JNU ROW AND THE SURROUNDING FARCE

These kinds of farces are major deathblow for the movements of really depressed classes. This intrigue of illegitimating the genuine revolutions, is really dishonesty not just to the nation but also to the society.

- KEERTHIRAJ

“Every child, at birth, is the universal man. But, as it grows, we turn it into ‘a petty man’. It should be the function of the education to turn it again into the original ‘universal man’ ”. These lines are the translation of the worldview given by Great Kannada poet and Thinker Kuppalli Venkatappa Puttappa, popularly known by the pen name Kuvempu. These enlightening lines of Kuvempu are not only applicable for Indian context, but also to the all social, religious, political and cultural institutions and personalities involved in it all over the world. Academic field is also not an exception. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) issue and the debate surrounded over that issue is nothing but an example to turn the universal man into ‘a petty man’. Recent arguments and the drastic turnovers in this debate are completely misguiding and misleading common man and ignoring the real vicious circle of this problem. India’s Self-proclaimed intellectuals dangerously, neglecting the crucial and probable threat to country's internal as well as external security.

Image Source: en.wikipedia.org

The JNU controversy slowly, if not turned, at least showcased into as a between Left wing and Right wing people. With this farce, basic questions of both the Left and Right remained unanswered! Yes, it is our first mistake to see this issue with the light of ‘Marxist’ Left ideologies. The very purpose of this attempt is a betrayal not only to the nation, but to the society too. Fundamental question here is what made these people to raise anti-India slogans? India provided not only food and shelter, but also constitution, rights and also universities like JNU with the freedom to protest! However, what instigated the group to raise anti-India Declaration? On the other hand, one more argument considered these anti-India slogans are mere false accusation. Further complicating the issue is the attack on JNU students and journalists in the premises of the Court. Some ABVP student leaders resigned from their positions, expressing their dissatisfaction with the mismanagement of the whole issue by Central government. These internal developments are posing threat to the national integrity and defense, more than external enemies. This incident is a serious challenge for Indian consciousness.

Public debates are busy with blaming universities and some others accusing it as a plot of saffronisation. No one questioned or at least thought why these universities are becoming the producers of such disputes? Nowhere, we can find illiterate people disturbing the social peace, but the problems are created by so called learned people, who read extensively from Marx to Amartya Sen, Ambedkar to Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi to Netaji. These agitations achieved only social barriers rather than social emancipation. Famous philosopher and statesman Edmund Burke opined, “Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it.” Unfortunately we are repeating historical mistakes again and again. Yes, even if you believe all our universities and students are influenced by left-wing Marxist ideology, they can’t defend these irrational activities. This shows they are not even comfortable and fit into the domain of Marxism.

The number of students and professors responsible for this controversy do not even form one percentage of total student community. But the situation is portraying this group as the representatives of whole academic community. These kinds of farces are major deathblow for the movements of really depressed classes. This intrigue of illegitimating the genuine revolutions, is really dishonesty not just to the nation but also to the society. Students have the right to protest against the injustices.  Every class, race, and each individual has provided with equal space to protest in Indian democracy. However, the misuse of this freedom represents a fool sitting on the wrong end of the branch of a tree and cutting the branch he was sitting on!

  

      

KEERTHIRAJ (krj492@gmail.com)

·       Currently serving as a Faculty for International Relations and Political Science at Alliance University, Bangalore. 

      (This article was published in Central Chronicle newspaper on 24 February 2016)

A SPECTER HAUNTING SIACHEN

We should look into the broad political dynamics of South Asian politics for a clear picture about Siachen problem. Demilitarization of this may be a direct invitation to China to attack this land.

- KEERTHIRAJ

Whole India mourned the death of brave warrior Hanumanthappa Koppada and his 9 associates in Siachen avalanche. Meanwhile the debate of demilitarizing Siachen glacier reopened with new rigor. Siachen is not only world’s highest battlefield but also the most dangerous one. To date Siachen avalanche swallowed the lives of more than 2000 Indian and Pakistani soldiers and also caused permanent disability to some soldiers. Each moment spending in Siachen is nothing more than losing your lifespan slowly!

Image Source: indianexpress.com

When United Nations declared ceasefire for Indo-Pak war in 1949, Pakistan already occupied one third of Kashmir and named that region as Azad Kashmir (Free Kashmir) and India considered the same area Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK). Then based on NJ9842 ceasefire line was identified. Later, the Simla Agreement of 1972, the Ceasefire line became the Line of Control (LOC). Twelve years later in 1984 Indian army received intelligence information that Pakistani army was planning to capture Saltoro ridge and it provoked Indian army to conquer this mountain range in advance. Pakistan's army has expressed deep dissatisfaction about this attempt of Indian army. Since then, Siachen is victimizing both Indian and Pakistani soldiers without discrimination. On the other hand demand for demilitarizing Siachen is also not a new phenomenon.

Two military powers of South India, instead of contributing towards regional stability, suffering huge losses because of Siachen issue made both India and Pakistan to suffer huge losses. According to the military strategic experts of both countries, this region can hardly relevant for strategic aspirations of both India and Pakistan. The huge resources being spent by both the countries on this area is sheer waste of money and time. Thus, according to most of the strategic experts demilitarizing the area is a better option and profitable for both the sides. First debate in this regard initiated during Rajiv Gandhi regime for the first time. In 1997, Inder Gill, a prominent General of the Indian army in his article, opined that both the countries wasting their precious resources on this strategically irrelevant region. He further suggested India should withdraw army immediately and unilaterally without expecting anything from Pakistani side! In 2012, Pakistani General Kayani also expressed his willingness to demilitarize this area, after 130 Pakistani soldiers were killed in a natural casualty. History proves, it is not the first time demilitarization of Siachen debate has emerged. 

However, because of some obvious reasons, India is not ready to give up its control over the Siachen area. Indian army is not ready to lose its hold over the area, which it conquered after facing enormous losses. Undoubtedly, the root of Siachen problem is traditional rivalry between India and Pakistan. It is evident that Pakistan showed so much of interest to capture Siachen, even during Kargil war. Withdrawal of Indian army directly provides an opportunity to Pakistan to establish links with Chinese dominated Aksai Chin. According to India's retired Maj Gen Dhruv Katoch, Director of the Indian Army’s think tank Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) Dhruv Katoch, we should look into the broad political dynamics of South Asian politics. Further, major General Dhruv warned, demilitarization of this area is a direct invitation to China to attack this land. Even if Pakistan showed interest to withdraw its army, but India learnt so many lessons from history and it is difficult to trust Pakistan. India has to take a middle path, instead of demilitarizing Siachen, we should think about modernizing our defense and new plans to standardize operations of our soldiers.  

        KEERTHIRAJ (krj492@gmail.com)

·   Currently serving as a Faculty for International Relations and Political Science at Alliance University, Bangalore. 

     

   (This article was published in Central Chronicle newspaper on 17 February 2016)

HUMANITY VERSUS THE ‘POLITICS OF GREATNESS’

 Separation of politics and religion considered as secularism. Then what name can we suggest for the separation of politics and humanity?

- KEERTHIRAJ

I know my argument will be obsolete for majority of readers here. If someone argues humanity is greater than wealth and intelligence, most of the times we think it is mere emotional and not so logical. The very thought itself is not so strange, because we are living in an age of ‘be practical’, even though the entire question of being practical is not so practical! For some, wealth and for some others intelligence matters more. No one is bothered about character and humanity. Of course personality is more important than character here. Most of us are doing the right things for wrong reasons.

Image Source : commons.wikimedia.org

It is natural that human beings underestimate the value of a thing, which they will get in excess. Today’s generation is blessed with abundant love (May be fake or real, that’s a different question!). The sacredness of emotional things went far away from today’s society. Even real questions of life are not in a way to justify themselves. Men with richness, intelligence or any sort of power have respect in this society. Society plays a ‘Politics of Greatness’ around the abilities of human beings. This unique kind of politics dominates the world and prevented human beings from being human. Politics is all about power or capacities and it can and unmake many things. And not surprisingly, character and humanity are hardly considered as power or capacity.

Today social Medias, mainstream Medias and the entire society consider celebrities and their works and label them as best human beings in this earth (?). The very definition of humanity dies here. The ‘Politics of Greatness’ crushes the cry of humanity using a bright smile and tight heart! Recently Syrian refugee crisis witnessed a huge cry for humanity. Photo of a three year old child created stir in global politics. The whole humanity demanded a situation like this to wake up! Question here is whether humanity needs a reason to wake up? If it is so, it ceases to be humanity. It is just a ‘Politics of Greatness’ using the word humanity.

Until recently wealth, intelligence and all other power related things used as the tools of politics. Today politics is using the guard of fake humanity. It is not an attempt to blame politics. But the emerging trend of ‘Politics of Greatness’ expanding its spheres towards every aspect of human life. Greatness itself has fake elements in its very meaning. Power has its own limitations. If you are rich, you will try for more wealth accumulation. If you are intelligent you plan to achieve more smartness. If you have great physical power, you will try to be more fitness. But it is not the same case in humanity. There is no question of increasing or upgrading. There will be no question about the amount of humanity. If it is so, it is no longer humanity.

The unique ‘Politics of Greatness’ made humanity so complex that a normal human being can’t even think of it. But being human is not so complex; in fact it is the simplest task a human being ever performs. There is no burden of proving our humanity to someone. Humanity is doing the right thing for right reason and not searching for reasons and spectators.

KEERTHIRAJ (krj492@gmail.com)

·   Currently serving as a Faculty for International Relations and Political Science at Alliance University, Bangalore. 

     

   (This article was published in Central Chronicle newspaper on 21 January 2016)