Does Dr. Manmohan Singh deserve the tag Mr. Honest?

I could not restrain from writing a commentary on this topic. The Congress has been hiding all the scams that it has been accused of behind the face of our Honorable Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, who as you would expect enjoys a clean image, as he is perceived to be. The UPA government has been very successful in doing so, the list of scams include but does not restrict to the Sashi tharoor and his IPL controversy, Common Wealth Games, Adarsh housing society, the much talked 2G and other issues of national interest like soaring Inflation, deregulation of oil price, Maoism, Chinese infiltration, Pakistani Terror Camps, so on and so forth.

All the scams and concerns were hidden behind a ceiling, which is nothing but our Prime Minister’s Mr. Clean, Mr. Honest image.  But considering the recent developments, unfolding of 2G spectrum outrage and the prime minister’s reaction, response to the Supreme Court has provoked me to write on the topic, "Does Prime Minister Manmohan Singh deserve the tag Mr. Honest?"  Read on..

Well, many of us feel that Manmohan Singh is a honest man, as long as he does not benefit personally, whether or not he allowed crooks like Raja to loot precious resources of the country like the 2G Spectrum. But permitting crooks to loot the nation’s resource is not the sign of any man who claims to be honest or clean and in my opinion he is culpable as well.

The Congress might put forth it’s defence that it has to stick on to it's Coalition Dharma to avoid elections mid way, but every right thinking man would adhere to the standpoint that no amount of coalition compulsion can justify permitting such a mammoth loot of nation’s resource.

It is not so that the entire misappropriation of the spectrum took place without the knowledge of the prime minister, time and again Raja has been claiming via the media that the PM is fully aware of whatever he has done. On November 1, 2007, the then Union law minister H R Bhardwaj replying to the Department of Telecommunications recommended an empowered group of ministers (eGoM) and getting legal opinion of the attorney general. The finance ministry had also recommended an eGoM. Raja wrote to the prime minister objecting to an eGoM stating it was not an inter-departmental issue. The PM kept quiet or rather batted for Raja ignoring Bhardwaj and the recommendations of the finance ministry.

On May 2010, when the PM made a rare public appearance while addressing a press conference marking the 1st anniversary of the UPA-II, Manmohan Singh gave a clean chit to Raja by stating that the minister had followed the procedures and everything was done in accordance with the rules. He said, “What the minister did was to implement a policy that was already in place. It would have been unfair to new entrants if a new yardstick is used. You have to look at it in proper perspective.” He said that the watchdogs — the TRAI and the telecom commission — had both approved the policy on the 2G auctions and since complaints were received, the CVC and the CBI were looking into it.  He added, “If I come to know that there is any involvement at any level, we will take action.” When he said this, spectrum corruption was very much within his knowledge.

Now looking at the CAG, it has clearly indicted Raja on several grounds, ineligible applicants, not fixing 2008 prices and ignoring recommendation for an eGoM are some of them.  Any individual with a rational, sound mind would know that several facts go against Manmohan Singh.  The most important of it is the petition filed by Subramanian Swamy in Nov 2008 seeking sanction to prosecute Raja (Please note that it requires the PM’s sanction to prosecute a cabinet minister).  The PM neither accept nor reject the petition filed by Swamy, he has been sitting on it all these days which is why the Supreme Court has questioned the PM for alleged inaction.

After all, what Manmohan Singh could do is to make the Attorney General Goolam E Vahanvati represent him in the Supreme Court in place of Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium.

Secondly, the PM had the CAG interim report in his hand by April, 2010. The interim report, as Swamy says, is no different from the final report because CAG was not convinced with the answers given to their queries.

Thirdly the PM himself has been shielding Raja all these days. Raja has carefully built his defence. The PM has written to him in November 2007 suggesting that the entry fee be revised considering innumerable applications and auction be followed.  Raja replied to him on the same day that it was capricious to follow the auction method and that he preferred the 2001 price.  The prime minister has acknowledged the letter but did not write back opposing or supporting Raja’s views.  That gave Raja a strong handle to go about saying that the prime minister knew everything and he had informed Manmohan Singh the procedures he followed.  Why did the PM not stop the telecom minister? His own Ministry of Finance has objected to the price and the procedure. The high-powered telecom commission was not consulted at all.  Now, evidence of several officers having protested may surface but they were all within the knowledge of the people involved, and certainly in the knowledge of the prime minster.

Above all came the master stroke, PJ Thomas who has been facing corruption charges was appointed as the chief of the Central Vigilance Commission (The CVC) which is a watchdog agency. This yet again has attracted severe criticism from the Supreme Court.  The Apex court has asked the Government to explain the procedures followed for appointment of the CVC.

All the above cited reasons will make every right thinking citizen of this country to contemplate the question “Does Prime Minister Manmohan Singh deserve the tag Mr. Honest?”

Jai Hind.

As always, your comments and thoughts are welcome.

A Perspective on CASTEISM vis-à-vis Cultural Nationalism

I never wanted to write something on caste until a friend of mine was discussing with me that she isn’t able to convince her parents on her marriage plans as the one she wanted to marry belongs to a different caste. Well, to be very frank this is not something unusual in today’s society. Therefore I made a sincere attempt to understand how the caste system evolved over a period of time and how it is interpreted rather misinterpreted by today’s social order by and large.

Read on..

Although many Hindus subscribe to the belief that one is born into a certain caste, this belief is not supported by their scriptures (Holy Books). The caste system in India has degenerated into a system falsely recognizing men born in Brahmin families as Brahmins, even though they don’t exhibit the qualities of Brahmins. This has caused so many problems and I say with conviction, most of it is “Self Imposed”.

Let us try and understand the Castes’ i.e. “Varnasrama Dharma” as explained by Lord Krishna, the creator himself..

Brahmanas – Are the ones who possess and practice “Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, knowledge, wisdom and religiousness”.

Ksatriyas - “Heroism, power, determination, resourcefulness, courage in battle, generosity and leadership are the natural qualities of work for the ksatriyas”.

Vaisyas - “Farming, cow protection and business are the natural work for the vaisyas”

Sudras - Are those “who offer their labor and service to others”.

Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita that “I created the castes, the caste system is created by me through the distribution of Gunas (tendencies, qualification or quality) and Karma (action, deed, work), meaning that according to what we do in this world here, so will our character be. Though I am the Creator of these things, do not think that I am partial, that I am taking sides, that I am performing actions; I am beyond the Gunas”.

According to Lord Krishna different people with different skill sets and qualification are categorized to perform their respective duties for the betterment and welfare of the society. But please note that the same lord Krishna mentions in the Gita that CASTE as explained above is not by BIRTH but by QUALIFICATION and WORK.

It was natural that a child born in a Brahmin family would be accustomed to the environment and naturally acquires the qualities to become a qualified Brahmin, likewise same was the case with Ksatriyas, Vaisyas and the Sudras. However no one could stop a Sudra from becoming a Brahmin if he desires to be so, of course after acquiring the necessary traits and qualification to become a Brahmin.

Let me try to explain this with a small example, let us assume four different professions in the society, Advocates, IAS officers, Doctors and Chartered Accountants. An advocate’s son or a Chartered Accountant’s son does not automatically qualify to step into their father’s shoes just because of their birth in respective families, if they wish so, they need to qualify themselves by clearing the necessary exams, internships, practice etc. The same way, a Doctor’s son can always aspire to become an IAS officer or a Chartered Accountant.

Now over a period of time, if all the IAS officers decide to make their children IAS officers, all the Judges decide to make their children Advocates and be obstinate that they would get their children married only to families which practice the same profession as theirs’ will that be fair? NO right, which is what, is happening in today’s India.

The qualities of a Brahmin are clearly explained in the Bhagavad-gita:

samo damas tapah saucam

ksantir arjavam eva ca

jnanam vijnanam astikyam

brahma-karma svabhava-jam

“Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, knowledge, wisdom and religiousness–these are the natural qualities by which the brahmanas work.”

These days, the samskaras (Hindu Rites) are generally not performed or not properly performed and the gurukuls, the training schools for the boys, are no longer in operation. So there is generally no training or practice. Therefore these sons of Brahmins who have no brahminical training have to be called “dvija-bandhus” or friends of the Brahmins. Unless they actually have the qualities of Brahmins and work as Brahmins they can’t be called a Brahmin, the same is applicable to the other three castes as well. You may even be qualified as a lawyer educationally but if you don’t practice, if you don’t work as a lawyer, no one will accept you as a lawyer.

A self proclaimed Brahmin or a Ksatriya for that matter (Just because his or her forefathers were once Brahmins and Ksatriyas), who neither posses the qualification nor the qualities to become one, feels hesitant to get their children married to ones who belong to some other caste, say Sudra or Vysya for no reason. It’s nonsense isn’t it?

Even during the period of Vedas, there were no restrictions in inter caste or inter societal marriages, it was left to the discretion of the individuals and there are ample evidences to support this fact. Let us take our very own Ramayana, Rishi Vishrava, the father of Ravana who was born to the great Rishi Pulastya (who was one amongst the 7 Sapta Rishis) got married to Kaikesi, who was born to an Asura King Sumali. We know the story of Rishi Vishwamitra who was once a Ksatriya Emperor who later became a Brahmin sage, a Brahma Rishi in fact who are considered to be members of the highest class of Rishis. These are just a few well known examples from the Puranas, as there are umpteen of them.

Let us truly introspect ourselves; the self proclaimed so called Brahmins, Ksatriyas, Vysyas, Sutras and thousands of communities which fall under these four categories, think that they are more sanctified than Rishi Vishrava, Brahma Rishi Vishwamitra or the Lord Krishna himself, If so, I am sorry to say, they must be making a complete fool out of themselves.

Mahakavi Bharathi, although born into an orthodox Brahmin family, gave up his own caste identity. One of his great sayings (Jathi irandozhiya verillai) which meant, 'There are only two castes in the world: one who is educated and one who is not. Once he said that he would be the happiest person on earth if his daughter gets married to a harijan.

We have very high regard for Mahakavi Bharathi and his poems; we sing his songs but neither understand its substance nor practice it in our lives. It’s high time that we wake up to the reality; it is not Lord Krishna or the Bhagavat Gita which says NO to inter caste marriages but our very own FEAR of rejection, dejection in family and societal circle which ultimately compels us to say NO. We are a part of the same Society which we fear to, be the change, the society would perfunctorily accept the change.


The concept of ‘cultural nationalism’ enjoins upon the adherents of different faiths in India to respect, and take pride in the common unifying culture of our ancient land while celebrating its many diversities.  Let us respect our rich culture and tradition our forefathers have left behind, let us take pride that we belong to this nation which is as diverse as the universe itself, let us esteem our rare and unique Vedas & Upanishads. Let us NOT get LOST by marginalized thoughts and emotions on castes which is relatively a recent development in our long standing history.

The need of the hour is CULTURAL NATIONALISM and not CASTEISM.

Jai Hind.

Note – I have referred to many websites, journals, blogs on Hinduism, Ramayana and the Bhagavat Gita, therefore I do not claim the above post as a result of my own, original thought process. This is just an expression of my perspective and how I look at the caste system.

Your comments and thoughts are most welcome.

Is the WEST on the Road to Recovery?`

Paul Krugman, the winner of the Noble prize for Economics in the year 2008, says “Much of the past 30 yrs of study in Macroeconomics was spectacularly useless at its best and positively harmful at its worst”..!!  

My concern is that, despite this fact, the WEST fails to recognize the failure of extreme consumerism and its largely appreciated spending driven economic model, more so because it is trying to correct its mistake by obligating the same mistake all over again.  

Well, now let us understand the economic model for growth and development the west has been relying and advocating for decades.  Shop for growth, spend for development was the sole mantra of the US government, the policymakers and the so called intellectuals were literally running a campaign “Shop for America”.

As an extension to this, the Fed started to cut down the interest rates to near zero levels.  In the 1980’s the US prime rate was as high as 21.50% which has dwindled to 3% for now.  The policymakers were encouraging the alarming trend of not just spending, but even went to the extent of propagating “borrow and spend”, it is with this intention the interest rates were curtailed and brought down to near zero levels. 

There is absolutely no incentive for the people in the US to park their savings in the Bank since his or her savings would yield a negative return (if inflation is taken into consideration).  The then Fed chairman, Alan Greenspan once in his speech said that people save in the 3^rd world Asian countries because of the reason that they felt insecure of their future and the government of such countries were not capable enough of providing social security to the poor, unemployed and the aged.  

Mr. Greenspan failed to recognize the fact that in countries like Indian and Japan unlike the west, it is the family and the society which forms the basis for social security and not the government.  In India, the father takes care of his unemployed son till he is on his own, the son takes care of his aged parents, and the disabled siblings are taken care of by the family, the orphans and the left alone oldies are taken care by the society.  

Therefore people in India SAVE, they do so not because they are insecure of their future but to support their family and the society.  A father saves because he has to fund his son’s education and daughter’s marriage; a son saves because he has to take care of his aging parents.  This family and society driven economic model is the structural difference between the West and the East.

In the West the families are disrupted, 51% of the 1^st marriages end in divorce, 65% of the 2^nd marriages end in divorce and a whopping 70% of the 3^rd marriage end in divorce, thereby there is no ownership or obligation for the citizens towards their family, neither a necessity to save. 

The savings to GDP ratio is a stunning 35% in India which is one of the highest in the world, whereas the savings to GDP is negative in the America.  There is absolutely no necessity for the Indian government to rely on foreign investments to fund its fiscal deficit or infrastructural, industrial development.  I would like to state the fact that it is a mere 2% of India’s investment which is funded by the FII’s and the FDI’s the rest 98% is generated from within the country by the domestic household savings, while the West is compelled to borrow money from India, China, Japan and other emerging economies to lend its citizens who are used to the trend of borrowing and spending.

With a national debt of $ 1 billion in the beginning of the 20th century, the federal budget deficit accelerated, topping out at $290 billion for 1992.  The total deficit for fiscal year 2009 was $1.42 trillion, a $960 billion increase from the 2008 deficit.  The US fiscal deficit is projected to touch a staggering $9.05 trillion in the next ten years forecasting the social security and healthcare commitments.

It is this attitude of extreme consumerism which is the prime cause of the current economic mess which the America has successfully exported to the world.  The consolidated Fiscal deficit of America runs to trillions and still growing, the US has been selling treasury bills and printing money to fund its deficit which is clearly an unsustainable model.  The US treasury bills which are considered the safest instrument in the world are not safe anymore as there are no real assets to back these bills.

Any rational economist would call for a structural change in the economic model to come out of the vicious cycle, now that would mean inculcating the habit of savings to its citizens, but the Fed and the policymakers don’t seem to even realize their mistake, forget rectifying.  That is why I said at the beginning of this post that the US is trying to correct its mistake by obligating the same mistake all over again.  

Trust me "the worst is yet to come", read on.

The US has been pouring billions of taxpayers money into the so called “Too big to fail Banks”.  Too much of fiscal stimulus does no good to an economy; rather it pulls down the sovereign rating as a result of increased Deficit to GDP ratio.  As a result people, banks, financial institutions and the world economy by and large would have lost faith in the US treasury bills and that would be the trigger for the 2^nd round of recession (well, not necessarily depression).

 I just burst into when Obama said that his Government had succeeded in stabilizing the US economy.  Nothing is going to change unless and until the people of the US start saving, they can’t go on a borrowing spree as the model in itself isn’t sustainable.  The government must incentivize savings by way of hiking the interest rates, now that calls for a paradigm shift in the way the US economy had been operating for decades.  Yes, it would lead to chaos in the short run as the consumption would take a hit, but it will be a blessing in disguise since people would learn to live within their means.

For decades the people in the US have been net borrowers, and to make debt available to its people the Fed borrows from other countries by way of selling treasury bonds.  When it comes to India, China or Japan the government borrows from its own people, it is the net savings of the people which funds the deficit of the government and not outside borrowings.

Therefore I am sure of the fact that the US is in deep trouble and the bubble can burst anytime, this time the reason for the muddle would be treasury bubble as it was the real estate asset bubble in 2008.

My words are highly influenced by Shri. Gurumurthy Ji, a charted accountant, economist, columnist and an investigative journalist.  

Your comments and thoughts are most welcome.