Bharatiya Janata Parties.

Bharatiya Janata Parties.

Pratap Bhanu Mehta's analysis of BJP is both right and wrong. He is right in saying that the party has become a diluted version of Congress. He forgets that the diversity of India demands a broad-based inclusive party. Dynastic democracy of the Congress, SP,BSP or the slavish orthodoxy of the Communists have failed India. He is also right in saying that BJP has not been able to take advantage of the mis-govenance by the Congress - rampant corruption, waste of public money in populist schemes etc. The defiance of Yudirappa in Karnataka, inclusion of a tainted minister of BSP in UP and the non-cooperation of Modi have not enhanced appeal of the party. However, BJP's state governments have initiated a number of measures to promote good governance - e-governance, 24-hours electricity supply,business-friendly administration (Gujarat), right to time-bound government services (Madhya Pradesh) and delivery of ration to BPL card-holders (Chhattisgarh). All these have been reported in your newspaper. BJP has to come up with a charter of good governance including investigation and punishment to the wrong doers for the next general election. The Congress has failed in providing good governance.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/bharatiya-janata-parties/952080/0

May 22, 2012.

********             

Indians suffer from inferiority complex.

Indians suffer from inferiority complex.

Vidya Bhushan Gupta has rightly observed (India Abroad,May 4,2012) that while the Indian leaders like Mahatma Gandhi,Rajaji and others drew their inspiration from the Hindu ideals, it is not recognized as the contribution of Hindus to India and the world. Hindus view that ' The Man is the spark of The Divine', is the basis of liberty, equality and fraternity which is in the preamble of the Indian Constitution. However, most of the Indians believe these ideals have come from the French Revolution and the American Constitution. Freedom of thought and tolerance is well expressed in the phrase, " ekam sat vipra bahuda vadanti" - truth is one but it is interpreted differently by wise men.

Indian music and yoga got recognition worldwide only after it was appreciated by the Beatles. Ayurveda, science of good health, has not received any attention from the Indian government. Yoga has not been introduced in Indian schools in spite of its beneficial effects on physical and mental health though it is accepted in USA. Centuries of Muslim and British domination have instilled an inferiority complex among most of the educated Indians. Additionally, Indian politicians have misunderstood secularism as denial of Hindu heritage and Hindu culture. No wonder, Indian students know more about the West than their own history, culture and heritage.

The Hindu view of life includes the ideal of artha ( wealth) and kama ( desire) to be based on dharma ( that which sustains an individual,family and society) though the ultimate aim is moksha ( to be one with God). The Mahatma had said that there is enough in the world for everyone's need, but not everyone's greed. Greed is anathema for the Hindu view of life. If India had followed this lakshamana rekha ( limit), so many scams would not have happened in the recent years. Now the only ideal in India is, 'khao-piyo-mauj-karo'.

India today has the demographic advantage. These young people are eager to know and understand. They have seen the devastation caused by the rootless people who dominated the democratic system. They will change India and they will find India's soul  -  its ideals which animated its history since the dawn of human civilization and are relevant today.

May 3,2012.

******            

Freedom First No.539 May 2012

Thanks for telling the readers that the Freedom First is entering its 60th year of publication next month.It has upheld the flag of Freedom especially economic freedom which is the basis of all freedoms. It has promoted the idea of free enterprise which was a 'four-letter' during heydays of planned economy.It has exposed the pretensions of totalitarian mindsets who presented themselves as liberators of the masses. All this in the era of commercialization of the press, and even what is now called, " paid news". In this era survival itself is an achievement.

I just read in the website of Karmayog, which is a platform for NGOs, that now the internet is the fourth estate, not the press.This is mainly because the press has given up vigilance on the authority who have the tendency to misuse power. The internet and the NGOs have exposed the misuse of power by the President of India to build a huge bungalow in Pune on the defense land meant for defense personnel and the CD which exposed misuse of power by the spokesman of the ruling party.

After 40 years of planned economy and 20 years of liberalization of the economy, India has some 40 percent of the people are below the poverty line. It is a sad commentary on the governance of the country. The plight of these people and how to empower them should be the focus of every enlightened people and the press. That is exactly what Mahatma Gandhi said when he asked politicians to visualize the face of the poorest of the poor when formulating a policy and implementing it and ask themselves whether this would empower him. Economic freedom for the farmer should be the focus of India for the next 10 years. Almost 60 percent of our people depend on agriculture and it contributes less than 15 percent to the GDP. This highlights the poverty in the country.

Freedom First should take up one of the several problems confronting the nation in every issue.There should be many articles from various angles and an effort to evolve a consensus. This could be presented to the people including the political parties. Freedom First should be platform for ideas - ideas of progress.

 On Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 2:57 AM, SV Raju <jurasv@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Friend

This is our 59th year of publication. Next month will be the 60th. Barring a few months during the so-called "Emergency" in the mid-seventies we have been in continuous publication. There can be more than one opinion whether survival by itself is a virtue or an achievement; but this we can say with some satisfaction that what has kept us going despite little resources is lots dedication from a small band of men and women. 

This 60 year-old hopes to take a look at itself in its 540th issue next month. We welcome your criticism of this monthly and suggestions on how to "survive" the next 40 years!

May 2,2012.

**********