Before I get tired – International Day of Equality

Before I get tired – International Day of Equality

I have been writing on the captioned subject – International Day of Equality quite often in my blogs and the last reference to it was made on April 13. I have no intension to burden my readers with this as there are, I agree, many other issues of concern and interest which could be or should be taken up. But still I feel strongly to at least expose the lip service of our politicians who fall on each other to own Ambedkar and his legacy for their selfish agenda of votes in the ongoing exercise of elections in India on one hand and the passive attitude of my well to do so-called well settled professionals and intellectuals professing allegiance to Babasaheb Ambedkar. I frankly but humbly feel that we have not done enough to promote and support the proposal of declaring April 14, birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, as the International Day of Equality. It is a matter of regret. Let us rectify our thinking and approach and support the idea to demonstrate and register our indebtedness to the great leader, an epitome and symbol of Equality, Liberty and Fraternity. The proposal is resting with the GOI in the Ministry of External Affairs and is getting dumped in the piles of files. Let me expose the disregard and willful silence on the part of the Government and the political class particularly who swear by the name of Ambedkar before I get tired.

I made the proposal to declare Babasaheb Ambedkar’s birthday, April 14, as the International Day of Equality to EAM Sushma Swaraj in June, 2015 in the run up to celebrate 125^th birth anniversary of the great leader. It was duly acknowledged by the MEA. I followed it up and kept the PMO in the loop. Forum of SC

and ST Parliamentarians under the leadership of the then Speaker of Punjab Legislative Assembly Sardar Charanjit Singh Atwal took due note of the proposal and submitted a Memorandum to PM Narendra Modi in November, 2015 in which the proposal on the International Day of Equality, inter alia, was included. GOI decided to celebrate the 125^th birth anniversary of Babasaheb at the UN in New York on 13/14 April, 2016. Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal headed the Indian delegation to the celebrations at the UN. He included the proposal in his speech and urged the GOI to make an official demarche to the UN in this regard. On return from New York, he submitted a report to PM Narendra Modi and briefed him about the proposed International Day of Equality. The Forum of SC and ST Parliamentarians also submitted a Memorandum to Hon’ble Rashrapati Ram Nath Kovind subsequently.  I have been occasionally reminding and following up the issue with EAM Sushma Swaraj and PMO by letters and E-mail messages. With a view to solicit support to the proposal, I wrote to the bigwigs of RSS and BJP including Mohan Bhagwat and Amit Shah and also the Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and Convener of AAP Arvind Kejriwal. I have had an opportunity to mention about the proposal to Mohan Bhagwat in my personal meeting with him in Jalandhar. Besides these high-ups and decision makers, I have been, both formally and informally, taking up the matter with the political leadership viz. Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot, MOS Vijay Sampla, MOS Ramdass Athawale, MOS Hardip Puri, MP Udit Raj, MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh, MP P.L. Punia, MP Kumari Selja among others. The response unfortunately was almost negligible. I have also been urging some members of the civil society, particularly of the dalit community, to consider and put their weight behind the proposal. I took the liberty of even informally consulting and taking advice of my diplomatic colleagues including our PR to UN in New York. They have been forthcoming and candid in approaching the subject.  Everybody tended to support the idea but nobody came forward to raise the flag. I write this with a sense of pain as we all owe too much to Babasaheb Ambedkar. A gesture of support to the idea is the very least we can do to repay the debt of gratitude.

I leave it here with the hope that the political leadership and also the intelligentsia will listen and act in these last months of the Government. Otherwise, we would consider and take up the mater appropriately with the incoming Government.  I am not tired as yet.

It is a strange fact of contemporary history which comes to mind that the more people tried to sideline or ignore Ambedkar; the more he found space for himself. The legacy of Ambedkar is so potent that it will remain relevant in the years to come not only in India but also in the world at large. The temples of learning throughout the world are inclined to study Ambedkar and recognize him. The young generations in resurgent Africa have, of late, started realizing that they needed Ambedkar more than Gandhi. Let us understand which way the wind is blowing, before it is too late.

Changing Slogans in the of Festival Democracy

Changing Slogans in the of Festival Democracy

We are in the midst of the Festival of Democracy – the ongoing parliamentary elections in India. The media has been fully over-powered by the political players and the charged up audience. The money and muscle power is fully in play in the road shows and public meetings and at the road shows. The campaigns have

stooped so low to bad mouthing without any scruples. The new slogans – Chokidar Hi Chor Hai – Mein Bhi ChokidarHoon – Kaamdar Vs Naamdar–Ali Vs Bajrangbali etc. are raising dust and din and is contributing to the political temperature throughout the country.

The Outlook magazine has brought out in its latest issue the subject of “Slogans Zindabad – The changing poll rhetoric in making of modern India.  It prompted me to write something on the subject. Before moving to Delhi in the early 1970s for my bread and butter, I was keenly watching and witnessing the political slugfest as a young student and observer in Jalandhar. My family was politically informed and alive with a focus on Ambedkar and dalit politics in the region. Some of the prevalent slogans and famous quotes, of those days, are still engraved in my mind and memory. Let me share some of these with a view to update ourselves.

I still cherish the poetic lines, referring to Babasaheb Ambedkar, of a local dalit leader Charan Dass Nidhadak – Jhanda Chuk Bagawat Da Tu Baghi Hona Das Giya (You taught us to raise the flag of revolt). Yet another, regretting the inherit inequality in the society, the rustic Nidhadak’s assertion – RabbaDekhda Mere Insaaf Tanin; Je Mein RabTeTuChamarHunda. In the 1960s, the public road shows, famously called Jaloos, used to come alive with slogans viz. – DhanAurDharti Batt KeRahegi; Raat Andheri CuttKeRahegi, Jo Sarkar Nikammi Hai; Woh Sarkar Badalni Hai. The election campaigns will coin interesting slogans – Jhandianwala Peer – It was coined by Congress leader Master Gurbanta Singh’s team to castigate and ridicule his opponent Piara Ram Dhanowali with reference to his professed support from various parties like the Communists and Jan Sangh etc. and carrying their flags on his vehicles and offices. Hathi (Elephant) was the symbol of the Republican Party. One of the local activists, Hans Raj Bhukha, was the supporter of the Republican Party.  His father-in-law named Magar Ram was living in London and the mother-in –law named Atti was back home in Jalandhar.  Hans Raj Bhukha was a poet of sorts and coined an interesting slogan which I remember exactly – Magar Keh Giya Atti Nu; Vote Pauna Hathi Nu (Magar before going to London advised his wife Atti to vote the Elephant). Lahori Ram Balley contested against Sardar Swaran Singh from Jalandhar parliamentary constituency in the mid 1960’s and lost. There was an interesting slogan – Lahori Ram Balley; Sandukadi Reh Gai Khali (Balley’s Ballot Box turned to be empty).

With the changing scenario, the tone and tenor of slogans also changed. In the 1970s, Babu Kanshi Ram appeared on the political firmament of north India like a hurricane. He graduated from BAMCEF and DS4 to BSP with imaginative slogans – Jitni Jis Ki Sankhya Bhari; Utni Us Ki Baghidari (Share in power in

accordance with the population), Bharat Ki Majboori Hai; Kanshi Ram Jaroori Hai (to come with Kanshi Ram is the fait accompli of India). Succumbing to his radical stance, Kanshi Ram coined a sharp slogan – Tilak, TarazuaurTalwar; Inko Maro Jutte Char (Caste based system should be kicked out) – Brahmin, Thakur Bania Chhor; Baki Hain DS4 (Minorities, Dalits and Backwards should get united against the Upper castes) – Babasaheb Ka Kaam Adhura; Kanshi Ram Karenge Poora (Unfulfilled work of Babasaheb Ambedkar will be completed by Kanshi Ram). The successor and protégé of Kanshi Ram changed track to cater to the changing needs and tried to bring along the upper castes and gave a new moderate slogan – Hathi Nahin Ganesh Hai; Brahma Vishnu Mahesh Hai (The Elephant represents Lord Ganesha and the Hindu iconic hierarchy). It is said that politics is a game of possibilities. There is no permanent friendship or enmity in politics. SP of Mulayam Singh Yadav and BSP of Maywati have come together, after long and bitter days of political and social tussle and animosity, to give a fight to PM Narendra Modi and BJP in the on-going parliamentary elections in 2019.

Aya Rams and Gaya Rams of current dispensation like Navjot Singh Sidhu, Udit Raj, Harinder Singh Khalsa, Hans Raj Hans among others tend to sing with the so-called Sufi performer, frankly a negation of the lofty philosophy of Sufism, Hans’ “Dil Modi Modi  Ho Gya; Hun Ki Karye Ki Karye”

Slogans add to the attractions of the Festival of Democracy, No doubt. But it will be known only on May 23 whether “Dil Modi Modi Modi Hota Hai Jan Phir Dil Totte Totte Hota Hai” – Heart beats as Modi Modi or gets broken into pieces.

The Dance of Democracy – A Tribute to Babasaheb Ambedkar

The Dance of Democracy – A Tribute to Babasaheb Ambedkar

Nine hundred million, a mind boggling figure, are listed and entitled to vote in the ongoing parliamentary elections in India. The exercise, in the biggest democracy of the world, is rightly called ‘Festival of Democracy’.  The beauty of the matter is that it based in the dictum of “One vote – One value” as described by Ambedkar himself in the constituent Assembly. It is gratifying to note that governments come and go smoothly through the ballot under the constitutional arrangements. It is a befitting tribute to the main

architect of the constitution of India, Babasaheb Ambedkar. We are not to rest here. We are still to go a long way. The dust and din of electioneering, washing of dirty linen in public, polarization on communal lines, caste based vote banks, muscle and money power, immoral and unconstitutional methods to reach power are some of the dark spots and challenges which are haunting us and require to be addressed to transform our biggest democracy into a functional democracy. Moreover, as visualized by Babasaheb Ambedkar the political democracy will have no meaning if it is not transformed into a social and economic democracy. We need to re-dedicate ourselves to achieve this lofty goal. I am confident the awakened young electorate will keep these things in mind while voting or say participating in the on-going dance of democracy.

The legacy of Babasaheb Ambedkar is potent and relevant. It must be adopted and carried forward. With a view to cherish and honour that legacy, I suggested in June, 2015 to the government of PM Narendra Modi to declare April 14, birthday of Babasaheb B.R. Ambedkar, as the International Day of Equality with the cooperation of the UN and followed up the matter occasionally with the EAM Sushma Swaraj and PMO. Much water has flown in the Ganges and the Hudson in New York ( the seat of UN) but the proposal is resting at the desks of MEA and PMO. I reminded EAM Sushma Swaraj through an E-mail message recently on March 26, 2019 as follows:

Respected EAM Sushma Swaraj ji,

I am a retired diplomat of IFS. I take the liberty of re-visiting a subject, International Day of Equality - April 14 - Birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, about which I have been writing to you and other high offices. Though nothing has moved, as far as I know, yet I, as a well wisher of the GOI and MEA in particular,  I thought of broaching up the matter for your kind consideration.  The attached Non-Paper on the subject would provide more details. 

You would appreciate that the time is of essence. Any positive decision by the MEA/GOI under your leadership in this regard will have a an immense and lasting impact in generating  much needed goodwill for you and the GOI among the teeming millions and millions of followers of Babasaheb Ambedkar. The birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar falls on April 14 and the formal announcement may be made appropriately on that day. But early decision and its public pronouncement well before April 11, for obvious reasons of the beginning of the festival of democracy, will go a long way in addressing the cherished wishes not only of the followers of one of the greatest sons of India, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, but also of the international community yearning to establish a just and equitable world order.

I am confident, Madam, my humble submissions would find a due and just consideration with you.

With regards.

(Ramesh Chander)

Ambassador - IFS (Retired)

Tele: 9988510940

 I also twitted the message to her as I was given to understand that she responds to twitter messages promptly. But it seems that they are too busy in the dance of democracy. I am certain they would rush to the statues of Ambedkar to garland and pay glowing tributes to one of the greatest sons on his birth anniversary on April 14 but has no mind and time to respond to the suggestions and proposals of well-meaning ordinary citizens. By ignoring these ground realities, we would be doing so at our own peril. The legacy of Babasaheb Ambedkar will sustain and survive.

Memories Came Alive – DAV Alumni Meet

Memories Came Alive – DAV Alumni Meet

December 8, incidentally my birthday was the day of the Alumni Meet, 2018 of the DAV College Jalandhar, my alma mater. I was, it was a matter of pride me, hosted as the Guest of Honour at the prestigious day in the centenary year of the college. It is a matter of great satisfaction that I could meet and interact with many high profile and well placed alumni of the esteemed College at the Meet. The memories came alive. The hockey

ground on the main campus of the College where the interactive session was held reminded me of my own Convocation – Graduation Ceremony in 1970 in which I received my university degree from the then CM of Punjab, Justice Gurnam Singh. The guests were hosted, mindfully, on piping hot Sambar Vada and other snacks on the cold evening. Walking leisurely in the campus, we moved to the spacious Auditorium of the College for the cultural interlude of dance and songs – accomplished Kathak performance and Ghazal rendition by the DAV pool of talent. It was good but could have been better. The Alumni Meet was concluded with a sumptuous dinner, as always by the hospitality wing of the College. It was a rewarding day – my first experience of such an event in the lap of my alma mater, DAV College Jalandhar. Thanks to Principal S.K. Arora and Dr. P.K. Sharma, Dean of the Alumni Association and other dedicated members of the faculty.

Postscript:

Wherever you go and whatever ends you pursue, you must always fulfill the trust reposed in you by your nation, your parents and your alma mater

Samar Mubarakmand

Kartarpur Spirit – India-Pakistan Corridor of Pilgrimage

Kartarpur Spirit – India-Pakistan Corridor of Pilgrimage

The Kartarpur Corridor to be built on both sides of the international border between India and Pakistan - to link Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district on the Indian side and Narowal in the Shakargarh district on the Pakistan side to facilitate the faithful to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan - where the great Guru Nanak Devji spent more than 18 years of his life before leaving this world in 1539, is in news. In Pakistan also Guru Nanak Dev is revered as Nanak Shah Pir even by Muslims. Both sides agreed to develop the corridor amidst palpable tension and mistrust between the hostile neighbours ostensibly to placard the Sikh community on one hand and carry forward their diplomatic and strategic interests on the other. The issue had been engaging attention of the Sikh followers ever since partition of the country in 1947. Akali leader Kuldip Singh Wadala flagged the issue in recent years and did his best to register the Sikh interest on the issue. More recently, a few months ago when Imran Khan, a friend of Indian leader Navjot Singh Sidhu from their cricketing days, came to power, the issue of Kartarpur Corridor became alive. Navjot Sidhu, among others, was invited to the swearing-in ceremony of PM Imran Khan which he attended. Pakistani leadership,^th anniversary year. It resulted in a much debated mostly acrimonious slugfest between the Congress Party, the opposition and the ruling party at the centre, BJP and also the Akalis. Petty politics came to the fore on the Indian side without realizing the wider implications of the issue. Pakistan, it seems, nurtured its tactical and strategic agenda with regard to the issue to carry forward their nefarious activities to revive terrorism in Punjab taking shelter under the religious sentiments of the Sikhs not only on the Indian side of the border but also in other countries. It seems that Government of India did not take the issue seriously and left it to the political mudslinging for brownie points. Seeing the forthcoming scenario in the wake of Pakistani moves in this regard, the Indian establishment also woke up on November 22, barely a week before the pronounced Pakistani action of “ground breaking ceremony” of the Kartarpur Corridor scheduled on November 28 by PM Imran Khan. The Indian side, in a knee jerk reaction, announced the Dera Baba Nanak Corridor, along with other initiatives, to commemorate the 550^th anniversary of Guru Nanak Devji and requested its Pak counterpart to join hands and develop the Kartarpur Corridor. PM Narendra Modi equated the project with the breaking of the ‘Berlin Wall’ in 1989-90. Preempting the Pakistani date, the Indian side laid the foundation stone of the Dera Baba Nanak – Kartarpur Sahib Corridor on November 26 by Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu in the presence of CM of Punjab Captain Amrinder Singh and other dignitaries. Pakistan again stole the show and put the ball in the Indian court by inviting EAM Sushma Swaraj to the Ground Breaking Ceremony on November 28. They also invited CM Amrinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu. Both the Akalis and the BJP and also the establishment at the centre had been criticizing and undermining Navjot Singh Sidhu’s going to Islamabad for the swearing in ceremony of his friend Imran Khan and his bon-homie with General Qamar Bajwa with regard to Kartarpur Corridor. Now EAM Sushma Swaraj found herself in a fix to accept the invitation of her Pak counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi for the ceremony on November 28. It was decided to decline the Pak invitation on the pretext of ‘diplomatic pre-occupation’ of EAM Sushma Swaraj with a view to downplay the Pak initiative to do ‘business as usual’ and instead line up a Ministerial delegation headed by Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal accompanied by an outstanding diplomat and now Minister Hardip Singh Puri. CM Amrinder Singh has declined the invitation in his own wisdom on a terse note of Pakistan’s ongoing terrorist activities and regularly killing our security personnel on the border and Line of control. Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu will be going again to be with his friends on the other side of the border under the influence of “Kartarpur Spirit” a term coined by Sidhu himself. It has also been reported that a high power delegation of Sikh clergy headed by President of SGPC Gobind Singh Longowal will also be participating in the ceremony in Pakistan. All said and done, obviously, the events pertaining to Dera Baba Nanak and Kartarpur Corridor is going to be an important landmark in the so far troubled relations between India and Pakistan. Both the sides have expressed lofty sentiments to make a good start. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu speaking at the stone laying ceremony at Dera Baba Nanak on November 26 termed the corridor as ‘passage of humanity, humility, faith and universal brotherhood.’ Pakistani leadership would also say something similar tomorrow, November 28, it is obvious. Let us see. But I have a couple of observations to make with reference to the ‘hurdles’ in the process which PM Manmohan Singh said should not be ‘underestimated.

particularly the all powerful Pak Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, sounded Navjot Sidhu about their intension of developing Kartarpur Corridor to honour the Sikh religious sensitivities and honour Guru Nanak Devji in his 550th annniversary year.

One, Government of India should have handled the issue with some forethought and finesse. Once it was decided to turn down the invitation to EAM Sushma Swaraj, there was no need to send two uninvited important ministers to convey the message of lukewarm response, if it was intended. Showing large heartedness and magnanimity setting aside the internal politics, CM Amrinder Singh, who was otherwise invited, should have been asked to lead the delegation with Hardip Singh Puri, a seasoned diplomat of India, as a member to represent the central government. Navjot Singh Sidhu should have been included in the official delegation to reign in his flamboyant enthusiasm. President of Akali Dal Sukhbir Singh Badal might have been included in the delegation to balance the representation.  There was no need for Harsimrat Kaur to go just to cater to her religious sentiments. This exercise should have sent a good message not only to Pakistan but also to the local politically frenzied approaches. It could have avoided unnecessary acrimonious petty politics which was witnessed yesterday at the ceremony at Dera Baba Nanak in the presence of Hon’ble Vice President of India. I don’t know as to what was the input of our diplomatic establishment i.e. Ministry of External Affairs in this regard.

Second, it is time to assess and understand the likely nefarious designs of incorrigible Pakistan to create further troubles for India by misguiding the hardcore Sikh elements in reviving the militancy in Punjab. The Sikh community, with a proven track record of nationalistic and patriotic conduct throughout, should be introspective and should not succumb to the machinations of Pakistan in exploiting their religious sentiments to achieve their agenda of bleeding the Indian nation any further. The militant groups like the Dal Khalsa and other Khalistani outfits and supporters of Refrendum 2020 have already started criticizing Captain Amrinder Singh for his terse and straight message to Pakistan while declining the Pak invitation. There was no option left to him in the emerging situation but to stand up and speak to save his political standing. Let the Kartarpur Spirit prevail. Let it be a “beginning of a new chapter” as stated by VP Venkiah Naidu to build “bridges across old chasm”.

A Moment of Pride

A Moment of Pride

A moment of pride comes and comes rarely in one’s life. I cherish the memory of my retirement from a long career in diplomacy on December 31, 2010, a moment of pride for me. Yet another such moment came, a few days ago, when my brother-in-law Prof. Balbir Chander, husband of my younger sister Sunita alias Lakshmi,  retired from a 33 year long stint in the academics as Head of the Department of Political Science of the prestigious and esteemed educational institution of Punjab, Doaba College in Jalandhar on October 31, 2018. A formal send-off, or farewell, was bid by the college on November 5. It was a unique and gratifying experience to join Balbir and Sunita in the farewell functions hosted by the Management, Staff and students of Doaba College. It was a rare movement of pride. We in the IFS, because of the exigencies of service, rarely witness such occasions as one of my diplomatic colleagues Anil Sood commented on one of my FaceBook posts – “Sir, you are lucky. You have your relatives in the vicinity of your city. Wish your brother-in-law and his family a happy, healthy and contented retired life. For any person who has put in three decades or more of dedicated service, retirement is a welcome stage. I have also observed, in India, in many offices people get a very fitting send off. Such things are generally speaking missing in our service. May be due to frequent transfers.”

While I wish to avail of this opportunity to wish Balbir a happy retired life and good health, I wish to share a couple of observations with regard to this moment of pride for me and my immediate family. The citation “Commendation” conferred by the Staff of the college on Prof. Balbir Chander speaks loud and clear of the personality of their worthy colleague, and is a document to be preserved and I quote from it “Prof. Balbir will be remembered as an accomplished teacher scholar, a generous colleague and as someone who is highly focused on the common good, be it through his dedicated community service or his utmost concern for the well

being of our students.” Principal Naresh Dhiman of Doaba College, who himself is an academician of standing and an able educational administrator, and also Prof Dhall, a mentor of Balbir, his colleagues Prof. Johal, Prof. Mago and Staff Secretary Prof. Sandeep Chahal spoke very high of Balbir in their emotional farewell speeches. Sitting in audience, I was emotionally choked by listening to the moving words about Balbir from his colleagues. It is a sort of confession on my part that we did not, quite often, sub-consciously, give his due place and space in our daily life. I shared this inadvertent mistake with Balbir with my off the cuff remarks “Ghar da Jogi Yogda; Bahar da Yogi Sidh” – meaning that we generally don’t recognize the worth of our own man and tend to appreciate others. It was a whole hearted compliment to Balbir, an invaluable asset of our family. Balbir with impressive educational degrees, MA in Political Science (University Gold Medalist), LL. B, M. Phil and Post Graduate Diploma in Labour Laws and Management, is one of the highly educated persons not only on our family but also in the community around. He has done well in life while living a simple life. His two children, Mohit and Priya are fully qualified MBBS doctors. His son Mohit is a Medical Officer in one of the urban wellness centers in Jalandhar and daughter Priya is happily married and settled in Australia.

Balbir, a son of the soil, a humble and unpretentious man but pragmatic and down to earth and also a family oriented person, has done us proud in the first innings of his life. He is fully prepared to start his second innings, free from the limitation of service or job,

in right earnest. The other day, he showed me his newly built and furnished office from where he will function and operate. He has not removed his gloves and shoes as yet. I take this opportunity to wish Balbir all the best in his second phase of life and further success and prosperity in the days to come.

अपना मुक्क़दर  आप बनाते हैं एहले दिल;

हम वह नहीं जिने ज़माना बना गया!

Tragic Hypocrisy

Tragic Hypocrisy

The Dussehra or Vijay Dashmi celebrations on October 19 turned out to be an avoidable tragedy in Amritsar in which more than 60 people were killed and more than 100 seriously injured on the rail tracks by a speeding train. The unfortunate, mostly poor migrant workers, crowd watching the burning of the effigies of Ravana and his associates or the Ravan Dahan near the rail tracks got involved in the tragic accident. Such incidents are repeated reminders and wake-up calls to both the administrators and the society that we are

still to go a long way to become a sensitive and a civilized society. There is no point in bragging about our claims of a glorious past unless we transform our present to at least a dignified and sustainable standard. We are yet to pay due attention to these realities of life.

An immediate provocation to write on the subject is the demonstrated and visible hypocrisy by the elite in the administration, concerned outfits, politicians and the media. The law and order authorities and the civil administration have no time and mind to think and plan the public events to ensure public safety and security. They remain busy in catering to the VIP led requirements. The agencies which provide public utilities and services, railways, electricity, public transport, fire control, first aid among others, are awfully negligent and dismissive of public concern. It seems we have mastered the art of blame-game to wash our hands. Politicians are self centered to the extent that they are alive only to their limited agenda of vote banks. The media, both ‘the Sarkari and the Durbari’ i.e. the government controlled and the pliant ones, is totally lacking commitment to public concerns and interests. Unfortunately, with every passing day, things are getting worse. It is a matter of deep concern and worry. We cannot afford to be oblivious to these ground realities, if we want to see our polity and society to stand up and face the challenges of development and progress.

I don’t feel like closing this without mentioning a very disturbing element which has surfaced, of late, in the functioning of our media, particularly the mushrooming TV channels. It was dismaying to watch the Amritsar incidents of yesterday on some of the TV channels, the Bhagat or the Durbari channels. The worthy anchors, while pronouncing that these incidents should be above political considerations, they themselves were busy in politicizing the matter by naming and blaming Navjot Kaur Sidhu wife of a Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu of the Congress party for the incident. The surprising element was that the script of their presentation was identical as if it was handed over to them by some other vested agency. Who that agency could be, it is anybody’s guess. It is a matter of shame and is the bane of our democratic system. The so called fourth pillar of our polity has failed us.

There is no point in blaming the innocent crowd who went to see and join the festivities of Dussehra. They need to be educated and informed by the concerned authorities of the “Does and Don’ts” of such gatherings. The administrators and politicians should be caring and sensitive. The media should be vigilant and not pliant to the power centers. But unfortunately they crawl where they are asked to bend and still they pat themselves to be called free and fair. We are to go a long way.