I have been working on creating a wiki for Right to Information Act of India.
http://www.easyrti.in
The vision of the site is to present the information about RTI in a manner that is easy to use. I work on it every Sunday for 2-3 hours. We are looking for a few RTI enthusiasts/volunteers to join us. Right now the site is young, so this is a good opportunity to influence the basic structures of the site that will decide its future.
If you or your friends are interested, please let me know at in4tunio gmail address.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Time to Move On
Reaction to the article by M J Akbar on Twitter issue with Shashi Tharoor. Also see the articles by Swapan Dasgupta and Kanchan Gupta.
The author, as many politicians and journalists, has forgotten that the basic tradition of Indian culture is acceptance -- at least this is what is taught in the textbooks in schools. Acceptance of no less than other religions, not just sly remarks. Although it is true that Mr Tharoor needs to be more careful not to hurt people, it is silly to demand that Mr Tharoor should resign.
Mr Tharoor wants to work for the country in his productive way. He is not charged with any corrupt practice. His manner of work causes nobody any harm. He needs to travel almost everyday -- long distances and short (as do the other ministers). But he is being compelled to work in a different manner than is natural to him. This might not be in the best interest of the country.
Where does austerity end? What will be the date when the government says -- "business class now"? Probably it clearly does not make sense till 5% of Indian fly? Or is it 10%? By the way, a good time to share with the government these few other productive steps to austerity: http://news.rediff.com/column/2009/sep/16/politicians-care-a-damn-about-our-money.htm . In principle, I agree with governmental savings, but it is easy to overdo the austerity measures so that it becomes a popularity drive. This seems to be the case from Mr Gehlot's demand for resignation.
Just like some people would not have appreciated the medium of newpaper when it was first published centuries before, the author clearly does not appreciate twitter and why a politician should share his person online in real time. Inevitably, the popular opinion in a few years will be that Mr Tharoor has done a commendable work of connecting with the masses -- so much needed in an India frustrated with closed government offices, closed files and closed hearts. He has about 2 lakh followers now on Twitter. By the way, Obama is on Twitter too. To remind, Obama used internet widely to his advantage during the US elections. Obama and Manmohan are my role-models, and I am sure they are role-models of many other young Indians too. I have no hesitation to say that Dr Manmohan should visit Twitter more often. Further, and on similar lines, India needs all e-governance it can afford.
The author has made an implicit assumption that Indians are aghast about the cattle class remark, while the only aghast may be the storymakers in the media and the age-old politicians. The median age of India is 25. They may not be half of the voters now, but within a decade they certainly will be. Does the author really think the young population does not understand the innocence behind the remark? Or, they do not understand what is productivity and austerity?
This essay, as well as by Swapan and Kanchan makes me feel we are living in the 1970's and that New Delhi is so far from New York that they can never meet. The average Indian was born when Rajiv Gandhi was the prime minister. They were in their childhood when they heard about Mandal Commission and then the "opening of the economy" when Dr Manmohan Singh was the finance minister. For them it was akin to a second freedom. While it is a fact that the economy was opened as almost a last resort, many young Indians still thank Manmohan for taking a decision that can be considered brave. In his maiden speech he quoted Victor Hugo, saying that "No power on earth can stop an idea whose time has come".
Indeed, for the thinkers, it is better that they look ahead instead of behind. Till when will we keep on considering India poor, making it even more real by our thoughts and actions? Kanchan (still) debates about Jinnah? Recently Zardari said Democratic Pakistan Group wants to be friends with India. Will we allow for that?
Unless we allow the liberal, young and appreciative India so raring to emerge, to emerge, in the least in our own mirrors, we will be stuck with pseudo-governance and pseudo-growth. Mr Tharoor is doing his work well (now he has attracted even more eyeballs) and additionally also connecting with people. At a more general level India needs executive politicians, India is done with seat-warmer and old-time politicians. Young Indians will definitely favor young-at-heart and energetic leaders. When the pseudo-governance has been completely uprooted, in the eyes of the youth who were born about 35 years after independence, India would have achieved its third freedom.
The author, as many politicians and journalists, has forgotten that the basic tradition of Indian culture is acceptance -- at least this is what is taught in the textbooks in schools. Acceptance of no less than other religions, not just sly remarks. Although it is true that Mr Tharoor needs to be more careful not to hurt people, it is silly to demand that Mr Tharoor should resign.
Mr Tharoor wants to work for the country in his productive way. He is not charged with any corrupt practice. His manner of work causes nobody any harm. He needs to travel almost everyday -- long distances and short (as do the other ministers). But he is being compelled to work in a different manner than is natural to him. This might not be in the best interest of the country.
Where does austerity end? What will be the date when the government says -- "business class now"? Probably it clearly does not make sense till 5% of Indian fly? Or is it 10%? By the way, a good time to share with the government these few other productive steps to austerity: http://news.rediff.com/column/2009/sep/16/politicians-care-a-damn-about-our-money.htm . In principle, I agree with governmental savings, but it is easy to overdo the austerity measures so that it becomes a popularity drive. This seems to be the case from Mr Gehlot's demand for resignation.
Just like some people would not have appreciated the medium of newpaper when it was first published centuries before, the author clearly does not appreciate twitter and why a politician should share his person online in real time. Inevitably, the popular opinion in a few years will be that Mr Tharoor has done a commendable work of connecting with the masses -- so much needed in an India frustrated with closed government offices, closed files and closed hearts. He has about 2 lakh followers now on Twitter. By the way, Obama is on Twitter too. To remind, Obama used internet widely to his advantage during the US elections. Obama and Manmohan are my role-models, and I am sure they are role-models of many other young Indians too. I have no hesitation to say that Dr Manmohan should visit Twitter more often. Further, and on similar lines, India needs all e-governance it can afford.
The author has made an implicit assumption that Indians are aghast about the cattle class remark, while the only aghast may be the storymakers in the media and the age-old politicians. The median age of India is 25. They may not be half of the voters now, but within a decade they certainly will be. Does the author really think the young population does not understand the innocence behind the remark? Or, they do not understand what is productivity and austerity?
This essay, as well as by Swapan and Kanchan makes me feel we are living in the 1970's and that New Delhi is so far from New York that they can never meet. The average Indian was born when Rajiv Gandhi was the prime minister. They were in their childhood when they heard about Mandal Commission and then the "opening of the economy" when Dr Manmohan Singh was the finance minister. For them it was akin to a second freedom. While it is a fact that the economy was opened as almost a last resort, many young Indians still thank Manmohan for taking a decision that can be considered brave. In his maiden speech he quoted Victor Hugo, saying that "No power on earth can stop an idea whose time has come".
Indeed, for the thinkers, it is better that they look ahead instead of behind. Till when will we keep on considering India poor, making it even more real by our thoughts and actions? Kanchan (still) debates about Jinnah? Recently Zardari said Democratic Pakistan Group wants to be friends with India. Will we allow for that?
Unless we allow the liberal, young and appreciative India so raring to emerge, to emerge, in the least in our own mirrors, we will be stuck with pseudo-governance and pseudo-growth. Mr Tharoor is doing his work well (now he has attracted even more eyeballs) and additionally also connecting with people. At a more general level India needs executive politicians, India is done with seat-warmer and old-time politicians. Young Indians will definitely favor young-at-heart and energetic leaders. When the pseudo-governance has been completely uprooted, in the eyes of the youth who were born about 35 years after independence, India would have achieved its third freedom.
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