tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257157299926608192024-03-14T01:20:48.300-07:00NewSViewS - RacEClasSIt is a reckless voice of people the Least, Last and Lost who are unable to access justice. NewsViews takes the justice to the victims and exposes those who obstruct its administration on level plane field.
NewsViews on Racismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10777535390473104184noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125715729992660819.post-5498544286787804452023-04-14T09:08:00.000-07:002023-04-14T09:08:55.662-07:00THE IMF PREDICTION OF WORLDWIDE GDP GROWTH: RICH V POOR<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Bachhan's Fair Lady and the IMF Deputy Chief Geeta Gopinath Predictions of GDP Growth </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskNJjBTtVfz6N72sERUTp57-edwjj63rPyqSXZQ9e9zQOduNdeF6_wF2wHrIdsz7j_eHwZMFEAOFrNKr4TCSG-3fIr5ajcHW0TfZvK1J7hFFDc0xqsOBBF_L4gxardK6p-6v_vYfRKtJe0qPKkCXcaCK2sh4-rWuL3oIy4huURLxpeOlY6KeB_2NS/s650/geeta-gopinath.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="487" data-original-width="650" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskNJjBTtVfz6N72sERUTp57-edwjj63rPyqSXZQ9e9zQOduNdeF6_wF2wHrIdsz7j_eHwZMFEAOFrNKr4TCSG-3fIr5ajcHW0TfZvK1J7hFFDc0xqsOBBF_L4gxardK6p-6v_vYfRKtJe0qPKkCXcaCK2sh4-rWuL3oIy4huURLxpeOlY6KeB_2NS/s320/geeta-gopinath.webp" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">WHAT IT IS BEING ON THE TOP PF THE GDP TABLE MEAN FOR COMMON MAN?</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem;">Recently, the IMF has published a GDP forecast in which India appears to be on the top in growth. However, the IMF does not have its own data bank but relies on what it is being fed by the respective governments. The accuracies of the data are not uniform across the countries and given the structure of the IMF it’s forecast could not be construed as objective. For example, at the Indian Econometric Society Annual Conference held in 2010, Arvind Panagaria based on the IMF forecasted for India’s GDP growth at 11%, asserted that it was sustainable! He also proudly claimed that if the GDP was adjusted with PPP India’s growth had already superseded China. Although Arvind Panagaria received Padma Bhooshan for eulogizing Congress government’s glorious achievements in bearing China (a China obsession), dream was shattered as India’s GDP growth feel to 4% at the end of UPA II led by Dr Man Mohan Singh which met a disastrous outcome in 2014 Parliamentary elections as it faced unemployment, inflation and corruption on which BJP led by Modi was voted to power.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem;">People of India were given a hope that their plight will change under the new regime. However, rhetoric of China obsession was not going anywhere. The base year was brought forward from 2004-2055- 2011-2012 which alone had inflated GDP growth by 2.2%. GDP was now calculated at market price instead of factor cost which may have also impacted increase in GDP growth. GDP growth was revised from 4.7% under UPA II to 8% under the new regime. Initially, GDP grew @ 7.3% and it is worth mentioning that Dr MM Singh’s Govt. did not have the benefit of low crude prices which Modi Govt. did. However, in spite of India’s Finance Minister, late Arun Jaitely’s claims of sound macroeconomic indicator, GDP growth started declining and just before the Covid 19 pandemics lockdown in March it dropped to 4.7%. During the Covid period April 2020-April 2022 it dropped by 24.4% although independent estimates worked out by Prof Arun Kumar puts the figure even </span><span style="font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">higherup!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem;">Following the IMF forecast, BJP government sources are thrilled and both the IMF and Indian government are feeling trigger happy and marketing the Indian model of development to rest of the world. In the IMF GDP growth table India’s real comparator appears to be China in terms of size of population, started independent development about the same time and somewhat similar circumstances and level of development. In fact, a study published by Subramaniam Sway published in Economic Development Cultural Change in 1960 puts India above China in terms of level of development. However, important question is whether GDP growth really matters? Answer is no! First, India’s GDP growth has mainly been in the sectors of services (financial & non-financial), and capital intensive luxury goods which created an uneven demand pattern resulting in two India: Rich & Poor with rich inelastic demand and poor with elastic demand, perhaps stochastic demand pattern).</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem;">In fact, even during the Covid lockdown, financial sector grew in leaps and bounds. Second, this lopsided growth has not generated employment to meet Modi's claim of 20 million jobs every year. Third, in working out the growth, the informal sector has been unaccounted as the data is unavailable. Fourth, if the growth rate is adjusted for shift in base year and with inflation, one wonders where India’s GDP stands! In fact, in spite of tall claims both by the Congress and BJP governments trickledown mechanism has not changed the plight of people of India. In contrast, there is no doubt, China's 5,3% growth is slightly less than India, but China had a Zero Covid policy in force and has been lifted only recently. Given China's economy's base about 5 times, even 5,3% is a great achievement as it would add about 954 billion in the economy compared to only 184 billion to Indian economy growing at 6.8%. Moreover, since the 2009 worldwide economic crisis, China's growth strategy has changed in view of growing unemployment, economic inequalities in special economic zones, and poverty, it consciously set a lower target of GDP growth to address the internal problems and impact of global crisis. I should admit that both China and India were not impacted a great deal by 2009 crisis. Former RBI Chairman, YV Reddy wisely decided not to increase the interest rate and announced 55 billion non-cash stimulus package combined with India’s the huge public sector it absorbed the economic shock and China being a centralized planned economy. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem;">In contrast, initially China allocated US $450 billion, which increased to US $1.2 trillion and adopted a three stage development strategy. In first stage, it invested in infrastructure to generate employment and income. At second stage, it invested in urban and housing development, and at third stage, it invested in manufacturing and other sectors. Thus, China has followed a consumption led growth rather than investment led growth in India relying on supply side economics. In the absence of rise in income demand can’t be stimulated. A conservative estimate is that China has taken off nearly 650 million people out of poverty in the last 10 years, which is a great achievement. Hence, rather than glorifying IMF predictions numbers, focus must be on the plight of common man. As Prof AK Sen pointed out, India's GDP growth has been jobless. Unfortunately, right wing economists consciously and left unconsciously caught into the neoclassical Cobb-Web and India is heading toward the Hindu Rate of Growth.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Suresh Deman, BSC, MA (India), MA, DBA, M. Phil, Ph.D. (US, UK, Japan) </p><div style="outline: none !important;">Honorary Director & UNEP/UNCTAD Consultant </div><div style="outline: none !important;">Centre for Economics & Finance & Visiting Professor</div><div style="outline: none !important;">PO Box 17517 </div><div style="outline: none !important;">London SE9 2ZP </div><div style="outline: none !important;">Tel & Fax: 44 20 88594657 Mobile: 0044 7525857351 </div><div style="outline: none !important;"><br clear="none" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none !important;" /></div><div style="outline: none !important;"><br clear="none" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none !important;" /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem;"><br /></span></p><ul aria-hidden="false" class="x1n0m28w x1rg5ohu x1wfe3co xat24cr xsgj6o6 x1o1nzlu xyqdw3p" style="display: inline-block; line-height: 12px; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px -8px 0px 4px; min-height: 15px; padding: 3px 0px 0px;"><li class="x1rg5ohu x1emribx x1i64zmx" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline-block; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px;"><span class="x1rg5ohu" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit;"><div class="x1n2onr6 x1rg5ohu" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div aria-label="React" class="x1i10hfl x1qjc9v5 xjbqb8w xjqpnuy xa49m3k xqeqjp1 x2hbi6w x13fuv20 xu3j5b3 x1q0q8m5 x26u7qi x972fbf xcfux6l x1qhh985 xm0m39n x9f619 x1ypdohk xdl72j9 x2lah0s xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x2lwn1j xeuugli xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1ja2u2z x1t137rt x1o1ewxj x3x9cwd x1e5q0jg x13rtm0m x3nfvp2 x1q0g3np x87ps6o x1lku1pv x1a2a7pz xsgj6o6 xzpqnlu x179tack x10l6tqk" role="button" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; align-items: stretch; background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-left-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-radius: inherit; border-right-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-style: solid; border-top-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clip-path: polygon(0px 0px, 0px 0px, 0px 0px, 0px 0px); clip: rect(0px, 0px, 0px, 0px); cursor: pointer; display: inline-flex; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: row; flex-shrink: 0; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 4px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-align: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: none; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><i class="x1b0d499 x1d69dk1" data-visualcompletion="css-img" style="background-image: url("https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/v3/ym/r/rQp6okZNzWW.png"); background-position: 0px -160px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; filter: var(--filter-secondary-icon); height: 12px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: -0.25em; width: 12px;"><br />BSC</i></div></span></div></span></li><li class="x1rg5ohu x1emribx x1i64zmx" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline-block; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px;"></li></ul>NewsViews on Racismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10777535390473104184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125715729992660819.post-39259221044771794592022-09-16T16:10:00.007-07:002022-09-17T06:24:24.690-07:00SOUND OF MUSIC IS SCRIPTED AT THE SONY TV<div class="separator"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">SONY TV SUPERSTAR 2 SIMGER SCRIPTED PROGRAMS!</span></span></b></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.7pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">An old proverbial saying goes as follows, "Poetry is music in words and the Music is poetry is songs". Music, theatre and cinema have played an
important role in national awakening and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>social transformation. Now, even medical science has acknowledged the
importance of creative and therapeutic art formations. In fact, creation plays an
important part in processing emotions and helps in improving emotional health
encompassing anger, low mood and bipolar anxiety. In fact, psychiatrists have
recognised that medical treatment alone would not work in management of mental
health. Creative art techniques via music, painting, etc., should be encompassing
into talking and counselling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unfortunately, since the 1990s with globalisation even music and
cinema have also become highly corporatized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBCgxOosh1AXvfC-YHNCBEFYOV0nmVQv6W4prHarB3wI0EwjyiAtLkS3k4adiUkxwxkHZ1u7_gq4i9qL_CBdg4v1tIGBiYGACyXRSOlO6DC4vy8DvYCBRdJRovmxz_ENPagXd2sjNqb56h4vBnykFjp3EXaY6TDiYmI_Jfy13-uZfdeJIBoJyCfim/s310/SuperstarGroup.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="310" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBCgxOosh1AXvfC-YHNCBEFYOV0nmVQv6W4prHarB3wI0EwjyiAtLkS3k4adiUkxwxkHZ1u7_gq4i9qL_CBdg4v1tIGBiYGACyXRSOlO6DC4vy8DvYCBRdJRovmxz_ENPagXd2sjNqb56h4vBnykFjp3EXaY6TDiYmI_Jfy13-uZfdeJIBoJyCfim/s1600/SuperstarGroup.jpg" width="310" /></a></b></span></div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In
1990s in India only a couple of TV channels were cooperating entertainment
programs but today hundreds of entertainment channels are competing in
India. It appears Sony Entertainment is
dominating the in operating diversified programs, Super Star Singer, Indian
Idol, Dance India Dance, etc. No doubt, these programs have done a great job in
searching hidden talent and have given opportunity to many like Salman Khan,
Sunny Hindustani and Pawandeep who would not have made otherwise. However, it does not mean the process of
selection is completely blameless. In
fact, this author being keenly interested in music, regularly watches most of
these programs and also writes about them. In fact, author had an opportunity
to organise a session Progressive Literary Festival on Role of Theatre in
Social Transformation and also on social economic issues which received wide
coverage in media. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqoYbdfsZmp78L8z_AH5Q2Ol4M_EQNhzHgPM4F4fjIdYRv-RReWjVhBmk4mnuyhN8QAl8UKxFWks6KxV6KwdTgHXKWbD_g7XC5GdC7eKf5a9jffrNyAPUdAlU8W-KX4cVfOYPMDfHumuyAgkSbCAh0nEeg-IC0jpcvEukGS5ZL5pwdt7N55tiJk0W/s310/Superstarjudges.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="310" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqoYbdfsZmp78L8z_AH5Q2Ol4M_EQNhzHgPM4F4fjIdYRv-RReWjVhBmk4mnuyhN8QAl8UKxFWks6KxV6KwdTgHXKWbD_g7XC5GdC7eKf5a9jffrNyAPUdAlU8W-KX4cVfOYPMDfHumuyAgkSbCAh0nEeg-IC0jpcvEukGS5ZL5pwdt7N55tiJk0W/s1600/Superstarjudges.jpg" width="310" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alka Yagnik, Javeed Ali, Himesh Rashmmiya </td></tr></tbody></table></span></b></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.7pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Recently, I was concerned about the
procedure adopted by Judges in choosing 6 finalists in Super Star Singer 2
competition held on SONY Pictures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
any completion, like the Courts & Tribunals for administration justice,
three judges are appointed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An odd
number is chosen to avoid collusion and break the tie and/or in case of any
disagreement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Super Star Singer started
in the same spirit and grate enthusiasm with Alka Yagnik, Himesh Rashmmiaya and
Javeed Ali as judges and Aditya Narain being the anchor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out of dozens of participants in first stage
after elimination 11 were selected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfSnQdDiYIu_NTqna7RoiR7ww8DqNQpjVEHgpzzH3kZVTpC-jhoQpO1_Q34IYS0eLd3rQiV2cFBlJVdeIAHhhlDEKnKpnOXzUhti8ZDbrhYEb2k23sk9qcTIvpPLDeLILVlM9N0IjmmsB_UxrYggb9c_hvvC8dl1K3MzhCvHLw_6ioQ9e694pd-v5/s251/WahidaAsha.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="201" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfSnQdDiYIu_NTqna7RoiR7ww8DqNQpjVEHgpzzH3kZVTpC-jhoQpO1_Q34IYS0eLd3rQiV2cFBlJVdeIAHhhlDEKnKpnOXzUhti8ZDbrhYEb2k23sk9qcTIvpPLDeLILVlM9N0IjmmsB_UxrYggb9c_hvvC8dl1K3MzhCvHLw_6ioQ9e694pd-v5/w256-h320/WahidaAsha.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Legends Wahida Rehman & Asha Parikh</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.7pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>In course of several weeks a number of </b></span><b>celebrities</b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b> have appeared as guests among them Dharmendra, Waheeda Rehman, being
the best.</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>In due course, it turned out
that the at least two of three judges along with Mr Aditya Narain started
engaging in a marketing campaign for their favourite participants prejudging as
they should advance to the list of finalists.</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>For example, Mani, Pranjal, Faiz, Saisha Gupta, Samaira who were given
opportunity to give their performance twice every week and others were only
once. I also noted the judges openly promoted particular participant declaring
them the winner and giving them seal of “shook the world” (Duniya Hiladi).</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Of course, judges are entitled to provide a
feedback o improve their future performance, but to engage in a promotion
campaign on compensate (socio-economic background and announcement of monetary
help to some) grounds is not the function of the judges. Of course,
participants with great financial difficulties could be helped but must be done
anonymously as so doing so openly may destroy other deserving participants’
self-esteem.</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>In this regard, Soyab Ali
got my attention who not only gave an excellent performance but he has also
gone through extreme hardship and loss of his younger sister.</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>I had not heard his solo song until last week
that too when I complained to the organisers about it.</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>In fact, Soyab Ali along with some other was
not kept on equal-footing (</b></span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxIv3hn45Hk</b></span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> ). </span></b></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-xuPsmXEA6-Gd4wzCit0RBGMGK88bhA9lMHiUlvotPv7sgoB_yIhtOVs8GFttCm5FED5VUSQI38wpHENMsn4NSPAxLeXxg8puh91phhy7-T_sWFyrYMr2ZBxQXrXbgnlEOVJkdLFYzAeM-c5zwo1ElxdUIpAmBIU4plbPZpbj80A1q-UNG0vTVaO/s259/SoyebAli.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-xuPsmXEA6-Gd4wzCit0RBGMGK88bhA9lMHiUlvotPv7sgoB_yIhtOVs8GFttCm5FED5VUSQI38wpHENMsn4NSPAxLeXxg8puh91phhy7-T_sWFyrYMr2ZBxQXrXbgnlEOVJkdLFYzAeM-c5zwo1ElxdUIpAmBIU4plbPZpbj80A1q-UNG0vTVaO/s1600/SoyebAli.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soyab Ali </td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></b></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.7pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I noted that Alka Yagnik was missing for
the last few weeks and Javeed Ali, one of the best was not even seen much
longer. Himesh Rashmmiaya was also off for a couple of days. However, Alka
Yagnik appeared from nowhere to judge finalists and when Soyab Ali gave his
excellent performance, she sarcastically commented that he not only shook Salman Ali’s chair but her chair too. In the
entire process of elimination, the bias of at least two Judges, namely Alka
Yagnik and Himesh Reshammiya was so obvious that Soyab Ali got only 2 medals, the
lowest number compared to the finalists. A week before the Grand Finale, it was
claimed that the finalists were decided on the basis of last 4 weeks public
voting and judges’ numbers although I have not seen any judge assigning numbers
to anyone. It was all arbitrary! There is another problem with the process as
the public voting was restricted because Soyeb Ali was asked to sing duet and
that too once a week, most of the time with Chetnya with incompatible nodal
quality. In contrast his competitors had two chances every week and with 2-3 different
songs. Hence, competition would not appear fair as all were not kept on level
playing field. <o:p></o:p></span></b><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nRrFcIJnxY </b></span></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><b>Prior
to the finalists were selected, I offered to give Rs 50.00 to Soyeb Ali
anonymously and asked Aditya Narian, the anchor and also sent a message to his
mentor, Pawandeep, but no response was forthcoming. Usually, five finalist are
selected, namely; Mani, Pranjal, Aryananda, Rituraj, Faiz, and 6<sup>th</sup> name
of Saisha Gupta were added as a consolation for being a Baby Doll. Obviously,
Soyeb’s elimination was a foregone conclusion, however, selection of Aryanand
and Rituraj was a pleasant surprised who were the best. <u1:p></u1:p></b><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMt8jys-mWs</span></b></b></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.7pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b></b></span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMNjbEEX9fNqrZdO5NQB3PnAkaw_j9p0OOltXOe1EcOPGc1Jm52v060BJyVpWAnaZMk8K5Q3S02puOesqo5wOEvxUKAgDRBRf1VI5T05XRIBHpE9uaL2YKMiOUOybVZDjxS1IxcRrXs9_LkY8IqQ_2vIVFZn0jPaCHwHu5UKkjfRm1gHzUmnYHI76Z/s248/Noorjahan.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="203" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMNjbEEX9fNqrZdO5NQB3PnAkaw_j9p0OOltXOe1EcOPGc1Jm52v060BJyVpWAnaZMk8K5Q3S02puOesqo5wOEvxUKAgDRBRf1VI5T05XRIBHpE9uaL2YKMiOUOybVZDjxS1IxcRrXs9_LkY8IqQ_2vIVFZn0jPaCHwHu5UKkjfRm1gHzUmnYHI76Z/s1600/Noorjahan.jpg" width="203" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malika-a- Tarunum: Noorajahan </td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.7pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">It is commonly believed that Noorjahan's like voice appears once in 100 year however we were lucky to have such rare tonal quality voice just within 50 years which has been silenced unjustly. I wanted to hear her singing again. Certainly, she deserved a wild card entry. </span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.7pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Rather than learning lessons from
past mistakes on 14 September 2019 yet another unjust elimination of rare
challenging voice of young Soyeb Ali who did not hesitate to take Salman Ali on.
Both Salman and Soyeb come from same village of Haryana. In my opinion no one
could match Salman’s tonal range except Soyab who at the age 8 has shown
tremendous potential and certainly deserving of being among the top ten.
Perhaps, he scared every one. However, once again Alka Yagnik chose to make
premature and unfair comments as soon as he finished his song, “Today you were
lost and was also go into No entry zone”. In all fairness a judge is entitled
to make suggestion appreciating good parts and identify the deficiencies, if
there are any, but not to ridicule the singer who was only 8 years old.</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.7pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"></span></b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5H7QnvUFNhmAdXZxpj5Y-fhXoMINqebrzpUk3if49FUHIysweMOHN0reMRTT9VlaqaYgMFShdnOe2fRdG-TUxQHbvCk71iZKvnI1bVhBck9jvHmnN4wYzMrntFfMu3BGWKiucchkIf3qCUfetA97oDLDtN93ewQK26GsBj6fEruK51CuE0NPNoSc/s238/Aryananda.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="238" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5H7QnvUFNhmAdXZxpj5Y-fhXoMINqebrzpUk3if49FUHIysweMOHN0reMRTT9VlaqaYgMFShdnOe2fRdG-TUxQHbvCk71iZKvnI1bVhBck9jvHmnN4wYzMrntFfMu3BGWKiucchkIf3qCUfetA97oDLDtN93ewQK26GsBj6fEruK51CuE0NPNoSc/w131-h181/Aryananda.jpg" width="131" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aryananda Babu</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67qkZwTttpGMYBpO1K0p8CYceY3uFOQXHYgp7UDRSKL-rALGBL_7fYMKKHnFp8qjgoCyLz8jWRBq71HN9Eyt1wJRYf8fE3Ki-UGl0VqLpoqC80rr-2AnfKbJrRaAibHAgBzUOqzkLq9ZJWE8aGjQ56rQ4TJcdoCjPuGlsHjQD5YWuZTAnPr7mg3g6/s242/Rituraj.jpg"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">I also had an opportunity watch the Finale too as
predicted Faiz won the Trophy with £15000 prize money. It was quite shocking
that Aryananda and Rituraj didn’t figured at 2<sup>nd</sup> or 3 place. It
was all scripted as Himesh Reshmmiya had already offered to record Faiz earlier
on and Aditya Narain erroneously claimed to have been liked by 3000 billion (3
trillion) people on U-tube which exceeds the total size of the world’s
population. Clearly, being a well known music director as a judge of the Super
Star 2 himself had engaged in promoting Mohemmed Faiz, clearly he had an
advantage over others. Such an act on part of the judge is highly unethical and
must be shocking to musical conscience. Mr. Javeed was absence at
the Finale which speaks volumes about the credibility of the competition.
Aryananda</span></b></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.7pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"></span></b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2xkQ55Q3mgcdB9rJ-G7_uDUc4OHsVj1HRVwuWn1o1H61gFuz9tn_Ck1-kxyxT4xNIUKeMjoLI9BIqLGh2pa0ve8SHf58louohg__rdGaMMnDxigB_MXteHDaR1c6zCwZBrA4reg1ssZaYxAEcLwSq1Tq01k6GUsrckJkTzPQHM7vT-I7W7TsvWCt/s242/Rituraj.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="242" data-original-width="208" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2xkQ55Q3mgcdB9rJ-G7_uDUc4OHsVj1HRVwuWn1o1H61gFuz9tn_Ck1-kxyxT4xNIUKeMjoLI9BIqLGh2pa0ve8SHf58louohg__rdGaMMnDxigB_MXteHDaR1c6zCwZBrA4reg1ssZaYxAEcLwSq1Tq01k6GUsrckJkTzPQHM7vT-I7W7TsvWCt/w170-h202/Rituraj.jpg" width="170" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rituraj</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.7pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This didn’t happen for the first time, in another India’s voice show Anu Mali</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">k had shown highhandedness when he eliminated Krishnakali fro</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">m Tripura who was ridiculed her although well-known script writer and lyricist, Javid Akhter who openly disagreed with Annu Malik and commented that her singing could not have been better yet she was eliminated.</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.7pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Further, Finale deviated from the well establish practice and tradition of inviting the eliminated contestants, but on this occasion no one was invited. In course of an event of the Finale, Aditya Narain announced Alka Yagnik’s performance addressed her as the Malika- a-Tarunum and alo suggested that no one will match her level of singing for 100 years which was not only an insult to both, Noor Jahan and Lata Mangeshker and was also an irresponsible and reckless statement, but was also an act of an infantile disorder. One left with wondering how Mr N P Singh CEO of SONY Pictures could say it was the best show!!! </span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.7pt; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">TEAM UP TO BRING THEM BACK!!!</span></span></b></div><p></p>NewsViews on Racismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10777535390473104184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125715729992660819.post-40220975444325455012021-05-12T07:29:00.056-07:002022-09-17T06:47:14.801-07:00 Marx and Marxism in Modern Times<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"> Marx and Marxism in Modern Times</span><u style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></u></span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">By V. Upadhyay<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: red;">S. K. Dey Chair Professor, Institute
of Social Sciences, New Delhi</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: red;"></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">May
5, 2021 marked the 203rd<a name="_GoBack"></a> birth anniversary of Karl Marx,
considered as “one of the greatest thinkers in human history”. Marx was born in
Germany but due to his political publications and activities, he had to live in
exile most of his life. He was exiled from his native country in 1849. After
spending a few months in France, he settled in London with his family. In
London, Marx was provided financial help by Friedrich Engels, his collaborator for
his entire political career, that made it possible for Marx to do research and
write. Marx died on March 14, 1883, in London.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiift9XgKqmwL-JjaOzoH_v63L_u3CAskMghU3qrplOHEgeckyxfe_O83YtzS8jLyOjGgnTOioidShMcKD1kZQU74Ub_j3U1PhXPmt5r8g2Ioud0rITP4k4rBpQ1Qsfng4AzNX2tXoqe9I/s680/MarxB%2527day.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">.</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Marx
authored many books (several with Engels) on diverse subjects of dialectics,
material conception of history, class conflict, labour theory of value, surplus
value, exploitation and alienation. His most influential works are <i>The Communist Manifesto</i> and <i>Das Kapital</i>. Marx was able to write and
publish only the first volume of <i>Das
Kapital</i>. Based on Marx’s copious notes, the second and third volumes were
edited by Engels after Marx’s death. The main thrust of <i>Das Kapital</i> is to reveal the economic patterns underpinning the
capitalist mode of production. <i>The
Communist Manifesto</i>, written in 1848, provides an analysis of the internal
conflicts of capitalism, focusing on the class-struggle between labour and
capital. <i>The</i> <i>Manifesto</i> has become one of the most important documents
influencing revolutionary movements world over. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Marx’s
one famous quote reflects his critique of his contemporary thinkers:
“Philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways. The point,
however, is to change it.” Classical political economists such as Adam Smith
and David Ricardo provided a historical understanding of the decline of
feudalism and the emergence of bourgeoise during the period of industrial
revolution in Europe. But for most of the economists in the classical political
economy tradition, history stopped once the transition towards capitalism was
accomplished. For Marx, even capitalism was a transitory phenomenon. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Marx
contended that capitalism was prone to systemic crises and internal conflict
between the bourgeoise and the proletariat. According to him, these contradictions
within the system would ultimately lead to breakdown of the capitalist system and
replacement of capitalism by a higher economic mode of production called
socialism. A very distinctive aspect of the Marxist theory is that in addition
to the examination of the existing capitalist system as such, it provides tools
to understand the dynamic and historical process of the transformation of the
capitalistic mode of production. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Coming
to the recent times, there are various approaches to global political economy
which elucidate the contemporary challenges posed by global capitalism. These
approaches range from liberal mainstream approaches to Marxist approaches. The
mainstream approaches have a serious drawback because of their ahistorical
approach as they take the capitalist system as given and do not consider the
global economic problems as an outcome of the accumulation logic of capitalism.
The conventional wisdom that has been developed by the neoliberal politicians
and intellectuals of the Global North about the advantages of neoliberal
policies came under severe criticism after the outbreak of the global financial
crisis of 2008. The ideology of neoliberalism posits that the only hope for
prosperity for the people of the Global South lies in opening all the markets
(and even the social and cultural spaces that have traditionally not been part
of the market) for capital, domestic as well as foreign. The deregulation of
capital in the name of free market has given birth to multiple threats in
developed as well as developing countries that have not been the subject matter
of mainstream economics. The failure of neoliberal capitalism and the growing
economic and power imbalances in the world economy suggest that it is time for
Marxist scholars to build a consensus and rethink political economy of global
capitalism by paying adequate attention to new existential crises – the
environmental crisis, the growing threat of nuclear war, and the threats from
new dangerous technologies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The
influence of Marx’s ideas, already popular in parts of Europe in his life time,
became a global force to be reckoned with by the victory of Bolsheviks in the
1917 Russian Revolution. The Russian Revolution was the first revolution in the
world that established a socialist state in a country. The 1917 Revolution gave
a huge impetus and encouragement to anti-colonial movements across Asia, Africa
and Latin America. It gave hope to millions of people engaged in national
liberation struggles across the globe that it was possible to score victory
against the capitalist imperialist forces and to establish a social system in
their societies based on the principles of freedom, equality and justice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The
collapse of socialism in Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, the doctrinal changes
in China after Mao and revival of capitalism in many other erstwhile socialist
countries clearly point to the fact that linear progression towards socialism
has not proven to be possible. The Communist Party of China (CPC) makes
abundant use of Marxist phraseology. The CPC’s official ideology – Socialism
with Chinese characteristics – is claimed to be based on the Marxian
philosophical concept of ‘dialectical materialism’. It, however, needs to be
understood here that ‘class struggle’ is the essence of Marxian politics. The
socialist rhetoric used by the communist leadership, however, does not point to
any class struggle being waged in the Chinese society. In case of Russia, even
this debate – capitalism vs socialism – does not exist. All this, however, does
not automatically lead to the conclusion that socialist experiments in many
countries have all been worthless and without any positive contribution.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The
most significant contribution made by Soviet Union to world history is that it saved
the world from Hitler. During World War II, Soviet Union suffered the most
destruction and casualties at the hand of the Nazi war machine. The Soviet Red
Army played the most important role in the defeat of Germany. Although in the
public memory it may not be acknowledged now in the West, the fact remains that
the Soviets played the most crucial role in ending the menace of fascism in
Europe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">For
about four decades during the Cold War era, Soviet Union was able to provide a
counterbalance to the U.S. and other Western powers. Just four years after the
American bomb, Soviet Union succeeded in in producing its own nuclear weapon.
This fast catching up in the area of mass destruction technology was the
primary reason why America was not able to use nuclear weapons in its wars in
Korea, Vietnam and other places during the Cold War period. Even after the
collapse of Soviet Union and despite the devastating experience of the
nineties, Russia – with a much smaller population base compared to the U.S. and
Europe – continues even today to match the military might of the U.S. With
seven decades long continuity in maintaining military balance with the West,
Soviet Union’s (and now Russia’s) historic role in preventing the Third World
War so far should be considered nothing but phenomenal.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Socialist
planning played a very important role in the economic and political history of
many countries during the last century. Detailed theoretical and practical
constructs of socialist planning were first designed and developed and put in
practice in Soviet Union during 1920s and 1930s. These ideas spread not only to
socialist countries in Eastern Europe and China where there were repeated
attempts to replicate them but also influenced economic institutions and
economic policies in countries following capitalist path or mixed economy
models (such as the U.S., Japan, France and India).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It
is true that most countries who experimented with these ideas have now
abandoned them. But the developing crisis of capitalism in many parts of the
world and the environmental crisis affecting the whole world may create
conditions that necessitate the adoption of socialist planning ideas.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The
phase of unipolarity has ended and a new world order characterised as
multipolar is emerging. It represents a fundamental break from the last several
centuries’ long history of European domination. In the global transformation
that is underway, the role of China has been the most crucial. China’s rise in
recent years as a major power is the main causal factor behind the global
transformation towards multipolarity. A multipolar world provides some space
for independent action to other nation states. And this is true even for major
powers such as India and Turkey.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The
most significant aspect of the geopolitical reality today is that imperialism
is becoming increasingly aggressive. Although it is true that Western
imperialism faces new unprecedented challenges in the form of emerging
multipolarity in world affairs, it however still remains a threat to world
peace as ever. The fears posed by Western powers are the reason why the vast
majority of global population is unable to choose paths of living of their own
choice. The responsibility to provide counterbalance today to the Western
powers majorly falls on the shoulders of Russia and China in the same way it
did during most of the twentieth century.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Like
the Soviet Union during the Cold War era, Russia today is able to provide a
counterbalance to the U.S. in military terms. Despite very close relations with
China, Russia is the main proponent of multipolarity in world affairs. Russia
has acted very forcefully and decisively against Western designs in many
places, such as Syria. There are many countries, such as Iran, and Venezuela,
who are victims of U.S. aggression in the forms of economic sanctions and even
threat of direct military action. These countries invariably turn to Russia for
support not only at the United Nations Security Council but also in the forms
of direct material assistance. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It
is true that by no stretch of imagination, Russia can be called a socialist
country today. But on the other hand, no one can deny the fact that all the
strength the Russian state is able to display today on the international stage,
has its genesis in its socialist past. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">S.
K. Dey Chair Professor, Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi</span>a
few months in France, he settled in London with his family. In London, Marx was
provided financial help by Friedrich Engels, his collaborator for his entire
political career, that made it possible for Marx to do research and write. Marx
died on March 14, 1883, in London.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Marx
authored many books (several with Engels) on diverse subjects of dialectics,
material conception of history, class conflict, labour theory of value, surplus
value, exploitation and alienation. His most influential works are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Communist Manifesto</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Das Kapital</i>. Marx was able to write and
publish only the first volume of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Das
Kapital</i>. Based on Marx’s copious notes, the second and third volumes were
edited by Engels after Marx’s death. The main thrust of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Das Kapital</i> is to reveal the economic patterns underpinning the
capitalist mode of production. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Communist Manifesto</i>, written in 1848, provides an analysis of the internal
conflicts of capitalism, focusing on the class-struggle between labour and
capital. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Manifesto</i> has become one of the most important documents
influencing revolutionary movements world over. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Marx’s one
famous quote reflects his critique of his contemporary thinkers: “Philosophers
have only interpreted the world in various ways. The point, however, is to
change it.” Classical political economists such as Adam Smith and David Ricardo
provided a historical understanding of the decline of feudalism and the
emergence of bourgeoise during the period of industrial revolution in Europe.
But for most of the economists in the classical political economy tradition,
history stopped once the transition towards capitalism was accomplished. For
Marx, even capitalism was a transitory phenomenon. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Marx
contended that capitalism was prone to systemic crises and internal conflict
between the bourgeoise and the proletariat. According to him, these contradictions
within the system would ultimately lead to breakdown of the capitalist system and
replacement of capitalism by a higher economic mode of production called
socialism. A very distinctive aspect of the Marxist theory is that in addition
to the examination of the existing capitalist system as such, it provides tools
to understand the dynamic and historical process of the transformation of the
capitalistic mode of production. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Coming to
the recent times, there are various approaches to global political economy
which elucidate the contemporary challenges posed by global capitalism. These
approaches range from liberal mainstream approaches to Marxist approaches. The
mainstream approaches have a serious drawback because of their ahistorical
approach as they take the capitalist system as given and do not consider the
global economic problems as an outcome of the accumulation logic of capitalism.
The conventional wisdom that has been developed by the neoliberal politicians
and intellectuals of the Global North about the advantages of neoliberal
policies came under severe criticism after the outbreak of the global financial
crisis of 2008. The ideology of neoliberalism posits that the only hope for
prosperity for the people of the Global South lies in opening all the markets
(and even the social and cultural spaces that have traditionally not been part
of the market) for capital, domestic as well as foreign. The deregulation of
capital in the name of free market has given birth to multiple threats in
developed as well as developing countries that have not been the subject matter
of mainstream economics. The failure of neoliberal capitalism and the growing
economic and power imbalances in the world economy suggest that it is time for
Marxist scholars to build a consensus and rethink political economy of global
capitalism by paying adequate attention to new existential crises – the
environmental crisis, the growing threat of nuclear war, and the threats from
new dangerous technologies.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The
influence of Marx’s ideas, already popular in parts of Europe in his life time,
became a global force to be reckoned with by the victory of Bolsheviks in the
1917 Russian Revolution. The Russian Revolution was the first revolution in the
world that established a socialist state in a country. The 1917 Revolution gave
a huge impetus and encouragement to anti-colonial movements across Asia, Africa
and Latin America. It gave hope to millions of people engaged in national
liberation struggles across the globe that it was possible to score victory
against the capitalist imperialist forces and to establish a social system in
their societies based on the principles of freedom, equality and justice.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The collapse
of socialism in Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, the doctrinal changes in China
after Mao and revival of capitalism in many other erstwhile socialist countries
clearly point to the fact that linear progression towards socialism has not
proven to be possible. The Communist Party of China (CPC) makes abundant use of
Marxist phraseology. The CPC’s official ideology – Socialism with Chinese
characteristics – is claimed to be based on the Marxian philosophical concept
of ‘dialectical materialism’. It, however, needs to be understood here that
‘class struggle’ is the essence of Marxian politics. The socialist rhetoric
used by the communist leadership, however, does not point to any class struggle
being waged in the Chinese society. In case of Russia, even this debate –
capitalism vs socialism – does not exist. All this, however, does not
automatically lead to the conclusion that socialist experiments in many
countries have all been worthless and without any positive contribution.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The most
significant contribution made by Soviet Union to world history is that it saved
the world from Hitler. During World War II, Soviet Union suffered the most
destruction and casualties at the hand of the Nazi war machine. The Soviet Red
Army played the most important role in the defeat of Germany. Although in the
public memory it may not be acknowledged now in the West, the fact remains that
the Soviets played the most crucial role in ending the menace of fascism in
Europe.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">For about
four decades during the Cold War era, Soviet Union was able to provide a
counterbalance to the U.S. and other Western powers. Just four years after the
American bomb, Soviet Union succeeded in in producing its own nuclear weapon.
This fast catching up in the area of mass destruction technology was the
primary reason why America was not able to use nuclear weapons in its wars in
Korea, Vietnam and other places during the Cold War period. Even after the
collapse of Soviet Union and despite the devastating experience of the
nineties, Russia – with a much smaller population base compared to the U.S. and
Europe – continues even today to match the military might of the U.S. With
seven decades long continuity in maintaining military balance with the West,
Soviet Union’s (and now Russia’s) historic role in preventing the Third World
War so far should be considered nothing but phenomenal.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Socialist
planning played a very important role in the economic and political history of
many countries during the last century. Detailed theoretical and practical
constructs of socialist planning were first designed and developed and put in
practice in Soviet Union during 1920s and 1930s. These ideas spread not only to
socialist countries in Eastern Europe and China where there were repeated
attempts to replicate them but also influenced economic institutions and
economic policies in countries following capitalist path or mixed economy
models (such as the U.S., Japan, France and India).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It is true
that most countries who experimented with these ideas have now abandoned them.
But the developing crisis of capitalism in many parts of the world and the
environmental crisis affecting the whole world may create conditions that
necessitate the adoption of socialist planning ideas.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The phase of
unipolarity has ended and a new world order characterised as multipolar is
emerging. It represents a fundamental break from the last several centuries’
long history of European domination. In the global transformation that is
underway, the role of China has been the most crucial. China’s rise in recent
years as a major power is the main causal factor behind the global
transformation towards multipolarity. A multipolar world provides some space
for independent action to other nation states. And this is true even for major
powers such as India and Turkey.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The most
significant aspect of the geopolitical reality today is that imperialism is
becoming increasingly aggressive. Although it is true that Western imperialism
faces new unprecedented challenges in the form of emerging multipolarity in
world affairs, it however still remains a threat to world peace as ever. The
fears posed by Western powers are the reason why the vast majority of global
population is unable to choose paths of living of their own choice. The
responsibility to provide counterbalance today to the Western powers majorly
falls on the shoulders of Russia and China in the same way it did during most
of the twentieth century.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Like the
Soviet Union during the Cold War era, Russia today is able to provide a
counterbalance to the U.S. in military terms. Despite very close relations with
China, Russia is the main proponent of multipolarity in world affairs. Russia
has acted very forcefully and decisively against Western designs in many
places, such as Syria. There are many countries, such as Iran, and Venezuela,
who are victims of U.S. aggression in the forms of economic sanctions and even threat
of direct military action. These countries invariably turn to Russia for
support not only at the United Nations Security Council but also in the forms
of direct material assistance. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span>It is true
that by no stretch of imagination, Russia can be called a socialist country
today. But on the other hand, no one can deny the fact that all the strength
the Russian state is able to display today on the international stage, has its
genesis in its socialist past. </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>NewsViews on Racismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10777535390473104184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125715729992660819.post-56386628686515188542020-11-05T16:19:00.002-08:002020-11-07T15:16:47.199-08:00ANNA KARENINA: A Tolstoy's Story!<p><span style="background-color: red; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anna Karenina </span></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjZ6NW5KEXOjF_ARzsGhr5fWJkXkTYMyY8jl_3Ivjr6N7sgEWwuJhHcQiZfyt0eQojRVm7_hBeU_SxTFALpqFuyMHAmF5bmSYSL116_Vt67pfXXjMOksxH-uMz59-GdkF8qYt19_BTeE/s1440/AnnaKarena.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjZ6NW5KEXOjF_ARzsGhr5fWJkXkTYMyY8jl_3Ivjr6N7sgEWwuJhHcQiZfyt0eQojRVm7_hBeU_SxTFALpqFuyMHAmF5bmSYSL116_Vt67pfXXjMOksxH-uMz59-GdkF8qYt19_BTeE/s320/AnnaKarena.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;">Recently, I watched yet another movie Anna Karenina 2012, a remake of 1985 directed and adopted by Joe Wright from Leo Tolstoy's 1877 novel with the same name based on historical romantic drama movies. Contrasting with the romantic happy ending in 'An Affair to Remember', this film depicts the tragedy of an extramarital affair of Anna Karenina, a Russian aristocrat and socialite and wife of a senior statesman Alexei Karenin and her affair with the affluent cavalry officer Count Vronsky. Keira Knightley stars in the lead role as Karenina, gave a stunning performance which makes her third collaboration with Joe Wright following both 'Pride & Prejudice' (2005)' and 'Atonement (2007)'. Jude Law and Aaron Taylor-Johnson appear as Karenin and Vronsky, respectively. Matthew Macfadyen, Kelly Macdonald, Domhnall Gleeson, and Alicia Vikander appear in key supporting roles.</span></div></span><p></p><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #3d85c6;">Produced by Working Title Films in association with StudioCanal, the film premiered at the 2012 Toronto Film Festival. It was released on 7 September 2012 in the United Kingdom and on 9 November 2012 in the United States. Anna Karenina earned a worldwide gross of approximately $69 million, mostly from its international run. It earned an approval rating of 63% from review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praised the cast, but commented on and criticized the heavily stylized adaptation, and were less enthusiastic with Wright's preference for style over substance and his idea of setting most of the action on a theatre stage.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #3d85c6;">It earned four nominations at the 85th Academy Awards and six nominations at the 66th British Academy Film Awards, winning Jacqueline Durran both prizes for Best Costume Design. In addition, Anna Karenina garnered six nominations at the 17th Satellite Awards, including a Best Actress nod for Knightley and Best Adapted Screenplay for Stoppard.</span></div></div></blockquote>NewsViews on Racismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10777535390473104184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125715729992660819.post-29729665759208955332020-11-05T16:04:00.008-08:002020-11-07T15:03:02.412-08:00 Romantic Love Story: An Affair to Remember (1957)<p><span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: red; font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">An Affair to Remember (1957) Directed by Carey Grant.</span></span></p><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #3d85c6;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqYJnT-5z-IHnWtHLtj5LrA30Ma-SGOFbzTgq_SlZ-D-C5TF6Fh0GH_Aj5KYc1YcthI3phPfVgnpKuTlCJUqnnnCNk-ZvhF5h7blp4RsHXGVjzMEL8mBxYzTYVm58OeHvUd3c358DUyc/s392/AffairtoRemember.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="254" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqYJnT-5z-IHnWtHLtj5LrA30Ma-SGOFbzTgq_SlZ-D-C5TF6Fh0GH_Aj5KYc1YcthI3phPfVgnpKuTlCJUqnnnCNk-ZvhF5h7blp4RsHXGVjzMEL8mBxYzTYVm58OeHvUd3c358DUyc/s320/AffairtoRemember.jpg" /></a></div>A couple fell in love on board in a cruise-ship agreed to meet after six months at the Empire State <span style="font-family: inherit;">Building - but will it happen? Bollywood cast Amir Khan and Manisha Koirala in </span><u style="font-family: inherit;">Mann </u><span style="font-family: inherit;">1999 based on the above movie. Although Amir Khan performed very well they lost the soul which one could see in A affair to remember!!!</span></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #3d85c6;">On a long haul flight from I had an opportunity to watch this movie while fellow Indians were busy watching Bollywood commercial movies with everything mixed including the music and dances. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #3d85c6;">This film has to be probably one of the best romantic movies I've ever watched, even above the classic like Sound of Music or even Gone With The Wind. I was intrigued by this movie how it would end, unlike the Indian movies in which the plot and outcome are well known happy ending. Needless to say, with the whole "shipboard romance" aspect of it, and the promise to meet again in six months at top of the Empire State Building of all places, I quickly became glued to it. The scene on the French Riviera with Nickie's grandmother playing the piano, oh God is it beautiful! Cary Grant is so debonair and suave and Deborah Kerr is so ravishing and stunningly beautiful, that it always demands repeated viewing from me (at least three times a year). Seeing this film always makes me wonder if something like the kind of relationship that Nickie had with Terry in the movie would really be a possibility in real life. Would and could someone actually leave the person they were engaged to marry a complete and total stranger that they just met days ago? I'd like to think that it could, as I always thought love is spontaneous like music, but then mots people are nothing but hopelessly romantic. The final scene always tears my heart out, no matter how many times I've seen it, I'm always sobbing. Watching this movie around Valentine's Day (even if you are single) is always a treat. It allows our fantasies to take flight so that we may think that we are actually the one meeting our beloved atop the Empire State Building in a thunderstorm. Rating 5*</span></div></div>NewsViews on Racismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10777535390473104184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125715729992660819.post-59685251397328154252020-05-05T07:16:00.002-07:002020-06-19T07:43:32.852-07:00TRIBUTE TO IRRFAN KHAN<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: blue;">Review of Hindi Medium - Movie for Irrfan Khan</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrxdVfXcc6hCnmMksE6nQOD4iiCmrtwUm_i__Xc2WS2LhOpaCIG1cw0UBKKsbEfYdRWlZ1jznyiiJxd0Vpoj6KvepFUXA2hSgZMME2ooJHn-L4NPZffXS6PvPwzLQXrf34KVYnhUNrTw/s1600/Mita-HindiMedium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="171" data-original-width="295" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrxdVfXcc6hCnmMksE6nQOD4iiCmrtwUm_i__Xc2WS2LhOpaCIG1cw0UBKKsbEfYdRWlZ1jznyiiJxd0Vpoj6KvepFUXA2hSgZMME2ooJHn-L4NPZffXS6PvPwzLQXrf34KVYnhUNrTw/s200/Mita-HindiMedium.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: white;"><span style="text-align: justify;">I should begin at the very outset
by clarifying that although Indian Cinema is not my field of expertise I
occasionally chose to attempt a review Bollywood movies occasionally when putting
to challenge, </span><a href="http://newsviews-raceclass.blogspot.com/2018/02/padmawati-v-banshali-2018.html">http://newsviews-raceclass.blogspot.com/2018/02/padmawati-v-banshali-2018.html</a>, <a href="http://newsviews-raceclass.blogspot.com/2018/02/pad-man-controversial-movie.html">http://newsviews-raceclass.blogspot.com/2018/02/pad-man-controversial-movie.html</a>,<span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://newsviews-raceclass.blogspot.com/">http://newsviews-raceclass.blogspot.com/</a><span style="text-align: justify;">Hence, my views will be
that of an amateur reviewer.</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #3d85c6;"><span style="color: white; text-align: justify;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: white;">I believe success could be
measured in various ways but generally accepted ingredients are as follows: (i)
solid work ethics, ii. Stamina, iii. Concentration, iv. Collegial temperament,
v. an economic base, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I
must admit that there is a mark difference between a successful actor and a successful
movie which should cater to the need of entertainment, collection at the box
office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No doubt, theatre and movies
have played an important role in social transformation but its negative role
can’t be underestimated in maintaining the status quo ante.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, recent studies published in
psychiatric journals have accepted clinical treatment is not enough to manage
mental illness unless combined with nonclinical therapeutic and humanities treatment
like classical music. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: white;">In the wake of a numerous tributes
and obituaries around the world on the sad demise of infamous actor Irrfan Khan
last night I was prompted to watch Hindi Medium which received a lot of
attention and credited to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
no harm in eulogising and exaggerating the achievement in obituaries of famous
people, but there has to be a caveat to avoid personality cult for which the
very intellectuals criticise others in history for a political reason to
undermine their sacrifices and role.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
fact, I watched in one of the TV channels suggesting that only once 100 years
an actor like Irrfan Kahn is born which leaves nothing for imagination if a
legend, Dilip Kumar passes away. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: white;">I must admit while attempting in
this review that I have seen only a few movies of Irrfan, namely; Piku, Pan
Singh Tomar and Hindi Medium. Now I began with Hindi Medium it deals with a
quite relevant national question on the basis of langue that initially cropped
up in South India in the 1960s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A number of
people performed very well in the movie, but I will focus mainly on three main the character played by Irrfan Khan as Raj Batra, (a small businessman), Saba
Quram as Mita (dominating wife) and Deepak Dobriyal as Shyam Prakash (as a poor
neighbour). Although a lot has been said about the performance of Irrfan, but very
little, if any, reference made to the other two actors even before or in the course
of his obituary although many leftist friends and foes were not slow to cash
him for their own good. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: rtl; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: white;">In terms of commercial success, a
14 crore small budget movie (peanuts in term of US $2.1 million). There are fantastic moments in the movie and
sharply created scenes between the characters which prove to be amazing
highlights in the movie. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In particular,
Saba’ stunning look commented, “English is class”, and that Irrfan was stuck in Chandni Chowk
when a Punjabi song was played in House warming party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a rat-race of getting up the middle-class
ladder, Saba wanted him to move to a posh area near a public school (private school
in India) so their daughter, Pia could overcome hang up of middle-class and acquire
a ‘Rich look’ to keep up with the “Class”, they even hire a consultant to
advise them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of such interesting
scenes were when the consultant asked PIA’s parents to define the poverty
although Irrfan said they have seen around them so didn’t need definition; she
said that was not enough! Consultant defined it for them as “Sharing &
Caring”, that was a Wow definition! <span style="text-align: left;">made 322 crores
(50 million) at the Box office, so it was a great success in terms of ‘100 Crore
club’. As to its success in terms of other measures although Irrfan has been
assessed in a politically correct manner some even described his speech at the
school function as the Masterstroke it would appear to independent observers
that a great injustice has been done to Saba Quram and Dobriyal who not only
played extremely well but at times they overshadowed Irrfan given Saba’s limited
experience as a TV presenter compared to Irrfan. </span><span style="text-align: left;">The scriptwriter has done a
superb job in writing dialogues for Saba Qurama and Deepak Dobriyal was superb
in some scenes and left the audience</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifjfiXw4a3F38LJZ3l0PIScMXEAEHgCiZtgw8DlyKasE7fWPK9MfegYKfOJzXiA4mgCZ60L8qLlqzOPNW_CJx9qEiiEamt1zPx92p6PH3BEmXQppujwm8FGIkYXY9ur2f39ecCpLatnE/s1600/SabaQuram-HindiMedium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="764" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifjfiXw4a3F38LJZ3l0PIScMXEAEHgCiZtgw8DlyKasE7fWPK9MfegYKfOJzXiA4mgCZ60L8qLlqzOPNW_CJx9qEiiEamt1zPx92p6PH3BEmXQppujwm8FGIkYXY9ur2f39ecCpLatnE/s200/SabaQuram-HindiMedium.jpg" width="148" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: white;">Once Raj and Mitu failed to
secure a place for Pia by presenting her being “English Class”, father conceived some other ideas of climbing down to the status of poor class to take advantage of RTE quota, so they moved to a poor
area. Family neither being from ‘Rich’ or ‘Poor’ had difficulties in adjusting.
Another god scene when Irrfan got a job in a biscuit factory but could not keep the pace with the work and Saba had to fight for scarce water and long lines at the
ration shop. It is depicted very well in the movie and failings to keep up with
poverty-ridden life; investigating journalist for fraudulent seekers of RTE
quota makes an interesting comment, “Only they know the pain sleeping empty
stomach”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: white;">Deepak Dobriyal played extremely
well as a poor man and friend of the family moved in the neighbourhood. He does
everything to help adjust them to poor life and beautifully defends them in
front of the investigating journalist in disguise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He even jumps before a car and hurt himself
so that he could get some money from the car owner to pay Rs. 25,000 deposit
for Irrfan’s daughter who finally got accepted in the grammar school, but
actually poor Dobriyal’s son could not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Raj & Mita</span>'s conscious was hurting them so they decided to visit a poor
children’s school and made an undisclosed donation like Birla building temples
appeared a good satire. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dobriyal puts
his son in a poor children’s school where he learnt from school Head Master that
someone donated a lot of money to improvise the school. Dobriyal decided to go
to Donor’s house and was shocked to discover Irrfan’s there who pretended to be
servant, the act didn’t go well and was exposed by the housekeeper who stunned
by her expression when said, “Ye Sahib ha” (he is the boss). Guilty conscience exasperated
Irrfan expressed while telling his wife, “we ate his child’ seat” that lacked emotion.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The second</span> half gets a bit over-dramatic and
the plot becomes quite obvious with ample degrees of freedom. Climax speech of
Irrfan in Grammar’s school’s function stretched too far and stumbles near the end
with overly sentimental, but sent the core message exposing the shortcomings and
loopholes of the educational system. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of
course, the film is one of the best Bollywood films of its time. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: white;">There was a bit disappointment Irrfan
could not keep ignorance of a petty shopkeeper’s outfit throughout the movie
contrasting with Abhishek Bachhan as a Marwadi Baniya in GURU let alone matching
with Amitabh Bachhan in Namak Halal (1982), “English a very funny language…I
can talk English, I can walk English…” or Amol Paleker in Golma (1979). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: white;">As to Irrfan's glamourisation by left and progressives due to his young role as Lenin in an act<span style="color: blue;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">I had an opportunity to watch Shekher Gupta's interview with Irrfan Khan done a few years ago on NDTV. I was a bit disappointed by his response to his question 1. You asserted that you could never become a character which is given to you? His response was, "You are what you...", 2. How do you place with the changes or planned yourself a few years ahead and his telling response was, "I go with the flow". I don't believe this is what he really means but this often happens when you chose to answer in English which is not your first language. Perhaps, he meant, "I am spontaneous". However, answer to the first question does not appear convincing as if as an actor you can't get into the character would mean you have not done justice to the role. One has to be someone else when playing the character, of course, you have to come back to yourself once the role is over. Dilip Kumar sahib Wahida Rehman had such ability and to some extent Amitabh Bachhan too. Sharukh Kahn is always in the Character and never find any difference between what they actually are and what character they play on the screen.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: white;">I part
with the review and leave it up to the readers if the Hindi Medium passed the test
set at the outset of the review!!! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: white;">Prof S Deman</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: white;">London</span></div>
<span style="color: blue;"></span></div>
NewsViews on Racismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10777535390473104184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125715729992660819.post-17585106805821739792019-03-05T14:30:00.001-08:002020-04-29T08:00:58.357-07:00Controversy surrounding Bollywood Movie "Haider"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: white; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">HAIDER - A REVIEWPending</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">HAIDER - A LAYMAN'S REVIEW</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #748793; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In the light of a protracted debate for and against the “Haider” without seeing it provoked me to
watch the movie along with my wife in the Cine World O2 Cinema in Greenwich
Millennium Dome although I generally do not watch them as most are being
sexist, violent, and long. Hence trash!<br />
Frankly speaking, I liked the movie and I did not find even an iota amount of
material either in the form or essence that would give rise to cause of concern
to an independent reasonable observer in the right mind let alone a champion of
‘freedom of expression’.. In my view, the purpose of Cinema is many splendorous
things, but I am going to identify the ones which I think are relevant, namely,
(i) depicting a real social or otherwise, better known as what it is, as
positivist view?, (ii) What it ought<br />
to be that is normative approach, (iii) comedy for entertainment, (iv) Love
Triangle, (v) Horror or Thriller, and (iv) a fiction science or otherwise.
Unfortunately, Cinema in India has always been trying to combine all of them in
one. And ultimately, the success of a movie is measured in terms of how it hits
on the post box, i.e., the value of money rather than it real quality.<br />
‘Haider’ story is not unusually shocking in a Police State, like in Northern
Ireland under the umbrella of the United Kingdom, a home for freedom fighters
and criminals where I have witnessed my
worst nightmare. I note the following interesting points in the movie:<br />
1. Shaheed Kapoor who played Haider overly protected by his father Hilal Meer,
a doctor, he was disappointed, so he sent his son out of Kashmir to study so
that he could stay out of troubles. Though Hilal Meer had no link with the
terrorists/freedom fighters whichever side you are you could call by that name.
Meer ends up in a situation where he had undertaken to perform an operation to
remove his appendix of a Commander of insurgents in his home rather than in
hospital. Quite understandably had been sent to the hospital he would have arrested
and killed! Haider’s mother Ghazala Meer (Tabu) asked her husband which side he
was and his telling response was, “Life”.<br />
2. Arshia, a daughter of Parvez Lone, a Police Officer, a teen friend in love
with Haider.<br />
Though, Haider was away for studies he kept on sending his poem to Arshia that
created a strong bond between them. Given stereotype generalizations about
Muslim Director allowed Arshia and Haider to kiss to break the ice to overcome
the accusation of Love Jihad!<br />
3. Haider tells Arshia a story that a boy killed his parents and court
convicted him but<br />
the boy asked for leniency in sentencing. Judge asked the accused how could
expect leniency for such a heinous crime and the boy told that after all he is
now an orphan! When Arshia asked Haider try to explain that it is called
“Chutzpah” (Hebrew) and his friend said it sounds like IASFA, i.e., Indian Army
Special Forces Act., which was quite hilarious.<br />
4. Hussain Meer, an old wise (Grand Dad) & pragmatic man spells out his
views on a<br />
very complex and sensitive issue Kashmir by telling that one can’t achieve the goal
of freedom by violence, “Gandhi brought Freedom by Lathi (stick) rather than
with the guns”. And “Revenge begets revenge and unless we liberate ourselves
from revenge we cannot achieve freedom”.<br />
5. Ghazala Meer appears very critical of her husband for his soft corner for
insurgents. In the base of any attention, she enters into an extra-marital
affair with her husband’s younger brother. In fact, as the story unfolds Dr
Hilal Meer’s brother had a sinister plan to rid his brother to have Ghazala for
good. It appears she was a co-conspirator. Haider is unwilling to accept his
father’s criticism and told his mother, “You should also look at others’
perspective”.<br />
6. Brigadier T.S Murthy responsible for fighting insurgents and their
commander, Khurram<br />
Meer and tells the public not to support them that they belong to the same Kabila who
attacked India in 1948 and killed children and raped women and it was the Indian army which saved them.<br />
7. Ghazala passes a message to Hilal Meer’s brother about the operation carried
out by him<br />
who in turn conveyed to Brgd. Khurram Meer who attacked the house and killed
insurgents’ Commander. Dr Meer was taken to interrogation/Torture camps and no
one knew about his whereabouts.<br />
8. "Haider" is a poet who returns to Kashmir unaware of his father’s
disappearance at the<br />
height of the insurgency to find his disappeared father and ends up sucked into
the politics of the state during this search. Arshia helps him find his
father. Irfan’s guest entry was superb who played as Roohdaar, a suspected insurgent
and co-cellmate with Dr Meer managed to convey a message to Haider. Haider
manages to meet Roohdaar and insurgents’ Commander Zahoor and passes on message
him as to what his father wanted him to do, i.e., “Revenge begets
revenge”.<br />
9. At the meeting with Roohdaar & Zahoor, it was revealed that Haider’s
uncle was not only engaged in adultery with his mother but in collusion with
Army he also organised a parallel terrorist group led by Ikhaf Latik. Not so
surprising for those who have read CIA’s manual of Nicaragua as it is typical
tactics CIA employed to kill Che Guevara in Bolivia<br />
10. Arshia having missed Haider for a few days finally got to see him and there
one see<br />
some shades of dialogue from Helmet, “to be and not to be”, being a young
confused man Haider is a big dilemma was whether to believe his uncle who got
elected in Parliament to just find his father or to believe a co-prisoner
Roohdaar who not only conveyed his father message but also told him whether his
father was buried, and emotionally as he appeared, wish to believe his uncle to
find his father alive, an impossibility, and being in love with as beautiful
Arshia, he sees question even in answers how his uncle and mother cahoot in his<br />
father’s murder. Director added a sense of humour when made Arshia say, Walk as
walked, suck as a sucker, loved as loved and F’ck as F’ckked in local<br />
accent. And Roohdaar's humming of lines from Iqbal..."...Dekhange",
was amazing!<br />
11. Arshia just out of love for father, as most children do, end up telling her
father as<br />
whereabouts of Haider and felt betrayed as her father emotionally blackmailed
saying he would ensure the safety of Haider as his life was in jeopardy. Arshia
once again in a colloquial tells Haider her father used her. Exasperated
Betrayed Haider kills herself.<br />
12. The news that Dr Meer is dead cleared the way for Ghazala Meer and Haider’s
uncle<br />
to get married for which they were waiting for a long time. This convinced
Haider of conspiracy to murder his father who went crazy. Ghazala tried to talk
into Haider to convince him of no conspiracy. Arshia’s father desperately
looking for Haider found him with Ghazala at their ruined homes. Before Parvez
could soot Haider he shot him making Arshia upset.<br />
13. Finally, the moment of truth comes when Haider escaped assassination and
Roohdaar planned his escape across the border, he was surrounded by uncle’s
terrorist gang. In combat insurgents; loyalists got killed and Haider also got
shot which left with little option for him. Things take a twist when Ghazala
arrived at the scene of combat and tried to persuade her new husband to forgive
Haider. Haider refused to give in, so exasperated<br />
Ghazal walks passed by her husband taking off her overcoat revealing raped bombs on<br />
her chest making everyone terrified. She blew herself killing ever one and
severely injured her husband.<br />
14. It crossed Haider’s mind to take revenge to fulfil his father’s last
wish to shoot him in both eyes. Melodrama reached its highest climax where
everyone thought expect me that he would shoot the bastard. Haider was reminded
of old wise man’s words,” “Revenge begets revenge and unless we liberate
ourselves from revenge we cannot achieve<br />
freedom” he could not shoot.<br />
Therefore I failed o understand what is the complaint here against Vishal
Bhardwaj? Rather than the Hindus unnecessary and unreasonable outcry about
demeaning the Army by trading off national interests, I would not have surprised
if the protest was forthcoming form the radical Muslims as Muslim family has
been portrayed of adultery, betrayal,<br />
collaborators and kissing! It appears others are more tolerant than some of us
on this Facebook and in the media. In my opinion, although I am unsure how
much Haider is a departure from other Massala movies and how much he got Hamlet
into it, Vishal has done a superb job in all respect. And every one performed
very well. I would rate the movie at 8 on the scale of 1-10.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #2e9fff; text-decoration-line: none;"><a href="https://disqus.com/by/ssdeman/">Dr S Deman BSc MA MPhil PhD</a></span> </span><a href="https://disqus.com/home/discussion/hindustantimesdotcom/when_the_state_is_more_mature_than_the_liberals_hindustan_times/#comment-1632987655" style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #687a86; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> 4 years ago</span></a></div>
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NewsViews on Racismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10777535390473104184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125715729992660819.post-31925708144562104192019-03-05T14:27:00.000-08:002019-03-05T14:34:32.295-08:00 Uncle Joe Remembered!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Obituary, </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">5th March 1953</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwiomy0KM2Qq09Fjjxs2z8fLPkX82mKkYVWzxNCAxPDOTP08MvNhfZI6BdKjvqpBdefS3WzRqkHXkKiCpdzSR9zYUtGT9tzmTaX_vaaTZOWSoNLd8BsKLoPaPbLmcUdn3K9nRa7pegVuw/s1600/JosephStalin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwiomy0KM2Qq09Fjjxs2z8fLPkX82mKkYVWzxNCAxPDOTP08MvNhfZI6BdKjvqpBdefS3WzRqkHXkKiCpdzSR9zYUtGT9tzmTaX_vaaTZOWSoNLd8BsKLoPaPbLmcUdn3K9nRa7pegVuw/s1600/JosephStalin.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: #9fc5e8; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;">Joseph Stalin, also known as ‘Uncle Joe in certain circles emerged as a great WWII hero when his army steamrolled into Berlin in the face of fierce Nazi resistance. In spite of his criticism within the USSR which was blown up by the American led Western media soon after his demise, his contribution was considered far greater than his shortcomings! Even after 66 years since his death, an independent survey considered S</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8;">talin is being one of the most popular Men in Russia</span><span style="background-color: white;">. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tribute to a Great Man who saved the world from fascism which led to the biggest surrender of any army in the world. Had he not succeeded, perhaps many champions of 'free speech' would not have seen the light of day let alone been able to open their mouths! Russian Communist Party chief Zyuganov described an incident in his book when Hitler's army was around 22 miles from Moscow, his commanders suggested that the time had come to go in the bunker</span>....<span style="font-family: inherit;">Stalin's telling response was, "You go ahead and hide if you wish I am not going anywhere as so doing would demoralize his soldiers!". In contrast, following the attack on twin towers on 9/11 US President, George Bush Jr was in the bunker for a couple of days!!! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Perhaps the readers should know in spite of Stalin's criticism for being too harsh on his the enemies of State not him he was the first statesman who banned corporal punishment in schools which speaks volume about his other dimensions!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Joseph Stalin (1979-1953) emerged as an Avante Garde Hero of World War II often addressed as Uncle Joe by all the heads of States who allied in WWII against Fascism. He was born in Georgia as Joseph Dzhugashvili. Although he was a student activist and got in trouble with police many times he turned into a priest. He changed his name to Stalin means a 'man of steel'. He was a big film buff and he had many favorite American actors, Spencer Tracey, John Wayne, etc., but he was not in favor of nudity in movies. An excellent account of his biography can be found in Gurley's Book (a student of Paul Baran). </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Since the collapse of USSR and Eastern European Communism for the last decade Stalinism has been rehabilitated as the Neo-liberal economic policies have failed to deliver to a common man in Russia. In fact, according to a survey, one half of the Russians believe Stalin was a 'wise leader who made the USSR powerful and prosperous'.</span></div>
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Read more: <a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymail.co.uk%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1jCe4wuDiPJ24RM8S8hlQ0bpsw6Uf5vvSc2bRuvqBGsJWHuWsewI4_4_Q&h=AT1nNXg67Q2xzKcKB6IeeaOw1TN15upaGvDocAgGfD_uOMRN2cNSVkwDeQgoeVKXUZGyOzdDnYP2UK9tLpfI1i8NVHoLUMonUsrQtYS-7boJkeuyFkh5OBYZoRLBtAYnZONeQk7Nby2JGVFPtRRlz4AaaFL-" rel="noopener nofollow" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/</a>…/Half-Russians-believe-Stalin-w…</div>
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NewsViews on Racismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10777535390473104184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125715729992660819.post-71437635849228415712018-08-16T13:38:00.002-07:002018-08-16T13:38:56.766-07:00Somanath Chatterjee, a Veteran Parliamentarian & First Communist Speaker Died at 89 <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 13.5pt; text-align: justify;">TRIBUTE
TO A GREAT PARLIAMENTARIAN</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In 1964 CPI split when 32 of its
national council members walked out rejecting CPI's tactical line to support
then National Congress. Later these leaders formed a new political party known
as the CPM which led by great revolutionaries like BT Randive, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">Puchalapalli</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sundarayya, M. Basavpiniah</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">, EMS Naboodiripad, Joyti Basu for about half the century. In fact,
CPM had gone through testing time during 1960s & 70s oppressive regime in
West Bengal led by Late Siddhartha Shaker Ray followed by the declaration of
the State of Emergency in India in 1975. Due to CPM's militant organizational
structure under the leadership of Promod Das Gupta and Hare Krishan Konar party
not only survived the worst oppressive regime but emerged with flying colors in
1977 general elections badly defeating the Congress in West Bengal and ruled it
for 35 years until 2000 when Joyti Basu retired from active politics and the
leadership was transferred to Buddhdeb Bhattacharya who remained Chief Minister
of West Bengal until 2011 with series of failures and disastrous in Singuir and
Nandigram. In 2004 CPM led left front got 62 seats in Parliament and under the
leadership of Hare Krishan Surjit landed support to Congress led UPA government
which was considered as the worst enemy beg an agent of imperialist and representing
the interest of the monopoly capitalist. This was an about turn on CPM's
historical understanding of Congress class character and tactical line. CPM was
perceived as the collaborator then a revolutionary party which disillusioned
its rank and file and cadre. After the retirement of ailing Hare Krishan Surjit
CPM leadership ended up in the hands of petty bourgeois leadership with no
mass-base which burnt midnight oil in hobnobbing with the Congress resulting in
disastrous outcome in 2009 with 24 seats and 16 in 2014. To put a last nail in
the Coffin Sitaram Yechuri newly nominated General Secretary bent backward to
enter into elections alliance with Congress in West Bengal in spite of the
Central Committee's resolution not to do so which resulted in disastrous
outcome routed CPM in West Bengal in 20113 & 16 and Mamata Banerjee emerged
Avante Garde Champion of people.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">In fact, 2004 was a turning point in CPM's
departure from its tactical line and Somnath Chatterjee was the product of that
tactical line! Son of Mr. NC Chatterjee President of Akhil Bhartiya Hindu
Mahasabha. In 1971 he got elected to Rajya Sabha with the support of CPM and
subsequently he got elected nine times except in 1984 when lots to Mamata
Banerjee paving way forward for her into serious politics. He qualified Bar-at
Law at the Middle Temple Inn in London and got unanimously elected as speaker
in 2004 for his outstanding performance in parliament but soft line. No doubt
the he was a great parliamentarian like Hiren Mukherjee of the CPI who has been
honored on many occasions by Parliament.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Besides do away with the practice of paying
for toiletries and tea from the national exchequer under his tenure as he was
also instrumental in starting a full-fledged 24–hour Lok Sabha television channel
and telecasting live the proceedings of the zero hours. In 2008, was expelled
from his party for refusing to resign as the Speaker after his party withdrew
support to the UPA-I government. He believed the Speaker's post is above any
party politics. He described it as the “saddest day of his life".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">During Anna Hazzare's crusade
against corruption which attracted stunning response from general public, in
general, members of the Parliament behaved irresponsibly and in that regard
conduct of Kapil Sibal, Salman Khurshid, Sarad Yadav, Manish Tiwary, Laloo
Prasad Yadav was highly deplorable and conduct of the opposition led by Sushma
Swaraj and Mr. Yechuri was wavering and far from clear. Somnath Chatterjee,
Ex-Speaker, appeared on NDTV from nowhere and played devil on behalf of the UPA
although the attack was not on an individual but institutionalized corruption.
i.e., system failed them. Although people were sympathetic to him when he was
expelled from the CPM in retrospect it appears Prakash Karat was right in having
expelled him. At the moment of truth, one has to make hard choice between his
Party decision v his duty to the constitution unfortunately, he chose the
latter which was darn wrong! Of course, he had chosen the bourgeois politics
over the ideology. Perhaps, he forgot the Maoist debate Red v Expert although
even Bertrand Russell said while on his death bed, "It is better to be red
than dead". One wonders in spite of his long career as a parliamentary
communist he was able to declass himself from his petty bourgeois class
background? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Prof Suresh Deman</span></div>
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<o:p>London </o:p></div>
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NewsViews on Racismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10777535390473104184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125715729992660819.post-9516383177284970962018-02-23T07:49:00.000-08:002018-02-23T08:09:50.028-08:00 Pad Man: A Controversial Movie<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: magenta; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Pad Man: A Love Story</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSFEyGPtYiQAXpHLLL4wS2gytHcXMIvdqfH_UAn4tN8QsbV_d9RmTI1Qkkl3WAwLbiJcABXPH1MaSKzltJU6iFN6vXpqQ6wE0f29r6VqXSQzBbPZGtAIvCVZ2TdP4L0GCv_YxOU0xIuo/s1600/pad-man-movie-review-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="706" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSFEyGPtYiQAXpHLLL4wS2gytHcXMIvdqfH_UAn4tN8QsbV_d9RmTI1Qkkl3WAwLbiJcABXPH1MaSKzltJU6iFN6vXpqQ6wE0f29r6VqXSQzBbPZGtAIvCVZ2TdP4L0GCv_YxOU0xIuo/s200/pad-man-movie-review-2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Although I rarely watch Indian movies because they are often
too long, have the same stories and try to fuse bit of everything; a love
story, comedy, tragedy, melodrama and the happy ending. After Padmavati, I had
an opportunity to watch another good movie at O2 in Millennium Dome, Pad
Man! </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Before I comment on the movie, it is worth
sharing my own ignorance about the Pads which traditionally are known as
Sanitary Towels. I was 21 and a lecturer in 1974. One of my friends owned a
general store near the university. One evening I happened to be at that store
chatting with my friend after a brief break from left-wing politics. A few
girls, perhaps the university students showed up at the store appearing bit shy
and reluctant, perhaps due to my presence. On the other hand, my friend
appeared too curious. I witnessed a fusion of opposite minds but found myself
completely confused and misplaced. Before the girls could ask about the
product, as shy & awkward they were, the owner picked up a pack labeled
as Sanitary towels showed them, they said yes. He hid the Pads in a paper bag
and handed them to girls. Being intrigued, I curiously asked my friend what
they are going to do with such small towels! He laughed at me and told me,
“Maybe wash their faces!” Although I had a sister, sister-in-law, a lot of
cousins I was dumbfounded about women’s so-called “course” due to cultural
taboos. This was my first introduction to Pads! </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The movie Pad Man is a real-life story of Arunachalam Muruganantham whose cast name is Laxmikant Chauhan, played by Akshay Kumar, a poor man who notices his wife using filthy rags instead of Pads during the monthly cycle. Laxmikant was worried about the adverse impact of unhygienic rags on his wife due to lack of sterilization and could cause death in extreme cases. The more shocking for his wife, Gayatri (Radhika Aapte) was the exorbitantly high price of sanitary pads then Rs. 55 per pack. Laxmikant could not convince his wife to use high-cost pads though it was alright for his superstitious wife to give Rs. 51 to a Priest for his blessings. He could not believe that due to a high cost of Pads his loving wife, sisters and other women will have to bear life-threatening consequences. Laxmikant’s love and care for his wife turned into a passion and his life’s only mission was to provide sanitary Pads to all women at very low cost. However, his village community perceived him a misfit and pervert man trying to experiment homemade Sanitary Pads on his wife, sisters and even on a teenage neighbor’s daughter who attained the age of puberty. Kids in the neighborhood humorously nicknamed monthly cycle as “Beginning of the 5 days test match.” </span></div>
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In the process of making people understand the issue that was thought not to be discussed so open, he loses his wife, family and his reputation in the village. He couldn’t convince any woman to use his handmade pads. Even he had been unsuccessful in getting feedback from the students of Girls’ Medical College. At last, exasperated Laxmikant experimented his handmade pad on himself wearing a panty which turned out to be a disaster. However, in spite of being ousted from the village and disserted by his family, Laxmikant did not give up his passion and he desperately tried to regain lost love and respect from his wife. He continued with his mission to convince her that he was on the right track to help not only her but also millions of women who were not even aware of the adverse health impact of using old dirty rags. It is a matter of fact that only 12% women in India use Sanitary Pads. He knocked every door to seek help and even got a job as a domestic help at a Professor’s house in the hope that he might show him a way forward, but the arrogant professor was too busy for his own good. However, Professor’s clever young boy felt pity at Laxmikant and offered help to find his answers in the google search. He found a company in Canada which made Pads from the Cellulose and helped him get a sample package in the name of a fake company at his father’s address. Laxmikant’s communication with the Canadian Company mediated by young boy back & forth and his appeasement of moneylender for an Rs. 90,000 loan to set up a rudimentary Pad making machine was quite entertaining.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">When Lakshmikant was at the verge of losing his all hope, incidentally he bumped into a beautiful singer; Pari (fairy) played by Sonam Kapoor who after performing at a music concert was desperately looking for</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9xKhfOPkbew_zqM60fWUFjZCxK2X2R77q-GKmoT0hsEZZ3tH6Od7nSaay_paoEKETIuS_opa0QG1VqunvIVrbSlmCi5Fty5eLr6BqdJhyiknjo_Lh2E_smpl4i2thqwtKAeIfR65sB0/s1600/Sonam+Padman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9xKhfOPkbew_zqM60fWUFjZCxK2X2R77q-GKmoT0hsEZZ3tH6Od7nSaay_paoEKETIuS_opa0QG1VqunvIVrbSlmCi5Fty5eLr6BqdJhyiknjo_Lh2E_smpl4i2thqwtKAeIfR65sB0/s200/Sonam+Padman.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
a medical store to buy Sanitary Pads. Since all shops were closed at night Lakshimkant turned out to be Lord Saver. He handed over to Pari’s assistant a Pad from his pocket. Impatient as he was for a feedback, next day Laxmikant reached out to Pari in her Hotel. The interaction between them keeping the awkwardness of the subject matter was entertaining. Later Pari becomes a milestone of his success as she persuaded him to exhibit his Pad making a rudimentary machine in an annual function of best innovation of the year event which he had won. A lot of pressure was built on Laxmikant to patent his low-cost machine as many multinational companies wanted to buy his innovation for millions. Although this proposal would have made Laxmikant filthy rich he was not convinced this would make the Pads cheaper for common women. His passion was not moved profit motives. Instead, he started his own small-scale business and marketed in the local area through Pari who also helped him borrow money from the banks which generated more jobs and many self-employed small businesses. This leads Lakshmikant getting an Invitation to deliver a speech at the United Nations. His speech in broken English was an entertaining explaining business cycle in layman’s language is ups and downs for all products expect the sanitary pads which would always be up. In the latter half of the movie, Pari started getting attached to Lakshmikant but he didn't forget his wife for whom he came all the way long. Just before boarding his return flight when Pari was about to kiss him, his mobile rang. It was his wife, Gayatri. Pari quickly realized she was dreaming with open eyes which faded away with a blink of an eye.<br />
<br style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">This is reflected throughout in the movie given how awkward women are made to feel even today while buying sanitary pads from the stores. The movie is quite educational and tells the real-life story in a layman’s language and humorous manner. The social stigma makes it an important film that needs to be watched. The movie ends on a positive note that the people who are crazy enough think they can change the world often do and make a difference not only in their lives but also in lives of millions. </span><br style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">Prof S Deman</span></div>
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NewsViews on Racismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10777535390473104184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125715729992660819.post-20982287857127283162018-02-21T15:39:00.000-08:002018-02-21T15:39:14.935-08:00Padmawati v Banshali 2018<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="color: red;">Pamawat v Padmawati 2018<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b>At last! I had an opportunity to watch the movie at the Millennium Dome which is now better known as O2 in London on the Super Screen which cost me £13.5 after senior citizen discount. Despite all the negative publicity and outrageous violence particularly, in the states of Rajasthan, MP, UP and Gujarat the movie turned out to be beyond the imagination of its critics. They are damn looser!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Movies started and progress smoothly. Dipika Padukon as Princes Padmawati while out in Jungle to hunt a deer looked stunning and kept on missing her target, perhaps, her target was Shahid Kapoor who played Maharaja Ratan Singh of Chittore who was also out for hunting. However, Ratan Singh rather hunting anything got himself hunted by beautiful princes (reminds me of an old movie, “Shikar karne gaye ther shikar ho ke aye”). Who wouldn’t? Movie gets a bit slow for about 10-15 minutes but picked up very smoothly. Love at first sight, Ratan Singh got married to Padmawati. She joined the group Ghoomar dance in which she looked amazing despite 40 Kg weight of her dress. There was not even an iota amount of exposure of Padmawati about which any sensible person in right mind could criticise except acknowledging the glory of Rajasthan historical dance form. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Padmawati was introduced to Raj Guru Raghav Chetan for blessings whom Ratan Singh had a great degree of trust & confidence. Having met the Queen Padmani Raj Guru was mesmerized by her beauty and wisdom and broke the trust he enjoyed with Ratan Singh when he clandestinely tried to watch Ratan Singh & Padmawati in close proximity. Padmawati's wisdom caught him red-handed and she asked the King to send him into exile. Raghav Chetan, before leaving the Kingdom, threatened the King of the consequences of his action. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Alla Uddin Khiljji enters in the movie as a young spoilt brat soldier pretended to be loyal to the Sultan of Delhi, but his eyeballs were on Sultan’s Beautiful daughter Noornnisha. Alla Uddin with his few victories was able to impress the Sultan who agreed to give her daughter’s had to him. However, Alla Uddin being a playboy with lavish lifestyle no single beauty could ever satisfy lust. Besides his desire for women, he never took off his head of his ambition to seize the power. He first got killed the Sultan’s bodyguards and then the King himself and became the sole undisputed Sultan of Delhi. To settle the scores with Ratan Singh, clever Raghav Chetan manipulate Alla Uddin with his musical skills and drew his attention to the louring beauty of Padmawati and told him there is no glory without winning Padmawati’s love. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Alla Uddin became obsessed with Padmawati and decided to attack Chittore which was one of the best-fortified forts of its time. Ranveer Kapoor’s role as a desperate & obsessed Alla Uddin was amazing and its overshadowed most the players in the movie except Dipika who was the theme of the movie. The change of name of the movie from Padmawati to Padmawati by the Censor Board didn’t help her opponent as Padmawati emerged as the Avante Garde in the movie showing a unique fusion of beauty with wisdom and great courage as the Queen who got her husband released from the prison of All Uddin without a scratch. If the opponents, in particular, Karni Sena could get some lessons from Padmawati they would have done some more good than harm to their community. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>The direction, photography, costumes, war scenes and love story are superb leaving no space for criticism whatsoever. In fact, Bhansali has done more to glorify the Rajput women and their traditions that they deserve and deserves congratulations for a commendable job. Had the Karani Sena spent so much energy and time to protect the honour of women today rather than beating something without anything they would have had an everlasting impact on the society and their organization*. I strongly encourage people to go and see the movie with the family. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>*I knew personally Kalyan Singh Kalvi would have had a word with him about the movie but taking his son Lokesh Kalvi is merely talking to the walls! <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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NewsViews on Racismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10777535390473104184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125715729992660819.post-62918778364173279662017-09-27T12:45:00.002-07:002017-09-27T12:45:47.815-07:00Resurrection of Hindu Rate of Growth in India<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EKIJ-hsAea2IJIJycZcyk44JqxnSicFR_EnVium0B6MO0MIfFIclOtxCGXbg4PGrQIjfJzgIN05K_HbmqfybTfECpN_uGZFbuKWGqSFshU67izU4SQq2Fp1m5yp2SgkKyF-5sgBWAks/s1600/YashwantSinha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="700" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EKIJ-hsAea2IJIJycZcyk44JqxnSicFR_EnVium0B6MO0MIfFIclOtxCGXbg4PGrQIjfJzgIN05K_HbmqfybTfECpN_uGZFbuKWGqSFshU67izU4SQq2Fp1m5yp2SgkKyF-5sgBWAks/s200/YashwantSinha.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: red;">OLD VINE IN THE NEW BOTTLE OR ROOTEN </span><br />
<span style="color: red;">EGGS IN THE NEW BASKET!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: #6fa8dc;">I </span><span style="background-color: blue;">never had the illusion about the PM, Modi’s tall claims of quantum leap of 9.5% growth in GDP rather than gradualism overtaking China, both ex-ante and ex-post, about the GDP growth in spite of rigging the base year to inflate the growth rate by 2.2%. The sings of slow growth had already been embedded in the failed neo-liberal economic policies as accepted by Nobel economists like Joseph Stieglitz and Paul Krugman. In fact, it delivered nothing to common man except writing off bad loans and taxes at the cost of the common man around the world since the worldwide economic crisis of 2008. Although early signs of sluggish growth were observed in India even before demonetisation Modi’s sycophants unsuccessfully tried to distract the failures by hijacking the issues by precipitating non-issues such as beef eating, Bharat Mata Ki Jai, Ram Mandir, right-wing changes in the curriculum and textbooks, purging educational bodies like UGC, ICSSR, ICHCR , Universities, etc., to induct RSS agenda. </span></span></span></div>
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However, some friends and foe of the BJP Mr Yashwant Sinha and Chidambaram and to great extent even the scattered opposition is blaming it entirely on the demonetisation and try to compare it with past regime under the UPA which is a big mistake. In fact, there are a lot of similarities between the UPA and the NDA Governments led by Dr MM Singh and PM Modi as their economic policies’ adviser by and large in substance, if not in form (names) remained the same. For example, Dr MM Singh heavily relied on the advice of Prof Jagdish Bhagwati who is a close friend of Dr MM Singh and his sycophant Arvind Panagariya who was conferred a Padma Bhoshan by UPA II Govt who being pro-American latter shifted their loyalty to BJP and Modi, both suffered from the China obsession. Therefore, I am at a loss why Yashwant Sinha and Chidambaram woke up so late in the day to attack Modi on failure on the economic front. In fact, according to their own spokesman Modi has stolen their flagship program and merely renamed them. As to change of name of the Planning Commission was underway since the UPA II except UPA being inspired from China’s renaming their Planning body, it was contemplating it rename it as Reform Commission and Modi Govt has changed it to NITI AYOG (National Institute of Transforming India) to claim the originality. However, in reality, NITI AYOG turned out to be toothless and even Modi Govt continued to rely on the UPA II 13 Five Year Plan and his Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on the UPA II Chidambaram budget. </div>
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The author, in response to Bhawati-Pangariya’s tall claims of 11.5% GDP growth after adjusting with the Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) to boost that India was growing faster than China, characterised GDP growth under UPA was heading toward a Hindu rate of Growth (3-4%) and if adjusted for Green GDP it was tending to Zero Growth. If one applies the same yardstick to BJP Govt, it would be clear Indian economy no better as current GDP is @ 5.7% and if adjured from base year 5.7-2.2 = 3.5% < 4.8% of UPA II and if adjusted for Green GDP it is tending to a zero rate of growth. Indeed, in spite of rhetoric noting has changed in substance or fundamentally in the intervening period of UPAII to NDA I. In fact, disillusioned Modi let the former RBI governor, Raghuram Rajan to let go under mysterious circumstances and recently Panagariya parted with pleasure combined with the appointments of Urjit Patel as RBI Governor, Rajiv Kumar as Head of NITI AYOG and the constitution of PM Economic Advisory Council under Bibek Debroy along with Dr Surjit Bhalla, Dr Rathin Roy and Dr.. Ashima Goyal, and Ratan Watal (unknown in the mainstream economics profession) confirms that the Indian economy is back to square one. In layman’ language former friend of BJP, Mr Arun Shourie puts it very eloquently, “BJP = Congress + a Cow”! The future of Indian economy remains bleak.</div>
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NewsViews on Racismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10777535390473104184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125715729992660819.post-73945552921125071862017-08-30T16:03:00.000-07:002017-09-02T15:33:05.066-07:00END OF THE AMERICAN POLITICAL ECONOMY IN INDIA Part II<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">I have previously commented on a somewhat similar article exposing complacency and the nexus between the World Bank/IMF Bandwagon and allegedly Bhagwati-Panagariya approach to development. Therefore, I will deal with the last paragraphs of his article. The author is badly mistaken in categorizing development model into two different schools of thoughts dividing them into Bhagwati-Panagariay and AK Sen although these schools are two sides of the same coin, namely, neo-classical School of thoughts, first propounded an Austrian economist, Hayek who believed in Laissez-fair economy and the second one is welfare economy. In fact, soon after the French Revolution German Chancellor Bismark carried out some of these reforms not so much for the welfare of the people but to prevent possible revolution in Germany. Traces of such reform were also aired by US President Roosevelt in 1930's addressing the workers on the famous Flint Street sit down. The author also claims to have suggested a third approach which also already subsumed into Welfare School of thoughts. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: blue; color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Bhagwati-Panagariya story of India as an emerging giant appeared to be over as India's growth was heading toward the well-known 'Hindu' Rate of growth. If one follows Panagariya's absurd logic to adjust the rate of growth with the Purchasing Power Parity as he did in 2010 Econometric Society Lecture to inflate India's growth to 11.5%, to make it look, as if India was going ahead of China (what is known as China obsession) than India’s growth turned out to be about 3.5% and further adjustment to work out the green GDP, Indian economy was heading toward a ‘Zero’ rate of growth (after adjusting with devaluation of India rupee and accounting for errors of measurement). The critic of liberalization like AK Sen characterized the growth of India economy as jobless and emphasized the need for investment in the social sector, like in Korea, Japan, & China, which led to higher growth in those countries. Moreover, if the purpose of growth is to improve the quality of life as opposed to a number of billionaires than the hard choice has to be made to improve human capital formation. He also strongly supported the food security bill of UPA II on the ground that it would save millions of lives every year. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: blue; color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">On the other hand, Bhagwati and Pangariya criticized food security bill on somewhat bizarre ground that the poor people would keep the current level of consumption and would sell the additional food and buy something else. This argument is against the very principles neoclassical economics that the agents are rational which they intend to defend throughout their approach. Unless people are irrational they would likely to provide their children better diet by struggling less rather than selling food for the money in the open market. And if the food security bill is amended to include 100% population it would take care of the even remote possibility of black marketing.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: blue; color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">The above schools have been around for a very long time under different expect new terminology has replaced the old ones. If one looks at the Development Book of the 1960s by Arthur Lewis, Hagen, Higgins, Todaro, and Yutopolous and Nugent etc. , one could find trickle down, percolation effect, spread effect, divergence-convergence, etc. The author has conveniently forgotten the third school which is often used to save the ‘free-market’ by partial nationalization one of the gradients of ‘Socialism which became less popular since the collapse of USSR model of State Capitalism rather than market socialism.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">usly commented on a somewhat similar article exposing complacency and the nexus between the World Bank/IMF Bandwagon and alleged</span></span></div>
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NewsViews on Racismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10777535390473104184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125715729992660819.post-42238358468445544152017-08-18T14:14:00.001-07:002017-08-18T14:52:37.753-07:00The Greatest Hindi Novelist of the 20th Century!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: white; white-space: nowrap;"><b style="background-color: #3d85c6;">Mehzabeen Mehzabeen (Translation available at the end) </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: xx-small;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdq7GAKlDf78_MqBBvEni8pPU679QWNnrBwWnUKhubMFw8aOQCdzDGNVQbw7P62i51oLFlbO8xWpmjEHfqcIrvoqVSI7OkF7F_uMIFKzOpayg5qgSLPRR2YdKX1lfhTPziHuRszUT9b4/s1600/MehzabeenMehzabeen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: #3d85c6; clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdq7GAKlDf78_MqBBvEni8pPU679QWNnrBwWnUKhubMFw8aOQCdzDGNVQbw7P62i51oLFlbO8xWpmjEHfqcIrvoqVSI7OkF7F_uMIFKzOpayg5qgSLPRR2YdKX1lfhTPziHuRszUT9b4/s200/MehzabeenMehzabeen.jpg" width="150" /></a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: white;">प्रेमचंद जी ने लगभग 300 कहानियाँ लिखीं, मगर पाँचवीं कक्षा से लेकर एम. ए की कक्षा तक उनकी कुछ चुनिंदा कहानियों को ही सिलेबस में रखा जाता है, और वो चुनिंदा कहानियाँ गिनी-चुनी 15/20 हैं बाक़ी की 275 के लगभग कहानियों को हाशिये पर डाल दिया गया उपेक्षित कर दिया गया, शायद आलोचक ही पढ़ते हैं उन्हें अपने समीक्षा कार्य की पूर्ति के लिए। क्या उनकी चुनिंदा कहानियों के अलावा दूसरी कहानियाँ बेकार हैं, हमारे समाज की नहीं हैं, उनकी भाषा अच्छी नहीं है? मैं आजकल उनका तीनसों कहानियों का पूरा संग्रह मानसरोवर पढ़ रही हूँ, मुझे एक भी कहानी बेकार नहीं लग रही है, सभी इसी समाज का हिस्सा हैं, यही समस्याएं हैं दहेज़, अनमेल विवाह, विधवा समस्या, पुनर्विवाह, ग़रीबी, दलित - विमर्श, ग़ैरबराबरी, महाजनी साहूकारी इत्यादि... फिर क्यों प्रासंगिक नहीं हैं प्रेमचंद जी की दूसरी कहानियाँ? उर्दू की कहानियों का तो कहीं कोई ज़िक्र ही नहीं होता है, उर्दू साहित्य में भी नहीं हिन्दी साहित्य में भी नहीं, बस उनकी जीवनी में लिखा रहता है कि वो पहले उर्दू में लिखा करते थे। ऐसी स्थिति के लिए कौन जिम्मेदार है पाठक, साहित्यकार, अध्यापक? कहीं न कहीं सभी जिम्मेदार हैं।</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: white;">कॉलेज युनिवर्सिटी में आजकल ज़्यादातर राजनीति होती है स्टूडेंट्स को भी उस राजनीति का हिस्सा बनाया जाता है, साहित्यिक कार्यक्रम के दौरान सेमिनार कवि-सम्मेलन के दौरान भी बहुत अच्छी राजनीति होती है एक-दूसरे की टांगे खींची जाती हैं, ऐसे कामों में माहिर उस्तादों से तलबा भी बआसानी से यह काट करने का, अवसरवाद का सलीक़ा हुनर सीख रहे हैं और फिर आगे ज़ारी रख रहे हैं, साहित्यिक कार्यक्रम खानापूर्ति के लिए रह गए हैं। सीधे-सादे अध्यापक साहित्यकार विद्यार्थियों की तो अब कोई औक़ात है ही नहीं उन्हें साइड कर दिया जाता है, अपने रास्ते से हटा दिया जाता है। पिछले पुराने अच्छे-अच्छे साहित्यकारों की रचनाएँ उपेक्षित हैं, और नए लिखने वालों के रास्ते में भी बेशुमार रोड़े अटकाए जा रहे हैं।</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: white;">पक्ष- विपक्ष के नेता राजनीतिज्ञ समय - समय पर वोट बैंक के लिए या फिर ध्यान बुनियादी सवालों से भटकाने के लिए कोई न कोई सोसा बेबुनियादी मुद्दे मिडिया द्वारा फेंक देते हैं चैनलों पर, सोशल मीडिया पर, और आजकल के बुद्धिजीवी वर्ग, साहित्यकार भी उन्हीं फालतू के मुद्दों पर बातचीत करते हैं, चर्चा करते हैं, टिप्पणी, विश्लेषण करते हैं उलझे रहते हैं, राजनितिक लोग तो चाहते ही हैं बेकार की बातों में उलझाए रखना, मगर इन लिखने - पढ़ने वाले छात्रों, अध्यापकों को साहित्यकारों को क्या हुआ है बुनियादी सवालों पर बहस क्यों नहीं करते? साहित्य में आए बिखराव, फ़िरक़ापरस्ती को अपनी आपसी खींचातानी नाइत्तिफ़ाक़ी को क्यों नहीं दूर करते? स्थिति बहुत ख़राब है। बुकफेयर भी अब बाज़ार मात्र रह गया है। साहित्यकारों के ग़ुरूर के बारे में क्या कहा जाए कथनी-करनी में ज़मीन आसमान का अंतर है संपादक पत्रकार सब के सब प्रोफेशनल हो गए हैं इनके बीच शरीफ़ कैसे अपनी जगह बनाए कैसे टिके?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: white;">Munshi Premchand wrote about 300 stories, but from the V class to MA only selective few stories have been kept in the syllabus and the rest 275 stories are put in the margins to undermine their literary significance and perhaps they are read by the critiques only to meet for their review work. Are other stories apart from the selected ones are useless, or not about our society, or their language is not good enough? These days, I am reading the entire collection of Premchand’s stories from the Mansarovar collection. I do not find even a single story which is not relevant and not a part of our social reality, whether they are pertaining to the problems related to the dowry, mismatched marriages, widowed problems, remarriages, poverty, Dalit Vichar (thinking about the Untouchables), moneylenders, inequality, etc. One wonders why it is often suggested that Premchand’s other stories aren’t’ relevant? In fact, stories in Urdu are not even mentioned either in Urdu or Hindi literature except there is a passing reference in Premchand’s biography that initially, he started writing stories in Urdu. It is worth exploring who is responsible for such a situation, readers, writers or teachers? It appears somewhere, we all are responsible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">These days the Colleges & Universities have become hotbeds (dens) of politics and the students are also dragged into that politics. In fact, even the literary program, seminar and the poetry programs are not spared as they have become training camps for innocent minds to learn to pull each other’s legs and grind axes. The literary programs have become a formality and the down to earth & genuine people are either removed from the way or side tracked. The innocent and genuine teachers have no locus-</span>standii<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> and capability to alienate these hooligans out of the constructive path. The compositions of the past old good writers are neglected and also obstacles are put in the way of new creative writings.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: white;">The leaders of the treasury and opposition benches time to time hijack the fundamental issues on somewhat scandalous TV channels and social media hype to cater their vote banks. Unfortunately, even the intellectuals and writers also caught in their Cobb-Web and start burning their midnight oil analyzing, debating and commenting on irrelevant and trivial matters. This may well serve the politicians endgame to keep the youth and public engaged all the time in irrelevant matters but what happened to the insight and wisdom of teachers, literary figures, students and educated people who failed to put the debate on its wheels of fundamental issues of public interest! Why these people do not take initiative to correct the distortions, sectarianism, and disaccord in the field of literature. The things as they stand are in very bad shape, indeed! Even book fares have become a market place and not to say anything about the arrogance of ‘literary’ figures given the gap between their preaching and the practice, there is a hell of the difference. Most newspaper correspondents have become professional league players midst them how any genuine gentleman could make his place and survive. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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NewsViews on Racismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10777535390473104184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125715729992660819.post-85178897900316077472017-08-18T13:51:00.001-07:002017-09-02T15:18:51.855-07:00End of American Political Economy Part I<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYclNiRGavBcpoXLQebGnurH4at4IwF97xJJLTLxs9rrwufRSs6FWhp3kp46E9VM9ZA10IpGNvHNLiLwFEYVqKqGGsNP7FNFwbI2VhKyS8isBhnmdwGLbAmGPBgBzOTEaHiDDC3XUgFNg/s1600/panagaria_2456131f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="486" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYclNiRGavBcpoXLQebGnurH4at4IwF97xJJLTLxs9rrwufRSs6FWhp3kp46E9VM9ZA10IpGNvHNLiLwFEYVqKqGGsNP7FNFwbI2VhKyS8isBhnmdwGLbAmGPBgBzOTEaHiDDC3XUgFNg/s200/panagaria_2456131f.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">End of an era of complacency and American Political Economy! India can sustain 10% growth', TNN | Jul 16, 2011, 01.38 AM IST</span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Arvind Panagariya said as follows: "HYDERABAD: Reforms in labor, land and higher education are crucial for India to sustain economic growth over the next 15 years and emerge as a global economic superpower, Prof Arvind Panagariya, the Jagdish Bhagwati professor of Indian political economy at Columbia University, said on Friday". This speaks volumes about his credibility as a Professor of Indian Political economy made in America given the fact that India is struggling to achieve even 6.3-7.5 growth even after rigging the base year from 2003-4 to 2012-13 to inflate the growth rate by 2.2%. Hence, one does not need an American Ph.D. or Columbia University Political economist to figure out that the actual GDP growth rate will be at the level of what Dr. MM Singh left in 2014, i.e., 7.1-2.2 = 4.9%. This, in spite of the tall claim of three years of Modi Rule with an iron fist with neoliberal market reforms and complete surrender to American foreign policy. Further, his China obsession under both the regimes, the Congress led UPA 2004-2014 and since 2014 BJP prompted him to exaggerate growth to 11.5% in 2011 using short lived PPP theory and 7.5% having rigged the base year, has also been shattered with a recently revised estimate, after Annual Survey raises serious reservation about a growth in GDP even at 6.3.-7.5%.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Whatever the either government can claim, in reality, India's growth has been lopsided (jobless & low indices of Human Development) therein major part of the growth has been attributed to growth in the financial sector involving uncertainty, increase in luxury capital intensive goods and services. The manufacturing and agriculture sector continued to be in shambles. This led to the creation of two Indias: Rich and poor. It appears both, the Right consciously and some of the Left unconsciously, have been caught in the neoclassical Cobb-Web!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">In fact, Panagariya used to boost a lot about the trickle-down impact of GDP growth claimed to have taken 110 million people off the poverty line reducing the BPL number to 29% according to the Govt figure which was amended to 39% by late Prof Suresh Tendulkar, Vice-Chairman of the Planning Commission. During the last three years of NDA, he has kept complete silence about the impact of economic reforms including the impact of demonetization and the GST.</span></b></div>
<b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">NITI Ayog that was created in 2015 to replace the historical Planning Commission introduced in 1952 with Nehru-Mahalanobis as its founders. Unfortunately, in spite of the best endure fmto replace the Planning Commission the NITI Ayog could not become its substitute. In fact, in spite of amny tall claims of NITI Ayog, to date Govt continues to rely on the 13th Five Year Plan prepared during the UPA II Govt. On the other hand, there has been an adverse impact of the scraping the Planning Commission since a large number of people has been laid off since 2014. Other than some tangential role in the Centre-State relations NITI AYOG has been toothless and its Vice-Chairman having a ceremonial role. He had no impact at all on the Indian public policy. In fact, Panagariya' did not even got a second place in the NITI Ayog meetings chaired by the PM what it used to be under the old system of the Vice-Chairman of the Planning Commissions. No self- esteem was left for the guy! Perhaps, he got more respect under UPA II than in NDA Raj. No wonder he has resigned....but his exit has been painless contracting with former RBI Governor, Rajan.</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span> <span style="color: magenta;">To be continued....</span><br />
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NewsViews on Racismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10777535390473104184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125715729992660819.post-45010467911322234312016-03-15T15:40:00.002-07:002016-03-15T15:40:47.849-07:00TRIBUTE TO A MAN OF THE CENTURY!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Marx Remembered Everyday!</span><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcP6eakghr4CKmYvy3sRc8SXXkAvvRqsncWAt9FHmaOElHn8yYfgr1kLeRbW0FEzPFdDDKs_R97fPbbK9GZ-Y7GjQeUQGnpua9U9ci6l80tb8G8aKXpEQrnL3zNnSYx1zaAB6RlcSXvxM/s1600/Marx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcP6eakghr4CKmYvy3sRc8SXXkAvvRqsncWAt9FHmaOElHn8yYfgr1kLeRbW0FEzPFdDDKs_R97fPbbK9GZ-Y7GjQeUQGnpua9U9ci6l80tb8G8aKXpEQrnL3zNnSYx1zaAB6RlcSXvxM/s200/Marx.jpg" width="190" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.32px;">The philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways; the point, however, is to change it.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.32px;">Marxian and traditional orthodox economics could be distinguished mainly on three points, namely; (i) the orthodox economists accept capitalism as eternal order of nature while Marx regards it as passing phase in transition from the feudal economy of the past to the socialist economy of the future, (ii) the orthodox economists argue in terms of a harmony of interests between the various sections of the community while Marx conceives of economic life in terms of conflict of interests between owners of means of production who do not work and workers (proletariat) who owns no means or property. In reality above two points of differences are not unconnected. For example, if the system is taken for granted and the shares of the various classes in the social product are determined by inexorable natural law, all interests unite in requiring an increase in the total to be divided. what is known as size of the pie is increased so each could get more share in the pie. However, if the possibility of changing the system is once admitted, those hope to gain and those who fear to lose by the change are immediately ranged in opposite camps resulting in the class conflict.</span></div>
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The orthodox economists unconsciously, on the whole identified themselves with the system and assume the role of its apologists, while Marx consciously sets himself to understand the working of capitalism in order to accelerate its doom by overthrowing it. The system contains inbuilt contradictions within itself which must lead to its disruption. Marx saw the periodic crisis of trade cycles as symptoms of a deep-rooted and progressive malady in the vitals of the system. </div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.32px;">Since Marx's days development in economic analysis have taken place which enables economists to detect three distinct streams thoughts in Marx's treatment of of crises: (a) the theory of reserve army of unemployed labors due to fluctuate relationship between the stock of capital offering employment and and supply of labor leading go unemployed army. That could be seen in developed countries since 2008 crises resulting in over 10% unemployment, (b) the theory of the falling rate of profit which shows how the capitalists' greed for accumulation stultifies itself by reducing the average rate of return on capital, and (c) there is theory of the relationship of capital-goods and to consumption-good industries which shows the ever-growing productive of society knocking against the limitation upon the power to consume which is set by poverty of the workers. This could be seen in India's jobless growth mainly contributed by expansion of speculative financial sector, service section and capital intensive luxury goods beyond the reach of workers and common man leading to creation of two Indias: Rich and Poor!</span></div>
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Since the WWII the academics economists, without paying much attention to Marx's analysis of capitalism,have been forced by the concrete reality of the modern world to question much of the orthodox apologetic, and recent developments in academic theory have led them to position which in some respects resemble the position of Marx far closely than the position of their own intellectuals forbears.</div>
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The modern theory of imperfect competition, though formally different form Marx's theory of exploitation, has close affinity with it. Similarly, modern theory of crises has many points of contact with the third line of argument, distinguished above, in Marx's treatment of subject,and allows room for something resembling the first. However, the second line of argument appears to be confusing and redundant.</div>
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In fact, since 2008 worldwide economic crises Noble Laureates like Joseph Stieglitz, Paul Kugman accepted failure of Neo-classical economics. Till to date, the crises is not yet over in spite of partial nationalization of failing banks and corporations by way of bailouts from public money there does not seem to be any sign of recovery. In fact, free market economy has been thriving on it appears there has been socialization of losses and privatization of profits and localization of wages.</div>
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Since the advancement of a new theory of industrial economics with separation of ownership and control now the corporations held by millions both the owners and employees/workers. Further the classes are not as crystallized as they were during the 19 century industrial revolution that Marx witnessed. The ownership of means of production has changed from a sole ownership to partnership and then to a loosely held corporations causing confusion who are the owners and employees. And to complicate matters further the emergence of a huge middle class that Marx had not witnessed. Given the overlap of classes and a huge middle class and petty bourgeoisie class it is worth inquiry into the traditional labor theory value? There has been more rhetoric than substance as to development in Marxian economic theories since the WWII. However, no doubts Marx left a lasting impact on capitalism and influence on man kind and its welfare which brought so many reforms for labor which was highlighted in the US President Franklin Roosevelt's speech on Flint Street sit down . No doubt, the nightmare quality of Marx's thoughts gives, in bedeviled age,an air of greater reality than the gentle complacency of the orthodox academics.</div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">On the operational side strategy for revolution is hardly talked about in party school and entire focus of the communist parties is on the tactics to show allegiance to bourgeois democracy once they pledge to destroy. If they are so much committed to democracy one wonders how far Leninist notion of democratic centralism is relevant? The failure of USSR model of socialism also raises the question whether the Socialism in one country could sustain for along time in a globalized world. And most importantly, if central committee of a communist party is derailed as ideas become material force then what is the mechanism to correct the obsolete party? In fact, Party bureaucracy in India has taken over in India ever since the non-working class non-peasant leadership has got on the top even without capturing the power, people are intrigued whether any lessons have been learnt from the USSR model? Finally, the debate of permanent revolution as Trotsky's advanced v/s transition of the revolution via cultural revolution with the involvement of masses is still relevant to complete the dialectics as nothing is absolute. These are some questions remains unanswered! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Prof. S Deman</span></span></div>
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NewsViews on Racismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10777535390473104184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125715729992660819.post-91313446637925244432015-05-27T13:45:00.000-07:002015-05-27T13:50:58.302-07:00Politic of Great Divide: Rich and Poor <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">MODI A ONE MAN INDUSTRY: AKE SAAL AND MODI SARKAR OR ONE YEAR OF MODI GOVT.</span><o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWVERDjl8iG-IFeGDJ6L4wzsY0bPRcZ7WjYuN0jD3gzJKAWvcjD1XchEcdCBcCwn9lxjSjI-fuNjbNVXSnLBCxH8S3sKwr6-KK9QWtjMdBitSyYFIXBqJOKrPeqUWuE8fvIVHD3zk7yM/s1600/Modi-One+Man+Band.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWVERDjl8iG-IFeGDJ6L4wzsY0bPRcZ7WjYuN0jD3gzJKAWvcjD1XchEcdCBcCwn9lxjSjI-fuNjbNVXSnLBCxH8S3sKwr6-KK9QWtjMdBitSyYFIXBqJOKrPeqUWuE8fvIVHD3zk7yM/s200/Modi-One+Man+Band.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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A quick review of Indian economy
under the UPA I & II reveals that neo-liberal economic policies were unable
to sustain a rapid growth as it was halved in just three years from 2011-2014.
GDP growth rose marginally to 4.8% during the quarter through March 2013, from
about 4.7% in the previous quarter. In fact, UPA government had forecast a
growth rate of 6.1%–6.7% for the year 2013–14, whilst the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reserve_Bank_of_India" title="Reserve Bank of India"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">RBI</span></a>
expects the same to be at 5.7%. No doubt, besides rapid growth in GDP
neo-liberal policies also gave rise to what is known as ‘Crony Capitalism’ or
in communist jargon ‘Lumpen Capitalism’. Further, during the period of
liberalisation, particularly from 2000-2010 a number of scams came to light in
which top government officials were implicated. Corruption was so rampant that
it did not spare even the defence sector. Although Manmohan Singh had two terms
as a Prime Minister in spite his best endure to remain Mr Clean, he was also
implicated in coal scam. In his
interview, he admitted that Congress’s loss in 2014 was failure to addressing
the problem of corruption, unemployment and inflation, particularly food
inflation.</div>
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<b>Modi Govt.
& Budget on Account: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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According to Jaitley the
Economic Growth Rate of India would be 5.5% in 2014-15, which less ambitious
than UPA’s Finance Minister, Mr. Chidambaram. Besides this, India suffered a
very high fiscal deficit of US$ 88 billion (4.8% of GDP) in the year
2012–13. The UPA Government aimed to cut the fiscal deficit to US$
70 billion or 3.7% of GDP by 2013–14, but again Modi government’s FM is
less ambitious than UPA as he sets the deficit at 4.1% of GDP for 2014-15. Combine
with poor response of the market leaves one wonders how anyone could claims
budget has spurn the economy to meet the desired promises of ‘Good time Ahead’
let alone realizing the objectives of employment generation, eradicating
corruption, and controlling inflation. In fact, it appeared as if BJP Finance Minster
Arun Jaitley was presenting UPA Finance Minister, Chidambaram’s budget! </div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Modi’s
68<sup>th</sup> Independence Day Speech:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6MGS7YnJmZtlU8v6WVe3_9wheVUtgnWaZKJsj6knwH-UasLB97QQuP8JK5yCm48y15NrDQHag_QNobjQc1kMpy55aQLhjlK3DPP0hATxFsWor5XOBXv2ut47rwTye9xrf2-1dorZHqk/s1600/270793_463428807021949_1228910772_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6MGS7YnJmZtlU8v6WVe3_9wheVUtgnWaZKJsj6knwH-UasLB97QQuP8JK5yCm48y15NrDQHag_QNobjQc1kMpy55aQLhjlK3DPP0hATxFsWor5XOBXv2ut47rwTye9xrf2-1dorZHqk/s200/270793_463428807021949_1228910772_n.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On India’s 68<sup>th</sup>
Independence Day Modi commissioned a team of his advisor for a feedback for his
speech and like his all predecessors he gave a firebrand speech asking deficit
to combat the inflation. In fact, in
spite of tall claims made during the election campaign, there was nothing in
Modi’s speech about the Roji-Roti, Bijali-pani, Kapada and Makan for common man
and there was nothing for women ether as to Sikasha, Suraksha and Sochalaya.
Like Mrs Indira Gandhi, he is also merely selling slogans like HIT (Hydropower,
Information and Transport) in Nepal, PPP (Paryavaran, Paryatan, Power) in
Ladakh and announced BSP (Bijali, Sadak and Pani) on 15<sup>th</sup> August.
Modi also announced that from October 2014 he would ensure Sochalayas (Toilets)
in every household, but failed to tell in the absence of water how his dreams
will be realised? He has also pronounced that the Planning Commission of India,
a constitutional body would be replaced by a more effective body like China has
‘Reform and Development Commission’, without the necessity to have a debate over
it in parliament. Hence, this would eliminate the prospective allocation of
resources and multiplier effect on various sectors and its review mechanism,
thereby no accountability. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Modi
in International Irena <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It appears Modi has merely
been engaged in a public relations exercise rather than chalking out a concrete
plan to eradicate corruption, unemployment, and fight inflation & poverty.
Thus far steps that his government has taken via budgetary instrument as oppose
to a long term economic program appears to be counterproductive. For example, his announcement for 100% FDI in
defence sector and 49% in insurance and divestment to limit public sector may
help realizing efficiency with increase in output in short-run but at the cost
of meeting the increase in employment as why any foreign investor would be
increase in employment in India? Those who have a bit of knowledge of economics
would realise that growth and efficiency is not the end of the world. If one examines a relationship between output
and efficiency it would show that in the long run more output would mean
increase in inflation with almost negligible impact on the efficiency. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Home Performance:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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It is an interesting act, but
falls short of reflecting the aspiration of Indian people due to superfluous
analysis. Before elected as PM Modi promise Good days ahead to for people
namely; creating jobs, bringing black money home which will put 1.5 million
rupees in each citizen's account, bringing inflation down, and poverty
alleviation. Although election manifestos have always been as a document of
promise and not delivery unfortunately people being betrayed by past government
have taken Modi's words on their face value.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjP7I9uzEnOcIwFb0zoViXpE7n0A4B5XLSJ7j37uBTBNdAiNJbCu9p4uKhU2axhSBu-BWnrxRf3mVCqg9CTzuFsreq8I8YvUb6b52YVCcOE4DqXGO3zm-F7E0qyXOxZo9hqDASbtghyMk/s1600/BPL-Line2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjP7I9uzEnOcIwFb0zoViXpE7n0A4B5XLSJ7j37uBTBNdAiNJbCu9p4uKhU2axhSBu-BWnrxRf3mVCqg9CTzuFsreq8I8YvUb6b52YVCcOE4DqXGO3zm-F7E0qyXOxZo9hqDASbtghyMk/s200/BPL-Line2014.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
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The author of the article is
looking at Modi's performance from a neo-classical economics angle that is
failure to carry out the reforms necessary for growth and therefore by
implication benefiting everyone what Modi describe as 'Sab Ka Vikas San Ke
Saath' (Development of every one with everyone). There is nothing new in this concept, in fact
Gandhiji was first to take about 'Greatest good of all'. This idea, though appears novel, it lacks
sound theoretical understanding of economics. Neo-classical theory of growth
does not have any theory of distribution. It completely relies upon the
percolation effect or trickle down mechanism. History of economics institutions
has witnessed and rejected such theory. In fact, even most of the Western and
North American economists do not subscribe such an outdated theory. However,
some of these very economists and their satellite economists like Bhagwati and
Panagariya continue to advocate such theories to India and developing economies
so that the West & N American continues to use o stabilize their own
economies. </div>
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Since Modi for his failure to
deliver on the above promises has come under a lot of pressure both from the
Right and most from the Left and now has become defensive on his own promises
and said in his first rally in Mathura at the eve of one year,
"Entrepreneurs and corporate (capitalists) can’t create jobs"! This is very alarming statement which out off
many pro Modi entrepreneurs into pessimism. Rather than 'ACHHE DIN AGAYE' (Good
days have come) he talks about 'Bure Din have Gone' (bad days have gone). This
leaves the impression of 'half glass is empty rather than filled'. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1h7hTxXfpK6EhY5zjneGjwHhOBxt_tKdsYxefEJlLnurQO_BsbW9e7L1LsX4h_twezq2dVGYHLF5wac1p6_iAmF0x3F3LBRuCs2cx61loMA_mmOt7PyZnh9TllRJzZSo2ZegX2M-iwM/s1600/Bullet+train.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1h7hTxXfpK6EhY5zjneGjwHhOBxt_tKdsYxefEJlLnurQO_BsbW9e7L1LsX4h_twezq2dVGYHLF5wac1p6_iAmF0x3F3LBRuCs2cx61loMA_mmOt7PyZnh9TllRJzZSo2ZegX2M-iwM/s200/Bullet+train.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: justify;">Now look at the performance in
terms of some indicators for April 2014 to May 2015: (i) Inflation WPI to some
extent even CPI being low from 9.3% to 4.9%, but main credit goes to low fuel
prices but prices of common man daily food, pulses or lentils have gone up by
40%. (ii) It is claimed that current account deficit has gown down from 3.9 to 1.6% but again that is also due to
lower fuel bill, (iii) Employment growth 0.28 to 0.3% has been the same as it
was a year ago, (iv) GDP growth 7.5% claimed to have surpassed China is false
claim as base year has changed so after adjustment it is 5% as it was year ago, (v) Trade deficit down to 137
crores also due to exchange rate low fuel prices, (vi) in spite of Modi' tour
of 18 countries financial inflow dropped from 4.29% to 1.76%, (vii) claims has
been made that 30000 crores profit from coal auction but that is over 30 years
when full potential is realized realised,
(viii) creation of Smart cities for whom as unless people have income thy would
turn out to be ghost house as some of did in China 1990s, (ix) bullet trains rather
than more trains for common man is a misleading priority, (x) as to 'Make in India' exports have fallen
down from 24% to -21.1% due to low demand, etc. As to various flagship programs they have
only been renamed and allocation to them have been slashed to a great deal. Of course, RSS and VHP agenda of communalization overshadowed the key economic issues facing common man in everyday's walk of life. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Hence, Modi has raised the
aspiration of the people but he has done very little to manage them by delivery
on the ground. He has provided the poor
farmers 'Soil Health Card', but there is no Health Card for the very people who
work on that soil. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Unless we adapt to concrete
reality by choosing alternative strategies as China did future of poor looks
extremely bleak. There is no substitute
to distributive growth as China has advanced since the 2008, US $950 billion
investment to deal with crises in three stages: (i) Infrastructure spending,
(ii) focus on rural areas to stimulate demand, and (iii) speeding up of
economic growth in new regions, generating housing demand leading up to
consumption led growth. This strategy made China a darling of both foreign
direct investment and portfolio investment suggesting while the global equity
markets were in turmoil, China has emerged as safe parking lot for the global
funds. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Last
year at the UN submit on environment famous TITANIC Movie star, Leonard
DiCaprio said, “I pretend for living I hope you do not”. Let Modi be his own judge or people should
judge him next time!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Prof S. Deman</div>
</div>
NewsViews on Racismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10777535390473104184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125715729992660819.post-88364645410918130142015-05-18T08:18:00.001-07:002016-08-12T17:14:29.540-07:00To be Marxist or to be communist, that is the question - Revisted<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xgZDASyWChIYbtNqvNsNz1y4x6T1-Tm-Vo6Qr2zmSxR8pcQI2HnTQqRsEgWG99lb0ggve2UZDofaJsVV6fC9N6G0Qhkh3DgxV7QwnBrgLa9reGbi3-dfKUdMwgJ2x5CzLalNmxkWcjc/s1600/o-SITARAM-YECHURY-facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xgZDASyWChIYbtNqvNsNz1y4x6T1-Tm-Vo6Qr2zmSxR8pcQI2HnTQqRsEgWG99lb0ggve2UZDofaJsVV6fC9N6G0Qhkh3DgxV7QwnBrgLa9reGbi3-dfKUdMwgJ2x5CzLalNmxkWcjc/s200/o-SITARAM-YECHURY-facebook.jpg" width="200" /></b></a></div>
<b>Recently, Times of India Columnist and retired professor of JNU Dipankar Gupta wrote an article following the alleviation of Sitaram Yechuri as the General Secretary of CPI(M), see: http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/toi-edit-page/sitaram-yechury-reloaded/</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Letter to the Editor – Times of India 2015-04-26, “</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">To be Marxist or to
be communist, that is the question”.</span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Dear Editor: <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>I enjoyed reading
Dipanker Gupta’s article in which he very eloquently puts top CPM leadership in
the dock. However, his analysis appears as abstract and disconnected as the
CPM’s tactic with common man since it supported Congress led UPA I government
in 2004. As a keen student of Marxism
and having taught for 35 years across 4 continents even I had some difficulty
in fully grasping the point the author has advanced in his article. Perhaps he
could have made it a bit more understandable to a wider readership. Keeping in view above limitation, I wish to
address the main thrust of his article. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>While making a
distinction between Marxist and Communist he attacks CPM’s top leadership who
had adopted an orthodox rather than dynamic scientific approach in interpreting
and applying Marxism to socio-economic reality in India. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Marxism is an economic
and political philosophy driven by materialist view of history and social
reality. A Marxist is he who not only shares that view but also advances
it. As Marx wrote in the <u>Poverty of Philosophy-</u> in
response to Proudhon’s <u>Philosophy of
Poverty as follows:</u> <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">"The philosophers have only interpreted the world in
various ways—the point however is to change it" (Karl Marx</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">). </span> </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Marx famously puts Hegel "on his head" by arguing that man has
the capacity to determine history by his actions. In this way, Marx thinks that
it is possible for philosophy to change the world if it is oriented towards the
possibility of action, rather than simply interpretation or theory.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Hence, s<span style="background: white;">imply understanding the world is not
enough because you shouldn't perceive the world and everything in it as a
static and transcending time, but as a constantly changing set of relationships
and the nexus between them that are governed by proclivities but also are
capable to stray through "random" events or conscious interventions
of the masses. The History drives itself in a deterministic way, but also
conscious intervention is possible and sometimes required. The whole point of
the above phrase is that we need to understand which way history CAN go and
consciously chose the most positive scenario as your political strategy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>On the other hand, a Communist is an actor of the Communist Party which
represents the tangible consciousness of a class (mainly the working class) to
realise desired objectives: (i) at first stage establishment of a socialist
states which eventually wither away to reach the (ii) ultimate goal of
communism. A casual reading of the Communist Manifesto makes it unequivocally
clear that class struggle is the backbone of that path, but other tactics are
not completely ruled out. However, since Marx was a product of industrial
revolution, at the relevant time, classes like Bourgeois and Proletariat were
by and large clearly crystallised and the antagonistic contradiction was the
main focus of organising the working class against the bourgeois, but
non-antagonistic contradictions issues such as education and health which were
of concern for a vast majority of people as the author pointed out in the
Communist Manifesto part 2) were not completely ruled out. In fact, a well
known Marxist (some called her a feminist) Kollantai said that the women
question cannot be resolved even under
socialism, a transitional stage to communism. Following the passing of
equality bill in the Parliament in 2010 the ideological enemies Sushma Swaraj
of BJB and Brinda Karat of CPM embraced the victory publicly with a huge HUG.
No one knew except this writer who wrote, “I wonder what are they celebrating,
an introduction to love or death”. Even
after 150 years the orthodox communists continued to beat the same drums,
“Punjiwad to Aag Laga Do”, i.e., Death to Capitalism. However, capitalism has changed its face
(form) much faster than its worst enemies the communists, but no doubt it has
not changed its nature (essence). <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>The above rhetoric is incompatible with the new theory of industrial
organisation propounded under the umbrella of Neo-classical economics. The
structure of ownership has drastically changed since 1960s from sole ownership
& partnerships to loosely held corporations owned by millions regardless of
size of their stakes. The new theory separates the owners (shareholders) from
the control (managers). In all, but small organizations social choice takes
place by way of delegation of power from many to a few called the agents
(managers) who may or may not have stake in the corporations. 20<sup>th</sup> Congress of the CPM revealed
that even many leaders of the Party held shares in the corporations and also
spend more time play in speculative activities rather than in party work.
Hence, actors of the communist party labour more to preserve the status-quo
than engaging in the party activities to overthrow the bourgeois as pledged in
their Manifestos. So one wonders how
traditional slogan of “Death to Capitalism” helps here as many of the common
owners would turn against the working class! This is a real dilemma CPM faces
today. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>The author correctly identifies lack of revolutionary fervour in
SitaramYechuri’s speech which had no reference to either the “Class Struggle”
or even “Operation Barga”, a very important achievement of Joyti Basu’s LDF
government although it was too much to expect given his petty bourgeois
socio-economic background. Guy has no mass base and has risen to the highest
office in supposedly a proletarian party without shading a drop of sweat, a
scratch in scuffle with police and spending a night in a prison cell in any
fight for Peoples’ Democratic Revolution.
How could anyone expect from him otherwise? <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As to Sitaram’s reference
to US President Roosevelt’s New Deal Policy there is no harm in highlighting
the issue raised by him in his 1936 speech in support of General Motors’
workers. One could get a flavour from an American movie </span><u>Capitalism A Love Story by Moore </u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">made
in 2010 following the worldwide crises of capitalism in 2008, <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The film then shows the events
leading up to the </span></b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_U.S._election" title="2008 U.S. election"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2008
U.S. election</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,
where branding of </span></b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitalism" title="Capitalism"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">capitalism</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> as </span></b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism" title="Socialism"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">socialism</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> occurs as part of the scare
campaign. Moore expressing hope that the election of </span></b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama" title="Barack Obama"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Barack Obama</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> might turn things into the right
track. The film then contrasts the present economic reality in America with the
policy of US president </span></b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_D._Roosevelt" title="Franklin D. Roosevelt"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Franklin
D. Roosevelt</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,
who supported the </span></b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flint_Sit-Down_Strike" title="Flint Sit-Down Strike"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Flint
Sit-Down Strike</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
in 1936. Moore also includes a long-lost archival footage of FDR calling for a </span></b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Bill_of_Rights" title="Second Bill of Rights"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Second
Bill of Rights</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
that would guarantee all Americans "a useful job, a decent home, adequate
health care, and a good education."</span></b><b><sup><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitalism_A_Love_Story#cite_note-HuffPoA-1">[</a></span></sup></b><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<b><sup><br /></sup></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Although the idea is
novel to deal with the non-antagonistic issues which sound better than many
social programs CPM has taken in Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura, how far it
would be possible to provide all the above to all citizens in a capitalist
society? <o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>I agree with the author that a real Marxist is
he who is willing to adopt new tactics in changing environment. However, to say
that the Class Struggle is dysfunctional in a democracy is contrary to example
of Latin American experience and the spirit of the Communist Manifesto on which
the author relies. In fact, abandonment of the class struggle and CPM’s
failure to capitalize on its achievements on land reforms, delivery on social
indicators, and support to Congress led hotchpotch government in 2004 gave
an impression to common man that the CPM
was no longer a party that once stood on the principle of class struggle and socialism. After the
split of CPI in 1964 I wonder how the author could characterize Ajay Bhawan as
a symbol of class struggle or revolution!!
<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Author appears to be
correct about Yechuri who opposed not only withdrawal of support to UPA I, but
he also opposed expulsion of Somnath Chatterjee. In fact, his love is not yet
lost for Congress when he appeared trigger happy to march behind Sonia Gandhi
to hand in a petition on Land Acquisition Bill. Needles to mention it also
became evident when he told Burkha Dutt of NDTV in a Town Hall meeting with the
students of Stephen College just a
couple of weeks before the Parliament elections, “I wanted Mrs Sonia Gandhi to
be Prime Minister in 2004”. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>“To
be Marxist or to be communist, that is the question”? I believe these terms are complimentary
rather than mutually exclusive and intrinsic to Marxism, but Yechuri does not
seem to fit in with either!! Given the
conduct of JNUine Marxists young generation realise, “Thanks God we are not Marxists”!!<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.8pt; margin-bottom: 12.8pt; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><b>Prof
Suresh Deman<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><b>London<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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NewsViews on Racismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10777535390473104184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125715729992660819.post-86928687709659782262015-04-28T05:05:00.003-07:002015-04-28T14:09:09.205-07:00EARTHQUAKE & FREE MARKET ECONOMY<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Himalayan Earth Quake of the Century: Free Market
Flourishes!</span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPBEQLmgYTRp49H2DbTGWCUf6NhM9jmAn2V1hIJFOOUvjkTelLbY-P3QjsKszTUbHOW7pMWbPkKfgKDlgHXpIg4jYMxAtedfRtno_OFvNxYO7Rer_i0sD6qsn7j0vd6NlcektoBHW-UU/s1600/earthquake5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPBEQLmgYTRp49H2DbTGWCUf6NhM9jmAn2V1hIJFOOUvjkTelLbY-P3QjsKszTUbHOW7pMWbPkKfgKDlgHXpIg4jYMxAtedfRtno_OFvNxYO7Rer_i0sD6qsn7j0vd6NlcektoBHW-UU/s1600/earthquake5.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></u></b></div>
<b><u><o:p></o:p></u></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Last Saturday Nepal was struck by
one of the most powerful Himalayan earthquake since 1934 casing worst disaster.
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333;">More than 5000 deaths have been
confirmed, and the death toll is expected to rise. </span>The intensity of
quake estimated at 7.8 Richter scale impacted North-East India resulting in 75
deaths so far and injured many. <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333;">The
quake struck about 50 miles northwest of Katmandu in an area that the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>U.S. Geological Survey<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333;">calls one of the most seismically
hazardous regions on Earth. It was felt as far away as<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Lahore, Pakistan<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333;">;<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Lhasa,
Tibet<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333;">; and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Dhaka, Bangladesh<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333;">. Multiple aftershocks, including one
registered at magnitude-6.7, followed.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1g5AVINFmz16kfUHUAd2-z2KBY5sEt0-XotJ4AJfM_LlMU5JLL4v3qkM3d4IZgbsX19FhTnz8MBoGRLcSjwA4LTiACTX_5l_-sutKjkFaJsgEJCKU4Z4rfO4uQgD3zbKwa4va70j1UUI/s1600/earthquake4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1g5AVINFmz16kfUHUAd2-z2KBY5sEt0-XotJ4AJfM_LlMU5JLL4v3qkM3d4IZgbsX19FhTnz8MBoGRLcSjwA4LTiACTX_5l_-sutKjkFaJsgEJCKU4Z4rfO4uQgD3zbKwa4va70j1UUI/s1600/earthquake4.JPG" height="140" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Although government is
non-existent in Nepal its Prime Minister said deaths toll may over 10,000. E<span style="color: #333333;">arthquake rocked
mountainous Nepal and major aftershocks continued to rock the buildings and
historical sites. <span style="background: white;">At least 18 mountaineers were
killed and dozens more were injured on<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span>Mount
Everest<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333;">, where the quake triggered
an avalanche. Dozens if not hundreds remain trapped under mounds of rubble. The
nation's capital of Kathmandu was particularly hard hit affecting over 8
million people across the country left with no supply of even drinking water
and essential food<b>. </b>Rescue efforts launched from China, India, Oxfam and other
countries have arrived in Kathmandu, but the rescue workers found no government
support even for supplying water. In
fact, rather than the government coming to help it sitting like a lame duck let
the hoarders and marketers to escalate the prices of common goods to double in
market. Plight of victims of quake combined with economic hardship shows
Capitalism has no heart, it knows only profits. Had the government come forward
to coordinate distribution of overseas supply of food, medicine and cloths
prices would not have rise to all time high.
All the international help is pouring, but there are concerns if it
would be enough where over 1 million children are worst affected. </span></span></div>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDmKgLuxWZ14-mUK-a9L99jXHIAu_BqTuyDoQJHkGzaxvyPjBoRdu3rKrZoYyto27pMsFGHUIxv9_tMenZ108TgrYRGZW6mPqDPrBGYF_VuNAukCNpoG59hkrL39THErZpAPMh_vNT44/s1600/earthquake1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDmKgLuxWZ14-mUK-a9L99jXHIAu_BqTuyDoQJHkGzaxvyPjBoRdu3rKrZoYyto27pMsFGHUIxv9_tMenZ108TgrYRGZW6mPqDPrBGYF_VuNAukCNpoG59hkrL39THErZpAPMh_vNT44/s1600/earthquake1.jpg" height="140" width="200" /></a></b></div>
<b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Although
on a<span class="apple-converted-space"> major plate boundary </span>with a
history of large- to great-sized earthquakes, large earthquakes in this area
are rare in the documented historical era. Over the past century, just four
events of magnitude-6.0 or larger have occurred within about 150 miles of
Saturday's earthquake, but Geologists say<span class="apple-converted-space">
Eurasian plate push under the Indian plate causing severe impact.</span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSyWdirHgFE7EGJVM5keNhmWznF2kZvxxpHeAOMun3qc0CVR63VzTbsTA4JROlBC3H7z_7tHWLHM-2Vu1pJR7VoB6aV9-QfkI7SEjAOqtYcT42SD8Fxlhr93sgd0vQzS11oob5qRz2dc/s1600/earthquake3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSyWdirHgFE7EGJVM5keNhmWznF2kZvxxpHeAOMun3qc0CVR63VzTbsTA4JROlBC3H7z_7tHWLHM-2Vu1pJR7VoB6aV9-QfkI7SEjAOqtYcT42SD8Fxlhr93sgd0vQzS11oob5qRz2dc/s1600/earthquake3.jpg" height="140" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-size: 11pt;">A number of buildings collapsed instantaneously in the
epicentre of the capital, the ancient Old Kathmandu, including centuries-old
temples and towers. Among them was the Dharahara Tower, one of Katmandu's
landmarks built by Nepal's rulers in the 1800s, a UNESCO-recognized historical
monument. It was reduced to rubble and there were reports of people trapped
underneath and rescue mission halted due to fear of collapse of cracked
buildings with domino effect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
quake will definitely likely put a huge strain on the resources of Nepal, a
poor country best known for Everest. The nation is highly dependent on tourism.
More avalanches are likely on Everest<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and
it's unclear how those stranded on the mountain will be evacuated to safely
although choppers so far have recued many although weather condition makes it
very difficult. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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NewsViews on Racismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10777535390473104184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125715729992660819.post-70972758340217108382015-02-10T14:53:00.002-08:002015-04-28T14:03:46.611-07:00Children of Ghaza!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Plight of Children's of Ghaza<br />
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Omsyatte, 12, in pink, and her family at the grave of her brother, Ibrahim, who was one of the 1,400 Palestinian victims of the 2008 Israeli military offensive against Gaza. </div>
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Omsyatte adjusts her green school uniform and climbs gingerly on to a desk at the front of the classroom. The shy 12-year-old holds up a brightly coloured picture and begins to explain to her classmates what she has drawn. It is a scene played out in schools all over the world, but for one striking difference: Omsyatte's picture does not illustrate a recent family holiday, or jolly school outing, but the day an Israeli military offensive killed her nine-year-old brother and destroyed her home. </div>
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"Here is where they shot my brother Ibrahim, God bless his soul. And here is the F16 plane that threw rockets into the house and trees, and here is the tank that started to shoot," she says, to a round of applause from the other children. The exercise is designed to help the pupils at the school come to terms with the warfare that has dominated their short lives; particularly the horrors of the 2008 Israeli military offensive Operation Cast Lead, which killed 1,400 Palestinians, and destroyed one in eight homes. </div>
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Like hundreds of displaced Gazans, Omsyatte's family have spent more than a year living in a tent on a site near their home. Little rebuilding work has been done during this time – with supplies unable to pass into Gaza because of the ongoing blockade imposed by Israel in 2007 – and groups of children now pick their way through piles of rubble, kicking footballs around the bombsites which used to be local landmarks.</div>
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Homelessness is just one of the issues facing the 780,000 Gazan children in the aftermath of the conflict, problems that are explored in a revealing new documentary Dispatches: Children of Gaza, to be screened tomorrow at 8pm on Channel 4. Perhaps the most disturbing of these is the emotional scars borne by children who have survived the conflict; the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme reports that the majority of children show signs of anxiety, depression and behavioural problems.</div>
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Small boys build toy rockets out of drinks bottles, and talk about the fake guns they are going to buy with their pocket money. While boys the world over are preoccupied with fighting and weapons, this takes on a more sinister significance when the game isn't Cowboys vs Indians, but Jews vs Arabs, and the children's make-believe warfare is chillingly realistic. </div>
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These games may reflect the children's desire for revenge against their neighbours, of which many speak openly. "I think we are seeing a growing desire for violence, and it saddens me," said Jezza Neumann, the Bafta-winning director of the programme. "If they could get revenge legally, or saw someone saying sorry, then perhaps they could come to terms with it, but there has been no recourse. What you're seeing now may only be the tip of the iceberg."</div>
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Mahmoud, 12, describes the day Israeli soldiers knocked on the door and shot his father dead, lying down in the dirt where his father fell in a heartbreaking reconstruction, and describes the enormous changes it wrought upon him. "Before the war, I was thinking about education, but after I started thinking about becoming a fighter," he says, his thickly lashed brown eyes staring straight into the camera. "God willing, if I can kill one Israeli it will be better than nothing." </div>
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Desperate to avenge his father's death, Mahmoud is encouraged by his uncle Ahmed, a member of the terrorist group Islamic Jihad. Sitting Mahmoud down in front of a martyrdom film, Ahmed says, "Look how he doesn't feel a thing when he is detonated" as a suicide bomber dies. Just a few hundred yards from the family's home is a training camp for Gaza's fighters – both Hamas and Islamic Jihad – where young men carrying rocket launchers are clearly visible. </div>
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While Mahmoud is desperate for revenge, his mother weeps when she considers the possibility that he may become a martyr. "It is an honour to die in the name of Allah, but I don't want to lose my son," she said. </div>
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Some believe that with Israel's tight restrictions on movement blocking conventional career options for the 1.1 million people who live there, children may feel they have no choice but to join resistance movements. Last week Palestinians in the Gaza Strip lit 1,000 candles and held a peaceful protest to mark 1,000 days of the Israeli blockade. During this time, unemployment has risen to 45 per cent, with 76 per cent of households now living in poverty.</div>
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"The children are struggling with the idea of the future," Mr Neumann said. "Many graduates in Gaza are unemployed, and they can't see a way forward because they can't get out." </div>
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Families have been fractured by the conflict, with many parents racked by guilt because they couldn't protect their children from the violence, and now cannot provide for them in the aftermath. Sitting in the tent which is now their home, Omsyatte's father weeps as he talks of his regret over the death of his son Ibrahim. </div>
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"The Israelis killed my son while he was in my arms, and I could do nothing to protect him," he says, tears streaming down his face. "I couldn't even look at him when he was taking his last breaths of life, because the soldiers were right above my head. I was too much of a coward to even hug my son. I was afraid that they would kill me. These things torment me."</div>
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Dr Ahmed Abu Tawanheena, the director of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme, says this issue is also affecting children in Gaza. "They have lost their parents twice: first, during the conflict, when they saw their parents terrified and unable to protect them from the violence. Now, under the blockade, they see their parents are still unable to provide for their basic needs, such </div>
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as shelter or food," he said. "It's a crisis which is threatening families and communities across the Gaza Strip."</div>
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For some, this crisis has had a devastating impact on family relationships, with mental health professionals and NGOs linking a rise in domestic violence with these feelings of guilt and impotence. A study by the Palestinian Women's Information and Media Centre (PWIC) in March 2009 found that 77 per cent of women in the Gaza Strip are exposed to domestic violence, while a survey by the UN Development Fund for Women (Unifem) also indicated that violence against women increased during periods of heavy conflict. </div>
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Many children are suffering the physical effects of the conflict. One of these is Mahmoud's nine-year-old sister Amal. Trapped under the rubble of her home – which was destroyed by Israeli shells – for four days before she was rescued, Amal was left with shrapnel lodged in her brain. Plagued by headaches and nosebleeds, and unable to get the medical care she needs in Gaza, Amal is lucky enough to be granted papers which allow her to travel to nearby Tel Aviv to be examined by a specialist. However, her experiences have left her so scared of Israelis that she doesn't want to go. </div>
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Crouching over a colouring book, her curly brown hair held back with pretty hair bands, she explained: "I'm scared to go to Israel. From the Jews. I'm frightened they might kill me."</div>
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Many of the children in Gaza's Shefa hospital do not have the option of leaving the strip, and the prognosis for children in the oncology ward is bleak. Chemotherapy is not available in Gaza, and many of the children on the ward have not been granted the papers they need to seek the treatment readily available to Palestinians just across the Israeli and Egyptian borders. One of these children is 10-year-old Ribhye, crippled by advanced leukaemia and unable to leave Gaza. His distraught father, sitting in a hospital room devoid of the equipment and medicine his son so desperately needs, is devastated not to have been granted leave to take Ribhye out of Gaza. "How do I get out? This border is closed, that border is closed. What do I do?" he asked. </div>
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"The mortality rate for cancer in Gaza is much higher than elsewhere," said Steve Sosebee, president of the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund. "You have to get a permit if you want to cross into Gaza and most of them are not granted. A lot of kids are dying as a result of the decisions being made by the people in charge, whether Hamas, the Egyptian government, the Israeli government."</div>
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Even the parents who have papers allowing their children to leave don't fare much better. Eight-year-old leukaemia sufferer Wissam was granted permission to cross into Egypt for treatment, but has been waiting for weeks for the border crossing to be opened. After being told that he would finally be allowed through after sitting at the border for hours, the coach full of hospital patients was turned away, and had to make the long drive back to the Nasser hospital. Wissam's father desperately tried to find out from hospital officials why the coach was turned back. "Every day the child stays here is a danger to his life," he said, his words echoing the thoughts of so many Palestinian parents.</div>
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NewsViews on Racismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10777535390473104184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125715729992660819.post-64406858152122059902014-08-07T13:08:00.000-07:002015-02-10T14:50:26.770-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAvLcQ51ZhNXLAFQvTmb2sucXh-kTAJGykMAMAFTTzG_EuRRPKqk8_Rke4tNNYnwaXcmLvcrgJxVtSWqROOqvO2eU0k7942CszMiKMRPdPJbsXVyrZ1-r6x-v_XmbidKNTRyVB5Z9QmU/s1600/270793_463428807021949_1228910772_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAvLcQ51ZhNXLAFQvTmb2sucXh-kTAJGykMAMAFTTzG_EuRRPKqk8_Rke4tNNYnwaXcmLvcrgJxVtSWqROOqvO2eU0k7942CszMiKMRPdPJbsXVyrZ1-r6x-v_XmbidKNTRyVB5Z9QmU/s1600/270793_463428807021949_1228910772_n.jpg" height="200" width="193" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">At least child appears above BPL!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>NewsViews-RaceClass</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: xx-small;">A VOICE OF THE LEAST , LAST, AND THE</span><span style="color: red; font-size: xx-small;"> LOST</span><br />
<b style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">PO Box 17517, London SE9 2JD</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Mobile:+4<span class="skype_pnh_print_container_1348601558">47525857351 </span><span class="skype_pnh_container" dir="ltr" tabindex="-1"><span class="skype_pnh_highlighting_inactive_common" dir="ltr" skypeaction="skype_dropdown" title="Click to make a low cost call with Skype"><span class="skype_pnh_dropart_span" skypeaction="skype_dropdown" title="Skype actions"> </span></span></span></b></span><br />
<b style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">+<span class="skype_pnh_container" dir="ltr" tabindex="-1"><span class="skype_pnh_highlighting_inactive_common" dir="ltr" skypeaction="skype_dropdown" title="Click to make a low cost call with Skype"><span class="skype_pnh_textarea_span"><span class="skype_pnh_text_span">919983748677</span></span><span class="skype_pnh_right_span"> </span></span></span>(India),</b><br />
<b style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="skype_pnh_container" dir="ltr" tabindex="-1"><span class="skype_pnh_highlighting_inactive_common" dir="ltr" skypeaction="skype_dropdown" title="Click to make a low cost call with Skype"><span class="skype_pnh_dropart_span" skypeaction="skype_dropdown" title="Skype actions">+44 20 88 </span><span class="skype_pnh_textarea_span"><span class="skype_pnh_text_span">594657</span></span><span class="skype_pnh_right_span"> </span></span></span>(UK)</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><b></b></span><span style="color: blue;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>__________________________________________________________</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"></span></strong> <span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">IS
GITA </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">COMPATIBLE</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;"> WITH MODERN TIMES?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: red;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLaan17lk1-i3B4KMQ5yT_zLkZRW-8_khmXQn6baoHXph7zRjVSYosN-OyGdseZVTx6OI17EpBcWvYNPTXQTLRozH7WQwkYYs7j_oUNRpZ9s7QXP5eq346q8Ig9L0IK9RB55w6muGpBs/s1600/Marx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLaan17lk1-i3B4KMQ5yT_zLkZRW-8_khmXQn6baoHXph7zRjVSYosN-OyGdseZVTx6OI17EpBcWvYNPTXQTLRozH7WQwkYYs7j_oUNRpZ9s7QXP5eq346q8Ig9L0IK9RB55w6muGpBs/s1600/Marx.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKr86qQjxw_k-EclxO31rXNYgr0OdoxVRqBVm8T-hYgzu4iJQGHgAf1oxXmKFONQLyi_1cMY54yER8GscmtBTHtzYWvpkLetiolwPz2b48o-mHaxztcKYyhql0-XQIoNRKeYkkMR2wGQ/s1600/Mahabharat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKr86qQjxw_k-EclxO31rXNYgr0OdoxVRqBVm8T-hYgzu4iJQGHgAf1oxXmKFONQLyi_1cMY54yER8GscmtBTHtzYWvpkLetiolwPz2b48o-mHaxztcKYyhql0-XQIoNRKeYkkMR2wGQ/s1600/Mahabharat.jpg" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Positive
Jurisprudence assumes that Judges must be above board and refrain themselves
expressing their personal views at public places. As a well-known saying goes,
"Justice is not only done but must be seen to be done", However, Justice
Dave's above statement clearly mirrors his mind set and leaves an independent
observer wondering how he has decided cases in his court? Clearly Justice Dave
appears to be predisposed and must quit.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">Everyone suffers
his/her own prejudices so do so do I being an atheist.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">For the last few months on and off I have
been watching latest version of Mahabharata on Star Plus TV. Although I do not
keep a track of all the versions but to the best of my knowledge this is the
third version of Mahabharata on Indian TV. I have an additional advantage of
watching a French version of the Mahabharata in three parts (each 90 minutes on
old Cassettes) subtitled in English which Peterbrooke, a well known French
Director directed bit in 1988. Initially, it was staged live in Paris and London
and then it came on the TV. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">I was in at
Australian National University at that time and I still go the three cassettes
but now I do not have a TV to insert those old cassettes as everything in CDs.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">In any event, to date I consider that is the marvelous
piece. </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: black;">At
the very outset let me clarify that unlike the Krishna Conscience people
(better known as Hare Krishna) I do not take Mahabharata as real event, rather I
take it more as a pedagogical.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">Before I
am ambushed by both the Hindu fundamentalists and Marxists I am commenting with
a caveat that I am not trying to discover dialectics in Gita like late CPI
Leader AP Dange or his son-in-Law Deshpande nor do I claim an expertise on
Hindu epics.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: black;">I
note that the script writer and the Director have done slightly better job than
the previous Hindi/Sanskritize versions. Although there is always a long story
to tell I am going comment on the issues which I could identify as relevant and
found of great interest in the serial. However, before I comment on the
relevant issues in Mahabharata let me look into the historical perspective.
Tale is like this, “Yada yada hi dhramshya glani hi bhavti bharat...” And a
Dude called Krishna appeared from somewhere and for me being an atheist from
nowhere to put the society in order and establiGita sh Dharma, a just society
in which ‘Rule of Law’ would prevail.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black;">
</span></span><span style="color: black;">Krishna’s role was more of a match referee, of course as usual some bias
to oversee the war so that the justice could prevail.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">He would not rule out, if it becomes necessary,
to use the force to establish a new order. Now step back for a moment and look
at the plight of common man, in particular working class, during the industrial
revolution in Europe. Longer working hours up to18 hours’ day, children and
women working to derive their subsistence and children at the age of 14 drafted
as there was no law on minimum wages let alone having any labour laws to
protect them. Perhaps, it was worst than what it was prevailing then and Pandavas
were subjected to by their cousins and their people in post Vedic era. There
was another Dude called Karl Marx who was born, not from somewhere or nowhere,
but he was a product of material condition of that time and called for working
class around the world, not locally but globally, to unit and fight and even
use force, if it becomes necessary, to establish a just society what is now
known as Socialism to Communism. </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: black;">My
comments are as follows:</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="color: black;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: black;">Definition
of Religion: </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: black;">First
of let us be clear unlike the publicly held view that Gita is a religious book,
it is guide to way of life as to how to conduct yourself in a civil society. Krishna
defines religion with five ingredients, namely; knowledge, justice, love,
generosity and tolerance. This is quite different from the biblical definition
of religion. However, such an order cannot be maintained without a constant
struggle, so I added one more ingredient i.e., struggle which is an integral
part of other human development. </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: black;">2.</span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: black;">Male-Female
Friendship or Comradeship:</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: black;">In
modern India, in spite of rhetoric, particularly ‘the middle class’ does not
accept male-female friendship or looks at it very suspiciously. Krishna, though
Lord, breaks this backward Parampara, i.e., tradition and addressed Draupdi (collective
property of Pandavas) as a Sakhi, basically that’s mean a friend. This becomes
clear from Krishna's dialogue with his friend Draupdi (Punchali) which in my
view even today RSS/BJP/VHP/SMGPS guys would not accept. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">Though Draupdi suffered great deal and had
anguish agst Kauravas she was petrified with war and its dire consequences, a
lot of destruction on either side Kauravas and Pandavas and wanted to avoid the
calamity so she explored with Krishna, if peace was a possibility? Krishna
rejected her proposition right away and said war is inevitable to establish
Dharma, therefore, though the choice is binary, but not between the war and
peace, but it is between the more struggles or less struggle. Hence, struggle
is an integral part of life for social development which sounds like dialectics.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: black;">3.
ARJUN’S NERVOUSNESS AND APATHY TO WAR: </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: black;">When
Arjun saw Kauravas and Pandavas’s armies standing in front of each other ready to
kill, he got nervous and became reluctant to wage a war against his own
cousins, Guru Drauna, Grand Father Bhishma and others. Krishna said to his Dude
Arjun, "All traditions are based on religion, but every tradition is not
religion". Hence, there is nothing wrong fighting against the bed
traditions and against the traditions that are incompatible with the Dharma (religion)
as defined above. </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: black;">4.
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">IS PURITY OF MEANS NECESSARY?</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: black;">Perhaps
everyone is aware of Mahatma Gandhi’s emphasis on the purity of means therefore
he advocated the principles of non-violence. He did not hesitate to condemn even
freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh Azad, Subhash Chand Bose, Communists, etc.,
who employed violent methods not to kill but to scare British Raj. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">However, Krishna rejected the theory of
nonviolence to realise the just order. He tells his Dude Arjun that to
establish Dharma, a just society with all the ingredients outlined above, there
is nothing wrong in employing unjust means like violence, deceits, lies, tricks,
and even retreat (i.e., one step backward to go two step forward) because in
order to create a new order (Nave Nirman) the old traditions must be completely
destroyed, In fact, the catastrophe is the cause of new creation. Sounds like
Krishna’s Biblical Communist Manifesto. In this regard, he justified the
collateral damages saying not to worry about the falling leaves or growing new
leaves, but to worry about the roots and the stem of the tree as ultimately the
outcome of war for Dharma (justice) will determine the means (that is end
justifies the means, a typical Marxist argument). Krishna calls for Arjun to
take up his bow and battle against injustice. </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: black;">5.
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Laissez Faire v Altruism </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: black;">Krishna
also asked Arjun to stop thinking in self-interest i.e., about cousins,
Grandfather, Guru and his own family and guided him to direct his entire energy
and mind in the interest of the greater good in the whole world, thereby he suggested
that he must prefer altruism over laissez faire principles. He said to Dude,
"Old teaching of Vedas based on deeds (work) and capabilities has been
reduced to only words. In fact, just principles of Vedic society have been
replaced by outdated and unjust traditions of birth, inheritance and power. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">Hence, there was nothing wrong to destroy the
old ideas, customs, habits and religion (injustices) with violence to serve the
greatest good of the greatest number.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black;">
</span></span><span style="color: black;">Sounds like Mao’s Cultural Revolution! </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: black;">6.
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">VIOLENCE V NONVIOLENCE</span></span></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: black;">Last
but not the least, after killing everyone except Duryodhana, Krishna calls for
nonviolence (Ahimsha) as the right path to follow which shocked everyone in
Pandavas camp. Naturally, this prompted his best Dude Arjun to ask Krishna,
then why so much violence was necessary? Krishna’s telling response was amazing
when he said, "Nonviolence is not a mean, but it is an end, as if one
follows nonviolent means under the Adharma Rule (in an unjust society), then it may
be construed as a cowardly act and could be suppressed by use of unjust power. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">Krishna also told him that without pay back in
blood no one would realize the value of true “Dharma”.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".3r.1:3:1:$comment10201700659517510_10201710781970565:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".3r.1:3:1:$comment10201700659517510_10201710781970565:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0" style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-reactid=".3r.1:3:1:$comment10201700659517510_10201710781970565:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.0"><span data-reactid=".3r.1:3:1:$comment10201700659517510_10201710781970565:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$0:0">Mahabharata serial which is now over, to complete the lessons to be drawn, I would like to add a few points: At the conclusion, after killing all Kaurvas and finally Aswasthama killing all sons of Pandavas except </span></span><span data-reactid=".3r.1:3:1:$comment10201700659517510_10201710781970565:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".3r.1:3:1:$comment10201700659517510_10201710781970565:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".3r.1:3:1:$comment10201700659517510_10201710781970565:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$0:0">Krishna's miracle against the divine weapon to kill Abhmanyu's wife Uttra and her child in her womb....Draupdi asked Krishana why it was necessary to kill so many people and shade so much blood? Why he couldn't do all this with his miracle? His telling response was, "No miracle is substitute for sacrifice that is needed for realization of value of justice and without paying the price in blood it would not be possible to establish the Rule of Law - if it is done on mercy means giving up on pursharth...The he goes on freedom in a just society, he says, "Freedom does not allow you to use your wisdom rather it makes people self-centered and follow the King, evil and his sycophant who commits injustices!!</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: black;">There is some force in this line of thinking
as hardly anyone realizes the value of independence and freedom that way Gandhi
got for India. Hence, a violent death to unjust rule is not only necessary but
it is inevitable as nonviolent path could not be maintained in the absence of
just and equitable society. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: black;">By
the way who could disagree with such preaching as it appears close to what was
being suggested in French Revolution and latter in a more organized way in the
Communist Manifest and Mao De Tung use many teachings of Confucius and
translated them into his own for greater good.....hahahah.. However, no
BJP/RSS/VHP person or Justice Dave would agree with this proposition!!!!<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Prof. Suresh Deman, London</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
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</span></span></div>
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NewsViews on Racismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10777535390473104184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125715729992660819.post-37757563962081210232011-10-21T17:30:00.000-07:002011-10-23T07:37:21.159-07:00Key Conferences in India<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;">APPLICATION OF GAME THEORY</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;">International Conference to Honour Prof CR Rao</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: large;">: </span> Meeting of Great Minds<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKrM9zmX4H3_DXkLvX4n3tt8U5w14XDwngzWF27og17XqljSg_fxcYcCN282amBJcj5W0b6PHkWyb3k8X3wQMpo9RPrl-w43Agc6emCrbEiLXjg3hfpzbaWSghwVVzuQEwrjanVf-bfs/s1600/_MG_0034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKrM9zmX4H3_DXkLvX4n3tt8U5w14XDwngzWF27og17XqljSg_fxcYcCN282amBJcj5W0b6PHkWyb3k8X3wQMpo9RPrl-w43Agc6emCrbEiLXjg3hfpzbaWSghwVVzuQEwrjanVf-bfs/s200/_MG_0034.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjnWq39R4ZeoIiJ_U2MRsD97QbG92Z5rXu1D8-Hab4lcguNHt_m9eaD0eWawG5YMI7vrHBlTRlheBKUcVTzdLw_dIGri65O8y5Mbec6hKEiHDBaFdeZmqlIgMv_oiOObg4kDfmc3Funo/s1600/Rao%252BNash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjnWq39R4ZeoIiJ_U2MRsD97QbG92Z5rXu1D8-Hab4lcguNHt_m9eaD0eWawG5YMI7vrHBlTRlheBKUcVTzdLw_dIGri65O8y5Mbec6hKEiHDBaFdeZmqlIgMv_oiOObg4kDfmc3Funo/s1600/Rao%252BNash.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Application of Game theory to Policies and Decisions 12-14 December 2011, Convention Centre Merriot Hotel, Hyderabad. Also a Seminar at CU Raj on 15 December 2011.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://gametheorysociety.org/conferences/">http://gametheorysociety.org/conferences/</a>, </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">h<a href="http://www.econ.ucdavis.edu/faculty/bonanno/Hyderabad.pdf">ttp://www.econ.ucdavis.edu/faculty/bonanno/Hyderabad.pdf</a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal">Game theory Workshop/Conference at ISI Chennai, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13px;"><b style="background-color: #6fa8dc;">Conference: 5-7 January 2012, and also to attend the Workshop, 3-4 January 2012).</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 13px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 13px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; line-height: 13px;"><b>INTERNATIONAL EVEN OF SEMINAR AT IIC, New Delhi</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 13px;"><b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 13px;"><b>Priyadarshani-Secretary Guru-Alpana</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAQsLLfWDb0Du4eKx8WwRC575pMzmpMghnmjNVmniS_XoebVweGlXw-634N5DgeYUy-l68sknq49rK6UyDDauhBqb_megCiRYoOmAZzxBSTNQoPCphmzNNaAWay1w_8fGgiP68chK7WU/s1600/Alpana2010%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAQsLLfWDb0Du4eKx8WwRC575pMzmpMghnmjNVmniS_XoebVweGlXw-634N5DgeYUy-l68sknq49rK6UyDDauhBqb_megCiRYoOmAZzxBSTNQoPCphmzNNaAWay1w_8fGgiP68chK7WU/s1600/Alpana2010%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3Yi6jNhj4412stwnoIa9Sb9aaotZQsNmVj3YnVKyJ4KKVPsfK_n9PZllt0-Z878QnXeVazjlhyphenhyphen1V1yTwCIvm6DeWhfx73JFdJ1PBEJhyphenhyphenD9FZkWSM3V-pk5KDE4OHMQbSyvm9chXzPik/s1600/Sambhav2011-Priya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3Yi6jNhj4412stwnoIa9Sb9aaotZQsNmVj3YnVKyJ4KKVPsfK_n9PZllt0-Z878QnXeVazjlhyphenhyphen1V1yTwCIvm6DeWhfx73JFdJ1PBEJhyphenhyphenD9FZkWSM3V-pk5KDE4OHMQbSyvm9chXzPik/s1600/Sambhav2011-Priya.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1319237005090242"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1319237005090239"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1319237005090236" style="background-color: #6fa8dc; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Participation in SAMBHAV 2011, an International Event of Seminar, Exhibition and Performing Art for Physically and Mentally Challenged Persons 11-14 November 2011 (http://www.alpana.in). Also see:</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #6fa8dc;">Guru Alpana performed at at Presidential Place </span><br />
<a href="http://newsviews-raceclass.blogspot.com/2011/05/shambhav-cause-for-action.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #6fa8dc; color: black;">http://newsviews-raceclass.blogspot.com/2011/05/shambhav-cause-for-action.html</span></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #ed8042; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">22<sup>nd</sup> Annual Conference of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ed8042; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">The International Environmetrics Society</span><br />
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<tr><td valign="top" width="1000em"><span style="color: orange;"><b style="color: #ed8042; font-weight: bold;">Jointly Organized by:</b></span><br />
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<tr><td><img height="60" src="http://www.ties2012.com/images/logo.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" width="60" /></td><td align="top">CRRAO AIMSCS,<br />
UOH Campus<br />
Gachibowli Hyderabad India </td><td><img height="60" src="http://www.ties2012.com/uohlogo1.jpeg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" width="60" /></td><td valign="top">University of Hyderabad<br />
Gachibowli, Hyderabad<br />
India</td></tr>
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<b style="color: #ed8042; font-weight: bold;">In Association with</b><br />
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<tr><td><img height="40" src="http://www.ties2012.com/images/isilogo.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" width="50" /></td><td><span style="color: blue;"> INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL INSTITUTE</span></td></tr>
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Workshop 1-2<sup>nd</sup> Jan 2012, Conference 3-6<sup>th</sup> Jan 2012<br />
<b style="color: #ed8042; font-weight: bold;">Theme:<br />
Environmental Challenges facing developed and developing countries in a Globalized World: Quantitative approaches to Comprehensive Solutions</b></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Indian Econometrics Society Meeting to host its Annual Conference on 9-11 Jan 2012 Punducherry: Prof Biswajit Chatterjee takes over as its New President. Special Guest Lecture to Honour </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Late Suresh Tendulker </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Mrs Suresh Tendulker Invited </span><br />
<a href="http://tiesindia.net/call_for_papers2.htm">http://tiesindia.net/call_for_papers2.htm</a><br />
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</div>NewsViews on Racismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10777535390473104184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125715729992660819.post-77794057657472534452011-10-10T16:47:00.000-07:002011-10-10T16:47:19.666-07:00Stimulus Without Letting Double Entry<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Book-keeping Taketh It Away - Fear of Double Dip Recession</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: left;" valign="top" width="30%"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aV2qZ1wrLicPiGd7kTy7BKRnP0ZgYegwZRVK6-g2_8dujnPBdqKOF3GTw-WIryT51gAwgNHRqTf8WNodlN7kDc_f161J-GAACQdtP6A2g2gLfqT09c-so7waeUPUwOaw2S4jhHHixwk/s1600/HDV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aV2qZ1wrLicPiGd7kTy7BKRnP0ZgYegwZRVK6-g2_8dujnPBdqKOF3GTw-WIryT51gAwgNHRqTf8WNodlN7kDc_f161J-GAACQdtP6A2g2gLfqT09c-so7waeUPUwOaw2S4jhHHixwk/s200/HDV.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="TextAboutAuthor" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify;">HD Vinod is a professor of economics and director of the Institute for Ethics and Economic Policy at Fordham University, New York. He received his Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University, has worked at Bell Laboratories for many years, and has been an expert witness in major antitrust trials. He has published over a hundred articles in top journals in econometrics and statistics, including <i>Econometrica</i>, <i>Journal of Econometrics</i>, <i>Journal of the American Statistical Association</i>,<i>Management Science</i>, <i>American Economic Review</i>, <i>Review of Economics and Statistics</i>,<i>International Economic Review</i>,<i>Journal of Economic Literature</i>,<i>Journal of Business</i>, and <i>Journal of Advertising Research</i>. He has edited special issues and refereed many journals. In 1992 he was elected Vice-President of Indian Econometrics Society and edited a special issue of JQE on CR Rao's Contribution to Economertrics. In 1996, he was named a fellow of the <i>Journal of Econometrics</i>. Maharashtra Foundation honored him for outstanding social service in 1998. Vinod coauthored a 1981 research monograph on regression methods and a 2005 Wiley monograph, "Preparing for the worst: Incorporating downside risk in stock market investing." He co-edited volume 11 of the <i>Handbook of Statistics</i> with C. R. Rao, the famous statistician. Vinod manages a worldwide anti-corruption project described at: <a href="http://www.fordham.edu/economics/vinod/" style="color: #cc0000;">www.fordham.edu/economics/vinod</a>.</div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Double entry book-keeping (DEBK) is responsible for failures of both monetary and fiscal policies in both America and Japan, trapped by the zero lower bound (ZLB) on interest rates, or the liquidity trap. This essay is based on my academic paper available at:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"> <a href="http://hq.ssrn.com/GroupProcesses/RedirectClick.cfm?partid=139267&corid=36&runid=-1&url=http://ssrn.com/abstract=1916361" id="yui_3_2_0_1_131828970067788" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3a65bb; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://ssrn.com/abstract=1916361</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">. I show that, under DEBK, whatever stimulus the government give it also take away." Hence we need a single entry net stimulus explained below.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">DEBK, invented by Venice merchants in the 13th century, requires that every stimulus dollar from a tax cut or government spending (credit entry giveth) is matched by a dollar of `debit' entry (taketh away). American public and businesses correctly worry that any debit entry leading to new debt will have to be serviced," with the added burden of interest payments in the future. In the absence of any net stimulus, many US corporations are holding huge cash reserves, some of it abroad, but they do not spend it by hiring people.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Since interest rates cannot go below zero, the monetary policy has no ammunition to ght recessions and get out of the ZLB trap. Bank of Japan (BOJ) invented quantitative easing, which was copied by the Federal Reserve (Fed) as QE1 and QE2. This increases the money supply by rejiggering holdings of Treasury securities to reduce the short-term interest rates. QE stimulus increases the money supply (giveth), but the public knows that DEBK will eventually take it away, by having to decrease money supply at a later date, dollar for dollar.<br />
In short, sophisticated market participants know that DEBK means there can be no net stimulus, even if hundreds of billions of dollars are involved in tax cuts, government spending or QE.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Since about 1990, Japan has been mired in near-zero economic growth hurting the world economic growth. The twenty plus years of sad experience of BOJ proves that any stimulus within the con nes of DEBK is no net stimulus at all. We have shown why it does not and cannot work.<br />
Instead of increasing domestic demand, Japan exported her problems to the US, while maintaining high domestic employment. Until recently, American consumers willingly participated by spending binges which provided an engine for world growth. Inevitably, the spending and importing binges have created serious imbalances. More recently, China has joined her Asian neighbor by pursuing export-driven high domestic employment, while ignoring the imbalances arising from artificially propping up the US dollar. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Recently published minutes of the August 9 meeting of Fed bankers shows rare dissent and a clear sense of helplessness. However, no one seems to recognize that DEBK is the real culprit. Once we understand the enemy, our solution must suspend the DEBK and create a net stimulus by spending and tax cuts of, say one trillion dollars. Since DEBK is not in the US Constitution, it can and should be disobeyed. Decades long Japan-style permanent recession is too high a price to pay for a mere nicety.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If President Obama and Ben Bernanke jointly announce a single entry net stimulus, it will be a bold move, somewhat similar to Nixon's cancellation in 1971 of direct convertibility of the United States dollar to gold. Nixon had a short drama of wage and price controls to sell his unilateral cancellation of Bretton Woods. Obama and Bernanke would need to convince that the net stimulus will cure the imbalances. That is, US consumers will save more and import less, while reducing mismanagement, waste and conflicts of interest" in several key sectors.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Among macroeconomic problems, President Carter faced high inflation and stagnation. It needed the then Fed chairman Paul Volcker to impose 20% per year federal funds rate in June 1981 to break the back of inflationary expectations. By comparison, my net stimulus is almost painless. It will cause some devaluation of the dollar creating angry creditors (China, Japan, etc) and hurt sectors that depend on imports. It will also encourage rising gold prices, and price inflation in the US. This is a small price to reduce unemployment and get the US economy growing again.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My net stimulus solution would have been and still remains mostly painless for Mr. Noda of Japan. The pain of depreciation in the value of Yen is exactly what Japan has wanted all along. Instead, Mr. Noda promises</div><div style="text-align: justify;">cutting the Japanese spending and debt, decidedly wrong policies.</div><br />
</div>NewsViews on Racismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10777535390473104184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125715729992660819.post-41604730363547703002011-09-11T16:39:00.000-07:002011-09-11T16:39:25.482-07:009/11 and the Imperial Mentality<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
<div class="node-header" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="node-title" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h2 class="title" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 23.4px; line-height: 23.4px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 19px;">Looking Back on 9/11 a Decade Later</span></h2></div><div class="author" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13.8px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 4px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">by <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/noam-chomsky" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #005588; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Noam Chomsky</a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0ZWrEocbhQsAXE4Ew9Ag7HEwj9d1-wa7GErUFUJOk4sbFN0AZQRsgZMBOMMXCd5sDMLDmMKBIhAEa3qfWymtrcGpFjdpgyh-Ak_Tt57728m3oL9Qv0SgYE05qvSwM32TZCkahdfPdC4/s1600/chomsky_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0ZWrEocbhQsAXE4Ew9Ag7HEwj9d1-wa7GErUFUJOk4sbFN0AZQRsgZMBOMMXCd5sDMLDmMKBIhAEa3qfWymtrcGpFjdpgyh-Ak_Tt57728m3oL9Qv0SgYE05qvSwM32TZCkahdfPdC4/s200/chomsky_0.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><div class="author" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13.8px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 4px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">We are approaching the 10th anniversary of the horrendous atrocities of September 11, 2001, which, it is commonly held, changed the world. On May 1st, the presumed mastermind of the crime, Osama bin Laden, was assassinated in Pakistan by a team of elite US commandos, Navy SEALs, after he was captured, unarmed and undefended, in Operation Geronimo.<span></span></span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><div class="node-content clear-block prose" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="node-body" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1609803434?ie=UTF8&tag=commondreams-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1609803434" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #005588; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="image-right" height="280" src="http://www.commondreams.org/sites/commondreams.org/files/imce-images/chomsky_911.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; display: block; float: right; height: 280px; margin-left: 15px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 7px; text-align: justify; width: 183px;" width="183" /></a></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">A number of analysts have observed that although bin Laden was finally killed, he won some major successes in his war against the U.S. "He repeatedly asserted that the only way to drive the U.S. from the Muslim world and defeat its satraps was by drawing Americans into a series of small but expensive wars that would ultimately bankrupt them," Eric Margolis writes. "'Bleeding the U.S.,' in his words." The United States, first under George W. Bush and then Barack Obama, rushed right into bin Laden’s trap... Grotesquely overblown military outlays and debt addiction... may be the most pernicious legacy of the man who thought he could defeat the United States” -- particularly when the debt is being cynically exploited by the far right, with the collusion of the Democrat establishment, to undermine what remains of social programs, public education, unions, and, in general, remaining barriers to corporate tyranny.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">That Washington was bent on fulfilling bin Laden’s fervent wishes was evident at once. As discussed in my book <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">9-11</em>, written shortly after those attacks occurred, anyone with knowledge of the region could recognize “that a massive assault on a Muslim population would be the answer to the prayers of bin Laden and his associates, and would lead the U.S. and its allies into a ‘diabolical trap,’ as the French foreign minister put it.” </div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">The senior CIA analyst responsible for tracking Osama bin Laden from 1996, Michael Scheuer, wrote shortly after that “bin Laden has been precise in telling America the reasons he is waging war on us. [He] is out to drastically alter U.S. and Western policies toward the Islamic world,” and largely succeeded: “U.S. forces and policies are completing the radicalization of the Islamic world, something Osama bin Laden has been trying to do with substantial but incomplete success since the early 1990s. As a result, I think it is fair to conclude that the United States of America remains bin Laden’s only indispensable ally.” And arguably remains so, even after his death.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="" name="more" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #005588; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></a></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The First 9/11</strong></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Was there an alternative? There is every likelihood that the Jihadi movement, much of it highly critical of bin Laden, could have been split and undermined after 9/11. The “crime against humanity,” as it was rightly called, could have been approached as a crime, with an international operation to apprehend the likely suspects. That was recognized at the time, but no such idea was even considered.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">In <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">9-11</em>, I quoted Robert Fisk’s conclusion that the “horrendous crime” of 9/11 was committed with “wickedness and awesome cruelty,” an accurate judgment. It is useful to bear in mind that the crimes could have been even worse. Suppose, for example, that the attack had gone as far as bombing the White House, killing the president, imposing a brutal military dictatorship that killed thousands and tortured tens of thousands while establishing an international terror center that helped impose similar torture-and-terror states elsewhere and carried out an international assassination campaign; and as an extra fillip, brought in a team of economists -- call them “the Kandahar boys” -- who quickly drove the economy into one of the worst depressions in its history. That, plainly, would have been a lot worse than 9/11.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Unfortunately, it is not a thought experiment. It happened. The only inaccuracy in this brief account is that the numbers should be multiplied by 25 to yield per capita equivalents, the appropriate measure. I am, of course, referring to what in Latin America is often called “the first 9/11”: September 11, 1973, when the U.S. succeeded in its intensive efforts to overthrow the democratic government of Salvador Allende in Chile with a military coup that placed General Pinochet’s brutal regime in office. The goal, in the words of the Nixon administration, was to kill the “virus” that might encourage all those “foreigners [who] are out to screw us” to take over their own resources and in other ways to pursue an intolerable policy of independent development. In the background was the conclusion of the National Security Council that, if the US could not control Latin America, it could not expect “to achieve a successful order elsewhere in the world.”</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">The first 9/11, unlike the second, did not change the world. It was “nothing of very great consequence,” as Henry Kissinger assured his boss a few days later.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">These events of little consequence were not limited to the military coup that destroyed Chilean democracy and set in motion the horror story that followed. The first 9/11 was just one act in a drama which began in 1962, when John F. Kennedy shifted the mission of the Latin American military from “hemispheric defense” -- an anachronistic holdover from World War II -- to “internal security,” a concept with a chilling interpretation in U.S.-dominated Latin American circles.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">In the recently published Cambridge University <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">History of the Cold War</em>, Latin American scholar John Coatsworth writes that from that time to “the Soviet collapse in 1990, the numbers of political prisoners, torture victims, and executions of non-violent political dissenters in Latin America vastly exceeded those in the Soviet Union and its East European satellites,” including many religious martyrs and mass slaughter as well, always supported or initiated in Washington. The last major violent act was the brutal murder of six leading Latin American intellectuals, Jesuit priests, a few days after the Berlin Wall fell. The perpetrators were an elite Salvadorean battalion, which had already left a shocking trail of blood, fresh from renewed training at the JFK School of Special Warfare, acting on direct orders of the high command of the U.S. client state.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">The consequences of this hemispheric plague still, of course, reverberate.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">From Kidnapping and Torture to Assassination</strong></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">All of this, and much more like it, is dismissed as of little consequence, and forgotten. Those whose mission is to rule the world enjoy a more comforting picture, articulated well enough in the current issue of the prestigious (and valuable) journal of the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">. </em>The lead article discusses “the visionary international order” of the “second half of the twentieth century” marked by “the universalization of an American vision of commercial prosperity.” There is something to that account, but it does not quite convey the perception of those at the wrong end of the guns.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">The same is true of the assassination of Osama bin Laden, which brings to an end at least a phase in the “war on terror” re-declared by President George W. Bush on the second 9/11. Let us turn to a few thoughts on that event and its significance.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">On May 1, 2011, Osama bin Laden was killed in his virtually unprotected compound by a raiding mission of 79 Navy SEALs, who entered Pakistan by helicopter. After many lurid stories were provided by the government and withdrawn, official reports made it increasingly clear that the operation was a planned assassination, multiply violating elementary norms of international law, beginning with the invasion itself.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">There appears to have been no attempt to apprehend the unarmed victim, as presumably could have been done by 79 commandos facing no opposition -- except, they report, from his wife, also unarmed, whom they shot in self-defense when she “lunged” at them, according to the White House.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">A plausible reconstruction of the events is provided by veteran Middle East correspondent Yochi Dreazen and colleagues in the <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Atlantic</em>. Dreazen, formerly the military correspondent for the <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wall Street Journal</em>, is senior correspondent for the National Journal Group covering military affairs and national security. According to their investigation, White House planning appears not to have considered the option of capturing bin Laden alive: “The administration had made clear to the military's clandestine Joint Special Operations Command that it wanted bin Laden dead, according to a senior U.S. official with knowledge of the discussions. A high-ranking military officer briefed on the assault said the SEALs knew their mission was not to take him alive.”</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">The authors add: “For many at the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency who had spent nearly a decade hunting bin Laden, killing the militant was a necessary and justified act of vengeance.” Furthermore, “capturing bin Laden alive would have also presented the administration with an array of nettlesome legal and political challenges.” Better, then, to assassinate him, dumping his body into the sea without the autopsy considered essential after a killing -- an act that predictably provoked both anger and skepticism in much of the Muslim world.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">As the <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Atlantic </em>inquiry observes, “The decision to kill bin Laden outright was the clearest illustration to date of a little-noticed aspect of the Obama administration's counterterror policy. The Bush administration captured thousands of suspected militants and sent them to detention camps in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Guantanamo Bay. The Obama administration, by contrast, has focused on eliminating individual terrorists rather than attempting to take them alive.” That is one significant difference between Bush and Obama. The authors quote former West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, who “told German TV that the U.S. raid was ‘quite clearly a violation of international law’ and that bin Laden should have been detained and put on trial,” contrasting Schmidt with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who “defended the decision to kill bin Laden although he didn't pose an immediate threat to the Navy SEALs, telling a House panel... that the assault had been ‘lawful, legitimate and appropriate in every way.’"</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">The disposal of the body without autopsy was also criticized by allies. The highly regarded British barrister Geoffrey Robertson, who supported the intervention and opposed the execution largely on pragmatic grounds, nevertheless described Obama’s claim that “justice was done” as an “absurdity” that should have been obvious to a former professor of constitutional law. Pakistan law “requires a colonial inquest on violent death, and international human rights law insists that the ‘right to life’ mandates an inquiry whenever violent death occurs from government or police action. The U.S. is therefore under a duty to hold an inquiry that will satisfy the world as to the true circumstances of this killing.”</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Robertson usefully reminds us that “[i]t was not always thus. When the time came to consider the fate of men much more steeped in wickedness than Osama bin Laden -- the Nazi leadership -- the British government wanted them hanged within six hours of capture. President Truman demurred, citing the conclusion of Justice Robert Jackson that summary execution ‘would not sit easily on the American conscience or be remembered by our children with pride... the only course is to determine the innocence or guilt of the accused after a hearing as dispassionate as the times will permit and upon a record that will leave our reasons and motives clear.’”</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Eric Margolis comments that “Washington has never made public the evidence of its claim that Osama bin Laden was behind the 9/11 attacks,” presumably one reason why “polls show that fully a third of American respondents believe that the U.S. government and/or Israel were behind 9/11,” while in the Muslim world skepticism is much higher. “An open trial in the U.S. or at the Hague would have exposed these claims to the light of day,” he continues, a practical reason why Washington should have followed the law.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">In societies that profess some respect for law, suspects are apprehended and brought to fair trial. I stress “suspects.” In June 2002, FBI head Robert Mueller, in what the <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Washington Post</em> described as “among his most detailed public comments on the origins of the attacks,” could say only that “investigators believe the idea of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon came from al Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan, the actual plotting was done in Germany, and the financing came through the United Arab Emirates from sources in Afghanistan.”</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">What the FBI believed and thought in June 2002 they didn’t know eight months earlier, when Washington dismissed tentative offers by the Taliban (how serious, we do not know) to permit a trial of bin Laden if they were presented with evidence. Thus, it is not true, as President Obama claimed in his White House statement after bin Laden’s death, that “[w]e quickly learned that the 9/11 attacks were carried out by al-Qaeda.”</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">There has never been any reason to doubt what the FBI believed in mid-2002, but that leaves us far from the proof of guilt required in civilized societies -- and whatever the evidence might be, it does not warrant murdering a suspect who could, it seems, have been easily apprehended and brought to trial. Much the same is true of evidence provided since. Thus, the 9/11 Commission provided extensive circumstantial evidence of bin Laden’s role in 9/11, based primarily on what it had been told about confessions by prisoners in Guantanamo. It is doubtful that much of that would hold up in an independent court, considering the ways confessions were elicited. But in any event, the conclusions of a congressionally authorized investigation, however convincing one finds them, plainly fall short of a sentence by a credible court, which is what shifts the category of the accused from suspect to convicted.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">There is much talk of bin Laden's “confession,” but that was a boast, not a confession, with as much credibility as my “confession” that I won the Boston marathon. The boast tells us a lot about his character, but nothing about his responsibility for what he regarded as a great achievement, for which he wanted to take credit.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Again, all of this is, transparently, quite independent of one’s judgments about his responsibility, which seemed clear immediately, even before the FBI inquiry, and still does.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Crimes of Aggression</strong></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">It is worth adding that bin Laden’s responsibility was recognized in much of the Muslim world, and condemned. One significant example is the distinguished Lebanese cleric Sheikh Fadlallah, greatly respected by Hizbollah and Shia groups generally, outside Lebanon as well. He had some experience with assassinations. He had been targeted for assassination: by a truck bomb outside a mosque, in a CIA-organized operation in 1985. He escaped, but 80 others were killed, mostly women and girls as they left the mosque -- one of those innumerable crimes that do not enter the annals of terror because of the fallacy of “wrong agency.” Sheikh Fadlallah sharply condemned the 9/11 attacks.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">One of the leading specialists on the Jihadi movement, Fawaz Gerges, suggests that the movement might have been split at that time had the U.S. exploited the opportunity instead of mobilizing the movement, particularly by the attack on Iraq, a great boon to bin Laden, which led to a sharp increase in terror, as intelligence agencies had anticipated. At the Chilcot hearings investigating the background to the invasion of Iraq, for example, the former head of Britain’s domestic intelligence agency MI5 testified that both British and U.S. intelligence were aware that Saddam posed no serious threat, that the invasion was likely to increase terror, and that the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan had radicalized parts of a generation of Muslims who saw the military actions as an “attack on Islam.” As is often the case, security was not a high priority for state action.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">It might be instructive to ask ourselves how we would be reacting if Iraqi commandos had landed at George W. Bush's compound, assassinated him, and dumped his body in the Atlantic (after proper burial rites, of course). Uncontroversially, he was not a “suspect” but the “decider” who gave the orders to invade Iraq -- that is, to commit the “supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole” for which Nazi criminals were hanged: the hundreds of thousands of deaths, millions of refugees, destruction of much of the country and its national heritage, and the murderous sectarian conflict that has now spread to the rest of the region. Equally uncontroversially, these crimes vastly exceed anything attributed to bin Laden.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">To say that all of this is uncontroversial, as it is, is not to imply that it is not denied. The existence of flat earthers does not change the fact that, uncontroversially, the earth is not flat. Similarly, it is uncontroversial that Stalin and Hitler were responsible for horrendous crimes, though loyalists deny it. All of this should, again, be too obvious for comment, and would be, except in an atmosphere of hysteria so extreme that it blocks rational thought.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Similarly, it is uncontroversial that Bush and associates did commit the “supreme international crime” -- the crime of aggression. That crime was defined clearly enough by Justice Robert Jackson, Chief of Counsel for the United States at Nuremberg. An “aggressor,” Jackson proposed to the Tribunal in his opening statement, is a state that is the first to commit such actions as “[i]nvasion of its armed forces, with or without a declaration of war, of the territory of another State ….” No one, even the most extreme supporter of the aggression, denies that Bush and associates did just that.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">We might also do well to recall Jackson’s eloquent words at Nuremberg on the principle of universality: “If certain acts in violation of treaties are crimes, they are crimes whether the United States does them or whether Germany does them, and we are not prepared to lay down a rule of criminal conduct against others which we would not be willing to have invoked against us.”</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">It is also clear that announced intentions are irrelevant, even if they are truly believed. Internal records reveal that Japanese fascists apparently did believe that, by ravaging China, they were laboring to turn it into an “earthly paradise.” And although it may be difficult to imagine, it is conceivable that Bush and company believed they were protecting the world from destruction by Saddam’s nuclear weapons. All irrelevant, though ardent loyalists on all sides may try to convince themselves otherwise.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">We are left with two choices: either Bush and associates are guilty of the “supreme international crime” including all the evils that follow, or else we declare that the Nuremberg proceedings were a farce and the allies were guilty of judicial murder.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Imperial Mentality and 9/11</strong></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">A few days before the bin Laden assassination, Orlando Bosch died peacefully in Florida, where he resided along with his accomplice Luis Posada Carriles and many other associates in international terrorism. After he was accused of dozens of terrorist crimes by the FBI, Bosch was granted a presidential pardon by Bush I over the objections of the Justice Department, which found the conclusion “inescapable that it would be prejudicial to the public interest for the United States to provide a safe haven for Bosch.” The coincidence of these deaths at once calls to mind the Bush II doctrine -- “already… a de facto rule of international relations,” according to the noted Harvard international relations specialist Graham Allison -- which revokes “the sovereignty of states that provide sanctuary to terrorists.”</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Allison refers to the pronouncement of Bush II, directed at the Taliban, that “those who harbor terrorists are as guilty as the terrorists themselves.” Such states, therefore, have lost their sovereignty and are fit targets for bombing and terror -- for example, the state that harbored Bosch and his associate. When Bush issued this new “de facto rule of international relations,” no one seemed to notice that he was calling for invasion and destruction of the U.S. and the murder of its criminal presidents.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">None of this is problematic, of course, if we reject Justice Jackson’s principle of universality, and adopt instead the principle that the U.S. is self-immunized against international law and conventions -- as, in fact, the government has frequently made very clear.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">It is also worth thinking about the name given to the bin Laden operation: Operation Geronimo. The imperial mentality is so profound that few seem able to perceive that the White House is glorifying bin Laden by calling him “Geronimo” -- the Apache Indian chief who led the courageous resistance to the invaders of Apache lands. </div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">The casual choice of the name is reminiscent of the ease with which we name our murder weapons after victims of our crimes: Apache, Blackhawk… We might react differently if the Luftwaffe had called its fighter planes “Jew” and “Gypsy.”</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">The examples mentioned would fall under the category of “American exceptionalism,” were it not for the fact that easy suppression of one’s own crimes is virtually ubiquitous among powerful states, at least those that are not defeated and forced to acknowledge reality.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Perhaps the assassination was perceived by the administration as an “act of vengeance,” as Robertson concludes. And perhaps the rejection of the legal option of a trial reflects a difference between the moral culture of 1945 and today, as he suggests. Whatever the motive was, it could hardly have been security. As in the case of the “supreme international crime” in Iraq, the bin Laden assassination is another illustration of the important fact that security is often not a high priority for state action, contrary to received doctrine.</div><div class="copyright-info" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">© 2011 Noam Chomsky</div></div></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #6fa8dc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">Newsviews is grateful to <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175436/tomgram%3A_noam_chomsky%2C_the_imperial_mentality_and_9_11/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tom Dispatch</a> fro sharing his blog with us (see:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175436/tomgram%3A_noam_chomsky%2C_the_imperial_mentality_and_9_11/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">TomDispatch.com</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">)</span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Prof. Noam Chomsky is Institute Professor (retired) at MIT. He is the author of many books and articles on international affairs and social-political issues, and a long-time participant in activist movements. His most recent books include: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1609803434?ie=UTF8&tag=commondreams-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1609803434" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">9-11: 10th Anniversary Edition</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0805082840?tag=commondreams-20/ref=nosim" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Failed States</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0805086714?tag=commondreams-20/ref=nosim" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">What We Say Goes</a> (with David Barsamian), <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0805076883?tag=commondreams-20/ref=nosim" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Hegemony or Survival</a>, and the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1595581898?tag=commondreams-20/ref=nosim" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Essential Chomsky</a>.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><div class="node-content clear-block prose" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="node-body" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="clearfix user-profile" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="author-wrapper" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; 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background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: left; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0pt; padding-right: 15px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div></div></div></div></span></div>NewsViews on Racismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10777535390473104184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125715729992660819.post-70261673061588430332011-08-31T16:45:00.000-07:002011-09-11T17:00:04.226-07:00Twelve days that Stared the Nation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: 19px; line-height: 21px;">Twelve days that Shook the Parliament</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzVTLxCwErGKOBHG8BQhl5nrfSCcw8OlNn3NLhg7EUVMJY-CpwzzjOapsr5FysLe4xgzQn65mzgxcUyGlzG3C9aKZYGI86uxog7qAw3j_pjiWL44j0-EM9vk1iDdXO7Oxq90BV1wVYvM/s1600/Anna-Fast-TwoGirls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzVTLxCwErGKOBHG8BQhl5nrfSCcw8OlNn3NLhg7EUVMJY-CpwzzjOapsr5FysLe4xgzQn65mzgxcUyGlzG3C9aKZYGI86uxog7qAw3j_pjiWL44j0-EM9vk1iDdXO7Oxq90BV1wVYvM/s200/Anna-Fast-TwoGirls.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Ikra , Simran Break Anna's Fast </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">People in India celebrated across the country as Anna Hazare ended his hunger strike on the 13th day with a sip of coconut water and honey on Sunday. His village Ralegaon-Siddhi joined the rest of the country in the joyous celebrations. The villagers supported Hazare through various forms of non-violent protests, sang and danced. Soon after Hazare broke his fast, supporters surged to the streets of major cities, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Allahabad, Lucknow, Bhopal, Jaipur and in the country side. In Jaipur, people named a market after his name. The unprecedented enthusiastic response of the people to Anna’s fast against the corruption has stared the nation and shaken the insensitive the Indian parliament reminded me of John Reed’s</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span><em><span style="color: black;">Ten Days that Shook the World</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">represents one of the 20th Century’s greatest political-literary achievements, being one of the first book length eye-witness accounts of the great Russian October Revolution. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Legacy of Independence<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13TVcKXSCpg65dhm9oU2HyEdtwZVDlKkwiDpjQwxjJTqxN19dn7Bm3v0pMft8bm5xqJpYe7RMqKQckBWteOmnxwIjxxi1EmGvOrO0QkfUHBS5PsaGm3oIrU26d0PGvZf4Vo2hw3cOcTg/s1600/Anna01-2011.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13TVcKXSCpg65dhm9oU2HyEdtwZVDlKkwiDpjQwxjJTqxN19dn7Bm3v0pMft8bm5xqJpYe7RMqKQckBWteOmnxwIjxxi1EmGvOrO0QkfUHBS5PsaGm3oIrU26d0PGvZf4Vo2hw3cOcTg/s200/Anna01-2011.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Anna Leads Young Generations</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">India saw end of British Raj on 15 August 1947 largely by nonviolence means. A Constitutional Assembly was elected to draft the Constitution which turned out to be a hybrid version of Western Countries’ system of governance; namely the Parliamentary Democracy and the Presidential form of governments. The Constitution was adopted on the 26 January 1950 and is celebrated as a Republic day every year. Although none of the founders of the Constitution lived long enough to rejoice their dreams of ‘tryst with dignity’ or new dream with so-called ‘growth story’ under changing face of Indian democracy from the slogan of socialism to neo- liberal crony capitalism that left India with corporate crimes and institutionalised corruption everywhere creating two Indias: Rich and Poor. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqeH4ByUnWW0lDoOaGv_y9Hw8_D-HMVK6QlZ5cGyOcRBnSrFzIeMQFCPuqJUl8VnXn3xd3uvHqX4SEPPVy90BaM6MidR5kr3Z2llaw8oj8dVrLYtMM5-w1iWMp4i_1F9vEmN3riszmds/s1600/Anna-LandProrest-jansatyagraha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="56" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqeH4ByUnWW0lDoOaGv_y9Hw8_D-HMVK6QlZ5cGyOcRBnSrFzIeMQFCPuqJUl8VnXn3xd3uvHqX4SEPPVy90BaM6MidR5kr3Z2llaw8oj8dVrLYtMM5-w1iWMp4i_1F9vEmN3riszmds/s320/Anna-LandProrest-jansatyagraha.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Mass Agitation Against Land Acquisition</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">In Anna’s language, “Kuch log khane ke liye jee rahe hei and kuch jine ke liye kha rahe hei” and “kuch logo kon yeh chinta ha wo kya khaynge or kuch log koyeh chinta he wo kya kya khyen”, i.e., “those who live just to eat and others who eat just to live”, i.e., “Rich have many choices so their problem is what to eat and the poor are striving where to how to get something to eat”. The objective conditions are ripe enough and under the circumstances one would have expected a Bolshevik kind of revolution. However, due to highly disappointing and negative role of the left and betraying by the right the spirit of the constitution exemplified in the directive principle of State Policy and other feature of the Constitution, ”We the people....”. Hence, the People have left with no viable alternatives. Hence, the focus of the discontentment has shifted from real economic issues to more general issues, such as corruption concerns common man in everyday’s walk of life.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJz0MkoKeNQlGKlyfObdWuV8dbHpUavWlTx2qaO6nIICzMoK_Y2AoTsCUQ9OGARPBt7PjOxW-9Dkk3pe5Crp8aB_NpCItgDfbb-rot8TfF-hPlr4_lmTONSWAXljkcclRWb1zeZZVGGk/s1600/Anna-FullTeam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="50" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJz0MkoKeNQlGKlyfObdWuV8dbHpUavWlTx2qaO6nIICzMoK_Y2AoTsCUQ9OGARPBt7PjOxW-9Dkk3pe5Crp8aB_NpCItgDfbb-rot8TfF-hPlr4_lmTONSWAXljkcclRWb1zeZZVGGk/s200/Anna-FullTeam.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Full Anna Team</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">The above scenario has created a political vacuum which started filling up by the social activists and NGOs which resulted in formation of the Civil Society to voice opinion on behalf of the public. Further, despite negative effect of the neo-liberal polices a few new things have emerged, such as enactment of the Right to Information Act, activation of the CAG and widespread use of social net working and mass media to expose a number of scams, for examples, G2, Congress on Mr Kalmandi, BJP in illegal mining, etc. These scams involved billions of dollars benefiting the politicians and bureaucracy combined with knowledge about existence of the parallel economy of black money highlighted the issue of corruption. Although all the political parties continued to provide lip service to people for more than 4 decades they took no steps to eliminate corruption let alone eradicating poverty, unemployment and black money. Our elected governments, both NDA and UPA formed with the support of right and left respectively let down the people of India. In fact, rather than addressing the common man’s problems some government started using force to suppress the growing popular agitations in the country side (</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://newsviews-raceclass.bogpsot.com/">http://newsviews-raceclass.bogpsot.com</a><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"> on the Supreme Court Decision on appointment of SPF by BJP Govt in Chhatishgarh). </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #00b0f0; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Preamble of the Constitution<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSnDfX1ADFk4k0QaE7aEjJoS-rkos7ukke8aa9ozZBoBD0v7gWvFCVCjHGg22qigU5WBz6WzRnGRQ26Ea9-Z8zQFIDBb9jylLIU2g3MVVnrwcqAoJm_OqHJoXc0nllpLuGsproqp7-Sg/s1600/Anna-NoLokpal-IfHonest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSnDfX1ADFk4k0QaE7aEjJoS-rkos7ukke8aa9ozZBoBD0v7gWvFCVCjHGg22qigU5WBz6WzRnGRQ26Ea9-Z8zQFIDBb9jylLIU2g3MVVnrwcqAoJm_OqHJoXc0nllpLuGsproqp7-Sg/s200/Anna-NoLokpal-IfHonest.jpg" width="156" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #6fa8dc;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Historically, main stream politicians whether left, right or centre never ever rejected the pledge in the Indian Constitution declaring India as a Socialist Republic. In fact until the 1980s everyone used feel proud of being progressive and ashamed of being branded as reactionaries or communal. However, since early 1990s with the inception of neo liberal policies by induction of Dr Manmohan Singh by late Narshima Rao, Prime-Minister of India, then he was, there has been dramatic shift in our foreign as well as domestic economic policies, departing from the goalpost of constructing a Socialist Republic set forth in the preamble of our constitution. This shift in policy created a great deal of wasted corporate interests, both at home and abroad due to foreign private investment. When Rao’s government got into trouble crises, it was a payback time for private interests and corporations as buying and selling of Parliamentarians commenced to make Mr Rao swim and his government survived. Although corruption has been around for a long time this was for the first time it surfaced and Rao was tried on corruption charges. Unfortunately, no lessons were learnt and under the neo-liberal policies a new middle-class developed in India which wanted to become rich overnight. The corruption grew in leaps and bounds and according to a conservative estimate, the size of black money increased from 27% to 43% since 1990s. In this context, </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Anna Hazare's name is being echoed all over India and he is being viewed as the crusader against corruption which is endemic in the society as India being on the list of one of the most corrupt countries in the world, ranks at No 70. </span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Corruption scams in</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #6fa8dc;"><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Topics/India" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">India</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #6fa8dc;">are shaking public confidence in the system suggesting that India may face some short-term upheavals as the issue continues to play out. Eventually, this is what happened. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Anna’s Act I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #00b0f0;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8o6YZFiA5s9vKcSWcX8jt0UYsj28yilNOdIKcjTIclxAYB5zHql056px4k1duSOKeq4XUuIhqLxib7G3kc16Ddzu_JxH3KgXDyuqkGCOAaG80VCBhiBO62TjIfUjz-JJxMFUS1USAdbU/s1600/Anna-Subvertign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8o6YZFiA5s9vKcSWcX8jt0UYsj28yilNOdIKcjTIclxAYB5zHql056px4k1duSOKeq4XUuIhqLxib7G3kc16Ddzu_JxH3KgXDyuqkGCOAaG80VCBhiBO62TjIfUjz-JJxMFUS1USAdbU/s200/Anna-Subvertign.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Anna Hazare age 74, a social activist with Army background who fought in Indo-Pak war in 1965 and 1971. </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">He hails from a small village near Puna and has achieved many milestones in his career. His mission did not stop there he turned into a Gandhian to bring about fundamental changes in the working of Indian democracy, corruption being one of them. In fact, A</span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">nna’s good track record against corruption led to resignation of four ministers in Maharasthra government. He was the first to start the campaign for RTI which became a reality in the State of Maharashtra in 2004. Of course, it spread in other parts of India and latter RTI was adopted in Parliament. Some describe Anna as Gandhian and he is perceived that way. However, he made it clear that if Gandhian methods did not work he would not rule out other methods of struggle pertinent to methods used by Chhatrapathi Shivaji. In Ganhian sense, he would turn his cheek one time, but if someone takes advantage of this generosity, he would not hesitate to defend himself (Gandhigiri in Munnabhai Lage Raho). </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Anna started his first step towards Jan Lokpal bill on 5th April 2011 in Jantar Mantar, Delhi, where he demanded enactment of an anti-corruption Janlokpal Bill to give wider powers to the Ombudsman by bringing judiciary, the Prime-Minister and lower bureaucracy within its ambit. His first innings of fast attracted a huge support of people from all walks of life. Four days after he launched a fast that caught the feelings across India, iconic Gandhian leader Anna Hazare declared "victory" when the Government accepted his demands of drafting a Lokpal. The drafting committee was formed and an official Lokpal bill was introduced in the Parliament which kept out the Prime-Minister, lower bureaucracy, MPs and the judiciary which were included in the Civil Society’s Jan Lokpal Bill. This raged Team Anna and he declared for a second term of fast to start from 16th August 2011, if the Jan Lokpal Bills was not passed. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwR-UovGVA6H-K_liwNAxsTi3g-qNcyZayiPP6e4-vmVZCtqDcC151pw7h_ZwNvbY9eAybnbFUvJgGuLJlt8DcsB_j3YhzhsUTwRWmJ5EgX60ChhuerqVLYRPeGEC4yYrgi6huJjPCVOY/s1600/Anna-Ramdeo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwR-UovGVA6H-K_liwNAxsTi3g-qNcyZayiPP6e4-vmVZCtqDcC151pw7h_ZwNvbY9eAybnbFUvJgGuLJlt8DcsB_j3YhzhsUTwRWmJ5EgX60ChhuerqVLYRPeGEC4yYrgi6huJjPCVOY/s200/Anna-Ramdeo.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Yoga Guru Ramdeo for Vindication</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Despite the forewarnings by Team Anna and many others UPA Government continued to ignore them. In the intervening period Yoga Guru Ram Deo set on hungers strike with huge support of his followers which was suppressed by surprised use of teargas and Lathi charge on the public. Inexperience Ramdeo Team could not handle the situation and movement collapsed. This gave UPA Govt over confidence and it felt that they could defeat Anna’s impending fast on 16 August too. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Theatrical Anna Act II <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvSd3rwZO3dbW6y4OjGX13Uw-BvotzJDwAPrLdg0JQBEsWfCqeXlbvn_wUekUmbUIEkl3w2h5ySHb7mDZdxi6IEAUQf8_AAbeKZ-tJ2oT1mDrjWpB_yHFFd5bXbx17MRXTTZ3Xl5Go1U/s1600/Anna-KiranBedi" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvSd3rwZO3dbW6y4OjGX13Uw-BvotzJDwAPrLdg0JQBEsWfCqeXlbvn_wUekUmbUIEkl3w2h5ySHb7mDZdxi6IEAUQf8_AAbeKZ-tJ2oT1mDrjWpB_yHFFd5bXbx17MRXTTZ3Xl5Go1U/s200/Anna-KiranBedi" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Kiran's Caricature</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">The second innings of Anna Hazare crusade against the corruption came with a twist as the Delhi Police denied him a Ram Lila ground for protest instead gave him Jaya Prakash Memorial Park for only 3 days and later arrested him on the premise of apprehension of breach of peace which sent fury all over the country as Anna’s supporters went protesting for his immediate release. He was taken in Tihar jail on a seven days remand. Thousands of people gathered outside the jail to support Anna Hazare and his team. Some actors of the State, like Kapil Sibal, Chidamberan and Sheila Dixit continued to engage in procedural rhetoric that this was a decision of the Delhi police and being a decision of a statutory body Anna team is free to challenge it in the Court. However, in view of mounting public pressure and protest soon Govt realized that judicial custody of Anna and his Team for 7 days with Mr Kalmandi, a corrupt govt nominee, has backfired. Stunned by the People Power, authorities declared him free but the fasting soldier-turned-activist refused to walk out of the jail until he was allowed to hold his hunger strike unfettered. Government officials, students, commuters, taxis, tempo drivers and bystanders everyone was supporting Hazare and finally he was freed on 19th April. His agitation against corruption was termed as “second freedom struggle" by Anna Team. The area was flooded with people shouting slogans, waving the tricolour flags and donning caps and clothes that read 'Me Anna Hazare’, ‘India Against Corruption', ‘Anna Nahi, Doosra Gandhi he’, ‘Inqlab Zindabad’, etc. The spacious Ramlila grounds in North Delhi emerged as the venue for Anna Hazare to hold his ‘indefinite fast’ for a strong anti-corruption law until 4 September 2011. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rhetorical Act III</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscVCvkOQIv_uAscu5RGsLJP3VV_fJVHCxm005fmlJEviZCzgKdSbLJaiqubl5VT0JixDSXFihUt-SqItisk0Uthb3KGV5ojvzR5gp6W1IlbsvO4sZf6JGfxhqNXwtKLPHEor806H4OYk/s1600/Anna-Somnath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscVCvkOQIv_uAscu5RGsLJP3VV_fJVHCxm005fmlJEviZCzgKdSbLJaiqubl5VT0JixDSXFihUt-SqItisk0Uthb3KGV5ojvzR5gp6W1IlbsvO4sZf6JGfxhqNXwtKLPHEor806H4OYk/s200/Anna-Somnath.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Ruling Class Loyal Somnath</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCs97cJwPZnI_rJP9MAR2zXqJbfiMaewzPM0HYLHzh6T7eFRaPa1bC-in1lp780kEEhluOxuxAtKtByWxgJ4eS3c5sH3gw3hNI07cl9zzfKOcLZ56577MdvuVvgSRDy9Jju5UQ8K74BLs/s1600/Anna-42Year-NoHonest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCs97cJwPZnI_rJP9MAR2zXqJbfiMaewzPM0HYLHzh6T7eFRaPa1bC-in1lp780kEEhluOxuxAtKtByWxgJ4eS3c5sH3gw3hNI07cl9zzfKOcLZ56577MdvuVvgSRDy9Jju5UQ8K74BLs/s200/Anna-42Year-NoHonest.jpg" width="155" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGLxKEtNpOB5qE9IXhxBKS3JZfGTrBSZf-tIFw27x9YgDm13H6DgQ_3Vl5cDmKPeS6kW26JtBGRqN-2E07koRAzh5PSAFYexHTOCOhBK9wJkV3BuVoZNuHVz7eShoYazYXLbAqUHu9Ak/s1600/Anna-Manishanker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGLxKEtNpOB5qE9IXhxBKS3JZfGTrBSZf-tIFw27x9YgDm13H6DgQ_3Vl5cDmKPeS6kW26JtBGRqN-2E07koRAzh5PSAFYexHTOCOhBK9wJkV3BuVoZNuHVz7eShoYazYXLbAqUHu9Ak/s1600/Anna-Manishanker.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Manishankar Aiyar, Cong. MP</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Initially, both the Govt opinion led by Salam Khursheed, Law Minister and Kapil Sibal, Communication Minister and the opposition ignored Anna’s hunger strike and engaged into yet another technical wrangling and a procedural rhetoric claiming supremacy of the Parliament. </span></span></span>The only sensible voice came from Mr. Manishankar Aiyar, a Rajya Sabha MP who said that main source of corruption is corporate sector which should be part of a strong Lokpal Bill. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Despite this, the protest was gathering momentum and public pressure was mounting. Pranab Mukherjee was called in as a trouble shooter and Anna team members were invited to discuss the Jan Lokpal Bill. A degree of enthusiasm was seen after the meeting and some unresolved issue were left for consideration on the following day. However, no sooner the enthusiasm of Anna Team turned into a great disappointment. Kiran Bedi, one of the stanch members of the Anna Team went on to say in public, “Yesterday they were listening to us. Today they were telling us (scolding us). There was a difference of day and night”. She was so much disgusted with the dubious conduct of the opposition that she had to make mock gesture about their duplicity. Although Anna was on the 9th day of his fast he stood up and called for a protest in front of houses of MPs calling them, ‘sub lutere hei’, i.e., ‘They all are looters’, and within a moment his message travelled like the electricity and people reached MPs houses to protest. It was amazing as there was no organisation, no cadre and no telephone communication between the people and the Anna Committee except direct Anna’s word from the stage of Ramlila Maidan. Perhaps, social net working and media was beating the mighty power of the govt. In the entire Saga, both the Govt and the MPs have shown a lack of sensitivity to a popular anti corruption moment and behaved irresponsibly although Lokpal Bill has been around for more than 40 years and appeared before the Parliament 8 times. Mr. Yechuri, Member of Rajya Sabha & CPM Politburo Member said that in 1996 Lokpal issue was a part of their minimum program with the UPA. He did not explain why he did not pressurise UPA govt for 4 years to take steps to bring a strong Lokpal. Rather, all parties MPs sought to pass a Bill giving them a budget of Rs 20 million (now increased to 50 million) each under the Local Area Development (LAD) which created wasted interests in the parliament. Since the MPs might also fall within the scope of Jan Lokpal Bill, no wonder, the entire parliament got united against one of the most popular movements since the independence. In general, members of the Parliament behaved irresponsibly and in that regard conduct of Kapil Sibal, Salman Khurshid, Sarad Yadav, Manish Tiwary, Laloo Prasad Yadav was highly deplorable and conduct of the opposition led by Sushma Swaraj and Mr Yechuri was wavering and far from clear</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">. Somnath Chatterjee, Ex-Speaker, appeared on NDTV from nowhere and played devil on behalf of the UPA although the attack was not on an individual but institutionalized corruption. i.e., system failed them. Although people were sympathetic to him when he was expelled from CPM in retrospect it appears Prakash Karat was right in having expelled. One wonders why he was in CPM at first place.</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">People v Parliament Act IV</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOvQR0u_r8jBJPerSzk7otL_ikQflWvcjFFT94Nl7mQF7-Ce0fVni9_cq-bqUN3mDilGxcxcD-rTjlSUCdJjwVTT8bwrJXxwP1DHmqCiTOpkErdysWz7XApWCjQu3Jnoe4WgPmGk921s/s1600/Lord_Meghnad_Desai1-190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOvQR0u_r8jBJPerSzk7otL_ikQflWvcjFFT94Nl7mQF7-Ce0fVni9_cq-bqUN3mDilGxcxcD-rTjlSUCdJjwVTT8bwrJXxwP1DHmqCiTOpkErdysWz7XApWCjQu3Jnoe4WgPmGk921s/s1600/Lord_Meghnad_Desai1-190.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Lord Maghnath Deasi, LSE</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">In course of Anna fast for Jan Lokpal Bill Govt and opposition hung on two things: (i) Members of Parliament are transcendental being and no one could dare criticise them in public domain or else they will be subjected to Parliamentary privilege notice, and (ii) Parliament is supreme and no one should be allowed flout its procedures. Unfortunately, their arguments are not only misplaced but their understanding of the parliamentary procedures and practice also falls short in many respects. As to first matter, those who chose to play a role in public domain are expected to close scrutiny by media and accountability to people even more than the management of a corporation to its shareholders. There are many authorities of law on this, in particular, the President of Ireland, <b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #6fa8dc; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Reynolds v Times Newspapers Ltd. Since the comments made by Om Puri and Kiran Bedi were fair and reflexive of general perception of the public at large </span></i></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #6fa8dc;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">which she presented in a caricature style. </span></i></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Anna called them, “Ye sab Lootere hei”, but MPs could not dare to issue him privilege notice. They got after Team members to break their morale, which is highest form of desperation. </span></b></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Therefore there</span><b><i> </i></b></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #6fa8dc;">is no question of parliamentary privilege. Hence, the privilege notices issued to Om Puri and Kiran Bedi are not only confirms the misperception of MPS that somehow they are above the people, but it also appears retaliatory. Lord Meghnath Desai, Professor at London School rightly said<b>, “If you read newspapers in UK how they ridicules MPs, you will cry”</b>. One of the female panellists also said right at the face of one of the initiators of privilege notice that, “They have lost sense of humour and need psychiatric help”. </span>She might face privilege notice too.</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Further, MPs are wrong on the notion of Supremacy of Parliament too as it is based on an old right wing Dicy theory of supremacy of Parliament viz-a-viz the judiciary, but not over the people. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">In late 19<sup>th</sup><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>century, Gladstone and Disraeli introduced form of government placing limits on the use of child labour or preventing factories from emptying their effluent into rivers or the streets. The justification for such rules came mainly from three sources: (i) ‘just and fair’ insofar as it protects individuals from exploitation, (ii) poor health might adversely affect the productivity, and (iii) it would appear rational for society as a whole, for example the cost of ill health and death which might result from lack of control on pollution. By the 1930s, these rationale underpinned an immense network of government activities; a national health service, millions of publicly owned houses, government control of coal, steel, water, gas, and electricity industries; old age pensions, unemployment benefits; and free schooling for all children until the age of 15. In Hayekian words, this represents a ‘substantive ideal of redistributive justice’, The Rule of Law in a Welfare State. </span><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17px;">The second theory, ‘social democracy’ emerged from the centre-left school of thought which is well explained by the American jurist Harry Jones in a seminal article in the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Columbia Law Review, 1958. However, social democracy is distinguished from the form of governments like socialism and communism which have their goal in establishing an egalitarian society</span></span></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Although Indian democracy does not go as far as socialism or communism in the preamble of its Constitution it says as follows:</span></i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i><span style="color: black;"> </span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: black;">PREAMBLE OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA</span></i></b><span style="color: #29303b;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">“WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:</span></i></b><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 10.0cm; text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Although no theory of Constitution and Administrative Law has ever argued that the Parliament is above the people the preamble of our Constitution is very clear when it asserts, </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">“We the people...”</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Hence, any suggestion by the MPS to the contrary is an insult to the Constitution. One should remember that in the absence of people’s supervision over the Parliament democracy was derailed with the declaration of the State of Emergency by Mrs Gandhi in 1975. History has witnessed that a fascist Germany under Hitler emerged in the name of National Socialism with full sanction of the Parliamentary majority. Hence, divorce from technical procedures in public interest is not a dangerous game, but it is conducive to good health of functional democracy. In fact, sometimes even constitution has to be amended to incorporate inspiration of the people as it was done in the 42nf Amendment by Indira Gandhi. Therefore, one can’t take a straight jacket view of the Constitution either.<i> </i> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Mediators Act V</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #00b0f0;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhdSA2XE_RrYTg9_kTodxR6XlOF1D0EDVy19-AKoclpiZlcVse_YTl_zQn-XpwzWHIDL-Z_7XLL1W6MevpQft733nzgde_ZNFEa8G0Q9cEaIBRw7oujbMvqMFnvfuAoZs_J343KQyusc/s1600/Anna-agnivesh_video_28821_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhdSA2XE_RrYTg9_kTodxR6XlOF1D0EDVy19-AKoclpiZlcVse_YTl_zQn-XpwzWHIDL-Z_7XLL1W6MevpQft733nzgde_ZNFEa8G0Q9cEaIBRw7oujbMvqMFnvfuAoZs_J343KQyusc/s200/Anna-agnivesh_video_28821_f.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Agnivesh sell out </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Anna single handed galvanized the people against corruption which attracted many religious and non religious dignitaries including Sri Sri, Yoga Guru Ramdeo, Yaddu Maharaj, and Valasrao Desmukh, former Chief Minister of Maharashtra who hold Anna in high esteem and previously amicably resolved his demands. Govt on the other hand tried to pitch some other Lokpal Bills by Aruna Roy of NCPRI and Jaya Ram who appeared from nowhere to distract attention from Jan Lokpal Bill. Most dubious role played by one of the Anna allies Swami Agnivesh who was caught on the IPod making derogatory remarks about Anna calling him, “A mad elephant who does not listen” to his plea to call off fast unconditionally which would mean complete sell out (</span></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-ySAMiqPDI">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-ySAMiqPDI</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">). Among all the mediators, Mr Desmukh appeared more credible as he delivered PM’s letter accepting Anna’s three conditions following the face saving unanimous resolution of the Parliament. <span style="color: #00b0f0;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Anna Hazare is currently recouping from his fast, but before leaving for hospital in Gudgaon he addressed public that his fifth is not yet over. It is only half the victory. He would travel around the country to campaign for Election reforms to make provisions for the Right to Reject and the Right to recall. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUGVRSczY2WWYLA546NzeyYhKV5dKB3Sa5bYd-1GSr1Gu-LAKL0amQine0OUi0PHWbxb2_8YEYpDKPreY5jBmUggInqALw2nrj_JzRCpMSNh6cQ18CL8y-6g77DW3pffQvU26WirKf4U/s1600/Medha-Katkar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUGVRSczY2WWYLA546NzeyYhKV5dKB3Sa5bYd-1GSr1Gu-LAKL0amQine0OUi0PHWbxb2_8YEYpDKPreY5jBmUggInqALw2nrj_JzRCpMSNh6cQ18CL8y-6g77DW3pffQvU26WirKf4U/s200/Medha-Katkar.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Medha Katakar means Business</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHANSwtuh_EUF33Dx3l8Va_xyhUqhEQzWjUjDyCPrlNt627qvoLIMTToIx97Iin0JBUIC7CCDeosgMV47nPR4-FYa5WFKhdy9DUiG-kVGHi_axjAkSAq0qa3wCpfJW6KFGyEyTCWc5Rg/s1600/AnnaTeam-Hegde.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHANSwtuh_EUF33Dx3l8Va_xyhUqhEQzWjUjDyCPrlNt627qvoLIMTToIx97Iin0JBUIC7CCDeosgMV47nPR4-FYa5WFKhdy9DUiG-kVGHi_axjAkSAq0qa3wCpfJW6KFGyEyTCWc5Rg/s200/AnnaTeam-Hegde.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Jus. Hegde, Kheriwal Youth Icon</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Anna's close aide and social activist Medha Patkar said the passage of resolution by the Parliament over Janlokpal bill marks not the half victory but the first victory of the long struggle to be waged ahead. Talking to media persons, activist hailed the occasion and said it is has changed the equation between Parliament and people. Hazare broke his fast after drinking a glass of coconut water and honey offered to him by two girls, one of them named Ikrah. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">On the other hand Justice Santosh Hegde, one of the key aides of anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Sunday said that a major hurdle has been crossed and for the time being he is happy that the parliament unanimously approved the three key demands of Hazare, namely; (i) Citizen Charter, (ii) lower bureaucracy to be included, and (iii) establishment of Lokapal at the State level . Speaking to the media persons, Although Hegde expressed his satisfaction as it was for the first time that the parliament had succumbed to the demands made by an outsider he was cautious against expecting miracle. The Parliament on Saturday backed landmark anti-corruption legislation, meeting Hazare's key demands.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div></div>NewsViews on Racismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10777535390473104184noreply@blogger.com0