A homage

Today is a sad day in India’s history. A young girl lost her life having faced the bestiality of a group of animals in the form of Man. Unfortunately, she was not alone – it is an all too frequent issue in our country. Action needs to be taken against all who were responsible, including those in power. But that can wait for another day. Ghalib wrote a poem when his cousin Arif died young. I take his words to pay my homage to the one who died. 

Aaye ho kal aur aaj hi kahte ho ki jaaun mana ki hamesha nahi acchha koi din aur Jaate hue kahte ho qayamat ko milenge kya khub! qayamat kaa hai goya koi din aur Tum kaun se the aise khare dad-o-sitad ke kartaa maluk ul-maut taqaaza koi din aur Haan ay falak-e-piir, jawan tha abhi arif kya tera bigarta jo na marta koi din aur

आये हो कल और आज ही कहते हो कि जाऊं माना कि हमेशह नहीं अचछा कोई दिन और जाते हुए कहते हो क़ियामत को मिलेंगे कया ख़ूब क़ियामत का है गोया कोई दिन और तुम कौन-से थे ऐसे खरे दाद-ओ-सितद के करता मलक उल-मौत तक़ाज़ा कोई दिन और हां अय फ़लक-ए पीर जवां था अभी `आरिफ़ कया तेरा बिगड़ता जो न मरता कोई दिन और

How much time has passed since you came into the world? It's as if you came only yesterday, and today you're saying that you're going. I agree that you won't stay forever, but stay a few days more. Why are you in such a hurry to die?

At the time of taking leave of me, you promise to meet on Doomsday. From your saying this it seems that Doomsday has not come today, but will come some other time. For me, the day of your death itself is Doomsday

if the Angel of Death presented his claim on your life, so what? It was only the first reminder. You didn't have to pay him at once, that very instant! Since when were you so scrupulous about such things? Why did you show an appalling (and uncharacteristic!) degree of scrupulousness-- all too quickly you accepted his claim, and gave your life into his power.

O ancient Sky the one dying was young, he hadn't reached his natural lifespan. If he had remained alive for some days more, what harm would it have done you?

An update on the Cash Transfer "Scheme"

Touted as a "Game Changer", the direct "cash transfer" program of the government is being tested in a few locations. Some initial comments:

1. Questioning the rationale
2. The early experiment
3. What's the rush
4. Identity yes but eligibility?
5. And a view from a recent government man

As usual, the FM, given to hyperbole, ignores the negative feedback and calls it "pure magic" ! He no doubt is referring to the programs ability to make money vanish like magic !

Some interesting articles

Interesting reading:

1. The Nehru-Gandhi family's track record on freedom of speech
2. The in-effectiveness of the much touted "strategic partnership" India as with the USA

And this one from last week for a lesson in the worst form of logic and for having the temerity to suggest that not being literate in English also means lack of sophistication of thought !! If only the writer had a brain !

Retail - End of the debate

Finally, the government of the day was able to get parliament to approve foreign investment in multi brand retail. It is indeed a sad reflection of  Indian democracy that while most speakers and parties in Parliament were opposed to the policy, fear of CBI and perhaps their own party calculations forced some to stage either a walkout, or as in the case of BSP, to actually vote in favour of the government.

MJ Akbar's latest article summarises the issues well.

Some related issues get highlighted -

1. Power of the central government to manipulate the smaller parties through a threat of CBI action. The "lokpal" proponents had long argued that an "independent" CBI, which does not require government approval to investigate and pursue the corrupt is needed to weed out the evil of corruption. The current vote shows the dangers of a CBI that is handmaiden of the centre.

2. The need for a "bipartisan" body that investigates and prepares the background paper for financial impact of government decisions - along the line of the CBO in the US Congress. Debates on policy in India are rarely backed by a common set of assumptions and figures. Consequently, there is little that the public is able to get out of debates - with most speakers talking AT each other rather with each other. Another by-product of this would be to restrict the discretion that the Centre has to offer largess to "compliant" states while holding back financial assistance to those who dont agree with them. 

And for those who continue to treat all foreign investment "liberalization" proposals as "reform" a shift is  happening in economic thinking  - a slow move away from the extreme right. As always, when there is a stress in society, "left" leaning thinking becomes more acceptable. Read Krugman here.