Samvaad

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.

Stunning victory in UP - a political earthquake in India?

2007-05-11T11:02:00.000-05:00

Uttar Pradesh is India's most populous state and over the last 17 years it has seen various ruling political parties. But in the last decade or so a quartet emerged with the BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party), SP(Samajwadi Party), BJP and the Indian National Congress as the main players. The BJP and Congress are more like juniors in this big league of politicking. In recent elections (state, local and even national) the BSP and SP have fought it out with no single party able to build a constituency that could deliver a state-wide election win without coalition partners. Well, that has changed with the BSP winning a clear majority this time to the utter dismay ( I am dismayed at the dismay) of exit polls (discredited journalism).

Now, anti-incumbency is the name of the game in Indian politics where incumbents perennially leave much to be desired so the swinging of the political pendulum is not all that uncommon. However, this victory of the BSP under the leadership of Ms. Mayawati seems to sound the bugle of a new day at hand. Why? Because until now the BSP was primarily a party representing sections of India's lowest castes, the Dalits (who make-up the largest segment of India's population). This time Mayawati aggressively recruited upper caste (specifically, Brahmins) candidates and voters as well. And she seems to have done it with unprecedented deftness because there is no visible loss in her Dalit support. This transformation of Mayawati and the BSP from a party that detested the upper castes to now include them is an important development. The making of a party that is more inclusive than exclusive elevates the BSP's stature. Not many national parties can boast of the diversity of its candidates and cadres that the BSP has now put together. Only the Indian National Congress has a similar make up but with a dispirited cadre.

India has national elections in 2009 and with such a convincing win in UP and more so such a convincing win by a party that apparently has bridged a historical divide (Dalit-Brahmin) in these times (the Congress used to own this combination before 1989) anything can happen. Mayawati has always maintained that her final destination is New Delhi. This win makes her a real contender and people will take her lightly at their own political peril.

2009 is still 2 years away and much can happen in the interim but these results have sent BSP adversaries scrambling to the drawing board. Remember the current national government is a coalition and if the BSP emerges as a significant party with a sizeable block of seats in 2009 then Ms. Mayawati's dream of being Prime Minister may not be too far fetched. This win also breathes life into the idea of creating a Third Front (other than the Congress and the BJP). Both the Congress and the BJP stand quite weak right now.

An interesting period in Indian politics begins. It is to be seen if this historic win translates into good governance. We shouldn't read too much into these results but they are significant enough for the pundits to re-evaluate the potential of the BSP and its supremo Mayawati.

We will be discussing these results and the overall political situation in India and more at our briefing on Capitol Hill on May 17th. Please join us.

Peace.
Rohit.

Bush Admin policy towards India - confused priorities?

2007-03-09T15:21:00.000-05:00

I was taken aback by the Bush administrations decision to slash foreign aid to India by approximately 30% this fiscal year. What makes this cut remarkable is the fact that how the administration touted the Indo-US nuclear deal as a "pro-people" deal and now when the opportunity to help the most marginalized Indians has presented itself through various development programs the administration sees it as wasteful expenditure. What kind of a relationship will the United States build with India if on the one hand it exhausts its diplomacy on deals/agreements that barely touch the Indian masses beyond the national security apparatus and on the other ignores their genuine needs as not worthy of support?

It is immaterial how much the absolute dollar figure is. It is critical to note the areas in which commitment and support is being pledged. This cut in funding forces us to question the true rationale behind the Indo-US nuclear deal. The argument that this was to help the people of India stands challenged today. Young India has already advocated the position that the deal was a misstep in Indo-US relations as it diverted our collective energies from seeking real solutions to real problems. Do read Young India's op-eds on this issue by going to our page devoted to the analysis of the nuclear deal.

We urge policymakers and citizens from both countries to dedicate themselves to first addressing the most pressing concerns of our people. If indeed energy is a challenge that we wish to tackle jointly then let's develop real collaborative strategies that lead us to energy independence and not to unrealized and un-materialized promises discussions on whom has evaded the public arena to a large extent. We urge the administration to bring out a clear statement explaining the rationale for the cut in funding and place it in a clear to understand context of what type of a relationship does it seek with the world's largest democracy. It no longer suffices to use the term "strategic" as it clearly does not include the ordinary Indian and concerns for his/her problems.

We are committed to working with policymakers and people's movements both in India and the United States to strengthen the natural bond of democracy and freedom. But we are weary of claims of doing so if the policies pursued suggest otherwise. I hope the administration can lift the cloud of doubt for us all and affirm our shared belief in a joint march towards a better world order as partners.

Peace.

Remembering THEM

2007-01-30T14:54:00.000-05:00

Friends,

It was on this day in 1948 that Mahatma Gandhi's body succumbed to the bullets of an assassin. The Indian nation went into an unprecedented phase of mourning. Even today this day stirs up emotions of loss. In honor of Mahatma Gandhi's martyrdom we also remember all those brave souls who fought for India's independence and paid the ultimate price in doing so. As an Indian and a believer in pluralistic democracy I am greatly indebted to them for their sacrifice. I can only hope that we all become worthy of the sacrifice that this great generation of Indians made.

Today is especially poignant for me as for the first time my grandfather is not here with me on this day. He was my connection to that great battle India fought to emerge as a democracy. Our greatest tribute to him and all of those who like Mahatma Gandhi transformed the character of a nation through personal transformation will be to carry on their struggles for social justice, economic opportunity and mutual respect.

May their souls rest in eternal peace.

Peace.

Rohit.

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

2007-01-15T10:57:00.000-05:00

Rarely have men of such towering moral stature as of Dr. King graced humanity. America is a greater nation because of him and we all are better human beings because of his actions and words, which will remain enshrined in our collective consciousness for all times to come. Dr. King once said that we will forget Gandhi at our own peril. We will forget Dr. King at our own peril.

The battles of social justice that he spearheaded may have changed their outer look but the underlying challenges persist in even more complex forms. Dr. King may not have given us the solutions to all our problems but, more importantly, he perfected a method to tackle them. As students of nonviolence we believe that the Civil Rights Movement under Dr. King's stewardship was a marvelous exhibition of nonviolent transformation.

Today we remember this great son of America as an inspiration for all across the globe still believing in the potency and moral superiority of the nonviolent method. Success may take long but it will arrive. We must persevere like he did.

Peace.

Rohit.

From the Indian heartland

2006-09-27T09:09:00.000-05:00

Friends,

I am on a tour of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh in search for some answers. I am going to different districts meeting social and political activists to understand local issues, perspectives these people have on state and national issues and, above all, what is the guiding force behind their political activism? Why is that important? It is so because we at Young India feel that only a nation whose polity is in tune with the issues of the people, thinks about policy solutions and their implementation will be able to sustain democracy. A polity that exhibits intellectual letharge will perish. And these facts are in evidence here.

One reads about law and order situations being bad in northern India. Today I visited a district just outside the state capital, Lucknow, and asked a group of political activists what they did on a daily basis. I was expecting that they would mention certain issues that they work on or do some organizational work. Invariably the response that came back was that we help people get out of trouble from the police. The activists took pride in their connections that they had with the police to get innocent people free. It is a very telling commentary on the real problems being faced by the people of India. Most political workers are involved with their parties for self-promotion and to increase their sphere of influence. Work on issues like education and employment generation is scarce. That has been left to the NGOs, who surprisingly are loathed by the locals.

Young India had consulted the National Advisory Council (NAC) in India on many pieces of legislation last year. The NAC is the body that reviews important legislation before it is introduced to the Parliament for debate. We were pleased to see the progress policymakers and policyshapers had made to create laws that would truly impact people's lives. Two of the most prominent among these laws were the Right to Information Act and the Rural Employment Guarantee Act. These two laws address two fundamental problems - corruption and employment for the poorest. In Uttar Pradesh these laws are not even close to being implemented. Funds that have been released by the Central/Federal government are languishing with State authorities. I can now understand the frustration of activists with the government structure here.

We don't believe in suspending optimism. There is a new breed of leaders emerging, albeit very slowly, who are genuinely interested in addressing problems more than they are in getting a post in a party hierarchy. But overall the political activists do not believe in any meaningful intellectual exercises. They want the top leadership to guide them. That may be fine in matters of state-wide and national importance. But the local political activist must address the local issues. This lack of desire to do so is disturbing. They want leaders to come to their districts, do a show of power so that they can impress upon local authorities that they are associated with someone important. Patronage is still the name of the game here. Hence, our challenge to get the locals involved in policy discussions is tough. But we like such challenges.

My tour will continue for another week. My internet access will be sporadic but I will write as and when I get a chance. Before I close I want to share with you the most positive experience I have had so far. This was far removed from the glitz and glamor of politics. I visited a shelter/home for destitute children where my local host's wife runs a school for these children who have no guardian and no home. These kids were filled with love, hope and ambition. I talked to my friend's wife about the larger education scene in Lucknow itself and I was very troubled to learn that the access to public education is so terrible that they have a school running in one corner of a cemetary! If this is the condition in the state capital then I don't want to imagine the situation in the interiors. There is a tremendous battle to be fought here. And we hope to be a part of it.

Till next time...

Peace.

A Tribute to My Inspiration

2006-09-18T08:49:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends,

Today I am writing in an individual capacity. Often I have come to you as a representative of Young India but today I feel that I must share my personal inspiration with you. Over the years I have developed a kinship of sorts with you. Through your encouragement, support and civil opposition. At the very heart of all my initiatives, of which Young India is a critical part, lies the inspired life of one individual - my grandfather, Shri Hardas Sharma. He passed away yesterday. He was 90.

My grandfather was born in April of 1916 in the village of Piprai at the border of the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. He lost his mother at the age 1 due to the plague. At age 12 he ran away from home to join the Indian independence movement. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi he spent his entire adolescence and early adulthood fighting the British. Like many of his generation he suffered through imprisonment and torture. But his spirit could never be broken.

In 1947, when India was about to win independence Mahatma Gandhi called on the Indian National Congress to disband itself to focus on socio-economic issues of the masses. Many heeded the call and quit the party and devoted the rest of their lives to furthering Gandhi's social mission of equality, peace and just economic development. My grandfather was one of them. But this path exacted a severe personal cost from my grandfather.

As the problem of dacoits grew in many parts of India our village too was not spared. Following his principles my grandfather urged commercial establishments in the village to boycott the dacoits. Over a period of time his efforts grew more and more intense and so did the hatred the dacoits had for him. The dacoits in one rampage destroyed every single thing he owned forcing him to flee the village overnight with 7 children. Then began a stretch of unimaginable hardship.

At a time when the girl child in India was considered a burden my grandfather raised one son and eight daughters. Living through deep poverty he produced 3 PhDs and 4 post-graduates. He imbibed a tremendous sense of self-respect in all his children. He taught them to be proud of whom they are not what they have. He instilled the same principles in his grandchildren. He himself never had any formal education beyond the 4th grade but I am yet to meet a person more knowledgeable than him about world affairs, political theory and religion.

I have not known a more religious man. I have also not known a man more welcoming and loving. His religiosity embraced all faiths. He was way ahead of his times. He loved children. All children were dear to him be they from the upper caste, lower caste, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Jewish, rich, poor, boy or girl. He vehemently fought discrimination in any shape or form be it in the name of caste, class, religion or gender. Above all, he had a passion for life. He respected life. He maintained excellent health throughout his life through a simple diet and exercise. Every aspect of his life was inspiring. He was also the greatest environmentalist I know. A farmer by occupation he was one with nature.

He passed away with my father beside him in the early hours of September 18th, 2006. He was on a train from his village to New Delhi. He left his body 12 km before the New Delhi station. His body was brought to my home in New Delhi and cremated later in the day. His ashes will be collected on Wednesday and immersed in the Holy Ganges. Some will be taken to Gandhi's Ashram in Wardha, Maharashtra and immersed in a river there. That's where my grandfather met Gandhi. That's where his life changed forever.

I was supposed to meet political and social activists with him on September 30th in our home district of Lalitpur. Now, I shall be speaking at his memorial on that day.
Friends, life is truly a gift and my grandfather cherished it every moment. He showed that simplicity in matter and sophistication in thought is the key to longevity. He always wore hand-spun, a Gandhian trait he followed all throughout his life. Even at the end the sheet that his body was wrapped in for his final journey was hand-spun. And right next to his body was placed a flag of India. This was the flag for which he fought. It meant more than cloth to him. It symbolized the collective aspirations of a nation. His dreams for a great nation and a better humanity will be carried out through all of us. He belonged an incomparable generation of Indians who changed the course of its history by changing the country and , above all, changing themselves.

May my grandfather's soul rest in peace and may we all rededicate ourselves to the missions that we all feel passionate about.

Thanks for reading.

Peace.

Rohit Tripathi
September 18, 2006

Taking it from both the Right and the Left

2006-09-15T17:34:00.000-05:00

We never imagined our 9/11 posting would inspire equally vicious responses from both the Right and the Left. Our understanding of history, current affairs and politics in general have been ridiculed in emails we received. There is a view that if you get equally attacked by the Right and the Left then you're most likely saying the right thing. We sure hope so although we don't claim any exclusive possession of the truth. After all, we are not fundamentalists.

We would like to assure our readers of two things that, however, are dedicated to: A) Resisting fundamentalisms that desire to perpetuate intolerance through exclusivity and cultural elitism, and B) Nonviolently engaging citizens and policymakers alike with whom we agree AND disagree to further people-centric policies. That is our unequivocal commitment.

Peace.

Five Years Later – Remembering 9/11

2006-09-10T19:24:00.000-05:00

It was a beautiful day. Who knew that nature’s beauty would provide an indelible contrast with man’s ugliness? In the span of an hour the psyche of a nation changed forever. More important than the actual number of souls that perished on that day is the fact that this act of cowardice and murder has become a symbol of intolerance and extremism.

We at Young India firmly believe that religious fundamentalism which is based on a worldview of exclusivity and elitism is the biggest hurdle to human development. This ideology of superiority blurs people’s view of the real problems of poverty, a dignified living, education, basic health care and religious freedom. Fundamentalisms brush aside any talk of moderation and inclusion. Their followers place a misconceived and shallow notion of identity at the center of their ideas and propagate them through coercion. Fundamentalists wreak havoc with a “missionary” zeal not knowing that in doing so they do grievous damage to their own religion. They must be resisted.

Mahatma Gandhi once said: Our goal should not be convert [proselytize] the other person but to make him/her a better follower of his/her own faith. I wish Al Qaeda truly embraces Islam for its own good first. Such self-righteousness pervades the religious spectrum so fundamentalists of other shades should not feel any sense of superiority.

Whenever we look back at that dreadful day and remember the incomprehensible pain and suffering our hearts fill with sadness and anger. 9/11 was not the first time that senseless violence had orphaned children or created a community of widows or snatched promising lives but it was an awful reminder of how misguided and inhumane fundamentalism can be. Our hearts go out to the families and our prayers will always be with them as they are with every victim of intolerance and hate.

It is essential to confront one question that some of our misguided friends pose – what about America’s exploitation of the rest of the world? It is hard to deny that some American policies have had an adverse impact on other nations. Yet, murdering innocent civilians is an utterly unacceptable way of registering that protest. And for the record let’s look at the reasons behind the specific act of murder committed on 9/11. The hijackers and their sponsors have never uttered a word on how they plan on dealing with the poverty, lack of education, feudal structures, suppression of women and lack of employment afflicting the millions in whose name they claim to fight! This utterly disingenuous argument that these people somehow represent all forces against American policy must be out rightly rejected by people of all ideological persuasions no matter how opposed they are to American foreign policy.

There are numerous ways to take a stand against policy positions of the United States, if one so desires. If a physically feeble man like Gandhi, who weighed just 107 lbs when he died, can take on the British Empire then those who truly believe in their cause can take on unjust policies if they deem them so. Of course, we at Young India firmly believe in engaging those with whom we disagree. We understand that such forums are not readily available to all who may feel victims of American hegemony or corporate ambition but violence will never solve any of their problems. Never. If there are people who want to organize and fight the right battle the right way then please visit our page devoted to the Gandhian Method of Nonviolent Transformation.

We do not intend to defend all of America’s policies. When we disagree with them we engage its policymakers to chart a different course. And our efforts will continue. We understand that fundamentalisms are dangerous but they must be resisted culturally and politically. In India, fundamentalism had become a majoritarian force threatening its very democracy. Our efforts, no matter how small, were tireless in countering them on both the cultural and political platforms. We learnt that fundamentalism begets fundamentalism. When one religion tolerates the rise of intolerance within its ranks it invites intolerance to grow in other faiths. Hence, on this solemn day let us promise those departed souls that we will persevere to fight fundamentalism and intolerance in our own faiths till either we or this ideology perishes. It is apt to close this piece with Mahatma Gandhi’s words who always reminded us to detest hate not the person who hates. As long as our moral vision is clear we will collectively win this battle for peace, justice and freedom.

Peace.
Team Young India.

Indian-American Community efforts profiled by New York Times

2006-06-05T12:11:00.000-05:00

Friends,

I want to bring to your attention a New York Times article published today, "Indian-Americans Test their Clout on Atom Pact that captures the surge in Indian-American activism inspired by the Indo-US nuclear deal. As you know Young India has been active on this front and its stance on the issue being included in the article is heartening.

I would like to take this opportunity to clarify my statement regarding immigrant activism that was quoted out of context. Young India itself is an organization made up of immigrants and we ourselves focus on issues that help us accrue intellectual credibility. In that context, it is an organization's and community's perogative to pursue all matters, big or small, to ensure a space at the table of democratic discourse. My statement was part of a larger answer in regards to the general question of immigrant activism.

On behalf of Young India I would like to take this opportunity to commend the efforts of the Indian-American community to galvanize itself on this issue. We may differ in our opinion pertaining to the details of the deal with our fellow citizens but as members of this larger community we are energized by every member of it that is dedicating time and energy to the cause of meaningful Indo-US relations.

Peace.
Rohit.

Secretary Rice to testify on the Hill

2006-04-04T22:00:00.000-05:00

Secretary of State Dr. Condoleeza Rice will testify in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday at 9:30am, April 5th. Last week Young India organized a Congressional briefing on the Indo-US nuclear deal - Dr. Rice's testimony's focus.

Based on our briefing and research and understanding of the issue we feel the following must happen:

- The deal must be broadened to include a larger ENERGY INITIATIVE of which nuclear energy is A part. In parallel, the nuclear aspects of this initiative MUST carry clauses that envision a new nonproliferation regime that incorporates regional security.

- Unclassified Nuclear Nonproliferation Assessment statement. This document is crucial. I don't think it has been provided yet. We are equally committed to Indo-US relations and nonproliferation and disarmament. They are not mutually exclusive and the day they chart different courses all of us will be in trouble. This assessment statement must be closely studied.

In conclusion, Secretary Rice should be asked why is India so keen on this deal given that by all estimates energy gains from this deal are modest at best. And why is the US so keen on this deal that it is ready to weaken the nonproliferation regime? She should be probed to share why she feels that THIS deal should be the basis for Indo-US relations as opposed to an initiative that would truly address the energy question for both nations and move them towards energy independence. She should be urged to expand the scope of the deal. As we said at the briefing, the deal cannot fall through but at the same time cannot go through in its current form. I hope
the SFRC plays its crucial role to achieve the best relationship with India.

I hope the Secretary is reminded that India and the US are democracies where transparency is a pillar of our governing systems. All aspects of this deal must be made public to both the Indian and American citizenry so that they can fully participate in this debate. Clandestine passage of this deal in an amorphous form will weaken the democratic traditions of both nations and create a weak and unsustainable platform for a new friendship. Let's have a deal that both people's can gain from.

Peace.