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Creativity and Indian youth

Nickunj Rathod
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Creativity and Indian youth

 A bitter observation and a bitter reality:

Creativity is lost somewhere in Indian youth. Our youth and teenagers are busy scrolling social media. Liking breakfast photos, Instagram reels, Facebook short videos, and last but not least watching web series. The social media content is dumping its garbage in our youth’s minds and they are believing this is life. No, this is a virtual life. Nowadays, the day starts with social media and ends up scrolling on social media.

We are losing our creative minds in the storm of overuse of technology and social media. I believe social media is slow venom to our minds to kill our creativity. The condition is now that person passes most of the valuable time on social media rather than creative activities. People are becoming cyber zombies. Busy in virtual world avoiding the beauty of the real world.

Everyday youth wakes up to get more and more likes, comments, and views on social media. And at the end of the day if they do not get enough they get frustrated. To get social media attention people are going to any extreme. In some cases, even suicides have gone live on social media platforms! I mean in which way our youth is going I am not able to understand.

In the chaos of the internet and social media, our brain is losing its attention span. According to the latest research on human attention span, it has been concluded that the human brain attention span is now only 8 seconds! This means the human brain is concentrating on a particular thing for only 8 seconds.

Where do we find creativity in such chaos?! The solution is to slow down! yes, slow down sit back and relax for a while try to notice the sound of nature like sounds of birds, notice the flowers or greenery around you, notice the rising sun looks like a shiny pearl getting out of its shell, take a morning walk. Connect to nature anyhow. If you are a busy guy and not able to find such things I have mentioned, then just notice yourself. See your hands, notice how they move how they work,  touch your face, take a slow deep breath, put your thumb on the other hand’s blood vessel feel the pulse, feel you are alive, you are creative!

And you will find the real world is so beautiful than the virtual one inside the 6-inch white screen!

A betrayal, sugarcoated with fancy words & revolutionary ideas trapping youth!

spontaneousthinker
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A betrayal, sugarcoated with fancy words & revolutionary ideas trapping youth!

In our religious texts it is mentioned that how some devils (Rakshsas) use to interrupt Yagya and sadhna of sages by various mischievous acts like dropping meat etc. The time has changed but similar devils are still their in various forms. Radical terrorists and left wing/communists are most gregarious one among them.

Communists of India portray themselves as solution to all problems. Let’s have look at a very brief account of how they solved problems of Russia in past. First major attempt to implement communism was made in Russia during Bolshevik Revolution between between 1918 to 1922. Russia was in crisis during world war-I, and Lenin took advantage of this unrest by promising peace, food and land to the people. But what happened on the ground during the movement is a bone chilling story. During this movement people who opposed or disagreed with them were executed, which included brutal practices like beating to death and pushing people in furnaces by “chekas”(Bolsheviks secret police).

Along with executions the Bolsheviks started procuring grains from peasants with little or no payment, which pushed the society into a great famine (remember that food and land were “promised” by Lenin), which killed several thousands of people!

This reminds me of Hitler, who was a fascist: ironically favourite word of Communists these days! We can say that first fascist of 20th century was product of communism, Kudos to comrades, another feather in their cap!

Today in India the mentality of labeling everyone who doesn’t agree with so called liberal lobby as a “fascist” or “bigot” is actually a trait inherited from their ideological ancestors like Lenin.

At present, the left in India thrives on blocking growth and empowerment of deprived section so that they can continue exploiting them. This is the reason that every reform is opposed blindly. They play with emotions of deprived section by inciting them against the establishment and call it a revolution. This is how a so called “Andolan” started in Naxalbari of Bengal, turned into major security threat to India: Naxalism! Naxals attack construction projects, blow Mobile towers only because they don’t want tribal community to become part of the mainstream. Once mainstreamed, people would not fall prey to their lies and hence no recruits!

To develop a sense of anger against the establishment various other factors like caste & creed is smartly used. Tossing particular incidents of crime and giving it casteist angle is also a part of the game plan. Such attempts have become so desperate that even terrorism is justified by citing financial condition of perpetrators, the victim is vilified and the culprit is sympathised!

When it comes to youth in cities and towns, the left use their usual aggression due to young age and to some extent lack of political awareness. Young college students are mislead by saying that all problems in the country is due to present establishment and only solution to it is to lean toward left and become part of a REVOLUTION, which obviously sounds fascinating to the youth and he falls for it. After becoming part of those violent rallies, vandalism and sloganeering the youth unaware of ground reality starts relating themselves to leaders like Bhagat Singh, but they fail to understand that Bhagat Singh was fighting against a foreign imperial regime, not against a democratically elected govt like today. Dissent and protests are part of democracy but one has to take care of the boundary between opposing govt and going against nation.

Surprise element here is that despite of such negativity, baseless outrages and blind opposition, left is still able to find acceptance in the society, they perform poor in polls, but closeted leftists are almost everywhere from trade unions & bureaucracy to educational institutions! India is a huge country, hence even a small percentage of people appearing in protests would look something like a mass uprising, which has potential to change perception of few more people and the chain reaction continues!

Intellectuals, actors, writers and many eminent journalists of the lobby act as catalysts to this reaction. Photos of protestors(rioters) struggling against police is captured from best angles by media present there as per plan! Many rioters are portrayed and hailed as hero on social media and news channels.

All of this is happening in a complete different world, away from struggles and actual issues of middle/lower middle class citizens. Common citizens only suffer from such protests, ongoing farmer’s protest affecting small industries and employees of adjoining area is most recent example. This clearly shows that such protests are planted to attain certain political goals and has nothing to do with ground reality or betterment of nation.

Some questions which young generation and anyone trusting left wing should ask themselves before leaning toward it:

?Did all poors became rich land owners after Naxalbari “Andolan”?

?Has racism disappeared from the face of earth after BLM protest cum riots by ANTIFA?

?How does hailing Terrorists like Afjal Guru and celebrating death of martyrs benefits the nation?

?What is the condition of freedom and liberty in communist ruled states like China?

?If Indian communists are liberal, then what should one conclude from their sympathy with Dictator Kim Jong Un?

After finding answer to above questions I reached to the conclusion that left is not providing solution to any problem, but only exploiting them to destabilise society, spreading anarchy and dreaming about coming to power to enforce their rigid idealism irrelevant to India ! This is why the analogy with devils in first paragraph is absolutely justified.

In the era of selective outrage, when victims like Sadhus of Palghar are ignored by liberals, but certain other incidents are used to label the country with terms like “Lynchistan” , be very cautious before geting emotionally and ideologically influenced. Take anti CAA protests (riots) as example, not a single Muslim has been affected by CAA till now, but recall the misinformation campaign and mayhem created after the bill was passed. The protest was labelled as ‘a fight against fascism to protect minority’! But actually it was sheer hatred against those who will get benefited by it! Hence, things are not as black & white as they appear.

Choosing path of empowerment, equal opportunities and progress over mobocracy, victimhood and freebies is the only way to ensure better future of the nation. Freebies can give instantaneous relief and comfort, but our future will keep floating in the endless sky of uncertainties! Rest is on all of us, it is ultimately the public who decides course of the nation, directly or indirectly. JAI BHARAT

Today we need to revisit Dr Ambedkar’s “Grammar of Anarchy” speech in Constituent Assembly

Dr Jadabeswar Bhattacharjee
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Today we need to revisit Dr Ambedkar’s “Grammar of Anarchy” speech in Constituent Assembly

Farmers don’t want to discuss or debate on new Agriculture Laws. They only demand abolition of laws framed in the Parliament by a duly elected government. Farmers (mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Western UP) are on the roads in Delhi border for about last seven weeks and agitating for withdrawal of those laws like stubborn and obstinate kids.

This type of mass public protest was popularized by Gandhi against British government of India when we did not have any Constitutional means to address our demands or get freedom. But since 26 January 1950 India has a Constitution and all our problems need to be addressed under its provisions only.

Unfortunately, we are still following the way of mass public protest as our grandfathers did in British time. But time had changed. We can’t drive a square peg in a round hole now. If these laws do not violate the Constitution of India or Fundamental Rights of anybody, Supreme Court too has no locus standi to keep these laws from implementation.

Today we need to revisit Dr Ambedkar’s “Grammar of Anarchy” speech in Constituent Assembly. Communists, Islamists, Dalits, Congress, and above all the Bhim Army have a tendency to bring in Dr Ambedkar at the drop of hat. Today they should recollect that speech of Dr Ambedkar more.

Too much of democratic freedom may lead to anarchy in India. Farmers should either defeat government in debate and discussions for modifications of the laws or come to political power in the Parliament to roll back those laws. It is as simple as that.

Shouting the government as anti-farmers and fascist on wrong premise, does not give passport to any large group of protesters to be anarchists and defy the laws framed by a democratically elected government as per Constitutional provisions.

स्वामी जी के विचारों के संदर्भ में तथाकथित बुद्धिजीवियों से चंद सवाल

pranay
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स्वामी जी के विचारों के संदर्भ में तथाकथित बुद्धिजीवियों से चंद सवाल

यह कहना अनुचित नहीं होगा कि जहाँ आदि शंकराचार्य ने संपूर्ण भारतवर्ष को सांस्कृतिक एकता के मज़बूत सूत्र में पिरोया, वहीं स्वामी विवेकानंद ने आधुनिक भारत को उसके स्वत्व एवं गौरव का बोध कराया। बल्कि यह कहना चाहिए कि उन्होंने भारत का भारत से साक्षात्कार करा उसे आत्मविस्मृति के गर्त्त से बाहर निकाला। लंबी गुलामी से उपजी औपनिवेशिक मानसिकता एवं औद्योगिक क्रांति के बाद पश्चिम से आई भौतिकता की आँधी का व्यापक प्रभाव भारतीय जन-मन पर भी पड़ा। पराभव और परतंत्रता ने हममें हीनता-ग्रंथि विकसित कर दी। हमारी सामाजिक-सांस्कृतिक-राजनीतिक चेतना मृतप्राय अवस्था को प्राप्त हो चुकी थी। नस्लभेदी मानसिकता के कारण पश्चिमी देशों ने न केवल हमारी घनघोर उपेक्षा की, अपितु हमारे संदर्भ में तर्कों-तथ्यों से परे नितांत अनैतिहासिक-पूर्वाग्रहग्रस्त-मनगढ़ंत स्थापनाएँ भी दीं। और उससे भी अधिक आश्चर्यजनक यह रहा कि विश्व के सर्वाधिक प्राचीन एवं गौरवशाली संस्कृति के उत्तराधिकारी होने के बावजूद हम भी उनके सुर-में-सुर मिलाते हुए उनकी ही भाषा बोलने लगे।

 
उन्होंने (पश्चिम) कहा कि वेद गड़ेरियों द्वारा गाया जाने वाला गीत है और हमने मान लिया, उन्होंने कहा कि पुराण-महाकाव्य-उपनिषद आदि गल्प व कपोल कल्पनाएँ हैं और हमने मान लिया, उन्होंने कहा कि राम-कृष्ण जैसे हमारे संस्कृति-पुरुष मात्र मिथकीय चरित्र हैं और हमने मान लिया। वे हमारी अस्मिता, हमारी पहचान, हमारी संस्कृति को मिट्टी में मिलाने के लिए शोध और गवेषणा की आड़ में तमाम निराधार बौद्धिक-साहित्यिक-ऐतिहासिक स्थापनाएँ देते गए और हम मानते गए। वे आक्षेप लगाते गए और हम सिर झुकाकर सहमति से भी एक क़दम आगे की विनत मुद्रा में उसे स्वीकारते चले गए। हमारे वैभवशाली अतीत, गौरवपूर्ण इतिहास, विशद साहित्य, विपुल ज्ञानसंपदा, प्रकृति केंद्रित समरस-सात्विक जीवन-पद्धत्ति आदि को धता बताते हुए उन्होंने हमें पिछड़ा, दकियानूसी, अंधविश्वासी घोषित किया और हम उनसे भी ऊँचे, लगभग कोरस के स्वरों में पश्चिमी सुर और शब्दावली दुहराने लगे। हम भूल गए कि रीढ़विहीन, स्वाभिमानशून्य देश या जाति  का न तो कोई वर्तमान होता है, न कोई भविष्य।


स्वामी विवेकानंद ने हमारी इस जातीय एवं राष्ट्रीय दुर्बलता को पहचाना और समस्त देशवासियों को इसका सम्यक बोध कराया। भारतवर्ष के सांस्कृतिक गौरव की प्रथम उद्घोषणा उन्होंने 1893 के शिकागो-धर्मसभा में संपूर्ण विश्व से पधारे धर्मगुरुओं के बीच की। उन्होंने वहाँ हिंदू धर्म और भारतवर्ष का विजयध्वज फहराया और संपूर्ण विश्व को हमारी परंपरा, हमारे विश्वासों, हमारे जीवन-मूल्यों और व्यवहार्य सिद्धांतों के पीछे की वैज्ञानिकता एवं अनुभवसिद्धता से परिचित कराया। उन्होंने पश्चिम को उसके यथार्थ का बोध कराते हुए याद दिलाया कि जब वहाँ की सभ्यता शैशवावस्था में थी तब भारत विश्व को प्रेम, करुणा, सत्य, अहिंसा, अस्तेय, अपरिग्रह, बंधुत्व के पाठ पढ़ा रहा था। हमने सहिष्णुता को केवल खोखले नारों तक सीमित नहीं रखा बल्कि उससे आगे सह-अस्तित्ववादिता पर आधारित जीवन-पद्धत्ति विकसित की। यहूदी-पारसी से लेकर संसार भर की पीड़ित-पराजित-बहिष्कृत जातियों को भी हमने बड़े सम्मान एवं सद्भाव से गले लगाया। सृष्टि के अणु-रेणु में एक ही परम सत्य को देखने की दिव्य दृष्टि हमने सहस्राब्दियों पूर्व विकसित कर ली थी और इस नाम रूपात्मक जगत के भीतर समाविष्ट ऐक्य को पहचान लिया था। स्वामी विवेकानंद के  शिकागो-भाषण के संबोधन से जुड़े प्रसिद्ध प्रसंग- ”मेरे प्यारे अमेरिकावासी बंधुओं एवं भगनियों” के पीछे यही ऐक्य की भारतीय भावना और जीवन-दृष्टि थी। और सर्वाधिक उल्लेखनीय तो यह है कि हमारे इस सांस्कृतिक गौरवबोध में भी दुनिया की सभी संस्कृतियों व धार्मिक मान्यताओं के प्रति स्वीकार व सम्मान का भाव है, न कि उपेक्षा, हीनता या तिरस्कार का।


स्वामी विवेकानंद ने वेदांत को न केवल ऊँचाई दी बल्कि उसे जनसाधारण को समझ आने वाली भाषा में समझाया भी।  तत्त्वज्ञान की उनकी मीमांसा- कर्मयोग, ज्ञानयोग,  भक्तियोग, राजयोग आदि में क्या विद्वान, क्या साधारण -सभी समान रूप से रुचि लेते हैं! युवाओं में वे यदि सर्वाधिक लोकप्रिय थे और हैं तो यह भी समय की धड़कनों को सुन सकने की उनकी असाधारण समझ और अपार सामर्थ्य का ही सुपरिणाम था। उनकी जयंती युवा-दिवस के रूप में मनाया जाना सर्वथा उपयुक्त ही है। किसी एक क्षण की कौंध किसी के जीवन में कैसा युगांतकारी बदलाव ला सकती है, यह स्वामी जी के जीवन से सीखा-समझा जा सकता है। परमहंस रामकृष्ण के साक्षात्कार ने उनके जीवन की दिशा बदलकर रख दी। कहते हैं कि अकेला चना भाड़ नहीं फोड़ सकता। पर स्वामी विवेकानंद ने अकेले अपने दम पर पूरी दुनिया में रामकृष्ण मिशन और उसके सेवा-कार्यों की वैश्विक शृंखला खड़ी कर दी। वे कहा करते थे कि उन्हें यदि 1000 तेजस्वी युवा मिल जाएँ तो वे देश की तस्वीर और तक़दीर दोनों बदल सकते हैं। युवा स्वप्न और तदनुकूल संकल्पों के पर्याय थे-स्वामी विवेकानंद। उनका जीवन भौतिकता पर आध्यात्म और भोग पर त्याग एवं वैराग्य की विजय का प्रतीक है। पर त्याग, भक्ति एवं वैराग्य की आध्यात्मिक भावभूमि पर खड़े होकर भी वे युगीन यथार्थ से अनभिज्ञ नहीं हैं। वे युग के सरोकारों और संवेदनाओं को भली-भाँति समझते हैं। अन्यथा वे दीनों-दुःखियों की निःस्वार्थ सेवा को ही सबसे बड़ा धर्म नहीं घोषित करते। युवाओं के लिए गीता-पाठ से अधिक उपयोगी रोज फोटबॉल खेलने और वर्ज़िश करने को नहीं बताते। दरिद्रनारायण की सेवा में मोक्ष के द्वार न ढूँढते। और परिश्रम, पुरुषार्थ, परोपकार को सबसे बड़ा कर्त्तव्य नहीं बताते।

हिंदुत्व की अवधारणा के वास्तविक और आधुनिक जनक स्वामी विवेकानंद ही हैं। धर्म-संस्कृति, राष्ट्र-राष्ट्रीयता हिंदू-हिंदुत्व आदि का नाम सुनते ही नाक-भौं सिकोड़ने वाले, आँखें तरेड़ने वाले, महाविद्यालय-विश्वविद्यालय में उनकी मूर्त्ति के अनावरण पर  हल्ला-हंगामा करने वाले, धर्म को अफ़ीम बतानेवाले तथाकथित बुद्धिजीवियों एवं वैचारिक ख़ेमेबाजों को खुलकर यह बताना चाहिए कि स्वामी जी के विचार और दर्शन पर उनके क्या दृष्टिकोण हैं? क्या उन्हें भी वे सेलेक्टिव नज़रिए या आधे-अधूरे मन से स्वीकार करेंगें? यदि वे उन्हें समग्रता से स्वीकार करते हैं तो क्या अपनी उन सब स्थापनाओं व धारणाओं के लिए वे देश से माफ़ी माँगने को तैयार हैं जो स्वामी जी के विचार एवं दर्शन से बिलकुल भिन्न, बेमेल एवं विपरीत हैं? क्या वे यह स्पष्टीकरण देने को तैयार हैं कि क्यों उन्होंने आज तक पीढ़ियों को ऐसी बौद्धिक घुट्टियाँ पिलाईं जो उन्हें अपनी जड़ों, संस्कारों, सरोकारों और संस्कृति की सनातन धारा से काटती हैं? विचारधारा के चौखटे एवं चौहद्दियों में बँधे लोग कदाचित ही ऐसा कर पाएँ! पर क्या यह अच्छा नहीं हो कि निहित स्वार्थों, दलगत संकीर्णताओं एवं वैचारिक आबद्धताओं से परे स्वामी जी के इस ध्येय-वाक्य को हम सब अपना जीवन-ध्येय बनाएँ –  ” आगामी पचास वर्षों के लिए हमारा केवल एक ही विचार-केंद्र होगा- और वह है हमारी महान मातृभूमि भारत। दूसरे सब व्यर्थ के देवताओं को उस समय तक के लिए हमारे मन से लुप्त हो जाने दो। हमारा भारत, हमारा राष्ट्र-केवल यही एक देवता है जो जाग रहा है, जिसके हर जगह हाथ हैं, हर जगह पैर हैं, हर जगह कान हैं-जो सब वस्तुओं में व्याप्त है। हमें उस राष्ट्र-देवता की – उस विराट की आराधना करनी है।”


प्रणय कुमार

How CM Modi stopped 1400 yrs of Jihad in Gujarat

Ankit Shah
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How CM Modi stopped 1400 yrs of Jihad in Gujarat

Riots leave an impression of enmity and distrust among people. Though each section of the society helps propagate acts of humanity, people still can’t forget the short term but cold-blooded rioting. After incessant media reportage, society repeats going back to realizing how important the Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb is!

For more than 70 years now the people of our nation are in a constant denial that a minority of 23% of the total population was able to break their motherland into three parts in 1947. While admiring the non-violence of the Mahatma we often forget to portray his inability to stop the partition. The tolerant majority wants to find out a glimpse of “everything will work out eventually” in hopes of an assimilation that appears beyond reach. A section of the society still chooses to live with exclusivity in the name of religion much above their national identity. Not surprisingly the same section of people is also unable to assimilate even in the western world.

So what exactly happens after the riots, in the lives of victims?

The victims live in perpetual fear of being attacked anytime by the mobs. The historic mass mob lynching pogrom of Kashmiri pandits in 1990 is a glaring example. It was the final round of ethnical cleansing that Kashmir saw after waves of jihad knocked off all non-muslims except pandits in the previous rounds. The law of the land and the democratic state slept tight, while the intellectuals sent the constitution for months-long holiday to Europe.

The victims have no option but to flee amid ill-equipped police forces and ineffective law enforcement agencies in the country. They finally panic-sell their properties to a part of the same culprit mobs, who snatch these properties at negligible prices. In case of Kashmir mass cleansing, most Pandits did not even get a penny. Their properties were simply taken over by force by the mobs. This strength of rioting comes from endless breeding. It is a proven war strategy of fast human replacement in times of war. The question here is do we have such a section of people staying with us here in India, acting normal and nice all the time, but practicing war principles? If so, do we have such real places in India, being abandoned due to demographic takeovers? Is it alarming? Will try to address these questions in my forthcoming articles.

The people of riot-hit areas in Delhi are obliged to sell and run away from the area as the situation doesn’t get any better. People always keep running from one area to another after facing criminal religious persecution in the very country they belong to. There is no national portal to ring the alarm for immediate action in such cases. This takeover of properties for free matches with what the Arab barbarians did by looting the trade caravans. The case in point is Pakistan, which sends mobs across the border in the name of BAT and terrorists to lynch our soldiers and innocent citizens. Aren’t they too asking for the wealth that we created and cherish in Kashmir? The failed state running in the name of a religion is inept to do any real business and create wealth for itself. The mere imagination of GCC COUNTRIES without Crude Oil can prove this. The harrowing tales of European sufferings, many of which now go unreported, is a wakeup call and a result of encouraging inflow of illegal migrant mobs. The support for far-right grew in reaction to the vote-bank import of non-citizens from outside by some liberal politicians. With rapid increase in crime rates, citizens now question if secularism and multiculturalism are even values worth having.

Is there a solution?

Hindus and Muslims were killed in large numbers in riots that followed after the mass mob lynching in the Godhra train bogies in 2002. What is it that made Gujarat safe since 2002? One of the major factors is the decisive use of “??? ????????? ????? ??? 1991”. The Gujarat government has been using this law extensively to secure the riot-hit zones by not allowing the properties to be stress-sold to the minorities out of fear. This law has killed the very purpose and end-prize rioters look for by rioting, which is snatching the ready wealth for free by using mobs. As a proven anti-dote, Gujarat has not seen riots of the scale of 2002 till date. Lately, the government also added penal provisions and expanded the scope and applicability of the Act in 2019.

To bring about a similar result across India we need positive and spirited emulation of a successful anti-riot act like the one operational in Gujarat. But how many state governments have the edge to cook & swallow this kind of a law to secure its citizens and end riots permanently?

Listen how Modi-Shah duo wants to uproot the concept of Jihad from the very place of its origin with this video.

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स्वामी विवेकानंद जयंती: एक युवा, जिसने साधु बनकर दुनिया को असली भारत की पहचान बताई

पवन सारस्वत मुकलावा
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स्वामी विवेकानंद जयंती: एक युवा, जिसने साधु बनकर दुनिया को असली भारत की पहचान बताई

12 जनवरी का दिन देश भर में युवा दिवस के रूप में मनाया जाता है. यह दिन स्वामी विवेकानंद जी को समर्पित हैं. आइए जानते हैं एक आम युवा व्यक्ति के स्वामी विवेकानंद बनने तक के सफर को.

स्वामी विवेकानंद जी आधुनिक भारत के एक महान चिंतक, दार्शनिक, युवा संन्यासी, युवाओं के प्रेरणास्त्रोत और एक आदर्श व्यक्तित्व के धनी थे. 12 जनवरी, 1863 में कोलकाता के एक कायस्थ परिवार में एक बच्चे का जन्म हुआ था. विश्वनाथ दत्त के घर में जन्मे नरेंद्रनाथ दत्त (स्वामी विवेकानंद) को हिंदू धर्म के मुख्य प्रचारक के रूप में जाना जाता है. नरेंद्र के पिता पाश्चात्य सभ्यता में विश्वास रखते थे. वह चाहते थे कि उनका पुत्र भी पाश्चात्य सभ्यता के मार्ग पर चले. मगर नरेंद्र ने 25 साल की उम्र में घर-परिवार छोड़कर संन्यासी का जीवन अपना लिया. परमात्मा को पाने की लालसा के साथ तेज दिमाग ने युवक नरेंद्र को देश के साथ-साथ दुनिया में विख्यात बना दिया.नरेंद्रनाथ दत्त के 9 भाई-बहन थे, पिता विश्वनाथ कलकत्ता हाईकोर्ट में वकील हुआ करते थे और दादा दुर्गाचरण दत्त संस्कृत और के विद्वान थे.अपने युवा दिनों में नरेंद्र को अध्यात्म में रुचि हो गई थी. उन्हें साधुओं और संन्यासियों के प्रवचन और उनकी कही बातें हमेशा प्रेरित करती थीं. पिता विश्वनाथ ने नरेंद्र की रुचि को देखते हुए आठ साल की आयु में उनका दाखिला ईश्वर चंद्र विद्यासागर मेट्रोपोलिटन इंस्टीट्यूट में कराया, जहां से उन्होंने अपनी प्राथमिक शिक्षा ग्रहण की। 1879 में कलकत्ता के प्रेसीडेंसी कॉलेज की एंट्रेंस परीक्षा में प्रथम श्रेणी में आने वाले वे पहले विद्यार्थी थे.उन्होंने दर्शनशास्त्र, धर्म, इतिहास, सामाजिक विज्ञान, कला और साहित्य जैसे विभिन्न विषयों को काफी पढ़ा. साथ ही हिंदू धर्मग्रंथों में भी उनकी रुचि थी. उन्होंने वेद, उपनिषद, भगवत गीता, रामायण, महाभारत और पुराण को भी पढ़ा.

नरेंद्र से स्वामी विवेकानंद –
नरेंद्रनाथ दत्त की जिंदगी में सबसे बड़ा मोड़ 1881 के अंत और 1882 के प्रारंभ में आया, जब वह अपने दो मित्रों के साथ दक्षिणेश्वर जाकर काली-भक्त रामकृष्ण परमहंस से मिले. यहीं से नरेंद्र का ‘स्वामी विवेकानंद’ बनने का सफर शुरू हुआ.सन् 1884 में पिता की अचानक मृत्यु से नरेंद्र को मानसिक आघात पहुंचा. उनका विचलित मन देख उनकी मदद रामकृष्ण परमहंस ने की. उन्होंने नरेंद्र को अपना ध्यान अध्यात्म में लगाने को कहा. मोह-माया से संन्यास लेने के बाद उनका नाम स्वामी विवेकानंद पड़ा.सन् 1885 में रामकृष्ण जी अस्वस्थ हो गए उनके अंतिम दिनों में नरेंद्र और उनके अन्य साथियों ने रामकृष्ण की खूब सेवा की. इसी दौरान नरेंद्र की आध्यात्मिक शिक्षा भी शुरू हो गई थी. रामकृष्ण के अंतिम दिनों के दौरान 25 वर्षीय नरेंद्र और उनके अन्य शिष्यों ने भगवा पोशाक धारण कर ली थी. रामकृष्ण ने अपने अंतिम दिनों में नरेंद्र को ज्ञान का पाठ दिया और सिखाया कि मनुष्य की सेवा करना ही भगवान की सबसे बड़ी पूजा है. रामकृष्ण ने उन्हें अपने मठवासियों का ध्यान रखने को कहा. साथ ही उन्होंने कहा कि वे नरेंद्र को एक गुरु के रूप में देखना चाहते हैं16 अगस्त, 1886 को रामकृष्ण जी का निधन हो गया.

विश्व धर्म परिषद में भारत की जयजयकार- 
संन्यास ग्रहण करने के बाद स्वामी विवेकानंद ने भारत भ्रमण किया और भ्रमण करते हुए वे कन्याकुमारी तक गये, जहाँ उन्हें पता लगा कि अमेरिका के शिकागो नगर में विश्व के सभी धर्मों की एक सभा हो रही है। अतः 1893 ई. में बङी कठिनाई से स्वयं के प्रयत्नों से वे अमेरिका गये। हिन्दुत्व एवं भारतवर्ष के लिये यह अच्छा हुआ कि स्वामीजी इसमें जा सके, जहाँ उन्होंने हिन्दुत्व के पक्ष में इतना ऊँचा प्रचार किया, जैसै न तो कभी पहले हुआ था और न उसके बाद से आज तक हो पाया हैं।सन् 1893 में अमेरिका के शिकागो में हुई विश्व धर्म परिषद में स्वामी विवेकानंद भारत के प्रतिनिधि के रूप से पहुंचे थे. जहां यूरोप-अमेरिका के लोगों द्वारा गुलामी झेल रहे भारतीयों को हीन दृष्टि से देखा जाता था. सम्मेलन में स्वामीजी ने जिस ज्ञान,जिस उदारता,जिस विवेक और जिस वाग्मिकता का परिचय दिया, उससे वहाँ के लोग मंत्र-मुग्ध हो गये। जब उन्होंने अपने प्रथम भाषण में अमेरिका वासियों को भाइयों और बहिनो के शब्दों से संबोधित किया तो सम्मेलन में इसका भारी करतल-ध्वनि से स्वागत हुआ। उन्होंने हिन्दू धर्म की उदारता पर प्रकाश डालते हुए बताया कि हिन्दुत्व के शब्दकोष मे असहिष्णु शब्द ही नहीं है। उन्होंने यह भी बताया कि हिन्दू धर्म का आधार शोषण,रक्तपात या हिंसा नहीं है, बल्कि प्रेम है।

स्वामीजी ने वेदांत के सत्य पर भी प्रकाश डाला। जब तक सम्मेलन समाप्त हुआ, तब तक स्वामीजी अपना तथा भारत का प्रभाव अमेरिका में स्थापित कर चुके थे। स्वामी जी के भाषणों क प्रशंसा में अमेरिका के समाचार पत्र द न्यूयार्क हेराल्ड ने लिखा , सर्व-धर्म सम्मेलन में सबसे महान व्यक्ति विवेकानंद है। उनका भाषण सुन लेने पर अनायास ही यह प्रश्न उत्पन्न होता है कि ऐसे ज्ञानी देश को सुधारने के लिए धर्म -प्रचारक भेजने की बात कितनी मूर्खतापूर्ण है।इस सम्मेलन ने स्वामी जी को विश्व प्रसिद्ध बना दिया। उन्होंने अमेरिका के अनेक नगरों की यात्राएं की, जहाँ उनका भव्य स्वागत हुआ। वे अमेरिका से पेरिस गये तथा यूरोप के कई नगरों में उन्होंने हिन्दुत्व तथा वेदांत दर्शन पर भाषण किये। वे लगभग तीन वर्ष तक विदेशों में घूमते रहे। इस अल्पावधि में उनके भाषणों,वार्तालापों,लेखों और वक्तव्यों के द्वारा यूरोप व अमेरिका मे हिन्दू धर्म और संस्कृति की प्रतिष्ठा स्थापित हुई। अमेरिका में उनके बहुत से अनुयायी हो गये। वे चाहते थे कि कुछ भारतीय धर्म-प्रचारक अमेरिका में भारतीय दर्शन अर्थात् वेदांत का प्रचार करें और उनके अमेरिकी शिष्य भारत आकर विज्ञान और संगठन का महत्त्व सिखायें।

अपने गुरु के दिखाए मार्ग से लोगों को अवगत कराने के लिए उन्होंने सन् 1897 में रामकृष्ण मिशन की स्थापना की. इसके साथ ही उन्होंने दुनिया में जगह-जगह रामकृष्ण मिशन की शाखाएं स्थापित कीं. रामकृष्ण मिशन की शिक्षा थी कि दुनिया के सभी धर्म सत्य हैं और वे एक ही ध्येय की तरफ जाने के अलग-अलग रास्ते हैंविवेकानंद जी द्वारा स्थापित रामकृष्ण मिशन ने धर्म के साथ-साथ सामाजिक सुधार के लिए विशेष अभियान चलाए. इसके अलावा उन्होंने जगह-जगह अनाथाश्रम, अस्पताल, छात्रावास की स्थापना की. मिशन के तहत उन्होंने अंधश्रद्धा छोड़ विवेक बुद्धि से धर्म का अभ्यास करने को कहा. उन्होंने इंसान की सेवा को सच्चा धर्म करार दिया।

राष्ट्रीय युवा दिवस
स्वामी विवेकानंद ने हमेशा कहा कि सारे जीव स्वयं परमात्मा के अवतार हैं इसलिए हर व्यक्ति की सेवा करनी चाहिए। विवेकानंद के संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका, इंग्लैंड और यूरोप में हिंदू दर्शन के सिद्धांतों का प्रसार किया था। भारत में, विवेकानंद को एक देशभक्त संत के रूप में माना जाता है, इसलिए पूरा देश उनके जन्मदिन को ‘राष्ट्रीय युवा दिवस’ के रूप में मनाता है।उठो, जागो और तब तक मत रुको जब तक मंजिल प्राप्त न हो जाए’ का संदेश देने वाले विवेकानंद जी युवाओं के प्रेरणास्त्रोत थे ।स्वामी जी को यु्वाओं से बड़ी उम्मीदें थीं। उन्होंने युवाओं की अहं की भावना को खत्म करने के उद्देश्य से कहा है ‘यदि तुम स्वयं ही नेता के रूप में खड़े हो जाओगे, तो तुम्हें सहायता देने के लिए कोई भी आगे न बढ़ेगा। यदि सफल होना चाहते हो, तो पहले ‘अहं’ ही नाश कर डालो।’ उन्होंने युवाओं को धैर्य, व्यवहारों में शुद्ध‍ता रखने, आपस में न लड़ने, पक्षपात न करने और हमेशा संघर्षरत् रहने का संदेश दिया।आज भी स्वामी विवेकानंद को उनके विचारों और आदर्शों के कारण जाना जाता है। आज भी वे कई युवाओं के लिए प्रेरणा के स्त्रोत बने हुए हैं।

4 जुलाई 1902 को महासमाधि
4 जुलाई 1902 को भी उन्होंने अपनी ध्यान करने की दिनचर्या को नहीं बदला और उन्होंने रोज की तरह ही ध्यान किया और इस अवस्था में ही अपने ब्रह्मरन्ध्र को भेदकर महासमाधि ले ली। विवेकानंद जी पर लिखी गई किताबों में मौत से पहले बिताए गए विवेकानंद के घंटों के बारे में लिखा गया है. किताब के मुताबिक विवेकानंद अपने आखिरी दिनों में बेलूर मठ में ही रहने लगे थे. मृत्यु वाले दिन भी विवेकानंद प्रतिदिन की तरह प्रात:काल में उठे थे. उठने के बाद उन्होंने दिन की शुरुआत तीन घंटे तक ध्यान करने से की थी. ध्यान करने के बाद उन्होंने मठ में मौजूद छात्रों को शुक्ल यजुर्वेद और योग के सिद्धांत पढ़ाए थे.उनकी बेलूर में गंगा तट पर अंत्येष्टि की गई थी, इसी गंगा तट के दूसरी ओर उनके गुरु रामकृष्ण परमहंस का सोलह वर्ष पूर्व अंतिम संस्कार हुआ था, उनके शिष्यों और अनुयायियों ने उनकी स्मृति में वहां एक मंदिर बनवाया है अपनी मृत्यु के समय विवेकानंद जी की उम्र 39 वर्ष थी.

– पवन सारस्वत मुकलावा
कृषि एंव स्वंतत्र
लेखक सदस्य लेखक, मरुभूमि राइटर्स फोरम जोधपुर

प्रधानमंत्री रोजगार योजना में ₹5 लाख लोन के लिए आवेदन कैसे और कहा करें

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प्रधानमंत्री रोजगार योजना में ₹5 लाख लोन के लिए आवेदन कैसे और कहा करें

प्रधानमंत्री रोजगार योजना यानी प्रधानमंत्री इम्प्लॉयमेंट जेनरेशन प्रोग्राम एक बिजनेस लोन से जुड़ा हुआ सब्सिडी कार्यक्रम है। इस कार्यक्रम को सूक्ष्म, लघु एवं मध्यम उद्यम मंत्रालय, भारत सरकार द्वारा लागू किया गया है। प्रधानमंत्री रोजगार योजना का प्रसार राष्ट्रीय स्तर तक तक करने के लिए खादी एवं ग्रामीण उद्योग आयोग (केवीआईसी) नोडल एजेंसी है। राज्यों के स्तर पर इस योजना का अनुपालन केवीआईसी, केवीआईबी एवं जिला उद्योग केन्द्र के माध्यम से किया जाता है। 

प्रधानमंत्री रोजगार योजना के तहत बिजनेस लोन 

पीएमईजीपी ऋण प्रधानमंत्री रोजगार योजना के तहत उन लोगों को बिजनेस लोन सरकार द्वारा मुहैया कराया जाता है, जो लोग खुद का बिजनेस शुरु करना चाहते हैं। हालांकि, इस योजना से बिजनेस लोन लेने की शर्त यह भी है की व्यक्ति जितना रकम बिजनेस लोन के तौर पर लेना चाहता है, उस पूरी रकम का 10% तक खुद लगाना होता है। प्रधानमंत्री रोजगार योजना के तहत सर्विस सेक्टर में बिजनेस शुरु करने के लिए 25 लाख और मैनुफैक्चरिंग सेक्टर में बिजनेस शुरु करने के लिए 15 लाख रुपये तक बिजनेस लोन देने का प्रावधान किया गया है। 

सब्सिडी की भी व्यस्था की गई है 

ओपन कैटेगरी के तहत ग्रामीण इलाकों में नया बिजनेस शुरु करने के लिए 25% तक की सब्सिडी का प्रावधान है। अगर कोई व्यक्ति ओपन कैटेगरी के तहत शहरी इलाके में बिजनेस शुरु करना चाहता हैं, उनके लिए 15% सब्सिडी का प्रावधान किया गया है।

यदि एससी, एसटी, विकलांग, महिला और रिटायर व्यक्ति कैटेगरी में पीएमईजीपी लोन लेकर उद्योग/बिजनेस ग्रामीण क्षेत्र में शुरु किया जा रहा है, तो 33% सब्सिडी देने का प्रावधान किया गया है। अगर उद्योग/बिजनेस शहरी क्षेत्र में शुरु किया जा रहा है, तो उसके लिए 25% सब्सिडी देने का प्रावधान किया गया है।

केवीआईसी पीएमईजीपी लोन योजना के लिए जरूरी कागजात 

पीएमईजीपी परियोजना के तहत बिजनेस लोन प्राप्त करने के लिए कुछ जरूरी कागजातों की जरूरत होती है। जरूरी कागजातों की लिस्ट निम्न है: 

  1. आवेदक का आधार कार्ड 
  2. पैन कार्ड 
  3. स्थाई निवास का प्रमाण पत्र 
  4. फोटो 
  5. शिक्षा प्रमाणपत्र 
  6. जाति प्रमाण पत्र 
  7. प्रोजेक्ट रिपोर्ट 
  8. अनापत्ति प्रमाण पत्र (कारोबार अगर किराए के मकान में है तब, अगर जगह खुद की है तो जगह का मालिकाना हक़ का प्रूफ दिखाना होता है) 

प्रधानमंत्री रोजगार योजना के तहत लोन लेने की प्रक्रिया 

प्रधानमंत्री रोजगार योजना के तहत बिजनेस लोन प्राप्त करने के लिए सर्वप्रथम किसी ऐसे बिजनेस को शुरु करने का ताना – बाना बुनना पड़ता है, जो पीएमईजीपी योजना के तहत रजिस्टर्ड हो। योजना के अंतगर्त बिजनेस लोन प्राप्त करने के लिए पीएमईजीपी ऑनलाइन आवेदन करना होता है। पीएमईजीपी ऑनलाइन आवेदन करने के लिए आपको प्रधानमंत्री रोजगार योजना की आधिकारी वेबसाइट लॉग इन करना होता है। 

पीएमईजीपी ऑनलाइन आवेदन करने से पूर्व एक प्रोजेक्ट रिपोर्ट बनाना होता है। उस प्रोजेक्ट रिपोर्ट पर यह दिखाना होता है कि आप बिजनेस लोन की रकम का उपयोग कैसे करेंगे। अगर आप यह जानना चाहते हैं कि प्रोजेक्ट रिपोर्ट कैसे बनती है, तो इस लिंक को क्लिक करें। यहां पर आपको सैकड़ो प्रोजेक्ट रिपोर्ट प्राप्त हो जाएगी।

5 से 25 लाख रुपये तक लोन लिजिए 

प्रधानमंत्री रोजगार योजना के तहत पात्र लोगों को अधिकतम 25 लाख रुपये तक का बिजनेस लोन मिलता है। हालांकि सबसे बड़ी शर्त यह है कि बिजनेस प्रोजेक्ट में निवेश होने वाले धन का 10 प्रतिशत हिस्सा खुद कारोबारी को अपने स्तर से लगाना होता है। इस योजना में आप आसानी से 5 लाख रुपये तक का बिजनेस लोन प्राप्त कर सकते हैं। 

Modiji’s leadership amidst pandemic: A grace for India

Shubham Shankar
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Modiji’s leadership amidst pandemic: A grace for India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has time and again proved his leadership skills and his ability to turn every crisis into an opportunity. There is no doubt that his experience as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, in handling critical challenges, have shaped him into what he is today- a decisive, pragmatic leader who believes in sensible yet bold governance.

At the early phase of the Coronavirus outbreak in March 2020, when foreign governments were still in dilemma over the kind of response that should be given, it was Modiji’s pragmatism which ensued the suspension of all India-bound international flights in March which in result aided in controlling virus infections in India.  A Nationwide lockdown to curb virus from reaching the rural spaces of India, followed thereafter. All this while the Central Government through Indian embassies and High Commissions across the world ran rescue operation of historic proportion to bring back Indians who were stranded abroad. Given the unknown character and infectious nature of the virus, the lockdown also gave ample time to the government to prepare for any surge in cases and Indian doctors the time to learn from experiences of other countries.

In a country of 1.35 billion people, Government enforcing a nationwide lockdown was unthinkable. Nevertheless, on 19th March 2020, Prime Minister Modi in his address to the nation appealed to his fellow countrymen to follow Janta Curfew (People’s Curfew) on 22nd March, overnight turning the government response into a Jan Andolan (People’s movement). Credited to Modi’s charismatic persona and his mass appeal, people throughout the country voluntarily constrained themselves to their homes and Janta Curfew came out to be a grand success. No leader other than Modi Ji could have pulled this off. 

Even amidst raging pandemic and complete lockdown, Modi Ji’s frequent communication with the nation- through his national addresses and ‘Mann Ki Baat’- kept the mood of the general populace positive and the spirit high. He also led the nation into recognising the heroic efforts of essential services personnel, Police forces and media personnel who worked tirelessly and selflessly even during the pandemic, a stance rarely seen in Indian polity. Indian Railways, although its services initially suspended, owing to the leadership of PM Modi ran hundreds of special trains to help ferry a large number of migrant workers to safe harbours. Railways’ vast rail network across the country was tactically used to install mobile train based Covid-19 hospitals.

At the very outset of virus breakout, Modi’s pragmatic self had envisioned a new role for a new India. Just as on the domestic front he led efforts to help build a national consensus on fighting coronavirus by consulting Chief Ministers of all states and UTs to ensure that directives of the Central Government are put on the ground effectively pan India, on the international front he ran a strategic campaign to ensure that we, the People of India, get the vaccine on priority. First, in as early as April 2020, PM Modi formulated a high-level committee with science and technology advisor to PM K Vijaya Raghavan as its head to formulate a plan for time-bound development of Covid-19 Vaccine. The Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science & Technology was entrusted with the responsibility of keeping track of all global efforts on vaccine development and to make concerted efforts for domestic vaccine trials. In the second leg of his campaign, Modi leveraged India’s stature as the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer to forge international ties and consultations which not only envisioned provision of vaccine for India but also a major role for Indian companies in delivering vaccine to the world. These efforts culminated into 60 foreign envoys visiting Hyderabad based Indian Covid-19 vaccine facility in December 2020.

The economy too wasn’t left to perish. To make India a bigger and more important part of the global value chains in the aftermath of the pandemic, PM Modi formulated ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ or ‘Self-Reliant India’ policy outlining his vision of a self-sufficient India. To boost the rural economy and incentivise MSMEs and dairy and Meat processing private companies which were most dearly hit by the pandemic, PM Modi chaired Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs sanctioned Rs. 15,000 Crore for setting up of Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF). Likewise, for the development of marine and inland fisheries, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojna worth Rs 20,000 crore was announced. For the first time, a loan scheme to help 50 lakh street vendors- their livelihood hit by the pandemic- resume their businesses in the urban areas, PM SVANidhi Scheme was announced. Food-grains were distributed to millions of migrant workers and ration cardholders, thus reaffirming Modiji’s commitment to Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay’s concept of ‘Antyodaya’- rise of the last person– that has also been the guiding principle of BJP. While the long term impacts of such government schemes remain to be seen, the record GST collection of more than Rs 1,15,000 crore in December is evidence enough that Modiji’s efforts are and will continue to yield greater dividends for the Indian economy.

From contact tracing of Covid-19 infected persons to developing a vaccine, Modi Ji has been instrumental and a key bridge between all organs of the government. It isn’t without a reason why Modiji’s leadership, in a recent study by a US firm Morning Consult, received the highest domestic approval ratings among world leaders. BJP’s victory in various elections held in different parts of the country is evidence that Modiji’s leadership in this testing time has been wholeheartedly accepted by the people. Modi’s push for digital innovation and digital governance over the course of last 4-5 years has helped prepare Indian economy- in general- to deal with the pandemic more effectively as bank currency notes could’ve been a grave carrier of the virus and in midst of lockdown economic transactions continued without any impediment and without people flocking to ATMs for cash. While remembering and cherishing the heroic efforts of our scientific community, lets not even for a moment forget the leap of faith that Modi Ji took in supporting and encouraging our scientific community which as a result paved the way for 2 ‘Made in India’ Covid-19 vaccines. Even as today when death tolls in developed countries are increasing and new lockdowns and night curfew are being reimposed, India breathes freely with the lowest death toll (1.5 % per 100 cases) and looks forward to the rollout of world’s largest vaccine drive as vans carrying Covid-19 Vaccines reach various states of India and the world lines up for India’s vaccine(s). Modiji’s leadership has truly been a grace for all proud Indians.

(The author is a Graduate from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He is currently the National Youth Vice President of Delhi based NGO, NHRCCB.)

Why are we (farmers) not interested in solutions anymore?

Vibhanshu Mishra
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Why are we (farmers) not interested in solutions anymore?

To arrive at a solution, you first need to identify the problem.

This phrase can be correlated with the ongoing Farmer Protests, who are sitting at the Delhi borders now for over 45 days. Seeing their grit and determination, any sane person would likely think that there are some serious issues with the Farms Act 2020, which need to be addressed as soon as possible, and the BJP government is doing a terrible job when it comes to treating the Anndata of our country.

However, the ground reality is not what anyone would expect. When reached Delhi in the last week of November, the group of farmers from Punjab and Haryana raised several concerns on contract farming, APMC, MSP etc, over the three farms bills passed by the government in September 2020. Even though many notable academicians, experts, and many farmer groups across the country have welcomed the Farmers Bill, it would be fair to say that some of the farmers’ concerns were valid and should be discussed and debated. And because of this, without any doubt, the emotions of the majority of the population went with the farmers because of our agrarian roots.

Although I would argue here that we shouldn’t be looking at policies from an emotional perspective, rather it should be based on studies and data/facts. I propose we debate ideas on their merits rather than on how we feel about the people who proposed them. The world is too complex to be understood from an emotional angle and that’s why we need facts on such wide topics as Farmers Bill, on which discussions have been going on for the past two decades. Needless to say, the bills were, at last, the result of those discussions.

Nonetheless, as the official talks between the government and farmers’ representatives went ahead, things started to unfold. Some of the protesters wished for the death of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Some of them were seen demanding the release of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and some of the miscreants went ahead to destroy around 1500 Reliance Jio towers in Punjab. The farmer’s representatives mediating with the government, on the other hand, were adamant on their demands of repealing all the three laws. They are still standing by this and treating this whole game as a binary system with inputs, 0 and 1. The idea of bringing up their concerns in front of the government officials and discussing it seems to have lost, even when the government is open to discuss the laws point-wise. In aggregate, these situations raise doubts as to whether the farmer groups even have any problems with the Farm Act or whether it is just a part of a propaganda using which they want to fuel the Anti-CAA-like narrative in the global space.

Sadly, as the days pass by, the protesters have been exposed bit-by-bit. The central government after six rounds of talks agreed on two terms, excluding farmers from penal provisions of the Air Quality Management ordinance and not pursuing the draft Electricity Bill 2020. Even after the Supreme Court of India meddled into the situation on 12th Jan 2020 and stayed the laws for now and formed a committee to address the farmer’s concerns diligently, the protestors have remarked that they welcome the stay but will not join the committee and continue the protest. The question that arises is, are these protestors even interested in finding a solution? Or it is just about creating an unrest in the country by the separatists, the leftists, and the opposition. Why are they steadfast on repealing all three “Black Laws”?

The question that strikes is if these are the so called “Black Laws”, why were the same unions who are protesting now demanding the same laws in past? Why is the opposition so vocal now? Even they wanted to bring these laws into place as mentioned in their 2019 election manifesto. Several politicians have asked the central government over the past decade to implement these laws. Seems like the only problem here is that BJP brought these laws and somehow they are “evil”. They might bring something else in the future like removing government-controlled mandis, because they are “evil”. To be fair, there is no single justification for this claim. On one hand, we have studies done by experts and researchers in this field from the past two decades that show these are the right steps for our drowning agricultural economy whereas, on the other hand, we have claims which as of now can’t be proved. Whom shall we trust? At this point, I would recall what Milton Freidman, a Noble Memorial Prize winning Economist, said:

“One of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by their intentions rather than their results.”

In this highly polarized world, where people subscribing to different ideologies are not even interested in debating and discussing any contentious argument, how will we ever reach a middle ground? In this tribalism where every individual is busy earning brownie points for his/her own tribe, there is no space for nuance. Pragmatically, not every situation is black and white, not every dialogue is either 0 or 1, solutions to most of the questions lie in the middle.

We still don’t know when and how will this end, will the protestors agree with the government’s terms or the government will bend down, only time will tell. But for now, with consecutive Anti-CAA protests in 2019 and Farmers protest in 2020, the road ahead for the World’s largest democracy seems bleak. The central government is losing control over the masses and is unable to communicate effectively. Utilizing the government’s weakness for their own good, the opposition has been effective in spreading the narrative they want, be it in Anti-CAA riots or Farmers Protests. The government’s inability in handling the law in this country has also been exposed, and that is where the left is capitalizing.

Clearly, these protests could have been controlled and handled well. In the future, if the government does not learn from its mistakes, which I highly doubt, we are bound to see a lot more such protests, which definitely won’t be “peaceful”.

Part-9: What is the path forward?

vinod2a
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Part-9: What is the path forward?

The current reforms make perfect sense. There are many demands of protesting farmers, many of them obtuse. The prime concern seems to be mistrust of the private sector and questioning the intentions of the government. Much of the farmer opposition is based on “what if” scenarios which is based on wild speculation about their futures. Many are slippery slope arguments, and arguments on conjecture. Even the US Court recently struck down petitions who are based on speculation about the future.

One must understand that democracy is fought through the ballot box and in the legislature and not on the streets. People in India voting in majority for a certain government repeatedly does mean that they are probably looking for reform. A couple of disgruntled elements, pulling together a crowd of tens of thousands of people, cannot either reflect the aspirations of 1.4 billion people or hold the future of everybody else to ransom.

By demanding more MSP and trying to finish the private sector by asking for mandatory MSP, can the farmers decide that India should stop investments in infrastructure, education, schools, defence, manufacturing and route all their funds only to farmers?

1) Repeal of three new agricultural laws.

I argue that demand 1) is disastrous because considering the nature of Indian democracy, this means that nobody can ever reform agriculture in the future. If the current dispensation cannot make any changes to agricultural laws, this will encourage everybody in the future. The current government also has a brute majority which probably will not happen for a couple of lifetimes. In the meantime, farmers will destroy both their livelihoods and those of everybody else in India because their current approach is not sustainable.

2) Guarantee of MSP to ensure procurement for all 26 crops

I have already argued that demand 2) belies a lack of understanding of even basic laws of economics. If you want to destroy the private sector which buys 94% of foodgrains and force the government to a single point agenda of buying foodgrains, please go forward replicating the blunders made by Russia and Venezuela to economic catastrophe and ruin. They had massive oil resources to back them up which India doesn’t, which means that India will face even further deprivation.

  • 3) Withdrawal of the Electricity (Amendment) Bill
  • 4) End the fine and jail sentence for stubble burning
  • 5) Slash diesel price for agricultural use by 50%

Demands 3), 4) and 5) are for the long-term sustainability of the Indian environment. If farmers want to adopt a scorched earth mentality of not caring for the future and destroying the future of everybody else in the bargain, they could go forward. It is difficult to make a case for continuing to burn stubble. But these are the supposedly non-political “farmers” who are choosing anarchy by destroying mobile towers and tool booths, to teach private players a lesson.

But again, to be fair, these reforms are not as pressing as the others.  Implementation could wait a bit longer depending on how serious one thinks global environmental issues are.

  • 7) More MSP as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission
  • 8) Written assurance on MSP

Demand 6) will bankrupt the Centre eventually over time as more farmers move into making wheat and rice. They will buy foodgrains to rot in the granaries and will not be able to sell the produce in the open market except at a loss. Demand 7) is something the government could promise for its own procurement, but would be insensible for the government to promise on behalf of the private sector.

These demands will also prevent farmers from shifting to other crops which are more suited for India and are more remunerative. Farmers should ask for more access to the open markets and not for increased protection. They should be asking the government to step away rather than asking them to be more involved. Farmers should be asking for more logistical, supply chain and distribution help rather than asking for just pure MSP increases.

A perfect example of a hamheaded approach of the government is when it bans export of food staples and vegetables like onions at the slightest sign that prices for Indian consumers are shooting up. If farmers can get higher prices outside India, the exports should not be blocked. Governments are always trying to balance the interests of consumers and farmers. But asking for increased Government presence is typically an invitation to disaster. The IIM experience with the centre is a good example that governmental interference can be counterproductive.

What will happen if other states also begin to demand MSP purchases like the situation in Punjab and Haryana. Since the Government granaries are full and there is no offtake, what will they do with additional stock? And don’t farmers have nothing more profitable to do except produce foodgrains nobody wants? Where will the money for additional purchases of foodgrains come from? And if the groundwater reserves dry up, wouldn’t all this madness will come to a stop immediately? Why are farmers asking questions about long term sustainability?

  • 9) Centre should not interfere with state and decentralize
  • 10) Withdrawal of cases against all activists, poets, intellectuals and writers
  • 11) Release of accused booked under Delhi riots and Bhima Koregaon violence

Demands 8), 9) and 10) are very political demands and have no connection to agricultural law reform.  Regarding demand 8), the Indian constitution guarantees a top-down administrative model. Nehru always wanted extreme centralization and was inspired by Stalin to create his vision of a socialist India. Neither Nehru or his scions were ever never known for consultations with states on critical matters. The 1991 economic liberalization and other reforms were pushed by stealth and not by open discussion. Even parties like the BJP opposed liberalization at that time. To be fair, endless consultations prevent reforms when it is most needed. Inspite of every party wanting agricultural reform at some stage, they become blatantly partisan when they are in the opposition. These bad faith positions ensures that discussions are typically forgotten when reforms are driven by different governments. This has been the bane of Indian democracy. There is very little appreciation of a long term strategic self interest.

While decentralization is a valid and sensible ask, the best way to make this happen would be through constitutional amendments. But since the central governments would never want to let go of their unrestricted monopolistic powers, there will be no easy solution. This demand will continue to be an unattainable goal. The police and judicial system should adjudicate on demands 9) and 10), and ways to restore faith in them should be found through reforming the structure of democratic polity, and not by bypassing them through Civil disobedience and instigated unrests.

The Central government is not totally blemish less in this episode. They have enough political goodwill to ensure that farmers rally to their cause. While the approach may look hurried, they should find a way to compensate atleast in the short term, those middlemen who are most impacted by the changes. Even the erstwhile royal families who were impacted by the privy purses act, both seceded to India and moved away from privy purses over time, as it was a gradual transformation. Moving from agriculture to another sector is a difficult ask and should be accompanied by changes in industrial laws, legal systems, investments in education, upskilling and breaking stranglehold of unions. Hopefully these changes are the beginning of meaningful changes in other sectors. However jerky the reform journey will be, Indians meanwhile have to decide whether they want to embrace change or become a relic of the past. 

Ultimately prices are a tug of war between farmers and consumers. Under the existing model, only one of them can win at the other’s expense. Either farmers get compensated well for their produce and consumers complain of high prices, or consumer get produce at dirt cheap prices where farmers get shafted. The only way to break the logjam is to remove the middlemen, dramatically improve efficiency, and make sure that both farmers and consumers benefit. Programs and packages to diversify crops will help.

If this is the way Indians embrace reform, it is sad. Even a baby who refuses to leave the protection of the mother for fear of the world outside, will find its adult phase of development severely stunted. It is the same with the protesting farmers who refuse to move away from the maternal government markets and face the world market boldly.

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