A conversation on history

Kid: what is your take on Indian History?? what do you think abt it?

Stupid fella: I don't have any view on any history... All are stories telling us about the past of that place or event... I always think the important question is 'what information do you want to derive out of your study of history?', and, 'how do you intend to use the information, i.e. the purpose of study?'

That is my approach.. What do you think of Indian history?

Kid: Pretty high opinions.

My approach however is to look for the ways to improve our present situation by learnin about our past. I think that is the aim of history, to tell you where have we gone wrong earlier. About what today as a nation we have lost or are losing.

Stupid fella: That's like deep philosophy... Even I do read it for similar reasons but not always, perhaps not even most of the time.. There is a simple reason for my stand...

The human nature has not changed in over centuries. The only thing that has changed is means to achieve it either because of technology or environment. People are still greedy, they still take steps out of pure ego rather than sensibilities and ratinality. Only those few who have managed to over come these natural problem are the ones who have managed to out do history.

So at a very simple level history does repeat itself and will so even in future. At a complex level, history never repeats itself, because there are many factors that affect any given situation and hence change it every time.

You must have read many times question in maths and other science subjects which start as "assuming everything constant, how does X affect Y?" We can make these assumptions in question papers and in academia but in real life, one can never be sure of what to assume. One will just have to take the decisions in the given situation be it on mere instincts or based on historic lessons. But either way you will come to know of the result after it has happened.

Kid: Two things of all that you said stood out to me, 'the world is greedy' and 'we can never know what to assume, in real life.'

Regarding the first, I couldn't have agreed more, the world, which includes all of us is greedy. I distinctly remember a quote which says 'never assume' because you will make an 'fool' outta 'you' and 'me'.

"Maoists butcher 74 Jawans"

On a hot Tuesday afternoon, (April 6, 2010), I went to the office pantry for lunch assuming it to be a normal day. But on entering I realised, that for a change, everyone was intensely watching the news channel.

The flash said, "Maoists butcher 74 Jawans". This was the breaking news that covered all the news channels, irrespective of the language -- english, hindi, bangla etc.

Since then I have been seeing many different opinion on the subject, in different style. From graphical images with timelines in print, to shouting journalist on TV, to serious tone of foreign print, debates on face book and columns and sarcastic blog -- http://thusspakehriday.blogspot.com/2010/04/smile-now-ms-roy.html -- (this was different to me).

There are few things that are difficult to understand seeing the various debate. Why don’t people try and move forward and look for a proper solution? Why get stuck to a single point of view and go around proving the other side is wrong? Why focus only on history and not look to future? Why look only at the future and not consider the history? And there are many other questions that we all have but lets not go there for now.

Factually, the thing none can deny is— a loss of human life is wrong.

We for the sake of simplicity have the habit of making things too simple and then not get anywhere. So below are given the different aspects and each is dealt separately. Because this issue is complex.

What is happening?

In the name of growth there is exploitation. Brands have failed in countries because they did not address the cultural factor. Similarly, industrial development without working on neither the sustainability front nor on understanding the culture of the place or working to bring the inclusive growth will not be real growth. it becomes exploitation.

To fight the exploitation there is extortion. There have been many reports that extortions are collected from the businesses/industrialist to run the naxalism. Coming to this point, how come naxalites don’t fight those who exploit nature in the form of cutting sandal trees? how is it that certain industries face the threat of naxal especially PSUs while others don't. It is common knowledge that coal and mining mafia are the biggest exploiters but how come they are not not under naxal threat, ever?

Politicians sharing the bed with Naxals. While Shibhu Soren was not keen in solving the naxals in Jharkand, as they had helped him win the elections. Many questions have been raised on Mamata’s covert support for the naxals -- remember the Rajdhani episode.

To deal with extortion, raging atrocities. While it is true, that there has been extortion at a local level also, where the naxals came and killed villagers for not supporting them but that does not justify the stand the government took by forming Salwa Judum who went about raping and killing (both covered in tehelka)

Settling scores in the garb of naxals. MCC, Ranvir Sena and PWG are treated as part of the naxals in the region of Bihar. Most of the killings done by these groups are not against the state as much as they are caste wars.

What will not solve the problem?

Bringing in military and air-force will not solve the problem. Because this is a different sort of warfare, this is not a conventional war where we are fighting a force that can easily be distinguished. Typical military can only deal with external threats better or with threats that do not involve the population from where the army is raised.

The other thing one must remember is, any approach where one expects the results to show up in matter of few weeks or months, will not work. The current generation of leaders would have seen this problem from their childhood or since their teens. Therefore, dealing with a brash mentality will not be easy. These people will not come to the table so fast. They have not seen peace long enough to believe in it.

What will work?

A strategy where all parties can be put on a similar platform be used. The local population should be given primacy; all the efforts of rehabilitating the tribal areas and securing them should be made. This is basically not an easy.

It be ensured that the local MP/MLA is present his/her area for min of 200 days a year (out of 365). Speeches and talks of leaders in the area are recorded, to ensure that if speeches are inflammatory then those politicians be remanded and disturbances are controlled. Choppers, para-military forces and technology should be used to provide them with cover and strength to deal with the naxals.

Any industrialisation in the area should include the tribals, other locals and special emphasis be laid on a company’s profit but the environmental and local population’s grievances.

Borders with Bangladesh and Nepal are manned as much as possible. Because banning ammunition is an important part to deal with them. If there is any logistics help from outside the border then that should be dealt with promptly. Similarly if ammunitions is traced to factories in India then loopholes should be plugged.

We must understand that a problem brewing for 40 years will not get solved in just 40 weeks. So lets not try and do that.

The point of Education!!

My friend asked me to read his blog on foreign education bill.

So in the least amount of words let me put my opinion on the foreign education bill as following--

Sibal is missing out the main point. The focus should be on primary school first. Without proper schooling who will qualify for college? That is what he should address and work to improve.

Competition is one of the best things to happen in a market. Don't you love the low tariff on mobile call rates? Isn’t the revolution of mobile good? Think about it. And if you consider that it is not then why use it, just throw away your mobile and don’t call other people on their mobile set either. Protest against it.

Once upon a time there were only government universities in India. But then the quality got deteriorated and hence it was open for private sector. The idea was also to bring about the changes at a faster pace to adjust the country and its huge population to modern day. There are definitely more people with college degrees now, than there used to be earlier and many things have got standardized in this way.

But how many colleges and institutes are teaching their students to think? I see so many colleges and so many people who are exceptional in their field but how many of them managed to mould their students in a way that they can out-smart their teachers? Not as many as, we would like to believe.

I think this is what Sibal is trying to achieve, create a competitive environment like mobile where each university tries to nourish the leaders of tomorrow. And in this race the people of India can benefit.

Though he is missing on the basic problem the primary education needs to improve. Without which there is no point in bringing any higher education.

I say, we should fear more of ignorance than brain drain, because it is ignorance and the lack of thought that can derive one to kill fellow people on behalf of those who call themselves our leader.

The right to primary education should be made compulsory and then there is nothing to fear. Reservation will not be required when the system ensures that everyone gets fair chance in primary education.

As far as monetary benefit is concerned that too can be fixed but it’s always better to work one step at a time. First the primary education, then second would be the requirement of more colleges to improve the standards. In the process of creating leaders and visionary the system will improve.

There will arise a different type of problem later but then I think we will cross that bridge when we come to it.

Desertion

Some time back, I was asked a question. "Why is it that when Muslims are beaten up in Israel or in some other country, then there is such hue and cry but the same is not reflected when China does it in Xinjiang’s?"

Well, to be frank, I don't have any straight answer. Although I tried reading and getting some answer somewhere. But there was no success. Based on personal observation there could be multiple factors or a certain combination of these factors.

First of all its not just Xinjiang, most of the countries where there is no freedom of press the report on carnage against the local population does not get limelight. How many countries with no freedom of press has done any reporting?

Then there is "presence factor" or "kinship factor". Allow me to explain with an example. The gulf countries have a sizeable population belonging to India. So even if something is not reported in the media for a few days the information will be transmitted through word of mouth. This may not generate public opinion at a very fast pace.

Similarly, while it is true that most countries claiming to represent the "Muslim Country" did nothing concrete, they did not even lodge a diplomatic protest or condemn it on the international front with the exception of "Turkey". The reason being, Xianjiang has a population which are partially turkic in regions and hence the public opinion of Turkey forced the government to react.

Also one needs to understand on how media covers. When BBC covered the wars in Bosnia or in Chechnya or when it covers Israel/Palestine, its their coverage that makes all the impact. Now in all of these places the reports said the fight is between XYZ and Muslims. If China's or any countries problem is not covered with the same intensity, the impact will not be the same, it mellows down. Add to it ignorance. How will there be any reaction.

There are geo-political mixed with a spice of economic reasons as well. For example, Iran and Pakistan cannot make any statements against China, since it is the Dragon state that protects the two in Security Council.

p.s. It would be a great pleasure if someone can point out other reasons that may have been overlooked

One reason which has not been pointed out or touched above is that of the drawback of the human nature i.e. pride, selfishness, envy, ignorance........