NEPOTISM IN POLITICS

Every profession has nepotism built in it. In earlier days when there was no organized work culture, that time also the work was handed over to the next generation at an appropriate time. It had advantages such as continuity and ease of doing the work. The story of Arjun and Eklavya tells us about shades of nepotism in olden days.

 

When there was no democracy and the baton of ruling the country used to be handed over to the close confidant and that would always be a son or daughter of the king.

 

Nepotism the word was derived from the Latin root nepos meaning Nephew when the Catholic bishops used to bequeath their property to a nephew. As they themselves used to lead an ascetic life. Over the period of time nepotism gained negative meaning. Interested may read more about it. The dictionary meaning of nepotism is - the practice among those with power or influence of favouring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs. Crony is when friends are favoured.

 

Indian business is mostly family oriented and therefore nepotism is institutionalized or rather familarized. Ethically there is nothing wrong in practicing such a business model. As family business belongs to the person, for that person and is run by that person. Naturally succession is by appointment of a relative to lead the business. The family business owner may bestow favours to anyone he likes as he owns the business.

 

There can be a debate whether politics is a profession or not. But many politicians consider it as a profession. Not only that, over a period of time they start thinking of the party as their fiefdom. There the trouble begins. People who are there in politics after a few years of enjoying various forms of power, get used to having sarkari awas, gaadi, security, cook and servants. After a few years of experiencing power they cling to these freebies rather than clinging to ideology. They become so used to these freebies, that they start fighting for these freebies rather than fighting for the ideology. The sense of entitlement becomes so strong that the politicians go to any extent to protect it.  They fight for free things. They change the party for the freebies and dump the ideology when it comes to choose between ideology and freebies. After many years when their career starts coming to a naught, they quickly put succession plans into place and introduce their children or close relatives so that the free things and the power remain with them.

 

When the orbit of nepotism enlarges, the party is taken over by the family. Now nepotism is so huge that it becomes a dynastic party. Motilal Nehru introduced Jawaharlal to be president and his sisters were given posts in UN and as governor of the states. The spread and reach of nepotism become so much that the democracy gets subverted and financial and land irregularities start. Every constitutional institution and every pillar of democracy is subverted by friends and relatives of the family. They call them loyalists. An ecosystem is developed. That’s how the ‘Damad’ although not in politics became notorious for his land dealings. The daughter of the family who is no one, clings to a huge government bungalow right in the heart of New Delhi till she was served a notice and showed the non-entitlement.  Every political party has nepotism. Cadre based parties have less of nepotism. For this reason, BJP and Left have few examples of nepotism rather than single family party like congress, TMC, JD (S) BSP mulayams SP, Shivsena and MNS etc. One can see in the case of Shivsena and MNS there is no ideology except the name and fight for freebies. Almost all parties other than BJP and Left have their woes in nepotism.

 

In the beginning nepotism helps to a certain extent to enlarge the base of the party which is run by a family. Congress was not a family run party till such time Motilal Nehru took over it and then handed it over to Jawaharlal Nehru. At the end nepotism hurts and brings down the same party which it helped to grow. As the party gets crowded by below average merit yes men as party workers. The old guard loyalists in congress is the best example of this.

 

To stop nepotism growing and enlarging its orbit is to protect the democracy. Those who say that democracy should be protected, first have to shun nepotism. The best way to keep the party out of nepotism is to have a cadre-based party. Second most important is to hold internal elections at regular intervals. At present congress has none of these attributes and therefore the decay.

 

Nepotism is good when it is for me, by me and of me. Current example  - we all know the family. It is good for the family. Nepotism is degenerative when it is used in a democratic party where the principles of democracy - we the people, by the people and for the people are enshrined. 

 

CHINA TRADE (IN)DEPENDENCE - DO IT WHEN IRON IS HOT

          India has neighbours. Though we strive to have amenable relation with all our neighbours, however, there are two rogue neighbours. One is Pakistan, a declared enemy state, other is China. China is a threat and because of long standing boundary issues both the countries display lack of confidence in each other.

          Economically over the last two decades China has emerged as a leading nation and has started competing with other super powers-

a)    It has aggressively given long term loans to many smaller countries so that they become economically dependent on them.

b)    They have financially and militarily aided Pakistan so that it acts on their whims and fancies.

c)   Started investing in many strategic and media companies all over the world by way of investments thereby getting some control over them.

d) The ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, earlier known as One Belt One Road (OBOR), is a road/ rail and sea ways grid which will pass through 70 countries and create a business environment which can enhance economic activity in those countries. It is to be completed by 2050. This when done would permanently make all the countries dependent on each other for trade and somehow linked to China. Though China is touting this as an effort to enhance regional connectivity by constructing a unified market which would enhance GDP of all participating countries, it is largely seen as a way to enhance Chinese influence and domination in the region. India has refrained from joining this amidst pressure from all quarters.

e)    China was also rooting for free trade agreement (FTA) with our country so that in future the Indian dependency on China increases. These are all acts of China to take care of their interests and generate their employment and increase GDP. Congress sponsored Rajiv Gandhi Foundation trust received donations from Communist party of China and was actively lobbying for FTA by trying to influence intelligentsia in India to back FTA by holding seminars and sponsoring  writeups on FTA.

With a non-existing democracy, state holding and capital provision, China successfully created an ecosystem of manufacturing cheap, consumer, electronics and high-end technology products. This has created ripples all over the world. We Indians have lapped up cheap products from China. Many Indian businessmen and traders have used this route to facilitate Indian public in providing cheap products and in doing so have earned profits. So much so that, close to 70 percent of Imports are from China. Close to 15 percent of exports are to China. China is the largest partner in imports by India. The trade deficit is largest for India China trade. The trade deficit favors China. This was going on when China kept bullying us, kept encroaching and was never a friend of us.

Businessmen masked their selfishness by calling this act of doing business with China as pragmatism and practical sense. They have a point when they say, we import within the rules framed by the Indian Govt so what is wrong. True, therefore Indian Govt should change the rules of the trade. In a way, we became dependent on Chinese goods and products. We became so dependent that our mindset accepted it and we learnt to think that without Chinese goods we will not be able to survive.

          People including politicians said delink border issues from economic considerations. Let economic relations thrive. Indian businessmen and traders never got affected by China affront. Indian citizens mindset is to get anything that is cheaper. Indians never bothered that the profit which Chinese companies make from this economic activity goes in buying People’s Liberation Army (PLA) arms and ammunitions and building border roads. When something happens in far off Line of Actual Control, traders and Indian consumers are seldom affected, so they never bother. The same attitude would be a reason to get our boundaries shrink like we have already turned our boundary into a LAC and lost 37, 244 sq kms Aksai Chin (2/3 of Haryana in terms of area!!!!) way back in 1962.  One must remember that China is at war not only with India at the LAC – Galwan, Pangang -Tso but are instigators and -

a)    Started nudging Russia over Vladivostok territorial issues.

b)    Has a pie in Hongkong.

c)     Claimed Tibet

d)    Pressurising the communist government in Nepal to quarrel with our country.

e)    Is pestering Bhutan over Doklam.

f)     The Covid 19 pandemic brought by Chinese is none other than Biological Warfare. In a warfare, the country tries to inflict maximum wounds on the other country with minimum damage to self. Same thing has happened. China has come out of Covid 19 and has now very less deaths compared to other countries. Economically it has inflicted maximum damage to other countries and has recovered from it. All other countries should first acknowledge this as biological war started by China and hold it responsible and deal with it that way.

          It has to be a long-term policy of the Government to slowly wean away our Indian consumers to shun Chinese and buy Indian. It has to be a business-friendly environment by Indian govt to get traders and businessmen interested in sourcing local instead of Chinese. It has to be different kind of approach to make this happen and happen soon.

          It is a difficult task but it is always better to turn adversity into an opportunity. The opportunity is here. Post Galwan, two most important changes in our policy has brought about much needed impetus in achieving this task of shedding Chinese dependency. 

a)     All these years there was a policy of “seek permission from Delhi” before opening fire at the LAC, LOC or IB as Delhi feared of escalation beyond control. This has gone as this government has given free hand.  Which was seen during the counter attack. No sooner the CO of the battalion was taken in surprise by the Chinese when they crossed the ethical line, they were counter attacked. Imagine what would have happened if the battalion rear waited for orders to come from rear, far rear from Delhi. This new avtar or our forces have sent shivers down the adversary’s spine, which is first major change in the policy.  In the past even if the local forces took decisions Delhi never held their hand and distanced itself in a self-belief of being politically correct thinking that India’s image may take a hit with other nations. Not this time though. After the incident Delhi has held the hand of the forces. This was established by PM visit to the area and patting the back of the forces. This has bolstered the forces and gave a message to the world about the shift in policy.

b)     All these years our foreign policy revolved around the policy of delinking border issues from trade. Assuming that trade can be used as a CBM. This has not yielded any tangible results on ground near LAC. All that Aksai Chin which was gobbled during 1962 remained there as disputed and nothing changed. With the ban of these apps and cancellation of many Chinese tenders in different sectors, India has effect second major policy shift that it cannot enemy at border and friends in trade.

For this to happen traders and businessmen should slowly migrate to other sources than China. Indian consumers should show some resolve when making choices to buy a thing so as to punish a rogue state. Indian Government should chip in to make policy changes to aid the sentiment and to channelize Indian energies to wean Indian businessmen and consumers away from China. In that the government should –

a)    Build government owned huge business parks with all amenities such as worker hostels and canteens.

b)    The park to be ready with plug and play infrastructure provided by government in terms of transportation, electricity, water, hostels, sheds and security. Attract private business in this plug and play and create competition. This will ensure good quality low price items

c)     Like SEZ the parks should have long tax holidays and stable tax and labor laws. 

d)    Give ab initio clearances and for registering and starting an enterprise.

e)    Make available long-term loans at cheap rates.

f)      Start with low tech consumables and extend it to higher value goods in a phased manner.

g)    Make a standing committee where all grievances and demands are discussed and an amicable solution found. The standing committee should be empowered and should meet every fortnight.

Dependency is a mindset. All that it needs is a strong resolve of people of India and a nudge from the Government. ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT can become a starting point to shun Chinese dependency. When our nation is at war with China, China becomes our enemy. All Indians should think that way and act that way. Period.

START A BETTER LIFE - 12 - LESSON 2 - PART (III) - PRACTICE TIPS

Suggested Read – Any book which extols “work without attachment”. Which tells us how to carry out service with the intention of doing it for the larger good of the society. Any book on reasoning. Any book on chanting.

 

Suggested Mental Makeup for the Particular Exercise – All. Rationalists including atheists, social service and service oriented, believers in God, and those who are religious or devotional minded.

 

Relevant Information on the Chapter – Total number of Shlokas 72. The second chapter deals with the mental makeup of reasoning as applicable to Rationalists. Service/ work minded mental makeup is discussed in the later part of the chapter. It starts trying to address the problem defined in chapter 1. It is based on Brahmavidya Upanishad and Sankhya Yoga Shastra. Yoga is way, method or practice of attaining higher conscience through mental and physical exercises.

 

Exercises and Examples – Check whether one waits for the day to end. In fact, there is no need to check it out. If the person is not comfortable in passing each day, then course correction is required. First step in the course correction is to check the mental makeup which matches closely with earlier discussed mental makeup. Once the mental makeup of self is acknowledged, adopt path of reasoning, service or devotion. Try to get engrossed in whatever path one chooses. The proof of pudding is when engrossed in the selected path, one remains happy and become unaware of time. The moment one starts feeling that time is not passing, one must stop and ponder. Ponder because sometimes the path though chosen is not actually treaded. We have habit of fooling ourselves that we are walking the chosen path. In reality we don’t. The path once chosen should be followed faithfully. The more one tries to remain on the chosen path the more benefit a person gets.  Therefore, adopt a method of reasoning, service or chanting as per mental makeup, situation and circumstances. This can only be achieved by spending some time thinking on self and observing oneself. Some exercises are suggested for the respective mental makeups. Some of the exercise points are common and these are given to be adopted before actual exercise –

 

Every day before start of daily routine our body needs to get warmed up and ready. Otherwise whole day we suffer from lethargy. Before the start of first activity of the daily routing if optimum adrenaline is not produced then we don’t feel fresh. To do that we should get up at least one hour before start of one’s routine. For example, if having tea at 6 am, is the first thing one does, then the person should get up at 5 am instead of 5 minutes to 6 am. Once awake at 5 am, have 3 – 4 glasses of water, then freshen up in the wash room. Do some physical exercises and some breathing exercises. Suggested duration – 15 minutes physical exercises and 15 min breathing exercises that takes around 30 minutes. Now the body is woken up fully and ready to start the daily routine. This way our immune system is woken up fully and is far better equipped to combat the daily infection/ allergy onslaught. Optimum adrenaline is pumped up the spinal cord thereby our mental and physical faculties are completely woken up and ready for the daily routine. If this one-hour daily priming of our body is cultivated into a habit, one experiences a sense of wellbeing throughout the day. Whole day we get absorbed in a routine, for self and mostly for others. Therefore, we need to give our self, and our body at least one hour of attention before we start the activities of the day. Now the mental makeup exercises which are explained henceforth are additional and should be superimposed to get much better sense of wellbeing throughout the day. For this as stated in the foregoing, get up early morning around 1 and half hours before the start of our daily routine. Do the stated one-hour body prime up exercise and for next half hour, sit on a chair or cross legged as is comfortable. Choose a place where there is least disturbance, cacophony and start the exercise. For first two exercises one can sip a cup of tea while carrying out the exercise. …………Keep reading!!!!

GALWAN VALLEY

Everyone knows about the heroic counterattack by 16 BIHAR regiment with Ghataks. Many are debating upon how much area China must have occupied after the Pangang-tso and Galwan face off. Critics naysayers and pessimists are also haranguing about usefulness of banning some Chinese apps and deciding to end some contracts.

Amidst the crisis and critics narrative, two most important changes in our policy has changed the outlook for every and this is encouraging.

1.    All these years there was a policy of “seek permission from Delhi” before opening fire at the LAC, LOC or IB as Delhi feared of escalation beyond control. This has gone as this government has given free hand.  Which was seen during the counter attack. No sooner the CO of the battalion was taken in surprise by the Chinese when they crossed the ethical line, they were counter attacked. Imagine what would have happened if the battalion rear waited for orders to come from rear, far rear from Delhi. This new avtar or our forces have sent shivers down the adversary’s spine, which is first major change in the policy.  In the past even if the local forces took decisions Delhi never held their hand and distanced itself in a self-belief of being politically correct thinking that India’s image may take a hit with other nations. Not this time though. After the incident Delhi has held the hand of the forces. This was established by PM visit to the area and patting the back of the forces. This has bolstered the forces and gave a message to the world about the shift in policy.

2.   All these years our foreign policy revolved around the policy of delinking border issues and trade. Assuming that trade can be used as a CBM. This has not yielded any tangible result on ground near LAC. All that Aksai Chin which was gobbled during 1962 remained there as disputed and nothing changed. With the ban of these apps and cancellation of many Chinese tenders in different sectors, India has effected second major policy shift that it cannot have enemy at the border and the same country as a friend in trade. Slowly the mindset is changing. The mindset of our citizens would also need to be changed. Today many selfish Indian businessmen under the garb of being practical talk about trade with China and how we cannot do away with it. We can do away.

Tail Piece - What is required now is, there needs one Government push and we can do away with Chinese imports paving way for mass employment. One way is to build government owned huge business parks with all amenities such as worker hostels and canteens. The park to be ready with plug and play infrastructure provided by government in terms of transportation, electricity, water, hostels, sheds and security. Attract private business in this plug and play and create competition. This will ensure good quality low price items. Start with low tech consumables and extend it to higher value goods in a phased manner. Do it when the iron is hot.