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The new evil empire: Why you should boycott China

jrayban
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The new evil empire: Why you should boycott China

In 1983, during a speech in Orlando, Florida, then U.S. President Ronald Reagan rebuked those critics who suggested that the United States and the Soviet Union were both equally responsible for the arms race occurring between the two nations.

“I urge you to beware the temptation of pride—the temptation of blithely declaring yourselves above it all and label both sides equally at fault, to ignore the facts of history and the aggressive impulses of an evil empire, to simply call the arms race a giant misunderstanding and thereby remove yourself from the struggle between right and wrong and good and evil.”

Reagan’s words were symbolic of a marked change in American foreign policy that his administration had pursued. The era of diplomacy, treaties, and talks was no more, with the new America taking strong and aggressive steps to counter Soviet influence. The strategy worked. Not long after that speech, the Soviet Union implemented significant democratic reforms and by 1991 the former superpower had dissolved.

Today there is a new evil empire, and unsurprisingly there are still people holding a weak stance on what is truly a struggle between right and wrong. Many outlets and politicians, both western and Indian, are either criticizing India or suggesting that strong action against China isn’t necessary. These critics are as wrong as they were in the 80s. China is an authoritarian, despicable, evil nation – and it must be treated as such.

In the westernmost regions of China, unbeknownst to most people, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is attempting to completely exterminate the Uighur ethnic group. While most understand that China does not have an exemplary record when it comes to human rights, few really grasp the scale of the atrocities China is committing. An Associated Press investigation recently found that the CCP is forcing abortions and birth control on women in a systematic manner. The Associated Press concluded that the CCP’s behavior in those regions likely amounts to demographic genocide.

The Uighurs are not the only ones oppressed by their Chinese overlords. Further south, the Tibetan people, who until the Chinese annexation in 1951 had their own sovereign state, are also being persecuted. In that region, the traditional Tibetan flag is banned, the Tibetan anthem is banned, and peaceful protesters are regularly tortured and imprisoned, among other horrors. According to some sources, 1.2 million people have been killed in Tibet under Chinese rule. For years, China has been pursuing policies in Tibet that one scholar called ‘Nazi-like’ and yet not a single national government has even batted an eye.

While the mass killings in those two regions should be enough to convince anyone that China is a fundamentally vile country, they are not the only injustices committed by the CCP. Hong Kong’s legal status as an autonomous zone has been repeatedly violated, while Taiwan has been routinely subject to Chinese threats of war. China took great lengths to cover up COVID-19 and was extremely irresponsible in the early stages of the pandemic. China’s trade policies have long been criticized for being unfair. Political rights are virtually nonexistent throughout China, while civil rights there are incredibly minimal. And all of these egregious actions are just scratching the surface.

For decades the world has been ignoring China’s crimes in order to obtain cheaper consumer products. For decades the world has been ignoring China’s crimes in order to secure a bit more Chinese money. Just today I have read countless articles arguing that the economic consequences of boycotting Chinese products or placing trade restrictions on China rule out those possibilities. But should we not be willing to spent any amount of money in order to stop a genocide?

Right now, every citizen in India has a choice to make. They must decide whether they want to continue to buy Chinese products and support a country that has committed literal genocide against it’s own civilians, or if they want to take a stand, boycott Chinese products, and using their power as a consumer declare that they will no longer turn a blind eye to the terrible situation that China’s people are in.

बदलते भारत की तस्वीर गढ़ते मोदी

Abhishek Singh
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बदलते भारत की तस्वीर गढ़ते मोदी

प्रधानमंत्री मोदी के कार्यकाल में भारत की विदेश नीति और प्रतिनिधित्व में बड़े बदलाव हुए हैं. इसका संकेत पिछ्ले वर्ष दिल्ली में हुए रायसीना डायलॉग में भारत के विदेश सचिव ने ये कहते हुए दे दिया था कि “भारत गुटनिरपेक्षता की नीतियों से बाहर निकल चुका है और अपने हितों को देखते हुए अन्य देशों के साथ रिश्ते बना रहा है”. 

इस कथन को भारत की रणनीतियों में साफ देखा भी जा सकता है. बीते वर्षों में भारत की नजदीकियां अमेरिका के साथ बढ़ी हैं जिसने भारत को विश्व में नए रूप में प्रतिनिधित्व करने में सहायता की है. अमिरिकी राष्ट्रपति ट्रंप और प्रधानमंत्री मोदी की मित्रता ने मोदी को विश्व के ताकतवर नेताओं के रूप में पहचान दिलाने में सहायता की है. पिछ्ले वर्ष अमेरिका में हुए हाउडी मोदी और इस साल की शुरुआत में भारत में हुए नमस्ते ट्रंप कार्यक्रम से इसका आंकलन किया जा सकता है.

भारत के पूर्व प्रधानमंत्रियों ने खुद को दक्षिण एशिया तक सीमित रखा. भारत की विदेश नीतियां भी इसी तर्ज पर रहीं. लेकिन मोदी की महत्वकांक्षा दक्षिण एशिया से आगे बढ़कर पूरे विश्व में खुद को स्थापित करने की थी. नरेंद्र मोदी के अपने प्रखर व्यक्तिव से खुद को स्थापित भी किया. आज, विश्व दक्षिण एशिया को हिन्द प्रशांत क्षेत्र और भारत को इस क्षेत्र के मुख्य खिलाड़ी की तरह देखता है.

भारत ने अपनी पुरानी सुरक्षात्मक नीति को बदलते हुए, आक्रामक नीति को अपनाया है. चाहे पाक अधिकृत कश्मीर में हुई सर्जिकल स्ट्राइक हो या बालाकोट में हुई एयर स्ट्राइक हो, भारत की स्तिथि ने विश्व को साफ सन्देश दिया है. मौजूदा भारत-चीन सीमा संघर्ष में भी भारत ने अपनी स्तिथि साफ रखी है. तमाम आलोचनाओं और भारत की चीन पर निर्भरता को लेकर होने वाली बातों के बीच चीनी एप बैन कर देना, सरकारी टेंडरों से चीनी कम्पनियों को बाहर का रास्ता दिखा देना, पूरे विश्व को साफ सन्देश है कि भारत अपनी प्राथमिकताओं में राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा को रखता है.

बदलती वैश्विक राजनीति में चीन के विकल्प के तौर पर आज पूरे विश्व की नज़रें भारत पर हैं. महामारी के ऐसे दौर में आत्मनिर्भर अभियान को गति देना प्रधानमंत्री मोदी के दूरदर्शी, प्रतिनिधित्व करने की मजबूत इच्छाशक्ति का उदाहरण है. आत्मनिर्भर भारत अभियान, भविष्य में भारत की छवि को बदल देने वाला मील का पत्थर सबित हो सकता है.

भारत एक उबरती हुई आर्थिक महाशक्ति है, जो विश्व का शांति और आर्थिक मोर्चों पर प्रतिनिधित्व करने की क्षमता रखती है. प्रधानमंत्री मोदी के “नए भारत” की संकल्पना, इस क्षमता को बढ़ाकर भारत को एक मजबूत वैश्विक महाशक्ति के रूप में स्थापित करने में सहायक होगी.

बदलते भारत की तस्वीर को गढ़ते प्रधानमंत्री मोदी को भविष्य में भारत के नवयुग प्रणेता के रूप में देखा जाएगा.

“धर्मनिरपेक्ष” की अधर्मी घुसपैठ

kalpak
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भारतीय संसद भी उस दिन शरम से झुक गया होगा, जब 1976 को “secular” शब्द को जबरन संविधान के प्रस्तावना में जोड़ा गया होगा. संविधान के विधातांओ ने जिस “secular” शब्द को प्रस्तावना में ना होने के लिए सांसद में पूरी शक्ति लगायी थी उसी सांसद में तीन दशकों के बाद “secular” शब्द को प्रस्तावना में डालकर संविधान के विधातांओ का मज़ाक बनाया गया था.

इस इतिहास को समझने से पहले हमें “Secular” शब्द को समझना होगा. “Secular” शब्द का मतलब धर्मनिरपेक्ष होता है. इस शब्द का उगम हमे मध्यकालीन यूरोप में मिलता है.

“धर्मनिरपेक्षता सरकार का मतलब होता है एक ऐसी सरकार जिसका धर्म के साथ कोई कनेक्शन नहीं है, ना ही वो किसी धर्मो के रीति रिवाजों मे अपना हस्तक्षेप करेगा, प्रोटेस्टेंट पुनर्गठन तथा प्रबोधन के दौरान इस शब्द का इस्तेमाल हमें मिलता है“, इयान कोपलॅण्ड (Ian Copland).

जब “secular” शब्द को प्रस्तावना में डालने का प्रयास संविधान निर्मिति के समय किया गया था तब बाबासाहेब आंबेडकर तथा पंडित जवाहरलाल नेहरू दोनों इस शब्द का प्रस्तावना में ना होने के पक्ष में थे. भारत के इतिहास को देखते हुए यह असंभव था कि भारत की आनेवाली सरकारें खुद को धर्म से अलग रख पाए. अगर इस शब्द को प्रस्तावना में जगह दे देते, तो भारत के संविधान में लिखे हुए अल्पसंख्यक जातियों के लिए बनाए सारे अनुच्छेदों पे सवाल खडे हो रहे थे. एक धर्मनिरपेक्ष देश किसी भी तरह से अल्पसंख्यक लोगों के लिए अलग अनुच्छेद नहीं बना सकता था, ये धर्म में सरकार का हस्तक्षेप हो जाता और धर्म में बिना हस्तक्षेप किए सबको समान न्याय देना असंभव था.

इसलिए हमारे संविधान विधातांओ ने इस शब्द के इस्तेमाल करने से सक्त नाराज़गी दिखाई थी.

भारत में 1975 को पूर्व पंतप्रधान इंदिरा गांधीजी ने खुद की पंत प्रधान की सीट को बचाने के चलते पूरे देश में आपत्कालीन स्थिति लागू की थी. उसके बाद कई सारे संशोधन बिल द्वारा संविधान में कई बार बदलाव किए गए.

“Secular” शब्द के पीछे का विरोध और उसका इतिहास को अच्छे से जानने के बाद भी पूर्व पंतप्रधान इंदिरा गांधीजी ने आपातकालीन परिस्थिति के दौरान 42 वां संशोधन बिल पास किया, जिसमें से एक प्रस्ताव, “Secular” शब्द को प्रस्तावना में डालने का था.

क्या भारत 1976 से पहले धर्म निरपेक्ष नहीं था? और अगर था, तो फिर क्यू अलग से संशोधन बिल लाया गया?

इस विषय पर, संविधान विशेषज्ञ सुभाष कश्यप ने कहा था की, “भारत पहले भी धर्म निरपेक्ष था, पर “Secular” शब्द को प्रस्तावना में डाल देना एक महज राजकीय चाल थी. आपातकाल की परिस्थिति में जब जबरन “birth control” कार्यक्रम का आयोजन किया गया. उस वज़ह से काफी हदतक इंदिरा जी की छबि मायनॉरिटी मे ख़राब हो गई थी. उसी को सुधारने के लिए ये संशोधन बिल लाया गया था “.

देश के सभी प्रमुख विरोधी दलों के नेताओं और हजारो-लाखों पत्रकारों, कार्यकर्ताओं को सलाखों के पीछे डालकर, देश के संविधान की आत्मा को ठेस पहुंचाने का काम उस वक़्त इस संशोधन बिल द्वारा किया गया.

जो बिल पास करते समय लोकशाही की सारे नियमों का उल्लंघन किया गया हो, विरोधियों को नजर कैद और पत्रकारों की कलम रोकी गई हो, वो बदलाव क्या हमे अपनाना चाहिए?

क्या इस बदलाव की विरोध में सुप्रीम कोर्ट के दरवाजे खटखटाने नहीं चाहिए? इस सवाल पर विचार करना आज के दौर में बहुत जरूरी है.

Gujarat Congress carries out agitation when COVID-19 transmission is high: CM starts campaign to fight against virus

Shalav Majmudar
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Gujarat Congress carries out agitation when COVID-19 transmission is high: CM starts campaign to fight against virus

When COVID-19 crisis was on all time high, Gujarat’s dynamic Chief Minister Vijay Rupani started campaign for public awareness, the campaign was “Hun Pan Corona Warrior”, many great personalities joined him in this camping. Under this campaign he had requested citizens to take 3 pledges. The pledges were,
1) “I wont let my elders and children move out of house”
2) “I won’t step out of my house without mask & will move out only when it is needed”
3) “I will follow the principle of DO GAJ KI DURI”. These are the three main ways to fight against corona virus and Gujarat Government did a phenomenal job by starring this campaign.

On the other hand Gujarat Congress had taken up Agitation against the rise in petrol/diesel prices. But the agitation lacked Social distancing, on the contrary in may parts of the state, Congress workers had formed small human chain by holding each other’s hands closely like a knot so that police do not stop them. This is the most irresponsible act any political party could do in the times when COVID-19 transmission is in it’s peak. This was not only unhealthy for congress, but also for the citizens of Gujarat. Gujarat Congress decided to do Politics over Public Health, putting lives of citizen at risk. This shows the level of irresponsibility of India’s oldest Political Party i.e Congress. These leaders had came in contact with Bharatsinh Solanki few days back during Rajya Sabha elections, who was later tested positive of COVID-19.

(GUJARAT CONGRESS LEADERS PROTESTING WITHOUT SOCIAL DISTANCE LAWS)

On the other hand Gujarat BJP unit in its best manner with all the laws of Social distancing in practice, holds it’s first meeting at BJP State Headquarters. The pictures depicts that how the party is doing its best by keeping social distance and wearing mask in meeting. A clear message have been given to citizens, and all party workers that “Politics cannot be above Public Health”.

(GUJARAT BJP HOLDS ITS FIRST MEETING WITH ALL SOCIAL DISTANCING LAWS.)

Gujarat Congress MLA Imran Khedawala had written letter to Prakash Javdekar (Minister of Information and broadcasting) demanding to remove COVID-19 awareness caller tune at the earliest. But his own party leaders lack awareness and on the contrary are putting lives of thousands at stake by doing political agitation and public gathering.

(letter of Gujarat Congress MLA to Union Minister)

Currently Gujarat is seen with two different working styles, but Public health should not be put at risk to gain political milage.

Why Artisan should Join hands with Uthhan

pooja1234
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Why Artisan should Join hands with Uthhan

Artisans preserve and share their craft culture across the world. Artisans are the backbone of India’s non- farming rural economy, engaged in craft production. However, there is a rapid reduction in the number of Indian artisans propelled by loss of market, declining skills, and nonavailability of technological support. Crafting a Livelihood along with the empowerment of Indian artisans is the need of the hour to safeguard our history and culture.

The threat of coronavirus pandemic is increasing day by day in India. The country is fighting social and economic damage. The majority of citizens are anxious due to economical disability. Our artisans are living a hazardous life. The life of craftsmen and their families have completely tilted upside down.

Thousands of artisans and their families have been left in the lurch since export orders are canceled. The retail sales also dried up. It is nearly two months since the tourism and travel industry stopped functioning. The handicraft souvenir sales took a hit. The locality which houses 600 to 800 artisan families and a beehive of activity of traditional art forms are staring at a bleak future. They are worried about the survival of their children. It is difficult for craftsmen and workers to sit idle and pass their days. The lockdown has left them with no work and money. In the absence of new sales orders, production is stopped and there are no buyers for the existing stock. Handicraft buying may not be the priority of the general public post-COVID-19. The recovery is likely to take a longer period. It is very important to maintain social distancing for safety. It is equally important to earn money for a living.

 Coronavirus has stopped all the traditional ways of earning the livelihood. Uthhan has given support for the upliftment of the weaker segment of artisans and their families. Uthhan is feeding more than 10000 families as of now. Uthhan has launched a website for artisans where handicraft items are available at a reasonable price with a larger audience. Artisans decide the value of their products and since there are no middlemen, the entire money goes directly to their accounts. Not only this, but the Uthhan team also gives training to artisans to use the technology as well. On the website, you can read and write reviews related to the product apart from buying which will be an encouragement for these artisans and further bolster them to excel their c

Patanjali CORONIL Kit: Series of controversy

Jyotiraditya Chaudhary
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Patanjali CORONIL Kit: Series of controversy

23rd June 2020, Patanjali company released a kit named, Divya Corona kit, as a cure of COVID-19. Press note of Patanjali said the trial, conducted after the necessary approvals, showed 100 per cent recovery of patients within seven days. The trial, it said, was conducted in association with the NIMS, a Jaipur-based private institute.

The licence for the drug was obtained on the basis of the traditional knowledge and experience related to the medicinal virtues of Ashwagandha, Giloy and Tulsi, Patanjali spokesperson S K Tijarawala had said.

On that same day, The Ayush ministry put a stop on the sale and promotion of Coronil and asked Patanjali to provide all documentation related to the drug and the studies conducted to test it.

After that, all the gangs which are anti-Hindu and anti India started to say against Ayurveda of Patanjali.

On Tuesday, Acharya Balkrishna, the MD of Patanjali Ayurved said that the company never claimed its drug could cure the highly-contagious virus that has infected more than 1 crore people around the world.

Amid the row, the Rajasthan Police lodged an F.I.R against Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev for allegedly launching the Ayurvedic drug which claims to cure Covid-19 without getting the AYUSH ministry’s approval. Earlier, a criminal complaint was filed in a Bihar court against yoga guru Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved MD Acharya Balkrishna, alleging that they have misled and put at risk the lives of lakhs of people by claiming to have developed medicine to treat Covid-19.

After a full week of controversy, on 1-07-2020 the Ayush Ministry told that the kit could be sold all over India. But, AYUSH Ministry allowed Patanjali to sell this kit only as an immunity booster not as a ‘cure’ of Corona Virus.

In a press conference, Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev said “AYUSH Ministry said that Patanjali has done appropriate work for COVID management. It said that Patanjali has started working in the right direction. We have procured a license for these from the state department which is connected with AYUSH.” “Now there is no difference of opinion between AYUSH Ministry and Patanjali,” he added. ”If you have a difference of opinion with me or Acharya Balakrishna, criticize us. But, at least have a soft heart towards people who are suffering from coronavirus, diabetes, cancer and other such diseases. Me and Acharya Balakrishna come from a humble background’ Also said by Yoga Guru.

The homecoming of the Lords – Bahuda Yatra

Pragnya Patnaik
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The homecoming of the Lords – Bahuda Yatra

Ratha Yatra also known as Ratha or Ghosa Jatra falls on the Suklapaksha Dwitiya tithi of the Asadha month, when Lord Jagannath or the Lord of the Universe and his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra travel on their much adorned carts and amidst much fanfare to the Gundicha temple. The temple is dedicated to Devi Gundicha, who was the wife of Indradyumna, the king who built the Jagannath temple in Puri.

After spending about seven days at the Gundicha temple, the time for the return of the Gods to their temple abode comes. This homecoming journey is termed as Bahuda and falls on the Asadha Suklapaksha Dashami tithi. The rituals and customs involved are almost similar to how they were carried out when the Lords had begun their journey from Srimandir. The Yatra or the procession takes place in the bada-danda or the Grand Avenue, between the Gundicha and Jagannath temples.

Nandighosa, Devadalana and Taladhwaja, the carts of Jagannath, Subhadra and Balabhadra respectively are beautifully decorated. Amidst the divine sounds of conch, gongs, mridung and cymbals the three gods are brought to their respective chariots. Gotipua and Odishi dancers and martial artistes perform in front of the gods.

Lakhs of devotees assemble to catch a glimpse of the lords. Those who had not been able to get the darshan of Jagannath on the Ratha day, make it a point to see him on Bahuda. In the eyes of the devotees, the lord is supreme. With raised hands they welcome him and surrender themselves, mesmerized in his magical aura. With boundless enthusiasm and heightened spirits they pull the ropes of the carts. The air gets filled with the magical chants of Jai Jagannath.

While returning, the chariots halt at the Mausi Maa temple. The goddess is considered to be the aunt of the lords. It is the same temple where Devi Subhadra stayed when Jagannath and Balabhadra were out on the streets begging after Lakshmi had left the Srimandir. Here the deities are offered their favorite delicacy Poda Pitha, which is a special cake, made of cheese and sugar. After a brief halt, the gods continue with their journey on the badadanda towards Srimamdir.

Apart from Puri, Ratha and Bahuda are also celebrated amidst much pomp and show in other parts of Odisha. In western Odisha there are several Jagannath ’Gudi’ or temples in almost every village and so ratha and bahuda are celebrated in a wide-scale in this part of the state. In Baripada, the chariot of Devi Subhadra is pulled only be women, which is unique. In Remanda, the festival is being led by a Muslim family from the past six generations which again is a novel thing. Even outside India Ratha is celebrated with zeal. In fact the festivities in foreign lands gives the devotees a feeling of being at home away from home. It serves as an opportunity for them to stay connected to their roots.

Post Bahuda and after the famed Sunabesha of the Lords, an amusing exchange of dialogues or ‘bachanikaa’ happens between the mortal representatives of Jagannath and Lakshmi, the former requesting to get into the temple while the latter refusing him. After coaxing and cajoling the aggrieved wife, the lord is finally let inside the temple.

Note: This year due to Covid, Ratha Yatra and Bahuda Yatra took place amidst restrictions in Puri. In rest of Odisha, the festival remained suspended.

Growing tensions between India and Nepal over ‘Kalapani’ issue

Rahul Das
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Growing tensions between India and Nepal over ‘Kalapani’ issue

The new map is going to replace the old map of Nepal. The new map claims that the 335 sq km area of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura is located in Nepal, but the area is still in India. This region has been appearing on the Indian map for ages. The bill on this issue has been passed in the lower house of the Nepal Parliament. It is evident that the matters is gradually getting out of the reach of India. Once the national emblem of Nepal is placed on this new map, there will be no way to correct it.

Addressing BJP members in Uttarakhand on June 15, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke of the strength of bilateral relations between India and Nepal. He said “Our army has Gorkha Regiment whose soldiers have displayed valour and courage on numerous times for the country. Its war cry is ‘Jai Mahakali Aayo Re Gorkhali (Hail Mother Kali, here comes the Gorkha) and Mahakali is also the in Kolkata, Kamakhya and Vindhyachal with devotees all around India. Then how can the ties between the two countries break?” Singh further added in his speech, “India-Nepal ties are not an ordinary one. We have a relation of ‘Roti and Beti’ which cannot be broken by any power of the world.” He said India’s differences with Nepal over these three places could be resolved through dialogue.

Singh made the remark two days after the bill to amend the constitution was passed in the lower house of Nepal’s Parliament. The bill will now be passed in The Upper house of the Nepal Parliament. It will then be sent to the President of Nepal. Once he signs, the new map will be recognised instead of the old one.

Ever since Nepal took the initiative to change the map, India has been saying that this unilateral decision of Nepal is not acceptable. Ignoring India’s objections, Nepal is moving towards its own goal. On the day the bill was passed in the lower house of the Nepal’s parliament, the old statement of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs were repeated. Later Rajnath Singh was careful enough in his statement. It is clear that India does not want a repeat of the deteriorating relations with Nepal in the past, especially what happened in September 2015.

According to the 1950 agreement, no passport is required to cross the border between the two countries, historically, India has a good rapport with Nepal, even there are no fences on the borders of the two countries, people move freely here. The relations between the two countries are smooth expect for a few regional issues. In the context of such peaceful relations between the two countries, this border dispute between them is completely undesirable. But history does not follow in one’s own way.

With the end of monarchy in Nepal, the rise of Communists, the disagreement with India over the drafting of a new constitution, relations between the two countries took a new turn. Besides, Nepal’s growing closeness with China has become a headache for India. India-Nepal relations have become more toxic with the controversy over the new map of Nepal. Now the future of the relationship will depend on the prudence of the leadership of these two countries and the generosity of China.
Nepal has never raised the demand for Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura so strongly. Historically, India’s claim to the area has been predominant.

In 1815, the King of Nepal signed the ‘Treaty of Sugauli’ with the East India company, which was ratified in 1816. According to this treaty Nepal got the right to the east Bank of Mahakali river and India got the right to the west bank. This position has remained unchanged for a long time. The beginning of the argument centres on the identification of the source of the Mahakali river in the Nepali interpretation. Nepal’s explanation is that the region which India considers to be the source of the Mahakali river is not the actual source of the Mahakali river at all. So, the location of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura is not in Pithoragarh of India but in Dharchula district of Nepal.

It is difficult for India to accede to Nepal’s claim, as it is stated in several documents apart from the Sugauli Agreement that the real owner of the region is India. During China’s invasion of Tibet in 1950s, India set up 17-18 military posts on the Chinese border with Nepal’s permission. In 1969, at the behest of king Mahendra of Nepal, Prime Minister Kirti Nidhi Bista asked Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to remove these Army posts. Kalapani was not among the list of Army posts that Nepal gave to India at that time. Now the question is why Kalapani was not in this list? Nepal’s explanation for this question is that King Mahendra was aware of India’s security concerns, so at India’s request, he allowed the Indian Army to maintain an Army post at Kalapani.

Incidentally, Kalapani is the entrance to the Lipulekh pass. Is this interpretation of Nepal acceptable at all? China did not pay attention to this area in 1969. Also, the cultural revolution in China was at its peak at that time. It was not clear why Indira Gandhi would request Raja Mahendra to let India’s army post stay at Kalapani. And there is no historical document of Nepal’s claim. The baselessness of Nepal’s claim proves that India had set up an army post in Kalapani as per the previous treaty. There was no question of seeking permission from the king separately.

Why is Nepal suddenly so eager to occupy this region? The reason for this to be found in the incompetence of India’s foreign policy and China’s incitement against India. Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, known as a staunch anti-Indian, became the Prime Minister of Nepal after the two communist parties merged at the initiative of China . Maoist leaders Prachanda and Madhav Kumar Nepal gradually became his challengers. Oli was rapidly losing popularity among the people of Nepal due to administrative failure. Although Oli was in post, the people were repeatedly demanding a change of Prime Minister. During this turmoil, India released a new map of Jammu and Kashmir in November 2019. The inclusion of Kalapani in this map gives Oli a new impetus to oppose India.

On May 8, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Mansarovar Link Road, in which Oli got another weapon to criticise India . In 2005, India decided to build a 80 km long road to ease the difficult and inaccessible road to Mansarovar. The cost was estimated as 80 crore. The road, which was supposed to be completed in 2013, was inaugurated in May 2020. By then, the cost has gone up to 440 crore. After the inauguration, Oli raised his voice against India. He adopted well-known anti-India tactics to handle mass protest in his own country. He stated that “Those who are coming from India through illegal channels are spreading the virus in the country…………Indian virus looks more lethal than Chinese and Italian now.” Immediately after his statement, a new map of Nepal was released.

Leaving Prachanda and Madhav behind by cunning political tactics, Oli will be relieved for a while now.
What should India do now in this situation? Experts think that India has to proceed very carefully this time. It would be foolish for India to take the kind of action it took at the time of Madheshi problem. In other words, India should not take any decision like blockade. If a hasty decision like blockade is taken, the result will be fatal. But, India has to be adamant in its demand for Kalapani, as the historical documents are in India’s favour. Moreover, Nepal has not closed the door for talks yet. Nepal has formed a nine member expert team whose job is to present evidence in support of Nepal’s claim. India has no choice but to resolve the issue politically and diplomatically without hurting the Nepali national sentiment.

In the last six years, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have brought the world leadership closer, but India’s distance from its neighbours is widening. The further India moves away from its neighbours, the close China becomes to them. Nepal is the biggest example of this. India’s proximity with its closest and most trusted neighbour Bangladesh, is also waning. At present, it is necessary for the Indian leadership to think openly about this issue.

It is important to remember that Oli has followed the path shown by Modi. Oli played the nationalist card in this case, which Modi played during the surgical strikes on Pakistan. With this single weapon, Oli silenced the opposition, charmed the masses and blunted the ‘big brotherly’ arrogance of India. India has no choice but to remain flexible at the moment. As much as this move has brought Oli’s success as a politician, it has also exposed India’s diplomatic failure.

Nepal created a Kashmir-like situation for India with the Kalapani region. Kashmir is fragmented on India’s map to Pakistan and China. The new map of Nepal will also be a cause for concern for India. Because in this new map, even if it is small, a crack will be found in Uttarakhand region. The issue is being handled very carefully by Indian leadership but it is still difficult to heal this wound.

Nepal Parliament approves new map that includes land India claims. 18 June 2020. Aljazeera.
Retrieved from https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2020/06/nepal-parliament-approves-map-includes-land-india-claims-200618074902407.html

Chaudhury, Dipanjan R, 21 May 2020. Indian Coronavirus more lethal than Chinese : Nepal PM K P Sharma Oli, Economic Times.
Retrieved from https://www.google.com/amp/s/m.economictimes.com/news/international/world-news/coronavirus-coming-from-india-more-lethal-than-those-from-china-italy-oli/amp_articleshow/75850117.cms

Ministry of External Affairs. 31 July 1950. Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Kathmandu,
Retrieved from https://mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/6295/Treaty+of+Peace+and+Friendship

Pant, Harsh V, 17 October 2019, China-Nepal ties are deepening. What can India Do?. Daily O, Retrieved from https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailyo.in/lite/politics/china-nepal-relations-xi-jinpiing-tibet-hong-kong-protests/story/1/32094.html

Treaty of Sugauli, Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Sugauli

Mazumdar, Jaideep. 20 March 2030. Explained : How The Dispute With Nepal Over Kalapani Is A Legacy Of I K Gujral’s Misplaced Altruism. Swarajya. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/amp/s/swarajyamag.com/amp/story/politics%252Fexplained-how-the-dispute-with-nepal-over-kalapani-is-a-legacy-of-i-k-gujrals-misplaced-altruism

Saran, Shyam. 12 July 2020. As Nepal paints itself into a corner on Kalapani issue. India must tread carefully. The Indian Express. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/amp/s/indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-nepal-new-map-kalapani-6454647/lite/

Siddique, Maha. 20 May 2020, India Says Won’t Accept ‘Artificial’ Enlargement of Territorial Claims’ after Nepal Releases New Map. News 18. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.news18.com/amp/news/world/nepal-releases-new-map-including-limpiyadhura-lipulekh-and-kalapani-under-its-territory-2629199.html

China Welcomes The Merger of Nepal’s Two Communist Parties. 18 May 2018. Spotlight. Retrieved from https://www.spotlightnepal.com/2018/05/18/china-welcomes-merger-nepals-two-communist-parties/

Thousands in Nepal Protest against cultural ‘guthi’ bill. 19 June 2019. Aljazeera. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2019/06/thousands-nepal-protest-cultural-guthi-bill-190619121216425.html

Nepal strongly objects to Kalapani area being included in India as part of new map, says Kathmandu. 07 November 2019. Firstpost. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.firstpost.com/india/nepal-strongly-objects-to-kalapani-area-being-included-in-india-as-part-of-new-map-says-kathmandu-7614281.html/amp

Peri, Dinkar. 08 May 2020. Rajnath Singh inaugurates new road to Kailash Mansarovar. The Hindu. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thehindu.com/news/national/rajnath-singh-inaugurates-new-road-to-kailash-mansarovar/article31533372.ece/amp/

Nepal Protests India’s New Road to Lipulekh ;’Entirely Within Territory’, Responds New Delhi. 09 May 2020, The Wire. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/amp/s/m.thewire.in/article/external/day-after-india-unveils-link-road-to-lipulekh-nepal-protests-unilateral-act/amp

Chaudhury, Dipanjan R. 21 May 2020. Indian Coronavirus more lethal than Chinese : Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli, Economic Times. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/amp/s/m.economictimes.com/news/international/world-news/coronavirus-coming-from-india-more-lethal-than-those-from-china-italy-oli/amp_articleshow/75850117.cms

Chari, Seshadri. 18 January 2020. As Modi Govt doubles down on CAA, long-term friend Bangladesh moves closer to China. The Print. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/amp/s/theprint.in/opinion/as-modi-govt-doubles-down-on-caa-long-time-friend-bangladesh-moves-closer-to-china/351354/%3famp

How is Covid 19 shaping the education sector?

Jai prakash Ojha
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How is Covid 19 shaping the education sector?

Education has evolved in wonderful ways at different stages since its onset. From gurukuls, it has moved to madrasas and maqdabs and from there, it moved to the precincts of schools, colleges and universities resulting in class room teaching. Despite the spread of education far and wide in different nations including India after independence, mass education remained a distant dream. However, the spread of distance education since the mid eighties and the setting up of IGNOU transformed the entire sphere of higher education in the country. IGNOU democratized education in an unprecedented way and removed all the barriers to education be they be social, geographical, economic and cultural. From correspondence and printed, it is now going digital; no wonder today it has around 40 lakh learners giving it the distinction of being the largest university in the world. With its twin policy pillars of admission-at-demand and admission-at-doorstep, it ensured that the contours of mass education became visible.

Today the global society stands at the cusp of a major lasting shift in education and the signals have already started coming out. The catastrophic impact of Covid 19 will always remain etched in human memory as a painful chapter but simultaneously, it has changed the ways of society in interesting ways. There is nothing new or innovative about online digital education, the society would have been certainly accomodative to that but the time span would have been longer. Corona has simply hastened the process. Videos, live sessions, online materials etc. that were previously extra, tagged to the notes and physical classroom & teacher lecture which was the main body. But now, the physical element is out and the online digital content is in. 

Now, let me analyse how the field of education is going to be revolutionized in this coming decade. 1. Learning at any time and at any place. 2. Personalised learning at one’s pace and speed. 3. Flexible paths and more choice of subjects. 4. Blended learning & flipped learning and BYOD (bring your own device) for learning. 5. Project based and experimental learning. 6. Increasing importance of data interpretation and data analysis. 7. Change in examination pattern with increased use of online quizzzes, group projects and group discussions. 8. Student ownership in the learning process will increase and he/she would now be the clarifier and the problem solving specialist. 9. Classrooms would move towards becoming paperless and more computer based. Physical classes may simply disappear and its place may be taken up by a virtual community of teachers and students all connected with computers. 10. Monitoring will become more important as students will incorporate so much independence into their learning processes. 

You can take the horse to the river but you can’t make it drink water. So far we had been the reluctant adapters to technology change around us but now, it seems Covid has made the horse drink water. Continued lockdown has compelled us to purchase online, make banking transactions online like paying premiums, electricity bills or even school fees and make office your home & even participate in official meetings thanks to Zoom and Google meet softwares. Education is no stranger to these current developments. During this lockdown period, school kids have gone online. They are getting their class room tutorial videos, online notes and reading materials on WhatsApp and You Tubes. Several colleges and universities have also commenced imparting online education. IGNOU has been one of the pioneers in the field and has provided links to its learners to attend lectures and classes of professors online. Zoom is being made good use of in Induction meetings/Orientations to impart training to learners and functionaries of Study Centres.

There are factors that have facilitated the growth of digital education. Personalised, mobile and reliable apps have been created to teach students, help them practise their learning , take assignments and manage their study schedules. Schools are providing desktop computer, laptops and tablets to their students. Learning is becoming mobile based and video based. Two way communication is possible in e-learning. There are Open Education Resources. In the case of IGNOU, there is e-Gyankosh. There is also usage of VR (Virtual reality) and AR (Augmented reality) for learning. VR allows students using e-learning platforms on mobile devices to directly interact with study materials. On the other hand, AR facilitates teachers and trainers in performing tasks they previously haven’t. Online courses have gained immense recognition of late. Many educational institutions have designed online courses and even the educational regulators are not averse to academic credentials gained through open education. IGNOU provides a plethora of degree, post degree, certificate and diploma courses covering more than 250 programmes.

The biggest advantage of this online or its previous version, distance education is that it is a blessing in disguise for people who, for one reason for the other, could not complete their formal education. Distance learners include thousands of home makers, employed people who wish to upgrade their skills and credentials and economically weak people who can’t afford even minimum costs of formal classroom education. Decentralisation of education has been one of the avowed policies of almost all the governments that the nation has seen since independence. Rural parts of the country and the smaller towns witnessed the setting up of several colleges to make education accessible to most of the population. Even bigger universities set up their regional centres. As part of its ambitious mission, IGNOU embarked on a policy of establishing Regional Centres all across the country to cater to the needs of the masses who were cut off socially and geographically from the rest of the country. Today there are 56 odd Regional Centres of IGNOU spread all across the length and breadth of the country.

Online education has manifested the futility of having a plethora of Facilitation and Regional Centres in remote places when every activity can be integrated, networked and linked together easily by having a fewer Control/Command centres. Once you do this, you realise you are saving a lot of resources for other innovative works. At a time when the Covid pandemic has shattered the economies of many nations, including India, every educational institution must try to optimise the use of its resources. Thankfully, the penetration of online digital education would eliminate the need for physical space & classrooms. This would result in cost cutting and diversion of resources to other priority areas.

Online education is a reality that can’t be simply wished away. It is here to stay. The sooner we adapt to this, the better it is for us. You do not know for how long Covid will keep you locked inside. There is no guarantee that another virus of this sort will not erupt in near future. Environmental degradation and alarming pollution levels are a grim outcome of our development process. Who knows you may not be able to venture outside your house for days in the coming time? It would only be Online education during these testing times that would provide you the ray of hope and knowledge.

As per the figures released by the Internet and Mobile Association of India, by the end of 2019, the number of internet users is 526 million approximately which is likely to increase to 667 millions by 2023 end. India is the second largest internet user in the world after China. Most of the people use mobile phones in India and maximum internet usage is via mobiles. When we look at demography, we come across as a relatively younger nation in which more than 50 percent of the population is below the age of 25. With the burgeoning demand for education for this young population segment and the increasing internet penetration both in rural & urban India, there is tremendous potential for the growth of digital education in the country. 

Digital strike: Rights and wrongs

Jyotiraditya Chaudhary
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Digital strike: Rights and wrongs

On 29th June 2020, Government Of India banned 59 Chinese apps, which include Tik Tok, Shareit, UC Browser, Cam Scanner. This decision of Government Of India got everyone in shock. India has banned these apps because of pressure on India-China Border. Indian Government has said that this decision was taken because these 59 mobile apps which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the state and public order.

The list of applications banned by Government.

TIKTOK BAN: 59 Chinese apps including TikTok banned in India ...
Source- https://estradeherald.com/tiktok-ban-59-chinese-apps-including-tiktok-banned-in-india-check-full-list/

As of for topic, lets see if this decision is right or wrong. But first see this.

TikTok Revenue and Usage Statistics (2020) - Business of Apps

Tik Tok has been used in India more than any nation. Even more than China. So, from this, you can understand the money Tik Tok earned from the Indian Market. Have you ever wondered if there was no TikTok and there would be a Made In India app like Chingari? How much money would Indians have got?

TikTok's Indian alternative Chingari app garners 2.5mn downloads ...

As per the reports by the end of 2020, the money TikTok earned from India would have been crossed ₹100 Crore. If Chingari would have got this money, just think how much money India would have got. But, India has banned these scams. Now India would be Aatmanirbhar.

Some wrong things that would happen for some time.

So, now I want to discuss the wrong things. The wrong would happen for only some time. For some time the employment growth would be affected. Till there is the options for these apps. And when these apps would be grown as the banned apps had grown. India would be more Aatmanirbhar than dependent. You would see the change in India. It’s G.D.P. And it’s growth.

Be Aatmanirbhar,

Stay Safe.

Vande Matram.

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