During the election campaigning in Bihar in October this year Rahul Gandhi, the heir
apparent of the Indian National Congress proudly claimed, "Aapki Congress party
gareebon ki party hai, aapki party hai." ["Your Congress party is the party of the poor,
your party."]

After 63 years of an independence that was hard fought, such a statement made with a
sense of pride seemed pathetic to me.

While it mirrors the reality we live in, it demonstrates the 63 years of deliberate,
orchestrated and cruel deprivation of a sixth of the world's population. It reeks of the
sheer apathy and shamelessness of those that the man and woman on the street look
upon as redeemers. It talks of the thick skin all of us have developed…our leaders,
administrators, planners, implementers and benefactors. Otherwise, someone in the
crowd should have stood up and hurled a chappal in utter disgust. Or some editor
would have used the pen [or keyboard] to prise open some very bare and basic
questions.

But we continue to gather in large 'maidans' to listen to such spells being cast upon
us, take our five rupees, get on to the truck and go back home. Either comfortable
numb, or still in hope that the man on the stage does understand our plight and will
redeem us.

I do not know about other nations and am not really bothered about them, but India
has perfected the art of remaining poor.

Poverty is the lifeline of this country. It helps devise plan after plan, helps justify the
government juggernaut, helps call elections and find the electorate, helps the rich and
ruling class get richer. The poor are very important for our very existence and the
fabric of our democracy.

Even after 63 years we do not have an agreement on how to define 'poverty' and
thereby determine how many are poor. In 2005, the World Bank said 40% were below
the poverty line, while our Planning Commission put it at 27%. And the Arjun
Sengupta report said it was actually 70%. Anyway, to put things in perspective, the
World Bank defines the poverty line at an income below Rs.21.60 per day in the
urban areas [a 500 ml. bottle of Pepsi] and at Rs.14.30 per day in the rural areas.
Around 421 million people in the eight states of UP, MP, Rajasthan, West Bengal,
Bihar, Orissa, Chattisgarh and Jharkhand are below the poverty line. We proudly are
the largest democracy with a third of the world's poor.

According to a report on Asian economic powers, in 1947 India's per capita income
was at $439 while South Korea stood at $770. In 50 years India stood at $1,818 and
South Korea at $13,317! So, what went wrong with us? What stunted our
development and prosperity? Our population? The British rule? The multi-party
democracy? The world powers conspiring against us? The 'socialist' operating
principles? Over reliance on agriculture? Faulty planning? What, exactly what?
Nothing. Actually nothing went wrong. Everything is according to plan. Right from
the time Mr. Nehru justified that some of the poorest parts of country were the ones
ruled longest by the British and systematically de-industrialised in the 190 years of
subjugation, we have planned for poverty as integral to our socio-economic-political
superstructure.

We have used 'socialism' as a term under which we have perpetrated protectionism,
patronage and favouritism.

We have created large public enterprises and then deliberately made them inefficient
to meet specific needs.

We had built a 'license raj' to favour a few rich at the cost of encouraging enterprise
and equitable development across the country.

We have ensured little pockets of industrialisation to ensure concentration of wealth
and power. Thereby corruption, greed and moral decay.

We have not invested in sustainable farming to cater to a few enterprises and move
people forcibly into cash cropping, thereby making them slaves of the public food
distribution system.

We let food grain rot in the open but have not built food transportation and storage
systems across the country, to allow regular import of food grain.
We encourage large-scale migration of villagers into cities to create industrial slums
and a labour force for daily menial work.

We consciously have not helped preserve the lifestyles of our tribals and helped them
sustain to allow large industrial enterprises to 'redeem' them through polluting
projects.

We spend less than 0.5% of our GDP on agriculture and less than 5% on education.
We allow more than 200,000 farmers in debt due to failed cash crops to commit
suicide but will not create enablers to sustainable rural living. In fact in 2010 alone
close to 900 suicides have taken place in Baramati while the government spends
Rs.25 crores after a terrorist called Ajmal Kasab.

We conjure up programmes like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
Generation Act that make millions of villagers slaves of projects that are alien to them
and displace them rather than help them lead improve upon what they do best —
farming, animal husbandry, dairy and handicrafts [sorry M/s Dreze, Sen and Stern].
We divert attention from decades of utter neglect of the traditionally poorer zones in
the country to branding acts of socio-economic rebellion as 'anti-national' [not that I
justify the actions of the Maoists in killing innocent people, policemen and blowing
up trains].

We talk of adding close to 40 million every year to the "grand Indian middle class",
but do not talk about the fact that a family's food intake reduced by 100 kgs per year
in one decade in 2007.

We talk of overtaking this economy and that economy and having some of the highest
number of billionaires, but our Human Development Index is one of the worst ever,
we have world's highest number of malnourished people and around 40% of our
children below 5 years of age are underweight.

We are systematically working towards the collapse of the villages to ensure mass
scale migration and creation of an urban poor populace that will crave for jobs, food
and shelter. And give you votes against promises of redemption.

If you just sit back and take an unemotional, detached look at the economics of
poverty in our country, you will realise that it is not the cause but the outcome.
The poverty indices are not a cause of embarrassment but are actually desired. They
are part of a greater plan. The poor are needed — for the middle class, the ruling class,
the earning class and the world-class. They are the means to an end. They are a
'necessary and sufficient condition', as an economist would say, for India to progress.
Otherwise, nobody can justify the condition more than 400 million of us are in after
63 years of self-determination. Mr. Gandhi would have felt ashamed thinking of those
words, leave alone gallantly using them, not once but 16 times while doing the rounds
of Bihar!

We are truly unique in many ways.
The art of remaining poor is one such way.

Signing Off

Sid

What it takes to be a Chartered Accountant

Hello to all

Its the blog that every CA student dreams of writing. Because you have to b a CA to write this!!
Its about all what I (we) did in last 5 years that today I am a Chartered Accountant.
I always wanted to be an IAS officer. My dad wanted me to get admission in Sri Ram college, Delhi and prepare for IAS. But after I lost him, I had to be with mu mum and sis here in Udaipur and all I could do here was CA.
Joined Srajan after 12th (scoring 88.4%) for coaching of CA Foundation. I was never interested in taking coaching for theory subjects and so I joined only Accounts-Maths-Stats, and theory on my own.
I remenber my firsta class. A 'Air-Cooled' (they said AC) room. I was sitting in the center of the class and there was hardly anyone whom I knew. There was a boy with as big eye-brows as mustach of Nathulal and I had seen him in my school couple of times in some competitions. So I had someone whom I could go and say a hi to..Nishant. Who knew that time that both of us will b 2 among the three idiots!!
I dont remember how and when I met the third one of us Ketan Lal..and in no time we were 'Trimurti' of the academy!!
Well, lets come to exams of PE-1. Starting from 2nd of May 2006 they were to end on 6th.
And guess what??
I had a huge abciss on my left thumb!!
I gave all four papers with that thumb raised as if I was whishing 'best of luck' to all, all three hrs!!
We gave the exams and joined Srajan again for PE-2 on 12th May itself as we were confident that we will pass..(here we means Ketan, Nishant and me).
The result was to come by mid july when our Law faculty had come from Mumbai (i hope he stays there only!!)
And finally the result was out..I entered my roll no. with my heart jumping in my stomach and got to see 310 marks out of 400 for which the all India rank was certain!!!!



to be continued!!!

Sid

Hard Times Call for Hard Measures

hi to all

Its been long that i am writing a new blog..

After clearing the CA final exams, I wanted to write a blog thanking all those who were directly/indirectly involved (not involved too) for my initial success in life. But couldn't somehow do that, may be I was too bad managing time after that!!

I will come with it sooner than later..

But seeing a few things these days I couldn't resist writing this one!!

Its all about the situation worsening on the internal security front.

All that I have understood from the time I could understand, was that the government is in the centre for people's security, their protection. But either I have been understanding all things wrong since my childhood or the government has failed to do what should be its top priority.

A breaking news that will be hard to ignore for long time.." Maoists kill 73 Jawans"

Well, that moment was the moment I thought one of the darkest times in this nation.

How can we, the world's largest democracy, the world's 2nd fastest growing economy, the world's one of the most intelligent breed of people, the world's largest secular nation, fail to handle such a situation knowing that all this is in plan for decades?

How can a home minister be so irresponsible to take responsibility of such a disaster and offer resignation rather than taking seriously hard action?

How can we fall so weak time and again?

How can we call them our countrymen when they themselves do what even a foreign enemy will think 5000 times before doing?

How can we let politics enter the security regime of our country?

How can we wait bad things to happen and then pour our politics over it?

Well, Mr. Chadambaram, The Gandhis, and the Congress all thumbs down for you.

I don't understand how long Mrs. Gandhi will try and strengthen her party first and the country second, how long Mr. Rahul Gandhi will do every thing possible to collect votes rather than saving hundreds and thousands of lives, I don't understand how long this party will remain paralytically weak and let the country go into the danger of naxalites!!!

And the worst part, the Learned Home Minister saying that its a state subject!! (Q. What do you do when the (lady) Boss does not want things to happen? A: Make such stupid statements)

Those 76 CRPF men were state subject? Its an insult to those brave martyrs, who without proper ammunition, arms and planning were dumped in there.

Pls don't say this to their family members..

The constitution has divided subjects into 3 lists for law making process, but will you stick to that list even when your people are dying??

I don't know what stops this Government from taking hard measures in hard times!!

Is this the same party whose leader killed Jarnail Singh Bhindrawala in the Golden Temple??

Is this the family of that Great Indira Gandhi who acquired almost half of Pakistan in 1971??

I doubt, not the 'blood' but the 'will'!!

This Gandhi lacks the will and thus others are not allowed to do what should be done.
This is hard time the country is facing and the government will and should take responsibility and hard measures to fulfil it rather than calling a state or a national subject.
Kindly treat it a matter of urgency and rather than calling a core committee meeting for discussing IPL and Narendra Modi. Pls save my country..

Take the extreme step if necessary.
How long we will face this?
How many more massacres you want to get up from politics.. Mrs Gandhi elections are not near and public memory is short. Hit them hard and you will be a hit.
Pls follow your mother in law in dealing with security of the nation.
If you keep country first priority, people will keep your party first priority..
(This political language you may understand!!)


Singning off
With all thumbs down for Government

Jai Hind
Siddharth

Telangana

I enjoy writing, Sachin enjoy cricket, Tiger woods golf (etc.), Mukesh Ambani enjoys business so does politicians..
Every one has some or other personal goals. I want to win a Nobel prize sometime in life, Mr. Ambani would want to become Chairman of world's largest business group, Saina Nehwal would want to become no.1 Badminton star and so does some politicians want to become something.
This hunger is very important in life. We get motivated by our goals, dreams and work hard to achieve them. But the question is at what cost?
Is it fair to grow by harming others?
Is it fair to be unethical?
Is it fair to be anti national?
Some may say yes..
But I think I am not that kind.
Let me come to the topic straight now.. One person wants to become Chief Minister. He is sure he cant become CM in his existing state. What does he do??
He fasts..goes on a hunger strike..demands a new state..
or you may say resumes the old demand!!
This is what it looks like. But there was more to it than just a hunger strike.
Old demand I say because of the para 382 of State Reorganisation Commission Report in 1953
"opinion in Andhra is overwhelmingly in favour of the larger unit, public opinion in Telangana has still to crystallize itself. Important leaders of public opinion in Andhra themselves seem to appreciate that the unification of Telangana with Andhra, though desirable, should be based on a voluntary and willing association of the people and that it is primarily for the people of Telangana to take a decision about their future".
However, following the Gentleman's Agreement the central government, established a unified Andhra Pradesh on November 1, 1956. The agreement provided reassurances to both parties in terms of power sharing as well as administrative domicile rules and distribution of expenses of various regions.
Discontent with the 1956 Gentleman's Agreement intensified in January 1969 when the guarantees that had been agreed on were supposed to lapse. Student agitation for the continuation of the agreement began at Osmania University in Hyderabad and spread to other parts of the region. Government employees and opposition members of the state legislative assembly swiftly threatened "direct action" in support of the students. This movement, also known as Telangana movement, led to widespread violence and deaths of hundreds of people including 360 students.
The agitation continued and many political parties tried and take advantage of the situation coz as I said before it is very easy in our country to 'represent someone's sentiments'. (Very sentimental!!)
In the decade of 90'ies BJP promised separate Telangana state if they come to power. The sepereted Chattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand, but not Telangana due to opposition from its own Allie Telegu Desham Party.
During that era, Telangana Rashtra Samiti(TRS) was formed by K Chandrashekhar Rao.
And the opportunity was with Congress to get a new Allie and that's what they did, promising separate Telangana to TRS and fighting elections together. During the last term of the UPA, TRS was also its part and was offered a ministry.
But in September 2006 the party withdrew support for the central government on the grounds of indecision by the government over the delivery of its electoral promise to create Telangana, which was also put in the Common Minimum Program.
So the problem here is that one and all wants to take advantage of the situation. No political party denied Telangana separation neither they did anything for it.
Whether it was BJP or Congress, they tried to make sure that it remains an election issue for ever. And of course KCR can smell CM's post if Telangana is separated, so a struggle is worth it.
But then the point comes, that are we so weak and idiot that we cant smell the bad intentions of political parties for their own betterment??
I think 'Yes'. The political parties that represent the people of that area are divided. There is lot of agitation among some students who favour the demand of a new state knowing the fact that they have only 1 city in Telangana where there is University, Hyderabad.
And doesn't the demand of division scare them??
After 1947 and 1971 division i am very scared of one more.
And what did this demand do to rest of our country??
9 new demands of states!!(and people like me a topic to write).
Well, only the problem is that I am scared of division of any part of my country.
I am scared of the repercussions. I am scared of the feeling of differentiation that will take birth in minds coming generations. We are already Rajasthanis, Marathis, Gujaratis, Keralites and 28 of them.. So why some more divisions are needed??
May be to create new posts, new assemblies, new power arenas, new grounds for politics, and new source of income for the people in the system..
Well, i request each one (even if its only u reading this blog) to write, speak, show or atleast develop a thought that you are not Rajasthanis, Marathis, Gujaratis, Keralites and 28of them, you are 1, India!!

Signing Off

Sid

Are we a weak state?

The question that has harassed the government at the center for last few months. The Hon. Home Minister has time and again said we are not. He is expected to give this answer only because he cannot let down our country and its people.
But if he gives it a deep thought, which he would have given, as he is a very thoughtful person, he would have thought atleast for once, that are we not weak?
Or if we are not weak, we are neither strong..are we??
What does being weak means?
In a single line, i think its being unable to solve problems.
Now the problems are many in our country, which are ought to be there in such a huge democracy. Problems like corruption(which I will discuss in my coming blog), poverty, red-tapism, terrorism, infighting, and some political parties(which are turning out to be a huge problem) show how weak we are.
Let us leave some problems here and discuss only terrorism- both internal and external. Both forms we have been unable to counter and both are growing like hyacinth grows in water. The only reason I can figure out is that we are a weak state. We are not feared. No one is afraid of us. Anyone can come and plant a bomb anywhere, anyone can damage rail lines, anyone can blast a rail bogey, anyone can open fire at any public place, anyone can go to some office and beat the staffers, anyone can go and slap a MLA taking oath in assembly, anyone can provoke our 'SENTIMENTS' for 1 or 2 languages, anyone can call us any 'manoos' and fight, anyone can kill policemen in police station, anyone can come in our borders and shoot at our army men, anyone can rape a girl at anytime, anyone can plan another 26/11 sitting on our own land and much more.
But we are a democratic, sovereign, republic, and a secular country where our leaders are busy consolidating their positions in politics on every such incident.
After 9/11 I haven’t heard any such incident in the USA, I have never heard such incident in China, I have never heard such events taking place in Russia in recent years. This means either I am too ignorant, or these states rate their security, both internal and external, higher than their politics.
Well, I can go on writing on this, but let me leave this question for everyone..Are we a weak state??
I will come on with many more blogs on this..
Till then,
Be strong..

Signing Off

Siddharth..

General Elections 2009

Hi to all
So, we are done with the elections 2009, and the results are out. I am very happy that what we have seen is a stable and a matured result.
Before the results were out the speculators(media especially) along with the common man were very circumspect and most of the people were of the opinion that the verdict will be widely fragmented. In this case the power would have gone to regional parties and regional leaders like Mayawati's BSP, Mulayam Singh ji's SP, Lalu's RJD, AIADMK, DMK, NCP, and the worst case Left, which would have proved to be disasterous for the country. In this case we would have seen the new lows of ethics and morals of Indian politics. But thanks God! It didnt happen!!
Now we have the strongest party of the country back with a bang in the center with a thumping win. What are the causes of such a strong win for INCongress? Let me talk about them as far as I understand them..
1. The Rahul Gandhi effect: I am 21, belong to a political family, studying a tuff course and have interest in the country's affairs. I could sense the INC wave the time when the young Gandhi was campaigning like never before. Travelled widely, gave some very touching and strong speeches, made people comfortable where ever he went, was heavily criticized, received what not comments, but still carried on like a fighter. Couple of yrs ago a very learned person., as I was talking to him, asked me what has Rahul done yet? The answer is now, a Miracle!! Hats off to U sir!
Being the youth of the country, I am very much impressed by Mr. Gandhi jr., and I am of the firm opinion that every youth should try and do something that can help the country develop.
2. Dr. Manmohan Singh: The film 'Singh is King' was the biggest grosser on box office, and this Singh; biggest Grosser in elections 2009. Actions speak louder than words, and this is proved once again. Crowned by all sorts of allegations like weak PM, Puppet PM and what not, he proved to be one of the most efficient and effective PM of the country. He showed the strength when it was required; In nuclear deal, in NREGA, in RTI Act and in these elections and didnt waste his strength in shouting as the other 'PM aspirants' did. And the people of the country appreciated his show of strength by making him all powerful again.
3. Lack of Choice: Many people I heard, said that the public didnt have choice but to vote for INC. I think, actually there was no choice as well as INC was the best choice. It would have been quite insensible to vote for the regional parties, and foolishness to vote for BJP (there are reasons why I say so, and BJP badly missed Promod Mahajan). And in many senses INC was always the first and only party to vote.
4. Development: The Congress fought these elections on grounds of development whereas BJP had no issue whatsoever except shouting 'weak PM', 'Gudiya and Budiya' etc. etc... It is always advisable to focus on our strengths rather than on enemy's weaknesses!
These are some of the most talked about reasons why Congress won. But the biggest reason what I think was the maturity of the Indian Voter. Hats off to the people of this country!! They showed that they care for the country, they want development, they want growth, they want to see 'India Shining'!!
I expect this Government to fulfill the expectations of the masses and the classes. I expext this Government to fight terror (which is the only area they failed to perform last time, and the only area I would probably rate BJP higher). I expect this Government to perform..

Jai Hind
Signing off

Siddharth

Politicians...good or bad??

Well, the election time has come, and we are in debate again over whom we have to vote for..
Most people, i talked to dont want to vote, as they feel there vote is not wort wasting on such undeserving candidates. Some feel that they have no option but to choose best among the worst and some are not at all concerned...
On a lot of news channels i often see people (students, professionals, housewives etc.) saying that the 'netas are the biggest criminals of the nation' etc. etc.
But what i feel is this is absolutely wrong to say all this. Its easy to say than to do. Criticizing the politicians sitting in ac offices is very easy. Saying that they dont deserve to represent us is even bigger foolishness. The thing I want to say this is that unless you dont know how hard it is to do any job(except criticizing), you have no right to criticize.
Once i was talking to MD of a company in Bombay, and he was continously saying that politicians are thives, they will not let India grow, they arte corrupt and bla bla..It was not nice hearing that. I toild him 'Sir, if you are so concerned, why dont you join politics, get ticket from any party, fight elections win and try to correct things that you feel are not right' and believe me he had no answer. Its easy to sit outside and criticize rather than utilizing that time to correct things.
These politicians are not idiots. They have the guts to go in front of people and talk to them. Many of their critics dont even have guts to speak a line in front of crowd on mic.
They have guts to fight elections.
They sacifice their family lives for politics.
They have carizmatic personalities which make them what they are.
It is these politicians who are driving our country from last 62 years and as far as I feel they have done a reasonably good job and for those who think they havent, boss! politics is for you too!!
I have seen the sacrifice they do for what they do.
We say that politicians are thives, every body is in their trade. A MD is a thieve, a student is, a small businessman is and everyone is, at their respective levels. But we dont have guts to go and lead our country.
Its high time that we stop criticizing our politicians and our system, and if we see any loopholes, then we must come ahead and try to fill them, because this country is as much as ours as it is for any 'NETA'..

Jai Hind!!

Sid