Samvaad

Missing the Mahatma

2010-01-30T06:45:00.004-05:00

Friends,

Just a few minutes ago 62 years ago Mahatma Gandhi spoke his last words remembering God as he succumbed to three bullets from an assassin. The assassination raises many questions. First, the irony of the most ardent practitioner of nonviolence being murdered. Second, the glorification of the assassin in some quarters. Third, those glorifying the assassin occupying important positions of power till quite recently. These ironies point to how misunderstood Gandhi is even today.

While the Mahatma's historical role is paid homage philosophically he has been relegated to seminars and stamps. But, thankfully, not by all. There still are the nonviolent transformers out there fighting for things like rehabilitation of the displaced (read Narmada Bachao Andolan), the Right to Information (read all those fearless activists trying to bring transparency to Indian governance), the Rural Employment Guarantee Act (read those who inspire unpaid and exploited workers to demand full wages), and millions other throughout the world who are fighting against injustice but don't let their struggle don't color their view with violence towards those denying people justice.

As important as it is to promote Gandhian thought it is far more important to realize Gandhian action. And this pursuit to ensure our collective journey is inclusive, which the Mahatma himself claimed to be his dream, can be made in various domains - the political, the social, the economic and even the personal. Fundamental to this pursuit is lending others the dignity they deserve. It may sound pretty basic but beyond etiquette it is a realization of our and everyone else's basic rights. And if we're denied then have the capacity to demand them.

This struggle for justice and peace is what drove Gandhi. Even though today reminds us of our immense loss yet it should serve as a reminder that Gandhi's work is far from finished. His legacy beckons. Continue the march.

Peace.
Rohit.

First Anniversary of the Mumbai massacre

2009-11-26T09:07:00.004-05:00

A really sad anniversary it is. Mindless and brutal violence shook us all. We were unable to respond to such a ghastly act. I am not talking from a mere law enforcement perspective but emotionally, politically and culturally the crudeness of this act left us loud in rage but speechless on comprehension. As we tearfully remember those we utterly unfairly lost a year ago the path ahead for our collective healing seems unclear.

There are many who prescribe violence in response to violence. Whereas there are those such as honorable Rabbi's and Imam's currently paying homage to the fallen who passionately argue that we need to fight madness with compassion and love. To some this may smack as yet another call to passivity but beyond the law enforcement task to disrupt those bent upon bringing humanity to its knees a deeper spiritual and cultural response must be probed. We need to take away the cultural, moral and spiritual shelter from under which such plots are planned and supported.

But we must acknowledge our pain and anger. However, we must channel it away from paltry revenge and towards creating the energy needed to painstakingly work with our friends from Pakistan to uproot the plotters not merely in the physical sense but also in the socio-political one. Religious extremism is an anethma to democratic evolution. Be it of the Muslim or the Hindu kind. Let's beware of predators who are ever ready to use the weapon of hate to incite ever greater oppression, marginalization and violence.

On this 26/11 the world could yet again commit to the overall empowerment of all peoples so that devious minds can never find any fertile ground to breed suicidal hate. This may sound like a very open-ended goal but its execution is decentralized and affords each one of us a chance to make an impact in our own locale and not wait for edicts from capitols. Please do join us once again in paying heartfelt homage to ones we lost and share our solidarity with loved ones left behind.

Peace.

Rendezvous of Democracies: Obama-Singh Summit

2009-11-23T21:26:00.005-05:00

Indo-US relations have taken a peculiar route throughout history to arrive at this point. Both nations with great cultural diversity and strong democratic traditions should have been the most natural of allies and friends. But that didn't quite materialized. Instead the ideological fault lines of the Cold War came to define their relationship.

Sure the two nations have moved quite a bit from the days of the Soviet Union but mistrust, hyper-sensitivity to protocol and on India’s part a feeling that the United States still does not value India as a friend continues to linger in the psyche and headlines. The latest instance of Indian officials reading way more than that was said (sure the Indo-Pak public reference during the President’s recent China visit could have been avoided) is yet another example that the post-Bush era has brought an all-too-well known discomfort for Indian officialdom. The administration too has been a little careless in understanding this sensitivity. For the sake of numerous global and regional challenges that are calling out for joint leadership the hope is that both bureaucracies can sort things out so that crucial progress can be made so that the aspirations of their common citizens not special interests on both sides can be responded to.

CLIMATE CHANGE

On Climate Change, the clock has almost run out. With little chance of the Boxer-Kerry Bill that sets emissions targets for the US getting through before the Copenhagen climate summit India is not going to feel any additional pressure to oblige with the same – binding targets. But Copenhagen should not be made the totality of the global climate effort. Thus, this visit of India’s Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s holds increased importance in formulating actionable policies that clearly invest joint resources in assisting new renewable technologies and the business models needed to sustain them. Best practices on the regulatory side too should be a target of such policies. With the US Smart Grid program soon to reach a launch date it is highly desirable that details be exchanged with India so that similar efficiencies could be achieved in India as well – another leader in green house gas emissions.

AFGHANISTAN and SOUTH ASIA

India’s familiarity with the cultural and political landscape of Afghanistan should be leveraged in helping formulate US policy towards Afghanistan. Not to mention the security related convergence for both nations. If the United States can delink its AfPak policy from India (let Pakistan focus on Afghanistan and not Kashmir) and find more effective ways of bringing India and Pakistan together then that would create a conducive environment for progress for peace. It’s not Indian hegemonic visions for South Asia that get hurt when the US brings up Kashmir it is a frustration about the US misinterpreting the issues in Kashmir and those between India and Pakistan. American leadership can play a constructive role but it will have to be asked for by all parties. This is in no way challenging the sentiments of the Obama administration to pursue peace but a mere suggestion on the strategy to achieve it.

If South Asian peace is indeed a goal then the President must impress upon his message of complete nuclear disarmament to the next level by pursuing a serious policy initiative with India on this. Many analysts believe that the Nuclear Deal was a step back on this front. It is time re-address this issue. Of course, India’s nuclear arsenal is significantly smaller than that of the United States but American leadership could make reciprocating steps possible. It is time to put these thoughts into commitments and then action. Nations that produced Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. must do this.

ENGAGEMENT PARADIGM

Fundamentally, two democracies must engage in such a way that empowers their people. More generally, beyond trade, educational, cultural and scientific collaboration aimed at larger sections of both societies needs to be accelerated. So far we’ve got the big guys on both sides talking and getting business done. Now is the time for a major expansion in education not just at the higher education level but also at the primary and secondary levels. Similarly, health care at the primary level and small business development aimed at employment generation should be a focus area. With the climate change crisis staring at us making renewable technology commerce a key part of bilateral engagement would be a big step in the right direction.

The great intellectual thread that ties the two nations started from Thoreau. It helped Gandhi weave an unprecedented movement for human freedom and dignity that inspired a great chapter of the American Revolution under Martin Luther King. The hope is once the statecraft and gallantry subside the millions of lives President Obama and Prime Minister Singh can impact could be more just a little more hopeful.

Peace.

Remembering Gandhi on Religion

2009-10-02T09:22:00.006-05:00

Friends,

As we celebrate Mahatma Gandhi's 140th birth anniversary today I am reminded of the centrality of religion in his worldview. Many on the left and even some progressives have been critical of Gandhi bringing religion into the realm of social and economic justice and thereby muddying the waters. Their contention is that religion blunts the sharp attack one must make against oppression - social, economic or political. Thus, I believe today may be a good day to share my reading of the Mahatma's approach.

First, Gandhi's religion was not bound to ritual instead it existed entirely in the spiritual realm where worship included people from all faiths and exploration of the Truth an intense inward journey. The quote that I remember the most is:
Our goal should not be to convert [proselytize] but to make others a better follower of their own faith.
A fundamental requirement of peace is the ability to coexist. The above quote talks not of a passive coexistence but one that is activist and inspiring. It also reaffirms Gandhi's faith in the oneness of things, the eventual confluence of great religions and the ultimate destination for all spiritual seekers. So, what Gandhi did, and beautifully so, brought this inner pursuit in alignment with that of the outer world which was plagued by injustice. He added yet another dimension to spiritual seeking - the seeking of justice through nonviolence. Of course, Dr. Martin Luther King perfected the method as part of the Civil Rights Movement.

The moral imperative that drives policy is often ridiculed as emotionalism and utopian. For those committed to preserving the status quo that may well be an easy, dismissive way of approaching the ones working for transformation. Yet, it is the moral imperative that must give the transformers the courage to persevere. Be it health policy, financial regulation, foreign policy or any other policy matter the "still voice within" should be a guiding force over the vociferous sounds of "reason". This is not an appeal to do away with logic but, as the Mahatma did so often, present reality in such a way that change and its moral urgency become inescapable.

Hence, let us pray for the Mahatma's soul rest in peace and for the same strength that he had, which even today inspires millions to help their fellow human.

Peace.
Rohit.

Reflections on a great life

2009-09-18T09:11:00.003-05:00

Friends,

Three years ago on this a day I informed you of the passing away of my grandfather, Shri Hardas Sharma. He was the instrumental figure in my life who drew me towards social justice and the meaningful role of politics in achieving that ideal. He was a vociferous advocate for policies that lent rural India the dignity and attention it deserves.

Today, when I see the success of India's National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) I remember him. A former Gram Sabha leader himself, he would be delighted to see that this policy is providing a real building block for Mahatma Gandhi's dream of "Gram Swaraj" (Rural Self-Sufficiency). Also, the Right to Information Act would have been something that he would have used to fight for the rights of the poor and exploited. Were he alive he would have been hopeful for India. Sure, there are huge challenges ahead. Even the NREGA has numerous open issues surrounding transparency and real rural asset development but overall the spotlight now shining on rural India can only do good.

Even though my grandfather left the Congress party post-independence in response to Mahatma Gandhi's message that Congress workers should become "constructive" workers his emotional attachment to the party never really waned. Of course, till this day it remains my greatest regret that my joint appearance with him at his native district Congress headquarters happened to be scheduled for just a few days after his unexpected death. Yet, I believe he would have been delighted by the most recent election results where policy, to a good degree, overrode identity - a cause he fought for all his life.

So, on this day we can report back to him and the rest of that greatest Indian generation that the work to build a nation for all goes on. We have challenges ahead but so do we have courage and determination. For, I believe, that is the ultimate tribute to these departed great souls of India. May they rest in peace.

Rohit Tripathi.

More Details about India's Climate Report

2009-09-03T21:34:00.003-05:00

The Government of India seems more aggressive than ever to challenge the target lobby at Copenhagen. By sending three high profile members of the government to the release of the reports the signal is clear - we are moving forward with no change in our strategy. What is needed is a real internal debate to codify sustainable development. Not just mere national missions with no real sense of accountability. What is needed is a Right to a Sustainable Environment campaign not merely to save the flora and fauna but livelihoods that are tied to the survival, hopes and aspirations of millions who are far removed from this debate.

Peace.
Rohit.

Ominous Signs for Copenhagen

2009-09-03T13:22:00.003-05:00

From our Twitter page at www.twitter.com/yidream

Ominous signs for Copenhagen. India to use this report to bolster its case against any mandated target on emissions. http://twurl.nl/2u0tio

Jury is still out on this line of thinking - as long as we are better than the worst we are good enough. The industrialized nations too carry little moral authority on the issue as their per capita emissions are indeed many fold that of India's. So, who gives? The planet?

Small Business movement gets active in India

2009-08-25T12:39:00.003-05:00

From our Twitter page at http://www.twitter.com/yidream

Heartening movement on the Small Biz front in India. Some time ago Young India had done a series of state of affairs reports in the process to build a suite of policies to promote small business entrepreneurship. We haven't formally shared our recommendations publicly but quite a few are now being championed by representative associations in the Small Biz space in India. More here... http://is.gd/2ydI4

Peace.

NREGA Analysis

2009-08-20T20:57:00.001-05:00

From our Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/yidream :

Comprehensive analysis of NREGA by Aruna Roy and Nikhil Dey, the authors of the Act. http://is.gd/2qSNH

India's March Continues...

2009-08-14T20:41:00.007-05:00

Friends,

It's a special day for every Indian. The freedom that Indians cherish today was finally achieved on this day in 1947. After a long and divisive battle India's spirit got its voice among the community of nations. Millions like my grandfather endured insult and injury to see posterity breathe in a land where people were not subjects but citizens.

It is an emotive moment as well. The Indian independence movement shaped an entire generation and their families. I have been a direct beneficiary of that legacy and feel privileged to carry the responsibility to further it.

It goes without saying that the dream of India's founders is still a work in progress. India may have made quantitative leaps in the macroeconomic sense yet qualitative challenges to basic needs like education, health and employment remain. There must be an urgency to meet these challenges. The class divide cannot be allowed to grow beyond a certain point of inflection of social tension.

In the end India is an optimistic nation. The hope is that it maintains a cohesion and inclusion in its national march towards a more democratic state. Its leadership is needed on critical issues such as Climate Change and global security. Now is the time for India to stand up and partner with other visionaries to take us all forward in this young century.

Long live the Indian nation and may peace be with its people.

Peace.
Rohit.

Civil Disobedience in Pakistan

2009-03-17T15:39:00.003-05:00

Really... who would have thunk it? But the remarkable turn of events in Lahore, now falling under the umbrella of the "Long March", breathe hope into an increasingly desperate situation. Mahatma Gandhi would indeed be proud to see his methodology bearing such wonderful fruits as the restoration of an independent judiciary. What is truly heartening is that the rule of law embodied by the Judiciary took center stage in this spontaneous, nonviolent (more or less) movement. It gives us all great hope that an institution other than the Army has a great role to play in Pakistan's future. And, finally there is an institution that the people of Pakistan can wholeheartedly support without inflicting damage on their own democratic evolution. Praise is truly due to the people of Pakistan.

Peace.

Salt

2009-03-12T12:22:00.005-05:00

Every year on this day, the 12th of March, I imagine the scene in the early hours at Mahatma Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram in 1930. He and a band of followers were getting ready to undertake a journey to the sea to make Salt. The long, arduous 206 mile stretch that lay ahead would become an eternal symbol of the path one must tread to the Truth. The Truth for the Mahatma was India's independence and the rights of its people to live with dignity. So, he chose to dramatize this struggle by opposing an unjust Salt Tax levied by the British. He could have protested in numerous ways but he chose to go back to Henry David Thoreau's Civil Disobedience to wage this battle for India's soul.

I had the privilege to walk the last leg of this historic march to the sea on its 75th anniversary. And as the sea was visible in the distance to us marchers we could feel the weight of history once again. It reminded me not only the original march but numerous marches that punctuated the Civil Rights Movement led by Martin Luther King. The sheer act of fearlessly walking into the den of those who intimidate you, subjugate you and despise you with a moral strength that overpowers any army they could assemble is by far the most powerful force known.

Mahatma Gandhi was a blessing for India and also one of its greatest gifts. Today, we remember him and millions more, like my own grandfather, who marched along. Even now, in moments of solitude when we seek guidance to serve others we can hear those footsteps in the distance urging us to continue marching.

Peace.

Fondly remembering a Great One

2009-02-12T14:26:00.002-05:00

Friends,

Today is President Abraham Lincoln's bicentennial. Young India is delighted to share its best wishes with all Americans and everyone else who believes in sustaining a progressive democracy. President Lincoln, while in the midst of upheaval, never truly lost his view of the future and brilliantly waged a battle that brought America back from a moral abyss. His leadership and dedication to the democratic ideal, which to him was the same as the ideal of human equality, still inspires us today. His life, his writings and his martyrdom will forever be with us in all those moments of doubt when the dark shadow of the present blinds us to the future. Because not only did Lincoln pierce through the darkness of the present he did so to ensure the future was well lit for generations to come.

It is fitting that on this day the President who signed the Emancipation Proclamation is remembered by the first African American President in history - Barack Obama. America has given the 16th President a memorable gift.

Peace.

Remembering a martyr

2009-01-29T21:30:00.005-05:00

Statistically it's only been 61 years since Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated but it seems like many already see him as a relic from the ancient past. Not us at Young India. His core message of peace through nonviolence and its strategic execution continue to drive us and our initiatives.

As we look back to pay homage to a great soul we once again realize the transcendental nature of his message and method. We may have quoted Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the past but it may be worth repeating his words:

Jesus gave me the message. Gandhi gave me the method.

The Gandhian method places the process of achieving peace at the same pedestal as its attainment. For him the process and its attainment were inseparable. We do not tire of sharing with you our interpretation of this process at: http://www.yidream.org/nvda.shtml

What has aroused our great interest more recently has been how, knowingly or unknowingly, President Obama has approached different policy matters using the same Gandhian method for transformation. Overall, we feel that he sees government's role as an agent of nonviolent transformation through active civic participation - an essential element of the Gandhian method.

In our next few posts we will analyze some of President Obama's initiatives and see them in light of the Gandhian method. But today we pause to commit to peace within ourselves and the world we live in. That is what Gandhi ji did all his life and our commitment would be the ultimate and most fitting homage.

Peace.

A message we need to hear

2009-01-25T14:44:00.004-05:00

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke on All India Radio 50 years ago when he visited India to probe deeper into Gandhi's message of nonviolence and India's freedom movement that exemplified its success.

It has been Young India's persistent endeavor to project the Gandhi-King view of nonviolence as much more than the romanticism it invokes as a relic of the past: it is an active, dynamic and essential force for transformation. The moral supremacy inherent in nonviolence is often rejected as naive idealism. Not much different could be expected since the strategic understanding of this most potent transformative tool has barely been passed down from the generations that perfected it. And where it has its relevance debated and then ignored. But today the time to enshrine nonviolence as the guiding light for policy that places empowerment at its epicenter has arrived. And as Dr. King once said, "Peace is not the absence of violence but the presence of justice." To this I dare add forgiveness and reconciliation. I hope Dr. King's words inspire you as they have inspired me.

We will soon start laying out our ideas on how the nonviolent ethic can be weaved into the policymaking fabric of our democracies.

Peace.
Rohit.

The Inauguration of Barack Obama

2009-01-18T23:55:00.006-05:00

Friends,

At times of profound reflection I always go to the most eloquent rendering of one such occasion by one of the world's greatest statesman, Jawahar Lal Nehru, at the dawn of independent India's life:

A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance.

On Tuesday the soul of American democracy will indeed find a remarkably greater utterance as a seemingly unbreakable glass ceiling will be shattered forever - an African American will become President. But Barack Obama represents way more than just the hopes and dreams of African Americans. He represents the aspirations and hopes of all Americans and the larger global family. In him America and the world sees someone whose improbable story inspires optimism even in these uncertain economic times. Billions of prayers are being made for him as a person and a leader. He will need them.

It is not that Barack Obama will carry the weight of our collective aspirations but by sharing his faith in our collective destiny he has helped restore ours. Obama's humility and demeanor allow us to place him among the good-hearted, ordinary folk we interact with. While being like one of us he clearly has something special. His ordinariness makes him extraordinary. And my sincere hope is that he stays the way he is.

A friend of mine complained why so much money was being spent on the inauguration in such tough times. It's a legitimate question. But no matter how poor the parents the birth of a child is always celebrated. Similarly, no matter how materially challenged America may be the American spirit, the democratic spirit, the human spirit deserve to celebrate the coming off age of a great nation. After 233 years another chapter of the American revolution is being written. Moments such as these need to be captured in our consciousness so that they continue to remind us how far we have traveled and what all we have overcome. No doubt an even longer journey awaits but as we pause to take stock a cheer is in order for democracy.

Many have said that this inauguration is a culmination of Dr. King's dream. I feel that its fulfillment is still ways to go but we are certainly taking a giant leap in the right direction. But on his 80th birth anniversary it is hard to give him a better gift. America has realized the strength of character over the superficiality of color.

At Young India we are eagerly looking forward to working with the new administration. We will continue our efforts to steer the bilateral relationship in a direction that empowers both peoples.
Our voice is a part of the great chorus that is being sung to welcome a new President and hope for a more perfect union in America and among the larger community of nations.

Peace.

Rohit.

India General Election preview?

2008-12-08T08:09:00.014-05:00

After multiple phases of polling votes were finally counted today for elections to state assemblies in 5 Indian states: Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, NCT of Delhi, and Rajasthan. Going into the elections following was the power structure and the arrow indicates tallies per the leading and completed result trends (Sources: Election Commission of India and www.ndtv.com)

Chhatisgarh: BJP (50/90) ---> BJP (51/90)
Madhya Pradesh (MP): BJP (173/230) ---> BJP (144/230)
Mizoram: Mizo National Front (MNF, 21/40) ---> INC (31/40)
Delhi: Indian National Congress (INC, 43/70) ---> INC (42/69)
Rajasthan: BJP (120/200) ---> INC (98/200)

A quick comment or two about these states:

Chhatisgarh: Winning as incumbent in India is huge. But the BJP needed this win badly since their gains of late have been minimal.

Madhya Pradesh: The BJP win was expected. Their margin was bound to go down but they still managed to win. Again a must-win of sorts for the BJP. They had to win at least MP or Rajasthan for their own morale for the general election.

Mizoram: The up-down nature of regional politics is evident here. We do not have a great insight into Mizo politics but past trends and a continuous histor of government non-performance makes an incumbent's loss quite predictable. From a general election standpoint, this may not make much of a difference since Mizoram is a very small state.

Delhi: This was a local verdict. Sheila Dixit, Delhi's two-term Chief Minister, has wide appeal across Delhi. This may help the Congress keep most of the 7 parliamentary seats for Delhi.

Rajasthan: More than anything else this was an outright rejection of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindhia. She had angered important constituents and her standing among the urban middle-class had taken a beating because of her administration's incompetence. Plus, Ashok Gehlot, the Congress' leader is a popular and competent figure. The Congress stands to make good gains in Rajasthan at election time in the Spring since Rajasthan has 25 seats of which the Congress currently holds only 4.

Many media outlets had proclaimed this round of state elections, the last before the next general election next Spring, as the "semi-finals" for the parliamentary battle at the hustings. We tend to disagree with that generalized categorization. Increasingly state elections in India are getting more and more local in nature and thus, trends should be extrapolated with caution.

Based on the results and trends so far, viewing them from the larger parliamentary context, this trend indicates the Congress led UPA government may just hold on to power next Spring. Obviously, at this point we are glossing over many fine print details that could sway things but a big reason why the UPA will make it for another five years is that no viable opposition/alternative has emerged. Unsurprisingly and counter to our 2004 hopes the BJP has sustained, if not strengthened, its sectarian character and shown little interest in deeper legislative issues. They can hardly make any claim to fame given their absence from important policy dialogues. And as much as we disagree with the sectarian-side of BJP politics we are sad at the ideological wasteland that is only growing on the political landscape.

While the Indian National Congress still houses the more progressive elements in Indian politics it has a new mantra - youth. We ourselves are only now moving from our 20's into our 30's but don't believe that our thoughts are any superior to our seniors because we are younger. We do take pride in our ideas and convictions but are not ageist. The angst in India emanating from the non-performance of a wide swath of political leadership is understandable. But to correlate that exclusively to the age of the political practitioner is inaccurate. The young leaders within the political class have yet to articulate a new, transformative and inspiring vision. And they must respond to their greatest criticism - how are they going to achieve it? We're not talking nuts and bolts but a basic roadmap that highlights the new kind of synergies that must be achieved to move the whole nation in tandem.

The vision that Indians long from the political class is, however, taking shape in numerous civil society groups and people's movements. Unfortunately, these inspiring stories and the lessons thus learned are not find way into the political discourse, strategy or policy. India has awakened but its leaders, irrespective of age, have not.

Here's a parting thought as parties gear for the big one: Rather than recruiting purely on age and entitlements the parties interested in a true national revival must recruit those who are leading civil society in the direction that India needs to go in. Now, that will be a coming of age.

Peace.

Team Young India, Inc.

Sensible steps forward

2008-12-02T10:06:00.005-05:00

Friends,

It goes without saying that the officialdom in Pakistan must, and our hope is will cooperate with counterparts in India to not only bring the masterminds of the Mumbai blasts to justice but ultimately uproot this weed of terror.

Amid all the incriminations and vociferous and justifiable anger lies the Indo-Pak peace process. No, we are not merely referring to the track-1 diplomacy between bureaucrats on both sides. We are talking of the painful yet substantive gains that have been made by people to people interaction on both sides. It is an understatement to say that prior to the massacre in Mumbai India and Pakistan were enjoying the best bilateral relations they have ever had in their conflict-ridden 61 year history. Thus, for a handful of despicable cowards to hijack this growing affection would be a great tragedy. We must move forward and Indians must insist that their new Pakistani friends join in the fight against the inhumanity of terror, which won't spare them either.

Leaders on both sides must immerse themselves in getting to the bottom of the current tragedy. However, they must not disengage from the larger goal of South Asian peace, which alone will defeat terrorism. This is a time for statesmen and stateswomen not for political leaders. Let's tread this treacherous part of our history with care and focus on healing wounds rather than opening more. Indians are standing resolute against terror and know that their Pakistani friends too will do the same; they just need to be reassured.

This horrific episode should once again shine a light on the intolerant forces in the subcontinent irrespective of what religion they espouse. Their ideas of nationhood and religion must be outrightly rejected and their political alienation is a must to obviate their existence. There can be no moral ambiguity about hate.

So, please stand with us in solidarity with the victims in Mumbai and all those who died saving them. We owe it to them and all those who are victims of violence throughout the subcontinent that we move ahead with a steadfastness and sensibility that peace deserves.

Peace.

Team Young India, Inc.

A good first step

2008-11-30T07:10:00.005-05:00

Friends,

As we had hoped in our last posting, India's Home Minister, Shivraj Patil has resigned. That is a welcome first step and its symbolism will show someÂ level of purpose from the government, which is under serious attack fromÂ the public. I am unaware of Mr. Chidambaram's expertise in matters of internal security who has been named as Mr. Patil's replacement. Mr.Chidambram has been India's very visible finance minister for the last four plus years. But as we said this step was required that at least the need for a rethink has been recognized.

Peace.

Team Young India, Inc.

Quick but important

2008-11-28T10:18:00.000-05:00

Friends,

There are no quick solutions to this vexed problem of terrorism but it is clear that a rethink is needed at the highest level of government in India about how to respond to this menace. The performance of India's Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, responsible for India's internal security, has been beyond sub-par. We don't see any rationale for Mr. Patil to continue in this position after India's being repeatedly hit by terrorists from within and outside. He has been woefully slow in responding to the unrest in the North East and the recent disturbances in Kashmir just underscore a cluelessness of sorts. The Congress does have many other capable people to initiate the rethink.

At a time when the Indian nation is demanding action a renewed effort to combat terror a new leadership at the Home Ministry will satiate some of this urgent desire. We hope that Mr. Patil recognizes his failures and tenders his resignation while paving the way for a rededication to the most fundmental task of any government - its people's safety.

Peace.

Team Young India, Inc.

Outrageous all-around

2008-11-28T07:38:00.001-05:00

It is just awful and rare that we have two posts for the same tragic event, which unbelievably is still ongoing. Two things have emerged - a) Pakistan as a probable base for this latest expression of inhumanity, and b) the disgusting level to which the Sangh - BJP, RSS, VHP et al would go to extract political mileage from any tragedy.

First, Pakistan. At this point it is not enough for the government of Pakistan to say that there are extreme elements in every society. For far too long these elements have either enjoyed official indifference or intelligence support. Ambivalence towards entities that espouse violence must absolutely and completely end immediately in Pakistan at all levels of government and that does not exclude the army and the intelligence services. India should take Pakistan upon its offer for help but must unequivocally convey that the burden is now on Pakistan's officialdom. We do believe that terrorism is a menace for both countries. But the time to merely utter those words seems to be over. It is time to act.

Now, on to the BJP et al. Gujarat Chief Minister and prominent BJP national "leader", Narendra Modi, the overseer of the massacres in Gujarat 2002, shamelessly descended upon the scene of the Oberoi Hotel while rescue operations were underway! He could not desist from holding a press conference criticizing the Prime Minister and touting his measures to combat terrorism. This distasteful self-aggrandazing and disingenous expression of sympathy must be evidence enough of the moral bankuruptcy of the clan of politicians that have hijacked the sacred Hindu color saffron.

There are few words to characterize the bravery of India's armed forces and special security forces. Ordinary policemen and citizens have acted heroically. Despite their greatest efforts innoecent lives have been snatched. But this was not due to lack of trying. We salute the brave souls you have laid their lives. Just recently regional extremists, followers of Shiv Sena (another BJP affiliate), had launched an effort against non-Mumbai Indians. Obviously those cowards were nowhere to be found when the nation needed them.

This is a time that all Indians need to stand united against forces that want to break us from within and without. India cannot and will not bend but fight back with greater resolve to maintain its pluralism and promise to deliver freedom and opportunity to its people.

Peace.
Team Young India, Inc.

Cowards in Mumbai

2008-11-26T16:12:00.001-05:00

It is difficult for us to hide our sheer outrage at this hideous episode of brutality. Law enforcement in Mumbai has a very difficult challenge at hand. Not only do they need to track down these cowards who have perpetrated this tragedy but also ensure that the city's peace is maintained. Mumbai has shown great resilience in the past after such divisive and senseless violence and we hope that it stays true to its great character.

At this point all we can do is offer our support and prayer to those victims who have been snatched away from their families and all of us. They absolutely deserve justice and must get it. In the coming days we will post our strategic recommendations to decisively address this growing menace.

Peace.

Team Young India, Inc.

Personal Tribute to Mahatma Gandhi

2007-10-02T09:01:00.000-05:00

Friends,

Ever since I was a kid I remember this day being more exciting to me than my own birthday. Today that excitement has transformed into optimism. Mahatma Gandhi gave the weakest among us the strength to resist injustice through establishing moral supremacy in the humblest possible way. He was one of the very few in the annals of history who have brought morality to bear upon the most pressing causes of our times. He gave a message devoid of doctrine and dogma. His message was from the heart and soul. He was brilliant in using the mind to communicate these profound ideas in the most effective ways. All in all, he was a moral strategist, a realistic idealist, and the most determined human being I have come across in life and my readings.

Today, as we remember him along with the rest of the world that is celebrating the first International Day of Nonviolence, it is his tenacity to fight the right battles the right way that reverberate most in my thoughts. Too often with the passage of time we grow jaded, tired and begin to rationalize injustice as a system defect. The Mahatma's life reminds us the critical need for endurance in this struggle for justice, equality and opportunity.

Mahatma Gandhi has a great personal resonance with me because he too was part of the Indian diaspora till he was 46. I am not 46 yet but many like me in the diaspora today look up to the Mahatma as a role model in finding ways to contribute in the making of a more democratic, pluralistic and prosperous India. I feel there is something for everyone to learn from his life.

A re dedication to our beloved causes with the commitment to persevere in pursuing them for the betterment of all is going to be our greatest tribute to this great soul. No matter how small or big our sphere of influence or the impact of our actions may be, it is important that our efforts don't cease.

Young India, Inc. will continue to play its role in shaping policy and attitudes to make nonviolent thinking an integral part of our strategic vision to tackle problems. There is no nonviolence without empowerment. Thus, empowerment becomes the centerpiece of all our work. Mahatma Gandhi did that through his Constructive Program. The newsletter that introduced Gandhi to India and made him a Mahatma, Young India, is today our inspiration to carry on his unfinished work to whatever degree we can. That is my commitment to nonviolence. Today, we all should to think about our commitments to this fundamental principle.

Peace.

Rohit.

2007-08-14T20:38:00.000-05:00

India at 60

As India reaches a remarkable milestone of 60 years as a pluralistic democracy Indians and the diaspora are bound to reflect. You will read numerous accounts of India’s successes and failures. Numerous quantitative analyses are available. But I am interested in reflecting on India’s qualitative evolution over the last six decades. Is India still true to its founding principles? Are these founding principles still relevant? What principles will the future be based on? To me these are the burning questions more so than how does Indian maintain a certain GDP growth rate.

This is what the preamble to India’s constitution reads:

WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:
JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;

I feel these founding principles are just as relevant today as they were 60 years ago. But has Indian been true to them? Let’s take a quick look.

SOVEREIGN

It is a remarkable achievement that India has maintained its sovereignty despite internal diversity and immense external pressure. Some may question this achievement citing alliances with hitherto hostile nations like the United States but no matter how critical we may be of specific policies it is hard to make the case that India has compromised this most critical achievement of our independence movement. India is taking the right course to build relations with past adversaries. One can only hope that this engagement empowers its people and not merely the bureaucratic and political elites.

SOCIALIST

It is important to understand the historical context in which this principle was laid down. Having just emerged from the shadows of an imperialistic nation there was great weariness towards the models of economic development in that nation – capitalism. In addition, to this apprehension the vast majority of India was illiterate and poor. In this scenario the founders sincerely believed in the greater role of government to empower people. In hindsight some things could have been done different. Today, however, this concept has to be revisited by keeping the ultimate objective the same – people’s empowerment. In that regard I feel that India must make the next decade the decade of the entrepreneur and signal its growth into a smarter democracy that knows how to evolve with time. A vast majority of its population is still economically marginalized but governmental assistance should not be the goal. Instead, government facilitation to build enterprises at the rural and small-town level should be the focus. This is essential for India to sustain the growth it has shown. It cannot drag its masses in the rough as the few race ahead. It must teach them to join the race.

SECULAR

This is the backbone of India. It is the very soul of India. Going forward I would only suggest that semantically we use pluralistic as an alternative term to define the vibrancy of India’s multiculturalism, which has withstood assaults from all sides. Even today extremists on all sides are vying to tear apart this most beautiful composite fiber India has sewn together over centuries. Well, they can try all they want but I know that India’s soul cannot be changed. For if India ever abandons this most cherished principle it will cease to be the India that I love. India’s pluralism is one of India’s greatest gifts to the world. It does not merely teach assimilation but synthesis. It is always refining what it possesses and adding to the grandeur of its moral stature.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

As disappointing India’s political discourse may be it is by and large committed to democracy. Except a brief period in its history India has maintained its commitment to electoral democracy. That does not mean that other elements of democratic evolution have grown. The Right to Information Act has finally ushered in the much-awaited era of transparency so critical to the survival of any democracy. Political leaders have stymied public participation that greatly suffers from apathy to begin with. The media has greatly assisted them in doing this by making sensationalism its main product over news. There are, however, bright spots of thoughtful journalism that have saved the day in times of crisis by reminding us all what truly matters. The new generation armed with information offers me great hope. Time will tell if they can meet the challenge at hand of making India’s democracy work for its people by inspiring its people to work for democracy.

JUSTICE

India has failed in its commitment to this principle. Much beyond the sheer slowness of process today the prevailing sentiment is that justice is an ideal but cannot become a reality. The people have surrendered on this front. Social justice is still far from achieved. Marginalized sections of India’s society still languish. Prejudice may have superficially receded in the urban centers but it is still alive in rural India. Economic deprivation and social alienation are still rampant. All of this is exacerbated by the lack of political empowerment. Steps have been taken and great efforts are underway through the Panchayati Raj system. This system must be the focal point of India’s development strategy. The success of this system will significantly impact the condition of justice in India’s society as the Panchayati Raj system holds the greatest promise to empower the marginalized.

LIBERTY

This principle is increasingly coming under attack from radicals and political operators. The recent attack on Ms. Taslima Nasreen and prior to that attacks on artists by the BJP-RSS underscore the dire need to restore this principle. Beyond these crude shows of myopia and sheer anti-social behavior there is an effort underway to undermine those who think differently on issues of development. Numerous government projects do not tolerate deviation from the official line. To me this is more dangerous than the barbarism shown by hooligans on the fringes. India must persevere to keep this principle alive and relevant.

EQUALITY

This principle needs to be revisited and refined. I feel this should be expanded to equality of opportunity. The justice clause covers equality before the law but above all opportunity should not discriminate on the basis of religion, gender, caste or any other belief set. Some have cleverly used this clause to oppose affirmative action without fully understanding the scope of the deprivation of those that affirmative action ideally tries to help. Such debates will persist and are healthy.

FRATERNITY

This is a truly Indian ideal and despite cynicism from some corners it is alive. The Indian soul is inclusive despite its numerous shortcomings. It welcomes all. It dances with all. It sings with all. It loves all.

We love India as it is today because we believe it still bears the torch to lead the world through the darkness of hate into the light of peace and love. We salute the people of India on this momentous day.

Peace.

Rohit Tripathi.

What the 110th US Congress Should Know about India - Event Summary

2007-05-21T17:35:00.000-05:00

You can find a summary of Young India's recent Capitol Hill briefing online now here:
Young India briefs US Congress on developments in India

As you will find mentioned in the event summary, Young India's president, Rohit Tripathi, made mention of the elections in Uttar Pradesh. In fact, before the briefing, Young India delved into the matter here on the page of Samvaad. The stunning results of this election are making their way to international publications as well. Take note of Newsweek's recent article titled An Unlikely Alliance which focuses in on the crafty alliance-building that Ms. Mayawati engaged in in the BSP's recent electoral win. A short excerpt:

"The election two weeks ago of Mayawati, a member of India's oppressed Dalit castes, as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh (UP) shocked the country. The surprise wasn't her victory per se. Dalits (once known as untouchables) have occupied high office before. The stunner came from how Mayawati got there this time: by building an unprecedented coalition of Dalits, marginalized Muslims and upper-caste Brahmins, long viewed by Dalits as their oppressors. Now this most unlikely of combinations threatens to seriously shift politics, not just in India's most populous state, but in the entire country."

We will continue to post more on how these events unfold. Stay Tuned.