The Second Revolution of freedom in India

Freedom consists not only in the absence of restraint but also in the presence of opportunity. Liberty is not a single and simple conception. It has four elements – national, political, personal and economic.  The Constitution of India through its preambles has given its citizens its rights towards freedom. The man who is fully free is one who lives in a country which is independent; in a state which is democratic; in a society where laws are equal and restrictions at a minimum; in an economic system in which national interests are protected and the citizen has the scope of secure livelihood, an assured comfort and full opportunity to rise by merit. 

 The Preambles contains the structure of our Constitution, and spells out the aspiration of the people to secure for all its citizens Justice, Liberty, Equality and promote amongst the people a feeling of fraternity, ensuring dignity of the individual and the unity of the nation. Justice is further defined as Political, Social and economic Justice.  Indian people have got their Political independence on 15th August 1947, however social and economic justice is still not available to the people of India. The recent public unrest is an indication of the same.

             World Bank's latest estimate on global poverty states that India had 828 million people, or 75.6% of the population living below $2 a day. Sub-Saharan Africa, considered the world's poorest region, due of its geographical location and reasons, is better placed; it has 72.2% of its population (551m) people below the $2 a day level. Sub-Sahara is a desert and has extreme climatic conditions were life and vegetation is difficult to survive. However, Indian scenario is   different and the geographical location and Area, climate and resources (mineral, agricultural, vegetation, and climatic) are conducive for production of goods and services.    India, according to the new estimates, had 456 million people or about 42% of the population living below the new international poverty line of $1.25 per day. The number of Indian poor also constitutes 33% of the global poor, which is pegged at 1.4 billion people.  India is home to roughly one-third of all poor people in the world.

In the year 1976 Congress Government through a Constitutional amendment, amended the Preambles (the basic structure) of the Indian Constitution and added the words, Socialist Secular to Sovereign Democratic Republic. Then no Indian name was there in the list of top 100 capitalist’s of the world. Out of 64 years of independent India, Congress party has governed the country for over 53 years .  The Party  which had won the 2004 general election  on the slogan “Congress Ka Haath AAM ADMI Ke Saath, meaning thereby that  “The Congress hands are with the Common man”, has done little for the common man. In fact this has become just an slogan to attract votes.

            In the year 1991 Shri. Manmohan Singh the then finance minister and currently the Prime Minister of the Country began the economic reforms in India. The World Bank's latest estimates on global poverty shows that the rate of decline of poverty in India was faster between 1981 and 1990 than between 1990 and 2005. This shows that economic reforms, which started in 1991, have failed to reduce poverty at a faster rate. The gap between common man and Capitalist’s has widened. In the list of top 50 capitalist of the world there are as many as 7 Indian’s. According to the World Wealth Report recently released by Capgemini and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, while most countries in the world have increased their High Net-Worth Individuals Count, India has more than doubled it – maximum compared to any other country in the world. . Political Parties are acting against the spirit of the Indian Constitution to build Socialist India has in fact helped the capitalists to amass wealth. India tops the list for black money in the entire world with almost $1,456 billion in Swiss banks, followed by Russia $470 billion, the UK $390 billion, Ukraine $100 billion and China, with $96 billion. Indian Swiss bank account assets are worth 13 times the country’s national debt. Most of this money has been stashed away in banks in ‘tax havens' abroad over the last 60 years by corrupt  politicians, industrialists, bureaucrats and middle-men.

The UPA government with Shri. Manmohan Singh, as its Prime Minister has been named as a Government of Scam’s. Every day new scams have been reported in media and billions of Dollars of public money is been diverted in corrupt hands of politicians, bureaucrats, middleman and industrialists. There is wide spread public unrest in India and people are protesting against the same. However the Government is defending its corrupt practices and any Individual or Institution which raises voice against these practices has to face the wrath of the government lead by the Congress party. Government machinery lead by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been pressed against the whistle blower and he is regularly been harassed by the Govt. machinery.  The CBI has now been renamed by people as the Congress Bureau of Investigation.  Reports of constitutional bodies as The Controller and Auditor General of India are thrown in waste baskets and shamelessly its validity denied. Image of people and Institutions pointing corruption are been tarnished and every attempt is made to spoil his public image.  The recent police atrocity on Baba Ramdev and his disciples in Delhi and the treatment received by the Government to Anna Hazare and Civic Society members has clearly revealed the same, and much is desired to be done in the direction of  personal, civil and national liberty.

     History reveals that India fell mainly because her people were at the critical hour divided and disorganised. Her influence waned when the forces of disintegration, political and social, were at work. If we left our neighbours alone, we revelled in internal strife which ceased for a time when great kings like Ashoka and Akbar ruled over the destinies of India – mighty men, who sought to unite the teeming millions of this vast sub-continent by the bond of a common aspiration and a passionate longing for the eternal code of righteous conduct, charity and understanding. A strong and united India fearing no one and loving all, brought messages of peace and goodwill to distracted world. But as soon as the sceptre dropped from their hands, when the grip over the country was loosened through weak and short-sighted successors, when narrow selfishness and mutual jealousy and distrust overpowered our souls, when local feuds and religious strife raised their ugly heads giving rise to social exclusiveness and moral decadence, unity was lost; freedom, man’s priceless treasure, disappeared.

            The public support to Anna Hazare in his effort to draft a Peoples Lok Pal Bill to fight graft and corruption has received wide support through out the country. People from each and every walk of life are lending support to this fight against corruption. Men’s and women irrespective of their caste, creed and religion were all assembling in public places singing patriotic songs and slogans to support this cause. Streets of the nation are lightened at midnight and people were out on road waiving the National Flag and burning candles in support of the Gandhian leader Anna Hazare. It appears to be the second  Fight for independence for the people of India.

V.K.Singh: Bihar is the epic center of all nationalist movements in India

V.K.Singh: Bihar is the epic center of all nationalist movements in India

Bihar is the epic center of all nationalist movements in India

Bihar is the epic center of all great nationalist movements in India. Chandragupta Maurya founder of the Maurya Dynasty (320 -185 B.C.) was considered as the liberator of India as he freed India from the rule of Greek empires. Originating from the kingdom of Magadha in the Indo-Gangetic plains (modern Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bengal) in the eastern side of the Indian subcontinent, the empire had its capital city  Pataliputra (modern Patna). With an area of 5,000,000 sq km, it was one of the world's largest empires in its time and the largest ever in the Indian subcontinent. At its greatest extent, the empire stretched to the north along the natural boundaries of the Himalayas, and to the east stretching into what is now Assam. To the west, it conquered beyond modern Pakistan, annexing Balochistan, south eastern parts of Iran and much of what is now Afghanistan, including the modern Heart and Kandahar provinces. The population of the empire is estimated btw 50-60 million (lower) which makes Mauryan empire the most populous empire of before Christ era. Mauryan Empire was home to over one third of world humanity. The higher estimates of Mauryan empire population is over 100 million which easily makes it the biggest empire in terms of percentage of world population under any single empire ever.  Ashoka the greatest Mauryan Emperor was instrumental in giving the Indian nation its geographical shape.

 Under Chandragupta and his successors, both internal and external trade, and agriculture and economic activities, all thrived and expanded across India through the creation of a single and efficient system of finance, administration and security.  Manathenese the Greek traveler to India gave praise worthy references of the capital town Patliputra which was governed by Samittees (Committees).  In that period, groups formed by peoples’ representatives were call Gana, which thereby assembled to form Sabha (legislatures) and Samittees’ (Committees).

 Mauryan India also enjoyed an era of social harmony, religious transformation, and expansion of the sciences and of knowledge. Ashoka's embrace of Buddhism which preached and advocated a casteless society, obedience to teachers and parents, kindness to all, charity, truthfulness, continence, purity of thought, moral values, Non- Violence, and righteous conduct. The moral teaching of Buddha was expected to elevate the character and personality of every person, irrespective of religious sect to which he belonged.  Ashoka has been given credit for converting a local sect. into a world religion. He has been instrumental in giving the foundation of the reign of social and political peace and non-violence across all of India. Ashoka started to win territories by adopting the Buddhism method of cultural nationalism, which is known as the Dhamma.  Ashoka's edicts refer to the Greeks, Kambojas, and Gandharas as peoples forming a frontier region of his empire. They also attest to Ashoka's having sent envoys to the Greek rulers in the West as far as the Mediterranean. The edicts precisely name each of the rulers of the Hellenic world at the time such as Amtiyoko (Antiochus), Tulamaya (Ptolemy), Amtikini (Antigonos), Maka (Magas) and Alikasudaro (Alexander) as recipients of Ashoka's proselytism. The Edicts also accurately locate their territory "600 yojanas away" (a yojanas being about 7 miles), corresponding to the distance between the center of India and Greece (roughly 4,000 miles. Ashoka sponsored the spreading of Buddhist ideals into Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, West Asia and Mediterranean Europe.

Bihar remained an important place of power, culture and education during the next one thousand years. The Gupta Empire, which again originated from Magadha in 240 CE, is referred to as the Golden Age of India in science, mathematics, astronomy, religion and Indian philosophy. The peace and prosperity created under leadership of Guptas enabled the pursuit of scientific and artistic endeavors. In the Gupta Era (319-20 AD) the Nalanda Mahavihar which is considered as the oldest university of the world was formed and functioned. Students from China, Japan and other parts of the world studied there it was an international recognized place of learning. Hiuen Tsang a Chinese pilgrim visited India during the reign of Harshavardhana. He went to Nalanda, the great Buddhist university of Indian state of Bihar, where he spent at least the next two years. He was in the company of several thousand scholar-monks, whom he praised. Xuanzang studied logic, grammar, Sanskrit, and the Yogacara school of Buddhism during his stay at Nalanda. The Vikramshila and Nalanda universities in Bihar were among the oldest and best centers of education in ancient India.

Licchavis ruling from their Capital at Vaishali (Bihar) is considered the oldest democracy of the world and was a federation of democratic republics.  Anga, Magadha and Licchavis were the democracies existed in the state of Bihar at that time.

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In the years 1553–56 Pashtun dynasty ruler 'Adil Shah' took the reigns of North-India and made 'Chunar' his capital. He deputed 'Hemu' the Hindu General, also known as 'Hemu Vikramaditya' as his Prime Minister and Chief-of-Army. Hemu fought and won 22 battles continuously against Afghan rebels and Akbar's forces at Agra and Delhi and established 'Hindu Raj' in Delhi, after a foreign rule of 300 years. During 1557–1576, Akbar, the Mughal emperor, annexed Bihar and Bengal to his empire.

Babu Kunwar Singh of Jagdishpur and his army, as well as countless other persons from Bihar, contributed to the India's First War of Independence (1857), also called the Sepoy Mutiny by some historians. Resurgence in the history of Bihar came during the struggle for India's independence. It was from Bihar that Mahatma Gandhi launched his pioneering civil-disobedience movement, Champaran Satyagraha. Brahmins in Champaran had earlier revolted against indigo cultivation in 1914 (at Pipra) and 1916 (Turkaulia) and Pandit Raj Kumar Shukla took Mahatma Gandhi to Champaran and the Champaran Satyagraha began. Bihar made an immense contribution to the Freedom Struggle, with outstanding leaders like Swami Sahajanand Saraswati, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Sri Krishna Sinha, Dr. Anugrah Narayan Sinha, K. B. Sahay, Brajkishore Prasad, Mulana Mazharul Haque, Jayaprakash Narayan, Thakur Jugal Kishore Sinha, Satyendra Narayan Sinha, Ram Dulari Sinha, Basawon Singh, Rameshwar Prasad Sinha, Yogendra Shukla, Baikuntha Shukla, Sheel Bhadra Yajee, Pandit Yamuna Karjee and many others who worked for India's freedom relentlessly and helped in the upliftment of the underprivileged masses. Khudiram Bose, Upendra Narayan Jha "Azad", Prafulla Chaki and Baikuntha Shukla were active in revolutionary movement in Bihar.

When the Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was found guilty of violating electoral laws by the Allahabad High Court, Jai Prakash Narayan called for Indira to resign, and advocated a program of social transformation which he termed Sampoorna Kraantee, to restore democratic values and democracy in India. In 1974, he led the student's movement in the state of Bihar which gradually developed into a popular people's movement known as the Bihar movement. It was during this movement that JP gave a call for peaceful Total Revolution. After Indira revoked the emergency on January 18, 1977 and announced elections, it was under JP's guidance that the Janata Party (a vehicle for the broad spectrum of the anti-Indira Gandhi opposition) was formed. The Janata Party was voted into power, and became the first non-Congress party to form a government at the Centre.

The writer can be contacted on 
email: -  vksinghbjp@rediff.com                                                                                                                           

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Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and his views on Education and freedom

Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was born on July 6, 1901 in Kolkata, the capital of British India.  A 1^st class graduate of English securing the first position in class he completed his Master degree in 1923 and Law degree in 1924. Dr Mukherjee, a brilliant student of English language and literature, took up his M.A degree in Bengali at the insistence of his father Sir Asutosh Mookerjee, who had been struggling to give Indian vernaculars including Bengali, their rightful place in the University curricula, for which there was no respectful place in the British period. He was elected fellow of the Senate Calcutta University at the age of 23. Subsequently, he left England in 1926 to study at Lincoln's Inn and became a barrister in 1927. At the age of 33, Mukherjee became the youngest Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta, and held the office till 1938.  He was the President, Post- graduate Councils in Arts and Science for successive years and also the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Member and then Chairman, Inter-University Board.

During the four years of his service as the Vice-Chancellor, he did not spare time, energy, health, convenience or anything worth having in life; which stood in the way of his duty, against the advice of his doctors. He initiated new departments and courses and developed and improved existing ones. His was a leader in true respect an had the highest regards for the Indian culture and its education system as was reflected by his speech delivered at Patna University Convocation on 27th November 1937.

       In his words, “In India also, for century, education imparted through the medium of a foreign language has unduly dominated its academic life and it has now produced a class of men who are unconsciously so denationalised that any far reaching proposal for the recognition of the Indian languages as the vehicle of teaching and examination up to the highest University stage is either ridiculed as impossible or branded as reactionary. But I plead earnestly for the acceptance of this fundamental principle not on account of any blind adherence to things that I claim as my own but out of a firm conviction that the fullest development of the mind of a learner is possible only by this natural approach and also that by this process alone can there be a great revival of the glory and richness of the Indian languages.”

Bihar is the epic center of all great nationalist movements in India. Democracy, Freedom and its values were understood and defined here from times immemorial.  Licchavis ruling from their Capital at Vaishali (Bihar) was the oldest democracy of the world and was a federation of democratic republics.  Anga, Magadha and Licchavis were the democracies existed in the state of Bihar. Mahatama Gandhi started his revolution of Freedom by holding his first satyagrah movements in Chauparan in Bihar. To restore democratic values and democracy in India, Jai Prakash Narayan started his  Sampurna Kranti revolution from Patna. True to the spirit and teachings of this great land when Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee visited this great land the thinking of  divine soul’s and the blessing of the land,  converted into words and that was delivered  in form of  his speech.

            “Freedom consists not only in the absence of restraint but also in the presence of opportunity. Liberty is not a single and simple conception. It has four elements – national, political, personal and economic. The man who is fully free is one who lives in a country which is independent; in a state which is democratic; in a society where laws are equal and restrictions at a minimum; in an economic system in which national interests are protected and the citizen has the scope of secure livelihood, an assured comfort and full opportunity to rise by merit.  This freedom, so truly and courageously defined, is not ours today and until this condition is reached, India will never achieve true greatness or happiness, based on the glorious features of her past civilisation.”

इसका मेरे द्वारा  किया गया हिंदी अनुवाद यहां वर्णित है :-

स्वतंत्रता केवल संयम के अभाव में ही नहीं बल्कि अवसर की उपलब्धता में भी निहित है। स्वतंत्रता कोई एकल और सरल अवधारणा नहीं है। इसके चार तत्व हैं - राष्ट्रीय, राजनीतिक, व्यक्तिगत और आर्थिक। वह व्यक्ति पूरी तरह से स्वतंत्र है जो एक ऐसे देश में रहता है जो स्वतंत्र है; एक ऐसे राज्य में जो लोकतांत्रिक है; ऐसे समाज में जहां कानून समान हों और कम से कम प्रतिबंध हों; एक ऐसी आर्थिक व्यवस्था में जिसमें राष्ट्रीय हितों की रक्षा हो और नागरिक के पास सुरक्षित आजीविका, एक सुनिश्चित सरल व्यवस्था जहां योग्यता के आधार पर उन्नति का पूरा अवसर मिले। यह स्वतंत्रता, जो सही मायने में यहां साहसपूर्वक परिभाषित है , आज हमारी नहीं है और जब तक यह स्थिति नहीं हो जाती, भारत अपनी पौराणिक गौरवशाली सभ्यता  पर आधारित अपनी भव्यता  या सौभाग्य कभी हासिल नहीं कर पाएगा।

Hindu society from the earliest times considered the education of its members as one of its primary obligation; this indeed was a system on which society was based. This system was known as Varnasama Dharma, meaning thereby life being regulated by different classes (Varanas) and stages (Ashrams). The disciples had his physical birth at home of his natural parents but his spiritual birth at the place of his preceptor, where he accepted brahmachaya, with strict discipline of life, regulation about diet, dress, study, social service and religious practices. The view of the education as a process of ones’ inner growth and self-fulfillment evolved its own technique, its rules, method and practices. It recognised that the making of man was primarily the training of mind as the instrument of acquiring knowledge so as to increase its intrinsic potency and creative capacity. As per Manu Shamriti a disciples gets rebirth only thought Sansakar (which is performed after attaining education and knowledge) and then attains the heights and place of his life.

Indian people have got their Political independence on 15^th August 1947, but other freedom as economical, personal, social and national still elude them. Over 70 Crores people in India have an average income of less than Rs. 20 per day. World Bank's latest estimate on global poverty states had 456 million people or about 42% of the population living below the new international poverty line of $1.25 per day. The number of Indian poor also constitutes 33% of the global poor, which is pegged at 1.4 billion people.  India is home to roughly one-third of all poor people in the world. The gap between common man and Capitalist’s has widened. In the list of top 50 capitalist of the world there are as many as 7 Indian’s. According to the World Wealth Report recently released by Capgemini and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, while most countries in the world have increased their High Net-Worth Individuals Count, India has more than doubled it – maximum compared to any other country in the world. India has more black money than rest of the world combined. India tops the list for black money in the entire world with almost $1,456 billion in Swiss banks, followed by Russia $470 billion, the UK $390 billion, Ukraine $100 billion and China, with $96 billion. Indian Swiss bank account assets are worth 13 times the country’s national debt. Most of this money has been stashed away in banks in ‘tax havens' abroad over the last 60 years by corrupt  politicians, industrialists, bureaucrats and middle-men. If the estimates of Rs 70 lakh Crore of Indian black money parked abroad are brought back, this can give economic freedom to the people and can surely lift the 40 crore Indians living below poverty line out of poverty, or it can fund entire infrastructure building for the next 15-20 years. It can also educate all Indian children for next 50 years. Personal, social and national freedom still eludes the people of India. The recent police atrocity on Baba Ramdev and his disciples in Delhi and the treatment received by the Government to Anna Hazare and Civic Society members has clearly revealed the same and too much is desired in this direction.
The writer is Executive Member to BJP’s National Trade Cell N.Delhi                                                           

Corruption In India

India tops the list for black money in the entire world.While there is no official estimate available for the magnitude of India's black money, unofficial estimates put the figure at around $1.4 trillion (over Rs 70 lakh crore). This amount is more than one year's GDP of India. Most of this money has been stashed away in banks in ‘tax havens' abroad over the last 60 years by corrupt  politicians, industrialists, bureaucrats and middle-men.

The bulk of India's black money is stashed away in secret bank accounts in Switzerland, according to data provided by the Swiss Bankers Association. India has more black money than rest of the world combined. India tops the list with almost $1,456 billion in Swiss banks, followed by Russia $470 billion, the UK $390 billion, Ukraine $100 billion and China, with $96 billion. Indian Swiss bank account assets are worth 13 times the country’s national debt.

               India is ranked 6th on the black money top ten countdown for illicit outflows monitored during 2002-2006. The estimated average amount stashed away annually from India during 2002-2006 is $27.3 billion US dollars. Switzerland is the top destination for illegal funds because of its strict secrecy laws. Also, Swiss banks sell additional masks to hide the identity of their rich clients, like trusts in the Cayman islands, shell companies in Panama, or foundations in Liechtenstein, all run by nominees

    Political and bureaucratic corruptions in India are major concerns. Transparency International, an international organisation that ranks countries on a Corruption Perception Index (CPI), ranked India 86th out of the 180 countries ranked by it in 2009. The CPI rates countries on a scale of zero to 10, with zero indicating high levels of corruption and 10, low. India's CPI score was a measly 3.4 out of 10, indicating fairly large levels of corruption. A 2005 study conducted by the organisation found that more than 15% of Indians had first-hand experience of paying bribes or influence peddling to successfully complete jobs in public office. Taxes and bribes are a fact of daily life and common between state borders. Transparency International estimates that truckers pay US$5 billion in bribes annually. According to Transparency International, judicial corruption in India is attributable to factors such as "delays in the disposal of cases, shortage of judges and complex procedures, all of which are exacerbated by a preponderance of new laws".

A 2009 survey of the leading economies of Asia, revealed Indian bureaucracy to be not just least efficient out of Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, China, Philippines and Indonesia; further it was also found that working with India's civil servants was a "slow and painful" process.

 Independent reports have recently calculated India's traditionally ruling family's (Gandhi's) financial net worth to be anywhere between $9.41 billion (Rs 42,345 crore) to $18.66 billion (Rs 83,900 crore), most of it in the form of illegal monies. Harvard scholar Yevgenia Albats cited KGB correspondence about payments to Rajiv Gandhi and his family, which had been arranged by Viktor Chebrikov, which shows that KGB chief Viktor Chebrikov sought in writing an "authorization to make payments in US dollars to the family members of Rajiv Gandhi, namely Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Paola Maino, mother of Sonia Gandhi" from the CPSU in December 1985.  In November 1991 the respected Swiss magazine, Schweitzer Illustrate, published a report alleging that Rajiv Gandhi had 2.5 billion Swiss francs, equivalent roughly to two billion US dollars, in numbered Swiss bank accounts.  Dr. Yevgenia Albats a Soviet journalist who officially investigated the KGB when the communist regime was still in control. She was also a member of the official KGB Commission set up by President Yeltsin in 1991. She had full access to secret files of the KGB. She authored a book, The State within a State: KGB and Its Hold on Russia. In 1989, she had received the Golden Pen Award, the highest journalism honor in the then-Soviet Union. After translating official KGB documents Dr. Albats disclosed in her book that KGB chief Victor Chebrikov in December 1985 had sought in writing from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU), "authorization to make payments in US dollars to the family members of Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, namely Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Ms Paola Maino, mother of Sonia Gandhi." CPSU payments were authorized by a resolution, CPSU/CC/No 11228/3 dated 20/12/1985; and endorsed by the USSR Council of Ministers in Directive No 2633/Rs dated 20/12/1985. These payments had been coming since 1971, as payments received by Sonia Gandhi's family and "have been audited in CPSU/CC resolution No 11187/22 OP dated 10/12/1984.' In 1992 the media confronted the Russian government with the Albats disclosure. The Russian government confirmed the veracity of the disclosure and defended it as necessary for 'Soviet ideological interest'. The Hindu of July 4, 1992 carried this report.

            The black money that was stashed away abroad in the 1970s and 1980s by money laundering has now multiplied manifold due to rupee depreciation and the interest earned on such funds. Now the same black money is being round-tripped for investment in India by some quarters, through FDI by shell companies, investment in the stock market through participatory notes (PNs), etc. Participatory notes are instruments issued by FIIs to investors whose identity is not revealed even to SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India). However, this is only a small part of the black money stored abroad, that is flowing back to India, mostly through Mauritius. Mauritius is the single biggest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in India - amounting to $534 million in 2002-03 (about one-third of all FDI). But that is not all. Mauritius-based foreign institutional investors (FII) are also believed to be major players in the Indian bourses. FII investment in Indian stock markets between April and October 2003 year amounted to almost $5 billion - almost ten times what they invested in the whole of the financial year 2003-003. Indeed, they are believed to be the ones leading the boom in the stock markets. But the Mauritius angle does not end there. Reports in the financial media indicate that a substantial part of FII investment is believed to be coming from Non-resident Indians (NRIs) bringing back funds to participate in the ongoing speculative trade in the Indian stock markets, much of which is said to be routed through Mauritius-based paper companies. Black money stashed by Indian abroad has found way in India through this route. The Capital Gains Tax exemption giving to this Tax Haven has given the national  exchequer on account of lost capital gains tax in the last decade would amount to a whopping Rs.28,139 crores. Even if it is an admitted policy of the state to woo foreign capital at any cost, the question is whether losses of this kind are acceptable to the polity at large.

 In a most recent example of corruption, even as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probes US$8 billion worth transactions allegedly involving suspected money launderer Hasan Ali Khan, evidence available with a news source in India shows that he had transactions of over 12,000 crore (US$24.86 billion)between years 2005 and 2006. This amount is enough to fund the national drinking water project in all the six lakh (600,000) villages in India for the next 10 years. Even as the Hasan Ali case has hit the headlines and the Enforcement Directorate claims that India's biggest tax offender has as much as eight billion dollars stashed away abroad, he is only one of the big tax offenders and this stash is only a part of the huge illicit outflow from India. Documents seized by ED reveal that Hasan Ali transferred $700,000 from Sarasin Bank, Switzerland to the account of S K Financial services UK maintained with Barclays Bank, London through Citibank, N.Y.

If the estimates of Rs 70 lakh crore of Indian black money parked abroad are brought back this money can surely lift the 40 crore Indians living below poverty line out of poverty, or it can fund entire infrastructure building for the next 15-20 years. It can also educate all Indian children for next 50 years.

Published in Organiser weekly 

the RSS mouth piece magazine on 14 August 2011 

BY V.K.Singh Executive Member to BJP National Trade Cell, Prabhari  Assam 

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Mauritius as a tax haven

This is How The Stock Exchange Boom of India was Manipulated



Mauritius as a tax haven

The Hindu : News / National : India sitting over Rs. 1 lakh cr of unused external aid: CAG

The Congress Government is willfully holding this Public money against the Interest of The Indian People ( The AAm Admi). This Government is of the Khaas (Special People) and as it will not benefit them is sitting on such a huge amount.


The Hindu : News / National : India sitting over Rs. 1 lakh cr of unused external aid: CAG

SC issues notice to Centre on Ramdev's eviction - The Times of India

SC issues notice to Centre on Ramdev's eviction - The Times of India

This is the murder of Democracy. This reminds of the British rule. The only thing that has changed is the colour of the Skin. The Bureaucracy and the Executive have the same mentality as in those days. What a Shame for a country which Historically ( in Lichvee, Bihar ) had the oldest Democracy of the World.

Agriculture a story of neglect in the UPA Government

India’s has one of the largest  arable land  which is second only to that of the United States, its economy is one of the fastest growing in the world, and its industrial innovation is legendary. India ranks second worldwide in farm output.  Agriculture and allied sectors like forestry , logging and fishing accounted for 15.7% of the GDP in 2009–10, employed 52.1% of the total workforce, and despite a steady decline of its share in the GDP, is still the largest economic sector and a significant piece of the overall socio-economic development of India. But when it comes to agriculture, its output lags far behind potential. The Agrarian Indian Economy needs long term planning, positive thinking and Governments active dynamic participation. .

Yields per unit area of all crops have grown since 1950, due to the special emphasis placed on agriculture in the five-year plans .  The Green Revolution introduced high-yielding varieties of rice and wheat, expanded the use of irrigation, pesticides and fertilizers, and transformed the northwestern plains into India’s breadbasket. Between 1968 and 1998, the production of cereals in India more than doubled. But since the 1980s, the government has not expanded irrigation and access to loans for farmers, or to advance agricultural research. Groundwater has been depleted at alarming rates. However, international comparisons reveal the average yield in India is generally 30% to 50% of the highest average yield in the world. India’s rice yields are one-third of China’s and about half of those in Vietnam and Indonesia. With the exception of sugarcane, potato and tea, the same is true for most other agricultural commodities

The low productivity in India is a result of the following factors:

According to World Bank, Indian Branch: Priorities for Agriculture and Rural Development", India's large agricultural subsidies are hampering productivity-enhancing investment. Overregulation of agriculture has increased costs, price risks and uncertainty. Government intervenes in labour, land, and credit markets. India has inadequate infrastructure and services.World Bank also says that the allocation of water is inefficient, unsustainable and inequitable. The irrigation infrastructure is deteriorating. 

With a population of just over 1.2 billion, India is the world’s largest democracy. In the past decade, the country has witnessed accelerated economic growth, emerged as a global player with the world’s fourth largest economy in purchasing power parity terms, and made progress on most of the Millennium Development Goals. As of 2005, according to World Bank statistics, 75.6% of the population lives on less than $2 a day (PPP), while 41.6% of the population is living below the new international poverty line of $1.25 (PPP) per day. However, data released in 2009 by the Government of India estimates the percentage of the population living below the poverty line to be 37.2%,, making India home to one third of the world’s poor people. The rural areas are still home to some 72 percent of the India’s 1.2 billion people, a large number of whom are poor. Most of the rural poor depend on rain-fed agriculture and fragile forests for their livelihoods. A long and inefficient supply chain means that the average farmer receives less than a fifth of the price the consumer pays, a World Bank study found, far less than farmers in, say, Thailand or the United States. 

The problem has grown so dire that Prime Minister   Manmohan Singh has called for a Second Green Revolution “so that the specter of food shortages is banished from the horizon once again.” And while the PM worries about feeding the poor, India’s growing affluent population demands not only more food but also a greater variety. But the policy makers of modern India have failed to recognise and realise, the basic ingredients for agriculture and what are its inputs. By sitting in AC rooms plans cannot be made for the peasants and poor agriculturist i.e. the AAM ADMI, which constitute 52.1% of the total Indian workforce.  

There can be no Green Revolution without adequate irrigation and fertilizer, which is consistently deteriorating due to the faulty policy of the Government. The Current Budget has given nothing to the Agriculture and there is little emphasis in this direction. In fact the fertilizer subsidy for the year 2011-12 has been pegged down (at Rs. 49,998 crores) , which is lower than the revised estimates for 2010-011 (Rs. 54,976 Crores). With inputs for major fertilizers pegged to oil- linked inputs such naphtha, LNG and Ammonia the recent announced rates of subsidy for Complex fertilizers for 2011-12 already fall short. CRISIL Research, India’s leading Rating, Research, Risk and policy Advisory Company reports that the revised nutrient subsidy rates announced by the Govt. Of India on 9th March 2011 in order to compensate with the sharp increase in fertilizer and feedstock prices is unlikely to help the Companies as international prices have increased drastically specially phosphoric acid. For example the total realization (sum of subsidy plus retail price) at revised benchmark for DAP comes to about $ 630 per tonne, while international price is about $ 690 per tonne (landed cost). Thus the domestic companies lose a net $60 per tonne as per the current announcement. Hence it is expected that the Govt. would hike the prices of fertilizers after May this year after the assembly elections , which would add to the food price inflation.

Irrigation facilities are inadequate, as revealed by the fact that only 52.6% of the land was irrigated in 2003–04, which result in farmers still being dependent on rainfall, specifically the Monsoon season. A good monsoon results in a robust growth for the economy as a whole, while a poor monsoon leads to a sluggish growth. Farm credit is regulated by NABARD, which is the statutory apex agent for rural development in the subcontinent. At the same time overpumping made possible by subsidized electric power is leading to an alarming drop in aquifer levels. India receives an average annual rainfall of 1,208 millimetres (47.6 in) and a total annual precipitation of 4000 billion cubic metres, with the total utilisable water resources, including surface and   groundwater , amounting to 1123 billion cubic metres with Total utilizable ground water resources  433 BCM . 546,820 square kilometres (211,130 sq mi) of the land area, or about 39% of the total cultivated area, is irrigated. The globally-averaged annual precipitation is 990 millimetres (39 in). Cherrapunji, situated on the southern slopes of the Eastern Himalaya in Shillong, India is one of the wettest places on Earth, with an average annual rainfall of 11,430 mm (450 in). The 38-year average at nearby Mawsynram, Meghalaya, India is 11,873 mm (467.4 in).  State wise there is a disparity of rainfall, wherein most of the North-eastern states of the country including West Bengal  having a average rainfall of 1,881 to 2,818 mm per year and the south-western region of Kokan and Goa 3,005 mm,  Kerala 3,055 mm and costal Karnataka 3,456  having the highest rainfall and the North western region of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Saurashtra and Kachchh recording around 600 mm of rainfall, the lowest being that of West Rajasthan which records an average of 313mm per year. As per Central Water Commission - An apex organization in water resources development in India, the estimated utilizable surface water resources is 690 BCM with a Natural Runoff of 1986.5 BCM. There are 12 Major river basins ( catchment area > 20,000 sq. km)253 M. ha  and 46 Medium River Basins (catchment area < 20,000 sq. km.) 24.6 M. ha. The ultimate irrigation potential is 140 M. ha. with a Gross irrigated area  in the year 2003-04 was 75.3 M. ha. , Net irrigated area as on (2003-04) was  55.1 M. ha.      

India's inland water resources including rivers, canals, ponds and lakes and marine resources comprising the east and west coasts of the Indian ocean and other gulfs and bays provide employment to nearly six million people in the fisheries sector.In 2008, India had the world's third largest fishing industry.  Between 1980 and 2002, the government continued to heavily subsidize fertilizers and food grains for the poor, but reduced its total investment in agriculture.  In the IX plan outlay (1997-2002) the NDA Govt. under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee increased the Plan out lay of Creation of Irrigation Potential from Rs. 21,072 Crores to Rs. 48,259 Crores for 4.09 M.ha and thereafter in the X Plan (2002-2007) there was a provision of Rs.70,862 Crores to create a potential of 9.93 M.ha. under irrigation, but the scheme was dropped by the UPA Govt. for cheap vote catching Social sector spending in NREGA and Subsidised foods for BPL families. Hydropower potential assessed by the Central Water Commission   was (as on 31.03.06)  84044 MW @ 60% LF , with an Installed capacity (2004-05)  30942 MW  and Potential developed as on 31.03.06  16032 MW @60% LF.  Public spending on farming shrank by roughly a third, according to an analysis of government data by the Center for Policy Alternatives in New Delhi. 

However the importance of irregation is still not understood by the people in the ministry and the plan outlay to irregation is increased to Rs. 404.29 cores in 2011-12 from  Rs. 265.5 crores , against a total plan outlay of Rs.14744.14 crores in 2011-12 given to agriculture and other activities.The total plan outlay of the  UPA II  Govt is  Rs. 592456.99 crores for 2011-12 and the share of agriculture and other activity in it is just 2.4%  which speaks about the neglect to the agriculture policy of the government.  This is against the total plan allocation on Social Sector which is Rs. 1,60,887 crores , an increase of whopping 17 %  and is 36.4 % of  the total Plan allocation.

Today Indian agriculture is a double tragedy. “Both in rice and wheat, India has a large untapped reservoir. It can make a major contribution to the world food crisis,” said M. S. Swaminathan, a plant geneticist who helped bring the Green Revolution to India. 

India’s own people are paying as well. Farmers, most subsisting on small, rain-fed plots, are disproportionately poor, and inflation has soared past 11 percent, the highest in 13 years. The Primary Article Inflation for the Financial year ending Feb 11 was 17.8 (base year 2004-2005) of which food articles Inflation is 15.9 as per Data released by CRISIL research. The average WPI inflation for April-February 2010-11 stands at 9.2 per cent.  The Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington says changes in temperature and rain patterns could diminish India’s agricultural output by 30 percent by the 2080s. 

The inherent strength of the country economy depends upon various factors, which includes its people their structure, culture and habits, the geographical structure and Area, climate and natural resources (mineral, agricultural, vegetation, and climatic) and the religious and other important fundamental factors. If these adversaries/ shortcomings or resources which are deficient/disadvantageous in for some respect, if turned the other way and employed most effectively by proper employment of factors of production, may become a countries strength. Success is failure turned upside down, every shortcoming’s, strength and deficiency has some inherit advantages also and gives ample scope/ room for turning them into success. In fact a country, which employs its resources and shortcomings by converting it into their strength, is the most economically prosperous and developed.Our great Saints discovered, explored and researched with the rich natural resources and heritages of this great Land/nation and formed and applied their thoughts into action and way of life. Our great rivers, which irrigated and fed our people, gave life to the rich vegetation and flora, were worshiped. Saints hence discovered the important of our seven great rivers named and worshiped them, and formed temples and civilisations on their Banks. Hindu rituals and worship’s was incomplete without the water of these great rivers.  The NDA Govt. had brought schemes to link major rivers of the country so that the country is self sufficient in matter of irrigation and water. And the AAM ADMI i.e. the rural work force become self-reliant and does not depend on the Govt. for the Subsidised food and grains. This schemes had it been implemented, would had generated employment, produced electricity, food and farm products and made India self reliant, strong in many respects.  We do not need an Indian common man to be dependent on cheap Subsidised grains given by Governments, but a self-reliant strong India having water in every farm and work for every man.

.                                             Concept Idea and written by V.K.Singh

                                             Executive Member to
                                                  BJP National Trade Cell N. Delhi

UPA feeler to BJP, dials Sushil Modi to lead GST panel - Indian Express

UPA feeler to BJP, dials Sushil Modi to lead GST panel - Indian Express

Cultural Nationalism, and its role in development of a Nation

Nation may refer to any estate or country having its own boundaries, but the most legitimate definition may be said to be, large number of people mainly common decent, language, history etc. usually inhabiting a territory bounded by defined limits and forming a society under one Government. Nation can, of course, refer to any government, ancient or modern, but in this context it refers more particularly to groups that maintain common culture, despite being widely scattered, the red Indian Nation of North America, the Jewish nation(Israel ) that some how survived despite its scattering during the Diaspora . Nationalism is a patriotic (devotion) feeling towards the nation, which promotes freedom, prosperity and honour for its people. It works on principles of equity and equality amongst its citizens. It is a continuous and consistent effort to bind the people of India into one homogenous unit. The Principles of nationalism is devoted towards the people and recognises each of its citizen's, e.g. Hindu, Muslims, Sikhs, Christian, forwards, backward and dalits as equal and one. Love, respect and bonding between the people, guided by healthy and progressive attitude of co-operation and sentimental attachment towards every fellow citizen, is Nationalism. In this world of global competition, it is a medium of recognition for India in Social, Political and Economic fields.

Nationalism has a direct relationship with development which is reflected by the development of the last man standing on the step of progress. In the list of G-8 counties, we find the names of two nation’s Germany and Japan who had gained independence (from dictators) along with India. Both today are economically powerful and developed nations.  After world war two, Japan and Germany were the most suffered and distorted nations. Their economy was badly shattered, young and productive citizens killed and there was large-scale destruction of every thing everywhere. We may say that it is not fair to compare India with these countries considering the population and other factors. Let us examine it logically. The Indian population is too big no doubt, but per km density of population of Japan is far more than that of India say about two times. To say in precise Japan is more thickly populated than India. Let us examine economical effect of population in the growth of a country. The national growth of a country is measured by Gross Domestic Product commonly known as GDP of a country. This is defined as the sum of all goods and services produced in a Country.  Now let us evaluate the four Factors of Productions as defined by Economic principles. They are Land, Labour, Money, and Entrepreneur (Management). Out of these the last three are totally relevant to the Man and population. The money is the saving which a nation makes and employs in production. The saving of Indian citizens is high compared to other nations. The Entrepreneur is one who takes risk, the management factor of the undertaking and is denoted by technical and managerial skills; here also Indians are leading, with one of the worlds’ largest and best skilled, intelligent, dynamic and progressive man power. Here the only restricting factor is the land, which developed countries like Japan, has made up by building Multi stored buildings, modern technique of Agriculture and reclamation of Sea Land. Is there any difference between, Indians and Japanese men? Are Japanese physically and mentally more strong, intelligent or dynamic. The reply would come in negative. It is only the human mind and the patriotic love, unity   and devotion towards the nation that makes the difference. It is a saying that goes very well with Japan, "Where there is a will there is a way". The mind and its attitude rule every thing of human development and progress. Let us examine the cultural and social structure of Japan. Japan is a democratic country with a very different work culture. When a Japanese worker is dissatisfied and thinks of fighting for its rights, firstly he stops taking to the management, then wears a black batch in protest, and then if his demands are not met they double or triple the production, making the management helpless, owing to heavy rejection of goods and locking of working capital and Goods. Japanese never think of closing the gate and stop working, as they love their nation and know that the nation can not afford unutilised man-hours.

Culture is Art, taste, living style, customs and manners, type of intellectual development or civilisation of people. Indian culture is commonly known as Hinduism, Bharatiata or Hindutava and has been defined by the Indian Supreme Court as a way of life. The Gazetteer of India clearly mentions Hinduism or Hindutava as having the same meaning Indian culture and civilization, had stood the test of thousands of years, has been built, most of all by the labour, sacrifice and wisdom of Hindu sages, mystic saints, savants and patriots and the people themselves. The Hindu Characteristic of tolerance in faith, beliefs and observances has asserted itself, new modes of living together in harmony. There is similarity between customs and habits of the Hindus, Christians and Muslims despite religious disparity. In important matters connected with the ceremonies of birth, marriage and death, their ceremonial is broadly speaking, similar. This was no-doubt due to the fact that the majority of the Muslims and Christians are Hindu converts, who were deeply attached to their old habits of life. Many of them celebrate, perform and relish Hindu customs and festival, and till date many Muslim families are performing certain rituals and festivals of Hindus. All sections of people enjoy, participate and celebrate the functions of each other. Social life being shaped by the administrative set-up economic developments and contemporary religious trends have seen varied changes all converging upon of the Hindustani values and a general enrichment of life. The Muslims and Christians have learnt to live as Indians, regard India as their home, adopting much in their dress, food, manners and customs, superstitions, social divisions etc.

 The essence in Hinduism has led to the research for universal in religion. Indian culture and its basic principle of unity and living in harmony have stood the test of time. The true spirit of Hinduism has ignored all barriers of caste, creed and religion. From times immemorial it is there and found acceptance from Turks, the Persian, the Arabs, the Moghuls and English and all other foreigners and is today a fusion of several other cultures, with the more emphasis on building creative minds, thoughts and Hindu way of spiritual enlightenment. It was instrumental in binding the Indian society into one harmonious unit.

Indian civilisation is one of the oldest in the world. An evaluation and analytical study of History and archaeological excavation and research, Hindu mythological text produces it as the oldest. It was so advance, developed and practical that it found acceptance in most parts of the world. The Indian culture, religion, education, spread and influenced almost every corner of eastern Asia, which includes China, Thailand, Malaya, Burma, Indonesia, Java & Sumatra, Japan etc. Indian cultural influence extended to west and Central Asia as well. There was no attempt at political expansion in the west; this cultural expansion was so much that it extended further. There was an Indian Kingdom in Khotan alleged to have been founded by a son of emperor Ashoka (250-100 B.C.). Buddhism was introduced in that kingdom more than a century after its establishment. The whole of central Asia was a meeting place different culture and it was a silk route between Rome and China. 

There is a popular saying in ancient Indian Text books that in Kaliyuga (the current Era) Sangha i.e.  Unity is the strength.   A nation can only be strong and developed if its citizens and the society is united, homogeneous and love their country by heart. The appeasement policy of some political Parties towards certain section of the society has unfortunately resulted in sowing of seeds of communal discord amongst the people of India. Due to Vote Bank politics Hinduism or Hindutava is branded as communal, which is most shocking and damaging. Non- Hindutava or Hinduism thoughts and ways are today projected by some political parties as a symbol of political success. The people of India have proved through ages that Hinduism is their spirit of living, and they have always rejected division on the basis of caste, creed and religion. Our Ancestors built Hinduism for unifying and binding the people into one integrated, secular, homogenous, coherent, progressive and dynamic society. And further to build this nation into an economic power. Hence it’s also called a nationalist movement. 

Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee a Nationalist and his contribution towards Humanity

                             

  This article is written on the to remembrance of THE GREAT CALCUTTA KILLING: NOKHALI RIOT  which took place in 16 August 1946 ,  in which  Hindu population of Bengal faced communal riots. This inspired Dr. Mukherjee to think about the Indian majority population, the neglect in hands of different political parties and promoted him to fight for Hindu Cause. The failure of the Cabinet Mission to solve the problem relating to transfer of power to Indian leaders, the Muslim League under the instruction of Jinnah and guidance of Mr. H.S.Suhrawardy, launched "direct action" against the Hindus in Calcutta on 16th August,1946. Rampant looting, killing & arson went on for 4 days,  Dr. Shyama Prasad stood firmly behind the people during the widespread communal riots, killing and raping organised by the Muslim League in Nookhali district under the leadership of Suhrawardy.  He formed the Hindusthan National Guard to save the affected people during the communal disturbances of Bengal. In 1943 famine struck Bengal and about 50 lakhs. people died of hunger. In those days Bengal was a state which included states of Bihar, Orrissa, Jharkhanda and Bangladesh. During the famine Dr. Mukherejee organized large scale relief work for masses; his humanitarian work saved a lot of lives.

Soon after the rigorous famine the shadow of partition began to threaten the stability of life. Shayma Prasad Mukherjee was a strong opponent of the Partition of India. Even after the partition  he believed that one day the two counties will be united and one.

Dr. Mukherjee is today considered the godfather of modern Hindutava and Hindu Nationalism, which is wrong notion. He was an Indian Nationalist leader who was imbued with deep love to the nation and its people, and bestowed highest regards to the traditions of Indian culture and civilization. He was not a leader of one religion or caste but of masses as his speech and writing will reveal herein.

 On 17th August 1937  Dr Mukherjee delivered this Speech at Bombay University Convocation  - It has often been asserted that the polytheistic Hindu failed to establish a spiritual kinship with the monotheistic Muslim who held much that is Indian in scorn and still seeks his spiritual inspiration abroad. How can we say that India ignored the teachings of Islam when we find saints like Nanak and Chaitanya, Namdev and Tukaram, preaching the brotherhood of man and the futility of caste in matters spiritual? Although attempts on Hindu culture and institutions fill the pages of Indian history, how can we assert that Muslims ignored the appeal of Hindu culture when we find Muhammad Jayasi weaving a beautiful romance to illustrate the teachings of Hindu philosophy, when we read the simple devotional hymns of Kabir and Sheikh Farid, who refused to recognise the barriers of caste and creed on the high road to God’s kingdom? “Utter not one disagreeable word,” said Farid, “since the true lord is in all men. Distress no one’s heart for every heart is a precious jewel.” In the same strain did Kabir proclaim, “There is the same God for the Hindu as for the Muslim.” A rejuvenated India found an Akbar to put an end to political chaos and social disharmony and a Shah Jahan to dream a dream in marble the like of which is not to be met in the world.

On the invitation of Mahatma Gandhi, Shyama Prasad joined the first National Government in August 1947. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in the Interim Central Government inducted Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee as a Minister for Industry and Supply. He disagreed with the policy of the Government towards Pakistan.  Mookerjee resigned from the Cabinet on 6th April 1950 on the issue of the 1949 Delhi Pact with Pakistani Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan.  Dr. Mukherjee was firmly against Nehru`s invitation to the Pakistani PM, and their joint pact to establish minority commissions and guarantee minority rights in both countries. He wanted to hold Pakistan directly responsible for the terrible influx of millions of Hindu refugees from East Pakistan, who had left the state fearing religious suppression and violence aided by the state. Nearly 40 to 50 Lakhs of Hindus have been already pushed out of East Bengal.  He considered Nehru`s actions as appeasement, and was hailed as a hero by the people of West Bengal.  It was these factors of Hindu oppression, which promoted him to take the cause of Hindus, the less privileged ones in Congress rule due to their vote bank commitments. With Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar, leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Mukerjee founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (Political Party) on October 21, 1951 and became its first President. He spent the rest of his life in actively building up this party. The Bharatiya Jana Sangh strongly criticized the favoritism & appeasement of Indian Muslims by the Nehru administration. Jan Sangh is currently known as Bharatiya Janata Party and follows the principles of Dr. Mukherjee.

 Dr. Mukherejee Speech at First All-lndia Session of Bharatiya Jana Sangh at Kanpur December 29th, 1952 speaks his aspiration and his thinking towards the Nation:-  “Equality of rights of Indian citizens, irrespective any consideration, forms the basis of the Constitution of India as indeed it must be a primary characteristic of any democratic country. Pakistan's recent proposals for basing her constitution, including minority rights, on Islamic law and principles of communal separatism flagrantly expose the reactionary character of that State.” India has been for centuries past the homeland of diverse people pursuing different faiths and religions. The need to preserve and respect the personal laws of such people specially in matters of religion and fundamental social obligations, is undoubted. In all matters concerning the rights and duties of citizenship as such, there must be complete equality for all. We must be able to carry all sections of the people with us by creating in their minds a healthy and progressive attitude of co-operation based on true equality of opportunity and mutual tolerance and understanding. Our party's door remains open to all who believe in our program and ideology irrespective of considerations of caste and religion. Our party believes that the future progress of India must be based on a natural synthesis between its full economic advance and the development of mind and character of the people in accordance with the highest traditions of Indian culture and civilisation. A nation that fails to take pride in its past achievements or take inspiration there-from, can never build up the present or plan for the future. Our party realises that there is no hope for India until and unless her people living in remote areas, mostly illiterate, speaking diverse languages, following differentiates of life, habits, customs and manners, are welded together into one harmonious pattern in which they can retain their healthy features without sacrificing the organic unity of our nation.”

 Dr. Shyama Prasad believed in the unity of people and believed that the both India and Pakistan will unit one day, on the basis of its civilisation & cultural bonding between its people. In his own words:-

“Our party believes that partition has done no good to the masses of people, either in India or in Pakistan. It has weakened the country in every way and the very problems that it was intended mainly to solve have become far acuter and are baffling a peaceful settlement. To us, therefore, reunited India is not an idle dreamer a mere slogan. It is an article of faith with us, and is a goal we confidently believe would be achieved sooner than later with the co-operation and understanding of the people themselves.”

     Indian culture is commonly known as Hinduism, Bharatiata or Hindutava and has been defined by the Indian Supreme court as a way of life. The Gazetteer of India clearly mentions Hinduism or Hindutava as having the same meaning and is reflected by the Art, taste, living style, manners and culture of the Indian people. “वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम. “ Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam  from "vasudha", the earth; "iva" = is as a; and "kutumbakam", family;) is a Sanskrit  phrase  that means that the whole world is one single family. It is a philosophy which has emerged out of Indian civilization. Accordingly in India every religion has equal right and status. 

   The secular character of India and the nationalist movement called Hinduism is more evident in the lower class of the society were people of both the section of society, depend upon each other for observing, celebrating and performing their festivals and rituals. Muslims artisans help in making cloths decorative and temple for Hindus, and similarly Hindus provide edible items sweets, cloths, Clay, wooden and iron Articles etc to the Muslims. A Festival of one became a bread earner to another, and both sections await and celebrate the festival with equal vigour and pleasure. This reflected the true secular face of Hinduism, and represented the mass feelings and sentiments. The Muslims of India have adopted the Hindu way of life, and the combined their custom and movement and thus is formed Hinduism the way of life. The true secular face of India and the Indians living therein including Muslims is reflected by the religions, rich cultural, artistic character of this great nation and the bonds prevailing between both the communities. Disturbing these centuries old friendship and cultural bond for Political gain is a crime against Humanity, which Bharata Matta (Mother land) and this nation will never forgive.

                                              by V.K. Singh, Excutive Member to BJP National Trade Cell                                                  
                                                  BJP Members reply on email:- vksinghbjp@rediff.com

Rule of Law and Ancient Indian Laws

Since the beginning of the Indian civil society, its affairs were regulated not by laws of state but by customary rules known as Dharma. Dharma is what holds together, or a code of Duties for harmonious functioning of various divisions of Society. Dharma Shastra or Shmritis laid down rules for every caste and vocation, for every relation in society, king and subject. Rule of law is also referred as Dharma Rajya in ancient Indian books.

There is a popular saying in ancient Indian Text books with regards to Ratra Dharma (i.e. Duties towards the nation) it recognises the place of mother and mother land over and above a place in Heaven. In Rig-Veda there is clear instruction to keep motherland independent and under self rule. Gana and Jana i.e. people and republic has come under reference in Rig- Veda.  In Mahabharat, Dharmaraja Yudhishteer asked Bhishma the definition of a model Democratic Republic. Bhishma (Shantiparva 107.14) then stated- that by arbitrary rule republics are destroyed. In Arthavaya–Veda (6.64.2) there is a clear instruction to treat people as equals’ and Sabhas’ (legislatures) and Samittees (Committees) should be open for every person. Unity of thought and equal fundamental rights for every citizen is also advocated there-in. This is also the short definition of Rule of Law. There is clear reference in ancient Indian texts that for the Democratic Republics, internal disturbance are greater and hold more importance than that of the external.  Federal Democratic Republics find mention in the days of Kautilya the founder and conceiver of Economics and its theories in India and Acharya Paaninee texts. In that period, groups formed by peoples’ representatives were call Gana, which thereby assembled to form Sabha (legislatures) and Samittees’ (Committees). 

       Without the “rule of law” there can be no “rule of higher law.” Those who acknowledge a non-positive natural or other law, existing prior to the State and demanding respect for fundamental human rights, necessarily support the “rule of law” ideal. A tyrant unlimited by law is clearly not bound by human rights. There is no way, in any but an inconceivably small polity, for a majority vote of the community to decide every individual dispute. Only if the majority can enact general rules that can and will be faithfully applied by police and courts to individual cases is there any hope that the people can govern. Without the rule of law there can be no democracy of any substantial size As it was for higher law, the rule of law is necessary. To the degree that stability is good; preserving the State is another reason to prefer the rule of law over the discretionary rule of political leaders. Because we care so much about the rule of law, we wish to see it effectively applied and enforced. Through mistake or ill will, private individuals may not always observe the law if left unsupervised. Similarly, a president or a legislator, despite his or her oath to support the constitution, may misinterpret or ignore that document in the pursuit of political results.

 Non-democratic dictators may well also impose their will through constitutions and statutes.  When law rules no extra legal commands are treated as obligatory. The relation between law and action is seen as one of obligation. In a nation governed by Rule of Law, actions and duties, administrative set-up, legal system, and elected bodies all function as per their obligations.

       In his visionary and inventive principles drafted as Nations- life-philosophy for Jan Sangha (currently  also followed by the political party BJP) in its 6th principle Pdt. Deendayal Upadhaya has conceived his ideas for good governance. As per his thoughts, India should be governed on the principles of Dharma Rajaya which is a secular rule or a government governed by the Rule of Law.

The rule of law can be defined as a system in which the laws are public knowledge, are clear in meaning, and apply equally to everyone. They enshrine and uphold the political and civil liberties that have gained status as universal human rights over the last half-century. The relationship between the rule of law and liberal democracy is profound. The rule of law makes possible individual rights, which are at the core of democracy. A government’s respect for the sovereign the rule-of-law revival authority of the people and a constitution depends on its acceptance of law. Democracy includes institutions and processes that, although beyond the immediate domain of the legal system, are rooted in it. 

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Basic elements of a modern market economy such as property rights and contracts are founded on the law and require competent third-party enforcement. Without the rule of law, major economic institutions such as corporations, banks, and labor unions would not function, and the government’s many involvements in the economy—regulatory mechanisms, tax systems, customs structures, monetary policy, and the like— would be unfair, inefficient, and opaque. 

The dictionary meaning of Rule is dominant customs, standards, principles to which actions or procedures confirm. As per Dictionary:- the rule of 'law is the condition in which all members of society, including its rulers, accept the authority of the law or code of discipline observed by religious order, customary rules recognized by the society, order of a court.

List of formal requirements for a set of rules to qualify as law convergence. According to a standard formulation laws are norms that are (a) general (b) public promulgated (c) not reactive (d) clear and understandable (e) logically consistent (f) feasible (g) stable over a period of time.

   The rule of law legitimates and thus stabilizes governments. The above-mentioned values (human rights, democracy, and private freedom) are among the chief reasons that women and men are willing to tolerate and support being governed. A government that ignores the rule of law undercuts not only those three values but also its own existence. 

 A comparison of principles of rule of law in India with that of the values prevailing today in some countries and Union’s would give an in-depth idea of our laws and its basic flaws.

     The English legal tradition is rightly celebrated for its unique and ancient contribution to the concept of the rule of law. Albert Venn Dicey a renowned English expert on Rule of law meant here the absence of arbitrary power on the part of the government. The rule of law means in the first place “that no man is punishable or can be lawfully made to suffer in body or goods except for a distinct breach of law established in the ordinary legal manner before the ordinary Courts of the land.” It also implies that “every man, whatever be his rank or condition, is subject to the ordinary law of the realm and amenable to the jurisdiction of the ordinary tribunals.” Finally, Dicey argued that the British constitution “is pervaded by the rule of law on the ground that the general principles of the constitution … are with us the result of judicial decisions determining the rights of private persons in particular cases brought before the Courts.”

        The formal enshrinement of the rule of law in the European Union’s founding Treaties should be understood in the political context of the time. Following the end of the cold war, European countries agreed to commit themselves to promoting human rights, democracy and the rule of law as the three fundamental principles on which the “new Europe” must be founded. The European Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail. 

The framers of the Indian constitution were keen to preserve the democratic values to the Indians which had attached highest importance in the struggle for freedom. They had before them precedent of the Govt. of India Act, 1935 who’s detailed provisions were at that time, unfortunately found suitable for adoption in the interest of continuity and certainty. The Preambles contains the structure of our Constitution, and spells out the aspiration of the people to secure for all its citizens Justice, Liberty, Equality and promote amongst the people a feeling of fraternity, ensuring dignity of the individual and the unity of the nation. In the statutory framework of India, one does unfortunately come across provisions which introduce or maintain certain amount of inequality between Govt. of officer and ordinary citizens, which does not qualify to the Dicey’s second corollary to the rule of law. The right of Equality discrimination in the Indian constitution means ‘making an adverse with regards to’ or distinguishing unfavourably from others, which is a negative concept. Further subsequent 42nd amendment Act 1976, 1951 and 56 has made the constitution definition of rule of law unfavourable to certain classes of citizens. The recent class war between Meena and Gujjar caste in Rajasthan and the atrocities and trouble faced by Bihari’s in Assam and Maharastra due to regionalism speaks about the basic flaw in the Indian legal system and its governance. It is also against the fraternity clause of the constitution and is affecting the unity and integrity of this great nation.

The writer is Executive Member to BJP’s National Trade Cell N. Delhi

Published in Organiser Magazine of  the RSS