and transparency how they found the terms rationale and acceptable to them. And in case the terms were acceptable, then the High Level Committee, unshackled as it were by the bureaucratic norms of the Ministry, could have provided a clear note on the nature of the reforms being considered and also explicated on the procedure of consulting and receiving criticisms from various sectors, peoples, regions, geographies, etc.

 Vinay Sreenivasa of Alternative Law Forum submitted that the process by which the Committee was conducting the consultation was rather opaque. The vague TOR and the fact that the Committee was constituted by a Government that sought to belittle the importance of the National Wildlife Board and rush pet projects through the clearance mechanism, seemed to suggest the entire exercise appeared to be merely ritualistic. Ms. Aruna Chandrasekhar of Amnesty International - India sought to know what specific amendments were being proposed or demanded by industry/corporate sectors, and requested the Committee put it all out. But Mr. Subramanian waved away this request too.

Prof. Puttuswamy wanted to know how a High Level Committee sought to improve environmental laws when notifications of Ministry were being issued to dilute the laws. To which Mr. Subramanian responded saying he is not a “Postman” for the Ministry. Ms. Priti Rao, meanwhile, asked for decentralised solid waste management. Mr. Vijayan Menon shared that even though he was not an official, he had walked into the Committee's immediately preceding engagement with Government officials where a clear set of amendments were being proposed. He expressed surprise that this presentation was not being made for the benefit of the general public.

Ms. Bhargavi Rao of Environment Support Group wanted to know how law could be reformed when forest officials are unaware of biodiversity protection laws that had been passed over two decades ago and asserted that this rushed exercise in reviewing environmental laws had all the trappings of making light of people's fundamental rights and concerns. Justice A. K. Srivatsav (Retd. Judge of the Delhi High Court) and a Member of the High Level Committee stated at this juncture that the public must have confidence in a Committee in which a senior retired Judge is a member. By which time Mr. Subramanian had remarked several times that the public was wasting the Committee's time and there was no point continuing with this procedure. Several who had gathered protested such an assessment by the Chairman of the High Level Committee. Mr. Srinivas of Mavallipura sought to speak, saying he represents a community impacted by mal-development and waste dumping in his village, and he too was brushed aside.

At this point, Mr. Subramanian got up and said “We will end the joke here!” and walked out. He was followed by the rest of the Committee. 

When Mr. Subramanian walked out, it was 1 pm. Members of the common public who had travelled great distances to engage with the Committee protested Mr. Subramanian taking them for granted and dismissing their views as of trivial concern. They demanded that the Committee return to hear the public and as advertised remained in the Hall till 1.30 pm. Neither did the High Level Committee return, nor did any official of the Ministry of Environment and Forests or Karnataka Environment Department come back to explain to the public why the High Level Committee had behaved in this manner. In fact, throughout the engagement with the public, not one Karnataka Government official was present in the Hall.

The undersigned are deeply disturbed by the manner in which the T. S. R. Subramanian headed High Level Committee has treated this public consultation process. The undersigned demand that the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change call off this exercise as it has all the markings of being a ritual exercise. In its place the undersigned demand that the Ministry must constitute a Committee that has a clear rationale for reform and Terms of Reference that are democratic, consultative and transparent. In particular, the following demands are made:

1.      Environment Ministry must first come out with a White Paper discussing the nature of the reforms that it proposes in environmental, forest conservation and pollution control laws.

2.      On the basis of such a Paper, an accessible Committee must be constituted that would hear peoples responses across the biologically, culturally and linguistically diverse country and also from various sectors equally.

3.      The membership of the Committee should be so constituted that it would reflect diverse concerns and sectos, and in particular ensure that members conversant with tribal and human rights, environmental management, conservation biologists, biodiversity, risk assessment, planning, etc., and not merely ex-bureaucrats or members of the legal fraternity were included Particularly important is the need to ensure there is adequate representation of women on the High Level Committee, which presently is constituted only of men.

4.      The process of the consultation to be followed has to be meaningful and conform with Principle of Prior and Informed Consent, even if this is not a consenting process.

5.      The timeline for the Consultation mechanism for such a critical review has to be reasonable as laws sought to amended, or tweaked, fundamentally affect theRight to Life and Livelihoods, and Right to Clean Environment.

6.      The entire process has to be transparent, all meetings must be recorded publicly, none of the deliberations must be in camera (as it appears to be the case now), and all proceedings, submissions, minutes and reports must be in the public domain.

7.      Adequate facilities must be made to ensure that anyone interested can participated with dignity and without being inhibited by language or geographical location. To ensure this, the process must be devolved by enlisting the support of State and Local Governments.

Signatories:

Mr. Leo Saldanha; Environment Support Group, leo@esgindia.org. Cell: 9448377403

Mr. Vinay Sreenivasa; Alternative Law Forum. Cell: 9880595032

Ms. Bhargavi Rao; Environment Support Group; bhargavi@esgindia.org Cell: 9448377401

Ms. Aarthi Sridhar; Dakshin Foundation, aarthi77@gmail.com. Cell: 9900113216

Mr. Vijayan Menon; menonvij@gmail.com

Mr. Davis Thomas; Environment Support Group; davis@esgindia.org. Cell: 9036180914

Ms. Swapna; sapna.sb@gmail.com

Ms. Priti Rao; priti007@yahoo.com

Ms. Padma Ashok; Save Tiger, padmaashok@gmail.com

Mr. Ashok Hallur; ashokhallur@gmail.com

dinnil@gmail.com

Mr. Rajeev Mankotia; rmanikoth@gmail.com

Mr. Sandesh Udyawar; sandeshudyawar@gmail.com

Ms. Marianne Manuel; Dakshin Foundation, marianne.manuel88@gmail.com

Ms. Shivani Shah; Greenpeace; shivani.shah@greenpeace.org

Mr. Sohan Pavulari; sohan_pavuluri@yahoo.com

Ms. Sangeetha Kadur; sangeetha.kadur@gmail.com

Mr. Bhaskar Bhatt; muggymach3@basejumper.com

Mr. Rohan Kini; rohan.kini@gmail.com

Mr. K.N. Somashekar; cmd_vilinfra@rediffmail.com

Mr. A.C.F. Anand; acfanand@gmail.com

Ms. Shashikala Iyer; Environment Support Group; shashi@esgindia.org

Mr. Leon Louis; Environment Support Group; leon@esgindia.org

Mr. Mallesh K.R; Environment Support Group; mallesh@esgindia.org

Mr. Prashanth; Environment Support Group; prashanth@esgindia.org

Where is Dara Shikoh’s tomb?

It is very sad that most will not know this. He lies unattended, neglected and forgotten…

Dara Shikoh undoubtedly was the most beloved prince of the Mughal period of the subcontinent, and it remains matter of intense debate as to how the subcontinent would been influenced if he, instead of Aurungzeb, was coronated. Aurungzeb was a petty fellow, a primitive who created lots of misery for the common people. It’s amazing therefore that you don’t really see much reference of Dara Shikoh in Indian history nor in public memory. Aurungzeb made every attempt to expunge him from the annals of history after he beheaded him, it seems the sickular (yep that’s new word and explains self serving elitist Indian pseudo secularism much better) forces too did the same thing to please the mullahs. So we have roads named after this insignificant man and much detailed elaboration in history textbooks too while Dara Shikoh languishes in some corner. Countries like Pakistan standing on deviant foundation will celebrate Aurungzeb, and they shouldn’t be surprised if the primitive beheaders are knocking the door. Aurungzeb was a degraded fellow whom even his elder sister (Jahanara who herself was much cultured) refers to as a ‘white snake’.

I was deeply anguished to see the tomb of Dara Shikoh at the precincts of much maintained and celebrated Humayun tomb. Not many know that this rather deliberately understated tomb –that stand in contrast to grand Humayun tomb, with no marble flower embroidery so on, is of Dara Shikoh. It is left dissected where the head is, probably to indicate that he was beheaded. Much ‘beautification’ has been done in and around Humayun’s tomb, even Agha Khan foundation chipping in (Agha Khan’s money pot incidentally is the product of royal-feudal entitlement reasons which could be traced to exploitation, a more sensitive government would have appropriated the property and declared it as national asset, the likes of Agha Khan &Co may not even find employment in call centre). There is no mention of Dara Shikoh anywhere, they have successfully carried out mullah’s worldview by denying Dara Shikoh his rightful place. Barbarian Aurungzeb beheaded Dara Shikoh while sickular India beheaded him from any form of decency. How is this society any different from barbarous past?

The picture herein is of Dara Shikoh’s tomb as also from a play on Dara Shikoh that i happen to see sometime back (wherein you see him discussing subtleties of philosophy while the arm guard is impatient for him to take up the role of ruthless soldier).    

English efficient engineers: we have already discussed the inefficient Indian bureaucracy and their English driven excellence that this country has to suffer. It is shocking that in careers that seek high level of technical competence there too we have this nonsense of English (as definition of competence). Indian Engineering Service (IES) exams that seeks to recruit engineers in government departments is conducted by UPSC (its inefficiency is too well known). They have a paper for English related skills carrying 100marks!! In a highly competitive exam this makes a significant difference. The bias is evident. I was travelling in a second class train compartment on an overnight journey and had got the Upper seat. It so happened that the fan was quite near and whenever I got up I risked hitting my head on the metal mesh that covered it. What made the matter worse was that these were pointed and jagged out (as you see in the picture). The worst did happen, I banged my head twice against this metal, as I got in a hurry to get up on approaching stations, getting bleeding wounds (not serious though). They could have easily seen this and designed a curved casing, it needs a minimal effort. What matters is attitude and intent, they just couldn’t place themselves in the shoes of the passengers. Clearly English skills trained excellence lacks basic understanding and something very necessary called empathy. Ever wondered why this high paid bureaucrats (and technocrats) with immense power are also quite incompetent and corrupt. Why English skill of engineers checked is beyond me!! It’s time to throw out these pointers of elitist colonial hangovers which is being fed as signs of competence. 

Thank you Pranji...

I am quite saddened to hear about Pranji’s demise. The character he created defined much of our childhood. Chacha Chaudhary, Sabu, Pinki, Billoo so on became quite a rage and I recall reading these keeping between the textbooks in schools or while doing homework…the nostalgia of time gone by…Lotpot, Champak, Nandan, later Twinkle…the list is long. Unfortunately for me one of the family friend convinced that these should be read in English as it will improve English skills, and henceforth they shifted these to English. I lost the interest, as it didn’t carry the fun that came from reading it in Hindi, furthermore it didn’t have any exchange value (that is bartering for other comics with kids around), as nobody wanted English comics.  

What was amazing about the man was that he created these characters when he faced stiff competition from syndicated well established international brands like Phantom, Mandrake, Superman so on and marketed it himself. Truly a great man. I was checking how the nation has honoured him, and find that he was ignored. He deserved atleast a Padma award, but I realize the manipulative political leaders and their cronies have consistently degraded these awards as also other institutions. Pranji’s biggest award is his readers whose childhood he cared for. 

English based apartheid must be stopped

It is matter of horror that Indians are being subjected to these kinds of atrocities. For centuries it was Sanskrit language that determined everything and anything indeed the existence of not only this life but hereafter. And as is the tradition, the temple squatter’s club rules saw to it that most people are denied even this, and therefore usurped the warped understanding of competence. The mediocre society has moved with the framework intact (with Gandhian charm, I must add) and has now firmly hinged on English. This language is now end and all. Knowing this language is therefore defining moment of competence, nuances herein is how brilliance gets defined.  Colonial Britain cultivated the elite from the natives in their mold (sometimes referred to as Macaulay’s bastards), this was done quite judiciously throughout its colonies, they therefore became torchbearer of commonwealth. They emulated rulers and helped them well, one of the conditions while the power was being transferred (sold locally as independence/freedom) was that these structures and interest will be safeguarded. The idea of freedom was therefore quite limited to begin with. Congress leaders, mostly traditional elites, with Gandhian convenience set out to develop the society as they quite stridently adhered to squatter’s framework and maintaining status quo on colonial laws. Macaulay with necessary Marxian angst was how Nehruvian worldview took its root. We still have these anachronisms flirting around us displaying their pedigree with such relish that words like feudal, even racism, falls short. Congress leaders blanketed their ethical vacuum by exalting Gandhi and usurping his supposedly charming attributes while they carried out from what was left by britishers. Even a cursory glance will point out to serious lacunas in the policy framework (that includes law&order, judiciary so on) that sometimes needed only minimal changes. It isn’t surprising that after so many decades of so-called independence things are as if in some time warp, meanwhile painful half hearted incremental input depending on manipulation and exigencies of electoral politics.  It is as if they don’t think people exist and if ever for their convenience or an arrogant self justifying action. Haughtiness of Natwars to Kurshids to Iyers to Digvijays (as also their counterparts in media/judiciary/bureaucrats/liberals/intellectuals) makes words like secularism an abuse, democracy a con act and sensibility a lost cause. These elites with their characteristic flourish systematically degraded the society and remarkably suited it to egalitarian values. So now we have the poignant sight of estranged squatters sizing each as the hindutva forces want to rewrite the texts. People like Batra have ideas of world that are ridiculous to say the least (though i would agree on not extinguishing light during birthday celebration, it makes sense) but pitting these Mahagyans against Marxian and Macaulay doesn’t diminish anything at all. It is the law of nature that ridiculous doesn’t remove ridiculous, indeed it gets consolidated. For last many decades they have carried lots of absolute nonsense as study material as also ideas of competence, despite studies and commissions on the contrary, the education sector has been misused and neglected. The congress culture of chaltha hai status quo, till it boils over, then manipulate some incremental changes. Never face reality always manipulate for short term gains.        

For last many decades one of the most mediocre conceptions has been exalted as ‘steel frame of society’ for this we have to be thankful to colonial power is the revered refrain (ironically they couldn’t even translate ‘steel plant’ into hindi, if you think that is the irony then it not. The irony is that the Chairperson of UPSC still gets to keep his job, despite these shoddy mischievous works) is the bureaucracy. That they have failed quite miserably (with few exceptions) is clear from the big gap in the intent, reality and application of policies, and India’s tragic social indices. Clearly the bureaucrats turned out to be the extension of feudal norms that gained and consolidated from colonial power. Therefore they carried on the Macaulay’s understanding of competence which stood for emasculation and exploitation. In the earlier few decades they were hand in glove with the political boss (who weren’t much different from the colonial boss) as they got along quite well with colonial club rules and impeccable mannerism, in the meanwhile dropping some crumbs here and there as part of social justice.

It is in this context that English gained status as brilliance in action, it filled in the halo in absence of colonial masters (as they left after transfer of power). The interlocutors therefore attributed this to nothing but genius of the language and the spectacular worlds it created, invoking English in itself was an act of excellence. The bureaucrats naturally assumed themselves to be excellent having cleared these excellent criteria. The problem being these excellent people were not quite able to connect to common people and their problems, indeed they never wanted to. In Gandhian conception of things this was seen as problem of the people –they needed to be more understanding in the meanwhile suitably self flagellating sadist, while the exploitative elitizens meddle with the club rules and create hilarious situation for their own conception. Gandhi quite effectively filled up the moral vacuum, so the excellent people apart from English skills also carried sufficient sympathy as trustees. These elitizens coming from squatter’s framework didn’t have much problem dealing with this new deity, few centuries back they were lavishing in the pristine nature of Sanskrit and delving in puerile ‘philosophies’ limited only by their own limitations, shift to English was natural. Not much has changed for common people they moved from one burden to another, as their skills and talents never quite matched up. The society slips into abyss of mediocrity and people suffered wherein the elitizens created new club rules suiting their fancy and hard selling it as competence.

A student must be evaluated in the language he or she is comfortable in as also sensitive to the cultural context and the needs of the society that is the basic requirement for testing any competence. English doesn’t fulfill any of these, on the contrary it creates barriers as also undermines the basic intelligence of the candidate. It seeks to create an alternative elitist world as aspirational therefore by some absurd logic competence. Exams should be conducted in as many languages as possible, a way has to be found to tap in the competence of people otherwise these kind of travesty in the name of selection should be stopped. Indeed do we really need this self perpetuating ‘steel frame’ that is becoming a burden. Also selection process should be conducted by competent people. Incompetence and tardy effort will have to be severely dealt (Recently a Staff Selection Commission exam had a question on height of hindi movie actress?!! The person who created such question should be arrested for dereliction of duty and the system that sustains these should be dismantled). If English is ever used it should be value neutral and the linguistic skill in this language should not be criteria at all. The government should evict itself from English promotion and focus on impacting common people and effectiveness towards society at large. English promotes superficialities and negates innate talent of people and creative needs of society, it imprison their aspirations and cloisters their lives. Government that seeks welfare of the people has no business in promoting or evaluating English skills. It is a travesty. Market may need people who have to fulfill these needs of English driven mediocre world, and they may be please carry on. The government has the duty to create a system that seeks to disincentive English. The common people should have the confidence to deal with the world in their own terms and talent that is how societies develop. The parents as well as teachers shouldn’t feel the need for English. It will save lots of efforts in the wrong direction and focus on the needs of individuals and society. This is where talent happens and innovation becomes norms, and therefore society develops.         

Society has suffered because of these English driven self preserving nonsensical notions and has slipped further into incompetence and mediocrity. Congress to a large extent was immune to these disparities and miseries that it created, as they themselves were part of this exploitative system and negotiating competing sycophancy. English and charming world it created (that also includes cricket) was the reason in itself for their excellence, they surely don’t have to do anything further. And yes they didn’t do anything much. The lopsided development and immense misery created is testament to it.  Indeed rightist elements will see Sanskrit as savior language, as much as liberal elements see English as end all. As mentioned it is fratricidal war of squatters. Their attitude and nuances are same.  Modi as PM is morally duty bound to find a solution that syncs with his life and experiences, of a person who comes from humble background. He shouldn’t be allowed to be co-opted by these clever manipulators who have entrenched themselves in the system and are gnawing from inside.  He is elected to dismantle these interest groups.   

The argument that Chinese and Koreans are learning English is not at all surprisingly, another of the absurdity that emanates from fertile minds of inbred English fed elites. Chinese and Koreans have very strong foundation of their language in the society, their elites come from this framework, therefore are respected as intellectuals. These societies have strong intellectual base and egalitarian foundation –the reason significance given to primary education and health, as also pride in their language and humanistic culture. In such societies English will always remain a subsidiary language that too for the requirement of jobs especially service industry or dealing with English speaking countries. They will use English and not admire and make it a beacon of competence. It can never gain primacy. India on the contrary has an inegalitarian foundation that works on manipulation and entitlement, for the same reason it doesn’t really have the culture of nurturing talent nor tradition of strong intellectual foundation that emanates from and is valued by society. Indeed the word culture is sinister in Indian context. English therefore gains primacy, mediocrity and manipulation becomes norms as people become subsidiary to language. The society becomes market, marketers becomes social reformers. All the while people are readied as consumers, the moneyed will create framework of aspiration achieving this will be excellence. English was meant for Indians to be second fiddle to colonial power now it is to American market, and the pointer it creates becomes aspiration, very judiciously converted into consumers of whatever Americans produce and lifestyle demands. I am not sure whether that is the achievement of paid cronies of the manipulative Indian elite or is it brute power of US, as moron Kurshid says in impeccable English (that has won this mediocre fellow secularism brownie points) ‘some intelligence outside public domain will have to be shared’. Is this dumb fellow for real?    

English cannot be judging criteria at all, and all that deals with it will have to be dismantled. It is shocking that engineering and medical texts are not translated and taught in the language that students are comfortable in. I have written this earlier too, and recall Kapil Sibal (one must be careful of the man who writes atrocious poems, old jungle saying!) even promised. Ramdev in the meanwhile is living an exaggerated life trying quite hard moving from baba to swamiji, his exalted being demands this. He has start to think that he is part of miracle, and landed into entitled role that was waiting for him for the reason of other worldly justice and miraculous providence that only he could achieve, therefore he has ensconced himself in temple squatter’s framework and now delves in intricacies of Sanskrit. Our man is trying to create excellence through Sanskrit in the meanwhile producing zombie like youngsters like the one they create in madrasas –crazily pendulating over holy books and rendering their intellect useless and life meaningless (the onus is now on us to find these zombies jobs, otherwise its discrimination).

The protest against English is eminently needed, and I sincerely hope it spreads to selection process for other exams like IIT, Medical, NDA so on. It should open up a debate that leads to proper understanding of competence and selection processes. Government cannot be dictated by market. Modi government should realize that this section (the vast mass of rural semi urban people, even the urban who are against English elitism) has put faith on him (and not likes of clever manipulators, the lutyen delhi creations without any mass base), they are not looking for any charity but someone who empathize and put in place unbiased selection process that values their talents and cherish their competence. There are some who are speaking on the behalf of BJP making amazingly stupid and elitist statements that makes mockery of student’s agitation. If BJP fails then it is Mr. Modi who fails these spokespersons will vanish in thin air therefore they should be kept in tight check.

There is a need for complete overhauling of the system as also the attitude and ideas on competence. Take for instance the amazingly mediocre fellow who passes out from IIT studying market cherished subject of engineering and then ‘smart’ enough to study at IIM another of market cherished subject which ironical has nothing to do with engineering which he initially started with. Then in a carefully planned absurdity this fellow ends up in some Finance related company making money advising others on money matters, meaning how to save, meaning avoiding tax. Such a colossal waste this moron but this fellow is celebrated as beacon of success by this mediocre society. As you observe his choices were not guided by any desire to learn and explore but acutely tuned to manipulate to earn more, and it isn’t a deal they are able to but nothing much can be expected of them. They are waste, indeed IIT-IIM who are seen as some kind of role models are arguably the dumbest lot I have come across, though I must add they do have interesting anecdotes to share. Sickening. Not surprisingly nor IITs neither IIMs figure anywhere in international scale. If this is what Indian education system is creating then the education itself has to be questioned. They churn money sniffers who constantly seek to make more money, like pigs sniffing for muck, they are no centres of excellence and nothing much is expected. They will not even bother for contexts, forget understanding (therefore innovation) they float from one money pot to another with consummate ease, and celebrated by market and its media. They will never be of any use except amassing pointers of wealth and power. Real education is something else that needs different caliber and outlook that this manipulative society will need much time to understand and cherish. People will have to drop out from the stampede, and they have. You come across these amazing people while travelling, if only Indian education system could produce them, if only india’s selection process could nurture them…then this society has a chance otherwise its back to prime time crap and american sitcoms that glimpses into amazingly irresponsible lives as entertainment. It had to be man Vs food, never thought supine Indian elites couldn't even match this that we have to watch american travesty in place of indian!

This is something serious

Ebola, the most lethal virus yet, is steadily spreading and is now declared an epidemic. The situation is quite grim. Looks like Homo sapiens are in for it; in the meanwhile they kill in Gaza and bring down hapless people travelling in Malaysian airlines. With such vicious humans around Ebola looks a benign presence.