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3 reasons why organizations should invest in marketing to overcome the COVID 19 business disruption

arnabarray123
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3 reasons why organizations should invest in marketing to overcome the COVID 19 business disruption

A number of organizations react to worrying signs of an economic disruption or slowdown by slashing budgets of perceived “non core” business activities. These typically include, training, travel, corporate events and incentives. While reducing expenditure on non core activities can be debated as a cost reduction exercise, some organizations, even large ones seek solace by cutting down on core functional activities. The first functional area that is the cynosure for decision makers is Marketing.

Rather than throw the proverbial “kitchen sink”, to engage with customers’; strategies to the contrary are activated, with the hope that some form of divine intervention will kick start the sales cycle. In this article, we identify 3 simple yet important reasons for organizations to continue investing strategically in their marketing functions, especially during a flagging economic cycle.

With customers during a crisis

Business is a people to people activity. Technology being a great enabler, allows buyers to relate with a brand and the people that represent that brand irrespective of physical proximity. Communicating with customers, existing or potential, keeping them informed of your business plans and offering support during a crisis, acts as a great assurance cover, with building a high degree of trust.

Customer engagement can be done by sending out presentations, mailers, flyers, emails or through other digital marketing activities. Organizations with large budgets can use ATL platforms like the print media and television. However, for a more focused and personalised upshot, digital should be the preferred strategy.

Competitors on notice

A proactive marketing strategy can wrong-foot competitors. Their hands off strategy would get hammered by your aggressive game plan. With a large proportion of products and services achieving performance standardisation, the ability to reach out and be trusted by customers will be a game changer.

Being proactive is even more critical for small businesses and startups. With limited budgets and order books, a constant churn of business opportunities is critical for survival. If one eliminates the very niche portfolio of products and services being sold in the market, small businesses and startups fight it out in an extremely fragmented space. Instead of getting into a price war and selling at a discount, these organizations should invest a smaller proportion of that money upfront and win over customers.

Being on pole position

The global economy is cyclical in nature. While a once in a lifetime disaster like the COVID 19 pandemic throws the entire market dynamics into disarray, history is witness to the resilience of mankind. It can be safely inferred that within a very short period of time, wheels of the economy will start to churn.

To boost demand, Government interventions will come through in varying degrees across geographies and the global economy will brighten up. It is at this moment your marketing investments will generate attractive returns. Brand recall, being close to the customer and the relationships preserved, will ensure that an inherent bias towards your organization is apparent in the customers buying behaviour.

One cannot stress enough, on the need to be proactive during a slowdown. Simple, low cost yet effective communication strategies will make a massive difference to your business, the benefits of which you will leverage on an ongoing basis.

Author Bio

Aouthor Headshot

A seasoned entrepreneur and business professional, Sauvik Banerjee is COO at Array Innovative Services Private Limited. His portfolio of startup ventures include; BPlan Experts, PresentationGFX, CrazyAboutStartups, Vezume, and Xprez.io. As a mentor, Sauvik works with start-up businesses and entrepreneurs, to help launch and scale up their businesses. Prior to founding new ventures as an entrepreneur, Sauvik worked as a Management Consultant with some of the largest professional services and technology firms globally, working with CXO’s of both private and public sector organisations. .

Bed-venture circus: Separatists, fundamentalists & propagandists

ashachanta
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Bed-venture circus: Separatists, fundamentalists & propagandists

Being a rebel, I’ve always questioned everything and everyone. By the time I turned 15, my enthusiasm converted into arrogance, which lead me to question everything and everyone; not to know but to satisfy my alter ego. By now, you might’ve guessed whom I could be. Yes, you are correct and I am one of those INCURABLES who is a son and grand son of communist ideologues and Me too was a supporter of Marxist ideolog. after all I was cut from the same cloth.

My family was so full of poverty that I had to do a part time job to complete my education. By the way, I’m a B.Tech Mech degree holder by the age of 21 in 2013. It’s time for me to join a full time job and I was posted as a Engineer – Quality & Welding in a Mid Level company with 600 employees under me. That’s when I came across so many “progressive” ideas and applied them one by one and all together and none at all. For almost 5 years, I tried every combination and to my surprise the success was ZERO. Yes, you’ve read correct, ZERO success.

In my disheartened state, one day I’ve come across a video of “Decolonisation of Indian Minds” by Shri Koenraad Elst & Shri Sandeep Balakrishnan. That’s when I started studying groups and their mentality and applying them in my work, the results were amazing which eventually lead me to further study. After 7 months of study, I’ve divided my work force into 3 categories, based on their working patterns and exclusivity.

  1. Separatists: They always separate themselves from others, when others need them the most.
  2. Fundamentalists: They are more like bullies and musclers.
  3. Propagandists: These are the ones who oppose everything, no matter what people say.

I belonged to the 3rd category and I was aghast. My ideology and my working style are both in conflict with each other. Never have I ever in conflict with me. And that was the day, I realised my view of communism is wrong and I don’t have any ideology, which left me with tears. I was NOBODY, I represnet NO ONE, I was NOTHING and I had no purpose.

Yup, Communism does that to you, it deserts you all of a sudden, without any prior signs. First it attracts you and then it leaves you forever.

One day, 2nd and 1st group members came to me with a heated debate of “who’s god is perfect?”. Aghast, I was and it peaked my interest and I was listening to them quietly. I never had a discussion on God before and never heard this in my entire career in that work area but there I was. It peaked my interest on Theology, which eventually lead me to futher study of indoctrination and their behavioural patterns.

After 5 more months, in Feb-2019, my 3 categories transformed into 3 world’s biggest problems. At first I wasn’t ready to agree that, but further observation and various patterns, then realised I was too “secular” to admit that. And the 3 world’s biggest problem turned out to be world’s biggests cults/religions/sects; whatever you want to call them, you can call them.

  1. Evangelism: it wants to establish “A Business Market for Jesus”
  2. Islam: it wants to establish “A Theocratic State”
  3. Communism: it wants to establish “A Totalitarian State”

It was so clear from the beginning and I was too blind to see that. Further research into old articles, news, videos and short reads of Koenraad Elst, Sandeep Balakrishnan, Dan Gibson, Imam Tawhidi, Rajiv Malhotra, S L Bhyrappa, Nagaswamy etc, opened me to a new universe which I never could’ve imagined myself into.

Bed-Venture Circus: Christianity, Islam and Communism. Everybody wants a piece of Bharat and I am not going to let them have it.

Now I know my PURPOSE, I am SOMEONE and I am SOMEBODY. Bharat has so many intellectuals but it lacks warriors and I want to be that warrior and I’m in a process to awaken Kshatriya in me.

Indian economy & COVID-19: Facts that worry

ritwijshandilya
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Indian economy & COVID-19: Facts that worry

Equity bond prices are falling continuously and this clearly indicates that people are not investing their money in bonds as they want to keep the liquidity with themselves. It is an obvious fact that if people will not invest, the economy won’t grow. There has been a negative impact on various sectors of the economy and our fiscal, as well as the revenue deposits, are also not at all doing good.

According to the International Monetary Fund, the Indian economy will grow at just 1.9 percentage in the financial year 2020-21. The prediction is enough to narrate the whole story of the poor condition of the Indian economy. Not just the IMF, but the institutions like Moody’s, Barclays, and Crisil are also telling the same story with some minute change in the prediction of India’s economic growth.

Moody’s has cut India’s growth prediction to 2.5% whereas Barclays has predicted the growth of zero percentage in 2020 for India. The growth forecast according to Crisil for 2021 is just 3.5 percentage. The reason behind this downfall is non-other than the pandemic known as COVID 19. Twenty-one thousand seven hundred confirmed cases of the deadly COVID 19 have been reported as of now and the death toll is at six hundred eighty-six in the country.

United Nations has predicted that the global economy could shrink by 1 percentage in the financial year 2020 due to this deadly pandemic. It has been observed by the UN that the COVID 19 pandemic is disrupting the global supply chain. According to the IMF, this lockdown period will bring the global gross domestic product growth rate by three percentage in 2020.

Lockdown has played the most important role in pushing the global growth rate to the intensive care unit. There is also a fear of increasing non-performing assets in the country. 

According to research, the seventy-five percentage of India’s workforce is self-employed and the ongoing lockdown is hitting them the most. The Indian airline, tourism, and entertainment industries are among the worst affected sectors. The manufacturing and sports industry are also in the list of worst affected sectors. International Labour Organization has estimated that COVID 19 will destroy as many as 25 million jobs.

United Nations Conference on Trade & Development says that the COVID 19 pandemic will cost the global economy between 1-2 trillion in 2020. It also predicts that the trade impacts for India could be about three hundred forty-eight million dollars. The Indian share market has also seen a fall of 35 percent from January to March. The data coming from the various prestigious institutions is very clearly narrating the horror story of the global pandemic and its impact on the various economies.

Experts believe that direct bank transfer of money to daily laborers and farmers along with interest-free loans for small businesses might help India to overcome the crisis.

Was Arnab Goswami attacked by Antonia Miano’s goons?

Jyotiraditya Chaudhary
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Was Arnab Goswami attacked by Antonia Miano’s goons?

On Friday night, around 12 A.M, Arnab Goswami, Chief Editor of Republic T.V, was attacked by a couple of goons. At that night Arnab and his spouse, were coming back from his office, HQ of Republic Media Network. He was with his protection unit of Mumbai Police and office security personal. When they make to Ganpatrao Kadam Marg, Worli, their car was overtaken by a bike with 2 people sitting. One was riding and other one was on back seat. They attacked on the right side window of car. Then they poured liquid all over the car. About 50 meter ahead they were arrested by the Mumbai Police Protection Group. Then he got to his house.

He then got the message of Mr. Mahindra Kale, Office Security Personal, that the criminals were arrested by Protection Unit of Mumbai Police. Then, Mr. Shivaji Hosmani who was assigned to his personal security arrived and informed him that the attackers were identified as Members of Youth Congress. After some time Deputy Commissioner of Police Mr. Abhinash Kumar came to Arnab’s parking lot. He offered to file an F.I.R. against them at N.M Joshi Marg Police Station. D.C. P told him that there is no need to file complaint so immediately he would ensure that F.I.R. has been filed and call him for check of facts. But, he didn’t call him after one and half hour later. He called his colleague who was at Police Station. He said it was a matter of investigation whether the arrested people were of Youth Congress or not. When he reached the police station at 3:30 A.M the D.C. P lied to him that the attack by people of Youth congress was not known to him. When he requested several time to report F.I.R., they finally registered F.I.R. Then his colleague told him that the attackers were identified. They were Pratik Mishra and Arun Dilip Borade.

Now as we know all the facts of the attack on Journalist Arnab Goswami, we have to know two more facts that related were related to this attack.

These 2 facts are :-

  1. Congress Leader Mrs. Alka Lamba had tweeted युवा कांग्रेस जिन्दाबाद on 3:00 A.M on 23/4/2020, the night when Arnab was attacked.
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  1. Arnab had a debate on Sonia Gandhi the topic was ‘Why was Congress silent on Palghar Mob lynching?’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nTDyATB86c

These facts and the story suggest that there are 2 person and 1 organisation had been planning for attack on Arnab.

These 2 can be :-

  1. Antonia Maino
  2. Alka Lamba

The organisation can be Indian National Congress.

I suggest these names because they all are in I.N.C and this organization is always against people who want to India be a nationalist country.

Jai Hind.

Contact- [email protected]

ईसाई मिशनरी षड्यंत्रों के जाल में

pawanpandey
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ईसाई मिशनरी षड्यंत्रों के जाल में

स्वामी विवेकानंद कहते हैं “प्रशांत महासागर की तलहटी से सारा कीचड़ निकाल कर अगर मिशनरियों पर फेंक दिया जाए तो भी मिशनरियों ने हिन्दू धर्म को जो गालियाँ दी हैं, उसका शतांश भी प्रतिशोध पूरा नहीं होगा।” महात्मा गाँधी अपनी आत्मकथा में लिखते हैं “राजकोट में एक मिशनरी हाई स्कूल निकट जोर जोर से हिन्दू देवताओं को गालियाँ देता था और हिन्दू लड़कों को परेशान करता था।” आज भी हिन्दुओं के प्रति मिशनरीओं के रवैये में कोई परिवर्तन नहीं हुआ है। आज भी वे धन के लालच, छल, बल, और झूठ द्वारा धर्मपरिवर्तन में कोई बुराई नहीं समझते। आज भी वे हिन्दुओं को शैतान का पूजक बताते हैं और सब हिन्दुओं को नरकगामी घोषित करते हैं। मिशनरी स्कूलों, सिनेमा और अन्य मनोरंजन के साधनों में ईसाई धर्म को शान्तिपूजक और कूल दिखाया जाता है, परन्तु सच्चाई बहुत अलग है।

सबसे बड़ा रुपैया

इससे पहले की हम इसकी मीमांसा करें कि ईसाईयत के प्रसार के लिए कितना और कहाँ से रुपया आता है। सिर्फ देहरादून, जो कि जनसंख्या की दृष्टि से अपेक्षाकृत एक छोटा जिला है, में 2018-19 में कम से कम 22 करोड़ रुपये मिशनरी कार्यों के लिए विदेशों से प्राप्त हुए। इसमें भी मैंने विद्यालयों के लिए आये हुए विदेशी धन का हिसाब नहीं लिया है। आप भी अपने अपने जिलों में विदेशी धन का हिसाब देखने के लिए गृह मंत्रालय की इस वेबसाइट पर जाएँ। सोचिये साल दर साल करोड़ों रुपयों को अगर सेवा की आड़ में धर्मपरिवर्तन में लगाया जा रहा है तो क्या परिणाम होगा! दिल्ली के आँकड़े देखें तो कई ऐसे मिशनरी संस्थान हैं जहाँ हर वर्ष विदेशों से 50 करोड़ रूपये से भी अधिक आता है। भारत में प्रकार हज़ारों करोड़ रूपये हर वर्ष एकमात्र इस लक्ष्य से आते हैं कि भारतीयों को किस प्रकार धर्मविमुख करके ईसाई बनाया जाए। सिर्फ देहरादून में ही इन रुपयों से हर वर्ष 300-400 ईसाई पादरी धार्मिक शिक्षा प्राप्त करते हैं।

भारत को तोड़ने की मिशनरी साज़िश

भारत का उत्तर पूर्व आम तौर पर खबरों में नहीं रहता। असम, त्रिपुरा, अरुणाचल और मणिपुर के कुछ क्षेत्रों को छोड़ दें तो लगभग सभी जगहों पर ईसाइयत का प्रसार पूर्ण हो चुका है। प्रेम के इस तथाकथित धर्म की हिंसक प्रवृत्तियाँ यहाँ प्रकट होती है। नागा समस्या हो, पूर्व में मिजोरम की समस्या हो या मेघालय से आती चिंताजनक खबरें, इस सबके पीछे ईसाई चर्च द्वारा प्रायोजित विचारधारा है जो कि उत्तरपूर्व में एक स्वतंत्र ईसाई राष्ट्र का निर्माण करना चाहती है। अरुणाचल और उत्तर पूर्व के अन्य भागों में ईसाईकरण के षड़यंत्र गतिमान हैं और नरेंद्र मोदी की सरकार न आती तो स्थितियाँ और चिंताजनक होतीं।

ऐसा नहीं है कि ये गतिविधियां उत्तर पूर्व तक सीमित हैं। नक्सलियों के साथ इनकी सांठ गाँठ जगजाहिर है। अनेक हिन्दू संतों को मिशनरियों ने मरवाया है, जिनमे 2008 में ओडिशा के स्वामी लक्ष्मणानंद सरस्वती से लेकर पालघर में हुई हत्याएँ सम्मिलित हैं।

राजनीति में ईसाई प्रभाव कांग्रेस पार्टी में बहुत अधिक है जो कि स्वाभाविक ही है। इसके अलावा आंध्र की YSR कांग्रेस का शीर्ष परिवार कट्टर ईसाई है, जो पार्टी के मुख्यालय में भी परिलक्षित होता है। ईसाई कार्यकर्त्ता जैसे रोना विल्सन, कांचा इलिया, जॉन दयाल, सेड्रिक प्रकाश इत्यादि हिन्दू और भारत विरोधी कार्यों में अंतर्राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर भी संलग्न हैं और कांग्रेस द्वारा समर्थित हैं।

सेवा की पोल खोल

इन सब बातों से सामना होने पर ईसाई सेवा कार्यों का हवाला देते हैं। सत्य यह है सेवा के नाम पर यह विदेश समर्थित धर्म परिवर्तन का व्यापार है। सेवा के नाम पर चर्च ने अरबों- खरबों की सरकारी सम्पत्ति का दान लिया, कब्ज़ा किया और खुर्द-बुर्द कर दिया। सेवा के नाम पर मासूम अनाथों और बच्चों का संस्थानिक शोषण होता है और ननों को कुकर्म में धकेला जाता है। महात्मा गाँधी ने स्वयं इनकी सेवा की पोल खोली है।

इनका लक्ष्य आज भी वही है जो ब्रिटिश शासन में था : भारत को विदेशी सामान का बाज़ार बनाना। ईसाईयत के फैलाव से इसमें मदद मिलेगी यह सही धारणा है। जोशुआ प्रोजेक्ट जैसे संस्थान इस कार्य में पूरी तत्परता से लगे हुए हैं।

भारत और हिन्दुओं का कल्याण इसी में है कि इस षड्यंत्र को न केवल समझें बल्कि इसके प्रतिकार हेतु तन-मन-धन से प्रयत्न करें। सौभाग्य से आज अनेक स्वदेशी एवं विदेशी विचारक और संस्थाए इस दिशा में कार्यरत हैं परन्तु यह पर्याप्त नहीं है। इस्लामिक कट्टरवाद भारत के लिए सीधा शत्रु है लेकिन ईसाई कट्टरवाद अदृश्य खतरा है जो कि भीतर ही भीतर हमें खोखला कर रहा है। हमें भूतकाल से सीखना होगा कि किस प्रकार रोमन सभ्यता और साम्राज्य का विनाश हुआ। कहीं ऐसा न हो कि हमें भी वही दिन देखने पड़ें!

Democracy is dead. Long live democracy

Narasimhan Vijayaraghavan
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Democracy is dead. Long live democracy

Democracy in Pandemic times. The world is debating, discussing and delineating on this issue. The prognosis is not so welcome. Yuval Noah Harari- author of Homo sapiens and Homo deus– a history professor in Hebrew University, Israel, invented the now viral description ‘Digital Dictatorship’. One recalls Senior Advocate Shyam Divan, quoting it, as the lead counsel in the challenge to Aadhaar, in the reference before The Nine, before the top court. Yuval has now gone beyond, in this Covid-19 backdrop that facial recognition and the digital footprints embraced by China in Wuhan, Hubei Province, to lockdown and ‘flatten the curve’ literally “smashed even the remnants of freedom and democracy left in that nation. We are now hacking ourselves”.

Niall Ferguson, the Stanford University history professor has joined in, to suggest that the incumbent President Xi Jinping was today the most powerful leader ‘China has ever had in its civilisational march’ is back to Marx-Engels philosophy. Ferguson is convinced that China may be a ‘market economy but it was run by a totalitarian State’ and this would be the one issue that may flare up, as he quotes Henry Kissinger that “World was now in the foothills of a fresh Cold War”- while recalling the Cuban missile crisis of 1962. Surfing the net, reveal conspiracy theories such as that Covid-19 as a “direct consequence of upgrading to 5G” (David Icke- the maverick author and journalist).

In the midst of all these dark clouds on the horizon, there was a huge streak of white light shining so brightly in the White House on 22nd April, 2020. Suddenly, from nowhere. The occasion was President Donald J Trump’s daily 2 hour briefing as master of the White House Coronavirus Task Force. One runs of adjectives on watching the ‘the public clash between the President and his medical team advising him in tackling crisis’. It was an absolutely brilliant exhibition of democracy trumping Donald, in the oldest democracy. Trump is furious. He is angry, frustrated that the virus is not a hoax he postulated it was or a conspiracy from the Do Nothing Democrats.

POTUS has been threatening to open the economy ahead of time. He is concerned that the economy was tanking, and the list of 22 million Americans applying for unemployment dole, is growing. Trump is rattled that his re election chances in November 2020 hustings, may be going up in flames in front of his own eyes, and he can do nothing to quell it. What does he then do? The poll numbers show Joe Biden is trumping Donald by 9 solid points as on date.

Trump is now taking on the medical establishment and not the political. America is deeply divided along political lines. But, solidly behind their scientists and experts as Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr. Deborah L Birx, Dr. Robert R. Redfield, three of the leading physicians, on the Task Force. These experts stand alongside Trump in the daily briefings. Despite their presence and their sobering, factual and logical influences, Trump goes on his solitary trips that ‘virus was going, going and economy will open and boom in a matter a couple of weeks’. That is where the Dance of Democracy came out dancing magically. You simply cannot see such scenes in Russia or China. It can happen only in the oldest democracy- US of A. What a fascinating live action, going back to Pericles, Socrates, Aristotle and Plato- as Michael Sandel, the Harvard Professor wonders.

For those of us who saw the White House Task Force briefing, live, were privileged to see what Democracy is all about for the people, by the people and of the people. Close to 50000 lives have gone to meet the maker in US and numbers still counting. While the scientists, health experts and medical professionals are clamouring for continued ‘lockdown’- Trump and his acolytes are urging “Liberate Michigan” et al. Things came to a colossal head on 22nd April, 2020, during the Press briefing.

When a reporter alluded to Robert Redfield’s interview with Washington Post that ‘Covid-19 was not going anywhere yet. It would be back in the winter of 2020, when the annual flu season would be on and the impact may be worse than now’, Trump said the good doctor was ‘misquoted’. And to make matters worse for himself, in a stunning display of democratic ethos in America, when Trump called Robert Reidfield to contradict himself on live television, he chose to ‘affirm the authenticity of his quote in the newspaper’. Trump was hit badly and it showed in his body language and ‘his temper tantrums flowed through his visible veins’ as a website described it.

Trump rushed to the female Dr. Deborah to salvage the contradiction, but she too stood by her fellow professional in saying “We cannot say today whether it won’t be back in the winter”, while being deferential to POTUS. Oh My God, the rug was getting pulled under the feet of the most powerful man- leader of the free world- in his own terrain, his home, the White House.

Trump had no choice. Dr. Anthony Fauci has not been the POTUS’ best friend now. Dr. Fauci, all of 80 years, with a 35 years record, across 7 Presidents, had been on ‘every other network telling the facts and truth that the virus will dictate the timeline for opening the economy, and not the Taskforce’ as the editor of New Yorker David Remnick put it. Trump turned to Dr. Fauci, as the lastest resort, with no other option on the table, even as other members of the Task Force, Vice President Mike Pence, included were seen wincing. And Dr. Fauci was rock solid. He was himself. The authentic medical professional he has always been.

Trump coaxing, cajoling notwithstanding , Dr. Anthony Fauci stood his ground, “I am afraid the virus will be there or be back in the winter. That is the nature of the beast it is, as I have studied their genre all my life”. Trump did not know where to hide. He was fretting and fuming. That the most powerful man in the world was being trumped on his home turf, in front of the world and captured on live television, made great viewing.

Forget it. Democracy is safe and sound. Digital Dictatorship may be true. Contact Tracing is imbued with the help of Google, Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram et al to Big Brother. But it is all ‘anonymously’ they say. The national or international briefing on 22nd April, 2020, of the Coronavirus White House Task Force with President Donald J Trump, in attendance, has reinforced the belief that Democracy is here to stay. It is not going anywhere. Covid-19 or not. This was what the founders of America strived and died for. This was what Benjamin Franklin, as the author of the text of US Constitution said, “We will be a Republic, if we can keep it”. The words in the Constitution of a democratic nation, are not mere alphabets put together. It is life, living, health, energy and spirit of We The People, who wrote it for themselves. Thank You America. No matter Donald J Trump is at the helm, democracy is alive and well, for he himself was an elected official, and slated to fight for re-election in Nov, 2020. Democracy is dead. Long live democracy.

(Narasimhan Vijayaraghavan- Author is practising advocate in the Madras High Court)

What does the Vedas teach us, in this Pandemic

Manhar Sharma
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What does the Vedas teach us, in this Pandemic

Our newly emerged worst enemy from China has brought the whole world to its knees. More than 2.5 million people have been infected worldwide, in this pandemic so far. Almost one-third of the human population is living under lockdown currently. A new type of psychosomatic experimentation is being conducted on humankind in this pandemic. No one knows the aftermath of this pandemic and when it is going to end. But one question is arising certainly,

Where is God in this Pandemic? 

In some religions, they are saying, the coronavirus itself is an act of God, some are saying it is a deed of human punishment. Honestly, we do not know, but undoubtedly many customs followed in Hinduism, is beneficial to fight with this novel Coronavirus and the western world is supporting it wholeheartedly. The practices which were mentioned in the oldest scriptures of Hinduism in Vedas are scientifically proven in reducing the spreading of the deadly virus. The whole world is following Hinduism practices more than ever before this pandemic.

One such precaution to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 is ‘Namaste’ (Namaskaram), and it is becoming a global salutation trend now. More and more people, especially global leaders are doing namaste rather than a handshake, kissing, or bowing. Recently some of the top world leaders like Prince Charles, Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu, French President Emmanuel Macron, and others were spotted doing namaste. Namaste is derived from Sanskrit and is a combination of the word ‘namas’ and ‘te’ which means “I bow to the divine in you”. Namaskritya and other such related terms appeared in Rigveda especially in ‘Vivaha Sukta’. It is a traditional way of greeting in India for thousands of years. Recently U.S. President Donald Trump said ‘India ahead of the curve’, after greeting Irish PM with namaste..

Hygiene and quarantine were always important in Hinduism for health, mental, and social reasons. Even during the Vedic age, many of the hygiene practices were followed and are mentioned in Vedas. These hygiene practices are part of Hinduism and followed from many centuries in India. These practices are very much required in the present day during this Pandemic. Some of these practices are like washing hands with antiseptics/germicides after urination or defecation. Though these antiseptics were made from turmeric, neem, and replaced now by sanitizers, handwash in the present day. Washing our hands before and after having food. Putting down sleepers outsides of house and many more such small traditions where followed. Similarly, if someone dies, the entire family is like quarantine for the rest of the village was another way hygiene which is followed. Also during the menstruation cycle, women were something like social distancing. similarly in many such scenarios families or person was in quarantine or at least social distancing was followed. These practices were followed to keep our self-safe and hygienic. Albeit our enemies slightly change, but still in the world of technology, artificial intelligence, robotics, IoT we are following similar practices which were laid down thousands of years earlier.

Well, we all are trying their best to stay calm and relax, but still, stress levels are reaching an all-time high in lockdown. Even now, we have a long way to go. The whole world is worried, how this all will impact our lives, business, jobs, health, and finances. People are trying more and more ways to place stress under control. One of the easiest and effective ways that the world is doing –Meditation. Harvard Medical School recently published that the easiest way to reduce stress, anxiety is meditation. More and more apps, smartwatches are offering modern technology these days that can guide you to meditate, reduce stress and stay focused. New Articles, blogs are published and shared every day on Mediation and yoga all across the Internet. The word meditation itself means dhyanam, which factors self-learning, conciliation with self. The word dhyanam has appeared many times in Vedas starting Rigveda like appearance is in Verse 10.11.1 of the Taittiriya Aranyaka. Similarly appeared in Kauhitaki Upanishads 3.2 where it talks about mind and meditation in prayer.

Corona virus Is also changing the rituals followed after the demise. The majority of governments are choosing cremation over burial, irrespective of their religion. Sri Lanka, Philippines, and other countries or states have made cremations compulsory in coronavirus deaths. Even western countries like in the USA, cremations have surpassed burials as the most popular end of life option. WHO says to conduct a safe and dignified burial of a patient who has died from a suspected virus like ebola. Cremation is a major practice that is followed in Hinduism from the early period. And a standard practice in cremation is that dead bodies are not ethical to touch. People need to take a bath after coming from cremations. Antyeṣṭi or Antima Sanskara is a Sanskrit word for cremations in Hinduism. Word antya and iṣṭi respectively mean “last” and “sacrifice”. And “Antima Sanskara” means “last sacred ceremony”. In Hinduism, it is considered that the human body and the whole universe consists of five elements – air, water, fire, earth, and space. The last rite of ritual is to return the body to its five elements of the origin. The roots of these beliefs are very old and can be found in the Vedas, in the hymns of Rigveda section 10.16.

Now more and more health organizations are warning about the health-related risks associated with eating meat after these pandemics. Raising animals for food was always a breeding ground for diseases that can be easily transmitted to humans. Health experts believe COVID-19 originated at a “wet market” in China, where shops sell both live and dead animals for human consumption. It is still not proved that the meat industry is entirely responsible for the corona virus, but yes corona virus and similarly many other Pandemics in the past have always been linked with animals. It is found that 6 out of 10 most Infectious diseases come from Animals like H1N1 swine flu, H5N1 bird flu, Ebola, SARS, and many more.

The WHO says 70% of global disease-causing pathogens discovered in the past 50 years came from animals. More and more news is emerging these days from all parts of the world after this deadly virus is to stop eating meat and to go vegan strictly which is a known practice in Hinduism from centuries. As we all know that prevention is always better than cure. Although there are no vaccines for this pandemic until now, the best step is to take measures to elevate the immunity, so there will be fewer chances of getting infected by this disease. Despite there is no such unique food, fruits, or medicine that can be a guarantee to boost the immune system and protect us against coronavirus immediately.

Still, vegetables and fruits are the best examples of immune-boosting vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Some of the key nutrients that are important in immunity are mentioned in Ayurveda. Some examples of such immunity-boosting herbs are turmeric, cumin, coriander, and garlic which are commonly used in an Indian family.

Nationalism and selective secularism

swann108
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Life is to a human what Sovereignty is to the Nation. As we have been witnessing in recent times, the word “Nationalism” is equated with the word “fascism” or the sense of Nationalism is portrayed as against the idea of India. It is not incorrect to deny that the secular lobby is phenomenal at drawing false equivalences. Nationalism is a political ideology which focuses on self-determination and protection of Sovereignty and Integrity of a nation. Patriotism is a form of attachment or love or pride one may possess towards his nation. Without the easy influx of pseudo-liberalism or pseudo-secularism in India, would the idea of nationalism take this disastrous hit in the eyes of neophyte learners? It is high time one should rise to question the unquestioned, learn to digest the truth, and put national interests over personal interests. Is it unfair to put the national interests over one’s individual rights and interests? Is it unfair to think that India should progress at the mercy of none but itself?

If one explores online for the difference between nationalism and patriotism, the former advocates for people’s support to one’s nation even when it is incorrect, whereas the latter criticises its nation wherever it is incorrect. This is one of the bizarre explanations one could ever come across. Nationalists do not tend to engage in displaying anything selectively, and they are transparent enough to expose flaws, if any, in the governance model. In simple terms, Nationalists are those who put the national interests over their personal interests, and patriots are those who express ardent love for their nation, whether or not they prioritize their national interests. Indeed, a person with sane and rational mind would find it hard to put liberals in either of these two heads, because they just cannot fit into both the heads.

Never has there been an instance where a person—trying to influence the vulnerable minds with their preaching—has worked for the benefit of our nation or national interests. Young minds are deliberately made to choose western thoughts, culture, and practice of one’s religion. One may ask how does following other cultures or adopting the practices of other religions from other countries hurt the nationalists? It hurts because the true identity of Indian is fading away because of the secular lobby. The identity of Indian does not exclusively imply identity of Hindus, but the identity of Indian also includes the identity of Hindus. The term “Indian” expresses the collective identity of different faiths having relation to India, hence, where is the need for showing one faith superior to the other? Where is the need to build false narratives against the Hindu faith?

The Secular lobby advocates selectivity in the expression of humanity, tolerance and love. This selectivity has penetrated so deep into the young minds that they have become liberals without the sense of nationalism. Every liberal may be proud to refer themselves as Indians, but they do not advocate unleashing of righteous violence against the miscreants inside and outside our nation by solely citing two words— “Humanity and Secularism”.  However, the true phrases to be employed here is “Selective humanity and Pseudo-Secularism”.

With the rise of liberalism in the influential space—such as educational institutions, entertainment industry, libraries and social media—the need for the truth and nationalism has substantially fallen. Also, humanity should be saved, not exploited for those who lack the sense of humanity. Pollution by air, water, land, noise and now the young minds are being polluted by the acrimony exhibited and spread by the secular lobby through all the medium.

Anyone could practise any religion or any culture in India, but it should not lead to one becoming Anti-Indian or Anti-National, especially when such outcome is because of hatred for Hindu culture or Sanatan Dharma Philosophy, and again such outcome is the product of distortion of Hindu philosophies and the Indian history.

Deliberately or inadvertently, liberals adopt and advocate the western culture or support other minorities for the best reasons known to them, regardless of whether such minority groups are right or wrong. Are they even entitled to criticize the governance or the interests of the other religious groups, when they show no sign of embarrassment for the demon acts of those they support? Are they really helping Indian to maintain its collective identity? Are these liberals really imparting essential values through their stand-up shows, books and tweets? Above all, being inclined to this level of selectivity, do liberals help in the progress of our nation?

These questions cannot be answered in affirmative for two reasons—firstly, the collective identity will be lost with their selectivity; secondly, the absolute equality and humanity which they advocate would victimize our nation to the power and profit hunger of other nations. Having said these, if one still presupposes nationalism puts our nation in a jeopardy, and selective secularism uplifts our nation, he is nothing less than a person ungrateful to our Incredible India.

Radio as the spokesperson of vulnerable children

oped
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Radio as the spokesperson of vulnerable children

Role of Radio in combating trafficking

Mass media has always aided the process of transformation of societies and institutions. The invention of the Gutenberg printing press in the 16th century led to various debates around democracy and human rights in Europe. The ongoing Covid-19 lockdown, though necessary for stopping the pandemic, has come at a huge human cost in the form of migration and displacement of labourers and workers and their children. The dangers of children being targeted by organised gang of traffickers have risen manifold as parents are socially and economically vulnerable.

Within a span of only 11 days, the Childline India helpline received more than 92,000 calls seeking protection from child abuse and violence. A report by India Child Protection Fund (ICPF) also claimed a 95% increase in child pornography content consumption between 24th and 26th March 2020. Before the lockdown, online exposure of children was limited but with lockdown, it has increased manifold. And schools and educational institutes resorting to digital means has only made matters worse as that has not just meant increased online exposure but also unsupervised exposure. All these evidences point towards a growing need for protection for our children. In such circumstances, strengthening the safety net is paramount, but spreading awareness about the danger is of equal importance. Mass communication tools will come in handy to raise awareness across all class of people.

Use of Radio

Radio should be used as a powerful communication medium for creating awareness on issues related to child protection. The reach of print and TV are limited due to literacy issues and cost, besides logistical challenges due to the lockdown.

With newspapers reducing the number of pages and they also not being delivered in the first place, Radio can help parents, teachers and other stakeholders in spreading awareness about dangers lurking around their children. Radio also gives language advantage.

 It is only last week that a research by AZ Research PPL stated that 82 per cent people have been tuning in to radio during Covid-19.  In fact, the FM Channels are emerging as the second credible source of information. The research is based on a sample size of 3,300 listeners above the age of 18.The radio industry witnessed a listenership of 51 million people, which is nearly as much as television’s reach of 56 million and social media’s reach of 57 million, said the research. (Source: Hindustan Times)

All India Radio (AIR) broadcasts in 23 languages and more than 140 dialects across India. Most public service announcements could be comfortably made using this medium.

Advantage of local dialect and context

An FM radio station in Haryana will use not just use the local language and dialect, but also the local context which would be very different for a state like Telengana. The goals may be the same, but language makes all the difference. For example, trafficking of minor girls is a serious crime that has impacted many states. In Jharkhand, for instance, girls are trafficked into bonded labour, sex slavery or domestic servitude by placement agencies.

Local radio stations would make use of local languages to create awareness among family members of potential victims. According to activists across the globe, children will be more vulnerable to trafficking in the aftermath of Covid-19.

Raising awareness level as solution

Sensitization about dangers of trafficking and how parents can be lured with false promises of better life and free education of their children could be done through radio messaging.

The full potential of radio for bringing about a positive social change is yet to be tapped. For example, community radio stations were launched 15 years ago. These have a reach of 5 to 10 kilometers and are meant to address local issues. Partnerships between NGOs, radio operators, the government and philanthropists can make a difference here. If a local community radio reaches even 50,000 audiences daily, a sustained campaign against trafficking can built around eliminating this crime at the grassroots level. Radio Snehi of Siwan,Bihar ,Radio Mann of Madhya Pradesh,Radio Jamia and IIMC radio of Delhi are some community radio stations which pick up social issues often.

Positive impact due to mass media campaign

A sustained awareness campaign on saving the girl child ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ through the mass media yielded positive results what stringent laws could not. Print and electronic media were used extensively for the purpose but perhaps the most compelling role was played by radio. Both the state-owned All India Radio and privately-owned FM radio stations partnered with activists and NGOs and ran highly effective awareness campaigns. The result: There has been a remarkable improvement in the sex ratio in Haryana where even traditionally patriarchal panchayats now flaunt their Beti Bachao credentials.

FM Radio campaigns

Similarly, a campaign on Safe Childhood was run by Red FM  in association with Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation  was run two years ago to bring awareness on child abuse and trafficking. The move was appreciated for its positive outcome: unique stories came out in the open. Also Ginni, a popular RJ who runs Suno Na Dilli, an award-winning show, did talk about human trafficking sometime back to raise awareness about this crime.

Cost-effective medium

Radio can really take this thought process and amplify it ahead to states, districts, zones and homes to make this topic a drawing room conversation. Radio channels could invite subject matter experts for addressing Q&A sessions that will further sensitize the public about the crime of trafficking. More the conversations that could be induced around this subject the better it would be for curbing this heinous crime. Radio can be a really quick and cost effective medium in achieving the objective of sensitizing people at large about trafficking.

As Nobel Peace Laureate Shri Kailash Satyarthi has always emphasized that let every child be free, safe, healthy and educated and Radio as a platform can be really useful in taking this thought ahead.

Paroma Bhattacharya (Journalist and now associated with Kailash Satyarthi Children’s foundation)

Undermining merit in JK Bank exams for regional cum minority appeasement

jatinpaba18
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Undermining merit in JK Bank exams for regional cum minority appeasement

Towards the end of 2018, JK Bank, a government owned private bank, advertised for posts of Banking PO and Banking associate. In its notification it was specifically notified by JK Bank that it will be post on state wise merit and not on any other criteria. In April 2019, exam were held after being delayed by Pulwama attack. Exams were conducted by IBPS for JK BANK only for the domiciles of J&K.

Roughly after a month, result was declared and the most interesting event happened when there was a district wise cutoff for a state level exam. The cutoff marks for the student of Hindu majority Jammu were 65 (approx) and for fully muslim Srinagar it was 44 (approx). Since it was a state level exam, there was no point of district level cutoff and then a difference of 20 marks for two districts was a mockery of central result handed to JK bank by IBPS.

To this mockery innocent students of Jammu raised their voice and it created a political turmoil in Jammu. After this SatyaPal Malik- then Governor of J&K tweeted that there would be a common cutoff of 40 marks for all J&k. Within a few days he removed the then chairman of J&K bank PA Nengroo for alleged corruption and after few days investigation was initiated on him by J&K Governor.

During the course of investigation it was surfaced that how metric pass kins of Mehbooba and Abdullahs were made Bank managers of JK bank. After few months entire recruitment was quashed by new Lt Gov of UT of Jammu and Kashmir. Innocent students were preparing hard for their main exams (2nd tier in banking exam) and all of the sudden they heard that recruitment has been scrapped.

One student who has hardly 2-3 precious years for competing for his life and career can also live in this utter pain but the most heartbreaking news came when a call recording of then Governor SatyaPal Malik surfaced online and went viral.He clearly stated in that recording that the result was declared district wise because students of Jammu who otherwise had qualified,were more in number then the students of Kashmir. Bureaucrats flourished under the Islamic Umbrella of Abdullahs and Muftis had suggested that an original unbiased result will create dissatisfaction among the people of Kashmir.

Through this article I want to raise my opinion that if dissatisfaction can murder a merit, a dream, a hope of having a job after hard work. Can you take a job from a hard working to satisfy hardly working? This is one of many classical examples of day to day discrimination people of Jammu had faced even before 370 and to some extent after 370.

Sources: https://indianexpress.com/article/business/banking-and-finance/jk-bank-declares-uniform-cutoff-for-whole-state-after-protests-5726032/

https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/jk-bank-issues-clarification-to-unsuccessful-aspirants-in-recruitment-process-1524462-2019-05-14

J&K recruitment fraud

https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/district-wise-merit-lists-raise-many-eyebrows-trigger-protests-by-candidates/

https://www.news18.com/news/india/governor-satya-pal-malik-points-at-mainstream-politicians-in-jk-bank-corruption-case-says-action-will-be-taken-soon-2184003.html

https://www.careerpower.in/2018/JK_Bank_Recruitment_of_Po.pdf

also no of vacancies are district wise requirement,not district wise cutoff is mentioned in the above link ,

official district wise cutoff list has been removed by the bank.

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