Last of the Wanderers

Review by Harshwardhan Deshpande on my Novel, "Last of the wanderers"

"This is a fictional novel based on real events that happened around first century AD. These are interesting times in central Asia and event happening during this period had major influence on how Indian civilization morphed into what we have today. Greek kingdom in Bactria is on the decline and Buddhism in India is about reach its zenith. This is also the time when a large number of nomadic tribes such as Yuezhi in central asia are about to give up their nomadic lifestyle and settle down to form villages and eventually kingdoms.

On the whole I found the novel thoroughly captivating. This is not a historical novel so author has taken creative permission to move around a few historical references to provide a fascinating insight into how and why the urbanization of central Asia might have started.

Western readers might find that reading this novel as a different experience. This is due to the fact that the author is from India and his writing comes with an Indian flavor. This is not something new, even someone like Salman Rushdie has unmistakable style that only be called Indian English. There are also a few gaps in the narrative which can be attributed to the faulty editing but fortunately they do not stand in the way to enjoy the book.

My major gripe with this novel is that this is the subject of an epic and not a short book. As far as I know no epic has been written based upon the happenings in this part of the world during this period of turmoil. I hope that in the future the author will come up with an epic novel based on the same story."

-Harshwardhan Deshpande

Our Judiciary...a critique..!

Interpretation of the same proofs varies with judge to judge which influences the verdict. We have seen in the Salman case how the verdict of the lower court was refuted by the High Court denying the reliability of the same proofs those were sufficient enough for the lower court to convict him. It has been debated on public forums and in private whether the changed verdict was an outcome of the “proofs and their interpretation” or extra-judicial forces influenced the interpretation and hence the judgment. Prima facie this issue may look ordinary practice of our judicial system but in depth, it raises a vital question mark on the authenticity of our judicial system.

Interpretation of the proofs in the legal framework is essential to deliver equitable justice. Judicial interpretation of the laws is another issue in which many aspects are involved. We have seen in the case of “Right to privacy”, many judgments were issued considering this was a fundamental right of the Indian citizens as outlined in the constitution. However few judgments went contrary to this ‘assumption’ contemplating that right to privacy is not at all fundamental right of the citizens as there is no such clear cut directive in the constitution. This is a matter of judicial interpretation and the controversies help us to amend, alter or replace the laws or make corrections in the constitution. This is the way how the judicial machinery is improved and justice is delivered. However, interpretation of the evidence is solely dependent on the judge or bench of the judges within the framework of Indian Evidence Act, 1872. Still, there are no certain criteria that can define unanimously the interpretation of the proofs.

Judge too is human beings. Being human there always is every possibility of error of judgment and this can easily be forgiven, though not expected from the justice. But when there are cases of sheer negligence, deliberate interpretations or misinterpretations we should be alarmed and caution the overall judicial system of its implications. With such cases faith on justice will not prevail. There are enough grounds to suspect the honesty of the judges which makes our judiciary vulnerable.

The fact is there are no enough courts in India. Millions of cases are pending for decades. It is said that justice delayed is justice denied and on this ground we the Indians are denied justice. Judges are overloaded with the work getting far less time to study every case in depth. The work environments too are far from good in the court rooms. Subordinate staff too is limited. Lot much have been written on these issues but we find not much improvement so far. The constraints posed by the overwork and work environment before the sitting judges really are pitiable.

But this cannot justify the injustice delivered by the judges for whatsoever reasons. The main problems, apart from above, those are noted, experienced and privately agreed by many lawyers with our judicial system are:

1)    Judiciary no longer is aloof from the corruptions, either financial or moral.

2)    Political influences play many a time major role in justice delivery system.

3)    Casteism too has plagued the judicial system to some extent.

4)    The court staff is also corrupt, many a time act as an agent between petitioners/criminals and judges. Some lawyers specialize in such unethical (but effective) practices.

5)    Many judges have been accused of unlawful beneficiaries of lands in related cases.

6)    There was demand from some NGO’s, like ‘Center for Investigation & Prosecution of Corrupt Judges of India’ that the judiciary must be brought under the perview of the Jan Lokpal.  However, there is no heed to this demand.

Former Chief Justice of India, Hon’ble V. N. Khare, in an interview with “Outlook” had conceded that the bribes are rampant with lower courts. His statement had come on the backdrop of the bail granted by a special judge who had allegedly taken Rs. 5 crore bribe to grant bail to former Karnataka minister, in July 2012. He also had agreed that the work over load, the pendency of cases because of the shortage of manpower is a major factor that indulges to the corruption among judges.

The recent survey conducted by "Transparency International" speaks that the 77% Indians believe that the judiciary is corrupt. The amount paid as bribes, as estimated by TI is, Rs. 2630 crore in the year 2005 alone. The chapter titled as 'Indolence in India Judiciary” states that 61% of the bribe amount goes to the lawyers, 29% to the court officials and 5% to the middlemen. There is no way to verify this claim. Rather the figures could have been projected based on some real data gathered from inside sources. But it shows in what alarming situation our judiciary has fallen in!

Recently, in September 2015, in Vapi (Gujarat) two judges were arrested by the vigilance Cell of Gujarat High Court and were sent to judicial custody. The charge on them was they had accepted bribes to pass favorable orders. There are many cases though very few come in the light.

Thus the interpretation of the proofs changes, sometimes because of the judge's personal sentiments, his way of thinking, prejudices, ideology or caste or religion he belongs to or simply because he is sold to the bribe! The Outrage of the public sentiments too sometimes dictates how the justice should be delivered and often judges fall to those pressures. Political influences too play a role in certain types of cases.

Our judiciary, same as our military, is a holy cow, hence seldom and that too with reservation, is criticized. Fear of the possible charges leveled under “Contempt of Court” and the possibility of the punishment of imprisonment or penalty withholds citizens from openly talking/writing about it! Justice in India comes long after suffering to the innocents.

Another thing that I would like to beg your attention at that most of the HC and SC judges strongly desire for the suitable postings after retirement, on some commission or committees. It always better for such judges to be in good books of the powerful political parties. Such affiliations yield far better rewards, they are aware of it. With such long-term planning to restore self-esteem and power, even after retirement, the decisions of such judges while on the seat, concerning the people belonging to such parties would become obviously questionable, but there are seldom or no questioners. The corridors of the power are so brutal where the plight of the common man is always an end result.

Unfortunately, the judiciary also is no exception!

When the interpretation of the laws and the evidence are marred with some or other selfish intents of the judges is indeed assassination of the justice! There can be academic disputes over how to interpret law/constitutional provisions or the evidence and testimonies of the witnesses. The verdicts given with some genuine understanding of individual judge is pardonable.

But certainly not, when caste, religion, economic and future power gains influence the court orders! This is not good justice. The faith of common citizen in the judiciary, as statistics shows, already has been declined. This is not at all a good sign of our democracy.

Judiciary must and at once should come out of this fallacy or people won’t approach courts for justice. The police will keep on taking disadvantage of the judiciary at the cost of freedom of the people which is guaranteed by our constitution. The guarantee will remain in the book and law of jungle will come to be applicable in the country.

I am afraid of this possibility!

The Psychology and the language!

There are many hypotheses about the origin of the language. However, there so far is no agreement on any. Human is the only animal that has an ability to speak. Without this gift even today the mankind would have been in its primordial state. But what is the origin of languages? There have been fierce disputes on this issue, so much so that in 1866 Linguistics Society of Paris had banned debates on this issue. Many have tried to search for linguistic roots in remote mythologies, biblical is famous among others. Psychologists have suggested that the language is an innate need of the human being. But it doesn’t solve the question as to why this innate need and quality emerged only in the humans and not in other species? Some have tried to find its origin in human genetic structure. The faculty of the language is treated as the hardest problem in science.

Without going into the various aspects of the debate and multiple theories, we will have an overview of this problem and try to find whether there can be any solution to this problem or not.

We have to agree with the supporters of Continuity theory that the languages didn’t originate all of sudden. It must have been a gradual process, from simple to complex. It is a natural process and there is no reason to disagree with it. Some theories suggest that languages did not originate to establish the dialogue with others but to express the self. Discontinuity theory suggests that the languages must have originated during the process of evolution as a sudden event at some stage. Other theories relate the origin of the languages with primordial utterances. Sounds are symbols and to understand that symbolism in any given language which forms or conveys the certain meaning which is understood and reacted over in same sound symbolism is the language. But how human being achieved that ability to use sound symbols as a mean to convey remains as yet a mystery.

In human evolution, there are many stages. Some are missing links. It is not that it was unidirectional evolution. The process begins with hominids and halts with modern human species. It is suggested that Neanderthal man had an ability to create complex sounds. Also, it is suggested that there could have been interbreeding between Neanderthal man and the Homo sapiens. Whether Neanderthal man extinguished from the face of the earth because he could not compete with Homo-Sapiens or whether they mingled with each other is a question that is not as yet satisfactorily solved.  If both the species had an ability to speak, we can infer, if they interbred, the genes of the language too got mixed to give way to the future linguistic structures.

The language is mostly spoken and also is written in symbols to which certain sounds are denoted. But the first thing is sound. Human species have the larynx that has the ability to produce complex sounds with the help of the tongue and mouth. We find no other animal has the larynx of such complex ability. Larynx too could have been evolved with the growing need of the human being.

Language always is in mind. When in mind it doesn’t have any symbol. The language remains abstract till the process of the thinking and an urge to express is created. Identifying the sound symbols sequencing them in the specific order, the process of the speech is completed. The mind is the constant flow of temporal feelings, thoughts, and expressions those not necessarily intelligible to the human species. The language of mind could be far different, beyond our comprehension. They are later translated to us in the language we know. When needed we express it through the series of sounds, whether vocal or written.  So this is the basic process of the languages.

It is assumed that the processing of the language is interdependent between various centers in the brain.  Not a single center is responsible for its origination and development. We can see that this doesn’t help us to solve the problem of origin.

We have to understand human being has an ability to give meaning to the visible world, sounds and it is the psychological process that constantly symbolizes them. Let us also assume that the natural limitations to survive have been compensated with intellect. The primordial humans must have gone through the harsh and adverse conditions for survival. However, we just cannot imagine now how he would have taken those circumstances and finding ways to be able to control them. 

The explosion of linguistic qualities in the human brain could be a sudden event that may have taken place at early stage of evolution. It has been argued from fossil records that Neanderthal man had the larynx that could produce sufficient sounds to make a speech. Cave paintings and artifacts show that he was quite expressive. The argument is he, the Neanderthal man, must have some kind of primitive language.

Language couldn’t have emerged just out of imitation of babbling. The quality of human species is, he has intense feelings and an urge to express. The certain expression patterns through the sounds that could indicate some certain object or event could have made the first language. So thought and language could have the close relationship. The environment too has hand in the development of the language. I will show how the local geographies too are responsible for shaping up the language in different patterns. The Early human was the nomad, true, but his roaming was mostly within the known boundaries. We have to understand the significance of geography with the language.  

The language was not certainly an innate need of the human being.The innate need to him was survival instinct against all odds. He selected his way of survival by making bands and coordinated efforts. There also are bands of other animals like foxes, antelopes and monkeys. They too have rudimentary sound-languages. They use it to caution others when danger is imminent. They utter differently when lovemaking or just responding to others. They have the language of some rudimentary kind that is not comprehended by us. But they lack in developed vocal chords and so the brain capable enough to process the sounds further. Human species have crossed these borders in the process of evolution for his imminent need of the survival.

Thus language is a product of human psychology. The psychology is related with the way mind functions and mind is solely dependent on our brain to which we have not yet understood fully. However, language is a fact and we have to proceed with this fact.

The major question here is, if human species is unique and same, why there are over six thousand languages in the world? Why people of certain region speak some language which is not exactly similar to the language of the people just located at bordering regions? Why some sounds are missing in some languages whereas they are most prominent in the languages spoken in the adjoining regions? For example, some languages have retroflexes and some are devoid of them.

Why there is not a single universal language if human species have everything in common? Why there are so many groups of the languages and several hundred branches of each group?

We will have to deal with this question more elaborately because some theories wide in circulation have deliberately misused the fact by misrepresenting for supremacist political reasons, though it is not a good science.

To conclude here, we have to check it up first with the psychology of human species that is instrumental in origination and control the process and expression of the language. Psychology is overall functioning of the brain that is instrumental in deciding the priorities for the body and mind. And priorities of survival against all odds decide how to use the available integral resources causing further evolution through the modifications and innovations. The evolution of the brain and associated organs must have been a process that must have taken toll of the millions in the route to attain the utmost possible qualities. It may have been continued process or discontinued or it could have been developed through interbreeding within the different human-like species of ancient times. We have not any concrete evidence as yet to inform us what exactly did happen in those times, but the fact remains that we have language and since known history, we can see the changes in the same language.

Our psychology governs the language we speak. Our organs, such as larynx and jaws, decide how it would be uttered. With region to region, we find these physical features do change. Some people utter a word differently or simply cannot utter. Physical features are governed by the climate and geography of the people they live in over generations. Mexican accents would not be same as of the New Yorkers. The slightest difference in physiology would make the noticeable difference in pronunciation patterns.

We have different languages classified in different families. We have the languages classified under one group and yet they are incomprehensible to the man who speaks the language belonging to the same language group. In fact, though there is the universal man with all the similar characteristics but there is no single common language in the world.

We have to first account for such changes.

The fact is there are changes in the same languages with region to region, though they collectively are labeled as belonging to the same language family. Every language for that matter is a group of dialects. The group of the languages represents the languages those have some common morphological features. To be a part of any group of the languages geographical closeness is not warranted.  

And it is prominently claimed that the spread of some language is because of the population movement in remote past. It is claimed that Proto-Indo-European language speakers were settled at some hypothetical place and for unknown reasons migrated to different directions and wherever they reached PIE did spread.  Though there is a dispute over what the original homeland of PIE speakers was, there so far is no dispute over the spread of the language to form a distinct group.

Though I strongly object to this hypothesis on the scientific and logical grounds, for time being let us be with this theory for time being.

If some people, speaking some proto-language spread for reasons, wherever they went the basic structure of the languages spoken in the areas they settled must be the same. Linguistic biology is sometimes invoked while proposing this theory of IE group of the languages. Even if this considered being true, I have following points:  

1)        The PIE languages, after spread, formed regional varieties. How this process would have taken place?

 2) Though unknown is the basic structure of the PIE language, the affinities in the group languages is striking in some cases whereas vague in many. They painfully have to establish the relationship with artificial reconstructions of the proto-language.

3)      The differences are noticeable with region to region, such as the IE’s spoken in European countries and in India in different regions.

 4)      There are intermediary blocks where unrelated to surrounding group languages are spoken. Brahui, Munda, etc. are the examples those are surrounded by IE language speakers. Their so called isolation or migration from some place to other is not an answer to this vital problem. If PIE language spread across the globe with a process why the same couldn’t have been applicable to such odd cases?

To sum up, even if we accept the group of language theory we find there are regional varieties, somewhere very striking somewhere vague. Not that the group languages are intelligible to all to those who are part of that so called group. And this doesn’t solve a question, why there are regional varieties of the same language and why it did take separate path?

I think, this is the major question linguistic scientists should give more attention at. A most probable answer offered is, wherever PIE speakers went they mingled with local populations, borrowed and improvised their vocabularies and the language grew thereafter unique and yet biologically related with PIE language. If we consider this also to be true, we have to assume that wherever PIE speakers went, subjugated or overwhelmed the local populations thus subduing the local languages. They borrowed from them but kept their basic structure of their own language undisturbed. Because of the local languages PIE bred with became different and yet it could maintain its own superiority.

But we must understand here that in disguise of PIE language expansion theory nothing new is told to us than what Aryan race Theory was telling. In a way we are stalled here. They are telling us the same story in different words. It doesn’t talk of the psychology of the language. Rather it believes that the languages can be imposed, so much so that the native languages can lose their original basic structure except leaving some traces of the vocabulary. But the fact about IE languages is that they too then have lost their original structure, whatsoever hypothetically it was in its origin!

We need to look into the problem of the languages from the different point of view. The need arises because the present postulations are lame in their arguments and proofs. The Spread of some language speaking people to produce a group of the languages across the territories is an easy answer to a complicated question. It does not take into the consideration linguistic psychology.

It eludes the basic question, how some language that was so powerful to influence others could have been originated and among whom and where?

The geography of the PIE language is as yet uncertain and hypothetical. There cannot be the proof from material remains of the culture as to what languages the people were speaking in those times. The available proofs, the language of Avesta, Rig Veda and the treaty of Bogazkoy or Horse Manuel of Kikkuli tells us far less if not more. Language and contents of Avesta and Rig Veda tells us just their geography being close and that language of Rig Veda, though close to the Avesta, is significantly modification of later times. The language of Bogazkoy treaty tells us that some deities and demons and numeric from the east were known to them. We cannot take it as a solid proof of Aryan Language expansion theory. It doesn’t tell us why in certain close geographies IE could not spread! Geographically the Semitic language speakers and Dravidian language speakers are very close to the so called IE speakers and they have interactions from millenniums and yet we find there is no remarkable influence of IE languages on them.

It could not do so just because the influence of the human psychology on the languages they develop and speak is highly matters than anything else. Learning a different language is a different issue. What we are discussing here is why the languages are different in different regions.  

To conclude this chapter we can sum up as:

1)      Language is a psychological phenomenon supported by the well-evolved physical organs.

2)      Though genetically human being is same (The variation amounts for just 0.50%) the languages show the variety of differences. There are over 6000 languages in the world distributed in several families.

3)      Local geological features do govern the general psychology of the people that reflects in local culture and the language.  

Restrictions on liberty or Protection to the liberty?

Liberty not always is violated by the authorities, no matter whether they are political, religious or economic. There exist many other elements in the overall body of the society that too attempts endlessly to rob you from your individual liberty. Attempts of the parents to make their child “cultured” of their own estimate, force their ideas upon him which they have accumulated from the society and so-called heritage. In schools too kid is bombarded with the values those are thought to be superior over other societies, to make him nationalist, culturist and if possible religious citizen of best kind. The out sided forces are so much so that they in some or other way try to control your thinking process, politically or religiously which means restriction of the freedom of the individuals to think and act independently. If the process of enslaving the kid to make a good citizen out of him begins so early, what liberty would mean to him?

Just talking of political liberty or tyranny of majority may not be enough when we dream for real liberty. Conditioning of human mind from childhood by the parents and society is equally dangerous to the concept of liberty. If mind is conditioned notions of the liberty too will be conditioned and hence the liberty will always be tainted with the slavish sentiments. Talk on Liberty thus becomes just a fashion to enchant the intellectuals which rather prefers limited liberty, accepting some restrictions for the harmonious co-existence.

However, if closely investigated, we will find that our definitions of the liberty are problematic because they are made by the people those have grown up in the problematic conditions. Solutions to the problems they have faced or facing may seem liberty to them but it may not cover all the aspects of the liberty.

People are ultimately grown up in the environment where purposely their mind is conditioned right from childhood. Freedom from X or Y is felt when they counter them and decide X or Y are the obstructive to their freedom. To remove X or Y from their way they think leads them to the freedom. Freedom to them thus becomes political, economic or religious in nature. The institutions they think are hindrance in their way to their “free” action they think are tyrant. Any institution for that matter is always tyrant to some or other extent. The gravity of the felt tyranny changes with what the people feel about the institution. In a way concept of liberty becomes secondary because it does not come into existence in absence of tyranny, real or false.

Coming back to the starting point, why parents desire to make their child “cultured”? Culture in a way is collective subconscious activity of the people that reflects in people’s actions. The culture varies with time and geography. The cultural ethics and practices too vary, significantly, with people to people and region to region. Making a person “cultured” would mean making him able enough to cope up with the accepted social norms while aspiring for well being of his self, family and the society he lives in. He should not create any nuisance, treason or any harmful act that will cause disturbance in the smooth functioning of his society. The liberty too is set within the circle of such norms.  Liberty thus has the guidelines, many a times tending to go in contrast with the very concept of liberty.

This way liberty would mean one thing at front door and other, may be opposite, when at back door. Norms may change with society to society and time to time. There is nothing like absolute liberty in the world because no matter how the definition of the liberty is widened it always will be restricted by some guidelines, laws and institutional rules. Liberty to an American and Indian, that too depending on to which class, caste, sect or religion he belongs, would not mean the same, no matter how carefully it has defined. The words convey differently to the different people belonging to the different sections and the different environments they have grown up with. The conditioning of the mind, deliberate or not, decides what one may take the liberty as! The fact is the society is the first factor that begins encroachment on the liberty of its newcomer citizens. It begins with the restrictions. The restrictions of the law are secondary about which we mostly always are sensitive, but what our approach is towards the society?

Would this mean the liberty always be shadowed by some kind of self sanctioned slavery? Wouldn’t it mean that the liberty our thinkers are seeking is the liberty restricted by, whether less or more, laws? Why absolute liberty would be impossible, because absolute liberty may mean anarchy…lawlessness? Would it mean to have a society without any social obligations?

Politically liberty may mean anything depending upon the philosophies and understandings of the liberty they have under their arms. Leftist or rightists or socialists may claim how they desire to protect the liberty of the individuals, but indirectly it becomes enforcement of restrictions on the liberty. The government is not only law maker but a machinery to enforce them. Most of the time people feel that the laws no more protect their liberty; instead they restrict their freedom to think and act rationally. Direct and indirect restrictions even in libertarian social systems are so much so that the meaning of liberty has become more and more ambiguous and obscure. Liberty has become, in a way, dream song for a person who is governed by many forces against his will.

The questions will arise here that whether man is afraid of liberty, whether by nature he likes to be governed, does by nature he likes to govern others while being governed? Forces governing to the government could be abstract in nature, but they still do exist and even topple the governments at times. When people desire for the government of some nature that does only mean that they inherently need a government that can enforce power upon them to maintain law and order. And at other end people, individually, strive for the liberty! It is a kind of paradox, with which our society is shrouded.

We have to go to the roots of the human nature. Is liberty mere a hypothetical concept that everybody dreams for but do not want it in practice? Is liberty thought to be just for individual without his caring for the equal liberty of the other individuals? Is liberty a force that is applied to restrict others liberty and not protecting it?

Parents are at liberty as to how to nurture their kid. They are at liberty to mend their kid with teaching the values they feel best to their understanding. They may even plant their unfulfilled dreams in their kids mind, inspiring him to walk in that direction to achieve them. Parents have that liberty. But as far as kid is concerned, wont it be restriction on his liberty by imposed values and dreams? Would he be at his own liberty to make his own choice of the values and dreams? May be that he manages somehow to obtain his freedom, when grown up, but to what extent? The values taught at home and in school and in colleges keep on haunting the individuals for their life forcing him to define liberty in restricted sense.

However, liberty just is not a hypothetical concept, it has the practical implications. Hence it has to be dealt with utmost care. Also we will have to think whether restricted liberty is needed or protection to the individual liberty is expected from the governments. And the last and main question will be whether at all government is needed that somehow restricts the liberty or we need just an institution (not government) that will perform the role of protector of the liberty and nothing else?

(To be contd.) 

What Liberty means to NT/VJNT's?

Indian social system is weird. It is not only discriminatory in its root but is paradoxically filled up with the elements of endless exploitation of the weaker sections in the name of democracy, justice and religion. There condition is no better than what it was during colonial rule. India achieved political freedom and democracy, but social freedom and social democracy remains as yet completely neglected. Rather the social democracy is foundation of political democracy. Social freedom is a ladder to walk towards individual freedom. But these are not thought to be the essential tenets of our democracy.

In India there are various tribes classified as NT/VJNT. But together they suffer from constant onslaught of the settled society and law at one hand and religion at the other. In a way they are suffering mostly from the social tyranny. Many even do not know what the freedom and free India means. No sufficient provisions of education, vocational courses, health care, no ration cards, no permanent homes hence no proper listings in voting lists are the hurdles at one side and to the other constant harassment from law and settled villagers and farmers. The traditional occupations have become outdated. Many are illegal and what legitimate occupations remains are insufficient to feed them.

The policymakers did not plan anything for the upliftment of these classes to bring them in main stream using their skills for the overall productivity. There were commissions appointed but they just consumed years after years without coming up with the proper solutions and policy guidelines. They were scrapped by the Central Govt. one after other to make space for the new Commission. Plight of NT/VJNT’s remains unending.

Population of NT/VJNT tribes is estimated to be over 25 crore. This is not a small population. Very small percentage out of this could pave way through the numerous odds to make their life successful. But most remains in the dark of illiteracy and hence superstitious and poor. Ones upon a time these tribes were prosperous in different social and economic conditions. For example Stone masons are responsible to build the huge mountain forts and castles and palaces. They are responsible to carve out wonderful caves like Ajanta and Ellora. We owe to them for many beautiful monuments and sculptures. But as economy and social needs changed they became jobless and had to depend upon petty work such as crushing the stones on rail tracks or roads or Canal or dam works. Their art died with time. They were not substituted with new occupations. They could not find on their own for the Indian tyrant social order won’t allow them to do so. Though politically free country, as yet none has tried to address their problems and guided them as to how to break these barriers.

Condition of the shepherds, other nomadic tribe, is no more different. Animal husbandry, prior to independence, was second largest business in the country. With rapid industrialization grazing lands dramatically were reduced. With dams, rehabilitation works, political leader owned private education complexes further shrank the available grazing lands. To add to the calamities forest regulations restricted shepherds to enter into the reserved areas with their sheep. It is in a way an assassination of an industry which still holds 8% of the GDP with a bleak future. This also is loss to the national economy. They too are in search of the new destiny that can make their lives better. But they remain neglected and harassed.

So where is the democracy? Where is the social freedom and social democracy? The hunting tribes of the past, classified by the British rule as criminal tribes, are still criminals in the eyes of the law and suffer brutalities and atrocities at the hands of law! Liberty to them may sound a funny, out of world, word not to be even trusted upon. Understanding its meaning and attempt to enjoy it in practice would be a far-fetched dream to them! Politicians have neglected them because they are scattered and useless to them in vote-game.

Sure, liberty is not a thing granted by others. Liberty has to be achieved with self-efforts. But when the situation is that the educated people lack many a times understanding essence of the liberty, we just cannot hope the illiterate and deprived masses would understand how liberty can change their lives!

There we the sane people have to come forth to fight out with the law and the society that has been holding these people in the clutches of imposed slavery. Judicial system needs to abolish the tyrant laws to let them breath in the free air. Not that all doors to opportunities open with mere education. If government cannot provide agreeable substitute it has no right whatsoever to snatch their present means and leave them deprived. Illiterates given an opportunity can perform miracles. However we have failed in building such free atmosphere where people can dare to venture in new areas after having basic training in the new skills.

Much can be said on this, but to sum up, I would say that the liberty to the NT/VJNT goes through the drastic reforms in our social and judicial system. The reforms not only mean change in the laws, rather they are secondary, but main thing would be change in our overall thinking.   

Liberty to NT/VJNT and other deprived sections would mean they do not remain neglected, their voice is heard, their past contribution to the economy and culture is acknowledged, their self-pride is respected and doors to sufficient opportunities are opened. This could be liberation of them from the slavery of society and government. 

SBP : On way to freedom!

Progressiveness is neither a movement nor agitation against the world. It is against the dark we are perpetually fallen in of the self imposed slavery. It is an eternal struggle to walk from dark to the Sun, where true freedom shines in the realms of humanity.

This is the path invented by the suppressed human being to free him from the clutches of the open or masked feudal and tyrant system. This is the path that leads to the unending opportunities of progress in free atmosphere, no matter whether it is education, economy, politics or expression. This is real struggle to open the doors of wisdom for everyone.

Everybody should have thoughts of his own nurtured and atmosphere so healthy and open that they develop on their own making the world beautiful. The thoughts of people developed in restricted atmosphere, without any wisdom, sometimes go so dangerous that it only produces the destructive, corrupt and terrorist minds. We want our nation to be a leading force through the endeavors of SBP together with like-minded citizens to achieve the freedom to we always were looking for!

Progressiveness is just not to deny past and abuse system and abuse some religion or caste, as wrongly assumed by some present progressives. Progressiveness is in bringing reforms in almost everything, right from Governing system to individual’s way of life. Politics to us is not just game of power;to us it is a major tool to redefine the politics to make our society liberal.  

The present mobsters in politics have stolen the freedom of the citizens, have blocked their free will and have used them as a mean to satiate their power-lust. Because of this we can see many reform bills remains stalled for decades without any resolve. The basic needs of the deprived sections of the society still remain unfulfilled and yet politicians can use them to gain power with just empty promises and money. The professionals and business community still have to make their way through the insane obstacles to achieve higher productivity. Many examples can be cited, such as about education. The worst scenario in education field has impaired the core abilities of our students making them a crowd of job seekers without developing their inborn abilities to make them experts in the areas of their natural inclination.

We cannot say this is the freedom. Swarna Bharat Party is all about liberalism. It is progressive and liberal in above explained sense. It respects individualism and insists for less interference of the government and administration in citizen’s life. Swarna Bharat Party is working in this direction…by redefining the politics.

The manifesto of SBP is available for you in following link : 

http://swarnabharat.in/manifesto/

Do we really want to end terrorism?

How terrorists get arsenal to cause havoc across the globe and how to stop these supplies first should be the focused line of action if at all the nations are serious to wipe out the terrorism.  The war against terrorism is mere an illusion unless such supplies are stopped. The terrorists and the nations sending the army or air attacks on the terrorist camps would only mean benefits to the weapon manufacturers, dealers, smugglers and the funding agencies.

Terrorism has become a global problem, a severe threat to the humanity. Today Islam is blamed for all the incidents of the terrorism, Taliban is now replaced by ISIS…tomorrow some other organization will replace it. But the chain of the terrorist activities won’t come to an ultimate halt.

Paris attack made global headlines causing agony and fury across the globe. Terrors of ISIS continues unabated. But Boko Haram remains mostly un-discussed as they are causing havoc in so-called “less civilized” countries. This shows how our standards of humanity are degraded.  Actually, in 2015, almost every day,  some or other part of the world experienced ambush, bombings, kidnappings, inhuman killings and suicide attacks. After Paris incident world seemed suddenly awakened and has declared war against terrorism, especially ISIS.

ISIS is using mostly American origin arms, from automatic rifles to Rocket launchers. It is said that they have acquired those weapons from the Syrian-Iraqi army men, Saudi Arabia and China. There is the well-established chain of the supplies and its distribution. Britain is said to be arming Kurdish people to fight against ISIS. Getting hold of weapons by stealing is a myth. What about the ceaseless supply of ammunition? They must be smuggled in. How Maoists of India get hold of arms and ammunition? It is well-known fact that from China via North-Eastern states they are smuggled and distributed among Maoists. The facts and figures show that India lost double the people in Maoist attacks so far than the people, including soldiers, died in the three Indo-Pak wars. US have been supplying arms to Iraq with a futile hope that they will be used against ISIS. Rather it has become a major source for ISIS to get modern weaponry.

Having fundamentalism (Muslim, Maoist or any other for that matter) major reason behind any act of the terrorism is the thing that does have ancient traits. The problem with us is, to fight out terrorism and stop killings of the innocents, the priority should have been to stop the supply of the armaments to any such country/region, even for the lame reason that such people will fight out terrorist groups! For example, US supplied arms to Iraqi army to wage war against ISIS. It is doubted that some part of those arms, intended for Iraqi army reached in hands of ISIS. How then these countries can boast of ending terrorism? ISIS is a blot, but we cannot forget that they have been nurtured by the politically motivated intentions. America (and its friends) and Russia have been arming the terrorist groups alternatively. Russian war against ISIS and now France and allies participating it a great joke on humanity.

The lobby of arms manufacturers is strong in US. Russia too possesses equal ability to produce arms. China too is in the race to increase supplies wherever possible. They use all means, even smuggling them, to the destination wherever possible trouble erupts.

Under the circumstances, I would like to say that the war against terrorism is a lie. Warlords don’t wish at all that the terrorism should be eliminated from the face of the earth. Rather they are grooming the terrorists of the future by killing terrorists of the present!

 Blaming Islam for all terrorism is superficial excuse. May be the tenets of Quran are responsible for it. But then which religious book is devoid of these terrorist elements? Gita too specifically is aimed to wage war against Adharma…killing of human beings is necessary to establish Dharma…says Krishna ultimately! Now there is no clear definition of what Dharma or Adharma is!  But Hindu’s don’t go on killing the people in massive proportion, though their religion allows it! The only reason is Hindu’s have no easy access to the weapons. However. we can see how thee use of arms is being promoted by the fanatic Hindu organizations. Or else they too could have waged a bloody war against Muslims as RSS have been preaching since its inception! The religious commands in the old Testament too promote terrorism

What we need is, if at all we, the global citizens, are serious to have freedom to live and let live, if at all we are serious to end terrorism, first of all the weapon supplies has to be banned to the people/groups or nations those are up to disturb the global peace.

I mean that the weapon manufacturers and their supply chains must be kept under constant surveillance and should be punished heavily if at all they are found to be guilty in supplies to the wrong people. The nations too, those support or promote terrorism, should be imposed with economic sanctions. In a way the global community shall isolate them. 

And, under the disguise of Superpower, global policing of any nation, too, is needed to be stopped at top priority. Superpower means an ability to enslave others, politically or economically. The world nations should be well aware of the risks they are undertaking in wooing the so-called economic, political and nuclear powers.

If the terrorists can get easy access to the modern weaponry the day is not far away that they also can get hold of nuclear weapons too! Fanatics are ready to die as they are trained suicidal and what even if entire globe is destroyed after them? The risk is heavy….not at all affordable to the human being and other species.

To me, the war against terrorism can only be fought and ended with fruitful results only if the supply of the arms and ammunitions are curbed with global consensus and the smugglers are set to heavy punishments.

This is not impossible if the world is really up to fight out terrorism. If not….ISIS will never end….it would produce other hundreds from their blood!

Blood of the humanity will be spilled forever and the dream of ultimate freedom of humanity will never come true.

We have to make the choice…!

Nations cannot last forever…

Thus it makes us think and challenge the very concept of the Nations. If mankind could abandon outdated old systems, we too can abandon the present one. One day we need to abolish this concept of nations to establish new order of the the world…One World: One Nation!

If we peep into the early history of mankind, we find that numerous changes in the human life have taken place over the millenniums. Many systems emerged to suite the need of the contemporary times came into existence to collapse under internal or external pressures to give way to new one or because they simply wont work with changing times.

Primordial man was wanderer, a food-gatherer-hunter man as anthropologists describe them. Being nomads, in constant search of food and game, there couldn’t be eternal emotional ties with any particular land or region. Every human being was closely tied up with some or other band that formed tribes in later course of the time. The tribes trod almost every region that came in his sight. The perpetual wars, amongst tribes to establish temporal right over the forests where abundant game was available, would take place. Subjugated tribes would be taken for slave. Women would be used to grow population of the tribes.

In later course human being learnt very important art to domicile useful animal for food and even for protection, like dogs. Still he was a nomad as he had to move on constant search of grazing lands.

There were no permanent settlements till human being invented agriculture. Agriculture made human life easy, comparatively far cozy. He made settlements around water sources and fertile lands. This revolutionized human life and his way of thinking. His perspective towards human society and life got entirely changed. The drastic change in lifestyle made an everlasting impact over his psyche which can be traced even today. First time ever a concept of “ownership” arose in his mind, and he started implementing it. It was but natural there would be constant disputes amongst tribal-man about boundaries of the land and its expansion. The wars between tribes too were constant those would try to force out settlements to establish their own. In a way beginning of agrarian man was in the state of confusion, violence and uncertainty.

This was the time when human being thought of some system in an order to safeguard individual interests and protection from aggressors. Thus first idea of State came into an existence. This was very rudimentary organization which was going to develop through next millenniums. Since still human being was a tribal man, the tribes constituted their assemblies headed by chieftains to govern the interests of the tribe. The assemblies formulated the laws and ethical regulations with general consensus of the tribal people. In wars all those capable of fight would join to protect boundaries or for aggression. Internally rights over land, wealth and women were designed. The primordial religion too got tremendously modified in this period. In the course of the time City-State concept was developed. Some places partially democratic assembly systems were developed. Such States were too small with limited boundaries. We can see such examples in Greek and Indian civilization where kind of rudimentary republics were established. Jatak stories give us insight about the governance of such Republics.

But this system gradually took its last breath, because of its inherent limitations, to give way to the emergence of Kingdoms. This new system was of a representative of the Divine, a King, who would rule over the people, govern them, protect them and expand the boundaries by defeating other kingdoms. Vedik literature tells us a myth how first king Many was appointed by Brahma…to rule the people so that there would not be anarchy. Many accepted the difficult task in return with taxes from the people he would govern. This King became representative of the God. Early kings were chiefs of the religion as well.

With Kingdoms we find expansions of the boundaries. Constant wars to retain the boundaries. When kingdoms found the losses being incurred by constant wars the early pacts of alignments too came into an existence. So some kingdoms became allies and some sworn enemies. People were taught to be loyal to the king and kingdom. We find seeds of early patriotism sown in ancient times. Dying for the State in wars became a matter of pride as a heaven was assured by the religion. Though these were artificial and illusionary promises, they worked. We find numerous examples of such patriarchs in the past in ballads, in epics and in legends.

I can say creating artificial concepts in an order to make easy and profitable governance was necessity of those times which was destined to last till now.

IMPERIALISM

Foundations of imperialism were laid down in Kingdoms. The ambitious Kings wouldn’t be satisfied with limited territories. Thus subjugating other kingdoms to annex to their own begun as back as in sixth century BC. The imperialism started in India with Brihadrath dynasty. Later on Chandragupta, Ashoka and so many followed the suite. They acquired most of the Indian subcontinent and ruled through vassals. Chinese Empire emerged in 221 BC. Alexander dreamt to rule entire earth but succeeded in winning over few. Julius Caesar too was an ambitious man with immense valor, but Republicans of Rome killed him to curb his empirical ambitions, but soon after his murder the time Roman Empire came into existence to last for over four centuries.

Thus we can say the world came under shadow of imperialism that changed boundaries of the world…and thus human life and culture. In medieval period Muslim powers established their empires in India and elsewhere as well.

We can see till renaissance period globe was under rule of some or other emperors or kings. The empires collapsed and new empires arose. The boundaries were not perpetual. In fact boundaries had no meaning. The emperors and Kingdoms were ruled through vassals and feudal lords. Human rights had no meaning. The extreme exploitation of farmers/tenants and small manufacturers at the hands of feudal lords was a routine. Emperor, a divine power, representative of the God hardly thought of the common people. The French Revolution and renaissance brought awakening amongst the people. Way of thinking was drastically changed by these incidents. In fact very concept of “Nation” was outcome of the revolution.

Still we can find, the Nation-State theory was limited to the Europe. European countries jumped in the competition of colonizing rest of the world as their market places and source of constant supply of the cheap raw material and labor in the form of slaves. Rapid industrialization in Europe thus made their subjects rich and wealthy at the cost of the colonized territories throughout the globe. This was a kind of new imperialism practiced by nation-States. The European countries, as every country wanted some or more share in colonization, fell in a violent and aggressive competition that finally led to First World War. It changed the map of the Europe. United States already had attained freedom from England. Colonies too got engaged in some or other way in freedom fight. But the seeds of destruction those were sowed in the First World War resulted in World War Two. Adolf Hitler had obsession of establishing a Nazi (Third Reich) Empire. We are aware how destructive this war had been. USA and Soviet Russia emerged as superpowers post World War II. By middle of twentieth century most of the countries gained independence.

Then we enter in the era of cold war. The world got divided in two distinct orders…capitalist and communist. Many countries like India remained non-aligned. But from one India were created three countries. The boundaries of India alone got changed thrice. After collapse of Soviet Russia again many countries came into an existence. Some countries were being divided, such as North and South Korea; some countries got united like West and East Germany…

Thus why we are having a glimpse of the history, though everyone knows it, to understand one vital point that boundaries those make Nation, have never been perpetual. In fact the very concept of Nation is very new to the mankind. It is a symbolic, emotional but illusionary concept that has no meaning in real sense. We as a human being have always been ruled by emotions which need to be analyzed. We need to understand proper meaning of the state in which we are today. Though we call ourselves now civilized one, we are not free from imperialistic sentiment. Nation, as were systems of governance of the past like City-States, Kingdoms, vast empires, Nation-States too is a system that has sever lacuna's as the other systems had. Those systems collapsed because they had inherent problems…major one being lesser value to the human life, exploitation and not creating perpetual economy.

The Nations too are not exceptions, although degree may vary. We have created new problems such as of religious and sectarian terrorism. We have changed meaning of the independence as there is no independent country in real sense. No borders can be said everlasting as there are demands from the some or other sections demanding separate independent Nations almost in every nation…with violent acts or peaceful protests…No Nation is as safe as thought from the sudden aggression's that might change borders of this or that nation. This has been happened and will keep on happening. The race each country has fallen in is of ultramodern armaments and spending on armies.

Are we safe? In fact no one is safe, no matter whether one is citizen of a superpower or of a weakest Nation. Thus it makes us think and challenge the very need of the Nations. If mankind could abandon old useless systems, we too can abandon the present one. One day we need to abolish this concept to establish new order of the world…One World: One Nation!

Liberate yourself first!

From millenniums we have been taught to be a slave, either of religion, state or community! We have been so used to the slavery that we think being in slavery is our freedom. Politically too, no matter who are in the power, indigenous or foreign, we always were oppressed pawns! The degree of oppression varied but it didn’t vanish. We are told that there was golden age in remote past in India, but the social history contradicts this claim. It could be a golden age for some, not for the common people!

We the Indians believe that the conditions of present pitiable life are product of the sins committed in past life and thus faithfully have been living it without protests. The ruling or rich or religious classes, we thought, must have accumulated many righteous acts in their past life; hence protesting them too was a sin! Rather, not questioning the system was only righteous act that was expected from us! They used the tactic to make their life comfortable at the cost of common people!

This idea was greatest invention of India that helped tyrants to rule the masses incessantly without any need to wield the weapons or using the forces! The slavery was accepted as part of their destiny. There obviously was no need to search for optional political ideologies to strengthen the rule or oppose the rule. Priestly and political class worked hand in hand. The doctrine was rooted so much so that the people accepted most obediently the plight of their present life. Saints too were no exception. Nobody bothered for the salvation from the slavery of present material life. They all eyed on the salvation after death! There were protests long ago in the remote past to this evil thought, but they were systematically diluted in course of the time, so much so that they became distant unrealistic mythical memory!

Today, though we think we are free, our state of mind remains still unchanged. The political freedom too, which we think we have, is not the freedom in its true nature. Rather our freedom is an illusion! Our overall thinking process still works as same as it was working during the pre-independence era and in the times the feudal system had become basis of our society. It did happen simply because, since we never knew that we are been made volunteering slaves, and we loved it, there was no question to think of overthrowing the yokes of slavery forced upon us by our overall system.

Let us have a look at how the slavish mentalities still keep on haunting our life! To overthrow Vedic social system of inequality, we tried to find system of equality without abandoning the basic philosophy of inequality. Rather, what such people did was they changed their idols. They changed their scriptures and embraced the books written by the eminent personalities those were born in their caste! They changed their salutations. They nourished hatred against so-called upper class and other equivalents as well to establish their own supremacy. They too became propagandists the way so-called religious tyrants were. They too desperately fell in quest for searching of their own identities in remote past in some clans and clung to it. They also started to write the history that was suitable to their purpose. They did not think their idols of recent past too have become outdated as the knowledge and thoughts too keep on moving forth! The defeat of progressive movement was marked as soon they too followed the same rout, falsely thinking they were leading the path of freedom!

This was no different than what religious fanatics were doing! RSS all the time kept on harping of the tyranny of Islam rule thus teaching hatred to the people they thought are Hindu’s. They always spoke highly about the so-called Veda’s and infinite science loaded in it! They too embarked on a mission to rewrite history that could satiate their egos to boast of rich legacy of the past! The legacy of the only selective section of the Indian society!

In a way, we can say that this is a process of making people slaves of the past, slaves of the idols and slaves of the false identities! The master might have changed, but slavery did rule, same way as it were in the past, in different forms!

Religion, history and languages are the major tools in the hands of the people those want to be enslaved and to enslave people! Let us not forget, creating inferiority complex in some segments of the society is form of forcing slavery, no matter what mean is used! Inferiority does not allow any scope for equality! But, however, we find that all the sections of society, to establish their pseudo identities, are in quest of attaining and forcing the slavery of its worst kind!

The pity is slaves of the past try to find their self in false glory of the past. Indians have forgotten that the history did not take its course for their present convenience. History is history and it has to be evaluated without forcing present relevance’s and prejudices upon it!  History is not for anybodies convenience. But we are using the history as a tool. We are using languages too as a tool to boast of some section’s superiority over others! Language, to be brief, cannot be an invention of some isolated group of the people and taught to others. It is always a collective process. Still such philosophies are in wide circulation and commoners fall prey to them!

We need to liberate ourselves from such inhuman philosophies of the history and political sciences those are created to throw us in crevice of slavery! This is a quest in which slaves attempt desperately to make other slaves. But the fact remains, none is free. Falsehood doesn’t lead mankind anywhere. 

The problem is with our slavish mentality. Problem is with what we really think of the liberty. Problem is with our viewpoint as to how we look at our own life. Problem is with our lack of wisdom!

The process of liberation begins from We the individuals.  Unless we know what the liberty is in its real sense, mark it, we are destined to be eternal slaves of the circumstances. Many a time’s slavery is convenient because it gives false pleasure! But ultimately it swallows your freedom and forces you to be silent even if you might want to speak out sometime! Unless you are free from self-imposed slavish mentality, you will never find true political freedom!

What we aim at? We aim at the true freedom! We aim at true wisdom. We want to open the path of awakening of every self. Political freedom begins with the individual’s freedom. The freedom is from the religious tyranny, freedom from the clutches of falsely glorified history. Freedom from inferiority complex! Freedom to be an individual of own estimates.

This is all about liberty! Present politics is devoid of such liberty because they too want to use you as mere slave. They don’t want you to be an independent thinker. The independent voices are always suppressed. We don’t want our nation full of the people where individuality is at stake and risk!

When I say about liberty, I just mean to say, liberate yourself first, only then you can liberate the world around you!