Panchyati Raj was Late Rajiv Gandhi's great vision for India. His vision was a noble one and the premise of the third tier being the enabler of Indian development a sound one. Ofcourse, vision by itself, remains a vision. The pulls and pressures of allotment put this important though not glamourous nor powerful ministry in Mr. Aiyer's fold. An opportunity for a sincere effort to achieve late Rajiv Gandhi's dream was thereby lost. It has been a great loss for India. Now that he has turned Marxist, he becomes even more unsuitable to even comprehend, let alone realise RG's Panchayati dream.
Making few observations is not diagnosis. A compunder measuring temperature, BP and noting skin rashes is not doing diagnosis. Diagnosis needs a proper framework of thought and a definitive conclusion. Calling himself Marxist does not help! This pretender earlier had called Sonia Gandhi the 'Queen of India'. His rooting for the dynasty got him two portfolios in the Cabinet. PM had a difficult time in easing him out of Petroleum when on each occasion he spoke of India-China joint deals to bag gas fields, Chinese gave him a slip and bagged it themselves. Fortunately, he atleast served as a placeholder for the eminently sensible replacement.
Mr Aiyars comments are meant merely to assuage India Inc's fears regarding the useless, good-for-nothing UPA govt's incompetence, ineptitude and impotence, meaning, 'we know things are bad, but it's not really our fault - we can't do anything about it, because we are constrained (by the Communists). And then to assuage the feelings of his Commie pals, he goes on to say that it was 'economic reforms' actually caused him to become a Marxist, lending creedo to the belief that perfidious hypocracy is an integral, indivisible, totally inalienable part of politics in this fetid land of filth and squalor.
I agree with the author%u2019s view, that Mr. Aiyar has rightly diagnosed the problems with national economy but the solution envisaged by him will deepen the problem.
It is the mis-fortune of our country that our bureaucrat and politician) are not really accountable for common man.
But at least we can appreciate the courage of Mr. Aiyar, who rightly dared to say about the system, of which he himself is integral part.
The basic premise of capitalistic reforms started by Mr Singh in the 90s has been lost by Mr. Venkatesh and other doom sayers. Mr. Iyer is a hopeless case. The theory is that when little money is made by the rich they spend it which in turn puts money in the hands of the poor. This has been the reason that economies like the US have thrived and India is headed in this path. Upon examination, the reasons for bad governence and corruption are simple 1. Unfulfilled needs and 2. Easy way to beat the system with illegal means. Both are being tackled by the capitalist reforms. In the absence of good governence, the private sector has begun to organize itself on its own (eg. generators for electicity, use of pan numbers etc.) which is pushing the public sector to adapt or perish. The need for corruption is reducing due to the same phenomenon. Imagine getting a phone connection quickly without bribe even 10 years ago. Infrastructure is improving dramatically even in smaller cities. It's a matter of time before the reforms percolate to the rural areas. India is progressing in exactly the same way that most of the advanced nations progressed. India needs to develop world renoun from this point. However, all is not well with India. While India needs special mechanisms to bring it's illiterate people upto speed with it's upper class, the current system of caste based reservation is questionable. India needs to come up with serious plans to utilize it's massive but poor quality human and other resources. India is too self focused currently. It needs to come up with solutions for world problems in Energy, Water, Environment, Health and finally space. The question is not if but when.
"Despite our bitter experiences with it, he suggests a return to the good old days of State control, directions and interventions. The crucial question is what makes his diagnosis perfect -- prescriptions unacceptable?" how can the author make this conclusion.. look at china.. lets follow their model of state control and all can gain.. so-called freedom in india will only bring development in centuries.. not years or decades
Well said! Venkatesh hits at Aiyar's arguments spot-on by pointing out that bad governance, which led to the failure of socialism in India, would also be the reason for the downfall of market-reforms.
As citizens, each of us has to ensure that governance improves(through usage of empowering tools such as the RTI act), rather than be emotionally led towards different economic models.
RE:governance is all
by yogananda narasimham ayyadevara on May 11, 2007 08:13 AM Permalink
The assumption that there are only two economic models to follow is itself wrong. with so many economists around, what stopped us from coming up with our model of economic growth to benefit the majority? while some european countries have success fully developed their own welfare programmes, why American hangover for us? Lack of transperancy and accountability at all levels in addition to corruption made progress a mockery. A few cell phones and cars are not development.
Caring for poor is a good place to begin. Knowing that far greater investment levels are need to eliminate poverty is a big step forward. A substantial proportion of this mega need can be made available in short term i.e. next few years by 100% PSU divestment. Liberalisation would generate rapid investment growth to pay thereafter for the long term invesment needs via taxes. When our leaders weigh the real need of real poor against greed of the interests entrenched powerfuls in PSUs, it seems tears of the poor just can not drown the temptations of power.
At the end of the day, India is still the country that gives us ample opportunity to feel ashamed about ourselves as Indians. Very little has been done lately by our rulers to make us feel prowd. All the Indians making us prowd seem to be based outside India (or at least earning their glory outside India, like in the case of Infosys and Wipro)
People have all the time and energy for vandalism when Valentine's day is being celebrated or Richard Gere kisses Shilpa Shetty. Where were all those people when daughters of my country were murdered in the name of dowry? Who's effigy were they burning when our farmers committed suicide? All those upholders of Indian culture need to be reminded that culture is not what our elders told us about. Culture is what defines and guides our life. If the men in our streets whistle at women, that's our culture. If we go about killing each other at the slightest sign of provocation, that's our culture. Who the hell cares what Rama did or where the temple stands if the ordinary people cannot get food, basic education and health care. All that money wasted on building mandirs and masjids or on Haj subsidies would rather be used to set up a new IIT or hospital.
I often wonder who is it, that the young javan or officer spills his blood for? Why don't we have reservations in the military where most of the officers are upper caste? Why should they sacrifice their future for a country that is hell bent on making sure that their kids compete only for the half the resources. It begs the question, is it even worth it? The way it is being worked out, it seems as though with reservations the only place left for the 'General Category' is in the military. This way when the Pakistanis come to kill us, only 'General Category' blood is spilt while 'Reserved Categotry' carries on with their corruption in civilian government jobs and gets fat. (General JJSingh, Admiral Mehta and Air Chief Marshal Major: I really respect you a lot but do you really think that the people you and your organizations dedicate your lives for, care about you and your future? What kind of a country are you trying to protect?; Doctor Kalam: You are my hero, but can you really shut Arjun Singh up? Do you really believe in the people that run your government?)
For all those who believe that merit is the only decider, let me remind you that India has already disowned us. We really need to ask ourselves the question: Should I be paying my taxes to the Govt. of Inida so that its politicians can suck them out and celebrate their kids bithdays? Even if they were feeding hungry mouths, are these not mouths that spat on us in the first place? Instead, we are better off becoming citizens of another country where you will be judged on the basis of your skills. Where your taxes go towards your medicare when you grow older. The World Bank has made great predictions for India so you need not worry. Our future is what needs attention. India has already disowned us and does not care about us. At least we should therefore worry about our own future to prevent the "brain in the drain". As 'General Category' and middle class, we are already second class citizens in our own country. This is even more true is you live outside your native state. Might as well be second class citizens with wealth and retirement benefits. It is time for us to leave India behind and build a new mother land; just like our ancestors once came to Bharatvarsh to make it their home. One is going to be way happier by moving to the US/UK and boasting about India's rich heritage rather than by living in India and experiencing its atrophy. It is almost like we need to start another Quit India movement for those who believe in merit as success (or access to resources) seems to be more dependent on which woumb we slithered out of. Besides, these days be it Bhel-Poori, Bata-Wada or Bacchan, you don't really miss them if you are outside India.
- Jinhe naaz hai Hind pur woh kahan hai?
p.s. I am not an ABCD though my user name says so... I don't know how to change it to "Disillusioned Desi"
RE:Quit India Movement - Part 2
by RS on May 10, 2007 08:53 AM Permalink
ABCD - I second ur thoughts. I hv already "Quit India" for the same reasons. IITs, IIMs, etc built on money paid as Taxes from us and then seats denied to us. Administration salary paid on our taxes, but no jobs for us. Where else do u find a candidate securing 94% being denied admission and another one barely managing 58% securing the same seat!! and mind it, the candidate scoring 58% was a DCP's son and me a humble teacher's. Will I ever forgive India? - never
One of Aiyer's earlier quote: "If only the Muslims and the Christians weren't here, we would not have been Hindus. We would have been Kshatriyas, Brahmins, Vaishyas, Sudras, Saivites, Vaishnavites, Madhawas and the list goes on. There would have been no question of the Hindu-Rashtra that Bal Thackery talks about everyday."
