Technologies: Killer of Creativity

This is very true that now, a large number of people do on write by hand. This means that less and lesser people now use diary, pen or pencil and they use computers, laptops and smartphones for writing and memorising the things. This is a very common practice to give diaries, fountain pens or writing kit as gifts, unaware that hardly anybody uses them although now pen is also a formidable form of technology, Kind people often give me fountain pens as gifts, unaware that for me the fountain pen is an attractive form of technology, designed with timepiece, calculator and other material. People are so lazy or unsystematic that most of are unable to fill, refill the fountain pen or ball-point. 

There was a time when people have, blue, red or blue-black ink, over their hands, shirts and clothes. So many handkerchiefs used to be ruined to clean the stains of the ink. Children used to spoil the sarees and dupattas of their mothers or sisters. All such pleasures and family bonding are now gone with the technologies. Now users are always worried about their safety, maintenance and high cost. 

Now, the rejected, good old ball-point has replaced the pen. It rarely spoils the clothes and hand and it is used and throws type which fits the modern day youth’s philosophy of do as one likes or total casualness. Now, nobody keeps ink-pot, blotting paper, eraser sharpener, diary and writing pads. People have completely surrendered to computers, calculators and smart phones. 

Technology has changed our lives, behaviour and personality. We don’t think about the pros and cons of the using computers and smartphones but rather we are over dependent or slave of them. If they are not around us we become uncomfortable and irritating. 

Around two decades back, school going kids were fully equipped with pen-holders into which nibs had to be fixed and ink-pots. Almost all the school desks were fitted with a hole for ink. Students had to dip the nib of the holder into this ink-well of blue or black ink and then struggle away to write few words before again dipping the nib into the inkwell. The writing was a good mental exercise which used to activate mind and body as well. 

This was a very arduous process; but this process produced Dickens, Kipling, Shaw, Tagore, Prem Chand and Radhakrishnan ---dip and write, dip and write, for days and weeks and months and years. People were very careful about handwriting, grammar, spellings and punctuation so that the compositor (in the case of an author) or a teacher (in the case of students) can understand what had been written. But computer and smartphones have killed this mental exercise. 

Letter writing is the biggest causality of computers and smartphones. There was a time when letter writing was a big art. Letters used to discuss families, news, society, politics, geography, weather and what not. the art of letter writing produces some of the best literarily pieces. Letters of Matthew Arnold, Bernard Shaw, Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, John F. Kennedy etc., are now big and popular literary books. 

Similarly, oven dependence on computers, smartphones and calculators has destroyed the mathematical abilities. Now most of the people cannot do the simple mathematical issues without the help of calculators. People are almost mentally crippled. 

Writing skills makes a man disciplined and systematic. A person’s personality or the behaviour can be judged by his handwriting. Mahatma Gandhi, Radhakrishnan, Abraham Lincoln and John F Kennedy had good handwriting and they were great statesmen but the handwriting of Hitler was poor and deteriorated as time went by, his mind and behaviour also so similar behavioural deterioration. Wainwright was a dreaded criminal—notorious serial poisoner, had neat and graceful handwriting, but he was a neat and clean poisoner. 

Overuse of computers, smartphones and calculators have also spoiled the art of good teaching and skills of good and meritorious teachers. Good teachers used to teach to write clear and fast. They always used to emphasise the importance of good handwriting. They always told their students to write large and clear letters; don’t compress a lot of words into a small space etc., etc. Good and open handwriting develop an open, organised and uncluttered mind and those poor teachers were very right. But computers and smartphones have made this teaching excellence a thing of past. 

Students used to take a lot of pains practising good handwriting and excellence in oral calculations; but now good handwriting and command over mathematical calculations have been obsolete, and now computers, smartphones and calculators are the companions of every student. Even writing helps hand in good shape and oral calculation keeps mind alert. 

Now a day, due to addiction to mobile phones, large numbers of accidents are taking place on roads, railways lines and other places. In such accidents, thousands of people lose their lives. Similarly, over-use of electronic gadgets is turning modern youth, indiscipline, very casual and highly ill-mannered. Now a day, campuses of schools and colleges are full of such indiscipline, very casual and highly ill-mannered students, turning campuses as anarchists and chaotic places. 

Paper and pencil help in developing creative skills too. It is a very easy method, but pen and paper give physical and mental satisfaction. If one is an expert in writing and calculations, it develops a certain sensuous relationship about this bond, an intimacy that is absent from any other electronic gadgets i.e. computer, smartphones and calculators. It is the feel and contact of the paper, the current of ink, the flow of the pen, the association and intimacy of all three with the human hand and the hand’s union with the mind of the writer. This is all the power of the pen and the importance of the paper. Man’s overdependence and over indulgence with computers, smartphones and calculators have killed this relationship and broken the joint family into nothingness. 

Brahmin: Wronged for no Wrong

       Few groups are as fascinating as Brahmins. And during the last century, no caste group or religion has been the target of all the attacks. There was a time when Brahmins were around 40% in Congress Party structure. Between 1882 and 1909 – almost same percentage of representation was there in state assemblies. Similarly, Brahmin representation in the Bombay Presidency floated between 19% to 37%. That was the time nation was fighting for independence, a different type of reforms, economic upliftment etc.  It means Brahmin participation was very high in the freedom struggle and in reform movements. They were beaten, jailed and repressed by imperial forces for fighting for the nation and people.

In Constitution Assembly, the representation of Brahmins was very high too.  In post independent India this trend continued. But the Brahmin leaders did nothing for their own community. In the constitution, they ensured the special rights, privileges to minorities. Similarly in the name of social justice special quotas and privileges were ensured by them to Scheduled Caste, Schedule Tribes, Backward Caste and Muslims . But they did nothing for their own community. It was totally neglected.

This trend continued in Post Independence era across the nation, especially the Hindi heartland of Bihar, Utter Pradesh, Rajasthan and M.P. states where Brahmins were a little over 9% of the population according to the 1931 Census. Their representation in assemblies peaked to 27% in 1962. But Brahmin leadership kept on given privileges after privileges to minorities, SCs, STs, OBCs and Muslims to remain in power and to consolidate their vote bank. 

Although their representation in corridors of power was very high but ordinary Brahmin was neglected, harmed and subjugated in all possible manners. In all the seminars at universities, colleges, political platforms, etc., they were the first target of attack. Brahmanism became a very negative term, hurled without any fear or shame, but Brahmins sitting cosily in power corridors remained silent. Leaders like B.R.Ambedkar, Babu Jagjivan Ram, socialists, communists all joined hands in this vitriolic attack. In southern states, reform movements were targeted mainly against Brahmins. In Tamilnadu, their condition was worst hit. Even an abusive slogan, Tilak tarajoo aur talwar, inke maro jute char,” was welcome as a revolutionary epithet. One Chief Secretary of UP was removed from his post because he happened to be a Brahmin.  

The Brahmin dominance became a pan-party story from the CWC, BJP nation executive and Politburo of Communists parties. Communists’ story is very contradictory. They were at the forefront of social, economic, political and reform campaigns and almost all the campaigns were targeted against the Brahmins in one way or the other by the Brahmins themselves. There is a new industry of NGOs, experts, social scientists, reformists, activists, communists, intellectuals, jurists, and journalists etc., who always look holes in Brahmins.  Even, the always righteous but always wrong, use poverty, illiteracy, social ills, even terror campaign to name a few to puncture the Brahmin intellect.  The anti-Brahmin decay is so obstinate that even the killings of Brahmins in Kashmir are never treated as a crime and Kashmiris are still proud of their Kashmiriyat.

The so-called secularism and social justice movement saw very adverse changes in Brahmin fortune, particularly in the last four decades. Brahmins were no longer elected as CMs in big states. This anti-Brahmin feeling took place in TN, Kerala and AP much earlier. the state like UP and Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, had not a Brahmin CM in 25 years. Even BJP which is accused as a Brahmin-Bania party had ignored Brahmins altogether in recent times. MP and Rajasthan have not had a Brahmin CM for a while.

The country now has only three Brahmin CMs, Mamata Banerjee in Bengal, Jayalalithaa in TN and Devendra Fadanvees in Maharashtra but they do nothing for their abused brethren. Mamata Banerjee's first concern is Muslims, Jayalalithaa's quotas, quota castes and Muslims.

The marginalisation of Brahmins is treated as forwardness and secular. In a much-planned manner, all the Sanskrit schools and Hindu Gurukuls were forced to close down. For long they were denied grants and salaries to teachers and staff and here it is needless to say that in such institutions percentage of Brahmin employees and teachers were very high. On the other hand Muslim Madrasas, Urdu Schools, minority institutions are financed very liberally. Similarly, on caste lines, SCs, STs, OBCs etc., are financed very liberally.

Yet Brahmins has not only survived, but thrived. But criticism, neglect, subjugation are Brahmin’s polish, making them shine even more. Finally, figuring Brahmin out gives us insights about who we are as Indians. The Brahmins did well is their ability to manage exceptions. They work to get good metrics. Brahmins may not be the perfect people, but at least on a few parameters they did much better than others. More importantly, they never made tall claims beforehand. They work hard first and marketed themselves later. 

Unemployable Education

Despite this reality that India is an emerging economy, there are many challenges in the field of quality education, which is the main hindrance in her development. With the liberalization, education sector was also opened to the private sector but it also failed to import quality education. Especially when it comes to the employable education, there is totally mismatch between the Indian employability standards and education system. This is an issue of serious concern. 
On the one hand our political class is guided not by the quality education but by the vote bank consolidation, our private sector is guided by monetary considerations. For the sake of vote bank considerations, our political masters have created plethora of quotes, communal, caste, language, handicap, sports, gender, etc., similarly private or business masters try to create more and more management or donations based quotes. In both the cases quality has to be compromised or lowered resulting in very poor quality output. 
This poor quality is affecting our nation’s growth and so far no innovative approach is being adopted to fill the vacuum and how the meritorious and talented minds are ignored. Due to the sub-standard enrollment, large numbers of students either drop out or are unsuccessful. 
Speaking at a seminar, Rajshekharan Pillai, VC, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), said. “With the student drop-out ratio in India being as high as approximately seventy percent, it is important that skills are taught to a child in his primary years. Thus I feel that it is the duty of the education sector to link formal education with specialised skills, so that it makes a student employable…” 
Similar views were also expressed by Narayan Murthy, Chairman, Infosys, who said around seventy-five percent of Indian graduates are unemployable. In its report World Bank said that around ninety percent of Indian graduates are unemployable. 
So, there is a total mismatch between the standard and competitiveness on the one side and curriculum and admission system on the other. In this cauldron employability and merit are the causality. 
There is a need to strike a balance between the standard of education and real world learning in order to make Indian students employable and ready by equipping them with the needs of workplace. We must educate the learners according to the requirements of job or employment rules. If education is imparted according to global standards, the jobs will start accommodating our students automatically. 
Education sector is a collaborative sector, consists of administration, teachers, students etc. this sector is also responsible for providing employable workforce, thus teaching and learning should be inclusive of knowledge, skills and aptitude and it must be from off any other agenda and considerations. Any preferential student cannot survive in a competitive world. Today education extends beyond classrooms and campuses. Emphasis should be on quality education, not on quantity. 
Right to Education (RTE), No Detention System or No Exam System, Inflating grades and marks, Continuous Evaluation System, Mid Day Meal, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, CBCS system etc., are also responsible for the poor standard of education. 
Today Indian education and employable students can be compared with NCC (National Cadets Corps). NCC boasts about being the biggest youth organisation of the world, but over the years in India itself, it failed to fill all the vacancies in the Indian Military and other security services. Same is the situation with employment scenario. The nation can boast the highest number of educated youths in the world, but the shortage of employable educated youth. So, this policy of corruption and various weight-age for admissions and passing, our nation is falling considerably in the field of employable youths. 
All the education experts in India have also shown lackadaisical interest and vague knowledge about academic and educational world of India. As government of India does nothing but does the mere token service for the education, similarly education experts also do the same formality. All talks and discuss the pitfalls about the scenario of Indian education in just few lines but do nothing. It is this tokenism which is spoiling the academic world of India. 
All advocate the autonomy for educational institutions in general and IITs, IIMs in particular for revamping the academic standard. But here it would be in the fitness of discussion that in India, a large number of Indian colleges and universities and all the minority institutions have autonomous status by nature. But standard is again very poor and they also prepare unemployable students. 
But what is the reality about those autonomous institutions; only corruption, donations, poor standard, nepotism and poor service conditions for teachers. In most of these autonomous colleges and universities academic standard is very poor. 
Similarly, experts suggest “research" as second methodology to improve the academic standard. But large a number of universities in India are involved in research on a massive scale. Some research guide in Delhi, Ghaziabad, Meerut, etc., places have guided hundreds of research scholars, leading to Ph.D. degree. Similarly in Indian many phony scholars can be seen who have hundreds of research papers to their credit. So autonomy, research etc., are not related at all with the standard and employability. 
It is the leadership and vote bank politics which have been spoiling the campus. Shri Kapil Sibal introduced a system where there is no examination and fails up to 11th standard. So we cannot expect a student doing excellent work at the IIT or higher level. Similarly, Late Arjun Singh etc., recognised madrasa and Church education. So we can understand the fate of that country where madrasa and church education are recognised. 
If we want to see excellence in academic world we must first start honouring merit. Second government must recruit qualified and meritorious candidate as teachers on permanent basis. All the vacant positions must be filled without any delay. Government must separate research from educational institutions. For good research good specialized research institute must be opened in large number. Up-to under-graduate and post graduate level there should not be any research. Teachers and students must be involved only in teaching and studies. In such institutions teachers should not be allowed to do or guide research. Similarly there promotions should also not be linked with research etc., Much talked about "Point System" is also a very negative system for teachers' promotion. It will completely demoralise the classroom teaching system and spoil the institutional environment. Actually, at Under Graduate level and Post Graduate level, only exhaustive classroom teaching should be there for academic excellence. There should and be any stress in the mind of research scholar about employment. 
If we want to improve upon this scenario, we need to strike a balance between the various weight-ages and the standard of education, to make the employable. 

A State And The Five Districts

Kashmir Valley is always in news. This valley has become a curse for this nation. This disturbed valley consists of five districts Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla, Kulgam, and Pulwama. There are total calm and peace in other seventeen districts out of twenty-two districts. So this is sheer stupidity to call it a Kashmir problem. These rioting districts consist of only 15% of total area and the population of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. These five districts house the venomous separatists, anti-nationals and fanatic Islamists who have made so-called ‘azadi’, rioting, terrorism and fanaticism as a big lucrative business. 

These anti-nationals are very handsomely paid by so many agencies. Even the government of India gives all the best facilities to these separatists, rioters, anti-nationals, arsonists, stone pelters, acid and bomb throwers and police armoury looters. They are showered with money, rioters get the best treatment, anti-nationals get fat economic packages in the name of healing touch and rehabilitation. 

Even Supreme Court is shocked on this attitude. It has questioned that why the government has been providing funds and security to separatists and anti-national. Funds are given by New Delhi to separatists and anti-nationals but they are involved in spreading hate and violence in the valley. They have hate for India and Hindus and they love Pakistan and Muslims. Now they are guided by fanatic and intolerant ‘Wahabi’ Islam. 

Similarly, 85% of state population is peace loving. Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Dogras, Paharis (45 %)Shias (12 %), Gurjars (14 %), Bakarwals (8 %), Bahari, Baltis, etc., also have no problem. They are also peaceful patriots. Only handful of Sunni Muslims has been spearheading this anarchy. 

But now this anti-national separatist’s movement has lost its meaning for the world. Now even Islamic nations do not pay any attention to this separatist’s movement. Now the world does not care. Worldwide, the Kashmir separatist movement is ruined by the alliance with Pakistan. The world sees Pakistan as a failed, rogue terror state. Pak occupied Baluchistan, PoK, Karachi, Sindh etc., have been witnessing the most brutal type of repression by Pak army and authorities. Same brutalities are done by pro-Pak elements in Kashmir, on Hindus and Indian security forces. A figure suggests that around one lakh lives have been lost in twenty-five years of terrorism let loose by pro-Pak terror elements. 

But their propaganda mechanism is very strong. They wrongly blame Indian government and Indian security forces of violence and oppression. Even the large numbers of Indian secularists, communists, journalist, intellectuals etc., speak the language of Pakistan and separatists. But now due to the growing strategic importance of India, the world is largely unruffled to the Kashmir issue. 

The other reason is there hundreds of terror groups in Islamic countries and nobody want to entertain other ones in Kashmir only to endanger their own security and peace in near future. But the biggest advantage India has on the world stage is Pakistan’s poor record of human rights in Baluchistan, PoK, Karachi, Sindh etc.. Similarly, Hindus of Pakistan also are worst victim of human rights violation and denial of the dignity of life. Pakistan is seen as a land of grooming and hosting terrorists and fanatics and repressing Hindus and other minorities. This association has brought a bad name to movement of Sunni Muslims of five districts. 

Irrelevant separatists and Pakistanis, perhaps have no idea that they have no reputation in the internationals arena. PM Modi’s open and bold eruption against Pakistan in the recent G20 summit and in west Asian countries stumped Pakistan and its best allies such as China, Turkey and even Saudi Arabia could not dare to defend Pakistan. Even Pakistan lost its status of an observer because all know that Pakistan has become a nation of terrorists and Islamic fanatics. Pakistan is seen as a nation with its deadly sponsorship of terrorism and fanaticism in not only in Kashmir but in entire India. 

All the more the latest move by Pakistan to depute 22 parliamentarians to world capital to lobby for Kashmir separatists has evoked international laughter. Pakistan has never told its citizens about the facts about the UN Resolution but shockingly India also never told her people and the world about the real UN Resolution. First UN Resolution was non-binding and second Pakistan had to vacate its occupation of Kashmir. It has also violated the Resolution by donating off a large part of PoK to China. So the resolution is now infructuous. 

So called the expert on Kashmir and peace activists do not want to solve this issue. They have made Kashmir problem as a very big lucrative business. If the problem is solved these elements will be irrelevant and their big business empire of hate and fascism will collapse. So they always find fault with Hindus, Indian democracy and Indian security forces and declare this a complicated issue. They love unrest and violence because they get another chance of five-star conference and fat package. 

Pakistan and separatists get the advantage of Indian peace nicks and use common factor, Islam, to impress valley Muslims. Pakistan and separatists know it very well that Indian secularists, communists and intellectuals will never blame Muslims as even world’ superpower secular democracies fail to control Islamic terrorism. Only like of President Putin or Communist China can control Islamic terrorism. Hence the Indian security forces and India only get a bad name in the mind of Muslims. Thus the ‘we hate India’ and ‘Pakistan zindabad’ slogans and perennially unsolved Kashmir problem are the fate of Kashmir. . 

Hence the Indian army, and India, only got a bad name in the Valley. Thus the ‘we hate India’ slogans and perennially unsolved Kashmir problem has become an ugly reality. In dealing Kashmir, the government of India must be very tough. The most fundamental reason of this problem is the ‘Article 370.’ This article has developed the feeling of separation and alienation in the heart and mind of Kashmir people. Only Muslims are behind this problem. They do not want to see any other non-Muslim to live in Kashmir. They have become highly intolerant. They don’t want to live in a secular India. New Delhi must scrap ‘Article 370’ for the assimilation of Kashmir people with rest of India. 


Pakistan and Pakistanis are the most ungrateful lot. Pakistan has survived not because of its strength but due to the foolish acts by India repeatedly. Pakistanis hate Hindus and India badly but they are never told that Pakistanis were converted from Hinduism. Indians and Pakistanis are people of common ancestry. 

Now PM Modi and his team have adopted very tough and robust approach and they are naming and shaming Pakistan and terror groups. They are trying to isolate Pakistan and its sympathisers. Kashmiris and Muslims are the most privileged and empowered people in this country. Actually, Kashmir problem has become a Muslim problem. India is a democratic nation and Muslims are the biggest vote bank so all the leaders and parties struggle for Muslim votes. They vote on the religious pattern and vote en-bloc. So they are considered as holier than the holy cows. It is the tendency of all to appease them and blame the entire nation for an even a bad cough to a Muslim. This mindset is the root of Kashmir problem. 

Intolerant Indians

Voters wise, India is world’s biggest democracy. But as far as maturity level is concerned, Indians are highly immature democrats. India is largely democratic as far as regular and timely elections are held but only partly democratic in other features. One field but very important in which the democratic deficiency is considerably related to freedom of expression. 

Constitution of India in itself is one of the main culprits in this field with so many draconian laws. There are numerous sections in  the Indian Penal Code (IPC) those are extensively used to abuse others. POSCO act, Domestic Violence Act, Rent Control Act, Prevention of Dowry Act, SC & ST Act, Land Ceiling Act, Chakbandi Act, etc.. Now Sedition Clause (Section 124A) is also widely misused. Even a minor comment on Mohammad or any other so called Holy book can put you in jail for years and years. These acts give the courts, police and the state extraordinary powers restrict the freedom of expression. 

The second flaw is with our judicial system. For decades and decades, courts do not decide upon the cases. There are around three crore cases pending in the different courts of the nation. Justice system is very slow and corrupt. Bail and stay provision is badly misused. Dreaded criminals like Shahabuddin, Mukhtar Ansari, and corrupt like Lalu Yadav etc., are given bail very easily but ordinary citizens have to languish in jail for a minor offence. 

A third threat is posed by caste (quotas) and communal (minority) politics in the name of secularism and social justice. The supporter of this type of politics considers their heroes perfect. Now Dalits shall be furious at even the mildest criticism of Ambedkar or quota system. Muslims at the mildest criticism of Mohammad, Sharia or Quran, Tamils at the little favour of Hindi and so on. Now are very touchy, thin-skinned and intolerant on minor issues but silent on big issues. They are silent on PoK, Chinese occupation of Indian territories, intrusion from Bangladesh and election victory of corrupt and criminal candidates. 

The fourth threat to freedom of expression in India is the behaviour of public with police and security forces. People take sides with criminals and anti-national and courts, media and right bodies harass and defame our forces. For killing a dreaded criminal like Shorabuddin, many brave and patriotic police officers had to languish in jail for years. Similarly in the funeral of dreaded terrorists like Yakub Menon, Afzal Guru and Ashraf Wani thousands of people participated. 

The fifth threat is the support of voters to corrupt politicians. Corrupt politicians like Lalu Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Mayawati, Karunanidhi, Sharad Pawar, Chautalas etc., enjoy wide support. Even some thugs and bigots have strong public support. 

Rajiv Gandhi-led Congress government banned The Stanic Verses written by Salman Rushdie even before a fatwa was issued by fanatic Ayatollah Khomeini. The communist chief ministers Jyoti Basu and Buddhadeb Bhattacharya banned the novels of Taslima Nasrin. Even they banned the entry of the writer in Bengal. Even secularists, communists, Islamists and media became highly intolerant to Sanskrit, Yoga, Manu Smiriti, Shrimad Bhagwat Gita and even to cows. 

Secularists, Communists, Socialists, Islamists etc., are highly intolerant to their opponents. Communists and Islamists are indulging large scale killing of their opponents like RSS workers and Hindutva opponents. 

Moving to regional leaders like Jayalalithaa, Karunanidhi, Lalu Yadav, Mamta Banerjee, Nitish Kumar, Mulayam Singh Yadav, etc., are highly intolerant to their political opponents. In acting or supporting all the Indian politicians are guided by vote bank politics. They have no courage to offend the vote banks i.e. Muslims and caste enjoying quotas. 

The sixth threat to freedom of expression is constituted by corrupt and biased media. Indian media is highly biased. Most of the media houses are controlled by journalists who are of left ideology. So spread all type of hate and lies about Hindus and other nationalist groups. They bully, suppress or put barriers in free and truthful reporting. This is especially very true in the case of English-language newspapers and television channels. 

Eight threat to the freedom of expression comprises by the ideologically creative writers and artists. Most of the Indian writers are radicalised communist writers and have very strong opinion about politics and society. Writers, painters, film-makers etc., have almost mortgaged himself or herself to their political party. Due to this nation has failed to produce great writers, artists, films, scientists, philosophers etc.. Last year a big drama ‘award wapsi’ was enacted by such writers and intellectuals. This has made Indians very intolerant, humourless and dry. 

……………….. 

Water wars

India has been facing frictions over the sharing of river waters. Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are fighting like two warring nations over sharing of Cauvery river waters. Punjab, Haryana and Delhi have also been engaged in horrid conflict over sharing of Sutlej river water and the construction of Sutlej-Yamuna link canal. Odisha and Chhatisgarh are also at loggerhead on sharing the water of Mahanadi river. Water sharing can also happen to be a hot issue that can develop into a conflict between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Water wars in future will create a problem for the entire nation. 

Central and state governments both are responsible for this situation. Water management is very bad in India. Floods and droughts are the regular havoc in India. The standard per capita availability of water is 1,550 cubic meters a year which make India as a ‘water deficient’ nation. Every year situation has been getting worse. According to a survey by ‘Central Ground Water Board’ suggest that before the south-west monsoon (April to July), the ground level falls around 65% in various part of the country. This situation is worsening every year. 

This is a big tension for the future. Today about 75% to 80% water recourses are consumed by agriculture sector but this sector supports more than half of India’s population. Indian farmers do not use modern techniques which result in the use of two to four times more water to produce the same unit of a crop as compared to China and Brazil. Government studies show that states like Punjab and Tamil Nadu are most water demanding productions. 

For example, Punjab consumes 4,118 litres and Tamil Nadu consumes 4,118 litres and whereas Bengal and Assam consume 2,169 and 2,432 litres of waters respectively to produce one kilogramme of rice. This problem can be solved very easily. States must construct dams and check dams in every districts and Link Rivers by constructing canals. 

But due to dirty politics by regional parties and obstructive and disruptive attitude of NGT and other environmental and green bodies, NGOs, judiciary etc., such positive actions are not implemented. Hence nation has to see such water wars between states in future. 

On the one hand, Indian states are fighting for waters but India’s great folly of 1960 is also responsible for this ‘water stressed’ situation. India signed a treaty with our enemy nation, Pakistan, which donates around 80% water of Indus river system to this enemy nation. The Indus Water Treaty (IWT) gives only 19.48% water of the six rivers of Indus system although all the rivers originate from India. 

If all the waters of Indus river system had been in India, there would have been no water shortage in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan and Utter Pradesh. Due to this suicidal treaty, Pakistan took away almost 80% waters of six Indians rivers named Indus, Jhelum, Ravi, Chenab, Beas and Sutlej with their tributaries. 

On the one hand India has been facing conflicts between her states and on the other hand, Pakistan has been tormenting India by misusing the provisions of IWT. But due to the pro-Pakistan vote-bank in India and very strong pro-Pak lobby, India is not in a position to terminate this disastrous treaty. Even Pakistan has been trying to stop the construction of small dams and hydropower projects. In 2005, noted water research institutes, International Water Management Institute and Tata Water Policy Programmes, also advocated for scrapping the Indus Water Treaty as it was against the interest of India. 
(Danik Jagran, New Delhi, 23 September, 2016, p-17.) 

Now this treaty is has a liability for the nation. If this treaty is dissolved, water shortage in six states of India will be solved. Few years’ back US unilaterally withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty after Russia did not agree with its revision. Now even the Muslim majority J&K assembly is demanding the annulling of this treaty. They found this treaty is also largely hampering the development of the state. According to nationalist environmentalist 

River expert and environmentalist Himanshu Thakkar of the South Asian Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) agrees with such an option. India has been permitted to construct storage of water on western rivers up to 3.6 million acre feet (MAF) for various purposes, but the country has not developed any storage facility. Thakkar said, “We have never exercised our rights under the treaty as we have not created infrastructure our side to use water of western rivers. We must, therefore, concentrate on building barrages and other storage facilities to use the water.” 
(The Times of India, New Del;hi, Saturday, September 24, 2016, p-19) 

Lately, India has started to address this problem of water and electricity shortages. Now India is building small dams and hydropower plants in Jammu and Kashmir. On the one hand, India and Indian states have become a “water-stressed” nation but Pakistan is building huge dams and power projects on these rivers, such as Bunji Dam (Capicity-7,000 MW), Bhasha Dam (Capacity 4,500 MW). Even Pakistan has invited China to build big dams in PoK and in Gilgit-Baltistan. 

Due to the surrender of India to Pakistan, this treaty is the most successful treaty. India never shows any courage to dissolve the treaty. The dissolution of IWT will give India enough water to link Chenab with Ravi-Beas-Sutlej-Yamuna system and to address the water problem in the northern part of the country. 

Nation is facing this new type of water wars. From tap to rivers and dams and from court to streets, such jostling can be seen. the flow of water in India is seemingly out of control. But the bitter irony is that there is hardly any voice against the arch enemy Pakistan for monopolising the water of six rivers. 

Water is in abundance in India. A population which has now more than quadrupled since 1951 has enough rain water. But this rainwater is not collected and stored in India. If all the rain water of Cauvery basin and her catchment area is collected and stored in dams and barrages, it will fulfil the needs of both warring states. 

Narrow vote bank politics create more rivalries. A number of states are involved in such conflicts. Now even communities, whose water will be diverted quickly rise up in organised protest like caste quota wars. For example, Bengaluru is not allowed more water from the Cauvery, so it tries to take from Netravati River, but far, far away, in Mangalore district people organise protests. Now big cities must respond by constructing dams, check dams and barrages to meet the demand of water. 

We can talk of perpetual water only when we ensure the regular flow of water in rivers. This can be ensured by the construction of dams, check dams, barrages, river linking and rain-water harvesting. Such methods will also reduce the pollution level of rivers. 

But unfortunately, most of the state governments are doing nothing on this front. Ironically, though, such measures will benefit everyone in the long run. Center, government and state governments come together to meet the demand and reduce clashes. With big dams and river linking, flexible water storage systems in form of check dams, barrages and rain-water harvesting system must be commissioned. This will also bring economic prosperity for all. We have to re-design and overhaul the water storing patterns to optimise every drop of rain, across all competing users- agriculture, industry, urban and rural domestic needs. 

Nation also needs a radical rethinking for water. The government must open integrated research institutions for surface and ground-water education and research which has long been neglected. They should only focus to govern water more wisely, both for quantity and quality. The specialist organisation like National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) must be involved in this exercise. 

Ironically, Bengaluru is very aggressive in the fight over the Cauvery, but it has almost killed two rivers due to pollution- Vrishabhavathy and Arkavathy, flowing in its backyard. Local bodies need to be radically restructured and remove all the encroachments from the river beds, catchment areas, wet-lands and water bodies. 

We cannot stop the conflicts like the Cauvery dispute or Mahanadi dispute or Sutlej-Yamuna link canal dispute without storing more water in dams and barrages. 

Citizens will have to compel elected representatives to build the new water facilities in the nation. Peacefully and perennially, then the Cauvery, Mahanadi, Sutlej and families of Indus rivers can flow. 

Destined for Sermons

This is not a new thing. Now in India activism has become a very flourishing profession. A large number of secularists, communists, Islamists, NGOs, journalists, etc., are employed in this business and minting tons of money. There is one Tirupati Desai, raiding Hindu temples with her brigade. But there is one thing common, all this activism is directed towards Hindus and Hinduism.

During Diwali, in the name of pollution control, so many types of restrictions and bans are imposed. On Holi, in the name of water conservation, all type of activists mock Holi. On Ganesh Puja, Chath Puja, Durga Puja etc., so many types of restrictions come into existence, especially on immersion of idols. In Tamilnadu centuries old game Jallikuttu is almost banned citing cruelty on animals. 

This ailment is so ridiculous that all type of dissections is banned in labs, educational, institutions and research institutes.  Even one cannot kill a cockroach, earthworm, rat, fish, frog etc., for the purpose of education or research in laboratories. This all activism either targets Hindus or Hinduism or national interest.

But all these activists are totally silent when evils of Islam or other minority groups are concerned. On Eid al-Adha (Id-ul-Zuha or Bakr-Id), Muslims slaughter animals. Millions and billions of healthy animals, animals giving milk and animals used in agriculture are slaughtered in most brutal manner. But all are silent on this evil and cruelty against animals. All internal critiques, activists, rationalists and reformers and even the liberal Lefts has played into the racial intolerance against Hindus like Trump.   

Here Hindus or Muslims are not an issue. The issue is why secularism has become a questionable concept. And secular leaders are seen with suspicion even in a secular nation. The reactions of secularists, leftists and liberals have been ineffective to the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in India. It seems that secularists, leftists, and liberals have no agenda, except that of xenophobic belligerence and lies about demographic changes. And yet they are shockingly popular. Secularists, leftists, and liberals milk the ignorance of masses by the help of corrupt media and they create false issues and sensationalize the non-issues.

The main reason for the failure of secularists, leftists, and liberals is that they almost support Islamic fanaticism and terrorism. People like Owesi, Azam Khan etc., flourish because of secularists, leftists and liberals take a stand on issues that support Islamic fanaticism. Their behavior is wrong but they remain valid in political galleries.

Here I recall talking to a poor farmer in Utter Pradesh. The farmer, a graying old man in his sixties and Jat by caste, wanted me to understand why he was going to vote for BJP. He said, “I am a secular man, but I am worried about my safety. I want my children must be safe in my own country. I want to celebrate my festivals without any fear and restrictions.

Issue of Bangladeshi’s invasion

Before we laugh on the Communists and secularists on such fears, we need to ask ourselves: would we dismiss similar fears expressed by an aborigine in Australia or Africa? Very few would. If so, what is it that makes us downplay the fears of Hindus and local people about losing their identity, resources, and land? So the current focus on intruders is very genuine.  Nobody can say that intrusion from Bangladesh is good.  But the seculars and the liberal Left always support intruders that rightist politicians and nationalists take them up — and play with the issue without any solutions.

The liberal Left also has a penchant to short-circuit all internal democracy and critiques. It thus dumps that entire space to the ‘othering’ xenophobia of nationalist politicians. For instance, in most liberal Left circles, it is very hard to critique Muslim societies as containing gender inequality, burqas, triple talaq, slaughtering, jihad, Sharia, madrassas etc.. The moment an Indian Muslim or any secular Hindu aim such a critique at interpretations and practices within Islam formations, they are accused of catering to the West or playing into the hands of BJP or other nationalist groups.

For instance, by focussing on the sati, purdah, dowry, Hindu puja system etc., Hinduism was defined in a very bad way but on matters like multiple wives, zenana, veiling, gender inequality, burqas, triple talaq, slaughtering, jihad, Sharia, madrassas etc., Muslim societies are never criticized in that manner by secularists and communists. Such definitions — in the above cases, Muslims are never questioned but Hindu societies were stereotyped as oppressing women and oppressive faith.

Similarly, on the issue of Dalits, Hindus are brutally attacked but on the repression of Shias, Voharas, Kadiyanis, Ahmedias, Kurds, Yezdis, Balochs, etc., they are all silent or supportive.

The reverse side of Liberal Lefts

Let us say that some Hindu circles do not give women the full freedom to choose their profession, education, or attire but the condition of women in Islam is very bad. But on Islam, Left-liberal is silent or supportive. Isn’t such a behavior is just the reverse side of secularism  — that is, we cannot talk about one culture as we are afraid of  them (or Muslims), but we are very aggressive on one because they are secular and liberal ( or Hindus). By doing so, we allow secular discourses to take over our complex realities, and hence surrender the complexity of our secularism to Islamic fanaticism. The secularism of left-liberal model has reduced the spectrum of our secularism to the special minority (Muslims) and Hindus.

But to react to this by decreeing that one cannot talk gender inequality or oppression in Muslim societies is to do something similar: put in place a discourse that denies the complex realities on the ground. This also encourages reactionary maulanas and maulvis in our societies to claim that they are just perfect — or Hindus are imperfect!

Interestingly, the liberal Left is quite critical of the flaws of Hindus and Western societies: for instance, it strongly condemned the ‘West ban on burqas and radical Islamic practices. But for the French equivalent of Hindu fear, this looks lopsided: after all, a large number of left intellectuals and NGOs are getting liberal aids from Islamic countries. Very recently in a local feud in Dadri over cow theft, one Akhlaq was killed. But these left liberals defamed the nation and Hindus, all over the world, as intolerant and violent. Even they started a movement of ‘award wapsi’ grasped by them due to their left connections. But these elements were silent on the killing of Hindus in Kashmir, Godhra, Mathura, Ayodhya etc.

Even the demand of Common Civil Code is opposed very vehemently by liberal Left but they are very strong supporters of slaughtering of cows. It is good that you oppose the caste or dowry ban, but how about also supporting the hijab, burqa, triple talaq, multiple wives, madrassas etc., ? But much of the liberal Left has chosen not to speak or support. And hence we get Modi, BIP, and Co.