Quote - Economic Crisis

Is India alert to the message that is being beamed from Greece?

“The sovereign debt crisis that engulfed Greece early this year was in no way the fault of its people, not certainly the struggling middle and working classes. A bunch of fly-by-night industrial pretenders, who included some foreign adventurers as well, inveigled the country’s government to advance funds for their high sounding projects. …… a large number of these projects flopped; the loans advanced to them by the government became unredeemable.”

“The EU and the ECB agreed last May on a bail out package of 110 billion euros for Greece, but would release it in instalments and on the most stringent conditions, which breathed the dictum that the poor must pay for the sins of rich industrial adventures and unscrupulous speculators: the State’s budget must be cut back through ruthless slashing of public spending, there would have to be lay-offs, reduction in wages, lowering of social security benefits, severe curtailment in health and educational services and no coddling of public enterprises.”

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Pretender = a person who claims a right to a title or position

Inveigle = persuade by trickery or flattery

Coddle = treat in an overprotective way

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This is an extract from the article

Published in - The Telegraph

On - November 18, 2011

Written By - Shri Ashok Mitra

Joy of Restlessness

Joy of Restlessness 

To give or donate some thing, you might need, is not easy. For giving, capacity and intention both are required. In this selfish world finding one, having the intention, even without the capacity, is rare and worth mentioning. What to say about one who invents the excess with the intention to give? Yes such creatures are still available and not extinct. But there are some great examples scattered, some quite normal people, who might never make it to any history text but hats off to them for their tireless pursuit of invention of the art of giving.

Narsima is a beautician in her 40’s, divorced long back. Has an only son living with her mother and knows her as his sister. Mother is the other blood relation for her under the sun. She visits her mother every Sunday quite religiously. Narsima is not attached with any beauty parlor or saloon, but because of her good nature and use of natural ingredients she has enough clients to keep her busy whole day, six days a week. The seventh day is reserved for her Mother. I know her for last 7 to 8 years. Since then her living standard has been constant. Fortunately the only plus is, she is able to cope up with inflation. It’s not that she has not earned enough to improve her living standard but the major culprit of her status is the art of giving, which she has surely mastered. There is always someone at her door looking for money on loan for some reason or the other – education, health care, marriage etc. And she has always obliged. Every time she takes the oath not to oblige next time just only to break it again. Keep on lending even the same person, twice or even thrice. For sure these are all in banking terms a non-performing assets and hence the rate of return a big zero. But still she insist to give –“it’s not cheating? They are in need. If I can afford, I should. If not I, someone else will help them. Why should I leave such opportunity?” is her standard remark.

A few weeks back. She was performing Namaz late at night around 10 P.M. just before going to bed. She felt like giving one saree, received a few days back to give to one particular lady. It was too late. First she thought” it’s too late”. This could be the first thing she will do next morning. But she felt restless “What if mind changes by morning?” She jumped off her bed went to the lady’s place, woke her up and return past mid night. It’s only then she gets a sound sleep.

It was a winter evening and quite chilly outside. Narsima had just finished her job. The client had handed over her, her usual fees and also a nice woolen shawl. She stepped out of the building with that shawl in her bag. She had a glance at her own shawl. She was using it for last five years and will go for another at least five years. Then the thought crossed her mind “what will I do with this new shawl?” It had to be given to someone who needs it. And it had to be given before she reached the next client. But it was a posh locality. It was difficult to find one. But she started feeling the uneasiness and its slowly increased and soon become unbearable for her. She did not have any choice. It had to be given away right there. She saw a young man coming from the opposite direction. Narsima gathered her courage, took out the shawl showed it to him and said, “I have this shawl and I want to give to some needy person. Can you help?”
The man stared at her. He assessed her. Her profile does not suggest her to be donor of that shawl.
“Are you sure, you want to donate this shawl?”
“Oh yes! Right now”, Narsima replied confidently.
“Ok! Wait for a few minutes,” and the man disappeared.

After sometime he reappeared with an old lady in rags. The old lady started crying, showing her badly torn shawl and the bag she was carrying. Narsima stopped her, “no, neither I am asking for any explanation nor I want to see your bag”.

Narsima put her latest possession in her hand and walked away briskly before the old lady or the young man can utter a single word.

Have you ever felt the pain of accumulating more than what you need? Have you ever enjoyed such restlessness? With donation, pride is attached.

Narsima does not donate, she gives.

Feel the Pain

Feel the Pain

Last evening I had attended a marriage reception. It was first week of January. A very cool evening, colder than what it gets at this time of the year. The reception hall was almost half kilometer inside the main gate of the complex. Inside, the hall was full of guests and outside, parking space, though quite big, was over crowded. At times, I can see taxis also getting in and driving off after dropping the guests.

However, I had my dinner and started driving off in my car. As I came out of the parking area, I saw a couple briskly walking towards the main gate. The taller husband was walking faster and his wife was almost running behind her. Naturally, they were the guest at the marriage and were not having a car. Car after car, were overtaking them and driving off. I calculated, even after making it to the main gate, the couple would not get any public transport. It was late, cold and the remote area. I could not just resist myself but to offer lift to them to the place from where they will get a transport to their destination.

Then, I realized the pain Abraham Lincoln must had suffered when he saw a pig in a drainage fighting for the life. You don’t know the incident? Well, it goes like this-

Once Abraham Lincoln, President of United Sates was going to a party. On his way he saw a pig that might have accidentally felled in the open drainage and was in pains fighting to come out of it. Lincoln got down from the car, get into the drainage and lifted the pig out of it. Unfortunately he was late and could not manage to go back home and change. Hence he went to the party as it is. His accompanying aids were busy explaining the kind act of the President. But when Lincoln heard this he denied any such act and explained the matter thus – it was painful to see the pig in such a pain, and hence he did whatever he did was to relieve his own pain, which every one does.

It is imperative to feel the pain of the other.

Acts of Kindness

Acts of Kindness

Mr.Nagraj is a lawyer in an Indian City. I wanted to hire his services. Made number of STD calls. I took his advice over the phone. He was unable to quote his fees as I could not send him papers and explain the matter. At last I fixed up an appointment with him and landed in his chamber. I spent around more than half an hour. Explained the matter and showed him all the papers I had. At the end he advised me, NOT to hire him, and save money. He hasn’t left me blank but shown me the correct path I should adopt. He also refused to take any fees for the consultation and the time spent with me.

Other day I met a girl in her twenties from Mizorm in the train. It was a long journey of 36 hours. She was traveling with her brother. We had just finished our lunch served by Railway Catering. She insisted to pick up my tray too, to put outside the compartment. Then again, when I didn’t wake me to have my dinner, she woke me up and insisted to take my dinner. I had to explain her why I am not having my dinner, it’s not just because I am feeling sleepy but because I had eaten too much on the last station. Then again, by error, I pushed my dinner plate down on the floor. The curry was all over the floor. I got a shock. But before I react, she took up the paper and started cleaning the floor. We all co passengers were stunned and stoned and just saw her cleaning the floor. While she finished the cleaning unperturbed and sat back as if nothing has happened.

Mr. Kamalacharan is another lawyer who again instead of advising to fight the case and spend the money and time advised to settle within his clients and also offered to mediate without fees to reach a solution. In this pursuit he even made STD calls to convince both parties.

The nuclear power is stored in the smallest part of the matter. The strength of NANO is now known to us. The energy is not in size and quantity. Do not suppress the act of kindness and good intention. Such acts do not need any advertisement or broadcasting. It has its own wings to fly around the world.

Common Sense by Thomas Paine

I goggled; “Thomas Paine” and it threw me 14,80,000 results. There could not be second thought that person who died exactly 2 centuries ago is still popular across all the ranks. It has got to do something with the senses which were uncommon to recognize the most common of them. This is a true testimony that the book “Common Sense” he wrote earlier in his life still prevails. A very thin book, voluminous in thoughts, originally printed in a pamphlet form for free distribution. The pamphlet calls for the direct action by his fellow countrymen to throw British out of America, a call for independence and action by saying “This is the right time for action”. If In India, Gandhi had “Ahimsha” as the weapon in west “Paine” had the pen which proved to be mightier than the sword. It’s amazing to see how great thoughts can really be expressed in a few lines.

He begins with describing government as “produced by wickedness,” that restrains vices. According to him, government promotes our happiness negatively, creates discrimination, and is nothing but a punisher. As per the English constitution the King is not to be trusted without being looked after and the common man is assigned with the task of looking after the King. . Hence the constitution has given power to the common to excise his right of keeping an eye on the king. Later on, contrary to this, the power has been given to the king to make the Bill to check the common man. This makes the implementation absurd. Thomas has directly charged the dynastic rule. How was the first king appointed? It could be done by any of the three means: by lot, or by election or by usurpation. If these are the means then where is the scope for the dynastic rule? Two centuries ago these are the questions still valid thou might not be in his geographic area, and all I could say is there is no expiry date for common sense.

Thomas has described the status of Boston in very simple language but hitting hard below the belt, “inhabitants of that unfortunate city (Boston), who but a few months ago were in ease and affluence have now no other alternative than to stay and starve or turn out to beg.” Even after this there are people who are crying for truce and calling for friendship again. He has questioned these people “hath your house burnt, wife and children destitute of bed, bread and butter, lost a parent or child and yourself the ruined and wrecked survivor? If you are not, then you cannot be judge of those who have. But if you have but still can shake hands with the murderers then you are unworthy as husband, father, friend, lover, you are a coward and a spirit of sycophant.”

Paine rejected the belief that Britain is there to do justice to the continent,” how an island so distant from America and ignorant of the continent can govern it? How an island can govern a continent.” A petition takes a full year to be implemented by then it becomes childish “there was time when it was proper and there is a proper time for it to cease”. Satellite is never larger than the planet that’s the nature. England and America, with respect to each other reverses the common order of nature.

He also suggested the system of electing a president, subject to the authority of continental congress. That means when he says the present system is rotten and asks for its destruction he has an alternative plan also in place. He presents his construction plan after the destruction.

It’s not the number but the unity, which forms the strength. Even if we accept supremacy of number even then America has the largest army. Naval force, by number British may seems to be stronger. But then, he analyzed the facts logically. Each naval ship has to travel 6000 miles up and down for refilling; only 10% of the entire English fleet, as claimed by British, is available on American coast. As because all ships are not sea worthy all the time and also British cannot pull up her 100% force on American cost. He calculated and found the total investment of all the ships together as owned by British is just 3,500,000 pound. An amount America can afford. Moreover America has all required capabilities, technical and material, arm, timber, iron, cordage as her natural products, while English and Dutch have to import all these stuffs. Thus America is better placed for shipbuilding.

At the end he calls for action again. He cries out why are we, then waiting for. Our defenses are better, our iron is superior, arms are better, ships we can build ourselves with our own materials, and we are courageous then what else we want? Why are we hesitating? British can give nothing but ruin. He again describes why is it the right time? And then call for action, “Present time is preferable than all other times. Present time is the true time for establishing ourselves”.

The book slowly built up the mind for revolution and then asked for immediate action.

सुख की सीमा

हम जब इस संसार में आते हैं, तब हमारे साथ होती है ईश्वर द्वारा प्रदत्त समझ। धीरे धीरे समय के साथ साथ इस पर सांसारिक समझ की परत चढ़ने लगती है। एक समय ऐसा आता है कि इस सांसारिक समझ की परत इतनी मोटी हो जाती है कि ईश्वरीय समझ विलुप्त हो जाती है। लेकिन वह न तो पूरी तरह समाप्त होती है और न ही मरती है। वह रहती है वहीं उसी प्रकार भले ही हम उसे भूल जाएँ, विस्मृत हो जाए, दिखाई न पड़े।

जन्म के साथ ही हम अपने कल्याण के लिए कार्यारम्भ कर देते हैं। हमारा कल्याण किस में है? कल्याण क्या है? जैसे जैसे हमारी समझ पर परतें चढ़ने लगती है, वैसे वैसे हमारी कल्याण की परिभाषा भी बदलने लग जाती है। प्रायः एक समय ऐसा आता है कि हमें अपना कल्याण अर्थोपार्जन में ही दिखने लगता है। क्योंकि हमें लगता है कि अर्थ से ही मनोवांछित भोग विलास की प्राप्ति की जा सकती है। और पूरा सुख इसी भोग विलास में समाहित है। लेकिन अगर इसे ज़रा सा कुरेदें तो वस्तुस्थिति दूसरी ही नजर आती है ।

प्रश्न है हमें कितना सुख चाहिए? सुख कि कोई सीमा है या फिर जितना मिले उतना सुख चाहिए? सही बात तो यह है कि हम सुख कि कोई सीमा नहीं चाहते, जितना मिले उतना सुख चाहिए। यानि असीम सुख चाहिए। सुख का परिमाण निश्चित होते ही दूसरा प्रश्न उठता है कि यह असीम सुख हमें कहाँ चाहिए? यानि घर पर चाहिए या दफ्तर में चाहिए या फिर कहीं और? बड़ा बेतुका सा प्रश्न प्रतीत होता है यह क्योंकि इसका तो सीधा सा उत्तर यही है कि मिले तो सब जगह सुख चाहिए। यह असीम, हर जगह मिलने वाला सुख किस किस से चाहिए? पति से, पत्नी से, बेटे से? ऐसा तो नहीं है कि हमें कुछ सीमित लोगों से ही सुख चाहिये। सही तो यही है कि मिले तो सब से सुख चाहिये। अच्छा तो यह सुख किस समय चाहिये? सुबह चाहिये या शाम को? रात को चाहिये दोपहर में? इसका भी वही उत्तर है, मिले तो सब समय चाहिये। लेकिन सुख के बहुत प्रकार होते हैं - जैसे नशे का सुख, भुलक्करी का सुख, सचेतन सुख , अचेतन सुख आदि आदि। निर्विवाद है कि सुख तो सचेतन ही चाहिये। सुख का हमें अनुभव होना चाहिये और उस सुख कि हमें याद भी बनी रहनी चाहिये। वह सुख क्या काम का जिसे हम अनुभव ही नहीं कर सकें और जिसकी हमें याद न रहे। अतः हमें चैतन्य सुख चाहिये।

यानि हमें असीम, अनन्त सुख चाहिए। हम जो चाहते हैं, वह सार्वकालिक एवं सार्वभौमिक सुख है। हम सबसे सुख चाहते हैं और चैतन्य सुख चाहते हैं। अब अगर हम कुरेदें अपनी समझ को, अपने मस्तिष्क को जिस पर परतें पड़ी हुई हैं तो हमें तुंरत यह स्पष्ट हो जाएगा कि जाने अनजाने हम परमात्मा को ही चाह रहे हैं। हम समझें या न समझें हमारी चाह परमात्मा की ही है। लेकिन अपनी नासमझी के कारण हम सीमित सुख के पीछे दौड़ना शुरू कर देते हैं और सीमित सुख का अंत हर समय दुःख में ही होता है।

साध्य हमेशा साधन से बड़ा होता है। साध्य की प्राप्ति के लिए हम साधन का प्रयोग करते हैं। जैसे कि नदी पार करने के लिए नौका का, और साध्य की प्राप्ति के बाद साधन का त्याग कर देते हैं। जैसे कि नदी पार करने के बाद नौका का त्याग कर देते हैं। लेकिन हमने साधन को साध्य से बड़ा बना लिया है। सांसारिक भोग की प्राप्ति के लिए परमात्मा को साधन बना लिया है। इस साधन (परमात्मा) से हम साध्य (भोग) मांगते हैं और साध्य (भोग) की प्राप्ति होने पर साधन (परमात्मा) का त्याग कर देते हैं। क्या यह ठीक लगता है? कामना का होना बुरा नहीं है। लेकिन यह मालूम होना चाहिए की कामना में चाह है और चाह में आह। अतः कामनापूर्ति की चाह भी परमात्मा पर ही छोड़ देनी चाहिए।

आजादी के बाद के लोग - विजय बहादुर सिंह

प्रश्न ! प्रश्न !! और प्रश्न !!! आज हमारे देश के प्रत्येक नागरिक के जेहन में केवल प्रश्न ही प्रश्न हैं। बेचैन है हमारी आम जनता। उसके दिमाग में प्रश्न ही प्रश्न भरे हुए हैं, खोज है उत्तरों की। "आजादी के बाद के लोग" श्री विजय बहादुर सिंह की समय समय पर विभिन्न पत्र पत्रिकाओं में प्रकाशित ऐसे ही ३३ लेखों का एक संग्रह है जिसमें लेखक ने हमारे प्रश्नों को प्रस्तुत किया है। ऐसा लगता है की हमारे ही विचारों को शब्द मिले हैं।

"समाज के नियम क़ानून हैं, संविधान है, लोकसभा है। इन्हीं को तो सत्ता कहते हैं। ये सब मिलकर अपनी जनता से खेलते हैं। अब इस खेल में अगर सत्ता ही हर बार जीतती है और जनता के हाथ पराजय और निराशा ही आती है तो क्या किया जाए?"

स्वतन्त्रता संग्रामियों को क्षोभ है कि क्या उन्होंने अपनी जिन्दगी इन्ही मुद्दों के लिए झोंक दी थी जो अब उठाये जा रहे हैं? निचली जाति के पक्षधर मायावती और मुलायम, बाल ठाकरे और प्रकाश अम्बेडकर, लालू यादव और नितीश कुमार एक दूसरे के विरुद्ध खड़े हैं। क्या इनके हित अलग अलग हैं? बाहर के दुश्मनों को तो हमारे नौजवानों ने खदेड़ दिया लेकिन भीतर के इन दुश्मनों को ठिकाने कौन लगायेगा? क्या यह सच नहीं है कि देश के कुछ लोग ऐसा जीवन जीते हैं जैसा आर्यों के नायक इन्द्र और सोने की लंका के रावण को भी नसीब नहीं था? क्या इस देश में सबसे ज्यादा अभद्रता और अनैतिकता इसी वर्ग में नहीं दिखती जिसके हाथ में सत्ता और शासन की बागडोर है?

लेखक चिल्ला उठता है "तब हम क्या करें? क्या यह देश छोड़ परदेश में जा बसें? सुनामी को आमंत्रित करें कि हमें लील ले, या ओसामा हमारा सफाया कर दे या बुश से कहें कि पधारो हमारे देश?" हमारी स्वतन्त्रता-दिवस का "स्व" गायब है, "तंत्र" बिका हुआ और दिवस चाय-काफी-शराब की पार्टियों तक सीमित। और तो और हमारी राजनीति "वंदे मातरम" तक के पीछे हाथ धो कर पड़ी हुई है।

विजय बहादुर ने केवल हमारे प्रश्न ही उठाये हों, ऐसी बात नहीं है। उनहोंने हमसे प्रश्न भी किए हैं । जिस जेसिका लाल की ह्त्या के विरुद्ध समस्त मीडिया और लोग उठ खड़े हुए वे बोफोर्स के दलालों या अन्य राजनीतिक दलालों के विरुद्ध क्यों नहीं खड़े हो पाये? हम कैसे पके अन्न "भात" को छोड़ कर अनपके अन्न "राईस" खाने लगे? रौशनी का त्यौहार दिवाली क्यों सबों के घरों में चिराग न जला सकी? भाईचारे की होली, खून में क्यों सनने लगी? कैसे पन्द्रह अगस्त और छब्बीस जनवरी राष्ट्रीय कम और सरकारी ज्यादा बन गए? एक अकेली ईस्ट इंडिया कम्पनी ने हमें चूस चूस कर भूखा और नंगा कर दिया था, आज वैसी ही सैकड़ों कंपनियाँ यहाँ कार्यरत हैं। उनके भूखे खूनी जबड़ों के लिए यह देश कितना छोटा पड़ेगा? क्या इस बात की ख़बर हमें है? क्या गुलामी केवल राजनीतिक ही होती है? अंग्रेजों ने अमेरिका को कैसे चूसा इसका जिक्र थॉमस पैन ने किया है "the inhabitants of that unfortunate city (Boston), who but a few months ago were in ease and affluence, have now, no other alternative than to stay and starve, or turn out to beg." अपने महामंत्र "वसुधैव कुटुंबकम" को भूल कर भू-मंडलीकरण (globalisation) की तरफ क्यों और कैसे घूम हम. विश्व को एक कुटुंब न बना कर एक बाजार बना कर रख दिया हमने!

" मैं अक्सर पूछता हूँ कि ग्लोबलाइजेशन क्यों? कुटुम्बीकरण क्यों नहीं। इसमें सिर्फ मनुष्य नहीं है, वे समस्त जीवन-रूप हैं, जो अस्तित्ववान हैं। कुटुंब भाव में जो सगापन है, मनुष्यता बोध है, ग्लोबलाइजेशन में उसकी दरकार नहीं। कलाओं के सामने आज यह सबसे कठिन चुनौती है कि वे इस बौद्धिक कुटिलता और धूर्तता का पर्दाफाश करें। लेकिन क्या भारत के गुलाम बुद्धिजीवियों से इसकी उम्मीद की जा सकती है? क्या उन्हें भारत की परम्पराओं का कोई अता-पता है? "

तीस जनवरी उन्नीस सौ अड़तालीस को तो सिर्फ गांधी के शरीर की ह्त्या हुई थी, उनके विचारों की ह्त्या किसने की ? बुद्धिजीवियों एक बहुत बड़ा वर्ग सिर्फ अपनी स्वार्थपूर्ति में लगा हुआ है। अब अगर हमें इस देश की चिंता है तो हम जाएँ कहाँ? क्या इन बिके हुए बुद्धिजीवियों के पास या कहीं और? यह कहीं और कहाँ? पश्चिम के विद्वानों ने खूब प्रचारित किया कि भारत साधुओं, सन्यासियों का देश है। हम क्यों नहीं बता पाए की चाणक्य, वात्स्यायन, आर्यभत्त, नागार्जुन, धन्वनतरि, सुश्रुत भी इसी देश के थे?

आज हम इस काबिल भी नहीं की प्रश्न पूछ सकें। बशीर बद्र ने लिखा है " जी बहुत चाहता है सच बोलें, क्या करें हौसला नहीं होता।" विजय बहादुर सिंह ने यह हौसला तो दिखाया। अगर हम प्रश्न उठाने का भी हौसला बना लें तो उत्तर तो हमें मिलने लग जायेंगें।

"पत्रकार, लेखक , वकील, डाक्टर, इंजीनियर
ठेकेदार बुद्धि के विद्या के पैगम्बर
अगर विवेक बचा है तुम सचमुच जिंदा हो
अपनी अब तक की करनी पर शर्मिन्दा हो
आओ! साबित करो तुम्हारा रक्त सही है
संकट में है देश तुम्हारा, वक्त यही है।"

तुम्हारा स्वाभिमान और आत्म-गौरव पहले भी जिंदा था, आज भी वह मरा नहीं है। यही तुम्हारी असली परम्परा है। यही तुम्हारा असली चरित्र है। हे भारत के भाग्य-विधाताओं उठो और अपने चरित्र को पहचानो। तुम्हारा देश तुम्हें पुकार रहा है।

हमें चाहिए उत्तर! उत्तर!! और उत्तर !!!