Nobel laurate Liu xiaobo - against autocracy

.

I have only exercised the right to free speech, to which I am entitled under the constitution. I have done nothing unlawful. Though charges have been laid against me, I will utter no words of complaint

           –Liu Xiaobo, 23 December 2009

China's political reform [...] should be gradual, peaceful, orderly and controllable and should be interactive, from above to below and from below to above. This way causes the least cost and leads to the most effective result. I know the basic principles of political change, that orderly and controllable social change is better than one which is chaotic and out of control. The order of a bad government is better than the chaos of anarchy. So I oppose systems of government that are dictatorships or monopolies. This is not 'inciting subversion of state power'. Opposition is not equivalent to subversion.

– Liu Xiaobo, Guilty of 'crime of speaking', 9 February 2010

In an article published in the South China Morning Post, Liu argued that his verdict violated China's constitution, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations. He argued that charges against him of 'spreading rumours, slandering and in other ways inciting the subversion of the government and overturning the socialist system' were contrived, as he did not fabricate or create false information, nor did he besmirch the good name and character of others by merely expressing a point of view, a value judgment.

On 8 October 2010, the Nobel Committee awarded Liu the Prize "for his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China. Usually there will be celebration across the country, when someone from their country gets this prestigious award. But in China it arosed mixed reactions. The Government took steps, to prevent him from getting this award, hearing that his name was nominated for the award. Liu is a political prisoner in China. Charged with allegations that he was spreading a message to subvert the country and authority, he was sentenced to 11 year imprisonment by December,2009.This was after he launched a signature campaign to support his views-  calling for greater freedom of expression, human rights, and for free elections through Charter 08. He had been jailed three times earlier, for engaging in protest against government, though he did not do that is anything against law. He advocated that real democracy should prevail in the country. He has called for democratic elections, advocated values of freedom, supported separation of powers and urged the governments to be  accountable for wrong doings.

Nobel prize was the feather in the cap of Liu since he has been awarded with many such awards, for his non-violent means of protest against the autocratic nature of Chinese communist government. The chinese government resorted to all means to see that the message that he has won Nobel prize, does not reach his ears. The media critized China for this. Unable to exercise further control, the message was conveyed to him through his wife Liu Xia. However she was under close scrutiny and prevented from making any remarks to media or any other persons. She is in house arrest and  even while doing shopping, she is being tailed by the security personals. Chinese government also openly critized the Nobel prize committee and threatened the Norwaygien embassy in China of dire consequences. The question now is “ Whether Liu xiaobo’s wife will be allowed to collect the prize on his behalf?”

            Countries with autocratic leadership are nothing but bigger jails. They deny even the basic human rights like right to speak for their people. They put tight sensor over the media. Google was made to operate from Hongkong because of the control exercised by Chinese. In Srilanka too, Rajapakse has tied the tongue of the media and the people( We all know what happened to his war hero Sarath Ponseka).Autocratic Government like this wish that people should hear and see, what the government wishes them to hear and see what it wishes them to see. They were not even allowed to think on their own.

            These autocratic leaders never seem to learn the lessons from the life of Hitler, Parvez Musharaf etc. This kind of leadership cannot last for ever. One day it will emerge as a big protest and put an end to their regime.

     Though persons like the British Foreign Secretary William Hague, U.S  President Obama and the Dalai lama, praised the decision of the Nobel Prize commitee, silence is the reply from countries like Russia and India. India did not want to rub with China, since the relationship is not already smooth and fears on cut down of some economic benefits from China.

Its sorry to note that we were afraid to speak the truth. On the other hand, we are ready to do something that is unlawful and against the society, if a countrys autocratic leadership demands such action.

This is the greatest weakness of human beings. We just behave like animals. We do not bother about moral values, what is right or what is wrong, when it becomes the matter of survival . We know in our consious, what we do is wrong. But we go ahead to do what the organization says. Afteall, our survival and security matters most

It is sorry to note that we were afraid to speak the truth. On the other hand, we dare to breach the trust of people and to do things that is harmful to the society, fearing our own security. Whether it is the country or the person, rule is the same. Play to safeguard your interest.

And whenever, a person dares to speaks the truth in an autocratic environment, he is being branded as a subvert, who is against the country, society or the organization. The Country or the Organization will see that his wings are broken, he is being haressed and humiliated.

There is a nice saying in Tamil “ Dharmathin Vazhvuthannai soodhu kavvum. Annal meendum dharmame vellum.Truth may be eclipsed by treason, but atlast the truth will triumph    

Those who have a reason to live, will withstand everything done or happening to him-Nietzsche

Liu xiaubo has a reason. Gandhi had a reason. Che guevera had a reason.

Lets all have a reason to live and lead a purposeful life. Of course, we cannot change everything. But definitely, you can do something which is useful to few people. You not be in the pages of history. See that you stand for justice. When you have an opportunity to prevent injustice, go ahead.

Darwin says It is not the Strongest of the species and not the most intelligent that survives. It is the one most responsive and adaptive to the change will survive. Many are bothered only about mere survival.  They simply adapt to changes.

But for humans, is Survival alone is enough? Don’t we have the responsibility to make this world a better place?

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employmement Guarantee Act-Making People lazy?

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) is an Indian job gurantee scheme, enacted by legislation on August 25, 2005. The scheme provides a legal guarantee for one hundred days of employment in every financial year to adult members of any rural household willing to do  unskilled manual work at the statutory Rs.100 per day. The nature of public work may be decided by the local panchayat. However the nature of work should ulitmately lead to rural development. Works like water conservation by renovation of existing ponds and tanks and also contruction of new water harvesting structures, afforestation, rural connectivity, construction of check damsThe financial outlay for the scheme in 2010-11 is Rs40100 crores, which indeed is a big money

Though it was a scheme to ensure rural employment it was made mandatory through the MGNREG act of 15^th August, 2005.

The scheme might have a wonderful objective of ensuring income to a family and that a family should not suffer due to lack of employment. The scheme is implemented at field level by local panchayat, were a person People welfare assistant supervises the work and the local governing body decides on the nature of work to be done in the work and also the wages.

Earlier there were many loop holes and the money was largely misused. Intstead of people, Bulldozers and other machineries were used for the work and in the accounts it was shown that the wages was given for labour work to many poor people. But that ensured that the particular work is atleast half done.

Now it is ensured that real labour work is done. But practically there are states where a agricultural labourer gets more than Rs100/day (especially men). In Madurai the wage for Masonry  work for Kotthanar is Rs450/day. I states like Bihar the wage for labourers is pretty low.

The Present loop holes

            Having watched closely the manner in which this scheme is implemented in villages around Madurai District of Tamilnadu , the following questions came to my mind.

1. The act guarantees 100 days of employment to adult members of family. Practically Job cards were issued to women members (more than 90% of the total members enrolled in the scheme). The age group ranges from 18 to even 50 and above. The physical fitness of some of them is a cause of concern. Many of older age has fainted unable to bear the hard sun.
2. Mostly tank renovation work is given, in which each women member is allotted with a specific area. Women find difficult to do the digging works using “Manvetti” and “Kadapari”, especially the aged one. Since the wage is uniform,  the productivity of women who has stamina is also reduced. They willfully under perform.
3. Though the work is stipulated for 8 hrs, they  start the work only late from 9.00 to 10 Am usually and close by 4.00 Pm. It’s a common sight that, many rest under the tree after doing an hour or two hrs of work. Women use this as a place for gossip, playing dice and they really enjoy the leisure.
4. Men do not prefer this work since they get higher pay outside.
5. On contrary, women do not go for agricultural labour work in individuals land since they have to work atleast for 6 to 7 hrs and also less paid. Compartively this scheme of Government offers them wage without or with meager work.
6. The purpose of rural development viz renovation of tanks and ponds etc. remains in paper. Desilting, deepening of tanks rarely happens.
7. The local panchayat and block administration knows everything and yet they could not do anything about this.
8. Some of the women on the other hand who received job cards did not go work work at all since they have other income sources.

This is an example of how a big scheme like this, ends in a failure and does not end in producing desired results. People have become too selfish. If the tank is renovated, it can catch more water, the ground water level will increase, agriculture will be better and the whole village has a chance of growing economically better. But the money goes as waste. Worse, again the people will blame the Government for not solving their water problem. Everybody should realize the responsibility .

Free Television, free gas stove, waiver of agricultural loans (only landlords got benefited largely) and now this employment guarantee act is reducing the morality of the people. Everybody knows about the havoc caused by Tsunami. The flow of foreign funds to affected area, made the fisherman community to forego work in many villages for six months to one year, since they got money even without working. Even Compassion should be executed with caution and that is the curse of todays society.

If  the above passage gave you the message that the poor should not be supported you are really wrong. We are very good at evolving schemes and we fail in the implementation part. We should ensure that the purpose is achieved. The end result should be beneficial and not negative. Mostly, it yields negative. Politicians are happy as long as people are happy. They never mind about how far they are spoiling the society. They mind only about one thing- to be in  power and amass wealth.

People who have real concern for the Nation, should not get dejected by the happenings. Contribute to the society. Educate the people. Make them understand where the society is leading. Make effort like a spider keep spinning its web. And that will keep you happy. One day the society will change and the world will change. Afterall, nothing is permenant except change

The Creativity

The Creativity

            Creativity is needed in every walk of life. Winners don’t do different things. They do things differently says Shiv Kera. I have a six year old kid and I have been telling her bedtime stories since her age of four. Exhausted with stories, I used to imagine and tell her few stories. Sometimes I will make my daughter, aa character in my story.Sometimes she will fix the characters and I have to tell as story accordingly.  She used to ask “ appa oru kathai sollu”. Sometimes she will ask “ Appa, oru Yaanai (elepahant), Oru singham (lion ) oru Peacock erukkura mathiri oru kathaai sollu.At times, I will ask her to tell a story. She also used to tell some stories from her imagination.I was amazed when she told this story. In this story, she made me and my brother as imaginary characters. The story goes as follows.

One day Ramesh and Ganesh, went with their Dad to purchase new dresses for them. Ramesh selected a T-Shirt. Ganesh too liked it and he wanted the same T-Shirt. They started quarrelling, at the shop itself. Their Dad got angry. He said “ You don’t fight here”. Let us purchase this T-Shirt. We will go home and decide who has to own it. So they purchased the T-shirt. After reaching home, the Dad said “I too like this T-shirt. So better I will take this”.

I was surprised by the way she ended the story. This is the yet another story told by her. Many won’t believe this as a story told by a six year old. But that’s what the truth is. And that’s what Media is doing to our children.

Once there lived a girl called Marina. Here mother used to call her Marina rosy since she was pink in colour when she was born. One day Marina was walking down the streets, when Ramesh (myself) came to her and kissed her and said “ I Love you”. Marina got angry. She hit him with her hand bag and said I don’t like you. Get off from me. The next day also when Marina was coming down the streets Ramesh gave her a bouquet and said “ I love you”. She stamped over the flowers and said “ I don’t like you and walked away smiling. Ramesh started weeping. When he reached home his mom asked “ why are you crying” and Ramesh said her what happened. Ramesh Mom scolded him and said “ I sent you to college for studying. You started loving girl at this age? Go and see that you study well. Then onwards Ramesh started studying well.

Being the only child, I am careful that she should not feel the loneliness. My girl is more attached to her mother than me. My wife is too possessive and worries more about her.

Schools are better nowadays and give space for creativity to children. The art and drawing works enhance their creativity. Children are more exposed to media than we are. We have to agree that they will be more intelligent than us. We cannot control them much. Hence we have to teach them moral values from child hood. Definitely their world will be much competitive and according to Darwins theory of survival of the fittest, they will be forced to do something immoral. Its our duty to create a better generation. Spend quality time with your children. Don’t push them too hard to study. Identify their skills and interest. Sharpen them. Teach them what is right and what is wrong, whenever you get a possibility. Keep them happy.

Let us do something to create a better tomorrow. A better future. This what our children need.

The innocent smile of a child does much good to our heart, than anything else. Don’t block their creativity. And that is the important skill needed to be a winner.