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सेकुलरिज्म या दिखावा, धर्म के नाम पर व्यक्तिगत आजादी का हनन क्यों?

Rajeshwar Singh
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सेकुलरिज्म या दिखावा, धर्म के नाम पर व्यक्तिगत आजादी का हनन क्यों?

धर्म के मुद्दे बड़े संवेदनशील होते हैं, उनमें तर्क- वितर्क करना (तथाकथित धर्म गुरुओं के अनुसार) अपराध माना जाता है. फिर उनमें अपने अनुसार नीतियां बना ली जाती हैं, जिनका पालन उस धर्म के मानाने वालों द्वारा किया जाता है. मगर सवाल खड़ा तब हो जाता है जब आज के मॉडर्न धार्मिक ठेकेदार अपने हिसाब से मान्यताओं को सेट करने लग जाता है.

ये कोई पहला मौका नहीं, जब अपनी दिमाग की उपज किसी दूसरे पर धर्म के नाम पर थोप दी जाती है. कभी कोई मुस्लिम महिला ज़ायरा वसीम के फिल्म में काम करना शुरू करती है या कभी मुस्लिम महिला निदा खान द्वारा तीन तलाक पर आवाज उठाई जाती है तो उसके खिलाफ फतवे जारी कर दिए जाते हैं. सलमान खान गणेश पूजा में प्रमुख रूप से हिस्सा लेते हैं, शाहरुख़ खान गणेश विसर्जन के साथ तस्वीर शेयर करते हैं तो उन्हें मुस्लिम ट्रोलर्स की ट्रोलिंग का शिकार होना पड़ता है.

सारा अली खान को गणेश चतुर्थी विश करने पर कट्टरपंथियों की खाली बैठी फौज टूट पड़ती है. क्रिकेटर इरफ़ान पठान को इसलिए मुस्लिम कटटरपंथियो द्वारा निशाने पर लिया जाता है कि उसने रक्षाबन्धन की शुभकामनायें दे दीं. क्रिकेटर मोहम्मद कैफ का इसलिए विरोध किया जाता है क्यूंकि वह सूर्या नमस्कार में हिस्सा ले लेता है और अब जब टीएमसी की लीडर और एक्ट्रेस नुसरत जहां जब दुर्गा पूजा में शामिल हो जाती है तो मौलानाओं के कान खड़े हो जाते हैं और बिना कोई समय गँवाए त्वरित प्रतिक्रिया आती है, कड़ी नाराजगी जाहिर कर दी जाती है.

अब यहाँ सवाल खड़ा होता है कि हर दूसरे दिन ऐसी स्थितियों को देखकर इस देश में ‘सेकुलरिज्म’ शब्द के लिए जगह कहाँ बचती है? अगर एक दूसरे के धर्म से इतनी नफरत की जा रही है तो आपस में मेल जोल बढ़ाने की गुंजाईश कहाँ बचती है? फिर किसी की व्यक्तिगत आजादी और स्वतंत्रता की जगह कहाँ बचती है? सेकुलरिज्म की आड़ में अपने अजेंडे सेट करने वालों के लिये यही सवाल खड़ा होता है कि क्या अब सभी को एक दूसरे के धार्मिक त्योहारों पर बधाई देना, उनकी ख़ुशी में शामिल होना, उनमे भाग लेना बंद कर देना चाहिए?

आपके अपने धर्म में अपनी सुविधा के हिसाब से काम न होते ही उसके खिलाफ खड़े हो जाते हैं तो आपको सीधा सिद्धांत बना देना चाहिए कि न हम किसी के घर में जाएंगे और न किसी को आने देंगे. हर दूसरे दिन मज़ारों पर जाकर माथा टेकने वालों, चादर चढाने वालों पर बैन लगा देना चाहिए. रमजान के दौरान किसी दूसरे धर्म के व्यक्ति द्वारा इफ्तारी के रूप में मिलने वाली मुर्गे की टांग का भी बहिष्कार करना चाहिए. ईद के भोज में भी दूसरे धर्म के लोगों को भी शामिल होने से रोकना चाहिए. माइक पर पढ़ी जाने वाली नमाज को भी बंद किया जाना चाहिए जिससे जबरदस्ती अन्य धर्म के लोगों को भी सुनाया जाता है.

मगर आपके साथ समस्या क्या है कि सब कुछ आपके हिसाब से सेट होना चाहिए. हलाला के नाम पर महिला का रेप सकते हैं. मस्जिद में बच्ची का बलात्कार कर सकते हैं. आतंकियों का समर्थन कर सकते हैं. मस्जिद में हथियार रख सकते हैं. टीवी देखने का विरोध कर टीवी पर डिबेट में बैठ सकते हैं. आप आजादी का झंडा बुलंद कर तीन तलाक का विरोध कर सकते हैं. आप अफजल के लिए शर्मिंदा हो सकते हैं, आप भारत के टुकड़े टुकड़े करने के लिए तैयार हो सकते हैं,आप पत्थरबाजों को मासूम बता सकते है, आर्मी को रेपिस्ट बता सकते हैं. आप ‘भगवा आतंकवाद’ जैसे शब्द गढ़ सकते हैं. इन सब कर्मों को वालों का जब सजा भुगतने का वक्त आता है तो आप मानवाधिकार और आजादी का रोना रो सकते हैं. मगर ऐसा करने वालों के खिलाफ न आप नाराजगी जाहिर कर सकते हैं न फतवा जारी..

Why RSS chief was right in saying non-Indians commit lynching, support Modi to defeat negative forces

S Ranganathan
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Why RSS chief was right in saying non-Indians commit lynching, support Modi to defeat negative forces

RSS Chief Shri Mohan Bhagawat has touched the heart and soul of the sacred Hinduism by describing how Hinduism rejects the heinous act called lynching as an imported culture and not part of Hinduism.

In some Islamic countries, cutting the hand, leg and even head publicly or hanging people in public view etc., are practiced as part of punishment. Although such public display violates human rights but such practices are always linked with certain religious culture and hence such practices are seldom questioned. Even in Bible also it is said that by throwing stones at the sinner as part of punishment. But Hinduism never believes in such cruel acts.

Lord Krishna and Lord Ram came to Bharat to promote peace, love, tolerance, karma shudhi and high moral and ethical values. Today India remains as a multi-religious country with lots of diversity in religious practices is purely due to Hinduism. Had India not been a Hindu rastra, the religious diversity that exists today in India would not have existed.

RSS chief was right in saying the concept of lynching is imported to India and not an Indian practice or culture. If any Hindu ever engages in such heinous crime, they are not only defaming Hinduism and human essence as promoted by Hinduism but also are establishing some of the very reclusive Islamic practices in India. People by engaging in lynching totally and completely defame Hinduism both through the crime that they commit against humanity and also by celebrating a Islamic and Christian practice.

The message of Shri Mohan Bhagawat to Hindus in general and RSS swayam sevaks in particular has send a clear message that Hinduism, RSS and BJP are not with such practice and those who can be changed, RSS is more willing and happy to change them by providing proper knowledge and perspectives about the crime called lynching. Only when the origin of the practice called lynching is sufficiently exposed to Hindus and makes them understand the fact that only some Islamic countries follow such practice and so is mentioned in Bible and therefore Hindus and those follow Hinduism should never engage in lynching.

Instead of engaging in such brutal crime, people should spread the glory and message of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna in our society. India is the land of spirituality, sacredness and serenity.  Hinduism is the cradle and axil of all virtues and values in the world.  Hinduism is a boundless, living culture and not a religion.

Hinduism alone can save humanity and universe from human greed, mistrust, cheating, corruption, dynastic politics, nepotism etc. Today Hinduism is facing several threats both from outside India and also from within India. Some foreign element has entered India under the garb called Indian citizen like how a wolf enters the herd of sheep by covering itself under the skin of a sheep as described in the famous story book called panchathantra and were ruing the cultural sacredness of India until Modi became prime minister of India.

Hindus alone can save Hinduism and its diversity and vibrancy.  Hinduism has several wonderful teachings which people must promote and popularise like the importance of Gita, the management wisdom of Lord Krishna, honesty and sincerity of Lord Ram and how sincere and straight forward is Modi who follows the ethos of Hinduism in letter and spirit.

The negative forces that are operating in India are trying to ruin Hinduism by targeting RSS and BJP for every crime that takes place in India. Having political or ideological differences with BJP and RSS in democracy is acceptable but such difference the opposition parties should not use to defame Hinduism which teaches nothing but truth, honesty and universal peace and love like Modi.

Every Indian is a Hindu from the cultural definition. Therefore the message of RSS chief is quite clear. People of all religious practices must learn more about Hinduism and must promote the same for universal peace. Support Modi to save India from corrupt dynastic forces waiting to hunt money from exchequer and defeat Hinduism.

It’s The Economy Stupid!

Narasimhan Vijayaraghavan
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It’s The Economy Stupid!

It’s the economy stupid! Modi 2.0 is being pilloried for the slowdown in the economy. Growth is staggering at 5% and P.Chidambaram, despite his trials, tribulations and incarceration, in the INX Media trial, flaunted the five finger mudra to taunt the Modi administration.

The piling up of inventory with the dealers and manufacturers of automobiles are cited as clear indicators of the bad climes we were in. Historically, economists have touted the automobile sector as being symptomatic of the economic conditions and the health of the economy.

Even as the inventory piled up, drop in sales, closures of dealerships, and steep cuts in working hours were being reported, we also had contemporaneous stories of cash piles on which the automobile manufactures were squatting. Be it Maruthi or Tata Motors or any other auto major, the story was of similar genre.

Nirmala Sitharaman, having taken over as just the second woman finance minister in the nation’s history, after Indira Gandhi, was facing a veritable storm from all sides. She announced a series of measures to ‘reduce the ailing automobile and real estate sectors’. Attention to Non Performing assets of banks and financial institutions was an ongoing exercise, and Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code ruthlessly dealt with sickness of several entities, a cruel and decisive blow to crony capitalism, which had built up the muck and debris, unattended over several decades. Now, they complain Modi administration had gone too far in the clean up. Add Demonetisation and GS, all the ills were laid at the doorstep of New Delhi.

But overnight, the problems gathering dust over decades cannot be miraculously sorted out. They need sustained care and surgical treatment. Mere consolidation of nationalised banks was not the answer. Telephone loans were a reality. Political interference in appointments was a stark and naked truth. Whether Modi 2.0 will bite the bullet with big bank reformation of such structural kind, remains to be seen.

The signs of an assertive governance are welcome. The brute majority in Lok Sabha, allied with a cunning and craftily accomplished one in the Rajya Sabha, should come in handy for ushering in major reforms in labour and land legislation. Or, are we speculating beyond the political instincts of pragmatic party men, whose long term vision is only up to the next State election, of which we have no dearth in our amidst.

Be that as it may, before Narendra Damordas Modi emplaned to the US of A for United Nations General Assembly or Howdy Modi? in Houston, Texas, ‘unbelievable corporate tax reductions across the board’ were announced. Corporates went bonkers unable to believe their luck. Modi 2.0 had at long last buried the sting from the ‘suit boot ki Sarkar’ jibe of Rahul Gandhi from Modi 1.0, they said. Corporates, uniformly, concluded that this may be the ‘ultimate trigger to unleash the animal spirits of the entrepreneurial and enterprising business Indian’.

The immediate impact was, of course, on the stock market. SENSEX and NIFTY breached the stratosphere, to record levels. The pink papers and the business channels were frothing and lost for adjectives. And then Nirmala Sitharaman added with gusto. The Modi administration had its ears to the ground. We are a responsive and responsible government. Liquidity is there aplenty. The banks and NBFCs ought to go out there and ‘lend like never before and let the consumers have the moolah to splurge in the coming festival season’. The central government was virtually asking us all, to go against our cultural moorings and instincts that had stood Bharat in good stead. We are a ‘saving’ society. We thrive on thrift. That has served us well. Why should you and I take a loan and splurge beyond our means? Should demand push come from conspicuous consumption against the run of play? Sorry, it is all mystifying.

First of all, the stock market is no reflector of the health of the nation. The world’s richest and successful investor, Warren Buffet, once called it a ‘gambling den where craft and cunning ought to be meshed with patience and prudence’. Now, read the story rightly christened as Stock Market Illustrated.

If you’ve been wondering how the stock markets work, here is a popular story of buying and selling monkeys that draws an analogy on the stock market. Though this is just a fable, it is not very far from reality when it comes to the style of functioning of today’s markets:

Once a man appeared in a village and announced that he wanted to buy monkeys for $10 each. The villagers, realizing that there was no dearth of monkeys in the nearby forest, went out and started catching them. The man bought thousands of monkeys at $10. As supply started to fall down, the villagers stopped catching more monkeys.

Now the man further announced that he would now buy monkeys at $20 each. This renewed the efforts of the villagers and they started catching monkeys again. As the supply diminished even further, people once again stopped catching monkeys and started going back to their farms.

The man further increased the rate to $25. Soon the supply of monkeys became so little that it was quite an effort to even get a glimpse of a monkey, let alone catch it!

The man now announced that he would buy monkeys at $50. However, since he had to go to the city on some business, his assistant would now buy on behalf of him.

In the absence of the man, the assistant said to the villagers: “Look at all these monkeys in the big cage that the man has collected. I will sell them to you at $35 each and when the man returns from the city, you can sell them to him for $50.”

The villagers squeezed up with all their savings and bought all the monkeys. But they never ever saw the man or his assistant again in the village; only monkeys everywhere! Welcome to the Stock Market!

Surely, the answer to slowdown does not lie in reckless loan meals and living beyond our means. Has anyone cared to consider whether India grew too fast too quickly on the automobile sector and real estate sector and sold too many? Just for Re. 1/- a two wheeler and Rs.1001/- a car could be driven to a home – bought on Rs.10,001/- initial payment, on ease of purchase. Inventories were built on the assumption that this buying spree would be everlasting.

We would like India to grow. Keep pace with demand of essentials and even luxury items. Not supply outstrip demand and inventories piling up and then the corporates yearn for intervention. Academics too have gone haywire to blame the slowdown on the ‘maniacal zeal of RBI to curb inflation’.

Excuse me, We the People would rather have a stable economy with a robust growth, built on our hard earned savings and a bearable cost of living, commensurate to our earnings not borrowings. We refuse to borrow beyond our means and be sucked into the vortex of attractive loans. Neither the Stock Market nor piling inventories is of our making. Let the Corporates sort it out. It’s the Economy Stupid!

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

From liberal to conscious expenditure; employee mind set to entrepreneur, cause for economic downturn and unemployment

S Ranganathan
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From liberal to conscious expenditure; employee mind set to entrepreneur, cause for economic downturn and unemployment

A true leader is the one who can influence others greatly and make them follow his leadership style. Narendra Modi is a true, honest, development centric leader and hence many Indians follow him and try to honest, responsible and contributing to India in whichever the way possible to them. As a result of the respected, morally and politically dignified leadership of PM Modi the people of India has become more conscious, morally alert, socially and ethically correct than be a pervert or short-tempered. When they care India, they are also prudent and conscious of their expenditure. In fact the change in behaviour of people from liberal spendthrift attitude to conscious expenditure style and people moving away from employee mind set become an entrepreneur also has decreased the money flow in the market. In fact this is a necessary evil because Indian economy is largely saving based and not market driven.

The wife of King Dasharatha, Kaikeyi along with her maid Manthira plotted the exile of Lord Ram to forest for long 14 years to anoint Bharata, the younger brother of Lord Ram as king of Ayodhya. But when Bharatha learned about the wicked ploy of his mother, refused to become the king of Ayodhya and hence went to forest to plea to Lord Ram to come back to Ayodhya and when Lord Ram refused, he took the sandal of Lord Ram and ruled Ayodhya on behalf of Lord Ram by saluting his sandal, and not as king of Ayodhya.

The question is why Bharat refused become king as all the male children of a king would naturally aspires to become king. Bharat preferred to remain king-in-waiting or in modern day parlance, remained unemployed youth than be king of Ayodhya was due to the inspirational leadership of Lord Ram.

Lord Ram stood for certain values such as truth, honesty, dharma, virtues, righteousness etc. Lord Ram not only followed all the above virtues in letter and spirit in his life but also inspired both directly and indirectly millions of others to follow all the above virtues. Because of the ethical conduct and adherence to truth by Bharat due to his continuous learning from Lord Ram, Bharat refused to be the king of Ayodhya.

Today India’s both educated and uneducated youths are passing through a transition phase from employee mind set to entrepreneurship. Further many Indian youths are also started to look at the opportunity more closely than before and are confidently patient to have their best rather than latching onto anything that is available. This confident mind set of educated youths and their quest for what next is being largely exaggerated by the opposition parties, those self-notarised individuals as they are the India’s intelligentsia and the political parties of the dynasts. The uneducated youths on the other hand are moving away from un-organized sector where they used be a worker or labour in the past and have started to open small shops, stores and other self-driven enterprises thanks to the Mudra loan scheme of Modi.

Many educated youths are choosing the best than jumping into the well and the uneducated youths on the other hand are not available as worker or labourer to small and medium enterprises, while some educated youths who does not believe so much in self or due to compelling financial reasons are showing some level of willingness to engage in any type of job.  All the above symptoms collectively and individually reflect not the unemployment crisis in India as stated by the opposition but clearly reveals the actual transition phase of India and Indian youths becoming choosy and wise.

The confusion is the first step for self-search and realization. Therefore we should be really happy for such transformation being brought by the exemplary leadership of Modi. Corruption free governance and governance fully dedicated for development and sab ka vikas is the hallmark of the leadership of Modi. Modi also stand as the best example for people to raise to higher levels where Modi himself began his life as a tea seller and now is the best, the most honest and the most decisive and assertive prime minister of India, since independence. Indeed Modi is also the most loved and adored prime minister of India since independence.

Indian youths are really exhilarated by the leadership and vision of Modi and hence are looking to place themselves higher than from somehow settle elsewhere, attitude. India is turning out to be a land of investment, opportunity, talents, excellence, honesty and innovation. People want to be innovators and employers than employee and engage with 8 hour of work in life.

The present day unemployment is more due to tectonic shift that is taking place among Indian youths than lack of employment opportunity. Every one in 5 youths wants to contribute their share to build New India of Modi’s dream. People are becoming more responsible, leadership centric, concerned about India, become patriotic than be an employee elsewhere, just live and die by fulfilling the narrow objectives and self-centric goals of life.

All those who aspire for New India as envisaged by Modi must work tirelessly in the society to create sufficient awareness about the good governance of Modi and how India is transforming as corruption free, nepotism free, merit centric country. People must unite to defeat all negative, corrupt, dynastic forces to save India and promote the sacred culture called Hinduism.

Take from current fall of Punjab Maharashtra Coop bank

chhatres
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Take from current fall of Punjab Maharashtra Coop bank

Most of you may be reading, listening to the news on Punjab Maharashtra Co-operative Bank’s failure and would broadly be aware as to how a co-operative bank ranking number four in the Cooperative sector with apparently good balance sheet became almost become bankrupt, overnight.

At this stage issue of accountability would be discussed for many months to come I felt no one till now in public domain has touched certain aspects which are important for the depositors and common investors public to know I thought in the interest of depositors’ community I can contribute a little by providing inputs on:

1. Insight of DICGC deposit cover (appended below & forms part of this post)
2. Long Term Deposits (actually bonds/debentures) issued by cooperative banks
3. Suggestions to provide relief to depositors and make the impact of these bank failures less severe/harsh to depositors and related.

Public awareness will generate debate and compel the Govt and regulators to take swift action.

As you may know, even after the decision to liquidate Madhavpura Mercantile Bank taken by Govt and bank was de-licensed by RBI on 4 June 2012 till date many depositors whose outstanding are above one lac are not yet finally settled by DICGC. Under current circumstances, till RBI takes a final call on the PMC bank very small depositors would face financial hardship and uncertainty for years to come just to know their final fate, for no mistake of theirs.

No doubt most of the bank depositors aware that their deposits with any licensed bank are covered under deposit insurance to the extent of Rs 100000. This is at least from the safety angle. Whether this insurance protection is adequate and keeping revision pending even after a lapse of 8 years from Damodaran committee recommendations to RBI/Govt in the year 2011.

Notwithstanding the fact, settlement of claims under DICGC commences only after the bank is subjected to liquidation there are some other aspects which one can consider while depositing/ investing money in bank deposits, so as to maximize the available insurance coverage.
Detailed inputs on DICGC will provide a legitimate/authentic way how to get maximum Deposit Insurance (DICGC) Cover from deposits with a single bank using well-documented example mentioned by DICGC deposits held in a different capacity and different right’.

I have also given a corollary as how one could apply this to existing deposit/s with any bank. Due to space constraint, I feel Newspapers will not like to publish such elaborate details hence better and quick way to communicate is WhatsApp.

I thought I would translate this test and attachments Marathi and/or Hindi and circulate. I felt that the theme would be lost. Also, readers using the information understand English well, hence sending the inputs in the English language would do.

I suggest the readers to kindly read carefully e-information especially related to DICGC cover (may not miss it) as it would help them for the future. Inputs on ‘LTD’ would certainly raise eyebrows. You may observe attachment on suggestions so as to generate a debate.

Last but not least, if you feel appropriate the same can be liberally shared in appropriates groups or may be sent to people to whom you feel could be useful. I have a limit on WhatsApp originating communication as well, hence the request.

I know this is not a storey article which can be read casually. Especially case of DICGC needs to be properly understood so as to get best out of it.

Suggestions for improvement or corrections in the inputs welcome. This information is authentic and sends in public interest and/or occasional reference. I don’t mind it to be used for any academic purpose without any reference to me.

Annexure DICGC
How to get maximum Deposit Insurance (DICGC) Cover from deposits with a single bank Or How one may enhance DICGC cover for existing deposits over Rs.1 lac with ‘the Bank’.

If a set of family members wish to keep money in smaller banks (including licensed but non-scheduled cooperative bank and Scheduled Cooperative Bank), licensed small finance banks (including one yet to receive scheduled status) for a higher rate of interest yet wished it to be secured / safe, such people may consider following.

Using legitimate trick below you may invest in weak PSU bank or in a co-op bank ” or “Small Finance Bank” that may be offering higher interest returns. I have purposefully not mentioned the name of payment banks as currently one cannot invest more than 1 lac in ‘CASA’ deposit with such banks and one cannot deposit money with them in Fixed Deposit.

Please peruse page 8-9 (official reply of DICGC with an example, to a query No: 11) from DICGC booklet (extract given below). Only a few depositors (even members from bankers community) know this aspect.

Quote:
Q 11: What is the meaning of ‘deposits held in the same capacity and same right’; and ‘deposits held in a different capacity and different right’?

If an individual opens more than one deposit account in one or more branches of a bank, e.g. Shri S.K. Pandit opens one or more savings/current account and one or more fixed/ recurring deposit accounts etc., all these are considered as accounts held in the same capacity and in the same right. Therefore, the balances in all these accounts are aggregated and the maximum insurance cover is available up to rupees one lakh.

If Shri S.K. Pandit holds other deposit accounts in his capacity as a partner of a firm or guardian of a minor or director of a company or trustee of a trust or a joint account, say with his wife Smt. S. K. Pandit, in one or more branches of the bank then such accounts are considered as held in a different capacity and different right. Accordingly, such deposits accounts will also enjoy the insurance cover up to rupees one lakh separately.

It is further clarified that the deposit held in the name of the proprietary concern where a depositor is a sole proprietor and the deposit held in his individual capacity are aggregated and insurance cover is available up to rupees one lakh in maximum.

However, if individuals open more than one joint accounts in which their names are not in the same order, for example, A, B and C; C, B and A; C, A and B; A, C and B; or group of persons are different say A, B and C and A, B and D etc. then, the deposits held in these joint accounts are considered as held in the different capacity and different right. Accordingly, insurance cover will be available separately up to rupees one lakh to every such joint account where the names appear in different order or names are different

Unquote:

All such money will be insured with DICGC (100% subsidiary of RBI) if you deposits of money based on the reply to the FAQ: 11 (above) in mind.

To elaborate further:

Say, a senior citizen (‘A’) has the following deposits in the name of self and his family two other members :

‘A’ singly (Rs) 100000,
A &B jointly (Rs) 100000,
A&B&C jointly (Rs) 100000,
A&C&B jointly (Rs) 100000.

In this case A’s deposit (single) as well as 3 deposits of ‘A’ jointly with others (he being the first depositor) each Rs.10000, will entitle a senior citizen rate of interest, Also all deposits held in the names of A+ A&B, A&B&C, A&C&B will be treated as deposits held in different capacity and different right (and DICGC cover of Rs 100000 will be available to each of the above combinations). Thus a person will get DICGC cover for Rs.4 lacs and sr citizen interest rate

Further, if there are many deposits placed with the same bank between A, B and C (combinations of some or all such persons, even if such deposits are held in different/reverse order also) will be treated as deposits held in different capacity and different right and will qualify for separate DICGC cover of Rs 1 lac each, per such combination.

There will be genuine doubt: How one could apply this to existing depositors with any bank.
One can be sure that till the time there are directions from RBI (like in case of PMC bank) or while the bank is under PCA one can legitimately apply to the bank to ‘add’ name of another depositor as a joint depositor. e.g ‘A’ has two deposits say Rs 1 lac and Rs 1.5 lacs respectively.

BanWhile ‘A’ may continue to hold any of the deposits (in this case) on his single name, may advise the bank to add the name of ‘B’ as 2nd joint depositor and also make it payable to ‘former or survivor’.

Thus the Interest /Tax status of the deposit will not undergo a change but the 2nd deposit that was hitherto not covered for DICGC will qualify for DICGC cover-up to limit of Rs 1 lac (separate from A as sole holder), due to application of rule deposits held in a different capacity and different right’. This cannot be challenged denied as it fits in DICGC norm and perfect as per deposit policy of each bank which is based on model deposit policy of IBA. It is also consistent with RBI’s manual on deposits and old RBI’s master circulars on deposits.

A step further, even if a bank is under direction this ‘addition’ / ‘deletion’ of a name can not be stopped as it is a permissible activity (falling outside the scope of the directions under Sec 35A). The Bank is subject continues to be a licensed bank and is acting on the legitimate instructions of the depositor. Similarly, where two deposits are held in the names of A and B, the joint depositors may approach the bank to delete the name of 1st or 2nd depositor and make it singly held. This addition and deletion of names are perfectly legal so long as the event of liquidation is unknown to both insurer and the bank concerned.

The addition or deletion can also be as a result of the operation of law (settlement of death claim under nomination or survivorship) or otherwise. Applicability of this norm to a split of large deposit of individual/s followed by addition or deletion of name to the deposit/s, post-split, maybe point of specific judgement but legitimacy of earlier two cases cannot be questioned and DICGC cover cannot be denied to the above two cases of deposits modified, provided tenure, amount does not undergo a change.

Note:
As a matter of fact, like a time limit set for insolvency and Bankruptcy code there should upper time limit of say 3 years given to cooperative bank under directions like PMC bank (the case should not get dragged for years like Madavpura Mercantile Bank where depositors above Rs 1 lac are yet to be made final settlement. Prolonged settlement of DICGC beyond reasonable time is unjust and does not in any manner reduce the hardship of gullible depositors. RBI needs to decide as a rule maximum time limit to be given to ailing banks (for the banks) to come out of the crises or face insolvency and let the DICGC do the rest.

One must remember that bank under PCA or under directions like PMC bank (who may eventually get liquidated or merged) has to pay DICGC premium for all insurable liabilities for years till the bank’s fate is finally decided by Regulator/Govt and if such period happens to be 5-10 years (like Madhavpura Mercantile Bank Ltd) the DICGC premium eats the money of depositors who are on the verge of losing-out substantial portion.

Comment: All observations above except within ‘quote & Unquote’ are mine and readers may evaluate it on own and invest.

Tier-II bond-like instruments (LTD) issued by many Coop Banks including (PMC) to gullible customers.

It is mostly unknown to many that PMC bank has issued high risk ‘LTD’ product. Investors in LTD should forget getting money back. RBI’s directions to cooperative bank on issue of specific unrated loan/debt product to qualify for tier-II capital of such bank
[mis-tiltled by RBI as Long Term Deposit (LTD)] are ‘pathetic’. It is a debt procurement instrument with several severe conditions about repayment attached to it. It is surrogate of bond/debenture by whatever name RBI may call it to be.

Considering the associated risk to investors/depositors (LTD product) I first took the matter RBI’s Legal and Coop Bank Regulation departments of RBI and after seeing no response (to my dozens of communications), I took the public interest matter with High Court of Bombay. After the reference of the honourable high court of Bombay to RBI based on my initiative, RBI hurriedly changed its directions* issued in the year 2008 and issued an amendment to directions in the year 2015. However even RBI’s modified ‘LTD’ guidelines to major extent are very defective even now. Around that time I also made a clear reference (text can be shared) to SEBI but both RBI and SEBI tossed the matter to each other. After some time I stopped following up the matter. But in case of instances like PMC bank (above) and another co-op bank) mainly senior citizen category depositors/investors do suffer.

I think someone may write on the fate of LTD (Tier-II bond) holders of PMC bank (other banks like TJSB /Sarawat Coop Bank, who also issued them and marketed them vehemently, as it helped to augment tier-II capital), wherein main investments came from pensioners (these are actually retail bonds) or (debentures you may call like issued by corporate without SEBI’s approval).

For various reasons one may clearly say that this LTD product is totally unregulated. The whole bond / ‘LTD’ issue, even today, is going on without following established law of the land (stamp Act, lack of existing route, nature of the instrument, listing, nomination rules, to name a few). In 2015-16 I perused ‘LTD’ documentation of PMC and found it just horrible. I had then taken up public interest matter with RBI, with vague response from PMC bank.

You may notice observe that ‘LTD’ is a high-risk debt capital instrument issued by co-op banks. Several retired personnel are existing investors / called depositors (funds raised in future are going to be huge). It is not a deposit per se.

Probably, RBI is not still aware that it had entered the domain of SEBI and is actually permitting “private placement of a public issue” (a terminology not prevalent anywhere in the finance world) to the general public to whom it can be easily ‘mis-sold’. On the guise of simple investment avenue probably (inadvertently) promoting an illegitimate product. SEBI has banned retailing of tier-ii debenture/bonds by banks issuing offer document

It is a risky product as a popular Money market Product CBLO(which after my years of a long battle with RBI) that was withdrawn by RBI, silently. Both SEBI and RBI seem to now revisit this matter. Extract of my communication to SEBI & reply I received from SEBI can be shared.
*RBI issued DCB. BPD. MC 10/09.18.201 /2015-16 dt: 01-07-2015 modifying its original circular UBD.PCB.Cir No.4/09.18.201/-8-09 dt: 15-07-2008 (I have with me internal RBI correspondence, which I got under RTI)

To aggressively address PMC like problems I appeal to RBI & Govt to consider the following:
1. Increase size withdrawal per depositor customer to Rs 10,000 or to Rs 25,000 (not Rs 1000 as in most of the cases). This will reduce their hardship to some extent.

2. PSU/New Pvt Banks should also be subjected to this / similar stringent action (PSU Banks may not be excluded) instead of PCA

3. Other standalone options such as a change in Management/ key personnel etc to be explored first, wherever possible

4. Enhancing Insurance Cover: Presently eligible deposits to the tune of Rs1,00,000/- are covered under the DICGC cover. With the rise in general income levels resulting in an increase in the size of individual bank deposits, this ceiling of Rs 1,00,000/- was considered insufficient by RBI had appointed Damodaran Committee (who submitted its final report way back in the year 2011). It recommended RBI & Govt that this cover should be raised to at least Rs 5,00,000/- so as to encourage individuals to keep all their deposits in a bank convenient for them. Now we are in

2019 it paltry cover of Rs 100000. In the USA it is USD 100000. Further, a strict ‘time limit’ should be stipulated to settle the DICGC insurance claims once the bank is de-licensed. Till the time the cover is enhanced depositors/public should be well informed on matter How to get maximum Deposit Insurance (DICGC) Cover using different channels.

5. RBI may not give blanket approval for raising Tier-II bonds (in the form of ‘LTD’) as in case of PMC Bank. It may ensure clear directions about adding an important clause in offer document (altogether missing in case of PMC Bank, please refer annexure), advise banks correctly on the matter of nomination, direct banks on payment of proper stamp duty to this debt product (in due consultation with the stamp authority, missing in PMC bank’s case), and provide clarity on listing of these bonds issued as LTD, following norms on retailing of debt instruments (unless privately placed).

RBI should lay-down strict criteria to cap raising LTD/tier-II bonds which currently termed by RBI as ‘LTD’.

RBI may revisit LTD its directions issued on DCB. BPD. MC 10/09.18.201 /2015-16 dt: 01-07-2015 by amending its directions UBD.PCB.Cir No.4/ 09.18.201/-8-09 dt: 15-07-2008, consequential to my approaching HC of Bombay and it’s communication to RBI.

6. Step up off-site and on-site inspection of large coop banks and reduce the periodicity and strict follow-up on compliance. RBI may set-up department for Coop banks inspection like DBS.

7. Depending on the time likely to taken by a regulated entity to address the regulatory concern, set appropriate period for restrictions 3 or 6 months and extend in 3-6 months period instead of 6 months each time.

8. Speedily consider exceptional cases of release of funds to depositors having serious medical problems based on merits of the case (within existing DICGC limits) based on restrictive criteria pre-fixed to be set off against the DICGC claim amount in case of the bank is subject to be liquidated.

9. It would be ideal if broad reasons for stringent directions are communicated to the public at large appropriately, so that rumour mills will be less active. RBI may also examine other options rather than ‘knee jerk’ action like this.

With more and more banks going to be set up after ‘on TAP’ licensing to small Finance, Payment banks etc there should be a proper mechanism to monitor these type of stringent actions.
I wish there is a need to highlight these matters to public at large, that would put public pressure on banking regulator and government and force them to have a debate before the customers of another bank face similar problem.
(Shivaprasad Laxman Chhatre)
Land: 020 22947152 Cell: 9819380114

The metro-centric democracy

Sameer Guduru
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The metro-centric democracy

We live in contradictory times. On the one hand we are witnessing a tectonic shift where the masses of the country are more politically aware and have rejected the elite, as became evident in the 2019 general election result which was in favour of true middle class. At the same time national and international narratives, opinions and perceptions about India are still largely dictated by the elite that dwells in the metropolitan cities.

The rapid shift in political landscape in semi urban and rural India is not proportional to the development and investment there.

The news we see, the politicians we hear, the icons more often than not hail from some metropolitan city or the other that have population in excess of 10 million people. This poses a question as to when we really are going to have a comprehensive outlook on ourselves as people of a much larger political entity called India and not restrict ourselves to the ideas and opinions of of a small number of dwellers of metropolitan India. The reason that really compelled me to author this article is the news that is currently making headlines all over the country. Any guesses? Let me help you. It is all the noise and the hullabaloo that is being unnecessarily created over the construction of a metro rail shed in one metropolitan city in the western part of the country called Mumbai.

That’s right. One corner of the country with 20 million people gets prioritized in mainstream media over the rest of the country with more than 1.3 billion people.

The thought of this making news headlines over a seemingly trivial issue that is blown out of proportion with much of air time and digital ink being dedicated to this is nothing short of appalling. My initial reaction to this was to blame media and then to bash all the little informed metro dwelling pretentious celebrities who go around in luxury cars and fly frequently to exotic locations on holidays while virtue signal the rest of humanity in the name of environmental degradation. Equally incompetent are their ostentatious brainwashed radical followers who hardly understand any technical details or are aware of any happenings beyond the comfort and luxury of their own city. On deeper contemplation however, I have realized how “un-unprecedented” and a cliché this has been. This is hardly surprising for a small city dweller like me. After all, the city in question is home to Bollywood that takes India to the global stage and by virtue of this attribute deserves all the air time it gets.

We call ourselves the world’s largest democracy but have still not democratized the development agenda. While being argumentative is in our DNA, we still fail to ask the relevant questions. So let me try to investigate the bigger questions that in my humble opinion are relevant today in the backdrop of this travesty. Nevertheless, please bear in mind that I am inherently biased and prejudiced to make a case which affects the rationale behind this article.

Why does this false notion of metro cities being the only opportunity for material emancipation still hold true after almost three decades of becoming an open market economy?

Why do metro cities become black holes for all investment and thereby also priority for the infrastructure development agenda?

How are we preparing ourselves with a comprehensive urban planning strategy for the cities in India? Has the smart cities project really been a success? How sustainable are our cities?

How do we move away from these centres of power and actually focus on systemic issues and problems in governance in other parts of the country? Why do we not hear news from a Coimbatore or a Bhubaneshwar or a Guwahati or a Vishakhapatnam as often as we hear news from a Delhi or a Mumbai or a Chennai or a Kolkata?

These questions assume importance as we are transitioning into a middle income economy and there is a need to mentally prepare ourselves to look beyond the metros. This is essential for the benefit of the citizens of our country where internal migration is perhaps the highest in the world with more than 40% of the population set to live in urban areas by 2030 according to conservative estimates.

We have created metro cities in India which really are environmental disasters without proper planning and inadequate public infrastructure. It is no secret that cities like Mumbai bear the brunt of internal migration due to them being a hub of economic activity. People refer to the city as “The City of Dreams”, however, all I see is a city crumbling rapidly under its own weight. The inevitable flooding during the monsoons, the relentless nightmare of traffic, hazardous levels of pollution, mass transportation system that resembles one that even cattle do not deserve are what I picture when I hear of Mumbai. Now, a city’s urban planning body should ideally have done with that long ago, but often as in India infrastructure development only happens post human settlement. To cover up all these nagging issues, to fix them and save the face of the city, millions of rupees are invested to keep it functional. This is a drain on the country’s exchequer and a moral issue that infringes on the development of other smaller non-metro cities.

Environmental impact of such mega cities is huge too. Let’s take the case of Hyderabad and Bengaluru. Both the cities were once reputed for being surrounded by several water bodies. The rapid expansion of these cities with inadequate planning over the last two and a half decades has led to the emergence of several serious issues. The water bodies in the case of Hyderabad have completely vanished thanks to real estate mafia, while in the case of Bengaluru they have borne the brunt of affluent discharge, pollution and eutrophication. “The Garden City” has transformed itself into “The Garbage City”. The unhindered expansion also has led to the steep hike in land prices forcing construction of new airfields far away from the city leading to the consumption of more fossil fuels in transit and therefore more emissions.

More importantly, the centrality of power and influence in metro cities has led to the neglect and a lack of awareness among urban elite of the real issues that concern the people living in the rest of the country. It hardly occurs to an average urban dweller as to what are the challenges that face semi urban or rural India. Issues such as the farmer suicides, water scarcity, health care, education, sanitation, law and order hardly find any air time. Most of the prime time in India is bizarrely focused around the urban elite’s perceptions rather than hard facts. A communal riot within a 100 kilometer radius around Delhi is reported as the reality of India and generalizations on the behaviour of the ordinary India is carelessly drawn.

This condescension stems out of entitlement and is a strong reflection of how notions and stereotypes prevail. The reality however is there exist many multiple diverse realities that are language, culture, religion and region specific. It is quite damning to realize that even the mainstream vernacular media that most of the country follows is also incapable of an extended coverage even within the confines of that particular state they operate in as they are themselves localized within the capital cities. Social media has to some extent bridged the gap, nonetheless, the sheer magnitude of disinformation online poses questions on the veracity of the information.

Unless we Indians address these critical issues holistically, any effort of the government is bound to succeed only partially. This is the next challenge to Indian democracy of which we sometimes are very unrealistically proud of.

True nationalism and patriotism is of sacrificial nature for the amelioration of the lives of our compatriots and not an ideological, geographical or a cultural notion. In fact, that should be the end goal and a natural corollary to the developmental impact we Indians create on ground even in the remotest parts of the land that we inhabit.

If we dream of becoming a super power it certainly is not by virtue of owning sophisticated weapons or the extent of our hard power capabilities when half of the country’s population does not even find a mention in national media or whose basic needs are not met. We need to empower people in every nook and cranny despite the limitations of geography and other factors. Unless that can be achieved one cannot claim that we have made progress or the world’s perception of us has improved. The stronger we become internally, the more leverage we have externally. Therefore, the time is ripe for us to move in the direction of better policy and equitable distribution of resources instead of sticking to the same old narratives of the 20th century. We need to move out of the metro cities not only physically but also psychologically. Let us not remain the “Metro-centric” democracy even in the 21st century.

Gandhi ji’s 150 birth anniversary- His views on the Brahmins

G Indira
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Gandhi ji’s 150 birth anniversary- His views on the Brahmins

In India, after attaining Independence from the British colonial rule, we have chosen a liberal Constitutional democracy wherein all people are equal irrespective of the caste and community. In fact, our founding fathers envisaged for a castleless society. Yet, our social fabric is still caste-ridden. This gives fillip to minority religious communities to convert saying that their religions to be egalitarian. The main target for vilification in Hindu society are the Brahmins. Many in India, loathe Brahmins for keeping knowledge to themselves and not distributing it to others. It’s said in scriptures, Brahminical qualities are: austerity, service, learning, purity and the unrelenting efforts to know Brahman.

Brahmins of yore, never exhibited pomp. Their priesthood itself symbolized their poverty. Now, of course, most Brahmins have moved away from those ideals. Mere birth into a family of the order wouldn’t make automatically a Brahmin. Anyone who lives by the said ideals could be called a Brahmin, is the theory. So therefore, it is incomprehensible why there is a fight in the society to pull down Brahmins? All told, in any case, it is undeniable, to say, that from among Brahmins, more men have come with real Brahminness in them than from all other castes.

In olden days, the ideal man was a Brahmin. For, he was the epitome of service. The secret of his power lied in his renunciation of earthly (material) enjoyment. When the Brahmins ideals slowly started eroding, Brahmins position in the society had become vulnerable. That means, they themselves invited the trouble.

In this 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, let’s review what the position of Gandhi ji was on Brahmins. Gandhi ji spoke about their (Brahmins) defects also. Pointing out how a Brahmin should be, he said, a Brahmin is to be synonymous with renunciation, self-control, learning, service of others, of effacing oneself in service of others. As such he cannot look upon anyone as low or untouchable, nor can he aspire to any secular vocation or goal. Get back to these ideals he emphasizes.

Gandhiji remonstrates with Brahmins by saying, “Your treatment of non-Brahmins has been satanic. When you were living up to the ideal of inner purity you did not need to fear being polluted from without. Give up offensive language towards non-Brahmins, give up these false notions of superiority and ‘purity’. Remember, pollution comes from within. Remember no superiority is inherited, that notion must be fought every inch of the way….”

Just as he told Brahmins, he told the non-Brahmin agitationists (in the South India) repeatedly, “The remedy is correction, not destruction”, … “Do not think you will gain anything by becoming non-Hindus, do not think you will gain anything by abusing Brahmins or burning their homes. “Who were Tilak, Gokhale, Ranade and Agarkar?” he asked them. They were Brahmins.

Gandhi ji added, “The Brahmins, however fallen they may be, are still in the forefront of all movements, political and social… It is the Brahmins who exert for the uplift of the depressed classes, more than anybody else. Lokmanya Tilak is revered by all classes of people for his service to the country. One Brahmin gentleman in Andhra has devoted his life to the service of the untouchable classes. The late Mr Gokhale, Mr Ranade and the Hon’ble Mr Sastri have all done splendid work for the regeneration of the backward classes. These are all Brahmins. I am convinced that the Brahmins are known for their self-sacrifice at all times. You complain of the Brahmin bureaucracy. But let us compare it with the British bureaucracy. The latter’s follows ‘the divide and rule policy’ and maintains its authority by the power of the sword, whereas the Brahmins have never resorted to the force of arms and they have established their superiority by sheer force of their intellect, self-sacrifice and penance…By indulging in violent contempt of a community which has produced men like Ramdas,Tulsidas,Ranade, Tilak and others, it is impossible that you can rise,” was Gandhi ji’s message. (Collected Works, 20.144, 18.448.49).

In support of Brahmins Gandhi ji also says, “I have not a shadow of doubt that Hinduism owes its all to the great traditions that the Brahmins have left for Hinduism. They have left a legacy for India, for which every Indian, no matter to what Varna he may belong, owes a deep debt of gratitude. Having studied the history of almost every religion in the world it is my settled conviction that there is no class in the world that has accepted poverty and self-effacement as its lot. I would therefore urge—a non-Brahmin myself—- I would urge all non-Brahmins who may compose the audience and all non-Brahmins to whom my voice may reach that they will make a fundamental error if they believe that they can better their position by decrying Brahmanism.

Even in this black age, travelling throughout the length and breadth of India, I notice that the Brahmins take the first place in self-sacrifice and self-effacement. It is the Brahmins all over India who silently but surely are showing to every class in India their rights and privileges. But having said so much I wish to confess too that the Brahmins together with the rest of us have suffered all (sic). They have set before India, voluntarily and deliberately the highest standard that the human mind is capable of conceiving; and they must not be surprised if the Indian world exact that standard from them.

The Brahmins have declared themselves, and they ought to remain, custodians of the purity of our life. I am aware that the non-Brahmins of Madras have many things to say against Brahmins, for which there is some cause. But let non-Brahmins, realize that by quarrelling with Brahmins…by mudslinging they will not better their lot, but will degrade Hinduism itself” (Collected Works, 19-546).

Gandhi ji further advised non-Brahmins, “ In your haste, in your blindness, in your anger against Brahmins, do not trample underfoot the whole of the culture which you have inherited from ages past”, he added “…even at the risk of being understood or being mistaken by you to be a pro-Brahmin, I make bold to declare to you that whilst Brahmins have many sins to atone for and many for which they will receive exemplary punishments there are today Brahmins living in India who are watching the progress of Hinduism and who are trying to protect it with all the piety and all the austerity of which they are capable. Them you perhaps do not even know. They do not care to be known. They expect no reward; they ask for none. Their work is its own reward. They work in this fashion because they must. It is their nature. You and I may swear against them for all we are worth, but they are untouched… (Ibid, 34.512).

Now, it could be easily understood as to why religious minorities in India prefer former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru (an agnostic) over Mahatma Gandhi who championed for the cause of Hinduism. Undoubtedly, Gandhi ji strived for bringing unity among various castes in Hinduism to keep the society intact.

Source:
Excerpts from: Shri Arun Shourie’s column- ‘An example of the consequences’ published on 4 July 1993 in English newspaper Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad.

Destroying the Ravana within

bhaktivedantist
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Destroying the Ravana within

Today is Dusshera also known as Ramvijayotsava, the day of Lord Ramchandra’s historic victory over Ravana, also interpreted as the triumph of the divine over demoniac, of pure good over evil.
Lord Sri Krishna tells in the Bhagavad Gita:

tri-vidham narakasyedam
dvaram nasanam atmanah
kamah krodhas tatha lobhas
tasmad etat trayam tyajet

that three gates lead to hellish conditions, namely, lust, anger, and, greed. Every sane man must leave them because these lead to the degradation of the immortal soul.

Ravana in his character personalized these three anarthas and so from his story, it can be learned how these demoniac tendencies develop within our own hearts. In the second chapter of Bhagavad Gita Krishna tells:

dhyayato visayan pumsah
sangas tesupajayate
sangat sanjayate kamah
kamat krodho ‘bhijayate

krodhad bhavati sammohah
sammohat smrti-vibhramah
smrti-bhramsad buddhi-naso
buddhi-nasat pranasyati

It is a progression of degradation that begins like a small seed within the heart, the seed of the most vicious weed. And if that weed is watered, it will grow into such a hideous and powerful monster of a creeper, that will choke our spiritual prospects and steal from us the precious wealth of life.

yatato hy api kaunteya
purusasya vipascitah
indriyani pramathini
haranti prasabham manah

The senses are so strong and so infectious that they can forcibly carry the mind of a person with discrimination who is endeavoring to control them. Arjuna was a very great personality, the son of Pandu and a dear most friend of Krishna, but he admitted the power of lust, anger, and greed. Arjuna asks Krishna, what is this power that forces a person to commit sinful immoral acts meant for his own destruction. And Krishna replies,

kama esa krodha esa
rajo-guna-samudbhavah
mahasano maha-papma
viddhy enam iha vairinam

It is lust only Arjuna, which is an all-devouring sinful enemy of this world, the Ravana, which is later transformed to wrath. When the mind becomes influenced (by this enemy of Ravana) it is so difficult to control. Ravana was considered one of the most powerful and deadly enemies in the entire universe. Even the devatas, headed by Indra, were shaking in fear of Ravana. The mere movement of his eyebrows caused them to tremble in fear. He would especially go to the great yogis and rishis as he knew that religious activities and association of saintly people had the greatest power to eliminate him. Ravana knew that to control the world he should extinguish the power that could exterminate him, the power of God.

Ravana was living in Srilanka had he had everything and far more than anyone could possibly need in life. As described in the Ramayan, one day his sister, Surpanakha, came running with a bloody nose and Ravana was outraged. Surpanakha was very expert, for she knew what it took to ignite the fire in the heart of Ravana. She wanted revenge and wanted Ravana to be the instrument for that purpose. So she told Ravana about the most beautiful female form living in all of the creation, mother Sita, living in the forest of Panchvati (Maharashtra), wearing the simple austere clothes of a forest dweller, along with her husband and brother-in-law, Ram and Laxman. She described the beauty of Ravana in such a way that the seed entered into Ravana’s heart. This is exactly what the Bhagavad Gita tells, the progression of downfall.

While contemplating the object of senses, attachment develops. Just by hearing about Sita, Ravana contemplated and contemplated and contemplated and he became attached. Krishna says, from such attachment lust develops. Ravana was victimized, defeated and exploited with lust. He was thinking that he was the king, Maharaj, but the scriptures tell that the real king is one who has controlled his mind and senses. One can conquer the whole world but if one is unable to conquer one’s mind and senses, one will be defeated. Contemplation is the first warning that Krishna gives, when these enemies come in our heart we must divert our attention away from them because we have the free will of what we are going to think about.

So many thoughts, so many ideas, and so many desires may just awaken from our subconsciousness or may be stimulated from our external environment, but we have the choice of what we are going to contemplate. Unless and until we fill our minds with higher thoughts, the mind will certainly contemplate the seeds of our degradation. Ravan could do that, earlier he lived high up in the mountains, fixing his mind on one point without eating, without drinking and without any relationships with others. So he had the power but now as he got the benediction of Lord Bramha, he became proud, he became lax, and he contemplated the beauty of mother Sita.

Now, mother Sita is the goddess of fortune, the goddess of fortune is the eternal consort of the Supreme Lord Narayan, in this case, Lord Sri Ram. If we contemplate on mother Sita in the spirit of being the servant of her servant in her service to Lord Ram, it is the ultimate contemplation in life, bestowing us with perfection, peace and spiritual love. But if we contemplate in the egoistic pursuit of enjoying selfishly for our own purposes, it will lead to havoc, chaos, and destruction. Ravana contemplated, he let lust grow, through his thoughts he watered the seed of lust, and the seed grew into attachment.

Surpanakha told him that how mother Sita is protected by Ram, and under the power of that lust, he became angry and envious of Lord Ram. As far as Sri Ramchandra was concerned he was just a prince who was in no way any threat to him, who was exiled to live in the forest for fourteen years, but now he saw Lord Ram as the barrier between him and mother Sita. So he became angry as fire, envious as a snake, towards Lord Ram for no other reason than he was interfering with the promise of fulfilling his lust. This is Bhagavad Gita’s instruction. While contemplating the objects of senses one develops attachment, from attachment develops lust and when there is an impediment to lust, anger arises. Lord Ram, the all well-wishing best friend of every living entity, became his enemy.

Ravana devised a plan to kidnap mother Sita and approached Maricha. He explained his plan to Maricha. He also told him that even death personified cannot stand in front of Lord Ram. Hearing this Ravana was so disturbed. This is the next stage of Krishna’s explanation, anger, and envy born out of unfulfilled lust that leads to the bewilderment of memory. In fact, Surpanakha told Ravana that Sri Ram himself had killed two of his most formidable brothers, Khara and Dushan, along with Trishira and 14000 highly-trained military troops in a matter of about an hour. He didn’t think about that, Maricha was telling him to stop, but his memory was bewildered. The next stage after bewilderment of memory is the loss of intelligence. Once the intelligence is lost, Ravana fell down in the pool of suffering and bondage. The Ravana of lust makes us deceitful, deceitful to God and ultimately to all the other living entities. Ravana was the son of a brahmana from a very high family of sages, but he became degraded by lust, anger, and greed.

Ravana disguised himself as a harmless sage and came to apprehend mother Sita as Lord Ram and Laxman were chasing after Marichi impersonating as a golden deer. We see in today’s world that promoted by lust and greed even loving friends and family members become deceitful and cheat each other for a little money, for little power and for little prestige to enjoy. Greed creates fear and paranoia. Two principles keep us bounded and attached to this material world, I and mine. Lust specifically pertains to I am the enjoyer and to enjoy more proficiently I need more to call mine. This is greed. We read about Aurangzeb, he killed his brother and imprisoned his father. What to speak of this artificial state of consciousness of envy and deceit towards God, who is the proprietor of everything. Ravana personified these and he stole away mother Sita in the most cowardly way.

Ravana could not hear the advice of Marichi, his loving brother Vibhishan, his chaste wife Mandodari and even Lord Hanumanji to let go mother Sita because his intelligence was gone due to contemplating on the objects of the senses and allowing this enemy of lust, anger, and greed to enter into his heart. This is the power of lust, anger, and greed. We cannot hear from scriptures, friends, sadhus, and best well-wishers. Ravana fell down as instead of becoming the eternal loving servant of the Lord, he became the competitive enemy of the Lord.

And then, there was that great battle. At any time in this battle, what Ravana had to do, was to tell Lord Ram to take mother Sita. He saw his generals killed, his brothers killed, and even his son killed. The vast part of his army was destroyed. Then boarded his own chariot to fight against Lord Ram, and what a battle that was. Lord Ram, being exiled, was on foot, so Indra sent his chariot along with the chariot driver, Matali. Lord Ram graciously accepted the gift and boarded the chariot. Ravana was such an expert fighter and was the personification of lust anger and greed. Lord Ram was playing the part of a human being although being the supreme personality because he wanted to teach the world how to conquer the Ravana within.

Ravana was sending tens and thousands of arrows covering the body of Ram. It appeared that he disappeared in the mass black cloud of arrows, but then he rose like the Sun. Other times Ram covered Ravana’s entire body with arrows. The battle went back and forth, hour after hour after hour. There was no fighting on the field, on both sides of the army everyone just sat or stood practically unblinking watching these two most powerful personality fighting with each other. And it appeared to everyone that neither of them was getting an upper hand over the other.

The battle raged on, Ram took a particular arrow and that arrow simultaneously divided into ten and simultaneously cut off all ten of Ravana’s heads. But then instantly the ten heads grew up. Ram with another arrow expanding into ten removed the ten heads of Ravana, but again the ten heads grew instantly. Sri Ramchandra cut off many hundred heads of Ravana and still, he was fighting with his ten heads intact in the battlefield. Ram turned and expressed his condition that it seems that this battle is going to last forever, as Ravana cannot be killed.

It was then that Vibishan appeared. Vibhishan personifies a faithful devotee. He reminded Ram of a very important secret. He told him that his brother had benediction from Lord Brahma and Shiva that however many times you cut off his arms or head it will grow back. Any art of the body you wound it will grow instantly. There is only one way to kill him. There is a deposit of amrita or nectar within the core of his heart. Lord Ram would have to shoot such an arrow that would drink and suck up all the nectar from his heart and then only can he be defeated.

During his exile, Lord Ram along with mother Sita and Laxman went to the hermitage of sage Agastya. He was a very great sage living near Panchvati. They served him with all humility and offered him all respects, sat at his lotus feet and listened to his vast experience and wisdom and performed very menial services for him. Lord Ram was playing the part of a human being, to set the example that all people who want to understand the truth must follow. Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita, just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth. Ram was the humble servant of his devotee, to explain that being the humble servant of the servant is the only way to conquer the Ravana within. And, when Ram was in the most desperate moments of his life, he was reminded of the prayer imparted to him by sage Agastya called Aditya Hridaya and a special weapon, an arrow empowered by his mercy.

Again, Vibhishan reminded Sri Ramchandra to use the weapon given by sage Agastya and to chant the prayer given by him. Vibhishan here represents the association of devotees, to remind us of what spiritual masters, sages, and scriptures have told us. To refresh our memory because the tendency is to forget, especially when one is attacked by the Ravana of lust, anger, and greed. Without the association of devotees, it is impossible to win this battle against the three enemies. The arrow represents the mercy of great souls.

Lord Sri Ramchandra drew back the arrow which was the mercy of sage Agastya, chanted the mantra, and shot it towards Ravana. The shaft of the arrow was presided by Lord Vayu, the plumes presided over by Agni, the tip of the arrow was presided over by Surya or the Sun and the weight of the arrow was presided over by Mount Mandara and Sumeru. The arrow flew through the air, it was effulgent like the Sun, it made such a sound that the earth trembled and entered right into the core of Ravana’s heart. It sucked all the nectar, by its own powers came out of his heart and returned to Lord Rama’s quiver silently.

Ravana screamed and it was a scream that no man had ever heard before. Blood started vomiting out of his mouth, his limbs trembled, all of his twenty eyes rolled and then he fell from his chariot on to the ground as a mighty mountain is cut down by the thunderbolt of Indra.

This is how lord Ramchandra taught us the only way to conquer the Ravana within. One must chant the mantra because it gives us the power of Vishnu. According to the Kali Santarana Upanishad, in this age of Kali, the most powerful mantra that includes all other mantra is this sixteen word thirty two-syllable mantra:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

The power of this mantra is it cleans the heart of lust, anger, and greed. Just as the Aditya Hriday manifested the full strength of Lord Vishnu, the holy name of God has all the power and glory of God himself. Lord Ram by his own example took the name from a great saint, Agastya, and chanted the name. But to chant properly we must receive the mercy of great sages, which represents the arrow. He received the arrow of Agastya muni because he heard from him submissively and served him with great sincerity and faithfulness.

These three things combined, the mercy of great sages, the association of devotees and the chanting of the holy names of the Lord, as taught by Lord Ramchandra, can help every one of us to forever kill the Ravana within our heart.

All of us have the experience, every time we control our senses, every time we try to defeat lust, anger, and greed, like heads of Ravana, these appear again. We must go to the heart.

sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami ma sucah

When we surrender to the Lord, he protects us. Lord’s mercy can be accessed through the mercy of his devotees, through the mercy of great sages and through the chanting of the lord’s holy names. It has been sung by the holy scriptures as the only means of conquering the Ravana within.

Wishing you again a very Happy Dusshera!

Jai Shri Ram.

This is a summarised transcription of lecture given by His Holiness @radhanathswami. The complete lecture can be downloaded here: http://audio.iskcondesiretree.com/05_-_ISKCON_Chowpatty/91_-_Prerna/00_-_HH_Radhanath_Swami/Prerna_Destroying_the_Ravana_Within_HH_Radhanath_Swami_15-10-05.mp3

HOWDY MODI! Trump welcomes Modi in Houston!

preity
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HOWDY MODI! Trump welcomes Modi in Houston!

Sunday the 22nd of September was a historic day for the USA when a sitting US president was a guest in the largest gathering in America of a foreign head of state. Indian Prime minister Hon Narendra Modi spoke to the largest gathering in the US of over 50,000 in Houston, Texas on Sunday. In what is being described as an unprecedented gesture of solidarity, US President Donald Trump was present in Houston to share the stage with Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi during his mega rally. The gathering included members of the Indian American diaspora, over 60 eminent lawmakers, Congressmen, prominent politicians, Texas Senators, Mayor of Houston and of course the President of the United states, Donald Trump. The official statement from the White house was “ This event will be a great opportunity to emphasize the strong ties between the people of the US and India. It will also reaffirm strategic partnership between the world’s oldest and largest democracies”.

This was Modi’s second mega rally, the first being held in New York to an overwhelming crowd of Indian diaspora as well as NRI’s- Non Resident Indians from around the world. This was the biggest event on US soil, with 1500 volunteers, 650 community organizations, Americans from all faiths and cultures coming together to welcome a foreign leader. The event took place at the NRG stadium in Houston, Texas. Modi has been a “Rock star” politician wowing crowds wherever he goes and making a formidable impression on the global state amongst global leaders.

The reason for this meet was several –fold. Although they make up only 1% of the US population, Indian Americans are the most educated and richest of all the ethnic groups in the US, including white Americans. They are increasingly an important vote bank, known to generously donate and support various politicians and candidates. This group is increasingly becoming ever attractive to US Congressmen and candidates. It would be wise of President Trump to entertain a crowd such as the one in Houston, Texas. Trump was playing his “Trump” card to sway some of the Indian voters, who traditionally vote democrat, in his favor, particularly in Texas, a large, swing state.

President Trump thanked the Indian American community for their contribution to the US and applauded Modi on removing 300 million Indians out of Poverty in the last 5 years. He re-iterated that India will have a true friend in the White House with his administration. He also noted the launch of NBA in India with the first NBA game to be played in Mumbai next week- he jokes if he was invited as he may show up!

Trade of course was discussed and some important announcements made between US- Indian relations. Bi-lateral talks with India and US in the matters of trade will be discussed ahead of the United Nations General Assembly and a breakthrough around Tariffs is expected to be achieved. Investment amongst both countries was seconded by both leaders. Modi joked that Trump calls him a Master negotiater, but he has learnt a lot from Trump himself who did write the Art of the Deal”!

PM Modi spoke about development in India and the emergence of a “Digital India”. He quoted that “Data is the new oil “ and articulated how Data can be consumed for the lowest price in the world in India and how it aspires to be the tech capital of the world.

The fight against global terrorism was discussed and the need to curb it. Even in the matter of the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, the US is rethinking its options and strategies. It has been over dependent on Pakistan on this matter in the past, but that is coming to pass, with Pakistan’s continued support for terrorism in the region.

The issue of Kashmir no doubt came up. The PM spoke about the recent abrogation of Article 370, a discriminatory, sexist and racist law whose removal was welcomed by the whole country of India. It has left only the terrorists, separists, and corrupts dynast political heads upset. The whole world, including the UN, EU, US government and Trump all agree that Kashmir is an internal matter of India and backs India’s decision. Modi in no uncertain terms made it completely clear that the removal of Article 370 was a triumph for humanity and equality for all. The removal was passed with overwhelming majority in both Upper and Lower house of the parliament and was telecast live worldwide.

He also called out with out naming Pakistan, the largest state sponsored terror factory in the world. He said “whether it is the 9/11 attack on the US or 26/11 attack on India, we know exactly where global terror comes from and we need to fight it”. President Trump stressed that the US is an important player in the fight against global Islamic terror. He pointed that the two countries share a common love for liberty, freedom and democracy.

Houston police had been briefed already on a potential disruptive ruly protestors made up of Pakistanis, Khalistanis and Muslim groups funded and propped up by the ISI- the intelligence arm of the Pakistani army that is known to fund terrorism across the border as well as around the world. Tight security measures were in place to ensure that safety ensues and that there is no terror or violent threat to any of the attendees as well as of course the leaders of the free world. After president Trump’s attendance confirmation, the organized protests had toned down their threats, as this now becomes an issue of national security.

The rally ended with a “Lap of Victory” around the arena with both Trump and Modi gracing the stadium with their presence. The two leaders could not have asked for a better set of optics or imagery for their nations and their own political futures. The NRG stadium had an electric sensation during the event, reaffirming a historic alignment between India and USA.

This was an historic event for Indian Americans, and will be the biggest event on US soil, after the Pope’s visit. It was an important and effective event; with Houston hearts beating for Modi!

Judicial & police reforms – The need of the hour

manuksh
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Judicial & police reforms – The need of the hour

Complaining is what we as public have always learned to do. We tend to ask questions about society’s problems but we don’t want to find the solutions. Today as a member of the same complaining and questioning society, I take it as my social responsibility to suggest a few points which may be deemed as part of a long due system overhaul.

The suggestions to our Police & Judicial reforms:

1. FIR has to be lodged directly with the judiciary via an All India Police ERP system, connected as a mobile application with the public at large connecting all courts and police stations pan Bharat.

2. FIR can be lodged online, in any police station or on the mobile app portal which connects the public to the system. This mobile app will have the facility to video and audio record the complaint as an encrypted safe transcript. Aadhaar link will deem it as legally and digitally signed.

3. The online app will immediately notify the FIR to the concerned police station, Police SHO, DCP office till DIG of the state police.

4. The AI based system will itself allocate the FIR to the concerned investigation officer and the on record file with progress report filters will be a public document, open to public scrutiny, comments & suggestions.

5. All investigation officers will work and report on an online investigation system, a common platform having a dedicated system based menu and sub menus. The system which will have a committed step by step time set procedure for the investigation officer to follow, report and automatically progress to generate a digital police investigation report for the courts. The system will have Bharat’s entire legal data and police records. The AI generated report will also incorporate all similar Bharat Criminal Data, Court Cases etc as referral for the judge. An Automatic time-bound reporting and completion of investigation will be the norm.

The AI based system will automatically guide the investigation officer and report both his compliances and non compliances in the final police report. The system will have various checks and measures like forensics, uploading evidence in digital format etc. The public can on anonymity also upload evidence pertaining to the case and protected by the Evidence and WhistleBlower Acts. The Aadhaar based system will bring in accountability and transparency for all in the AI based system. Depending on the IPC sections involved the AI system will itself investigate the case with the investigating officer only helping the system in following the steps generated by it. The system will allocate the various IPS sections connected with the case, compile the data and the investigation officer has to generate the required evidence for the system in accordance with the system’s requirements. After the investigation is in progress or over the system will generate the report for the courts to follow and will be submitted to the court vide the area DCP or DIG office with the concerned SHO’s digital signature.

6. The judgements will be system generated after the judge and court staff have completed the set procedures pertaining to the case in their set Dems. The AI will process the data to dispense the judgements and generate bail or further escalation in the case. The judgement will be authenticated by a panel if need be online.

7. The moment the court receives the case online, the system will automatically allocate the case to a Judge hence officially recognising the in case as registered. The system will first offer mediation in case of Civil suits after the concerned judge and court is allotted.

8. The system will automatically allocate the case at random to the all India list of advocates specialising in the concerned case types. The AI will shortlist the advocates as per set criteria set in the system. This will ensure transparency in the system as all advocates will get a fair chance to get cases.

9. The system will automatically decide the time allotted for judgement which will have an effect on a judges work appraisal.

10. The system will incorporate payment procedure for advocate’s fees, court fees, etc. All advocates will be PAID by the courts as the litigants will deposit fees in the courts and not pay the advocates directly.

11. The advocate fees will be fixed by the govt. A part of the advocate fees will go for Advocates welfare, Insurance, Bar association, pension and medical facilities.

12. The procedure will be transparent and once the litigant selects his advocate then the advocate will have to comply and deliver. The litigants will rate the advocates service which will help the advocate and also have a procedure of refunding a part of fees. The appraisal system based on litigants and judges for an advocate will help filter out the weeds in the system & also a good appraisal points/ratings will help advocates garner more cases and higher fees brackets. Advocate fees will be in brackets starting from minimum to a maximum depending upon the case, duration etc.

13. The witnesses, digital as well as hard copy evidence, proofs, will be digitally processed. Witness will be cross examined and then his authentication with his recorded evidence incorporated. A witness can only be called thrice. Police has to encrypt the digital twice. Forensic Proof and Forensic labs pan Bharat will be interconnected & connected to the case via the ERP system. The Forensic labs will only get a secret case number for their report & not divulge any other details. Every Police station will have a Forensic DCP and below cadre hierarchy giving strength to scientific and reliable criminal investigation.

14. Automatic transfer of case to higher courts and similar procedure will be followed again.

15. The higher court will decide the case’s as acceptable or not.

16. Police arrest, remand, interrogation will be online and in video to avoid third degree torture based confessions. The AI based forensics will be the crucial and the deciding factor.

17. Medical, Compensation, postmortem, handling and disposal of victim’s body etc will digitally organised and part of the courts judgement. The case will be deemed as over only when A to Z procedure has been digitally filled.

18. On completion of the case, the AI system will automatically grade the judge, police, advocate etc and add to their appraisals, awards. The police investigation officer will lose his job on 5 failures of convictions hence false cases will be a forgotten norm.

19. No more an advocates fees will be a deciding factor in dispensing judgements. Good advocates will automatically be graded by the system itself on the basis of factors like judicial appraisals, time taken to decide the case & clients feedback.

20. Law Companies & alliance will be strictly prohibited.

21. Good licensed detective agencies will be the new criteria as a parallel to post & pre police investigation to help the case. This will be based on judge’s discretion & the detectives will be paid by the litigants via the courts in a pre-set fees pattern.

22. Police investigation officers appraisal will be similar as above.

23. Low performance, non conviction etc will automatically reflect on the police officers service records. 5 non conviction, delays etc will lead to disciplinary action.

24. Good performance by lawyers, judges, staff will be online available to the public with an all India ratings system.

25. Only good lawyers will make to courts and judges after passing the exams or the set govt selection procedure etc.

26. Quality judgements will be highlighted online.

27. Dedicated media cell in all courts.

28. The fees will be collected by the courts and then paid to the lawyers with a noble tax-free system. Litigants and clients will not be able to directly pay the advocate or detectives.

29. Direct payments will be considered illegal hence attract penalties, fines and punishment.

30. The AI based legal system will also incorporate automatic changes in existing laws and bring in new ones as per the challenges posed by the society’s ambient social structure and demand.

31. Judges will have AI to give valid judgements. AI will look into an all Bharat database of cases, criminal history sheets etc to bring about logical algorithm based decision cum judgements.

I hope all these points will bring in the much needed judicial cum police reforms in a scientific and logical way. It will bring in transparency, accountability, fairness and reliability to our judiciary. This will improve the image of our legal and policing systems in the eyes of the world and do away with Corruption. Jai Bharat.

 

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