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4 September 2010 - 10 September 2010
small world
tit for tat
Rebels Without a Budget Constraint
Jaideep Mazumdar

Maoists have stumped the West Bengal government. The state, which had dangled the carrot of lucre to disgruntled Maoists to surrender with weapons, has now been forced to scurry in embarrassment as the rebels have unveiled a much better deal for armed cadres of the CPM and personnel of police and paramilitary forces who may want to switch camps. 

The Bengal-Jharkhand-Orissa ‘Border Regional Committee’ of the CPI (Maoist) has announced a deal that offers up to ten times the amount proposed by the state for weapons. Under the state package, a Maoist surrendering with a machine gun would get Rs 25,000, one with an AK series rifle would get Rs 15,000, while Rs 10,000 is being offered for a satellite phone, Rs 3,000 for a revolver and Rs 1,000 for a landmine. Those rebels who have surrendered would get a monthly stipend of Rs 2,000, apart from a grant of Rs 1.5 lakh. 

The Maoist offer: Rs 1 lakh for an SLR, Insas or AK-series rifle, Rs 70,000 for a sten gun, pistol or branded revolver, Rs 50,000 for .303 and .315 rifles, Rs 25,000 for country-made arms, apart from a monthly stipend of Rs 5,000 and amounts ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000 for participating in Maoist strikes, besides an insurance cover.  

The Maoist package, admit state home department officers, is much better than that of the state. But they say it is a gimmick. “The possibility of any policeman or paramilitary force personnel crossing over to the Maoist camp is next to nil. But we’re sure of many disgruntled Maoists breaking ranks to surrender, and with weapons,” says Home Secretary Samar Ghosh. But top cops say that apart from the Maoist package being an embarrassment for the state, the state’s offer is also not enough of an incentive to Maoists to surrender. A Maoist with a sat phone, they contend, would be a senior one and Rs 10,000 would hardly be an inducement for him.

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take two
Choosing Man over Animal
A recent crocodile attack in Mumbai has proven that it is impractical to conserve wildlife in the city.
Akshay Sawai

A few days ago, a crocodile killed a man at Powai Lake in Mumbai. Vijay Bhure, 32, was fishing when the predator dragged him into the water. In March, an elephant at the Byculla zoo killed a man who had broken into the enclosure and provoked it. Leopards often stray into residential areas surrounding the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. 

There is a pattern to the follow-up to such events. There are the usual statements about man encroaching on animal space. After the crocodile attack, environmentalists pointed fingers at the Rs 40 crore shore beautification project at the lake. Since its start in 2007, there have been five crocodile attacks. Damage is collateral. The decayed body of a crocodile was found two months ago. The lake had sloping shores, on which the crocodiles basked and bred. But these were eliminated as part of the drive. According to Sunish Subramanian, founder of the Plant and Animal Welfare Society in Mumbai, a spot near Powai police station where the crocodiles laid eggs was also destroyed due to the dumping of debris.

Krishna Tiwari, head, City Forest Project, Bombay Natural History Society, adds, “The lake has also shrunk over the years, so it’s natural that the crocodiles venture out of their territory. The water is contaminated, which means few fish left for the crocodiles. This forces them to prey on humans and livestock.”

Bittu Sahgal, editor of Sanctuary Asia magazine, recommends precautionary measures to prevent incidents like Bhure’s death: “Forbid swimming or walking along lake edges. Colonies next to the national park must enclose compounds with scientifically designed leopard-proof barriers. And, they must keep localities free of garbage around which dogs [that leopards hunt] breed.”

The point is this. Are these feasible, given Indian nature and its bureaucracy? Is the BMC going to be prompt about putting up signs? Are builders going to care about the ecosystem and crocodile eggs? 

It is time we accept the truth. Mumbai is never going to be a great wildlife city. Its parks are a joke. The few animals it has are poorly looked after. Mumbai should retain a manageable quantum of wildlife and shift the remainder to a more suitable place, where it is possible for animals to co-exist with humans.

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Recycling
The Dirty Dozen
Pramila N. Phatarphekar

Breakfast in America has been a scary meal ever since half a billion eggs were recalled due to deadly salmonella contamination recently. About 1,500 Americans fell ill after forking up their daily scramble and omelettes. Now fresh eggs from the farms get a second chance at being cracked open. Not in home kitchens, but in ‘breaking plants’. Wassat? Places where the eggs are broken, pasteurised to kill bacteria and turned to liquid or powder for use in bakery and other products. To ensure safety, inspectors will monitor these plants. Brunch and quiche, it’s not what tis cracked up to be.

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Revival
Hope for Freedom Struggle Schools
Avantika Bhuyan

Educational institutions set up by political and social thinkers during the freedom struggle will soon get a fresh burst of life thanks to efforts of the National Council of Educational Research and Training. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, D Purandeshwari, Minister of State for Human Resource Development, stated that “a lot of such schools were languishing due to the unsustainability of innovative ideas and ethos marked by a persistent pressure to conform and lack of financial resources”. The schools, inspired by the nationalist educational philosophy, will be selected from among those set up during India’s independence movement.

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conception
Britain Prepares for a Baby Boom
TCA Sharad Raghavan

A fierce snow storm at the start of this year, coupled with the recession, has hospitals in Britain gearing up for a baby boom in September. Six hundred babies are expected to be born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, alone—a rise of 20 per cent over normal figures. Midwives put the boom down to couples enjoying cozy nights during the blizzard which hit Britain in late December and early January. The tough economic climate may have also led to couples staying indoors.

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Tantrum
No Serena to Torment US Open Lineswoman
Akshay Sawai

At last year’s US Open tennis tournament, line judge Shino Tsurubuchi called a foot fault on Serena Williams during her semi-final against Kim Clijsters. It provoked Serena into a vicious attack on Tsurubuchi. “If I could, I would shove this ball down your throat and kill you,” Serena reportedly said to Tsurubuchi. It was the worst tantrum in tennis history, earning Serena a record fine of $92,500 and a probation period of two years, during which her behaviour would be monitored.  A year later, Tsurubuchi is back officiating at the US Open, while Serena has had to pull out because of cuts on her right foot. US Open organisers said Tsurubuchi “is a world class official and we are confident in her abilities”. The statement continued: “Consistent with US Open officiating assignments, Ms Tsurubuchi will officiate in both men’s and women’s matches, and will rotate through the various on-court officiating positions.” Thankfully, there will be no Serena to make her quake in her shoes.

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Date organiser
iPhone App to Track Gays
TCA Sharad Raghavan

A major problem facing most gay men is finding other gay men in their vicinity. Now, the iPhone, the ubiquitous problem solver that it has become, has an application that does just that. Grindr uses an iPhone’s GPS system to inform users of gay men in their vicinity, along with their vital statistics such as height, weight, age, ethnic background and even a photo. Grindr is coming out for lesbians within the year. Even though the application’s accuracy is plus or minus three kilometres, it has become a hit in New Zealand, where it was first introduced.

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eco-friendly
Dissolving a Problem
Jaideep Mazumdar

Durga Puja kicks off in October. And, West Bengal’s environment department has suggested a new method to reduce the  massive pollution of water bodies due to the immersion of thousands of idols after the festival.  The department now wants idols to be ‘dissolved’ with high-power water jets instead of being immersed, a practice initiated by two municipalities near Kolkata last year. The clay idols are taken to the river banks, and, after the completion of rituals, are disintegrated by water hoses. “This doesn’t leave behind a mess,” says Somnath Mukherjee, the chairman of Taki Municipality that pioneered this practice. “The spot where the idols are hosed down does get a bit slushy, but that’s only for a couple of days. Besides, the damage is nothing compared to the mess that rivers and ponds become after immersion. Also, the bamboo frame on which the idols are made can be re-used after the idols are dissolved,” Mukherjee adds.

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innovation
Healthcare, the Perfect Gift
Avantika Bhuyan

Wondering what to get your parents for their anniversary? Just buy them a health package. Preventive health check-ups have emerged as a popular gifting option among youngsters. 

“People in the 25-35 age group are giving these packages to their loved ones,” says Dhiren Desa, head of business development at Indus Health Plus, Pune. Hospitals and healthcare institutes are coming up with pocket-friendly gifting modules to make healthcare accessible. One can choose a basic package that costs around 

Rs 2,500 or a comprehensive test with counselling and post check-up consultation worth Rs 16,500. “Parents are protective about their children’s health, but unconcerned about their own needs,” says Manika Bassi, assistant manager, marketing and sales promotion, Sarovar Hotels and Resorts.

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Kashmir
Conspiracy of Silence
Jatin Gandhi

The short duration discussion on violence in Kashmir and the greater issue of granting autonomy to the state began in the Lok Sabha on an accusatory note. Communist Party of India MP Gurudas Dasgupta initiated the debate by saying what echoes in the Valley in every protest: the Centre doesn’t care. Make that Parliament now.

After a lengthy debate on the issue that mostly saw the Centre and state governments at the receiving end, the Government conveniently chose not to reply to the discussion. The house was adjourned sine die without a reply on the matter by Home Minister P Chidambaram. The debate took place in the penultimate week of the Lok Sabha and more than a dozen parliamentarians spoke on the matter. 

A short duration discussion under Rule 193 has to be followed by a reply by the minister concerned—in this case, the Home Minister.

The debate saw every participating MP address his own constituency. Former J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah’s spirited histrionics overshadowed the saner voices like those of Assadudin Owaisi of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, who spoke about winning people over. Abdullah chose to stretch the debate to Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and the Northern Areas. Bharatiya Janata Party leader Murli Manohar Joshi accused the Centre of indulging the Valley. The Left asked for serious economic and political initiatives of the Government. Yet, with the UPA-II striking off the Home Minister’s reply from the list of business for the rest of the session—three working days—no one bothered enough to take the Government to task.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister PK Bansal claimed that since disruptions had wasted so much time of the House, the reply could not be accommodated in the list of business. He said the Government would reply in the next session if need be. The winter session is three months away.

 

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Labelling terror
Congress Double Standards
Dhirendra K. Jha

The BJP’s clamorous protests and its claim that there is no such thing as saffron terrorism are understandable. But Congress’ nervousness over P Chidambaram’s “saffron terror” remark and the way the party had to field its spokesperson Janardan Dwivedi to water down the Home Minister’s measured words only show how fearful the party is of hurting the sentiments of Hindus, even if the nation faces the threat of Hindutva terror.

Interestingly, in the same speech, made at a conference of top police officials last week, Chidambaram had also talked of “jihadi terrorists”. Neither the Congress nor BJP had any issues with that. Perhaps that does not amount to labelling of terror. Perhaps sensitivities of Hindus are electorally more significant than Muslims’.

The double standard of the Congress, not to talk of the BJP, cannot reduce the significance of Chidambaram’s remarks. Investigations have established the terror activities of Hindutva groups such as Abhinav Bharat, Rashtriya Jagran Manch and Sanatan Sanstha. It is now pretty clear that they were behind the 2007 terror strikes at Hyderabad and Ajmer and 2008 blasts at Malegaon. Even the strike on Samjhauta Express in 2007, which killed 68 people, is suspected to have been carried out by these forces. Some sensational arrests of RSS and VHP functionaries have also been made in this regard.

Incidentally, the Congress had no problem when initially all these attacks were blamed on ‘Muslim terrorists’. No Janardan  Dwivedi was fielded then to preach against the labelling of terror. 

Perhaps the sudden distaste for such labelling doubly suits the Congress. For it allows the party to continue with its soft Hindutva line, while facilitating its strange alliance with the BJP. The alliance helped the UPA Government in passing the Nuclear Liability Bill in Parliament, and may yield more dividends if nurtured further.

 

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Tour
Pau in Gasoline Valley
Akshay Sawai

Seven foot tall basketball hero Pau Gasol powered through his short India visit like he does against opposition defences in the NBA. The LA Lakers star was here just about five days, yet packed in everything he could. In Mumbai, Gasol took a city tour and conducted clinics at two schools on successive days. In Delhi, he did two more clinics for school children and feasted on the delights at the Maurya Sheraton’s Bukhara restaurant. The Spaniard Gasol was accompanied by his senorita, Silvia Lopez. So how could they not go to the Taj Mahal?

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Deification
No Demi-Gods Please
Jaideep Mazumdar

Marxists loudly proclaim their abhorrence of deification of mortals; they tout this as one quality that sets them apart from other political parties. But, all rules change when it comes to Jyoti Basu, who was Bengal’s Chief Minister for 23 long years. 

Indian Marxists may be entitled to their view of Basu as a statesman, a towering politician of national stature, whether others concur with them or not, but their efforts to deify him are something that do not stand the test of their own stated principles.

The West Bengal government has decided to name the swanky Rajarhat New Town near Kolkata as Jyoti Basu Nagar. Marxists also plan to erect a statue of Basu at this township and build a museum in his name. Basu will thus become the only Marxist to be so deified. The CPM argues that if Salt Lake City, built by Bidhan Chandra Ray, can be named Bidhannagar, Rajarhat New Town should also be named after Basu, who had conceived it. The lack of logic in such an argument should be apparent to these Marxists themselves. Next they will be justifying giant statues of Basu on the Mayawati model. 

The move, however, is antithetical to Basu’s own stated ideals. He always considered the deification and state honouring of individuals a ‘bourgeois’ practice.

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4 September 2010 - 10 September 2010