A WEEK OF EXPECTATIONS (24/02/2015)

Last week of February is considered a week of expectations in India: the time when the people expect the Government to deliver. This year this expectation is still higher- the Government will be unfolding its vision for the transformations of India through the budget- an exercise which raises ray of hopes for everyone. The debate in the chartered bus and the metro also veered around the forthcoming budget and expectations of the salaried class from it. Invariably people expect relaxation in income tax slabs. These are small gift which gives a sigh of relief to salaried class. Every year India Today, the premier national news-magazine, feature opinion of noted economists and experts aimed at improving the Indian economy. Some of these suggestions this year include, reducing fiscal deficit, reducing regulations to boost investment, reducing Government expenditures, reducing Government intervention in areas where these can be avoided i.e. “minimum government, maximum governance”, devise ways to improve consumption, savings, create opportunities for more jobs and above all herald in a regime of simplified tax structure.  I am reminded of commentaries on budget by noted lawyer Mr. Nani A. Palkiwala whose terse analysis of the union budget in eighties and nineties is still remembered. What intrigues me is that some of the suggestions that he made in the nineties still holds good. Eg. In 1984-85 he had advised the Government to inject the “S” factor in the fiscal and tax laws: Sane, Simple and Stable. 30 years later we are still struggling to simplify our tax structure with ideas such as the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Direct Tax System (DTS) in discussion. In 1985-86 Mr. Palkiwala had advised reduction in government controls, quoting Dr. Gunner Myrdal that, excessive control only leads people to become tax dodgers. It holds true even today. Mr. Nani A. Palkiwala was opposed to allocation of token amount for welfare schemes which he termed as “token gestures”. He quoted noted economist Raj Krishna who had lamented “that only a small portion of funds trickle down to the target groups”. 30 years later we are still struggling to control such leakages- the latest being the ambitious ‘jan-dhan yojana’ for direct benefit transfer (DBT). In 1990 Mr. Palkiwala opposed government’s decision to abolish investment allowance which he felt would affect fresh investment in India. Even today economists are devising ways and means to improve foreign investment. For the rising fiscal deficit Mr. Palkiwala had a piece of advice from Thomas Jefferson who had warned that “the question whether one generation has the right to bind another by the deficit it imposes is a question of such consequences as to place it among the fundamental principles of Government. We should consider ourselves unauthorized to saddle posterity without debts, and morally bound to pay them ourselves.” The same is also true for the parallel economy which has come to challenge the main economy. 

It appears the wheels of progress have not moved as fast as it ought to have. We must realize that fashion in ideas change, as do fashions in clothes. India, it appears, is much less quick to follow new fashions in ideas than other nations; leading to a situation where its growth models are outmaneuvered by other nations leaving India a  developing economy. The newly constituted NITI Aayog has an important role to play in order to make the transformation really happening.    

Lastly, Mr. Nani A. Palkiwala had a sound advice for the opposition also, which, like his other suggestions, has stood the test of time: political parties should prefer to confront the problems faced by the nation together instead of confronting each other. He had lamented criticism of the opposition parties of the 1992-93 budget presented by Dr. Manmohan Singh. He felt that “one of the great failings of democracy is the mistaken belief that it is the duty of the opposition to oppose”. How prophetic! Even today the proceedings of Parliament were disrupted, and this saddens me since the nation suffers in the long run.

Let’s see what new this budget has to offer to the nation that Mr. Nani A Palkiwala had not predicted 30 years back.  

WE THE PEOPLE: INDIA’S STRONGEST OPPOSITION EVER (21/02/2015)

The polarization of votes which resulted in the Delhi Assembly elections becoming a one sided affair, with even the BJP pushed to the status of a fringe player, spilled over to the chartered bus which ferries us to office. Surprisingly, it appeared almost all the commuters had become AAP supporters overnight, even though prior to the declaration of election results they all were purportedly die-hard BJP supporters. After the polls and before declaration of results, whoever I approached had sworn to have voted for the BJP, but how the table turned in favour of AAP was simply inexplicable. Voters in India were never known to be such ruthless and decisive in their selection or rejection- a trend which should make every political party scary, as Kejriwal confessed after the results. Last year People’s opposition to the UPA misrule led to an end of 25 years of coalition rule with BJP getting absolute majority in Parliament. This year People’s opposition to an indifferent establishment led to complete annihilation of BJP to an extent no one had predicted. The result leaves a message for the political parties. This is the time for the victor as well as the vanquished to realize that true heroism is not winning an election or an urge to surpass all others at whatever cost but the urge to serve others at whatever cost. Just as people were not in a mood to give any time to the BJP government so are they not ready to give any time to the AAP, given the protests and dharna which have already started, seeking the promised freebies. It is pertinent to mention that while everyone wants to live at the expense of the State, they forget that it is the State that actually lives at the expense of everyone. (Fredric Bashiat).  Nevertheless, the of late we, the people of India have come to enjoy and relish the discomfiture of political leaders, hitting them hard when it matters- i.e. during elections. Till now these leaders were adept at taking the people for granted. No more- the message has gone out loud and clear. We, the people of India are fed up with the tantrums of leaders and this cannot continue for forever and therefore, we, the People of India have emerged as the strongest opposition. And mind it this opposition is not like the one in Parliament, where the opposition unites with the ruling bench over issue of common interests (viz raising their salary and perks)? It is not restricted to gimmickry but means serious business. Long live the Indian Democracy!    

COUNTING ON LEADERSHIP QUALITIES ON A COUNTING DAY: A TALE OF THREE APPRENTICE LEADERS. (14/02/2015)

Those three gentlemen entered the hall almost simultaneously. There was still some time  left for the counting to begin. Ultimately “it’s not the voting that is democracy; it’s the counting. (Tom Stoppard)

The gentleman who led them was bubbling with confidence. Dressed in spotless white starched kurta pyjama with a saffron coloured jacket to boot, he was a picture of confidence. Hairs neatly combed, moustache trimmed and clean shaven- all added to his brighter look. One of the officials present there dared to seek his identity. “Don’t you see this saffron jacket?”- He replied with an air of haughtiness. “This is the Modi jacket. I am his candidate from this assembly constituency”. He went around wishing his agents who were present there to monitor the counting. It appeared from their gestures that a result for them was a foregone conclusion and it was only a matter of time before they could begin their celebrations.

The gentleman who followed him was dressed in a crumpled kurta-pyjama and a Grey coloured jacket (or had it lost its brightness due to prolong use?). He spotted a vermilion tikka on his forehead and had hawai slippers. It surprised everyone when he introduced himself as the official AAP candidate. He was a picture of sobriety and somberness. It appeared as if he was virtually carrying responsibility of his whole constituency over his shoulders- so grim was his face.

The third and the last gentleman, the official Congress candidate, had defeat writ large on his face even before the counting had begun.  Dressed immaculately to the occasion he appeared listless and least concerned about the outcome among the three.

The Returning Officer ordered the counting to start once the clock struck eight. The first round was a close affair. Each of these three candidates was close on each other heels. It appeared it would be a tough fight. The second round increased the difference between the AAP and BJP candidate, with the Congress candidate surprisingly pitching in between these two candidates.

The saffron clad leader and his agents kept assuring each other that their luck may smile once the counting for the village areas and the area falling under MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) comes up. He was the only one among the three candidates who had arranged a sumptuous breakfast pack ordered from “Bansiwala” (a retail outlet specializing in sweets, snacks and confectionery) for his agents. The AAP agents alike their leader had nothing for their breakfast. It appeared the Congress was bereft of any agent at the center.

The margin kept on increasing in the subsequent rounds as counting progressed for the third, fourth and the fifth round. Counting for booths falling in the village area increased this difference further. The nadir was reached when this gentleman got least vote in the MCD area. He could not resist cursing the MCD, ridiculing their officers to take shelter in neighboring Chhattisgarh or Madhya Pradesh on deputation, to save themselves from the AAP’s crusade against corruption. Did he imply the neighboring state of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh was a safe haven for a corrupt government servant? The gentleman did not realize the folly of his statement and it only reflected his immaturity as a leader.

By the time the seventh and the eighth round of counting concluded, this gentleman was showering choicest expletives on his poll managers and he left the scene in a huff, without even waiting for the rest six round of counting.

The AAP candidate maintained his composure till the last round and kept his flock in good stead throughout. He was a picture of resilience and endurance. The Congress candidate hung around till the end expecting a last minute turnaround which, to his misfortune, did not happen.   

The first had banked upon his leader to help him sail through. He failed miserably and stood third after the final tally. He was a perfect picture of a follower and not a leader. The second had put in all effort to wrest a victory which otherwise was a Congress bastion. His fortitude and leadership qualities paid him and he was declared winner. The third was morally down and was merely completing a formality, even though he stood second after final round of counting. Had he and his party fought it emphatically he stood a fair chance. The fourth was the invisible NOTA (None Of The Above). Incidentally, barring the fourth, the rest three belonged to the Krishna clan.   

(As retold by my colleague who was deputed for counting duty in the recently held Delhi Assembly elections)

GENERATIONAL CLASHES ON A DELHI METRO (07/02/2015)

To understand the psyche of people of a city, I believe, one must travel in the local means of transportation. During my posting at Kolkata I found it quite common for a male passenger to vacate seat for lady or an infirm person. “Bengali bhadrajon” (Bengali Gentleman) considered it insulting to remain seated whilst a lady stood in front of him. Bus conductors are extra cautious when a lady boards or alights a bus - more so if she happens to carry a child. The bus comes to a virtual halt. Even in local train, which has a compartment reserved for ladies, seat is vacated by a male if a lady happens to step in a general compartment. Life moves at a slower pace in Kolkata unlike Delhi where it is fast tracked. I was made to understand that people in Delhi are insensitive in general and abusive, caring less for fellow commuters. This may however, not be always true, and my inference is based on my traveling experience in Delhi Metro. I normally commute by the yellow line metro in evening, boarding it at Central Secretariat Station. The Yellow line metro connects Gurgaon and Jahangirpuri and passes through Vishwavidyalaya station (North Campus of Delhi University). It is therefore quite common that it carry students of North Campus in large numbers, who board this metro to travel to Vishwavidyalaya station. Presence of youths makes the atmosphere lively and energetic. However, once office commuters starts boarding it from Udyog Bhavan, Central Secretariat and Patel Chowk stations, the atmosphere turns somber and ultimately dull. These office commuters are people who have had a hectic day at office or had a bad day with an indifferent boss. They pass on this indifference to fellow commuters, mostly students and youths, who become hapless victim of their impatience and intolerance. Though normally these youths (who says there aren’t Samaritans in Delhi) do offer their seat to elderly office commuters, yet the grudge remains. I have often been witness to incidents where an elderly commuter loses his tempers and enters into a tiff with a youth, if one fails to offer his seat. I believe the fault lies with elders who have a grudge to the life style of present days’ youths. It is no secret that youths today are much more career conscious and competition is much more fierce compared to say twenty years back, when these elderly commuters were in their youth. That the youth of present age manage to enjoy life, despite living in an age of fierce cut-throat competition, defies the thought process of these elderly commuters. These elderly commuters loathe the style statement of youths which gets expressed in designer clothes and flashy gadgets like i Pods and Smart-phone. Youths of the present era, I believe, tends to enjoy every moment of their life. On the contrary the elderly commuters are a fearful lot, surviving on medicines, stressing themselves in office and stretching every moment of their life that remains on this planet. This contrast, I believe, lay at the bottom of such clashes. As I stood at the junction of two compartments in a metro, deeply engrossed in analyzing human behavior and attitude, I overheard someone offer me a seat. I looked behind. A college student, my son’s age, stood behind me offering me his seat. I smiled, thanked him and gestured him to remain seated. I did not want to belong to the class of the cribbing elders- at least not for the next few years- I said to myself.