New Blog
Please visit my new blog
http://www.newglobalorder.blogspot.com
This blog attempts to take a comprehensive understanding of India’s interaction with the world. It will look at various aspects of India’s foreign policy, its efforts to redefine its role in the emerging global order (disorder) and various aspects of this dynamic interaction. The blog will also carry posts on various theoretical debates in the discipline of international relations. This blog will also review various articles and papers on India published in international journals like-International Studies Quarterly, Foreign Policy Analysis, International Studies Review, International Organisation etc. These journals are generally not accessible outside the academic circles, hence the blog will try to make these accessible through reviews and summaries of articles and research papers. Your comments, suggestions and criticism are welcome to make this blog better.
Need for media introspection
The recently concluded Ramnath Goenka memorial debate provided an excellent opportunity for the media to engage in self-introspection. The Indian media is one of the fastest growing in the world; while the print media globally has slackened; Indian print media is growing fast. New media or the internet is slowly gaining foothold. Among all the streams of media it is the broadcast media that has grown the fastest over the past decade and is leading the vibrant Indian media industry.
But in this rapid growth, rarely does the media and its role come under scrutiny. Unlike other public institutions which are put under the scanner regularly, the role of media is largely never scrutinised. Hence the need for self-introspection, and moreover if the media has to evolve as a responsible public institution, it has to continuously reassess its role. This article tries to look at certain aspects of this introspection.
The dual nature of media: Media as an institution has to grapple with characteristics that are contradictory and are unique to it. On one hand it is a private entity. Various newspapers, periodicals and news channels have to sustain themselves by earning profits. It is crucial for them to make money not only to survive but also to improve their services and journalistic standards.
But at the same time, media is a public institution. It runs with the motive of providing public service, and this has to be done without succumbing to the pressures of the market. It has to evolve techniques that will help it to balance both these features effectively. What we are getting to see in India currently is that some newspapers and channels are being totally driven by the profit motive. This is a dangerous development as it totally destroys the capacity of media to intervene successfully in society. Importantly this profit driven journalism will seriously dent the credibility, integrity and independence of the profession. This brings us to the next issue of whom does the media serve, the consumer or the citizen.
Consumer or Citizen ? This is a crucial question that has to be answered if we want the media to be an effective partner in nation’s development. To who does a newspaper serve- a consumer or a citizen? ‘News’ should not be reduced to a fast moving consumer good. Newspapers, news channels and now websites have a clear function of providing information to individuals that will enable them to function as well informed citizens. The notion of citizenship has to be cultivated, the success of a democracy depends on how its citizens are. Indian media has by and large done a commendable role in empowering the citizens, e.g the drive for Right to Information, the Jessica Lal case.
But increasingly there is a tendency to be caught in the trap of circulation or surrendering to the tyranny of TRPs. Many news channel will give undue importance to news coming from a region where they enjoy high TRPs. This leads to certain biases creeping into the selection of news. Rather than thinking that they have serve consumers, newspapers and news channels should keep in mind that they have to empower and build citizens. Rather than stooping to low levels of sensationalism and then justifying it with the excuse of ‘the readers/viewers’ want it, media should go back to the core principles of journalism, mainly of seeking the truth, effective questioning and accountability.
The way ahead: If the Indian media wants to be a serious stakeholder in the development of the nation then it must constantly indulge self-introspection. If is does not do so honestly and gets caught in the whirlpool of consumerism, it will be rendered irrelevant to the process of nation building. Journalism inherently has social consciousness and this has to be preserved and nurtured.
Guru - Music Review
As you pick the CD of Guru, you feel the weight of the talent involved in the making of the film. Mani Ratnam’s ideas enhanced by the cinematographic vision of Rajiv Menon; Gulzar’s words riding on A.R. Rahman’s musical waves. Whenever Rahman works for Mani Ratnam, expectations are high. From Roja to Yuva, they have redefined the sound of Indian film music. Adding to their efforts is the lyrical maestro Gulzar; these three had worked together last in Dil Se
Composing for a film like Guru has its own challenge. It is neither a period film, nor is it based in a contemporary time. Guru’s script unfolds in a period nearly four decades ago and progresses from there. So it spans over a period of time. The music here has to capture feel of the changing decades and the evolution of the characters. Rahman had faced a similar challenge while composing for Mani Ratnam’s Iruvar. Iruvar beautifully traces the development of the Dravidian movement in post-independence era.
Coming to the music of Guru, it is an eclectic mix of Turkish-Arabic rhythms, North Indian folk music, symphony and some Sufiana influence. Let’s consider the songs one by one:
Barso Re (Shreya Ghosal , Uday Mazumdar):
This is a vivacious rain song oscillating between soft renditions and pulsating rhythm. Shreya Ghosal beautifully captures the sparkling energy of the rains, check out the spirited Naa re naa re, Naa re naa re. The percussion slowly builds up and the opening flute piece sets the mood for the song.
Tere Bin (A.R. Rahman, Chinmayee):
Rahman has dedicated this song to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan saab, and once you listen to the song you know why. Tere Bina is surely the one of the finest love ballad Rahman has composed; I would rather say the finest. The opening Dum dara dum dar mast mast dara captivates you instantly and takes you in a state of ecstasy. The dholak, the strumming of string instruments and the sheer honesty in which Rahman and Chinmayee sing this song makes it the best song in the album.
Gulzar’s words are simple but they strike a chord with your heart.
Tere Bina beswaadi
Beswaadi ratiyaan, Oh Sajna,
Rookhi re oh rookhi re
Kaatore kaate katen………And to get the dialect right, there is ‘dialect coach’- Raqeeb Alam. The song is complete in all respects. Listen to the piece when Chinmayee sings Tere bina chaan ke sona khota re, it touches your heart. Chinmayee is the singer to watch out, her voice has a good depth.
Ek Lo Ek Muft (Bappi Lahiri, Chitra):A bang-masti number, this song is folksy and funny. Bappida ensures that you enjoy every word of this song. He gets the drunken-voice correct and the Gujarati pronunciation right. With innovative lyrics and good chorus, the song will surely climb the charts. Chitra too compliments the ruggedness in the voice of Bappida.
Mayya (Maryem Toller, Chinmayee, Keerthi):
This is the item number filmed on Mallika Sherawat. It is a Turkish- Arabic number, which starts with haunting vocals, and then slowly the swinging rhythm catches on. One unique aspect of this song is the experimentation done with vocals-it is difficult to right about them here, you will come to know about it once you listen to it.
Ay Hairathe (Harihara, Alka Yagnik):
This is an exquisite romantic duet which starts with Dum dara like Tere Bina, but in a high pitch and different words. The harmonium and tabla add a different dimension to this song. Hariharan and Alka Yagnik get the feel of the word right. The lyrics are playful but deep:
kyon urdu faarsi bolte ho
das kehthe ho do tolthe ho
jooton ke shehenshabolo na
kanbhi jhaankon meri aankhen sunaaye
ek daastaan jo honton se kholna……………
As the song ends, there is beautiful blending of Rahman’s voice and Yagnik’s voice singing dum dara, dum dara ishq mey jina……
Bazi Laga (Udit Narayan, Madhushree, Swetha, Bhargavee):
This song describes the various shades of money. A fast paced song with good use of chorus (Rahman has used chorus or backing vocals nicely in Roobaroo in Rang De Basanti). Pacy rhythm guitars and piano piece add to this peppy number.
Jaage Hain (Chitra, A.R. Rahman):
Jaage Hain is not exactly a song, but it is rendition of poetry in different styles with rich symphony accompanying it. The hallmark of this track is its lyrics. Gulzarsaab in eight small lines touches you. It opens with soft rendition of the nazm by Chitra, then the symphony along with the Madras Chorale Group build the tempo. As the music fades, Rahman recites the poem and then breaks into a high pitch rendition of the poem.
This track echoes the turbulence, the sadness of failure, it echoes the pain, the despair of losing out; but it soothes your ruffled soul.
Gulzaarsaab in his inimitable style conveys the emotion that each one of us faces sometime in our life:
Jaage hain der tak hamein
Kuch der sone do
Thodi si raat aur hain
Subaah toh hone do
Aadhe adhoore khwaab jo
Poore na ho sake
Ek baar phir se neend mein
Woh khaab bone doMy personal recommendation: Listen to this track when you are sad, listen to it when you feel lonely, listen to it in darkness- this track will calm you, it will bring you closer to yourself.
On the whole Guru may not have the brilliance of Dil Se or the exuberance of Yuva. But it is honest and reflects the mood of the film. Listen to it for the ecstasy that some of it songs evoke.
Note: For a more comphrensive review check
Ramanand's blog.
Blogroll expands!
Blogging has become increasingly rare for me due to studies, both at University and for UPSC. But efforts are on to reduce the rarity.
Blogroll has a new valuable addition:
Rahul Bhargav.
Rahul is pursuing his MBA at Cranfield, UK. A brilliant person, great friend and a person with a huge heart.
Welcome to blogdom!
Reinterpreting History in Films-A look at Lagey Raho Munnabhai and Rang De Basanti
“Aey Circuit, apne sir mey chemical locha hai rey!” Is this a new addition to the numerous interpretations of Gandhiji’s ideas? Lagey Raho Munna Bhai is a refreshing way of looking at the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.
For some it may amount to blasphemy to see Munna talking to Gandhi in his rustic way. But then it is an interpretation of Gandhi. The beauty of Gandhian thought is that it is fluid. It is open to variations, diverse and at times even contrary interpretations. And Munna Bhai is one of them.
Gandhi’s politics was about empowerment and emancipation. It was about conquering the self to achieve to true freedom. It was not passive answer to oppression or problems. It was an active force – a soul force. This is nicely presented in Munna Bhai. For e.g. take the scene when Victor is about to commit suicide, Munna stops him and gives him the strength to face his father. This was Victor’s moment of empowerment; it was his quest for emancipation from his reckless passion, and pursuit of higher good and reason.
It is always difficult to represent history and interpret it in present context. Another recent interpretation of Gandhian thought was Anupam Kher starrer “Maine Gandhi Ko Nahi Mara”. The film did not send the box office registers ringing. It could be because it was a sombre and serious interpretation. While in Munnabhai, we see an extremely likable character Munna expounding about Gandhian philosophy in his own inimitable way.
The character of Gandhi played by Dilip Prabhavalkar in the film rather than being a ‘character’ is a personification of Gandhiji’s ideals. Some critiques might say that it is a shame that we need a bhai (Munnabhai) to interpret Gandhi. Some of them have said that Munnabhai does a dumbing down of Gandhian ideology, some argue that it was too simplistic.
But then Munnabhai becomes an instrument of re-looking at Gandhiji’s ideals and seeking its relevance in the modern day context. It would not be right to judge its success or failure; it is an attempt, an approach. It would be wrong to say that Munnabhai rediscovers Gandhi for the present generation. It is just a portrayal of a man who views Gandhi in his own in limited but charming way.
Another film released this year tried to interpret history- Rang De Basanti. It sought to use the ideals of the revolutionary movement led by Bhagat Singh to seek answers to the problems faced by the protagonists in Rang De Basanti. But Rang De Basanti had its own inherent problems. A bunch of careless young boys, least bothered about their future see a sudden and unconvincing transformation coming in their lives after an accident. But this awakening brought about in ‘colonial way.’ A British filmmaker has to come to India make these young people realise their own history. Adding to the colonial insult is the scene where fight between Aamir and Atul Kulkarni is stopped for the sake of the film. It could have meant that the unifying force for the Indian youth in the film was the British girl and her dream if making a film. The only redeeming factor about Rang De Basanti was the last scene of radio broadcast where Aamir and his friends admit that their act of killing the minister was incorrect. But then it was attempt to juxtapose history with present day context, and should be accepted.
The main problem with Rang De Basanti was that it was not treated as film, a creation of art but it was projected as revolution. The director, actors of the film went about the town telling that Rang De is not just a film but a movement. Giving senseless boost to their efforts was the media. Every news channel made every protest a Rang De Basanti. One channel went to the extent of re-enacting certain sequences of the film during the anti-reservation.. The channel got a few medicos to stage a drama of plotting to kill Arjun Singh. To look at it objectively, the filmmakers were just promoting their film, the media lost its direction and made the film a revolution. Let us hope that the media does not go overboard with Lagey Raho Munnabhai and then indulge in mockery of Gandhian ideals. Let a film remain a film.
Till then let us think more about the chemical locha within us.
Mr. Karat - you were right then, but where are you now?
Mr. Prakash Karat, General Secretary of the CPI (M) had stated that his main worry about the US-India Nuclear Deal was that it could be used by the Americans to arm-twist India and make it follow the US agenda. His
concern voiced at Frontline relaunch function in Chennai in January this year seems to have come true.
The complete turnaround in India’s policy on Pakistan and its support to terrorism could be a result of American pressure. After meeting Musharraf in Havana, Dr. Manmohan Singh clearly stated that Pakistan is a ‘victim of terrorism’. So now Pakistan is no longer a sponsorer of terrorism but a victim of it. And hence both the countries have decided to set up a joint mechanism to tackle terrorism.
There was a sense of déjà vu when Manmohan Singh and Musharraf issued the joint statement at Havana. Same old talk of dialogues, confidence building measures and summit meeting. But then this time, the déjà vu also had a certain shock value. India’s policy towards Pakistan had changed dramatically.
Musharraf has yet again succeeded in fooling the Indian foreign policy establishment. Facing a grave crisis at home due to Baloch unrest and the constant threat to his regime from the fundamentalist, Musharraf needed something to ease out the pressure. Adding to all this is the perennial US pressure to deliver.
Has India gained anything from this deal? Difficult to answer now, but certainly India has lost a golden opportunity to make Pakistan answerable for its past promises. Pakistan has not delivered on any of its promises made, be it at Musharraf-Manmohan meeting on the sidelines of UN General Assembly last year or the various secretary level talks. The terror infrastructure continues to exist and it would be extremely naïve to believe that Pakistani establishment has no control over it.
This could have been a good chance to hold Musharraf accountable for his past assurances. But Manmohan Singh has let him, and Musharraf must be having the last laugh. In spite of the Mumbai blast and the earlier Varanasi blast we seem to have no concrete long term measures to tackle the terrorists. Neither do we have the capability to carry out surgical strikes against the terrorist camps nor does our Government have guts to pressurise Pakistan or gather world opinion against it. Rather we seem to be furthering the US agenda of helping Musharraf survive.
There no doubt that Musharraf seems to be the only option while dealing with Pakistan but that does not mean that we accept all that he says. India needs to move beyond dialogues and meetings, it has to demand complete realisation of the promises. Unless we do it this game will continue- making our foreign policy a domain for USA to play.
Mr. Karat- you were right in your analysis then, what is worrying is your and your party’s silence on this blind US pleasing policy.
On a concluding note, I could not stop laughing when Sonia Gandhi at the Nainital meet of Congress CMs demanded action against Pakistan sponsored terrorism. Well Madam Gandhi your Government’s foreign policy lacks the gumption and courage to do it.
Rethink the SEZ craze
Rethink the SEZ craze;
SEZ a libertarian humbug
In promoting Special Economic Zones (SEZ), the UPA government seems to have discovered the ‘ultimate’ answer to development. If India has to grow at 9-10 %, lets have more SEZs- this seems to be the policy. Adding to this ‘gung-ho’ SEZ policy of the Government, is the support it is receiving from the industry and the libertarians. But the moot point is that-Is this SEZ approach is the right way to development?
The few Special Economic Zones set up in the past few years (some of them focussed on Exports) have shown high turn over rates. Hence, it was natural for the Government to think that SEZ is an easy way to development. But this entire strategy is skewed and could prove disastrous in the long run.
The Government is allotting huge portions of land- running into thousands of acres- to specific companies. Apart from this the Government provides tax waivers, relaxation of labour laws and other benefits are provided to that specific company which has been awarded the SEZ.
This policy will lead to creation of ‘islands of economic activity’. Only the area identified will see increased industrial and economic activities. The other areas will slowly witness stagnation in industrial activities, possibly leading to closure of other industries. There will regions of economic activity and on other hand there will be many areas will no industrial activity at all. So we will have gross regional imbalance in development.
The policy of allotting areas to companies as SEZs is sure to breed high levels of corruption. Companies in competition with each other will try and swing deals in their favour. If not monetary corruption directly but then there will be political favouritism. This will be renewal of ‘Licence Raj. The political and business class nexus was clearly reflected in Uttar Pradesh and allotment of SEZ to Anil Ambani led Reliance Energy Generation Ltd. Just a few days after announcing the Dadri Thermal Project, Anil Ambani was elected to Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh.
Lopsided economic development:Out of the 150 SEZs allotted, 85 have been allotted to IT companies. While majority of SEZs are going to the service industry, while the Finance Minister P. Chidambaram talks of making the manufacturing sector the engine of growth. The SEZ bandwagon is being pushed aggressively by the various state governments also. Agricultural land is being brought at prices below the actual rates; in some instances farmers were offered only 60 per cent of the actual price. This has added to the gradual agricultural decay in India. Agricultural growth in the first three years of the Tenth Plan has averaged around 1 per cent. The target of 4 per cent is far from being achieved.
[1]The irony is that the Government is well aware of the problem but seems to nothing about it; this is evident from the Approach Paper to the 11th Plan released by the Planning Commission in June 2006. The Paper acknowledges the stagnation in agricultural and explicitly states that for the GDP to increase annually by 9 per cent (as targeted in 11th Plan), agriculture has to grow at 4.1 per cent. But the current growth is around 1 per cent annually and can increase at the most to 2 per cent remaining two years of the 10th Plan.
[2]Flawed Concept:Proponents of SEZ cite China’s phenomenal growth and its SEZs as an example for India to emulate. But they forget that there is a basic and crucial difference in Chinese and Indian SEZ strategy. China identified certain areas and provided it with infrastructure and other facilities; and got various companies to function in this zone. It is somewhat similar to India’s strategy during Green Revolution of identifying certain districts and providing them with all facilities, making them conducive for cultivation various crops.
But in India, SEZ is allotted to a specific company. This strategy will prove disastrous in the long run with only some set of companies (like IT, Biotech) gaining, while others losing out.
SEZ: Libertarian Humbug:
Sauvik Chakraverti in a recent article published in Times of India, defends the policy of SEZ terming them as ‘company towns’. Mr. Chakraverti argues that these SEZs should remain full fledged ‘company towns’ maintained and administered by their developers and builders, with neither ‘democracy’ or ‘bureaucracy’ having any say in their internal affairs. He visualises them on the lines of the 600 princely states of British India.
Well Mr. Chakraverti, you seem to have forgotten the basic fact that the condition of residents this princely state was worse than that of residents in British India. Read any text on Modern Indian history and you will realise how faulty is your analogy.
Well one can forgive your ignorance of history. But then how do you – a self confessed libertarian- defend your support of state intervention in economy in setting up of SEZs. Interestingly in concluding part of the article Mr. Chakraverti says that ‘private companies’ should directly purchase the land rather than the current scheme of government purchasing the land and then handing over to the companies. Libertarianism strongly aims at driving away the state from the sphere of economic activity. This ideology wants the economy to function without any intervention by the government. Noble thoughts indeed, but SEZs will defeat this purpose. Rather than promoting overall economic development, SEZs will create clusters of economic activity, but surely not cause any substantive development.
The idea of ‘private companies’ directly buying land spells doom for agriculture. Land mafia will rule and original landowners, especially farmers will be forced to sell their land at the rates dictated by these companies. At least now the Government can be held accountable, but there is no accountability for the companies.
India should aim at creating basic infrastructure- social and economic and create favourable atmosphere for economic activity. Rather than adopting the policy of SEZ, the Government should focus on building an industry and investor friendly climate. Developmental policies should be planned with a foresight and should not be hijacked by certain short term sporadic growth prospects.
[1] Flawed Planning; Frontline, August 26 –September 6, Volume 23
[2] Approach Paper to 11th Plan; Planning Commission.
Realignments in Maharashtra's Political Space
The political space in Maharashtra is changing, new players are emerging, old ones are fading out. After a long time, the political space in Maharashtra is witnessing churning- at times openly or at times in subtle way.
Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena [MNS] is the new player in the political theatre and is taking efforts to find roots. The decline of Shiv Sena and the disarray state of BJP could offer the political space that MNS needs
In Pune, one can see MNS making every efforts to become visible and capture the imagination of the masses. Video- recordings of Raj Thackeray’s speeches are played on LCD screens in squares or other small public spaces. The target is primarily the youth, and it seems to be working. With other parties being saturated, MNS seems to be a good option to practice politics.
MNS workers were out on roads in Pune holding placards and warning commuters about the huge potholes and ditches on the road. The bad condition of roads has become the most important issue in Pune, and MNS gesture was a move in making its presence felt.
But, MNS has a long and though road ahead. The next years Mumbai Municipal polls will be its first real test. But one thing is sure- Political theater in Maharashtra will see new acts being staged.
Seeking Equipoise again
A really long break from blogging, and there are reasons for it. My stint in ACJ is over and I am currently pursuing my MA in Political Science from Department of Politics and Public Administration, University of Pune. It was a difficult choice of not taking up placements offers from two leading business dailies and get back to academics.
For last two months I am in Pune and attending lectures and busy with other studies. It feels good to be among books and academic environment with lots of intellectual stimulation and also harassment. Though this is not to say that ACJ was not academic, it was an enriching experience.
I am not sure whether I will be able to blog as effectively I did when I was in ACJ. The reason being limited access to internet. (At ACJ, internet was freeJ, now I have t pay for it.) And the more important reason being that at ACJ I could blog about live issues and add to it some fieldwork. Beyond a point, I am not satisfied with just armchair speculation.
But then, the bottomline is that I will continue with my quest of seeking equipoise. Do wish me luck!!
