Showing posts with label Gandhian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gandhian. Show all posts
People on fast on Gandhi Jayanti to demand health for all
- Profiteering from illness must come to an immediate end
- Privatisation of public health services must stop and health services be nationalised
- All government employees, elected representatives and their families must compulsorily seek healthcare from government facilities (immediate and full implementation of 2018 Allahabad High Court order)
Not symbolism but embodying Mahatma Gandhi in our lives is vital: Medha Patkar
[हिंदी] It is high time to move beyond mere tokenism when we commemorate Mahatma Gandhi, and begin truly embodying Gandhian values in all aspects of our lives. This rallying call was given by Medha Patkar, who is among the most respected development justice activists today. She was among the keynote speakers of the ongoing Valedictory Week to mark 150 years of Mahatma Gandhi being observed from 26 September to 2 October 2020 by The Public India.
Gandhi's talisman is best guiding light to reform public health
Dr Sandeep Pandey, Shobha Shukla, Bobby Ramakant
Mahatma Gandhi's talisman is perhaps the best guiding light to reform the public health system in the wake of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic: "I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test- "Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her]. Will he [she] gain anything by it? Will it restore him [her] to a control over his [her] own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to swaraj [freedom] for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away." |
| CNS photo from Gandhi's House, Gandhi/ Phoenix Settlement, Durban, South Africa |
[podcast] Sustainable development: holistic approach with reference to Gandhian ideas | Ela Gandhi | #SDGtalks
This Podcast features Ela Gandhi who was the keynote speaker for Sustainable Development e-Talks (#SDGtalks) on "Sustainable development - a holistic approach with reference to Gandhian ideas". Ela Gandhi is a noted peace activist, former Member of Parliament and former Vice President of Natal Indian Congress in South Africa, and granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi. She fought against apartheid in South Africa, was under house arrest for nine years, and has worked tirelessly to end all forms of violence. She founded the Gandhi Development Trust which promotes non-violence, and was a founder member and chair of the Mahatma Gandhi Salt March Committee. In 2002, she received the Community of Christ International Peace Award and in 2007, in recognition of her work to promote Mahatma Gandhi's legacy in South Africa, she was awarded the prestigious Padma Bushan award by the President of India.Be welcome to listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, and other podcast streaming platforms.
South African and Indian groups honour Ashok Ramsarup for people-centric journalism
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| (L to R) Dr Ishwar Gilada, President AIDS Society of India; awardee journalist Ashok Ramsarup; Mahatma Gandhi's grand daughter Ela Gandhi and CNS head Shobha Shukla |
Modi's economic policy at loggerheads with Gandhi's vision
Dr Rahul Pandey and Dr Sandeep Pandey, CNS Columnist
Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary is an opportune time to assess Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s major policy thrusts on the economic front. His policy contrasts both with Gandhi’s vision and with what is needed to develop long term capabilities in India’s workforce and economic infrastructure. In a nutshell Modi’s economic policy is an accelerated version of that of former PM Manmohan Singh and his United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary is an opportune time to assess Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s major policy thrusts on the economic front. His policy contrasts both with Gandhi’s vision and with what is needed to develop long term capabilities in India’s workforce and economic infrastructure. In a nutshell Modi’s economic policy is an accelerated version of that of former PM Manmohan Singh and his United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
Meaning of slapping of Arvind Kejriwal
Dr Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay Awardee and CNS Columnist
Several incidents of ink throwing at or trying to punch or slap Arvind Kejriwal have occurred now. It appears that some people, mostly from his own movement and party, are angry at him and are giving vent to their frustration in this manner. However, is Arvind Kejriwal the only leader with whom people are angry? Actually, people are probably more angry with big leaders of established parties. But have we ever heard of anybody slapping Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, L.K. Advani, Narendra Modi, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Yadav, Mayawati? Occasionally some Sharad Pawar or Buta Singh is targeted. Such incidents, though, are exceptions. And they were not repeated.
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| Photo credit: CNS |
Rendition of Gandhi Katha at the age of 90
Dr Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay Awardee and CNS Columnist Narayan Desai, at the age of 90 years, gave the 115th rendition of his Gandhi Katha in Varanasi at Kashi Vidyapeeth from 21st to 25th February, 2014. When most people at his age would be counting their last days or would be incapacitated, he is moving around and narrating Gandhi’s story in a popular format, usually used by religious people.
In Remembrance Of The Mahatma And Of Mary Ward
NREGA Social Audit in Unnao
A social audit of national rural employment guarantee scheme (NREGS) shall be conducted by Asha Parivar and National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh (UP), during 15-21 January 2010.
"Commitment to transparency and accountability runs through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). This commitment also flows from the right to information Act 2005. The Right to Information (RTI) Act should be followed in both letter and spirit in all matters relating to NREGA. No request (for information) should be refused under any circumstances. All NREGA-related information is in the public domain" says the chapter 10 of the NREGA operational guidelines. Read more
"Commitment to transparency and accountability runs through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). This commitment also flows from the right to information Act 2005. The Right to Information (RTI) Act should be followed in both letter and spirit in all matters relating to NREGA. No request (for information) should be refused under any circumstances. All NREGA-related information is in the public domain" says the chapter 10 of the NREGA operational guidelines. Read more
Gandhians appeal to respect people's inalienable rights
"Freedom of expression is a fundamental right enshrined in the constitution of India. We are proud to live in a nation that believes in the ideal of universal human rights. However, sometimes the state expediently forgets its professed ideals and tries to ride roughshod over the rights of citizens. These transgressions have become more frequent as commercial, industrial and mining interests from all over the world have become more interested in the resources of this country" said veteran Gandhians Narayan Desai and Surendra Gadekar in a statement issued on DailySouthAsian. Read more
People to draft the manifesto of SR Darapuri
People to draft the manifesto of SR Darapuri
In times when manifestos of election candidates are announced by the highest seats of political 'ivory towers', a people centric initiative is taking shape in Lucknow. A series of public meetings led to the nomination of people's candidate from prestigious Lok Sabha constituency of Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh in India. Indian Police Service (IPS) 1972 batch officer SR Darapuri (retired Inspector General (IG) of Police) is the candidate of Lok Rajniti Manch (People's Politics Front) from Lucknow. Darapuri is a prominent social and human rights activist. He is part of the people's movements aimed at empowerment of common people. During service he was regarded as an honest and diligent officer.
Lok Rajniti Manch desires to build a new political culture which will be an alternative to the dominant money and muscle powered politics, which will bring the common people's issues to the core of politics, where the candidates will have a history of serving the people, where the politicians will not require armed security, where the candidates will strictly follow the code of conduct set up by Election Commission, where the election expenses will be made public and where the candidate will conduct himself/herself in a transparent manner and will be accountable to the people. The candidate irrespective of the result of the election will continue to serve the people.
This is a small beginning to challenge the stranglehold of crime and corruption over politics.
People who are affected by or working on issues ranging from violence against women, gender-based inequalities, right to health, right to education, reproductive health and rights, discrimination or violence against dalit, youth-related issues, girls and children-related issues, public health, substance abuse, caste-based discrimination, and others, are interacting with Darapuri to draft his election manifesto.
The manifesto is coming from the people and is aimed to reflect concerns of the people themselves. This participatory process where people are getting a chance to voice their concerns with dignity in the election manifesto of Darapuri is indeed an empowering process.
Darapuri while interacting informally with the people said that he consented to fight the elections to raise people's issues and create an alternative in the otherwise grim scenario of Indian politics where corruption and criminalization has upped to an alarming level.
"Those committing themselves to serve the people need to be honest and sensitive to people's issues" said Dr Sandeep Pandey, Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) and member of National Presidium, Lok Rajniti Manch. "It is important for people's representatives to be sensitive to their issues and not just merely honest" said Pandey.
Dr Sandeep Pandey is one among those who had sought legal recourse to challenge the film-star turned Samajwadi Party's candidate for Lucknow lok sabha constituency Sanjay Dutt. Later the Supreme Court ruling made it clear that Sanjay Dutt cannot contest elections from Lucknow this time.
Is it not ironical that those who are alleged to be exploiting the poor and marginalized, and often with anti-social backgrounds, have found a way to manipulate the cauldron of political power.
Lok Rajniti Manch indeed gives a hope to the people, particularly the youth. Many young people have organized themselves as Project Vijay to root out corruption and increase accountability and transparency in the system. They are supporting Darapuri and raising key issues to generate meaningful dialogue among general public.
Lucknow goes to the poll on 30 April 2009.
- Bobby Ramakant
In times when manifestos of election candidates are announced by the highest seats of political 'ivory towers', a people centric initiative is taking shape in Lucknow. A series of public meetings led to the nomination of people's candidate from prestigious Lok Sabha constituency of Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh in India. Indian Police Service (IPS) 1972 batch officer SR Darapuri (retired Inspector General (IG) of Police) is the candidate of Lok Rajniti Manch (People's Politics Front) from Lucknow. Darapuri is a prominent social and human rights activist. He is part of the people's movements aimed at empowerment of common people. During service he was regarded as an honest and diligent officer.
Lok Rajniti Manch desires to build a new political culture which will be an alternative to the dominant money and muscle powered politics, which will bring the common people's issues to the core of politics, where the candidates will have a history of serving the people, where the politicians will not require armed security, where the candidates will strictly follow the code of conduct set up by Election Commission, where the election expenses will be made public and where the candidate will conduct himself/herself in a transparent manner and will be accountable to the people. The candidate irrespective of the result of the election will continue to serve the people.
This is a small beginning to challenge the stranglehold of crime and corruption over politics.
People who are affected by or working on issues ranging from violence against women, gender-based inequalities, right to health, right to education, reproductive health and rights, discrimination or violence against dalit, youth-related issues, girls and children-related issues, public health, substance abuse, caste-based discrimination, and others, are interacting with Darapuri to draft his election manifesto.
The manifesto is coming from the people and is aimed to reflect concerns of the people themselves. This participatory process where people are getting a chance to voice their concerns with dignity in the election manifesto of Darapuri is indeed an empowering process.
Darapuri while interacting informally with the people said that he consented to fight the elections to raise people's issues and create an alternative in the otherwise grim scenario of Indian politics where corruption and criminalization has upped to an alarming level.
"Those committing themselves to serve the people need to be honest and sensitive to people's issues" said Dr Sandeep Pandey, Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) and member of National Presidium, Lok Rajniti Manch. "It is important for people's representatives to be sensitive to their issues and not just merely honest" said Pandey.
Dr Sandeep Pandey is one among those who had sought legal recourse to challenge the film-star turned Samajwadi Party's candidate for Lucknow lok sabha constituency Sanjay Dutt. Later the Supreme Court ruling made it clear that Sanjay Dutt cannot contest elections from Lucknow this time.
Is it not ironical that those who are alleged to be exploiting the poor and marginalized, and often with anti-social backgrounds, have found a way to manipulate the cauldron of political power.
Lok Rajniti Manch indeed gives a hope to the people, particularly the youth. Many young people have organized themselves as Project Vijay to root out corruption and increase accountability and transparency in the system. They are supporting Darapuri and raising key issues to generate meaningful dialogue among general public.
Lucknow goes to the poll on 30 April 2009.
- Bobby Ramakant
ELECTIONS 2009: Lok Rajniti Manch to field 3 candidates in UP
E L E C T I O N S 2009
Lok Rajniti Manch to field 3 candidates in UP
The Lok Rajniti Manch has decided to field S.R. Darapuri from the Lucknow Lok Sabha constituency in the approaching general elections as part of its efforts to establish a pro-people politics. Darapuri, an IPS officer, retired as Inspector General of Police from the UP cadre and is a prominent social and human rights activist. He is part of the people's movements aimed at empowerment of common people. During service he was regarded as an honest and diligent officer.
Lok Rajniti Manch desires to build a new political culture which will be an alternative to the dominant money and muscle powered politics, which will bring the common people's issues to the core of politics, where the candidates will have a history of serving the people, where the politicians will not require armed security, where the candidates will strictly follow the code of conduct set up by Election Commission, where the election expenses will be made public and where the candidate will conduct himself/herself in a transparent manner and will be accountable to the people. The candidate irrespective of the result of the election will continue to serve the people.
This is a small beginning to challenge the stranglehold of crime and corruption over politics. We know that this is a long battle but we are into it for a long haul. The people, sooner or latter, will reject the corrupt and criminal candidates and elect honest and committed ones.
Until the dominant criminal and corrupt political culture is not challenged the true democracy can never be realized because the benefits of various social welfare and developmental schemes will never reach the people. To eliminate the conditions of poverty, unemployment, destitution, exploitation, crime from this society a new political culture will have to be nurtured which will build a pro-people alternative to the present anti-people system. This is India 's second freedom struggle. The majority population of the country which is yet to taste the benefits of freedom will wage this battle.
With Darapuri's joining the election fray now the LRM has three candidates from Uttar Pradesh in the forthcoming elections for the Lok Sabha. Ram Sagar Verma is contesting from the Mishrikh reserved seat and Ram Naumi Yadav is the candidate from Salempur in eastern part of the state. Overall, about a dozen LRM candidates will be contesting natioanally.
Dr Sandeep Pandey
(The author is a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) for emergent leadership, member of National Presidium, People's Politics Front (PPF), heads the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and did his PhD from University of California, Berkeley in control theory which is applicable in missile technology. He taught at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur before devoting his life to strengthening people's movements in early 1990s. He can be contacted at: ashaashram@yahoo.com. Website: www.citizen-news.org)
Contact mobile numbers of three Lok Rajniti Manch candidates from U.P.
(1) Ram Sagar Verma, Mishrikh, 9450503639
(2) Ram Naumi Yadav, Salempur, 9918631076
(3) S.R. Darapuri, Lucknow , 9415164845, srdarapuri@yahoo. co.in
Lok Rajniti Manch to field 3 candidates in UP
The Lok Rajniti Manch has decided to field S.R. Darapuri from the Lucknow Lok Sabha constituency in the approaching general elections as part of its efforts to establish a pro-people politics. Darapuri, an IPS officer, retired as Inspector General of Police from the UP cadre and is a prominent social and human rights activist. He is part of the people's movements aimed at empowerment of common people. During service he was regarded as an honest and diligent officer.
Lok Rajniti Manch desires to build a new political culture which will be an alternative to the dominant money and muscle powered politics, which will bring the common people's issues to the core of politics, where the candidates will have a history of serving the people, where the politicians will not require armed security, where the candidates will strictly follow the code of conduct set up by Election Commission, where the election expenses will be made public and where the candidate will conduct himself/herself in a transparent manner and will be accountable to the people. The candidate irrespective of the result of the election will continue to serve the people.
This is a small beginning to challenge the stranglehold of crime and corruption over politics. We know that this is a long battle but we are into it for a long haul. The people, sooner or latter, will reject the corrupt and criminal candidates and elect honest and committed ones.
Until the dominant criminal and corrupt political culture is not challenged the true democracy can never be realized because the benefits of various social welfare and developmental schemes will never reach the people. To eliminate the conditions of poverty, unemployment, destitution, exploitation, crime from this society a new political culture will have to be nurtured which will build a pro-people alternative to the present anti-people system. This is India 's second freedom struggle. The majority population of the country which is yet to taste the benefits of freedom will wage this battle.
With Darapuri's joining the election fray now the LRM has three candidates from Uttar Pradesh in the forthcoming elections for the Lok Sabha. Ram Sagar Verma is contesting from the Mishrikh reserved seat and Ram Naumi Yadav is the candidate from Salempur in eastern part of the state. Overall, about a dozen LRM candidates will be contesting natioanally.
Dr Sandeep Pandey
(The author is a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) for emergent leadership, member of National Presidium, People's Politics Front (PPF), heads the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and did his PhD from University of California, Berkeley in control theory which is applicable in missile technology. He taught at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur before devoting his life to strengthening people's movements in early 1990s. He can be contacted at: ashaashram@yahoo.com. Website: www.citizen-news.org)
Contact mobile numbers of three Lok Rajniti Manch candidates from U.P.
(1) Ram Sagar Verma, Mishrikh, 9450503639
(2) Ram Naumi Yadav, Salempur, 9918631076
(3) S.R. Darapuri, Lucknow , 9415164845, srdarapuri@yahoo. co.in
Talking peace in times of trouble
Talking peace in times of trouble
Dr Sandeep Pandey
(published in The Tehelka)
----------------------------
Magsaysay award winner Sandeep Pandey writes an exclusive column for Tehelka on his recent visit to Pakistan
It was a refreshing but frightening trip to Pakistan. It was heartening to note the optimism among people and politicians but disturbing to note the underlying fear of the worst. There is unmistaken concern about a creeping talibanisation in Pakistan among its civil society and the political parties. People are unsure about which way the deal with the Taliban in Malakand and Swat will go.
I accompanied a 13 member delegation recently, before the attack on Sri Lankan players in Lahore, to Pakistan with veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar, who is immensely popular in Pakistan too. We got an opportunity to meet the political leaders of all major parties, businesspeople, students, press and civil society. Although this was my sixth trip to Pakistan in as many years, it was a revelation to me that all major political parties there actually desire peace and friendship with India. It remains an enigma to me that two societies which feel emotionally so close to each other and are culturally entwined have managed to sustain animosity for 60 long years. And no sign of truce is in sight.
The people and politicians of Pakistan are seriously worried about the threat of Taliban taking over. People don’t know whether human rights will remain preserved and the politicians don’t know whether democracy, once again, will be eclipsed in Pakistan. The governments of NWFP and Pakistan seem to have capitulated to the fundamentalists. The governments simply don’t know how to tame the monster which it once helped create at the behest of the US. It is an irony that a sovereign state like Pakistan continues to be bombarded by US to target the militants and the government of Pakistan is a mute spectator. The foreign minister of Pakistan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, was pleading with the US authorities to hand over the control of unmanned aircrafts called ‘drones’ to Pakistan instead of these attacks being engineered from the US. The dependence of Pakistan on the US government and its aid has eroded the economy and legitimacy of government in Pakistan. In spite of everybody in Pakistan realizing that its association with US has created problems for itself, they find themselves in a bind. There doesn’t seem to be a way out. It is also in the army’s interest, which tends to dominate the civilian elected government, that the association with US continues so that it can continue to play this dominating role. Army projects itself as the sole counterbalancing force to the jehadis and hence will continue to play a role larger than that of the government so long as the threat of Taliban and Al-Qaeda is looming large.
It is a known fact that militants have gained an upper hand during the military regime. Nawaz Sharif doesn’t seem to remember any ‘suicide bombers’ during his time as Prime Minister. He is skeptical of the deal with the Taliban. He blames military directly for weakening democracy in Pakistan. He said that problem of terrorism originating from Pakistan doesn’t affect India alone, it affects Pakistan much more. In a meeting held in Benazir Bhutto’s house with Asif Ali Zardari’s sister Faryal Talpur, she mentioned that about 6000 people in Pakistan have died at the hands of jehadis. She said India was applying pressure on Pakistan to take action against the terrorists. But probably Pakistan needed India’s help to put its house in order. Asfayandar Wali Khan, the grandson of Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan, and leader of Awami National Party – the Party in power in NWFP, articulated this sentiment as for India to feel safe a strong stable central government was required in Pakistan.
With military and intelligence soft towards the jehadis, if not completely hand in gloves with them, it will have to be the civilian elected government supported by the judiciary which will have to assert its supremacy over any other body – state or non-state – if normalcy is to be restored in Pakistan. This implies the democracy must take roots and flower to full bloom. It has been Pakistan’s misfortune that democracy was strangulated time and again.
In this light the latest moves by Asif Ali Zardari to finish off his political rival, Nawaz Sharif, easily the most popular mass leader in Pakistan today after Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, are unfortunate. For democracy to remain firmly rooted the ruling party as well as the opposition must be strong. A healthy respect for other parties is must if democracy is to unfold in Pakistan in the interest of its people. Nawaz Sharif’s demand to reinstate the judges dismissed by Pervez Musharraf and to make the judiciary independent are politically very prudent demands. Zardari has reasons to fear an independent judiciary. He has made an amendment in the Constitution to remove the requirement of being a graduate to be made the President of Pakistan. This will be challenged as soon as judiciary is no longer under his control. But he must realize that if Pakistan’s long term interest is his objective, then he may have to make some sacrifices to ensure that military never returns to centre-stage in Pakistani politics. The Army has already issued him initial warnings.
It was heartening to hear Kasuri, the foreign minister of Pakistan during Musharraf’s regime, reveal that a solution to the Kashmir problem has probably been arrived at. No wonder, the recent elections in J&K passed off so peacefully and with a huge turnout by Indian standards. If it was not for the pro-democracy movement started by lawyers in Pakistan and then the elections there and now the impending elections in India, Manmohan Singh was due to visit Pakistan to announce this to the world. If a solution to Kashmir imbroglio is found to the satisfaction of the Indians, Pakistanis and most importantly the Kashmiris, it’ll pave the way for a more permanent peaceful relationship between the India and Pakistan.
Indian will have to work with the elected government of Pakistan to deal with the advancing menace of Taliban. As one TV anchor pointed out while we were in a talk show in Islamabad, all attacks on India in its long history have taken place from its north-western border. Hence we must not take the threat of Taliban lightly or consider it only as Pakistan’s problem.
Dr Sandeep Pandey
(The author is a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) for emergent leadership, heads the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and did his PhD from University of California, Berkeley in control theory which is applicable in missile technology. He taught at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur before devoting his life to strengthening people's movements in early 1990s. He can be contacted at: ashaashram@yahoo.com, www.ashaparivar.org)
Published in: The Tehelka
Dr Sandeep Pandey
(published in The Tehelka)
----------------------------
Magsaysay award winner Sandeep Pandey writes an exclusive column for Tehelka on his recent visit to Pakistan
It was a refreshing but frightening trip to Pakistan. It was heartening to note the optimism among people and politicians but disturbing to note the underlying fear of the worst. There is unmistaken concern about a creeping talibanisation in Pakistan among its civil society and the political parties. People are unsure about which way the deal with the Taliban in Malakand and Swat will go.
I accompanied a 13 member delegation recently, before the attack on Sri Lankan players in Lahore, to Pakistan with veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar, who is immensely popular in Pakistan too. We got an opportunity to meet the political leaders of all major parties, businesspeople, students, press and civil society. Although this was my sixth trip to Pakistan in as many years, it was a revelation to me that all major political parties there actually desire peace and friendship with India. It remains an enigma to me that two societies which feel emotionally so close to each other and are culturally entwined have managed to sustain animosity for 60 long years. And no sign of truce is in sight.
The people and politicians of Pakistan are seriously worried about the threat of Taliban taking over. People don’t know whether human rights will remain preserved and the politicians don’t know whether democracy, once again, will be eclipsed in Pakistan. The governments of NWFP and Pakistan seem to have capitulated to the fundamentalists. The governments simply don’t know how to tame the monster which it once helped create at the behest of the US. It is an irony that a sovereign state like Pakistan continues to be bombarded by US to target the militants and the government of Pakistan is a mute spectator. The foreign minister of Pakistan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, was pleading with the US authorities to hand over the control of unmanned aircrafts called ‘drones’ to Pakistan instead of these attacks being engineered from the US. The dependence of Pakistan on the US government and its aid has eroded the economy and legitimacy of government in Pakistan. In spite of everybody in Pakistan realizing that its association with US has created problems for itself, they find themselves in a bind. There doesn’t seem to be a way out. It is also in the army’s interest, which tends to dominate the civilian elected government, that the association with US continues so that it can continue to play this dominating role. Army projects itself as the sole counterbalancing force to the jehadis and hence will continue to play a role larger than that of the government so long as the threat of Taliban and Al-Qaeda is looming large.
It is a known fact that militants have gained an upper hand during the military regime. Nawaz Sharif doesn’t seem to remember any ‘suicide bombers’ during his time as Prime Minister. He is skeptical of the deal with the Taliban. He blames military directly for weakening democracy in Pakistan. He said that problem of terrorism originating from Pakistan doesn’t affect India alone, it affects Pakistan much more. In a meeting held in Benazir Bhutto’s house with Asif Ali Zardari’s sister Faryal Talpur, she mentioned that about 6000 people in Pakistan have died at the hands of jehadis. She said India was applying pressure on Pakistan to take action against the terrorists. But probably Pakistan needed India’s help to put its house in order. Asfayandar Wali Khan, the grandson of Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan, and leader of Awami National Party – the Party in power in NWFP, articulated this sentiment as for India to feel safe a strong stable central government was required in Pakistan.
With military and intelligence soft towards the jehadis, if not completely hand in gloves with them, it will have to be the civilian elected government supported by the judiciary which will have to assert its supremacy over any other body – state or non-state – if normalcy is to be restored in Pakistan. This implies the democracy must take roots and flower to full bloom. It has been Pakistan’s misfortune that democracy was strangulated time and again.
In this light the latest moves by Asif Ali Zardari to finish off his political rival, Nawaz Sharif, easily the most popular mass leader in Pakistan today after Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, are unfortunate. For democracy to remain firmly rooted the ruling party as well as the opposition must be strong. A healthy respect for other parties is must if democracy is to unfold in Pakistan in the interest of its people. Nawaz Sharif’s demand to reinstate the judges dismissed by Pervez Musharraf and to make the judiciary independent are politically very prudent demands. Zardari has reasons to fear an independent judiciary. He has made an amendment in the Constitution to remove the requirement of being a graduate to be made the President of Pakistan. This will be challenged as soon as judiciary is no longer under his control. But he must realize that if Pakistan’s long term interest is his objective, then he may have to make some sacrifices to ensure that military never returns to centre-stage in Pakistani politics. The Army has already issued him initial warnings.
It was heartening to hear Kasuri, the foreign minister of Pakistan during Musharraf’s regime, reveal that a solution to the Kashmir problem has probably been arrived at. No wonder, the recent elections in J&K passed off so peacefully and with a huge turnout by Indian standards. If it was not for the pro-democracy movement started by lawyers in Pakistan and then the elections there and now the impending elections in India, Manmohan Singh was due to visit Pakistan to announce this to the world. If a solution to Kashmir imbroglio is found to the satisfaction of the Indians, Pakistanis and most importantly the Kashmiris, it’ll pave the way for a more permanent peaceful relationship between the India and Pakistan.
Indian will have to work with the elected government of Pakistan to deal with the advancing menace of Taliban. As one TV anchor pointed out while we were in a talk show in Islamabad, all attacks on India in its long history have taken place from its north-western border. Hence we must not take the threat of Taliban lightly or consider it only as Pakistan’s problem.
Dr Sandeep Pandey
(The author is a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) for emergent leadership, heads the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and did his PhD from University of California, Berkeley in control theory which is applicable in missile technology. He taught at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur before devoting his life to strengthening people's movements in early 1990s. He can be contacted at: ashaashram@yahoo.com, www.ashaparivar.org)
Published in: The Tehelka
For the people by the people, finally!
For the people by the people, finally!
Anjali Singh
Lucknow:The democratic process may finally find expression politically if the newly constituted forum of social activists taking up people’s causes has its way.
Called the People’s Politics Front (Lok Rajniti Manch), it held its first national convention at Lucknow at the Ganga Prasad Memorial Hall in Aminabad. The convention saw a huge turn out of supporters from UP and its surrounding states including Kushinagar, Agra, Hardoi, Sitapur, Sultanpur, Faizabad, and even Samaspur Bihar and New Delhi.
Mooted by well known columnist Kuldip Nayar, People's Politics Front has been formed to build a political alternative in the country so that people's issues can be brought to center-stage.
Says Nayar, “The aim is to bring organizations working for people’s causes at grass root levels under one forum. The vision I have for PPF is to see it take the shape the Green Party did in Europe. There is so much that is not right with the political scene in the country today so the effort of PPF will be to expose the dominant model of mainstream political parties which rely on muscle power, money power and unscrupulous ways for winning elections so that this practice can be rejected. We don’t have a symbol or a flag but our presence will be felt and soon.”
Lamenting on the filmy touch that political leaders have given the elections today Nayar further added, “Everything today has become so filmy be it politicians, the electoral process or even the newspapers and news channels that cover them. But now Bollywood has joined us too to play its positive role to help bring in that change. Mahesh Bhatt too is a part of PPF now and will do his part in the entertainment arena as a representative of Lok Rajniti Manch. “
But while the PPF will participate in the electoral process their involvement will be just that of a supporting hand to contestants wanting to fight the elections. This will be done by fielding candidates from the masses itself.
Explains Dr Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay Awardee and a well known social activist, “We will provide a platform to local leadership who have earned the love and trust of the people by taking up their causes. If they wish to contest the elections PPF will support them in every way. Therefore instead of having a party president we will have a presidium which will reflect the people’s views and choices."
Agrees Sunil, a member of Samajwadi Jan Parishad from Maharashtra who is apart of the forum, “Post independence promises were made that every child would be provided education within a year. So many decades have passed since then but these promises remain unfulfilled. But why only education promises made for health, employment, equality all have been broken. Today those who call themselves ‘daliton ka neta’ have crores to spend on their b’day celebrations but don’t bother about several thousands who are starving. This system will have to change and PPF can provide that forum for change.”
A fact which most candidates who will be contesting from the platform being provided endorse.
Like 28 year old Neel Kamal, a electoral candidate from Misrik Sitapur who is up against BSP’s Ashok Rawat and BJP’s Ram Prakash Rawat. But he is confident that he will be victorious as the issues he will pick up are people’s problems.
“Mera koi muddaa nahin hai sirf logo ki awaaz ko uthana hai. I will voice their concerns, their pains and their problems and if they feel I am right they will support me. “
And this direct and in your face attitude of these young contestants is already creating ripples as inform members of Project Vijay, a youth organization formed by students of Lucknow, Allahabad and Bundelkhand University as well as IITians , who have taken up cudgels against corruption and the corrupt.
Say Himanshu Swarkar and Mahendra Pratap Singh who are also part of PPF now, “We have filed Right to Information (RTI) applications against 13 well known political leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, Raj Babbar, Salim Sherwani, Kamla Prakash Rawat, Bhanu Pratap Verma, Raja Bhaiya, Sanjay Dutt to name a few. The information received is shocking as no one is clean as they project themselves to be. All this has to be exposed and we will do it.”
But as upbeat as that sounds, will the problems of the masses find a voice in the parliament?
“Why not?” says Nayar, “The candidates who win will be representing PPF in the Rajya and Lok Sabha. They will have the support of activists like Medha Patkar, Aruna Rai, Rajendra Sacchar, Yogendra Yadav and many more who are members of PPF.”
But how far that would help only time will tell.
Anjali Singh
(The author is a senior journalist based in Lucknow, India. Email: saakshamforchildrights@gmail.com)
Published in
Anjali Singh
Lucknow:The democratic process may finally find expression politically if the newly constituted forum of social activists taking up people’s causes has its way.
Called the People’s Politics Front (Lok Rajniti Manch), it held its first national convention at Lucknow at the Ganga Prasad Memorial Hall in Aminabad. The convention saw a huge turn out of supporters from UP and its surrounding states including Kushinagar, Agra, Hardoi, Sitapur, Sultanpur, Faizabad, and even Samaspur Bihar and New Delhi.
Mooted by well known columnist Kuldip Nayar, People's Politics Front has been formed to build a political alternative in the country so that people's issues can be brought to center-stage.
Says Nayar, “The aim is to bring organizations working for people’s causes at grass root levels under one forum. The vision I have for PPF is to see it take the shape the Green Party did in Europe. There is so much that is not right with the political scene in the country today so the effort of PPF will be to expose the dominant model of mainstream political parties which rely on muscle power, money power and unscrupulous ways for winning elections so that this practice can be rejected. We don’t have a symbol or a flag but our presence will be felt and soon.”
Lamenting on the filmy touch that political leaders have given the elections today Nayar further added, “Everything today has become so filmy be it politicians, the electoral process or even the newspapers and news channels that cover them. But now Bollywood has joined us too to play its positive role to help bring in that change. Mahesh Bhatt too is a part of PPF now and will do his part in the entertainment arena as a representative of Lok Rajniti Manch. “
But while the PPF will participate in the electoral process their involvement will be just that of a supporting hand to contestants wanting to fight the elections. This will be done by fielding candidates from the masses itself.
Explains Dr Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay Awardee and a well known social activist, “We will provide a platform to local leadership who have earned the love and trust of the people by taking up their causes. If they wish to contest the elections PPF will support them in every way. Therefore instead of having a party president we will have a presidium which will reflect the people’s views and choices."
Agrees Sunil, a member of Samajwadi Jan Parishad from Maharashtra who is apart of the forum, “Post independence promises were made that every child would be provided education within a year. So many decades have passed since then but these promises remain unfulfilled. But why only education promises made for health, employment, equality all have been broken. Today those who call themselves ‘daliton ka neta’ have crores to spend on their b’day celebrations but don’t bother about several thousands who are starving. This system will have to change and PPF can provide that forum for change.”
A fact which most candidates who will be contesting from the platform being provided endorse.
Like 28 year old Neel Kamal, a electoral candidate from Misrik Sitapur who is up against BSP’s Ashok Rawat and BJP’s Ram Prakash Rawat. But he is confident that he will be victorious as the issues he will pick up are people’s problems.
“Mera koi muddaa nahin hai sirf logo ki awaaz ko uthana hai. I will voice their concerns, their pains and their problems and if they feel I am right they will support me. “
And this direct and in your face attitude of these young contestants is already creating ripples as inform members of Project Vijay, a youth organization formed by students of Lucknow, Allahabad and Bundelkhand University as well as IITians , who have taken up cudgels against corruption and the corrupt.
Say Himanshu Swarkar and Mahendra Pratap Singh who are also part of PPF now, “We have filed Right to Information (RTI) applications against 13 well known political leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, Raj Babbar, Salim Sherwani, Kamla Prakash Rawat, Bhanu Pratap Verma, Raja Bhaiya, Sanjay Dutt to name a few. The information received is shocking as no one is clean as they project themselves to be. All this has to be exposed and we will do it.”
But as upbeat as that sounds, will the problems of the masses find a voice in the parliament?
“Why not?” says Nayar, “The candidates who win will be representing PPF in the Rajya and Lok Sabha. They will have the support of activists like Medha Patkar, Aruna Rai, Rajendra Sacchar, Yogendra Yadav and many more who are members of PPF.”
But how far that would help only time will tell.
Anjali Singh
(The author is a senior journalist based in Lucknow, India. Email: saakshamforchildrights@gmail.com)
Published in
National convention of People's Politics Front in Lucknow
National convention of People's Politics Front in Lucknow
The first national convention of People's Politics Front (PPF) shall be convened in the state capital of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, on 5-6 March 2009.
"People's Politics Front has been formed to build a political alternative in the country so that people's issues can be brought to center-stage and the dominant model of mainstream political parties which rely on muscle power, money power and unscrupulous ways for winning elections can be rejected" said Dr Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay awardee (2002) for emergent Leadership and senior social activist.
"PPF is slowly but surely rising from its inception stage" remarked Arundhati Dhuru, the firebrand leader of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM).
On 5 March 2009, a public meeting shall be held in Ganga Prasad Memorial Hall, Aminabad, Lucknow, and on the second day, 6 March 2009, a meeting of social activists shall be convened in the Common Hall, B Block, Darul Shafa, opposite Vidhan Sabha, Lucknow.
"People's issues highlighted through various people's movements are sadly not at the centre-stage in the elections," said Dr Sandeep Pandey.
NAPM, the largest network of grassroots people's struggles in India, had come up with People's Politics Front before the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. PPF gives voice and a platform to grassroots activists to participate in the electoral process.
"PPF is trying to increase representation and meaningful participation of the most underserved communities. It is within this context that the role of people's movements becomes imperative. The movements have been 'in politics', as they have been shaping and trying to change the power structure and decision making processes within society. That is what politics is all about. Electoral politics is one of the dimensions of the larger political sphere" explained Arundhati Dhuru, who apart from leading NAPM, is also a Narmada Bachao Andolan frontline veteran activist, who is actively working on Right-to-food, RTI (Right to Information) and NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) all across the UP state.
"Even within electoral politics, the people's movements have been participating in various capacities, either by pressurising existing political parties to integrate peoples' issues into their agenda, creating awareness among the voters, trying to weed out corruption and malpractice, and supporting suitable political parties. Contesting the election by the members of people's movements is again one of the ways of direct intervention into electoral politics."
Keshav Chand, another grassroots leader from Deoria, said that "people's movements must have a say in policy making. Right to work and food for work must be made fundamental rights."
There are many grassroots leaders who are likely to attend this national convention, including: Mahesh Kumar Pandey from Kanpur, Ram Sagar Verma from Hardoi, Keshav Chand from Deoria, Jaishankar from Chandauli, Prem Kumar from Moradabad, Nandlal from Varanasi and others.
"Corporatisation and criminalisation of politics is a major concern," said Dr Sandeep Pandey. "The PPF's decision to enter electoral politics was aimed at changing the nature of politics," he said.
The first national convention of People's Politics Front (PPF) shall be convened in the state capital of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, on 5-6 March 2009.
"People's Politics Front has been formed to build a political alternative in the country so that people's issues can be brought to center-stage and the dominant model of mainstream political parties which rely on muscle power, money power and unscrupulous ways for winning elections can be rejected" said Dr Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay awardee (2002) for emergent Leadership and senior social activist.
"PPF is slowly but surely rising from its inception stage" remarked Arundhati Dhuru, the firebrand leader of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM).
On 5 March 2009, a public meeting shall be held in Ganga Prasad Memorial Hall, Aminabad, Lucknow, and on the second day, 6 March 2009, a meeting of social activists shall be convened in the Common Hall, B Block, Darul Shafa, opposite Vidhan Sabha, Lucknow.
"People's issues highlighted through various people's movements are sadly not at the centre-stage in the elections," said Dr Sandeep Pandey.
NAPM, the largest network of grassroots people's struggles in India, had come up with People's Politics Front before the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. PPF gives voice and a platform to grassroots activists to participate in the electoral process.
"PPF is trying to increase representation and meaningful participation of the most underserved communities. It is within this context that the role of people's movements becomes imperative. The movements have been 'in politics', as they have been shaping and trying to change the power structure and decision making processes within society. That is what politics is all about. Electoral politics is one of the dimensions of the larger political sphere" explained Arundhati Dhuru, who apart from leading NAPM, is also a Narmada Bachao Andolan frontline veteran activist, who is actively working on Right-to-food, RTI (Right to Information) and NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) all across the UP state.
"Even within electoral politics, the people's movements have been participating in various capacities, either by pressurising existing political parties to integrate peoples' issues into their agenda, creating awareness among the voters, trying to weed out corruption and malpractice, and supporting suitable political parties. Contesting the election by the members of people's movements is again one of the ways of direct intervention into electoral politics."
Keshav Chand, another grassroots leader from Deoria, said that "people's movements must have a say in policy making. Right to work and food for work must be made fundamental rights."
There are many grassroots leaders who are likely to attend this national convention, including: Mahesh Kumar Pandey from Kanpur, Ram Sagar Verma from Hardoi, Keshav Chand from Deoria, Jaishankar from Chandauli, Prem Kumar from Moradabad, Nandlal from Varanasi and others.
"Corporatisation and criminalisation of politics is a major concern," said Dr Sandeep Pandey. "The PPF's decision to enter electoral politics was aimed at changing the nature of politics," he said.
Gandhian saint of Bharawan - Surya Prakash Srivastava ' babaji'
Gandhian saint of Bharawan - Surya Prakash Srivastava ' babaji'
He was merely a youth of 17-18 years, fresh out of college, when he first got a chance to see Mahatma Gandhi. He had heard of Gandhi ji as a brave man fighting the British. He had imagined him to be in the mould of a warrior like Chattrapati Shivaji or Maharana Pratap. But he was awe stuck when he saw a dhoti clad man coming. The nature of Gandhi’s bravery dawned on him and the mesmerisation continues even today after about seven decades. Surya Prakash Srivastava, popularly known as Baba ji in his work area Bharawan, about 60 kms. from Lucknow has lived the message of Gandhiji at the time of independence that educated youth should go and work in rural areas.
Surya Prakash Srivastava was attracted towards the freedom movement and the Congress as a youth. Once in an exhibition being organized in his college he wanted to slip in a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi. He came up with the idea of putting up pictures on the theme of rural economy. He titled it ‘Help your poor country by using Khadi.’ To depict the spinning process he used Gandhi’s picture working on a charkha. However, since any association with the Congress was considered treason and it was a government college, the picture was promptly removed the very day by the college authorities. Upon enquiry his economics teacher expressed helplessness. For the same reason on another occasion Surya Prakash was disappointed that there was a very poor attendance in a lecture delivered by the Noble prize winner Rabindra Nath Tagore in his college. The Principal and all teachers abstained from this lecture.
Surya Prakash also went to jail in 1941 while participating in the freedom movement but decided to become a teacher as he saw the freedom approaching even though he had become a very dedicated worker of the Congress and knew some of its top leaders from UP like Lal Bahadur Shastri, Keshav Dev Malviya and Krishna Dutt Paliwal personally. He became the Principal of a Higher Secondary School in Lucknow in 1947. This school located in Lalbag is known as Lucknow Inter College today.
After a stint at this school he decided to go to Bharawan upon invitation from people there who were looking for a suitable candidate for the post of Principal to run a High School. At that time there was no High School in a radius of 25 kms. from Bharawan. It was a backward area and criminally infested too. He faced a number of difficulties in acclimatizing himself to a rural area.
The educational institutions established by Surya Prakash include Vidya Mandir Intermediate College , Janata Intermediate College , Raja Dev Singh Junior High School , and Rani Lakshmi Bai Balika Vidya Niketan. His disciple and Principal of Janata College later started a Surya Prakash Girls’ Intermediate College next to his college naming it after Baba ji. Baba ji also helped establish Vishala Devi Intermediate College , Junior High School in Ismailganj, Sitapur, Junior High School in Janigawan and Junior High School in Usraha near Nevada Pipargaon. The manner of his working was he would establish an institution, head it for sometime, transfer the management to a committee after a while when the institution was recognized by the government or started receiving funds and then move on to his next school. It was amazing that he didn’t attach himself with any educational institution permanently. It was because of this quality of his that he was called the ‘Saint of Bharawan’ or Baba ji with affection.
Baba ji was also convinced by local people to contest an election for the head post of a Village Panchayat. He won the election easily but didn’t enjoy his position. Rather he felt suffocated and never contested an election again in his life. He is a very simple person and was not comfortable with the rough and tumble world of politics. It shows that his involvement in freedom struggle was genuine and selfless. He didn’t remain with the Congress to derive any benefits from it after independence. If he had decided to pursue the political path, like many did in the Congress, he could have benefited a lot personally. But he did not even take the credit for all the important work he did in establishing at least half a dozen educational institutions in a backward area.
Baba ji was a religious person in the true sense. The upper caste people appreciated his religiosity but didn’t like his stand against untouchability. In fact, they were shocked when he accepted a glass of water from a dalit for the first time in Bharawan. Similarly, Baba ji took a stand against communalism and always encouraged programmes meant to promote communal harmony between the Hindus and Muslims. He proved by his behaviour that a true believer is always a humanitarian.
Baba ji also believed that dying for one’s country was easier than living for it. He believed that whereas dying was a matter of short term sacrifice, getting involved in social transformation work required life long commitment. It is amazing that he has carried his commitment in a down to earth manner and continues to lead a very simple life. Today he is not physically active. He is spending his last years of life in a small rented house in Lucknow with his only daughter. But he is mentally as active as ever. He can recognize every visitor and can engage in simple conversation in spite of hearing problem.
Surya Prakash Srivastava should be a model for public life if we have to restore respect for public service in India . His life is a message which must be imbibed if we are to remain a humane society. As he spends his last days peacefully, away from any publicity or glamour but free from any kind of disease - mental or physical, we must think about the purpose of life and how it should be lived. When Baba ji leaves this world we’ll be satisfied that he didn’t leave behind any problem or any unresolved disputes. He tried his best to make this world more humane in whatever little capacity that he could. He always tried to give to the world, not take away from it.
Dr Sandeep Pandey
(The author is a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) for emergent leadership, heads the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and did his PhD from University of California, Berkeley in control theory which is applicable in missile technology. He taught at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur before devoting his life to strengthening people's movements in early 1990s. He can be contacted at: ashaashram@yahoo.com, www.ashaparivar.org)
He was merely a youth of 17-18 years, fresh out of college, when he first got a chance to see Mahatma Gandhi. He had heard of Gandhi ji as a brave man fighting the British. He had imagined him to be in the mould of a warrior like Chattrapati Shivaji or Maharana Pratap. But he was awe stuck when he saw a dhoti clad man coming. The nature of Gandhi’s bravery dawned on him and the mesmerisation continues even today after about seven decades. Surya Prakash Srivastava, popularly known as Baba ji in his work area Bharawan, about 60 kms. from Lucknow has lived the message of Gandhiji at the time of independence that educated youth should go and work in rural areas.
Surya Prakash Srivastava was attracted towards the freedom movement and the Congress as a youth. Once in an exhibition being organized in his college he wanted to slip in a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi. He came up with the idea of putting up pictures on the theme of rural economy. He titled it ‘Help your poor country by using Khadi.’ To depict the spinning process he used Gandhi’s picture working on a charkha. However, since any association with the Congress was considered treason and it was a government college, the picture was promptly removed the very day by the college authorities. Upon enquiry his economics teacher expressed helplessness. For the same reason on another occasion Surya Prakash was disappointed that there was a very poor attendance in a lecture delivered by the Noble prize winner Rabindra Nath Tagore in his college. The Principal and all teachers abstained from this lecture.
Surya Prakash also went to jail in 1941 while participating in the freedom movement but decided to become a teacher as he saw the freedom approaching even though he had become a very dedicated worker of the Congress and knew some of its top leaders from UP like Lal Bahadur Shastri, Keshav Dev Malviya and Krishna Dutt Paliwal personally. He became the Principal of a Higher Secondary School in Lucknow in 1947. This school located in Lalbag is known as Lucknow Inter College today.
After a stint at this school he decided to go to Bharawan upon invitation from people there who were looking for a suitable candidate for the post of Principal to run a High School. At that time there was no High School in a radius of 25 kms. from Bharawan. It was a backward area and criminally infested too. He faced a number of difficulties in acclimatizing himself to a rural area.
The educational institutions established by Surya Prakash include Vidya Mandir Intermediate College , Janata Intermediate College , Raja Dev Singh Junior High School , and Rani Lakshmi Bai Balika Vidya Niketan. His disciple and Principal of Janata College later started a Surya Prakash Girls’ Intermediate College next to his college naming it after Baba ji. Baba ji also helped establish Vishala Devi Intermediate College , Junior High School in Ismailganj, Sitapur, Junior High School in Janigawan and Junior High School in Usraha near Nevada Pipargaon. The manner of his working was he would establish an institution, head it for sometime, transfer the management to a committee after a while when the institution was recognized by the government or started receiving funds and then move on to his next school. It was amazing that he didn’t attach himself with any educational institution permanently. It was because of this quality of his that he was called the ‘Saint of Bharawan’ or Baba ji with affection.
Baba ji was also convinced by local people to contest an election for the head post of a Village Panchayat. He won the election easily but didn’t enjoy his position. Rather he felt suffocated and never contested an election again in his life. He is a very simple person and was not comfortable with the rough and tumble world of politics. It shows that his involvement in freedom struggle was genuine and selfless. He didn’t remain with the Congress to derive any benefits from it after independence. If he had decided to pursue the political path, like many did in the Congress, he could have benefited a lot personally. But he did not even take the credit for all the important work he did in establishing at least half a dozen educational institutions in a backward area.
Baba ji was a religious person in the true sense. The upper caste people appreciated his religiosity but didn’t like his stand against untouchability. In fact, they were shocked when he accepted a glass of water from a dalit for the first time in Bharawan. Similarly, Baba ji took a stand against communalism and always encouraged programmes meant to promote communal harmony between the Hindus and Muslims. He proved by his behaviour that a true believer is always a humanitarian.
Baba ji also believed that dying for one’s country was easier than living for it. He believed that whereas dying was a matter of short term sacrifice, getting involved in social transformation work required life long commitment. It is amazing that he has carried his commitment in a down to earth manner and continues to lead a very simple life. Today he is not physically active. He is spending his last years of life in a small rented house in Lucknow with his only daughter. But he is mentally as active as ever. He can recognize every visitor and can engage in simple conversation in spite of hearing problem.
Surya Prakash Srivastava should be a model for public life if we have to restore respect for public service in India . His life is a message which must be imbibed if we are to remain a humane society. As he spends his last days peacefully, away from any publicity or glamour but free from any kind of disease - mental or physical, we must think about the purpose of life and how it should be lived. When Baba ji leaves this world we’ll be satisfied that he didn’t leave behind any problem or any unresolved disputes. He tried his best to make this world more humane in whatever little capacity that he could. He always tried to give to the world, not take away from it.
Dr Sandeep Pandey
(The author is a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) for emergent leadership, heads the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and did his PhD from University of California, Berkeley in control theory which is applicable in missile technology. He taught at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur before devoting his life to strengthening people's movements in early 1990s. He can be contacted at: ashaashram@yahoo.com, www.ashaparivar.org)
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