India at 60

Quest for Perfection!!!

Anurag Gangal

24/AB, New Campus

University of Jammu

Jammu-180006

India is moving to fulfil development, energy, communication and basic needs of the country uniquely. India has technology and human resources both. No doubt there are nearly seven 07 million Indian citizens who do not get drinking water at all even after 60 years of independence. This, however, is not a crisis situation. These Indians without water are apparently Yogis who can live without water and food. What they do not get for themselves, they are voluntarily leaving it for others to consume – provided food and water are made available for millions of other citizens.

Water Preservation

This is an exercise by 07 million people into natural voluntary (?) preservation of drinking water for those who need it more. This results into highly satisfying phenomenon. Urban dwellers then get at least a few drops of soiled water in their glowing taps in tiled bathtubs and shining kitchens. This is resulting from the sacrifice of “07 million Yogis”. This water is further preserved into household utensils drip by drip by needy urban dwellers. One utensil is filled up in very fast in about twenty four hours. Thus, taking a full bath may not be possible. But at least the purifying touch of water can be felt by dipping fingers in the fulsome water filled cans! This is not a small achievement for a poor though speedily developing India. Indeed, the credit goes to our water management departments, power ministers, political energy boosters and power brokers. This is an instance of sacrifice of the people, by the people for the people. Clearly, power enriches and absolute power enriches absolutely!

Electricity and Energy Saving

Indian Government has gained a lot in energy saving through least possible use of electricity in particular. That is why Indian Government, through its media, is on a special spree to teach its population how to save electricity in “voltage banks” for posterity to use it in an emergency. What apparently Government wants here is that people must learn to put off all their lights and electronic gadgets whenever electricity comes alive for a little while again and again after scheduled and un-scheduled cuts. This is the best way to practice “limits to degenerating growth” and set examples for developed nations not to waste their electricity 24 hours a day every week. Developed nations, therefore, are going into a pit of modernity with inherent threats of ever more chances of electrocution due to continuous supply of deadly electric currents. Such free use and supply of electricity is dangerous for the precious life of every Indian citizen. Indian Government knows it fully well.

In India, threat of electrocution is much lesser because it is provided to urban areas only about 05 to 06 hours a day, effectively speaking. Therefore, the threat of electrocution is reduced with a boon for longer and safer life common Indian citizens and individuals. This shows how really caring the Indian Government is!

Training in Defence

Even during the 05 to 06 hours a day of palpitating electric supply, it keeps coming and going every 15 to 30 minutes in order to ensure safety and security of the people using it. Such caring electric supply is also giving people training in national defence. This training will come handy at times of warfare and bombardment by an enemy country. People thus become well trained for “black outs” during strategic air-strikes.

This electric rigmarole as a child’s play is carried on so enthusiastically by our technicians and linemen that it ensures fully the quick discharge of inverter batteries at home and offices in view of repeated defence training through recurring “black outs”.

Controlling “Alcoholism”

In this way, the electric department is also taking care of India’s world famous “workholism” or workaholic population and culture. If the un-scheduled cuts in electric supply are not there, people will not be able to relax at all in their offices, at home and in the agricultural fields. They will keep on working on their computers, machines and fields ceaselessly. This may lead to bad health. Hence, our electric departments are ensuring our good health and they are also controlling the problem of “alcoholism” in their own unique way.

Education in Intuition and Logic

Aforesaid water and electricity perspective is closely linked to educational priorities of India. This apparently shows our belief in the development of intuitive power of children through providing repeated opportunities for meditation specially when unscheduled electricity cuts take place not only during the day but also at night. This is obvious because above mentioned water and electricity saving does not allow children even to study under the street light. Hence, there is no other option but to go for meditation only. This helps them grow vastly their intuitive power. As such, they pass their various examinations through perspiration, inspiration, meditation and intuition! A highly visionary population, indeed, is on the anvil in the sixtieth year of India’s independence. India has a very bright future especially through water and electricity projects of Government of India.

The best part of this Governmental policy of learning through perspiration and inspiration emerges when they teach to save what is not there at all. In other words, Indian citizens learn to save electricity although it is not with then fully for about 17 to 18 hours a day.

Graphical Savings in Banks

This training in developing a habit to save energy, electricity and water is having multi-fold dimensions. This can also lead to very strong financial base for the Indian nation. Such a continuous training from their childhood, teaches our unemployed youth how to save income without earning anything. That is why our national savings in the banks are now having an upward graph with unparalleled positive magnitudes. Indians thus learn to save through logic. They have learnt to create from nothing and that is what logic is about! Saving energy, water, electricity and income is necessary even though we may not be having them with us fully and permanently. Yet, one wonders whether electricity can be put in a bank to be used when needed!

Mobile Communication and Networking

This logic of improvisation and creation from without has provided great support and strength to the communication networking of the Indian Government. One small sample of success in this field can be seen in the mobile phones networking of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). This example is merely a tip of the iceberg. The reality is, however, profound and even vast and massive. What is this real instance of success? This is a continuous paradigm. Recurring specially in smaller towns and border areas. Using BSNL Cellone then becomes a matter of pride for common people. These Cellone connections leads to marvellous responses form BSNL when mobile numbers are dialled. This becomes a spectacular exercise in ringing literary music!

“Try later”, “…not answering”, “Network busy”, “Error in connection”, “Cannot allowed”, “Out of range”, “User unavailable” etcetera. Recurrence of such things by themselves becomes rhapsody musical errors!

Suffering Politicians and VVIPs

After 60 years of Indian independence, the greatest suffers are our VVIPs and politicians for they get all facilities relating to water, electricity and communication. All their facilities work 24 hours. That is why they are the greatest suffers. Common people do not get all the facilities provided to political leaders in Parliament and other governmental VVIPs. Indian citizens know the value of simplicity, safe life and secure and happy living. Our politicians do not know this for they live in abundance and profusion.

Common people know the worth of sacrifice, simple life, intuition, meditation and scarcity. Our leaders in politics do not know this phenomenon. They cannot enjoy scarcity and sacrifices in general. Indeed, exceptions are always. Political leaders in India are representatives of Indian people. As such, all facilities to them are as good as being made available to masses in India. When vanguard of the people happy and satisfied, people will also be happy and content logically.

The fruit of sacrifice do not trickle down to our political leaders. They are therefore living under constant clouds of darkness and superficial knowledge. They do not generally get sufficient opportunities to know and enjoy the benefits of scarcity and plight of poverty. What majority of Indian citizens enjoy, they cannot. That is why they are always suffering.

Politicians, as such, are providing opportunities to Indian people for practicing the Gandhian virtue of apparently voluntary poverty, sacrifice and resource preservation. They are keeping all bad things for themselves and providing all good things to common citizens. That is how leaders should be.

They must be thanked profusely. We are highly grateful to gubernatorial, prime ministerial and chief ministerial teams in India for all good things they are doing with dedication and perseverance. We hope that the oncoming 123 nuke deal with the United States will also help Indian people to get what they do not have. After such a master deal, the forty crore of them – below the poverty line -- will certainly be able to chew their bread at least three times a day. How visionary our Indian leadership is.

On the occasion of India’s sixtieth year of independence, let us salute our political leaders and decision makers for what they have made India achieve in such a short duration. Jai Hind!

Published in State Times, Jammu, Monday, 20 August 2007

India in Central Asia

Peace and Conflict Monitor

An International Journal of University of Peace

Last Updated: 07/12/2006

[07 June 2007]

India as Superpower?
Anurag Gangal

---

India’s quest for security appears to be expanding beyond her own borders on a global scale. Can it be regarded as a welcome prospective trend? India’s upcoming military base in Central Asia may as well be an exercise in sharing United States security concerns around the world. Beginning is apparently being made at oil rich Tajikistan. Is India looking forward to be a superpower in another decade’s time? Is India changing her policy of peaceful co-existence? All these are pointers worth considering. India is already playing a predominant role in the South Asian context. Where will this new road to security end for India?

---

India is now surging ahead to become another military superpower by 2015. Indian Air Force has already erected a control tower near Dushanbe in Tajikistan. The Guardian reports, “India is to open its first overseas military base this year in the impoverished Central Asian country of Tajikistan -- a testament to its emerging status on the world stage. The Indian air force will further station up to two squadrons of MiG-29s at the refurbished former Soviet airbase of Farkhor more than 60 miles from the Tajik capital of Dushanbe, Jane's Defence Weekly said, citing defence officials.” This shows clear strengthening of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s policy of widening India’s global reach economically, politically, militarily and culturally in South Asia, South West Asia, South East Asia and Central Asia in particular and the world in general.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s wide-spectrum visits from 29 July 2004 - 26 May 2006 to Uzbekistan, Bangkok, New York, London, Hague for India European Union Summit, Laos for ASEAN Summit, Mauritius, Jakarta for Asia-Africa Summit, Moscow, Gleneagles G-8 Summit, Washington, Afghanistan, France, United Nations General Assembly, Dhaka for SAARC Summit, Kuala Lumpur for India-ASEAN Summit, Germany, and France signify India’s changing dynamics of her quest for security in the international arena.

The most important aspects in this matter are India’s oil, gas pipeline and security perspectives vis-à-vis the Central Asian countries specially Tajikistan where India is seriously engaged in developing her first ever military and air force base since 1997. Tajikistan and Uzbekistan also have the potential to fulfil India’s current oil needs of about 1.9 million barrels a day to a great extent. This need for oil is going to rise further in the coming years to four million barrels a day.

Indeed, India has joined United States (US), Russia and Germany in the Central Asian “Big Game”. The question here is: Whether India has to compete for superiority with other countries in the region? It does not appear to be the case. It seems India is sharing the global burden with US, Russia and European nations. It is in the aftermath of Osama’s attack on the New York Trade Centre that US has taken an about turn in coming ever more closer to India than earlier.

Just see the US perspective involved here. American active military presence is already there in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan. India is now strengthening her military base in Tajikistan! Russia is also similarly there in Uzbekistan with apparently massive military build up. As such, India, US and Russia are encircling the two erstwhile ipso facto “rouge” states of Afghanistan and Pakistan that were mainly responsible for helping widen the global terrorist network. West Asia “with Kuwait, Israel and Iraq in US fold” -- is already well known for its diversified terrorist involvement in the past.

India, in addition to serve her oil and trade scenarios, is scoring a great strategic and geo-political leverage over Pakistan and China both. This is obvious with her developing a military / air force base in Tajikistan. Every one is gaining in this “big Central Asian game” with an exception of Pakistan, Iraq and Palestine. China, on the other hand, is assuaging Kazakhstan for trade, oil and security in this Big Game! The greatest loss in this Big Game will be suffered by the Central Asian countries in the long run as a result of multi-level involvement of powerful nations like US, Russia, Germany, China and India competing for superiority in the region.

India is perhaps the oldest and most experienced player engaged actively in the Central Asian region. Indo-Soviet (Russian) Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1971, renewed after every twenty years period, is the glaring instance to prove this relationship. The military aspect of mutual help and immediate/periodic consultations was also always there in this treaty. It is upon the foundations of this treaty that India is moving further ahead with her plans of sharing the burden of America and Russia both in the Central Asian region. India is certainly better placed in Central Asia.

India’s quest for security in Central Asia is also at least as old as 1971 in the recent context. What Indira Gandhi visualised, Rajiv Gandhi pursued with special emphasis on strengthening India’s position in South Asia first. That is why India has been specially instrumental and active with regard to sending every type of help to Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka and others in South Asia especially since 1971. All this shows a subtle policy shift in India’s foreign policy during 1971.

This policy shift is now being expanded in league with United States and Germany in Central Asia. India is apparently no more a meek and merely peace monger harping upon the tune time and again from a position of military and economic weakness of 1960s. Special initiative in this direction in Central Asia was taken in 1997 when a fully equipped hospital was established by the Indian Government for treating the wounded soldiers in the Northern Alliance’s battle against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

All these trends show the visionary approach of the Indian political leadership working at the helm of affairs from tome to time. They have pursued the road to global power and strength for peace one after the other, on the one hand. While, on the other hand, the question of providing actual national security to India has also often been compromised by the national leadership. For instance, our diplomatic weakness anent China and Pakistan, the Kargil debacle and China’s continued predominance in the North-East Indian territory etcetera.

India is now having clearly expansionist strands in her foreign policy in her quest for security. This story had started in 1971 with the creation of Bangladesh during Indira Gandhi’s regime. Then it was Sikkim’s merger with India in 1975. This was followed by Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka and India’s secret armed Air Force SOS mission to Maldives during Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure. Indeed, our national boundaries are increasing. Our conceptual security needs, perception and territory are also widening with ever more shouldering of responsibilities in the international strategic mission. Is there an end to this quest for national security? Only time will tell.

Anurag Gangal is Director, Gandhian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (GCPCS), University of Jammu (ISO Certified), Jammu-180006, Jammu and Kashmir, India.