The Civil War ends, but....

The death of Velupillai Prabhakaran signals the end of the civil war between the Sri Lankan government and the militant Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). For nearly three decades since its formation, the LTTE had relentlessly pur­sued its aim of achieving a separate state (Eelam) to be carved out of the northern and eastern areas of Sri Lanka. In the course of its single-minded drive to achieve “Eelam”, the organisation ruthlessly decimated other militant organisations and voices among the Tamils – many of whom were willing to accept autonomy or federal rights for the Tamils. But by accepting no com­promises and by continuing to use tactics such as assassination of perceived “enemies of the cause” and violent retribution, the LTTE brought about its own doom.
Despite a systematic shelling and bombing campaign that killed or incapacitated thousands of civilians, the Sri Lankan army did not receive anything more than token disapproval or humanitarian appeals from the international community. The Sri Lankan government’s ruthless drive to vanquish the “terrorist” LTTE was never halted in the final phase of war by an international community tired of “terror” – a stigma that the LTTE car­ried for its past actions. The LTTE’s own cynical moves to use Tamil civilians as a shield, a fact that was brushed aside by the organisation’s propagandists, only alienated them even further in the eyes of the international arbiters such as the United Nations or India. The events leading up to the end of the battle – with the Sri Lankan army’s capture of the last remaining areas of the Vanni region under LTTE control, and the killing of the outfit’s senior representatives and leaders – are murky. Questions remain about the way the LTTE leader and founder, Prabhakaran, his family members and the organisation’s political representatives were killed and war crimes by the Sri Lankan army cannot be ruled out. But the general lack of sympathy for the vanquished among the international community is itself a consequence of the LTTE’s intransigence in its ways and means.
Thousands of Tamil civilians now live in “appalling conditions”– as the visiting UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon called them – in internment camps after displacement because of the war. Despite claims by the Lankan government about commitment to “early resettlement”, its actions in restricting access to these camps by humanitarian agencies and its callous treatment of the displaced people in the camps in the name of security do not inspire confidence. These actions in tandem with the triumphalism dis­played by the Sri Lankan polity would only make one more scepti­cal about the Lankan government’s claims of bringing about a democratic solution to the problems of the Tamil minority after the defeat of the “terrorist” LTTE. A lasting peace after the defeat of the outfit would remain a chimera if the Sri Lankan polity refuses to acknowledge the plight of the displaced Vanni residents or indeed of the genuine grievances of the Tamil community.
The LTTE’s inflexibility and rejection of any compromise, say a federal solution to the conflict, its dwindling legitimacy internationally and the internal split, with the defection of erstwhile eastern commander, Vinayagamurthy Muralidharan, were ulti­mately responsible for its defeat. Several moments capture the cynical single-mindedness of the group. It rejected an offer from the ex-president Chandrika Kumaratunga, which provided powers of devolution even greater than what the Thirteenth Amendment in 1987 (that provided for provincial councils) envis­aged. After a ceasefire agreement in 2002, the LTTE signalled a willingness to discuss a federal solution, but backed out of peace talks for no valid reason. It also engaged in violent acts in viola­tion of the agreement (something which the Lankan government was also guilty of). It even called for a boycott of elections by the Tamils, an action that helped hardliner Mahinda Rajapaksa become the president of the country with the support of other Sinhala chauvinist parties and thus resulted later in the recently concluded violent phase of the civil war.
The intractable positions taken by the LTTE were partly due to the enthusiastic material and arms support that the organisation received through funding and donations from the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora over the years. After the 11 September 2001 attacks in New York, the LTTE, which had been proscribed in 32 nations, found its material support drying up because of tough actions against its sympathisers in many countries where toler­ance for support to “terror” outfits became negligible.
Among the Tamil community in Sri Lanka and in the vast diaspora of Sri Lankan Tamils, there is a deep sense of despond­ency following the defeat of the LTTE. Many of the latter’s sympa­thisers are still in denial about the death of the outfit’s leader. These sympathizers should introspect about the reasons for the bloody end to the war between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE. Far from realising the aspirations of the minority Tamils, who aimed for self-rule, the LTTE’s actions have only resulted in a traumatised Tamil population disaffected both by the “Eelam cause” and with the government ruling from Colombo.
There remains no excuse for the Sri Lankan government to avoid addressing the grievances of the Tamils now that the LTTE is vanquished. Anything short of a federal set-up that grants political rights for the oppressed Tamil population would only lead to a further festering of the deep wounds from years of mar­ginalisation and alienation of the Tamils. In the provision of relief to the displaced Tamils and in their resettlement, the international community, through its various humanitarian agencies, must play an important role. Also, the international community must be vigilant and should pressurise the Sri Lankan govern­ment to arrive at a political solution to the conflict that takes account of its root causes. In the absence of this, the seeds would be sown for another militant organisation – one that would have learnt from the past mistakes of the LTTE – espous­ing complete separation.

EPW

'84

Band in oblivion

From some days I have been observing 'Ganesh Puja' as a state of celebration with placing a cacophony of localized Band played day and night next door to me. In certain time I have designed my faith in religion and its advertising elements in a way to satisfy my logical thrust. I tried to relinquish the disturbance of redundant music played across the place but at last I lost to my idea of patience. Then I tried to look closely over this festival and they way it is organized among people. People gave identity to this festival.
First of all this festival was having a political motive to unite people at the time of fighting against British 'Raj' when it was started by Bal Gangadhar Tilak. This was an unique approach started and appriciated by then freedom fighters against the another approach proposed by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi ( Mahatma Gandhi ) , The Salt Movement ( Namak Andolan and Dandi Yatra ). Both movement had deep impact over people of India at that time and both have mobilised people of different sect , with different cast and creed with the one aim of freedom from Raj.
Although Salt march was more globalised in terms of understanding, emotions and sensibility in comparision to Ganesh Puja, where it was more regional in terms of its understanding in terms of culture, language and identity.
Moreover, Ganesh Puja was the festival of Hindus where 'Salt March' was movement of a common man.

Now we are living in a free nation at least in some senses. We had recovered our freedom from the most aggressive race, which had discovered many nations, which had provided distinct learning processes, a race which is superior in many senses; from them we have snatched our freedom. We have sense of pride for our freedom. Pride which could be uncertain for certain masses, pride which could be politicized and religious in nature but modern India was founded on the grounds of political and social anarchy and conflicts of religious boundaries. In fact having such diversified history sometimes we are unite belligerently on chauvinistic and religious issues or some moments of celebrations like these festivals. But chronologically these moods of festival have been changed with respect to human sprit of celebration. Festivals have become the mode to target ‘Junta’ for money making on priority. There is a significant change happened in the modus operandi of organizing and carrying the festivals of these days. People used to drink liquor and other narcotic drugs which left them in pseudo-transcendental mood.

Indeed, the small community organizes their own Puja on such occasions and play musical bands with an unusual cacophony. And such strident and unwanted noise going to distract people always from such spiritual occasion of celebrations.

The mode of celebration has been politicized and contaminated with a mob-psychology where people gather just to mark there presence and hubris of pride that this time they have contributed from their side.

Ganesh Puja and Durga Puja where in the end of this festivals/puja; the statues of their idol have to be drowned in River or pond left some reasonable and hazardous environmental impact. I think, this has more discussion value rather than ‘Ram Sethu controversy points’ or any doomed subject discussion.

Although Ganesh Festival has been over and all Ganesh idols have sink in local ponds or adjoined Arabian Sea. But the concern over the integrity of such festivals in contemporary times where people are subjugated with fear of terror attacks on such occasion and leading the meaning of such festivals have been rises over the period of time. I’m not saying that we should not celebrate such festivals but society should take steps to prevent this cultural identity before it got wither away.

World From one eye

These days hotest news all arround is coming nuclear deal of India with US. Although deal has been quagmired in between left's(CPI(M) and company) attempt to get a stay over it and stewarding prime minister Manmohan Singh.
A deliberate attepmt has been made from congress side to get clear this deal from parliament atleast without knowing Junta's look over the nuclear deal.
PM is clear about the national benefit written in the name of congress by this nuclear deal or strategic deal per say by reminding his talks about integration plan for economic reform proposed in 1991. At that time he was critisized by many people of the house. He defended himself as steward of this whole nuclear deal with a vision of india getting into 21 centuary and also on to the track of global competetiveness.
I have some points to add on this burning issue.

Will this nuclear deal provide the enough energy resources and strategic development with US to India? Will such strategic tie up with US gonna affect India's relationship with China and Pakistan.

How many other levels of nuclear issues related with India's scientific research and development will be opened and closed by the time when we are going to make agrrements with IAEA and NSG.

This deal will create a big financial burden on India's soulders ( ~130 billion $). Does India ready for such investment while other challenges ( Agriculture, dying farmers in many regions in India, primary education , health care) are pending from last 60 years. There is a need to address the energy crisis in India as well but going for such support from US will disrupt India's grip over there own program of development of fossil fuels.
Such huge investment on other sectors like research and development could ensure better energy resources in near future.

If anguished left withdraw his support from government at this point of time, what will it cost to goverment and people? What would it cost to market? What would it cost to political arrangements during interregnum.

What is the possiblity of midterm polls and does government is ready for pay such a big price for deal to be accomplished.

If nuclear deal is accomplish successfully, how would the pros n cons use in next assempby election pending in 2009.

Certainly left is carrying his anti-US ideology in ruling states of Westbangal and Kerela. So definitly they will raise point against the Congress's dreams of shaking hands with US. But certailny CPI(M) cannot drag India into a bad situation of poor governement by commenting "Sarkaar to Aaati hai, Saarkaar to Jaati hai" ( Government come and go, CPI(M)top leader comment recently) Although lot of thinking is required before letting India to struck into any labyrinth of political,social and economical subjects.

In-nocent Tasleema

Babri Masjid demolition became the reason for many quirks in social life of people specific to Hindu and Muslim religion. India was burning in flames of communalism, barbarism and innocent lives were living on the verge of high level of insecurity, curfew, police exploitation and community fear. People of both the religion were cursing each other and secretly there were parallel worlds from politics and criminals who were engaged in doing best to their thoughts. State security measures tantalize and incidence of Babri demolition and Bombay riots gave an identity to India on global scale of terrorism activated region. When these activities were affecting internal parts of India on various scales, other part of criminalization and demolition were happening in Bangladesh, India’s neighbor country. During those periods of riots in Bangladesh, Tasleema came in picture and write actively about riot cases and property; life vanished in Bangladesh during riots. She forms all his thoughts in form of one book ‘Lajja’. The content of book agonized her critique sitting on political chairs and religious fundamentalists groups, who releases fatwa against her to kill her. [As for Salman Rushdie]
That fatwa forces her to leave her country and she absconded to seek loyalist rehabilitation from Indian government and her people. Although thousands of Bangladeshis migrate to India legally or illegally but this time the migration of a writer was different because such migration was protested by Indian counterpart of religious fundamentalists and their leaders. But some how she managed to have a safe (unsafe) place for her being India as a mediocre.
The reason for writing this article was a recent attack made by a mob of ~30 MLAs and localites from Hyderabad to controversial writer, Tasleema, while she was visiting a conference to release her book. A lady (women) was brutally attacked by goons and gundas in front of media and people, breaking all the law and order by stating that Tasleema and her thoughts are harmful for Muslim community and people. Logically and legally no buddy can attack on a public meeting where thoughts and ideas have to share in context of removing religious ills and describing the outfits of any religion. In fact we are living in a society where we have rights to share information, rights to express and live. What could be the consequences of ideas formed by Tasleema Nasreen for a particular society of people irrespective of person who belongs to a particular community?
This is the personnel guilt of fundamentalist and extremists who think that such an idea of having religious amelioration lead by a woman who is certainly a bit controversial and bit foreign to us and our society is provoking their religion for any kind of wrong doing and wrong reason. Up to an extent Tasleema has written about restrictions imposed by Islam on women, women outcry in her community, atrocities, exploitation, terror surmounted on women, women empowerment and revival of male psychology relating to relationship with female. And she is not the only one who is writing about these entire topics and expressing a general concern over such areas but there are many activists working in these areas. Then why she is been beaten by Chappals in Hyderabad. Who has relegated these MLAs and Gundas to adhere such steps in day light breaking all legal and constitutional rights?
And question remains the same, who is responsible for this? Tasleema or We?

Dilli Darbaar

Context of finding this topic is present party political chaos in President Election this time after 1947. Election was glamorized, politicized by media and its inhabitants and later handed over to political parties for dubious foreplay of honorable presidency election. Candidature was quite obvious this time but the representation of both of the candidates was so rough that it is showing the manipulated character of typical Indian politician. Previously Kalam was undisputedly chosen by both parliamentary houses, albeit his clear image was not the choosing criteria on first hand but it was makeover time for NDA government and their image which were they carried from ‘Babri maszid’ demolition case and finally Kalam raise above the tower of Babel (The Indian Parliament).
The amendments to the psychology of common people by media were having enough gravity to influence people of home town of Mrs. Patil, which create a reason to celebrate while knowing the political inertness of Mrs. Patil in comparison to her competitor Mr. Shekhawat. Best part of this show was created by media people in terms of creating an awareness to country’s president and of course his/her involvement in political corruptness and nepotism favored by each candidate in their political career up to some extant.
This was the first time when each party was quibbling over support to their candidate while they forget to keep the sovereignty of both houses and political rituals. Congress is playing cards to deploy puppets on the driving seat and NDA is busy in opposing UPA's choice to play a level making opposition. And others and media is pulling legs of each other and representing there ownself as bulletdodger. But certainly congress can use this support to Mrs. Partil as a support to women empowerment in India and can install this as a product to woo votes in next general elections. But running all these threads from so long there is a need to scrutinize our political system and its sub systems of democracy in terms of a linkage between its peripheral body of people and their culture and other influent media.Otherwise it could be end up in a quagmire or deadlock situation between democratic parties and bureaucratic system and of course ‘Junta’ while Mrs. Patil has taken oath as India's 13th and first woman president.

Question Our Faith!

Faith is a complex phenomenon, in fact one of the most complex concept for defending our actions by ourselves [Preferably ourselves or by a group]. Faith is a symbol for our trust; faith is a symbolic representation of things in which we believe. It is the founding concept for thinking and our presence in current social hierarchy. Most of the time it related with religion but conceptually it has to divide on the lines of social and political status of individual. Again, I am not trying to go against the neo liberalism theory but I think we need to look in existence of our faith. Because in recent times when we say that time and society is changing on very fast pace then why we need to look after some rudimentary social boundaries every time when a liberalist try to cross it. I am not defending wrong for sake of proving it right and I am invigilating a process of thinking which is imposed in the name or our culture. I remember three different incidents, which took place in recent times, which actually forces me to re-look my stance on my thinking over Indian faith. One of the incidents is MF Hussain’s (Famous Artist) painting of Bharat Mata. Another one was Baroda Univeristy case in which a student’s art work was destroyed by goons and gundas of the so called ‘Hindu Sevaks’ belong to right wing semi-political organizations, Bajarang Dal and RSS. Another incident was related to the ban of English channels in Maharashtra for almost 5 months for showing nudity on TV.

Complaint was filed by a conscious woman, who was arguing for keeping basic moral values in TV channels in front of court. Now all three incidents were pointing to one direction of forceful mobility of Indian Junta towards a labyrinth, which was founded on the basis of weak political architecture of Indian society. If we can influence people then we are the people who can be influenced by wrong forces inadvertently. There should a question on offence but not every incident needs to be look by every one. Baroda university student’s artwork was very private to his academic society but illegal and forceful intervention by ‘Gundas’ in such cases are very meaning less and subjected to legal case against school body and against people involved in such offence. The knowledge of anatomy of human body should not be questioned when it is in a very private sphere, also when it is subjected to art or a psychology which is protecting your interests in a shell of artwork. Today Hindi channels are showing more explicit content then English channels in terms of content. More nudity released on Hindi channels then English channels. I just want to say that eventual loss of freedom is unacceptable, selcouth and criminal in some way and we need to question on that.

Courtsey :- Outlook for Images

Deterring Indian Democracy

What is election?

It is a process of electing leaders by people who are responsible for pushing typical Indian society on the path of development.
It comes to the picture when you have little bit of idea of any thing and you want someone to volunteer for your voice, for your sake.
Election could be of any type and could take place anywhere and any kind of system i.e. democracy, monarchy or anarchy.
Here we’ll talk about the meaning to the election with respect to the Indian democratic/diplomatic/political system.

What is a political party?

It is an ideology, which can influence people for their achievements.

What are people?

They are influenced people, who are actually wanted to be addressed by political party for their own interests.

These three elements are the key features of a democratic system, which are responsible for ideal function of system of democracy. Indeed, it is bounded by the idea of transparency, integrity, and sovereignty of constitution and people's power.

These were the ideal and key elements of any electoral system persist in democracy and its functionalities.


When you talk about UP political region, in fact Indian political electoral system- it is persistent that over the years the qualification criteria for participating in an election has been mould by administrative bodies, bourgeois as well as political leaders for their own interests.
Quality of leaders in terms of responsibility has been degrade with respect to the leaders appeared after independence India. Judicial system had been overused and misused by the political parties and in fact it looses the grip over people’s confidence as the insemination of corruption into judicial and civil services. Though it is evident from the current condition of rural areas, which contains around 70 % of social status on which whole of Indian agricultural production depends upon has been in the grip of insecurity in terms of their future on this land.
All political parties formed decentralized ideological framework, which works on cast status, industrial influence, and only motive of vote bank politics. Some times it looks quite absurd after hearing that only 20 % of voters turns back on the litmus test of politicians in some election. Take case of Mumbai BMC election in 2007.
How are we moving into 21 century, which is absurdly defined by Rahul Gandhi? Why people of Congress party are forcing them to come under rule of Gandhi dynasty again when it is about to reach an end.
What is the meaning of making a statement “If somebody from Gandhi Family would have been in the Government than Babri demolition had not happened.” Knowing the fact that Rajiv Gandhi has opened the door of Babri and founded the foundation of Ram mandir besides Babri Masjid. It was something like they playing with peoples sentiments and trying to woo the votes from different community by founding the dividing lines between Hindu and Muslims.
“Tilak, Taraaju or Talwaar : Inko Maaro Jute Char “[ Brhmins , Baniyas and Thakurs should be beaten with shoes.], This was the electoral slogan of Bahujan Samaj Party in 2003 election which was definitely not inspired from any provoking developmental activities but based on the dividing lines of political parties like Samajwadi Party , BJP and Congress. And distances at that time between communities of dalits, muslims, brahimns and ahirs gave chance to SP to form UP government. Now the political scenario has been changed for the time being as people of UP are more media focused and really crying for fulfillment of basic amenities. Which in turn forced political parties to change their face which results in more covered area in terms of voters.
For this parties like BSP appointed some Brahmin [ Mishra] to the chief secretary post of BSP, which is actually against the original BSP ideology. But Mayavati, who has capability of overcome the common discontent of his fellow party men, has emerges as new avatar to Bahujan Samaj Party as exit polls are clearly indicating that this time (2007) election is in favor of BSP in UP with 45% voting turn around.
Real reason for the defeat for SP, which is in power right now, could be excessive problems like poverty, minority rights, exploitation, health, food, and power for industry as well as small-scale business and class difference. According to me It was expected because in such crisis situation where administration, judiciary and government is not able to deliver what people needs or requires in near future, such situation for grabbing the driving seat is inevitable. This kind of electoral commune is following the kind of zigzag motion in terms of ruling into government while people’s mandate is not clear.
Same situation has evolved mostly in every state of India that once one party will rule and in next election they will leave chief ministers seat for other party’s leader.
This is something like “Shared Personnel Political Business”, which is again a typical form of bullshit for future of Indian democracy.

Lot more to come.................

Again NDA, How?

I always used to think about what kind of voters are we? I mean to say to whom we want to choose.

Secondly on what are the problems on which political parties are making foundation of next government.

Constitution talks about right to vote but doesn’t suggest about how to vote and whom to vote. Election commission of India is an independent body but it has influences. They are the main content providers for the elections organized in India; they have right to regulate the rules and right to prosecute the fault. Now what they have done to this process where it is clear that they allow many politicians to play into the battle field who are having criminal cases pending with the different legal courts. After all this is India; We are spiritual; We gave chance to every one to improve; We belong to the history of Prithivi Raj Chauhan who had defeated Mehmood Gajni for 17 times and had mercy on him everytime except the 18 times when Gajni attacked again. And this is not only one incidence of intruding our boundaries but it had happen several times again and again.

Election commission has unique role to play in organizing elections in India. Apart from putting all information on Internet they have to come to a point where they can reach to common men’s understanding of his role in to choosing his leader.

Current approach of election commission is quite restrictive in nature and it comes to picture first time when some elections are schedule for next month. They make a leg of 3-4 years knowingly so that Indian mass could not educated about the electoral and democratic institutions and remain ignorant about their authority. And this is the thing, which Indian politicians want most to protect their seat from authoritative capture from some legitimate politicians and leaders.

Now what they can do?

They have to start educating the voters and Indian villagers. They have to start making informative pamphlets for elections rules, regulation and all things about electoral rights to make them authoritative, decisive and key player.

Second point, which I want to make that India, had been independent from last 58 years.

It was political and social need of Indian democracy of that time to follow the dynasty system in a democratize representation of government. But it was urgent need of the political and social system to emulate them selves from the dynastical democracy. After all it was independence fought for people’s rule.

The beginning was done with Indian National Congress represented by Nehru. It was new system of ruling, which was, introduces to Indian Maharajas and Nawabs. Of course it was not acceptable to their legacy as they are bound to rule over people from years. But things were revived for the future with explanations to need of the time and using force some times.

Industrialization was done without giving a thought to its existence and need in Indian context. Nehru was trying to overcome the idea of Gandhian philosophy of developing rural population first by industrializing and submitting nation to the machines driven economic and social system.

Gandhi was right because he know that Indian population need to be developed by their character of making things their own for their self estimation of future growth with respect to global standards and identity.

But it was unfortunate that we symbolize Gandhi as symbol of idealism too early.

India was running with the problem of poverty, unemployment, Jamindaari, Health, Education, Water, Child Marriage, Women’s rights, Inflation, Cast, Human Rights, Child labor, sex ratio and many more. Some problems have been eradicated on paper completely but they do exist in thoughts and actions of current time as well like Jamindaari[Assuming some politicians, Industrialists as Jamindaars of present time ].

But most of the problems are still there for ‘Janta’ to face. Now these are the problems, which remain as target for opposite political front to put pressure on government and draw some lines to influence their vote bank.

They are not solving problems but targeting them for next scheduled elections. This is preposterous face drawn by Indian political system on their own.

This is almost a zigzag motion of representation of ruling government in the legislative assembly after 1990. Before it was Congress only.

This is almost a negligible fact about ruling government in center for people. It doesn’t make any difference because problems are not addressed at ground level and chance is given to the next government See Punjab case].

So it would not be a surprise for me that next government in center is of NDA. But then next one will be of Congress only with oscillating allies.

Indian National Flag: A Second Thought

There is no controvercy attached to this article but it is my second thought to current interpretation to the sovereignity to the Indian national flag and its history.

The color combination was profound in its nominations and have certainly a history which is a sympathetic bondage between age old Hindu-Muslim religious invasions of their own freedom of objective understanding in invidual domain of human life.
It was evident from the colors which were choosen by Indian National Congress at time of their representation to the people in fight against colonial rule. Althought it was a strong issue to fetch attention from our freedom fighters ;political as well as nationalists; to have a bridge between these two communities as it was due cause to the division of power against british rule.
And also only weapon left to the 'Firangi Sarkaar' to extend their presence in India as Ruler to this nations.
However, country divided into India and Pakistan for the settlement of people after british left the country and India founded under the rule of democratic powers, theoretically atleast.
Since it was Indian National Congress which is representing mass of India, I dont know under which theory; But It was their official flag which became the National flag of India after slight modification to its design and also the theoretical explanation to the color combination given by India's first vice president admitting that there is no communal feeling attached to it any more.
In his words
"Bhagwa or the saffron colour denotes renunciation or disinterestedness. Our leaders must be indifferent to material gains and dedicate themselves to their work. The white in the centre is light, the path of truth to guide our conduct. The green shows our relation to (the) soil, our relation to the plant life here, on which all other life depends. The "Ashok Chakra" in the centre of the white is the wheel of the law of Dharma. Truth or Satya, dharma or virtue ought to be the controlling principle of those who work under this flag. Again, the wheel denotes motion. There is death in stagnation. There is life in movement. India should no more resist change, it must move and go forward. The wheel represents the dynamism of a peaceful change."

I'm trying to convince myself that how things can change with no change in things.

Congress Election Manifesto: Back to some fifty years ago

The congress has always stood for the Indian people. In the past it offered a plateform to all sections of the community who aspired for national Independence. As the national independence deepened, it succedded in unifying different sections and their conflicting interests in the common fight against Britain. When independence was won, there was considerable speculation about the future of Congress ( Indian National Congress) and the role it could play in a free India. Political freedom had been the rallying point. Would the congress be able to maintain its hold on the people after its major task had been accomplished? The question was relevent and natural, but it did not become urgent or insistent enough not to brook any delay. For political freedom came with partition, the ravages of which had immediatly to be repaired. There was also question of native stated which had be integrated with the british administrative services under the aegis of Mr. Mountbetton ( then governer general of India) . As power was transferred to Congress it automatically bacame the depository of the nations trust, its hands were full with pressing and urgent problems which demanded immediate attention.

The first Government formed at the center was consciously made into a Government of the best talents then available in the country, and though it was the congress party which formed it, pains were taken to give it a national character. Then came the consitituion and the first general elections which the Congress fought as a party and won. Since then, Congress has functioned as party but is has nevertheless continued to claim abd retain the allegiance of nearly all sections of the people. In the next five years instead of opinions being crystallised on party lines and other parties gaining in strenght and organising themselves effectively in order to bring about a different alignment of political forces, oposition has not ceased but it has failed to get politically organised.

On the eve of the second general elections that the Congress will fight, therefore, its election manifesto cannot be and should not be judged as the programme of a single party which the voter is free to accept or reject. It is useless to ask today is it that Congress is the only party that contends for political power. The election manifesto has to be judged by other standards. The Congress has to satisfy the people from whom it draws its strenght that it is responsive to their aims and aspirations and that it can give the fittest expression to them and that even in the implementation of its various policies, it will win the active support of the people and uphold the faith of those who put their trust in.


EPW.

How do we remember Saddam Hussain? -I

History is quite fond of people and in the time they live in. Sometimes apearance is meticulously marked for future in history pages however some images loose their identity due to political and social pressure of that time. But certainly these people and time have meaningful life to fetch the ubiquitous zeal of submitting a sparking source to the collection political and social history of time.

Saddam Hussain was one of the personalities on whom coming generations can doubt under the shadow of anarchy in present Iraq with the image of political corruptness and tyrannical, apostate, dictator of present time.

This article of mine is an attempt to follow the time in which Saddam Hussain Al-Tikriti lived and also an attempt to delineate the image which Saddam carry after the cruel execution of him under the eye of US led government and its allies.

He was born on april 28 1937 in the town of Al-Awja 13 km from the Iraqi town of Tikrit in the Sunni Triangle, to a family of shepherds from the al-Begat tribal group.

Early childhood of Saddam was quite cruel in nature from as his stepfather Ibrahim al-hassan treated him very harshly and due to that, he fled to Iraq at the age of ten and lived with his uncle Kharaillah Tulfah. Moreover, this time was almost responsible for shaping of his psyche with not accepting mode of cruel intentions of nature over his body and soul, emphasis mine.

However, certainly there were events in his life, which inoculate his mind for humanity some times, which results in form of question over humanity in present era of rising global powers as defendant of peace over world.

Tulfah, the father of Saddam's future wife, was a devout Sunni Muslim and a veteran from the Iraqi-British war of 1941. Later in his life, relatives from his native Tikrit would become some of his closest advisors and supporters. According to Saddam, he learned many things from his uncle, a militant Iraqi nationalist. Under the guidance of his uncle, he attended a nationalistic secondary school in Baghdad. After secondary school, Saddam studied at Iraq's School of Law for three years, prior to dropping out in 1957, at the age of twenty, to join the revolutionary pan-Arab Ba'ath Party, of which his uncle was a supporter. During this time, Saddam apparently supported himself as a secondary school teacher.

Revolutionary sentiment was characteristic of the era in Iraq and throughout the Middle East. The stranglehold of the old elites (the conservative monarchists, established families, and merchants) was breaking down in Iraq. Moreover, the populist pan-Arab nationalism of Gamal Abdel Nasser in Egypt would profoundly influence the young Ba'athist, even up until his death. The rise of Nasser foreshadowed a wave of revolutions throughout the Middle East in the 1950s and 1960s, which would see the collapse of the monarchies of Iraq, Egypt, and Libya. Nasser challenged the British and French, nationalized the Suez Canal, and strove to modernize Egypt and unite the Arab world politically.

In 1958, a year after Saddam had joined the Ba'ath party, army officers led by General Abdul Karim Qassim overthrew Faisal II of Iraq. The Ba'athists opposed the new government, and in 1959, Saddam was involved in the attempted United States-backed plot to assassinate Qassim.

Now from here Saddam starts expansion of his political regime with global world powers that in turn creating the covert grave for Saddam Hussain by seeing his growing power and impression on Ba’ath party members and ofcourse on Iraqi peoples.

Having exultant attitude towards capturing the regime of Iraq with diplomatic psyche of politics he was exacerbating in the house of his own people with the growing threat of mass murder, executions, political imprisonment, merciless beatings, eye gougings, electric shock, amputations, beheadings, rape rooms, lethal concentration camps, assassinations and religious persecution.

Severity is still to discuss and will appear in next part of this article soon to follow the political life of Saddam Hussain and involvement of US-led diplomatic and shrewd policies into the making of new Iraqi dictator of that time also its effect on Iraq's political and economical career with restpect to the global acknowledgement of quality of human living standards accross the boundaries. In factIt was a starting point for the new identity of Iraq which was shaping through the hands and mind of its new president, new man in the army The Saddam Hussain.