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20 lakh crores package: Freebies or growth oriented?

PANKAJ JAYSWAL
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20 lakh crores package: Freebies or growth oriented?

The plight of Corona Virus on every individual is worrisome. Majority of businesses are closed owing to lockdown, Services have reduced. We are witnessing the plight of migrant labors. So, everybody was expecting to receive something from Modi Government. Keeping in view of the sufferings of different sections of society and to uplift economy, PM Modi announced stimulus package worth 20 lakh crore, subsequently, FM Nirmala Sitharaman explained how it will be allocated for different sectors of business and society in next 5 days.

If we see the functioning of this government over last six years, we will be able to see many transformational stories. Opening of over 40 crore Jan Dhan accounts for poor, more than 8 crore free LPG gas connection to safeguard our mothers and sisters from cancerous smoke, more than 10 crore toilets, 18000 villages electrified, more than 4 crore households receiving electrical connection, 6000 Rs/ year to crores of farmers, helping pregnant lady with Rs 6000, Ayushman yojana benefiting 1 crore people till date, providing treatment up to Rs 5 lakh for free., Mudra loan benefiting to crores of small businessmen, helping various startups, DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) and many more…nothing wrong in expecting freebies from government but it has to keep the balanced approach which PM Modi is very well accomplishing it. I don’t want to go 100 years back but want to highlight what’s happening in front of our eyes, Venezuela, country which is gifted by nature with huge quantity of fuel reserves. What happened, socialist government, gave them too much of freebies, initially people enjoyed, became lazy, started importing most of the commodities. In few years, economy completely devastated, even to buy a chocolate, people need huge amount of money owing to huge depreciation of currency, even 2 times food is a big challenge for most of the people. So, we need to aware ourselves; freebies for few days or government helping us to stand on our own with self-esteem and long-term security. Everyone needs to rethink.

About 20 lakh crores package, the stimulus declared is 10% of our GDP, highest in the history. It is going to touch every individual directly or indirectly. MSME will be biggest beneficiary, this sector provides jobs to more than 13 crore people, it implies that it will take care of more than 50 crore Indians. When this sector picks up, inevitably, demand and supply chain will start benefiting other sectors as well. Support to poor and farmers is always on the top priority of Modi government. More reforms are being announced to help farmers, direct selling through E-NAM and other means so that they sell at MSP to get more money out of their hard work.

Few social media economists, comparing it with stimulus given by Trump administration. The population of USA is around 35 crores whereas we have crossed a figure of 130 crores. The statistics clearly shows that GDP of America in 2019 was 21.428 trillion Dollar whereas India had 3.202 Trillion Dollars. What it shows, India has almost 4 times more population than America but almost 7 times less GDP. Interesting point is, in 65 years, till 2014, our GDP was 2 Trillion Dollar, raised by 1 trillion dollars in 5years by Modi government. This fact needs to be appreciated by everyone.

I have a simple question to so called social media experts, why they were quiet before 2014 and never questioned previous governments, why even China is 5 times ahead than us?? Everyone has a right to criticize government and it has to be done consistently, however constructive criticism will help to grow our nation on all fronts. Regarding economy, request everyone to go through since 1947, then we will come to know what exactly went (right/wrong) over these years and then we will appreciate current governments policies and reforms, even today, lot of actions needs to be taken on various fronts, better we suggest government with effective suggestions and solutions needed to make our nation developed.

Pankaj Jagannath Jayswal
Author, Educationist, counsellor, AOL Faculty, Electrical Engineer.
Books releasing on 23rd May: Youth: Reflection of Universe in English and Hindi Yuva: Bramhand Ka Pratibimb

वट (सती) सावित्री के बहाने नारीवादी चर्चा

Meenakshi Dikshit
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वट (सती) सावित्री के बहाने नारीवादी चर्चा

वट सावित्री व्रत/पूजा भारत के भिन्न भिन्न प्रान्तों में ज्येष्ठ माह में की जाती है. वट वृक्ष की छाया में होने वाला यह व्रत सती सावित्री के आख्यान से जुड़ा है जिसका वर्णन महाभारत के वनपर्व में युधिष्ठिर –मार्कंडेय सम्वाद में आता है. काल की गति में बहते हुए वट सावित्री व्रत का महत्व विवाहित स्त्रियों द्वारा पति की दीर्घायु की कामना के व्रत के रूप में रह गया. वट वृक्ष के नीचे सावित्री की कथा बहती रही उसका मर्म खोता रहा.

बदलते परिवेश में नारीवाद ने पितृसत्तात्मक परम्पराओं का विरोध प्रारंभ किया. वट सावित्री जैसे पर्वों को पुरुष प्रधानता का द्योतक माना गया और तर्कों के साथ उन पर प्रहार किया गया. स्त्री ही क्यों पुरुष के लिए प्रार्थना/पूजा/व्रत/तपस्या करे? पुरुष क्यों नहीं? पुरुष के लिए ऐसे उपवास क्यों नहीं? बचपन से ही सती सावित्री को आदर्श बना कर स्त्री को मानसिक दासता में जकड़ना क्यों? क्या स्त्री को ही पुरुष के जीवन की आवयश्कता है, पुरुष को स्त्री के दीर्घायु होने की कोई कामना नहीं? इन तर्कों के प्रभाव में वटसावित्री जैसे पर्वों के लिए उत्सवधर्मिता कम होती गयी. उत्साह का स्थान पारिवारिक दबाव के कारण परम्परा पालन ने ले लिया. कोई भी पर्व, उत्सव, व्रत, पूजा, अनुष्ठान करना और उस पर विश्वास करना या न करना नितांत निजी निर्णय है अतः इस पर कोई प्रश्नचिन्ह या विवाद नहीं होना चाहिए.

बात करते हैं सावित्री की जिसे पितृसत्तात्मक परम्पराओं के विरोध का सर्वाधिक परिणाम भुगतना पड़ा. हम में से अधिकांश लोग पौराणिक चरित्रों के विषय में प्रायः उतना और वैसा ही जानते हैं जितना अपने आस-पास के लोगों से सुनते हैं. एक प्रतिशत लोग भी इन चरित्रों को मूल ग्रन्थ में जाकर स्वयं नहीं पढ़ते. काल के प्रवाह में “सावित्री” स्त्री की तेजस्विता के स्थान पर स्त्री की पराधीनता का प्रतीक हो गयी जिसकी एकमात्र पहचान उसका पति की सेवा करना था. वो एक निरीह स्त्री थी. पति से परे उसकी पहचान ही नहीं है. स्वाभाविक है स्त्री का यह रूप आज की नारी को स्वीकार्य नहीं है और ऐसी स्त्री को कोई भी अपना आदर्श क्यों मानेगा? सती सावित्री संबोधन सम्मान के स्थान पर उपहास का द्योतक हो गया.

आइये सावित्री की कथा को नवल दृष्टि से देखते हैं. राजा अश्वपति द्वारा अनेक वर्षों तक तपस्या किये जाने के वरदान स्वरुप सावित्री का जन्म हुआ था यानि सावित्री कोई अनचाही संतान नहीं थी अपितु वरदान रूप और वांछित थी. विवाह योग्य होने पर राजा ने उसे अपने वर का चुनाव करने के लिए यात्रा पर भेजा यानि सावित्री में इतना सामर्थ्य और विचारशीलता थी कि वो अपने वर का चयन कर सके. सावित्री को लकड़ी काट रहे सत्यवान से प्रेम हो गया और उसने सत्यवान को अपना वर चुन लिया. इसका राजा ने बहुत विरोध किया कहाँ एक राजकुमारी और कहाँ एक वन में निर्वाह करने वाला. सावित्री ने अपना निर्णय नहीं बदला यानि स्थापित सामाजिक रूढ़ि और भेद भाव को चुनौती दी. नारद मुनि ने कहा, सत्यवान की आयु में अब एक वर्ष ही शेष है सत्यवान से विवाह करने पर सावित्री को बड़ा आत्मिक दुःख और विरह झेलना होगा फिर ही सावित्री अडिग रही उसने निर्णय नहीं बदला यानि अपने प्रेम की रक्षा के लिए वो कैसी भी परिस्थितियों का सामना करने और अपने निर्णय का परिणाम स्वीकार करने को प्रस्तुत थी. विवाह करके वो सत्यवान के साथ वन को जाती है. एक वर्ष की अवधि पूर्ण होने पर लकड़ी काटते हुए सत्यवान के प्राण लेने हेतु यमराज आते हैं. उनके साथ सावित्री का लम्बा वार्तालाप होता है. उसकी बुद्धिमत्ता, तर्कशीलता और प्रेम से प्रभावित यमराज उसे वरदान मांगने को कहते हैं. वो पहले अपने श्वसुर और पिता के लिए उपयुक्त वर मांगती है फिर भी यमराज के पीछे चलती है और अन्ततः यमराज अनेक वरदानों के साथ सत्यवान के प्राण भी लौटा देते हैं सत्यवान पुनः जीवित हो जाते हैं यानि सावित्री में स्वयं यमराज से टकरा जाने का साहस भी था और विजयी होने का सामर्थ्य भी.

एक स्त्री जो अपने निर्णय लेने के लिए स्वतंत्र है, लिए गए निर्णय पर अडिग रहना जानती है, निर्णय का कुछ भी परिणाम हो उसे स्वीकार करने के लिए प्रस्तुत है, अपने प्रेम के लिए राजमहल को त्याग वन को जा सकती है, अपने प्रिय की प्राणरक्षा के लिए सीधे यमराज से टकराने का साहस और विजयी होने का सामर्थ्य रखती है क्या वो स्त्री निरीह या अबला हो सकती है? क्या वो स्त्री मात्र पितृ सत्तात्मक समाज का प्रतीक है? क्या वह स्त्री आज की स्त्री में मानसिक दासता का बीज बो सकती है? कोई वट सावित्री व्रत को स्वीकार करे या अस्वीकार ये निजी निर्णय है किन्तु सावित्री को स्त्री दासता और निरीहता का प्रतीक न कहें वो भारत के स्त्री समाज का तेजवान पुंज है.

Influence of KGB in independent India

Jay Kholiya.
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Influence of KGB in independent India

Vasili Mitrokhin was a senior officer in Soviet Intelligence between 1948- 1984. He defected and filtrated into Britain in the year 1992. From around 1972-1984, he was in the Archives section and he used to smuggle some of the other documents during his lifetime on each day. He used to scribble and keep it under his boots, around 12,000 documents were then accumulated till his last days. He then brought it to England and the Authored many books, Mitrokhin Archives-I and II are one of them. It exposed the secret KGB operations in all the countries of the world.

During the Nehru era, the IB intercepted much correspondence from Moscow to CPI. Moscow many times proposed that the Moderate Nehru government should be overthrown and the CPI should form a government. But the IB and Nehru thought that only the correspondence was sent, no one knew that the Indian embassy was heavily penetrated by the KGB. The methods of Honeytrap were used in most of the cases. Indian Diplomate codenamed PROKHOR was then recruited, Female swallow NEVEROVA had seduced him. He provided huge amounts of intel, embassy codebooks and deciphering tables were also provided twice. Indian information was heavily infiltrated by the soviet during that time. It was sort of a game, KGB penetrating into IB and IB into CPI, and CPI into KGB. Kruschev was much pleased due to the Intel the KGB was providing. 

During that time India and Pakistan’s relations were very fragile, and also the American support to them made India rely on Soviet union- America opponent. That time India was also leading the Non-aligned movement and the support of non-aligned to USSR lobbying by India led to the growth of the relations between them.

The then Minister of Defense was Krishna Menon, he was a diplomat and had strong connections and friendly relations with Soviet. Therefore the Soviets made the PR of Menon strong and tried to make him a great figure in public, so if he then became something more powerfully they can use him. Khrushchev personally instructed the Delhi-based KGB operatives and their moles to set his PR. It was during his tenure, India received Arms from Ussr instead of the West. They also made the decision to buy MIG-21 instead of British Lightings. Soon due to China’s invasion in India, he was made a scapegoat due to his friendliness with Socialist nations and he was then dismissed on Oct 1962. Though Moscow though that he can be made independently a face, but due to his most of the life outside India and not knowing Hindi or other regional languages he was of no use to the public life. Congress did not nominate him in the 1967 elections, he lost as independent and then 2 years later with CPI’s support he was won. his campaign was funded by KGB and also the Problems he stated came from the soviet.

After Nehru’s death, it was time for Moscow to think and lobby for the successor. Candidates were Nanda and Shastri. Though Nanda was closest as compared to Shastri, the successor was Shastri. But KGB failed to persuade both. In 1966 he died, though some filmmakers made a story that his death was a spy mission, but who can dare to kill a prime minister of any nation. Also the Mitrokhin archives have no statement of this kind. After his death, Indira Gandhi was made his successor. she KGB code-named her as VANO- there have been many stories as she was a spy, no she wasn’t a spy she was only code-named so no one knows if the message is interpreted by other agencies. Also during his father’s premiership, she flew to a trip to Russia when she was escorted she also holidayed at Black sea and was gifted Mink Coat by Khruschev.

When she was made Prime minster, Moscow during the early stages underestimated her. Also the strategy in 1966 elections was to organize the Left-alliance against Congress-Indira. Also there have been many findings to some Congressman’s, codenamed ABAD meaning powerful and influential. The loss of the election by S.K. Patil and his anti-communist program was heavily orchestrated by KGB. They forged many documents ranging from US consulate to may diplomatic letters, this also caused Congress to loss of 21 seats in that elections. In 1969 she had nationalized banks and sought the help of Left alliance with the support of Moscow. In 1975 emergency was declared and Indira lost her glory for a short period. After that the party was divided into two- Congress-I and Congress Syndicate. Inder Malhotra also cited that reign is like a courtier culture. Indira Gandhi was famous in soviet also, many parents named her daughters as Indira.

Pakistan’s defeat in the India-Pakistan war and also in spite of the Diplomatic support of the USA and China could not do anything, made a sign of happiness in India and well soviet because the USA and China also saw the sign of defeat. That time the Infiltration of Soviet diplomats and Agents in India was the highest, they were everywhere also they planted around 5,000 news articles and many demonstrations organized indirectly by KGB. Though the CIA was also responsible in many ways, it wasn’t exposed with proof like KGB did. Many stories of CIA funding the insurgency in the northeast by Christian missionaries as known.

In an interview with ex-RAW chief Vikram Sood, he cited that a successful mission and a successful agent is never known to any. The mission is unsuccessful it is exposed to the outer public. Unlike movies the agents don’t perform like James Bond. They always have a cover post, meaning attached to Diplomatic High Commission and also they have immunity which they cannot be arrested in other nations. Though the intelligence and operations are done mostly by paid agents and the moles. There have been many operations and agents which are not known and will not be known to anybody except the one who has military clearance to know.

The most patriotic person ever is the agents working for the intelligence, they spend their whole life on the service of the nation without any family or smooth life. Some day a covert operative in the Hottest deserts of Sahara, another day the coldest Siberian regions. One cannot sleep during the night, one cannot eat peacefully- always there has been a danger of their lives if they are not covered by their diplomatic immunity. If anyone is caught, one mostly cleared all his work and he kills, and the Nation which recruits him to avoid any war-like situations never accept that the agent was his recruit. They live just with us but we won’t ever know they are not one of us.

Spread of political virus in Gujarat by Congress?

Shalav Majmudar
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Spread of political virus in Gujarat by Congress?

When India and entire nation and world is fighting against the deadly virus, it’s a matter of shame that many political parties and their leaders are using this situation as an OPPORTUNITY to make base again in Gujarat state after being in opposition for more than 24 years. In this very situation when it is needed for entire nation to stand united why is Gujarat based Congress unit trying to USE this time period for political gains and dirty vote bank?

After the first case of COVID-19 which was detected on the month of March Gujarat congress unit along with all India congress made an attempt to show baseless links between the COVID-19 case and Namaste Trump event which held in Ahmedabad, which made the friendship of India US unbreakable, moreover the event was in the month of February and cases were detected in March and patients were having travel history of UK.

After this failed attempt by Gujarat congress other dirty statements were made by congress leaders wherein they tried to show communal biasness from doctors side in treating the patient, which according to me is worst thing any political party and political leader would do. But yes Gujarat Congress went too low to seek vote bank, yet this time the unity of Gujarat’s stood strong so entire credit goes to citizens of Gujarat for maintain peace, but this attempt of Gujarat congress was worst of all times. 

It is interesting to note that on another side Prime Minister Modi and BJP Chief JP Nadda has instructed party workers/leaders to do “jan seva” by giving ration, food to the needy and helping them in all possible manner. Further more Chief Minister of Gujarat Vijay Rupani made sure that on 1st May which is foundation day of Gujarat, every gujarat citizen would take 3 pledges which are

  • I won’t step out of my house without wearing mask 
  • I won’t forget to keep social distance, and principal of “Doo Gaj ki dori” 
  • I will wash my hands regularly and keep sensitizing my hands. 

There are the 3 pledges on which Chief Minister of Gujarat stressed upon. It is clearly visible that where Gujarat government, BJP Gujarat were trying to help it’s citizens in best possible manner and Congress was trying hard to create divisions as much as possible and use this circumstances. There has been regular appeals from Chief minister Vijay Rupani to make public aware that how dangerous this virus is so keeping social distance is a national service and the attempts to start protest by Gujarat Congress are still continuing with new topic everyday in order to divert government’s attention from public service and public awareness to these dirty things. But it seems as if the goal of Gujarat Government to do public service is not hindered by these. More over Gujarat government has also started a campaign called “HUN PAN CORONA WARRIOR” meaning “i am also a corona warrior” the campaign has taken great speed for public awareness.

Its an appeal to each and every political leader to come together in this situation and not to use this as an opportunity to do dirty politics. 

“United we stand, divided we fall”

वंदे मातरम। 

राजीव गाँधी को मोबाईल क्रांति का जनक कहना ठीक नहीं

Rohit Kumar
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राजीव गाँधी को मोबाईल क्रांति का जनक कहना ठीक नहीं

आज देशके पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री स्वर्गीय राजीव गाँधी जी को याद करते हुए उन्हें डिजिटल दूत, मोबाईल क्रांति के जनक आदि कहे जा रहा है. इसमें कितनी सच्चाई है.

हालांकि इस बात में कोई संदेह नहीं है कि टेलीकॉम क्षेत्र में भारत का स्थान इसकी सफ़लता की कहानी का ही उदाहरण है क्योंकि सस्ते मोबाइल संपर्क के कारण भी घरेलू निर्माण क्षेत्र में गुणात्मक बदलाव देखने को मिला. चुकि ऐसे सफलतम प्रयोग कम ही देखने को मिलते हैं, इसलिए इसके इतिहास को खंगालना और उससे सीख लेना आवश्यक हो जाता है.

टेलीकॉम क्षेत्र की सफ़लता के लिए दो तथ्य निर्विवाद रूप से सत्य हैं – पहला, इस क्षेत्र के विकास को निजी कंपनियों द्वारा बल मिला ना कि किसी सरकारी कंपनी या सरकार द्वारा. और दूसरा, इस क्षेत्र में गुणात्मक परिवर्तन मोबाइल कनेक्सन के कारण मिला ना कि लैंड लाइन या पिसियो (PCO) बूथ के कारण.

3 मार्च 1999 को भारत सरकार द्वारा घोषित नयी दूरसंचार नीति कुछ तथ्यों को उजागर करती है.

1999 में भारत में करीब 10 लाख मोबाइल फ़ोन के ग्राहक थे. मतलब 1989 में जब राजीव गाँधी ने प्रधानमंत्री पद छोड़ा और जिसके 8 वर्ष बाद सैम पित्रोदा अमेरिका चले गये, फिर राजीव गाँधी की हत्या हुयी, इस बीच 10 वर्षों में मोबाईल फ़ोन का घनत्व प्रति सौ व्यक्ति पर 0.6 (1989) से बढ़ कर 2.8 (1999) हो गया. एक दशक कम नहीं होते, क्या इतने लम्बे समय के बाद आये इस मामूली बदलाव को क्रांति का दर्जा देना ठीक होगा? और फिर ये कहना कि राजीव गाँधी ‘डिजिटल दूत’ थे?

ओक्टुबर 2012 के आकडे के अनुसार, भारत में लगभग 70 कड़ोर सक्रीय मोबाइल उपभोक्ता थे. इस तरह देखा जा सकता है कि जो आकड़ा 1999 में 3% भी नहीं था वो 2012 में करीब 56% हो गया था, जो कि किसी विकसित देश के बराबर था.

1999 की नयी दूर संचार नीति के लिए यह लक्ष्य 2010 तक के लिए 15% रखा गया था, जाहिर है कि इस नयी नीति ने लक्ष्य से बढ़ कर नयी ऊँचाइयों को छुआ. तो क्या इस बीच जो भी सरकारें या नीति रही उसे श्रेय देना ठीक होगा?

2009 में आइडिया सेल्लुलर के तत्कालीन नियंत्रक निर्देशक संजीव आगा ने भी 1999 की नयी दूरसंचार नीति को मील का पत्थर कहा था. उन्होंने उस वक्त 10 वर्ष पुराने हो चुके नीति के बारे में कहा, ” जब मैं इसे आज भी पढता हूँ तो यह समकालीन और व्यापक लगता है.”

कोलंबिया विश्वविद्यालय के प्रोफ़ेसर, अरविन्द पान्गारिया ने अपनी किताब ‘इंडिया- द इमर्जिंग जायंट’ में भी उस नयी नीति को टेलीकॉम सेक्टर के उत्प्रेरण का कारण बताया. पान्गारिया लिखते हैं कि यह नीतिगत सुधार अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी के नेतृत्व में 1999 में हुआ, जिसमें नीति निर्माण और सेवा कार्य को पृथक करने का महत्वपूर्ण फ़ैसला लिया गया. और 1 ओक्टुबर 2000 को भारत संचार निगम लिमिटेड(बीएसएनएल) के आधारशिला के साथ पूर्ण हुआ. इस तरह टेलीकॉम क्षेत्र को सामान्य हितों के टकराव से दूर कर राजनीतिक प्रभाव से भी मुक्त किया गया.

वाजपेयी, जिन्होंने उस वक्त टेलीकॉम मंत्रालय अपने पास रखा, उन्होंने बीएसएनएल के निगमीकरण का करा फ़ैसला लिया. पान्गारिया लिखते हैं कि प्रधानमंत्री ने गहरे संरचनात्मक सुधार के लिए व्यक्तिगत हस्तक्षेप किया. यह सब कोई सामान्य कार्य नहीं था क्योंकि दूरसंचार विभाग के 4 लाख कर्मचारियों ने वाजपेयी के फ़ैसले के विरोध में धरना प्रदर्शन किया था. हालांकि वाजपेयी सरकार ने कर्मचरियों के सभी मांगों को तो मान लिया था पर नीति निर्माण को सेवा के प्रावधान से अलग करना और निगमीकरण जैसे मूलभूत फैसलों पर वो अडिग रहे. इसके अलावा दूरसंचार विवाद निपटान अपीलीय न्यायाधिकरण की स्थापना कर उन्होंने नियामक और विवाद से जुड़े मामलों को भी पृथक कर दिया.

इन सुधारों से पहले दूरसंचार विभाग ही नीति निर्धारण करता था, संचार सेवा प्रदान करता था और फिर विवादों का निपटान भी. हितों के टकराव के ऐसे भयावह उदहारण वाजपेयी सरकार से पहले आई सरकारों के अकर्मण्यता का ही उदाहरण है.

नई नीति के अनुसार सरकार द्वारा राजस्व साझा करने के साथ ही अग्रिम लाइसेंस शुल्क को कम किया गया. उस समय मीडिया ने वाजपेयी का खूब गुर्दा मर्दन किया. फ्रंटलाइन पत्रिका ने वाजपेयी को नए मानकों के अनौचित्य के लिए वाजपेयी को दोषी ठहराया. जबकि आउटलुक पत्रिका ने इसे वाजपेयी द्वारा किये जा रहे वित्तीय घोटाले पर पर्दा डालने का एक कदम करार दिया.

15 अगस्त 2000 को दूरसंचार क्षेत्र में असीमित प्रतियोगिता के नये दौर की शुरुआत हुई. यहाँ यह भी बताना महत्वपूर्ण हैं कि 2000 इस्वी के वित्तीय बजट में मोबाइल हैंडसेट पर आयात कर को 25% से घटा कर 5% कर दिया गया. इस तरह 1 अप्रैल 2002 को विदेश संचार सेवा से विदेश संचार निगम लिमिटेड(VSNL) का एकाधिकार ख़त्म हुआ. पान्गारिया अपनी किताब में आकड़ों और तथ्यों के माध्यम से वाजपेयी को इस क्रांति का श्रेय देते हैं.

पान्गारिया द्वारा प्रस्तुत तथ्य के अनुसार राजीव गाँधी के सहयोगी, सिम पित्रोदा तो 1987 में मोबाइल फोन के भारत आने की राह में रोड़ा बन गये थे. पहले जब 1984 में, दूरसंचार विभाग को विश्वबैंक द्वारा बॉम्बे में सेल्लुलर नेटवर्क लगाने के लिए फण्ड मिले थे, जिसका ठेका स्वीडेन की एरिक्सन नामक कंपनी को मिला था. उस समय पित्रोदा ने मीडिया में इस कदम को यह कहते हुए ‘अश्लील’ करार दिया इस देश में जहाँ एक ओर लोग भुखमरी का शिकार थे, वहां ऐसे मोबाइल फ़ोन की क्या जरुरत थी. उस वक्त पित्रोदा इंदिरा गाँधी द्वारा बनाये गये टेलीमिटीक्स विकास केंद्र का नेतृत्व कर रहे थे. पित्रोदा के हस्तक्षेप ने इस मुद्दे को राजीव गाँधी तक पहुंचा दिया, जिन्होंने इस बात पर चिंतन किया कि भारत की पहली सेलुलर फोन नेटवर्क कैसी हो? लेकिन पित्रोदा को डर था कि मोबाइल फोन नेटवर्क आते ही कहीं टेलीमिटीक्स विकास केंद्र में चल रहा उनका ‘कार-बार’ प्रभावित ना हो जाये. इसलिए उन्होंने भारत में मोबाइल की संख्या ना बढे इसके लिए हर संभव प्रयास किया.

आकड़ों के आनुसार पित्रोदा ने टेलीमिटीक्स विकास केंद्र के माध्यम से स्वदेशी मोबाइल बनाने की रणनीति बनाई, जो असफ़ल रही. फिर पित्रोदा 2004 को भारत लौटे, जब कोंग्रेस की अगुआई में संप्रग ने केंद्र में सरकार बनाई.

परिणाम अपनी सच्चाई खुद बयां करते हैं कि राजीव गाँधी और पित्रोदा ने, संचार विभाग के साथ मिल कर स्वदेशी टेक्नोलोजी की मदद से मोबाइल की उस मांग को पूरा करने में असफ़ल रहे जिसे पूरा करने वाजपेयी सरकार ने नीति निर्धारण के साथ-साथ एक ऐसा माहौल भी बनाया जिसमें राज्य की भूमिका को कम कर उद्यमियों के लिए रास्ता निकाला जा सके. कहा जा सकता कि पहले जहाँ राज्य के स्वामित्व वाले स्वदेशी हथकंडों को अपनाया गया वहीँ बाद में इस क्षेत्र को प्रतिस्पर्धा और उद्यमिता के लिए खुला छोड़ दिया गया.

भारत के टेलीकॉम की कहानी इस बात का जीता जागता उदहारण है कि कैसे स्पष्ट नीति निर्धारण, राजीनीतिक इच्छाशक्ति और लोक-उद्यमिता तश्वीर को बदल सकती है.

टेलीकॉम के क्षेत्र में आये इस बदलाव सीख लेते हुए, यदि कृषि, खनन, रक्षा, शक्ति, बंदरगाह और बैंकिंग के क्षेत्र में सरकार के हस्तक्षेप और सरकारी स्वामित्व को कम किया जाय तो इन क्षेत्रों में भी आशातीत सफ़लता मिल सकती है. हाल के वर्षों में रक्षा क्षेत्र में इस तरह के समझौते सामने आये, जब राफेल खरीद में कई प्राइवेट प्लेयर/कमपनियों को साथ लिया गया.

‘राजीव गाँधी, भारत के संचार क्रांति में क्रांति के जनक थे’, इस बात में उतनी ही सच्चाई जितना सोनिया गाँधी के भारतीय होने में.

Life after Covid-19 in India

Jay Kholiya.
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Life after Covid-19 in India

While the Crisis too had divided the Indian society into the rich urban who somewhat enjoyed the lockdown and had made use of it by reading books, watching web series on Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc. While the rural labour had spent the days mourning the work gap and thinking about what next? How to feed and what to feed! The main problem arose was the migration as there were no more jobs left, and as no jobs no wage, no wage caused no food, and no food brought them to leave their Urban centers and made them go towards their homes, away from the cities from where they were born and grown, while many had a piece of land enough to sustain them for food, but the cause of earning money rather than just filling their stomach brought them to cities.

Post-catastrophic conditions brought many changes into the various societies, an example of Britain Society after the war. Though the War had made Britain somewhat a modern entity, the current condition is of another nature. The Huge loss of lives around 3,435 as of 21st May has made a big change, the death just not affect the deceased but it affects their families and loves ones. Imagine the emotional trauma on families, friends, colleagues of 3,435 which will affect their whole future lives.

The origin of the virus has made many conspiracy theories like the CIA and Communist China’s influence of it, although while some backs the origin nation due to their ideological connection and their “so called racism” theory in stating the calling of Wuhan Virus as racism. While some left activists had been notorious all around the globe in protecting the racist nature of calling the virus by their home name, in spite of the deaths and problems that occurred by them.

The main problem in India, now and after will be the lower-middle class and the middle class; mainly the daily wagers who had the nature of earning by the day and eating by the day. “The lockdown in India has impacted the livelihoods of a large proportion of the country’s nearly 40 million internal migrants. Around 50,000–60,000 moved from urban centers to rural areas of origin in the span of a few days,” World Bank said in a report. Although it may somewhat lead to employment opportunities in some highly-populated areas, it may lead to unemployment in other areas, also an employment gap of skilled labours who moved towards their homes and the cities which needed them most, now lacks it. The gap may lead to demand-supply crises and thus may lead to high-prices and more poverty.

Notwithstanding these situations, the labourers in fear of the future lack of resources moved to their homes, they may have other opportunities in the fields of rural occupations. Farming, fishing, and other occupations which they left to their previous generations, the crisis may get them towards these occupations. While the land-less ones have again to move towards the urban centers again in need of Employments. There can be an increase in rates of suicides post-lockdown. While the urban millenials learned by the new technology of online-learning and some have found their future interests, there has been an increase in the psychological stress and conditions during the lockdown.

The Indian, as well as the whole global society will never be the same as it used to be. The examples of the partition movement as well as the pre-post environments during the world wars have shown that the situations will never be the same. From labourers to the upper-class millenials, all have been affected due to the crisis, physically and emotionally. The cities will be having the hustle-bustle, but it will never be the same, while some will return, but what about those who cryingly left saying I’ll never return to these cities, the colleagues will miss the company of those who were affected by the virus and now are dead, the wives will remember the taunts of their husbands towards their in-laws, (a somewhat culture in Indian society), the children will remember their parents and the parents will remember their children, all had someone to remember and thus we will leave towards a new India while grieving towards the one who left us.

A conversation between me and an ecosystem activist

Samved Iyer
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A conversation between me and an ecosystem activist

Me: There are civilizational threats to the Hindu society and India. Rajiv Malhotra and Aravindan Neelakandan’s book “Breaking India” makes it alarmingly lucid.

The Other: This is merely a brawl amongst religions. We must look forward and not cling to our past.

Me: If you are so forward-looking, you must surely possess the foresight to understand that this civilizational battle is a battle of ideologies. These global threats to the Hindus also provide intellectual cover for the Naxalites. Surely, you are far-sighted enough to understand that employing paramilitary force can merely reduce their manpower but not weed out their ideology. Surely, you possess logic enough to understand that only a potent ideology can counter another ideology. So, that is what Hindutva seeks to achieve: a potent ideology against these pernicious forces. I do not see the reason for controversy!

The Other: But what if there is truth in what these “pernicious forces” propagate?

Me: But what if there is truth in what I say? The ancients said that there is one truth but the wise call it by many names. That our egalitarian society did deteriorate is truth. But that the same society produced reformers is also truth. The question is, “Which truth is most apt in the circumstances?” Is it not the truth that the present-day society is one of sovereign nation-states? If yes, why is it that foreigners are so interested in eradication of social evils in India? Do they believe that Indians cannot do so themselves? If so, how did India produce men like Jyotirao Phule and Ambedkar?

The Other: But Ambedkar was enlightened by education abroad, and he attacked Hinduism throughout his life.

Me: But Ambedkar did not need education abroad to understand that the caste system was evil. He understood it since his childhood. He received education to equip himself with the skills to emancipate the depressed classes. Also, that he attacked Hinduism is not in dispute. But if he was such an avowed hater of Hinduism as a whole and not merely the evils thereof, how is it that his biography by Dhananjay Keer mentions Ambedkar using examples from the Mahabharata to motivate the depressed classes in his speeches? Modern Hindutva also seeks a total eradication of the caste system the way he did. Do you see why proponents of Hindutva revere Ambedkar?

The Other: But that amounts to his appropriation!

Me: The idea most dear to Hindutva is the cultural unity of India. Ambedkar reiterated the same. In his paper that he presented at the Columbia University, he details out the cultural unity of India. According to him, India possessed a “deeper and a much more fundamental unity – the indubitable cultural unity that covers the land from end to end.” He says that spirituality is the binding fabric of this nation. What is it that proponents of Hindutva say that is radically different from this? That he did not hate adherents of Hindu consolidation is proven by the fact that he appointed a man affiliated with the RSS as his election agent. Also, how is it that Ambedkar recommended that Upanishads could be looked to for democratic principles? He wrote: “To support democracy because we are all children of God is a very weak foundation for democracy to rest on. That is why democracy is so shaky wherever it made to rest on such a foundation. But to recognize and realize that you and I are parts of the same cosmic principle leaves room for no other theory of associated life except democracy. It does not merely preach democracy. It makes democracy an obligation of one and all.” Much as you may not want to admit, Ambedkar’s thoughts are in near-perfect conformity with modern Hindutva.

The Other: But Ambedkar clearly did not share the views of Hindutva proponents so far as the divinity of cow is concerned.

Me: Savarkar, too, did not share it. A cow being divine is a theological construct. I think I have made it clear that modern Hindutva is about considering cow a utilitarian animal and not a divine one, and that it is not confined to theology. Hindus themselves are divided and do not share a unanimous view on the topic. Again, I see no reason controversy.

The Other: But what about his statements about Hinduism not being in conformity in democracy and other such bitter remarks by him?

Me: He was right. Hinduism, deteriorated by the caste system, could never adapt itself to democracy. Modern Hindutva seeks to eradicate the evils. I again see no reason for controversy.

The Other: But declaring India a Hindu Rashtra would be unconstitutional, because Article 1 of the Constitution begins with “India, that is Bharat” and the Preamble states that it shall be a secular nation. Theocracy can never co-exist with secularism.

Me: Who said that Hindu Rashtra would be a theocratic state? Did anyone ever say that Hinduism would be the state religion of such a Rashtra? Do any of the intellectual proponents of Hindutva say so? Do not include inconsequential statements from an MLA here or an MLA there, for such would be innately political with little substance. The question is, “has any such intent been shown by the government?” Was not one of the earliest decisions by the Narendra Modi 2.0 government pertinent to minority welfare? Did I not say that Hindutva is not solely about theology, and that worship is an individual choice? Why would then proponents of Hindutva ever amend the basic structure of the Constitution? Hindu Rashtra is merely an ideal.

The Other: But what about the fact that it may alienate other communities?

Me: If it is so alienating to other communities, how is it that intellectuals like Shehzad Poonawalla sympathize with the Hindus? How is it that Arif Mohammad Khan sympathizes with the Hindus? It may be a start and a feeble one at that, but should this trend continue, I see no reason why Muslims would not support this endeavour. The same applies to Christians. Look at Savio Rodrigues, the founder and editor-in-chief of the Goa Chronicle. Again, a feeble start probably, but a start nonetheless.

The Other: Another question. We know that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a very secular king. He had Muslims serving in his army. Why is it that Hindutva proponents have appropriated him as a Hindutva icon?

Me: Well? Is it not a fact that he fought against the imposition of Islam by the Mughals? Did he fight merely for freeing India from the Mughal rule? The Marathas also liberated temples from the Islamic yoke. Also remember that the principle he fought for was Hindavi Swarajya, which literally translates to Hindu self-rule. True that he did not mean it exclusively for Hindus. Now, merely because Muslims served in his army, he did not introduce Muslim reservation for propitiation. These are the precise principles of the proponents of Hindutva today. Their conception of India is not based on religion, but on culture. And culture is more than theology. Their motto is, “development for all, appeasement to none.” They, too, are not in favour of theological diktats, if any, guiding affairs of the State. No wonder they find Shivaji very close to their conception. Again, I see no reason for controversy.

I hope this imaginary conversation has brought to light the contours of the Hindutva thought.

Indian Army reconstructed dilapidated house of War Veteran, family of veteran thanked Army with moist eyes

mirarif111
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Indian Army reconstructed dilapidated house of War Veteran, family of veteran thanked Army with moist eyes

Kashmir: In furtherance of it’s efforts in helping a 1962 war veteran of Khamoh village in Rafiabad, 32RR has reconstructed the dilapidated house of Sep (Retd) Mir Wali Khan, who was living a life of destitute due to extreme poverty.

Army’s 32 RR first provided monetary support and essential commodities to the family of war veteran to save them from the abject poverty soon after they got input about the family of war veteran who were living destitute lives due to financial constraints and later Army’s 32 RR built a new house for War Veteran Mir Wali Khan in Khahmoh Rafiabad.

House of the war veteran Mir Wali Khan that Indian Army constructed

Army’s 32 RR contributed money and physical labour and raw material towards building their house and in addition to this essential commodities and monetary support was also provided to war veteran before reconstructing his house which had collapsed few days back due to landslides and incessant rains. Rafiabad Army 32 RR knew they had to help the family of War Veteran Mir Wali Khan at Khahamoh Rafiabad as soon as they heard about them.

The house was built under a unique people-friendly gesture that aims to help those in need living under each Army zone of 32 RR. For instance, under this gesture the Rafiabad Army look out for elderly people and veterans living alone or people living in houses with thatched roofs – homes that lack security and basic facilities.

The family of War Veteran Mir Wali Khan consists of four members among them two sons of Mir Wali Khan are mentally retarded and they survive on the meagre income the man makes as a pensioner. He isn’t healthy enough to go to work every day. His wife can’t work either and his children, two sons are mentally retarded.

“The land they live on was prone to landslides and soil erosion so there was nothing on the plot which can be described as a house. Some rusted tin sheets and deteriorated wooden logs were used to make the walls and roof. By building a house, we hope to change their living conditions and thus, their life,” told a Senior Army official.

War Veteran Mir Wali Khan and his relatives while talking appreciated the efforts of 32 RR of Indian Army and thanked the 32 Rashtriya Rifles with moist eyes for its benevolence and told that today Army has proved that “Service to humankind is Service to God”.

Meanwhile Army is conducting various activities under Sadbhavana (goodwill) in Jammu and Kashmir and reaching out to the local populace to mitigate their sufferings and help them overcome problems and the people are very appreciative of the efforts of the Army, whether it is medical camps, sports, education, awareness, skill development or organising events to strengthen communal harmony.

A simple solution to the ‘migrant workers’ crisis

kautilyabhaskar
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A simple solution to the ‘migrant workers’ crisis

Clearly, some opposition parties ruling some States are playing politics of various hues at the cost of human lives. There are perceptions that sections of media are in cahoots are with them. Irrespective it is the regime ruling at the centre at whose door the buck passing shall end. The credit or discredit will go to it.

The manner in which from time to time crowds of migrant workers gathered in Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad in response to fake news and continues to do, must cause grave anxiety to the ruling dispensation at the centre.

The frantic bid on the part of the migrant workers to return home in extreme hurry as if there is ‘no tomorrow’ continues despite the following facts:

(a) the centre agreed to feed 80 crore poor including the migrant workers for another 2 months; (b) the Indian Rail agreed to bear 85% of the train fare for carrying them back to their home States;  and (c) the MHA recently assured that Shramik Special Trains can carry them back to their home without consent from their home States. Chaos, confusion and panic are still pervasive. Alongside, some political parties continue to fish in troubled waters without pangs of slightest conscience!

Is there no way to give the migrant workers calm assurance so that they can wait patiently wait for their turn? Here are some suggestions:

The most useful help can come from the most ubiquitous communication device that is available to every migrant worker. It is nothing but ‘mobile’. This can be used in the present crisis in extremely useful manner such as below:

A brief simple mobile app in English, Hindi and few vernacular languages can be made available to every migrant worker intending to return home for registration purpose. This may be accomplished even without an ‘app’ through SMS to a special purpose dedicated number from feature phone.  He or she may be required to submit few essential info like:

(1) Name/s of self & family members (2) Present address (3) Code/ Identification No of ration shop nearest to their current residence  (4) Home State address

In reply a system generated response cum acknowledgement can be sent to the worker giving a unique serial number and a provisional date when the concerned worker will be called to fill in travel form. Calling the migrant workers to designated offices can be done in an orderly way keeping in view the social distancing norms. The current status of an applicant (through mobile) should be verifiable in a designated website to ensure complete transparency.

Keeping in view the reluctance of a few States to take back their own people which is bound to disrupt the return of the migrant workers, the Centre may for the time being bear 100% of the ticket cost and later on deduct the State’s part from the fund that Centre makes available to the concerned State.

Most migrant workers are detained at States in economically developed States such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka, Delhi etc.  Till the time individual migrants undertake travel, these States may be trusted with making available the necessary food items to these workers through the concerned ration shops. For this purpose, the unique serial numbers issued to the migrant workers in course of registration through mobile phones may be made use of.  

It is quite possible that resorting to such an arrangement might result in some misuse or leakages. But that can be considered as small for attaining a much greater national purpose.

There will remain another mammoth challenge of course. That is about quarantining the migrant in their home states for specified period. It is of course a matter of duty for the States and the Centre must render help. However, this is clearly another part.

Unless the present and immediate challenge is met upfront with alacrity, the nexus of opposition and section of media will step up politicization of migrant workers. Queer things are happening these days. For example, there were reports recently of survivors of a ‘crash’ saying that the police in Rajasthan had made them (migrant workers) disembark buses and climb on truck that eventually met with accidents and resulted in the death of a few inside UP. On the other hand, an offer came from the party ruling the same very State (Rajasthan) offering thousand buses to the government of UP for ferrying migrant workers! It is clear unless hideous politicking about such a serious issue stops forthwith, the nation is bound to countenance much greater tragedies. Solution there must be and that as fast as possible!  

Mobile as a communication device has done many a wonder in many countries in resolving crisis situation. Here is an opportunity to put India’s tremendous success in the spread of mobile telephony for resolving a humongous humanitarian problem. Finally, giving widest media coverage to such a scheme as above can immediately put millions of migrant workers at ease. It will also end the diabolical scheme by some opposition parties to play inhuman politics with their lives.    

Abuser friendly applications decaying techno- savvy Ggeneration

Dr. Sneha Gupta
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Abuser friendly applications decaying techno- savvy Ggeneration

Why is it always easy to target a woman? Why all abusive words belong to the feminine gender irrespective of the language used? Why the most beautiful creation of nature that carries life within her for nine months has become a tool for amusement. She has become a pawn to attack cultural and religious differences and spread social hatred (the most common one these days)?.

With exceptional progress in technology we are now in the digital age, abuse on women has also transformed with the advancement in technology. Nowadays women are abused, teased, and humiliated virtually across the world with an unprecedented speed and on a much larger gamut. The competition of making vulgar videos and posting obscene pictures on social media platforms has become a time pass activity for the tech-savvy younger generation. Ironically many times girls/women themselves can be seen as a part of such videos dispersing vulgar content, promoting inter-religion love affairs, rape, child abuse, or even acid attacks. The more obscene and smutty content the lesser time it takes to get spread on the plethora of media platforms available.

The situation is getting out of control, it’s not just confined to making jokes on wives and being sarcastic on women but lines of civility and humility are being crossed by far. Today even girls seem to have become insensitive towards their self-respect. I remember, recently a video influencer posted a video of a demonstration of an acid attack on his girlfriend after being rejected, astonishingly he has more than 12 million followers on different platforms, after great hue and cry on the social media, the matter reached to National Commission of Women, and his account got suspended. In another case two teenage boys trying to showcase their masculinity posted a role play videos on rape where a teenage girl was playing the role of a victim. There are huge numbers of likewise influencers on social media platforms and we have witnessed several mishappenings in the last few months due to the virtual misadventure of youngsters as “bois locker room” on a social media platform that took the life of a boy is another recent example.

Again the question comes to the mind, where are we heading towards as a society? The mindset of those people who enjoy creating and circulating content full of hatred, abuse, vulgarity, and what not for their personal gain or pleasure is a matter which points out towards a sick social mindset. What should worry us more is that women are becoming soft targets for such abuse and we find ourselves very indefensible to resist or counter. We are aware of the fact that only after receiving several complaints against the miscreants on social media their accounts get suspended and rarely the culprits get sacked or adequately punished, resultantly, the numbers incidents of misusing social media are mushrooming day by day.

However we have Cyber Laws in India that prevent crime done using technology, supervise the digital circulation of information, software information security, etc under the Information Technology Act, 2000 but the damage control of the dignity after spreading such toxic digital contents in the public domain is irreparable.

Blocking or suspending the source of such circulation is not the solution. The situation is graver than we perceive. Yes, it is crucial to catch hold of and punish individuals creating and circulating such nuisance, but on the same hand big brands and organizations providing such social platforms should be made accountable for and penalized when guilty. There have to be stricter regulations and controls for these social platforms to function. These should be firm regulations for these platforms to verify the legitimacy of the individual opening an account on their platform so that no one dares to conceal his/her identity and create a dummy account to keep on flushing all the dump. Why not there be a regulatory body for each of these platforms which verifies each and every post and restricts the circulation of offensive material and can be held responsible if anything bizarre is posted and shared.

What is more surprising is that we are known in the world for our dominance in information technology, yet we are dependent on foreign media platforms. These platforms have many times run their hidden agenda to demean India and its values and culture.

We have a glorious history where women were empowered, well educated, valiant and judicious ruler. The glory seems to have lost because the generations coming in are not being nurtured to imbibe in themselves the values, ethics, and ethos of this great nation. The education system requires an overhaul and review, it seems to be lacking in providing the right mix of intellect and morals.

It is very rightly said that “The truth of your character is expressed through the choice of your action”. Let us all be more responsible to build a society that the generations to come would feel proud of and more importantly feel safe in.

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