How grown up are you?

“I’m not a girl, not yet a woman...,” goes a famous song that perfectly captures the dilemma of young adults. Misunderstood and judged by the world yet raring to live life on their own terms, Aakriti Bhardwaj peeks into the psyche of the current generation…

The year was 1980, Anil was playing cricket with his friends in a park in Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi. His coach, quite impressed with his wicket-keeping, asked his father if Anil could join the state team. But Anil's father wanted him to join the family business, and Anil complied. In those times, what parents said was the last word; your life’s decisions were taken by them…

Thirty years later, Anil’s daughter, Aliya, graduated and started working. She didn’t face any pressure from her family, nor was there a need for her to work, she chose to do so of her own free will. Like her job, all other aspects of her life, from what to wear, what to eat, where to party were all her choice. Her earnings were spent on eating-out, shopping, recreation etc and little on household expenses or any major investments. Now at 23, responsibilities haven't cast even the slightest shadow on her life. Settling down is a distant probability... She’s supported completely by her parents – be it for food, a roof, or even the extra pocket money. Such is the world of ‘twixters’, people in the age bracket of 18 to 30, who are no more adolescents yet not close to being adults. They are ready to go out and experiment with their lives. Marriage is not on their mind till they reach late-twenties. To adults these youngsters might sound confused, aloof, irresponsible, but perhaps the truth is that they are preparing themselves for the bigger responsibilities and challenges of life.

Dr Sanjay Chugh, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, says, “The youth today is not keen on following trends. They are looking at careers, life partners whom they can relate to. In the pursuit of such goals, there usually is a certain amount of experimentation involved. However, this does not mean that the definition of stability has gone awry. They are clear that stability is when they can take care of their responsibilities in a consistent manner. The youth today is also witnessing a major transition in the value system of the nation. Divorces, extra-marital relationships etc. are becoming increasingly common. The youth may consciously delay entering adulthood because they can see what a mess they might make as an adult.”

But like Aliya, there are several other youngsters who are well into their twenties and are happy postponing ‘settling down’, making many elders accuse them of trying to dodge the responsibilities that come with adulthood. Twenty-five-year-old Kriti Dogra, who is pursuing Masters in Human Development, speaks the mind of the current generation, “I don’t think adulthood is delayed, it’s just that earlier, quarter-life (life between adolescence and adulthood) was mistaken as adulthood. It (adulthood) was always later in life. I think the best age to take on the responsibility of marriage is when one would understand the seriousness of the relationship and when one is clear about their goals in life.”

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Might appear comic, hilarious and even ethereally unreal

For us in India, this might appear comic, hilarious and even ethereally unreal (After all, can you imagine even a state level leader – forget the Prime Minister – of India getting embroiled in such deliciously juicy and salacious scandals that are reported by India’s 24 hour news channels with relish?). But there are serious issues that lie buried below the brouhaha over Berlusconi. And the most important one is about the conduct and behaviour of a public representative and a leader. It is about the role of Caesar’s wife and the old tale about her need to be above suspicion. Should a leader be “infallible” when it comes to his or her personal life/ Should a leader set an example for all other citizens by consistently displaying “family values”?

Traditionally, there has been a deep divide between continental Europe and the Anglo-Saxon countries – particularly United Kingdom and the United States of America. In the latter, it has always been the kiss of death for a political career if a married politician is ‘found’ to be cavorting with the ‘other woman’. Not many of you will perhaps recall, but there was a promising Democrat politician called Gary Hart whose Presidential ambitions died in the late 1980s when the ‘paparazzi caught him in the act’. Back in the 1960s, many a career in Britain was doomed to infamy and exile when it was discovered that the Soviet spy agency KGB was using the ‘other woman’ to ‘compromise’ public leaders. (India, of course, is firmly in the Anglo-Saxon alliance of morality).

In continental Europe, both the media and the voters seem to be far more relaxed. It is only long after he finished his Presidency that the French media revealed that Francois Mitterand had fathered a love child. And the French didn’t really bother when their President Nicolas Sarkozy divorced his wife and married the Italian model Carla Bruni. Nor have the Italians been very upset with the calisthenics of their leader Berlusconi. But the tide seems to be turning now and the ageing Berlusconi might just realise that too much of a good thing can be bad for your career. Incidentally, it was about 20 years ago that Berlusconi divorced his first wife and married Veronica Lario. Interestingly, his first glimpse of Veronica was as a topless artiste on stage.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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A question called kargil

The first symptom of a not so great nation is its ungratefulness

For once, it was incredible to see the way media played a stupendous role in reliving the memories of the Kargil War, a war whose existence the bureaucracy had refused to accept once. Again, it was vindicated why the Indian Army is one of the finest institutions of the country. So, while the debates of the worst kind over the commemoration of the Kargil War continued (some from the political dozen were busy arguing whether it was purely an NDA victory, which therefore excludes the UPA from having the right to celebrate), what has been conveniently forgotten in between is the loss of numerous lives in the summer of ’99. Not only were those lives valuable, but the fact also is that many of those who died were young officers and jawans freshly out of military academies who willingly gave up their lives for a forgetful nation. Also is forgotten the fact that without that victory, the strategic paradigm of India and even the map of India would have changed forever.

Certainly, the Pakistani intrusion was not an impulsive one. It was clearly aimed at cutting off NH-1 and thus Siachen. A prolonged war, instead of a quick victory, would have spread the war beyond Kargil to other fronts in Rajasthan and Punjab. The situation then could have gone completely out of control; and with the threat of a nuclear war looming large, India would have been forced by the international community to negotiate with a recalcitrant and cunning Pakistan.

The quick and decisive victory was thus critical and came at a price. But the Indian Army didn’t forget to honour the sacrifice of those young men who were not fighting for any political formation. And certainly unlike many, the soldiers didn’t have the vote bank politics in mind while giving up their lives. But for a change, the media took the event to the people at large all across the nation. It was great to see that for two consecutive days, i.e. July 25-26, 2009 , the television media didn’t bother about anything else and allotted all their energy and prime time for the fallen soldiers and their dear ones.

But at this juncture come a few questions – one of them relating to the concept of remembrances. Why can’t we have a similar event every year for every victory of India instead of once in ten years? Isn't it also important for India to tell its progeny about the likes of Vikram Batra, Vijayant Thapar and Sandeep Unnikrishnan and make them able to distinguish between the real heroes from the surreal and fake ones? One line of thought promotes that with the history of India, the number of such celebratory events would simply go out of hand, in case we were to have one for each significant response of the defence/security forces.

Surely, there is credit to that argument, but then, is there any better method to educate India's future generations about our valid place in history than what the ridiculous and meaningless reality shows are spawning? School education! It is possibly the best option to ensure that school children are educated formally about the happenings of the events in the past, so that they realise that the literal present that they're enjoying did not come for a cheap ask. But at this point, comes the final kill. Even though it was truly inspiring to see the candlelit hills of Drass, one did notice that the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces – the President of India – and certain Chiefs of Staffs remained conspicuous by their absence at the commemoration ceremony.

Was it a matter of chance, a design of inadvertent circumstances or simply a 'tactical decision', is a question that'll never be answered. But then, that has almost always been the case when it comes to Kargil, hasn't it?

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Why women matter

And Why the fair sex is usually fair game for media

What was the “hottest” (Pun unintended) and most talked about story during the recent Lok Sabha elections in Western Uttar Pradesh? It was the sleazy, demeaning and distasteful “visuals” of the Rampur Lok Sabha candidate Jaya Prada. Dozens of mesmerised and possibly unhinged men try their best to seek their 15 minutes of fame when a Madhuri Dixit or a Sridevi or an Aishwarya Rai gets married. But who got more than her unfair share of 15 minutes of fame when Aishwarya Rai got married? It was a nonentity called Jahnavi Kapoor.

Agreed, this is a global phenomenon (After all, even Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari was visibly smitten by Sarah Palin!). But then, the Indian media seems to revel when it comes to portraying women who land up in controversies. Even politicians are fair game. From Indira Gandhi to Jayalalitha to Uma Bharti to Mamata Banerjee to Vasundhara Raje Scindia, more is written and insinuated about their personal lives and their so- called eccentricities than their professional capabilities. Till date, you will find subtly suggestive suggestions about the relationship between Jayalalitha and the late MGR; just as you will find not so subtle jibes at the relationship between Mayawati and the late Kanshi Ram. Then again, more was probably written about Vasundhara Raje Scindia walking the ramp and lip locking with another female than her achievements or failures as a Chief Minister. And of course, not much is written nowadays about Uma Bharti; but you can bet your saffron robe that a story about her relationship with Govind Acharya is round the corner.


This pattern reflects many things about India, the media and the so-called consuming class. The first is the barely concealed but rigidly entrenched notions of patriarchy. This translates into “honour killings” in Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh; it also results in political leaders making derogatory remarks about women in the Lok Sabha whenever the Women’s Reservation Bill is debated. The second is the poorly concealed voyeurism that is the hallmark of the consuming class. Do you remember the feigned outrage with which we discussed the MMS scandals involving the student of Delhi Public School and even the film star Riya Sen? And surely you have not forgotten how fast the clips were sent from mobile phone to mobile phone? Sure most males in the world do stuff like that; but at least let’s not cloak our voyeurism in sanctimonious pap about “loose morals”.

Sex is not the only way women are viewed or portrayed. Take politician Renuka Choudhary. Her front page moment did not come when she was a Union Minister or a politician arguing in the Parliament. It came when she drove a tractor towards the Lok Sabha to highlight the plight of farmers. Who remembers farmers’ plight?

Of course, media pundits insist that women – given the patriarchal nature of our society and politics – often have to do “things like that” to get noticed. That they have to appear more combative, more aggressive and more fiery than they would want to simply because it is the nature of the job. Can Mayawati afford to appear less ruthless? Can Mamata Banerjee afford to appear less belligerent?

As we make clucking noises at how Mehbboba Mufti Sayyed is creating mayhem in the Jammu & Kashmir assembly, don’t you think we should also pause for a while and wonder why women matter so much? And in such a manner?

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative
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A 'scheme' for the poor?

Pro-poor schemes in AP risk losing public faith, unless...

The hype and positive energy surrounding the pro-poor welfare schemes of the YS Rajasekhar Reddy government in Andhra Pradesh is slowly giving way to some criticism. All those schemes that initially drew public applause are now being questioned for their alleged lack of transparency. There are two lines of question being posed by analysts: One, can the government safely transfer its responsibilities to private parties? Two, what exact measures are being taken to ensure that corrupt officials do not end up lining their pockets; especially with vital sectors like health and education at the receiving end?

Among the prominent schemes is Rajiv Arogyasri – a health insurance plan that aims to provide free quality treatment to all below poverty line (BPL) families, including surgery for major ailments. If implemented, this one could become a trailblazer – being an innovative insurance scheme that allows those covered by it to send the bills to the hospitals. But in practice, say the scheme’s critics, the programme benefits corporate hospitals at the cost of the poor.

There is, for instance, the case concerning the reputed government-run 1000-bed Gandhi Hospital. When the scheme was unveiled, the hospital authorities who were tasked with carrying out over 80,000 annual outpatient consultations and ensuring in-patient admissions of around 42,000, had pledged to perform 1,000 surgeries in a year. But between January and May, 2009, the hospital reported only 85 heart surgeries. The head of the cardiology wing, Dr BT Prasada Rao, justified this saying, “Earlier, under Arogyasri, if we conducted a surgery costing Rs 1 lakh, our department received Rs 20,000 as maintenance. Lately, however, we have been denied these funds. So we are able to do nothing about the matter.” Although one cannot pass a value judgement, the fact is that at the end of the argument, the poor remain not empowered. One fears the collateral damage of this above issue will hurt two other benchmark schemes. Under one scheme, the government has pledged to get poor students enrolled in corporate sector schools, which currently have a 90 per cent share of the state’s schooling segment. And under another scheme, launched on Independence Day, people were promised a mineral water scheme. Under it, water purification plants, each costing Rs 2 lakh, were to have been set up by women in 1,000-1,500 population clusters. Each family member was promised five litres every day, and 20 litres could be had for just Rs 2.

It's quite clear that the power these schemes have to help the poor is massive. But unless YS Rajasekhar moves fast to quell critics, public faith will be lost.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Want Afghanistan? Take Balochistan instead

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is battling to control the damage after signing a controversial Joint Statement with Pakistan. Ranjit Bhushan reports

If you could possibly arrive at a consensus between India and Pakistan, expect it to be a stormy one. The joint statement by the two countries at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt at the recent non-aligned summit had all the qualities of a political potboiler — and startling brinkmanship.

The primary question at stake in Parliament and the media was whether India had bitten off more than it could chew by alluding that its ‘role’ in fomenting trouble in Balochistan was on the discussion table with Pakistan as part of the composite dialogue process. Some analysts say the joint statement delinking action on terror from the composite dialogue process has come as a bolt from the blue.

In the joint statement, of the total three summary points one point alluded to India’s role in creating troubles in Balochistan. As per another point, the composite dialogue between India and Pakistan was de-linked from Pakistan’s responsibility to take action against people who planned and helped execute 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai.

“Both Prime Ministers recognised that dialogue is the only way forward. Action on terrorism should not be linked to the composite dialogue process and these should not be bracketed,” the statement said.

Opposition parties are up in arms saying it is tantamount to declaring that Islamabad’s actions against terrorist groups operating from its soil was no longer a pre-condition for resumption of talks between the two countries. “The joint statement is a continuation of the earlier Indian negotiating strategy of yielding ground to satisfy Pakistani hunger in the hope this will make it less disposed to bite. We continue to want to test Pakistan’s good faith, even as it has failed all previous tests,’’ former Foreign Secretary, Kanwal Sibal, told TSI. (see interview)

Defending the India-Pak joint statement in Parliament, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said there was no change in the Indian position. For good measure, he also added that the Pak dossier makes it clear that LeT inspired, financed and executed the Mumbai attack and also this is the first time Pakistan had formally briefed us on a terror attack in India.

While the impact of the statement on the dialogue process is yet to be assessed, the government appeared to have tied itself up in knots. Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon set the ball rolling by telling the media that the joint statement was “wrongly drafted’. Does the Foreign Secretary get paid to help make ‘wrong drafts’, questioned one irate MP in the Lok Sabha. If that was bad, Home Minister P Chidambram’s attempts to save the situation took the cake. He said India had nothing to do with fomenting any trouble in Balochistan! Compounding the chaos was junior foreign minister Shashi Tharoor who sought to dilute the value of the joint statement itself by claiming that it was only “a diplomatic paper” that had no legal sanction, a dangerous game to play.

According to political sources, there was considerable disquiet in the Congress over the joint statement, though no one has chosen to differ publicly with the PM. In his column, former Union minister, Mani Shankar Aiyar, a Congressman and ex-diplomat in Pakistan, noted that there is no question of India wanting to meddle in Balochistan. There are others though who say Manmohan has taken the right stand at the right time. “After years of backroom diplomacy, we have reached a crucial stage. The PM needs our backing,’’ says Salman Haider, whose tenure as Foreign Secretary under IK Gujral in the mid-1990s, saw relationship between the two neighbours at an all time high. The proof of the pudding would lie in the eating. In the days to come, it would be important to see how Balochistan plays out.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Punjab is skating on thin ice

The attack on Badal has come from within the Sikh religious establishment. The radicals allege that the Badal family entered into a deal with Dera Sacha Sauda to ensure the victory of Harsimrat Kaur Badal, wife of deputy chief minister and Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, from Bathinda. However, she won by a margin of over 1.25 lakh votes, which cannot be attributed to this alleged tacit understanding. It was more the mismanaged Congress campaign that helped her win comfortably. However, Dera activists are now being allowed to hold their congregations in the state, which is being cited as evidence of a tacit understanding. These congregations had stopped following the Akal Takht hukamnama.

“Badal is again following an appeasement policy and the situation is getting communalised. Let there be CBI inquiry into the present situation relating to these incidents at this very stage rather than indulging in a blame game later,” says Dr. Joginder Dayal, member of the national executive of the Communist Party of India who had waged a relentless campaign against militancy. He said the silence of the BJP on the killing of its leader Rulda Singh could be understood as the party was part of the government in the state in alliance with the Akali Dal. He pointed out that portraits of slain militant leaders were on display at a recent function organised by the Akali Dal (Panj Pardhani) recently at Issru village near Khanna to pay tributes to Karnail Singh Issru, the first martyr in the struggle to liberate Goa. This, says Dr. Dayal, was an indication that radical organisations are active again in the border state. During the last two years, portraits of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale are witnessing a spurt in sales. Bhindranwale may be missing, but the socio-political indicators are exactly the way they were in the 1970s. Unemployment has assumed alarming proportions and successive governments have done little to rejuvenate the economy, which collapsed during the long years of President’s rule in the aftermath in militancy.

“Badal has not learnt his lessons. He could have taken corrective measures when his party came to power in 1997. But his politics hasn’t changed,” says Dal Khalsa spokesman Kanwarpal Singh, a once-radical outfit which has now adopted democratic means to attain its goal.

The Badal government has sought a special package from the Centre to deal with left wing extremism. The Naxalite outfits are steadily extending their support base in certain pockets of the state but the methods for the struggle have been democratic and peaceful. The Maoists are concentrating mainly on deprived Dalits. However, Punjab is today a tinderbox that, in a case of history repeating itself, could explode if the administration does not shed its complacency.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative
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CPM, TMC engulfed in vedic fire

Politicians-land grabbers nexus exposed

The violence at the multi-million resort Vedic Village that led to the death of one person is being related to the land-grabbing by real estate developers with the help of local land mafia. Besides, politicians from the CPI(M) and Trinamool Congress have also been accused of playing some role in the clash that had started after a football match.

Cops started to smell a rat after the arrests of Raj Kishore Modi, chairman of the 125-acre Vedic Village and manager Biplab Biswas. During interrogation Biswas told the police that he had taken part in the violence by owner’s order. And finally the arrest of the dreaded criminal Abdul Hai alias Kalo convinced the cops and authorities of the roles of politicians and local mafia. The cops are looking for Don Gaffar Molla — the kingpin and the man who used to sell lands to the locals. Besides, the police have also recovered huge cache of firearms, bombs, ammunitions and even dozens of police helmets from the construction site of the Vedic Village.

Chief Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty said land mafia and criminals were engaged in grabbing properties from the adjoining villages at gun point for several projects near Rajarhat. Till now, names of prominent ministers, like Goutam Deb (minister for Public Health Engineering, who is looking after the Rajarhat matters), Ashok Bhattacharjee (Urban Development minister), Abdur Rezzak Mollah (Land Reform Minister) and local MLA Rabin Mondol (Chairman of the Bhangar-Rajarahat Development Authority alias BRADA) have came to the fore. All of them belong to the CPI(M).

Reportedly the Trinamool Congress MLA from Bhangar, Arabul Islam, is also involved as his brother ‘Khude’ is the main aide of Gaffar Molla. Another TMC leader and former MLA Tanmoy Mondal’s name is also in the news. However, the TMC and the CPI(M) have sought a probe into the violent clash by the newly formed National Investigative Agency. The Congress is for a CBI probe. Whatever the matter the incident has jolted the Left in West Bengal. Goutam Deb said, “The Government and Alimuddin Street need to answer several questions.”

Information Technology minister Debesh Das said last year his department had inked an agreement with Akash Nirman Private Limited — a consortium of number of businessmen — of which Vedic Village Resorts Company was a major stakeholder, to procure land to the tune of 1,200 acres in area adjacent to Rajarhat New Town. “We are yet to take possession of the land… The entire deal was cleared by the state cabinet,” he said. Land Reform Minister Abdur Rezzak Mollah is candid: “The Vedic Village was set up in 1999, by illegally procuring land and I became minister in 2001”. And, nearly 50,000 poor farmers, fishermen and toilers want the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government to act against land grabbers.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Dogmatic brotherhood

Why it is important to know what our neighbours want from India

In the race of supremacy, when an emerging nation like India aspires to become a super power, it has to follow certain basic fundamentals. Most importantly, India has to maintain positive relation with the neighbouring countries, irrespective of how less influential and economically viable they are. Most of its neighbours (Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan, barring Pakistan) consider India as a big brother, but they also hold a strong perception that it is irresponsible too. Some of the gruesome issues between India and its neighbours are illegal immigration, human trafficking, and influx of terror group. Mr. Enamul Hoque Chowdhury, the Press Minister of Bangladesh High Commission to India, believes that though these are inevitable amongst all bordering countries and can’t be stopped completely at a go, issues can be drastically mitigated provided there are adequate measures taken to reduce poverty as poverty is the nucleus of all problems. Moreover, India’s immigration policy doesn’t seem to be very focused and insightful.

India seems to have very tapered immigration policy. India has never been very open towards immigrants for higher studies, perhaps fearing of the fact that influx of intellectuals from abroad would take out jobs from the citizens. India doesn’t even fill the minimum number of students it is supposed to accept under SAARC quota for medical and other technical education, while Bangladesh provides free education to meritorious Indian students every year under the same quota. Though the fear is logical, innumerable researches prove how immigrants from developing countries have greatly benefitted the most advanced countries like the US and the UK.

There is also a growing fear in India that India’s neighbouring markets are flooded with Chinese products. The trade imbalance between China and India’s neighbours vis-à-vis India and its neighbours is increasing. This can easily be mitigated. Most of its neighbours consider Indian universities as well as healthcare hospitals world class. Thousands of graduates and undergraduates line every day before Indian embassies to seek visas to study in India. Tens of thousand of people come every year to India for health services. Thus increasing bilateral trade relation in health, education and service sector would on one hand strengthen the relationship, on the other hand India’s would be able to deliver its views and policies to the educated class.

Though India itself has innumerable problems within but it is very important to realise that problems in its neighbouring countries have equal implications in its own economy and society. Thus neglecting them would not be an intelligent idea for a big brother. The US has its influence in Latin America today because it saved most of the Latin American countries by throwing out all European powers that had conquered them with the help of Monroe Doctrine. Though India saving Bangladesh from the West Pakistan is an example for the same but it has lot more to do. Once it succeeds to do so and win the hearts of its neighbours, it will win the hearts of those who are far. It is just a matter of time.


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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Nothing right with RTI cases

State officials give info-seekers little cause for hope

The Right to Information Act (RTI) of 2005 has empowered citizens across the country. In Orissa, however, government departments are dragging their feet on RTI applications. And in some cases they have even asked the applicants to pay money to get information.

On February, 2009, an applicant, Sanjiv Das, wanted to know the exact amount provided by the government to the Integrated Tribal Development Authority. In its response, ITDA asked the applicant to deposit Rs 2,090 as stationery fee. Interestingly, this amount included the wages of a typist. The rules clearly stipulate that wages of a government typist cannot be taken into account while estimating the cost of responding to an RTI application.

In another case, on August 30, 2006, one Sarat Rout had applied for specific details regarding transfer of nurses to the department of family and welfare between 2003 and 2006. When the reply reached him on December 10, he was in for a shock. The department asked him to fork out Rs 56,000 as photocopying charges. Needless to say, Rout did not pay up and so he never got the information he had sought.

Worst of all, the Orissa Information Commission did not take any steps to penalise the departments concerned for their violation of the provisions of the RTI Act despite its attention being drawn to the two above cases.

Meanwhile, a study undertaken by PRIA, a national-level civil society organisation, has revealed that the Orissa Information Commission hasn’t exactly covered itself in glory. It has been accused of incompetence and malfeasance on every front.

The study is both comprehensive and focused in respect of RTI in Orissa and covers the period from 2005 to the end of 2008. It has revealed that departments of the state government are hell-bent on giving the RTI Act a quiet burial.

Sarat Rout, who claims to be the highest user of RTI in Orissa, says: “By charging huge amounts in the name of photocopying and stationery fees, the state government departments are evading dissemination of necessary information sought by a petitioner under the Information Act 2 (H-A). There are so many cases that tell us how the negative attitude of the government departments is proving to be an impediment. And above all the Orissa government has failed to punish the guilty officials.”

RTI activist Chittaranjan Behera points to a recent survey carried out by a social organisation, which reveals that the performance of 80% of Orissa government departments is between 0 and 5 per cent on the RTI front.

“Some departments are wilfully providing wrong information. And the guardian of this Act, the Information Commission, is in deep slumber,” he says.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Hollywood bollywood & more

The dolphin spell!

Drew Barrymore’s love for the playful dolphins could easily be labelled as an obsession, considering her home is dotted with 200 statues and figurines of the creature, some of which are even crafted out of crystals. Earlier, Barrymore had become friends with about a dozen squirrels, but she is so besotted with these marine mammals that she’s come to believe that she too must have been one of them in her past life! At a holiday in Bahamas, she even swam with the dolphins! Drew has battled addictions before, but this one has got to be the craziest!

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Lysander Spooner to Grover Cleveland

Entrepreneur, scholar, radical abolitionist, principled believer in natural law and liberty, Lysander Spooner was one of the most provocative, eclectic and prolific American legal theorists of the 19th century. His writing continues to influence those today interested in consent, natural law, individual rights, and constitutional order in political theory and practice. Following letter to the then president Grover Cleveland is considered to be a masterpiece of legal definition. Look at the way he describes the word ‘Justice’ and the disdain for it that American ruling class has.

Boston, May 15, 1886

To Grover Cleveland

SIR, Your inaugural address is probably as honest, sensible, and consistent a one as that of any president within the last fifty years, or, perhaps, as any since the foundation of the government. If, therefore, it is false, absurd, self-contradictory, and ridiculous, it is not (as I think) because you are personally less honest, sensible, or consistent than your predecessors, but because the government itself is an utterly and palpably false, absurd, and criminal one. Such praises as you bestow upon it are, therefore, necessarily false, absurd, and ridiculous.

Thus you describe it as "a government pledged to do equal and exact justice to all men." Did you stop to think what that means? Evidently you did not; for nearly, or quite, all the rest of your address is in direct contradiction to it. Let me then remind you that justice is an immutable, natural principle; and not anything that can be made, unmade, or altered by any human power. It is also a subject of science, and is to be learned, like mathematics, or any other science. It does not derive its authority from the commands, will, pleasure, or discretion of any possible combination of men, whether calling themselves a government, or by any other name. It is also, at all times, and in all places, the supreme law. And being everywhere and always the supreme law, it is necessarily everywhere and always the only law.

Lawmakers, as they call themselves, can add nothing to it, nor take anything from it. Therefore all their laws, as they call them, --- that is, all the laws of their own making, --- have no color of authority or obligation. It is a falsehood to call them laws; for there is nothing in them that either creates men's duties or rights, or enlightens them as to their duties or rights. There is consequently nothing binding or obligatory about them. And nobody is bound to take the least notice of them, unless it be to trample them under foot, as usurpations. If they command men to do justice, they add nothing to men's obligation to do it, or to any man's right to enforce it. They are therefore mere idle wind, such as would be commands to consider the day as day, and the night as night. If they command or license any man to do injustice, they are criminal on their face. If they command any man to do anything which justice does not require him to do, they are simple, naked usurpations and tyrannies. If they forbid any man to do anything, which justice could permit him to do; they are criminal invasions of his natural and rightful liberty. In whatever light, therefore, they are viewed; they are utterly destitute of everything like authority or obligation. They are all necessarily either the impudent, fraudulent, and criminal usurpations of tyrants, robbers, and murderers, or the senseless work of ignorant or thoughtless men, who do not know, or certainly do not realize, what they are doing.

This science of justice, or natural law, is the only science that tells us what are, and what are not, each man's natural, inherent, inalienable, individual rights, as against any and all other men. And to say that any, or all, other men may rightfully compel him to obey any or all such other laws as they may see fit to make, is to say that he has no rights of his own, but is their subject, their property, and their slave.

For the reasons now given, the simple maintenance of justice, or natural law, is plainly the one only purpose for which any coercive power --- or anything bearing the name of government --- has a right to exist.

Yours Frankly,

Lysander Spooner

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Read these article :-
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No Country for old men

Do we take our independence for granted, or have we gotten too busy to remember the sacrifices of the lion-hearted leaders who laid down their lives for our country? Dhrutikam Mohanty ventures into two such forgotten villages…

It’s been 62 years since independence, but their struggle is
far from over. Chaitanya Sahoo (87) and Dayanidhi Naik (84) of Panimora village (Bargarh district, Orissa), participants in the Quit India Movement, are on a hunger strike in the run up to August 15 this year to draw attention to the need for a pucca road to Panimora. Back when it was a village of 33 houses, 32 persons had walked out to join Gandhiji in his peaceful quest for freedom. Today Panimora desperately waits for some proper roads to walk on.

When we decided to pay a visit to the village, we chose to heed to our friend’s suggestion to go on a two-wheeler instead of a four-wheeler, and were we thankful for the precious piece of advice! Traveling 40 kms from Baragarh (Bargarh district headquarters) on the national highway, we crossed Sohela (the last town of Orissa before you enter Chhattisgarh). Taking left from Sohela, we traveled another 10 kms – the longest in the journey – to reach Panimora, the land of freedom fighters.

We were greeted by a statue of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, right at the entrance. Adjacent to the statue stood a pillar with 32 names inscribed on it, the names of men and women fired up by Bapu’s call for freedom. It had all started with one person, poet Dibyakishor Sahoo. “He inspired us to fight for the country and fight for our independence and all of us joined the Quit India movement,” remember the freedom fighters of Panimora, now old and infirm, but with distinct memories of those difficult days.

What is unusual is not that the whole village responded to Gandhiji’s call, but that they continue to be influenced by his principles to date. Every day, after the morning puja in the village temple, all villagers are summoned by beating the ‘dibdibi’(a drum-like instrument), and there is held an all-community prayer, just like the way Gandhiji went about it. Khethrabasi, one of the villagers, recalls, “We have been following this routine every day without fail for over 60 years now… regularly since Gandhiji’s death in 1948.”

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Read these article :-
Delhi/ NCR B- Schools get better
IIPM fights meltdown

The depiction of patriotism on the silver screen

One of the less important lessons from 26/11 is – preach what you create. Or shut up and don't bounce for nothing. Yet there are elements in the industry that truly believe in the spirit of patriotism. Says Preity Zinta, "My dad was in the army. And now my brother Dipankar is in the army. So I grew up in an atmosphere of soldierly pride. One of the perks of being an army child was that I got to do a bharat darshan early in my life. Every two years my father would get transferred, and we'd be in a different place. It was a great learning experience. The army is very close to my heart. When I was invited by NDTV to visit the jawans on the border I had myself a ball, re-living my army life” Adds JP Dutta, "My brother Deepak who died on duty was a squadron leader in the Air Force. In fact my very first film “Sarhad” starring Vinod Khanna which never got released was a tribute to my brother.

Since then subconsciously or consciously my war films “Border” and “LOC” have been dedicated to my brother's memory. Not a day goes by when we don’t think about him. I feel today's generation isn't motivated enough to join the army and the Air Force. Cinema such as mine and earlier the ones by Chetan Anand addressed the life of the soldiers and the futility of war. But these are themes that no longer attract young people. Sad.” Another army kid, Lara Dutta says, "Both my dad and sister are in the Air Force. They've have both led their respective contingents.” TV star Rajiv Khandelwal says, "My father was in the army. And my elder brother Col. Sanjeev Khandelwal is currently serving in the army. I was always tempted to be part of the army. But since bhai had already joined the armed services I was inclined to go ahead with my other passion, acting. I'd love to do a film about the army. I enjoyed playing Capt Rajveer in a TV serial. I wonder why the army isn't a sought-after vocation among youngsters today. Is the army losing its sheen or does patriotism no longer have buyers? I feel every student in college should be made to go through a stint in the army."

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA

TSI Five-O: A dark and comic brew that turns a familiar plot on its head

If after hearing that “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” was being helmed at the director’s chair by the same man (Stephen Sommers) who was behind “The Mummy”, you had set your expectations right, you might as well end up enjoying this little action packed fun ride (or fun packed action ride, if you will). The movie has no pretensions about itself, and the appeal is mostly for those who loved the eponymous toys as kids. So, you have all your favourites out there – Scarlett, General Hawk, Duke, Ripcord and Heavy Duty – and they are taking on the evil guys and yes, there’s a story in there somewhere.

But as you watch the awesome antics of the Joes never mind the plot, just revel in the kickass action. You could say it is a neater version of “Transformers 2”, only enhanced with slicker action and relatively subtle entertainment. Rachel Nichols does a great job portraying Shana ‘Scarlett’ O’Hara - the right mix of style and spunk and Dennis Quaid is as solid as ever as General Hawk. While the others don’t get as much of chance to shine, couple of the Cobras, especially Storm Shadow is a lot of fun. G.I. Joe jettisons the cerebral for the campy, but then again, there wasn’t too much space for the former in any case

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Rakhi Sawant - She of the plucky pout

Love her, loathe her, but you can’t ignore her

Rakhi Sawant claims to be no holier-than-thou Miss Goody-Two-Shoes; she has an inimitable crimson-inducing ability to speak her heart out. The unabashed queen of controversies, this Marathi mulgi belongs to the school of thought that believes no publicity is bad publicity. Whether it was the Mika kiss episode, or moving in with her now-ex-boyfriend Abhishek to supposedly escape the constant nagging by her mother, to choosing her groom on national television, she adores the limelight as much as it loves her back. “I think she invites attention and knows how to keep herself in the news. If we have to have reality shows that provide audiences with behind-the-scenes titillation then Rakhi is the girl for it. She has no inhibitions and she doesn’t mind getting hysterical for the camera. She’s perfect for the heightened reality of reality shows. She is one of her kind. And that’s the kindest thing to be said about her,” says Subhash K Jha.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Sharad Pawar - The games he plays

Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar rarely, if ever, plays with a straight bat, but the numerous different strokes that he has pulled off in the course of a long, eventful political career have invariably yielded rich dividends. The hugely influential Maharashtra heavyweight has only 11 Members of Parliament with him, but his Nationalist Congress Party, which he formed when he broke away from the Congress in protest against Sonia Gandhi, a foreigner, taking charge of the party, remains a key player in the United Progressive Alliance. Says Abu Asim Azmi, Maharashtra Samajwadi Party chief: “Pawar is a worshipper of power. He called Sonia a foreigner and spoke against her long, very long ago, asserting that an Italian lady cannot become India’s Prime Minister. But the same man now does not tire of extolling the worthy qualities of ‘Soniaji’.”

Pawar is indeed the great survivor of Indian politics. He has survived ill health and changing political equations to hold his own on the national stage. He began early. Youth Congress president at 24, state Cabinet minister at 29 and Maharashtra Chief Minister at 38, he has put his wealth of political experience to great use to weed out rivals and surmount difficult situations. If politics is the art of the possible, Pawar is its past master. Says Azmi: “He is an opportunist and a self-server. Farmers are killing themselves in Vidarbha, but this shetkari (peasant) leader is more interested in the games that he plays.”

No matter what his detractors might say, Pawar, who as chairman of the Board of Control for Cricket in India is now in line to take over as International Cricket Council chief next year, is a leader with mass appeal in Maharashtra. He does have prime ministerial ambitions, but he is probably fully aware that he does not stand a chance of taking the top job as long as he is at the helm of a small political outfit. So expect many more twists in the Sharad Pawar saga in the years ahead. “He has systematically eliminated many of his rivals. If anybody wants to learn the intricacies of political tricks, Pawar is the man to go to,” says Azmi.

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative