Education according to Gandhi

There is no denying that education plays a central role in the inclusive development of an individual.Gandhi too dreamed of a nation where education became a cherished goal for every individual.His views on education were relevant on primarily two accounts.

First,he was critical of the manner in which English education was imparted to the Indians and the people’s perspective on English language.In his speech in Orissa in 1921,Gandhi said ‘Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Bal Gangadhar Tilak would have been far greater men,had they desisted from thinking and transmitting their thoughts chiefly in English.’Later clarifying on his opinion,he published in Young India,that English language had robed the Indians of their freedom by replacing the vernacular medium of instruction.Education is transmitted through generations,and vernacular education will make education penetrative in a multi-layered and economically deprived nation like India,where millions of people live in perpetual poverty. However,he was not against English language as such,but considered it as an unmitigated evil in the manner it had weakened the vernacular and local languages.

Second,Gandhi liked to say that education should not only produce learned minds,but also create enlightened souls.In his views,education without moral and physical development is an evil,which can erode the society like a malicious worm.Gandhi didn’t want India to become a nation of strong minds and weak bodies or vice versa.He invoked the Nai Talim,a spiritual principle which states that knowledge and work are not separate.Therefore he insisted on pedagogical methods which focused on imparting knowledge of handicrafts to children.He was of the considered opinion that there should be no gap between mental labour and manual work.His works on Chakra and persuading people to wear Khadi revolves around the very concept of promoting education as an integrated tool for the development of an individual.

Thus,Gandhi considered school as an extension of home,where ideas could be transmitted freely from a Guru to a Shishya and also through mutual learning.Education should train mind,body and soul and it should seek the development of spiritualism in human beings.’Learning by doing’ was the mantra of his holistic views on education.

Indo-US nuclear deal

I write this blog,with reference to the questions raised by my dear friend Mr.Praveen Pratap Singh on nuclear energy.I have reproduced his facebook post here(i hope u do not have any copyright issues with me).

I Would like to know your views and opinions on India-US nuclear deal

1. How likely it is fruitful for India?

2. Who will be benefited more, India or US?

3. Didn't we have any other route to sort out our electricity problems?

4.How much electricity India generates from existing nuclear power plants?

5. Is it a right step or just a politics?

My doubts

America has itself not installed any Nuclear reactor since 1986 ...then why in India,it is signing a pact?

France has passed a law to reduce production and use of nuclear energy to a minimum by 2050

There is a global reduction in production and use of Nuclear energy, then why India has got a push for it..?

We should not forget Bhopal Gas Tragedy (1984) and Japan Nuclear Accident(2011).... How much these american companies can be trusted?

Though Insurance laws seem to pay for loss after accident but what will be the criteria... have not we learnt anything from above accidents ...is not it an invitation to disaster or do we have any safe path for use of it... I don't think we have?? that is the reason why European countries in fact US too has reduced the use ....And that's why I am a bit worried that when world is rejecting this concept? why are we accepting it?...Also it's not economically viable, neither it's an immediate short term solution .... then why a push for it?? Is it really a big deal ??

My comments:

Q.How likely it is fruitful for India?

A.First,the nuclear power will add to the existing energy mix(though in small proportion) from non-fossil fuel based energy.The added concern today is climate change which is largely contributed by the green house gases.Nuclear energy is a clean energy,and from this viewpoint,it is a symbolic gesture for our commitment towards adopting clean sources of energy.Second,the Indo-US nuclear deal will likely waive ourselves from constraints in getting nuclear fuel despite being a non-signatory to Non-Proliferation Treaty.This will streamline our 3-stage nuclear energy programme.Consequently,we could make use of the enormous thorium reserves abundantly available in India.

Q. Who will be benefited more, India or US?

A.I think,both the countries,India and US would be benefitted equally.For US,it is a business proposition.India,on the other hand,would benefit from the points mentioned above.India would likely benefit in the longer run.

Q. Didn't we have any other route to sort out our electricity problems?

A.India is primarily dependent on coal-based power plants for electricity generation.And at least for the next few decades,the situation is not going to change either.In the meantime,we can adopt clean coal technology and improve our energy efficiency.India,being a sub-tropical country,is well endowed with uninterrupted sun rays.So,there is wide scope for solar energy.But the problem with renewable energy sources is that it is still at the nascent stage.Other sources of electricity are hydro power,renewable energy and the newly discovered shale-gas energy.

Q..How much electricity India generates from existing nuclear power plants?

A.Out of total installed capacity of 230000 MW of electricity generation,the share of nuclear energy is 4800 MW.That is,nuclear energy contributes about 2% of total energy basket.If we are to succeed with the 3-stage nuclear programme,our ambition of generating 63000 MW of nuclear energy by 2032 would likely be met.

Q. Is it a right step or just a politics?

A.I do not think there is competitive politics involved in the deal.It is because the Congress led UPA government threw its weight behind the nuclear deal,taking calculated political risks,thanks to the enthusiasm of Dr.Manmohan Singh.Today,the party in power at the centre is determined to removing the bureaucratic obstacles impeding the agreement.If the liability concerns are addressed(after all,we do not want another version of Bhopal Gas Tragedy) without compromising on the national security.I think it is a right step.

Note:it is to be remembered that nuclear energy is not the panacea for addressing our growing energy needs.As of now,India is expected to pool an insurance limit of 1500 crores,contributed partly by the General Insurance Company(GIC) and the rest of it by the government through 'soft loans'.This would cushion the supplier against any tort claims and would put the onus of liability on the operator(in this case,NPCIL).The minimum liability on the supplier is also in keeping with the principles of Vienna convention.However,the cost of nuclear power would likely escalate as a result,thus burdening the end-consumer.The real challenge for the government,therefore, is to ensure affordable electricity for all.

The beauty of compromise-Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi is widely known for his experiments on satyagraha i.e.the truth force.One of the essential parts of Satyagraha was the spirit of compromise that Gandhi scrupulously followed during his initial days in South Africa and then later in India.However,Gandhi was equally conscious that compromise should not be undertaken at the cost of his universal principles based on truth.

In his autobiography,Gandhi wrote that the passion for truth had taught him the ‘beauty of compromise’. Gandhi liked to say that if many truths exist and if the enemy is not to be destroyed,the solution to any conflict is compromise.And to his biographer,Louis Fischer,he said”I am essentially a man inclined to compromise because I am never sure of possessing the truth in its pristine form.”

During his struggle in South-Africa,Gandhi emerged successful in ensuring the legitimate rights of the Indians in South-Africa.Gandhi was an astute person who knew when to call a movement and when to withdraw the non-violent movement.He was always ready for legitimate compromise with the opponent.Finally,before arriving to India in 1915,Gandhi played a decisive role in ensuring that the Indian masses in Natal and Transvaal(the two provinces in South-Africa)got their rights to settle and carry on with their occupation in an equal partnership with the whites in South-Africa.

Back in India,Gandhi used the tool of compromise to achieve political goals as well as social reform.In the 1920s,after he called off the non-cooperation movement,Gandhi was dedicatedly involved in constructive work.Among his notable successes was his campaign against untouchability.In 1924,for the unfettered use of road that led to the temple by the untouchables,it was the beauty of compromise that led to the final settlement.

India would have been a Hindu-Pakistan today had the political followers of Gandhi not followed the principles of religious pluralism and peaceful co-existence.Today.India is praised globally for its unity in diversity.The ability to remain consolidated despite the overwhelming religious,linguistic and ethnic diversities furthers the idea of India’s growing soft power.Similarly.the Indian constitution provided special privileges for the disadvantaged communities.This provided the socially disadvantaged groups the equality of opportunity so that India could be an inclusive democracy.

Remarkably,B.R.Ambedkar,the man who pioneered the affirmative movement for disadvantaged communities,was one of the fierce critics of Gandhi.Yet,the Congress party inducted Ambedkar as the country’s first law minister in its fold.It is speculated that Gandhi impressed upon the leaders in the Congress party to allot him the cabinet portfolio.Despite having differences with Ambedkar in political and ideological principles.Gandhi displayed an exemplary combination of personal generosity and political sagacity in the larger interests of the nation.

Among the less adequately recognized of Gandhi’s compromises was the forging of harmonious relationship with England in the post-independent era.In his visit to England in 1931 to attend the Round table conference,he was asked as to whether he would cut India off from the empire.Gandhi promptly replied that he would cut off his relationship entirely from the British empire,but not from the British nation.He suggested that India was ready to forge political relationship with the British nation for its political and social development,but on equal terms.Today India shares a cooperative engagement with the British unlike the political equations between France and Algeria,Dutch and Indonesia,the Belgians and the residents of Congo or the Japanese and the Koreans.India’s adoption of the English language as a link language is also a product of the mutual affection between India and England.

Gandhi’s cherished principle of the beauty of compromise is still largely relevant in the global context.The carving out of Bangladesh from erstwhile Pakistan took place primarily due to West Pakistan’s disregard towards Bengali culture of East Pakistan.Similarly.tensions in Sri-Lanka heightened after Sinhala and Buddhism was confirmed as the official language and official religion of the nation respectively.Consequently.the feeling of insecurity rose among the ethnic Tamil and Muslim minorities in north-eastern and eastern Sri-Lanka.

The famous socialist,Jai Prakash Narayan was deeply influenced by the Gandhi’s compromising nature.The less adequately recognized efforts of Jai Prakash Narayan was his efforts towards solving the Naga conflict and the volatile Kashmir situation.Jai Prakash Narayan liked to say that compromise was impossible only when one side of the dispute was 100 percent in the wrong.He believed that rights and wrongs were distributed evenly in most of the South-Asian conflicts and hence conflict resolution should not remain a far-fetched dream.

AFSPA in North-East and Kashmir

The Armed Forces Special Powers Act(hereafter AFSPA) was enacted in 1958 with the aim to contain the secessionist armed rebellion started by Naga National Council(NNC) in 1950s.The provisions of the act were,by and large,borrowed from the colonial legislation of Armed Force Ordinance act,1942,devised originally to quell the Quit India movement.The AFSPA was later extended to Jammu and Kashmir,apart from all the states of North-East India.

The AFSPA is extended to those areas which are declared “disturbed” under the Disturbed Areas Act.It is an act with barely six sections. The controversial provisions of the act pertains to section 4 and section 6 of the act.The former authorizes a commissioned or a non-commissioned officer to fire upon somebody even to the extent of causing death, while the later mandates that no criminal proceedings shall be initiated against the armed personnel for his act while on duty.

The proponents of the act argue that the conferment of special powers on armed personnel provides protection and operational flexibility to carry out the counter-insurgency operations.The tactical delays in firing a terrorist,searching and raiding their hideouts might render the entire operation futile in want of permission and warrants.Moreover,in Jammu and Kashmir(J&K),the growing concern is about proxy war apart from insurgency.This reinforces their opinion for the continuance of AFSPA in the larger interests of national security and territorial integrity.

However,the skeptics are of the view that the law is utter draconian.That said,security personnels misuse the law and commit acts which violates the human rights.Various acts of rape,murder,arson have cropped up time and again in these areas.The Machil incident is a case in point,where the security personnel committed heinous crimes by murdering five unemployed youths and later branding them as cross-border infiltrators.Such acts,in all likelihood,embolden the insurgents to take up violence against the state resulting in a vicious cycle of violence and counter-violence.The draconian act is also believed to have hindered any possibility of imminent cease-fire between the state and the warring insurgent groups.

The government had appointed a commission under the chairmanship of Jeevan Reddy to study the implementation of the act.Although the report was neither put in public domain nor tabled in Parliament,the leaked version of the report suggests that the committee was in favour of repeal of the act. Various supreme court judgements too have indicated that the provisions of the act are unduly harsh  for a democratic nation like India.The Justice Verma report recommended that the perpetrators of sexual violence against women ought to be tried in a civil court.All these recommendations are far from being implemented in letter and spirit.

Recently,the military court sentenced five persons to life imprisonment for their crimes in the Machil case.The landmark judgement helped in sustaining faith of the citizens in the credibility of democratic institutions. Though the act is unlikely to be repealed outrightly, certain provisions of the act can be modified in due course of time.The Standard Operating Procedures(SOP) outlined should be diligently followed and a robust oversight mechanism should be put in place. Moreover, armed personnels are to be made accountable for their acts of omission  and commission so that the culture of impunity ends in relation to crimes against humanity.

Freedom to speech means freedom to disagree

The freedom of speech and expression is the most basic of all freedoms granted to its citizens by a democratic nation.However,the degrees to which restrictions are put on the right to free expression vary from one country to another.The western nations,by and large,consider freedom of expression as an absolute right against which no restriction is deemed appropriate.On the contrary,India,by the first amendment of 1951,sought to impose reasonable restrictions on free speech as mandated by the article 19(2)of the Indian constitution.The statutory provisions pertaining to the limits on freedom of speech and expression is also dealt with by Article 153,Article 295 and Article 295-A of the Indian Penal Code(IPC).

Despite the umpteen number of laws that deals with freedom of expression,there are numerous instances alleging the violation of individual freedom and collective sentiments that crop up time and again in Indian social, political, cultural and legal discourse.They either take the form of violent street protests or extreme cases of physical violence as was exemplified by the murder of Narendra Dabholkar for his concerted movement against superstition.The recent case pertains to the protest against the book authored by Perumal Murugan,who then vowed to keep himself away from writing in future.Simultaneouly,in France,there has been public outcry against the perpetrators of Charlie Hebdo incident.

All these cases boils down to an important fact as to where is the red line between freedom of expression and the right to get offended.It is a truism that the tolerance level of society is gradually waning.Contrary to the popular perception that India is a maturing democracy,the growing levels of general intolerance among people has undermined the democratic spirit of our nation.For instance,recently some right wing elements staged undue demonstrations against a book authored by Perumal Murugan.The silence of the writer in the aftermath of demonstrations implies that the state government and the administration failed to protect the constitutional right of the individual in upholding his right to free speech.

The progress of a civilization means the evolution from barbarianism to intellectualism.The evolution towards a civilized society is possible only if people become tolerant to the critics.Indeed,critique is a movement by which the subject gives itself the right to question truth on its effects of power and to question power on its discourses of truth.No societal progress takes place without emotional violence with benevolent intentions.When scientist first broke the news that it was bacteria that caused communicable diseases instead of the punishment inflicted by angry Gods,people were hurt emotionally but it was a necessary development in the larger interests of the society.If people are offended,they have their right to disagree but on the same ideological plane.Countering an offensive view by taking to the streets or with the barrel of a gun does not bode well for the democratic traditions of a society.

However,in a multicultural society like India,the challenge is to strike a balance between protecting the individual freedom and respecting the collective sentiments of a group or sect.India is a nation of diversity.The coexistence of cultural groups amicably can happen only when there is agreement between the various cultural groups at the social level.The legal measures to curb hate speech are necessary but not sufficient condition for the harmonious existence of different socio-cultural groups.What is important is to foster greater understanding and tolerance for resecting the diversity that India is endowed with.

Here I am reminded of a statement by a prominent justice when he said”Our  tradition teaches tolerance,our philosophy preaches tolerance and our Constitution practices tolerance.Let us not dilute it.”Freedom of speech and expression is sterile unless we do not hurt someone with good intentions.India is transiting from an underdeveloped society to a developed nation.The transition stage is undoubtedly painful,but the hardships can be minimized only if we develop the culture of tolerance.

Famous Quotes 3

The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in a moral crisis-Leo Tolstoy

Men may break,but they should not bend beyond brute force-Mahatma Gandhi

One who loses the argument starts the first fight-Ronald Reagan

By independence,we have lost the excuse of blaming the British for anything going wrong.If hereafter things go wrong,we will have nobody to blame but ourselves.-B.R.Ambedkar,speaking to the Constituent Assembly of India,26 November,1949

The fundamental principle that governs-or ought to govern human affairs,if we wish to avoid misunderstandings,conflicts or pointless utopias,is negotiation-Umberto Eco

Compromise was impossible only when one side to the dispute was 100 percent in the wrong-Jayprakash Narayan

The world suffers a lot,not because of the violence of the bad people,but because of the silence of the good people-Napoleon Bonaparte

Our tradition teaches tolerance,our philosophy preaches tolerance,our Constitution practices tolerance:let us not dilute it.-Justice Chinappa Reddy in a supreme court judgement in August 1986

Ignited minds of the youth is the greatest resource for the nation.-Abdul Kalam

It is the science alone that can solve the problems of hunger and poverty,of insanitation and illiteracy.-Jawaharlal Nehru

Good Governance,is perhaps the single-most important factor in eradicating poverty and promoting development.-Kofi Annan

Manasa,Vacha,Karmana-"Happiness is when what you think,what you say and what you do are in harmony.-Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi and religion

The religious faith of Gandhi was shaped not only by his knowledge of sacred texts but his encounters with people of different faiths.He had widely read the Bhagavad Gita,the Quran and the Bible.He was too influenced by famous books,namely Leo Tolstoy’s The kingdom of God is within you,John Ruskin’s Unto the Last and The Perfect Way by Kingford and Maitland.Though he was born a Hindu,he was mentored by a Jain poet and thinker,Raychand Bhai in his initial days.In his days in England as well as South Africa,his contacts with Jewish and Christian English friends,Hindus,Muslims and Parsis further reinforced his views on religion.

An important element of Gandhi’s religious ecumenism was his belief that all religions lead to the same God.In Gandhi's view,different religions were merely ‘different roads that converges to the same point’.In the late 19^th century and early 20^th century,there were frantic efforts of proselytization by Christian missionaries and ‘shuddhi movement’ led by Hindu social organisations like Arya Samaj.That said,Gandhi was himself a man of message implying that no particular religion was superior to the other in terms of seeking God.

Second,Gandhi defied the argument that religious sacred texts were sacrosanct and infallible.In Gandhi’s view there were both truths and errors in religious texts.When some conservatives justified the practice of untouchability by stating that they were sanctioned by ancient Hindu texts,Gandhi retorted”If at all, I discovered that the Vedas,Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita claim divine authority for untouchability,nothing in this world would make me hold on to Hinduism.I should overthrow it overboard as I should overthrow a rotten apple.”Similarly,acts of conversion,according to Gandhi,was not sanctioned in Christian texts.

Third,Gandhi advocated that a human-being should stick to his own religion as there was ‘truth and content’ in every religion.Instead,a Hindu should endeavor to become a better Hindu,a Muslim a better Muslim and a Christian a better Christian.In his days in South-Africa,his friend and biographer Joseph Doke had persuaded him to embrace Christianity.Gandhi politely refuted Doke’s appeal stating that every religion delivers the same essential message of peace and humanity.Later,he stood against B.R.Ambedkar’s appeal to the Harijans(or people from lower caste)to convert into Buddhism in order to avoid the oppression of Brahminical tradition.

Fourth,Gandhi encouraged inter-religious dialogue.In his view,it could serve as a benchmark for the individuals to view their religion and faith in the critical reflections of another.Therefore,he conducted inter-faith prayer meetings in his ashrams,wherein texts from different religions were read together by his followers.

Fifth,Gandhi  believed that Moksha,or liberation from the cycle of birth and death,could be attained by following the path of truth,non-violence,compassion and most importantly ethical conduct.His famous quote’The service to man is the service to God’ was partly influenced by his correspondence with Jain mentor Raychandbhai and his reading of Tolstoy’s famous book’The kingdom of God is within you’.He believed that ‘the only way to find God is to see Him in His creation and to be one with it’.This can only be done by service of all.His belief in the principles of Daridranarayan and Sarvodaya i.e.upliftment of all originates from his conviction in ethical conduct.

Thus,Gandhi’s faith was central to Mahatma’s personal life and to his political practice.It is a truism that if we take the Mahatma’s faith and religion out of him.then Gandhi would not be the Mahatma.
(Ideas borrowed from Ramachandra Guha's writings on Gandhi)

Freedom of expression v/s Charlie Hebdo

The gruesome attack on French satirical publication Charlie Hebdo by the terrorists has shocked not only France but the entire world.It was a barbaric crime and a despicable act of cowardice by the fundamentalist groups.France,a country known for revolutionizing the idea of ‘liberty,equality and fraternity’since the French revolution in 1789 suddenly found its cherished ideal of ‘liberty’ being challenged by fringe elements.It was an assault on freedom of speech and expression.The gruesome act of terrorism cannot be justified in any manner.

However,freedom of expression is not an absolute right.That said,the right to free speech doesn’t give the exclusive right to offend someone on an extremely sensitive issue like religion.In a liberal nation like France,where people are largely tolerant,it is not easy to draw a red line between freedom of expression and the right to offend an individual or group.It is because France has refrained from banning hate speech and left it to society to discourage it politically and morally.In such a liberal ambience,a democratic nation like France comprising a considerable minority population, would do well to uphold religion as a private affair.

There are subtle differences between merely critiquing a religion and ridiculing a religion.To be critical of a religion is warranted as it attempts to expose the truths in a religion thus broadening the minds of the people in a contemporary world.However,ridiculing a religion has no place in a civilized society as it hurts the sentiments of an individual or larger group.The problem with the ongoing discussion of Charlie Hebdo is that it tends to confuse blasphemy with bigotry.The cartoons published by Charlie Hebdo,in my view,were bigoted rather than blasphemous.This in anyway doesn’t justify the physical violence as gruesome as the attack on group of journalists of Charlie Hebdo.

It is significant to note that in many western countries,there are laws against blasphemy.But these laws are restricted only to official christian denominations.For example.Britain has strict provisions against blasphemy pertaining to Christianity,but there is no legal ban on blasphemy against other religions like Hinduism and Islam.When a nation claims to be secular,every religion must be treated equally.In an increasingly globalised world of today,it is pertinent to treat everyone and every religion with equal respect.

In India,freedom of speech and expression comes with ‘reasonable restrictions’as guaranteed by article 19(2) of Indian constitution.These restrictions are meant to safeguard the sovereignty and integrity of India,security of the state,public order,friendly relations with a foreign country,decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court,defamation or incitement to an offence.The most important statutory provisions under the ambit of article 19(2) are section 153,section 295 and section 295A of Indian Penal Code(IPC).The IT act is a relatively new law to regulate free speech on internet.As most of the provisions in these acts are subjectively defined,it leaves much scope for varied interpretations.In this context,freedom of expression often comes in conflict with the legal provisions.

Science,Mythology and facts

Science and technological inventions have played a vital role in making our lives easier.The importance of science and the realization of its potential is not a modern day concept.Since the dawn of human civilization,man became increasingly fascinated with scientific and technological inventions.It is due to this relentless pursuit towards scientific modernity that human has endeavoured to scale overwhelming heights in the realm of science and technology.

The other interesting picture is that of the relationship between modern science and Indian mythology.The Indian prime minister,in one of his speeches,invoked Indian mythology,by stating that the facial outlook of Lord Ganesha was a product of plastic surgery in ancient times.Moreover,he stated as to how Karna in ancient Mahabharata was born,not inside mother’s womb but outside of it.He attributed it to the prevalence of in-vitro fertilization during the epic period.

The recently concluded Indian Science Congress included a session on ‘Ancient science through sanskrit’for the first time in history.Particularly noticeable was the paper on ancient aviation,wherein a prominent scientist stated that ancient India knew of interplanetary aircraft that existed about 7000 years ago.As a reference ,he was quick to mention the ancient Vymanika Shastra ,a vedic aeronautical treatise by an ancient Rishi.Other prominent individuals have referred to vedas as the source of Heisenberg uncertainity,Pythagoras theorem and algebra.

The veracity of such statements are still not known till date.There is no concrete scientific evidence on matters related to ancient Gods and deities.In this case,eulogizing and glorifying the ancient past is a betrayal of the scientific temperament  and negation of the real scientific achievements that has been achieved so far.The invoking of interplanetary aircraft in a renowned scientific forum like Indian science congress is detrimental to the objective of elevating scientific research that it seeks to achieve.In 1974,a five-member group of aeronautical engineers from IISC Bangalore,took upon themselves the task of examining the viability of the 6*6 feet aircraft model mentioned in Rig veda.After intense deliberation ,they finally came to the conclusion that the the fundamental structure of the aircraft violated the basic principles of aerodynamics and propulsion.In this context,the exaltation of ancient Indian aviation,in the absence of evidence, was a regressive step pertaining to the promotion of scientific temperament.

Moreover,glorifying imaginary facts as a product of true Indian invention negates the real scientific achievements that India has achieved till date,For instance ,Indians can take real pride in Aryabhata’s contribution in astronomy and algebra or science of medicine as familiarized by Charaka.The 7.3 meter long,Ashoka pillar,that has resisted corrosion for centuries,is a classic example of India’s metallurgical richness.Similarly,the Jantar mantar in Delhi speaks volumes about the scientific advancements of India in the field of astronomy.In my view,juxtaposing India’s true scientific achievements with purely imaginary aspects of ancient Indian mythology would do more harm than good in our endeavor to project India as a credible scientific power.

There is no denying the fact that India is a rich civilization and a repository of ancient knowledge traditions.The government would do well to institutionalize history of science department in Indian universities.As an academic department and a full fledged academic course,we could delve deeper into our ancient knowledge tradition and examine the veracity of the oft-repeated scientific achievements of our past which remains still unverified.The mythological aspects should be confined only to pure imagination.It should not be glorified as a means to bring out the sense of superiority in India’s past for narrow political gains.The interlinking of mythology having no scientific basis with scientific achievements as well as the interference of politics in education should be done away with in order to take India to the heights of scientific endeavor.

It is worth mentioning the views of Jawaharlal Nehru as expressed in Discovery of India “If people believed in factual contents of these stories,the whole thing was absurd and ridiculous.But as soon as one ceased believing in them,they appeared in a new light,a new beauty,a wonderful flowering of richly endowed imagination,full of human lessons.”

Genetically Modified(GM) crops and its impact

Genetically modified(hereafter GM) crops are produced by DNA manipulation of crops.GM crops such as Bt cotton,GM soyabean,GM corns are in widespread use globally since the last decade.In India,Bt cotton was introduced officially in 2002.India had initiated plans to introduce Bt Brinjal on a mass scale,only to be banned(though temporarily)in 2010.Against this backdrop,it is pertinent to make a detailed study on the pros and cons of GM crops and its impact on achieving food security in longer run.

With the advent of genetic  engineering technology in late 20^th century,the GM crops were considered to be a revolutionary scientific achievement in attaining food security.The scientific community stated that the GM crops would prove to be pest-resistant and herbicide resistant.It would withstand the climate change as they  would resist drought as well as cold climatic conditions.Moreover,the genetically engineered crops could address the concerns of malnutrition through bio-fortification and other methods,which was seen as a remedy to the problem of under-nutrition in sub-Saharan African countries and other countries of the third-world.

The USA and European countries started massive field trials of GM crops introducing genetically engineered crops of Soyabean,corn and cotton.Even developing countries like India and China followed suit though on a limited scale.The higher yield of crops was considered as its primary advantage which would in turn address food security in the longer run.However,there are conflicting reports,which cannot be overlooked.Sceptics claim that the linear relationship between higher yield and genetic engineering is not always true as crop yields are a function of complex factors.

The Indian experience with GM crops reveal some fascinating facts.Undoubtedly,the production of cotton increased markedly during the last decade with the introduction of Bt cotton.Policy makers and certain schools of thought hurriedly claimed it as a product of genetic engineering.But the increase in production was not uniform across the states.That said,Bt cotton led to higher production in states like Maharastra but it produced mixed results in certain states of South India and Central India.Moreover,apprehensions were raised on its impact on environment security and human health.Further,questions arose on the underlying motive of select GM seed companies to capitalize on the market through monopolistic means.The Intellectual Property Rights(IPR) was an added concern as the global companies were feared to stake claim on their rights through extended patents.Its disastrous impact on biodiversity was fuelled by the fact that GM crops would lead to the extinction of local variety of crops in a bid to attain uniformity in the production of genetic varieties.The genetic engineering technology might spoil the synergy of plant molecules and secondary metabolites and therby spoil the functionality of staple food.

Against this backdrop,the Technical Expert Committee(TEC) recommended the Supreme Court to put a temporary moratorium on the field trials and production of GM crops until corroborated by detailed studies.The Parliamentary Standing committee comprising the Members of Parliament too advised the government to halt the field trials of GM crops.The World Health Organisation(WHO) too issue guidelines on GM crops and advised the nations to undertake detailed study on the impact of such crops with respect to allergenicity,gene transfer and its impact on health and environment.

While there are proven advantages of GM crops like resistance of Bt cotton against cotton bollworm and nutritious food products like vitamin-A  rich golden rice(having high content of beta-carotene),food security necessitates a holistic approach towards ensuring accessibility,availability and affordability of nutritious food.The drawbacks like high prices of GM seeds,environment pollution,affects on human health might outweigh its potential benefits.In that case genetic engineered products would turn out to be a bane rather than boon.

Therefore,instead of hastily exaggerating the advantages of GM crops,the government ought to promote systematic Research and Development(R&D) with respect to GM crops.The field trials are necessary,but it should be done on crop-specific basis through effective monitoring.An independent regulator on the lines of Biotechnology Regulatory Authority is the need of the hour which can carry out independent regulation without government interference.Merely granting approval to cultivation of GM crops without considering its latent drawbacks would lead to miscalculated consequences.

Indian Diaspora and aspirations

The Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas is celebrated every year to mark the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South-Africa to India in 1915.The year 2015 deserves special mentioning as it is a commemoration of centenary year of Gandhi's return to India.When Gandhi returned to India,he was not just an ordinary NRI.South-Africans,even today,love to say with justifiable pride to Indians that"You gave us Gandhi and we gave you the Mahatma."

The Indian diaspora is an asset to India.The Prime Minister,on the occasion of Pravasi Diwas,in Gandhinagar,stressed that the Indian diaspora ought not to be seen in terms of dollars and pounds,but much beyond that.He praised the overseas community for providing not only monetary gains to India but also human capital and thoughtful leadership.

Our attitude towards Indian diaspora has transited from indifference to treating them as an asset.The Indian community in South-Africa,led by Mahatma Gandhi played a vital role in influencing our national movement in pre-independent days.Yet,we failed to recognise the significance of Non-Resident Indians(NRI) and Persons of Indian Origin(PIO) until the dawn of the twenty-first century.As the maxim goes"better late,than never",the role of Indian government in according them due dignity,though belated,deserves appreciation.

India's call to its vibrant diaspora,today,is limited not merely to the elitist section.It has a mass appeal comprising white-collar as well as blue-collar individuals.We recognise India's aspirations vis-a-vis diaspora,but also diaspora's aspirations vis-a-vis India.India's aspirations with respect to diaspora pertains to their contribution in sending remittances,foreign investments and providing creative leadership and human capital which raises the country's economic standing.Nevertheless,the Indian government's efforts in merging PIO and OCI schemes together,life-time visas to overseas Indians and other initiatives like 'Trace the root' programmes are directed towards fulfilling the aspirations of diaspora vis-a-vis India.

Most importantly,our diaspora community helps in enhancing India's image as a credible soft power.In the age of globalisation,economic diplomacy has gained credence which is a function of a nation's soft power.In countries like USA,Canada and Australia,Indian diaspora forms a sizeable population and ignoring their concerns could hardly be afforded at any cost.It is not to be forgotten that the landmark Indo-US nuclear agreement was partly carried forward through the persistent efforts by the Indian community residing in USA.Therefore the Indian diaspora is as much an asset to India as its native citizens.

Tribals in India-problems and remedies

Tribals constitute 8.14 percent of the total population and 15 percent of the total area of the country.They are dispersed spatially in north-western,western,southern,central and north-eastern parts of India.The Indian constitution protects the tribals through the fifth and sixth schedules guaranteeing them special rights and privileges.The fifth schedule mandates the creation of Tribal Advisory Council(TAC) that look after tribal interests and advises the governor when necessary.Similarly the sixth schedule confers legislative and executive powers on autonomous regional councils and autonomous district councils in the states of Tripura,Assam.Meghalaya and Mizoram.

Despite numerous constitutional and executive safeguards,there is gross violation of the rights of tribals.The UPA government had constituted Xaxa committee to look into the issue of tribal rights.Its report is in the public domain now.The report explicitly mentions that the absence of state accountability and responsibility is the core issue that contributes to the plight of the tribals.That said,it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that the tribals have uninterrupted access to forest produce and their land rights are protected.But,in reality,the government either remains indifferent or uses state machinery to initiate steps against the interests of the tribals.

It is often found that the government notifies rural area as an urban area to exclude it from the purview of Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas(PESA,which extends to fifth schedule areas) act.Further,in scheduled areas,tribal lands cannot be transferred to non-tribes.Yet,at times,Cabinet Committee on Investment(CCI) takes hasty decisions which negates the approval of Gram Sabha.The Tribal Advisory Council(TAC) has largely become a bureaucratic body with government members in it.Such a body would likely take steps promoting the interests of the state and industrialists.

It was quite unfortunate that the state police registered FIR against the tribal leaders who voiced against the proposed project,as in the case of POSCO project..Rather than suppressing them through force,the government needs to engage them in dialogue while ensuring them confidence,reassurance,rehabilitation and most importantly compensation.The government is serious about amending the land bill,2013 which bypasses consent and Social Impact Assessment(SIA) on certain category of projects.It is of utmost importance to take into consideration the rights of the tribals on their land and forest while invoking the clause of 'eminent domain'for developmental purposes.

The Xaxa committee had recommended setting up of 'cells' in order for the governor to properly carry out duties of the post vis-a-vis protection of tribes.This itself points to the situation where the Governor seems to have failed in carrying out his constitutional role.The Andhra pradesh model is worth emulating where the tribal cooperatives are actively engaged in mining activities.A progressive step would be to return the land to the owners when the mines get exhausted.This would require certain legislative measures like the amendment of coal bearing areas act,1957.The government could use the unused land for the rehabilitation of tribals instead of selling it off.

Land problems apart,the government should tale steps facilitating the education of tribal children.The school infrastructure as well as capacity building measures should be strengthened.If at all,the tribal children needs to be shifted to schools in mainstream areas,adequate attention on native language of the tribes is essential.Finally,a functioning and corruption-free state and local administration for the effective delivery of public services holds the key to tribal welfare.Article 21 of the Indian constitution guarantees right to life and personal liberty.The suspension of this fundamental right in tribal areas does not augur well for a evolving democratic nation like India.

The heart-rending aircraft accidents in recent times

2014 was a disastrous year for the global aviation industry.The sudden disappearance of MH 370,the shooting down of an aircraft in conflict-ridden Ukrainian province and more recently the accident of an Air-Asia flight raises several question on safety in airspace.Although there were no traces of MH 370 and the black box of the Air-Asia plane is yet to be retrieved to draw on precise causes of the accident,certain facts are particularly worth-noting.

The European Aviation Safety Agency(EASA),in its 2010 survey,noted that almost 25 percent of the recent aircraft incidents are weather-related.That said,there is a growing phenomena called supercells-a combination of rain,winds,hail,lightning and turbulence.A pilot needs to have adequate know-how on how to steer the aircraft through through this disturbance.Therefore,properly trained pilots is an imperative as pilot error is a very important cause for aircraft accidents.The recent accident of Air-Asia flight was probably due to the rough weather as preliminary reports indicated that the pilot requested the air-traffic control authorities to change the flight level.There is a high likelihood of the pilot being unable to go past the rough weather.

The mechanical failure of airplane cannot be ignored entirely.It may be caused either due to weak airplane parts or the negligence of maintenance personnel.In today's world,fuel efficiency factors a significant role in building the structure of the aircraft.But,the robustness of the aircraft parts in the event of extreme-weather conditions is still a secondary factor in flight trials of the modern aircrafts.

The MH 370 and the Air-Asia flight lost contact with the ground stations before the accident.Thus,improving the radar systems and increasing its coverage even in unforseen circumstances might prove to be handy in preventing disasters.The aircraft communication system is an area that has much scope for improvement.

It would be unfair to ignore the cultural factors too.Due to cultural hierarchy,the pilot may ignore the advice of his subordinates.Conversely,the subordinate may feel hesitant enough to report any snag to the pilot on the first instance.The communication gap,at times,might prove fatal to the safety of the aircraft.A study has revealed that improvement in the work culture play a vital role in averting major aircraft disasters.

Most importantly,the proper training of pilots is paramount for aviation safety.The pilots need to be well trained even in type-aircrafts.It is because two different type-aircrafts might have different operational guidelines, and a minor lapse on the part of the air crew members may create undesirable consequences,at times fatal.

If non-violence is the law of our being,the future is with women-Mahatma Gandhi

"To call woman the weaker sex is a libel,it is man's injustice to woman.If by strength is meant brute strength,then,indeed,is woman less brute than man,If by strength is meant moral power,then,woman is immeasurably superior to man.Without woman,man could not be.If non-violence is the law of our being,the future is with woman.Who can make a more effective appeal to the heart than woman?"
(Mahatma Gandhi,To the women of India published in Young India,1930)

In an address to a group of women students in Lahore,in 1934,Gandhi said"When I was in South Africa,I had realised that if I didn't work for the cause of women,all my work would remain unfinished."That said,Gandhi believed in the abilities of women during his struggle in South Africa.It is ironical that Gandhi was a typical,traditional,Hindu patriarch.He was born and brought up in traditional patriarchal Bania family,which naturally pre-disposed him towards patriarchy.However,certain events in South Africa made him reconsider his decision,and in time,abandon his prejudices towards women.

In Johanessburg,Gandhi and his wife shared their home with a English couple,Henry and Millie Polak.Though the English couple revered Gandhi as a leader,they had differences in their opinions with Gandhi.In one of their arguments,Millie Polak said that the women in the East are treated as subordinate to men.Gandhi then expressed that the East had given the woman a higher position than men.'The east had given her a position of worship'.Gandhi,then,substantiated his view by quoting a mythological instance of how Savitri wrestled with the God of death to rescue Satyavan.Millie polak then responded that the Satyavan-Savitri example vindicates her fact that the East has made woman a subject of man.Millie found Indian women 'always waiting on the pleasure of some man.'

Gandhi gradually reconsidered his patriarchal views through his interaction with Sonja Schlesin,an independent-minded woman.who worked as a secretary to Gandhi in his political works.She was always ready to speak up her mind and even differed with Gandhi in matters of treating woman as equal to man.Further,in his extended visits to England in 1906 and 1909,Gandhi saw how the women suffragetes fought bravely and preferred imprisonment,so that their sisters may get the right to vote.In the last phases of satyagraha in South Africa,Gandhi was quite impressed by the way the Tamil women came out in large numbers to court arrest for their rights.Here,even Gandhi's wife,Kasturba went to jail thus sacrificing herself to the cause of Satyagraha.

Overall,Gandhi transformed himself and realised the power of women through his interaction with women he came into contact with during his struggle in South Africa.His resolve to get men and women together was quite instrumental in furthering the struggle against colonialism in India in later years.
(Ideas borrowed from Ramachandra Guha's book on Gandhi)

Reservation system in India

The history of India is replete with examples where certain sections of the people faced untold discrimination at the hands of certain privileged groups.The constitution makers of India were aware of the century-long historical injustice faced by these sections of the society.Hence,they unanimously agreed to provide reservation benefits to the socially disadvantaged sections of Indian society.The objective of reservation system was to provide equality of opportunity and eradicate caste-based discrimination faced by these vulnerable sections.This is in accordance with the objective of 'social justice' as mentioned explicitly in the preamble and the constitution of India.

The reservation policy has empowered the marginalised communities to participate in the growth of the nation.In the realm of politics,their participation was particularly note-worthy.The rise of Bahujan Samaj Party(BSP) in Uttar Pradesh is a case in point where the Dalits were able to assert themselves politically.We have had a Indian president,chief ministers,a speaker of Parliament and a Chief Justice from the Dalit community.In premier educational institutions like IITs and IIMs,students from backward communities are adequately represented.

Yet,after 67 years of independence,a complete eradication of social inequalities remains a far-fetched dream.Despite the positive discrimination,the reservation system failed to fulfill the desired objectives as was expected.Only the privileged of the backward classes continues to avail its benefits while excluding many needy people from its ambit.The tribal communities in areas affected by Left Wing Extremism(LWE) and North-east region do not receive even basic education,leave alone reservation benefits.

Particularly conspicious is the absence of SCs and STs in the realm of culture,media and private companies.Recently, the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies(CDS),conducted a survey in 37 Delhi-based publication companies and television channels.Surprisingly.not a single employee in these institutions belonged to the SC,ST or adivasi communities.This survey brings forth the conclusion that social discrimination continues unabated in Indian society which aspires to be a super power in near future.

Thus,the social condition in India is still not ripe to dismantle the caste-based reservation system.We do need quota system,but it should be better targeted.The government may think of introducing a 'self-destruct' clause,wherein the reservation benefits cease to apply to those who have already benefited through reservation and brought into mainstream.In a phased manner,it should be dismantled which would enable the needy to enter the mainstream society,while giving due importance to promoting merit and efficiency.

Also.in my view,promoting diversity in both public and private institutions.would go a long way in ensuring adequate representation of the disadvantaged sections.The diversity-index based incentive,which would include SCs,STs,OBCs and women would even correct the gender discrimination in employment.The grant of concessions,recognition and subsidies to the private sector should be linked with promoting diversity in their labor force.The principle of diversity based incentive was even mooted by Sachar committee constituted by the former UPA regime.

Above all,the merit and efficiency should not be compromised in any manner.That said.reservation ought not to be used by political parties as a gimmick so as to garner votes.After the Indira-Sahwney judgement,the National Commission of Backward Classes(NCBC) was authorized to identify the backward communities based on detailed survey.The views of NCBC should be taken into consideration while determining the eligible backward communities by the political parties.As former president,Dr.A.P.J.Abdul kalam has very rightly said"India need development politics rather than mere political politics".

Tackling flood problem in Assam

Flood is a recurrent problem in Assam.Almost every year,damaging floods leave a catastrophic impact on human lives,livestock and the economy of the state.In Assam,flood is caused by two major river systems-the Brahmaputra river in the North and the Barak river in the south.The geographical setting of the region,high intensity rainfall due to South-West monsoon,extensive siltation brought down by Brahmaputra river,easily erodible geographical formations and anthrop

ogenic(man-made) causes are primarily responsible for the flood problem in Assam.

The flood damage in the country is pegged in the range of Rs.6000 crore annually.In Assam alone,in 2014,the loss due to flood was estimated to be around 2000 crore.Notwithstanding the multitude of steps taken by the Central and the state governments,the flood situation in the state continues to be grim.We need innovative measures,both structural and non-structural,to tame the deleterious impact of the recurring floods.

First,there is a need of nationwide hydrological data with a decentralisation approach.That said,the state should be in a position to monitor real-time hydrological data without relying excessively on central help.The satellite imageries could be efficiently used to monitor the snow-melt and water distribution in upstream areas of the river.A significant cause of flood is the inadequate information on the amount of water flowing into or out of the reservoirs.The hydrological data would improve flood alert warning systems and would assist in rescue and rehabilitation efforts.

Second,underground taming of flood waters through the creation of artificial aquifers and storage systems would be an effective measure against flood.Moreover,in the dry seasons,the residual water could be used judiciously for irrigation purposes.A significant portion of water passes as run-off that causes flood in cities like Guwahati.A comprehensive plan to build underground structures at vulnerable locations would be an innovative solution.

Third,desiltation should be carried out through dredging the river-bed.The Brahmaputra is a braided channel river which brings down excessive silt from upstream areas.Consequently.the river exceeds its carrying capacity and overflows its beds,causing floods.Of all the dredgings carried out in the state so far,none turned out to be effective due to the corruption-ridden administration in the state.The development funds are siphoned off,thus creating hardships for the common people.

The customary approach for flood-prevention in Assam is of primarily two fold:embankment construction and building dams.Constructing embankments for decades have been unable to control floods effectively.Moreover,there are concerns about loss of soil-fertility and water-logging due to embankments.Majority of dams in the state are designed for power generation rather than flood prevention.Also,in a highly seismic zone,construction of dams could be carried out only after weighing the pros and cons through extensive research and studies.A harmonious mix of structural and non-structural measures would go a long way in mitigating the recurring flood problem in Assam.