Biharis have done it. This often ridiculed group of people have shown they are the real heroes of democracy. They came out of the Laloo Prasad Yadav spell five years back when they voted for change, and catapulted Nitish Kumar, the socialist follower of Ram Manohar Lohia, to chief ministership. Today, they ensured he remains the state’s chief minister for the second consecutive term, throwing the anti-incumbency psephological concerns to the winds.
As chief minister, Nitish Kumar had concentrated on long-delayed projects, built bridges, laid non-existent roads, kept crime in check, appointed over 1 lakh school teachers, encouraged the girl child to go to school by providing her uniforms and cycle and ensured doctors actually attended to primary health centres. To outsiders it might sound like this was his job, and he’d better do it. But the joke that did the rounds in Bihar pre-Nitish Kumar was: people get paid to report for work, and want overtime money to do the work.
Nitish Kumar carefully chose development politics over identity politics: a stark deviation from the typical Indian brand of politicking. He did not allow the hue of alliances to taint his secular and socialist credentials. The shy politician resisted the temptation of bringing ally BJP’s star campaigner, Narendra Modi, to increase his brand equity. He ruffled a few feathers and invited media attention when he politely refused Modi’s oratory services. He chose to keep a low profile, concentrated on development of a state which was termed bimaru (sick). Having concentrated more on work, he did not need speakers, he did his bit with workers. And by keeping Modi out of the picture, he weaned the Muslims from the Laloo Yadav-Ram Vilas Paswan clique.
Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, too, had returned their respective chief ministers, Narendra Modi and Mayawati, to second terms. To be fair to Modi, he did push Gujarat towards progress, and won over the electorate, more on his development report card. However, he has been unable to shrug off the 2002 ghost. He continues to carry that burden on his saffron shoulders.
Mayawati, on the other hand, tried the unique Brahmin-Dalit coagulation, and it clicked in Uttar Pradesh. But she went overboard with her Dalit and statue politics, erecting elephantine images of herself, her mentor Kanshi Ram and their messiah, Ambedkar. Both Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh rode high on communal and caste politics.
But the Bihar electorate has shown unbridled maturity in shunning identity politics, and diverted its attention to development politics. It has rewarded Nitish Kumar for his multiple achievements and acknowledged the attention he paid to issues that were hitherto ignored during the 15-year tenure of the erstwhile first couple of Bihar: Laloo and Rabri. The election verdict is a lesson for the rest of the country, whose leaders are continuously pushing the electorate into caste, communal and regional politics.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
‘Car’bon footprints
Our Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has said it is “criminal” to drive around in SUVs and BMWs that typically run on diesel, a commodity heavily subsidised in India for farmers and priority sectors. However, rich owners of luxury vehicles also come under this umbrella of subsidised diesel, which along with LPG and kerosene, is costing the exchequer Rs 51,000 crore. This is an amount, India as a developing country cannot afford, apart from the carbon emissions these vehicles belch out.
Obviously, the immature solution that came to my mind initially was blanket cancellation of diesel subsidy. Then came another wave of thought that suggested a creation of a two-window outlet of diesel, the subsidised one for farmers and the non-subsidised one for the SUVs and other luxury vehicles. This was again a self-defeating solution as it would lead to a thriving black marketing. I then borrowed a suggestion of the Kirit Parikh Commission that an additional levy on such luxury car owners would limit their sales. Discouraging the use of such fuel-guzzlers through stinging fiscal barbs might discourage buyers and thereby bring down the sales and carbon emissions too. But will the automobile lobby that has a lot at stake in the industry be a silent observer to this leash? Environmentalists are also crying hoarse over lack of an efficient public transport system to ensure reduction in carbon emissions.
There is an emotional angle to this too. The aspirational levels of middle class Indians have grown. The previous generation, which travelled sleeper class in trains and boarded buses to college and work, now wish they and their children could travel in comfort. They want to relive their youth through their children, and in the process have forgotten to imbibe the virtues of a green lifestyle into the psyche of the generation next. Buying a bike for college-going children so that they need not rub their shoulders with sweaty fellow passengers is a vacuum of wisdom. The lure of commercials backed by easy consumer loans has also made it easier for the middle class to satiate its appetite for luxury. Then, there is this typical urban “let’s go on a long drive” culture. I personally feel such aimless drives are not remotely romantic. Added to that are the blobs of carbon footprints they leave behind. The romantics can probably try long bicycle rides. It could recreate the old-world charm.
Finally, there is the pressure of peer. The increasing system of living in gated communities has led to being “noticed” in vehicle upgrades. This psyche of owning a high-end vehicle elevates their standing among the community, prodding to more me-too owners of such cars. But such emotional arguments obviously cannot find itself a solution to fuel -guzzling cars and carbon emissions. And it will certainly not succeed in awaking green consciousness.
In any case, green campaigners prodding people to use bicycles for short distances or public transport are branded outrageous suggestions by the affluent middle class. And, this argument does not even reach the ears of the upper class, which fancies keeping a fleet of high-end fuel-guzzlers.
So, carbon emissions cannot be argued on an emotional platform. Research on increasing the vehicle’s efficiency of fuel consumption will probably atone for our sinful marks of carbon footprints.
Obviously, the immature solution that came to my mind initially was blanket cancellation of diesel subsidy. Then came another wave of thought that suggested a creation of a two-window outlet of diesel, the subsidised one for farmers and the non-subsidised one for the SUVs and other luxury vehicles. This was again a self-defeating solution as it would lead to a thriving black marketing. I then borrowed a suggestion of the Kirit Parikh Commission that an additional levy on such luxury car owners would limit their sales. Discouraging the use of such fuel-guzzlers through stinging fiscal barbs might discourage buyers and thereby bring down the sales and carbon emissions too. But will the automobile lobby that has a lot at stake in the industry be a silent observer to this leash? Environmentalists are also crying hoarse over lack of an efficient public transport system to ensure reduction in carbon emissions.
There is an emotional angle to this too. The aspirational levels of middle class Indians have grown. The previous generation, which travelled sleeper class in trains and boarded buses to college and work, now wish they and their children could travel in comfort. They want to relive their youth through their children, and in the process have forgotten to imbibe the virtues of a green lifestyle into the psyche of the generation next. Buying a bike for college-going children so that they need not rub their shoulders with sweaty fellow passengers is a vacuum of wisdom. The lure of commercials backed by easy consumer loans has also made it easier for the middle class to satiate its appetite for luxury. Then, there is this typical urban “let’s go on a long drive” culture. I personally feel such aimless drives are not remotely romantic. Added to that are the blobs of carbon footprints they leave behind. The romantics can probably try long bicycle rides. It could recreate the old-world charm.
Finally, there is the pressure of peer. The increasing system of living in gated communities has led to being “noticed” in vehicle upgrades. This psyche of owning a high-end vehicle elevates their standing among the community, prodding to more me-too owners of such cars. But such emotional arguments obviously cannot find itself a solution to fuel -guzzling cars and carbon emissions. And it will certainly not succeed in awaking green consciousness.
In any case, green campaigners prodding people to use bicycles for short distances or public transport are branded outrageous suggestions by the affluent middle class. And, this argument does not even reach the ears of the upper class, which fancies keeping a fleet of high-end fuel-guzzlers.
So, carbon emissions cannot be argued on an emotional platform. Research on increasing the vehicle’s efficiency of fuel consumption will probably atone for our sinful marks of carbon footprints.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Of overflowing coffers and empty conscience
There is a children’s short story in Hindi about a tight-fisted king whose subjects seek his help during a famine. His matter-of-fact reply is, “Today it is famine, tomorrow, it could be an earthquake, the day after, people would be dying of poverty. If I go around helping them, what will happen to me and my treasury?” [Striking resemblance to our politicians].
When his subjects request him to part with some money from his overflowing coffers, the king retorts that it is his money and he would do what he wanted with it: boil it and drink or even fry it. It was none of the business of his subjects.
Seeing people in distress, an old monk decides to help them by tricking the king. He approaches the king with false praises and asks him for some offering, saying he would take a rupee on the first day and its double the next day, and a double of what he took the second day on the third and go on with the double of the previous day for 20 days. The king was only too eager to part with what he thought was a tiny amount from his treasury. But mathematics beat the king as he realised he had parted with Rs 10,48,575 at the end of 20 days.
I wish we had a monk in our midst to fool our Kalmadis and Rajas. What else is the solution to dissolve our corrupt rajas in white? For starters, the ruling Congress sacked Ashok Chavan as Maharashtra chief minister and Suresh Kalmadi as Congress Parliamentary Party secretary as soon as the Obamas punched their return ticket. However, the main course of action remains to be seen. Suresh Kalmadi retains his position in the Indian Olympics Association as well as his MP status.
The next storm brewing over the capital is the 2G spectrum scam. The Manmohan Singh government is caught between the Supreme Court questioning the continuation of the telecom minister, A. Raja, in the Union Cabinet in the wake of the Rs 1.7 lakh crore scam and keeping its key ally, the DMK, in good humour. The Supreme Court has slammed the CBI for “dragging its feet” on the 2G spectrum scam and called its investigation “slipshod”. It also questioned the continuation of A. Raja as telecom minister.
The DMK, will not tolerate the removal of its minister, A. Raja, as it would be seen as admission of guilt. This will not work well for Karunanidhi’s DMK, in view of its image in the Assembly elections in six months’ time. Karunanidhi has carefully polished the chief ministerial chair for his son, M.K. Stalin, and wants no curtains on his Dravidian drama. But, he is also carefully treading his path. Rahul Gandhi’s efforts to mobilise the youth in Tamil Nadu might fracture the DMK’s base and the doting father does not want to ruin the dynasty after having carefully worked on it. So the choice of guilt, UPA alliance and Assembly elections hang heavily on Karunanidhi’s old shoulders. That could be the reason the DMK fired a cracker this Diwali season, using the Dalit wick. It said sacking Raja might not bode well for the UPA as he is the Dalit face of the alliance. This salvo might work, as both the parties hope to cash in on the Dalit votebank in the Tamil Nadu Assemble elections.
A good friend pointed out that Suresh Kalmadi belonged to his “home state” and, he was, therefore, ashamed of his deeds. Do not worry, my friend. All our Indian friends will have some reason to be ashamed. Every state has its own share of ministers who have mopped up money. In other words, every state has corrupt politicians. Jai Hind. We are all in a Sorry State.
When his subjects request him to part with some money from his overflowing coffers, the king retorts that it is his money and he would do what he wanted with it: boil it and drink or even fry it. It was none of the business of his subjects.
Seeing people in distress, an old monk decides to help them by tricking the king. He approaches the king with false praises and asks him for some offering, saying he would take a rupee on the first day and its double the next day, and a double of what he took the second day on the third and go on with the double of the previous day for 20 days. The king was only too eager to part with what he thought was a tiny amount from his treasury. But mathematics beat the king as he realised he had parted with Rs 10,48,575 at the end of 20 days.
I wish we had a monk in our midst to fool our Kalmadis and Rajas. What else is the solution to dissolve our corrupt rajas in white? For starters, the ruling Congress sacked Ashok Chavan as Maharashtra chief minister and Suresh Kalmadi as Congress Parliamentary Party secretary as soon as the Obamas punched their return ticket. However, the main course of action remains to be seen. Suresh Kalmadi retains his position in the Indian Olympics Association as well as his MP status.
The next storm brewing over the capital is the 2G spectrum scam. The Manmohan Singh government is caught between the Supreme Court questioning the continuation of the telecom minister, A. Raja, in the Union Cabinet in the wake of the Rs 1.7 lakh crore scam and keeping its key ally, the DMK, in good humour. The Supreme Court has slammed the CBI for “dragging its feet” on the 2G spectrum scam and called its investigation “slipshod”. It also questioned the continuation of A. Raja as telecom minister.
The DMK, will not tolerate the removal of its minister, A. Raja, as it would be seen as admission of guilt. This will not work well for Karunanidhi’s DMK, in view of its image in the Assembly elections in six months’ time. Karunanidhi has carefully polished the chief ministerial chair for his son, M.K. Stalin, and wants no curtains on his Dravidian drama. But, he is also carefully treading his path. Rahul Gandhi’s efforts to mobilise the youth in Tamil Nadu might fracture the DMK’s base and the doting father does not want to ruin the dynasty after having carefully worked on it. So the choice of guilt, UPA alliance and Assembly elections hang heavily on Karunanidhi’s old shoulders. That could be the reason the DMK fired a cracker this Diwali season, using the Dalit wick. It said sacking Raja might not bode well for the UPA as he is the Dalit face of the alliance. This salvo might work, as both the parties hope to cash in on the Dalit votebank in the Tamil Nadu Assemble elections.
A good friend pointed out that Suresh Kalmadi belonged to his “home state” and, he was, therefore, ashamed of his deeds. Do not worry, my friend. All our Indian friends will have some reason to be ashamed. Every state has its own share of ministers who have mopped up money. In other words, every state has corrupt politicians. Jai Hind. We are all in a Sorry State.
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