Ram Temple Ayodhya and Power Politics: A Historical Analysis in the Style of Romila Thapar

The Ayodhya Tapestry: Weaving Together Faith, History, and Politics

In the intricate tapestry of Indian politics, where the warp of history intertwines with the weft of contemporary governance, the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya emerges as a vivid thread, highlighting the confluence of faith, identity, and power politics. As we delve into this narrative, it's impossible not to reflect upon the perspectives of eminent historian Romila Thapar, whose scholarly work, although increasingly marginalized in public discourse, offers a nuanced understanding of India's past and its echoes in the present.

Romila Thapar’s Lens: Deciphering the Past, Understanding the Present

Thapar, a historian who has navigated the complex waters of Indian history with an admirable blend of scholarly rigor and a critical eye, has often been at odds with the mainstream narrative, especially concerning her interpretation of historical events like the attack on the Somnath temple by Mahmud of Ghazni in the 11th century. Her contention, grounded in Persian writings and local chronicles of the time, alongside debates in the British Parliament, suggests that such invasions were less about religious fervor and more a manifestation of political power struggles. This perspective seems contentious which I particularly don't ascribe to, yet it invites us to look beyond the surface of historical events and understand the multifaceted motivations that drive human actions.

The Architectural Manifesto: Ram Temple as a Symbol of Political Ascendancy

This lens of analyzing history not just as a sequence of events but as a reflection of power dynamics is particularly relevant when we consider the recent inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The timing of the temple's inauguration, coinciding with the peak of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity towards the end of his second term, is hardly serendipitous. It is, as Thapar might argue, a declaration of the political importance of an emergent powerful leader, woven into the fabric of India's ongoing narrative.

Modi, ruling over a continent-sized country, has skillfully made Varanasi his electoral fortress, thus anchoring his political saga in a city of immense religious significance to Hindus and just 200 kms away from his bastion of Varanasi. The emotive appeal to the reconstruction of the Ram Temple, framed within the narrative of a resurgent Bharat emerging from the shadows of the Babri Masjid movement, is a masterstroke of blending religious sentiment with nationalistic fervor. It's a testament to how temples, and by extension religious symbols, are not just places of worship but potent instruments of political authority and identity.

A Thousand-Year Vision: Modi’s Narrative of National Rebirth

The Prime Minister's vision of scripting the next thousand-year story of India, with the Ram Temple as a cornerstone, is not merely an architectural endeavor but a symbolic reaffirmation of his political stature and the ideological underpinnings of his governance. It reflects a conscious effort to mold the collective memory of the nation, to anchor it in a narrative that champions cultural resurgence as a vehicle for political consolidation.

In this context, Thapar's analytical framework invites us to question and explore the layers beneath the surface of what might seem like purely religious or cultural milestones. It encourages a deeper understanding of how historical narratives are constructed and employed in the service of contemporary political agendas. While one may not align with all of Thapar's viewpoints, her approach to history - as a dynamic interplay of power, politics, and identity - provides a valuable lens through which to view the unfolding of events like the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

History in the Making: The Role of Religious Symbols in Power Dynamics

In the grand theatre of Indian politics, where the past is perpetually interlaced with the present, the Ram Temple stands not just as a symbol of religious devotion but as a monument to the enduring legacy of power politics. It's a reminder that in the quest for political dominance, the manipulation of historical narratives and religious sentiments remains a potent tool, wielded with strategic precision by those in power. As we navigate this complex landscape, the insights of historians like Romila Thapar offer us a contrarian view, indicating us towards a more nuanced understanding of the forces that shape our world

Unlocking Economic Potential: India-Pakistan Trade Relations

Pakistan's New Security Policy and Its Economic Implications

The unfolding events in Pakistan reveal a fresh attempt to reinvent itself through a new national security policy (NSP), yet it seems to be taking two steps forward and one step back with its prerequisites for lasting peace with India, a century-old conundrum.

Pakistan's current leadership, with the military's influence not far behind, appears to be urgently navigating out of an economic crisis and a deteriorating geopolitical stance, once considered a strategic asset. However, the NSP might fall short of being the solution they need.

From Qayamat se Tomato Tak: The Tangible Benefits of Cooperation

It's worth noting that fostering better relations with India could be a lifeline for Pakistan, providing essential goods and potentially injecting millions into its faltering economy through trade. Having good relations with India will not only provide essential lifeline like vegetables (my earlier article Qayamat se Tomato tak on the subject) and some other commodities but also potentially add millions of dollars of economic trade value to its failing economy.  Despite India offering Most Favored Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan, the latter has yet to capitalize on it. Inquiries at the trade desk of Pakistan's High Commission in India would likely highlight these missed opportunities.

The Case for Normalization: Prof. Ishtiaq Ahmed's Insights on India-Pakistan Trade

In the below instance Prof. Ishtiaq ahmed, a swedish scholar of Pakistani origin makes a strong case to normalize business relations with India

  

India & Pakistan; the trade prospects

I have been in 2 management roles where i see huge economic opportunity with our estranged neighbour. The first I saw when i was with Milagrow, whose founder late Rajeev Karwal was in touch with a company called Dawlence in Pakistan. This struggling company wanted to utilise his turnaround skills in consumer durable industry and replicate what he had successfully done with LG in India earlier. A lot of things could have happened including a possible visit of mine to Pakistan if not for a deep freezing of relations in 2008 (post Mumbai attacks). As i have written earlier, India struggles with Pakistan as the proverbial Vikram Vs Betaal  

Currently in my executive role at Homeomart.com I see large number of Pakistani visitors regularly seeking homeopathic remedies for their health and wellness. In the illustrated image below, one of the visitor is seeking the service more as a 'favour for neighbour' because he believes that we are antagonistic to him. The reality is that neither DHL or India Post is ready to offer intermediary services to make this workable. A turnaround in relations could possibly mean Homeomart investing in Pakistan to tap its burgeoning market but that is a distant reality subject to its future relations with India and the economic climate it creates there. With various religious extremists groups created by ISI running loose there, it looks a bleak prospect

Beyond Borders: Cultural and Economic Synergies Await Realization

Pakistan economy can improve drastically if it opens its borders to Indian companies. There are many factors that can work to galvanize the trade ties (as opposed to 'Galwan'ize' which China did to hit on its own foot). If Pakistans scans its neighbourhood, it is only the Indian economy that can provide many advantages

• Physical Proximity to one of the world's fastest growing markets. Quick flow of goods and services. 
• Cultural proximity can cut communication issues and build trust that can help businesses grow
• Overlap of interests. For instance Pakistani love of music, films, cuisine, even a medical thing like homeopathy has a lot of cultural commons.

Your economic turnaround starts at your door steps Pakistan, as the saying goes 'modesty begins at home'. 

Shaheen bagh protests a guided missile?

The name sound familiar to military watchers. The inimical enemy across the border displays its pathological hatred for India by naming its missiles on the invaders of past. So after a round of names like Babar, Ghaznavi, Ghouri etc it named a new class of missile by the name of 'Shaheen'. This missile is supposed to have more teeth, a longer range (which practically cover all of India including southern part of the country) and is touted as a nuclear-capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile. The enemy for a change was inspired by a species of Falcon found in the mountains of Pakistan. Nontheless Shaheen (the missile) brought many Indian cities under its destructive capability when it was test fired in the first half of 2019

Now lets come to a protest by the same name in the national capital that is grabbing news headlines for the past 3 weeks. It is supposed to be a spontaneous movement by some disgruntled women of a minority community (just 10 to 15 local women are claimed to have started this on the afternoon of 14 December 2019). However as things unfolded it seemed to be a well planned conspiracy at work to destabilize the Govt and its legitimate policies

The significance of the name Shaheen

The name 'Shaheen' is just not a type of bird of prey, Some would say Shaheen also means "God of all Falcons" or just "God" at times, it really depends on the use and connotation. On the other hand a similar sounding 'Shahin' is a Muslim Girl name and it is an Arabic originated name with multiple meanings

The word 'Shaheen' has historical significance too, Naseem Hijazi the Pakistani Islamic historian and novelist wrote a historical novel by the same name. It details the situation of the Muslims in Granada in 1492 when they were about to be expelled from Spain. The novel goes on to depict the causes of destruction of Muslim power in Granada
So this is one of the unique and popular names with impressive meaning. You can find Shahin name meaning in Urdu and English, as well as other languages.

Why Shaheen Bagh protests are strategic in nature?

There is a pecular religious and historical persecution overtones to the name of the park where the protests are held. That it was started and now led by a group of Muslim women gives credence. The flames ignited here spread to other muslim dominated areas of Delhi like Turkman Gate, Jaffarabad and Seelampur, Khureji, Kardam Puri, Old Mustafabad and Bhajanpura. Many of the women protesters are hijab and burqa wearing Muslim women homemakers

Their misguided ire is just not against the Citizenship amendment act (CAA) and National registry of Citizens (NRC) but also opposing the government's "anti-labour policies". They have also protested against JNU attack that occurred recently which is being projected as 'state sponsored violence'

Creative artworks, innovate slogans like "Hum kagaz nahin dikhayenge" (we won't show our papers) or famous Urdu Nazm 'Hum Dekhenge' created by students from JNU, Delhi University, Jamia Milia Islamia, Jadavpur University and Hyderabad Central University do the rounds here. Ironically the 'Us Vs Them' cannot be lost in translation here amidst the shero shayari and recall of Muhammed Iqbal.

For the casual observer the Shaheen Bagh, has turned rampantly communal and is now caught pushing dangerous secessionist agenda (second partition). People like Sharjeel Imam who is an activist and former JNU student and reporter is the symptom of this malaise

The Hindu reports “The peaceful flame of resistance has now spread to other communities in and beyond the national capital and across the country”. It further add 'As on Wednesday, January 22, at least 20 Shaheen Bagh-inspired sit-in protests have been reported in the country'

Deciphering the Ayodhya Dispute Verdict: Interesting legal points

The Supreme Court's Landmark Judgment: Key Takeaways

Yesterday the Hon. Supreme court delivered a land mark 1045 page verdict ending decades long acrimonious dispute on Ram Janmabhoomi and Babri Masjid issue. What i find particularly interesting is the fact that

1. The court makes a distinction between the Structure (mosque) & the Land and goes with the logic that the title belongs to the land and Hindus had a better claim to it.
2. It concluded that even though the mosque belonged to the Muslims it was not Sui Generis (it was built over another structure). It went by ASI report that the earlier structure was not a Islamic one but a Hindu like.
3. The court found no evidence of Muslims having prayed there (at the disputed structure) between 1528 - 1856 whereas Hindus have been going there to pray
4. It goes to the period before 1528 that is around the 12th Century when a temple was built here and takes into account the entire period upto date. In terms of length of occupation & extent of use, it concludes that Hindus have a better claim on it than Muslims

Implications for India's Religious Harmony and Legal Framework

The judgement also brings into focus the point made by a Supreme Court judge Mr Ganguly who said 'What would have been the outcome of the Supreme court had Babri Masjid not been demolished'?. What stops people from demolishing other disputed structures like Kashi Mathura, Gyanvapi mosque and then creating a fait accompli. The Supreme Court Judges have addressed this kind of scenario very succinctly

They invoke the places of Worship act of 1991 that was enacted under the Narasimha Rao regime when Advani was doing the rathyatra. This particular act provides status quo on all religious places as they existed during 1947 and provide necessary protection in their as is status. Section 4 of this act places the responsibility of the state government to preserve the religious character of all places of worship as they existed in 1947. Any of the court proceedings with respect to any of these places will cease to exist and be closed as per the current Ayodhya SC verdict. Supreme Court order makes an exception under section 5 of this act in respect of Ram Janmabhoomi/Babri Masjid issue as it was an ongoing case

In a visionary and smart move The court has further embedded the 1991Act in in the basic structure of the constitution so as to prevent reenactment or changes to the law. This protects the Act from any amendments in future. It quotes the Bommai Vs Union of India judgement and the definition of secularism in the basic structure of constitution to buttress this move.
A picture i took earlier this week brought this whole issue to fruition in my mind

This was at S.J Industries (a Tiles showroom) at Honaga Industrial Area in Belgaum (Karnataka, India). 

All our Gods seem inherently at peace with each other here, they occupy the same rack before being picked up by customers to various places of worship. A 786 inscribed tile sits next to that of Sri Hanuman ji. Apparently there is nobody disputing it!

Unpacking the Historical Context of the Ayodhya Dispute

The Ayodhya verdict, delivered by a five-judge bench of India's Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, brought an end to a centuries-old dispute over a 2.77-acre plot in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. This land, claimed by both Hindus and Muslims, has been a focal point of religious, legal, and historical debates.

Originally addressed in a trial court, the case escalated to the Allahabad High Court, which controversially divided the land equally among three parties: Ram Lalla (the idol representing infant Lord Rama), Nirmohi Akhara (a Hindu religious group), and the Sunni Waqf Board (a Muslim organization). The High Court's decision, based partly on archaeological evidence suggesting a Hindu temple beneath the Babri Mosque, was challenged in the Supreme Court.

From August to October 2019, the Supreme Court conducted 40 days of consecutive hearings, marked by intense debates and attempts at mediation. This period became the second-longest hearing in Indian legal history, following the landmark Keshvananda Bharti case.

On November 9, 2019, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the entire disputed land should be given to a trust for the construction of a Ram temple. The judgment clarified that Ram Lalla was a juristic person, but the land itself, Ram Janma Bhoomi, was not. The court found that the Babri Masjid was not built on vacant land and acknowledged the Hindu belief that Lord Ram was born at the site. However, it emphasized that land titles cannot be decided solely on faith. The Sunni Waqf Board was denied adverse possession claims but was granted an alternative 5-acre site to build a mosque.

The verdict, spanning 1045 pages, was significant for not revealing the individual authorship of the judges, including a separate but concurring opinion on whether the disputed structure was Lord Ram's birthplace. The decision also dismissed a related claim by the Shia Waqf Board.

In essence, the Supreme Court's judgment attempted to balance historical, religious, and legal aspects of the dispute, marking a pivotal moment in India's history of secularism and religious freedom.

The Ayodhya Legal Verdict - Deconstructing the main Legal Points 

The Ayodhya Verdict deconstructed into its main legal points is complex, involving numerous legal principles and precedents. Here's a simplified overview:

1. Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act 1993: The court ruled that Hindus have a possessory title to the outer courtyard of the disputed site due to long and unimpeded worship. The Central Government was directed to form a trust or similar body to manage the land.
2. Juristic Personhood of Deities: The idol of Rama Lalla (Infant Lord Rama) is considered a juristic person, meaning it has legal standing. However, the site itself, Ram Janmbhoomi, is not a juristic person.
3. Shebait (Caretaker) Rights: The court addressed the rights and responsibilities of a de facto shebait, someone who acts as a caretaker for a deity. Nirmohi Akhara, a religious group, was not recognized as the shebait for the inner courtyard.
4. Limitation Act and Article 142: The court discussed the concept of dispossession and its legal implications. Nirmohi Akhara's suit was deemed not maintainable under Article 142 due to issues with the timing of their claim.
5. Continuing Wrong under Limitation Act: The court distinguished between the source and effect of a legal injury, ruling that ongoing effects of an injury do not constitute a continuing wrong.
6. Declaration of Title: The court held that a formal request for possession is not required when seeking a declaration of title over a property.
7. Criminal Procedure Code-Section 145: Proceedings under this section do not determine the title or possession rights of disputed land.
8. Mosque Validity under Islamic Law: The court refused to interpret religious doctrine, focusing instead on the faith and belief of worshippers.
9. Places of Worship Act 1991: The court upheld the Act, emphasizing its role in maintaining secular values in India.
10. Juristic Personality: Legal personality is distinct from human nature and is recognized by the law for entities like idols.
11. Section 13 of the CPC 1882-Resjudicata: The court applied principles of res judicata, ruling that previous judgments on similar issues are binding.
12. Evidence Act-Expert Evidence: The court evaluated the Archaeological Survey of India's report, emphasizing that expert opinion must be carefully considered but is not conclusive.
13. Evidence Act-Section 81: The genuineness of official government documents was presumed under this section.
14. The Limitation Act 1908-Article 47: This provision was deemed inapplicable in this case due to the absence of an order regarding possession under Section 145.
15. Legal Consequences of Past Regimes: The court stated that it cannot enforce rights or remedies for actions or injuries under previous sovereigns without their recognition.
16. Article 142 of the Constitution: The court discussed its power to apply principles of justice, equity, and good conscience in cases where the law is silent.
17. 'Complete Justice' Concept: The court emphasized its role in achieving equitable and just outcomes, even when the law is not explicit.
18. Adverse Possession: The court discussed the criteria for claiming adverse possession, notably peaceful, open, and continuous possession.
19. Doctrine of the Lost Grant: The court explained this doctrine, which presumes a valid grant in cases of long, uninterrupted, and peaceful enjoyment of a right.
20. Evidence Act Section 110: This section covers the presumption of title based on possession.
21. Final Holding: The court found the High Court's three-way land division legally unsustainable. It directed the central government to form a trust to manage the land, hand over a suitable plot for mosque construction to the Sunni Waqf Board, and ensure the right to worship at the disputed site.

Qayamat se Tomato Tak: A Spicy Saga of Neighbors

A Tale of Two Neighbors: Tomatoes, Tensions, and Homeopathy

I don’t really know how to start this because, well, the air between India and Pakistan is tense right now- like the awkward silence in an elevator after someone accidentally lets out a squeak. And let’s face it, every message, no matter how innocent, can be twisted out of shape by manipulative media (you know who you are). Unpleasant messages are flying around like mosquitoes in monsoon.

But let’s zoom out for a second. No matter how many tantrums we throw, or how many trade bans happen, we’re connected - whether we like it or not. We’re like the classic duo, Vikram and Betal. Except, on the map, Pakistan doesn’t look like a friend hanging onto India’s back for a piggyback ride. Nope, it’s more like a “historical baggage of burden,” a Betal whose riddles are way harder than the ones in folklore.

Tomatoes and Tensions

Let’s talk about trade. Apparently, one of the first casualties of our disagreements is... vegetables. Specifically, tomatoes. Pakistan’s been feeling the sting of the tomato ban. And while that’s a spicy problem on their end, it’s just a slice of the larger story.

Take my e-commerce business, for example. Despite all this tension, we have a surprising number of customers from Pakistan. They visit our website, place orders, and—this is the kicker—leave kind reviews on social media! Yes, our Facebook page is graced by heartfelt messages from across the border.

And the cherry on top? Many expatriate Pakistanis in the UK, US, and Europe are loyal customers too. They love homeopathy - maybe even more than we Indians do. It’s humbling to see how similar we are, health issues and all. We sneeze the same, complain the same, and yes, love alternative medicine the same way.

A Cricket Legend’s Toughest Test

Let’s pivot to Imran Khan. The man was a genius on the cricket field, wasn’t he? He whipped a chaotic, fiery team into world champions. If cricket were a Bollywood movie, Imran Khan would’ve been its ultimate hero. But now, he’s on a much tougher pitch.

This time, his opponent isn’t a rival team - it’s the Pakistan army. And trust me, their bouncers are nastier than anything he faced at the crease. The army’s whole shtick of anti-India rhetoric gives them their power. They’re like that one toxic relative who thrives on keeping the family divided.

Imran’s task? He’s got to tackle the terror factory (yep, that’s a thing), move his country toward actual democracy, and free it from the army’s grip. If he pulls this off, he won’t just be a hero for Pakistan. Indians might just start building temples in his honor.

Hope for a Better Future

So here’s the thing: no matter what’s happening at the political level, the people-to-people connection remains strong. It’s clear from our customers, followers, and social interactions. We’re not so different after all.

I truly hope the situation improves - for both sides. Whether it’s tomatoes, trade, or just everyday interactions, life’s better when we’re not acting like estranged siblings fighting over the family heirloom.

For now, here’s to hoping the next chapter between Vikram and Betal is a little less dramatic and a lot more heartwarming.

Pulwama attack, vikram aur betaal story in Geopolitics

"History's Haunting Riddles: The India-Pakistan Saga Through the Lens of 'Betaal Pachisi'"

Once upon a time, not in a land far, far away, but rather on the soil we tread today, the tale of India and Pakistan's history began to unfold—a narrative so cyclical it could give the ancient tale of 'Betaal Pachisi' a run for its money. This 11th-century saga penned by the Kashmiri poet Somdev Bhatt seems less like a relic of the past and more like a mirror reflecting the endless loop of the subcontinent's post-independence escapades.

Let's rewind some 2500 years, with a twist, and see if this old yarn sounds familiar. Imagine, if you will, the great King Vikramaditya of Ujjain, a figure of valor and wisdom, embarking on a quest that mirrors the trials and tribulations of modern-day India, or Bharat, as we fondly know it.

King Vikram (our newly independent India) is tasked with fetching a peculiar corpse (the painful partition) that's swinging from the gnarled branches of a Banyan tree (the British Raj) in the eerie silence of a graveyard. This is no ordinary corpse; it's possessed by Betaal (a radical ideology where religion intertwines with the state's craft), a cunning vampire spirit that loves to throw a wrench in the works.

The tantric (think of our historical leaders, some of whom are revered as untouchable 'holy cows'), yearning for power, covets Betaal for his own gains. But it's Vikram, burdened with the heavy lifting, who must untangle the corpse from the tree. Yet, every time he thinks he's got a grip on it, Betaal slips away like a slippery eel.

Each attempt by Vikram to subdue Betaal (akin to the numerous wars, treaties, and diplomatic dances) is met with a story (the ever-present issue of Kashmir) that ends with a riddle, only for Betaal to vanish into thin air. And so, Bharat finds itself in a perpetual state of déjà vu, destined to grapple with this Betaal, listening to a new tale (a terrorist act, perhaps) with each encounter.

It's a historical game of cat and mouse, where every chase leads to a story, every story ends with a conundrum, and the cycle repeats—ad infinitum. The India-Pakistan chronicle, much like the haunting escapades of 'Betaal Pachisi,' is a story of pursuit, of unresolved riddles, and of spirits (or ideologies) that refuse to stay put.

So, dear readers, as we turn the pages of this living history book, we can't help but wonder: Will there ever be a riddle that doesn't lead to another? Will King Vikram—our Bharat—ever truly tame the elusive Betaal? Only time will tell, but for now, the stories continue, the riddles abound, and the chase is as relentless as ever. Strap in, for history is not just a tale of what's been; it's an ongoing saga of what's to come.

aam aadmi party news front: 1 year in office

The current NEWS on the aam aadmi party (AAP) front is rather sober; about its performance on the eve of its 1st year in office. Something that should be seen in the backdrop of the BJP’s destabilizing influence in the national capital. Because the saffron party on its part has left no stone unturned, after its humiliating performance at the Poll hustles where it could manage only 3 measly seats. 

With overwhelming mandate from the people of Delhi, it did not have any democratic space even as an opposition in the assembly. The 3 MLA’s on their part were only like a fig leaf in a unprecedented AAP whirlwind that swept Delhi elections last year. Poll success apart, the aam aadmi party was stuck in a peculiar set up where constitutionally it does not have all the powers like other states to exercise control over the executive. Moreover APP in the past 1 year had to ride the roughshod of political turbulence created by its adversary to disturb its normal functioning and discredit its performance in various ways

•  Lt. Governor of Delhi who has extra ordinary constitutional powers is thrown in to become a major spanner in the wheels of the Govt. Egged and supported by the Union Govt , he has created an administrative quagmire where officials are confused about the real authority governing them - appointments & transfers were stopped, jurisdiction questioned, legislation opposed etc. Even the white elephant brigade (the IAS cadre) was emboldened to stage a mini coup against the AAP Govt
• The Delhi Police, steeped in corruption, found itself mugged by a clean & transparent aam aadmi party govt that went hard on corruption (its watering hole). So the Delhi police was more than eager to bark and bite for the centre, and the brutality and hostility it unleashed on the Govt was unparalleled in the country. AAP MLA’s apart even ordinary protesters are being roughed by these uniformed brutes as evident in NEWS recently
• The courts had to step in matters like Govt files being taken away in CBI raids and the crisis like situation created by worker unions of MCD (that were tacitly supported by the BJP) that left Delhi stinking

There are many undercurrents of Sabotage and subterfuge that may go unnoticed but AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal is resolute, at times he is exasperated (which came out as a vitriolic outburst against the Prime Minister) recently. The BJP has not exactly covered itself in glory with its relationship with other parties or allies either; PDP is miffed, TMC is furious, AIADMK is sulking, Mulayam is blowing hot & cold and so on.

As far as the performance of AAP 2.0 goes, check out what unbiased and informed citizens have to say about how the aam aadmi party govt fared, here in a leading online forum for opinions.

National Herald Case and Kuala lumpur mystery

So you are wondering the connection between National Herald Case and Kaula Lumpur mystery?

Most people see this picture as the mystery of the abandoned Jumbos at the Kuala lumpur airport.

I see it as the mother-son duo who were hauled to the court in the National Herald case today but are conveniently parked in the Indian parliament.

the similarities don't just end there

1. Both Kaula lumpur airport and Indian Parliament are facing a Jumbo problem. What to do with them?
2. They are big, out dated bodies occupying valuable space and hampering daily operations. Stalling parliament or blocking the runway serves the same purpose. Neither planes nor legislation can take off because they are blocking the runway.
3. Their only qualification is that they can be only be called planes (or politicians) due to historical reasons but are defunct now
4. The service operators (and voters) did not know what to do with them, so parked them in inoperable condition in usual suspecting place

Why my vote goes to Modi this time.

Before we dive in, let me lay my cards on the table - I'm usually perched on the electoral fence, observing the political melee from a safe, non-committal distance. But this time around, I find myself swinging, somewhat surprisingly, towards the BJP, and here's why.

The Congress party's hangover lingers like a bad aftertaste, and it's high time we reach for the political aspirin. Their second term was akin to a self-inflicted wound by the electorate, a disaster movie where we all knew the ending but bought tickets anyway. It's about time we put Congress in the political deep freeze, and from the looks of it, they're already halfway to a frosty political coma.

Reflecting on the past five years in Delhi, it's been nothing short of a puppet show. The twist? The puppet was an honest, intellectual Prime Minister with the assertiveness of a library mouse. He was like the quintessential good boy from a convent school who, by some bizarre twist of fate, found himself herding a class of unruly, vernacular-spewing brats.

What we're craving is a leader with a capital 'L' - someone who can steer the ship without asking the sea for permission. The business sentiment in our country is as deflated as our current PM's sotto voce. We need a centrifugal force in our national politics, a force robust enough to keep the economic wheels churning and to whip the unruly allies into line.

Enter the AAP, the proverbial bull in a china shop. But one can't help but wonder if this bull was sneakily sedated and nudged into the BJP's porcelain store by the Congress, just for kicks. Trust the Congress to play a game of political Jenga with the country's future.

Opting for a 'third front' now would be like assembling a band of discordant musicians, each brandishing a different instrument, to play at a funeral. Their cacophony would be the crudest punchline to the somber joke that Congress seems to be leading with a torch.

The BJP's propaganda machine has been churning faster than a Mumbai local in rush hour, glorifying Modi's Gujarat model. But as Swami Iyer points out in his recent ET article, running the central government is a whole new ball game - Modi's potential Achilles' heel.

So, here's where my vote is going - to build a robust national party with a leader who doesn't need a megaphone to be heard. The mission? To clean up the Congress's mess post-haste. At this juncture, Modi stands out as the best bet, the political equivalent of a cleanup hitter in the bottom of the ninth. Let's see if he can knock it out of the park.

Tolling times

This time too Mumbai seems besieged when I landed there on the morning of 12 February this week. While entering the city one could feel hoards of palpably glittery policemen around toll booths even as early as 7 am in the morning. They were seen checking all incoming vehicles and questioning random commuters. Later that day news broke out that Raj Thackeray had been detained after the orchestrated attacks on toll booths had reached alarming levels

While Raj Thackeray may have political compulsions on mind to queer the pitch for the forthcoming Loksabha elections, the Toll Booth issue raised some questions in my mind at-least

1. It is a common perception, one that is gaining strong currency to me is that Toll booths are a organized form of hafta vasooli (Extortion Agencies) that has gained a cloak of credibility and acceptance because of Govt’s ineptitude and mishandling . Sample this - in the last 5 years there is no visible improvement in the driving condition between Bangalore & Belgaum. In fact it has worsened due to numerous diversions due to incomplete road works. Yet the Toll collected between the two cities has risen from around Rs.250 to almost Rs.500 for cars today. How is that possible? Why is nobody questioning this?

2. I can understand the compulsions of PPP (public private partnerships) engagements to involve private sector in running toll booths and the economics of charging user fees to recover the cost of providing such services. But is the state giving a free hand to private enterprise which by its very nature is a vested enterprise as opposed to the collective public interest that the Govt represents? It appears so. If the Govt can bungle on larger & more important assets like Coal and spectrum so spectacularly what credibility does it have in managing such smaller assets?

3. Can you arrive at a definitive conclusion as to how much such utilities are to be charged and the time frame for recovery that fair & equitable to all parties - the private enterprise that builds such facilities, users like us who utilize it and the Govt which facilitates ? No again if one could look at the case when Chicago city authorities leased its street-parking meters for $1.157 billion for 75-years in 2008.

So what Raj Thackeray seems to be doing to highlight this issue is pretty much like that of Arvind Kejriwal - UNCONVENTIONAL. It strikes a chord somewhere . And he has succeeded in keeping the Govt on tenterhooks going by what I saw in the city that day. Hope it helps in addressing the issue.

6 Management Ideas that Kejriwal has ushered with his AAP

1. Disruption – AAP and Kejriwal showed us how disruption can be ushered in politics. With a non existent political machinery (read cadre based organization), almost no or limited funding & backing and with no specific patronage or lineage, all perceived entry barriers, his party emerged from being a mass protest movement to a potent political force in the shortest possible time. He changed the paradigm for the way election is fought & won in this country

2. Market Timing – If the Delhi electorate could be looked upon as one large market of votes, Kejriwal was its brilliant marketer. He had the pulse of this ‘market’ from the time he saw the response to Anna Hazare fast against LokPal bill and wasted no time devising a ‘strategy to market’ which practically took less than a year to convert the votes to power.

3. Innovate : Kejriwal innovated on ‘people engagement model’ in politics. His concept of reaching out to the masses through ‘Mohalla Sabhas’ and having their say in local development was a big leap in devolution of power . Similarly reaching out to people for small contributions instead of institutional funding to fight elections was a novel way to reach out and connect with people

4. Focus - Kejriwal rallied all his energy and forces around one powerful theme - to fight corruption  at all costs. He cleverly identified himself with Anna Hazare in the ‘anti corruption movement’ and in way used the movement as a springboard to politics. Later he attacked the main political parties with a series of ‘exposures’ to strengthen his agenda. The corruption ridden Govt at the center and states were easy fodder for him and he had his opponents on the Mat even before the fight began.

5. Branding – by choosing the broom as his political symbol, he conveyed a powerful visual metaphor of cleaning up politics and the establishment. With his anti corruption agenda firmly implanted in the political consciousness of people, it was time to represent it with a simple yet powerful symbol.

6. Differentiate - ‘positioning’ in management parlance; he  set a publicly accountable behavior by refusing the perks of power such as security or official bungalow. By traveling in public transport or in his own modest car, and by taking oath in a public ground in front of the crowd, he has resorted to novel ways in differentiating himself and his party in the minds of the people.

A Judge & the Mafioso

History has a nasty habit of repeating itself, and is certainly repeating itself in more ways than one in the battle of Lokayukta Justice Santhosh Hegde crusade against illegal mining in Karnataka. A lot has been written about this case but I wonder why no one has drawn parallels to the past. The history i am referring to is the one in the past when the baton ultimately passed on to a crusader judge to take on the might of the organized mafia. The battle grounds were drawn in different countries at different points in time i.e,, Italy, Colombia and now India but the protagonists in the battle bear striking similarity . On the face of it looks like a simple story of the good vs evil, honesty vs corruption and David vs Goliaths but what romanticizes these stories is the underlying currents of Heroism, a one man’s fight carried on when the system has lost it, a fight of a righteous one man against the power of money & influence. Justice SK Hegde in my opinion stands in the same pantheon as Alfonso Valdivieso & Giovanni falcone.

Falcone, the antimafia judge was nothing less than a folk hero in Rome during the 1980’s. He was instrumental in reigning the Sicilian mafia (also known as Cosa nostra) who for years had let a reign of terror by extortion & murder. This mafia legitimised itself through various business activities by controlling public & private contracts (at an estimated 6.5 Bn euro then) while they did undercover drug & arms trafficking. Not into active politics but they had law officials & police officers on their payrolls. Falcone systematically tried dismantling the mafia by a sustained campaign despite being a lone crusader. The political establishment having much to hide did not support him but despite languishing government support, Falcone and his staff continued their work in the anti-Mafia pool headquartered in Rome. Before Falcone's efforts, little progress had been made in prosecuting Sicilian Mafiosi who moved about in the United States, particularly in the New York area, without being traced by Italian authorities or identified by American ones. His efforts were cut short when the Mafiosi murdered him by blowing up his car on the way to the airport.

Lets cut the scene to Colombia where Prosecutor General Valdivieso had set himself the goal of separating Colombia's political elite from its murderous friendships and entanglements with drug mafia. The Cali Cartel, whose brief roots began in trafficking marijuana had shifted to cocaine due to its ease of transporting and greater profit margin. By the mid 1990's the trafficking empire of the Cali Cartel was a multi-billion dollar enterprise, In order to launder the incoming money of the trafficking operations, the Cali cartel heavily invested its funds into legitimate business ventures as well as front companies to mask the money through. The cartel also invested this money to gain influence within the government through bribes and favors.

Valdivieso had a role model in his uncle Galan who throughout the 1980s, as the drug cartels flourished and the killings escalated, pressed his attacks on the corruption of his political class. By the time Galan ran for the presidency in 1989, he had become a serious threat to the mafia's encroaching grip on the Colombian political establishment. Galán was murdered on the campaign trail in order allegedly to clear the path to the Presidential Palace for more pliable men who would cut deals, not fight. Alfonso Valdivieso, who hung Galán's portrait on his walls, undertook investigation of the links between the Cali cartel and the election campaign of the President Ernesto Samper that triggered the gravest political crisis in Colombian history. He ensured that by May, 1996, one government minister and the Attorney General were behind bars. The Minister of the Interior, the Foreign Secretary, and the Minister of Communications were charged with complicity in the cover-up of drug- mafia contributions to the Samper campaign. Eight Congress members were also arrested, while a further 170 out of a total of 230 came under investigation for drug corruption. Samper was given a temporary reprieve in May with the decision of a congressional commission to exonerate him of drug-corruption charges. Yet he found himself disgraced and lost power.

The moral (or the lack of it) in these stories that I see is that

a. First the mafia strikes it rich be it Drugs, Arms or Mining.
b. Then they try to legitimise their business, in the process they buy the political & bureaucratic classes with their riches
c. Then they make a dash at power , which they try to control mostly through proxy
d. Finally it takes one man, usually a judge to foil their efforts.

The politics of hyphenation

Continuing with Sachin from my previous article, it is rather sad to see him drawn into an unforeseen controversy. I am referring to his comment that Mumbai belonged to all Indians that drew ire & adverse reaction from Balasaheb Thackeray & Shiv sena. I am a bit surprised that the same Shivsena or the MNS did not react when Sachin inaugurated/Flagged off the local Belgaum Team in the Karnataka premier league , a local edition of T20 cricket in Bangalore. Belgaum is the bone of contention between the 2 states and the Marathi & Kannada torch bearers are quite active on this issue.

Maybe Balasaheb read too much into the nomenclature, otherwise a ‘Maha’rashtra would never have come before the Rashtra. To be fair to Sachin , his comment of ‘all Indians’ included Maharashtrian’s too. Why take offense when the ‘Marathi Manoos’ is also included? The way Balasaheb reacted, it gave a sense that he wanted to hyphenate the interest of the state & its local interests from that of the nation. The nature of the reaction and its ‘Us-Them’ undertone is what raised the hackles of many people who now believe will undermine the unity & federal character of this country.

The ‘aamchi’ feeling defined by a linguistic & cultural affinity in a large diverse country is normal but whether it is getting hijacked by a narrow political agenda is debatable. It depends on which angle you look at it & how affected you are or simply put how much you stand to gain by exploiting it. To put this thought in perspective I will relate to an issue that I had to contend with recently. Talking to members of what I call ‘ a dysfunctional’ association , a ragtag motley group of sneery members whose style of functioning clearly reflects on the condition of the building I live in, one of the issues I pointed out was their insistence on having a ‘Hindi’ speaking security guard at the Apartment. So much so that a Kannada speaking guy (local) was summarily chucked out of the job for his lack of Hindi knowledge. To cover it up, these members came up with another excuse which is a different matter altogether. But the moot point is that such an issue would no doubt have raised the heckles of a segment of local population (unemployed youth ) who could only perceive it as an affront for such kind of injustice perpetrated by ‘outsiders’. Who better to nurse such a grudge than politicians who would not stop highlighting the fact that they were slighted by the opportunities robbed from them by people outside the state. But who is to blame? The Politicians or the Association members (as in this case). Both displayed the parochial mindset, didn’t they?

Yeddy & the leadership lessons from the crisis.

Yesterday I was interacting with a senior Govt functionary over some contract related discussions at his expansive 7th floor office overlooking the adjacent Sankey Lake & it’s lush green surroundings that nestles a large sanctuary of birds. After the Business discussions the talk took a lighter banter over a cup of tea, and probably my curiosity had the better of me when I raised this rather awkward question to him; I said ‘Sir your dept & some of its officials in both the states (AP & Kar) are in the eye of the storm that is brewing in state politics’? He took a pause and slowly sipping his tea gave a rather candid answer; he said ‘where there are politicians, how can the bureaucrats be far behind? They use each other well & this is bound to happen’. One of his colleague who was also present said ‘Dont take most of these NEWS (i.e, pertaining to officials who are being used as pawns in this power struggle) at face value, there are a lot of things that more than meets the eye’.

It is said that this crisis was created by a blind sighted leader (Karnataka CM Yeddyurappa) & his approach to handling his team especially when it had powerful Business magnates. Whatever it may be, there are some Leadership lessons that Yeddy can take from this crisis, as I see it

1. A crisis may erupt over a small event (in this case flood relief management) but like a snowball rolling over a mountain slope will quickly gather weight & size .The snowballing in this case has still not ended after scalping several ministerial heads , a Principal secretary, and several Govt transfers. It will eventually end at the bottom but by then it would have stuck into the reputation of the party, the credibility of ministry and chiefly its CM. LESSON: Never skate rashly on thin ice Yeddy, especially when it’s been laid out by your money rich potential adversaries in the party.

2. People affected by the crisis, or sometimes those just watching it, will demand that someone be held responsible which in this unpleasant case is you & your confidants. LESSON: Stop making a spectacle of yourself in front of a hungry media. Leaders don’t cry or whine in front of the media even if to make an emotional point but retain their poise & composure even in tough times. Pls stand up and take a position for the people who have stood by you and don’t get cowed by those after you.

3. This crisis will officially end with some settlement and then comes the clean up. Clean up means change but sometime this fix may be temporary. LESSON: Dont bargain for short term fixes to cling on to your Gaddi, eventually people will judge you on how unwavering were your actions and how stronger you emerged after this crisis.

4. And just as with big, public crises, don’t ever forget that you have a business (in this case a Government) to run. Make sure you’re running it. Crack the whip on those MLA’s who are supposed to be on the ground supervising relief efforts in their districts instead of huddling in resorts.

Jai Ho democracy

The Indian election mercury is rising & the cacophony of the worlds largest exercise in electoral franchise is reaching a fever pitch. Indian Politics & elections are noisy and messy , the interminable debates & tamasha makes interesting viewing on TV, IPL anyway dint stand a chance. It could be described as nautanki at its best, the political realignments that are shaping is a good example to cite. Are the wily politicians smelling the votes & the voter moods in advance? The sight on the Gaddi is seen to be blinding political & ideological leanings. The Election commission in its act appears to be a harried shepherd trying to reign in wayward sheep’s scurrying in all possible directions with its guidelines & diktats. They are not dealing with sheep's though, wolves would be a apt comparison. No wonder this cacophony gets replicated in the parliament when it begins its act after the elections. The poor old fellow, Somnath Chatterjee, the erstwhile speaker of the last hustling was so exasperated with these unruly fellows that he blurted in its final session ‘ the people are watching your shameful act & will punish you in the elections’.

Compare this with the meeting of the people representatives of the People’s republic of China . The image flashes of orderliness & tranquil equilibrium of the thousands of delegates behind a massive auditorium & its red mascot. But this is like any of the images that the bamboo curtain dishes out to the outside world. Remember the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympics? Perfect it had to be , the state had gone the distance to show superimposed images of fireworks displays just in case the actual ones did not explode while cute kids lip synched songs for others which the state did not deem attractive. In both instances the state dished out its projected image – about the system that symbolises perfection, about its collective harmony that operates like one big efficient machine.

The nanga naach of our democracy does not make interesting sight nor sound or can hold it own against the efficiency or orderliness of above. But like the squalor of ‘Slumdog millionaire’ it does tell a story of its own that may have a more universal appeal than that of closed societies which build a facade that hides more than it shows. Indian democracy seems to be an antithesis to such systems/societies, it challenges consensus & tranquil equilibrium and many a times common sense, deifies individuals over the system but at the end of the day works to provide power to its people to choose its aspirations through the ballot boxes. There is no contrived cheer or made up images neither are bullets or tanks to stop them like in Tiananmen Square. Jai Ho democracy!

De-Mock-Krazy

Two interesting articles on Indian polity appeared in Newspapers recently. Written by two proponents on either sides of the political spectrum, one was by a high heeled NRI turned grass root level & local governance activist (Ramesh Ramanathan) and the other by a seasoned politician who weathered many political storms to be the third successive chief minister of Delhi state (Sheila Dikshit).

The former explains why the middle class is irrelevant in the present polity-- heated & emotive debates on TV , banner & candle demonstration on streets and informed public opinions do not matter as long as they do not carry to ballot boxes. He goes on to write how the polity works on caste & creed lobbying and fits like a multidimensional jig saw puzzle. Here I beg to differ with Mr. Ramanathan’s and my take on this aspect is as follows;

Caste & creed based politics is a form of mass lobbying that is inevitable in democracy, it is an expression of “the will of the people”. In essence what gets elected & represented in the assembly & Parliament are 'special interests' that organize on party lines to influence Govt.

This will of the people , when spread over layers & layers of ethnicity,cultures, dialects & economic strata over a vast geographical area takes a complex hue and is rarely visible as a homogeneous mixture. This probably explains the death of a two party dominance & arrival of coalitions on the Indian political scene. And this represents the masses & not the classes.

In this din of mass based politics what constitutes & represents public good is always debatable. The latter part has been largely under the realm of the media (especially electronic media) and urban middle class. And what happens in debate-o-sphere is largely irrelevant and is akin to shouting in vacuum as it never gets the political momentum because it never translates into votes and even if it does , does not carry any swing factor. This is true as far as small & medium urban and semi-urban electorate is concerned. However large urban electorate is getting organized and Sheila Dikshit’s rise gives a ray of hope and an answer to this dilemma.

She probably represents a unique constituency in the country, a large urban electorate which is young, cosmopolitan, aware (if not fully literate) and upwardly mobile. And it thinks & votes for what have been largely urban issues like development & good governance and less on issues mentioned above. The bijli-sadak- pani kind of issue that makes for citizen movements in cities is something that she has addressed effectively to retain power. With changing demographics and increasing urbanization (which is expected to grow from current 28% to 40% of Population by 2020) this model of polity is likely to be replicated in other constituencies elsewhere as well.

Remembering Mandal Cha Raja

Like the Lalbaug cha Raja, a massive idol of Lord Ganesh that is installed in Mumbai every year, this raja of Manda strode tall in the political space in the late 80s & early 90s with his mandal plank of providing 27% reservations to OBC in Govt Jobs in India. I have distinct recollection of the not so happy memories of my college days when this issue erupted & how? And at the center of it was its chief protagonist, VP Singh who died yesterday.

Come to think of it, he heralded the defining moments of Indian political space which had begun to emerge out of one party dominance in India. The Mandal & Mandir issues gripped mass psyche on either sides of the political spectrum almost at the same time. The mandalization of politics, as I recollect inflamed passions & created mass student appraisal like never seen before. The immolation of Rajeev Goswami in Delhi at that time really captured the popular sentiment among the youths of that period. The forces of Liberalization had not yet been unleashed, and for many students like me, Government jobs were a logical career aspiration. But in one stroke it appeared that VP Singh took all the dreams away. I have never seen, before or after , the vigorousness of the uprising and vociferous protests by the students & masses. The main street of Belgaum was a sea of humanity protesting & marching to the Deputy commissioners office on the day of protest & submitting the memorandum. The scene was replicated in almost every small & big city in India at that time. As the College Miscellany secretary , I led a bunch of protesters shutting down classes in RLS Institute & Lingaraj college at that time. And in the process I ran into the fiery & feared teacher Prof.Malali who was taking his classes. Instead of scowling & firing me , which he was notorious for, he told me come on to the class stage (the old Lingaraj college had classes with a raised platform for teachers) & express whatever angst I had, and in no uncertain terms. He was not ready to disperse his class and I had no options.

Waves & waves of similar protests erupted from every city in India, big or small. It was as though there was another mass uprising in the country after the Quit India movement but this time against the Government & its policies.VP Singh faded away soon after, ill health gripped him which some attribute to the moral & mental baggage that he carried from this misadventure. A tinge of mixed nostalgia remains through his death.

Presidential ticker

As the final lap of the presidential race gets over , one can’t help get over the withdrawal symptoms of what has been the end of another soap like saga on television. For some time now, we have been witnessing all the twists & turns , hopes & frustrations and of course lot of media innuendos & political gibbeckry on this seminal event . No other reality show comes even close. Strip all the paraphernalia surrounding this event to its bare essentials and what you get to witness is two contenders for what Dan Brown would call ‘a position of Power’. I am talking of a position of power that has been endlessly glorified & mystified in countless Hollywood flicks and novels adding to the aura surrounding the post. So essentially what would be the 5 things about this job that the 2 contenders Barack or McCain be after? Here’s my list

1. Party conclaves & Campaign : The run up show is no less grandeur than the one culminating in the taking of Oath & secrecy. No other reality show can even stand up to this, one massive PR exercise choreographed masterfully to the last frame. The confetti’s, the audience with picture perfect placards, the light & razzmatazz and of course the carefully rehearsed dialogues & punch lines of the candidates can even put Terminator dialogues to shade. A whole battery of Poll wizards, spin doctors & Communication and presentation specialists and Campaign strategists make up this jamboree.

2. 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue : This boxlike stone structure with hipped roof, balustrade and columnar entrance designed by architect James Hoban maybe the smallest presidential mansion in the world but has unrivaled power & prestige .Nicknamed the Loo, Dick’s den, the Clinton bedroom etc , the most dominating aspect of the Oval office is said to be the colorful American eagle emblazoned on the room’s oval carpet. The eagles left talon clutches an olive branch and his right a bundle of arrows. It is said that during times of peace, the eagle faced left –towards olive branch but in times of war it faced right –towards the arrows.

3. Presidential retreat : Established as "Shangri-La" by President Franklin Roosevelt, it was subsequently renamed Camp David by Dwight Eisenhower. Serves the President, providing the First Family and their guests with solitude and tranquility and uniquely private place to work or relax. It is said that George Bush has officially spent 365 days — a full year — at Camp David in his tenure. You can actually go on hunting trips in its vast woods & accidentally shoot a friend like Dick Cheney did.

4. The Nuclear briefcase/Nuclear command: The black briefcase with the codes to engage & activate USA's arsenal of Land & Sea based nuclear weapons is one hell of a gadget that the president carries everywhere and everybody is wary of . It’s the ultimate silver bullet that the president can bite & bomb the earth to its Cretaceous era. The Russians have an equivalent one, code-named Cheget just to keep the president in check and play a game of cat & mouse if it comes to it.

5. Airforce One : This machine is the commander-in-chief’s portable home court in which he often flies to other countries in peace times while in war times is safely tucked away a couple of thousand feet away in sky. Mockingly called the ‘the flying phallus’ for its 6-foot-high letters trumpeting UNITED STATES OF AMERICA on its fuselage intimidating & mimicking the power influence and muscle inside, it has over 4000 Sq ft of interior floor space, including 4 separate sleeping quarters, berths for 26 member flight crew & 2 galleys capable of providing food for 50 people.

Janmabhoomi Vs Karmabhoomi

We live in embattled times, our cities have not only become melting pot of various cultures but battlegrounds drawn on linguistic & ethnic identities. The current happenings in Mumbai notwithstanding, modern India is on the move and the stress points are manifesting at its fissure points, our large cosmopolitan cities. Add to this the desperate Rajneetis of marginal politicians seeking vain attempts to draw political mileages and build vote banks and you have the fire ignited. 

Rapid Urbanization is drawing people from all sides and walks of life and my city Bangalore (aka Bengaluru ) which has been my home for the past 14 years is a perfect metamorphosis of this kind of transformation in Indian cities. Here I live without any fear of recrimination or any other baggage as I belong to the state & identify with its ethic culture. In a sense I live free of fear or favour. 

But I cannot say the same of a lot of my friends & acquaintances from outside the state who form ¾ of the city population. Though there is apparent calm and tranquility on the surface, most of these people live in mortal fear of recrimination as it happened in the case of the Cauvery water crisis or during Dr.Rajkumar (a noted Kannada personality & Film thespian ) death. 

I wonder what went through the mind of my neighbor, from chennai, when he had big pictures of Dr.Raj pasted on his front and rear glass of his car during a few days after his death. Minor trouble did break out during his funeral procession (allegedly engineered by a big time local politician) but thankfully it did not take any linguistic colour.

My thoughts are drawn to the hackney raised by KRV (Karnataka Rakshana Vedike) and that of MNS (Maharashtra Navanirman Sena) and patterns that follow a common diabolical agenda to attain political puberty and arrive on the electoral stage. Both of them appeal to the so called asmita or pride drawn on the rich culture and heritage of their respective linguistic domains. Both entities have conveniently found out that it’s not the upwardly mobile or the rich highly educated and cosmopolitan people of their community that find an immediate audience but the large mass of poor , under educated and marginal segments who wage a daily fight for their existence. 

And what better platform to voice this in the lower rungs of Railway recruitment Jobs! Railways after all is the mother of all recruiters in this country (read largest Govt recruiter). Both entities also took on popular film superstars & made them bow to their diktats. Both are fringe parties without any political base, KRV does not have even a single representative in the state assembly, and their agenda and manifesto is unique in the sense that it is not pursued by any of the main stream political parties. This gives them a virgin political bandwidth to drum up mass emotions on linguistic chauvinism. Both states incidentally does not have a regional party like Telugu Desam or DMK/AIADMK to root this kind of identity.

In Mumbai where certain professions are dominated by UP/Bihari’s like the Taxiwallas, chaatwallas or Halwaies , Bangalore exhibits similar patterns. Your neighborhood Ironman, Sweeper , domestic helper or office support staff could most probably be a Tamilian so as the likelihood of your neighborhood Bakery, Tea stall or Provision store wallah being a Malayali. I am drawing this on my common observation and is not meant to demean in any sense. 

In fact I admire and respect their sheer tenacity and hard work and find them glowing examples in entrepreneurism. But try explaining this to the local farmer from Mandya, a local who did not know any language except Kannada and came to work as a watchman in my apartment but was unceremoniously kicked out because he dint know Hindi and  could not converse with most of the people in the apartment! 

This is the kind of grist that keep the mills of KRV & MNS working overtime