Saturday, January 24, 2015

Obama in India


A good omen for historical union of two great democracies in the world from Delhi's Rajpath on January 26, 2015.

It happens at a time when the American President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, both known for persuasive oratory and coming from humble backgrounds before they became celebrities in their countries are continuing their friendship and exchanging notes. Obama is arriving as the chief guest of Republic Day Parade in Delhi on the invitation of Narendra Modi who was denied Visa by western powers for quite sometime. Hats off to this karmayogi Modi who reversed the trend through his sheer hard work. Obama got inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi in his political career and Modi,  a great admirer and follower of Gandhi, is determined to ensure economic and social development of India. A true successor of Gandhi from his own land viz. Gujarat!

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Wednesday, January 21, 2015


Political Battle in the National Capital

Elections to Delhi State Assembly are due in February, 2015. Looking to the perceived impressions on the efficacy of BJP leaders and workers in the capital and the desire of the Prime Minister and BJP's national President not to get involved directly in the fight with AAP headed by Arvind Kejriwal the ruling party in the Centre has been forced by circumstances to induct a few opponents from the camp of Anna Hazare to fight among their own friends as opponents and divert the public outcry on the PM's capacity to face the AAP leader. It is a master stroke on their part at the last minute to place the burden on the shoulders of Kiran Bedi sidelining the role and aspirations of several leaders who have been with and working for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the last 2-3 decades.

Now the fight is between two retired bureaucrats Kejriwal and Kiran who more or less enjoy a similar reputation as far as their personal integrity in monetary terms is concerned. Kiran claims to have 40 years experience in police administration and 26 years in an NGO while Arvind claims to have retired voluntarily after serving as Commissioner of Income Tax for a few years. Kiran had done one or two assignments that brought her recognition and award - like lifting automobiles parked in prohibited areas through cranes in her initial posting as traffic in charge in the capital and few improvements in the working of Tihar Jail in Delhi. I am sure her lady successors in IPS have done an equally better service or little more than her in their assignments in various states of course without much self publicity consistently like Kiran in their heydays. Arvind of course has done no such memorable service in his department although he claims to have remained honest in his tenure. Anybody else in his position would have done a remarkable service by catching big fishes in tax evasion. It seems he was collecting facts and figures about other officials and politicians in their dealings through RTI Act and running an NGO to get an early award for his service.

Both seem to have nurtured an ambition for quite sometime to play a leading role in politics eventually. Hence their proximity to Anna Hazare in Jan Lokpal Movement. The poor old man is left in the lurch to fend for himself in his mission.

One of them will be the Chief Minister of Delhi next month while the other will sit in opposition and try to remain in public eye and catching headlines everyday both in the print and electronic media.

Let us wait and watch the developments that would unfold quickly in a few weeks time.

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Sunday, January 18, 2015

Cleaning of Ganga


My general observations recorded in August 2014 on the status of river Ganga seem to be strengthened and reinvigorated with the report of Irrigation Department of U.P Government. The holy river is choked by waste from 40000 km of drains.

No cosmetic touches on the river front near Varanasi will result in a transformation from a dirty sea of sewage into a holy river worth drinking, bathing anytime in the near future. An extraordinary effort alone over a period of 5-10 years as suggested by me in the following manner can perhaps satisfactorily resolve this Himalayan-level issue!

Till at least one hundred years back, the activities of the human settlements along its course had not created any major sources of pollution luckily, thanks to the limited use of water and the resultant sewage. Although the human numbers multiplied and the quantum of usage of water increased tremendously over the last few decades, the citizens failed to protect the clean waters from high doses of pollutants.
The alternative approach which I envisage would comprise the following components for proper execution of Ganga Project:
Two major teams - 
1) one is to cover the stretch of river Yamuna from Delhi to Allahabad 
2) and the other is to cover river Ganga from Allahabad to Varanasi.
Like Swami Vivekanand, I too seek the help of 100 young Indian officers to test our ability  to clean Ganga with the full support of the Prime Minister. 
Each team to comprise of 50 IAS officers and 50 engineers - selected from across the country on a voluntary basis and put under two highly qualified and committed officials with rich experience (around 50 -65 years in age) both physically and mentally fit for leading the projects for at least next five years.
Process of implementation:
Make a survey of all the effluents and identify their intensity and quantum of flow into the river for six months at least including a monsoon.
Take steps to divert them to a comparatively longer distance already selected and kept ready for the intake and permanent treatment. It would simultaneously involve construction of permanent drains on a massive scale throughout the length and breadth of the towns on the banks with large scale investment of funds.
Take the help of religious leaders and create alternative cremation grounds near Varanasi and provide for the cremation with Ganga water -to satisfy Hindu belief and tradition without spoiling the river waters. 
Widening of the lanes and roads leading to the Ghats with proper alternative accommodation provided for the occupants by erecting multi-storied apartments and condominiums in the neighbourhood.
Strictly closing down the polluting industrial units near the river and shifting them to alternative sites partly compensated by the state for their rehabilitation.
Offer for voluntary service  
I am willing to relocate myself and settle down on the banks of Varanasi Ghats for a period of five years - to lead a team of officials put in charge of Varanasi town with Re. One as monthly honorarium and a small accommodation of two-room tenement/apartment for stay with a chauffeur driven car for mobility at government cost.
Qualifications:
"Shramdan in laying of kutchha roads and cleaning of drains in dalit colonies with the help and manual work (scavenging) of ladies and gents from Lions Club and Rotary Club on Gandhi Jeyanti days when I was collector in two districts and the divisional commissioner in Sagar revenue division.
Cleaning of Sagar lake twice as collector (1979-82) and commissioner ( 1990-92) at Sagar on the basis of shramdan due to nonavailability of paid labour even during the drought conditions ( labour easily engaged in bidi-making)
Received an award from international Rotary Club Movement for public service at Sagar.
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Lord Buddha - A travel to witness his footsteps


Buddha was a teacher to the entire humanity, was the son of god or an avatar of God as the human beings interpreted and experienced in their life. Buddhism was so powerful and timely appealing to the wavering and aspiring individuals - the king to a commoner - communities, regions and nations across Asia since His Maha Parinirvana from this planet that it took the nature of a formal religion in the millenniums that follow.

The wealthy Japanese Government and its people generously contributed to the revival of structures and maintenance of the monuments and historical sites, temples and monasteries connected with Lord Buddha and Buddhism both in India and Nepal. Similarly other countries like Thailand, Bhutan, China, Burma(Myanmar), Sri Lanka, Tibet too followed suit and created temples and monasteries for their nationals to come, stay and pray to their Lord for days and months. Buddhism as a religion should unite these nations on a common platform and shun violence and war among them as far as possible. 

The role of Indian Railways through IRCTC is appreciable in conceiving, planning and arranging such a wonderful train journey in the form of Bhuddist Circuit Special Train taking the tourists and pilgrims to places like Bhodgaya, Sarnath, Varanasi, Nalanda, Lumbini, Sravasti and Agra for seven nights and eight days from New Delhi.

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