Kunal Singh Speaks

More than 300 people are killed in road accidents every day in our country. As per a UN study accidents causing 80% of these deaths involve violation of traffic rules.

Violation of traffic rules no longer leaves an accident, an accident. In true sense, more than 240 people are deliberately killed every day by assaulting them with mechanized metallic bodies. Most of these deaths happen to be in metro Cities, where the masses are most educated & enlightened and the administration is most efficient & honest.

The intellectuals I run in to prima facie reject this issue as a non-issue. They are also violently averse to the idea of discussing unhealthy economic growth, rising crime & corruption, and the falling social structure in Indian society. They rather prefer to talk about human rights violations in China or diktats of Khap panchayat in Indian Villages. For these two issues provide them a wide horizon to demonstrate their profound knowledge.

It is very comforting for me to find such self-centered people around. For it gives me space & time for staying centered around myself.

A detailed report on chemical pollution in Gujarat:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1188937/The-great-carbon-credit-eco-companies-causing-pollution.html

This article reveals how third world countries are becoming  a paradise for the polluting industries. The administrative & political corruption in these parts of the world has made the common man a victim of industrialization.

If this would have happened in an Asian country, World leaders would have painted it as an international issue of immense importance. It could have been called the “Communist Oppression”, or “Islamic Radicalism”, or “Hindu Bigotry”. But the fact that it is “W” & “C” at play, there is much silence.

The pace at which justice is offered in Australia is highly commendable. In some of such assault cases, the accused have been tried and convicted in less than a week’s time. On the other hand, Raj thackrey, on whose behest several workers from Bihar were killed in Mumbai last year, is roaming free. We have no idea if any progress has been made on that case.The 1984 Sikh riot case, where thousands of sikhs were killed in communal protest is still doing rounds in the courts. On what could be a misuse of governmental powers, several Congress leaders have been acquitted in this case by special CBI court, when Congress government itself is in power.

The gravest Challenges for the Next Decade

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- Drug Abuse
- Sex Trade
- Food Crisis
- Housing Crisis

Some Trends to come/continue

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- Crime will become more organized [as Drug Abuse and Sex Trade will require a more professionaly managed network].
- There will be a major foreign participation in criminal organizations.
- Corruption will continue to rise. However, the officials at lower ranks will become less and less powerful.
- Agriculture and Farming by individual farmers will be continually discouraged [If not overtly, then covertly]. Big corporations might participate and takeover the agriculture industry [exactly opposite to Indira Gandhi’s Land Reforms].
- Food shortage will be always maintained to keep the demand in surplus [only possible if small farmers are eliminated].
- Petty crime too will rise. But profits will fall. Their will be a collaboration of lower rank officials who will not have any say in organized crimes. Country will become more insecure.
- “Social & Moral codes” will be replaced by “Money is supreme” code.
- Terrorism will rise. Terrorists will be social/political tools at hands of “Criminal & Industrial Organizations”.
- Social Activism will die out. NGOs will become more professional [read for MONEY] and will be puppets to big Organizations.
- Media will become a tool to carry out social fragmentation.
- Quality of education will continue to drop. Education will become unaffordable. Same will hold true for Health Care.
And the Revolution
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I just hope that all of the above comes true as early as it can. I want to witness the revolution to come in this very life.

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visit www.kalrav.net

I stumbled upon this wepbage which contains quotes from M K Gandhi. My knowledge, respect, and love for Gandhi has increased now.

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A few quotes from the quotes.

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.

Seven social sins: politics without principles, wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity, and worship without sacrifice

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.

I came to the conclusion long ago … that all religions were true and also that all had some error in them, and whilst I hold by my own, I should hold others as dear as Hinduism. So we can only pray, if we are Hindus, not that a Christian should become a Hindu … But our innermost prayer should be a Hindu should be a better Hindu, a Muslim a better Muslim, a Christian a better Christian.

# To call woman the weaker sex is a libel; it is man’s injustice to woman. If by strength is meant brute strength, then, indeed, is woman less brute than man. If by strength is meant moral power, then woman is immeasurably man’s superior. Has she not greater intuition, is she not more self-sacrificing, has she not greater powers of endurance, has she not greater courage? Without her, man could not be. If nonviolence is the law of our being, the future is with woman. Who can make a more effective appeal to the heart than woman?

England has got successful competitors in America, Japan, France, Germany. It has competitors in the handful of mills in India, and as there has been an awakening in India, even so there will be an awakening in South Africa with its vastly richer resources — natural , mineral and human. The mighty English look quite pigmies before the mighty races of Africa. They are noble savages after all, you will say. They are certainly noble, but no savages and in the course of a few years the Western nations may cease to find in Africa a dumping ground for their wares.

I wanted to know the best of the life of one (Muhammad) who holds today an undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind. I became more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet the scrupulous regard for pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle.

It is impossible for me to reconcile myself to the idea of conversion after the style that goes on in India and elsewhere today. It is an error which is perhaps the greatest impediment to the world’s progress toward peace … Why should a Christian want to convert a Hindu to Christianity? Why should he not be satisfied if the Hindu is a good or godly man?

The cry for the national home for the Jews does not make much appeal to me. The sanction for it is sought in the Bible and the tenacity with which the Jews have hankered after return to Palestine. Why should they not, like other peoples of the earth, make that country their home where they are born and where they earn their livelihood?

Palestine belongs to the Arabs in the same sense that England belongs to the English or France to the French. It is wrong and in-human to impose the Jews on the Arabs.

I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ. The materialism of affluent Christian countries appears to contradict the claims of Jesus Christ that says it’s not possible to worship both w:Mammon and God at the same time.

One of the objects of a newspaper is to understand popular feeling and to give expression to it; another is to arouse among the people certain desirable sentiments; and the third is fearlessly to expose popular defects.

Civilization is that mode of conduct which points out to man the path of duty. Performance of duty and observance of morality are convertible terms. To observe morality is to attain mastery over our mind and our passions. So doing, we know ourselves. The Gujarati equivalent for civilization means “good conduct”.

“To my mind the life of the lamb is no less precious than that of a human being. I should be unwilling to take the life of the lamb for the sake of the human body. I hold that, the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of man.”

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He was greatest of a Man

30 January was the day when Nathuram Godse assassinated Mahatama Gandhi. Gandhi was not just a human being, he was a revolution, he was an ideology. And ideas can not be killed. But surprisingly, the idea which the world knew as Gandhi, has been killed, at least from the active lives of our nation.

Nathuram Godse, just killed a man. Then who killed the idea? Not a tough guess … It was the collective leadership of our country, which continued to woo Indian voters on the name of Gandhi, but at the same time,  adopted domestic and foreign policies, which were totally averse to Gandhism….

(1) Gandhi and Non-Violence:

. What does Gandhi mean to you?
> “Non-Violence”!
. “Non-Violence as an end”?
> Silence

“Non-Violence as an end” is the greatest myth about Gandhi. Gandhi followed, preached and advocated non-violence. But he preached of “non-violence as a means”, and “not as an end”. What was the End he preached about? We have comfortably forgotten.

Bullet bang on target !!!

(2) Gandhi and Self-Reliance:
Gandhi was about “self-reliance”. Self reliance in every walk of life. Economical & Poliitical self reliance as a nation. Social, Religious and Moral self reliance, as an individual. “Sarvodaya” was his dream for the post-independence India. A dream which never realized. Worst, we have become a nation which is neither economically self-reliant, nor politically.

These wounds will be fatal.

(3) Gandhi and Social Development:
The transformation which Gandhi brought to the Indian society was unprecedented. His initiatives and methods to root out “untouchability” from Indian society, and the amazing success which he received in his efforts, can not be termed less than a magic. He also worked for the social & economic development of “unprivileged classes”. He called for a “greater role of women” in the Indian Society.

(4) Gandhi and Independence:

If it was not Gandhi, India would have got Independence much before 1947. The first world war was the best time to revolt against the British rule, as the Britishers were preoccupied with battle on so many fronts.

“The Delayed Independence” is the second greatest myth about Gandhi.
Independence can mean different thing to different people. To some one it could be the freedom to work on the things which one loves. To some one it could be the freedom of not working at all. To some one else it could mean the freedom to force others to work on the things which they do not like.

Gandhi understood the motives behind British Presence in India. He knew that the Imperialist powers were exploiting the masses in India and elsewhere, for the economic motives. They were not here to prove to us their right to rule, but they were here to gain profits.
Britishers never ruled India as isolated foreigners. They ruled India in collaboration with Indian Kings, and privileged Indian Classes - all shared the exploit.

The division between exploiter and the exploited was never that of “Indian” and “Foreigner”. The division was that of “Sickly Rich” and the “Abjectly Poor”. Sadly, the “abjectly poor” constituted almost the entire nation.

Would it make any difference to the lives of “exploited”, if “exploiter” was an Indian rather than a “British-Indian combine”?

Independence to Gandhi meant the “freedom” of Indian masses from the “social and economic” exploitation by the “Privileged Classes”. The nationality of the “Privileged class” was rarely important. Gandhi fought for what he saw as independence, and he fought for it successfully. He transformed the entire nation in to a self-aware and self-reliant society, and it was only because of him that the Britishers found the economic motives for their presence fading out from the India.
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Sadly, Gandhi departed before the Sarvodaya could take shape. The Ideas which he sow, pumped life in to the veins of our nation for more than half a century. But the economic self-reliance is again disappearing. The division between “exploiter” and “exploited” is once more becoming apparent. Gandhi is dead.
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Some Links about Gandhi
Gandhi and his Philosophy
Gandhi short Biography
Sarvodaya

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The picture which you see was taken by me at “National Gandhi Museum” at Delhi.

A few days back, activists of a “religious cum social organization” attacked a pub in Mangalore and beat up the girls in the pub. Prima facie it qualifies as an incident of vandalism, and should be condemned. The accused should be put to trial, and punished, if found guilty.

Though the law will take its own course in bringing justice to the  victims of Mangalore attack, a debate has started about the legality of “moral policing” by non-governmental organizations. A section of society feels that this kind of moral policing is totally illegal, whereas another section of society feels that such organizations have rights to fight against the cultural attacks on our society.

I have noticed that people debating on this issue fail to address certain critical issues. I would like to raise these issues here and would request every one to consider these points while forming any opinion (either for or against) on this issue.

(1) About the Right of Moral Policing: Is it totally wrong? What if the State police fails (for whatever reasons) to enforce the state approved (constitutional) moral conduct on its citizens? Every Friday night in Bangalore is a scene to watch. Bangalore Traffic police carries out its campaign against “Drunken Driving”, at certain key spots in the city. Though the drunken drivers manage to get out easy by bribing the police men, innocent people are harassed. Some times I myself have been made to pay up bribe, despite having all the papers right. I fail to understand the intention of Bangalore Traffic Police behind such operations. If they are against the drunken driving, why not have their inspection teams outside the major pubs and bars in Bangalore? More than 90% of the people who come out of the pubs and drive would be offenders. Then why to conduct inspections on those key spots, where more than 90% people are not offenders? I would not explicitly state the unholy nexus between Police and Pub Administration, readers can assume it themselves.
BTW, This is just an example which I have quoted from my day to day life. I can see the state approved bastards, harassing my country-men, while I (and all others) can do nothing more than feeling helpless. In such an atmosphere, moral policing should not be totally condemned.

(2) About the Freedom of adopting a new Culture: Every one of us is a free citizen and as per the Indian Constitution, we have freedom to adopt the cultures and values which we like.

I very much doubt that the “pub hopping crowd” really does it (whatever they do), out of their “fondness for it” and out of the “understanding of their freedom”. Most of the times, the young crowd hopping at the pubs, is doing it either “to figure out what it is” or “out of the peer pressure”. The freedom which we (or the people condemning the moral policing) are talking about does not exist in 99% of the Indian Families. No matter, how urban, how educated, or how modern an Indian Family is, they would not approve of their daughters “drinking, dancing and rubbing their hips with strangers” at the Pubs. I would not say that such families do not exist. But I can say with certainty that more than 90% of the “pub hopping girls” do it by hiding it away from their own families. Those who are condemning the “Mangalore Attack” should also condemn the conduct of that “pub hopping crowds” which is doing it as an act of “Stealing and Lies” rather than as an act of Freedom.

(3) About the Mangalore Pub Attack: Before the Managalore attack is condemned, we need to look in to the kind of activities which happen in the Pubs. The organization which carried out the Mangalore Attack, has been alleging that “Obscene Activities” were being carried out in the Pub Premises. The organization had warned the Pub Administration to put an end to such activities. I would not blindly accept this allegation, but I can see some extent of truth in it. A couple of years back I visited a pub in Bangalore (@GarudaMall to be more precise). There was a college crowd partying at this pub. After about an hour, the girls got heavily drunk and they turned themselves in to a wild uncivilized crowd. Very soon, smooching, and indecent dancing [which would qualify as foreplay even in the Western World] started. The most memorable incident of that day is the sight of a girl who force-ably smooched a bar-boy (not sure if she thought him to be his boy friend or just did it for fun). These kind of activities are punishable under IPC. When the pub (or hotel or bar) administration and the local authorities fail to stop such activities, why does no one complain?

Twentieth Century has witnessed great advances in the field & Science of Technology. Scientific innovations have made our lives happier & luxurious. But, sadly, a majority of world population remains totally untouched by theis “happiness” and “luxury”.

Food, Clothing & shelter - these have been the basic needs of mankind from eternity (or at least from the time which you and I can think of). In a civilized world, health-care & education too must qualify as basic human needs. We should be evaluating the advancement of Science & Technology based on how well the basic human needs are beings are being fulfilled today (than it was before). The progress is not as enthusiastic (though positive) as we tend to believe.

The thrust of Science & Technology today does not seem to be on human welfare. The thrust is rather on the economic exploitation of the mankind. Can it change? Will it change?

I am not against the division of society between rich & poor. But I really dislike any section of society being blinded by greed. I can accept the fact that poverty can not be eliminated. I can accept the idea that division of society between rich and poor is inevitable. But in a world which has advanced much (or at least we claim to have advanced), can poverty not raise its standards? Can’t a person get food, clothing, shelter, basic health-care & education and still be poor.

Why is the rich still hell bent on depriving the poor of their basic human rights? Why is the economic exploitation (by developed countries) still worst in the under-developed countries? Why the artificial scarcity and artificial threats still dominating the world? Will science be able to take another leap forward and overcome these evils?

I recently came across this official website of Noam Chomsky. The website contains rich information on the international politics of today’s world. The articles contain more facts than opinions, something which is rare to find. The articles reveal the USA’s Imperialist policies and systematic exploitation of third world countries by the USA corporations.

USA has been invading sovereign third world nations for its own economic interests for last six decades. During the cold war days this was being done on pretext of fighting communist menace. Today it is being done on pretext of “Offering Freedom” or “Fighting Terror”.

The articles also disclose how the USA government has been using the state machinery to carry on false propaganda about “Threats to the USA Freedom” by foreign powers. To persuade its citizens in to fear, so that questions are not asked about the validity of unlawful invasions and wars by the USA.

I read a news report in one of India’s leading national newspaper (online edition) which in no way makes a new story. Still it forms the front page headlines, just because AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi figures in it.

The news items states that, “AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi shared with people of his constituency the abject poverty of a woman named Sunita from Amethi”. The news story further mentions how much Mr Gandhi was moved by the poverty of Sunita.

The purpose of this news report is nothing more than providing media coverage to Rahul Gandhi. In a country which is grappling with so many serious problems, and has so many burning issues, I wonder why media houses waste their space on news stories with zero information and with zero social values.

Can this news paper state the exact point of making this story a front line news
(1) Is it that the abject poverty in India is a breaking news? Definitely not. Hundreds of people commit suicide every year because of poverty and hundreds of them face the same fate involuntarily. There is hardly any effort by media houses to bring such issues to lime light and make them national issues.
(2) Is it that the news paper wanted to draw reader’s attention to the abject poverty? It did not seem so after reading the news article. The story could have covered some account of her sufferings in Sunita’s own words and would have covered some statics on people living under same conditions as Sunita. But the only point which the news story highlights is how deeply Mr Rahul Gandhi was moved by Sunita’s poverty. The news item also carries a photo of Mr Gandhi, instead of carrying some image which might reflect the “abject poverty” which this news item talks about.

Though the story is aimed at projecting Mr Gandhi as a generous soul who has been deeply moved by some one’s poverty, to me (and to any rational reader) it only reveals how ignorant Mr Gandhi is with the roots & problems of our country.