Mamata aide at Bhanu meet
- First time after 1985, govt celebrates birth anniversary
VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, Darjeeling, July 13: The state government today celebrated the birth anniversary of Bhanubhakta Acharya for the first time since 1985.
On the occasion, theatre personality Bibhash Chakraborty visited the hills as Mamata Banerjee’s representative, read out a message from the chief minister while announcing that the Nepali Akademy would be revived — all parts of the new government’s initiative and determination to reach out to the people of the region and identify with their sentiments.
Bhanubhakta (1814-1868), is the most revered literary figure in the Nepali community and all schools, colleges and government offices always declare a holiday to commemorate the birth anniversary of the “Adikavi”.
But the earlier Left Front government, perhaps wary of former DGHC chairperson Subash Ghisingh, never celebrated the birth anniversary of the poet despite the occasion being very dear to the hill sentiments.
“After the agitation in the eighties, the state government might have celebrated it on one or two occasions but it had never been a regular feature. The last time was in 1985.” said a district official.
The poet, who hailed from Chundi Ramgha near Pokhara in Nepal, had first translated Ramayana into Nepali from Sanskrit. Literary figures believe that the translation helped popularise Nepali literature and reached it to the masses, and hence, the title “Adikavi”.
Ghisingh’s disinterest in Bhanubhakta largely stems from the leader’s political stunt to replace the word “Nepali” with “Gorkha”. Ghisingh had wanted the language to be recognised as “Gorkha” under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, much against the wishes of the literary figures. Ultimately both the words “Nepali” and “Gorkha” were included in the Constitution in 1992.
Chief minister Mamata, not only directed the district information and cultural affairs department to celebrate the event but also sent Chakraborty to represent her at the Darjeeling event.
A message from the chief minister was also read out in Nepali, English and Bengali during the 197th birth anniversary celebration held at the Southfield College auditorium today. “Highly admired by scholars and adored by the common people, his greatest creation, the Nepali translation of Ramayana has stood him alongside Tulsidas and Krittavas. Being the Adikavi in Nepali, his original writings in Nepali language are tales of his land and people,” read the chief minister’s statement five days before she is expected to visit the hills for the tripartite meeting between the state, the Centre and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.
The state government and the Morcha have reached a consensus on a draft of the agreement to set up the Gorkhaland Territorial administration, a new authority for the hills. The draft is awaiting the Centre’s approval after which it is expected to be signed in Darjeeling on July 18.
Mamata has also announced that the bi-centenary birth anniversary of Bhanubhakta would be celebrated in a grand manner. “On this occasion I am pleased to announce that the 200th birth anniversary of Bhanubhakta in 2014 will be celebrated in the state with due respect and enthusiasm. The state government will also honour all who have made significant contributions in Nepali literature and culture,” the chief minister said in her message.
Sources said the earlier government had not shown any interest to hold a celebration, despite proposals being sent by the district administration. “In the past, proposals were sent to the state government on many occasions to mark the birth centenary but we received no clearance from Calcutta,” said a district official.
In the absence of the state government’s initiative, the responsibility of celebrating the birth anniversary had been shouldered by the Nepali Sahitya Sammelan in Darjeeling.
In fact, the Sammelan, along with literary giants like Dharnidhar Sharma, Surya Bikram Gewali and Parasmani Pradhan, were the first to coin the term “Adikavi” in the forties.
It was also because of their effort that the first statue of Bhanubhakta was made by a Scottish sculptor E.F. Thomson and installed at the Mall in 1949.
During Ghisingh’s time, the statue was beheaded on July 10, 1992. The Sammelan, however, immediately reinstalled it by collecting donations for the hill people.
The new government seems to have immediately recognised the sentiments of the hill people. “We also felicitated 14 literary figures from Darjeeling who have received the Sahitya Akademy Award,” said P.D. Bal, district information and cultural affairs officer.
Chakraborty in his speech supported the demand for the revival of the Nepali Akademy, a move which was welcomed by the Darjeeling MLA Trilok Dewan.
The Nepali Akademy, on the lines of the Bangla Akademy has been defunct since 1985. Even the Bhanu Purasakar, used to be given by the Bangla Akademy from 2002 but it was stopped in 2006.
रेमिका थापालाई भाइचन्द स्मृति पुरस्कारमनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ,13 जुलाई। नेपाली साहित्य अध्ययन समितिले 197 औं भानु जयन्ती पालन गर्दै युवा पुस्ताका शसक्त कवयित्री रेमिका थापालाई यसवर्षको भाइचन्द स्मृति पुरस्कार प्रदान गर्यो। मङ्पूका वरिष्ट कवि मोहन ठकुरी कार्यक्रमका मुख्य अतिथि थिए भने तिनकै बाहुलीबाट मङ्पू कै शसक्त युवा कवि रेमिका थापालाई तिनको कविता कृति देश र अन्य कविताहरू-को निम्ति यो पुरस्कार प्रदान गरिएको थियो। कार्यक्रम अनि समितिका अध्यक्ष डा सरोजा राई अनि वरिष्ट कवयित्री सानुमति राईको उपस्थितिमा यो पुरस्कार थापाई प्रदान गरियो। पुरस्कारस्वरूप 12 हजार नगद राशि, स्मृति चिन्ह अनि प्रशस्ती पत्र प्रदान गरियो।
कार्यक्रममा कवि सुधीर छेत्रीले साहित्यकार भाइचन्द प्रधानको परिचय राखे भने कथाकार शमशेर अलीले रेमिका थापाको परिचय राखे। पुरस्कार ग्रहणपछि कवयित्री रेमिका थापाले आजका नयॉं कविलाई यसरी पुरस्कार प्रदान गर्नु ठूलो प्रेरणा हुने बताउँदै आफू सचेतरूपले लेखनमा रहेको पनि जनाइन्। तिनले भनिन्, केही दिन अघि मात्र नेपालका कवि मनु मञ्जिलले टिकटमा कविता भन्नको निम्ति टिकट छाप्न मलाई मैले पाएको पुरस्कार सोधेका थिए। मैले तिनलाई पुरस्कार नपाएको कुरा बताएको केही दिनमा नै मलाई यो पुरस्कार दिने घोषणा भयो। यसले मलाई लेखनमा इमान्दार बनाउने छ। तिनले आफू कथ्य र कथनलाई नयॉंदिशा दिँदै अहिले किनारीकृत लेखनमा अग्रसरित रहेको जनाउँदै भनिन्, देश र अन्य कविताहरूमा मूलधारामा रहेकाहरूको देशप्रेम र किनारूकृतहरूको देशप्रेमको भेद लेख्ने कोशिष गरिएको छ। एउटै देशको नागरिकहरूको देेशप्रेममा किन अन्तर हुन्छ? उनीहरू देशप्रेममा डुव्दा हामी किन गुनासो गर्छौं? यस प्रश्नलाई मैले निक्कै गम्भीर लिएँ र यो कृति आयो।
तिनको दोस्रो कृति गाउँमा कविता-को सन्दर्भमा पनि गाउँलाई हेर्ने र रोमान्टिसिज्मभित्रको अतिवादबाट उम्केर ग्लोबल सरकम्टान्सेस-मा गाउँको सही अवस्थान खोज्ने कोशिश गरिएको जनाउँदै तिनले आफ्नो कृति वेदनाको पछिल्तिरबाट नै किनारीकृत लेखनको अवधारणा विकसित बनेका जनाए।
आफ्नो लेखन किनारीकृत लेखनसम्म आइपुग्दाको अनुभूतिहरू बताउँदै थापाले किनारीकृत लेखन अहिले नेपाल र भारतमा नै सरोकारको विषय रहेको जनाइन्। नेपाल र भारतमा भिन्नाभिन्नैरूपले लेखनमा किनारीकरण हेरिएको जनाउँदै तिनले भने, अहिले जुन डायस्पोरिक लेखन चलिरहेको छ। नेपालले भारतका नेपाली लेखनलाई पनि त्यसै दृष्टिले हेर्ने काम भइरहेको अवस्थामा यताका लेखन डायस्पोरिक होइन भनेर छुट्याउने यही किनारीकृत लेखन रहेको छ। मुख्य अतिथि मोहन ठकुरीले रेमिका थापालाई पुरस्कृत गर्नु अहिलेका युवा कविहरूलाई मान्यता प्रदान गर्नु रहेको जनाउँदै भने समिती अनि कालेबुङसित आभार व्यक्त गरे। तिनले भने, रेमिकाले पाएको पुरस्कारले मङ्पू अनि त्यसपछि समस्त युवा सर्जकहरूलाई महिमित गरेको छ। युवा सर्जकहरूले अब नयॉं जिम्मेवारीलाई कॉंध हाल्ने उर्जा यसैबाट प्राप्त गर्नेछन्।
यसै अवसरमा भुवन खनालले वार्ता राखेका थिए भने विभिन्न विद्यालयका विद्यार्थीहरूले रामायण पाठ गरेका थिए।
छत्र सुब्बा र साथीहरूको मुक्तिको निम्ति गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाले पनि बोल्नुपर्छ-क्रामाकपा
मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ,13 जुलाई। 14 जुलाईको दिन कलकत्तामा राजनैतिक बन्दीहरूको उन्मुक्तिको निम्ति बन्दीमुक्ति कमिटीले अधिवेशन गर्ने भएको छ। जसलाई कमिटीको जिल्ला शाखाका उपाध्यक्ष तथा क्रान्तिकारी मार्क्सवादी कम्युनिष्ट पार्टीको युवा सङ्गठन गणतान्त्रिक युवा मोर्चाका सचिव अरूण घतानीले पनि अंशग्रहण गर्ने भएको क्रामाकपा आञ्चलिक समिटीका सचिव किशोर प्रधानले दिएका छन्। मुख्यमन्त्री ममता व्यानर्जीले राजनैतिक बन्दीहरूको मुक्तिको निम्ति समिती गठन गरेर 46 जनालाई मुक्त गर्ने बताएको भए पनि यसमा छत्र सुब्बाहरूको नाम छैन। यद्धपि क्रामाकपाले दोस्रो चरणको मुक्तिमा छत्र सुब्बाहरूको नाम आउन सक्ने आशा गरेको पनि आज प्रधानले जनाएका छन्। ममताले राजनैतिक बन्दीहरूलाई मुक्त गर्ने कुरा गरेपछि क्रामाकपाले बन्दी मुक्ति कमिटीलाई छत्र सुब्बाहरूको मुद्दाबारे दस्तावेज बनाएर बुझाइसकेको छ भने कमिटीले त्यसलाई राज्य सरकार समक्ष दिइसकेको छ। प्रधानले भने, हामीलाई आशा छ छत्र सुब्बाहरूको मुद्दालाई राजनैतिक कारण मान्दै उनीहरूको मुक्तिको पहल हुनेछ। अधिवेशनको उद्देश्य पनि सॉंचोरूपमा राजनैतिक बन्दीहरूलाई मुक्त गर्नुपर्ने सम्बन्धमा निष्कर्ष निकाल्नु रहेको बताउँदै प्रधानले यस कार्यक्रममा चर्चित लेखिका महास्वेता देवी लगायत वरिष्ट चिन्तक विभाष चक्रवर्ती, जय गोस्वामी, छोटनदास, बसु रोय, नव दत्त, अतुल मुखोपाध्याय तथा अन्यको उपस्थिति रहने छन्। प्रधानले भने, क्रामाकपा छत्र सुब्बाहरूको मुक्तिको निम्ति अझ पनि डटेर लागिपरेको छ। बन्दी मुक्ति कमिटीसित मिलेर धेरै पहल गरिरहेको छ। तर यस्तोबेला गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाले कुनै शब्द नबोल्दा हामीलाई अचम्म लागेको छ। तिनले मोर्चाले छत्र सुब्बाहरूको मुद्दालाई कानूनी बताउँदै उन्मुक्तिको निम्ति उकिलहरू लगाएको तर अहिलेको सन्दर्भमा मोर्चामा मौनता छाएको बताए। तिनले भने, मोर्चाले विकासमा सम्झौता गरिरहेको छ।
सरकारसित पनि राम्रो सॉंठगॉंठ छ। मोर्चाले बोलेको राज्यले सुन्छ भनेर मोर्चाले भनि रहेको छ। तर 10 वर्षदेखि गोर्खाल्याण्डका योद्धाहरू जेलमा छन् अनि राज्य सरकारले राजनैतिक बन्दीहरूलाई मुक्ति गर्ने कुरा चलिरहेको बेला समेत कुनै कुरा मोर्चाले गरेको छैन। उनलाई मुक्त गर्दा कसलाई नोक्सान छ? राजनैतिक कुरा छोड़ौ मानवताको नाममा पनि मोर्चा अब बोल्नुपर्छ। मोर्चा किन बोल्दैन? तिनले अझ के पनि भनेका छन् भने वामफ्रण्ट अनि गोरामुमोको विरूद्धमा लड्ने मोर्चाले वामफ्रण्ट अनि गोरामुमोको राजनैतिक षड़यन्त्रको कारण 10 वर्षदेखि छत्र सुब्बाहरू जेलमा बिनादोष षड़िरहेको बेला मोर्चा नबोल्नु उचित होइन। स्मरणीय कुरा के छ भने छत्र सुब्बाहरूलाई गोर्खाल्याण्ड माग्नेलाई यसरी सड़ाउँछौं भन्ने उदाहरणकोरूपमा राज्य सरकारले नै जेलमा राखिरहेको कुरा राजनीतिज्ञहरूले जनाएका छन्। आखिर किन छत्र सुब्बाहरूको निम्ति पहाड़को बलियो राजनैतिक दल बोल्दैन? यसै पनि निक्कै अचम्म लाग्दो प्रश्न उठिरहेकै छ।
छत्र बारे मलाई केही थाहा छैन। तिनको विरूद्धमा मैले प्राथमिकी पनि दर्ता गरेको छैन-कठघरामा उभिएर सुबास घिसिङले यसो भनिदिएपछि स्पष्ट भइसकेको थियो कि छत्र सुब्बाहरू निर्दोष छन्। तरै पनि उनीहरूलाई जलपाइगुढी जेलमा राखियो। 10 वर्षदेखि छत्र सुब्बा अनि तिनका छ जना साथीहरूले विनादोष जेलयातना भोगिरहेका छन्। गोर्खा राष्ट्रिय मुक्ति मोर्चा अध्यक्ष सुबास घिसिङमाथि प्राण घातक आक्रमण गरेको आरोपमा तिनलाई भारत नेपालको सीमाक्षेत्रबाट पक्राउ गरिएको थियो। वामफ्रण्टको सरकार कालमा पक्रापरेका छत्र सुब्बाहरू बङ्गालमा ममताको सरकार आउँदा पनि जेलमा नै छन्। मुख्यमन्त्रीको आशन सम्हाल्ने बित्तिकै मुख्यमन्त्री ममता व्यानर्जीले बन्दीहरूको मुक्तिको कुरा गरेको भए पनि छत्र सुब्बाहरूको मुक्तिको कुरा अझ धमिलो नै छ।
Mamata Banerjee's Gorkhaland Territorial Council talks spark protests in North Bengal
13 JUL, 2011, DEBASIS SARKAR, ET BUREAU, SILIGURI: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's initiative to form a Gorkhaland Territorial Council (GTC), as per the wishes of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, has triggered a wave of protests in North Bengal.
Besides road blockades and demonstrations, the protesting organisations have called a bandh on July 15 and again on July 18-19. The last two days coincide with Banerjee's Darjeeling visit. Among the protesting bodies, Janachetana , a social activist group, has already challenged the legal standing of the talks between the government and the GJM in Calcutta High Court.
"A growth of over 775% in the Nepali-speaking population in Darjeeling district between 1951 and 2001 proves the huge infiltration of non-Indians from Nepal during this period. But almost everyone was given a voter card and the Darjeeling parliamentary constituency saw an unprecedented growth of over 9.45 lakh voters in 1955-99. Moreover, their representatives are part of discussions on vital administrative issues which are illegal. We want the government to first ascertain the actual size of the true Indian Gorkha population and assess rationality of their demands based upon that," said DP Kar, President, Janachetana.
BEd made compulsory for teachers
TT, Calcutta July 13: The state government has made BEd compulsory for teachers of secondary and higher-secondary schools but offered a two-year window from the day of joining to new recruits without the degree.The announcement was made today in accordance with the provisions of the Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, and will come into effect from this year.
Although the government will allow those without BEd to appear for the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) test, “those with the degree will be given priority in selection”, said school education secretary Vikram Sen.
“Those without the degree will be appointed only if there are vacancies after accommodating those who have done BEd,” Sen added.
Recruits without BEd will have to secure the degree through distance learning within two years of the date of joining, the official said.
Those teachers who have joined between March 31, 2001, and 2011 will be given time till 2015 to complete BEd. The relaxation is in keeping with the provisions of the RTE act. The BEd degree will not be compulsory for teachers who had joined before 2001.
A government notification will be issued soon.
Till now, the degree was not a must but candidates with BEd were awarded three grace marks in the SSC exam.
After the formulation of the RTE act in 2009, the Centre had directed all state governments to make the BEd degree mandatory for all schoolteachers from 2010. But the Left government in Bengal had appealed to the Union human resource development ministry for a more flexible approach on the ground that not many candidates knew about the new rule. The state government had also said the number of BEd-qualified candidates was less than the vacancies in the state-run and state-aided schools.
The Centre had permitted the Left government to put the decision on hold for a year. Sources said the previous government had deferred the implementation of the rule “also because it did not want to initiate any move that could make it further unpopular before the Assembly elections”.
The headmaster of a Madhyamik school said 39,000 teachers would be recruited through the SSC this year.
Although the RTE act does not mention if BEd is compulsory for those teaching in higher-secondary schools, the state government has decided to make it mandatory at this level for now. But the government plans to waive the criterion for the higher-secondary teachers after “seeking the opinion of the Centre”, said a school education department official
School education secretary Sen said recruitment may also be made from among those who clear the Teachers’ Eligibility Test planned by the Centre-run National Council for Teachers’ Education (NCTE).
However, only those NCTE candidates who score a minimum of 50 per cent will be eligible for the BEd degree.
Dooars garden opens after 32 months - Sixth estate for new owners
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| (Top) Children offer flowers to the new owners of the garden on Wednesday; and the BDO of Falakata hands over the keys of the garden to the new owners. Pictures by Anirban Choudhury |
According to garden sources, ration of 26 fortnights, wages of four months, Rs 1.7 crore as provident fund and Rs 47 lakh as gratuity are pending.
The management of the Himalayan Tea and Agro Private Limited, which bought the garden from Kadambini Tea Company Limited, has assured the workers that a month’s wage will be paid in a week and the rest of the dues will be cleared in the coming three years.
Of the 158 gardens in the Dooars, only the Dekhlapara tea estate is locked now. The Kadambini estate is the sixth to be owned in the Dooars by Himalayan Tea and Agro Private Limited.
The garden, 35km from Alipurduar, was shut down on November 14, 2008, following an altercation between workers and then management over dues. The workers had demanded their salary pending for eight months. A series of meetings followed the altercation, during which the management had demanded retrenchment but the unions did not agree.
“We had demanded that none of the workers be retrenched and all the dues cleared. This is one of the best agreements that we have got for our workers,” said Netai Pal, a Jalpaiguri district committee member of Citu.
During the period that the garden was shut, the workers were paid Rs 1,500 a month under a government scheme called FAWLOI (financial assistance for the workers of locked-out industry). An operations and management committee had been also formed to run the garden, sell the tealeaves and distribute the sales proceeds among the workers. The OMC paid Rs 80 to each worker on days — usually 15-17 days a month — the plucking took place.
“But we were not paid by the OMC during the lean season. Sometimes the government aid is not regular. In an open garden, workers get paid even during the lean season,” said a worker. The lean season is from December to February, when no plucking takes place.
Moreover, in a shut garden, the workers are deprived of ration, healthcare, electricity and water supply. Permanent workers are entitled to all these benefits besides a wage Rs 68 a day. Around 11.15am today when the new owners along with their family members arrived, they were welcomed with flowers children of the workers. They also performed to the beats of drums in front of the visitors.
Ramodar Barelia, one of the directors of Himalayan Tea and Agro Private Ltd, cut a red ribbon to enter the factory. Susanto Mandal, the block development officer of Falakata, handed over the keys of the garden to the director.
“It is your garden and without your active participation, this cannot be run. So this is your property, you have to take care of it. You have to work hard to make it one of the best gardens in this region. This garden has the potential to become one,” Ramodar Barelia told the waiting workers.
Narendra Barelia, another director, said: “Within one week we will pay one month’s wage to the workers. There will be no retrenchment. Gradually in three years, we will clear all the dues. The factory is in poor condition and it will take time to start manufacturing. We will go for new plantation. Soon we will try to restore electricity in the garden. From now on, workers will get the ration and wage on a regular basis.”
Dasai Munda, a worker of the garden, said he was happy that the garden has reopened. “It was such a difficult phase of our life. We had no electricity and no healthcare. Our children could not go to school. We had to buy all items, which are usually provided for free or at subsidised rates when the garden is open. We had been asking the administration to fcilitate the opening of the garden.”
Safety assured, Garganda to reopen today
TT, Alipurduar, July 13: The Duncans Industries Limited has decided to reopen the Garganda Tea Garden tomorrow after workers promised the management staff safety and security.
The garden was shut on Monday after doctor D.P Dey had been stabbed by a worker on Saturday night. The decision to reopen the estate was taken at a meeting attended by the management representatives and trade union leaders in Birpara labour office today.
Yesterday, the trade unions had submitted a mass petition to the assistant labour commissioner in Birpara, seeking his intervention for the garden’s reopening.
The management had said in its shut-down notice that work would not be resumed till the unions gave an undertaking that the safety of the management staff would be guaranteed.
Today, the management and the unions met in the office of the assistant labour commissioner, A. K. Das. The representatives of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha-affiliated Dooars Terai Darjeeling Plantation Labour Union and the Progressive Tea Workers’ Union (an affiliate of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad) and the Citu’s Cha Bagan Mazdoor Union were present at the talks.
“In the meeting, we assured the garden manager that the safety and security of the management staff would be ensured and other unions, too, did the same. After that it was agreed that the work in the garden would resume tomorrow,” said Ashoke Sarki, the vice-president of the Morcha tea union.
Sarki said the unions had also raised the demand that the labourers be paid wages for the three days the work had been suspended by the management.
The union leaders also drew the attention of the assistant labour commissioner to the dismal condition of the garden hospital.
“We told him that the doctor never admits patients to the hospital and always refers them elsewhere. The assistant labour commissioner has assured us that he will look into our complaint,” said Sarki.
The garden manager, K.P. Charak, said the allegations against the hospital and the doctor were baseless.
“However, we are happy that the unions have assured us safety and security and we shall resume work in the garden from tomorrow. We will reopen and run the hospital according to the norms under the Plantation Labour Act,” said the manager.
Das said after the meeting that the garden management had been fined for the dismal condition of the hospital about two years back.
“We had received complaints against the garden hospital two years ago. We inspected the hospital and found that it did not have the facilities the management should provide under the Plantation Labour Act. We had slapped a fine of Rs 5,000 on the management then. We will once again carry out an inspection of the hospital,” said the labour officer.
He said the unions’ demand for payment for the closure period would be taken up for discussion later.
The garden doctor who was stabbed by the labourer is recovering in a nursing home in Siliguri. “The doctors have said Dey’s condition has improved but he is still in intensive care unit,” said garden assistant manager, Supriya Sikdar.
Pro-Telangana Cong leaders launch hunger strike in Hyderabad
IANS, July 13, 2011, Hyderabad: Intensifying their agitation, several Congress MPs and MLAs, who quit their posts recently, today began a 48-hour hunger strike to highlight their demand for a separate Telangana state.
The fast began at the Indira Park in the city, with seven MPs, three ministers, 14 MLAs and two MLCs taking part in it.
Though, there has been no concrete response from the Centre, following their en masse resignations, the hunger strike is aimed at highlighting their demand, Telangana Congress leaders said.
Asked about the comments by Union Minister and in-charge of party affairs in Andhra Pradesh, Ghulam Nabi Azad, that wider consensus and a resolution in the assembly is necessary for the formation of a separate state, Congress MP from Karimnagar Ponnam Prabhakar said that a consensus would never be possible, as legislators from non-Telangana region are more in numbers.
"If he (Azad) has made such comments, it is regrettable. Leadeship needs to think about such comments. Consensus would not be possible, because they are more in numbers. In fact, all parties had agreed on the formation of Telangana earlier. We will use these comments to only strengthen our resolve and to achieve our goal," he said.
Azad had said in Beijing yesterday that a decision on the formation of Telangana state cannot move ahead an 'inch' without the State Assembly passing a unanimous resolution.
"If we have to do this we have to pass a unanimous resolution. Unless it is passed, we cannot move one inch," Azad had said.
Trouble on the tracks
Movement of trains in the Telangana region is also likely to be affected on Thursday in view of the rail blockade called by the Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC).
South Central Railway (SCR) authorities have advised passengers to note that the trains scheduled to run in the Secunderabad-Kazipet, Wadi-Secunderabad, Vikarabad-Parli, Nadikude-Bibinagar, Mudkhed-Secunderabad, Vijayawada-Kazipet-Ballarshah and Dhone-Secunderabad sections are likely to be delayed, cancelled or diverted.
A statement from SCR on Wednesday said a detailed pattern of services will be announced shortly.
The rail blockade was earlier scheduled on July 8-9 but the JAC postponed it to involve the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party in the protest.
With the two main parties deciding not to join hands with the JAC for joint agitation, the committee announced that it would go ahead with the rail blockade. However, the agitation was truncated to one day - July 14.
The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and some other political and non-political groups fighting for a separate state are part of the JAC.
Civil Society, Media and Corruption
JN Manokaran, in.christiantoday.com, 13 July 2011: Political mobilization needs a ‘hate object’. Politicians are prude enough to identify or create a hate object. Nazism succeeded because the Jews were marked as hate object. Communism succeeded because the rich or capitalists were identified as hate object. Communal parties create people belonging to minority community (language group or religious group) to mobilize their support. In the era of Globalization, Urbanization and Cyber-zation, it is difficult to have a physical hate object. The clever schemers found one in corruption.
Corruption
Corruption is a generic word that could have several meanings. Corrupt could be of different shades and colours. Bribery and corruption are two issues debated in the media now-a-days. Adarsh Scam in Mahrasthra, Land Scam in Karnataka, Spectrum Scam in telecom and Common Wealth Games Scam in Delhi are few that are notorious and infamous. Were not the Insurance companies scared of the inflated bills from the hospitals? Some people live in fool’s paradise thinking only the Government departments and politicians are corrupt and private sector is free from corruption. Even in developed nations, corruption may not be in everyday life, but corruption is there in business at higher levels. One report states that in the last 61 years after Independence 20 lakh crore rupees has been drained from India to safe havens by politicians, bureaucrats and business people. People may consider bribe as social problem, but it is also a spiritual problem. Extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart. (Eccl 7:7) The Church in India is also not immune to corruption. The job vacancies in Christian institutions are auctioned off by leaders. Even in some bishop elections, bribery is used to seek votes.
The Public Distribution System (PDS) is corrupt as underweight goods are delivered to consumers; good grain is replaced with rotten ones in PDS; oil mafia siphons petrol; most products are sold without receipt or bill to avoid taxes; many evade taxes; dowry is corrupt money as it is paid mostly in cash. Even to bury a dead in Government grave yards, bribe is needed. From birth certificate to death certificate it is absolutely necessary to grease the palms. Bank loans even for education cannot be processed without kickbacks. Yes, people are fed up with corruption; however, their frustration is only when they are at the oppression end. When they are the beneficiaries, there is no whim or protest.
Civil society
The two protests by Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev was built up by the media. Media can create heroes, who do not deserve to be heroes. Clever media makes non-issues as issues and issues as sensations and even serious issues a comedy. The first protest was by a person who himself was convicted as corrupt and he got his people appointed as representatives of civil society to be part of the Draft committee of Lok Pal bill. Interestingly, from among 1.2 billion people in this country, only father and son duos were more qualified to be part of the drafting committee. The elderly gentleman did not understand that nepotism and corruption are proverbial Siamese twins. Sadly, the civil society members boycotted the committee sitting on 6 June protesting against some police action, which is no way connected to the drafting of the Bill. Their boycott clearly shows that the members of the Drafting committee were not serious to be involved in discussion, debate or drafting of the Bill. It was good that the Government declared that it would go ahead with the drafting of the Bill without the help of these representatives of civil society. Also laws do not change people. Has law against dowry curbed this menace? Has law against child marriage curbed this social evil? Has law against sex determination reduced girl child infanticide or sex selective abortions?
The second fast was gathered as Yoga Shiver (Seminar) for 5000 people, however more than 50000 were mobilized. It was subtle political mobilization with anti-social and communal elements getting premier seating on the Dias. It was interesting to see Ramdev demanding capital punishment for corrupt, while hobnobbing with those who were charge sheeted for communal riots (that killed many innocent people). Ramdev does not think communal violence is deadlier than corruption. The Government initially tried to play soft and work out a compromise. However, the Yoga trainer did not keep his word. Being a religious leader, he had a hidden political agenda; he did not reveal his intentions and lied to the Government seeking permission for Yoga training and changing it into Satyagraha. Many girl students were compelled to be staying as human shield to avert action by police. In a late, but wise decision, the yoga trainer was removed and packed off to his native place.
Media biased
Media especially Television media was giving running commentary about the Yoga teacher, while there were other important events happening in the country. Strangely, the chief Opposition Party in the Parliament had its own annual National convention in Lucknow which was not even covered by the electronic media. That shows the media is sensation hungry and is not performing responsible media coverage.
Media also ignored the fact that the demands of Ramdev were bizarre, unconstitutional, not practical and without any rational. For example, bringing black money back ‘immediately’ is not possible or practical for no one knows for sure where the money is. Even if it is known, it involves more than one country and has to be within the International protocol. Banning Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 will not help people any way. His rabble rousing would create law and order problem. The Yoga teacher demand includes higher education in regional languages. Already, Anna University (Chennai) has introduced B.E. in Civil Engineering in Tamil language. Each state should follow that idea. Instead of creating debate on such demands in the media, it ran a comedy track.
Christians and Civil Society movements
In the whole turn of events, what is the role of Christians or the Indian Church? Christians are called to do good, transform the culture and society. Is it possible to join hands with those who seem to lead movements?
Four criteria
Christians should be able to discern the situations, evaluate individuals and movements and then decide accordingly. A first criterion is to evaluate the leader of such movements. Is the person leading the movement a person of integrity or trustworthy or what is his track record? In this test, Anna Hazare fails as he himself was convicted of corruption. Ramdev claim tax exemption for his companies, his ashram is under land dispute, has those accused of crime as his close confidants. Ramdev also fails the first test.
A second criterion is to evaluate the institution or organization, their goals and their contribution to the society. Have they served well locally, that they want to lead a national movement? Ramdev who owns private jets can easily run an Engineering college with Hindi as the language of instruction. Has he done that as role model to be emulated by private education entrepreneurs and the Government? Tax evasion is also corruption. Has he given clarion call to his 1 crore (10 million) volunteers to pay taxes? However, he wants to make tax filing as compulsory for all citizens.
A third criterion is to find out about the funding or resource mobilization of the movement. Anna Hazare campaign against corruption was a huge budget. Where did the money come from? The mobilization of people for Ramdev show was done by organizations that had communal agenda. The funding and mobilization of people is done with a hidden agenda of destabilizing the Government.
A fourth criterion is to evaluate the target or goals of the leaders. Anna Hazare was satisfied with a drafting committee and did not address corruption from a holistic perspective. Ramdev had interesting goals that were not within the Constitution parameters and were not practical. Both these so called civil society champions fail all the three tests.
Challenge
Christians should use these four criteria to determine whether they could be part of such movements or keep away from them. Christians should develop leadership skills to lead transformation movements in all spheres of society. It is time for the Indian church to develop and deploy leaders for civil society who could change the nation for good.
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