Down Under, Indian Cricket Soaring to Zenith

My, my, my. Two spectacular victories back to back. First Pakistan and now South Africa today. The entire Indian contingent to this world cup must be congratulated and complimented. These victories become more sweet because just a few days ago almost everybody had written off the present Indian team. 

True to its nature, the Indian team has sprung a surprise. I have observed that our team does well in the world cup, whenever it is passing through a bad spell just prior to the world cup. Whenever we are favourites, we lose. Surprise either way. A few days ago, I was commenting that we'll do well in world cup because we are losing now! I have learnt to expect the opposite from our cricket team.

The win against Pakistan was easier and expected. More so because Pakistan cricket is passing through crises. The biggest one being the fact that there is no International cricket in Pakistan. So Pakistan cricket is missing on matches, the home advantage and the confidence it brings, and the commercial aspect too.

The win, today, over SA was more convincing and record breaking too. We outplayed them in all the departments of the game. The icing on the cake was the two beautiful run outs. This match shows the motivation levels of the players at the moment.

My only message here would be, make hay while the sun shines. Let's pray the sun keeps shining till the finals  

NITI Aayog & Swach Bharat

Written on 7 Feb 2015
NITI, an acronym for National Institution for Transformation of India, is a well conceived concept from the incumbent Prime Minister, Narinder Modi. True to its name and character, it replaced (transformed) the now redundant Planning Commission.

The genesis of this institution lies in the conflicting nature of our federal structure, the conflict aggravated over the years, among other things, by the scrapped Planning Commission. Narinder Modi, a Chief Minister for long years, understood this dilemma of Centre-State relations.

The NITI Aayog has decided to set up three sub groups of Chief Ministers for (a) rationalisation of central schemes (b) skill development and (c) clean India (Swach Bharat campaign).

It is the third, clean India, the Swach Bharat campaign, I’ll talk about. The Prime Minister gave the clarion call for a Swach Bharat. He aims to transform the Indian mind set about the cleanliness in our surrounding environs. That’s a lofty and much needed goal. After all, Modi held the Jhaadu in his Hand. Could there be a more integrating idea in the country? Well, jokes apart, let’s see the potential scope of this programme.

As I understand it, the present scope of Swach Bharat campaign is limited to cleaning our neighbourhoods, towns and cities. Maybe, the cleaning of Ganga and Yamuna, of the life giving rivers, may form a part of it.

Over the years, the country is losing faith in our political system, in our politicians and our governments. An ordinary citizen, the aam aadmi, is frustrated and demoralised, more so because he can do nothing about it. The people and parties he votes to power, have nothing to do on this front. This is why Anna became a darling of India and Arvind Kejriwal fires the imagination of the people, including mine, especially young people. Kejriwal himself put it in so many words that if the polity delivers then there will be no need of Kejriwal.

The very big mandate the country gave to the present PM Modi, is a reflection of this discontent all across the length and breadth of this country. It was first a reaction to corruption and arrogant mis-rule and and blatant and brazen disregard to this sensibility of the people of India. Second, it was a HOPE for the future. This Hope is the burden and responsibility that Modi carries as the leader and Prime Minister of the country.

The Swach Bharat campaign should not be limited to cleaning roads and drains only. Swach Bharat can be an umbrella campaign, a revolutionary concept, encompassing many socio-economic-political ills and shortcomings that confront our country. Only if we address these, can we say Mera Bharat Mahaan.

This sub group of Chief Ministers should involve the whole country in suggesting changes and transformations needed. Let us transform and make Swach Bharat by bringing electoral reforms, anti corruption mechanisms, a just federal structure and mechanism and social reforms.

Swach Bharat is a two way concept. Ordinary citizens need transformation in mind set as to keeping the environs clean and the ruling classes need transformation in mind set as to change the system as per the will of the people.

At present, people have put their faith in these two people in the country, PM Modi and CM Kejriwal. Both represent Hope, both have the capacity to deliver on this Hope. Both have similar admirable qualities to do the job at hand and are a league above the ordinary politicians. Politics apart, both lead a simple life of a sadhu. Both have a burning desire to serve and give. Both are popular. Both ignite passions. Both mean well. It is the nature of our polity that generates conflict and clash of ideas and one-upmanship.

Actually, Modi and Kejriwal are the best things to happen to India, at the same time. They actually complement each other. For serving India, this is the true Team India that can transform the nation by transforming the way we live and rule ourselves.

To be meaningful and successful, the NITI Aayog has to become this broad based umbrella organisation for transforming India into a Swach Bharat, a clean India in this broader sense. Otherwise, barring a few changes in the central schemes, it may end up being another redundant institution in the future, needing replacement by yet another idea.

Delhi Debacle - BJP Generals and Commander Score a Self Goal

Written on 7 Feb 2015, before the results were announced on 10 Feb
The Modi – Shah Juggernaut has come to a grinding halt in Delhi after rolling strongly and victoriously for some time now. So, come Delhi elections, many in the country took a BJP victory as granted. Let’s analyse what went wrong for BJP. 

I start by appreciating Amit Shah’s proven strategy at the booth level management of an election. About 2 lakhs Panna Pramukhs & Booth Pramukhs, the foot soldiers of the party, were mobilised and I'm pretty sure that all these Karyakarta did a splendid job. I can imagine the zeal & passion of these foot soldiers, especially when they are sensing victory, believing in the Modi magic and add to that the might of RSS in the form of Pracharaks and their network, though a BJP Karyakarta and a Swayam Sevak often overlap. But when this dedicated cadre performed well, as per party expectations, why is BJP on the receiving end?

It seems the reason for this poor showing lies at the very top. The Generals, without an effective field Commander, have scored a self goal.

One, there was an unnecessary delay of 6 to 7 months in holding elections. The Indian love for brand Modi was at its peak then and the AAP was in disarray. The delay meant losing this advantage.

Two, Modi government’s performance in these 8 months worked as a disadvantage. Granted, that Modi has done well on a few counts, like being corruption free at the government level. The foreign policy front, although he has emerged more as a Foreign Minister, than a PM, and Obama observations have been embarrassing. Modi brand is a positive 'sentiment' for the big business and the stock market. Only a sentiment. The economic indices from manufacturing are not encouraging. Yet there seems to be non governance or routine governance, like UPA, for the man on street, especially in Delhi. Modi has nothing to show for Delhi in 8 months of rule. Instead, the country has seen reversal of positions or U turns, failed promises and following the UPA line. Amit Shah’s Jumla remark was damaging and admission of the same. The benefit of falling international crude oil prices has not been passed on fully and the people understand this, educated more by the social media. Such steps impact the man on the street directly. Suffice here to say that Modi first raised expectations roof high, then he did not deliver, this shifted the balance and hope towards Kejriwal. The Modi magic actually got transferred to Kejriwal rather than Kiran Bedi.

Three, Modi faltered in strategy by abandoned his proven mantra of development and selling dreams. Instead he put up a negative campaign of name calling, which worked elsewhere due to the country’s frustration and anger against the Congress and its leadership. This generated sympathy for and lionized Kejriwal. In this election Modi did a Congress and Kejriwal did a Modi.

Four, Amit Shah miscalculated the strategy by making it a PM vs CM election. I think, for the first time in BJP history, a state election has been fought by the national BJP rather than the state BJP. Almost all aspects of the campaign were directly handled at the top.

Five, Amit Shah – Jaitely duo para dropping Kiran Bedi was a bad idea and it boomeranged. The national President, basking in the glory of recent successes, committed the biggest blunder of abandoning the winning formula of going leaderless and fighting the election jointly and letting the electorate relate to Modi. By naming Kiran Bedi as the leader, without any concurrence and against the wishes of the party, Shah-Jaitely duo hit the final nail in the coffin. In one sweep, Amit Shah bypassed and belittled all the leadership and organisation of Delhi BJP and alienated the voters from Modi in the process, by creating a buffer. It is another thing to impose an outsider at a constituency level, it is another thing to impose an outsider to be the leader and CM. When the entire media called it a master stroke, I laughed and thought that it was a suicidal stroke and put a comment to this effect on facebook.

Six, Kiran Bedi, true to her nature, showed her lack of political understanding for the position being thrust upon her in her very first address to the party men. She carried the files of news clippings of Modi to every TV show, as if that was the qualification for a CM of a state in India. The BJP forgot that during the Anna phase, Kiran Bedi was the weakest link, the chink in the armour. She was the one with theatrics and intolerance. Even on the polling day she climbed on a car roof and did a Milkha Singh accompanied by irritating sound bites! Humility was absent during the entire campaign.

Seven, the very reason why Kiran Bedi was roped in, was working against her. She was brought in to counter Kejriwal as regards honesty, goodwill, performance, credibility and acceptance. Her very joining politics was seen as opportunistic. First, she was against joining politics and had parted ways with Kejriwal on this very issue. Second, she fought against the ills of the system all her life and without batting an eyelid she became comfortable with and justified this corrupt and unethical existing system. Her credibility and acceptance took a hit, though invisible to the BJP. She was just hitchhiking, taking a free ride on the Modi bandwagon, without any contribution before or during (and I doubt after) the election.

Eight, the Kiran Bedi effect, arising from her careless remarks, led BJP to abandon their long standing demand for Delhi statehood. It also led to bypassing the Manifesto. The Vision document was late in the day and vague. Add to that the Ps and Ss, or whatever, of Kiran Bedi. I wonder, even if Modi and Shah understood her programme for Delhi, let alone the voters of Delhi. She did not do her homework before coming in public.

The only silver lining for the BJP is the dedicated might and the fight of its foot soldiers, the Karyakarta, the fighting fit machinery at the booth level. A great organisational strength at the grassroots and the arrogant, haughty and faulty strategy of the generals and lack of commander in the field, that’s BJP in Delhi 2015, scoring the self goal.

HPU FEES HIKE

I wrote this on 15 Oct 2014. It was published in The tribune, OP-ED page on 5 Dec 2014 

Is the increase in tuition, examination and other fees in HPU an exercise in resource mobilisation at all? Will the present and future fee hikes bail out the HPU out of its financial difficulties?

A firm answer to these questions can only be a no, with a capital N.

These questions have been haunting me for some days now. The Himachal Pradesh University is on the boil. All academic activity in the entire state has come to a halt. Police brutality on the protesting students has become the order of the day. The campus at Summer Hill resembles a Police Chawani. All protests and agitations ought to be peaceful, if not Gandhian. The infamous attack on the Vice Chancellor by the protesting students was cruel and unjustified. It needs to be condemned as much as the imposition of Section 144 and the police brutality on the protesting students and denying the right to peaceful protest. The academic atmosphere is nonexistent at present and anarchy prevails.

It is true that the university needs resources. Facing the financial predicament of raising Rs 35 crores, 25% of its annual outlay, which is the deficit, the university administration took a decision to increase the fees all across the board, to raise an additional Rs. 2 crores. This is important, only Rs 2 crores. The additional resources from the present fees hike amounts to 0.01% of the total outlay and 0.05% of its deficit. The million dollar question here is, where and how the University administration will find the remaining Rs. 33 crores, 24.5% of the unaccounted deficit? If it can find the Rs 33 crores needed, sure it can find another Rs. 2 crores. One would wonder, why this controversy at all? So why the fee hike at all? Is it an effort in resource mobilisation at all?

The financial difficulties in the government universities in Himachal, HP University at Shimla, Horticulture university at Solan and the Agriculture University at Palampur, are crippling. Facing huge unaccounted deficits and very little to show in the way of revenues, these universities are on the point of collapse and closure. The government, facing its own financial difficulties, is in no position to support and bail out the universities in the state, that too year after year.

Where do the universities in Himachal go from here? Well, the HPU went witch hunting with the infamous fees hike, both at under graduate and post graduate levels. Though the need for additional resources can be understood and even nominal or moderate fees hike in that direction can be understood, yet what disturbs the mind is the quantum and manner of this fee hike, the incremental is just unacceptable.

The present fees hike is unscientific and absurd. One classic example, examination fee for private girl students is now Rs. 1,000 and the late fee for the same is Rs. 3,600! That too, on a day when the admissions close for the regular and correspondence students and their examinations forms will be submitted later without any late fee! Some more, MA fee is Rs. 2,500, MA Music is Rs. 15,000 and MBA is Rs. 11,100, so the prospectus says. The entire decision making process of fee hike seems biased, pre planned, and loaded with ulterior motives. Suffice here to say that it shows the bankruptcy, not financial but mental, in the system. Despite the two rounds of committees on resource mobilisation, the only solution the university authorities have is a substantial fee hike! Are our universities harbouring the think tanks, at all? It seems, instead of an objective exercise at resource mobilisation, there was a subjective decision on one pre decided subject, the excuse being the fee structure in the Punjab University and elsewhere. A cut and paste job indeed. Moreover, comparing the HPU to the Punjab University is like comparing a government school to a public school in Shimla. This is the goodwill and prestige HPU carries. It seems the government university is in competition with the private education institutional fee structure. Commercialisation of education is coming a full circle.

No wonder the students are protesting and the concerned citizens are disturbed and the University administration finds itself in a cesspool of its own creation and a High Power Committee is in existence!

The university administration has been unable to explain this fee hike to anyone except itself. The government not satisfied with the answers provided was quick to understand this dilemma. This is why a High Power Committee to review the fee hike was formed. The government, like the students and public, wants to know the answer. In this sense, this High Power Committee is not a rubber stamp committee to brush things under the carpet, rather it is an honest attempt by the government to understand the issue and find answers that are beneficial for all concerned. The government needs to be appreciated on this score, at least. Having said that it needs to be stated that the government and the university mandarins have missed the basic issue involved, that the problem and solution is not a fees hike but the need to effect an honest and meaningful resource mobilisation effort in all the universities so that there is a permanent and everlasting source of revenue for the universities and little or no dependence on the government of the day. In this sense the hands of the present High Power committee are tied by its terms of reference and its adjudication of the issue at hand may seem to be a half hearted effort, with no solution in sight.

An interesting fact is that the present incumbent to the post of Vice Chancellor was appointed by the previous government. He completed his term, without a fee hike. He was given an extension by the present government, for the reasons best known to it. At the very end of this extension, the fee hike is implemented. Why? Is there a conspiracy lurking in the background?

It must be said, that the fee needs to be increased, in a scientific manner that is affordable and acceptable to all the stakeholders. It ought to be a continuous process with the quantum and timings decided by the stakeholders. My opinion is that the government institutions cannot have excessive fee structures. The right to affordable education is the right of every citizen and any government is bound to provide it and find resources to support such programmes, when it comes to education and health. Education and health should be affordable to all, if not free, in the government institutions. Singapore is a shining example of such an effort.

The inefficiencies of the system cannot be translated into a fee hike in the government institutions, especially in education and health. India is a Welfare State. Dr. Manmohan Singh, the most famous and decorated economist in India, as the Prime Minister forgot this principle of Welfare State and he forgot that the inefficiencies of the system cannot be translated into higher taxes and higher cost of living for the citizens, and thus India obliterated his party into oblivion.

The solution to the problem at hand does not lie in the present unscientific and absurd fee hike, rather the solution is twofold. First, the University administrations need an honest attempt at realistic resource mobilisation, which does not mean an excessive tuition and examination fee hikes, and a sincere effort to identify and curtail any wasteful expenditure involved. Second, the government of the day has to step in to finance the deficit.

Even though I am not an expert in the field of resource mobilisation, yet I can suggest a way or two to increase revenues and reduce expenses.

One, a very nominal increase in the fee structure can be done. This should be a continuous process and the formula for the increase or its timing should be agreed upon by the stakeholders, because this is more of an emotional issue.

Two, the examination system is the main culprit for the deficit. Ways have to be found, based on modern technology and principles and practises elsewhere, to make the system more efficient not only in cost saving but also in minimising the mistakes and declaring the results on time. 

Three, the ways have to be found to associate the Alumni of the university in various programmes to raise the much needed finance. This can be a powerful source, if tapped judiciously. Many rich and famous and powerful people of the country and the world (the former President of Afghanistan comes to my mind) are the alumni of the Himachal Pradesh University. This is a successful practice, the world over.

Four, the university and college campuses have large amounts of real estate, in the form of spare land, building facades and buses. This could be utilized for selling advertising. That is a huge potential advertising space. The campuses brimming with the youth are an ideal place for the advertisers.

Five, commercial complexes, with shops catering to the needs in the campuses can be created and rented out at commercial rates.

Six, the formation of an expert committee or appointing a consultant to get at the bottom of the cost saving and the resource mobilisation effort and settle the issue once and for all. 

I Am Back

An absence of years. Partly due to the fact that the village where I lived had no connectivity and partly because other interests kept me busy. Of late I have started scribbling again. A few days ago my little sister, not so little now yet little literally, advised me to start a blog. Oh! I had a blog, I remembered, although it was waiting for my visit, for 7 years now. Now that I have left the village (for good?) and I am residing in the capital town of Shimla, I am taking to the advise of my sister and blogging. No better way to unleash your emotions. In the near past, I have written a few articles, I will be posting these for a start.   

Chuk De India - Holi of Goals!!!

Hockey World Cup 2010 has started on a nostalgic note for us. 4-1 drubbing to Pakistan takes us back to the golden age of hockey in India. Hockey ruled the land, while cricket played second fiddle. I hope Rajpal and Sandeep and their boys carry their form till 13 April! Best of luck India. Chuck De India. Happy Holi!

A Date With A Legend!

I'm back after a gap of three months. The time I was sick and nestled in my paradise, devoid of connectivity.

Yesterday, Shri Sunder Lal Bahuguna, of the Chipko Andolan fame, a Padma Vibhushan, a satyagrahi crusader, came visiting our town. I was there to recieve him. He is accompanied by his wife, Vimla Bahuguna, and the AAHWAN NGO team led by Mr. Kishore Upadhyaya, a former industry minister of Uttranchal and the present MLA from Tehri.

The aim of their visit is to spread the message of peace, non-violence, and 'Aahwan' - a clarion call to all humanity to Save Himalayas, Save Water and Save Lives. The visit, after Kashmir, is a part of a long journey that will take this team to all the Himalyan states and the neighbouring countries. The mission involves, one, to create awareness among the masses (the ruled) for the need to save Himalayas and two, to unite the governments and legislators (the rulers) for this common and life saving cause.

In this context, the team called upon the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal. Prof. Dhumal has been very kind and a generous host. He apprised the Aahwan team of his efforts aimed to protect the environment and his efforts for uniting the Himalayan States for this common cause. An impressive agenda indeed.

Greetings

Bahuguna ji was very happy and thanked the hon'ble chief minister by saying, "You have recharged me!"

More on Bahuguna ji in the next post.

The Aussies are 'Down Under'!

Hey! Australia have been knocked out of the T20 World Cup.

This will make the Indians happy. The so-called best team in the world is 'down under'. The attacks on the Indian community in Australia should be condemned by all and sundry. The Kangaroos are rubbing us the wrong way. So a send off so early in the tournament is indeed welcome.

And hold on the Kangroos, India will win yet again.

Mera Bharat Mahaan. Bharat Mata Ki Jai.

Forget the H-Word

Well, at last, the debate has finally begun. The debate on the H-word. Hindutva . It was long overdue. The Hidutva has long served its purpose and is today an embarrasing liability for the BJP.

See what happened in the general elections. BJP lost an election which was there to be won. The party has not started the official analysis and introspection and nor have Advaniji and Rajnath Singh moved from the positions they occupy. The delay is only adding up to the confusion, which was very much evident during the elections.

The message from the peoples verdict is loud and clear. People have voted for decency, for a modern India. The BJP has to understand what the people and especially youth want. The BJP should not try to force people and youth to accept what it wants. BJP must also understand why Vajpayeeji was and is acceptable in the whole country. If the BJP can address these two issues then the battle of 2014 is won.

Let us have a look at the run up to the polls. Kandhamal had vitiated the atmosphere. Raj Thackerey and his MNS were playing foul, Ram Sena's Muthalik and Togdias were spitting poison, the Manglore Pub incident was a horror.

Still there was more to come during the campaign itself. Time and again Narendra Modi's name was adding to the confusion. To top it all, when things were looking pretty cool, there was a bombshell in the shape of Varun Gandhi and his infamous, ugly, hateful, stupid, derailing speeches. The whole nation was shocked and reacted by polarising towards the Congress.

During all this Advaniji came out as a weak and undecisive leader, he never put his foot down and he never took hard decisions which were the need of the hour. Had he withdrawn Varun's ticket, the results would have been very diffferent. India and its masses and its youth were not amused by the prevailing confusion.

In contrast, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi backed Manmohan Singh so solidly that a weak Manmohan Singh came out as a strong and decisive leader. The country as a whole spoke in one voice. The 'thugs' of the likes of Lallu, Paswan, Amar Singh, Mayawati were silenced and shown their real place. People have sent a message that enough is enough.

It is time BJP learnt its lesson. It should abandon the H-word and concentrate on its strengths, good governance and able leadership. This should be the sole ideology of the party - good governance and able leadership. The party has to change and keep up with the modern times and the youth of the country. The party has to be forward looking and keep pace with the changing idiom in the country.This way BJP can throw away the H-label and take the antagnostic media off its back. This will make the BJP more acceptable to the people all over the country. First you have to earn the goodwill of the people. Then this will translate into votes and seats and power in 2014.

This is what I want. A BJP government in power at the centre. I will contribute all that I have in me to this end. I am happy the debate has begun and people like Sudheendra Kulkarni and Swapan Dasgupta are keen supporters of this cause. In fact they, like me, represent the modern face of the party in these modern times and advancing India.

Thankfully, the BJP leadership has named Arun Jaitely as the leader in the Lok Sabha and Sushma Swaraj as the deputy leader in the Rajya sabha. They too represent the modern outlook needed to be a part of the mainstream in India.

Mera Bharat Mahaan. Bharat Mata Ki Jai.

Team India Online!

The Team India has started the quest for the second T20 World Cup on a winning note. The Team India is online!

Yesterday, India beat Bangladesh convincingly. Yuvraj and Ojha excelled in the field. A nice warm up game for India.

Another warm up game with Ireland on 10th June. The real match on 12th June is against the first seeded team of group C, Australia. This can change if the third seed knock out Australia by coming first or second and Australia coming third. Then we play this third seeded team on 12th June! The rules seem a bit complicated.

Good luck Team India.

Mera Bharat Mahaan. Bharat Mata Ki Jai.