Daily Excelsior... Editorial

EDITORIAL

By Ashok Thakur

It is early days yet but the irrepressible chief of the Rashtriya Janata Party and Railway Minister, Mr. Lalu Prasad, has given the nation a taste of the fireworks it can expect from the Bihar assembly elections, to be held in three phases early next year.....more

Education is broad sense

By Dimple Anil

The age of adolescents

By Dr. R. L. Bhat

EDITORIAL

Freedom above all

The United States thinktank, Freedom House, has simply reiterated a recognised fact with its conclusion that Jammu and Kashmir enjoys greater freedom than the territory of the State under Pakistan's occupation. In a classification of the countries across the globe in three categories namely free, partly free and not free, it has described J&K as 'partly free' and the PoK, which consists of 'Azad' Kashmir and the Northern Areas, as 'not free'. Pakistan itself has been deemed as 'not free' and it ranks below Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal all of which have been accorded 'partly free' status. India is actually the only country in South Asia that has been classified 'free'. This evaluation has been done in terms of political rights and civil liberties enjoyed by the citizens. Who can deny that the freedom available to people in this country far exceeds that held by their counterparts in other developing nations? It is highly remarkable the way they zealously guard their democratic and Constitutional rights despite a tough economic environment and sharp cultural, linguistic and religious diversity. On the other hand Pakistan has been governed more by military regimes: the predicament of its political leaders can be measured by the reality that two of its former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto have been living in exile. This should not surprise anyone, therefore, that the conditions in this State have been found better than in Pakistan leave alone in the region it has forcibly taken over. Is it not enough to take the wind out of Pakistan's frequent charges of violation of human rights in this State? The state of affairs in Pakistan is further explained by its President Pervez Musharraf's decision to retain his army uniform. He may be either unable or reluctant to leave his dual charge as the army chief. In both cases it is a telling commentary on the political scenario as it prevails in Pakistan that nothing can move without keeping the armed forces in good humour.

It is doubtful whether there can be any comparison of the situation between the State and its piece across the Line of Control. First, it needs to be recalled that Muzaffarabad, Mirpur and even Gilgit were swallowed by Pakistan after unabashedly stabbing Maharaja Hari Singh in the back: it had agreed to honour his Standstill Agreement only to tear it apart by pushing the tribal raiders into the Valley. Secondly, these areas have been deprived of the healthy democratic fervour because of two main factors: one is that successive governments in Pakistan have by and large thrived on the suppression of the basic liberties and the other --- it is a little surprising --- is that they seem to have always nursed suspicion of their own 'Kashmiri' leaders as a result of which even the stalwarts like Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan ('Prime Minister' of 'Azad' Kashmir as a big part of the occupied territory is locally known) and Sardar Abdul Qayum Khan who have steadfastly worked for the State's merger with Pakistan are often treated as if they were puppets. On the whole, however, the status of the inhabitants of this region is definitely better than the people of Gilgit, who are directly administered by Pakistan and are the victims of the worst type of repression. Those in Gilgit and the areas around it have grown up in total isolation. They have an elected local organisation but it does not seem to have the powers of a notified area committee. On a practical plane, Gilgit affairs are actually run by a Pakistan minister helped by a bureaucrat.

Even in the case of 'Azad' Kashmir although there is a semblance of democracy with the elections being held periodically for a full-fledged legislative body it is the Pakistan Government that invariably calls the shots by ensuring the elevation of its pet as the 'Prime Minister' and appointment of its nominee as its 'President'. In sharp contrast, one will find a transparent atmosphere prevailing on our side of the LoC. After the early sour experience democracy has come a long way: nothing will corroborate this assertion more than the Assembly elections of 1996 followed by those held in 2002 in the full international media and diplomatic glare. It can't be denied that the people and their rights have been under some strain during the last 15 years because of a vicious tussle of the gun. That is why perhaps the State has been put in the 'paltry free' class. It is true at the same time that the media and political parties, including of secessionist hues, have been exercising complete freedom all through this period of turmoil. In fact, some times it will appear as if they have unbridled liberty as they preach even those ideologies for which they may be tried for treason in the best of democracies leave alone in Communist and Military rules. 'Freedom House' has overlooked this aspect. However, since it has by and large made a fair assessment we should keep trying to cross hurdles in the way of the State becoming as free as the rest of the country.

Avert this disaster

A thought-provoking article in this newspaper recently has compelled attention to the grave threat posed to the Mansar Lake in the Jammu region because of sheer negligence. Since there are no barriers the sediments are carried into the water body from the surrounding areas as and when it rains. As a consequence there are deposits of silt taking a heavy toll of natural springs. Domestic animals like buffaloes are encouraged to revel in the lake for bathing purposes, their urine and droppings affecting the quality of not only water but also the soil. More often the polythene bags used by the people are also thrown into the reservoir in a totally cavalier fashion. Over the years quite a few government and private buildings have been constructed in its catchment area further spoiling the overall environment. Not surprisingly, therefore, the lake has shrunk to almost half the size of 'one mile in length and quite half a mile in width' recorded nearly a century ago. There just can't be two opinions that many of these problems have cropped up because of slow awareness on the part of the people about the need to protect their natural assets and exploit them for enhancing the glory of their area by attracting the tourists. There is much merit in the argument that the people should be encouraged to develop economic interests in the maintenance and development of the lake. Giving those living in its vicinity the land on a priority basis for raising tourism infrastructure can do this. Of course, the spot for this purpose must be specifically marked so that it is neither too close nor too far from the venue it is supposed to cater. Emphasis should be simultaneously on soil conservation and plantation of trees while for the animals a provision could be made for grazing. Hoardings must be put up at prominent points cautioning the tourists against throwing their leftovers outside dustbins. In brief, no attempt should be spared to save this precious gem of Jammu.

Can over-confidence trip Lalu?

By Ashok Thakur

Hardly had the ruckus over the railway minister's absence from Parliament immediately after the train accident in Punjab subsided, than Mr. Lalu Prasad was in the eye of the storm. This time, he was caught on television camera distributing 100-rupee notes to slum-dwellers in Patna. And that too after the Election Commission had announced the election dates and the model Code of Conduct had come into effect.

Though the outrage of the National Democratic Alliance - particularly, the BJP - will not impress too many people, especially the scribes who have witnessed such scenes from all political parties from time immemorial, infuriating is the arrogance and the disdain with which Mr. Yadav continues to flaunt accepted norms of democracy.

Bluster, swagger and flamboyance have been hallmark of his politics. All this had made him a colourful figure to report on/write about and, hence, he has managed to hog media headlines.

His supporters will put out a long list of positive points on why Mr. Lalu Prasad deserves a prominent place in India's political scene, because in a state like Bihar, which was for decades in the stranglehold of the classes and upper-caste supremacy, he is believed to have given a voice to the helpless and the voiceless.

It is thanks to the tremendous backing from his M-Y (Muslim-Yadav) supporters that the RJD strongman has managed to rule Bihar for nearly 15 years; sometimes riding on the wave of strategic alliances, and at others managing to scrape together a coalition government when allies had shied away before the polls. If there is one Indian politician who has defied the anti-incumbency mantra, it is Lalu, who has done this doggedly and repeatedly. While the administrative machinery in Bihar continues to rust, the RJD chief moves from one success to another.

But there comes a time when too much success spells the beginning of the end. The nation watched this happen with the previous NDA regime; the BJP-led coalition was so taken in by the "India Shining" campaign, that it failed to imagine that dark clouds could be gathering, in the shape of the 2004 Lok Sabha polls. The NDA's entire campaign and, indeed, even its governance was conducted in a manner that took for granted its return to power. What happened when the results came out is history.

Anyway, political pundits and academicians in Bihar, while analysing the RJD strongman's prospects in the coming election, have started comparing him to the pre-general elections over-confident NDA.

They had never imagined they could lose; but look at what happened. Similarly, Lalu is so sure that he will somehow manage to get the votes - either by terrorising or buying voters' patronage - that it doesn't even occur to him that the people of Bihar might vote decisively this time for a change in the state's ruling dispensation. Pride always leads to fall; and this time it appears that the man at the receiving end will be the RD chief.

What is infuriating the people in Bihar is that while the rest of India is changing and developing, Bihar continues to languish under bad governance, violence and under-development.

Many people feel that while once upon a time, it was the zamindari system that was plaguing the state its people, today it is a feudal stranglehold of a different kind… a system where known offenders like Pappu Yadav and Mohammed Tasleemuddin continue to rule the roost. It was not only the Election Commission but also the people of Bihar who were not amused by the RJD chief's antics, including the organising of Lalu Express and Rabri Express - to ferry people to the kisan-mazdoor RJD rally in Patna, since called off.

When he and his wife rule Bihar, they behave as though the state is their fiefdom; now that he is the railway minister, he behaves as though the entire railway network belongs to him, and the voters do not take kindly to such things.

The Election Commission has taken serious note of Mr. Lalu Prasad's currency distribution and filed seven FIRs against his party asking why its recognition should not be cancelled. Mr. Lalu Prasad has been the first to back down, cancelling the December 23 rally. But, again, his swagger is disturbing, he has said this cancelled rally will be converted into a "victory rally" after his party wins the elections.

That is easier said than done. An important factor in these polls will be Mr. Lalu Prasad's parting of ways with the Lok Jan Shakti Party's Ram Vilas Paswan, and it looks as though this time around it will really be an uphill battle for the RJD.

Though, for the time being, the war of words between Mr. Lalu Prasad and Mr. Paswan may have ended, following the prime minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh's intervention, it is clear that the rift is so wide - Mr. Paswan feels humiliated by the manner in which the RJD chief grabbed the railway ministry, originally reserved for him - that there is no way Mr. Paswan will close ranks with Mr. Lalu Prasad once again. And Mr. Paswan's exit will be a big blow in terms of the Dalit votes.

As far as the Congress is concerned, it hardly has a presence in Bihar, it is in a coalition government at the Centre. In order to keep the seat of power in Delhi, it has to play the second-fiddle to regional allies in the states.

Again, Mr. Lalu Prasad, with typical arrogance, had offered it only four seats in the Lok Sabha elections; in the assembly elections, the RJD initially offered the Congress paltry 10 seats. When Congressmen expressed outrage at this, the RJD leaders challenged them to select "winnable" seats and then revert to them with a wish list. So the Congress, at best, will be an unenthusiastic ally in this election.

Of course, the beleaguered BJP and the deeply divided Janata Dal (U) are sparing no effort to woo Mr. Paswan to their camp. But the Dalit leader was not exactly treated like a VIP in the NDA, which he left after an extremely uncomfortable coexistence.

If Mr. Lalu Prasad retains Bihar, it will be less due to muscle power and misuse of official machinery and more because there is no credible opposition against him. The BJP leader in Bihar, Mr. Sushil Modi, is no match for the Lalu charisma, and the other alternative - Mr. Shatrughan Sinha - will only bring in more bluster and bravado than any hope of good governance. INAV

Education is broad sense

By Dimple Anil

The academicians feel very strongly about education in our country. How do we define education? Is it learning from books? Passing an examination? Being able to earn a fat packet of salary? Adjust in the present scenario? Or is to become sensitive to world around us? Is it to improve the present structure of the society? Or is it to flow with the tide and keep cribbing, playing the blame game and feeling above the other lot by saying repeatedly, I am the best!! The student of today feels that the world is full of callous, indifferent and cruel people. The students often ask what they can do when they are surrounded by such people. We as teachers need to repeatedly affirm that our endeavor should not be to change others, but we need to change ourselves. We must tell them that if we continue blaming others then they (our children) will also grow up to be callous, indifferent and cruel. Our children feel that our society is useless, because it does not understand them. We as teachers must keep on telling them that why are they trying to be understood than to understand. How strange it is that we want to change everything and everybody around us but not ourselves. It actually means that we do not want to change; we want to change others so we remain shallow, low and violent.

Now, as teachers do we ever think that somewhere we are responsible for the callousness, cruelty and the indifference in the society, in our children, in our students. Actually, our attitude trickles down to our pupils-we may not be conscious of it but it does affect them. If our teachers have a negative outlook of life it may be because of the following factors :

(i) Environment (ii) Experience (iii) Education. These are the triple E's of attitude.

Environment encompasses (a) Home (b) School (c) Work (d) Media (e) Religious background (f) Traditions and beliefs (g) Social & Political environment. All the above put together create CULTURE. Every place, be it a home, organization or a country- has a culture. Our teachers must be conscious of the above, have the time to sit and understand his/her environment, so that positive culture goes down to the students. Culture in any place goes top down, never bottom up. So, if our children, students feel that society is mean, dishonest & disloyal. WE NEED TO LOOK INSIDE. We must remember culture goes top bottom.

The second 'E' of attitude is Experience. Our behaviour changes with experiences with people and events in our life. If we have a positive experience with a person or an event, our attitude becomes positive. But is this all ? Deep understanding of events and people will enable us to invoke positive experiences for us. Only if we remember ''half glass/full/empty story''. It is the way we look at things. If our attitude is positive our experience shall also be positive else vice-versa. Thus, experience is not the end and be all to guide our attitudes. At times our experiences are interpreted by us because of our education, environment, perception and understanding. But if attitude is healthy so shall be our experiences. I remember Sr Benedict of St Mary's Presentation Convent, telling us that our attitude can instill love in a person who hates us. So probably our attitude is the end and be all.

Last but not the least the third 'E' is Education--- education here is to be understoond in a very broad sense, it doesn't mean formal or informal education but both. Teachers' education affects Eternity. The effect of the attitude of the teacher is immeasurable. Education of the teacher should be able to teach not only how to make a living but also HOW TO LIVE. May we dare to ask, ''Do we really get educated in schools and colleges?'' I would say we get information in schools and colleges and we do need information but that's not education. Intellectual education influences the head while value based education influences the heart. Infact, the education that does not educate the heart is dangerous. If we ignore this aspect of education then our schools, offices, organizations will crumble because after all some minimum level of moral and ethical literacy is required. Our teachers should be educated in education that builds fundamental traits of character such as honesty, compassion, courage, loyalty, persistence and responsibility, which are absolutely essential. We really do not need more academic education, our focus has to be towards moral and value based education. Steven Muller, President Johns Hopkins University has rightly commented.

''Univesities are turning out highly skilled barbarians because we do not provide a frame work of values to young people, who more and more are searching for it.'' If our teachers have the inclination of ''Learn to Learn'' then our education may be able to lead our youth in the right direction. Our teachers have great onus of guiding our children to choose wisely and courageously under any circumstances. If our students are able to differentiate between the good and bad, virtues and vices then only they can be called educated. So our teachers' have to be educated to be able to educate our dear ones who feel that the society is driven by selfish, inhumane and egotists. The reigns are in the hands of our teachers if THEY RISE THEY CAN AWAKEN ALL!! SITUATION IS BAD BUT NOT THAT BAD.

We must also remember that absence of negativity alone does not make a person positive. A positive person will always be humble, patient and confident. He/she will always radiate positivism, will set very high goals for him/her and shall strive towards these expectations without wasting time in tongue wagging and back-biting. If our teachers work towards inculcating a positive attitude they shall certainly increase productivity, make beautiful and confident citizens, reduce stress and build a strong, healthy nation. Positive attitude can be built if one is aware of his/her negative disposition and has the will to reprogram him/her.

THUS LOOK FOR GOLD AND YOU SHALL GET IT.

(The author is Principal Army School Nagrota)

The age of adolescents

By Dr. R. L. Bhat

If there is one thing to set apart the year that is soon going to go over to the past, it would be interactions between nations, peoples and groups. In the subcontinent that is rife with conflicts, the year put its two determinative nations on…ah yes, the table. From Musharraf and Vajpayee parroting almost identical lines on violence in the very first week of the year to the recently concluded Kathmandu conclave where the leaders from two Kashmirs condemned violence in unison, the year has been talkative like hell. Dove-full love and a mounting clamor for peace rang all through the year without the slightest dampening even as the Government changed hands in Delhi and the general in Pakistan went back on his promise to his own people. The harangue of peace that began in Islamabad on the sidelines of SAARC rang across the border with a bang that could have left the whole subcontinent dazed. It didn't, but nobody can say that the subcontinent remained untouched by the bonhomie between the two traditional rivals.

What Vajpayee had begun in Islamabad was carried forward by Man Mohan Singh in the facilitating environs of New York. Musharraf seemed to have chummed up with the gentle sardar as much as he had gelled with the poet Prime Minister. A slight glitch developed as Musharraf put out a seven-course feast at an iftaar fast-breaking. After many sparing picks by the Indian foreign minister, who is now getting known for his guffaws in policy matters, the Prime Minister put an end to any partaking of this craftily served fare during his Kashmir visit in the last quarter of the year. For a moment it appeared that the old familiar road block had been reached as the Pak president threatened to go back on his word and fly straight to the early days of UN resolutions. But better sense soon took over as his ministers were assigned the task of soothing the ruffled feathers. His Prime Minister completed the job during his visit to New Delhi soon after. Probably, the longish meeting that Showkat Aziz held with Hurriyat was the price Indian side paid for getting caught in the Musharrafian net. By now that meet has become one in the endless teetatees of the year, making it fuller, richer.

Of course, much of this growing yarana could be attributed to the theory that peace would dawn with greater interaction between the peoples who, being ardent peace lovers would force their respective establishments to broker peace. This theory has all the post-facto justifications like increased prosperity, less bloodshed, increased travel and contacts and so on till there would be peace and happiness all around. Many would say that this goody-goody theory with its flowery reasoning has not evolved hereabout but has been thrust upon the two nations by that eternal do-gooder USA. But then much of the conflict has been imposed by those good offices. And a little offering - nay, no pressurizing, we are sovereigns here - of peace would hardly hurt. Indeed, the curious way in which the peace has risen from certain wrecks during the year would attest to supernatural influences being at work. The very change of guards in New Delhi was seen as a potential threat to the peace-plans hatched by Vajpayee. BJP had actually tried to sell 'peace-with-Pakistan' as one of its elections planks. A threatening wrecking lay when the new Foreign Minister, soon after the congress-lead UPA Government took over, shot off his mouth with his foot firmly in it.

Then came the Prime Minister's categorical assertion that there would be no change in borders. It prompted back-to-UN outburst from Musharaf and all seemed to have been lost. Inside the arena around which most of these games are situated things did not look too encouraging. The Hurriyat-home minister talks that had been the highlight of the first quarter were virtually abandoned as soon as the new government took over. When the MOS Home Jaiswal came visiting in summer he talked of 'talks within constitution'. His utterings had barely been calmed than the Home Minister circulated his letter at press briefing at Jammu that pointedly accused Hurriyat and Pakistan of subverting talks. National Security Advisor Dixit's tough taunt that Hurriyat refusing to meet Indian Prime Minister was too eager to meet Pak officials seemed to have been designed to put Hurriyat in its place. No wonder the center-Hurriyat talks are still off. Meanwhile almost everybody in Kashmir is talking like parrots in the legend. From Kathmandu to Toronto through London and all over, they have been talking and talking. As the year draws to a close there are clear indications that the Hurriyat may get its heart-wish of Pak visit to talk heartily there. And nobody is asking 'why' at all!

In the meanwhile there has been some reality talk from PoK. There is a clear division there: the Pak lobby is working overtime, but the Gilgit and other unhappy people are also making themselves heard. Strangely India has not been eager to see northwards; Drass - Skardu road has been talked more by that side than been taken up by this side where Muzaffarabad is the clear pet. People to people. One to one. Contact and interaction. That is the message…nay, strategy of the talking year. Will it live after the year bows out? That is the question for the New Year to address.