Editorial, 'MASTER OF MAMMON' in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 30 April 2011 issue

MASTER OF MAMMON

he certainly proved to be though all the tall claims that he was but an incarnation or messenger of God were definitely not. It seems we Indians have a peculiar addiction to such ingenious perverts once they don saffron robes, perform some cheap magic tricks and utter carefully rehearsed sermons on spiritual matters. Otherwise it is hard to explain the charisma this ‘avatar’ has wielded over millions of people including the VVIPs of the country and all this despite the well-documented exposes by rationalists like late Premananda, et al. At least after the gory murders in his bedroom in 1993, about which two analytical pieces were published in Nov-Dec 2005 issues of this journal also, some good sense must have prevailed over the minds of people and especially the governments and the police ought to have sprung into action and rigorously investigated and taken to task the fake Baba and his cohorts but alas that was not to be. Even though the Baba himself was, admittedly, an eye-witness to the murders he was not questioned and made a witness even, let alone being accused of the crime, and the whole matters hushed up according to the later scathing criticism of experienced police officers like V.J. Ram. Now, after the demise of the ‘god-man’, the legacy of his multi-thousand crore empire is at stake and people are really worried that the enormous wealth he amassed, in various questionable ways to say the least, may be pilfered and misused by a hypocritical coterie to the detriment of society. As such we feel and appeal that the Government should step in and take over the trust to run the affairs smoothly and invest its enormous moneys for good ends. There is a criticism, somewhat justified, that Hindu religious/spiritual endowments are alone interfered with and usurped for various extraneous purposes by the governments, which dare not touch like institutions of any other religions. Hence, it may be appropriate for the government to create a strictly impartial, statutory Board of Endowments and deal with all deviant and suspicious endowments of any religion through its channels for the general welfare and progress of the people at large §§§

Editorial, 'Crusade Against Corruption' in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 15 April 2011 Martyrs Memorial Special issue

CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

can be said to have made a significant and successful beginning with veteran social activist Anna Hazare’s fast unto death at New Delhi and the unprecedented solidarity and support it received from millions of people, especially youths and civil society groups, across the country cutting across all parties and communities, totally exasperated by this vexed pandemic. Though earlier too on many occasions and by many persons, including late Jayaprakash Narayan, efforts were made to fight against corruption, this seems to be the first time that any such nationwide movement directly against this canker was launched and finally the Union Government was forced to bend before the people’s concerted agitation. Though corruption has become all pervasive in our society and is degrading all sections of the people, yet it is this disease at higher levels that is the chief criminal and if something can be done to effectively curb it there, we hope the malaise can be gradually rooted out from the vast masses too, who in any way are more of a sort of victims than abettors. There is some caustic criticism against Anna’s tactics during the fast, with some even going to the extent of accusing him of blackmailing a government at its critical time. But it is always a compelling need for any people’s movement to take advantage of the precarious moments of the governments or evil forces arrayed against it, though of course with no below-the-belt tantrums. Then, there is just criticism too that not all the fighting sections were given due place in the Committee and the representation from civil society therein is mainly cornered by ‘Anna’s group’ so to say. We also feel both father and son need not be there in it, etc. and more or equally competent persons from the nation-wide campaign against corruption can be inducted. Anyway what matters is that a strong and effective Jan Lok Pal mechanism should be eventually installed through these endeavors and that will certainly bring in palpable improvement in the now dark and degenerate ethical and political situation in the country and in the process contribute to the general and healthy socio-economic development too §§§

Editorial, 'Crusade Against Corruption' in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 15 April 2011 Martyrs Memorial Special issue

Editorial, 'Cherish Our Heritage' in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 15-31 March 2011 Martyrs Memorial Special issue

CHERISH OUR HERITAGE

we must in all circumstances and at all costs – such of it as is conducive to democratic, humane and truly civilized progress of our community – though no doubt we need abandon such of it that is reactionary, superstitious and constrictive of human rights. While extending to all our readers hearty Khara nama samvatsara Telugu Ugadi greetings, we wish to point out that this New Year day itself is an irrebuttable proof of the common culture of all Telugus across all borders and the current regional divide is but an historical anomaly, which was not there in all periods of history and the great Telugu personalities over the ages, reverently remembered by a grateful Telugu nation through installation of their statues on the Tank Bund, Hyderabad, rise above any regional rifts. It is much regrettable that recently many of these statues were wantonly destroyed by ignorant rowdy persons parading in the garb of regional democracy, and no words are too strong to condemn this stupid atrocity. They do not know that Nannaya was probably a Kannadiga by birth who contributed greatly to Telugu literature just as Pampa, writer of the Kannada Bharata, was perhaps a Telugu from Vemulavada; that the Vijayanagara Empire itself was established by two erstwhile military officers of the Kakatiya empire; that the Kakatiyas themselves ruled over almost the entire Telugu country and Tikkana was greatly revered by Ganapati Deva; that Srikrishnadeva Raya was son of a Tulu father and Telugu mother – a great personality who raised the name and fame of Telugu language to the skies by a single powerful line: ‘Desabhashalandu Telugu lessa’; that Sri Sri, whose statue was also desecrated, was a revolutionary poet of unparalled excellence preaching universal socialist values and cannot be looked through narrow parochial glasses. Such are their noble stories, and in the statues-installation if any more deserving are left out or less worthy are kept in, that is a matter for healthy discussion and serious consideration by people, especially scholars and litterateurs, and always due respect can be given to sterling personalities at appropriate times at appropriate places. All this vandalism reinforces our apprehensions about the great danger and loss due to the current separatist agitation and we earnestly appeal to the people to realize that Telangana means, it always meant, entire Telugu land, and as such strive for the retention and promotion of the politico-cultural unity of all Telugu people §§§

Sare Jahan Se Acha Hindustan Hamara