Are you really serious about NEW YEAR RESOLUTION?

Now that the new year is around the corner,many of you might be in the process of finding new year resolutions.Some of you are thinking of exercising 5 days a week(with occasional jogging),waking up early in the morning at least on weekdays or hooking up less on facebook and whatsapp.Others,in my view,are eagerly waiting for Jan 1,2015 to cut down on smoking,alcohol or paan-masala.On Dec 31,nearly 90 percent of the drunkards(both habitual and occasional ones) take a collective pledge while holding their pegs "Cheers,aaj se daaru pina chhod denge"(Cheers,henceforth,we shall do away with drinking).

Taking up resolutions is very easy.It needs just the word of the mouth or noting down on a piece of paper in bold letters.Following it up for 12 months is quite an uphill task.Leave alone 12 months,I have had not a single record of honouring my resolutions for even 12 weeks.Every time,I used to give up consoling myself that some of my friends had even failed to keep their quasi-promises for 12 days.They would say "Bas bahot ho gaya yaar,zindagi ek hi baar milti hai"(Enough is enough friend,life comes only once).

I still remember one of my teachers advising me to treat every day as a new year day.Perhaps,we both fell in the same category of serious thinkers failing every year to keeping our resolutions intact.His guru mantra might have been the by-product of repeated failed attempts.He was against taking up new year pledges unless one had the serious resoluteness to follow it for 365 days.

So,my new year's resolution for 2015 is to not make any new year's resolutions.Breaking resolutions often accompany a sense of failure and I do not want to be a part of it.For,those who have succeeded in keeping up their new year promises,I salute your firm determination and courage.I too extend my best wishes to those planning quite seriously to adhere to their resolutions scrupulously as a 365-day mission.

HAPPY NEW YEAR,2015.

Bodo conflict in Assam-the complex factors involved

Assam is once again in the news for all the wrong reasons.This time,the NDFB(S),a breakaway faction of larger NDFB group has attacked tribal people,mainly women and children,for no fault of theirs.This was a barbaric act of crimes against humanity which can neither be condoned nor justified.

The NDFB(S) appears to have no clear aims and objectives.They are opposed against the larger NDFB group,led by Ranjan Daimary,which is in a ceasefire agreement with the Indian Government.The indiscriminate killings of the innocent people in Sonitpur and Kokrajhar districts of Assam was a retaliatory action against the offensive launched by the state police forces against the militant group.In 2012,they resorted to divisive tactics of dividing Hindus against the Muslims,which led to wider communal conflict between the two groups.As one police officer has stated,the militant group engages in such divisive tactics thus taking time to regroup themselves and exposing the maladministration of the state government in maintaining law and order.

Moreover,there are complex factors involved which cause tension in these areas.In the Bodo Territorial Administered Districts(BTAD),the Bodos constitute only 30 percent of the population.Rest of the population comprises of Assamese,Bengali Hindus,Kuch-Rajbongshi and the adivasis.The Bodo Peoples Party(BPP) wield political power in the region often resorting to violence and intimidation to supress other ethnic groups.This has not gone down well with non-Bodo ethnic groups,resulting in recurrent conflicts in the region.

With the political rise of BPP(the erstwhile BLT,a militant group),the acolytes of prominent militant leaders benefitted.The government gave amnesty to the leaders,who were accused of grave crimes prior to the cease-fire agreement in 2003.Some of these leaders committed criminal acts with impunity for narrow political interests.Thus a sense of laxity and impunity developed among these groups,who continuously try to disrupt the peace in this region.The state government has also failed to prosecute these wrong-doers.It has given free hand to these groups,primarily the BPP,which is a political ally of the Congress party at the state.

The union government,responsible for enforcing cease-fire ground rules,has failed to do so.The cease-fire ground rules clearly prohibit the reconciled groups to carry arms or move in uniforms outside designated camps.They can neither procure additional arms nor take part in extortion or intimidation of individuals including government officials.Yet,these Bodos and Dimasas groups flout the rules with impunity.

It would be unfair to ignore the problem of illegal migration in the state.The people in the North-east India are very conscious of their identity over land,territory and natural resources.The illegal migration in the state has altered the demography of the region.The land encroachment continues with the connivance of state administration and the immigrants.This has created a sense of alienation among the ethnic tribes in the region resulting in conflicts.

The first responsibility of the State government is to provide security to the ordinary people.The state administration should carry out effective monitoring of any impending ethnic-conflict.It should prosecute those individuals responsible for alleged crimes against humanity,irrespective of political affiliation.There should be sustained dialogue between the government and those groups who gave up arms for the sake of peace.Monitoring and supervision of designated 'cease-fire camps'should be carried out on a monthly basis.A comprehensive action plan needs to be drawn so as to accomodate all the ethnic groups in the path of development.

Remembering Indian soldiers who fought the first world war

The historic world war-I would remain incomplete without mentioning the heroic efforts of Indian soldiers.Nearly 1.5 million Indian soldiers took part in the war and represented the British empire.Recently,Markandey Katju,the chairman of the Press Council of India and a former Supreme Court judge described them as mercenaries who fought for the British empire.Dismissing them as mere mercenaries,in my view,would be an injustice to their valiant efforts in serving the cause of British India.

Indian soldiers participated in the war with the hope that the British would grant India dominion status in due time.Even prominent leaders like Gandhi and Tilak exhorted the Indians to contribute their share thus helping the British in their war efforts.Indians took part in the war not only as soldiers,but also as labourers and workers.India sent raw materials to Britain so that their economy flourished even during the crisis.

The initial political payback came with the Montagu declaration which clearly stated"self-rule was not to be the constitutional right of British alone."That said,Indians were optimistic to get paid in the form of greater self-rule and the right to self-determination.With the passage of time,the British,however reneged on their promises and instead imposed the Rowlatt act.This was a gross insult to Indian's faith on British rule,which,in turn,aroused the nationalistic sentiments against the colonial rule.The hatred against colonial rule,among all the sections,would later ensure mass participation in Non-cooperation and civil-disobedience movements.

Moreover,during the war,the Indian soldiers got exposure to the democratic culture of the west.They realised that the Europeans were better off than the Indians in all aspects of life.In Europe,the girls were well educated and contributed to their workforce,thus making them self-dependent and empowered.On their return,many soldiers pledged to educate their girl children.They too realised as to how the British rule resulted in the economic drain of their homeland.

Thus,we cannot write the Indian soldiers out of history by describing them as mere mercenaries.They were an integral part of India's struggle against the British for independence.The centenary year of the first world war,2014,is thereby an occasion to remember the Indian soldiers who fought for the betterment of India.

How vulnerable is the Chicken's neck?

The Chicken's neck of India is the siliguri corridor situated in West Bengal,India.The corridor is so named because of its shape(in Indian map) which resembles the neck of a chicken.It is a narrow stretch of land which connects the North-east India with the Indian mainland.

Although the corridor is a narrow mass of land,it has immense economic and strategic relevance for India.A single railway line passes through the corridor connecting the two regions,apart from the roadways.Most of the goods and Public Distribution System(PDS) are transported through trains,thereby making the railways an important mode of transport.All the passenger trains have to necessarily pass through this narrow strip to move from one region to another.

Strategically,the corridor is sandwiched between Nepal,Bhutan and Bangladesh.At one place,the corridor is just 24 kilometres wide separating Nepal and Bangladesh.After the 1962 Indo-China war,India faced the risk of hightened security concerns from China due to the boundary disputes with China.However,in 2003,when China officially considered Sikkim as an integral part of Indian territory,much of its security fears were addressed.Yet,the narrow corridor could be misused for drug smuggling and infiltration of illegal migrants if strict vigilance is not maintained.

The rugged topography in the region and severities of climate(the downpour is maximum in North-East due to South-West monsoon) has rendered the corridor utter vulnerable to natural disasters.During heavy rains,landslides do occur which could halt the trade and communication entirely,resulting in price rise of essential commodities.Moreover,the rapid-flowing rivers in the region changes its course frequently creating hardships for the people settled around the region.

Trade and economic development is vital for the overall growth of North-eastern region.Only 2 percent of its landmass is connected with the mainland India,while 98 percent of its landmass borders nations like China,Myanmar and Bangladesh.Therefore.it is imperative that there is increased trade links with North-East India.The NF railway should renew its ties with Myanmar and Bangladesh.Additional railway lines should be constructed bypassing the existing railway line.India should sign a free trade agreement with its south Asian and south-east Asian neighbours enabling the trade of goods across these countries.India has agreed upon a multi-modal transport linking India with its neighbours in the BIMSTEC meet.India should,in no time,start implementing the project in co-ordination with its neighbors and stake-holders.

Views on religious conversions

The issue of religious conversions has again become dominant in India's current socio-political discourse.With the BJP at the centre and Congress party being decimated,the focal point of attention has been the legitimacy of religious conversions,which many have referred to as 'Ghar wapsi' programme.But the moot question is-how far is the religious conversions legally sanctified?

Article 25(1)of the Indian constitution states that all people-not only Indian citizens-are entitled to freedom of conscience and have the right to profess,practic
e and propagate one's own religion.It is significant to note that freedom to propagate one's religion is in stark contrast to the forcible conversion of a person to another religion.As Justice A.N.Ray interpreted the word "propagate" to mean "to transmit or spread one's religion by an exposition of its tenets".The Supreme court has also declared illegal the forcible conversions holding it to be against the spirit of Indian constitution.Forcible conversions thus violate the fundamental right of freedom of conscience of an individual and thus cannot be justified in any manner.

Gandhi considered every religion to be true in its own way.According to him,all religions deliver the same essential spiritual message.In an article in Young India in 1931,he stated-"India stands in no need of conversions from one faith to another."Gandhi was for atmaparivartan.a change of heart,but not for dharmantar,or a change in religion.When B.R.Ambedkar embraced Buddhism in 1956,Gandhi stated"Religion is not like a house or cloak which can be changed at will".

The current pattern of religious conversions in India has highlighted a peculiar message which might have seemingly escaped the attention of policy makers.That said,people were ready to embrace another religion primarily for availing economic benefits-like BPL card,ration benefits and decent employment.They were least concerned about the righteousness or propreity of any of the religions.Thus,policy makers should rather focus on improving the socio-economic condition of the masses rather than tacitly patronising the forcible conversions.Also,the current laws are sufficient to control forcible conversions carried out with the aim to ignite communal passions.Any new legislation to ban religious conversions of any kind would further complicate the issue.

Death penalty-an overview

India awards death penalty to convicts involved in heinous offences.Recently,two convicts,namely Afzal Guru and Ajmal Kasab were hanged till death by the state.The hanging of Afzal Guru had even courted controversies with a section of people questioning the procedure followed by the state before hanging him.According to Amnesty International,140 countries throughout the world have abolished the death penalty altogether.Even the International Criminal Court(ICC) prescribes life-imprisonment for the gravest crimes like genocide.In this context,the question assumes significance:Should India abolish the death penalty altogether?

India cites three reasons for retaining death penalty.First,it is the sovereign right of the nation to determine the nature of its law and punitive measures.Second,it is awarded only in the cases of rarest of rare crimes.Third,adequate legal safeguards are followed for appeal by the convict before taking him to the gallows.While India is arguably reasonable in retaining the death sentence,certain facts cannot be glossed over in a country,which claims to be the world's largest democracy.

The procedure followed while awarding death penalty to a convict is not always fool-proof.There are chances that the judgement becomes arbitrary and judge-centric rather than principle-centric.The miscarriage of justice goes fundamentally against the basic tenet of natural justice which says"The guilty must be punished and the innocent should be freed".Moreover,in a country,where the justice dispensation process is still long-drawn,convicts are left languished in prisons for years before being hanged.The convicts have to bear untold physical and mental harassment in prisons while waiting for clemency as the clemency process is in itself very time-consuming.In this backdrop,the Supreme court recently directed the government to dispose the mercy petitions of the convict as soon as possible(Satrughan case,2014).

In a democracy,the first right of a person is the right to live.The state has the obligation to protect the fundamental right to life of an individual. Justice Krishna Iyer had stated that the state has no business in taking away the life of an individual in the name of ensuring retribution,merely to avenge his acts.Revenge is not equivalent to justice.Also,death is awarded for the acts committed by the convict without taking into consideration the social background and the role of the state in bringing up its citizens.Thus,awarding death penalty is equivalent to the missed opportunity of the state in reforming the convict or providing grounds for reform.

The architect of the constitution,Baba Saheb Ambedkar admitted in constituent assembly that people may not follow non-violence in practice,but "they certainly adhere to the principle of non-violence as a moral mandate which they ought to observe as far as they possibly can".With this in mind,he said"the proper thing for this country to do is to abolish the death sentence altogether".

How far is Gandhi's principle of non-violence valid in today's world?

In one of my previous blogs titled 'Ahimsa is not just physical violence',I had discussed at length about the meaning of 'non-violence' as advocated by Gandhi.Today,I would shed light on the practical applicability of the much cherished principle of non-violence and the extent to which the principle holds good in today's world.Gandhi's principle of non-violence should be seen in the larger context of 'Satyagraha'.Satyagraha is a soul force,unlike physical or brute force.which implies holding on to the truth for the cause of one's principle.It is an infliction  of suffering on oneself without causing any physical harm to the enemy.

A recent survey states that almost 70 percent of cases involving countries struggling for democratic regime were successful through their non-violent struggles.Eminent personalities like Nelson Mandela,Martin Luther King Junior,Aang Suu Kyi,the Dalai Lama advocated non-violent measures to achieve their aims and objectives.Most recently,during the so-called 'Arab Spring',activists in Egypt,Yemen and other countries,hold the pictures of Gandhi and closely studied his principles.Back home,the anti-corruption movement spear-headed by Anna Hazare relentlessly relied on the principles of non-violence.The movement was so effective that it led to the downfall of a political party ruling at the centre as it was involved in various big-ticket scams.

However,the principle of non-violence is not without flaws.Gandhi believed that by inflicting self-suffering and doing no physical harm on the enemy,the crimes committed by the enemy would stand exposed.But,it is applicable only when the enemy realises that the acts committed by him are morally wrong.It could work only against opponents vulnerable to a loss of moral authority and governments responsive to domestic and international public opinion.For instance,countries got the freedom from colonial rule partly due to the rulers respecting the sovereignty and freedom of the colonies.

But when the oppressor believes in the justice of his cause and refuses to accept that he was wrong,adhering to non-violent satyagraha might not yield results.It has also little effect on those who are already seeking to punish you whether you disagree with them or not.For them,your willingness to undergo punishment would make things easier as it would corroborate that they were neither wrong nor oppressive.Therefore.in more complex situations,the applicability of the principle of non-violence might not universally hold good.

Is it practically possible to bring back black money that is stashed abroad?

In both print as well as electronic media,there is hue and cry over the overwhelming quantum of black money that is stashed abroad in foreign banks.In parliament,we do witness disruptive scenes over one political party trying to bring its opponent on its toes over the black money issue.Further,the incumbent Prime Minister,in one of his campaigns for Lok Sabha elections assured the people that if all the black money stashed abroad were retrieved,each household would get an amount of 15 lakh.His assurance of bringing back every pie of black money within six months has added to further hopes among the common people.

But the moot question is:How far is it practically possible to bring back black money stashed in foreign banks?In my view,under current circumstances,it is highly unlikely.I would like to put forth some arguments to substantiate the claim.Investments pour in the foreign banks primarily due to the inherent nature of keeping identity and quantum of money a secret,rather than returns on investments which is considerably very low.Moreover,financial services is a money-spinning sector in countries like Switzerland.Thus,divulging details of their account holders so easily would prove to be a risky step for an economy depending on financial services as a major contributor to its economy.

The Swiss authorities have stated that they would divulge details about the account holders provided the allegations of tax fraud are proved against them in a court of law.But,determining tax evasion is a cumbersome step.It is because the transactions of black money change hands frequently thus making it difficult to determine the exact source of its generation and the quantum of black money.India withdrew at the last moment from signing a treaty with Switzerland on Multilateral Competent Authority,which will provide for automatic exchange of information from 2017.

India can still sign the treaty.The government should declare tax evasion as a criminal offence.Currently,tax evasion is considered as a civil offence.This has made retrieval of black money extremely difficult as the foreign governments take shadow under the shallower provisions of the Indian law.As recommended by the SIT,Permanent Account Number should be made mandatory for all cash and cheque transactions above Rs.1 lakh.Moreover,there is a need to initiate regulatory measures to curb enormous cash transactions carried out in shopping malls,real-estate sector,education and mining sector.These are the sectors that generate black money.Unless effective steps are taken to stem the domestic generation of black money,Indian economy will continue to suffer.Therefore,the wise thing is to forget the past and bring reforms to prevent generation of black money.

Section 66-A of the Information Technology Act-Is it draconian?

The section 66-A of the IT act,2008 seeks to regulate speech on internet and other communication electronic devices.Though the act was legislated with good intentions,of late,it has created controversies.On many occasions,the state and the influentials are alleged to have misused the provisions of the act for vested interests.Let us delve into the pros and cons of this legislation.

With the advent of digital era,internet has become a preferred mode of communication.Though the information technology has made our lives easier,there is a flip side to it.Incidents of cyber-bullying,spams,online harassment,hate-speeches with the aim to divide society have also increased.Therefore,the section 66-A of IT act seeks to control internet-related crimes.Even section 499 and section 500 of Indian Penal Code(IPC) is silent about the crimes committed through electronic format.The IT act is thus a legislative measure to regulate such incidents.

However,there are a number of demerits of the act.The section 66-A(a) of the act penalises sending information which is 'grossly offensive' or 'menacing' in character.But the illustrations regarding these terms are ill-defined and open-ended.Therefore,determining the exact meaning of what is offensive or menacing falls within the subjective discretion of the complainant leaving enough room for its wide misuse.Moreover,in criminal jurisprudence,a crime has two components-intention and act.The offence is committed under the IT act the moment an individual acts through electronic devices although his intentions were non-offensive in character.

The act,in all likelihood,violates the fundamental right of speech and expression,as enshrined in article 19 of Indian constitution.The 19(2) of the constitution mentions the grounds of reasonable restrictions imposed on the freedom of expression.However,as the terms mentioned in the act are open to subjective interpretation of the complainant,it is an affront to the right of free expression-a corner-stone of our democratic constitution.

Further,the act legally recognises the act of 'transmitting' offensive messages a punishable offence.The word 'transmitting' is vaguely defined and thus it is prone to wide misuse.For instance.liking a post or commenting on a post might attract punishment under the act.The arrest of two girls in Mumbai in 2012 on the charges of liking and commenting on a face-book post was an instance of severe misuse of the act.Moreover,section 81 of IT act,2008 states that on grounds of contravention of this act with other acts(such as IPC).the IT act would prevail.This very provision would subject the individual to undue harassment.

Therefore,it is imperative that the government undertake measures to clearly define the inherent terms in the act thus narrowing down its subjective interpretations.Due to the public pressure,the government recently mandated the prior permission of a senior police officer before exercising the act.But,in a country,where the police reforms haven't been successfully carried out till date,undue political interference may dilute the noble purpose of the act.It is not to be forgotten that laws meant for the public good shouldn't be misused against public interest.

India's stand on climate change negotiations

It is now a well established fact that climate change is real.Several bodies like Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) and other independent studies have shown that the mean global temperature could rise by 2-3 degree celsius from current levels unless real-time effective steps are taken in short term,medium as well as long-term.After initial vacillation,finally there seems to be a convergence among the global nations on reducing the effects of climate change.The upcoming Paris summit in 2015 is conceived to be a game-changer as far as commitments towards environmental sustainability is concerned.

It is significant to note India's stand on global climate change negotiations.First,India believes that Common But Differentiated Responsibilities(CBDR) should be the basis of future laws on climate-change.The historical responsibility was a cardinal principle as agreed upon by United Nations Framework on Climate Change(UNFCC) and Kyoto protocol in 1997.Accordingly,the developed countries were among the largest emitters of Green-House Gases(GHGs) since industrial revolution.Therefore the onus lies on developed nations to undertake proactive steps towards reducing climate change.

Second,India supports an adaptation-centric approach(preparing themselves to reduce the vulnerability and risk due to impact on climate change)rather than mitigation centred strategy(excessive emission-cut).India agrees that adaptation should be the basis of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions(INDC) or individual voluntary commitments to reduce the effects of climate change.Moreover,the developed countries should primarily make meaningful financial contribution and help in the transfer of technology to poorer nations.There is a need for technology development through joint collaborative research.

Overall,India has outlined five pillars of strength as key to climate change.They are adaptation,mitigation,finance.technology transfer and capacity building.The climate deal should also include review of laws on biodiversity,wildlife and also air,water and land resources.Moreover the laws must be transparent with adequate focus on accountability of institutions.The research and development(R&D) should channelise its efforts towards making alternative sources of energy viable and affordable.

The problem of illegal immigration in Assam

Illegal immigration from Bangladesh is a problem not only affecting Assam but also other regions such as Meghalaya,Tripura and West Bengal.However,in Assam,it has been a long-drawn problem which has posed a threat to the demographic profile of the state.The Assam agitation in 1979-85 and the resultant tripartite agreement popularly known as Assam accord was signed with the aim to contain the problem of illegal migration.Despite the agreement,much less has been achieved so far and illegal immigration continues unabated till date.

The Bangladeshi people migrate in search of greener pastures in India.They often take up menial low-paying jobs in construction sector and as domestic help.India and Bangladesh share a porous border thus providing them the safe route to cross the border illegally.There seems to have been a lack of political will to stem the flow of illegal immigration.Some political parties even eye them as a potential vote-bank which has further aggravated the problem.

The ill-effects due to uncontrolled illegal migration are manifold.First.it is a grave security issue for the nation.Since they can't be easily tracked of their movements,they may give rise to insurgency problem in the state.The recent arrest of a person in Guwahati in relation to the Burdwan blasts is a grim reminder to the security problem.Second,it results in the mis-allocation of domestic resources.That said,they encroach land illegally,avail public goods and employment avenues meant primarily for the citizens.In extreme cases,they even attain the right to vote by dubiously getting enrolled in election rolls.Third.it leads to social unrest.The inter-community clashes between Bodo and muslims in 2012 and 2014 was partly due to the apathy of the government in tackling the issue of illegal immigration.

How can we best tackle this problem?There should be an effective monitoring system in place for proper documentation of these migrants and should be regularly tracked.The Assam government had announced its intention to upgrade the National Population Registrar(NPR),but the efforts are short of effective implementation at the ground level.Technology plays an important role here.They should be subjected to biometric identification which would prove handy in tracking them easily.They may be issued temporary work-permits.But after the expiry of these permits,they must be sent back to their homeland.However,in the long run,India should try to help Bangladesh in its economic development through greater investments.This would provide employment opportunities to Bangladeshis at home thus disincentivizing their migration across the border.

Why are the airlines making losses in India?

The airlines in India have been making huge losses recently.The Kingfisher airlines had to halt its operations and even struggled to pay its employees.Currently,Spice-jet has reduced its fleet and reported to have made losses of around 2000 crore in the ongoing financial year.Air India has managed to survive only because of the bail-out package announced by the government by pumping in tax-payers' money.Thus airlines incurring losses have become a norm rather than exception.

What are the reasons for airlines going in red in India?First,fuel expenses constitute almost 40 percent of the operational costs of the airlines.Nowhere in the world is the fuel as expensive as in India.The central government as well as state governments impose high taxes on Aviation Turbine Fuel(ATF) consequently raising the operational costs.

Second,all the costs of the airlines are borne in the denominations of dollars rather than rupee.The depreciating Indian rupee vis-a-vis dollar has made the overall transactions very expensive in aviation industry.Moreover,airlines like Kingfisher and Spice-jet enter into the aviation industry without having an adequate capital-base.Thus.even a slight fluctuation in business parameters render them highly vulnerable against losses.

Third,India lacks a robust manufacturing as well as maintenance base for aircrafts within its territorial boundaries.As a result,the purchasing cost as well as operational costs(other than fuel)increases manifold.Moreover,India used to hire foreign pilots and engineers due to the shortage of experienced manpower at home,which further escalates the overall costs.

The government would do well to treat aviation as an essential rather than luxury enterprise.The taxes on fuel could be lowered so that airlines have the scope to increase their profit margin.Also,foreign investments in domestic aviation industry is the need of the hour.Airlines like Jet-Ethiad,Air-Asia and Tata-Singapore airlines are likely to weather the storm as they have huge capital base.There is a need to bring in greater operational and management efficiency in its operations.In the long run,privatising Air India could be considered so as to make it efficient and profitable.

Ahimsa is not just physical non-violence-Mahatma Gandhi

In common parlance,we often associate ahimsa or non-violence with just physical non-violence.But,non-violence has several aspects.As Gandhi said in 1918,"satyagraha must be non-violent in thought,word or deed towards the enemy or among ourselves".Therefore,what we think or what we say is squarely related with the idea of non-violence.The title 'Mahatma' sits very well on Gandhi because of his emphasis on verbal non-violence too.

But why do we not treat verbal non-violence as the integral part of ahimsa?It is because unlike physical non-violence,verbal non-violence is intangible in nature.Those political leaders who claim to be pure Gandhian,often miss the fact that the unsavoury language that they use in day-to-day life goes against the Gandhian principles.Also the hate mongers who seek to divide people on communal lines forget that Gandhi was truly non-compromising on non-violence in every form-thoughts,words and actions.
For Gandhi,truth and ahimsa were not just for yogis,but also for the common citizens.This vindicates that non-violence furthers the democratic principles in a society rather than confining itself to the religious aspects.Thus,Gandhi espoused 'sweet persuasion' and 'beauty of compromise' in dealing with our opponents.Anyone who resort to physical harm,had failed to win the argument by using reason and rationale judgement.It is not to be forgotten that tongue is sharper than the sword.

Is dehorning a wise alternative to control poaching of one-horned rhinoceros?

Rhino poaching in one of the major environmental issues in India,which continues unabated in certain parts of Assam.The one-horned rhinoceros was originally widespread in Indo-Gangetic plains.Its population has declined considerably in the 20th and 21st century due to illegal poaching and trade.Today,hardly they are numbered 2500 in India.The Kaziranga national park,Orang national park in Darrang and Pobitora wild-life sanctuary in Morigaon constitute almost 95 percent of the one-horned rhinoceros found in the world.Owing to its declining population,the IUCN Red List has categorised it as vulnerable species in its list of threatened species.

Recently.some scholars had recommended dehorning of rhinoceros as a possible alternative to contain the menace of illegal poaching.Dehorning may sound as a credible option,per se,but it will have serious unintended ramifications.First,it amounts to a tacit admission by the state that it is helpless against notorious poachers and unauthorised forces.The poachers,in utter desperation,would search frantically for other measures like poaching of tigers for its nail,hides and skin.

Second,there is no guarantee that the horns of rhinos would be safe in the custody of state after dehorning it.The collusion between bureaucrats,politicians and illegal traders may create yet another problem so as to ensure its safety.Instead,the diligent monitoring of the movement of rhinoceros with its horn intact would be doubly effective in controlling the menace of rhino poaching.

Third,dehorning would render the rhinos vulnerable because it would be unable to defend itself against attacks by other species.The horn is a hard material made up of calcium and melanin,which provides the requisite bone strength making it capable for effective defence.It would have unknown impact on life and ecology of the animal.Also,one-horned rhinoceros is the symbol of Assam oil.Dehorning is equivalent to the loss of cultural pride of Assam.

Therefore,the best measure to control the menace is through effective monitoring and increased vigilance.The government should train the security forces effectively on how to deal with the poachers.Anti-poaching camps should be created with adequate infrastructure and capacity building.The government may emulate the African model wherein the horns were dyed with pink color.Consequently,they could be traced easily by X-ray scanning even if it was ground to a fine powder,thus preventing illegal smuggling through important installations like air-ports and other check points.The government may also fast-track these cases to ensure higher conviction rates.This would certainly serve as a deterrent for the wrong-doers.

India's foreign policy

Foreign policy is an instrument available to a nation by which it promotes its national and security interests.India's foreign policy has undergone a paradigm shift since its independence from British rule in 1947.Also,there has been a sea change in our relations with the first world,second world and third world countries with its impressive economic growth in recent decades.

Gone are the days when we were following an isolationist foreign policy in 1950s .India emerged out of decades of colonial rule in 1947 but quickly found itself in tangles of cold war,which made it necessary to adopt a foreign policy based on non-alignment.This was perhaps a wise decision based on the prevailing geo-political situation.The immediate aim of  India was to eradicate poverty and hunger as well as to become self-sufficient which could have been possible through the nature of foreign policy adopted at that time.

With the fall of Berlin wall and India's transition towards globalisation and liberalisation in 1990s.the global geo-political scenario underwent a profound change.India could no longer afford to remain isolated so as to achieve growth and prosperity.Also with the rise of Asian tigers and emerging economies like India and China,India had to shed its inflexibility and blind-patriotism in multi-polar,multi-interest world.India thus followed an open approach in foreign policy.The increasing focus on look-east policy and growing inter-linkages with western nations is a testimony to the fact.

Another important aspect has been India's efforts towards becoming a regional leader among the South-Asian nations.However,at times India erred on its sense of judgement by trying to impose upon its neighbors by adopting a big-brotherly attitude rather than a true guiding spirit.Therefore,the neighboring nations occasionally followed an obstructionist approach so as to halt India's influence.India has been trying to shed its negative image and follow an all-inclusive model thus taking our neighbors along in the path of development.

India can prosper well in foreign-policy domain only when it creates an atmosphere of trust among other neighboring countries.New age foreign policy must be based as much on enlightened self-interest as on pragmatism.India must be open and tolerant and at the same time have the ability to build bridges,reach out and leave the past behind.

Impact of Land-boundary settlement agreement on North-east India-an overview

The land boundary agreement between India and Bangladesh was conceived originally in 1974.The then prime ministers of India and Bangladesh agreed upon to sign the agreement.But,the agreement couldn't materialise for nearly three and a half decades due to lack of political consensus on both sides.It was in 2011,that the UPA government led by Manmohan Singh and his Bangladeshi counterpart,Sheikh Hasina decided to end the impasse on border issue.However,no consensus prevailed even during this period,which further delayed its immediate ratification.

The BJP government has now decided to solve the border row after getting a massive mandate in recent Lok Sabha elections.It has decided to forge a consensus on primarily three issues.First,approximately 6 kilometers of the nearly 4000 km long boundary is virtually unsettled.The unsettled boundary land falls within the territorial domain of Assam. Tripura,
Meghalaya and parts of West-Bengal.It has spurred illegal migration,cattle-smuggling and drug-smuggling over decades,which would be put under control if the agreement is signed.

Second.India has almost 111 enclaves in the territory of Bangladesh,while 51 Bangladeshi enclaves are in Indian territory.For decades,the people in these enclaves have suffered immensely as they could not avail the citizenship rights of either of these nations.Moreover these enclaves have too become a safe-haven for illegal migration.The apprehension of territorial loss for Assam is rather unfounded because India does not govern the Indian enclaves in Bangladesh,and vice-versa.

Third,certain territorial lands are in adverse possession of both the nations.That said,Bangladesh land contiguous with the border, inhabitated by its citizens,and de facto under its control.but falling within the Indian side of the border,and vice-versa. The solution to the issue of adverse-possession is pre-requisite for demarcating the border and also facilitating trade.

It is a well-known fact that India shares a 4000 km long boundary with Bangladesh.Yet.most of the trade is conducted by sea resulting in avoidable trade barriers.It is essential to carry out both the land and sea-based trade for greater integration of both the nations.The regional trade between Bangladesh and North-east India is also expected to grow.Further,the agreement would put an end to illegal migration and smuggling across the border,which until now has been a cause of concern for the demographic profile of Assam and its adjoining states.The demarcated boundary would encourage effective monitoring thus preventing cross-border crimes.

Thus,the land-border agreement between the two nations is a long overdue step.India and Bangladesh must exhibit the political will which will have salutary effect on the long-term economic and security interests of both the nations!

Can we effectively rein in tobacco consumption?

It is a well-established fact that almost 9 lakh people die in India annually due to tobacco consumption.The economic loss incurred by the nation amounts to almost 15,000 crore annually as a result of tobacco consumption.Considering the enormous deaths and the resultant loss in nation's productivity,reining in tobacco consumption has become a necessary imperative.

The government has also taken stock of the alarming situation and initiated several measures to control its consumption.A major chunk of tobacco consumers fall in the age group of 15-27 years,which doesn't bode well for the state of health in the country.Initially,the government banned the sale of tobacco within 100 meters away from the school premises.Though the step curtailed the easy accessibility of tobacco products for school-going children,it was still affordable for many of them,including the grown-ups.

In the fiscal year 2014-15,the government increased taxes on tobacco products,particularly cigarettes.Moreover,the government is willing to enforce stricter packaging norms in the days to come.Starting April 2015,almost 85 percent of the cigarette packets would mandatorily entail pictorial warnings.This would certainly serve as a deterrent for tobacco consumers.Also the prohibition of selling of loose cigarettes while increasing the minimum age limit from 18 to 21 years for buying cigarettes,as per the recent government guidelines,would do well to reduce its consumption.

However.one of the overlooked aspects is that there is relatively no restriction on the sale of bidis and chewing tobacco.These products are easily available across the small shops and stores. The poor people,both urban and rural,have unhindered access to these products which is a cause of concern. Bidis and chewing tobacco causes oral and lung cancer among the poor which is compounded by their inability to afford a well-to-do medical treatment.

Therefore,the government should strive towards initiating inclusive policies for tobacco control,including cigarettes,bidis and chewing tobacco.It should effectively resist the lobbying by the tobacco-manufacturing companies to derail the positive efforts towards health care.An all-inclusive policy measures accompanied by the political will would go a long way in ensuring proper health care towards its citizens.