15-Aug-2014

Exactly one year back, I accidently listened to PM’s address on Independence Day. I had written a blog then to express my anguish (http://smgundawar.blogspot.in/2014/01/15-aug-2013.html). Today, I am once again writing a new blog after listening to PM’s address to the nation on the occasion of Independence Day. Last few years, I did not plan or bother to listen to what PM says on the occasion of Independence Day because it sounded very rhetoric. But this time, I was waiting for this day and started TV 30 mins in advance. There is 180⁰ change in the atmosphere. PM NaMo’s speech has become the talk of the town in electronic media today. Tushar Gandhi said he came in the studio to criticize Modi government but he cannot do it after listening to him. I am sure his speech would have made such a profound impact on many common citizen. I am sure citizen of this country will eagerly wait for Independence speech now onwards.

Many things are being discussed in television studio about his speech. However, I would like to share my views on something which is unspoken and non-verbal during the ceremony. There were two major changes we have seen today. PM refused to take bulletproof enclosure and lowered the height of the podium so that his chest was visible to the audience. After completing his speech, he broke the security protocol and mixed with school children. It was a deliberate act to make a very strong statement. I think he was emphasizing on the point “Be fearless”. Strong nation needs fearless leader and citizen. Fearlessness is the precondition for the strong, peaceful and prosperous nation. It was also a message to the neighboring countries and rest of the world that India now has very strong, fearless, decisive and honest Prime Minister. This will certainly increase the courage of our security men and common citizen at large.

NaMo’s dressing sense has always surprised people and created curiosity in the media. Today, his attire made a very strong statement. He was in his trademark “Modi Kurta” and traditional turban. He knows his speech would be watched not only in India but across the globe. His sense of dressing sent the Indianness message across the globe.

Unlike in the past, PM did not read through a written speech. It might have created some inconvenience to the international guests present in the program. But he has very good sense of his audience and exactly knows who his audience is? Moreover, one need to listen to it along with President’s address to the nation yesterday. Both the speeches are complimentary to each other. His open and free flowing speech touched many minds as it looked like it was coming directly from his heart. There was an honesty, commitment, truthfulness, concern, firmness, optimisms throughout his speech. He was carrying himself with lot of confidence, passion, and with sense of urgency. I wish to avoid discussing verbatim of his speech. Only time will tell how much he as PM or we as a nation are going to achieve. But his speech certainly spread optimism, dream, positivity, encouragement, hope in the atmosphere. Such atmosphere is essential for economic, scientific, social and cultural growth. Innovation and entrepreneurship prosper under such leadership. Moreover, such atmosphere is going to encourage youth, industrialist, artisan, government servants, politicians, farmers and common citizen at large. I think this is a beginning of new chapter of great India! It makes me to remember very inspiring song “भारताचीया महारथाला सारे मिळुनी ओढुया”

Jai Hind!

Criminals of the Constitution

In 2004 general election, BJP’s “India Shinning” campaign could not shine their fortune and voters packed them out of the power. INC did not get the required majority but all BJP haters joined hands together and formed UPA 1. The elected MP’s of Congress selected Mrs. Sonia Gandhi their leader. Ideally, leader of the largest party is always nominated PM. But when she met with President Kalam on 18-May-04, she proposed Dr. Manmohan Singh as PM. President was surprised as he was expecting that she would stake the claim. There are lots of theories on why did she not become PM. But that is not the topic of discussion. Mrs. Gandhi’s this sacrifice was glorified across the country and we made her larger than life! 

Now Congress was facing the serious issue on how Mrs. Gandhi can control the govt. being just MP! She cannot become a minister under her junior and UPA Chairperson isn’t a constitutional position. To resolve this crisis, they created a constitutional body using the power of Prime Minister. PMO notified formation of National Advisory Council (NAC) (http://www.nac.nic.in/) on 31-May-04. PM appointed Mrs. Gandhi as its Chairperson on 3-Jun-04. She was given the complete authority to select the members. The constitutional precedences of formation of any constitutional body were ignored. There is no procedure of selecting its Chairperson or members. No bureaucracy or opposition party is involved in selecting its Chairperson or members. Though its charter is to provide inputs in the formulation of policy by the Govt. and to provide support to the Govt. in its legislative business, its main purpose is to provide complete control of the govt. to Mrs. Gandhi. NAC can intervene in any ministry, ask their files and ask their secretary to make the presentation. It has control over Planning Commission as well. The activities, which were earlier done by respective ministries or Planning Commission, are now being done by NAC. See this link. (http://www.nac.nic.in/press.php) One can get the idea of their interference in governance.  There are ample evidences that NAC had intervened in selecting/changing ministers and bureaucrats without involving PM. Quickly, NAC became a pseudo cabinet and Mrs. Gandhi as Super PM with complete authority but with no responsibility! To deflect people’s attention from its main purpose, NAC acquired its validity, respectability, sanctity by appointing well known personalities (some controversial as well, in my opinion). Their work such as Right to Information, Right to Education, Right to Health, Food Security is now being promoted as their original work although constitution of India does talk about these citizen’s rights.

The story does not stop here. Mrs. Jaya Bachchan was expelled on 17-Mar-06 from RS by President on Election Commission’s recommendations for office of profit as she was holding an office of UP state. The opposition parties demanded similar action against Mrs. Gandhi being Chairperson of NAC. Just before Election Commission could take such action, the intelligent lawyers of Congress recommended her to resign both from NAC and as MP. She took high moral ground by resigning on 31-Mar-06 declaring that she is in the politics for serving the nation and people of India! It created such a profound impact that she was re-elected from Rae Bareli in by-election in May 2006 with emphatic majority over 4 lacs votes. The rest of candidates lost their security deposit! But this victory could not solve their main hurdle! She could not return as Chairperson of NAC. Although she resigned from NAC, it continued to function till 31^st Mar 2008 and ceased thereafter.

To remove this hurdle, Congress amended the Office of Profit Act 1959 itself! To hide their main agenda of removing NAC, they removed 55 offices from it. These offices were mainly from West Bengal and UP.  As Left and SP were main beneficiaries, they supported the amendments. BJP protested against the amendments strongly and walked out of the Parliament. Left and SP helped Congress in passing the amendment amid BJP’s walkout on 17-May-2006. The President sent back the amendments on 31^st May 2006 for seeking some clarifications. The government sent back the same bill to him without any modifications for his approval.  As the cabinet and parliament are supreme in the democracy, he had no other option but to give his consent on 18-Aug-2006! These amendments were also challenged in the Supreme Court. But SC, in August 2009, refused to intervene in legislative competence and power of parliament.

Now all the hurdles were cleared. NAC was reconvened and Mrs. Gandhi once again became the Chairperson in 29-Mar-2010. Her control over PM and Govt. started once again. She once again became Super Prime Minister! She is solely responsible for diminishing and devaluating India’s PM. Mr. Manmohan Singh silently allowed it to happen and became rubber stamp PM!

Mere act does not indicate whether it is virtue or sin. The intension or purpose behind the act decides it. If the purpose is empathy for others, then it is a virtue. But if the objective is exploitation, then it is a sin. Therefore, though Congress actions were correct in the eyes of law, but they resulted into exploitation of constitution for giving undue favor to Mrs. Gandhi. Therefore, it is a BIG SIN Congress has committed.  The people of this country should not forgive and punish these criminals. Let’s hope that such immoral body would be demolished and the respect of our constitution would be restored back during NaMo’s govt.

Nostalgia

Last few days, my mother is serving us aambil (आंबील) in the morning. Cuisine, recipe and taste of the food are generally unique to the family, caste, religion and region. Continuous churning happens in these social actors and new recipes / eating habits are developed. Similarly, though aambil is not a part of dietary tradition of our family but it entered through the impact of the region where we are brought up. We all siblings cherish its taste and enjoy it during the summer. It is not the only one which entered in our family but there are few other recipes like aalan (आळण) (Many people in our region can’t pronounce “ळ” and therefore they pronounce it as “आरण”) and dhasala (धासलं) and they became the tradition of our family.

On close observation of these recipes, I realized that they are extremely economical, easy and very quick to prepare. They also represent a profound innovation of lower income group to adjust their dietary habits according to their income. This is my small effort to put them in front of you.

·        The aambil is made up of Javar (जवार) flour. It’s a main meal and normally prepared in summer as it is colder in nature. Take 150 grams of Javar flour. Ferment it overnight with the help of traditional culture or curd. Next morning, cook it with 3.5 - 4 liters of water. Add salt as per your taste. We also add pinch of cumin seeds (जीरा), sesame seeds (तील) and lovage seeds (अजवायन) for flavor. The thickness of aambil should be similar to the veg thick soup. It gets thicker as it cools down. Therefore, enjoy it hot! With the current market rates, 4 people can have stomach full meal in just (7 rupees for flour and 1 rupee for other ingredient) 8 Rupees!

·        The dhasala is made up of newly harvested rice. It is generally made during winter only. Take 200 grams of newly harvested rice and cook it with 2-2.5 liters of water until rice is completely cooked. Its thickness should be similar to khir. Add salt as per your taste. It is generally taken along with pickle or chutney. With the current market rates, 4 people can have stomach full meal in just 7 Rupees.

·       The aalan is a side dish or curry and accompanies with rice or roti. There are lots of varieties of it. But, I will explain only 2 simplest recipes here.

ü  Take just 10 ml of cooking oil and heat it in the pan. Make very thin batter of 2 table spoon of gram flour (बेसन) with water. Add red chili powder, turmeric powder and salt as per your taste.  Add mustard seeds in pan and allow them to crack. Crush 4 fenugreek (मेथी) seeds (1 per person) and add into oil. It gives very good flavor to it. Add batter in the pan and stir till it cooks well. Generally, spicy aalan is the most favorite in our region. The total production cost for 4 people (10 ml oil – 80 Paise, 4 Fenugreek seeds – 20 paise, 25 grams gram flour – 2.5 Rupees, others – 50 paise) is 4 Rupees.

ü  In other variant, replace fenugreek seeds with ladyfinger or okra (भेंडी). 100 grams are sufficient for 4 people. Make bigger pieces and add into gram flour batter. I also add 2 table spoon of curd into batter (but it is optional). The total production cost for 4 people is 9 Rupees.

All these recipes make me nostalgic and take me to my childhood. Moreover, they help me in remaining firmly on the ground and bring the memories of my primary school classmates. I strongly feel that they should be brought into mainstream dietary and given them due respect like we have given to Biryani. I am just doing my bit here. Give a try and give me your feedback!

What is New in This General Election!

The world’s biggest festival of democracy is currently happening in India. The citizens are jubilant, worried, scared and hopeful of the outcome of the election. There is tremendous churning happening across the country. It will definitely generate both the nectar and the poison as it happened in Samudramanthan. This parliament election is distinctly different than earlier elections in the following ways.

·         BJP declared Narendra Modi as their Prime Ministerial candidate on 13-09-13 and took a lead in the game. This is for the first time incumbent and successful CM is bidding for PM.

·         “Aspirant PM” NaMo has taken complete grip over his election campaign. He has already visited all the states before he started his Bharat Vijay Rally. He will be conducting 185 Bharat Vijay Rallies. In fact, he would conduct 225-250 rallies since Sept-13. He will reach out to estimated 125 M voters and additional 25 M voters during his Chai Pe Charcha! No PM candidate, in past, has taken such mammoth (20% voters) people contact program. No other political leader is even closer to him.

·         In this election, personalities are taking over the Party. It was true for other political parties earlier. Now, BJP has joined the club. The campaign is concentrated around NaMo and not BJP as party.  

·         Congress’s campaign is very weak as if they have already accepted the defeat. It is understandable that Sonia Gandhi can’t due to her health problem. But where is Rahul Gandhi in congress’s campaign?

·         Social media is the key tool for reaching out to the voters. BJP’s innovative idea of Chai Pe Charcha has completely broken the imagination of other parties on how technology can be used for reaching out to and interacting with millions of people.

·         Many non-political/spiritual fronts or organizations such as ex-military organization, Ramdev Baba’s organization, Sri Sri Ravishankar, Nair Seva Samithi, Anna Hazare etc. are openly taking political sides.

·         Large number of first time voters (24 Million i.e. 3% of total voters) who were not born when Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, Mandal protest and demolition of Babri Masjid happened. They do not have slightest idea of imposition of Emergency in 1975.

·         All previous elections were fought on emotions and not on the issues. Many political parties are trying hard to bring 2002 Gujarat riots, Babri Masjid demolition, so called secularism at the center stage of election campaign. But the voters are not really interested in them. This will be issue based election.

·         In this election, voters are looking at larger and national level picture rather than state or local level issues. The trends show that caste, region and religious equations are already broken and only national issues have taken a center stage.

·         Third / forth fronts were declared with lot of fanfare. Initial enthusiasm has already converted into cynicism. Most of the regional parties already are in deep trouble today. AAP showed some promising start initially but their influence and support are waning in recent days.  

·         You can see political opportunism, lust for power, switching sides for power at one side and on the other hand many established leaders are shying away from contesting.

·         Media feels that they played a key role in bringing AAP govt. in New Delhi. They feel that they can replicate it at national level. Today, it is very easy to identify the planted / paid news or which media is taking which side. Did you observe TOI is becoming pro-Modi?

Let’s hope, on 16-May this election will make an end to the dynastic rule and dynastic political parties. It should demonstrate a common man can become PM with his hard work, dedication and service to the society. Let’s pray to God that such leader will fulfill the aspirations of all Indians, protect our border, blossom the forests, provide basic needs such as food, clothes, shelter, education, health, employment, security, peace, brotherhood, upheld Indian Dharma in the world and make India a Guru of whole world!

Happy New Year!!!

Today is Chaitra Shudha Pratipada (चैत्र शुद्ध प्रतिपदा), New Year for many Indians. I wish them a very happy and prosperous New Year! This morning I attended RSS’s Gudi Padava Ustav. A knowledgeable speaker in RSS fraternity touched upon Hindu Cosmology. It triggered a recall of my readings on this topic which I am presenting it here.

·        Hindus believe Brahma (creator of universe) leaves for 100 years. Each year consists of 300 cosmic days and 300 cosmic nights. 1 day (cosmic daytime) of Brahma is called as Kalpa (कल्प). Brahma is 51 years old and Shweta Varaha (श्वेत वराह) Kalpa is currently going on.

·        Brahma creates 14 Manus (मनु) in each Kalpa. Period of 1 Manu is called as Manvantar (मन्वंतर). Currently, वैवस्वत (मनु) Manvantar is going on which is 7^th Manu.

·        Each Manvantar has 71 Mahayug. Each Manu is separated by Sandhya. There are 15 Sandhya which are equivalent of 6 Mahayug. Therefore, each Kalpa is of (14 X 71) + 6 = 1000 Mahayug

·         1 Mahayug comprises of 1 Satya (सत्य), Treta (त्रेता), Dwapar (द्वापर) and Kali (कलि) Yug each.

·         Kali Yug is of 4,32,000 conventional years

·         Dwapar Yug is twice of Kali Yug i.e. 4,32,000 X 2 = 8,64,000 years

·         Treta Yug is thrice of Kali Yug i.e. 4,32,000 X 3 = 12,96,000 years

·         Satya Yug is four times of Kali Yug i.e. 4,32,000 X 4 = 17,28,000 years.

·        Therefore one Mahayug is of 43,20,000 years and one Manu is of 30,67,20,000 years and one Kalpa is of 4,32,00,00,000 years!

·         We are currently in Kaliyug of 28^th Mahayug of वैवस्वत Manvantar of Shweta Varaha Kalpa.

·        Brahma is awake during daytime (Kalpa) and hence universe is awake. When brahma is sleeping in the night, universe is also sleeping (destroyed by Shiva). Brahma dies after 100 years and universe is completely destroyed. He reincarnates only after 100 years and universe starts blossoming once again. This cycle repeats again and again. Rig Veda says no body knows how long it is going on and how long it would continue.

These are our beliefs and there is no scientific justification of it. However, age of the universe suggested by modern science is surprisingly very much closer to what suggested by Hindu cosmology. Whenever you perform any Pooja at your home next time, observe what Brahmin says. He gives the complete reference of Hindu cosmology by uttering Kalpa-Manavantar-Yug-Year-Season-Month-Paksha-Date (Tithi)-Day (War)-Nakshatra. Listen it carefully.

All of our Indian calendars are derived or calculated from सूर्यसिद्धान्त of Rig Veda. Other Asian calendars like Chinese and Japanese are also based on this principle. Our calendars are based upon cycle of moon. However correction (leap year or Adhik Mas) is applied based upon the solar cycle. Therefore, Hindu calendars are lunisolar calendar. Christian’s calendar is Solar whereas Muslim’s calendar is pure lunar.

A variety of calendars are used in India. Maharashtra and southern states use Shalivahana Shaka. The northern states use Vikram Samvat. Both of them have same months. In Shalivahan Shaka, new month begins with Shukla Paksha whereas it begins with Krishna Paksha in Vikram Samvat. In short, Amavasya (no moon) is the last day of the month in Shalivahan Shaka whereas Pornima (full moon) is the last day of the month in Vikram Samvat. Subtract ~78 from Gregorian year for Shalivahan Shaka (1936 from today) and add ~56 for Vikram Samvat. There is one more very common calendar which starts from beginning of Kali Yug (3102 BCE). It is called as Yugabda. Add ~3102 in CE to get Yugabda.

Indian National Calendar is Shaka which is similar to Shalivahan Shaka. We must use it in all the Government communication. But we have been taught not to honor our own traditions. We have already forgotten all our “National” things given in the Constitution of India in last 64 years. We hear Indian National Calendar only on Aakashwani Radio station when starts in the morning. But who listens Aakashwani nowadays!!

एक रूपये का डॉलर!!

“आप मुझे एक रूपये का डॉलर दो, मैं आपको पॉंच रूपयेका डॉलर देता हॅुं” tea vendor said to me in my office, when I ushered 10 Rupee note. I was amused when I heard this. But we frequently hear this when people erroneously equate coin with dollar. His utterance provoked me to see the history of Indian Rupee.

Rupiya is derived from “Rupe” mean Silver or “Rupa” means image or one can also interpret it as image on silver. Indian Rupee had been silver coin based currency for long. To my surprise, Indian Rupee was equal to US$ until 1947. The first major devaluation of Indian rupee happened in 1949. It is very difficult to pass any judgment on this because I have not studied economics. But it is very evident that international politics forced Nehru to accept this. At the same time, there are varied and exactly opposite views on the merits and demerits of this event. Therefore, I leave it to readers to draw their own inferences.

From 1926 to 1966 Indian rupee was pegged to GBP at Rs. 13.33. The pegging was changed to US$ in 1966 at Rs. 7.56. India gone away with the pegging system slowly during Narasimha Rao’s regime. Today, Indian Rupee is completely market linked and its value is driven by market. It means theoretically GOI or RBI does not control it but practically they do it indirectly. Please see the following table which gives exchange rate with US$. I leave it to readers to draw their own conclusions after going through the data!!  

Year	Exchange Rate $	Devaluation	PM
1947	1	0	Nehru
1950	4.79	379%	Nehru (devaluated  in 1949)
1955	4.79	0%	Nehru
1960	4.77	0%	Nehru
1965	4.78	0%	Nehru (64), Indira (66-77)
1970	7.56	58%	Indira
1975	8.39	11%	Indira, Desai, Charan Singh
1980	7.86	-6%	Indira (80-84)
1985	12.36	57%	Rajiv (84-89), Chandrashekhar, VP Singh
1990	17.5	42%	Narasimha Rao (91-96)
1995	32.42	85%	Gujral, Gowda, Vajpayee
2000	44.94	39%	Vajpayee (98-04)
2005	43.47	-3%	Manmohan Singh
2006	45.19	4%	Manmohan Singh
2007	39.42	-13%	Manmohan Singh
2008	48.88	24%	Manmohan Singh
2009	46.37	-5%	Manmohan Singh
2010	46.21	-0.35%	Manmohan Singh
2013	68	47%	Manmohan Singh
Feb-2014	62.27	-9%	Manmohan Singh

 

One Rupee note is issues by Govt. of India whereas rest of the currency notes are issued by Reserve Bank of India. Indian Rupee has another interesting history. Indian Rupee has been official currency for countries like Seychelles, Kenya, Uganda and Mauritius. Persian Gulf countries like Dubai, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Muscat, and Oman were using Indian Rupee as their currency till 1959. But, it promoted gold smuggling and put pressure on India’s foreign reserves. Therefore, GOI issued Gulf Rupee exclusively for these countries in 1959. Indian Rupee suddenly devaluated in 1966. As a result these countries started replacing Gulf Rupee with their own currency. Oman replaced it at the end in 1970.