There is no room for complacency at this stage in the ongoing fight against COVID. Please look alive
There are no regular similarities between Coronavirus and tsunami, save that both are devastating by nature and take a toll on humans. However, looking at the simile closely, one would realise that both advance in the same fashion. Tsunami, which is a wave or a ripple, travels alternating between a crest and a trough and COVID-19 also follows a somewhat similar trajectory. At one point, the number of infections reaches its peak, then drops significantly to the ebb, only to rise again and hit a new acme. The moot questions haunting us currently include: Are we heading for another peak? Will the tsunami of Coronavirus engulf all of humanity? Is there any way out of it, or are we staring at Doomsday? What about our mammoth vaccination programme and other preventive efforts? Will they prove futile? With the scientists and Governments across the globe struggling hard with the newly emerging variants and the treacherous ability of the virus to mutate, there are no easy solutions to these puzzles. However, what is more flabbergasting is that why haven’t we learnt our lessons yet? We have state-of-the-art warning systems to alert us of tsunami, and people do pay heed, but all the warnings with respect to COVID-19 precautions are literally falling on deaf ears. Why we, as citizens, are failing in our duty to take the necessary precautions?
Despite all the efforts and awareness campaign undertaken by the Government for educating people about the importance of wearing masks and maintaining social distance, our insouciance is not dying. Many people, while using public transport and even otherwise, can be seen brazenly flouting the rules, such as “Do gaj ki doori, mask hai zaroori (maintaining the distance of two yards and wearing the mask is important)”. Especially in the Metro trains, many people can be seen standing or sitting next to each other without the required spacing, besides not wearing a mask. Protocols like mask-wearing and social distancing have literally been thrown out of the window. While the United Nations has lauded our efforts and expressed gratitude to India for its gift of COVID-19 vaccines to the UN peacekeepers, saying that the donation will help the Blue Helmets to continue their life-saving endeavours, the nation should within be ashamed by how its own people are behaving. There are incidences of people engaging in fights with civil volunteers and municipal employees who have been deployed to keep a check on the violations. We cannot afford to drop our guard at this moment when the vaccination drive is on in full swing. Seeing the size of our population, we need to amp it up but we must keep in mind that getting the jab is no panacea in itself. We still need to take full precautions as there is no substitute for it. Fighting the pandemic is our duty and we have no right to endanger our life or the lives of others. Not everyone can render extraordinary service to the nation but, let’s remember, small efforts collectively go a long way, too. We all must consider ourselves warriors in that sense.
Unless one has lived in or frequently travelled to Assam, it is difficult to understand what nightmares the Ahomiyas have when they think of infiltration
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act brings nightmares to the Assamese people for fear of further arrival of Bengali-speaking people from Bangladesh. The immigrants may be legal but the dilution of the local culture and the threat to the political voice of the Assamese would be about the same, regardless of how good the newcomers may be.
Before offering the remedy, two points need to be made. One, the Assamese, whether adivasis or more especially the modernised Assamese, are dead scared of being outnumbered by the Bengali-speaking people, whether Hindu or Muslim. Merely assuring people that protecting their culture is as much the Centre’s concern as securing the culture of the entire country, would not satisfy them.
Unless one has lived in or frequently travelled to Assam, it is difficult to appreciate what nightmares the Assamese have when they think of infiltration, whether legal or otherwise. They are a gentle people with a soft, peace-loving nature. They have their own festivals. They were gifted by nature with plenty of land and even more water and rivers. They do not have to work stupendously hard for survival. The climate is mostly warm and humid; it does not make itself congenial for hard work. They are not competitive by nature and, understandably, shudder at the fear of this ethos being disturbed by the outsiders.
Believe it not, until two decades ago, it was popular impression that the Congress’ strategy for winning elections in Assam was “Ali, Coolie and Bengali”. Coolie implied the tea garden workers and their families. Ali and Bengali are self-explanatory; they are mostly people who had over the years immigrated to Assam. Even the tea garden workers were adivasis brought from Jharkhand and other neighbouring areas to plant and pluck the bushes. To this day, it is difficult to find an original Assamese who is a plucker in a tea garden. In sum and substance, the Congress depended on the settlers from “outside” to win a majority vote.
In 1947, MA Jinnah nearly convinced the British rulers that Assam was a Muslim-majority province and, therefore, should go to Pakistan. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in his book Eastern Pakistan, stated that the tribals were not only not Hindus but also unfit for civilised life. The generally vague conclusion of the sympathisers for Pakistan was that Eastern Bengal and Assam should be combined into one province. Similar was the case made under the first partition of Bengal by Viceroy Lord Curzon in 1905. Fortunately, it was undone by 1911. Lord Pethic Lawrence, the Secretary of State for India in the Richard Clement Attlee Government of 1945-49, also swallowed this theory about an amalgamation of the two.
The deception was almost done when Gopinath Bordolai, an Assam Congress leader, rushed out to persuade those in the positions of power and influence that the Jinnah contention was untrue. As a result, Assam was saved for India except for Sylhet district, which had a Muslim majority. Any wonder then that the Assamese are afraid of allowing illegal migrants to settle down there? Incidentally, until 1874, Assam was a part of the Bengal Presidency. It was then separated and placed under the rule of a Chief Commissioner. To make Assam a viable separate province, three Bengali-speaking districts of the Presidency, namely, Goalpara, Sylhet and Cachar, were merged into the new province. That is how Assam began to host Bengalis as well as Muslims. The going of Sylhet to East Pakistan in 1947 relieved this pressure to an extent.
Assam, however, can ill afford to host more immigrants; the Assamese population is so small. The recent Citizenship (Amendment) Act is a major irritant for them, especially since what was discovered in 1979. Some young men discovered in the electoral rolls of the Mangaldai Assembly constituency that many a voter was an obvious infiltrator. In order to spread the protest and try and stop such distortion of the electoral rolls of the State, the All Assam Students Union (AASU) was formed. Some members also went on to establish the Assam Ganatantra Parishad (AGP), a major political party. A few members took to terrorism under the name of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA).
The solution to a potentially very serious national problem would lie in making the Cachar region a separate Union Territory having no special political connection with Assam. Cachar has a population of nearly 40 lakh people, of whom a little over half are Hindu. Under two per cent are Christian and the rest are Muslims. More or less, all speak and write Bengali. Its economy is viable, especially with the help of over 100 tea gardens which produce five crore kilograms, worth around Rs 800 crore, annually.
That would separate about 16 per cent of Assam’s total population and virtually all of them are Bengali, whether Muslim or Hindu, a great relief to the Assamese. This is a surefire way to bring happiness to the Assamese people after at least a century. In any case, the Cacharis would be pleased at being demi-independent, with Silchar becoming a mini rajdhani.
(The writer is a well-known columnist and an author. The views expressed are personal.)
Here is a guide to the week ahead for you. This is your forecast for March 29-April 4
BY NEERAJ DHANKHER
ARIES
This week luck will be on your side. Therefore, you are advised not to be in haste while executing any task and work patiently. Be careful while making any new investment. Those in business may face problems due to faulty decision-making. Hence, weigh your decisions before it is too late. A jovial atmosphere at home will work as a stress-buster and make you feel satisfied. Avoid being harsh while interacting with your spouse. Students will see a lot of positive changes. Those aspiring to go abroad will be successful in achieving their goal. In terms of health, you may face small problems this week relating to digestion and blood pressure. It is advisable to maintain a healthy physical routine to keep mind and body healthy.
Tip of the week: Do not work in haste
TAURUS
On the work front, you may sometimes feel that things are not working as per your plan. Due to this, you could feel demotivated at times. However, you are advised to maintain a low profile this week and prepare to bounce back strongly. Any property-related transactions done by you in the past are likely to be completed this week. This will benefit you as you will be successful in securing your future. You will be able to get the necessary support of any elder member of your family in tough situations. However, for this to happen, you must share your problems with your family at the outset. This week will be below average in matters concerning health. You need to be careful of your diet and avoid eating anything apart from homemade food.
Tip of the week: Keep a low profilE
GEMINI
This week you could execute some pending financial plans which will turn out to be profitable. This will help in saving money and improve your financial position. Keep yourself away from all kinds of negative thoughts in order to do better in your career. Otherwise, you may become distracted which can cause you trouble in the coming times. Avoid quarrelling with family members over trivial issues. Do not lose your mind and try to understand others correctly. At this time, you can witness improvement in the health of a member of your family, which will bring a sign of relief and reduce mental stress. Students should not underestimate their abilities in the face of criticism from others. It is better to enroll yourself in a professional course and give your best.
Tip of the week: Keep negative thoughts at bay
CANCER
During this week, an unexpected increase in expenses can disturb your peace of mind. To avoid stress, keep yourself calm and work on a plan to get out of this problem. Do not lose patience in case you get into any kind of argument with colleagues or seniors in the office. Your willpower will become stronger which will help you to perform better in professional life. During this time, you will get many opportunities which will yield results in the future. Do not overlook them. Those facing problems in married life will soon get a new lease of life. Students appearing for competitive examinations are advised to work hard in order to tilt the results in their favour. Your health is likely to improve and you will remain happy and cheerful.
Tip of the week: Keep a check on your expenses
LEO
This week your financial status will remain strong. While expenses will increase, so will income. As a result, you will add to your list of luxurious items. During this time, your leadership and administrative abilities will be enhanced. Because of this, you will be able to establish your separate identity and respect at the workplace. You will be able to spend some quality time with your family which will add to your happiness. If there is a member of marriageable age in your family, then the person's marriage can be fixed. Students looking to get admission in their choice of institution will get favourable results. Your health is likely to remain indifferent. Avoid traveling as it can prove to be counter-productive.
Tip of the week: Family celebrations on the cards
VIRGO
You will be able to increase your bank balance this week. You will focus on accumulating wealth which will help you guard against future risks. This time will bring advancement in your career but you are advised not to lose patience. At times, you may feel frustrated with your efforts and may feel directionless. Avoid venting out these emotions on your loved ones else you could hurt them in return. Those single can expect to meet someone which will lead to a new relationship. Those married will experience harmony in their relationship. Students will get better results in examinations that they have been waiting for a long time. Health issues relating to eyes and throat should not be ignored.
Tip of the week: Do not get temperamental
LIBRA
Keep moving calmly towards your objectives without boasting about your skills and abilities. Do not trust anyone blindly and do not reveal your cards in front of everyone before you achieve the desired success. If your money has been stuck for a long time in the past, then this week you will finally get your hands on those funds. The health of your spouse can bother you. Your friends will be a source of joy for you and you plan to have a small get-together with them. Those of you studying will not be reluctant to work hard, which will help them to get favorable results. This week, you have to take special care about your eating and drinking habits. Avoid over-consumption, else you could face issues relating to the stomach.
Tip of the week: Do not boast about yourself
SCORPIO
You will get appreciation and support from your superiors and high officials this week. Apart from this, short trips relating to work will benefit you. The current planetary position indicates some unwanted expenses in your life. However, due to the steady flow of income, your financial condition will remain favourable. This week there will be positive changes in the health of your father and you will be seen spending time with him and discuss domestic issues. This will help you enhance your understanding and get support from him. This is a favourable time for students who are associated with creative subjects and they will be successful in overcoming problems in their studies. Your dedication towards your health will help you get rid of any existing illness.
Tip of the week: Plan a short trip
SAGITTARIUS
This week all unfavorable situations of your past will turn out to be in your favour at the workplace. You are advised to take utmost advantage of this very moment and leave no stone unturned to get appreciation from your seniors. This may also help you get financial benefits. However, avoid investing in land or property, otherwise it can prove to be fatal for your financial position in the future. For those studying, your hard work done previously in the field of education will help achieve results in your favour. Also, those of you thinking of pursuing higher education, then this time will be particularly good. On the health front, you will be able to get rid of your earlier issues and lead a healthy life.
Tip of the week: Make use of the favourable time
CAPRICORN
This week you will not suffer from any kind of financial crisis since luck will favour you. You may have to revise your plans and policies while making necessary decisions. The result and profits will turn out to be in line with your efforts, hence take decisions wisely. Students need to be careful else there is a possibility of wasting time in useless activities. Therefore, it would be better for them to consult elders or teachers to receive the necessary guidance. This week, you will remain supportive towards your family and friends. But in spite of this, do not let your friends and family take advantage of this generous nature of yours. Otherwise, you may have to face problems later. Health issues relating to joints and legs should not be overlooked.
Tip of the week: Take decisions wisely
AQUARIUS
This week you need to take care of our health as the planetary position indicates possibility of an injury. Take all necessary precautions. If you have been facing financial troubles for a long time, the situation is likely to improve this week. You will find new ways and sources to increase your income. On the professional front, your skills will be tested. In order to achieve the desired results, you need to concentrate on your efforts. For this, you can also put to use the experience of your seniors or mentors. There is a possibility of somebody relocating in your family. Also, you will spend lot of time with your family to discuss important matters relating to the household. Your relations with your spouse can be a bit cold at times, hence avoid being reactive.
Tip of the week: Guard against injuries
PISCES
You will have a hectic week due to increasing workload on all fronts. Therefore, it would be better for you not to lose patience under any circumstance. Keep an eye on the future while taking any important decision. Some of your financial challenges will be overcome this week. There are favorable indications of getting money and this will help you come out of any adverse situation. Since you may not have been able to devote ample time to your family in the recent past, you will be seen filling the gap this week. A small family celebration seems to be on the cards. Students need to avoid arguments and focus on their goal. Health issues relating to seasonal infections and allergy can bother you. Work on improving your immunity.
Tip of the week: Stay patient
(Neeraj Dhankher is an astrologer with proficiency in Vedic, KP and Nadi Astrology. He is Founder and CEO of Astro Zindagi. The observations are made by the writer based on his own analysis)
The US is concerned about China catching up and elbowing it out as the No. 1 nation globally
Democracy is about values just as economy is about profit and loss. But when the latter takes precedence over the former, the values are obviously somewhat compromised. Keeping the economic interests foremost to excel in the global market is the priority of the world superpowers. In their pursuit, targeting the market adversaries under the pretence of protecting human rights, upholding the democracy, safeguarding the interests of minorities and so on, through levying tariffs and slapping sanctions is not something new and is a kind of expansionism, if not exactly imperialism. US President Joe Biden’s harp on Beijing is not different from his predecessor’s Donald Trump stance in that sense. Biden has said that China’s ambition of becoming the wealthiest and most powerful country in the world is “not going to happen on my watch”. He vowed to outspend China on innovation and infrastructure to prevent the communist nation from surpassing the US to become the world’s most powerful country. Washington is working on all equations against Beijing with the help of global partners and is apparently tapping all opportunities to take it on. Recently, in the meeting of the head of the States of the Quad alliance (US, India, Australia and Japan), the partners put their weight behind the idea of “free and open Indo-Pacific”.
The Quad leaders discussed the challenges posed by China. The US is aware of the importance of New Delhi in dealing with China. India’s strategic location, the Chinese military’s misadventure in Ladakh and Arunachal, and New Delhi and Beijing’s age-old rivalry are reasons enough to give the US a chance to meddle in the affairs of South and South-East Asia. Besides, India is a big market for America. On the other hand, Beijing’s opposition to the alliance is on the expected lines, asking Washington to refrain from making “trouble out of nothing”. China is expanding its footprint and has a huge say in the world economy. Products manufactured in China, particularly electronic goods and microchips, have captured the markets across the globe. The Dragon is also increasing its military might and hold in the sea waters and territories of other nations. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi has banned several Chinese apps after a bloody border conflict, the two-way trade between the countries stood at $77.7 billion last year. In the ugly tussle between the superpowers, India must act cautiously safeguarding its own interests. Anyway, the economy should bring peace, not war.
Is the current cricket team the best of all time across all formats? The jury is still out
What is the hallmark of a champion team? A side that is capable of picking up the gauntlet and throw it right back at the opposition, across all formats in every condition. The domination should be such that the opponents are under pressure even before they enter the field. Like the Ricky Ponting team of the early 2000s, which won back-to-back World Cups in 2003 and 2007 and that too with an invincible record, is one of the greatest teams of all times in international cricket. Not just because of the success that they had all those years but also because they were the team to beat, a benchmark to all the other sides. There was not just n number of match-winners in the playing XI but also in the ranks that were waiting to display their skills. In today’s world, the Indian team experiences the same scenario. Under Virat Kohli, the team is breaking records at will. They are dominating any opposition in such a way that many former greats often refer to this side as the “best Indian team”. But is it really the best India ever had? Good enough to beat the likes of the World Cup winners of 1983 and 2011 as well?
Well, one may argue that they are because of the success they have had in the recent years, which includes winning back-to-back Test series Down Under, the second time this year only after defeating the full-strength Aussies. Winning any bilateral series Down Under is a big achievement in itself but the 2021 series triumph ranks way above because India minus Virat Kohli did that. And also because as many as 11 players got injured during the series and they still managed to achieve the impossible. If that’s not enough to be called the best, what else do you need? But for them to be called as the ‘Greatest of All Time’, they need to perform like this for a few more years, besides winning an ICC tournament. That is the peak. That’s what Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s side did in 2011, which arguably remains the best team India has ever had. We may only remember them as the World Cup winners but they were a lot more than that. Across formats, they won matches, the highlight of which, apart from reaching the top spot in Test and ODIs, was the 2009 Test series win in New Zealand and Commonwealth Bank series in 2008. And not to forget they started a rebuild after the imminently forgettable World Cup outing in the Caribbean. Dhoni's side was built from the scratch and, in four years, they won everything on offer. One may ask why the 1983 side is excluded from this list, but the answer is simple. The Kapil’s Devils won the Prudential Cup beating West Indies in the final, but they weren’t the best team in the tournament. They won that day because they were better than the other team.
Not the one to flaunt his talent or connections, the popular Hindi cinema writer retained his dignity and ardour even when faced with the odds
No one remembers his real name, Ganga Sagar Talwar, but his nom de plume, Sagar Sarhadi, is a household name in popular Hindi cinema as a story and screenplay writer whose incredible creations Kabhi Kabhie, Silsila, Noorie, Faasle, Anubhav, Zindagi, Chandni, Rang and Kaho Na Pyar Hai, among others, are pieces of gem. And, of course, his immortal creation, Bazaar.
My first interaction with Sagar Saab was in 2005 when he made his last feature film, Chausar. As the festival programmer at the Osian’s-Cinefan Asian Film Festival, my responsibility was to present meaningful cinemas to the festival. To be honest, I was attracted towards Chausar not only for its content but also the name behind it – Sagar Sarhadi. At the time, though old, he was quite active. He brought a VCD of Bazaar for me as a token of affection. Of course, I got him to sign on the cover. What still remains with me is the simplicity of the extremely talented man. No fuss, no celebrity tantrums. An independent film festival curator considers such personalities a precious asset to promote cinematic culture.
After Chausar, we invited him to attend the Jagran Film Festival in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. At the small hotel we were put up in, his only demand was to have some “good vegetables”. But the waiter insisted on a mixed-vegetable dish. Sagar Sa’ab said: “I came all the way from Bombay, which is a concrete jungle, to your city, which is totally surrounded by greenery. Why can’t you give me some good, green vegetable? Why you emphasising on mixed vegetables that must be seven days old?” Everyone started laughing.
After a long gap, we invited him as a speaker to the Kalinga Literary Festival in Bhubaneswar in 2016. By the time, the veteran had already crossed his 80s and needed an assistant to travel. And, of course, on a simple, low-cost flight. Immediately after reaching to the hotel, he came out and started walking on the street to see the city. Meanwhile, he was telling to his companion: “This Santanu is a big guy. He humbly invited me to attend the literary festival, and I thought it must be a small affair with some like-minded people in a homely atmosphere. But he put me in a five-star hotel, that too air-conditioned. Being a communist at heart, how can I stay here?” That defines Sagar Sarhadi.
In 2017, the Dehradun International Film Festival honoured him with the Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was presented to him by the then Chief Minister Harish Rawat. Before the event, we went to his Mumbai home in Sion to invite him. The small flat with a nice place to sit and brainstorm for projects turned out to be a nice place to recollect beautiful memories.
I saw the Black Lady, the prestigious Filmfare Award trophy, among the various awards on his rack. A huge collection of books, too, mostly written in Urdu. Very sadly, Sagar Sa’ab said: “You know, now I am old. I can’t take good care of these books. I wanted to gift all my Urdu books to the library, but they don’t want these since they say there are no Urdu readers. So the books are lying with me only.”
He used to praise his birthplace, Abbotabad, now in Pakistan, and also in news because of Osama bin Laden. Sagar Sa’ab was so much influenced by the scenic beauty of Abbotabad that the story of Noorie was complete based on that background. The shooting, however, has been done in Kashmir.
The memories of the old good days were always fresh in his mind, though by the time he had become forgetful and repeated the same conversation. But his association with Yash Chopra was known to everyone. From Kabhi Kabhie to Silsila to Chandni, an amazing journey altogether. He recalls that he first went to the south, then to Shimla, Delhi and Punjab. At the end of it, when he submitted the bills to Yash Chopra, the latter jokingly said: “Kya kilometre ke hisaab se likhte ho? (Do you write on the basis of kilometres travelled?)”.
Yash Chopra was keen to make Bazaar, but Sagar Sa’ab was reluctant to pass on the story to anyone. He wanted to make the film by himself. He proudly said: “That time I gave Smita Patil Rs 25,000 as the remuneration and Rs 20,000 to Naseeruddin Shah.” Many people talk about his affection towards Smita but, in our several conversations, honestly, I never found any such thing.
In 2019, at the Kolkata International Film Festival, he was a special invitee to pay tributes to Khayaam Sa’ab. The whole city was covered with the posters and banners of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He innocently asked one of the organisers: “Why is there no film poster but only her face?”
In his last days, after seeing Sagar Saab’s struggle for survival, whenever we invited him, the organiser must offer some monetary assistance to the veteran writer. Since he didn’t ask for money from anyone, I strongly feel, even the super rich Hindi film industry is partly responsible for such neglect as his.
(The writer is a Delhi-based film festival curator, filmmaker and producer. The views expressed are personal.)
The heckling of two nuns on false accusations doesn’t behove us as a peace-loving, tolerant nation
India is a country with major aspirations. It wants to be a regional superpower so that it can keep an increasingly belligerent and expansionist China in check for amity in its immediate neighbourhood. The country, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, dreams of becoming a $5 trillion economy by 2025. How is it then that a nation that positions itself as a “vishwa guru” and believes in the concept of “Vasudhaiva kutumbakam (the world is one family)” and ahimsa, is increasingly becoming intolerant in its own backyard? Whether it be cow vigilantes beating a young man to pulp with a hammer even as the police stand by mutely in Gurugram or the lynching of dairy farmer Pehlu Khan in Alwar, or the recent harassment of two nuns and their trainees travelling on a train from Delhi to Rourkela in Odisha. The four women were forced to deboard in Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi after an Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad worker accused them of forced conversions. The women were bullied, abused and harassed by a crowd before being taken away by the railway police. However, the police found the conversion claim wrong as the two postulates were carrying their baptism cards issued in 2003.
With elections in Kerala round the corner, the issue has led to a political slugfest in the State and the BJP, which has been trying to woo the Christians there, suddenly found itself on the back foot. Campaigning in Kerala, Home Minister Amit Shah was at pains to assure the people of action. But what if it had not been the election season? Would our netas have jumped to the defence of the minority community then? The Constitution allows everyone in the country to believe or not to believe in any religion and the Jhansi incident is an encroachment on the freedom and fundamental rights of these citizens. It is a sad reflection on our country that more and more States are coming out with repressive laws that target the freedom of preaching and practising select religions. Should we as a country not be more focused on bringing about an end to hunger, poverty, casteism and discrimination than fighting each other over something as personal as religion? We would be better desh bhakts if we focused on peace, equality, prosperity and brotherhood among all Indians. We must remember that we are all Indians first.
Uddhav shouldn’t allow the Maharashtra Home Minister to sell a dummy to the people
Politicians nowadays seem to have scant regard for probity, accountability and integrity in public life; what matters to them is power and position. The recent turn of events in Mumbai reflects that those wielding power think that they can get away with anything. NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s blue-eyed boy and Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, against whom serious charges of corruption have been levelled by Mumbai Police’s former Commissioner Param Bir Singh, said he would welcome a probe against himself if Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray orders any. The CM has so far not acted against his tainted Cabinet colleague while Pawar has predictably defended his pick. The Home Minister’s statement came a day after the Supreme Court (SC) termed the matter “quite serious” and asked Singh to approach the Bombay High Court (HC) with his plea seeking a CBI probe against Deshmukh. Deshmukh seems to be aware that in case Uddhav orders a probe against him, the HC will take note of this fact before deciding on Singh’s plea. It may or may not have a bearing on the High Court’s decision but Deshmukh is apparently trying to ensure that the case is not handed over to a central agency. A CBI inquiry means trouble not only for the Home Minister but for the entire Government.
On the other hand, even if Uddhav orders a probe, any inquiry against Deshmukh by the State agency, while he continues to occupy his office, hardly makes any sense. It would be merely an eyewash as the subordinate officials will leave no stone unturned to ensure that their boss comes clean of all charges. Ideally, any officer or Minister who faces an inquiry is suspended or asked to proceed on leave until the probe concludes. It is done to ensure that the probe remains unbiased and the suspect in question does not influence the investigation in any manner. Had he been serious about the corruption charges against him, Deshmukh should have tendered his resignation on moral grounds before asking the Chief Minister to launch a probe. Now, it is up to Uddhav to take a call on the prickly issue. However, he is expected to ask Deshmukh to tender his resignation before ordering any probe against the Home Minister. However, in case he decides to go soft on Pawar’s favourite man, Uddhav can reshuffle his portfolio or make him a Minister without charge. But seeing the state of affairs in Maharashtra, where Pawar is calling the shots while the Chief Minister sits with his hands tied behind his back, it is most likely that Deshmukh will continue as the Home Minister irrespective of whether a probe is initiated against him. On the other hand, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has claimed that the Opposition wanted the Maha Vikas Aghadi Government to fall from day one but the Government enjoys full majority. While the spate of allegations and counter-allegations between the Government and the Opposition flies thick and fast, it would be interesting to see what happens next in Maharashtra.
The mistreatment of nuns on a train in Jhansi for alleged attempts at conversion is proof of the high-handedness of the Right-wingers
The heckling of two nuns in Jhansi is making news and brings to the fore the conversion debate at a time when five Assembly elections are round the corner. In the incident, two nuns travelling on a train were mobbed allegedly by a group of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad activists. They felt that the nuns were in some way involved in conversions, though there was nothing at the spot to suggest this. Still, their journey came to an abrupt end. Mercifully, they were not hacked which was not a distant possibility.
It happened in Uttar Pradesh (UP), which has been at the forefront of ‘love jihad’ and other minority-related issues. To date, there is no law in UP against conversion though a controversial Bill is on the anvil. The Act will debar religious conversions by inducement, though conversion by free will would be allowed. That is when it comes into effect. Eight States have already passed a similar Act.
Article 25 of the Constitution guarantees the freedom to profess, practice and propagate religion to all citizens. For argument’s sake even if the law was enforced and the nuns were involved in conversion, it does not become the Right-wingers’ prerogative to enforce it. The self-assigned custodians of Hinduism who try to enforce the law are by its very definition outlaws. It is the job of the police, not citizens, to bring the culprits to book.
Conversion is an old debate and Christian missionaries have been under the scanner for it. Muslims, for that matter, are spared from this debate (love jihad is a different issue). Other mass conversions that take place are from Hindus to the Buddhist fold. Since Babasaheb Ambedkar converted to Buddhism along with several of his Dalit followers, the trend has continued. Most conversions that take place from the majority community to minority are frowned upon while the ones from minority to majority are welcomed as homecoming. Double standards there!
Right now, over 1,000 applications are pending in Gujarat for conversions. Most of them are from Hindus who would like to embrace Buddhism. The Right wing should view such conversions as a reason to introspect rather than blaming the other religionists for wooing their flock. Almost all Hindus who have applied for conversion to Buddhism are Dalits.
These champions of Hinduism must raise their voice when atrocities are committed on Dalits. From the suicide of Rohit Vemula to the flogging of Dalit workers, hardly ever has a Hindu outfit stepped forth to protest such incidents. If you don’t treat your co-religionists well, such applications are bound to increase.
As far as Christian missionaries are concerned, there is no denying that they are entrusted with the task of converting people and that is how Christianity spread across the globe. For that matter, that is how Buddhism spread when Emperor Ashoka sent his emissaries to spread the teachings of Buddha to various places. No harm in that.
The charge often levelled against Christian missionaries is that they do so by bribing and inducement. Allegedly, huge sums of money are spent by Christian organisations for converting the tribal and Scheduled Caste Hindus. That Odisha is the State where such practice takes place is a myth that needs to be busted.
Since Independence, the Christian population’s in the country has declined in absolute as well as relative terms. The census data shows that it declined to 2.30 per cent in 2011 from 2.33 per cent in 2001. The Christian population growth is lower than the Hindu growth rate. So either the money the Christian missionaries are getting is going down the drain or the missionaries are not able to deliver. Christian organisations must ponder over the return on investments as the Christian population in the tribal region of Odisha has remained static.
This writer had filmed a documentary in Manoharpur in Odisha where missionary Graham Staines was burnt alive with his two sons, Philip (10) and Timothy (7), on the night of January 22, 1999, for allegedly converting tribal Hindus. The spur to do the documentary was a small story in a newspaper. Gladys Staines, the widow of Graham, had said that she had forgiven Dara Singh, the murderer of her sons and husband. It takes real conviction and guts to even pretend, let alone forgive by heart. The lady surely deserved to be portrayed in the right manner but she chose otherwise.
The place was so backward that it had no electricity, market or a pucca house. Primary health services, banks, police stations were a far cry. She still worked there and ran a hospital and provided many basic necessities to the people.
You don’t need a million dollars to convert people there; just a loaf of bread and a dressing on a wound would do. Can the Right-wing groups please do something about their plight so that no one would ever think of converting? Service to mankind is a basic Christian tenet.
In any case, the Christianisation of India is a lost cause. It could not happen during the British rule, so now the chances are even less. There are practical reasons: By converting, the SCs lose the tag and thereby many Government benefits. Also, they cannot move up the social ladder in the religious hierarchy. Raising the bogey against conversions is easy but far removed from reality.
(The writer is a columnist and documentary film-maker. The views expressed are personal.)
The practice of using loudspeakers for religious purposes is a social menace and must be discontinued
Fifteenth-century revolutionary poet-saint Kabir’s immortal lines “Kankar pathar jodi ke, masjid laye banay; Taa chadi mullah baang de, ka behra hua khudaey? (A mosque is made by cementing pebbles and stones; from its top the cleric calls out like a rooster, is the Almighty deaf?)” are more relevant today as the pitch of the “call” has been amplified to irritatingly high decibels by the loudspeakers installed atop the places of worship. Far from being mellifluous, it adds to noise pollution. However, people avoid raising this issue as talking about anything related to religion is considered blasphemous these days, thanks to religious bigots. Speaking out against any religious practice is a surefire recipe to fan unrest and may lead to communal violence. However, some politicians keep broaching the subject for the sake of popularity or political currency, though they are not at all concerned with noise pollution and its ill-effects on public health. Inspired perhaps by similar motives, a Minister in Uttar Pradesh has written to the Ballia District Magistrate against the “problems” he faces in doing yoga, meditation, worship and discharging his official duties due to the sounds emanating from the loudspeakers at a local mosque.
Recently, the Allahabad University Vice-Chancellor also sought a ban on offering prayers via loudspeakers from a mosque, saying it disturbs her morning sleep. The Minister said the volume should be fixed as per the Allahabad High Court’s order. Last year, the court had ruled that the ‘azaan’ (prayer call) could be recited by a muezzin (Muslim crier) from mosque minarets but without using loudspeakers. Though our Constitution guarantees the Right to Freedom of Religion, it doesn’t mean that we can do anything in the name of religion with impunity. Not only ‘azaan’ through blaring loudspeakers, even ‘bhakti sangeet’ (devotional music) played on high volume hurts the auditory sense. Extreme noise pollution seriously affects children, patients and the elderly, in particular. The loud music accompanying religious processions is no less disturbing. The religious leaders and devotees must understand that noise and religion are not synonymous. It’s debatable whether the prayers aired through loudspeakers stand a better chance of catching God’s ears but these certainly hurt the human ears and can cause temporary or, given to regular and frequent exposure, permanent damage. We certainly shouldn’t turn a deaf ear to this problem.
Listening to former ally Farooq Abdullah’s ‘honest’ advice will serve the Congress well
The gigantic but inert Congress has now been called out for its ineptness by National Conference (NC) leader Farooq Abdullah. The 83-year-old former ally of the party sounded it out on its sagging fortunes without mincing words when he advised the national party’s leadership to wake up, focus on issues pertaining to the masses and galvanise into action rather than “staying at their homes”. This veiled dig was ostensibly aimed at Wayanad MP and Congress scion Rahul Gandhi. Farooq’s “honest” wake-up call to the Congress is nothing short of a scathing indictment of the goings-on in the party for long, which have resulted in it facing electoral losses in State after State and being reduced to only an also-ran in successive elections. The Congress, which has ruled the nation at the Centre and in States across its length and breadth for most of the last 70 years and has earned the moniker of the ‘Grand Old Party’, today resembles a tired and uninspired entity. It hits the headlines mostly for the wrong reasons, be it losses at the hustings or defections by senior leaders or, worse, complaints by its own senior leaders against democracy within the party being throttled owing to the autocratic hold of a particular family’s members on its functioning. Farooq’s remarks assume especial significance since the NC leader has been a long-time ally of the Congress, even serving as a Union Minister in the Congress-led UPA Government from 2009 to 2014. His relevance in the political sphere may also be gauged by the fact that the NC has been in power in Jammu and Kashmir since 1947 in one form or the other till 2002, and again between 2009 and 2015.
In a letter addressed to Sonia Gandhi in August last year, 23 senior party leaders (who came to be known as G23) had complained about the absence of democracy within the party and stressed the need to hold free and impartial elections to choose the party president. They claimed that the uncertainty over the leadership and the rift in the Congress had weakened the party and left the workers demoralised. But now that even former allies like the NC are openly talking about and admitting to the “weakness” of the Congress, it just goes to show the bad times the ‘Grand Old Party’ of yore has fallen on. It is pertinent to mention that the Congress has continuously been ceding political space since 2014 to other national parties and even satraps. It would only benefit the Congress to heed Farooq’s remarks as these come at a time when the party is gearing up for the crucial Assembly elections beginning later this month in West Bengal, Assam, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. While it may be too early to call these election results, it’s a safe guess that the Congress may not be counted upon to perform dazzlingly in these States, especially after it announced its decision to ally with the Furufura Sharif cleric Pirzada Abbas Siddiqui-led Indian Secular Front in West Bengal.
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