Germany decides to shut down Nuclear Power Plants

Till recently this blogger too used to think that Nuclear energy is relatively safe and efficient. With carbon emission preoccupying our mind the dangers of radioactive radiation and the safety concerns of Nuclear power plant were undermined. Until Fukushima happened. Clearly the radioactive risk is significant. And unlike Chernobyl that was an accident caused by negligence Fukushima’s cause is natural that makes nuclear power plants extremely vulnerable. Despite what nuclear scientists may profess (it is difficult to be neutral here since it is an industry now with competing forces that may not like the truth) the fact is that there isn’t any technology that can neutralise radioactivity. Germany’s decision to shut down its Nuclear Power plants (by 2022) is quite significant since nuclear energy contributes to about quarter of its energy needs. This a lesson for those who seek to see nuclear energy as energy of future. Clearly any source of energy has to be sustainable in the long run, and radioactivity is as much damaging (if not more) as increasing carbon footprint. Angela Merkel said it is a "transformation towards efficient and renewable energies, with all the opportunities that it has, for exports, development, new technologies and jobs”

It is astounding that sustainable source of energy is not given as much importance as was needed till recently, i guess with the world reaching the tipping point (or have we already crossed it) the addiction with hydrocarbons will have to give way to renewable sources. Sun seems to be the answer, not only taping and storing sunlight but the fusion reaction. When i was studying in school there was lots of excitement about nuclear fusion (“to light the whole city with a glass of water”) and superconductivity. Wonder what happened to these?

The world watches brutal repression of people in Syria and Yemen...

The way the regimes in Syria and Yemen have reacted to aspirations of people is shocking to say the least. People in these countries just want to live in dignity, for long rulers in these countries have treated common people with appalling impudence. And when they have come out in the street protesting (must add in remarkable restraint), the regime have chosen to show its contempt through brutal violence. Everyday people are being shot dead, they are massacring at random. It is shocking that international community has not initiated action against these brutal regimes. The UNSC has been blocked by China and Russia, in what seems like a reaction that goes back to cold war period. They seem to be playing to the power structure needs than the aspirations of common people.

Hopefully people of these countries as also other countries specifically countries like Egypt and Tunisia should know what role China and Russia are playing. People around the world should note these responses and decide. China might be economically powerful but if it doesn’t learn to respect and give dignity to people then people around the world should force their governments from dealing with countries like China, at personal level we can even stop buying Chinese products and services. Human rights are not subjective things that are to be decided by few people, this blogger doesn’t understand how an undemocratic authoritarian China is given a veto right in UN. It is also not a coincidence that China has warm relations with repressive regimes around the world (start with Burma and NKorea). This blogger expresses serious concern on the well being of Chinese artist Ai Weiwei as also others who fight for justice. As Confucius once said “Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles”. I have great respect for Chinese people and civilisation (and have written about it in the earlier blogs) but the rulers in China are letting its people down. The world waits for Chinese spring. O what a day that will be!!

defeating the Leftist arrogance in Bengal

it is a reflection of lack of social mobility that most leaders in Bengal belong to same strata of society, a severe indictment of elitism in Bengal communism that stalled and failed to perceive or act on the aspirations of common people. The arrogance came into fore in last few years that they treated common people with disdain (kerala communists are more connected, the same reason why communist rarely have foothold in Tamil Nadu though there is a space and need...people don't trust pretentious elite). Though this blogger has apprehensions about the new government in Bengal but will have to say: this is rebirth of Bengal. Time to push out self serving people and bring in (let's say Bihar model) of social responsibility .

How Americans eliminated Passenger Pigeon

And it is man we eat and man we drink

and man who thickens round us like a stain.
Ice at the polar cap smells of men.

A word, a class, a formula, a use:
that is the rhythm, the cycle we impose.
The sirens sang to us to the ends of the sea,

and changed to us; their voices were our own,
jug-jug to dirty ears in dirtied brine.
Pigeons and angels sang us to the sky

and turned to metal and a dirty need.
The height of sky, the depths of sea we are,
sick with a yellow stain, a fouling dye.

Whatever Being is, that formula,
it dies as we pursue it past the word.
We have not asked the meaning but the use.

What is the use of water when it dims?
The use of air that whines in emptiness?
The use of glass-eyed pigeons caged in glass?

That was an extract from ‘Lament for Passenger Pigeons’ by Australian poet, Judith Wright...

Passenger Pigeon's story is about how American dream can be world's nightmare. These birds were once the most numerous birds on the planet (about 5Billion) they were completely eliminated -from the most ever to zero - in less than a century from the wild by a ruthless campaign of eradication. Though it need be added that Passenger Pigeon’s habitat and foraging needs too were unsustainable in long run, as they ransacked in flocks of millions (John James Audubon writes about how he rode under a sky darkened from horizon to horizon by a cloud of passenger pigeons. He estimated that more than a billion birds had passed over him). But what cannot be denied is that these birds were dealt brutally by early American settlers. Thousands of men worked as professional pigeon hunters, they travelled around the country on the new railroads, searching for nesting grounds. When they found one, they killed all they could. When the birds moved to a new roost, the hunter followed them. They were targeted for meat and were shot for sport, both in the wild and in carnival booths where the docile birds proved easy targets. Their tactics were brutal but efficient, long sticks were used to knock the birds and their young from nests where they were then clubbed as they rained down. Fire and sulphur were used to suffocate the birds as they roosted. Live pigeons with eyes sewn shut were also used as decoys to attract other pigeons (they were called “stools”, hence the phrase “stool pigeon”), shotgun was an ever-popular option. One published account quoted a man who recalled shooting blindly into a tree at night and collecting 18 birds. Migrating flocks provided a steady stream of birds that flew so close that 50 could be brought down with a single blast. When the bounty proved too much for a single man or even a single town to use, hogs were loosed to clean the ground of dead pigeons and helpless chirping squabs. The real onslaught began with the onset of large-scale commercial hunting carried out by well-organised trappers and shippers in order to supply the developing cities on the east coast of the United States with a cheap source of meat. These had significant impact on the population of these pigeons. Read these...

In the summer of 1878, the last large breeding colony of Pigeons arrived near Crooked Lake in Petosky, Michigan. The flock covered 40 square miles and for three months yielded over 50,000 birds a day to hunters. One hunter reportedly killed 3,000,000 of the birds and according to one account earned $60,000–more than $1 million in today’s dollars. All told, between 10 and 15 million birds were dressed, packed for sale, and shipped out of Petoskey that summer. Estimates of the total number slaughtered vary widely but agree that the harvest rate was upwards of 90%. Though moderate-sized colonies nested in Michigan in 1881, the bird was never again spotted in that state after 1889.

In 1896, the last remaining flock of Passenger Pigeons settled down to nest. All 250,000 were exterminated in one day by sportsmen who gathered to kill what was advertised as the last wild flock of the birds. Fully aware of the rarity of the species, a 14-year-old boy in Ohio shot the last wild pigeon in the spring of 1900.
All efforts at breeding in captivity failed. The Passenger Pigeon reproduced slowly, had odd mating habits that prevented crossbreeding, and were seemingly incapable of breeding within their species outside of large colonies. One by one, pigeons in captivity died without producing offspring. Finally on September 1st, 1914 the last Passenger Pigeon fell off her perch and died. Martha had lived to be 29. She was frozen in ice and shipped to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington where she was skinned and stuffed. She remains there on display.

These lines by Syrian poet Al Maari

We laughed; our laughing betrayed scorn.
People on this earth should live in fear.
When man shakes hands with Time, Time crushes
Them like tumblers; little pieces of glass.

God save us from lawyers!!!

Indian lawyers seem to have done exceedingly well they are everywhere specifically where there is power, influence and money to make (not necessarily in that order). Now one would think this as the result of competent judicial system, so much dedication in their work that the lawyers deserve these kind of money and influence. Nothing can be far from truth. Indeed the reason for sorry state of Indian judiciary is in large way the handy work of lawyer community. The better paid seemed to expertise in the tactics of delaying, finding loopholes and so on. It is very clear that the richer the lawyer the more reason to suspect him (there are very less ‘hers’ must say) to be corrupt. In most case the rich and influential use huge amount of money for legal protection of their nefarious activities. They don’t use the service they buy the lawyer. The lawyers are not presenting the case, they are here to scuttle, influence the judge, get adjournment...the reason why they are in demand. This could be substantiated by abysmal conviction rate as also high level of corruption as the guilty go scot free with all kinds of manipulations that money can buy (there seem to be positive change in recent time with pressure from people, media so on). The new challenge here is something called ‘creation of perception’ the market media is adept at these so apart from marketers, political parties seek help from glib talkers...who better than a lawyers-they have years of experience wherein they have got influential at a rate unseen in any other career, while the victims never get to see any justice!. Someone sang this song “it’s a wonderful world”, from lawyer’s perspective nothing could be far from a lie!. An archaic incompetent system producing ‘best’ lawyers who play in millions. Truly incredible

The profusion of lawyers into politics don’t seemed to follow the pattern of student movement and other egalitarian reasons as has been the trend in the early part Indian history (though most belonged to elite section is also not gone unnoticed). The involvement of lawyers in freedom struggle whether it was Gandhiji, Pandit Nehru and many more was to fight the colonial rulers in their own game, it was commitment against injustice. That formed the basis of non violent movement. Gandhiji created a mass movement but the impetus was on fairness-that sought to be codified in law. It formed the basis for a just society. Ideals like liberty, freedom, democracy ...are enshrined in equality. Readers will note that though colonial British had ‘rule of law’ (that some apologists take pride in) but it was meant for whites or was in general term of ‘law and order’ for common people...used for system of exploitation. They had judicial system which didn’t recognise equality!!. The hypocrisy came into fore when at the international level the colonial powers sought to uphold values and rights as they face threat from Hitler. The hypocrisy in Indian leaders too came into fore as they talked about freedom from exploitation so on but at personal and societal level didn’t do much to remove discrimination, indeed many congressmen were aghast that momentum created by Civil Disobedience was being lost in focus on insignificant matters. These could also be seen in terms lack of effort on equitable distribution in particular land reforms.

The racist lawyers of colonial Britain formed the foot soldiers for unjust interpretations of law while the bureaucracy arraigned, ruthless Police implemented these. This system favoured those were in power (broadly the elite), it is a quaint form of exploitation that gives the illusion of deliverance of justice. It’s about giving hope all the while the odds against common people are stacked heavily. This is the ‘steel frame’ they inherited. It is not surprising that the archaic colonial law still exist even after so many years. The reason why there is reluctance in judicial or police reforms by subsequent governments over the years ...it disturbs the applecart of ‘wonderful world’. I am told the present government seem to have taken some initiatives.

The ‘steel frame’ is sustained by the lawyers, if politicians-bureaucrats know the loopholes it is the lawyers who takes it to next level. It is the lawyers who professionalise corruption. It is a severe indictment of lawyers. Further since they are having the details of the sleaze so not only huge payment sometimes the quid pro comes in the forms of position in the party. The number of lawyers in political parties and their influence is staggering. It speaks of the level of corruption. It is also not surprising that lawyers have made this into family business. ‘i mean why would anyone want to leave these high level contacts, goodwill and easy perks to any outsider, so munne ko bhi lawyer bana le the hai!!”. The list of munnas (and munnis) following their father’s footstep and devious methods is rather long. Sometime back Allahabad High Court expressed serious concern on level of nepotism among lawyers. It is a serious indictment on the legal system.

One of my favourite movie happens to be Tarkovsky’s Solaris. Here is a scene where the frustrated scientist says “what has come to us we have started to argue”. The apparition created through illusion by a reactive surrounding (Solaris is rare and significant science fiction movie) retorts “to argue is what makes us human”, ironic statement to be made by something that is not human (was it a veiled reference/ridicule on repressive Soviets? Likely). So we have on the one extreme scientist who see arguments as primitive that shifts attention from objective analysis. The other extreme is Indian lawyers who expertise in convoluting the reality so much so that the fact becomes subjective, truth is matter of perception. With exigencies of politicians and market joining in the mêlée you surely can see what is happening. The spin is freedom of expression!!

some recent facts on corruption

Some recent startling facts that might help the readers to understand why subsequent Governments were vacillating on the issue of corruption, and why Ombudsman is very important (about 140 countries in the world has it). This para taken from BBC website with slight modifications. Also visit http://prsindia.org for more details

• The Union government has not responded to 236 requests to prosecute public servants on corruption-related charges till the end of 2010. The overwhelming majority of these requests -155 or 66% - were pending for more than three months.

• State governments run by different parties have not fared much better. They have not responded to 84 requests till the end of 2010 of which 13 or 15% were pending for more than three months.

• India's Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) is tasked with fighting corruption in the federal government. Between 2005 and 2009, only 6% of the cases in which the agency found corruption were sanctioned for prosecution by the government. The remaining 94% were let off with departmental penalties, some of them minor.

• The powerful Central Bureau Investigation (CBI) is the main investigative agency used by the CVC to probe corruption and misuse of office by government officials. But till the end of 2010, 21% of its key jobs remained vacant, seriously hindering it’s working.

• The criminal justice system is also failing in prosecuting officials charged with corruption. There were nearly 10,000 CBI cases pending in the courts till the end of 2010 - and 23% of these cases had been pending for more than 10 years.

• whistleblowers are facing serious challenge. In 2004, the government empowered the CVC to act on complaints from whistleblowers. Between 2005 and 2009, the CVC received only 1731 complaints from whistleblowers, a paltry annual average of 346.

celebrating 50 years of humans in space!!

On fast

...with venerable Anna Hazare calling up people to take up the recalcitrant Government on the serious issue of corruption and the immediate need for Lokpal (Ombudsmen with real power) this blogger like millions other has decided to go on a single day token fast in support of the demand.

Anna Hazare goes for indefinite fast from April 5th for the creation of Lok Pal...does the Government care?

Kahi pe nigahe kahi pe nishana!

I never could understand cricket diplomacy, a state sponsored extravaganza (very much public money involved) that seem to make the leaders happy. And then with some rich Punjabi types crossing the border the people to people contact also is filled in. It seems to bring the nations closer. This blogger has doubts on it. Blatant jingoism and celebrations are nothing but crudest expressions, very rarely it is positive. I am not against the cricketers they are doing what they are expected to do, that is to play. The exaggeration, gross hype by market, is what is nauseating. It is a rip off at the grandest level. If patriotism is what it is then why not boycott all the products coming in the obnoxious ads (i would like to meet these people who decide to buy car or bike watching these nonsense), they interrupt and take away the charm of the game. That sure is anti national, going by the framework. But then i guess viewers are trained to accept (it’s a Pavlovian thing) this as part of the sport!. Amazing. (Can we have TV Channels without these ads?, I for one don’t mind paying extra to get it out of my vicinity).

Again i have nothing against the sportsperson. Sehwag is fun to watch so are Tendulkar/Yuvraj and so on, Dhoni is a good captain. Sidhu is an absolutely hilarious masterpiece. The hype is what has killed its spirit, it has become a market tool and everybody involved are sellers. The game is reduced to absurdity. The much hyped Indo-Pak match was quite boring, indeed i didn’t watch much and unlike what the market want us to believe about “billion people heart beating” there were lots of people on the streets of Bangalore who had other things to do than glued to TV. Many people do watch cricket, it will be an insult to call most. It is a small trick called branding, it helps in getting sponsors and therefore money. The match was amazingly mediocre by any standards, what was sustaining it was jingoism and constant reminder by the market media that something big was happening (i take very strong exception to Hindi commentator saying “Umar gul ki bathi gul”, even at the level of viewers too it seems to bring in the worst form of behaviour against the opponent. To expect minimum code of conduct is asking for too much...well the mob has decided to celebrate they seem to have found the reason for their living). Every selling pitch in last few weeks is trying to capitalise on this frenzy by few million people, so whether it is deodorant or bike it has something to do with cricket and therefore patriotism. It seems patriotism has become the refugee of scoundrels out to make some fast money.

The tax exemption to one of the richest sporting body in the world is sickening (already the State is spending a fortune by providing security and so on), wonder what does the Election Commission thinks about it? It is a shame. How about PHCs in small villages for 45crores? (or will we have to depend on Joys of givings!). There is a debate on the BPL line but what cannot be disputed is that substantial numbers of people in this country are poor. This kind of largesse is an insult, it is an avoidable populism. Where they couldn’t even build storage for tons rotting food grains, and then nobody less than the PM finds it necessary to refute the SC on why not to distribute this to poor than let it rot. “India” winning “world cup” is not going to change common people's life (they might be able to sell few more products or most likely convert their black money) but what is sure is that it will add to nuisance value. This blogger wishes good luck to the players and may the better team wins. In the meantime god save us from the market hype.

Undermining UN

Para 4 of the resolution passed by UNSC on 17th March 2011 reads like this
“Authorizes Member States that have notified the Secretary-General, acting nationally or through regional organizations or arrangements, and acting in cooperation with the Secretary-General, to take all necessary measures, notwithstanding paragraph 9 of resolution 1970 (2011), to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, including Benghazi, while excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory, and requests the Member States concerned to inform the Secretary-General immediately of the measures they take pursuant to the authorization conferred by this paragraph which shall be immediately reported to the Security Council”

While Nato is an “intergovernmental military alliance based on the North Atlantic Treaty” (which was signed on 4 April 1949). It is an alliance that constitutes a system of “collective defence whereby its member states agree to mutual defense in response to an attack by any external party”. Now one may say lots of things have changed since cold war but the fact remains Nato is a military organization and nowhere in the organizational charter this is disputed or rectified (interestingly the Nato website shows picture of lovers stretching themselves in park with sunbird buzzing around and a swaying flower under the heading “political and military alliance”!!. What a charming PR work. That of course doesn’t change any reality!!).

This blogger strongly thinks that UNPKF has been undermined by western power for last many decades to further their narrow goals. Libya is a case study. The handing of full control to Nato in Libya is condemnable since the resolution clearly states "acting in cooperation with the Secretary-General" (meaning UN). This blogger would like to see how this ends and what benefits they (meaning countries controlling Nato) accrue in this conflict. Also these actions in Libya will have cascading affect in the region, so what is essentially people’s fight against repressive regime could slip into chaos with competing forces getting emboldened. This blogger sincerely hopes that the aspirations of people of Libya is fulfilled, they have all the freedom and dignity, and there is peace in the region.

The nonsense called Wikileaks: this blogger as a citizen of this country finds it shameful that so much importance is being given by political parties to small talks by US officials (that too under Mister Bush). The argument seems to be they have no reason to lie! O sure the charm of unadulterated truth. If Wikileaks have any ethical consideration they should put the complete text (of what is essentially loads of crap passed on as 'news') on the Net rather than passing it on to small timers for piece meal and selective release. Commercial reasons of market media are understandable but it’s not our problem. In the meantime this blogger as a common person who could be located anywhere in India requests the political parties/leaders to ignore these nonsenses and get on with the business of important issues that plague the nation. Cash-for-vote is an important problem and I think we all know there is something wrong. What we need is institutional checks (like LokPal) not polarizing self serving 'debates'

Why UN matters so very much

UN happens to be the only multilateral international body that provides a forum for all the nations across the world. The significance of UN (as also the agencies that come under it) is tremendous in international affairs. Unfortunately it does suffer from lacunas, particularly on the question of permanent members and veto power-colonial vestiges- an anachronism that need be rectified at the earliest. There is also the issue of the mechanism involved in carrying out the resolution passed by UN. Western countries, in particular US, has been undermining the power of UN for last many decades (some positive changes could be seen in recent times). While it was UN Security Council that passed a resolution authorising force to prevent massacre of civilians by regime in Libya, it somehow has became cause celebre of Nato. This is precisely how powerful nations (the capitalism angle of MNCs-we do have precedence-as also the imperialism reminisce is not a coincidence that should be taken lightly. That doesn’t mean a rant akin to likes of Chavez who incidentally has declared himself President for life!. Small tricks to stay in power. What need to be pointed out should be pointed out, that doesn’t make one communist. This blogger for one doesn’t live in polarised world). That Nato has no business to meddle, and has no authority is being conveniently ignored. Nato is a military organization of few countries, its presence in Libya is not only reprehensible but illegal. The need of the hour is to strengthen UN Peace Keeping Force. In the fast changing world the role of UN is crucial and every effort need be made to strengthen it. UN Secretary General has a huge responsibility and is not expected to play second fiddle to powerful nations.

United Nation Commission for Protecting the Democratic Rights and Liberty of People: every human being has individual rights that are sacrosanct in his/her being, referred to as Human rights but the political dimension of this right is also equally important. The right to choose their representatives, freedom for individual & collective expression, liberty to exchange views, thoughts and ideas so on. There are no two definitions for these as also no society is less prepared or more prepared for democracy. The transparency in governance and flow of information has key influences on important issues (like for instance the matters related to Environment or the way Development gets defined...it provides necessary restraint to free market). The events in Cairo as also what is unfolding in North Africa are spectacular examples that points to the plain truth that the aspirations of people cannot be contained/curtailed by state authority. Technology has empowered people as never before. The selfless commitments of bright youngsters and common people in Egypt cannot be forgotten. It is an inspiration for all the people across the world for generations to come. This blogger therefore strongly suggests that UN set up something on the line suggested above and may this blogger recommend that it be Headquartered at Cairo (wonder why these international organisations are located in West?). The events in Cairo have to be recognised and consolidated/institutionalized into formal organisation. The onus is on UN and international community.

The bombing of Libya

It is shocking that capitalist-imperialist forces (read US-Britain-France) are using the UN sanction to reiterate their agenda. There is even talk of Nato! What is Nato? What authority does it have over international affair?(or are we assuming world is around North Atlantic..which seems to be the case). There are two things here one is the issue of representativeness of UN, wherein former colonial powers still have significant say. They are using UN for their narrow interest. The second is the aspiration of people (in this case Libyans) that was sought to be protected by UN security council is being usurped by international power brokers.

These are the same leaders these powerful countries protected all these years (Blair has some amusing reasons, they even released Lockerbie bomber), the autocrats around the world who squashed all the rights of common people, dealt their predicament brutally and filled their coffer. And when people have started to assert their rights the West is getting into nasty double game. This will have serious repercussions. These countries have no right to bomb a nation, it is a collective decision that has to be used with due caution under a multilateral aegis. Gaddafi is a megalomaniac who could go to any extent to stay in power against the will of majority of Libyans, unfortunately the selfish agenda of West is playing into the hand of Gaddafi. The need is to strengthen the opposition groups and also providing options to coterie around Gaddafi

PS. This increasingly looks like West (read big oil companies) thirst for oil. The wasteful lifestyle of West is now sought to be replicated across the world. The other day I was watching program in TV that showed “best” American eateries, the kind of food that sickens even the sight. Compare that with traditional Indian understanding of balanced diet. Then there is a moron (I guess it is now Man Vs Food) who goes around overeating while audience clap. What kind of people are these? Are they really human being? Secondly why are these programs shown here, don’t Indians have their own way of life? Do Americans see India's (or any other countries) eatery list or way of life? The culture hegemony is a softer part of liberalism (that Indian elite lap it up like a domestic pets). Murdoch I am told is a god who happens to be visiting earth. Democracy is now a fiefdom of West to spread their tentacles and cater their profligate irresponsible living.

Welcome step by UN Security Council

With western countries posturing for the spoils (clearly ‘self interest’ rules diplomacy and with predominating concerns of market this has dangerous repercussions), this blogger had become a skeptic of western humanitarian concerns. Further the threat of fundamentalists (islamists/other forms) to the world is as dangerous as Sarah Palins of the world (and the system that promotes and thrives on these views), at the end of the day people living in stratified field of ‘freedom’ don’t face the threats at immediate level. It is people in the street who have to pay for these polarizing views. The last one hopes is vested interests (in particular American oil mafia-whose major concern is maintaining wasteful lifestyles and therefore profit) fishing in troubled water.

Thankfully the UN has taken steps and an overwhelming desire to see positive changes in Libya is a good sign. But with megalomaniac around escalation of violence is definitely on the card. This looks like long drawn out war with more civilian deaths.

An anecdotal study on nature of MNCs, exploitative products and precious water resource

During the years 2004-2006 i happen to visit many of CocaCola Pepsi plant across the country to document exploitative nature of MNC product that depletes natural resources and cause misery to common people. It also brings into limelight the biased nature of market media (freedom of expression is another sham). During these years Pepsi also got its CEO from India- it was a well thought out plan to influence billion dollar market. Our economist minded PM (whichever fiscal year he was born) is more concerned about GDP and perception of the Western nation towards India, his incompetence (lack of perceptiveness) is bewildering.

The intention of this blog is to bring all the visits into a single space (by the way earlier visits were sent across to Crude woman -the dustbin was working on the “meh kya chatoongi?” framework. It is about exploiting the situation for personal gain, an affliction. It has fixers, exaggerations, trivialization...so on. It took me sometime to understand these miserable people). Liberal values in Indian context is an easy game, it is when the progenies venture from these cozier home ground to the murkier terrain of post liberalism that the claws start to show.

Despite the fact that ground water exploitation by the exploitative products has been well documented there has not been much policy framework to prevent these since years (atleast that is what Mr KJ Joy- Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water conflict in India-told me the other day). It is amazing.

These writings are cut paste from what i wrote many years back, those days i was bit excitable, and is reflected in the style of writing (the readers will have to tolerate it), it’s just the way i was. With age catching up i have become quite sober and restraint, so will not be using the language the way it is used here. So bear with me.

At Kaladera (Rajasthan):
I happen to visit Coca-Cola factory at Kaledera, Rajasthan in 2004 October (this piece was written at that time). It’s around 2hrs travel in local bus from Jaipur to a junction from where one has to catch a jeep, which drops you 2kms from the industrial area where the plant is located. Earlier I read an article in the Times of India at the hotel reception (jaipur) where I was staying. While the print media from Delhi largely ignored the struggle. War for Water is an article, which emblematizes what McMedia and paid news is all about. If you read it carefully you will realise how an event is reported into an opinion for the exploitative product (in this case, it could be Pepsi too) even with a menacing snap of the product "don’t mess". It reports that coca cola has only 2 borewells. While in a letter on 2nd October (irony of the date is not gone unnoticed) boys at coke responds to news report in a newspaper on Kaladera march Sunil Gupta the marketer thug at coke writes that not many people took part in the march as reported. True but it’s much more than what he claims ten times to be exact (it's less considering that around 7000 people are listed as voters) Many people particularly school children were prevented from participating in protest march since the police put "regulatory orders". Many villagers also assert that coke "gifted" cops "crates of coke". Despite all this one member from majority of families did participate as the school teacher said "people are aware now but we cannot do anything we have our own life it’s for the government to take action". I happen to speak to a villager who participated, one main reason was people didn’t want to loose their daily earning. As the chai wallah who did not participate in agitation confirmed "who will pay for the lose of the daily earning? In fact on the day of protest I had more business ". People around here don’t have the luxury for protest march and attending seminars. The boy from coke also clarifies in the letter that its not 2 but 4 borewells "…and generally 2 wells are used in rotation". How sad. One would expect thugs at coke lamenting through streets of kodambakum (why kodambakum forgods sake?why ask me?. Ask those thugs) with soul rending muruga kapathingu we ave onnly two borewells muruga thandava . But no it will not happen. All is well here with 2 borewells !!. They are sucking 80-90 truck full load of carbonated drink in peak months of May and June to dil mange more for McDonald crowd and "modernity" holes. In the photo are group of people with whom I spend nearly an hour near the jeep stand. This motley group which gathered at teashop had farmers, drivers and even a teacher from a local school. Talking to them was a revelation. They have been keeping tag of the movements of vehicles for some time. Surprisingly none of the shop sell cokepepsi !!.
"So have they tasted the thunder?" Yes they have only once "meeta gas pani hai". True.

Further there are enough reports to prove how severe the situation is through ground water depletion, it’s causing an ecological disaster. It’s shocking that when people in the same state are facing drought and while protestors are killed by the police "pani chors" are being protected to satiate ab pyaas hai badi of dimwits and rapist minded.
Thugs at coke have "gifted" borewells to villagers, which is useless as the water table has dipped considerably "in last few years after coke came". In normal language this "gift" is bribe. All the people I met were unanimous that sarpanch was given 10 lakhs rupees. While the MLA was "gifted" with a vehicle- aat lak ki gaddi . In the international level I am aware of many agreement against unethical business practice. For Multibillion Company like cokepepsi few lakhs is no big deal. And in an impoverished and corrupt society most people can be bought. They have bought the media too. It’s no secret. The issue is certainly not local (the cokepepsi anyone drinks in delhi doesn’t come from borewells of greater kailash) and the attempt of these exploitative and untenable products to "win" over local villager will not work. Infact it’s not working. On the government part, coke is given 24hrs of electricity supply while a farmer only 4-5 hours which also is not very regular. And they extended the no objection certificate (NOC) from 300ml bottle to 2lit bottle and 5litres. They extended the arrangement to 2 more years. Money not only speaks but acts too!

The McMedia "reports" that "majority of people feel that coca cola factory has helped the villagers and the factory by and large has not disturbed their lives". So much of feelings here. This definitely conforms to the brief the coke website declares "Local communities have welcomed our business as a good corporate neighbor." Such a dainty paradise. Where angel winged peddlers and marketeers descent with all goodies. Sorry to spoil the fun of our embedded journyboy, ground reality is different. The mood here can be summarized as bitter. Now when I go through the snaps of these people I am reminded of what I read in the old of issue of Time magazine, which I bought from a pavement in Mumbai. Ram Charan a columnist writes in Managing the Best -
" Robert Goizueta, the late longtime CEO of coca cola, proved that there is no such thing as mature business(??!!). His critical insight was an ability to define exactly what business coke was in –a task that is far harder than you think. For instance he taught his executives that when they set goals for market share, they needed to focus on the share of stomach, not the share of carbonated beverage. His adversary was water, not soda. Goizuetta gave real meaning to the word diversity, developing a multinational talent pool."

The magazine also reports “ in 1998 coke did 1billion serving a day in nearly 200 hundred countries and closely tracked its market penetration in each country, measured in per capita serving (highest in Luxemburg, at 453 servings a year. Lowest in Turkmenistan, at one serving a year). Cokes challenger for world brand supremacy is McDonalds but that’s not a bad thing, either. McDonalds sell just one brand of cola: Coke.” Yah nothing bad here. It’s a fair business. Lovely&fair. Yeaaah it surely is "far harder than we think". Of course water is the main adversary and people who drink water are culprit to be targeted.

The man with whom I spend lots of time was sitting in a tea shop very near to the factory (well I had too many cups of tea!!! It’s difficult to carry on conversing otherwise, one might feel imposing on the shop keeper.). He was the person I liked too (the first snap here). He also liked me since I had walked all the way in midsun (well I couldn’t find a vehicle so walked 2 kms, incidentally forgot my cap too!!). He had retired as driver for a 'saheb in delhi'. His approach to the issue was otherworldly sansar ek sagar hai yeha kuch na kuch tho hota hi rahata hai. Bad news for pepsicoke this elderly man doesn’t drink carbonated stuff. Even if we assume he does, his share of stomach will be less. As you can see like many people around here his stomach size is very small. Some are even severely malnourished. No stomach sharing here. So what’s the marketing strategy boss.

His conclusion to discussion was atma ko dukh puhchane walla koi kam nahi karna chahiye. His argument was mostly: if it is wrong why doesn’t the government stop it. He extended it to gutka also which even the shopkeeper agreed. I too always wondered why when they know that plastic is dangerous, when they know that crackers are nuisance, they don’t have laws restricting the use (ofcourse one forgets "learned" unclejis at supreme court have much more enlightened understanding on gutkha. Ab kya bhaishaeb jamai dukhan chala raha hai ab bandh thodi kara sakhte hai so verdicts the supreme judge!!). Every year millions of rupees are spend on ads against crackers (even today’s newspaper carries one by Ministry of environment). School children are gathered. It’s referred to in elite circle as "mass mobilization". The problem here is mobilization is to be done by masses to make the government act and not by government for the people to act!! When anything is irrefutably proved to be wrong then it’s time to restrict, if not stop entirely at one go. They spend money on ads telling us not to misuse electricity. It’s a joke these ads. No middle class ever misuses these basic commodities for the simple reason that they have to pay for it. Few years back where I was staying they didn’t allow even water heater. During winter the house owner (who was 82yr old fellow) got up early morning and stood in front of electricity meter. You switch on something he was there knocking the door. The only people gaining out of these dumb ads are peddlers at the expense of public money.

There is also this contention of "250 illegal soft drink" plants, which seems to be bottling spurious cokepepsi. Maybe but to say that they are using gallons of water will be a joke, further people in this part are not McMinded (feudal definitely). A conservative estimate puts the water extracted in 7 months from March to September 2003 was 1,48,259 cubic meters of water (not to forget the waste produced, and water table dipped to aquafiers around 100 feet). Most cokepepsi guzzlers are tourists. There is a drinking water shortage; access to potable water is a serious issue here. Despite all this it is heartening to note that some places have traditional sarai providing free water to travelers.

Most of the local brands (like kalagoda etc.) have been wiped out. Local brands that have survived are generally by product of systemic reaction like in Ahmedbad I went to a "muslim" shop and saw this writing: Only Arabee drink available here. Just for the heck I asked for pepsi. The waiter and the owner stared me as if I have blurted a sin. This obviously was not in response to exploitative nature of pepsicoke but as hatred to American products. Another local brand sosyo (I hope I got it right) managed to survive. I guess it’s a very old brand since it finds mention in menu at local restaurants. While in Mumbai I found bottled flavored milk (and even 'pure' cow milk, it's bottled as that) doing brisk business. I told this man who was running the shop that one doesn’t get bottled milk in Delhi and he started speaking abuse about dilliwallas, which was a shock I guess I touched some raw nerve there. I didn’t wait to find if it was a habit. In western coast also there is "health" drink made from Kokum which is quite popular but sales no doubt are dwindling.

The strangest thing that I saw at kaledera coke plant was there was no sign of the corporation insignia (in snaps you can see). The only mention is on the wall, which is almost peeled off about the waste management efforts (Another joke which is well documented in kerala). Cokepepsi spend millions of dollars on ads (off course everything from that 2 small borewell. Who’s kidding?) But when it comes to their plant presto they are hiding. This surreptitiousness is not surprising. Thugs have that mindset. As villagers said "pani chor". The only ad in the 3km vicinity is next to where that old man sat near the tea stall 500 meters off the plant which quite appropriately announces Jo chahe ho jaye. Such arrogance. Such blatant exploitation. Scoundrels have come in the form of investment and all the better future for us.

A retailer in pokharan mentioned that police has raided the plants of local brands. The reason it seems was they were manufacturing "substandard product". It was "health hazard" (so cokepepsi Ladies and Gentlemen are torchbearer of standards and healthy life in this part of the world. While Outlookwalle mehtaji will vouch for “within 30minutes instant modernity”! One is feeling very ignorant these days I guess I have to learn lots of things. Probably I need to spend some time with peddlers-for acclimatization, before meeting marketeers.). The retailer also said that the "margin through local brands were better for them. Cokepepsi gave less". So the argument on employment and retailer benefit is also too shallow. Anyway these definitely are not the issue when larger population (and often marginalised) are fighting for right for basic livelihood and food security. It’s about community rights. The ruling of the Kerala High court is notable here. It says that water is the birthright of people. Even if the surface land may belong to individuals, the underground water is a common inheritance of all living beings. All the administrative machinery has a responsibility to protect this invaluable treasure of nature. Thus save the underground water from being exploited and depleted. The government has to redefine the meaning of "investment" in context to exploitative products for not only the present but future generation. Catering to the hedonistic lifestyle of few at the expense of larger impoverished section as also very fragile environment is counterproductive. Threat to basic need very often leads to social crisis. I am sure we have heard about sustainable development in many seminar (I must add most sustainable development seminars have excellent menu!!. Keep it up babus) well its time to practice some of these theories. Now is the time to practice it.

PM Manmohan singh was reported to be unusually ecstatic on hearing Bush winning the election. It’s obviously is a case of “wee bit unhinged". I am told it’s quite a common syndrome in elite circle. Yesterday the PM said in Hague that we will encourage "investment in totality". Will the PM (or any appropriate authority, if he is too busy) care to listen to the voices of common people and take a "hard look" ? The "totality of investment" concept is creating ecological-very soon socio-political problem. Will the government which has been elected to keep the interest of common man stand up and do the needy?. Even though Water is in State List, Parliament has power under Union List (56) to intervene for " law to be expedient in the public interest". Afterall it’s the Union Government that gains through Corporate Tax. Afterall. All after!!!.

At Mehdiganj (Uttar Pradesh)
It was on a very sunny bright morning that I decided to visit Mehndiganj, the site of protest by villagers against Coca Cola plant that has seriously depleted the groundwater of the region like anywhere else where these exploitative products have set up their shops. It is shocking that common people have to pay more for water which is basic needs and survival than these MNCs for luxury product not even consumed by most people of the region (inset photo of Coca cola Pepsi man!!). It is equally shocking that there are no laws to prevent these exploitations. Till recently there was no much concern about land being taken from poor people for ‘development’, many had to sacrifice their life to make the government hear. Thousands of people have recently taken out a march to Delhi so as to force the complacent government to formulate laws. The ‘rising india’ with sensex touching 20000 doesn’t have a land policy (don’t even mention land reforms!! I really would like to know the ginni coefficient of India). And the PM I am told is ‘embarrassed’ over nuclear deal not being passed and the commies are ‘not very embarrassed’… all for the nation sake, the kinds of sacrifice these leaders do!!. There are no concrete laws regarding exploitation of natural resources for profit, it is a non issue when GDP and investments are bench marks of progress.

Pepsi- Coca cola have recently taken up the cause of water harvesting, teaching us mortals on these subtleties of conservation is joke gone too far. Many marketers who have gained from these and other exploitative and demeaning products/ads have also taken up ‘causes’ having fatten themselves, this is a new trend ‘the give back thing’, kind of PR work!!. People are not amused they want stricter laws not patronizing gestures by armchair intellectuals and the city based ‘activists’ with specific aim of stampeding studios and public space or some incentives from the government-it’s about building the clout. What shocks me is why is that people from these backwards region living in abject conditions have not become Naxalites and blown up these exploitative plants, Coca cola Pepsi have no business sucking public water. People in this part of the world have amazing tolerance, it is straining though (It is gladdening that Coca cola is kicked out of plachimada. Hurray for that). There is a need for policy on natural resources particularly water that forms the most basic need and therefore fundamental right. And the policy be very well the Law- transparent and understood by people.

Mehndiganj story is no different. Located at about 20 Kms from ancient city of Varanasi, it is a small fertile village few Kms inside the main road. There is no transportation to the village, I had to hitch hike a two wheeler already occupied by two people, the youngsters were quite glad since I had asked for Nandlal Master. Nandlal Master is a weaver who took up teaching children of the area and has since spearheaded the cause; he is a prominent and respected figure (also coordinator and founder of Lok Samithi. Email is napm_up@yahoo.com) and has also trained many youngsters for employment. After a bumpy ride I was dropped in front of a newly painted modest house. I had expected a elderly if not middle-aged man but Nandlal turned out to be a young man in his twenties, he had too many incidents to relate of how people expected him to be older!!.

Nandlal Master explained that the issue in Mehndiganj is multifold apart from exploitation of groundwater and pollution, there is a case of illegal occupation and evasion of taxes by Coca Cola. The Coca cola plant at Mehndiganj was bought from Parle in 1999, till then the extraction of water was ‘within limits’. After Coca Cola bought this plant it has been withdrawing 5Lakh liters of water per day using heavy duty borewells. According to a study the water table of the region has dropped by as much as 9feet, in a recent study the table has drooped further to 18feet (till 2006). The hand pumps with no or less water has increased from 7% to 43% in last few years. Also read Thanda- Hearted Matlab: Coca Cola in India by Shira Wolf (April 2005), Marching in the spirit of Gandhi –A case study into Gandhian elements of Lok Samithi movement in Mehndiganj (Dana Van Breukelen).

Second is the issue of pollution, the hazardous sludge from the factory has seriously affected the productivity of land in the region, frustrated by lack of accountability by the government agencies the villagers dumped the sludge at UP pollution control board office. Later the test conducted by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has shown it to contain high level of lead (up to 538mg/kg), cadmium (up to 86mg/kg) and chromium (134mg/kg). Here in the photo Mr. Nandlal shows the sludge provided by Coca cola to Pollution board (which the protestors got hold of through RTI, after denied) and how it is different from the sludge they dumped. Coca Cola true to its character did try its best to scuttle the issue. Since then the Coca cola is dumping its waste in a nearby village (bikharipur- I bet this village is inhabited by SCs & other impoverished people, coca cola got its caste card right!!).

Third issue faced here is the illegal occupation of land by Coca Cola. Court has found it guilty and has issued notices to vacate. In 2005 the pradhan of Mehndiganj, Ram Jivan Patel was dismissed by DM of Varanasi for illegally handing over the land to Coca Cola, he was bribed to sign the documents by Coca Cola (lucky fella since in Gangoikondon they killed the panchayat president- of course will never be proved).

Later that day after tea and home made savories, Mahendra a young man who also volunteers for Lok Samithi took me to Coca cola premise on his bike. As I was taking photos the guards warned me of dire consequences. Mahendra kept the engine running so that I could get away. But I decided to confront the burly guard ‘if I have the freedom to take the photos of Rashtrapathi bhavan why can’t this damn factory? Is it holding national secret?”. The guard, poor man, requested not to create problem for him. And so we moved on and I was dropped to the bus stand. No boondh boondh kushi kushi here!!.

Post Script: it is interesting that some metro based NGO (dealing with education) tried to buy Nandlal and his NGO (of course they were shown the door). This is precisely how they function usurping the hard work of common people and their commitment, dedication…and package it for their gain and clout. It is a huge business in cities, adept in their game they work with remarkable dexterity. They sniff for saleable, media attuned, chic issues that also have an international audience. AIDs, even issues of women are elitist to elicit western response, Discriminations in west of 'people like us' ...are trendy issues. Then of course there are those poor people our heart beats for but no, no mudding hands, we drop in for photo op or we could discuss (surely an event- they are even ready to fly to different cities!) them in our sanitized backyard!!. So where is the menu chef?!!

At Plachimada (Kerala):
Last week I visited plachimada (in palakad kerala) Traveling is one real fun. But same not true when it comes to staying in 75Rs per day rooms at seedy lodges. Sometimes it can be really be very dirty and sleep can be nightmare. Previously I used to get skin rashes now my body has become immune to these but bedbugs are one real mess. Visiting plachimada was revealing for me in many ways. I met Mr. Venugopalan of PUCL who actually spearheaded the movement when the residents started facing serious problem, as the coke factory became fully functional. With things deteriorating (stinking water adding to the woes) the local people, majority of whom are tribals (which means marginalized in the majoritarian led political set up, this probably one of the main reason why coke set up its sucking machine here) organized themselves. On April 22, 2002 first peaceful demonstration was held, quite appropriately inaugurated by Ms.C.K.Janu. The first official block was they were asked to vacate the shed constructed, which was taken over by the Police Force. The original site is now Police camp (they gotta save poor people at coke u see who are just trying to suck some water!!). Thousands of people participated in the demonstration many whom were employees of coke!!. So the next thing the coke did was to summarily terminate their service. Around 50 people were asked to leave. These people who lost their job then went in for separate strike. After much dillydallying coke took them back but this time another strategy, and that was massive employment scheme to local people particularly to the main activists in the movement. Boys seem to have taken maslow bit too seriously. As is the case with most theories it is never practical. Most people refused the offer. Now these are not people who have big money or contacts but poor casual labor. Their commitment is admirable. It is a fight for their basic needs. It is fight for survival. And the boys at Coke are facing McGregor's stick!!!. It also to be noted that before the protest the company paid (for 8 hour shift) the labors 60Rs (for men) and 40Rs (for women). This was increased to 100Rs and 80Rs respectively. As you can see the rate for women was almost doubled, a bait since most protester were women. Women are in most cases put in severe pressure due to water shortage. It is also interesting to note that Government of India in November 1999 raised the Minimum wage to 45 Rs from existing 35Rs. If the information I have is true then coke has been violating minimum wages rules. Further what about equal pay for equal work?. Why women are paid less??.

On the 50th day of the protest there was some violence. The protestors dumped the effluent from coke factory which stink like rotting carcass and dumped it at the gates of coke factory( they should have send a packet each to celebrities who come in cokepepsi ads. as also those who gain indirectly from this misery). The police resorted to violence and excessively abusive. They were including women and children were hauled into police vans "like dogs". The protestors showed extreme restraint despite the provocation from the police force. Many people were injured. Since then they have done many marches. The day I went to meet them was 1148 th day of silent non violent protest. It is be noted that most people are daily wages laborers with no financial security. So they sit in the strike by turn as the other go for work. It is now reduced to symbolic presence. Just an hour before Ms. Ajitha the legendray ex-naxalite visited (she is one person I really wanted to meet. I have heard so much about her since childhood that she is more of a mythical character for me!!). As I was interacting with the protestors news came that (ex-MLA Mr. Krishnankutty himself brings the news) that the panchayat has cancelled the license. There was a minor celebration!!. There is also in recent times a divide in the political parties as the protestors want the pepsi factory located few Kms away at puthusheri to be closed. Pepsi factory is in sparsely populated area so the some political party don't see the gain!!!. But nevertheless it is a matter of time before they are closed. Water is a public property and the people have the right to protect their increasingly fragile environment. We have lot to learn from the indigenous way of life. I here point to incredible people: Bishnois. The world needs to know and appreciate these people. They have very beautiful understanding and they are the reason we live. They don't live for us.

The Outlook magazine did some mischief in providing space for trashing their own article by Cokepepsi !! Such is the power of money. Such is the "power" of media. Many others in the "free media" have altogether refused to identify the problem, tabloids are their main news. The henchman here is one Murthyboy who invites the readers to "experience the world class practices implemented (at coke)" . Thanks for the invitation but people not dumb. Water is sucked in and trash is given out. Water is not yours, trash is yours. In that case why they are not adhering to the demands of the panchayat. This is an untenable product. Why not this "world practice" be taken to fields of Sweden or Las Vegas. Why create misery for already impoverished for a luxury product for indulgent?. Why not drill water from chanakya puri or juhu. Outlook walle Mehtaji even has the audacity to come in a TV channel and say things like "…I don't know why we Indians give too much importance to western media like Time magazine??…they are just laughing their way to bank….". Sure Mehtaji and what has any of the "popular mainstream " magazine and newspaper got to do with realities of this nation except maybe as fringe news and peripheral alien world existence (this is not to deny that there are some incredible columnists in all the magazines and newspaper i have come across. Why don't they come together and create something new!!). I am sure Mehtaji has heard the word: Power. Trinngg. Trinngg. Rings the bell!!!. Ditto. Time magazine is powerful than you can ever be. As a national magazine is more powerful than any local magazine can be. Simple as that. So stop whining and "behave professionally". Also I as a common man do not have much faith in a system that is the product of socio-historical reason. The power structure here is not necessarily on competence. The publishers will definitely not allow any disturbing the applecart over kamai. For the same reason I have more faith in international media. So I use the globalized means to express my anguish as is experienced by majority of people in this nation. Fashion parades do have its space but not the kind it is given (don't know if there is no much media glare how people like crude woman spent her precious time!!). In this context I am ecstatic about the developments in South America particularly in Bolivia. Yes. Great. Time to kick out that thin slime of elites mostly byproducts of colonizers who have been sucking on the people. The beautiful people who knew so much: The Indians. This is beginning of history. Just the beginning. The way Che prophesized. Just the way it should be. USA has lots to answer in quelling the democratic movement in south America. Why there is no significant presence of "indigenous, aboriginal" people in the decision making sections of Australia and New Zealand??.

This is global fight and the truth has no option but to win. It will take its own time but win it will. That is how the world will be balanced. It is going to be a paradise. Below are some snaps I took at plachimada with some explanations.

Photo one: this is spot of crime. It covers 34 acres of precious land. Few years back people in this region had no much water or environmental problem. Majority of people are adivasis (or "indigenous" as they say).
Photo two: this is Mr. Shaktivellu who is casual labor and one of the forefronts in the protest. All the details regarding the movement were provided by him. He is against violence but doesn't rule it out in future. "this exploitation has to stop…we want to live". His means of income is very limited but he is committed to the cause. "water is my basic need and I don't want anyone to give it me….this our land…..this is our water…".
Photo three: this is a place few kms from coke factory, where I dropped for tea. They don't have problems which plachimada faces. They have friends and relatives in and around plachimada whose life has become miserable after the coke started to suck the water. Yes if given job in coke they will take!!. Well we live in a world where people even kill for money so what are "insignificant" environmental problems. Of course showing smoking scene is important part of "creative expression". I didn't know Indian film industry is hinged on smoking scenes on the screen. Such an outcry!!!. Poor poor people. By the way I got spondylitis both lumber and cervical (severe one.….its really is very painful) by traveling in unreserved compartments of train!!!. Yes we should remove unreserved compartments. Yes puerile. Very much liking I do!!!. Liking I do very much!!!

At Padathur in Shivganga District (Tamil Nadu):
Padathur is small village around 10Kms from the Shivganga district HQs, it is also an hour and half’s drive in Bus from the famous temple town Madurai. Padathur is a quiet little hamlet with some very poor people; there are bricked as well as thatched houses. The place is known for a sugar factory- Sakthi Sugar Mills. The village has a small temple at its entrance with a penchant for bells….it is possible that Gods here favor the offerings of bells or is it that people have decided among themselves that Gods are pleased with offering of bells?. There sure must be an interesting story here. As it was mid noon, quite hot and sultry I didn’t really find anyone around (except one who was sleeping under the tree, there were also some shops nearby) to ask these, further I had got this infection -conjunctivitis and my eyes were burning so I didn’t want to spend too much time here. Puduthur is a very unlikely place for any action. Sakthi Sugar Mill is 3kms interior and decided to walk the distance- as public transport are once in an hour, every few minute sugarcane laden truck headed towards the Mill. Later I happen to interact with a farmer who had come to sell his truck load of sugarcane- he treated me to a tea and dry peas ‘because I was the guest he the host’ he said. He refused to be photographed. He mentioned that sugar was sold to mill at the rate of 1050Rs per ton. That’s like one Rupee a Kg!!. Which I thought was less. But he was quite satisfied with the price “a good quality cane will weigh a Kg…one rupee is not much but ok” he clarified. I also congratulated myself for managing a conversation in Tamil, a language I was speaking after quite a long time. The road to the mill was well tarred for an impoverished village, clearly it was meant for the mill. The main occupation of the people seems to be collecting water -the activity people engaged in, even in the hot sun. People had to walk a distance to collect water as you can see from the snaps. Although the land is basically arid and dry, one spot on the way was green and cultivating sugarcane- a crop one knows is a water intensive. This was peculiar and I saw hose supplying enough water and some villagers crowding to collect water. This inequity is not surprising since Tamil Nadu despite its Dravidian upheaval, Justice movements in early last century has remained quite a feudal society and sometimes violently casteist. Tamilians as I see are one of the most hardworking people but mostly exploited. These are the kinds of place where Cocacola-Pepsi can easily tighten their strangle. In recent times there has been attempt by Cocacola-Pepsi to not be seen as exploiter the reason why they outsourced the sucking of ground water to Sakthi mills. There was a huge offer to Sakthi mills. I spend sometime interacting with the lady who runs a tea shop opposite the mill. She has been running it for last 19 years (or was it 29 years?) from the time the mill had started. The property around her has been bought by the mill, they offered her some money to vacate but she refused. One of her conditions was that her son should be given permanent job at the mill. She earns around 1000Rs per month from the shop which she is better than what casual labours are paid in the mill -around 65Rs for men and 55Rs for women, for a day of backbreaking work.

The Cocacola-Pepsi outsourced water sucking for a month or so (as a trial run) at the rate of 75,000litres a day, but by then people became aware of the mischief. The villagers went on dharna and peace marches, most of the people of village participated, in particular the school children. Unlike at Plachimada in Kerala where the simmering resentment among the local people manifested itself as an angry protest only three years after the bottling plant began operations, the agitation here was a in a way pre-emptive one. It was alleged that the unit had plans to dig borewells up to a depth of 3,000 feet (900 metres) on the Vaigai riverbed, besides using the unutilised part of the quantum of water permitted (49 lakh litres a day) specifically for industrial use by the sugar mill. The plans would have affected the water supply to Sivaganga, Manamadurai and Thiruppuvanam towns and about 80 villages covered by the Comprehensive Drinking Water Supply Scheme, the requirements of which are now met by water from the Vaigai riverbed. The scheme covers more than 3.5 lakh people. Exposed to acute drought conditions for several years, the people of the district, particularly in the villages, have had little access to water. Finally the Cocacola-Pepsi had to pack their bag and run. A case of successful campaign by the villagers.

At Gangaikondan in Thirunelveli District (Tamil Nadu):
Thirunelveli is a district located in south of Tamil Nadu state not far from western ghat mountain range. Tamiraparani is the river which flows through the region. Gangaikondan is around half an hour from Thirunelveli District HQ. As I got down from the bus at Gangaikondan the first thing which struck me was the place had a very plane surface with shrubs- very few trees or plants, found only in patches. This is Mars!!. I was told that Coca cola plant was located 4km inside. It is interesting since the Cocacola-Pepsi had made sure that their name is nowhere in the scene and have outsourced the sucking business to very tame sounding South India Bottling Company Ltd (SIBCL, almost a Public sector !! So cute). This funny statement of J. Ramamoorthy, SIBCL's executive director, I came across "We're not Coca-Cola. We're a franchisee. It is totally South Indian owned, and we're bringing in the money. Coca-Cola will merely provide the technology,". Wow. But the people when I asked about where this Company-SIBCL, was located showed ignorance only when I referred coca cola did they recognize!!. Since Cocacola-Pepsi was located in uninhabited surrounding (see in the photos the white spot as you approach that is Coke Pepsi factory!!!) I decided to take an Auto. As you approach the plant you cannot but think it as some alien spaceship!!. I read in a website about how people in this region stumble upon Coke factory, it is quite funny. "I literally stumbled upon the construction when I went looking for my cows," says S. Elosius, a resident of Thuraiyoor. "Here's a company set a kilometer off the road. Even when it's fully constructed, people can't see it," he says. "How can it be that it is the area's largest investment, and I come to know of it only by accident two months after construction has begun?". Local residents and public interest organizations say there is undue secrecy surrounding the project. Dr. R. Murugesan, a professor and district vice president of the Tamil Nadu Science Forum, has strong words about government agencies. "It is not possible to find out anything relevant about the project beyond what little information the company has made available. The Pollution Control Board and the District Collector are against public interest. The Collector claims he knows nothing. But we hear that heavyweights in the ruling party are backing the project," he says (statements taken from the Net). The little information I could gather was that the unit covers an area of around 32 acres inside the SIPCOT complex, spread over an area of 2,500 acres in Gangaikondan. The lease period for companies coming up in the complex is 99 years. SIPCOT can draw upto 45 lakh litres per day . The coke unit alone willget 5 lakh litres everyday (there is however confusion regarding this with contradictory claims). The water will be drawn from theTamiraparani river in Seevalaperi, some 14 km from the site. There is something more to it, as I was going through the web sites a pattern I was quite familiar with emerged. The plant is in a depression in an area fed by the Semboothu springs. Groundwater quality in the area is excellent. Parameters such as chloride and hardness are well within permissible levels. If groundwater is used for bottling, purification costs would be very low. Further there only two other industries located on this industrial estate all 2,000 acres of it are empty otherwise!!!.

The reason why the industrial estate is empty is in the socio-historical nature of the place. These information I found in the Net: Residents of the Manur Panchayat Union, within which Gangaikondan village falls, are predominantly Pallars, a Dalit (former untouchable) caste. The Dalit uprising of the 1990s saw scores settled for centuries-old oppression - primarily with the upper caste Thevars. P. Kirupairaj, a member of Puthiya Thamizhagam - a Dalit political party led by Dr. K. Krishnaswamy - explains the dilemma that Pallar residents face. "The reason why some people support the project is probably because it's been 15 years since SIPCOT started and there have been no takers. Some people feel that this area is being neglected because we're Pallars, and that it is unwise to oppose the first company that comes here. People feel that resistance is futile; that all this is fated and that we don't really have a choice." Kirupairaj however is quick to point out the fallacy in the belief that locals really don't have a choice. "We have won significant victories in our struggle against discrimination. It is known that when we (Pallars) set our minds on something, we persist till we win. We have to make our people aware of the potential benefits and the dangers. Even now, we're not opposing all projects. Only projects like Coca-Cola that pose a threat to our water resources," he says. Quite remarkable these statements considering the socio-economical conditions in which they live.

Lets now look at the events folded since the Cocacola-Pepsi landed here. When Coke first approached Gangaikondan Panchayat President Kamsan for approval, he granted it (don’t be shocked by the name, anti-brahmanical names are very popular in Tamil nadu). He said he had granted permission as the company had all the necessary government approvals. He had not seen the allotted plot or read any of the material that the South India Bottling Company Limited had given him. When the local resistance to the company gathered momentum, Kamsan cancelled the permission given to the South India Bottling Company Limited and also passed a resolution in the panchayat to that effect. Later that day, he passed another resolution giving the South India Bottling Company Limited permission again!!!!. When local reporters grilled him, he alleged that powerful people had threatened him over the telephone. Within few days of this incidence Kamsan died in suspicious circumstances. Most of the people whom I interacted are very clear on who killed Kamsan: ‘’it’s the people at the Coca cola’’. Ofcourse this will never be proved, they have enough money and clout.

On Republic Day this year, gram sabha meetings -- which all villagers attend, as opposed to panchayat meetings, in which just the ward members and the panchayat president are present -- were held all over Tamil Nadu. At the Gangaikondan Gram Sabha meeting, a resolution was passed to cancel the license given to the South India Bottling Company Limited plant. The Manur Block Union -- which includes the Gangaikondan Panchayat -- was convened under heavy police cover. It approved the license given to the plant. Thus, the gram sabha verdict stood nullified. So although majority of people were against coke the Block Union which involves fewer people passed the resolution, quite democratically one must add. The apprehensions of the people did find echo in here too. "We don't know the full details of the project. This is the first big investment in our region. We can't reject the first investment that comes our way. We need the jobs," says A. Rajesh Babu, an elected councilor in Manur Panchayat union (from the Net). A section of local residents, particularly elected members of local governments have extended their support to the company. They argue that the company will bring much-needed jobs and boost the local economy. Company spokespersons go one step further to say that if the company runs into trouble here, other investors will refuse to set up in Gangaikondan. Ironically, the veiled threat of economic "untouchability" or a flight of capitalists comes less than a decade after Gangaikondan and nearby villages witnessed a three-year spate of bloody caste violence in the mid-1990s to end the practice of untouchability. Gangaikondan's fear of becoming "economically untouchable" seems to be one of several issues clouding what may be genuine concerns about the impact of a project that extensively uses local water resources (from the Net).
However in last year or so protests by locals have gathered momentum. Many local residents, political parties and environmentalists have raised concerns that the water-intensive plant will deplete and contaminate groundwater, and draw from Tamiraparani river that cannot fully meet even drinking water and agricultural needs of local communities. Local farmers are angry at even that amount of water being taken away from them. Various political parties as well as a broad range of groups, such as the South Tamilnadu Merchants Association and the Tamilnadu Government Employees Association participated in a rally, indicative of the growing discontent over Coca-Cola's operations in India. Interestingly a delegation from Gangaikondan visited Plachimada in early August 2005.

The argument of those opposing the project, like other places I visited, has to do with the fact that drinking water and agricultural requirements are not currently being met by the water allocations from Tamiraparani River. "Charity begins at home," says S. Sunderaraja Perumal, president of the District Congress Committee Tirunelveli (Urban). "Within the Tirunelveli corporation limit, there are four to five places where people take to the streets because they get no water or insufficient water. They are all Scheduled Caste (Dalit) people, some of whom live within 30 meters of the river. How can you take water for Coca-Cola when you haven't even provided drinking water to your population?" the Congress leader questions (taken from the Net). Perumal says he is not opposed to drawing Tamiraparani water for drinking purposes. "They're taking water for drinking water needs in Kovilpatti, Sankaran Koil. We're not opposed to that. But water cannot be put on sale to a company that uses water as the raw material and sells water as a product. 500,000 liters of water can comfortably take care of the water needs of 5000 people within Tirunelveli town," he says. R. Krishnan, a member of the Communist Party (Marxist) and former member of the state legislature, echoes Perumal's sentiment: "The difference is that this company is treating water as a raw material and selling it. That is wrong. SIPCOT's 4.5 million liter requirement is for the basic needs of industries that will come up in the industrial estate. Earmarking 10 percent of the total water intake for one company that occupies just 31 acres of a 2000-acre industrial estate is ridiculous." (taken from the Net).

While returning I had a cup of tea at a shop opposite the industrial estate. He was busy as a group of people had just ordered tea. What he manage to say was “people are against Coca Cola”. On the bus an elderly man smiled from the crowd. He was around 55 to 60 years and not wearing much cloth, a torn blue banyan, chek mundu and a plastic bag. He had a sturdy short body and a great smile. “ oongalle standill patha chu……(translate) I saw you at the auto rickshaw stand. You wanted to go to coca cola?.....did you go?” he asked. I nodded.
“I used to work at coca cola….”.
“Why you left the job” I asked.
“They gave only 70Rs per day now I work at a place where I get 100Rs and much less work” was his reply.

This is surely a statement on claims of employment generation by Cocacola-Pepsi (we know how bogus it is…meant to divide people). Further what is the cost of natural resources they steal??. While getting down the man informed with an endearing smile that his name was Kasumuthu (money boy literally!) and I could call him for any job I needed him for. I wanted to take his photograph but it was too crowded and secondly I rarely take photos of the people on their face. I am very uncomfortable about it….it feels like objectifying people. While they speak I surreptitiously take out camera and click, almost an apology! They see it and laugh. I guess mobile phone cams are least intrusive, I am thinking of saving some money and buying one! Coming back to Kasumuthu he reminded me of Nanook of North!! (the legendary Robert Flaherty’s classic silent movie of 1922). The only difference being that he lives in surroundings where technological benefits are available unlike Nanook. But his life is still as tough as Nanook of North. Kasumuthu is Nanook of South!! At 60 odd age that is a real wrenching life. Thande ka thadka.