May 2, 2021
Dear Readers,
On the fiftieth Liberation anniversary of Bangladesh, it is worth recalling the historic role played by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the face of a hostile America and ruthless Pakistani Generals. She showed tremendous guts and strategic skill to achieve her objective without any imperialist and territorial ambition. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee hailed her as Goddess Durga. Today, New Delhi and Dhaka have strong ties and are carving out a new futuristic path for development to their mutual advantage.
I have discussed the prospects of the high voltage Assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry. The people’s verdict will be before us later today. Amidst the high drama of accusations and counter-accusations between regional parties and the BJP, we have even seen the play of political cards in the name of God!
An interesting international development was the US decision to exit from the strategic state of Afghanistan after 20 years of military presence. The decision to leave Kabul to its fate is surely not a right move, both diplomatically and militarily.
Back home, the country is in the grip of a second wave of Covid-19. What has made the situation worse are oxygen shortage, overstretched medical resources, and overburdened healthcare workers who are toiling hard to save lives. The Modi establishment has once again let the people down with its multi-dimensional failures. The Center has finally woken up to the alarming situation. However, what is needed today is national consensus to fight the calamity. This is only possible through unity of efforts on the part of the authorities and the opposition. India cannot once again neglect the poor whose anxiety levels remain high.
Lastly, a personal note on Fatma Zakaria, a journalist of repute, who passed away last month in Aurangabad. She played a dynamic role in various facets of life – from education to social work to journalism. She gave a new shape to the Times of India magazine, The Sunday Review.
Stay safe. Stay well.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Hari Jaisingh
Emergence of Bangladesh as a vibrant nation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Dhaka towards March-end 2021 was symbolic. It reminded the people of India of the historic role played by the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, to help liberate the people of East Pakistan – now Bangladesh – from the oppressive measures of Islamabad against the victims of Pak genocide.
This led to 10 million East Pakistanis crossing the border and infiltrating to the Indian side. The influx of a large number of people has an adverse impact on the Indian economy. India asked Pakistan to create conditions for the return of refugees to their homes in East Bengal. However, Indo-Pak talks failed in this regard. Pakistan thereof attacked India on December 3, 1971. The war lasted 13 days.
During the war, Indira Gandhi pledged complete support to the people of Bangladesh for their liberation. At the time, the United States was ruled by President Richard Nixon and his National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger. Washington’s goal was to back Pakistan’s President General Yahya Khan. Washington moved its Seventh Fleet into the Bay of Bengal in an attempt to deter the Indian Army from advancing towards Dhaka during the two-week war in December 1971. New Delhi was determined to assist the Mukti Bahini (freedom fighters) led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Indira Gandhi’s role has been remarkable with regard to the liberation of Bangladesh. She showed tremendous guts, strategic skill, and political will to stand up to the mighty hostile super power and ruthless Pakistani Generals. Her saga of liberating Bangladesh, without any imperialist and territorial ambition, is a unique feat of the then Prime Minister in the face of tough postures of the American establishment. It may be recalled that on December 3, 1971 Islamabad made a pre-emptive strike on Indian airbases. Indira Gandhi was then in Kolkata. She rushed to Delhi to address to the nation, stating:
“War has been forced on us”.
India responded with counter-offensive against Pakistan. The war ended with the separation of East Pakistan from West Pakistan, resulting in the emergence of Bangladesh.
The 1971 war brought the greatest moments of glory for then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. She was hailed goddess by several political leaders. BJP veteran and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee described her as the all-power “Goddess Durga”. Those were indeed glorious moments for India and its people.
It has been a long march of 50 years for vibrant Bangladesh. It tells us the story of a nation on the upsurge that has emerged from a struggling past to a prosperous and dynamic entity. During the past 50 years, Bangladesh has come up as the fastest-growing economy in the region, with a GDP that now stands at over USD 300 billion and its per capita income today is around USD 2,000. The World Bank refers to the journey of Bangladesh as “an inspiring story of reducing poverty”. It is heartening to see signs of development and prosperity in this youthful country.
Looking back, Sheikh Hasina came to power in 2008, after two years of a military-led caretaker government, and five years of Khaleda Zia-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) rule between 2001 and 2006. That was a period when Islamic hardliners were part of the ruling coalition.
Those years were rather turbulent. The situation today has changed for the better with the return to power of Sheikh Hasina. She has pursued secular policies and dealt with extremist forces ruthlessly. She has managed to pass anti-terrorist and anti-money laundering laws with the help of India. This made all the difference to the liberals and progressive people of the country who fought against the Islamic identity in 1971. This was part of the success story of Hasina’s party, the Awami League, which won 258 out of 300 seats in the Parliament in 2008.
Ironically, US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger is known to have once decried Bangladesh as a “basket case”. However, political stability, entrepreneurship and forward-looking leadership and policies ensured a growth rate of 7-8 percent per year before the Covid-19 pandemic – more than that of China – as per The World Bank.
New Delhi and Dhaka have carved out a new futuristic path for development, with the current establishment giving a new thrust to bilateral ties. The joint statement reiterates the two countries’ strong commitment to eliminating terrorism in all forms and manifestations. Prime Minister Modi has expressed India’s appreciation for the cooperation extended by Bangladesh in security-related matters. The two countries have signed a number of pacts in the areas of disaster management, trade, training for digital service, and establishment of sports facilities. Apart from gifting millions of Covid-19 vaccine doses, Delhi has also given 109 life-supporting ambulances, some of them specifically meant for Rohingya refugees camps at Cox’s Bazaar.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has done a great deal to promote a strong relationship with India. Her success in providing domestic political stability and generating rapid economic growth has been crucial in creating a conducive atmosphere for cooperation between the two countries. In fact, India and Bangladesh represent a live symbol in global diplomacy for cooperative relationship.
April 2, 2021
Farmers’ stir: a matter of PM Modi’s attitude!
Angry Indian farmers have been protesting against the Central government’s three farm laws for months, without any sign of change of heart on the part of the Modi establishment. This turns out to be the country’s biggest ever protest.
Prime Minister Modi has lost two political alliance partners on the farmer’s issue. His own leaders have cautioned him to tread carefully. However, Modi heeds to no one but himself. He has set ideas and concepts that are delinked from grassroots realities.
We all are familiar with heart-moving scenes of how tens of thousands of farmers have been living in tents on highways near the capital’s territory of New Delhi. Large barricades have been erected by the police with barbed wire stands. This setting in itself looks barbaric and undemocratic. How can democratic India’s police treat the country’s annadata in this way? Have they forgotten Lal Bahadur Shastri’s slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”?
The farmers feel that the three farm laws would play with their livelihood and leave them poorer with the dismantling of the MSP regime. Under the Modi government’s new policy, farmers can sell their products to anyone at any price. However, most farmers are of the view that the new laws would only open doors to large companies to manipulate prices to suit their interests. This stand cannot be dismissed casually.
Further, the farmers fear that the Prime Minister aims to turn India into a hub for global corporations, which would be in direct conflict with their interests. The farmers’ unions’ leaders have accused Prime Minister Modi of adopting his well-known pro-corporate tilt. This is how matters have got further complicated and politicized.
What is equally disquieting for farmers is that under the new provisions they cannot take their disputes to court. They will have to depend on bureaucrats for redressal of their grievances.
As is known, agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for nearly 58 percent of India’s 1.3 billion population. India’s farmers are mostly small holders. A staggering 68 percent of them have less than 1 hectare of land. As per the National Sample Survey data, in 17 Indian states, the median farmer earns less than Rs. 20,000 on average annually. It is a different matter that farmers form the biggest voting block in the country. Perhaps, this is what makes farming a main political issue.
The Modi government says that new laws would increase farmers’ income and attract private investment in agriculture. Farmers are not impressed. They have accused the Modi government of being insincere in its approach and basic thinking.
Indeed, things have come to such a pass that the Supreme Court had to intervene. Taking into account the farmers’ sensitivities and sentiments, the apex court has temporarily suspended the three laws. The apex court has also set up a three-member panel to go into the problem. The report has been submitted to the Supreme Court; it is yet to examine it.
The farmers, meanwhile have continued their stir by holding a number of rallies in several states. In fact, Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) leaders have decided to march to Parliament on foot in the first fortnight of May. They have said that their march will be peaceful. Their regret is that the government has been “sleeping” since it ended talks with farmers in January.
The farmers’ key demands are the repeal of the three laws and a legal guarantee of minimum prices for their crops. SKM leaders have also signaled a move to widen their cause. What could be the nature of the proposed widening the cause, is not clear.
The moot point is: will there be any change in the basic attitude of the BJP-led NDA government? As of now, it does not seem so. Prime Minister Modi says that his government has not yet shut the door on having a dialogue with farmers. He has even said that the law would be corrected if deficiencies are detected and errors, if any, would be rectified. All the same, he has made it amply clear that the opposition parties have contributed little by way of positive criticism or pointing to deficiencies in the laws. Even his minister for agriculture has reiterated that farmers’ representatives are
unwilling to discuss what is bothersome to them in the law “clause by clause”. Modi admits that “there are challenges”, but states:
“We have to decide whether we want to be part of the problem or the medium of solution.”
Well, Prime Minister Modi is well known for his rhetoric. However, what is disturbing is his combative attitude on farmers’ issues. Singing paeans to democracy is part of Modi’s style in public life; however, what is unsettling is that he does not relish the people’s right to dissent. Dissent is an essential part of democracy and the leader of no nation has the right to dub such voices of dissent as anti-national.
PM Modi tends to be upset by the criticism of several international celebrities over his handling of the farmers’ agitation. No wonder, central leaders often talk about “international conspiracies” to malign the Modi government. This is a misplaced criticism. The real point is: Modi has a big challenge at hand that calls for a reflective mind and a pragmatic approach to tackle the farmers’ issues. He clearly has gone astray.
April 9, 2021
Awaiting the people’s verdict in Assembly polls
Come May 2, we shall know the people’s verdict in the high voltage Assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and the Union Territory of Puducherry. A large number of promises have been in the manifestos of various parties.
There are numerous accusations and counter-allegations, especially during the course of the eight-phase West Bengal election. The BJP leadership has identified Bengal as a prestige catch for its victory. It is equally interested in retaining power in Assam. To achieve its goal, the BJP could go to any length. Its main focus is on Mamata Banerjee and its grassroots party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
The sudden rise of the BJP in Bengal is attributed to “Subaltern Hindutva”. Not that the TMC lacks its Hidutva base, but it has projected for itself an all-inclusive secular image. It seems that the Saffron party is indulging in psychological games with a view to demoralising the rank and file of the TMC. Take the case of the party’s strategist Prashant Kishor and his interaction with the media via the audio app, Clubhouse. The BJP has made selective use of his interaction with journalists to say that the TMC has already “admitted defeat” in West Bengal polls. What the Saffron party is avoiding is to repeat is his remark that the BJP will not cross a hundred seats in West Bengal!
During the fourth phase of voting in Cooch Behar, we witnessed the death of 4 villagers in CRPF firing. It is said that the security forces fired shots after being surrounded by villagers incensed by a rumour that the CISF men had assaulted a 12-year-old boy. Rumours go along with ground realities in Bengal amidst the changing profile of the traditional cotton kurta-clad Bhadralok of Bengal. The stereotype image has got somewhat rehashed, thanks to the intense political battlefield in Bengal’s star-studded poll show this time, with names drawn from film and television industries arranged on both sides.
Over the years, the TMC has carefully courted stars in its climb to power. This time, the BJP has taken to the same path. It has roped in some veteran TMC leaders in its fold. It is a different matter that the BJP had once accused some of these TMC leaders of corruption. They now find a pride of place under the Saffron party banner. This is a new twist in Bengal politics. Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee says:
“We cannot allow BJP to turn Bengal into Gujarat.”
We have to wait and watch how the two “strong” men from Gujarat – Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah – could succeed in turning the tide in Bengal. They have ample wealth and resources for their high profile campaigning and road shows. No wonder, Mamata Banerjee has questioned Amit Shah about the source of the money he is spending. There are no ready answers to such loaded questions. All that Amit Shah says is:
“Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee is trying to create anarchy in the state”.
West Bengal Congress Chief Adhir Ranjan Chawdhury says:
“Our message to the electorate is clear. People should vote against divisive and other forces that are a threat to democratic and secular values, which are the bedrock of the culture of West Bengal.”
Be that as it may, Bengal politics is already in a melting pot amidst half-baked and half-hearted alliances and defection games, In fact, the pattern of defections must be seen as central to the BJP’s plan, with as many as 100 of its 283 candidates for the elections being turncoats.
Facing serious organizational deficit, the BJP has ended up relying on the very elites against whom anger has been palpable. Well, this is how Indian politics moves on among Bhadraloks and non-Bhadraloks. Even micro movements and local expectations find a way in the prevailing sensitive system and wayward leaders. We have to see how unknown and unpredicted factors shape Indian politics in the days to come.
In Kerala, the Sabarimala temple issue took centre-stage on voting day. In this context, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the legion of gods is with the ruling CPI(M)–led Left Democratic Front (LDF). How come the CPI(M) identifies with gods?
The Chief Minister said:
“The deity at Sabarimala, Ayyappa and the legion of Devas are with the LDF because this government stood with the people in crisis”.
He was referring to the state governments’ welfare measures to tide over the floods and the Covid-19 lockdown. Taking a cue from the Chief Minister, CPI (M) politburo member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said:
“If Gods had votes, LDF would have got their votes en bloc. The government has given protection to all. The faithful are coming out in large numbers in support of LDF”.
The play of the ‘god’ card by the Marxists must have come as a shock to the other parties. We shall know on May 2 as to which side of the political divide gods throw their lot in Kerala, God’s own land!
As for ground realities, people across states are in want of jobs, a decent living, and access to good healthcare. They do not care for tall promises, nor do they relish politics around religion divide of Durga and Ram and “insiders” and “outsiders”, Dravid and non-Dravid issues. However, this is how the politics in India keeps swinging from one extreme to another! Small wonder that ours is multi-dimensional politics that keeps all the hope for power alive for all political parties.
April 16, 2021
US exit from Afghanistan, advantage Taliban
Everything is back to square one in Afghanistan, the strategically-located state that has paid a heavy price in its search for freedom from varied militant groups of the Taliban and external forces. Washington’s presence in Kabul for nearly 20 years held out some hope for ordinary Afghans that they would one day be masters of their own destiny.
Women and girls had hoped for their empowerment through education. However, the proposed withdrawal of American troops (officially 2,500) has now raised fresh fears of the Taliban’s return to power in Kabul, ending their fervent desire for peace, freedom and a better life. Apart from the American troops, thousands of coalition troops under the NATO’s command are also expected to pull out with the Americans.
These developments leave the already shaky Ghani government in an even more precarious position. Once the Americans are gone, the balance of power in the troubled country would shift in favour of the Taliban. The people of Afghanistan still remember the Taliban rule when it controlled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. The ruthless regime of the Taliban then banned women from taking jobs or receiving education. This virtually made Afghan women prisoners in their homes.
In the months to come uncertainty will hang over every aspect of life in minerals-rich Afghanistan. Nothing can be more tragic than this harsh fact. It shows the failure of the US policy and strategy in Afghanistan 20 years ago with a view to giving the people their dream for freedom and to become masters of their own destiny. Every hope now has now been dashed to the ground. US President Joe Biden has decided to end America’s longest war and withdraw its troops from Kabul no later than September 11.
It was 20 years ago that American troops arrived in Kabul to drive out al-Qaeda following its 2001 terrorist attacks. The problem with American policymakers and strategists is that they have hardly pursued well thought-out strategies in Afghanistan. As things stand, Afghanistan would be overrun by the Taliban in no time. Thus, Kabul would see a repeat of its decades-old bloody history.
Announcing the American withdrawal of troops, President Biden said:
“I am now the fourth United States President to preside over American troops’ presence in Afghanistan”.
However, does he realize that there is hardly anything glorious about America’s lopsided management of the turbulent country?
The costs to America have, of course, been high. It has lost more than 2,400 troops in the civil war. Military expenses too have exceeded USD 2.26 trillion, according to Brown University’s Costs of War project. What a heavy price to pay for America’s zero-sum achievement in Kabul!
Looking back, a conditional peace deal was signed in February 2020 between the United States and the Taliban. It was supposed to pave the way for warring Afghan tribes to bring years of fighting to an end. But that was not to happen as different Taliban groups had their own ambitious plans. The Afghan security forces, however, remain dependent on American support for their survival. And that support system will go with President Biden’s plan to withdraw US troops from Kabul.
The impact of President Biden’s announcement in different areas of Afghanistan is bound to be far-reaching. In the first place, it virtually puts a full stop to the proposed dialogue of the Taliban with the Afghan government. Secondly, this will end diplomatic efforts by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to start a chapter of peace in Afghanistan. This included a 90-day cease-fire and a comprehensive dialogue under the auspices of the UN for a “conscious plan” for Afghanistan, involving US, Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran and India. Also, on cards were Turkey’s talks with the Taliban and the Kabul government to work out a futuristic political order and a permanent ceasefire.
Everything is now topsy-turvy. The Taliban in its new belligerent mood is confident of its triumph on the battleground. We know it well that the Taliban is riding high. It does not believe in the politics of election. It calls elections to be “un-Islamic”. It also dubs the Afghan government of President Ashraf Ghani as a “puppet” of the US.
Be that as it may, the countries having stakes in Afghanistan are back to the business of finding their place in the future of Afghanistan. The US has, of course, promised that it would continue to support Kabul during and after the withdrawal of its troops. However, Washington has not spelt out the nature or scope of its support mechanism.
President Biden is surely under pressure at home on quitting Afghanistan. Critics of President Biden have pointed out about the possibility of Afghanistan re-emerging as a breeding ground for global terrorism. Even India should have reasons to be concerned on this count, keeping the Kashmir situation in mind.
Pakistan has its own game plan. As has China. Beijing can deliver massive economic resources to Afghanistan under the umbrella of the Belt and Road Initiative. Iran, with links to the Hazara community in Afghanistan, has of late been quite active in the region. As for India, it will have to think on new lines as it is likely to see end of excellent relations of 20 years with the Karzai and Ghani government in Kabul.
It is clear that the withdrawal of troops by the US would leave the Taliban stronger. The Afghan field hence will be open for the Taliban operations. We cannot be sure of the Taliban’s game plans. In the circumstances, New Delhi will have to play a pro-active strategic role, keeping in view interests of Pakistan, , Iran and other regional powers. Afghanistan’s is indeed, once again a tragic tale of uncertainty and turmoil.
April 23, 2021
National unity needed to tackle Covid-19 disaster
In the wake of the second wave of Covid-19 , the country has been witnessing pathetic sights of patients die, gasping inside and outside hospitals in Delhi as well as in other cities. The macabre crisis of oxygen shortage, overstretched resources and overworked healthcare workers race against time to save lives.
Nothing can be more heart-rending than such disturbing scenes. Who is to blame for such a messy situation? The faulty system? Administrative indolence? Could this be because of lack of proper communication and glaring policy gaps? Or, should we blame poor quality of the leadership?
It is difficult to pin-point specifically the range and dimension of the tragedy. Perhaps, the second wave has taken our presumably wise leaders by surprise. They seem to be either confused or baffled or both. Small wonder that the Delhi High Court too looked skywards with its classic remark:
“As it stands, we all know this country is being run by God!”
God? Or, man-made god with feet of clay? This reminds me what Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan once said, “Modi is like a god!”
If Modi is like god, should we say that this living god-like person, with his long rishi-like white beard, has failed his people?
Taking note of the grim situation created by the massive surge in Covid-19 cases and deaths, the Supreme Court said on April 22 that it expected the Centre to come out with a “national plan” to deal with proper distribution of oxygen and other drugs for patients.
There are wheels within wheels and it is hard to know which wheel of the establishment is moving for whose benefit. It, however, must be said warning signals had been given to the authorities concerned in April last year and then again in November about the possibility of India facing a shortage of oxygen supplies and essential drugs for Covid-19 patients. But then, who cares?
During a disaster situation, two major challenges have to be kept in mind. One, ensuring emotional levels of the pandemic-hit individuals and their families. Two, taking care of high morale of communities to face adverse situations bravely. There must not be any scope for negativism or helplessness.
It, of course, must be said that the country’s authorities have messed up matters regarding oxygen supplies, shortage of hospital beds and vaccines. The biggest regret is that the Modi establishment not only failed to anticipate the course of events, but even failed to do anything in the eventuality. Some prime culprits that come to mind were the preoccupation with elections, the Kumbh mela, and other mundane affairs such as the Central Vista project.
It is the responsibility of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to learn to look beyond, keeping in mind the weaknesses of society which tends to take things easy after the drummed up success stories of the first wave of coronavirus. What we see today is an all round deterioration in public life.
It is distressing that while politicians fight for poll-related battles or petty matters, important public issues are either pushed back to the back seat or conveniently overlooked. They hardly realize that there is more to our national life than fixed angularities and closed minds. In the process, honest and credible Indians are getting marginalized in today’s highly polluted political atmosphere. These Indians prefer to stay away from today’s dirty politics in order to retain their identity as persons of free thinking and action.
It is indeed pitiful that the country’s leadership has fumbled time and again on highly critical matters. This has created in the minds of the people the image of a spineless body that is a prisoner of its own indecisions.
The overall Covid-19 situation in the country remains dreadful as innumerable patients and their relatives continue to fight on their own for sheer survival in view of the shortage of oxygen supplies and vital medicines. The direct blame for these multi-dimensional failures goes to the Modi establishment. It is easy to talk and declare in his Mann ki Baat radio address that the nation is shaken. How about taking responsibility for the massive failures of the Centre and its agencies to have come to the grip of the Covid-19 battle, Prime Minister Modi?
The empowered groups on medical infrastructure and Covid management plan under Dr. V. K. Paul had suggested to the authorities concerned to take “extra-ordinary measures to ramp up oxygen provisions” to meet a surge of 6,00,000 new cases per day. Active cases in the ongoing Covid-19 wave in India may peak at 3.8 to 4.9 million between May 14 and 18, according to IIT scientists who have revised their projections upwards.
Unfortunately, in state after state, health infrastructure created during the first wave of infections was dismantled early this year, amid mistaken belief the pandemic was coming to end. This speaks of the absence of coordinated thinking mechanism of the persons at the helm.
The main priority of the Central authorities right now seems to be to deflect public attention from its own performance. Where they seem to fail miserably is the absence of proper democratic dialogue with the states, the opposition parties, and the media. The Centre has viewed them with suspicion while the opposition views the government as inept. This is surely not a happy situation.
The Centre must learn to work actively with the states and the opposition as national disasters demand. Equally important is to ramp up the health infrastructure on a war footing and ensure vital sectors of the economy do not get paralysed. Some experts fear that the Covid-19 pandemic could hit a million daily infections in May daily with death touching 5,000. Well, we cannot be sure how things would take shape tomorrow. All the same, as a nation we have to get prepared for the worst. There cannot be short-cuts to management of the disaster we are faced with.
Lockdown, of course, is not the answer. We need to have a comprehensive national plan for Covid-19 management while ensuring reasonable economic activity. Mercifully, it is heartening to see the global support to India on oxygen and vaccine supplies. US President Joe Biden has pledged America’s “steadfast support for the people of India hit by the unprecedented surge in Covid cases”. A number of western and Asian countries have been equally forthcoming in providing assistance to India in this critical period.
However, it is deplorable that Prime Minister Modi has been reluctant to reach out to opposition parties with a view to creating national consensus to fight the grim Covid situation. In this context, Congress President Sonia Gandhi has rightly said that the political leadership has to rise above differences and come together to fight the calamity as a nation. Prime Minister Modi is yet to realize that timely action, firm leadership and prompt management of the Covid situation can save millions of lives .
Equally important for us all is not to forget those who are already on the brink of subsistence to absorb a second economic shock. The lower-income people require more predictable and stable support for jobs and livelihood. Any misplaced move that leaves our large population unprotected will cost the country enormously in terms of lives and livelihoods. Thus, it is not a tall order to expect PM Modi to reach out to the
opposition leaders so that the nation could tackle the problems unitedly and successfully. The poor sections of our society must be our priority and no stone should be left unturned to help them to overcome the grim situation.
April 30, 2021
Remembering Fatma Zakaria
Fatma Zakaria is no more. She breathed her last on April 6, in Aurangabad, at the age of 85. Hers was a multi-dimensional personality. She thrived on her innovative talent in various facets – education to social work to live journalism – with an eye on talent seeking for freshness of ideas and concepts. This was a unique characteristic that made her a favourite of Girilal Jain, Editor of The Times of India (TOI).
Fatma was then the Sunday editor of the Times of India. She developed the Sunday magazine as a live concept on men, women, matters and issues. There was never a dull read as she evolved the magazine as a dynamic fare in a competitive environment.
I had known Fatma’s husband Rafiq Zakaria as an Islamic scholar. We were then members of the Press Council of India headed by Justice A. N. Grover (1979-1982). However, my first contact with Fatma was established in the early 1980s when I was Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Ahmedabad. The students’ agitation against the establishment’s reservation was then at its peak. I had dealt with the subject in-depth, which caught Fatma’s eye. She felt that TOI must not be left far behind in projecting the reservation issue.
She reached out, asking whether I would deal with the issue in a comprehensive manner. I understand she had briefed Girilal Jain before speaking with me. She requested me to do an in-depth article on the subject for her magazine. I said I needed some time to think about it as it was a delicate matter for me ethically.
I brooded, looking at the issue with a wider perspective. I thought as a journalist and whether I should say “yes”, with a view to reaching out to a large number of readers. My duty, after all, is to inform and enrich the young and the old, beyond set barriers of newspapers. At the end, I agreed to contribute to the TOI and the article was published as a lead piece in Sunday Review. This was the start of my professional link with Fatma.
It so happened that I later received an offer from TOI for launching its Bengaluru edition. I was inclined to accept the offer, and I finally did. Ramnath Goenka had probably an inkling of it and sent his trusted General Manager, J. C. Jain, to Ahmedabad to stop me from joining the rival establishment. Mr. Jain landed in Ahmedabad on the day I was set to send in my resignation letter. He came up with a lucrative proposal and offered me a position as Resident Editor in Mumbai.
I held back my resignation letter and took charge of Indian Express in Mumbai. Later, Fatma organized dinner at her home with Mr. Girilal Jain. I apologized to Jain Saheb for not joining TOI. He responded:
“Hari, don’t bother. In your place, I would have done the same thing”.
This is how any professional life got a wider dimension. Fatma was a gracious lady, and for me, a key factor professionally as I explored a glittering commercial world of Mumbai. The silken threads of our professional links moved on till I left Bombay for Delhi for yet another thrilling journey in the complex world of journalism.
April 30, 2021