Military Rule for India’s Progress and Prosperity

In the 1970s frequent strikes and gheraos by workers and students, destroying public property, killing of innocent people for political reasons made Field Marshal General Cariappa call a press conference on 8^th March 1970 at Dhanbad, Jharkhand.

At the press conference General Cariappa said that for the survival of democracy which has been threatened by indiscipline, lack of respect for law and order, we should have President rule for five years. The President should administer the affairs of the country with the help of a council of 25 or so hand picked advisors and should hand over the States where law and order have failed to the army for administration. For this to happen, General Cariappa wanted the existing constitution scrapped and an interim constitution to be drafted. General Cariappa was against formation of States on linguistic basis. This he said had sounded the death knell for the unity of our country and problems like Belgaum, Chandigarh, Telangana, etc., have come up. The presence of linguistic states have made us feel like foreigners in our own country.

General Cariappa was also against adult franchise and existence of many political parties. He favoured only three political parties and wanted only literate people be given the eligibility to vote in elections. General Cariappa said that if a poll was held, nearly 90% of Indians will vote for a President cum Military rule to save Democracy. Lastly he clarified that he never favoured Military coups but as a temporary measure to put things right in the country wanted a President cum Military rule.

Confusing Lootocracy with Democracy

Normally a person even with less intelligence can be fooled once or twice or at the most thrice. Then he/she will become cautious. But there is one country in the world where its people are fooled thrice (in local body, state assembly and Lok Sabha elections) every five years and this has been going on since 1952. But what is most intriguing is that those who are fooling a billion plus people of this country are ordinary criminals and crooks. Your guess is right, that country is India.

Mockery of Democracy

In India if you are a rowdy or criminal and want to legitimize your nefarious activities, you join as an apprentice with a politician (who himself was a former rowdy who got promoted as a politician by working as an apprentice with another rowdy politician) and then by pleasing him get a ticket to contest municipal election and later assembly elections. Hence S.Y.Quraishi, Former Chief Election Commissioner of India had said -“If one don’t have money in lakhs and crores or if one is not a ‘dada’ (rowdy), he doesn’t have a chance of winning elections”-(The Indian Express, 28^th April, 2011). The way elected representatives scramble for cabinet posts and start dissidence if not given clearly shows with what intention they came to become MLAs. But the voters with poor memory, lack of political awareness and also helplessness continue to be fooled in every election.

Politicians lack basic civic sense

Just observe how political parties during elections paste posters all over the public spaces disregarding municipal rules not to deface the town. They hold massive roadshows obstructing free flow of traffic, hold massive show of strength (to threaten whom?) and on the election day dug up roads to set up pandals near polling booths to house their agents and on winning the election burst fire crackers right in the middle of busy roads hindering movement of traffic and polluting the atmosphere. This shows that political parties and their workers lack even basic civic sense and to these idiots we are asking to run the administration. But sometimes I wonder who is the real idiot; they or the people who vote for them.

Scrutiny for everyone except politicians

In TV channels we find expert singers/choreographers as judges even to select small kids in singing and dancing competitions. Small business companies reissue advertisement if they don’t get suitable candidates for the post called for and in the advertisements they highlight that those applied earlier need not apply, which shows their seriousness for choosing the right candidate. We have University professors framing questions for candidates appearing for I.A.S. examinations. But ironically no expertise is required for selecting those who are supposed to give orders for I.A.S. officers and frame policies and programmes for the nation. Isn’t this pathetic and stupidity that to govern a vast and varied nation like India all sundry can act as arbiters to select. Remember it was the politically ignorant people who exercised their voting rights defeated Baba Saheb Ambedkar twice.

Public positions to siphon public money legitimately

If a person is really sincere about serving people, he will just declare his intention to stand for elections and lay bare his programs and policies which he will implement if he or she wins in the election. There will be no need to beg people to vote for him, cry or act in such a way to gain their sympathy or seek votes based on his caste or spend money to entice voters. But all these things happen in Indian elections. Hence even a common illiterate man in the street knows why people are so eager to contest elections and spend huge amounts of money to ensure their success at the polls.

In India people are eager to enter politics and seek positions and posts as it is the only easy and legitimate means to siphon public money by planning projects which in no way benefit the common man. For instance, airports in every district, community halls, statues of historical personalities, unneeded skywalks, bus shelters, etc., but not basic infrastructures like roads, toilets, sewerage treatment plants, provision for good drinking water and medical service. While planning these types of projects they deliberately spike the cost several times and award contracts to their henchmen. The residual amount left after finishing the project is then shared with bureaucrats who help them prepare the projects and with contractors. Hence the desperation to become a legislator, minister, chairman of a corporation, board, etc.

Why people vote for their fellow castemen

In India while purchasing goods or availing the services of electricians, plumbers, drivers, maids, etc., people do not think whether the shop which sells the goods or the service provider belong to their caste. This is because what they are looking for is a fair price, durability and quality of goods they are purchasing or the service they are seeking. The same parameters, they do not apply while voting and prefer the candidate who belongs to their caste as their mind is ingrained with the belief (and which is also a fact) that the post of a municipal corporator, MLA and MP is for enjoying perks and privileges. If the politicians can make a lot of money with impunity why not he be from our caste is their thinking. Hence we don’t find a Brahmin representative in a Dalit dominated constituency or a Muslim representative in a Brahmin dominated constituency. It is only in countries like the UK where real democracy exists that a person like Rishi Sunak can be elected as Prime Minister as the people there know that he is there to serve them and not to embezzle public money.

Adult franchise not suitable for political illiteracy

Now the question is how can such a vast majority of people be fooled by a bunch of rowdy elements on a regular basis? Firstly India has a population with a large number of illiteracy, who are poor and ignorant. Even the so-called educated are politically illiterate, for instance we may have professionals like doctors, engineers, scientists, accountants, artists, teachers, etc. who may be experts in their respective field, but don’t have historical and political awareness, and hence lack ability to choose eligible candidates in elections. Some don’t have interests to take part in the political process just like everybody is not interested in sports or literature. So a small percentage of people with historical and political awareness are left who actually can participate in elections and can play an important role in choosing a right candidate and party to power. But as in democracy the majority prevails and hence this small minority who are eligible in all respects to play a decisive role in the country’s democratic process are made redundant. According to Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) democracy can be established only in very small countries in which direct representation can be achieved. Even in western countries people were enfranchised gradually.

Befooling oneself continuously by voting

But unfortunately, the educated class, the intellectuals and especially those in the media who have great responsibility to the society and the country at large take the incidents in which politicians demand for positions very lightly. Does not demanding positions through threats and blackmailing reveal the unscrupulous character of the said person. Will he not himself become naked in the eyes of the public as a person hungry for power and who wants to make use of his position for illegal gratification and nepotism? It is strange that the media discusses which caste or community should receive representation in the ministry as though the minister’s post is for enjoying perks and privileges instead of serving people. Demand for ministerial posts is also made by persons who have been successively getting elected in their constituency, say for five or six times in a row. In spite of being elected successively why has their constituency not been developed nobody asks. Does that not show the incompetence of the said legislator? In spite of the above developments in our political system which is becoming worse day by day, why do educated people go and participate in the elections? Is it because there is no other alternative to the present system or admitting failure in the system means exposing their own incapableness to change the system which involves a lot of sacrifices? Real change means just after a party comes to power the next day you go to any government office and get your work done without any delay, hassles or by paying a bribe.

Choice between a rascal and a scoundrel

Many people sermonize that for a democracy to flourish people should vote. But what is the guarantee that the person whom I vote for will not join another party if offered money. We have examples of many Congress and JDS MLAs joining BJP in Karnataka. In case if someone wants to vote for a particular party, its candidate will be the opportunist who had been associated with all political parties at one time or the other during his political career. In case of casting a vote in favour of an independent candidate, there is no guarantee that once elected he/she will not switch his/her loyalty to the parties aspiring to form government, in the name of ‘development’. Hence for the voter it is a choice between a rascal and scoundrel.

In the present setup the politicians have fine-tuned their strategies of befooling the people with promises of reforms and good governance so well that people vote for them in every election in spite of these wily politicians not fulfilling their earlier promises. One should go to a government office to see how helpless people are when they refuse to pay bribes to get their work done. This system is flourishing as the bureaucrats are hand in glove with the politicians, the latter getting a percentage in the bribe and all the embezzlement done by the officials. The people are helpless as if they raise their voice against the officials the latter takes the help of the police against the people saying that they are not allowing them to carry on their duties. Being a part of the system, the police always support the corrupt bureaucrats and their political masters, the politicians.

Slum dwellers more intelligent than educated middle class people

There are some activists who criticize the apathy of the middle class and the literate to cast their vote and ask them to emulate the poor and slum dwellers who stand in long queues to cast their votes. But many do not know that unlike these activists these people are not under any illusion that by casting their votes their plight will be changed overnight. They vote because political parties ferry them to the polling booth in vehicles and give them money, liquor, biriyani and other goodies. For these people the election day is some sort of relief from their daily drudgery and a day on which they are pampered. Some of them (especially in rural areas) are also very innocent who believe in the sweet talks of candidates who go to their doorsteps, address them as mother, brother, sister and fall at their feet to receive blessings. Another reason why the slum dwellers go and cast their votes is because political parties would have given contracts to rowdies to get a certain number of votes on their party’s candidate. These rowdies distribute money or liquor to the slum dwellers and as a result they have to vote for the candidate dictated by the rowdy.

After elections voters discarded like condom

In India there are a lot of similarities between a voter and a condom. An individual uses a condom for safe sex. Similarly the politician uses a voter to legitimize his nefarious activities. The politician wants to show to the world that he has been elected by the people and hence what he does is legitimate. When there is shortage of condoms an individual who is in dire need of the same is ready to pay more than the prescribed price of the condom. Similarly as there is severe competition between politicians striving to come to power, the politician will go any length to entice voters with bribes and false promises. And finally just as an individual throws away the condom after its use, the politician discards his voters, the day after the elections. On the eve of the elections he visits each and every house and addresses the voters with respect, but once elected the voters have to wait for his audience. If questioned on the inadequacy of his service and not fulfilling his promises, the voter gets a kick in the back from the henchmen of the politician who now has the additional service of the police.

Real Democracy exist in western nations

In the UK, Boris Johnson had to resign from his post of Prime Ministership just because he partied during the lockdown period during the Covid crisis. In New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern who was just 42 years old resigned as she was feeling too much work pressure and wanted to spend quality time with her family. Can one expect these types of conduct from our politicians in India?

In our country even those struck with paralysis, confined to wheelchairs due to illness or old age, criminals, film stars, widows; whose husband had expired recently and illiterates, all are eager to stand for elections ‘to serve’. Sometimes whole family members; husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter-in-law, grandson stand for elections. Such is the eagerness for them to serve people.

Passion for Public Service

The great statesman Gopala Krishna Gokhale felt that public service or politics was a whole time affair and only people who had a single minded devotion to the public cause could prove to be good politicians. To train young men in public life he started the ‘The Servants of India Society’. Here first class graduates were given five year training in various subjects and given stipends. This shows aspiring politicians should have good knowledge about the country’s history, politics, constitution, administration, oratory and linguistic skills, international, economic, environmental and a host of issues.

When Mahatma Gandhi first visited Bangalore on 8th May 1915 some enthusiastic youngsters wanted to unhorse the carriage in which Gandhiji was to be taken and to draw it themselves in procession along the streets. But Gandhiji sternly forbade it and said that he did not liked to be dragged in the carriage. He said ‘Let’s not spoil our public men by dragging them. Let them work silently. Let them be neglected and still love the country for service is its own reward. We should not encourage the thought that one works because one will be honoured similarly’.

Patriotic citizens should boycott elections

By not participating in the elections until electoral reforms are made all right minded and politically conscious Indians could show the world that democracy in India is farce and there are still people in India who have common sense. During British rule, Gandhiji and other nationalist leaders used to urge Indians to boycott elections as participating in them would give the British a moral stand to say to the world that they were running India with the consent of its people and cover up their misdeeds. One thing people should understand is that the present system has immensely benefited the rowdy politicians and hence they will resist any attempt to change the system and there will be violent clashes. But people should be ready to sacrifice for the betterment of society and nation.

Urgent need of electoral reforms

Some of the reforms which could be introduced are –

Switching to Presidential form of Government

To switch to the Presidential form of government at the center and the State with the designation President for the Prime Minister and Governor for the Chief Minister. Every prospective candidate for these posts should beforehand place before the public their master plan/blueprint on what new programs and policies they are going to implement and how if they come to power. The President and Governor should be elected directly by the people and they should choose the ministry from the expertise pool of people, distinguished attorneys, scientists, administrators, thinkers, social workers and men of caliber on non-party basis. In this form of governance there will be political stability as the President and Governor will not be at the mercy of elected representatives who in the present set-up can withdraw support for the Prime Minister or Chief Minister. This move will also reduce corrupt practices now prevailing like MLAs blackmailing to withdraw support if not given plum ministries and chairmanship of Boards and Corporations with an intention of minting money.

Composition of State Assembly and Central Parliament

All states should have a bicameral legislative assembly. The lower house should have elected members representing a particular area/place, each having a certain population. The upper house should have representatives representing various castes of the state. While the representative of the former body should try to develop the constituency that he represents, the representative of the latter body should protect the interest of his caste members of the state as a whole. At the Central Parliament there should be a single legislative body with an equal number of representatives from all states. These representatives should work on behalf of their states and are to be elected directly by the votes of the state.

The age limit of voters should be raised to 30 for local bodies/ state assemblies and 35 for parliamentary elections. For candidates standing for elections the minimum age should be 35 and the upper age limit should be 75.

Candidates wishing to stand for elections and those wishing to cast their votes should pass in a test wherein their awareness about the state/country’s history, constitution, culture, GK, current issues, working of the judiciary, government, etc. are tested through an objective type examination. A small amount of fee (Rs 500) should be levied on those taking these tests and this will cover the expenses involved in conducting the test and paying remuneration to the evaluators.

The names of those who have passed the test should be entered in the central data bank of voters of a State and the passed candidates should be given a voter’s ID card.

Just as a candidate standing for elections should deposit some money, voters should be made to pay a token amount, say Rs 500 for casting their votes. This move will allow only serious voters to cast their votes and the money collected could be utilized for conducting elections. This is similar to those candidates who have to pay a fee for applying to certain Government jobs.

Banning candidates from contesting in more than one constituency and prohibiting a sitting M.L.A/M.P from resigning and joining another party and contesting elections. A sitting MLA should not be allowed to contest parliamentary elections and a sitting municipal councillor from assembly elections.

Allegations of corruption and nepotism levied against sitting MLAs/MPs, Ministers, President/Governor should be tried by Special Courts and disposed of within one month. As a first step the accused should be taken into custody, denied bail and all their financial transactions be blocked. The accused should be allowed to appeal against the ruling given by the Special Court in the Supreme Court which should also be disposed of within one month.

The trend now is that if caught committing a crime, you could escape being punished if you are a politician. Hence punishment awarded to politicians should be so severe that criminals should think twice before choosing politics as a career.

Curtailing the privileges given to politicians like free air transport, bungalows, Z category security, etc. For instance instead of giving each Cabinet Minister a bungalow they should be allotted rooms in the Rashtrapathi Bhavan.

Consolidating the Hindu Society

While ancient India was able to Indianise various foreign invaders, the present Hindu society has become so fragmented with many marginalized castes showing readiness to convert to Islam and Christainity. To deliberate on this issue, way back in 1926-27 Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya visited Mysore State and took part in a meeting held at the Parakala Mutt.

Speaking on the occasion, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya said that Hindu society has no arrangements for religious initiation for people belonging to lower castes. Therefore these people, bereft of any initiation and without any awareness of the greatness of their religion, think that their religion has nothing important in it and get converted to other religions.

To arrest this trend of Hindus belonging to the marginalized caste converting to other faiths, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya suggested that religious mutts should appoint Pandits who should give the non-Brahmin communities some kind of religious initiation or diksha. He suggested that on auspicious days like Ramanavami, Mahashivaratri, Durgashtami, etc, any person, man or woman who is interested in diksha should be taught a mantra of the God of their choice which they should repeat either in the morning or evening every day sitting in front of the picture of the God. (Public Affairs, vol xxiv- 8, August 1981, pp: 120-122, GIPA, Bangalore)

To little too late

What Madan Mohan Malaviya suggested may have worked during his time. But at present non-Brahmins including Dalits have educationally, economically and politically advanced and have developed a sense of pride. They are not willing to be subservient to the so called forward castes even in religious and spiritual matters. They have become aware of the derogatory and discriminative writings contained in the Dharmashastras and other works composed by the forward castes in Sanskrit which has been translated into English and other languages and available freely in public domain including internet. Hence in the present circumstances to consolidate the Hindus society very radical measures has to be taken like –

Appointment of Hindus belonging to all communities including Dalits in temples under the control of the government.

Encouraging all communities to have their own mutts to impart spiritual knowledge and give diksha to their community members (and also to other Hindus and non-Hindus who are interested to become Hindus). These mutts should undertake research on their community’s history, traditions, customs, cuisine, crafts, etc and publish them. Government should provide grants to these community based mutts to build temples, educational institutions and hostels. These mutts should organise annual religious jatras/melas where prominent personalities belonging to their community and also other communities should be honoured. (Compared to other southern states Karnataka has a vibrant Hindu population as all communities including Dalits have their own mutts).

All derogatory and discriminatory writings against non-Brahmins contained in Manu Smrti and other books (Dharmashastras) should be removed and just as the present day Germans have disowned Hitler and condemned the Holocaust, the forward community should condemned untouchability and publicly issue a statement that they consider all Hindus as equal and none superior or inferior.

At present the Tantric form of Hinduism is followed by all Hindus including the forward castes. Hence the forward castes should stop harping on the issue that Hinduism is based on Vedas. As the Vedic religion excludes Shudras who constitute eighty percent of the Hindu population from studying Vedas and performing Vedic sacrifices naturally the majority of Hindus have contempt for it. Moreover the Vedic religion had become defunct long ago and even those who call themselves Vaidiks do not worship Vedic gods or perform Vedic sacrifices. The present day Hindus including the forward castes worship Puranic gods and sectarian gods like Shiva and its attendant gods; and Vishnu and and his various avatars. The method of worshipping these gods is based on agamas and not on Vedas.

Offering of pujas in temples by reciting mantras composed in Indian languages should be recognized and not frowned upon.

Non-Hindus should be able to find Hindu religion attractive and progressive to accept it. Otherwise Hinduism will be like just another religion with dos and don’ts. Hence Hindu religious leaders and saints should refrain from criticizing those who eat meat or consume alcohol and also from imposing dress codes for women visiting temples as spirituality has nothing to do with diet, dress or what one does during his/her leisure time.

At least once or twice in a year pontiffs of all mutts should assemble so as to deliberate on issues related to Hindus and Hindu religion.

The government should convince caste leaders not to oppose their young men and women if they marry a person outside their caste but within the Hindu fold and impose death penalty for prepetators of honour killings. Also the government should give protection to those non-Hindus who get converted to Hinduism and who are threatened by their co-religionists for apostasy.

Kashmir, the Cancerous territory of India

At present lakhs of Indians are living in countries like the USA and UK and lakhs of Indians are working in Gulf countries. Indians going abroad for studies is also in lakhs and it is said that even China hosts thousands of Indian students in its universities. But has anyone wondered about the number of non-Kashmiri Indians permanently residing, working (leaving aside defence personnel and central government bureaucrats) or studying in Kashmir valley? India does not have sovereignty over the countries mentioned above and still Indians are able to reside, work and study in those countries while in the Kashmir valley over which India claims to have sovereignty, non-Kashmiri Indians till recently had no rights to acquire property or get domicile rights even after a marriage with a Kashmiri. Though article 370 and 35A have been revoked, till now no business house has made an announcement of investing in Kashmir valley nor non-Kashmiri workers (except for those who are desperate to make a living) show any enthusiasm to go and work in the Kashmir Valley. The reason is simple; lack of security and the unwillingness of Kashmiri Muslims to identify themselves with India and their contempt for India. To give an analogy India having possession of Kashmir is like a person maintaining a piece of land where he cannot build a house as there is no basic infrastructure like power, water, approach road, etc. At the same time he has to spend money by keeping guards at his site for fear of encroachment. As the site is in a remote area without basic infrastructures there is remote hope of getting a good fortune in the future by selling it. But still he keeps this site as it is a prestige issue for him.

Has anyone thought over the enormous costs incurred by the Indian government to maintain its control over the Kashmir valley. Probably till now the Indian government could have lost trillions of dollars in wars with Pakistan over the Kashmir issue, in maintaining the strategic base at Siachen, in development projects in Kashmir valley and in keeping the politicians of Kashmir in good books. What about the lakhs of our soldiers who were killed in wars, in preventing infiltrators and other security operations?

What has India, especially Hindus gained from having a truncated Kashmir except for the loss of men and money. Normally countries keep territories under their control for space for their population, to mine resources and for strategic purposes. For instance, Israel builds settlements for its citizens in the occupied West Bank while Russia occupied the Crimea peninsula for strategic security reasons. Will India follow the footsteps of Israel and Russia? The probability is zero.

Moreover, India claims that it is the world’s largest democracy. In a democratic setup issues are settled through negotiation. India had promised that it would hold a referendum for the Kashmiris to decide whether they want to stay in India or join Pakistan or stay independent. Why can’t India hold a referendum under the auspices of the UN and in the presence of major powers and once for all get rid of this headache called ‘Kashmir problem’ so that the future generation could live a peaceful and prosperous life safe from terror attacks.

In fact when India became independent in August 1947, Kashmir was not a part of new India. It was only two months later when Pakistan invaded Kashmir did its ruler decided to merge Kashmir with India. This shows that leaders like Sardar Vallabhai Patel who played an important role in making Indian princes merge their territory with India and who took police action to make the State of Hyderabad unite with India did not show interest in having Kashmir with India when its ruler chose to remain independent. Many European countries like Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia have solved their ethnic related issues by holding referendums and ceding away territory to various ethnic groups. The United Kingdom had held a referendum in 2014 with regards to a call for an independent Scotland.

Are Indians matured for Democracy?

The dispute over Belgaum city have been simmering between the states of Karnataka and Maharashtra for over 50 years. The State Re-organisation Committee had recommended that Belgaum city should come under the administrative control of Karnataka way back in 1956. The Maharastrians opposed this and due to their insistence, a Commission was appointed to re-look in this matter and even that Commission headed by Justice Mahajan took a stand in favour of Karnataka. Still politicians of Maharashtra are keeping the issue alive and periodically issue statements to provoke violence and destruction of public property.

The border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra can be solved once for all by holding a referendum as in a democratic set up if issues are serious, the ultimate solution is to hold a referendum and if the majority is in favour of a particular decision that should be respected.

What does it matter if at all Belgaum goes to Maharashtra? The Kannada speaking people living in Belgaum will not be shunted out nor their business affected. At the most they may have to converse in Marathi which they are already acquainted with. Have not lakhs of Kannadigas made Mumbai their home and living happily there? The same is the case if Belgaum is retained in Karnataka. Lakhs of Marathi speaking people have made Karnataka their home and living for generations without any issues.

So is the case with regards to the dispute between Karnataka and Tamilnadu over the sharing of Kaveri water. In the March 1975 issue of Public Affair noted Kannada scholar D.V. Gundappa writes- “What does it matter if a Kannadiga drinks a cusec of water more or if the Tamilian does it? Both are Indians. If there is any real trouble both states should have referred the question to the Central Government and agreed to abide by the decision of the Central. If there were real nationalism in the country such an amicable settlement would have been natural and easy. The long-drawn dispute shows that those concerned are anxious to create irritant after irritant”.

In a federal democratic set up the central government and the supreme court has a responsibility to see that justice prevails and the party which had sought for a mediation accept the final verdict of the mediator even if it goes against its stand. But in India everything is politicised as it benefits the politicians to divert the public attention from serious issues like bad governance and corruption which has plagued India since independence. Hence the politicians want these type of issues alive.

Public Positions for Plundering Tax payers money

Recently a swamiji urged chief-minister Yediyurappa to make a person of a particular community as a minister. The chief-minister was so much irritated by the swamiji’s attitude that he threatened to leave the dais and told him that if forced he may have to resign from his post. All politicians claim that they want to serve the society, people and the country at large. Who will stop them from serving the needy, diseased, crippled and the forsaken? If at all these people are really interested in doing social service they should go to hospitals where ward boys will be willing to allow them to take clean patients incapacitated. They could also help traffic police in manning peak time traffic or help sweepers of BBMP to clean streets and bifurcate dry and wet waste.

Even a common illiterate man in the street knows what the majority of politicians are seeking after. They seek positions and posts so that they can siphon public money by planning projects which in no way benefit the common man. For instance, airports in every districts or community halls but not important requirements like sewerage treatment plants. While planning these types of projects they deliberately spike the cost several times and award contracts to their henchmen. The residual amount left after finishing the project is then shared with bureaucrats who help them prepare the projects and with contractors. Hence the desperation to become a legislator, minister, chairman of a corporation, board, etc. This is called ‘development politics’ which one can participate if elected.

This malaise of threatening and blackmailing using caste and communal card begins once the date of elections is announced. Those vying to get their party tickets start pressurising their leaders by staging demonstration by their so-called supporters. Only if there is something to gain or profit that people strive for it and in our political system, it is the positions which allow people to involve in illegal gratification. Once elected the person will not be accountable to the people who elected him. He may along with his fellow legislators change the party in which he was elected, support the party which he had opposed earlier or may even resign from his post just as a couple of legislators did so in Karnataka recently. The people who elected these men watch helplessly as the person whom they had elected to serve them leave them in lurch. 

But unfortunately, the educated class, the intellectuals and especially those in the media who have great responsibility to the society and the country at large takes the incidents in which politicians demand for positions very lightly. Does not demanding positions through threats and blackmailing reveal the unscrupulous character of the said person. Will he not himself become naked in the eyes of the public as a person hungry for power and who wants to make use of his position for illegal gratification and nepotism? It is strange that the media discusses which caste or community should receive representation in the ministry as though the minister’s post is for enjoying perks and privileges instead of serving people. Demand for ministerial post is also made by persons who have been successively getting elected in their constituency, say for five or six times in a row. In spite of being elected successively why has their constituency not been developed nobody asks. Does not that show the incompetency of the said legislator? In spite of the above developments in our political system which is becoming worse day by day why do people that too educated go and participate in the elections? Is it because there is no other alternative to the present system or admitting failure in the system means exposing their own incapableness to change the system which involves lot of sacrifices?

Indian Democracy

First read this story and then you could relate to it. In a housing society lived people of various professions with their families. The housing society used to appoint a security guard with whom they used to enter into a five year contract. As per the contract the society could not remove him from service till the end of the period and to help in his duties they used to provide him a dog and extra allowance to take care of the dog. The said security guard once appointed barely showed interest in his duties, did not remained alert during nights, neither screened visitors who visited the society, nor prevented salesmen and fund raisers from disturbing the owners. Also the security guard used to pass lewd remarks on girls and women of the society, snatch money and even assaulted men who questioned his behavior. The people were helpless as the security guard used to threaten that he would let the dog pounce upon them. One could not blame the poor dog which could not understand that out of the money given by the society owners, the security guard used to feed it and hence remained loyal to the security guard. But still the security guard was tolerated as the contract did not allow them to remove him till five years. After five years the contract ended and the society appointed another security guard in his place. The society members beamed with pride for having taught a lesson to the old security guard by removing him. The security guard did not mind it as he had stolen enough money to make a living and moreover he was unpunished for all his acts. The new security guard after a few months followed the footsteps of the old security guard and once again the people tolerated it as the contract prevented them from removing him till the end of five years. The people were also afraid of the said dog which now was loyal to the new security guard as he was now feeding it. After five years the old security guard reappeared and apologized to the people and begged them to give him another chance. The people thought that he had repented and after removing the existing guard replaced him with the old security guard. Soon he began to show his true colours and the same thing continued.

Now I think we can relate ourselves with this story. We just have to change the words. Instead of housing society, we have to use the word Indian masses, instead of security guard, the Indian politician, instead of dog, the police establishment in our country and instead of the contract, the elections which are held once in five years.

The members of the society had many choices. They could had inserted a clause in the contract by which they could had have removed the guard for dereliction of duties at any time or not allowed the security guard to have the services of the dog. They could even had killed the dog or united thrashed the guard in the name of self defense. All this things did not occur to their mind and they continue to tolerate all abuses silently because their belief system told them that without a security guard they cannot live and also because other housing societies have them. It did not even occur to them that they could draft a new contract agreement favourable to them.

Just because other western countries have given franchise to all adults above certain age does not mean we should imitate them. Moreover these countries gave this right gradually. But in India the political classes want the ignorant majority to participate in the election process as they can win easily by befooling them. If there is limited franchise with matured voters they cannot play their game for long.

Universalising Sanatana Dharma

Sanatana Dharma is a way of living based on rationality, compassion, ethics, simplicity, equality and in harmony with nature. On metaphysical plane Sanatana Dharma believes in non-duality and oneness of all things and offers its adherents spiritual practices at various levels based on one’s aptitude. Hinduism is the only religion which is non-dogmatic, amenable to criticism, adaptable to new situations and has the power to reinvent itself. Hence it does not hinder a practicing Hindu to live according to changing times and in different parts of the globe. In Hinduism there is no central authority like a Pope/Imam or an exclusive holy book like Bible and Koran. Therefore, anyone can adopt the principles as enunciated in the philosophy of Sanatana Dharma, be it a Muslim, Christian, Jew or a follower of animism and even an atheist and an agnostic.

Threats facing Hinduism

Today Hinduism is facing existential crisis. Educated Hindus feel stifled and disgusted when their elders force them to observe obnoxious practices in the name of culture and tradition. There is a real danger of these Hindus being weaned away from the eagerly waiting Christian evangelists, the Marxists and the liberals who promise them with green cards, perks and positions. Then there is the menace of love jihad and population explosion by the Muslims. Added to these are the joint effort by the evangelists, mullahs and Marxists to create division in the Hindus society by fabricating imaginary atrocities against Dalits and using it as a propaganda tool to add adherents to their respective faiths. Hence the challenges facing Hindus now are how

1. To stop educated Hindus from falling prey to anti Hindu baiters

2. To take steps to bring social cohesion among Hindus belonging to all classes especially those coming from the lowest strata of the society and

3. To attract adherents from western countries, Africa, Latin America and educated Muslims all over the world.

How Hinduism faced the initial threat from Islam

Before the arrival of Islam there was no rival for Hinduism hence we do not find any reference in early Dharmashastras for means to reconvert those who were forcibly converted to other religions. There was also no express injunction about proselytizing into Hinduism nor prohibition of it either. (Public Affairs, November 1967, p.245) After the conquest of Sindh by the Arabs in 712 A.D. hundreds of women were forcibly ravished and thousands of men were converted to Islam. It was during that time that the Devala Smriti was composed which contained rules for reconversion of people who were forcibly converted to Islam. Muslim writers themselves supply further evidence to show that reconversion on a mass scale used to take place in the 8th and 9th century. Al Biladuri says that the Muslims were compelled to retire from several parts of India and that the people of India had returned to idolatry except those of Kassa. Alberuni says that he was repeatedly told that when Hindu slaves in Muslim countries escaped and returned to their country, they were readmitted to their religion after expiation. Sulaiman says that the Gurjara Pratiharas were the greatest enemies of the Muslim religion. It is possible that the emperors of this dynasty may have actively helped the movement of reconversion by extending state help to it. (A.S. Altekar- Rashtrakutas and their Times, Oriental Book Agency, Poona, 1934, pp: 304-306) A number of Smritis said that women ravished by Mlechchas should be readmitted into the families after suitable ceremonies, even if the ravishment had resulted in conception. This liberal viewpoint was however given up by 1000 A.D. From that time onwards, Hindu women once carried away by force into the fold of Islam had no hope of return to the religion of their birth. They had to reconcile themselves with their captors and live a miserable life, not much different from a concubine. (Swami Madhavandnda and R.C.Majumdar (Edited), Great Women of India, Advaita Ashrama, Calcutta. p.44)

Lack of foresightedness

In Kashmir majority of the people were forced to give up the religion of their forefathers in the 17th and 18th century under the rule of fanatic Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. In the later part of the 19th century, a delegation of Kashmiri Muslims went to Varanasi, to get the approval of Brahmins there to return to Hindu fold, but the priests declined their request. Even today most common family name in Kashmir is Butt, a distortion of Bhatt, a Hindu surname common amongst the Brahmins in India. (Anil A. Athale, Let the Jhelum Smile Again, Adithya Prakashan, Mumbai, 1997. p.33) According to Kannada scholar D.V.Gundappa around early 1900 a European went to the then Swami of Sringeri and asked to be converted to Hinduism. But the Swami asked him to continue as a Christian as the essence of all religion is same. (Public Affairs, September 1970, pp:179,180) Imagine if a Hindu had gone to a Muslim maulvi or a Christian padri to get himself converted how enthusiastically they would have welcomed him. Our religious leaders living in their own cocoons without reading the tenets of other religions or about the havoc they have created in the society claim that all religion preach the same.

Shuddhi Movement

Among Hindu saints it was Swami Dayananda Saraswathi who had a good knowledge about Islam and hence the Arya Samaj initiated the Shuddhi movement to bring back those Hindus forcibly converted. The Arya Samajists understood Hinduism had been constricted by its own exclusiveness and could not even take back reconverted Hindus much less accept new converts. Whereas Christianity and Islam were able to proselytize and draw others into their community this attitude was threatening the Hindus. Arya Samajists were among the first reformers to develop a system through which Hindu converts to other religions could become Hindu again. (J.E.Llewellyn, The Arya Samaj as a Fundamentalist Movement, A Study in Comparative Fundamentalism, Manohar Publishers & distributors, New Delhi, 1993. p.99) The intellectual giant, Lala Hardayal had observed that the future of Hindu race and Hindustan rest on Hindu Raj, Hindu Sangathan, Shuddhi and conquest and Shuddhi of Afghan and the Frontier, otherwise it is useless to win Swaraj. (Ram Gopal, Indian Muslims, A Political History (1858-1947), Asia Publishing House, 1964, pp.124-125) Similar was the view of Kannada scholar D.V.Gundappa who opined that in a democratic setup numbers count a lot and Hindus should keep careful count of its gains and losses in population statistics.(Public Affairs, November 1967, p.247) We are witnessing how in the present times in order to get votes Hindu politicians follow the policy of Muslim appeasement and how the Muslims are taking advantage of their numbers and hence their population explosion.

Proselytising in the new age

At present Hindu organisations try to impose their opinion and views on the way people should dress, what not to eat and how to behave in public. For instance, they are against women wearing western dresses, mingling of boys and girls, celebrating Valentine’s Day, eating beef and consuming alcohol, to mention a few. But spirituality has nothing to do with diet, dress or what one does during his/her leisure time. Hindu organizations should not interfere in the personal affairs of individuals, if not they will antagonize the youths who will develop a negative attitude towards Hinduism and its culture. Though our youths may initially feel attracted towards western culture, as they mature they will definitely return back to their roots. To give an instance it was the young men and women working in corporate sectors, having gone abroad and exposed to western culture who showed enthusiasm and worked for getting Modi elected as Prime Minister of India. Why, because they felt that only Modi can bring back the lost glory of India and Hinduism. Non-Hindus should be able to find Hindu religion attractive and progressive to accept it. Otherwise Hinduism will be like just another religion with dos and don’ts. For instance, if a Muslim convert to Hinduism he/she finds that instead of burqa, devote Hindu women are supposed to cover their head with pallu, instead of fasting from dawn to dusk in the month of Ramzan, devote Hindus are supposed to fast on ekadashi day and if as a Muslim consuming pork becomes haram, after becoming a Hindu, consuming beef becomes haram. Hence while welcoming converts to Hinduism, from the first generation converts, our expectation should be that they get disconnected from their old religion. Only the second generation can be fully Hinduised. Hence conversion should be made easy for those who desire to adapt Sanatana Dharma with less dos and don’ts. This was the way Islam was able to convert the marginalised people in Bengal during the British rule over India. According to the Imperial Gazetteer of India Vol I (1885) the converts in Bengal remained as ignorant of Islam as of Hinduism. Some of them have never heard of Mohammed; some regard him as a person corresponding in their system of religion to Rama or Lakshman of the Hindus. The Koran is hardly read even in Bengali and in the original Arabic not at all. Many of those who have heard of it cannot tell who wrote it. Yet any Muslim peasant is able to repeat a few scraps of prayer in Arabic. This prayer gave him a sense of religion and he considered himself as a member of a socio cum religious system. (Ram Gopal, Indian Muslims, p.9)

Sanatana Dharma made easy

Today in western countries educated people are abandoning Christianity and embracing atheism. Many are attracted towards Buddhism, especially Zen Buddhism and also Hinduism. Many of these rational minded people may find dogmas and rituals a hindrance to embrace Hinduism. Hence the need to make away with dos and don’ts. Also, today many educated Muslims want to leave Islam but are afraid that they will be killed by their fellow religionists. Hence the Muslims must be first shown a safe path so that they renounce Islam but does not arouse suspicion among their fellow Muslims. Hence conversion to Sanatana Dharma should be made simple. Let’s not insist them to sport tilak/bindi, visit temples or give them a new name. The important thing is to disconnect them from their religious practices and make them read books on Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, meditation and make them understand how their ancestors were once Hindus and how through fire and sword Islam converted them. We should also help them introspect Islam’s teachings and its relevance in today’s society. Once people are convinced that conversion to Hinduism does not force them to change their name, diet, dress or saying prayers in an alien language, undertake pilgrimages, sacrifice animals or worship new gods; on their own they will start imitating other original Hindus and give up beef eating, change their name, visit temples and gradually their descendants will be fully integrated with the Hindu society and follow its culture and tradition. This was how in ancient times the Huns, the Kushans and the Sakas were all Hinduised.

Gandhiji and Jinnah, an Angel and the Devil

“The future generation will find it hard to believe that such a one as this (Gandhiji) ever in flesh and blood walked upon the earth”- wrote Albert Einstein on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s 75^th birthday. Today Gandhiji who is revered as the Father of the Nation has become an icon for peace and non-violence. So much so, for celebrities like Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and even US designated terrorist organisation Hamas, Gandhiji’s method of non-violence was/is an inspiration for their respective socio-political movements to achieve their means. In contrast Gandhiji’s arch rival Mohammed Ali Jinnah who is considered as the Father of Pakistan has passed into oblivion for his reactionary and selfish attitude and his hands tainted with the blood of innocent lives.

One loved the masses the other desisted them

Both Gandhiji and Jinnah were from Gujarat, went to England to qualify for the Bar and had faith in British sense of justice and fair play and both considered Gopala Krishna Gokhale as their political guru. But they were poles apart in attitude, temperment and ideology.

Gandhiji was a man of the masses, loved them, lived amidst them and they in turn adored him as the ‘Mahatma’. To identify himself with them, Gandhiji travelled in third class railway compartment, wore scantily and ate frugally, his meals consisting of a few peanuts and a cup of goats milk. On the other hand Jinnah was frigid, haughty, aloof and a reserved person. As a man of class, he travelled in first class railway compartment to avoid the masses. He wore superbly cut linen suits which he changed three to four times a day. He liked rich food, ate port, consumed champagne and had a fleet of cars. He was unable to speak more than a few sentences in Urdu and it is said Gandhiji knew more verses of the Koran than Jinnah.

In their domestic lives also they were poles apart. Gandhiji at the age of 36 took a vow of continence and his wife Kasturibai remained devoted to him till her death. Jinnah married a young girl of eighteen (his friends daughter) at the age of fourty and ten years later she walked out him due to difference in age and temperment.

Another interesting aspect is their relationship with the then leading intellectual giants; Rabindranath Tagore and Mohammed Iqbal. Both Gandhiji and Tagore were broad minded, universal in outlook and known for their liberal religious views. Jinnah subscribed to the bigoted ideology of Iqbal and was considered by Iqbal as the only person who could lead the Indian Muslims to have a separate homeland. Jawaharlal Nehru in one of his letters refers to Iqbal as a great poet who was extraordinarily communal and narrow minded. Thus it is aptly said that Syed Ahmed Khan sowed the seed of Pakistan, Aga Khan watered it, Iqbal manured it and Jinnah plucked the ripe fruit.

Vowed to have India divided or destroyed

Gandhiji’s meteoric rise to fame in the Indian political horizon was too much for Jinnah to digest. In all the major agitations launched by Gandhiji, Jinnah and the Muslim League led by him stood aloof and therby gained the admiration of the British bureaucrats who later helped him achieve Pakistan. Jinnah knew that in case the British grant freedom to India at any cost he would not be able to achieve his ambition to occupy the highest post of the country, hence demanded the formation of Pakistan. While Jinnah vowed that he would have India divided or have it destroyed, Gandhiji said that partition would take place over his dead body and was ready to five the reigns of free India to Jinnah and his Muslim League. But ultimately Jinnah won and had his Pakistan at the cost of displacing lakhs of Hindus from their homes and causing death and destruction to lakhs of men, women and children.

Jinnah loathed Gandhiji

While Gandhiji used to address Jinnah as ‘Qaid-i-Azam’ or the great leader, Jinnah called Gandhiji as a ‘cunning fox’ and a ‘Hindu revivalist’. So much was Jinnah’s hatred against Gandhiji that after the death of Gandhiji, Jinnah wrote in the message of condolence that Gandhi was a great man produced by the Hindu community. One of Jinnah’s assistants said that Gandhiji had risked his life for the sake of Indian Muslims and saved Pakistan from bankruptcy and hence his dimension was far greater than his own community. But Jinnah was adamant and said- “ that is what he was a great Hindu. Worshipped as a demi god, Gandhiji could have easily occupied the highest post after India’s freedom, but he did not, while Jinnah without any ordeal got Pakistan on a platter and became the first Governor General of Pakistan. His ego was so gigantic that at the time of swearing-in-ceremony as Governor General of Pakistan, Jinnah insisted that he be seated on a chair much higher than that of the Governor General of United India, Mountbatten. But Mountbatten who was equally egoistic said that Jinnah would become the Governor General of Pakistan only after he (Mountbatten) administered the oath of office and hence chairs of equal size were procured for the swearing-in-ceremony. It is said that Mountbatten being gigantic in physical stature over shadowed the puny Jinnah.

Today Gandhiji’s India is known for its pluralistic society and as a world largest democracy while Jinnah’s Pakistan has become a haven for churning jihadi terrorists. This being the facts of history, it is no wonder that Aligarh Muslim University which played an important role in the establishment of Pakistan now wants to install the portrait of Jinnah in its podium.

Wasted opportunities, misplaced priorities

It is a well-known fact that Indian history as taught in schools and colleges since 1947 is heavily biased in favour of Marxists and Muslim communalists. This was because; the Congress party which held the reins of power in India after the British left the subcontinent, was anti-Hindu in their outlook and ideology. As a result everything Hindu was looked with antipathy including the glorious past of the Hindus and their achievements. When the NDA government under A.B.Vajpayee came to power there was a ray of hope that the Marxist interpretation of Indian history would make way for an objective history, but nothing happened. When the Modi government came to power in 2014 many nationalists hoped that he would appoint Sri Arun Shourie, an eminent intellectual as the HRD Minister, who in turn would have initiated the project to write Indian history in an unbiased and scientific manner. But once again hopes were dashed when an actress was appointed as HRD Minister. Nor did the services of scholars like Shrikant Talageri, S.Kalyanaraman, Koenraad Elst were utilized by making them members of the I.C.H.R. The new government appointed Sudharshan Rao as Chairman of Indian Council of Historical Research (I.C.H.R) and after two years we are hearing that ICHR is planning to document the legends associated with villages and towns in India. We already have local history in the form of Stala Purana which contains mainly hearsay and myths. Now public money is being wasted to document the same from persons who refer the old Stala Purana to give details about their place. How the validity of the details so documented, will be scrutinized by the ICHR is a question to be pondered? Instead the ICHR could have started a project to critically evaluate and interpret the existing 18 Puranas so that historians could have extracted material from them to reconstruct the history of ancient India.

The Puranas contain a mine of information about ancient Indian history, but is interpolated with absurdities and fables by some unscrupulous writers of the later period. Today there is an urgent need to edit and properly interpret the information contained in the Puranas and bring out critical editions of the same. If not, unknowingly many persons who genuinely love Hindu culture and tradition publish articles about our ancient sages and seers using information given in the Puranas. To give an example one person had published an article on Sri Krishna whereby he mentioned that Sri Krishna had married 16,000 maidens whom he rescued from the clutches of a demon Narakasura. This story is just a wild imagination of a person who interpolated it in the Puranas. But as Puranas are revered, this story is believed by people who neglect to use their commonsense. But these types of blunders cannot be taken lightly as people who want to deride Hindu Gods use this materials published by nationalist Hindu websites as reference/citation to humiliate or browbeat a Hindu in an argument.

As the so called nationalist Government has repeatedly failed to correct the fallacies contained in our prescribed history textbooks, it is time for individual historians and researchers with an objective bent of mind to do the same. There is no need to start writing ancient Indian history from scratch using primary sources. This work has already been done by many scholars of pre-independence period, whose name have gone into oblivion and their published books found in antique stores. The present day historians just have to-

1. Make use of the works of those eminent nationalist scholars to present ancient Indian history factually and
2. To unanimously adapt one among the two dates (3067 B.C. or 2449 B.C.) ascribed to the period in which the Mahabharata war was fought, as this date can be the sheet anchor for reconstructing the history of ancient India beginning with Manu.