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:
**********
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 FriendThis 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.
**********
