The Republic Day, January 26

India became a Republic on January 26, 1950 on promulgation of the Constitution of India. The day is celebrated as the Republic Day, a national holiday. I take this opportunity to congratulate my fellow citizens and wish them a Happy Republic Day.

January 26, Republic Day, is an important day in the journey of

Republic Day Parade at Rajpath at New Dehi

contemporary India. We have come a long way in this journey. It is a matter of great satisfaction, to my mind, that in spite of many problems pertaining to religious and cultural diversity and caste ridden society and also illiteracy and poverty, the constitution could withstand and face the challenges and succeeded in guiding us in our “tryst with destiny”.  It is a tribute to our founding fathers, particularly to Babasaheb Ambedkar, father of the Indian constitution. In commemoration of the constitution, Government of PM Narendra Modi rightly decided to observe November 26 as the Constitution Day. “We the people of India” enacted, adopted and gave ourselves the constitution in the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949. Some of the speeches and interventions made by the MPs both in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were worth listening to rededicate ourselves to the lofty ideals and philosophy enshrined in the constitution.

Of late, some of the issues of importance and concern which

Flag hoisting at Siver Residency at Jalandhar

engaged the attention of the governments, the political parties and the civil society really require in depth debate and decision to meet the challenges in the journey of the Indian Republic. Let us try to find and identify these issues. Two such issues emanate from the preamble of the constitution – the words secular and socialist. In their own wisdom, and I think rightly so, the constitution makers did not include these two contentious words in the preamble. They justified their conscious thinking, particularly by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar who piloted the constitution and replied to the debates, on the subject. There was no problem. The provisions of the constitution amply made the Indian Republic secular and socialist in spirit without the mention of these words. Subsequently, the Government of PM Indira Gandhi inserted these words in the preamble by an amendment in 1974 recommended by the Swaran Singh Committee. It was a shortsighted decision, according to many constitutional experts and political scientists and practicing politicians and administrators. Till date, these two words i.e. secular and socialist remain symbols of contention generating avoidable heat and strife in the polity and society. Let us admit and accept that India is a secular and socialist state and should remain so. We are a pluralistic society of social, religious and cultural diversity. There is no other way but to remain secular and socialist with a sense of “unity in diversity”.  The principles of state policy stipulated in the constitution are equally important as fundamental rights. Implementation of these principles will help in establishing the socialist and egalitarian spirit of the constitution. The goals of justice, equality, liberty and fraternity so thoughtfully visualized could only be achieved if the society comes out of the manuwadi mindset and endeavors to bring about a casteless society on one hand and fair treatment of the minorities and other marginalized segments of the society. There is no need to invoke the majoritarian point of view. There has been a long debate on intolerance recently. We shall mend our thinking and allow a sense of accommodation and understanding to prevail. No more Rohith Vemulas should be compelled to commit suicide. There is no place for narrow nationalism and re-writing of history. The question of reservations for the socially and educationally neglected sections of the society, particularly dalits should be addressed with compassion and understanding. We must understand these suppressed people have suffered social and political tyranny for centuries. It will take some time to bring them at par with the rest of the society. The claim to merit sounds very good but let us first provide a level playing field and equal opportunity and also equal economic leverage to these marginalized people and then talk of merit. They are no more ready to keep bearing the burden of manuwadi system of graded inequality. On the political front, we are a democratic country and that too the largest democracy of the world. But the political parties and the politicians, it seems, could not stand up to the expectations and requirements of a sound and pragmatic edifice which is needed to sustain the system. Our political outfits could not evolve and bring about polarization of political forces on the basis of ideology and programme. There is no difference among the parties like SP, JDU, RJD, NCP, TMC, BSP, among others. Only names are different. All of these have a limited and narrow agenda with self centered people at the helm. The regional parties like DMK, AIDMK, Akali Dal, BJD, Shiv Sena, National Conference, LJP etc. tend to generate and support divisive fissiparous tendencies which go against the underlying current of unity. Is it not possible to contain these political outfits to their respective regions? I don’t know how it could be done. But I think that these regional parties may not be permitted to contest Lok Sabha elections. It will bring in much needed stability and cohesion at the centre. In any case the views and representation of the states is assured in the Rajya Sabha. Last but not the least, it will be in order, if some guiding rules and directions to stage and demonstrate democratic public protest, are made. Right from the tehsil level to districts and the state capitals and also the national capital at New Delhi, some places and venues may be identified and fixed for such protests. There is no harm in regulating these erratic activities which put the common man to unnecessary inconvenience and damage to public property and peace. Babasaheb Ambedkar rightly warned that there was no place for unconstitutional methods to express democratic protest and disagreement. He termed it as “Grammar of Anarchy”. The same regulations may also be applicable to religious shoba yatras and processions. These tend to generate unnecessary social heat leading to tension and avoidable violence. These are some of the stray thoughts which could be considered to make our Republic glorious and a happy place to live.

With this let me close by quoting the worries of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar which he expressed on November 26, 1949 in his last speech in the Constituent Assembly. He said, “On the 26^th January, 1950, India would be a democratic country in the sense that India from that day would have a government of the people, by the people and for the people. The same thought comes to my mind. What would happen to her democratic constitution?  Will she be able to maintain it or will she lose it again? This is the second thought that comes to my mind and makes me as anxious as the first.” Let us put at rest the anxieties expressed by our forefathers by adhering to the constitution and constitutional methods to safeguard and ensure further progress and prosperity of our country.

TAILPIECE:

Quote

On Republic Day, the Tricolour will be unfurled by our President in the national capital, by Governors in the state capitals, by Collectors in their district headquarters. The national anthem will be played or sung to salutes given and taken. “Jai Hind” will resound across the country in varying tones of patriotic self-persuasion.

But what should drown all these sounds and sights is “Jai Bheem”, the two-word salutation with which Rohith signs off his ‘letter’.

Does it invoke Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar? Of course it does. Does it castigate our times? Of course it does. Does it speak for Dalit India? But of course!

Unquote

Extract from an article from The Tribune of January 26, 2016 written by Gopal Krishan Gandhi, Professor of History at Ashoka University

Suicide of Rohith Vemula

The suicide of Rohith Vemula, a dalit PhD. student at Hyderabad

Central University is currently engaging the entire country and rightly so. It is a shameful tragedy which requires universal condemnation and immediate introspection both by the society and the government. But it seems that many of the stake-holders are merely doing a lip service to safe-guard their vested interests. They are not interested in addressing the root cause of the problem and the causes which led Rohith to take this extreme step. It is certain that the death of Rohith will haunt the society and the establishment in the years to come and polarize the society further which would not be good for the country and its polity.

The BJP government, BJP and its affiliates and masters in ABVP and RSS respectively are trying their best to control the damage caused by defending the alleged culprits belonging to the Hindutva forces and the university authorities. The opposition political outfits are interested in exploiting the situation to corner the government for political and electoral gains. The media and intelligentsia are equally divided and have not displayed any objective criteria to address the issues involved to ward off such unfortunate incidents in the future. The society at large, particularly the upper castes, is not, it seems, perturbed at all endorsing the saying “only the wearer knows where the shoe is pinching”. Dalits all over India seem to be extremely agitated with the happenings in Hyderabad and the protests are gaining pan-India involvement. It seems to me that the death of Rohith Vemula is potent enough to trigger the avoidable sequence of untoward happenings which could be detrimental to the unity of the country and integration of the society. The dalits are increasingly getting charged and perturbed with the changing ground realities. They are no more ready to sit and suffer humiliation and indignities heaped on them by the manuwadi society. Perhaps, this newly gained status and mindset by the suffering masses is not finding acceptance with the oppressors. They find it difficult to accept and associate them as equals. This conflict of interests is all set to gain further strength which may result in all out confrontation. Let us do something concrete to address the issues before it is too late to ward off the warning of the leader of the Congress Malik Arjun Khadge when he spoke of “bloodshed” in the recent debate in the Lok Sabha.

The pain of the dalit intelligentsia is writ large in the suicide note and other communications of Rohith Vemula. It is good and fortunate that Babasaheb Ambedkar, by upbringing, education and conviction, believed in the Buddhist philosophy of peace and harmony. He advised his followers and the suffering humanity and also the country to follow the constitutional means to make our democratic setup to work. Dr. Ambedkar warned that if the political democracy is not transformed into social and economic democracy, the people who are suffering from these inequalities and living life of drudgery will tear off the system and throw it out. A casteless society is the first step towards that end. But unfortunately, the Indian society is not ready to accept this. The upper castes want to have the cake and eat it too. It is no more tenable. The ensuing conflict and strife can lead to a situation which would put our country into further difficulties. We must consider and realize this, the sooner the better.

मेरे  आँसू देख कर न हंसा करो;

यह वह आंसू हैं जिस से तख्ते  सुल्तानी बदलती है !

Tailpiece:

 The last message of Rohith Vemula to his associates in Ambedkar Students Association (ASA) –

Quote

To ASA family, sorry for disappointing all of you. You loved me very much. I wish all the very best for the future. For one last time, Jai Bheem

Unquote

Out of the Box Diplomacy – India-Pakistan Relations

On becoming the Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj,  last year in May, 2014, used the term “Out of the Box” diplomacy which PM Narendra Modi’s government would like to pursue in the conduct of India’s international relations, particularly with its neighbors. Accordingly, both PM Narendra Modi and EAM Sushma Swaraj have been pursuing the foreign policy goals of India over the last one and a half years with a new approach and inputs wherever required and possible on one hand and carrying forward the traditional tenets of its international engagement. Obviously, foreign policy is an on-going process and will continue to meet the challenges, both old and new.

The immediate provocation to write on the “Out of the Box”

diplomacy with regard to Indo-Pak relations is PM Narendra Modi’s surprise visit to Lahore to meet PM Nawaz Sharif on December 25, 2015, ostensibly, to wish PM Nawaz Sharif a happy birthday and join the festivities of the marriage of PM Nawaz Sharif’s granddaughter. It is said that PM Narendra Modi has a penchant for high drama. Why not? He is a leader by his own right whose government enjoys clear majority in the Lok Sabha with overwhelming popular mandate. PM Narendra Modi can afford to undertake, as assessed by Vivek Katju an Indian diplomat and Pakistan expert, who termed it as “innovative diplomacy” with “a quest to make history”. Ever since, PM Modi took over in May, 2014, he has given much needed impetus and visibility to the Indian diplomacy by taking personal initiatives and establishing personal rapport with world leaders to protect and promote Indian interests. Obviously, it requires an “Out of the box” approach leaving aside some of the diplomatic nothings, the so called protocol niceties. PM Narendra Modi’s surprise visit to Lahore on December 25 was a diplomatic master-stroke, keeping in line with his work style and “a quest to make history”. It is simply an academic exercise to discuss as to how it happened? I think, it was thought and planned by PM Modi himself. It is possible he kept NSA Ajit Doval and FS Dr. S. Jaishankar on the loop. He knew in his mind how PM Nawaz sharif will respond to his birthday greetings from Kabul and he would immediately grab the opportunity. It exactly happened the way it was visualized by PM Modi. The special Indian Air force plane was deployed to take care of the security requirements. Befitting gifts were available in the gifts inventory for the granddaughter of Nawaz Sharif. The Indian side has explained how PM Modi telephoned PM Sharif to wish him happy birthday and how, in turn, he invited him to Lahore on his way back from Kabul to have tea with him and join the marriage festivities of his grand-daughter. The Pakistani side explained it with a little twist, perhaps to cater to the local needs that PM Modi telephoned to say happy birthday to PM Sharif and desired to make a brief halt at Lahore on his way back from Kabul to do so. Whatever the case, the purpose was served as mused by PM Narendra Modi to “completely transform India-Pak relations” in the words of an enlightened commentator.

It needs no elaboration that India-Pakistan relations are extremely complex and difficult from day one of their becoming independent nations in August, 1947. Most of the Hindus could not digest the two-nation theory on the basis of which Pakistan came into existence. Some of them are still talking of Akhand Bharat. Pakistan and also Bangladesh are independent and sovereign states and will remain so. My advice to the likes of Ram Madhav of RSS is to study the thought provoking book “Thoughts on Pakistan” written by the finest mind of India Dr. B.R. Ambedkar well before the partition of India. The rest is history. The Kashmir issue is the core issue, as stated by Pakistan, which is the left-over agenda of partition. We may or may not admit it but it is a reality. Despite the “Stand-still Agreement”, Pakistan invaded Kashmir and tried to annex it by force in 1948 itself. Understanding the situation, on Kashmir’s legal accession to India, leaders like Sardar Patel, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Govind Ballabh Pant and also Babasaheb Ambedkar advised PM Jawaharlal Nehru to throw out Pakistani invaders by force and kill the issue. But PM Nehru’s thinking was at variance.  He was seeing the issue through the prism of the eyes of Lord Mountbatten and Sheikh Abdullah which, it seems, was a big mistake. Dr. Ambedkar, though he was not involved in matters related to foreign policy when he was the Law Minister in the interim government of PM Nehru, suo-motto gave his views on the Kashmir issue. I quote from an article written by Dr. K. Jamnadas “Kashmir Problem from Ambedkarite Perspective,” Even about Kashmir, the issue on which we are fighting, who is in the right and who is in the wrong. The real issue to my mind, he said, is not who is in the right but what is right and he observed: "... my view has always been that the right solution is to partition Kashmir. Give the Hindu and Buddhist part to India and the Muslim part to Pakistan as we did in the case of India. We are really not concerned with the Muslim part of Kashmir. It is a matter between the Muslims of Kashmir and Pakistan. They may decide the issue, as they like. Or if you like, divide it into three parts; the Cease-fire zone, the Valley and the Jammu-Ladakh Region and have a plebiscite only in the Valley. What I am afraid of is that in the proposed plebiscite, which is to be an overall plebiscite, the Hindus and Buddhists of Kashmir are likely to be dragged into Pakistan against their wishes and we may have to face the same problems as we are facing today in East Bengal."

Dr. Ambedkar was a genius. The solution given by him was pragmatic and was not based on misplaced emotions. Had PM Jawaharlal Nehru listened to him, both the newly independent countries would not have suffered the economic burden of defense of the long border and also the subsequent full blown wars and often repeated border skirmishes resulting in constant hostility between the two neighbors. Even after 68 long years, the solution still lies somewhere close to Dr. Ambedkar’s thinking. PM Indira Gandhi and PM Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, it is said, agreed in 1972 at the time of Simla Agreement to convert the Line of Control (LOC) into international border and settle the core issue of Kashmir. It could not happen. The Nobel Peace Prize eluded them. PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee was interested in making history and he tried with PM Nawaz Sharif and President Pervez Musharraf but failed. PM Manmohan Singh and President Pervez Musharraf picked up the threads and thought of making the LOC and International border between India and Pakistan “irrelevant” and become the contenders for the coveted peace prize. But again it was not to be. Somebody else is destined to make history. Will they be PM Narendra Modi and PM Nawaz Sharif? Only time will tell.

We all know that the Kashmir issue cannot be solved by either side

by force. Both India and Pakistan are nuclear powers. The stakes are too high. Nobody will be interested in making it a flash point for the unimaginable holocaust. The leaderships of both India and Pakistan and the people on both the sides and also the international community are not oblivious of these ground realities. The international scenario is changing fast in view of cross border terrorism and regional conflicts. The challenges of development and environment are needed to be addressed to save humanity. The “Out of the Box” solutions and approaches are needed. The festering problem of Kashmir and the emerging situation in Afghanistan needs immediate attention. Both India and Pakistan are required to rise to the occasion to ward of the imminent dangers of allowing the situation to worsen.

Given the background of PM Narendra Modi, he has an image of a

hawk in Pakistan. It becomes all the more difficult for him to do business with Pakistani leadership particularly that of the Pak army and Islamic fundamentalists. On the other hand, it appears that PM Narendra Modi intends to steal the show and make history by adopting an “Out of the Box” approach. He invited PM Nawaz Sharif to his swearing in ceremony in May, 2014 along with his other SAARC counterparts, registering diplomatic deftness on his part. In spite of usual ups and downs in relations with Pakistan, PM Narendra Modi kept the diplomatic routes open. From Ufa to Paris, he did not leave any opportunity to engage Pakistan in constructive dialogue. Addressing the army commanders recently, PM Modi said, setting the agenda, “We are engaging Pakistan to try and turn the corners of history, bringing an end to terrorism, build peaceful relations, advance cooperation and promote stability and prosperity in the region.”  The NSAs of India and Pakistan, Ajit Doval and Nasser Janjua respectively met in Bangkok followed by the visit of EAM Sushma Swaraj to Islamabad in December itself to pave the way for “Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue” which was stalled due to the vicious bitterness and mistrust existing in the relationship with Pakistan. PM Narendra Modi’s unscheduled visit to Lahore on December 25 on the birthday of PM Nawaz Sharif, PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a diplomatic masterstroke to engage Pakistan in the process of creating history. Let us hope, the process continues and the desired results obtained.

It is not an easy task. Pakistan has to tone-down the rhetoric of “Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan” and shed and shun the policy of exporting terrorism. India being a big country in the region should be more accommodative and magnanimous in dealing with its estranged brother. The government of PM Narendra Modi, with a clear majority in the Lok Sabha, should create political and diplomatic consensus on the issues of conflict and contention within the country. The civil society should be prepared to engage with Pakistan by encouraging people to people contacts. Cultural bonds should be nurtured. The opportunities for the two way trade between the two countries should be explored, identified and exploited. The likes of Ram Madhav, the votary of ‘Akhand Bharat’, should be asked to shut up. The forces of understanding and friendship should be unleashed to create a conducive atmosphere for meaningful dialogue to solve the vexed problems to mutual benefit and advantage.

It is easier said than done. But there is, it seems, a growing feeling of tiredness on both sides. There is a growing realization that force and undiplomatic methods cannot solve the problems and challenges generated by the history. Let us consider and opt for the policy of ‘give and take’ as advised by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, of course, with necessary adjustments which may be required to address the current situation. Let us wish the leaderships of both India and Pakistan under the stewardship of PM Narendra Modi and PM Nawaz Sharif all the very best in the New Year and help them in making history for the people of India and Pakistan and the world at large.

आ गैरीअत के परदे इक बार फिर उठा दें;

बिछडों को फिर मिला दें; नक़्शे दुई मिटा दें ,

सुन्नी पड़ी हुई है मुद्दत  से दिल की बस्ती; 

आ इक नया शिवालय इस देश में बना दें !

Happy New Year to the people of India and Pakistan.

On losing a dear one

I write in my blog quite often on matters of interest and concern but

for the last three weeks or so I could not do so. I lost my balance and felt dejected on account of a family tragedy. We lost Brijesh Chander (Bablu), 27 years, newly married (10 months) son of my brother Krishan Lal on November 30, 2015, just in a couple of days, succumbing to a fatal attack of dengue. It was a devastating blow to our family. We belong to an ordinary family of three brothers and four sisters. The sisters are happily married and are doing well in their families. Out of the three brothers, I am the eldest, 65 years, a retired diplomat. With God’s grace and good up-bringing by my poor parents, I could do fairly fine and have no regrets. Krishan, the middle one, is a self made man, in spite of the fact of our difficult days; he could not get a good education and started on his own from scratch in the sports industry. With sheer dedication and hard work, he gave a good education and initial push to his three children. Brijesh, the younger child, was an MBA who decided to be a businessman by the side of his father Krishan in the sports goods market. He could prove himself in a short period of about three years in carrying forward the vision of his partner and childhood friend, Lalit Angural who also left forever suddenly at an age of 23 years succumbing to a severe heart attack. Lalit was the son of my Sambandhi (father of my daughter-in-law Sulekha). Both Lalit and Brijesh were the up-coming and shining stars of our family. Paramjit, my third brother, is also doing well with BSNL in Jalandhar. He has two young and educated sons, Pervez and Umesh, who are also engaged in business in sports goods and are on track. The untimely death of Brijesh has left a wide gap and vacuum which is difficult to fill in our otherwise happy family. It is just very difficult and unbearable to see Reena, 23, the young wife of Bablu who herself was aspiring to join the police force in the sports quota being a trained athlete and state level hockey player. Her future has suddenly become uncertain and directionless. Only time will set the course right.

In accordance with the law of nature, there have been deaths in our family earlier as well. I could not reach and participate in the funerals of any of my direct relations. I controlled my emotions and did not ask my people to delay the funeral on account of my inability to reach in time. My grand-father died in 1972. I was late to reach for the funeral from Delhi. The means were not many and resources were meager. Fearing the untoward due to continuous ill health of my father, Sodhi Ram, I spent a month’s leave in December, 1985 with him in Jalandhar. But he advised me to go ahead and join my new assignment in Kandy (Sri Lanka). Again I could not reach in time to see his face on his death in March, 1986 as it was difficult to come to India from Kandy than any European capital. My grand-mother died in 1996. My sister Kamla and I could not reach in time. Pritam Kaur, my mother died in October, 2005. I could not come from Prague (Czech Republic) due to exigencies of service. I did not, as such, see and experience the pain of death first hand.  I tried and managed things as they came.

Now I am in Jalandhar, back home to my roots after retirement from service. Bablu’s sudden death was a devastating experience for me and the entire well-knit family of ours. A week before his death on November 30, both Bablu and his lovely wife Reena were dancing at the marriage of our niece (sister’s daughter) on November 24. Two days at a hospital in Jalandhar and two days in Ludhiana with deadly dengue took Bablu away from us. There was no delay whatsoever in providing the best of medical help and care but there were no signs of recovery. I personally saw Bablu fighting for life. He wanted, I felt, to live and see the results of his hard work which his young and energetic mind and soul visualized for the family. Bablu was not only my nephew but a friend. After I came back to Jalandhar, I depended on him for so many odd errands which he undertook and did without any hesitation. He used to tease us (me and my wife Vidya) for our simple and frugal life style. Jokingly, he used to say that it was no fun in going to Taiji; she would give us something stale from the fridge. He was such a jovial fellow. I remember once in the days of some marriage in the family, I said before going to bed that now please let me sleep with Shanti (peace). Bablu immediately, with a clear naughty intent, said, ‘Oh Taiji come here, Tayaji is going to sleep with Shanti.’ It was a joke of the day. It was Bablu, our dear Bablu.

Bablu’s funeral was conducted on November 30 and the final rites (Antim Ardas) on December 10. I could see and feel, if I am permitted to say with all humility, how our society in and around Jalandhar felt and joined us in our hour of grief. The entire sports industry and market, where Brijesh and his father Krishan worked, was closed as a mark of respect and sympathy on November 30. More than 2000 men and women joined the funeral procession and paid their homage to the departed soul and consoled the bereaved family. I was told that it was one of the biggest congregations on such occasions in the area. Likewise, on December 10, on the day

of Antim Ardas, Guru Ravidass Dham at Bootan Mandi where the Ardas was held witnessed unprecedented participation by our friends and relations and was over-flowing the capacity of the huge prayer hall of the Dham. I was touched by the spontaneous and heartfelt sympathies shown by the society with our humble family. We value the love and support of our friends and relations in our hour of grief.

Death is an inevitable reality of life. One has to accept it. There is no other way. But it was beyond my imagination that death of one person could change the entire spectrum of a family. Bablu’s death has exactly done so for my brother Krishan and his homely wife Baksho. They were happy and of late said so many a times while talking in the family. Their three children, after good education, were happily married and were doing well in their respective professions. Daughter, Mamta, is a qualified doctor, married to Dr. Varinder Sood in Ludhiana. Both are practicing doctors at their own clinic. Mahesh, the elder brother of Bablu, is an Assistant Professor in the Engineering Faculty at Sant Baba Bhag Singh University in Jalandhar.  He is married to Anju, an M. Tech and has a lovely daughter. Just recently they started living in their new flat with a view to provide social privacy to the newly married brother, Bablu, at their family home. It is beyond ones comprehension to understand the miserable condition of the wife of Bablu, Reena. They were still enjoying their extended honey-moon. Everything has gone topsy-turvy.    Krishan was contemplating to seek pre-mature retirement from his good job in one of the leading companies in the sports industry. It has to be put on hold. Mahesh will resign from his academic career and join business to stand for Bablu in the nascent company. Mahesh and Anju will have to consider and join the family to live together with parents. Reena requires all support to live a dignified life and start afresh. Obviously, an element of uncertainty prevails and challenges are many fold.

Bablu has left a wide gap which is difficult to fill. One can only pray. Time, it is said, is a big healer.

ज़माना बड़े शौक से सुन रहा था;

हम ही सो गये, दास्ताँ कहते कहते !

The Constitution Day – November 26

The Constituent Assembly drafted, debated, enacted and finally

adopted the constitution of India on November 26, 1949. Government of India has thoughtfully decided to commemorate the adoption of the constitution and to honour its chief architect of, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as the Constitution Day by devoting a two-day Special Session of the Parliament on November 26-27, 2015. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkiah Naidu, announcing the decision said, “Since we are celebrating the birth centenary of Ambedkarji, we have decided this. We will be discussing in parliament the commitment to the constitution and the contribution of Ambedkar to it.” It is a welcome initiative by the Government as it will not only provide an opportunity to the parliamentarians to commit themselves to the lofty ideals and underlying philosophy of equality, liberty and fraternity so laboriously enshrined in the constitution, but also educate the Indian youth to understand and follow the constitutional methods to conduct themselves to take India to further heights. The occasion will also be utilized to remember and pay homage to the memory of the father of the constitution, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the greatest son of India, in commemoration of his 125^th birth anniversary. There was a media report that CBSE has directed all schools and institutions to observe November 26 as the Constitution Day by hosting events to commemorate the constitution and the philosophy of its Preamble. It is an appreciative step which would tend to instill a sense of respect and regard for the constitution of India in the young minds. The decision of the Government would also tend to generate a much needed debate in the parliament and the country at large on the constitution and its philosophy of democracy, secularism, socialism based on the cardinal principles of Equality, Liberty and Fraternity in these days of increasing sense of hatred and strife both in the polity and society. According to media reports, the CPI (M) has endorsed the special session and demanded that Government should come prepared with legislation to extend the provisions of reservation to the private sector “for carrying on the unfinished agenda and vision of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar on the issue of social justice.”

Much water has flown in the Ganges after 68 years of

Independence. We have come a long way but yet to reach our goal which we set for ourselves in the constitution that is to transform India into a democratic, secular and socialist republic in which governance is based on the lofty ideals of equality, liberty and fraternity. Our secularism is under threat. It seems we are working on the assumption, show me the face or tell me the name and I will give and explain the meaning of secularism. It is not what our fore-fathers wanted. As regards, socialism, it is a far cry till date. A vast majority of our people are condemned to live below the poverty line. Income disparities are increasing among haves and have-nots. It was not what our fore-fathers desired. Coming to equality, liberty and fraternity enshrined so wisely in our constitution, we could not realize the magic of these three cardinal words and transform our political democracy into social and economic democracy as visualized by the father of the constitution Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. It seems a casteless society is yet far away.  I hope the parliamentarians, lifting themselves above the party lines, discuss these issues and rededicate themselves afresh in these two days, November 26-27, 2015, of the special session in the 125^th anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar. It will be a befitting tribute to the memory of the great leader.

In spite of the fact that the underlying current in the country at the

time of independence in 1947 was against Dr. Ambedkar but, it seems, he was destined to make history by coming to the Constituent Assembly. With great opposition and difficulty, Dr. Ambedkar managed to get elected from Bengal, not from his home state Maharastra, with the help of Joginder Nath Mandal who later like Dr. Ambedkar became the first Law Minister of Pakistan. Dr. Ambedkar started his sterling contribution in the making of the Indian constitution. Later when the Congress Party and its leadership realized that it was Dr. Ambedkar alone who was capable to undertake the onerous task of drafting and piloting the constitution, he was helped to retain his seat in the Constituent Assembly from Maharastra. Dr. Ambedkar’s speech on the Objectives Resolution moved by Jawaharlal Nehru set the tone of his mind and soul which he intended to devote to the job. Dr. Ambedkar said, “I know today we are divided politically, socially and economically. We are in warring camps and I am probably one of the leaders of a warring camp. But with all this I am convinced that, given time and circumstances, nothing in the world well prevent this country from becoming one, and, with all our castes and creeds, I have not the slightest hesitation in saying that we shall in some form be a united people.”  Commenting on these developments, the biographer of Dr. Ambedkar, Dhananjay Keer wrote, “The sacrilege had become counsel, and the scoffer had become a friend who cast a spell on the Congressmen. Few speeches have given such a turn to the life of a speaker.” The rest is history. Dr. Ambedkar was made the Chairman of the Drafting Committee to draft, pilot and get passed by the constituent Assembly the new constitution of India. He undertook the job with great élan and completed it in a record time to usher India into the comity of civilized and dignified countries. The constitution was finally enacted and passed and adopted on November 26, 1949 which is today, November 26, 2015, celebrated by the Parliament of India to mark the 125^th Anniversary of its Chief Architect, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. The very opening sentence of the poetic Preamble of the constitution registers the caliber and intellect of its father and I quote, “We the people of India have solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign, Democratic, Secular and Socialist Republic…” The destiny of India was sealed magnanimously.  Summing up the sentiments of the members of the constituent Assembly, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, President of the Assembly, paid glowing tributes to Dr. Ambedkar and said, “Sitting in the Chair and watching the proceedings from day to day, I have realized as nobody could have, with what zeal and devotion the members of the Drafting Committee and especially its Chairman, Dr. Ambedkar, in spite of his indifferent health have worked (Cheers). We would never make a decision which was or could be ever so right as when we put him on the Drafting Committee and made him its Chairman. He has not only justified his selection but has added luster to the work which he has done.”

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar made a beautiful speech on November 25, 1949, the day before the Constituent Assembly formally finished its work. His tone was jubilant yet somber and reflective. He gave some warnings – place of popular protest in a democracy and termed unconstitutional methods as “Grammar of Anarchy”, the blind following of charismatic leaders and limitations of only political democracy and advised to transform the political democracy established by the constitution into social and economic democracy with delay. These, I think, retain their relevance, perhaps more, today than in 1949.

Greetings on the Constitution Day. Jai Bheem. Jai Bharat

Bootan Mandi – Its Artistic Heritage

Bootan Mandi is a famous residential and business area of

Guru Ravidass Dham at Bootan Mandi

Jalandhar located at Nakodar Road (Ambedkar Marg). Most of the inhabitants of Bootan Mandi are dalits (Ad-dharmis) who were engaged in traditional leather business. On the out-skirts of the Mohalla, from the 1950s to 1970s, Mirasis, another segment of the dalit society, lived in their shanties/jhuggis. Their main occupation was to sing and cut jokes or do some comedy at marriages and on occasions of birth of a boy or any other auspicious event. Later, some influential  businessmen of Bootan Mandi acquired their prime location on the main road and provided them residential pucca houses at a site nearby. In those good old days, they were living in harmony as an integral segment of the society and inter-mingled with the Bootan Mandi residents.  They considered them as their mentors and depended on them for their bread and butter. Some of them are still living in and around Bootan Mandi. I vividly recall when some Seths of Bootan Mandi used to entertain themselves, off hand and impromptu, with the singing of folk songs by these Mirasis and pay them a few bucks. It is a matter of satisfaction that some of them really saw upward mobility and made a name not only for themselves but also for the society at large. It is a pity that the Seths of Bootan Mandi who claim to be the custodians of the legacy of Guru Ravidass and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar never showed any inclination in owning these Mirasi Musicians who excelled themselves in their labour of love against all odds both social and economic. I have noticed that these renowned musicians also, may be as a conscious or sub-conscious response to their neglect by their benefactors in Bootan Mandi, did not take pride in disclosing their heritage.  It is an injustice to the lofty legacy and ideals of Guru Ravidass and Babasheb Ambedkar. It is just a co-incident that Dr. Ambedkar precisely addressed a mammoth public meeting in October, 1951 at the very location where make-shift shanties of these musicians existed.

The immediate provocation to write about these worthy sons and

daughters of Bootan Mandi is the news that Ustad Puran Shahkoti has been conferred the Sangeet Akademi Award by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee.  Puran Shahkoti, a living legend of Sufi music, spent his childhood and formative years of his youth in Bootan Mandi. His father Niranjan Dass (Nanjoo) was a good and humble person of the clan. It is a matter of great satisfaction that Puran Shahkoti educated and trained his talented son, Master Saleem, to become a recognized and renowned singer of standing not only of Punjab but also in Bollywood. There is a saying in Punjabi, “Guru Jina De Tapne; Chele Jan Chadap” (disciples excel whose guru is good). Puran Shahkoti is also the guru of world renowned Sufi singer Hans Raj Hans and many more established and budding singers like Jasbir Jassi, Sabar Koti, Parvez Pezi, Dilshan, among others. I take this opportunity to greet and congratulate Ustad Puran Shahkoti and wish him further success and laurels in the years to come.

The story does not end here. Bootan Mandi has the honour of

Nooran Sisters

owning yet another famous name and personality, popularly acclaimed as Bibi Nooran, a Sufi and rustic singer of standing. I have seen her singing both at impromptu sessions to entertain the Seths of Bootan Mandi and also at the Gurupurab celebrations of Guru Ravidass. Her son Karam Chand used to give her company on the harmonium. On recognition of her talent in the 1970s, Chief Minister Giani Zail Singh provided them financial assistance and a pucca house in Bootan Mandi itself. The famous Sufi song “Kuli Rah Vich Pai Asan Tere” which Bibi Nooran sang with aplomb is as good and kicking today as it was before particularly when it is rendered by Nooran Sisters, the great grand daughters of Bibi Nooran. Bibi Nooran’s daughter Swaran Nooran was also a good singer. It seems music was in the genes of Bibi Nooran.  Yet another acclaimed b musician the Mirasi clan of Bootan Mandi produced was Master Girdhari Lal who happened to be blind. He trained many singers and musicians in the area. I am told that, currently, Sonu Sunil of Bootan Mandi has already arrived on the scene and doing well particularly in spiritual and devotional singing. His maiden album cut and released by T-Series has been received well. Though I have not had any occasion to meet and listen to him so far yet I congratulate and wish him further success.

Besides excellence in music, Bootan Mandi, my native place, produced good literary personalities. The best of the lot was Pritam Ramdasspuri, a poet of standing who wrote on social themes in Persian, Urdu and Punjabi. I heard him reciting excellent poetry at various functions. Malind Publications of a fellow BootanMandian, Harmesh Jassal, published Pritam Ramdasspuri’s poetry under the

title “Pritam Kav” which was well received. Hans Raj Bhukha, a trade unionist and a social activist, was yet another poet who wrote revolutionary poetry of sorts. My own uncle (brother of my father), Jai Ram Parwana wrote poetry and songs on social and religious themes. Some of his songs have been sung by the legendary singer Hans Raj Hans and a collection of his works published under the title “Neechon Uch Kare Mera Govind” He had a good flare for drama and acting also. I am told that he formed a drama club and staged dramas against the dowry system which were well acclaimed. Later, a Punjabi film “Daaj” was made which was based on the dramas of Jai Ram Parwana. But

succumbing to intellectual hypocrisy, the film maker did not have the courtesy to ask for permission and give credit to Jai Ram Parwana. I take this opportunity to appreciate and recognize the literary and intellectual personalities of my native place Bootan Mandi. Bootan Mandi is yet to realize and own the rich legacy of its sons and daughters. I conclude this with an Urdu couplet:

हर दर्दमंद दिल को रोना मेरा रूला दे ;

बेहोश जो पढ़ें हैं शायद ऊने जगा दे !

Unconstitutional Methods and Democracy

The Indian democracy, in its adolescence after 65 years of adoption of the constitution, seems to be in danger, if one goes by the

prevailing political and social environment in the country. The increasing intolerance in general and increasing tendency to adopt unconstitutional methods to articulate or register ones point of view, of late, have become order of the day. It is an anti-thesis of democracy. President Pranab Mukherjee had to pin-point and observe repeatedly that these growing tendencies were not good for the democratic edifice of the polity and social fabric of the society. He candidly and rightly said on October 7, 2015 while releasing a book at Rashtrapati Bhawan, “We must remain true to the core values of our civilization” and reiterated it in Birbhum on October 19 and expressed apprehension whether tolerance and acceptance of dissent were on the wane. He said, “Humanism and pluralism should not be abandoned under any circumstance.”

Ever since India became Independent in August, 1947 and a Republic in January, 1950, one of the major failures in the polity of India, to my mind, had been that polarization of political forces could not happen on the basis of ideology or political agenda, the very basic requirement for the functioning of democracy. Society could not be transformed on the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity, the lofty ideals enshrined in the constitution. The much needed casteless society could not be established, as envisaged by our fore-fathers, especially father of the constitution, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. On the contrary, it seems, the country is heading in the wrong direction.

The recent incidents and happenings pertaining to the behavior of

Shiv Sena to stop the concert of Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali in Mumbai, to protest the release of the book of Pakistani leader Khurshid Mahmud Kasturi in Mumbai and blackening the face of a renowned columnist and intellectual Sudhendra Kulkarni and barging into the office of the President of BCCI, Shashank Manohar, in Mumbai to protest against the visit of his Pakistani counterpart, Sharayar Khan are the latest examples of undemocratic behavior of the political outfits. These are the “unconstitutional methods” referred by Dr. Ambedkar in his last speech in the Constituent Assembly on November 25, 1949. He termed these methods as “Grammar of Anarchy” and said, “If we wish to maintain democracy not merely in form, but also in fact, what must we do? The first thing in my judgment we must do is to hold fast to constitutional methods of achieving our social objectives.” 

The second biggest problem is increasing social and personal intolerance. It is the very negation of democracy and healthy society. The recent incident at Dadri in UP in which a Muslim was lynched to death at his home on rumours that the family had consumed beef. A  J&K MLA, Engineer Rashid, was beaten by the BJP MLAs in the Legislative Assembly on the allegations that he flouted the “Beef Party” he hosted. Again at the Press Club in New Delhi, the face of Engineer Rashid was darkened and was not permitted to hold his press conference by his fundamentalist Hindu opponents.  Punjab is again on the boil on the issue of desecration (Be-adbi) of Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhs. Though atrocities on dalits are a common feature of our social attitude yet the recent incident in which a dalit home in Faridabad was set ablaze and the family burned alive, has added fuel to the fire. The issue of reservation for the SCs, STs and OBCs has not been handled correctly by the successive governments and the society at large. The upper castes stand against these empowering provisions without understanding the issue and the sensitivities of the under-privileged and socially marginalized. The political and social outfits have no will-power to address the issue and educate the upper-castes who felt, though wrongly, cheated and harmed. The society is totally polarized on communal lines though India is supposed to be a secular state as stipulated in the preamble of the constitution and the often repeated pronouncements from the high-tables of various fora that India stands for universal brotherhood on the basis of “Vasudevkam Kuttumvakam” – the whole world is one family as enshrined in our scriptures. These lofty pronouncements do not hold good any longer. We have proved ourselves otherwise and it is a pity. The politics of hatred has taken over. It is evident from the treatment meted out to prominent thinkers like Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and M. Kalburgi in the recent times.Dr. Ambedkar in his concluding speech in the Constituent Assembly explained how India lost her independence and expressing his anxiety said, “Will history repeat itself? It is the thought which fills me with anxiety. The anxiety is deepened by the realization of the fact that in addition to our old enemies in the form of caste and creeds we are going to have many political parties with diverse and opposing political creeds. Will Indians place the country above their creed or will they place creed above country? I do not know. But this much is certain that if the parties place creed above country, our independence will be in jeopardy a second time and probably be lost forever. This eventuality we must resolutely guard against. We must be determined to defend our independence with the last drop of our blood.”

It is time to sit and ponder over these ground realities, if India is to remain a country of our liking.