Nationalism vs Regionalism.

Note:-Every opinion in this post is purely personal and no statement was written intentionally and I'm sorry if my words hurt anyone.You need not to consider anything as I'm not an intellectual and I'm only a jejune. I apologize for all the grammatical mistakes and every point here(besides from opinions) has source and I can provide that source.

In India, an average district is bigger than 85 nations in the world(in terms of population).Uttar Pradesh would have been the 5 th largest nation in the world if it had to be a nation

Today I got a learning opportunity to hear some veterans and hear them debating on "With out a strong regional identity there can be no strong national identity" I really admire Telegraph's idea of organizing a debate as I completely believe that discussion and debate are very important in successful functioning of democracy.Its a pleasant experience to hear speakers who respect other's view, even though, its a sensible topic.

Its a topic where lot of homework is needed and I admire Jatindar Nayak, who had made a few quick points like,"Arbitrary administrative division is not acceptable so language is taken as a marker to divide states." Its very key point because there is no problem in creating new states or keeping the states intact.Formation of new states is neither cataclysmic nor it can be a panacea but it should be addressed constitutionally and genuine markers should be identified.We can't take development as a marker as it is rampant in India and language can't be marker any more as almost every major language(Leaving Hindi) have a separate state now.The problem of identifying markers should be addressed constitutionally.The most important point he made is about "Vacuum being created" (This vacuum is occupied by violence(naxals etc,) ) because of over-centralization of power.If I am not wrong, this point was put-forth by Dr.Jaya prakash Narayan(Former national advisory council member,present MLA of Andhra Pradesh,ex-IAS officer) in some meeting before 5/6 months and many of Jatindar ji's ideas seem to be taken from Dr.J.P's paper.

Another interesting speech was given by Swapan Das Gupta and the most interesting point he made is that national identity and state identity are negotiable and his example of person aged 100 years ,who was born in India and presently living in Bangladesh has three identities of being an Indian,Pakistani and Bangladeshi.But he missed out everything in democracy is negotiable and we should turn all negotiations into win-win outcomes.

I couldn't understand Sitakant Mohapatra, who made points regarding Partition of Bangladesh and the failure of Soviet union.He was unable to make any peculiar,genuine points. when we observe the history of US, and its way of forming states and all that,we can't really appreciate his view.A benefit of doubt is there that may be I was unable to understand him or he is not understandable.

Dr.Nivedita Mohanty,the first speaker of the evening who made a few points regarding Odisha's history and most contradictory statement," Odisha would have gone the way of A.P if our forming fathers didn't take measures." I dont think A.P is different from Odisha or Odisha has advantage over A.P. I am not an A.P chauvinist and what matters more for me is this nation's development as a whole and some times I feel,I love Odisha more than my birth-state but her idea and her point shocked me .Whether she made her home work rightly? Her track record and bio-data was quite impressive and no one expects such an infectious statement form a person of her stature.Madam, can you tell me the specific details which made you to speak this line. Don't see it as an A.P problem as Telangana issue is on board presently.Unfulfilled potential nurtures differences and it will lead to different type of problems and almost every state in India is in this pathetic condition including Odisha and you feel Odisha has the advantage because of its forming pattern,I have no say but let me tell you with the policies like Rs.3/ Kg.rice and other dirty policies,Odisha and Andhra are in the way of bank-ruptacy.(I dont know much about Odisha budget patterns but out of common sense and as I'm observing A.P budget patterns I can say this that these are not goo policies).

I have problems with K.B.Singhji's opening statement that Odisha is rich in H.R( For God's sake can you tell me about the source of this information or is this a comparison with other poor states).Another statement,"Even though 100 constitutional amendments were done we never touched the basic structure of constitution" .He said it as our achievement or our positive point but I feel its wrong and not touching it is a mistake and I dont completely agree with not touching the basic structure.What about 73 and 74 amendments( a way to district governments) and what about 100 presidential rules in the last 48 years.Isn't it a failure of our federalism. He qouted subash chandra bose "A government which can't be strong can't deliver effectively and K.B singh said,"Strong hand can come from central hand only".Subash Chandra Bose who was the muncipal commisioner of Calcutta appointed by Chitranjan Das would have never said this statement in K.B.Singh's context because S.C.Bose created history by being a municipal commisioner when he was in the jail too(until he was shifted to Aligarh jail) and how could he make this statement? Subash Bose was a supporter of local self-governements.K.B.Singh ji's admiration of Vallabhai is really required but I have problem with his other statements.

S.R.Pattanaik is good.He is only one who quoted about technology and the need of congruence between centre and states and he pointed out the government's failure because of political interventions. and he is the one who stressed on individual identity and crisis and his pointing about congruence is an important one.

A few questions were unanswered or neither touched like,"How to tackle the problems like sharing natural resources like water between the states?What can be the pragmatic approach to handle issues like kosala and Telangana?"

"How to handle the over-centralization of power ? Don't they think that the power should be decentralized as it is erratic now?Especially in the last 60 years ,never an issue from Union/concurrent list has been shifted to state list? whats the reason?

Nothing about article2,article3,article 254,article 356 was touched and I think its essential as a constitutional and political glimpse is essential as it is not a philosophical issue.

Over all,I rate this debate as average one( even though I enjoyed the evening) and the topic is really an issue which is going to govern this nation's future in the coming 20/30 years.Its good that a process of dialogue and debate has been started and personally I believe its time to shift to the third tier of federalism that is district governments and I really appreciate this idea put-forth by Dr.Jayaprakash Narayan,who is my child-hood hero. As Malcolm Gladwell says in 'Tipping point' that every thing starts at a moment but it takes time to reach tipping point and I'm waiting for that tipping point as we can address every problem constitutionally and can fulfill our potential.In this process,we should not forget that education and politics have no substitute.

Education Education Education

Today,I wake up to an article which provided the statistics mostly of Andhra pradesh state.Of course,I don't think that other states except Tamil Nadu,Kerala ,Pondicherry are different from this and I'll be surprised if they are really different .All we have now is thesurveys conducted by central government and HRD ministry.I stopped believing Government Surveys and Government methods from the time I accompanied my mother in a program of 'Akshar Sankranthi'(evening school for adults), an initiative by Andhra pradesh Government to curb illiteracy.Teachers used to teach drunkards and all they teach about is signature as we consider that a person,who knows signing is a literate and we take it as a benchmark and believe me, its horrible.Functional literacy in India has never crossed 35%(Our Census says literacy percentage is 64%)

Earlier I posted about these conditions but I was not clear enough to make certain firm conclusions.Now I try to make them.Education should not come very cheaply.I don't mean that education should be in reach of only middle class and rich as it is in India in now.It should be universalized but at the same point,it should not be deprived of quality.The study says,"As many as 5774 primary schools in Andhra Pradesh do not have even a single teacher and there are as many as 3193 schools with less than ten students in each. " The more shocking is that as many as 399 schools with not a single teacher have more than 100 students each and 1562 schools have less than five students each.

By now,you would have understood where the things really went wrong? In Andhra Pradesh, as of now there are 56963 schools with 27 lakh students on rolls and 111000 teachers and whats the use of this many schools? Provide public transport facilities to the students at free of cost and make them come to schools.Especially,Andhra Pradesh can do this as it has good Public transport system.In other states, we have to search for alternatives but still its possible.As per the study and my idea, there is only requirement of 20000-250000 schools in Andhra Pradesh and we need to keep teacher-pupil ratio 5:100 .Its important to provide quality education.As I remember,Rajiv mission reports are most stunning.Even a 7 class student in Andhra Pradesh is unable to solve basic Mathematics that is addition and subtraction not even division and multiplication and where we are heading? God knows.China,being an autocratic nation providing universal education to all.Even they are recruiting Indian teachers to teach English for their children and we wish to become an economic power but we have no will.Its reality.

Andhra Pradesh State could spend only Rs.400 crore of the Rs.1100 crore earmarked for Sarva Siksha Abhiyan last year as it could not contribute its share for the Centrally-sponsored scheme. The State will in all probability utilize only Rs.600 crore of the Rs.1800 crore available under the Sarva Siksha and Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyans this year. This is a main concern because Andhra Pradesh is a capable(I believe every state in India has its role to play but AP has flowing funds and possible economy)as its Budget is above 1 lakh crores and if a State like it can't act with strategy particularly on education,how can other states be?

I wonder and it will be a pleasant surprise if any one can prove me that conditions are different in other states of India as I know that Delhi is no different from other parts even though it is the capital.

Believe me,we can change this as every one must be knowing of Scandinavian and Vietnam revolutions and everything is available in this nation except teachers, who love teaching.I'm not a pessimist and I have a valid point to make this allegation as Governments made teachers as clerks and I dont know what's the fun in forcing the teachers to make clerical jobs.Clerks come at a cheaper rate and already we have nurtured enough unemployment in this nation to make them more cheaper(Many people have an illusion that we are able to provide employment to all and its irrational and invalid)

No more allegations and coming to the point,Private-Government bonding should be encouraged.NGO's should be encouraged and Education body should be made an independent,autonomous,constitutional body.Read it again! Its possible ."Common schooling" was proposed by Kothari commission in 1960's and now,its time to propose "Quality schooling" ideas.No need to increase number of schools but there is a need to improve quality of schools.No one in the world has discovered a substitute for Politics and Education and statistics speak of our horrible condition in both the issues.If we can't act in the coming 10 years,there will be no chance to act as we are in highly competitive world and we will be lagging behind for ever.

Bharat Bandh in Bhubaneswar

Courtesy:-

The facts and ideas in this post are collected from several political party websites and also from newspapers.I thank them and my friends, who helped me in capturing the photos.

Today, Opposition parties announced Bharat Bandh, and it is supported by almost entire opposition parties of country. The call for Bharat Bandh is in protest against price rise of all the petroleum products –

• Petrol – 3.73 Rupees per liter
• Diesel – 2.00 Rupees per liter
• Kerosene – 3.00 Rupees per liter
• L.P.G. – 35 Rupees per Cylinder

Infact as per government words, it cannot afford subsidies on petroleum products, thus it has deregulate price control on Petrol; on diesel right now government is still bearing 1.39 paisa subsidy, which will gradually ends; on kerosene government is still giving sixty percent subsidy and on L.P.G. government is passing 225 Rupees subsidies on every cylinder. As per words of Prime Minister subsidies on Kerosene and L.P.G. will be continue.

Another side;-

There is a need to subsidize diesel consumption by public road transport systems and the Railways.

Its known that public road transport systems consumed about 500 crore liters and the Railways about 250 crore liters of diesel a year. If the Government extended a subsidy of say Rs.10 per liter consumed by these two major transport systems, the burden on the exchequer would not exceed Rs.7500 crore, hardly 10 percent of the Rs, 74000 crore subsidy the Government is extending as of now.

Government subsidy policy has been ad hoc, arbitrary and irrational, Government should provide fixed subsidy on both kerosene and LPG. The Government could bring down kerosene consumption and the subsidy burden on it by supplying solar paneled LED lamps to the poor. It could promote mass transport by buses with excise duty relief.

The Government should promote public transport by extending diesel subsidy and by undertaking capital works in urban areas. Such a policy will minimize the burden on the common person and contribute to economic growth. The Government should realize that people go in for their own vehicles because the public transport system in India is in a shambles.

A few leaders(very few) are taking the above ideas to the prime minister and Finance minister where others are being involved in worst traditional politics which yields no betterment.

To raise objection, in a democracy, everybody have right but by force to make others part of your objection is not a democratic move, moreover when anybody don’t want to become part of it as they will have to bear the financial lose, plus by no mean bandh will solve the purpose except political parties, which will gain media headlines and bandh call for support of common people will ironically grind common people and private businessmen as both will lose their one day revenue.

In today’s time, opposition parties to protest against government policies or scheme in old style by call of bandh is destructive as far business is concern and economy is concern, rather they should debate on a platform with government concerned minister defend their objection and make them speechless plus pass on their suggestion, so that it is implemented instead roaming in street making noises and closing down private business forcibly.

Now the most worst view of our traditional politics,which has short term objectives to show dominance and strengthening its vote-bank politics.Here I am publishing a few photos,we have captured in Bhubaneswar which depicts the callousness of worst traditional politics

Piece of paper(Fiction)

Piece of paper----------

"I am resigning.I can't live this sucking life anymore.I am resigning as a loser and I'm resigning from every thing,every pain as there is no chance to recuperate."

* * *

A 2 year old kid is playing with the ball in the shopping mall.The shopping mall railing is so dangerous that it can allow the baby to kiss the ground floor within no time.She is in 5th floor now.

& & &

"I should not have played with you .You are such a weak player" He shows anger on her after losing 3 continuous sets of mixed-doubles Badminton.She remains silent.He continues,"Whats the hell in the court? you were moving like a snail."

"Who the hell asked you to play with me? And who did mistakes in the court.You smashed my racket 7 times even hurting my hand a couple of times and you crushed my feet and now complaining about my movement."She wants to say this but she won't because she is more understanding than him and she understands that love exists between them forever and losing a game is not a prestigious issue but losing love is losing everything.She remains silent not to make things more worse.

& & &

" Its not about prestige or publicity or failure or success.We have to make this work.You know many micro finance systems like 'Rang de' are working in India. S.H.G's in Government view are a big success but they are not.Some thing should be done in a big way.In a way, at least ,Mohammad Younus has done in Bangladesh.We should." He is sharing his dream with his friend walking in the same shopping mall.He continues," Its not about getting a noble prize like him.Its about some thing big.Its about helping people.'Accident of womb' as Warren Buffet say should not affect people's destiny.I cant see people crying.I am ready to die if I can fill happiness in people's lives but failures daunt me always"

& & &

"God.! How can he say this to me? Have I shown any wrong intentions?All I said about my true feelings.God,I can't bear those words.It's better if I can end my life here itself."She is struggling after hearing those words "'You seem a prostitute'" from him.

* * *

God starts his timer.He wants a life with in 6 minutes.He has to end some one's life to make this creation work.

* * *

Kid's mother is busy in selecting a few frocks for the child,while child was busy in kicking the ball and wildly running behind it to catch and again toss in air and to kick it again.

& & &

A few feet away from the kid,he is sipping his coffee and sharing his dreams.His voice in the quite honest mode," You know how I feel when I see these many people suffering? and when we are unable to realize the potential of land and we are committing the sin of 'avoidable sufferings'.I wish I would die to bring happiness in the lives of underprivileged, destitute and everyone.They should not be destined to live like this."

& & &

She is struggling hard to digest that the best friend(he thought that he is her best friend) called him prostitute.'How can he perceive my true feelings as some thing lust.How doesn't he understand my love?"

& & &

He throws the racket and says wildly," You know,you doesn't worth me and I dont feel that our relationship can exist even after this loss.You can never understand what's prestige is? and you let me down before all"

She surprises,who is letting other down?He is shouting at her before all and he is saying that she lets him down.Only the reason is losing in a college-level Badminton match .

* * *

God sees the timer again.4 mins left.

* * *

He writes something on the piece of paper and passes it to her.She stupefies seeing it.He says,"Good bye" and leaves on his bike,leaving her there .While coming,they came together.While going ,he leaves alone.May be,God needs only one life not two.

& & &

'How can I bear this? How can I face the world,its like I lost the integrity.Next time,when a boy looks at me,How would I feel?Its better to end up here.Its better to end up here only.Yes,I need to end up'She thinks and writes something on a piece of paper and searching for some sedatives in the room.

& & &

The kid tosses the ball again.This time,the ball passed the railings and rested on the iron groove below the floor.She is unaware of what is life and what is death?All she knows and wants is a ball to play and she passes the railings and holds the ball but she slips.Slips. Ohh,my god,God has 4 minutes left but why is He early in this kid's case?

& & &

He continues his misery,"I am insane.You know I am really insane.My education.My philosophy .Nothing for the sake of mankind.Even I can't save a poor man's life in this nation and even,I can't fill happiness in a family.How miserable living like this after making promises to work for the happy society." His friend points him to the kid who is hanging there.Ball in her hand and her frock makes her to hang as a sharp point pierced into the belt of frock.He writes on a piece of paper and passes his to his friend and his friend looks at it stupefied.

* * *

God sees his timer.2 mins left to take a life away.

* * *

He heads to the girl.The girl starts crying.Her mother reaches her and she starts weeping and looking at her mother,the girl cackles and he reached there put his feet on railings and tries to pull the girl but unable as she is out of his hands reach.The frock may pierce off at any time and she may go down in no time

& & &

He rushes like a mad man and misses an accident so close.He survives but doesn't slow down.Goes at the same speed.His blood boiling and he feels,death is better than the life after losing a game,which he challenged.

& & &

she finds the sedatives,which were given to her when she broke her leg a few months before.She didn't use them then as he supported her mentally.Now she wants to use them as she lost his support and he calls him'prostitute' now.

* * *

God sees his timer.1 minute left.

* * *

She opens the bottle and fills her water bottle.Weeps and thinks of many good and bad moments.................

& & &

A truck is approaching him and he is really mad now.Truck sounds horn but he is not listening it and moving to it in the opposite direction.They approach to the 'point of no return' at their wild speed............

& & &

Without any further thought he jumps over the railing and holds the girl in a hand while holding the railing in other hand.The ball drops from her hand and kisses the floor and girl wants to jump from his hand to catch the ball and he misses the balance ......................

* * *

Timer strikes.He can take a life now and God has a few choices .

* * *

He is about to write the next set of scene but his heart stops pumping.His brain collapses.He took poison before a few minutes and it took the life away and piece of paper beside him moves," "I am resigning.I can't live this sucking life anymore.I am resigning as a loser and I'm resigning from every thing,every pain as there is no chance to recuperate."

Yes, he is a failure as a writer and God satisfied as he got his life.

One more minute..............

What the other characters in this story have written on the piece of paper?

Give me your feedback.I remember writing 'Going to die' in 2007(http://aravind4588.blogspot.com/2007/08/going-to-die.html) but I have certain guilty feeling after writing that but a few people told me that I was good and I didnt write any short story after writing'The seventh heaven' as I was busy with some adventures(Some day,I'll write about those late night adventures in my blog page) and I again wrote this fiction and tell me,whether you like it or not?Tell me about the flaws and blunders.It helps me and tell me which character you like the most in these characters.You can write here or can write to me at aravind4588@gmail.com and write to me if you want to know what other characters have written on the piece of paper?

Finally,Thank you for reading this.