Political Conundrum

Vasu Reddy From Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

General elections are just around the corner for India, and we have all media and the public discussing the upcoming elections in full tempo. Not a person or issue is left untouched, and every man, woman and child has multiple opinions on every party and every candidate who might be considering running for elected office. Caste, culture, language, region and even the slightest difference between people is made into a great big issue by the politicians simply trying to project themselves as the saviors of specific community. We, Indians are no different than any other country with open elections and candidates with resources running after elected office. There is a definite attraction to the elected office in a democracy, just so by looking at the candidates running for office; very successful businessmen and women, educated and experienced entrepreneurs, money men and women, people with societal stature, and whosoever who has the resources and or people behind them would like to run for office and run the office.

The issues for the people remain the same; education, power, prices and inflation, infrastructure and management. There is no change in the aspirations of the general public in looking forward to the next election and elected representatives, and what we expect them to do for the country. Each election cycle we look forward to the party and the leader who will lead the country to managing the limited resources that are available for better investing towards the needs of the people. It is with hope for the future the electorate goes to the polls, and votes for that bright future. The cycle of hope and elections is a constant, not just for India. The constant media attention, and 24/7 broadcasting of the promises leading to the polls keep us glued to and make us listen to the very word that is uttered by the politicians. Most of these words are often told and often repeated but they still have the punch and sting as they are told in a different time and environment, and using a different back drop.

India has dozens of parties that have a typical regional interest, and typical language or caste interest, while it panders to vote banks shamelessly, and people seem to not mind the pandering. There is very little new ideas to attract any new support, as most of the promises to develop, change, improve or whatever good English phrase that is available has already been used by the politicians. There is also a fairly old bunch of politicians that continue to either control a party or a constituency, so seldom room for newcomers into the foray.

There is a new influx of parties being formed and presented to the public as new and improved leadership, with new set of ideas. The electronic media makes it much easier today for getting the word out. The money floe from NRI and vested interests also support quick formation and publicity of a new party. While India has no limitations on politicians and political parties, there is also almost an unlimited supply of aspirations and demands by the public. A new party with a good public face and presentation of an agenda (albeit can be rehashed version of an already presented variation), will get the audience and support. India's youth and young electorate is quite en tuned to TV and Mobiles to revive and digest the ideas presented to them. There is also seemingly unlimited supply of funds for politicians who jump into the contests.

While the elections become interesting with various parties vying for the same votes, and splashing unrelenting advertisements on the public, they also represent the same ideas and promises of the past. They only point out that the incumbents have not delivered despite the time given to them in office. The newly formed parties have no history of non-performance and can easily claim that they will bring new change and new development. We the people always want to believe in the future as we always do, and we want to make sure of the same for generations to come. While we wait for the new elections and hear the same age old promises of a future full of promise, the voters have the same choices of prior elections, and just might have new faces as candidates. In coming months the challenges facing the country and its people remain, just that challenges.

Picking A Leader

Vasu Reddy From Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

For more than a billion people the next three months will be one more crucial time for picking the next leader of the largest democracy on earth. India although a voting democracy, typically is run like a private autocracy, but people still get challenged every five years to go and vote and try to bring the much needed empowerment of the public and the public systems, to empower the country to get on with its developmental needs. India since 1947 have typically voted with heart and hope, and decades later it still is a developing country and never has started to be a developed country.

The country is still plagued with poverty and malnutrition, dowry and harassment, poor and very rich (although it is not a barrier), uneducated and labor without benefits, politics and politics; and any other societal inequality that the English dictionary can think of for a underdeveloped union. We are still at least a 100 years behind on whatever we can classify as a developed society. Every elected government promises to remove the poverty from the Indian nation, but the population and the percentage of people who suffer extreme poverty only grows larger, rather than smaller. The old saying “Garibi Hatao” or remove poverty, has just been a slogan and no government has come close to empowering the citizens to eliminate poverty. In reality poverty may not be the biggest evil that the Indian nation might be facing, considering we have had a great number of generations of politicians who have had the chance to mange the country's affairs since 1947.

The opportunity of development of the nation has been quite rapid since the 1990's when the world started to deploy telecommunications and media as tools to connect and broadcast the happenings instantly and communicate in a flash. Radios' pagers, telephones and mobiles; and lately handhold devices make information instant and communications constant across the globe. Outside of a few instances of censorship in a few countries, everyone on the planet has the ability to receive and send information with just a few key strokes. India has more mobiles than people I would imagine, and internet and television make it a place for everyone to know whatever is happening in the world as it happens. The global communications has truly made Indians quite connected with the world and Indians truly love to talk, discuss and want to know about every little thing that is happening in the world.

The rapid changes in the field of telecommunications has also brought global interest in India and Indian business, and its development. This on the other hand also brings in the scope for money making for the politicians and bureaucrats, who handle the licensing and approval process of investors within India and from other nations who are interested in building their empires. Thus the last 20 or so years of scams and scams and more scams. Politicians all of a sudden have become quite adept at winning the seats at a huge cost and then making that money from scamming the system to rake in manifold from the money they spent in getting elected. Everybody in India and outside know that the scale of corruption is 100% and no less, and everyone want to make as much money as possible while in power.

It has left very little room for the money to flow into the country's infrastructure and development, as the politicians have their hands out for as much as they can grab. The common man doesn’t see the flow of funds as they are supposed to as they lineup the pockets of the greedy in power. No matter who comes into power they constantly are looking for ways to loot the public funds and only a small portion of the money available goes into investment into the country's needs and needy.

Now we are at a time to elect a new set of leadership and a new leader to lead India for the next five years. It is probably time for the public to pick and choose someone who has no incentive to scam or loot, or have someone that needs money around them. It may be the only saving grace to pick and choose a leader who is not in need of money and not in need to scam the public. Once we are able to identify and choose such a leader, then it will flow down to the remaining people under him and the politicians who belong to the party that scams will not be allowed, and thus during the course of the next five years the money will be (mostly if not all of it) invested where it is supposed to be. What the country needs now is a leader who has no need to money and no favors owed to his family or friends, and all the resources of the nation will be truly devoted to the country.

Flight 370

vasureddy@aol.com
Vasu Reddy From Chicago

It has been 11 days today and still there is no sign of the missing Malaysian Flight 370 with a total of 239 people (12 crew and 227 passengers) along with it. As incredible as it sounds and in today's world, the governments of Malaysia and all other nations that are involved in searching for the missing plane have no clue of where it is, let alone what has happened to the big machine with lots of people from at least 15 countries in it. From the time 370 went missing there have been a lot of speculation on who, what, when, where and why with the Boeing 777.

The world has thousands of pieces of spy equipment in, around and over the earth, and we still have no clue on what happened to this plane. Isn't this incredible or what? We live in the world where even when someone farts, Google will find the exact location and time and pinpoint the coordinates to the nth degree, with probably a clear picture of the person and put it on the internet for everyone to enjoy the spectacle. In every place where ever you don't want people to spy on you or pry into your private space, you have your backside appearing on face book or somewhere else for the world to enjoy your private moments, and we have nations fighting with each other on spying on each other, and guys in foreign embassy’s for a long time claiming political and diplomatic immunity for seating secrets and sharing them with the WWW. All this intelligence and cameras all around the world and up in the sky and we still don't know where this big jet is.

It is very likely that the countries with eye in the sky might not want to reveal the whereabouts of the big plane, just to make sure that eye spy in the sky is not revealed to the rest of the world. It is also very likely that people with the knowledge of the disappearance of the jet might want to be quiet to avoid getting entangled in the mess of international tracking of why and how they pulled off such a blatant and dastardly act. If anyone knows about the plot behind this modern day conspiracy conducted in such secrecy, they will want to remain incognito to just save themselves with global persecution.

All said and done on keeping things under wraps and avoiding persecution, there has to be a reason for taking a big plane away from the sky and driving it down to ground/sea or to an undisclosed location; must have a purpose. What is that purpose and how will the world know about why did so many people on the plane, who have nothing to do with the agenda of the disappearance of the plane; either were subjected to their untimely whatever has happened to them? It is certain that the direction of the plane was deliberate and planned, and at this time no one is willing to come forward to tell the world why?

Several things should concern the global population on how this is playing out. The ability of a person or a small group of people to simply take over a large plane midair and simply make it disappear without a trace is incomprehensible. Allowing airlines to choose to either install or not install tracking equipment on large jets in this day and age is simply defying logic. With so many satellites both commercial and spy; looking down on us but no one is saying what happened to this big jet is simply mind blowing. All these things add to only one thing; man claims too many tall things, but simply is incapable of accomplishing simple things such as coordination and cooperation. With so many people from so many countries missing, and a mega million dollar jet evaporated into thin air, we still don't want to use the resources we have to the best possible way to find the plane, but we still have been using resources into the second week by pointing them in multiple directions. We as humans continue to fail ourselves. It is sad, but true for all of humanity that it is not just the 237 people on the plane but all of the billions of the rest of the world should be shamed to look at the news and feel sad about the incompetence of the so called WWW and connected earth with a whole lot of crap up there in the sky. May be we should simply go back to the stone age where travel was by foot or horse, and very little money was wasted on fancy transportation and telecommunications.

800 Million Plus Voices

vasureddy@aol.com
Vasu Reddy From Chicago

General elections of 2014 are fast approaching in India, and the politicians are making speeches in high gear all across the country. All across the country the anticipation of the general elections in high pitch and at peak volume. Everyone in India and all Indians across the world are in expectations for at least a change in course of the government. There is a lot of politicians jumping parties and making deals for constituencies, and getting their bank accounts ready to face the voters and parties that they plan to represent.

From some estimates in the USA, Indian general elections of 2014 might be the most expensive elections in the history of the world. Just imagine if the reported costs are going to be the most expensive, the unreported costs could be enough to eliminate the budget deficit of most of the civilized world. While the discussion on the cost of the elections and running for office is such a massive amount, how much of the money spent will be recouped by these politicians and in how many fold to what will be spending in running for office and getting elected. In whatsoever form the money will be changing hands, much of it will be wasted in booze and entertainment and a lot of will be stashed in suitcases exchanging hands to win vote blocks.

Eight hundred plus million people will be going to the voting booths and electing a new parliament, and many states will also have statewide elections in concert with the national elections. India looks poised for a change in leadership as the current PM has already announced that he will not be seeking a new term with the new parliament. Whatever party gets into the majority mode (as it looks like it will once again be a coalition government), there will be a new PM in Delhi. It might have costs billions that might have changed hands to get the new elections done, but it will be a new face on the national leadership.

The most exciting aspect of the new leadership is the hope that it brings to the population that the new ideas and new programs will be put in place to look at the needs of the people. The country is getting larger and larger in population, and are also demands of the people who can barely survive. India's estimated poverty line and figures are so far from the truth and reality, it is difficult to put value or numbers on them. Only pushing the country into education, employment and openness is what is required of the new leader of the country. For a country that has the history of culture and innovation, today's plight is not for the history books. The country really needs to focus internally on the importance of internal emphasis on self-reliance and self-development.

Everyone of India's neighbors have scant respect for India and or Indians. They blatantly and deliberately poke into Indian internal and external affairs and constantly challenge the country's integrity and intelligence. India simply doesn’t respond to them in kind or with appropriateness. The media highlights the slighting nature of its international boundaries, but never does take a shot at responding in kind, where as every news agency in countries bordering India, have a daily washing to the Indians and Indian systems. We are incapable of responding to anything; both with the country and outside of it. Everyone and anyone with a mike or a pen or a computer bash India and its people, and we do nothing about it. The recent events with the Indian Counselor in New York and how was handled can only be a testament to the impotent response of the Indian government. We; a nation of more than a billion people and that too democratic; we waste time in just bashing each other and never are together to respond in kind to aggression by others surrounding us or anyone in the world.

The new elections while sounding very big and expensive must yield leadership that will tackle this issues of the country within and also outside. The country and its people should come first and everything last. Indians are becoming more and more aware of their surroundings and their needs, specially of their children. The next leader should make us proud and face the national needs and also international threats without hesitation. India and Indians can be self sufficient and self-sustaining and there absolutely no need for backing away from facing its own issues within, and anything that comes from outside. Let us elect a leader who will put India first and everything else last. Jai Hind.

Volta-Face

Vasu Reddy From Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

As long as politics and politicians have been alive and in action about-face is a term that is synonymous with politicians and politics. There is absolutely nothing sacred in politics and how the life and times of politicians is defined. Very seldom history has had a politician that can be found who has stuck what was said and what was done (even a great Google search will not find an example of someone who never changed positions in politics). This definitely doesn't mean that leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and many great ones of the past and may be of the future are no exceptions to changing their mind about a position or policy. If the great men have changed their position on a specific issue, there must be a compelling reason to do so, and there must be a reason for the betterment of the society and/or a convincing enough reason to change positions.

But in today's politics, Volta-Face is just about as common as going to the bathroom or having a cup of coffee. Everyone and just about every issue gets supported and also gets rejected; depending on the time of the day, who is behind it and how much money is involved or any other reason for political and personal gain of the individual politician. Once elected and in office, nothing will prevent politicians from looking out for themselves. The love for power and the seat is greater than any loyalty to anyone or anything.

Volta-face is a total change of position, as in policy or opinion, was often referred to in the USA and UK for flip flopping on positions. For Indian politicians, this is a definition by birth. No one has to teach them to flip flop on positions for convenience, as it is in their DNA. It is self-interest that guides the politicians and nothing else and volta-face is natural for everyone involved in politics.

The INC is the party that was all alone when India was declared independent in 1947. May be some of the left wing parties had an inclination for their beliefs but INC was the sole inheritor to the independent India's political legacy in the post occupation period. We definitely have a history of great political activism through the history of greater India, prior to the occupation of the country for centuries by various invaders, but for the lack of continuity between the periods, after 1947 INC can be the sole inheritor to politics in India and rest of the parties have come to fruition as off-shoots of INC.

There is no exception in Indian politics or politicians; in staying true to the commitments to their constituents, India really has no individual or party exceptions on volta-face. 100% of the people who represent the country at some point of time have taken action that are in their own best interest and have volta-face on people who elected them.

The latest example of politicians planning and executing to self-interest is the example of INC pushing through the creation of two states from Andhra Pradesh. The reasons for separation of the telugu people are far too many to list and too many decades of politicking and manuvering to really track what is fact and what is fiction. The creation of the two states, and the conditions under which they have been rammed through is also an endless list of volta-face events. The kicker for 2014 will be congress believing that TRS will merge into INC and will give them a sweep in the newly formed state is just a myth at best. First; TRS will soon announce its decision to choose it's own partners in the next elections and will not be merged into INC or any other party. If they merge into INC the guys who yelled the loudest to create separation of the state simply would disappear and will never be heard in the future, and will be relegated to the history books. These guys are so used to being in the lime light they will never simply walk away with the glory of division and they will remain in the limelight as long as they live.

The original premise of establishing TRS was to the cause (fight for is the commonly used metaphor, which is kind of overstating it as no one fights for a separate state) of separation of AP into two states, and once the state was split TRS will cease to exist as an organization and as a party. TRS is a political party and it is natural for it to volta-face; on both issues;

1. Disband the organization once the state of AP is divided into Telangana and AP.

2. Merge with INC if the state of Telangana is granted under INC leadership.

It is only natural for a political party to make statements and promises, and simply volta-face on them. TRS will do the same on both the promises that it made to people when they were forming the party, and also to INC before the seperation of AP was pushed through. If they don't chnage their minds on both the issues TRS would begin the era of new political organization, and this is not going to happen.

New State

Vasu Reddy From Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

The inevitability of accepting the separation of Andhra Pradesh in to two states is a reality that the people of the state and the country has to accept and move on. For whatever the reasons the INC decided at this stage to split the state and the circumstances leading to the separation are all well documented and it is for those who are interested should dissect into the information. For now the state will be split into two and barring a miracle there is no reason to believe that Andhra Pradesh as it stands will be the same.

Along with every other scribe who is remotely covering the situation in AP for weeks leading to the politicians voting to separate the state, me too was watching the unfolding of the events in Delhi. Everyone knew that INC will declare the two states, and there was little doubt in the separation. Politicians and political parties do things for a specific reason, and division of AP is no more than a political power play for a government that is certainly going to loose control in months, as the next general elections are just about 2 months away. The dialogues on we said we will separate the state in 2009 or before as just that, as the deliberations never did happen, as to the pros and cons in the many years since the INC says it has assured the separation.

Now that the inevitability has set in, its time to reflect on what next for the new state as there is no capital city identified, and no infrastructure that is defined for the newly created Andhra Pradesh. We only a bunch of congressmen who have no clout within their own party (definitely have no say so in functioning of the party no with resource allocations) and we are certainly going to get a party in power in the new state that is 100% anti INC. So, whatever will happen in the next couple of months will certainly not be in concert with the politicians of the new Andhra Pradesh as none is in the good books of the government in the center to represent the interests of the people of the new state. The plight of the people is really like Cinderella and her step mom. No matter how hard you work or how hard you try, you are still going to get the stick.

Considering that the central government will have to eventually provide the resources to build the new state with new infrastructure and new capital in years to come (they are saying at least 10) the opportunity for the new Andhra Pradesh is enormous to develop its own and world-class capital and state from scratch. This has to be paid for by the center as a part of the reorganization of the state, and either INC or anyone else in power the resources have to be allocated to the new state. The infrastructure and water and resource sharing are not a single state or party issue, and are national issues and irrespective of which party is in power in the center, they will have to be allocated and made available. Andhra Pradesh doesn't have to worry about the government in power at the center, rather it has to worry about the appropriation of resources to the proper channels and definitely use them to build the new state.

While there is no changing the attitude of INC towards the new state, the opportunity to build a first class capital and world class infrastructure is purely in the hands of the new state and its administrators. Far too much can be made on the divisive politics of INC, but now that it is done it time to focus on the generations of people who can look forward to a global posturing of the new state and the opportunity to build and develop a fantastic new state, along with a gleaming new capital. From the dry lands of Rayalaseema to the basins of coastal Andhra, the land and its resources and its people; all of them are afforded an opportunity to do something magical with the opportunity to build a new and gleaming state with opportunity and future.

If the people will elect and pick politicians who will work for a state that will use all available resources to betterment of the state, there will be no looking back for the new state. The future holds great promise to all that are associated as the development of infrastructure will lead to a massive employment and investment opportunity for all, and it will also avail the people to build something that will represent today and the future while we hold on to the heritage of the forefathers. After all the governments create separation, but we are all Telugu people who live in different places, states and countries, but after all we are telugus; brothers and sisters. As we are going to have two states, we move on and build each state to the best of our abilities and for the future generations. We have had house divided in just about every family and this is no more or no less difficult when it happens, but should not preclude the separation to be normal and eventually for the betterment of everyone. Opportunity to build and rebuild and looking forward to a fantastic two states for both my brothers and sister states; here is to the Telugu people all across the globe.

No State

Vasu Reddy From Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

Andhra Pradesh has become a no state for its people and the Telugu speaking community. For several years the state (if it remains one state by tomorrow) has been so focused on separation, and has completely ignored the bond between the people of the state, and definitely the needs of the people of the state. Since the accidental death of YSR in 2009, the state has not been able to hold together and live together, and also do anything positive for all the people of Andhra Pradesh. If and whenever the separation of the state becomes a reality, there will be much to look back and wonder about the same people of the state and their life and history from the time Telugu people and their heritage can be traced back to. Telugu people simply don't even see anything with the same context and seem to detest each other. No brotherhood, no friendship, no kinship and no nothing seems to have been in place, except hatred.

Even people who have lived away from AP for a generation or more have the same feelings are the people who live in the state at this time, simply don't see anything in the same light. We don't agree on anything, just make us two states and let us be separated. There is no pride nor self respect that belongs to the Telugu people, just simple animosity between the regions. Let us be two states and that's it. We have to wonder if these are the same people who moved across the districts of the state for generations and married with in the state and have relatives all over the state. For some reason or the other the division has become more important part of life rather than kinship and development.

Politicians and political parties have not been helping the cause of either an united state nor two separate states. They constantly fuel the flames of division and for several years have kept the people fuming at each other; just brother against brother. The differences of people and their history is real to some extent, and much of the rhetoric is made up by the politicians, while ignoring the real needs of the people of all of the Andhra Pradesh as it stands. In the years of agitation students, workers and families have lost life, property and more than anything else dignity of the state and their well being.

We have had no functional state and we are pushing for two states from here. Years of agitation and inaction have cost the state its premier status as an IT hub and an entertainment center, along with Hyderabad as a great tourist attraction. While keeping the ideology and aspirations of all of the Andhra people, it is also sad that the few choice politicians have been able to destroy the growth and infrastructure of the state. Outside of the destruction of the systems and progress, the destruction of brotherhood and friendship has added a great deal of stress to the people of the entire state.

The center has little to gain by the actions it has taken and is about to take, as politicians who represent the ruling government are no longer inside the house to even participate in the separation debate. They are either fighting with each other or the latest events show that they are still capable of fist fights and gassing each other, outside of uncomplimentary language which is in abundance when it they see any kind of media coverage. The people's representatives have really lost it in representing the people, they simply cannot tolerate each other, nor conduct their business without abusing others. In the case of INC the latest is that most of the abuse if directed at their own party and their own leadership.

At the end of all these commotion and hoopla we might end up splitting Andhra Pradesh, and more so splitting the people of the state and their wonderful integration of language and traditions and drawing lines to further political causes, but we may end up with no state. We have to look forward to more uncertainty and unplanned future for the states, and more loss of opportunity for all of its people. All is simply because the center never really is in understanding or appreciation of the needs of the people. India is full of historical blunders in reference to mapping of its states and its initiatives on how to deal with its own people and its neighbors. The state of Andhra Pradesh and its future is one more page in the Indian book of blunders.

The Curious Case of Kejriwal

Vasu Reddy from Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

By the time this column is written AAP in Delhi has already lost one of its own MLA who was expelled from the party for disciplinary reasons and another independent MLA who was supporting AAP from outside was ready to quit. The AAP government in Delhi is not even two months old, and has had its daily share of downgrades from other political parties and the press and itself continuing to step in deep dog doodle. For a party that was handed the reins of the national capital, AAP continues to fumble on a daily basis, and continues to make inexperienced mistakes in managing the most complex city in the country.

It was fascinating to watch the new party come into power despite not having absolute majority in Delhi, and that too with the support of Congress party, which was the main cause of the birth of AAP to start with. The objective of Kejriwal was to fight corruption and create ombudsman to curb and perhaps eliminate corruption. As ironic as it appears Congress allowed Kejriwal to become the chief minister of Delhi, and AAP the ruling party in the capital city.

While the listed priorities of AAP have been sidestepped by the opposition and its own elected officials, the party continues to make news for all the wrong reasons. To start they cant seem to get to grips with the power they have been given to run the government, rather seem to fumble at every thing that is thrown at them. The animated speeches and activity that lead to the elections and getting elected are no longer appropriate to manage the bureaucracy of a large administration and managing a maze of vendors and suppliers. It is no excuse that experience is required to run a political organization as AAP itself harped on the fact that the current set of politicians before was elected AAP were entrenched and did not have the best interests of the public at heart to do anything good or even attempt at addressing the common man's interests.

To start with AAP was allowed to from the government with the help on INC which is the party that has controlled most of the national politics since 1947, and AAP targeted as corruption plagued enterprise which should not be in power. AAP was able to get in power only with the help of INC because it neither had the support of the other opposition nor absolute majority to form the government on its own. While it made sense to avoid the cost of reelection and forming the government to move the city forward, the basis of the support to form an AAP government itself was against the very fact that the INC was the corruption plagued party that needs to be sent to the pavilion, but was the only support structure to form a government. To begin with the formation of government itself was a flawed arrangement. As surprising it was to see AAP accept INC supporting its government, INC might have had a plan to support and then destabilize and topple the government in quick order; all of which is an SOP of INC. For whatever it is worth AAP taking the help of its arch rival (INC was in power for several terms in Delhi before losing in this election) was it self a self defeating arrangement, and has caused constant grief to the newly formed government.   

The loose conference of newly elected MLA is not a simple task to manage and be cohesive. Internal bickering and conflict among the agendas and total lack of discipline in adhering to the party's agenda is already in full force with AAP. Everyday the news flashes the inexperience or incompetence of one of the AAP MLA, and the party simply issues an apology or disowns the statements and actions. This is a nothing but a sign of a group of MLA that have been thrown into an administration that is already under a microscope. AAP was supposed to work for the common man and deliver to its poll promises, not have infighting with its own elected officials.

What stared out as an exciting opportunity for a group of enthusiastic folks to have the opportunity to run a major city government and deliver to simple promises that were made prior to the elections, have been tuning out to be a farce. The inexperienced individual politicians with little coordination with the party's agenda and the power bestowed up on them by the people. They are constantly making mistakes with both the communications and delivery. They simply are unable to handle the power bestowed up on them.

Kejriwal himself had waffled several time son what he said and what he does, and his entire team is undisciplined to the tee to help with a defined agenda that can be delivered to, and that is inline with their poll promises. The media and the opposition parties don't have to worry about AAP in a self-destruct mode, as AAP seem to doing a pretty good job of doing the damage on it's own. AAP and its leadership although the heroes who won against INC in the heart of the country, have not been able to ride the public support and establish an alternative to the incumbent government. The enthusiastic crowds and supporting public, and a lot of promise to deliver simple things to the common man; all the expectations from Indians world over; all of these are in limbo because of the ineptitude of Kejriwal and his team. While AAP is still its infancy in running a government, it simply is unable to convert the power and public support into achievements. It would be a shame for AAP to simply fold in a few weeks and become an experiment in politics.

Hit Movie Material

Vasu Reddy From Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

India makes great movies with the hero fighting the corruption and bad guys (probably in about 99%) in just about every story. The fight against the bad guys and corruption in the society is glorified with gory and great detail in just about every movie in every language we have in India. We are celebrating 100 years of Indian cinema, and also we celebrate the bashing of the bad guys along with the celebration 100 years of Indian cinema. Not just Indians but world over there undeniable connection to cinema and fighting the bad guys, and in almost 100% of the movies the good guy comes out clean (unless you are picking off-beat movies or someone who is making them for other than masses).

It is not just the movies, but our literature and folk lore to our history and philosophy; all of them typically uphold good verses evil, and the good guys although, might suffer temporarily, always come out well at the end of the story. The irony of today's life in the great nation is that these good guys are continuing to remain in fiction and celluloid and have not been appearing in real life. While we love to compare someone to Rama for displaying virtues which are uncommon to the society, and constantly name children with names of great souls, we simply don't live or let other live in virtues we expect from others. It is simple to say no one else is following the rules and why we should follow the? The virtue of truth and applying rules of truth to life is difficult when the whole society is simply not paying attention to being truthful.

We read about Rama and Gandhi and many thousands of our mythological and also contemporary leaders who have lived on our great land. Whenever we get a chance we will use their names generously, but when the time comes to application of their life and times and ideology; we will simply leave it to the others to follow them and not us. Just that everyone in the country think the same and no one wants to follow the path to a successful and principle driven life. The life and times of our past (great souls) is simply relegated to discussion and prayer and is never applied to real life.

One of the greatest example of the 20^th century outside of Mahatma Gandhi life and times is of Shridi Sai, his life and times. Sai has millions of followers who sing and pray multiple times a day and hear his life stories of simplicity and sacrifice with great reverence. Just that once they come out of the place of worship the simplicity and sacrifice are quickly forgotten. Mahatma Gandhi has his name on a road in just about every city, town and dwelling all across India, but none seem too bothered about his examples of sacrifice and simplicity. Great nation with great examples of leaders and gurus, and people showing great reverence to their life and times, but none following the footsteps of the great souls.

We definitely make great movies and television series on the life and times of our ancestors and men of great deeds and just about all of us watch them with great devotion and excitement and anticipation, and definitely take the celluloid to heart. But the 100 years of Indian cinema has not brought positive changes to our hearts nor to our society, rather the systems, politicians, bureaucrats, managers and just about everyone who has the power to just do their job have only become more and more insensitive to their responsibilities and encourage corruption. Each year the instances and value of the corruption becomes greater and great, while the common man suffers from the stolen prosperity and also the accountability of those who are in positions of power. Unfortunately our saviors are relegated to the silver screen or the small screen, and our prayers remain in the place of worship.

In a culture that has history of the glory of peace and prosperity, the rationale of a society without prejudice and a place for communal harmony and life of tolerance has been relegated to celluloid. We pray and reminisce and we take the name of the great souls as if we believe in their life and time, but we simply leave it at that and for the silver screen, but seldom attempt to practice their preaching's in real life. It is too easy to watch the tales of virtue and elimination of evil on screen, so very difficult to follow in reality.

What Ever You Say

Vasu Reddy From Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

If you are a public figure for a long time, it must be really difficult to keep track of what you say and what you really do. The advent of communications and 24/7/365 media makes it difficult to retract the words you say, and even retracting has become difficult these days for blabber mouths. A combination of inexperience in dealing with issues and also with the multimedia has become a standard operating procedure for politicians, and we can see the constant foot-in-mouth demonstration by politicians, irrespective of who they represent. Media itself is on the prowl for any kind of tidbits to keep the channel space occupied and even the slightest response to the most innocuous query gets its space for at least a brief period time, and it is stored for perpetuity.

The early leaders for the 2014 national agenda are already going at each other, along with their respective parties helping in fueling the war of words. Mr. Modi is very articulate and very net and media savvy politician and can always come-up with great retorts and zingers to any negative comments thrown at him. He is also quite good at touting his agenda and accomplishments, along with his humble beginnings. When you speak to just about every NRI who is from Gujarat, they have high praise for him, and they all speak of the infrastructure and educational development, along with water and power management, and various issues that they all feel are of importance to everyone in the state, and also people who are Gujarati NRI. No denying the fact that the development of the state over the decade under Mr. Modi has been aggressive and progressive for the state and the opportunity for NRI in the state is far greater than that is offered in rest of India.

While the projected candidate for INC Rahul Gandhi is younger to Mr. Modi, he is no stranger to politics or political power. His family has pretty much had the monopoly on India's INC and power since India's Independence in 1947. He does keep claiming that he is not a career politician, and his family background and pedigree is not important, and whatever claims that are easy to make and sounds good to himself, but doesn't represent the fact that he is there because of who he is, and nothing else. The fact is the Nehru/Gandhi family has just about monopolized Indian administration, except for a few years of other surnames. It is not only unheard of in a democracy to have such continued power vested with one single family, but there is little evidence in the history of democratically elected governments having such long lasting seat at the power by the same family. For whatever it is worth, they continue to represent and and dictate the INC and their allies agenda, and henceforth the agenda of the Indian nation.

With the new elections of 2014 coming in a few months the early poll predictions are not favorable for congress, and also doesn't give absolute majority to the opposition. It can once again be a fractured and coalition based government where the parties that help form the government will look for favors beyond the means of the party that is going into power. If this happens and there is no absolute majority to a single party, Indians will once gain see similar horse trading and lack of administration that has paralyzed the last two terms of the national elections. A government not only unable to deliver to its poll agenda, but also full of grandstanding and mismanagement. India has a lot of experience in simply having a government put together with outside support, but unable to have a definitive agenda to meet the needs of the people.

The 2014 elections once again might deliver a coalition government, and once gain leave the country with unpredictable agenda that can never be achieved. Also, the politicians who are simply speaking into a mike and voicing whatever they want to say to whosoever is listening to them, will once gain have an escape route due to the coalition, rather than administration. There is nothing to say that absolute majority to a single party will guarantee a economic blockbuster and scam free and taint free government, but it will certainly enable the philosophy of the politicians and their party to govern without constant buttering of the affiliates.

We are hearing rhetoric and words beyond comprehension and the speeches being delivered to the voters with a lot of promises along with slime being thrown at the opponents. Majority of the slime is directed at the projected leaders of each of the parties, and often negative. In a life of public service, there must be some good done by the politicians and specially if they are projected as national leaders. We hear nothing good coming from the political parties about the opposition, and almost no agreement on policy matters, while we hear nothing about a balanced budget, economic upturn, employment, education and other useful things that might appeal to the voters.

It is no longer an interesting debate on who might come into power and what might be expected from the party and its leadership. The sound bites are now limited to whatever you say and how much more harsh words you will use against the opposition. For better or worse, here is to wishing that a single party get back into power, and will at least have five years to deliver what might be the best possible solutions for the country. Until then we the public will have to hear whatever the politicians say, be it real or fictional.

The Chief Minister And His Men&Women

Vasu Reddy From Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

The power of office is seldom mistaken for lack of confidence or opportunity to do good, specially if you are the chief minister of the nation's capital. You as the head of the government and your ministers (men and women) are bestowed the power to represent the people and their interests as long as you hold the office. When you represent the nation's capital and depending on who is in control at the center, the power that comes with the office also directly goes either hand-in-glove or head-butting with the government.

The young party and government of AAP in New Delhi although in power because of support from INC (who was its main target to form the AAP and contest and defeat in Delhi), the party quickly tried to make good work on its promises in its election manifesto. The cut in the electricity bill, the free water supply (to a limit) and fighting corruption, holding public audiences, hotline for complaints and generally populist ideology that is near to people's issues and problems.

From the stunning defeat of the incumbent party and its long standing CM, the AAP started off with a bang and a promise of addressing its self described manifesto, and in the first few days did act quickly on the popular and ever in demand items of water and power, and also start its main agenda to stop (at least try to) corruption. In its best judgment, taking the steps to deal with public issues (AAP stands for common man's party) AAP demonstrated the better judgment in not ignoring how and why it got into power. As commendable as it is to follow-up on election promises, the party started off with a bang in making good on its bread and butter issues.

Along with its aggression on implementation of its core promises and also ideals, the party also immediately has faced a few problems;

• The other parties including its support base INC immediately started to criticize the actions, and specially every single action taken by the AAP are in great difference to the old practices of the political parties of the nation.
• The part it self displaying conflict and lack of discipline and coordination in its responsibility to and public/private actions.
  
• Probable lack of vision, planning and foresight into doing simple things that public expects to be coordinated.
  

AAP deserves high praise for its actions after the elections, specially all of a sudden a party without national presence and lack of seasoned politicians and experienced leaders; but simply a bunch of do-good folks with education and sincerity to addressing and implementing to the needs of general public are given power to deal with and solve the problems of the nations capital.

The criticism from the old and entrenched politicians and parties are expected, as they would like AAP to fail and fail quickly so they can claim the “I TOLD YOU SO” and focus back to the age old politics of INC or even BJP and all others who have had the time and resources to implement to the needs of the people. Generations and generations of time has passed and still the national theme of “GARIBI HATAO” remove poverty has never been seriously dealt with. The leaders keep drumming up the themes of caste and religion and benchmarks for underprivileged, and programs of women and children and whatever they can think of, with utter disregard for the amount of time India has been independent from foreign rule.

We have forgotten the election promises made by every government since 1947, or rather the politicians would like the people of the country to forget them and make them again and again with each election cycle. We are presented with same people, language and posturing every election cycle, and utter disregard for human issues. There is no place that is more democratic or patient as India and its population, still we get the same old spiel on what the politicians will do when they come back into power.

While AAP continues to make mistakes with its speeches and disagreements in public, it also is forcing the nation to look at politicians as people who should perform to what they say when getting elected, rather visitors who come every 5 years. If nothing is done by AAP, it is forcing the public to look at politicians in a light that India has long since ignored. They are accountable for their promises and actions, and the politicians of the old do not like this. Even if AAP fails to succeed in Delhi in its management and politics, it has put the people first and it is a process long due in India. The criticism that stems from the old politicians is rather comforting to the public as it is exactly what the public will be doing when a party in power doesn't keep up to its election promises. If nothing AAP has delivered to the people the ability to listen, vote and demand that the election promises are not just that, and they are real issues that are to be addressed and handled by the elected.

Pressuring The Elected

Vasu Reddy From Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

Before the elections the vote seekers promise the moon and anything else that might attract a few votes, along with greasing the palms of everyone who might help get the people to vote. Its not limited to just Indian politics but it is a universal phenomenon. The delivery by a single politician or a political party will start to set the wheels in motion for public expectations on the poll promises. AAP and its poll promises and the party starting to make good on the promises made prior to the elections will set the entire national political process into a me too syndrome (not just eating public's money but making good on the poll promises) and should at least temporarily start addressing the public's issues.

AAP is beginning to work through the list of promises it made, and also listed out in writing to the other parties to form a government. This list has been not only written but published and is on the internet for everyone to see and read. It has been well documented and publicized, and there is no question that the public will forget it. It is on everyone's memory banks, and while it may not solve all the issues public probably feels that are necessary it is a list that AAP put in writing and published, and should be held accountable for.

The party first should make every effort to keep delivering to the published poll promises. If that falter in delivery trying to get them done, people will notice the effort and will also see why it might not have happened. First and foremost for a political party is to show people that you are serious in making every effort to make your administration demonstrate its spine in doing what it said before the elections. It is not a novel concept to do what you said as it simply installs a level of trust between people and its administration. By promising and planning and also executing those plans is a hall mark of a party that is serious about what it says and what it does; which in turn will endear people to embrace its administration. Development doesn't happen overnight but it is continuous and requires constant monitoring, management and investment. Picking any field to work with; education, infrastructure, technology, telecommunications, agriculture, trade, human resources and anything else that is the realm of administration and management will certainly require constant reinforcements and funding. The needs of each and every aspect of a nation's population will constantly require planning and future thinking, outside of financial resources. By attempting and actually applying the administration to work diligently about these issues or any other issues that are of importance to the people, and keeping the people aware and informed of what is being done and how each of these issues are handled is the true hall mark of democracy.

If a single party in one single city starts to deliver to its election promises, it will immediately start pressuring the future of politics and politicians. The public at large will want to hear from the people who want to lead them for next election cycle, and then they want to measure the performance based on what AAP is doing in Delhi. All of a sudden the country is looking for people to do what they have said in getting elected, and if they don't say sayanora. The AAP also is going to start the national interest in making public needs as a priority.

Common mans issues and addressing them to specifics will become a SOP for next general elections. Whatever the history of the INC, BJP or whatever other parties will also be coupled with what is the politician saying to get elected, and what will be done after getting elected will become a yard stick for politicians. Granted India cannot be modeled after one big city electorate, and the changing of hands of money and material in wooing the public to polling booths is not going to disappear overnight, but the changes to the political system has already been pushed into motion and the public has embraced the changes. This is good for the democracy which has been hurt and stagnant for decades and really needed a kick start to end the bureaucracy and bigotry.

All this adding to the pressuring the future elections and candidates running for office. AAP is doing a good job of at least attempting to meet the challenges of its election manifesto. If the party in Delhi keeps up to meeting the deliverable of its election promises, it will be great beginning for the Indian electorate. The politicians who have made a life of promises and never considering the need to deliver to them, the wannabe politicians who will face the new or future electorate, and the AAP itself who will be monitored for what it does compared to what it said prior to taking the challenges of administration in probably most corrupt place in India. Judging by the reactions of the INC and BJP and others being critical of AAP infancy and its attempts to make good on poll promises, it looks like people are getting what they have been told when the elections happened. Its a great time for people and observers alike to see what unfolds in this 2014 election cycle. Power to the people and power to the democracy and power to INDIANS and INDIA.

Polar Vortex

Vasu Reddy From Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

It is only January 6^th of 2014 and we have already had enough snow to beat the annual snow fall averages. By looking outside the window Monday early morning, there is more than 3 feet of snow that you can look at, may be more because the snow is really packed due to the constant fall through the last few days. Its white and white and white everywhere you look at and all frozen. Its frozen solid, and beautiful to just look out, as its hazy and snow is coming down in batches. For those who live in Chicago it has been a few years since they saw so much snow so early in the season, and the clod it self is absolutely cold.

We have a constant barrage of news and radio and internet reports on what is coming to through the weather by the minute and nothing changes it except people just looking out the window and going about what they have to do, albeit very very slowly. Believe me it is slow, as there is no way to zip down the road for too long without hitting someone or something.

The deep freeze has come at a good time as the kinds are home for the holidays and most working people are also on Christmas and new year holidays, so there is not a whole lot of traffic or anxiety on the road because of the holidays. By the way the movie Frozen is in the theaters at a great time to enjoy the wonder of snow, cold, ice and deep freeze. The movie in great detail displays the wonder of winter and cold weather along with ice castles and great snow covered landscape. Although I no longer write movie reviews, this movie is a great one for family viewing and wonderful entertainment.

Next couple of days will be really cold as predicted, and outside of more snow and more snow which is followed by deep freeze, there will be much else that will be reported. It is assured that the bad guys will be holed in and not out on the streets, and only the guys with odd jobs will be heading to work as they will have to show up to get paid by the hour. Schools are closed and the kids are going “yes” and “yes” although they have been home since before Christmas. I guess they are just happy staying home and watch TV or playing video games, and bunking school. The no school message is as welcome as the Santa showing for the children, and it makes them quite happy with faces showing the absolute delight of bunking school.

It is quite interesting to worry about the weather as there is absolutely nothing humans can do about the weather, and we simply have to live with it. Where ever we live; be it hot or cold, rain or shine, snow or sleet, and whatever combination of the weather gods, it is simply inevitable. The folks who live in the mid west experience the seasons to the full every year, and it is given we will get sun, cold, rain and snow and in between weather every year. It does make you appreciate each and every season and the wonders of the nature just staying put in the old neighborhood. For the love of god each season is wonderful by it self, and every season has its own appeal, color and character.

The deep freeze is probably good for the next season. The rivers will be flowing full, the vegetables and crops will be wonderful, and the grass and trees will be green and flowers when arriving will be in full bloom. It is given that we will have a wonderful spring coming up after the deep freeze. The employment for winter workers is in full bloom, along with the wonderful after Christmas demand for salt and snow equipment and the workers who help with snowploughs and cleaning the snow. It will be a season for great sales (after Christmas) and great winter weather employment. Also great business for emergency workers and equipment and tow trucks and salt trucks. It will be a great winter literally and figuratively; all around the winter weather will make full use of the resources and employment for the season.

Its a great start to the year, and a great winter in full force. The rest of year looks very promising as the water, irrigation, agriculture and many of the naturally driven sources of commerce and industry are well resourced in just the first few days of the year, allowing for the rest of the year to catch-up to the demands of people and process (may be politicians). Here is to a great winter and moving forward in a great year.

Return Of The New Year

Vasu Reddy From Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

2014 is just hours away, and another new year is almost here. Lots of excitement as it is at the time of the New Year, with everyone on holiday and in the mood for a reason for celebration. Chicago is going to be bitterly cold approaching 2014. Yesterday the Chicago Bears lost their final game of the regular season in the last minute (I was watching and it breaks your heart, just like many other seasons with the Bears), and the last remaining thing to cheer for the year, and first thing to cheer for the locals for the New Year is gone. Also, the Indians lost to South Africa in the last test match of the year, and they lost big. There will be expert commentary on the losses and the justification behind the massive losses by everyone their brothers. They just won't simply say the teams were up to no good, and they were just average and lost to much better teams. This is also quite a traditional happening in both Chicago and with the Indians.

Its also my last column for the year, and as always its good to look forward to the new year with some excitement. My publishers and readers and everyone else, I am sure are looking forward to the new year and along with it the time off from whatever each one of us do, and also a bit of a celebration. For us in Chicago, it is a really hard time on the body's fat from Thanksgiving through the beginning of the new year. Despite repeated attempts to control the intake, it is impossible to do any kind of moderation during the time. All the workouts for almost eleven months are shot in the space with one month of binge gouging.

The past year has been uneventful as it has been similar to just about every other in the recent past. Politicians continue to bicker, rather well dressed these day but they constantly mouth off against each other, and the availability of massive media outlets is making them sharper looking and sharper in bad mouthing everyone else who is in the opposition; sometimes in the same party. So nothing new can be expected in the space of addressing the people's issues, let along finding solutions for them. Neither the Indians nor the Americans, both large democracies with vastly different economic structure have done a single thing to help their people. The last straw was the arrest of the Indian diplomat in New York and the treatment meted out to her by the Americans, was simply the attitude displayed by the law enforcement in the USA, albeit with the politicians and legal system involved. At last the Indians are showing some spine in taking their own measures to give the Americans their own medicine. Hey! We are are all capitalists and not communists, so let us treat each other with dignity, specially when it comes to women and children. The Americans are not very innocent as they have done things like this to Abdul Kalam (probably most loving Indian living) and to SRK (who is definitely one of the most popular Indians), and the current fiasco in New York is not an isolated incident. So much for the friendship for Dal and Roti as professed by Obama, and Singh proclaiming the friendship between the two great democracies. For the love of god, please have the respect to at least show it for the diplomatic forces, if not for general public.

My state of Andhra Pradesh remain in boil as the state is constantly subjected to the division politics, and for months after the declaration by the INC it remain unitedly divided. There is no magic to the division as it is politicians who are finding the forum to mouth off powerful movie dialogues or equating each others activities to sports. Not a single one of them have done anything to address the people issues, but simply paying to the crowds. We have actors and orators by the thousands in the electorate, and we really don't need any training to make movies these men and women as they play to the gallerias without hesitation.

The AAP forging the government in Delhi is not a real surprise either as people are fed up of scams and incompetence and kissing behind by the politicians. Getting a band new party into power is not a surprise as it is almost guaranteed that people will vote you into power if they can hear you address their concerns. As of writing this column, AAP has fulfilled the promise to deliver free water in 24 hours of coming into power, and its a start to one of their 18 things in their election manifesto. Even if they do half of the things they described in their election manifesto, it will be a welcome change to Indian politics. I personally like this man Arvind as after just getting elected as CM of Delhi, he gets diarrhea and fever and is working from home, and has already done one thing he said he will do if elected. I don't want to forget his electing to stay at his own home and ignoring the big security detail, by saying he is with his people and he doesn't need any security. Way to go champ! And hope you will do all you said will do. Anna seems to be happy with developments in Delhi as his protege Arvind as taken the hot seat and now is the time to perform. Delhi is the seat and root of corruption and if Arvind can get the house clean, it is likely it will flow to the rest of the country from New Delhi. Here is to the newness of clean government, at least for now. Jai Hind.

Many things to move on from as the world is pretty much the same except the figure of 2013 will become 2014. While waiting for the new year, here is to wishing everyone great things to come in the new year and peace to all.

Happy New Year.

Common Man's Agenda

Vasu Reddy From Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

With AAP (common man's party) accepting to form the government in Delhi, it is one more time displayed that common man believes that change can happen, and when promised to meet appropriate requirements of the population as a whole, the electorate is willing to give you a chance to deliver what you promised. The fascinating aspect of the election is that people did not reject the incumbent party completely, nor endorsed the new entrant AAP completely, while allowing the current opposition BJP also some room for being a player. At the end of the week, AAP is being allowed to form the government, despite not having the absolute majority required to form the government in Delhi on its own.

Congress is extending outside support to AAP to form the government. The conditions of the AAP to form a coalition government are well laid out, and look promising. Promising in the sense of achievable electoral objectives. While the party that was started to fight corruption and the status quo, first is being forced to form the government in Delhi only with the help of INC, which has been the main focus of AAP in its campaign against corruption. As ironic as it might be, there is no other way to form a government in Delhi without the help of INC or BJP. BJP has taken the high road and has not offered to cater to the demands of AAP, and congress although has agreed to the rules of engagement to form the government, it has already started to back track on its offer to support without reservations.

It will be interesting to watch and wait to see if AAP will be allowed to from a government, and if it is allowed to form the government, how long will it survive. Will the congress party keep quiet and let the AAP execute to its poll promises? Many a questions will start to formulate for the public as this political drama unfolds.

While the intentions of Congress are not clear; weather they really are keen on supporting a new party to run a large metropolis; weather they don't want further humiliation of losing more if another election is help; weather they want to support now and back stab the AAP as soon the government is formed; or for whatever unknown reasons.

The ideology of the new party is obvious. The leaders are educated and articulate and also have a great understanding of the bureaucratic process of the government. While shunning the perks of the elected politicians, they also show the symbolism on simplicity; where as the risk of public exposure is also there if the newly elected officials don't want appropriate security. All said and done they seem to be struggling with what is a respectable representation of public interest, and what is that they have to do to get into power to start working on the agenda they laid out to the public before they got elected.

Once more in the large democracy with a billion requirements; the process of eradicating corruption is the main theme in getting a new party elected, and in this case offering to allow it to form the government. It is a wonderful step to achieve a people's agenda through elected politicians. All wonderful on print and paper and also on the internet. If and when the INC and BJP really allow the AAP to form the government in Delhi, all AAP has to do is stick to its agenda, and simply do it. It is hard to imagine that INC and BJP will simply sit back and allow AAP to do what it said to people, but if they try to put spokes into the process it is universally known that they will get thrown out of more seats and probably outside Delhi also with the next elections. If they simply allow AAP to perform to its electoral promises, they will have to hide go knows where.

India is a dirty place for politicians and politics. While we want AAP to keep up to its promises, all of them, we also know that the major political parties will not allow them to successfully implement the people benefiting schemes.

It is a great time for political observers to watch what will happen in Delhi. There is high drama, and great interest in the actions to follow. People simply hope that the party that will come into power will start to work on people's agenda. Jai Hind.

Return To The Times Of Asoka

Vasu Reddy From Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

Everyone in India remembers the times of Emperor Asoka. Such was his administrations focus on implementation of programs and development to take into the needs of his people, even today he is used as the guiding force to the urban and rural development, and education and transportation planning and whatever was necessary and needed and appropriate to cater to the needs of every man, woman and child in his kingdom.

At the bottom of this column, I have attached a column from Timesofindia.com for reference, which is a great adaptation of some of the centuries old governing tradition of Indian emperor Asoka the Great. This column is not an endorsement of a political party, rather a reflection of the great past of our great country, and its rulers. We have a number of wonderful dynasties that have ruled the greater Hindustan for centuries, with ideals and logic that can be very relevant in today's time. The reference to the Times of India column is also not a comparison to what is listed by a political party and what the great emperor Asoka implemented in his kingdom, it is simply a reflection of the great things that can be undertaken by the elected politicians to make India a better place for its citizens. It requires nothing more than simple planning and goodwill towards the electorate.

Nothing has changed in the perceptions and behavior of people over generations; except we simply wear differently, and look differently, and live differently; but our mindset is as primitive as the man kind is. The differences of rich and poor, the differences of men and women; the differences of back and white; and the differences of educated and uneducated; and a whole lot of wordy differences which we live with and confront every minute of our life; with haves and have not's is not just today's issue that humans handle, but has been in existence since the beginning of life.

Why do we not want to follow the simple rules of life and apply them to the governance of the country? If we read through the 18 points are put forth to the two major parties in the country, they seem mundane and to a point being childish. We the people of India have began to look at our history and try to relearn the principles of life and living? Are we so far removed from caring for what is happening to our land that we no longer can remember what is good for our society? With so many simple and steadfast examples of life and reasoning are being ignored by our elected officials, the country really needs to stop party and personal worship, and start to look at the needs of the citizens.

While the current political scenario is hopeless with all politicians embroiled on scams and controversies, and all political parties without a clear mandate nor direction, the country needs to introspect on it past and its current history. We are after all a country of great examples of courage, management and definitely sacrifice. We must get back to realizing the potential of the nation, and its people. Just because of a couple of political parties and a few politicians, the country cannot look forward to mismanaged resources and squandered opportunities for its citizens. We have always found our destiny to be great and have always found leaders who will plan and execute towards the greater good of the people. Just because a generation or two of scams and incompetence, should not deter us from looking forward to a country of opportunities and greatness.

Each one of the citizens wish for the opportunity to dream and plan for a prosperous and peaceful country, which will be devoid of corruption and incompetence and bickering. Here is hoping that the long list of needs of the people that need to be attended to will start to take center stage, and politicians become simple executioners of the mandate bestowed on them by the citizens.

Jai Hind.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/assembly-elections-2013/delhi-assembly-elections/18-issues-raised-in-AAP-letter-to-Sonia-Rajnath/articleshow/27347282.cms

18 issues raised in AAP letter to Sonia, Rajnath

The 18 issues pertaining to the common man raised in Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal's letter to the Congress and the BJP chiefs includes:

1. The VIP culture should be stopped in Delhi. No MLA, minister or Delhi official will use a red beacon on their cars. Neither will they live in big bungalows nor take any special security.
2. Passing of the Janlokpal Bill, the same version for which Anna Hazare held fasts.
3. People will take decision directly in 'mohalla sabhas', which will be held in every locality and colony.
4. The AAP demanded complete statehood status for Delhi. Central government's hold on DDA and Police should end.
5. The party also demanded a special audit of all electricity companies in the national capital from the time these were privatized. The companies that refuse to participate, their licenses should be canceled.
6. Electricity meters should be checked.
7. There is 220 liters of water available for every person daily. Where is it?
8. AAP wants unauthorized colonies should be regularized. Thirty percent of Delhi's population lives in such colonies and these should be regularized.
9. The party demanded to know if the Congress and the BJP will support its decision to give clean and affordable 'pakka houses' (built up houses) to those living in slums.
10. It also sought their support to give regular jobs to those working on contractual basis.
11. It wants to give infrastructural facilities like roads, electricity, water and basic facilities to the ordinary trader.
12. AAP said it is against FDI in retail.
13. The party wants to provide facilities and subsidies to farmers in the villages in the national capital.
14. The party also demanded to know the Congress and BJP's stand on opening 500 government schools, stopping donations in private schools and making the fee system transparent.
15. The party said it wanted to open new government hospitals with better facilities.
16. It also wants to have special security units for women and wants all harassment cases to be tackled within three months.
17. It wanted to set up enough courts and appoint judges so that all cases are dealt with within six months.
18. The AAP wanted to know whether the municipal corporations of Delhi will support them on these issues.

Looking For Light

Vasu Reddy From Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

It is Diwali time for 2013, and lots of celebration and cheer among the Indian folks world over. Everyone of the NRI folks seem to embrace the festive nature of the festival of lights and much is written and said about the time of the year for revival and new found attitude towards the next year. It's fall here and already a touch of the cold weather to come in the next few months, and Halloween Candy adventure was already cold and splattered with rain. A typical time of the year for those who live in Chicago. This year was very similar to the weather at this time of the year.

Beginning with Dasara and Halloween thru the beginning of the calendar year, Indians are quite blessed with the days of Dasara and end of the year to new year celebrations. Personally the sweet tooth is well fed with all kinds of confectioneries for almost 3 months and probably 25% of the body weight to be lost as new year's resolution. All wonderful things come together and everyone is buoyed by the spirit of the season and celebrations.

While we celebrate the season and the festivities of the end of the year, it is still the same political uncertainty in our beloved state and natural calamities are added to the season, along with the politics of the division of the state. Much to be concerned about the division of the geography of the land of Andhra Pradesh, and although the announcement has been made, there is still no clear road map of what will be thrown upon the people of the state and their friends and relatives world over. Each day there is speculations on who said what and the bitterness in addressing the real and perceived issues that are in front of the people of the state.

All over India and all over the world the festivities of Diwali have been in full swing, but we don't hear the same from our state of Andhra Pradesh. For obvious reasons the state is subdued in its celebration of new year and the festivities of Diwali Much is written and said about the political uncertainty of the state, rather than the season of festivities. Each day doesn't give any more comfort to the people of the state, but the political bickering by the politicians.

The time for reasoning has long past its time as the politicians don't make it any easier for the discussions on what to do next and how to handle the real issues of the people, rather they fuel the fears of the entire state and sometimes the entire nation to be in limelight. The center has no real agenda except political, and the state's politicians have no agenda except contempt for each other.

People continue to suffer with education and services are not receiving the attention of the people who are supposed to be managing the services, and politicians who have been elected to govern and support the process. You don't even see them passing on Diwali wishes as they typically do to their constituents. Its strange behavior considering that the elected officials and appointed bureaucrats are simply bickering, and ignoring that there are millions of people who need help.

Diwali has come and gone and people are waiting for resolutions to be at peace and live their life. While looking for a greater new year, there is little that we can look forward to as there is no end t the war of words, and no end to the inaction from politicians, and it doesn't look like there is light at the end of the tunnel.