July 1, 2023
Dear Readers,
Amidst varied problems and issues, India continues to march ahead. We need not go into the ifs and the buts of history. All that is required is to constantly learn from past mistakes and to move in the right direction, drawing strength from the grassroots to build a socially just India. In the context of Modi's grand project, we should ask whether we needed a new parliament building or if it was just another quest of his toward achieving power and immortality.
Last month, India saw one of the worst train disasters at Balasore in Odisha. The Indian Railways is undoubtedly in the process of modernization. However, what is often overlooked is the constant monitoring of the anti-collision system. Railway authorities need to constantly monitor safety factors in the modernization of the railway system.
There is a critical need to monitor the continued bouts of ethnic violence in Manipur. India cannot afford ethnic conflict in the region, considering the risks from China on the border and the profound geopolitical impact it can have in the Indo-Pacific region.
Prime Minister Modi's visit to the United States has opened a new chapter in the Indo-US partnership, with the signing of vital agreements around technology and defence cooperation. That said, the Indo-US relationship is more about mutual interests than the shared values of freedom and democracy. How India conducts its domestic affairs, be it the treatment of minorities or freedom of the press, would be critical to engender a closer relationship with the US.
Sincerely,
Hari Jaisingh
India’s eventful march for tomorrow
India's new Parliament building has acquired its own unique pride of place. Its shape is a triangle, says Bimal Patel, the architect of the new outfit. According to Patel, it is based on the triangles in Shree Yantra and Tridev. The four upward shapes represent Shiva, and the five downward ones represent Shakti. Thus, the building represents Shiva-Shakti's divine union of creation. The crown is Kashmir. That is why we always call Kashmir Bhoomi of Shiv and Shakti. In this context, we need to appreciate the significance of Kashmir as India's crown.
The yesterdays of India are, of course, part of history. “History is a pack of tricks we play upon the dead,” said French philosopher Voltaire. However, history is also a live medium that monitors and surveys events and has them classified and analyzed objectively for posterity. Those who learn from history do not repeat it. Those who ignore it are condemned to repeat it. The correct input from history can make a difference in decision-making in complex situations.
If we look around at significant problems confronting us today, we will realize that these are either the fallout of past blunders, the result of partisan or motivated decision-making, or the inability to look beyond today. My point is simple: our problems and troubles are the offshoots of wrong decisions taken in the past, whether these relate to Kashmir or Pakistan, or China.
I share my thoughts on how and why we continue to pay a heavy price as a nation for wrong decisions in the past.
First, idealist leader Jawaharlal Nehru delayed his decision on the question of accession of Kashmir to India. This allowed Pakistan to mount tribal aggression, resulting in the Kashmir problem. Second, instead of clearing the Valley of the raiders, Nehru stopped the advance of Indian troops and preferred to go to the UN Security Council. Had the Indian Army not been prevented from marching ahead, there would have been no PoK problem.
It is not worth going into the ifs and buts of history. The nation needs to look into the past objectively and draw relevant inferences. History is the source of inspiration as well as the source of warnings so as not to repeat past mistakes.
India's problems with China are also a sad pointer to the inability of our leaders to understand from the historical track record of the Asian giant's expansionist urge whenever it gets stronger, economically and militarily. Indeed, amidst the chants of Hindi-Chini bhai bhai, Chinese leaders revealed their true colors in 1962. Nehru was a shattered man after the betrayal of China. That way, I admire Indira Gandhi's guts, courage, and determination in the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971 in the face of President Nixon's Seventh Fleet show of power in the Bay of Bengal. M. F. Husain then hailed her as Durga.
India is a complex entity. The competitive politics of duplicity, double talk, and double standards practiced by different parties for different purposes has brought the nation to the present state of affairs. Politics today is a big, well-oiled business. Moral, ethical, and human values are at a discount in this jet-set business of politics and the politics of business.
The idea is not to paint a gloomy picture. The realities must be faced, and change must be the order of the day for tomorrow's India. Democratic India has to be restructured afresh as a land of opportunity for all citizens, irrespective of any consideration of caste, community, religion, and gender labels.
A New India of enlightened citizens has to draw its strength from its grassroots, build a corruption-free, transparent, accountable, and responsive system, and work for an all-inclusive, environmentally friendly development.
India continues to be a land of paradoxes and problems. The old order is undoubtedly changing. However, age-old feudalism is giving place to neo-feudalism. The New Class of "lords" have even perfected the art of the old policy of divide and rule into a fine instrument of governance. Indian strengths and weaknesses coexist. Our young Indians need to work out ways and means to overcome their flaws so that the country can move towards all-inclusive development.
In the India of Tomorrow context, I would like to recall observations made by a distinguished Parsi Judge of the Gujarat High Court, Justice J.B. Pardiwala, while giving his judgment in the Hardik Patel case on reservations. He said:
"If I am asked by anyone to name two things, which have destroyed this country or, rather, have not allowed the country to progress in the right direction, then my answer is reservations and corruption. It is very unfortunate that some of the brilliant minds in the country are still caught up with caste system. The sooner they come out of this caste system, the better for the country."
The moot point is how a developing polity balances meritocracy and the pressing need for social justice. The nature of India of tomorrow must be people-friendly at operational levels. The system has to have a humane face, whether the person at the other end is an entrepreneur or the poorest of the poor, irrespective of caste and community.
Thinking about modern India, I am reminded of the words of American philosopher Thomas Paine in his work, The Age of Reason. He said:
“The voice of the common man says that the greatest tyranny in the world is to tie the future generations to set dogmas and beliefs."
He is right: tying young Indians to an unjust social and economic system or misplaced concepts is part of the tyranny that Thomas Paine talked about way back at the beginning of the 19th century.
Returning to Modi's grand project, the question is: did we need a new parliament building? Is it meant to draw inspiration or represent a proud modern India? Or is it just another quest of Modi toward achieving power and immortality? Our priceless heritage of the Vedas and the Upanishads is a potent antidote to social and economic distortions and political paralysis of those who only go by the jingle of money and power.
(June 2, 2023)
Rail modernization and safety need to go side by side
In probably what may be termed as India's worst train accident in India in the past two decades, nearly 300 people died, and over a thousand were injured when three trains collided with one another in Bahanaga Bazar station in Odisha. Of these, two were express trains that carried about 2,000 passengers. According to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, 31 passengers from Bengal remain missing.
The Balasore train tragedy sent shock waves throughout the country. This is understandable since as many as 20 million people travel by train daily in India. Despite some ghastly train accidents, the Indian Railways has had a decent safety record, notwithstanding its recent push for new tracks and faster trains.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has been keen on modernizing the Indian Railways. This does not mean that safety factors should be neglected or overlooked. Technology for the modernization of the railways has undoubtedly improved over the years. At the same time, the machinery could be prone to failure even if it runs smoothly nearly 99.9 percent of the time. The safe running of trains occurs by a "sound logic" fed into the electronic "interlocking system."
In this context, it must be mentioned that interlocking in railway signal systems is a crucial safety mechanism that ensures train movements continue without conflicts, thus preventing accidents. The government has denied any negligence on rail safety.
So, what went wrong at Balasore?
Coromandel Express, heading from Howrah to Chennai, was scheduled to go past the Bahanaga Bazar station and crossed at full speed on Friday evening. However, the train, traveling at 127 km per hour, was diverted to a loop line where a goods train was parked, resulting in the 21 coaches of the Coromandel going off the rails. Further, three of its coaches slid onto another main line just as the Yeshwantpur-Howrah Express traveled in the opposite direction, resulting in two of its rear coaches being hit and derailed.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has called for a CBI probe and termed this tragedy a criminal act, stating:
"The root cause of the horrifying incident has been identified….I do not want to go into details. Let the report come out. I will just say that the root cause and the people responsible for the criminal act have been identified."
This is ridiculous, to say the least.
The big question is: why was Coromandel Express diverted from the main line to the loop line? Of course, ever since the ghastly accident, tracks have been repaired, and trains have started to move along the newly restored lines. However, this recent train accident raises concerns about government priorities. Are we focusing too much on speed at the cost of safety? There is an urgent need for caution in train operations.
An audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General [CAG] reveals that 75% of 217 "consequential train accidents" between 2018 and 2021 were caused by derailments. The culprit: lack of track maintenance.
Another source of concern is the cutback in spending towards the Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh [RRSK] – the railway initiative dedicated to rail safety. Expenditure on track safety was reduced from INR 9,607.65 in 2019 to 7,417 crores in 2020. As per the CAG audit, RRSK had not received the expected INR 5,000 crore annually from the railways' internal resources for at least the first four years; the Railways contributed only INR 4,225 crore instead of the mandated INR 20,000 crore.
The most worrying trend, however, is that even the allocated funds were not fully utilized. Further, expenditure was more towards "non-priority works," which is against the guiding principles of the RRSK.
The other concerning data is on the vacancies. Of the 28,650 vacant posts in the Central Railway, nearly 50% [14,203] are in the safety category, mainly operating and maintenance staff. The existing staff is overworked, putting unnecessary stress on the system. The rail authorities should review the system and take the necessary measures to ensure the traveling public's safety. There cannot be any compromise on this count.
What is, however, regrettable is that a special fund earmarked for safety improvements was not adequately replenished in any year between 2017 and 2022. This should not have happened.
There is an obvious need to relook at anti-collision systems on specific routes. We may need to install additional security measures on the signaling system, considering risky crossings. We cannot overlook the harsh fact of yearly 25,000 deaths in train-related accidents. In our modernization bid, we must recognize the safety of the traveling public in the new high-speed Vande Bharat service. We must ensure that rail modernization goes alongside the traveling public's safety. The Railway Board needs to re-examine safety factors in the modernization of the railway system.
(June 9, 2023)
Disturbing facets of ethnic violence in Manipur
Whither Manipur? On the one side, it has the reputation of being a vibrant state with colorful civilizational values. What is, however, disturbing are the continued bouts of ethnic violence. In May, violent clashes erupted, and the army was deployed to restore order in the northeastern state.
What has led to the enrage?
The backlash is rooted in the Meiteis [the majority community] demanding tribal status. The Meiteis, which comprise nearly 65% of the population, live in only 10% of the land, primarily in the Imphal Valley, and are predominantly Hindu.
Manipur has 34 recognized tribes, accounting for around 35% of the population. These tribes live in the hills, about 90% of the state. The tribes are divided into Kuki and Naga and are predominantly Christian. It is worth noting that Manipur has a nearly equal number of Hindus and Christians – around 41% each.
Meiteis have been demanding recognition as a tribe since 2012. They are listed as Other Backward Caste; some belong to Scheduled Caste.
The catalyst of the recent violence came in the form of a court order issued on April 14 wherein the judge ruled in favor of a petition that asked the Manipur High Court to direct the state government to accept the Meitei demand and recommend their inclusion in the list of scheduled tribes. The ruling directed the state to submit a recommendation to the Centre within four weeks.
At this point, it is worth going over some political history of the state. The Indian Constitution, and the government's 1959 tribal policy laid out by Pandit Nehru, lend special protection to tribal and indigenous people. The 1959 policy sought the protection of tribal rights in land and forests, non-interference of outsiders into tribal territory, their social and cultural institutions, and administration.
In Manipur, only the tribal community can buy land in the hills. If the Meiteis are granted tribal status, they could expand into the hills. In a petition submitted to the Manipur High Court, the Meitei Tribe Union argued:
"The status of the community before the former princely state merged with India in 1949 was that of a "tribe among tribes of Manipur." While merging Manipur with the Union of India, the Meitei has lost the identity of tribe and, therefore, Meitei should be included as a tribe among the tribes of Manipur so as to preserve the said community and save the ancestral land, tradition, culture and language."
Meitei representatives also claim they have been unfairly denied access to their ancestral land. After joining India, the Meiteis have been confined to about 9% of the state's total geographical area. Their future is uncertain as they cannot settle down in the remaining 90% of scheduled tribe lands.
The argument of the tribes is simple. They view the Meitei demand as a way to secure job reservations and expand their presence into the hills.
Coming to the political leadership, in 2017, the 15-year Congress rule ended, and the BJP became the single largest party in the state. It has remained in power ever since. The BJP's success in both the 2017 and 2022 assembly elections can be attributed to the public's desire to change new politics following the INC's decline, the BJP's plan for development projects, and promises to weed out corruption.
What complicates the state politics is that ever since the BJP came to power, it has encouraged the Meiteis to assert their identity, weaving it into their broader agenda of Hindutva. Further, Chief Minister Biren Singh has been accused of pursuing anti-tribal agenda and removing tribes from their villages, razing churches in the capital, and classifying most tribal settlements as reserved forests and wetlands.
The conflict between the Kukis and Meiteis has a long history. Underlying tensions remain, and there are no easy solutions. It is crucial to address the underlying issues that have contributed to the conflict, such as that of land. However, the recent happenings in the state are a reminder that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and understanding.
The government's immediate priority should be restoring the state's law and order. India cannot afford further chaos in Manipur, given that China has its own mischievous ideas. The authorities in Delhi need to take urgent steps to restore peace in Manipur.
Mercifully, the Centre has set up a committee to be chaired by Governor Anusuiya to facilitate the peace-making process among the various ethnic groups. Interestingly, both Meitei and Kuki groups agree that violence must stop for talks to get going. The hope is that Manipur will henceforth take to the path of peace.
(June 16, 2023)
Beyond Yoga: exploring a more vital Indo-US Partnership
President Joe Biden hosted Prime Minister Modi for an official state visit last month. This was Modi's first official state visit and only the third by an Indian dignitary. The Prime Minister reached in time to lead the Yoga Day celebrations at the United Nations. His address at a joint meeting of the House and Senate (on June 22) was amongst the highest honors Washington offers foreign dignitaries.
Ever since Biden became the President of the United States in 2020, he has argued that the struggle between democracy and autocracy is the defining conflict of the current times. In fact, Biden has often underlined the need to strengthen democratic institutions, the rule of law, and the protection of human rights and expressed his opposition to autocratic regimes. In his bid to win against authoritarian regimes, such as China and Russia, the American President has been eager to strengthen ties with India. However, much to the annoyance of Washington, New Delhi has been increasing crude oil purchases from Russia, which is a key source of funding for the war in Ukraine. Washington has been pushing New Delhi to do more to punish Russia for the Ukraine invasion.
Further, several fellow Democrats, earlier this week, urged Joe Biden to raise human rights issues with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his state visit. In a letter, they wrote:
“A series of independent, credible reports reflect troubling signs in India toward the shrinking of political space, the rise of religious intolerance, the targeting of civil society organizations and journalists, and growing restrictions on press freedoms and internet access.”
Despite these concerns, Indo-US ties have been growing steadily in recent years, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has played a vital role in this progress. He has said that the relationship is of excellent capability and potential and that there is still much room for it to grow. At a 2022 press conference with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Jaishankar said:
“If you look at the India-US relationship, it’s not a narrow relationship only devoted to each other’s gains. Our relationship today impacts the rest of the world, definitely does the Indo-Pacific.”
In his book, The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World, Jaishankar has discussed the evolution of Indo-US ties over the past few decades. He says:
“The India-US relationship is a work in progress. It has evolved over time, and it will continue to evolve in the future. But one thing is clear: the relationship is essential for both countries' security and prosperity."
Factors contributing to the growth of Indo-US ties include shared values of freedom and democracy, economic interdependence, and the common threat of terrorism. The emergence of China as a significant military power has also provided a push for cooperation between India and the United States. That said, challenges in the form of the Pakistan issue, the US rivalry with China, and differences in strategic thinking between the two countries could potentially weaken the partnership.
Jaishankar, in the aforementioned book, makes references to a “multipolar world with frenemies” competing with each other to reach a balance of power against clashing values. He correlates this with the dilemmas the Pandavas and the Kauravas faced in the Mahabharata. While this is a rather business-like worldview, it does not imply that long-term partnerships are not possible.
The relationship between two nations is a continuous play between cooperation and competition. Management of differences is, therefore, essential when building solid partnerships. The relationship between India and the United States has been complex, to say the least. It continues to evolve, though, along with the challenges and opportunities that the relationship faces.
Unlike Washington, India does not view the world as a dual: American-led countries versus those aligning with autocratic regimes such as China and Russia. For India, it is an emerging balance of the big powers – America, China, Russia – and India will engage with multiple partners to variable degrees. It is, therefore, vital for India and the United States to be clear and transparent about expectations from each other and willing to find a middle ground to sustain a strong partnership.
(June 23, 2023)