Maharashtra and Haryana State Elections - 2019

As the Campaign for the Maharashtra and Haryana state Assembly elections draws its curtain, no prize for guessing its outcome. After a long time I am witnessing a predictable, one sided election in India, duly vindicated by opinion polls. The results are not going throw any surprise - as the victory of BJP along with its NDA allies is a foregone conclusion taken for granted.

The only major National opposition party Congress has lost all its mojo, the will to stage a comeback fight. This happens to any organization bereft of vision which prefers mediocrity to quality. Congress party lacks quality leadership and direction at top level. The last leader who had political skills with leadersship quality was Indira Gandhi and to certain extent her chosen successor son Sanjay (her other son Rajeev lacked political acumen and went on to squander a rare historic mandate). The Gand Old party of India clings to a family way past its expiry date destined towards doom.

The Congress party had surrendered even before the campaign had started. Rahul Gandhi was hardly in the picture. A la rats jumping off a sinking ship, the Congress party men and women were seen quitting in droves. The AAYA RAM, GAYAA RAMA (Came Joe, went Joe) tendency of its political leaders as well as its UPA allies leaving for greener pastures, overwhelmingly towards BJP continues unabated. 

Can't blame them for their classic CHHATA (Umbrella) Party syndrome. Cut the hypocrisy, hardly anyone these days joins politics to do JANA SEVA (Public service). They do it for their personal gains - for money, power, accompanying benefits rather than any real political ideology. In this context joining BJP makes a whole lot of sense for them as they see no future in their own parties. (Similar rat race is seen in Odisha as BJD, a party in power for more than two decades is seen as best political bet).

A commonly used Odia saying goes as - BARSHA JUADE CHHATA SIADE (as the direction rain goes, so follows umbrella), which means the tendency of being a fair weather friend. This exodus is going to lean in the direction of rain and it rains BJP now. No wonder Politics is the last resort of  scoundrel and makes strange bedfellows. 

A weak opposition doesn't augur well for a democracy, for power is the ultimate aphrodisiac. Power leads to corruption and absolute power corrupts absolutely. There will always a vacuum as the Ayaa Rams and Gayaa Rams rush in to umbrage under the same umbrella. Hope this lacuna is fulfilled by a constructive opposition as the ruling party BJP is diluting itself towards self destruction by unabashedly accepting bad Apples from other parties. This is ultimately going to hurt the so called party with a difference on the long run. It's time someone steps in to fulfill the vaccum. High time indeed.

Happy 150th birthday Mahatma Gandhi

Albert Einstein once described him as - "It's hard a believe such a man in flesh and blood ever walked on the surface of earth". The world famous scientist wasn't far from truth, as the man he was referring to rightly earned his accolades. We are talking about non other than our BAPU (Father of the Nation), Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as MAHATMA (the famous soul) Gandhi.

Newton's 3rd Law says every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Same is applicable to human emotions. Every violent action would naturally follow with an equal or more violent reaction, often leading to a continuous, never ending cycle of revenge. But Mahatma Gandhi decided to fight violence in an exactly opposite manner, something different and out of box called "Non-violence". 

It was another matter violence was not an option as India was not in a position to take the might of the British by force. Unlike many who believe that the British shat in their pants and fled away on the sight of Subash Bose, militarily Indians never posed any serious challenges to the British rule. (For those now ridiculing Gandhi for his nonviolent method of resistance should ask themselves how many Battalions were raised by there idols RSS and Hindu Mahasabha - both having their presence prior to our independence).

Born in Gujarat to an upper middle class family, educated in England, Mohandas Gandhi first experimented his peaceful protests against the brutally racist Apartheid regime in South Africa. He subsequently applied the same against the British rule in India. 

Gandhiji (as he was popularly addressed as) experimented with different vices and virtues early in his life, prompting him to write "My Experiment with Truth", where he frankly admitted his distaste for sex when he had an urge while attending to his ailing father and slipped away momentarily to his wife to fulfill his desire. When he returned, his father was dead. This incident filled him with remorse.

But sometimes his experiments went little too far. At an old age after his wife's death, his experiment of sleeping naked with his nubile niece to test his control over libido attracted some controversies. His opponents, notably the Muslim League made a big deal out of it. Gandhi finally discontinued this practice after some persuasion by an image conscious Congress party. What happened in dark, stayed in dark.

However, his method of protest being unique immediately caught the eyes of the world at a time when the electronic media was at its infancy but upcoming. The world stood up and took notice, appalled by the sight of the DANDI March protesters brutally mowed down by the DANDA (stick) of British Police (Indians who were majority in the police force had no qualms hitting or killing their own when ordered by the English). The victims didn't show an iota of retaliation or remorse and went ahead with their protest, still taking the blows from police baton and falling injured one after one another, until they couldn't carry on any further. 

This incident was covered extensively by the western media which brought Gandhi and his unique mode of protest to the limelight. Gandhi was an idealist, whose idealism did not fail in his missions, though finally he fell to an assassin's bullet. His ideology of non-violence was later replicated by Dr. Martin Luther King Junior half a world away in The United States to fight for the Civil Rights for the Black minorities. Dr. King, like his idol Gandhi was too assassinated, but both vindicated the efficacy of "Non-violence" as a mode of protest.

When India celebrated its independence, arguably brought to by his non-violence means, instead of celebrating, Gandhiji spent the day praying and fasting. He was steadfast in his pursuit for Hindu-Muslim unity, but India was partitioned amidst bloody violence on communal lines, opposite to what he stood for.

Post partition, Pakistan asked India to pay Rs.48 crore (480 million), a princely sum those days. India refused to oblige. Bapu wanted India to pay the money to younger brother Pakistan and went on fasting, forcing India to relent and pay the money to its western neighbor. Pakistan used that lump sum amount of money to buy arms and attack India.

As mentioned by the eminent Freedom Fighter and Social reformer from Odisha, Pandit Nilakantha Das who was a contemporary of Gandhijee, the later visited the Satyavadi School in Sakhigopal, near Puri during his trip to Odisha in 1923. Sri Das disagreed with his mode of operandi by getting freedom through spinning wheel of CHARKHA. After completing his public meeting at Puri, it was Gandhi's turn to proceed towards his next stop - Cuttack. 

Gandhi's team suggested that half of them would travel by train and the rest by PADAYATRA (March on foot). But Nilakantha advised all of them to take the walk, so as to build the momentum of public enthusiasm, giving Gandhi an opportunity to better connect with the local polulace. Gandhijee heeded to Pandit Das's advice, opting for a walk. 

On the entire journey Gandhi's entourage survived on boiled rice and vegetables. It was tough on Pandit Nilakantha, who loved his fish curry. Midway, he came across a leper and donated his hand spun KHADADA (crude cotton cloth) to the destitute. Next day, Bapuji encountered a group of KELA (nomads) feasting on Barbecued KATASA (wild cat) who strayed into their camp. 

He went on preaching vegetarianism to them, trying to dissuade them from eating meat. Gandhijee advised them - "Eat milk and ghee which are good for health. Stop committing the HIMSA (violence) of killing animals". But for the poor nomads, milk and ghee were pipe dream, a distance luxury and KATASA MANSA (Wild cat meat) was the crude reality.

After his death, his countrymen hardly retained his ideologies. India continued to be riddled with violence of all sorts, later in the form of terrorism. The current affairs of our nation may aptly described by these few lines lifted from the Odia song LE NABEENA from 1981, depicting the sad saga of the Mahatma. (Naveena here depicts the typical down to earth Odia guy, no relationship to any person bearing the same name).

LE NABEENA TIKE PACHHAKU ANA,
HATHE BAADI DHARI THIA BAPUJI NANA,
BAPUJI BUDHA RA AAKHI RE LUHA,
TA RAMA RAIJE AAJI YAMA RA BHAYA

( O' Nabeena, take a peek behind.
Stick in hand Old man Bapuji is standing,
The old man's eyes are filled with tears,
Yama, the God of death has filled
His Dream Land with fear).

Happy 150th Birthday to Bapu, the Father of the nation. We may or may not agree with what you did or what you could have done, or whether your out of box experiment with non violence was an useful weapon. But you carved your niche to be the greatest amongst the greats who ever walked on the surface of earth.

ABSYAKTA HAI

Remembered watching a Hindi TV serial named CHANAKYA based on the life of the advisor and point man of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya in ancient India. Set in an era 300 years before Jesus Christ was born, the episodes covered the life and time of young Chandragupta struggling to topple the brutal regime of Dhanananda, the King of Magadha.

Though it was a battle between the wicked Dhanananda and young Maurya, the real battle of brains was fought in the background between Chanakya and the sharp, resilient Minister of Magadha - RAKHYASA. Rakhyasa knew that Nanda was evil, but being sworn to the throne of Magadh, he was loyal to the Emperor and tried his best to protect the King's regime. 

The smart Amatya (Prime Minister) could anticipate every move made by Chanakya beforehand, saving his King Dhanananda's life several times. The shrewd and smart strategist in Rakhyasa recruited multiple Doppelgangers (body doubles with similar look) of the king to confuse the assassins sent by Chanakya

After Dhanananda was defeated and killed, Rakhyasa continued resisting on behalf of the old guard. His several attempts to assassinate Chandragupta Maurya were prevented due to the timely intervention of Kautilya (another name of Chanakya). 

Realizing Rakhyasa's ability and resilience, Chanakya managed to convince his chief adversary that the later's loyalty lied with Magadha and now that Nanda is gone, Amatya Rakhyasa may accept his offer to become the Prime minister of Magadh under Chandragupta Maurya. Rakhyasa obliged and Chanakya after realizing his dream of AKHANDA BHARAT (United India) left for Taxsila to continue his teaching.

When Chandragupta was raising his battle, the evil emperor Nanda tried his best to capture the duo of Chanakya and Chandragupta. But both managed to give him a slip, giving him sleepless nights. In one scene from that tele serial, in a spurt of frustration Dhanananda raises his sword to kill his AMATYA Rakhyasa, but withdraws. 

The wise Amatya smiled back. The irritated king questioned him about the reason behind his smile. Rakhyasa replied - AAP MUJHE NAHI MARENGE, KYON KI AAP KO MERI ABASYAKATA HAI. (You won't kill me, as you need me). Mahananda replied - SAHI BOLA, KYA KHOPDI PAYEE AAP NE (You said it right. What a brain you got) ! The king needed his wily Amatya as his savior.

The bottom line is ABSYAKATA HAI - the world goes on mutual needs. China in its restive Xinjiang province forces its Muslim citizens to drink alcohol and eat Pork - both religiously prohibited by Islam. Yet Iran and Saudi Arabia, the so called champion of Islam who give FATWAs (religious decree) at slightest drop of hint of humiliation to the religion are conspicuously silent on China. Because they have business to do with the Middle Kingdom, an energy hungry country which needs oil. 

This ABSYAKATA HAI applies to China and its relationship to US as well - both ways. In spite of all kinds of nuisance created by Pakistan, the logic of ABSYAKATA HAI forces the world's sole Superpower to engage with the terrorist nation. Vajpayee, the ex PM of India literally said "ABSYAKATA HAI" in poetic terms to the reporters when question about the reason for talking to Pakistan.

Same is applicable in our everyday life. An Employers keep its employees for their utility value. Pragmatism forces us towards appeasement and tolerance of otherwise avoidable elements in our day to day life - because of ABSYAKATA HAI (we need them). More than 2300 years has passed since Dhanananda couldn't kill his Amatya RAKHYASA for the later's utility value - the logic for ABSYAKATA still remains strong and valid.

The myth of Modi helping Trump win 2020 election

There are stories abound on Indian media - social or otherwise that Modi's address in Houston will help Trump win the 2020 Elections. I don't think it will make much of a difference, if so it will be at best marginal. 

Either way, it is not very wise for a foreign head of state to appear taking sides in an American election. What if Trump loses his reelection bid in 2020 ! Modi would still be in power and has to deal with a new Democrat President with the perception of the Modi almost all out campaigning for his opponent. Though Americans are known to follow pragmatic, self centered foreign policy, the perceived overt endorsement is unwarranted.

Here is why Modi's indirect endorsement of Trump for a second term wont help much electorally. Let's do some reality check and please do your Math. The number of folks of Indian origin in US is 4.4 million (1.5% of the total population). Out of them, American Citizens of Indian origin would be less than 3 million as there are lot of Indian diaspora on Green card, other work related visa who cannot vote in the US Elections. That makes them about 1% of the Registered voters.

For those who are eligible to vote, Indian Americans vote overwhelmingly for the Democratic party, including myself. I am not going to vote for Trump in 2020. Period. Nearly 80% of Indian Americans voted for Hillary last time. That's a gargantuan gap there. Don't think there will be a sea change to that number as I know several folks who support Modi, yet won't vote for Trump.

Simply take a look at the demography. Among the Indians in the United States 51% are Hindus, 19% Christians, 11% Muslims, 5% Sikhs and 10% unaffiliated to any religion. So forget any support for Modi from the Muslim and Christians amongst the Indian Americans, forming a good chunk of 30%. I have interacted with a few from those communities and the name Modi is anathema to them. 

Hindus and Sikhs are the only ones who are likely to be swayed by Modi. But still a large swathe of them who are settled here for a long time have Democratic roots, voting on local issues, especially those 2nd generation Indian Americans. Forget being a Modi supporter, they hardly relate to Modi or India per se.

The bulk of the Indian Americans live in the states of California, New York, New Jersey, Illinois and Texas. Out of these the first four are solidly Democrat and Texas solidly Republican. The Indian American vote in these states won't make any difference in the outcome. 

The way it works in the Electoral College based American Election, it is winner take all. If a party wins a state by 1 vote it pockets all its electoral College seats. If Republican party wins Texas by 1 vote, Trump takes all the 38 Electoral College. It is same as BJD taking 21 seats even if it defeats BJP by 1 vote in Odisha, assuming each Lok Sabha seat in Odisha represents an Electoral College. All these states I mentioned where majority of Indians live aren't even competitive. Modi's support for Trump will not make a dent there.

Hence the fact Modi can swing a lot of Indian votes in American election is an over exaggeration. A few cult followers may change their mind, but not a whole lot, which is required to tilt the balance in favor of Trump or his Republican party. No harm in Trump trying to change the equation, so good luck to him.

Reporting live Modi's speech at Houston, Texas

Just completed watching Howdy Modi event live from the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas of the United States of America. Howdy is a Texas slang form of "How you doing", a common way of Americans addressing one another.

 

Modi addressed a large and a largely  disciplined crowd of 50,000 people of overwhelmingly Indian Americans. I have seen Modi address more boisterous crowds in India, with audience far higher than today's rally in Houston. But rarely (probably never) he got the same kind of attention on media, especially in India. 

The entire airwaves back home on a Sunday evening was filled with the coverage of Howdy Modi, pushing an ungoing T20 Cricket match (a game religiously followed than any religion in  India) to the back burner. It was quite unprecedented scale for an event held on the foreign soil to get such a feverish media coverage back home in India. However, the mainstream American media made a frugal coverage of the event, so I had to catch it on YouTube. 

The icing on the cake was Donald Trump. No doubt he was the star of the stage and his presence making all the difference. Such a widespread media coverage won't have happened without him on board - especially for an event held on a foreign soil. Trump was very forthcoming and turned his speech into a campaign rally - heaving paens of praise on the Indian American community, sharing the common ethos and pathos of both nations, keeping in mind his reelection bid only a year from now. He left no stone unturned in eyeing India as one of the world's top notch emerging market and America's  desire to tap on it. No one knows better than Donald J Trump who himself is a businessman. It is win win situation, beneficial for both nations.

Yet one must have noted Trump alluding Modi doing his best to alleviate the Bureaucratic red tape in India to make it more business friendly. This is a much needed step as it is well known to Trump and international business community about India's Babudom being its biggest bottleneck to its growth. The President of US is right in finger pointing it as a deterrent when US is looking for an alternative to China in the middle of an ongoing trade war.

Let's hope all these bonhomie lasts long, patiently waiting and watching how far it goes when it takes to next level. There forever will be the ubiquitous invisible Elephant in the room - Pakistan. The nuisance and utility value of that nation should never be underestimated. No question that it's advantage India for now. A pat on the back from the most powerful person on earth doesn't hurt at the time of Kashmir imbroglio post  scrapping of the Article 370. Reporting live on social media - Good night to my friends back home and good day to the rest.

The first 100 Days of the BJP Led government

First 100 days is known as the Honeymoon period - be it marriage, job or government. Expectations are low, the benefits of doubt take your side. The partner in your life or colleagues at work are less judgemental as one is prone to lesser scrutiny. A lot could be achieved it this timeframe until the universal law of "Familiarity breeds Contempt" sips in. Nothing lasts forever. Like it or not, the happy honeymoon is bound to come to its natural end - sooner or later.

Here is my take on the first 100 days of the Modi led BJP-NDA government. Though constitutionally we are a Parliamentary democracy, the last Election (certainly not first as Nehru, Indira and Rajeev Gandhi have done this before) was fought Presidential style. According to a Poll 35% Indians who cast their vote for BJP admitted they wouldn't have voted for the Party if Modi was not their Prime Minister candidate. That's a sizable number when often few thousands, even a few hundred votes makes the difference between win and loss in a Parliamentary constituency.

First and the foremost - the positives. The government taking the advantage of the honeymoon period and the pervasive hyper nationalism has scrapped the controversial Article 370 in Kashmir. It's a step in the right direction. But it's a long journey towards stability in the turbulent state - a rocky road ahead and Pakistan hellbent on creating potholes. Those crazy BJP supporters need to wait to fulfill their cherished dream (rather fantasy filled hallucinations) to settle down in Kashmir Valley with fair skinned local girls.

Next, from what I hear the Modi led government has curtailed entitlement culture of Lutyens Delhi to a certain extent. The Babus are working more and playing less Golf. Leeches and parasites are less seen in the the power corridors and accompanying the Prime Minister on his foreign tours at tax payers expense. It won't be so easy for the government to take head on the well entrenched corrupt and inefficient Babudom (Bureaucratcy) in Delhi and the rest of India, yet credit should be given where credit is due.

Now let's come to the negatives. The GDP growth rather than accelerating like Ussain Bolt towards the end of his sprint, now more resembles me slowly huffing and puffing to the finish line in a 100 meter race. The economic slowdown is real. It has been acknowledged by the economists, except of course the BHAKTs (means devotees, but a term ascribed to die hard fans of Modi, BJP, RSS etc) who live in their own make believe world.

Rather questioning their own leadership, they are leaving no stone unturned in blaming everyone else including Gandhi, Nehru, Pakistan, Fake news, Paid media, and Global slowdown. (For information to those who are blaming the economic downturn on global slowdown, the largest economy in the world called United States is doing pretty well as of now, with its consumer confidence still pretty good). Even Dr. Swami, once a Bette Noire of BJP and now an ardent supporter of the party hasn't shied away from pointing to the holes in the current state of the economy.

Also, BJP supposed to be party with a difference has aped Congress in its practice of breaking the vulnerable opposition state governments. Best examples was the recent mockery of democracy in the state of Karnataka. Inspired by the Modi - Shah duo 15 odd opposition MLAs flew on their own to Mumbai in a private airplane and stayed in 5 Star hotel, footing the bill using their meager MLA salary from their pockets.

The Karnataka government would have come down under the weight of its own contradiction. But Bhakts defend this as Realpolitik - a clear case of hypocrisy and double standards when they leave no stone unturned in being critical of the Congress party, which once mastered the same art of breaking opposition led state governments to perfection.

Looking beyond the Honeymoon period here is something I would love the government to do the following 3 things with immediate.

1. Please own the responsibility of the economic slowdown and replace the person heading the equivalent of the Federal Reserve in India and bring a professional on board. No offense to History graduates, but Economics, like Science and Technology Economics is best left to be handled by professionals.

2. Please improve the quality of education and focus on the future generation for inventions and innovations. We might be flying Airplanes and invented TV,  internet etc 5,000 years back, but a report as recently as yesterday has not mentioned a single Institute of ours in the list of top 300 global institute. It's time to look forward and produce the first Nobel laureate in Physics since Dr. C V Raman from British India - not exist in the past glory.

3. Please be inclusive, not decisive. Not a single Muslim or Christian friend of mine are happy with you. They are as patriotic as anyone else. Minorities form close to 20% of India's population and we can't throw them to Indian Ocean. We need to embrace them.

As in marriages, honeymoons are known to been followed by disastrous consequences when the reality strikes back with vengeance as the honey dries up and moon suffers from eclipse. Marriage as an institution marriages needs mutual  trust and respect to survive long term. Your marriage to the public is no exception. The moonstruck public memory is short and can be fickle - so be careful mate, as it could very well dump you when expections aren't met. Good luck with the rest of your term.

RIP Abdul Qadir

He was named "Man with the Golden Arm". A leg break and Googly bowler the handsome man from Lahore - then the Capital of Cricket in Pakistan and during British India, he didn't exactly crashed into limelight after his Test debut in the mid 1970s. His name was Abdul Qadir.

Somehow inconsistent in his performance, he was far from a regular in the Pakistani team. It was a perpetual struggle for him to keep his place as a bowler in a highly talented Pakistani cricket team where the fast bowling duo Imran Khan and mercurial Sarfraz Nawaz ruled the roost.

Time and again he was in and out of the Pakistani squad. But the foresighted Imran Khan stuck to him in his team when the later became the Captain. Many then accused Imran of nepotism, pandering to the Lahore lobby (same accusation faced by Bombay lobby here) as he realized Abdul Qadir's potential.

The spinner never belied his Captain. He continued to mature and delivered at the right time, especially from the 1982 tour of England when he along with Imran Khan guided their team to some memorable victories.

Abdul Qadir did well in 1983 World Cup in England too where Kapil's Devils unexpectedly won the Cup. His 5 wickets in a crucial win against the Lankans helped Pakistan to enter into the semifinals only to lose to the favorite West Indies. Later on the night of the historic win at Lord's Abdul Qadir was one of the two Pakistani cricketers to join the Indian team in their night long celebration. The other player was Mudassar Nazar.

By this time Qadir was already acclaimed in the international cricket circuit, enough to get an offer to play county cricket. He famously said - "My art is not for sale", afraid of getting exposed in English County cricket. He sure mastered the art of Leg spin and Googly, giving a lot of batsmen, especially from England and Australia trouble reading him (Indians are good readers of spin). He was aptly nicknamed - The Man with the Golden Arm.

He would bowl with an unusual twist to his arm and could l take a maiden in the 49th over in an One Day International. In a crucial game against England in the 1987 World Cup he was instrumental in Pakistan's win by restricting the Pommies who were unable to hit him during the slog overs as he mesmerized them with his spin & surprise googlies.

Qadir had his contribution in batting too. In the same world cup he hit Courtesy Walsh for a six in the last over to seal the feat of the Windies. It was West Indies 's last shot at the 50 overs format of the game. It has never recovered till date to get anywhere close to winning the Cup.

Abdul Qadir was also instrumental in inadvertently bringing Sachin Tendulkar into limelight. Challenged by him, the rookie 15 year old boy Hit 4 consecutive sixes off the Connoisseur leg spinner in a limited overs match, stunning a highly partisan Pakistani crowd. A star was born that day. Qadir didn't have to wait until the night to announce the arrival of the star. The same evening he predicted that Sachin is going to be a great Batsman for years to come. He wasn't far from the truth

63 years is too young to go, especially for sportsmen. But life ain't fair and sport. RIP Abdul Qadir.