INDIAN DEMOCRACY AND ITS PREDICAMENT!

Indian democracy, although even today, considered not so old! But it has survived many predicaments and is kicking up, like a torch-bearer in the globe. Eminent scholar K N Panikkar, in a recent Essay, in a fortnightly has said,"Crisis Of Indian democracy is because of the failure of the state to create a public sphere capable of generating critical engagements with social issues." I strongly feel that Indian democracy is surviving only because of principles of patriotism among country's pluralistic society and culture.Panikkar has further commented that the vibrancy of a functioning of democracy, therefore, would depend upon the social acceptance of the idea of equality, which as principle the Indian Republic has written into the Constitution. Lamentably, in practice equality has gone underground and has become a far cry in the fields political, economic and cultural  in equality in India.No doubt, our Constitution has enunciated and created many measures and sufficient guarantee and safe guards to ensure democratic rights-but in actual functioning of democracy Indian people are deprived of equal rights in practice. The Constitution has provisions, like " there must be secured to all people-justice, social, economic and political; equality of status, of opportunity and before the law." But in practice Indian democratic system has failed currently in securing justice to all and democratic rights are not accessible equally to everybody.

To begin with, I must point out the deficiencies in the Indian democracy-our representative system in democracy is full with maladies. Notwithstanding the successive elections of Lok sabha and state assemblies under voting system have proved that Indian democracy is kicking up, in actual practice it has failed miserably. Under  our democratic system, majority definitions have strange connotations. Strangely and sadly in our system  majority is determined, who gets the largest chunk of votes-whether the percentage of vote is low or not all have exercised their franchise or the votes have been divided among multiplicity of candidates-but who ever gets highest number of votes in Lok Sabha and state assemblies elections are declared winners despite the facts that the figure of total votes ,cast, are less than 50 percent of the total electorate-This amply proves that whoever candidate gets largest chunk of votes is declared winner but in actual practice-the candidate become the representative of less than 50 percent majority and thus it clearly indicates that instead of majority vote, he or she has won the elections is considered minority votes winner! In this way, Indian democracy  is not giving in political sense, a rule of majority. For example, in many states and Parliament, minority governments are elected by securing less than 50 percent of total votes and they are ruling  over majority of people in the country-what a traumatic experience of Indian democracy?

Moreover, in Indian democratic system, poor and downtrodden have no chance to be elected to state assemblies and Parliament except through reservation of seats as defined in the Constitution-of course there are many exception but in general practice such things are happening in the Indian democracy.Mainly , the political class in India, is dominated by the affluent, educated and socially advance and powerful sections of society. Present system of representation has become exclusive platform of  millionaires and multi-millionaires. To contest election has become so expensive that hardly poor could get a chance to be elected to state assemblies and Parliament. Thus majority of people of the country have no stake in having the governance under our democratic system. Such system is giving agonising moments to the deprived lots.and serious resentment prevails throughout the country, specially in rural areas.Rural people being fed up of exploitation, deprivation, inequality etc, are indulging in violence in the form of Naxal movements and in many instances they are indulging in insurgency, posing a big question mark over the present democratic system.

Apart from that, cultural equality and plurality has become a far cry in the country Entire Indian society has been badly entrapped in caste and religion cobweb.They are badly divided. The Anthropological  Survey of India has estimated the existence of more than 4000 communities with different culture and system in our country- Because of that facts Mahatama Gandhi ,has shared the ideas of  Pundit Jawahar Lal Nehru, who initially promoted the ideas of secularism during pre-independence days and later on it has become part of the Constitution-but different ideas of fundamentalists like Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and Mohammad Ali Jinna, during pre-independence days, sowed the seeds of discontent and ultimate the great Bharat was divided into two nations-India and Pakistan and seeds of communal ism are flourishing in both the countries in the form of hatred between Hindu and Muslims in India and Pakistan besides looking  downtrodden and poor with hatred  and Hindu-Muslim riots, particularly in Gujarat where thousand of Muslims had been massacred under Narendra Modi regime in Gujarat particularly in  India! Under the present system society have been divided on religion lines. Pannikar has said, " Indian society has become religionisation of politics and politicisation of religion. In the present situation in the Indian politics religion has become a powerful mobilising force, being invoked by both communal and secular parties in India to retain power in different states and centre.

On economic front about inequality is less said is better. There has been wide gap between rich and poor-Poor are getting poorer and rich getting richer day by day under the present system. Neo-liberal economic policy has impacted  more and more inequality in the Indian society. So called economic measures under new economic policy and development appear to be an eye -wash except generating much black money through  corrupt practices by political class and capitalists. Practically, these policies are  ruining  not only the economic equality but cultural, religious and  plurality of the nation. Over 80 percent of population, majority of them in rural areas, are living on Rs 20 per day while 20 percent rich, capitalists, corporates, multinationals, political classes of all hues   have concentrated country's wealth in their hands.Successive governments in states and union have even failed so far to identify poor and landless in the country. Its own  panels have different percentage of poor in the country (please read my other blog to get exact figures of poor given by  different government panels of government) . Jungles , tribal, land of poor tribal and middle class people are being indiscriminately being acquired for setting up industrial units by multi-nationals, corporates, capitalists, influential sections of political class and government itself in most of the states without paying proper compensation and rehabilitation for uprooting them from their houses and lands. Livelihood of poor is being deprived besides destroying ecological balances in the country under present system.

Last but not least , in my opinion, democratic institutions under the Constitution are being eroded by vested interests. Under the Constitution, there are specific provisions for reservation to SC, ST, Other Backward Classes, educationally and socially backward classes etc. These provisions have been implemented to some extend -but questions are being raised over such provisions by upper caste and moneyed people in the country!

Moreover, the social groups , Naxalites and others, fighting for rights to poor, tribal etc under the Constitution, are being termed anti-nationals. State power and private armies of landlords are creating violence to suppress the voice of poor and downtrodden. To change the system, violence is not the answers but the development of poor and down-trodden. Different wings under the Constitution like Judiciary, executive, legislature are under the grip of rampant corruption. Rahul Gandhi has rightly said that there are two India in existence in this country-one for minority rich and other for majority poor and downtroddenns. Even the just directives of judiciary under the laws and the Constitution are being violated by the government!

The Indian media, once considered peoples' voice, has gone to dogs. Most of the print and electronic media have been "Mudrochised" and instead of carrying stories of peoples miseries are keeping mum, thanks to "'undeclared censorship by union and state governments and proprietors of newspapers". Rupert Murdoch is considered these days a devil piece in media world, who utilised his print, electronic etc media to serve his enlightened self-interest to glorify himself as world's most powerful man.

Thus , the present democratic set-up under  parliamentary democracy enshrined under the Constitution are under tremendous pressures of vested interests in the country-let us hope for the best solution?

PROF. R S SHARMA IS NO MORE

"JANE WALE KABHI NAHI AATE, YAAD  UNKI  AATI HAI" Prof Ram Sharan Sharma, eminent historian specially specialised in Ancient History, has passed away of old age ailments yesterday, sending a shock wave in the academic world. He left for heavenly abode at the age of 91 years. Prof Sharma will be remembered for his revolutionary writings on history and will be remembered like the writers of Ved, Puranans, Koran, Bible etc for ever. Prof Sharma has written over one hundred path-breaking books on history like Shudras, in ancient India and Indian Feudalism. He made a mark for himself in Marxist studies as well as raising Patna university historical studies to considerable eminence in the field of Ancient India university. Coming from a humble background in united Munger district, now Begusarai district, had started his career from Patna University. Subsequently Prof Sharma joined Delhi University and also University of Toronto. In my opinion , Prof sharma was a great social reformer like Raja Ram Mohan Roy of greater Bengal. He was a great advocate of girl education at his younger age!

Prof D N Jha, a retired professor of Delhi university and his student has aptly remarked about Prof Sharma, quoting a few lines of famous Dylan Thomas, "Do not go gentle into great night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day ;Rage, rage against the dying of light."Prof Jha has further said, "he fought against petty caste politics in the university system and outside and he fought against revivalism and obscurantism in the historical establishment in the country.His path breaking rationalist approach in his writings like Shudras, is first study of its kind-the modern days subaltern historians will be well advised to take lesson from it. His work mainly on the material culture and social formations highlights the interrelation between the growth of productive forces and the social, economic and cultural changes that took in early India. His seminal writings on  early Indian feudalism bring into focus the changing pattern of land ownership, the growth of agrestic labour, and the nature and mechanism of exploitation of peasants in early medieval times.His research on Aryan problem argues forcefully and convincigly against the xenophobes who treat Aryans as original in habitants of India and push back the antiquity of the Vedic texts to the Harappan period."

A founder Chairman of the Indian Council for Historical research from 1973 to 1979, Prof Sharma was crusader of revivalism and obscurantism- "whether the controversy about NCERT textbooks or the imaginary temple at Ayodhaya." He had the values of "egalitarianism and secularism and a man of compassion whose heart was always bleeding for the poor and the downtrodden"

I pray to Almighty for may his soul rest in peace. Generations, now called gen next must learn  lessons from Prof sharma's writings to keep themselves from dogmatic and orthodox feudal attitudes.

POLITICIANS' CREDIBLITY IN QUESTION!

Amazingly for the last several years, specially in the last two years, the entire systems of the union and state governments are paralysed. Instead of initiating welfare measures both the state and union governments are more engaged in salvaging the situation going bad to worse. Entire system is in the grip of corruption right from Kanya Kumar to Himalayas in the country. Politicians of all hues in "name of democratic system" have created worse situation, drawing a big question mark over their "credibility"! There are serious erosion in the morality of political class and politics seems to have taken shape of "business" in India!Corruption added and abated by political class in connivance with pliable bureaucracy has embedded deep in every spheres of life. 'Misdemeanour and manoeuvres among all class of politicians" came to light in indulging in corruption and encouraging corrupt practices. Result: Chain of reactions in the form of agitations by people , specially "white  collared middle class"led by Anna Hazare for strict law of Lok Pal to end the corruption menace. Initially the movement against corruption was highlighted and launched by Yoga Guru Swami Ram Dev for the last two and half years was hijacked by Anna Hazare and because of lack of competence in RamDev, the movement under the leadership of Anna Hazare has taken a definite shape and it appears that something will definitely come out this time keeping in view the strong support of the movement to Anna in the country.

It all started with unearthing of scams like "two G spectrum "and loot of crores of rupees in the allotment of speturm licences by the successive union telecommunication ministers including latest one Raja, who is facing charges in scandal of allotment of "two-G spectrum" and is languishing in jail. Thereafter, corruption stories came to light in Karnataka, being ruled by BJP (for the first time in south India). B S Yeddyurappa, the then chief minister of Karnataka, now he has resigned, was indicted by the former Lokayukta of Karnataka, Justice N. Santosh Hegde for "illegal iron ore mining", to the tune of crores of rupees by Yedduyurappa in connivance with officials of the state government. Hegde recommended launching of criminal cases against Yedyurappa and others for his "misdeeds" in siphoning crores of rupees of state exchequer. Final blow of action against Yeddu came after the final report of Hegde and he reluctantly resigned from the chief minister post and criminal cases have been instituted against him.

Subsequently, the issues of corrupt practices spread like virus fever throughout the country and chief ministers of almost all states are in the grip of charges of corruption. To begin with subsequent event- I want to begin with  corrupt practices coming to fore in Bihar!The NDA government, comprising of BJP and JD(U), led by Nitish Kumrar , in its earlier five years tenure, was usually called"probity in governance", started crumbling under the weight of corrupt practices in later stage. Now there are several instances of misappropriation of funds and favouritism against the Nitish government have come to surface, puncturing the claim of "good governance of Nitish Kumar". Huge misappropriation of fund was unearthed in the reports of Comptroller and Auditor General of ndia (CAG). The report of the CAG has revealed that the state government officials have failed to submit proper accounts for funds withdrawn from state exchequer, totalling over crores of rupees, meant for developmental activities. Cases of favouritism in Bihar Industrial areas development authority (BIADA)'s land allotment have come to the notice recently. Interestingly, BIAD lands have been allotted to close relatives and close men of ministers of Nitish government  and IAS official close to Nitish Kumar including P K Shahi, Praveen Amanullah JD(U) MP, Jagdish Sharma, BJP MLC Awadhesh Narayan Singh and IAS officials, close to Nitish Kumar including S Siddhartha, secretary to CM Nitish Kumar, and another IAS official Anand Kishore, IG-Prison. came to surface recently. These close relatives and close friends of officials have been allotted 10, 000 square feet to ten acres of land  to them in different parts of the state to set up food processing units, cement factories, educational institutions and hospitals etc. Legally, the Biada claims that allotment have been made on "first come -first serve basis" but the procedures in hsate raise question mark over the sincerity of BIADA and Nitish  government. Notwithstanding Nitish Kumar has said that BIADA land allotment is being made mountain out of mole, at the same time" Mr Clean Nitish" has also informed that other other democratic institutions are free to look into the entire matter and no body will be spared if found guilty in the wake of demands of general public as well as opposition to enquire into the matter by the CBI. THE CAG observation with regards to development fund expenditure has revealed that the officials have failed to submit detailed contentment bills for money withdrawn by state officials against abstract contingency bills involves a cumulative amount of over Rs 67,000 crore.Even the single bench of Patna High court had ordered CBI enquiry into the matter of CAG, brought to the notice by PIL by one advocate Dinu Kumar-the order of the court has been stayed by double bench and final verdict is yet to come when the judges of Patna high court are badly divided pro and against Nitish Kumar!

Issue of corruption is not different in Uttar Pradesh led by Mayawati..UP IAS Officers association has made startling disclosure and politicall observer Indu Bhusjhan Singh have disclosed that a CAG report has disclosed as many as 68 departments of state government in connection with rampant corruption and misuse of government funds. In a  single case , the CAG has revealed, National rural health mission fund, totalling over Rs 8,600 crore spent on the NRHM scam in the last five years have been in majority cases have been misappropriated.These are the just a tip in the iceberg about gbobbling up of public funds by Mayawati government officials in collusion with political class. Land have been acquired for development and sold to builders to construct shopping malls and apartments by Mayawati government! Similar   are the cases in Gujarat, Maharashtra,  Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadiu etc in looting public funds  and lands by political class in connivance with government officials. Not only that black money to the tune of hundreds of lakhs of rupees are stashed in foreign banks and foreign countries of rich and elite classes as well as capitalists ts and politicians . No effective measures are being taken to retrieve those money! 1nOrrisa  and Chhatishgarh alone, the flood of foreign capitals have taken alarming proportion and poor and tribal are being deprived of their land and houses in forest areas in the name of setting up big industries and power plants..Change of money in hundreds of crore rupees among political class are not being ruled out!,

In Chhatshigarh, Orrisa, Bihar etc the respective state governments are up in arms against Naxalites. Instead of taking effective measures for initiating development activities, these government  on its own and on provocation of union government are spreading violence against violence in the form of recruiting special police officials and starting and launching tirade against poor and tribal. Naxallites are not against democracy but they are for change in system of police and rich people terror against poor and tribal. Result: Naxal activities are increasing leaps and bound in many states and they are spreading their network in urban areas also, giving a dangerous signals.

Amid all these hullah-bullah, the union government has broughtt weak Lokpal Bill , ignoring the suggestions of Anna Hazare and company. Prashant Patnaik has written an article in the Frontline, a Madras based fofortnightly and has said that the steep rise in corruption is due to the change in property regime brought about by freeing of markets and privatisation drive. The struggle against corruption is important but insufficient since it looks at corruption in isolation from primitive accumulation . A powerful popular resistance alone can provide a bulwark for democracy, the Frontline article says.

Initially, the union government, which now stresses that Parliament alone  is entitled to enact legislation on Lok Pal bill, had failed to identify opposition while holding discussions and deliberations with Anna Hazare  and company over the form of bill despite vehement suggestions by many politicians and legal pundits. The government ignored the opposition  political class and later it also ignored Anna Hazare and company suggestions for an effective Lok Pal bill. And of its own placed a Lok Pal bill, of which Frontline has described in its column, "Crusade and Farce", written by V Kenktesan, and has said, "The government's bill not only has provisions designed to shield the corrupt, but its statement objects does not even explain why allegation against only certain public functionaries will be probed-hence prospect for smooth passage of the Lokpal Bill looks dim, mainly because of divergence of opinion."

Any way , Now the Anna 's agitation for an effective Lokpal Bill and subsequent public protests have put the  union government and prime minister Manmohan Singh in dock. Support of public to Anna against public crusade against corruption is gaining momentum. Entire Manmohan singh government machinery is paralysed and general people, particularly urban middle class , have become outraged to press the union government to toe Anna's line on the bill. In the process, the constitutional right of Anna to hold agitation and hunger strike  and union government's action to put restriction on Anna and put him behind bar have also outraged the people-and they are protesting the action of union government throughout the country although majority of people living in rural areas are silent Let us hope for the best to end the corruption virus in the country.

DREAMS AFTER INDIA GOT INDEPENDENCE!

Tears in the eyes of millions of people of India are yet to be wiped! Today is 15th August, independence day of the country from the British Raj yoke.I exactly remember vividly I was five and half years old when independence was achieved and in the mid-night celebration, Pundit Jawahar Lal Nehru, the them prime minister of independent India, had spoken many things and had said that unless tears are wiped from every citizens , independence would have no meaning!

Old vivid reminiscences in my mind still haunt me, my father late Satya Narayan Singh, after remaining in jail for three years continuously had been released by British Raj on the eve of independence-this was my father's last spell in Biritish Jails as he had been in jails for over a dozen times in different cases instituted by the Raj since 1928 and lived over 18  years in jails , of course with occasional release on bail bonds during trial of cases. I was happy that day! My other uncles late Bindeshwar Prasad Vidyalankar, ex-MLA, late Thakur Prasad Singh, a mukhtar by profession, Brahmdeo Singh alias Buchcha Babu,  a sharp shooter and fond of classical music, Babuwan Babu, a Sanskrit scholar,and late Panchanand singh alias Panchu Babuu , basically a farmer, all had been released from jails about three months back from the date of 15th August 1947, the day of independence. All were happy lots because the efforts of my entire family since the days of my great grand father late Babu Mani Singh-Roy and my grand father late Mohit Singh Roy, plunging into national movement on the inspiration of "Bal, Lal Pal" and later on Subhash Chandra Bose. I remember eyes of my father and uncles were twinkling for the services of poor after independence to carry their family legacy!

Anniversary after anniversary passed since 15the August 1947 in the country-we celebrated azadi day- but dreams of Balgangadhar Tilak, Surendra Nath Pal , Lal of Punjab (I forgot his full name), Subhash Bose, Mahatma Gandhi, Pundit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Sardar Ballav Bhai  Patel Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, Zakir Hussain and many other leaders remained on papers and are virtually closed in the achieves of the government records rooms. Nothing tangible has happened to eliminate poverty since independence- over 80 percent population of the country still remain on Rs 23 per day. Hunger, Starvation, malnutrition, sad state of education and health, exploitation of poor, backwards, dalits, tribal are continuing! Political leaders of instead of adopting socialistic pattern of society and stress on agriculture and cottage industries in rural areas where majority of people live, have messed up the situation by adopting new liberal economicl policy, resulting into rich growing more and more rich and poor becoming more and more poor. In this way India has become two country-one for poor and one for rich. Entire economy is being controlled by politicians of all hue and cry, rich, capitalists, industrialists, corporates and multinationals, constituting about 20 percent of the population. People of rural areas and  major pocket of urban parts live in abject poverty!

After independence thieves, thugs, criminals, dacoitits, robbers etc in white colour have their hey days to exploits poor people, majority in the country.Misdemeanour and maneuvering by politicians in successive union and state governments have entrapped all the welfare measures in the cobweb in collusion n with officials and rich people. Welfare measures are seldom stressed in the country!

Politicians and religious leaders  are more interested in dividing society on caste and creed line throughout the nation for their vote banks. In the process, they have become corrupts inconveniences with rich, industrialists, capitalists, corporates and new class, emerging in society-neo rich people etc Natural resources are being plundered, exploitation of tribals and poor at the height, forest and fertile lands in different parts of the country are being grabbed by government and industrialists  in the name of setting up industrial units -but in reality they are increasing their assets by grabbing lands and constructing buildings, factories, developing townships etc. Bureaucrats in collusion with politicians are indulging in rampant corrupt practices!

More over some tangible measures have been initiated for upliftment of poor, hardly even 18 paise of one rupee is spent on welfare measures- entire amount are gobbled up by officials and politicians, namely , MLAs, MLCs, MPs, ministers, chief ministers in almost all parts of the country.Politicians are behaving shamelessly- mass are keeping mum because they are in search of an alternative measures to change the system. State terror is at its zenith. Left-wing ultras like Naxalites and Maoists have become only hope! They in cooperation with poor are fighting to change the system-even that is being curbed.But they are last hope!

Now let us hope for the best- revolution come but with delay and in the process wipes out evils in society.

DISPARITY: POVERT-VIS-A-VIS RICH IN WORLD

POVERTY IN CONTEXT OF INDIA!

For the last few days, some reminiscences are haunting my mind! But today When I  saw a small piece of news-"Rihanna stylist", London date-line small story on page three in The Fine Column of Telegraph, Patna edition, it reminisces many thing about plight of poor and their miserable life in the globe, particularly in India.

With such down the memory -lane, I exactly remember famous one sentence of the famous writer,Scar Wilde-"We all live in the gutter, but some of us gaze at the stars."Sadly over 80 percent population in almost all countries of the world live in poverty without food, shelter, health care etc. In India itself 80 percent people lead their life on hardly Rs 20 to Rs 25 per day.

On the  other hand the particular small news in the Telegraph datelined London has stated that one Rihanna spends $14000 a week on her hair stylist to get the perfect look. In the same story, the 23-year-old star's stylist Ursula Stephen, charges $2000 a day to help ensure she looks her best, reported the  Daily Mail and said"Rehanna likes to pioneer new styles but it is costing her a fortune." This small piece has shaken my conscience and compelled me to look beyond  and see the plight of poor and luxury and lavish expenditure of rich. It is narration of Britishers, known for imperialist designs throughout the globe in the last over 800 years .

 Analysts say the entire Europe is passing through economic down trend-but I strongly feel there is no economic crisis effect in European countries, Particularly England. Similari are many stories of wasteful expenditures In United States of America and the country is under heavy debt and more and more economic crisis is gripping that country. Such economic crisis  in Europe and US is not telling upon the health of rich people there, who lead luxurious and extravagant life at the cost of poor in these regions! Countries of these two continents are virtually controlling economic power in the world in the last several years.But now they are in the grip of serious economic crisis and US alone is paying $250 billion dollar by way of interest payment per year! Now the European countries and US are looking for financial support from the world countries to bail out from its economic morass. Particularly wasteful expenditure of US on war in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and Middle east countries and also other Muslim countries, mainly in the name of counter terrorism but in actual terms for usurping oil resources and its supremacy in the world for spreading its imperialism has put America in deep sea, as per reports of US impartial print media and also of Britain One old saying justifies the action of US, "himself a beggar and beggar at the door." Here one should also remember Tulsi Das 's Ram Charit Manas in which he has said," Jo jash karihi so tass phal chakha (one what ever deeds or misdeeds do or does- he or they taste the same taste)."It also justifies the saying of Scar Wilde and suggests that US living in gutter and gazing up at sky for its deeds and misdeeds.

In changed situation, Asia's Japan, which was recovering from the worst-ever war in 1930s and early 1940s and destruction of that country from dangerous hydrogen bombs, started a big jump and by late 1960s and early 1970 started overtaking the Europe and America by adopting new economy of cheap and best and use and throw manufacturing durable and cheapest consumer goods and also knowing kon-how of advanced technology. Now Asia's China and India are heading for economic boom. But there are vast differencves between rising economy of China and India. While China is adopting economy and advance technology for the benefits of all including poor, India , on the other hand, is adopting western styple economy of liberalisation and capitalism. Moreover , these policies of India have resulted in more and more poverty. Rich are becoming richer and poor becoming poorer. Rural areas of India continue to be neglected! Poverty has become a bane in India in this 20th century. Surprisingly India government is making only tall claims of GDP and the so called economic development of country-but on the other hand at least the government has failed to identify poor and rich in the country. Twenty percent rich people are said to be ruling the country including politicians, corporates, multi-nationals, feudal and landlords where as 80 percent people are said to be without any basic facilities including food, shelter, health, education etc and are ggroaning under poverty.Moreover, successive governments of India have no knowledge of prevailing poverty in India. Surprisingly India is yet to identify the number of poor living in the country . The India,s government's own different panels, set up at different ti,mes , are not unanimous on the figures of poor in India. While its Planning commission says that 28.3 percent population of India are poor, its another Saxena panel has put the figure over 57 percent, another panel-Arjun Dasgupts panel says 77 percent people of India are poor and another Tendulkar panel has put the figure 37.2 percent. Now anybody can imagine the plight of our union government in even determining people, afflicted with poverty.

With such reasons , it is rightly said that India is two countries-one for poor , who in my opinion constitute over 80 percent, another of rich people who constitute 20 percent.Intrinsically, successive union governments, particularly of Manmohan Singh of UPA two in India proves beyond doubt that Manmohan Singh, the present prime minister is harbouring the interest of capitalist, in this socialist pattern of society and government as enunciated by Pundit Jawahar Lal Nehru. Monamohan  "living in the gutter gazing up at the stars"!

"MURDOCHISATION" OF INDIAN MEDIA!

Rupert Murdoch vis-a-vis world media.

Before more and more about Rupert Murdoch, We Indian must think in right perspective-Are Indian print and electronic media except a few are following the path of Murdoch to destroy the credibility , independence and freedom of press in media of India? Some print and electronic media in India , particularly Bennet, Coleman&company Ltd (BCCL), publishers of the Times of India, Economic Times, Maharashtra Times and owner pof electronic channels are "Murdochisation" their print and electronic media.I will explain all these things in this very blog itself. Rupert Murdoch  is media "moghul" in the world or "power broker" through his empire! Murdoch is known for his chain of newspapers, news magazines, electronic news channels , entertainments channels, spread over throughout the globe. His empire is$82 billion media and entertainment channels. Interestingly Murdoch had a small Australian centre-right newspapers Thereafter he expanded his media empire in Australia his home country and in the process he launched the centre-right paper-The AUSTRALIAN in 1962. He had inherited a small newspaper from his father Keith Murdoch. Successfully, Murdoch started his media ventures beyond Australia and had bought newspapers in United Kingdom in 1960s and United States in 1980s. From there Murdoch started the role of devil of the pieces. He got notoriety following his media publicity to crush trade unionism in Britain. Murdoch succeeded in dismissing 6000 employees following a strike in 1986 in Great Britain. In this misdeeds Murdoch has full support of the then Prime Minister of Britain Margaret Thatcher, who is known for trade union bashing.His long journey of dubious reached him to the height in media world and today at the age of 80 years, Murdoch is the chairman and Chief Executive Officer of his News Corporation,(founded in 1979) having revenue (year to May 31, 2011) US$ 32.55 billion and gross profit is $11.88bn, employees-51000and personal net worth $7.6bn,. Murdoch owns 127 newspapers throughout the world besides electronic channels like Star news, Fox News, and other entertainment channels, according to information from various news websites and newspapers, news magazines throughout the world including Indian newspapers and news magazines.Rupert , in his credit, has many misdeeds as tales to tell!

Murdoch is considered friends of almost all the top leaders of various political parties and governments throughout the world, particularly Europe and America. He is thoroughly conservative, pro-capitalist and anti-liberal, anti-trade unions, and finally a retrograde personality in media world. His role in different big wars in middle east and South -East Asia as well as anti-Muslim attitude have destroyed the credibility of media in the world. Murdoch always started campaign against Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and other progressive countries like Vietnam, China, France, Germany and sided with colonial European countries like England, Israel, US etc. All these things reflected in his print and electronic media in the last several years.His print and electronic media virtually started campaign against progressive countries. It was his print media and electronic media, which had started a campaign against progressive US President Barack Obama's birth certificate and his father's Islamic faith. It is Murdoch responsible for creating hysteria that behind every terror acts, there is invariably a Muslim hand! Many columnists of The New York Times, The Economist , Indian news magazine-The Frontline have exposed the evil designs of Rupert. A new York Times columnist Rank rich has described the Murdoch media empire as "Islamophobia command centre" a comprehensive report of the Frontline says and adds that the Economist wrote, that it was for the first time since the powerful" East India Company"was brought to heel in the 19th century that political power over an influential private enterprises in Britain(has) been so brutally enforced"powerful .It further predicted Rupert empire fall!

More over this small story of Rupert is not enough to explain his conduct in the media world, which has become shame both for print and electronic media in the globe. His recent involvement in publishing and broadcasting in his channels and news papers, news magazines the private lives of people is highly  immoral . And his involvement and also his journalist staff as well as his management have put Murdoch in serious troubles-but shamelessly he is defending himself and his publications and at the same time closing down his one of the important Newspaper--"News of the World", responsible for phone hacking scandal. Murdoch and his son had been interrogated intensively for the crime by the committee of the British  Parliament.They both faltered!

Sadly Murdoch's invasion in the shape of spreading its network in India has started giving ominous signal for print and electronic media in the country besides threat to culture, civilization, unity and integrity, and secular credentials of India.Besides spreading its tentacles in 1991 after looking its market prospects Rupert-controlled Star(Satellite Television Asia region) group in the of wake economic liberalisation policy and subsequently allowing world media to enter India after vehement opposition, now the Rupert owned Star India Group is one of the biggest media conglomerates in the country (in terms of turn over).It claims largest number of viewers around 170 million every week for its  32 channels in eight languages including Star plus, Star one, star Gold, Channel V, Star Jalsa, Star Parah, Star World, Star Movie. Star utsav, and joint venture channels such as Asia net, Sky News, FX, Fox crime, Star Vijay, Star News, ESPN and star Sports among others A front line report says.and adds thatDaya Kishan Thusssu, professor of international communication at the university  of Westminster has said ," Mudrochisation"of Indian media as a process "which involves the shift of media power from public to private-owned, transitional, multimedia corporations controlling both delivery system and the content of global information networks." For the first time in India, BCCL,publishers of Times of India, Economic Times, Maharashtra Times are market leaders in their categories, has broken" Lakhsman rekha" in 2003  that existed between marketing and editorial departments. BCCL , surprisingly, started paid contents""service called media net", which sent journalists to cover product launches or celebrated related events for a fee. It violated blatantly journalistic ethics but regretfully BCCL management claims that is acceptable given that such "advertorials".Interestingly it also introduced "paid news" syndrome, which involves paying newspapers and broadcasters for positive coverage. It is big menace for Indian journalism. Press Council of India is sitting over the matter and nothing tangible has come out. BCCL has also introduced "private treaties:" scheme, which allows giving space to corporates in exchange of quality shares. All these action of BCCL is  " Murdochisation of Indian Media by BCCL".the Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu N Ram has rightly said,"This is disturbing trend. Investigative journalism has been given a bad name by the invasive spy camera." Similar concern were voiced over " Murdochisation "of Indian media and recent trend on freedom of press and expression as well as "undeclared censorship" by owners of media houses for serving their enlightened self interest and also virus of "paid news"  by eminent journalists including P Sainath,India Today group editor Aroon Purie.According to Thussu and others, the channels in Star group led the the way in developing content that is sensationalists and emphasis urban, westernised, consumerists concern with a particular emphasis on sex and celebrity culture as well as three Cs (crime, cricket,cinema). All these developments in the wake of Murdoch , going berserk must be controlled by the people of India and the union government. Is this not ominous sign for India media?