Vishal Sharma
While we all talk and take our respective positions vis-à-vis Art 370 and residency laws based on where we come from within J&K, none, and more significantly, local media, have spoken about the intra region apprehensions that exist today in the state. There has been a stray comment or two, that too of fleeting nature, as a part of entirely different debate in which the intra regional polarization has been subtly held as an important variable in the political calculus of the state-one that will change the way politics and the sociology have historically played out here.
The pathologies associated with sociology of a system donot change the existing paradigms within which societies transact themselves in a jiffy. Change comes about over time. And it is a disruptive change. That’s because the pathologies are aspirational and, therefore, do not settle for status quo. Disturbance of status quo, for we all know, is not a quiet transition. Similar such thing may be in the process of incarnating itself in the state. And if this prognosis is even remotely true, we may be in for some serious spring cleaning. Who knows?
For as much I can remember the social fabric of the state has been an exemplar of syncretic traditions- one which has had the influence of three of the world’s most important religions. Although not easy, there has been tremendous harmonization of disparate ways of life both at the social and interpersonal level. Sometimes, there has been lurking intra regional suspicions though of the kind that one region has made economic merry at the expense of the other or one region has had more political enfranchisement than the other so on and so forth. But such apprehensions did not ever harden the positions ideologically within the state as much. The psychological coherence in the state’s discourse has weathered the assault on its physical.
This coherence though seems to have come apart during the Amarnath land row or so it seems. The various strands of narrative have unraveled and taken different ideological hues. From what was merely an intra regional drift in the beginning, the polarization has now travelled down to sub regional levels and, what’s worse, its streak has become progressively potent. Each ethnic region vies for political, economic and social empowerment and visibility. Their competing instincts are fierce and unsparing; the collective has given way to individual. The state does not matter; it’s the region or sub-region, if you will, one comes from that is important. If one’s region is not sufficiently empowered, one could not care less about the state.
The polarization that we see today is the result of failings at all the three levels: political, economic and social. Politically, Jammu and Ladakh regions see themselves as inconsequential. Politics is always a numbers game. In this arithmetic calculus, the two regions see themselves as only top up entities and not an integral prime in themselves. Kashmir on the other hand sees its domination being increasingly extenuated with the creation of ideological alternatives in a polity that has lived only by a singular political thought.
On the other end of spectrum, the political polarization is also exemplified by the fact that there has been no single pan state party representing aspirations of all the people. Even when a party has emerged on a pan state level, it has had to posture differently in the three regions to stay relevant. This constraint on a pan state party to speak in different voices in different regions of the state is reflective of the failure of the politics to forge cross regional consensus on important issues.
Nowhere the polarization has been as stark as in the economic sphere. While the state’s economic pie has been limited, the claims on it from different quarters have been disproportionately high. This has been due to mutual suspicions that the regions have harboured vis-à-vis each other. And it’s not only the resources which have been lusted after or coveted wildly, regions have also been very touchy about contributing to the tax kitty of the state. Concerns have been raised by one region or the other that it has been made to fork out more than the other. Then there have also been issues of which region has landed more big ticket projects; which regions is the biggest beneficiary of a particular CSS so on and so forth. Such intra regional bickering in the economic arena has also been seen in the SFC report which was filed but perhaps never accepted by the Government.
At the social level, for more than a decade, the interpersonal relationship between the people of Jammu and that of Kashmir has weakened. It is a sociological malaise that has its genesis in the turbulence of 90 and onwards. Though we are well past the blood and gore of 90s, we have not seen the sociological bonding of the pre 90 days when the friendship at the offices was strengthened by the visits to each others’ families in the evenings and the off days. Darbar moves of pre 90s were distinctly different from what they are today. The hordes of the families of the employees who would come and add to the vibrancy and buzz of the bazaars in Srinagar have been replaced by only the service persons coming now with the move, with their families joining them later only on  sojourns. Some families would even put their kids into the local schools at Srinagar for the duration of summer holidays. This allowed kids to mingle and assimilate the cultural values of the other side. Similar such adjustments were made by Kashmiris when they moved with darbar to Jammu. Such spontaneous mixing led to an inter-cultural understanding that also showed up in the cross party political consensus of the time. But 90s changed it forever.
The unusual thing about this polarization is that it exists, but is not publicly debated, perhaps, for fear of some wider implications- the implications which a saner element would be hard put to it to figure out. But even, if these implications were in the nature of taking the state to the brink of whatever it is, would it be not appropriate to deal with it. Putting off a problem does not resolve it. It only compounds it. It was expected of the political parties in the state to discuss how politically polarized our state has become and, of course, the ways to address it. But they continue to look the other way. It can’t be believed that it does not cross their minds when they sit to discuss Art 370 and other issues. It is perhaps the proverbial elephant in the room which they feel is best left untouched. But the recent elections show that this elephant in the room has got up and become wild. And, if it is not tamed, it may knock us down forever.

Prof M L Raina
The process of the recent Parliamentary elections was  marked by unwholesome hiccups. The campaigning component of this process was, unusually, the bitterest and the most venomous one, never witnessed before in the history of independent India. Nastiest words and phrases, unrestrained abusive language and outrageous personal attacks were all outside the bounds of civilized behaviour. The facade of decency, concealing the dross beneath, floundered, bringing to the fore the brutish element lurking inside.
No need to dialate on this unpleasant subject, because all that happened is common knowledge. What is of utmost importance is why it happened and what was the driving force behind this electoral madness. The reason is not far to seek. Utter despondency and helplessness, born of the fear of losing power, the chief source of amassing wealth through immoral means, gripped the aspirants. The prospects of powerlessness sent shivers down their spines.
As thick as thieves, the unfeeling and insensitively callous politicians in the fray joined their hands and hearts together for hatching a conspiracy to come to power and loot, as before, the nations wealth, lock, stock and barrel. Thus they hit upon a plan of maligning Modi who, they feared, would descend like a colossus on the gloomiest political landscape, and bring back sunshine to drive the darkness of hopelessness out.
The sustained virulent attack against Modi by the evil comrades in arms’, left no trick untried, in their panic, to keep Modi out from  the arena of the poll battle. All of them, especially the ruling congress party, apprehended that if Modi happened to occupy the  Central State of the country’s polity, lots of skeltons would tumble out of their cupboards and spell disaster for them, for their sins, present and past. That is why all the ‘stalwarts’ in the states and more importantly at the centre, with the metaphoric albatrosses round their necks made every effort to decry Modi on the most frivolous and ludicrous grounds. Setting  aside all norms of political probity, they stooped so low as to call him Halaku, Hitler, fascist and what not.
It is aptly said that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. In the uncouth Congress regime, absolute power centred in one person, bred many ills in the country. Corrupt practices in different department were not looked into, thus encouraging frauds, scams and sleaze.  With the blessing of the only power centre, the authorities at the lower rungs and also the ministers, wore blinkers, walked straight, without caring to looks sideways to see how the masses suffered. Their focus was only on their ultimate goal of looting money, right and left, with impunity. Their lust for power benumbed them completely and their power of feeling for the poor people of their country was lost.
Once power is tasted it holds a person in its unrelenting grip, like an intoxicating drug does. Like a drug addict, politicians, noble exceptions apart, remain immersed blissfully in a pool of delight. If this power of joy is snatched away from a person, he develops withdrawal symptoms. He thirsts for the lost power-drug. He loses his balance of mind and writhes, with helplessness  empowering him painfully. He spits venom at those who have robbed his drug of power. All the Modi bashing leaders envisaged these withdrawal symptoms and thus left no stone unturned to upset his apple – cart.
The Congress party leaders, steeped in arrogance, were dead sure that no power on the earth could ever dislodge them. Moreover, they laboured under an illusion that they had the divine right to rule and perpetuate dynasty rule. The sycophants and there was no dearth of  them, played the ‘second fiddle to the party-boss who believed that family rule, rather dynasty rule was there to stay. This idea of dynasty rule for the perpetuation of one party and one family system,  had its resonance in other states where the chiefs of the parties plunged their wards, sons and daughters, life partners cousins and others of their clan into the fray. This trend was fraught with dangerous consequences.
At the centre, for some years past, this trend of dynasty rule, and a single power centre pointed unmistakebly to the most abhorrently undermocratic idea of one person’s rule, rather absolute rule where, as the bard. says, “the will of one, Is law for all.”
The agony and profound resentment in the public mind increased by the day against the apathy shown by the authorities. All the protests fell flat. Snowballing of the public rage was secretly taking peace inwardly.
There is a belief that God sees the truth but waits. When the forces of evil in any part of the word are unleashed, and reach their climax, Divine intervention happens, to  eradicate these forces of evil and cause goodness to prevail. It dispenses justice to the helpless people, denied for a long time  At the same time what we call Divine Justice (punishment to the sinners)  takes place.
The Divine willed and sent an angel in human shape on the unsavoury scene of the country’s political spectrum, to root out the rot and cleanse all the clogged channels of progress and prosperity. At times what is not expected in the wildest of dreams happens. It is not given to man to know anything about the divine dynamics.
This tme, the most unexpected phenomenon has happened. The Congress party, so deeply  entrenched in the Indian political system for decades, has been routed neck and crop despite its painting Modi black and using its choicest loose cannons in disinformation and far fetched and rigmarolish diatribes, sans pith and substance.
Now a colossal and dramatic change for the better has swept the country. The people especially the youth have heaved a sigh of relief. During the time of campaigning, Modi’s inspiring lectures caught the  imagination of the youth and his sincere assurances of a bright future for them filled them with hope and they followed him like mad, their pent up rage and suffocation found an expression in their vociferous slogans, like ‘aab ki baar Modi sarkar”. They regarded him as the country’s saviour. All this frenzy for change was in line with the Divine scheme of things, aiming at cleaning the morass of Indian politics, which had hindered progress, and caused all round resentment against anti-people policies.

Poonam I Kaushish
Will winds of change sweep across India’s Parliament? If you feel that’s impossible, knowing our Right Honourables’ think again. A valiant effort is being made to ‘put-in’ reformation mode India’s high temple of democracy. Of course, it remains to be seen if our MPs’ play ‘fair’!
The 16th Lok Sabha scripted a “unanimous” new beginning on Friday last. When 71-year-old battle-hardened Sumitra Mahajan “Tai” (elder sister in Marathi), who created a record by winning 8-times in a row from the same Lok Sabha constituency Indore, rode high on optimism into history books, as India’s second lady Speaker.
With Government-Opposition ties hitting rock bottom which has marred the functioning of previous two Lok Sabhas’, the new Speaker known for her trademark simplicity made plain that she was no pushover, meant business and would not hesitate to crack the whip.
Creating “coordination” among Parties would be her top priority and she would be “gentle but firm” to ensure smooth proceedings. The former Union Minister asserted, “It is a challenge. I will be like a mother, who loves her kids and scolds them as well when needed.” Her message ran loud and clear: Put the Lok Sabha back on the rails.
It is a moot point whether she will be able to restore the Lok Sabha’s long lost glory, notwithstanding her intensions. Sadly over the decades the temple of democracy has got drowned in the cacophony of petty foggers, one-upmanship and conmanship. Will she be able to ensure Parliament functions through debate, discussion and consensus?
More so as the challenges confronting the nation have increased manifold. The country is today in the throes of economic stagnation, increasing social tensions. In addition, there are forces within and without eager to destabilise India and disrupt its unity and integrity. This calls for reasoned debate.
Yet, till date even a one-man Opposition army has prevented discussion by holding the House to ransom. Not a few members have made it a habit of rushing into the well of the House. All spew sheer contempt. Bringing things to such a pass that pursuit of power, pelf and patronage is replacing law making. The figures tell all. Parliament spends less than 10% of time on legislative matters and the most on trivialities.
Moreover, we take great pride in calling ourselves the world’s largest democracy. Yet most of us forget that Parliamentary democracy provides for a civilized form of Government based on discussion, debate and consensus. Alas, ruthless politics has taken over and discussions and debates have largely lost their meaning. Numbers alone matter and have become the sole criteria of success.
In this milieu, the Speaker’s role has become all the more important and demanding.   Few in India, however, appreciate even today the key role of the Speaker without whom, according to Erskine May, “the House has no Constitutional existence.” Nehru repeatedly emphasised the importance of the Office of the Speaker and laid emphasis on its prestige and authority.
Said he in 1958: “The Speaker represents the House. He represents the dignity of the House, the freedom and liberty. Therefore, it is right that his should be an honoured position, a free position and should be occupied always by men of outstanding ability and impartiality.”
Alas, over like the years Parties have used Constitutional posts as lollipops to reward or oblige Party workers, the Speakership is no exception. Think. Although the Lok Sabha Rules of Procedure are largely based on the Westminster model, the all-important issue of having an independent Speaker was overlooked.
Under the Westminster system of Parliamentary democracy in Britain, an MP resigns from the Party on his election as Speaker. What is more, the Speaker is re-elected unopposed to the House of Commons in subsequent elections. But as one former Lok Sabha Speaker told me: “We are elected on Party tickets with Party funds. How can we claim independence? Moreover, even if we resign on becoming the Speaker, we would still have to go back to the same Party for sponsorship for the next election.”
Undeniably, to conduct the business of the House smoothly, there has to be stern discipline.  Discussions have to be made more meaningful and focused through a strict time schedule. Today, time management has become a joke. Most Speakers have been too indulgent, allowing Party leaders to speak endlessly, as though they are speaking in at a political rally.
Consequently, crucial legislative business meriting in-depth debate is rushed through with only a cursory glance. There is no such thing as first, second and third readings of bills as during Parliament’s golden era under Nehru. Unlike in past, demands for grants of various Ministries and Departments, running into lakhs of crores of rupees are guillotined without any discussion because time gets wasted on non-issues.
No doubt, Madam Speaker has to walk a tight rope. She has to ensure among other things that the Opposition has its say even as the Government has its way. For starters she needs to take a leaf out of the book of the West to save time, wherein the microphone is switched off as soon as a MP finishes his allotted time. Winston Churchill once told his party MPs that MPs should endeavour to make only one point in their speeches. It is the privilege of Prime Ministers alone to make two points!
True, there is no magic remedy. The process has to be slow and long. Nevertheless, a meaningful beginning could be made if Speaker Mahajan puts an end to brazen rowdyism. The Chair needs to ensure that the House is not held to ransom through a ‘gang up’ of MPs determined to disrupt its smooth functioning.  Any member rushing into the well of the House should automatically stand suspended for a week.
What next? Clearly, it is time to rectify the flaws in our system. Rules have to be drastically changed to put Parliament back on track and ensure that none can hold the House to ransom. First and foremost, we have to be clear: There can be no place in a 21st-century Parliament for people upholding19th-century prejudices.
With 315 new MPs it remains to be seen if our jan sevaks adopt an attitude of cooperation rather than confrontation and adhere to rules. They must desist from reducing the circular sandstone building, our temple of democracy in to a monument like Taj Mahal or Qutab Minar. We know what pigeons do to them.
As Prime Minister Modi gets down to bringing change in governance, he must recognize the key role of the Speaker and enable her to serve India’s Parliamentary democracy impartially like a true servant with total loyalty and devotion. By adopting the British maxim: “Once Speaker always Speaker”
In the final analysis, Speaker Mahajan needs to heed Indira Gandhi’s words: “Parliament is even as a bulwark of democracy… It has also a very heavy task of keeping an image that will gain it the faith and respect of the people. Because, if that is lost, then I don’t know what could happen later.” That faith and respect requires to be restored and built by the new Speaker through a new chapter. Any takers?  INFA