February 2012

‘Wounded Earth’

 The earth is facing innumerable damages, thanks to human profligacy. India which was blessed with nature’s abound resources has been no different. With excessive mining, deforestation, concrete jungles and unsound eco policies, India’s green cover and its fauna are diminishing with each passing day. It is time we, as aware citizens stand up to this destruction and save our forests and rivers from greedy corporates and corrupt politicians, or else, our natural resources will disappear in no time. We owe at least this to our next generation.

In the February issue on ‘Environment’ prominent environmentalists have contributed thought-provoking articles that force us to pause and think about human profligacy that is wounding our planet. We hope our readers like this issue and will do their bit in protecting the environment and saving the Earth from further damage.

In the lead article ‘Stop human profligacy!’ eminent environmentalist and the Editor of Sanctuary magazine, Bittu Sahgal, whose work today revolves around saving the tigers and the forests of India, highlights some of the most dangerous threats to the planet from homo sapiens and calls us to protect and restore our eco systems. “The planet is forcing us to pause, contemplate our actions and then alter human ambitions, laws and social mores to bring them in line with nature's laws. As we debate the issues, nature will neither sit on the sidelines nor judge us, it will simply deliver consequences”, cautions Sahgal. But is anybody listening?

Climate change is not a problem of present deeds but of past contributions. The world has run out of atmospheric space ­­­­- and time. Will the rich, who contributed to emissions in the past and still take up an unfair share of this space, reduce emissions? Or will emerging countries be told to take over the burden? In Equity-the next frontier in climate talks, Sunita Narain, noted environmentalist, editor-publisher of the fortnightly magazine Down to Earth and also the director general of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), throws light on this big question, in the light of the recently concluded climate change conference in Durban.

Mindless mining has only led to people losing their land, access to livelihood and cultural identity. Unfulfilled promises and cash paybacks cannot restore ecological landscapes, notwithstanding The Draft Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill, 2011, writes Kanchi Kohli, in ‘What lies beneath’. Kohli works and writes on environment, forest, and biodiversity governance issues. In her writing, she seeks to explore the interface between industrialisation and its impacts on both local communities and ecosystems.

In ‘A thoughtless nuclear path’, Dr. A. Gopalakrishnan, former Chairman, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), Government of India, flays the government’s decision to import nuclear reactors as a “mad programme” that should be abandoned immediately. He calls for a thorough debate on the Nuclear Power Policy in Parliament with energy specialists and a re-look at the overall energy policy of our country. Dr. Gopalakrishnan was also Chairman of the 15-nation IAEA Drafting Committee for the International Convention on Nuclear Safety (1994). Since 2003, he is an Honorary Professor, Energy & Security, at the Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad.

Hospitals can contribute to a healthy planet by adopting good waste management practices, starting with segregation of the waste, writes Anu Agrawal, Senior Programme Co-ordinator with Toxics Link, a Delhi based environment NGO in the article ‘The challenge of bio-medical waste’. She has been working on Medical Waste Management and Mercury issues for last 13 years. She has researched and authored many books and articles on these issues.

Genetically modified (GM) crop production has increased pesticide use, made Indian farmers slaves of these products and unleashed an ecological disaster In GM crops and BRAI Bill – A bitter harvest, Sridhar Radhakrishnan warns that the GM crops and the proposed BRAI Bill will soon mark the end of desi seeds, safe food and food security. The writer is the National Convener of the Coalition for a GM-Free India, a large platform of over 300 organisations across the country advocating towards a safe, secure food and agriculture system free of GM crops and other toxic materials. He is also currently Programme Director of Thanal, a public interest research, advocacy and campaign organisation, in Kerala. 

Renew the world, renew yourself – In the article, Narasimhan Santhanam, Cofounder and Director, EAI (www.eai.in), one of the leading Indian research and intelligence firms focused on renewable energy and clean technology, writes besides reducing carbon emissions in the atmosphere significantly and building a greener earth, there are exciting job opportunities for the youth in the field of renewable energy. Santhanam has co-authored over 15 reports in the fields of second and third generation biofuels, biomass power and solar PV power plants. He has also cofounded CleanTick (www.cleantick.com), a global online community for renewable energy and cleantech professionals.

Our General section focuses on FDI in agriculture. In FDI in Retail – Danger signals for the Indian Economy, Sachin Kumar Jain, Social Researcher, Food rights activist, who also works as State Advisor to the Supreme Court Commissioners in Right to Food Case, warns that the proposed FDI policy will pose serious challenges for our country, impoverishing our culinary culture, impairing the physical and mental health of our people, compromising the independence of our farmers, endangering our economic system and jeopardizing the livelihood of 4.5 crore Indians.

Book Review - Senior journalist P. K. Ravindranath reviews the book LOKPAL: Facts and Arguments, by Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr., published by Har-Anand Publications.

Know India Better features the historic monuments of Bijapur, also known as Rome of the East.  Md. Masarrath Ali Khan, freelance travel writer, takes us through the historic town of Bijapur located 530 kms from Bangalore, which beckons the visitor to bask in the architectural glory of its uncountable opulent palaces, mausoleums and gardens. These heritage buildings and ruins are scattered almost all over the town, so much so that one encounters a monument at almost every step.

Great Indians – OIOP pays tribute to three different personalities who had one thing in common – passion for work.

Dev Anand (1923-2011), A legend then, and always – the star whose swaying walk and crooked smile became his trademark. Dev was a man who lived life to the fullest. At an age when people retire, he made films. He will forever remain ‘the handsome romantic hero’ for all his fans. Profiled by Deepa Gahlot, Mumbai-based film and theatre critic

Satyadev Dubey (1936-2011), The enfant terrible of Indian theatre – In 50 years he did an average of two plays a year, his last being as recently as 2009. Satyadev Dubey was a name synonymous with theatre. Working with him was not just a learning experience to new actors but a cherishing experience forever. There will never be another maverick talent like him. Profiled by Shanta Gokhale, well-known theatre critic

 

Captain Hanifuddin VR C (1974-1999), Captain Courage – It was his unwavering courage that helped Indian Army retain the Turtok sector, strategically the most crucial feature in the 1999 conflict. Despite being wounded, Captain Hanifuddin stayed on to give covering fire and fought till his last breath. By Brig Suresh Chandra Sharma (retd)

In addition, read our regular columns on Economy, Rural Affairs, Culture, Vedic Mathematics and Satire. Our Young Readers’ section has a collection of interesting tidbits from all over the world.

Call Nagesh Bangera, Subscription-in-charge, OIOP, to get a copy now! Call 022 – 2353 44 00 or email to oiopsub@fouressindia.com

January 12 OIOP issue - Philanthropy

The Art of Sharing

 Philanthropy is not new to India. The country has had a tradition of giving (daan) to the poor and needy, either as religious or moral obligations. However, statistics show that the culture of giving has diluted over time. In the World Giving Index created by the Charities Aid Foundation, India ranks a poor 134^th out of 153 nations in terms of the percentage of population that gave to charity. It is ironic that people’s generosity has reduced at a time when the country boasts of rapid economic growth and of significant rise in the numbers of its millionaires.

Of course, we have our own wealthy industry barons like Ratan Tata, Azim Premji, Narayana Murthy, who have been contributing from their personal wealth to improve the socio-economic condition of the masses here. However, philanthropic deeds of a few billionaires will not be enough to eradicate poverty or bridge the wide gap between India’s rich and poor. What we really need is to build a sustainable philanthropic model by creating a culture of giving in individuals from an early age. Few would disagree with industrialist Anand Mahindra, when he says that “perhaps the real challenge lies not in getting five people to donate $5 million once but in getting five million people to donate Rs5 every year.” After all, haven’t we all heard of the maxim— “Every drop makes an ocean?”

At One India One People, we decided to ring in the New Year by doing our own bit of promoting philanthropy by doing an entire issue on the theme. Our expert writers give us their views on the art of sharing.

In the lead article, Noshir H. Dadrawala, Chief Executive, CAP (Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy), a non-profit working in the niche area of helping all types of philanthropic organisations (donor or donee) in India stay legally compliant and well-governed, tells us how the concept of giving has evolved in India and how contemporary philanthropy is about promoting the welfare, happiness and culture of everyone in a society.

While we may not agree with donating 50 per cent of our personal wealth, it is imperative that new Indian models of giving are created to help high impact non-profit organisations achieve scale. The time has come for Indian millionaires and billionaires to provide these entities with not just recognition but also funding to tackle the complex issues fuelled by poverty, writes Deval Sanghvi, founder and CEO of Dasra, India’s leading strategic philanthropy foundation.

Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, yogi, visionary, humanitarian and prominent spiritual leader, says that Philanthropy could become an enterprise, rather than just about giving away a chunk of money and saying that it is done. Philanthropy also needs the benefit of human ingenuity, he adds.

Dr. Ravi Prakash Achanta, who has done extensive research in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility and corporate philanthropy, opines that bringing business and philanthropic interests into harmony creates a win-win situation for companies as well as for their philanthropic initiatives as it not only delivers far greater benefits to society and the people it is trying to help but also has a real impact on the company’s long-term success.

Nisha Purushothaman, founder of Think Strategic that supports the communication, fundraising, and strategic requirements of voluntary organisations in India, shares some of the key factors that non-profit organisations need to focus on for successfully raising funds and long term sustainability.

Thryza Dow, NGO Relationship Manager with Samhita, an online portal for NGOs and CSR advisory service provider, writes that with the development sector going through a period of transformation and global knowledge and practices entering the Indian philanthropic scene, it is important to organise NGOs into an accredited association.

P. M. Kamath, formerly Professor of Politics, Mumbai University and currently Hon. Director, VPM’s Centre for International Studies, says that for individuals and non-profit organisations involved in social work in India, raising funds to support their cause is a huge challenge, unless they have personal contacts with eminent business heads of big companies. 

Philanthropy has always been regarded as an activity of the wealthy and not the middle class. But Ramakrishna N.K and Smita Ramakrishna, the founders of Rang De, India's first online platform for providing small loans to the very poor thought otherwise. Their venture is based on the sheer might of the burgeoning middle class and it has worked well. Anuradha Gupta, a freelance writer currently based in London, reports.

Know India Better – This issue we travel to Kerala to visit nature in its finest form. Braving nettles, leeches and other blood-sucking creatures, Akul Tripathi, media professional and freelance writer, goes forth to explore the forests in South India and comes to realise the wisdom in the words which describe forests as God’s first temples.

Face to Face – Yashveer Singh, Founder and Director, NSEF (National Social Entrepreneurship Forum), a youth focused non-profit organisation, spoke to OIOP about the current trends in social entrepreneurship in India. 

In the ‘General’ section, Jashwant H. Mehta, a strong advocator of ‘Presidential Democracy’ writes that instead of dividing  bigger states for better governance, what we really need is to improve the quality of governance.

Great Indians:

 Girish Chandra Ghosh (1844-1912) – A poet, dramatist, actor, novelist and a thinker, Girish Chandra Ghosh was a man of multiple talents. He is referred to as the father of Bengal theatre for his immense contribution to the field.

Lt General Nathu Singh (1902-1994) – He was a distinguished Army officer who served with loyalty and integrity. Though Lt Singh did not receive any accolades that he deserved, he always put his best foot forward, which brought laurels to the nation.

A. P. Mitra (1927-2007) – Prof. Ashesh Prasad Mitra did pioneering work on the ionosphere and climate change and worth with distinction the mantle of his guru Prof. Sisir Kumar Mitra, FRS.

 The issue also covers other thought-provoking and insightful regular columns on environment, current affairs, patriotism, culture and vedic maths.

If you wish to order a copy, write to oiopsub@fouressindia.com or call Nagesh Bangera – 022 -2 353 44 00

OIOP December 2011 issue

Cutting the red tape

If one has to nominate one institution which has held the country together in the first 60 years after Independence, and contributed most to its progress till now, it would be the ‘higher civil services’. Unfortunately, now, corruption and malpractices have allegedly seeped into the system in a big way, eroding some of its credibility. Even in this whirlpool, we can count many who have stood steadfast to their ideals and have served the country with honesty and integrity.

One of the common villains identified by civil society organisations for the all pervasive corruption in governance is the bureaucracy. Corruption in our country is perceived to be a vicious cycle starting from political corruption, which flourishes thanks especially to corruption in the bureaucracy which is hand in gloves with the corrupt political leaders. Therefore the need of the hour is to revamp the bureaucratic apparatus to give this country good governance. The first step to bureaucratic reforms should begin with the right kind of training of young recruits opting for civil services and the curriculum should focus more on honesty, integrity and efficiency. Though the credibility of bureaucracy has taken a severe beating with large scale corruption seeping into the system, all is not lost. There are many, who still hold on to their ideals and serve the country with honesty and integrity.

One India One People has ‘Bureaucracy’ as its theme for December 2011 under the cover title ‘Cutting the red tape’. We are fortunate to get seasoned bureaucrats to share their views, opinions and offer suggestions to get bureaucracy back on the track. 

In the lead article ‘Getting bureaucracy back on the track,’ Mr. E. A. S. Sarma, former Secretary to Government of India and Principal of Administrative Staff College of India in Hyderabad laments that the Indian civil services are caught in the vicious cycle of increasing corruption in the country’s electoral system and the consequent pressure from the politicians to facilitate the generation of black money. If this situation is allowed to continue any longer, it will cut the roots of our democratic system and allow the resources of our country to be frittered away, he warns.

Former Central Vigilance Commissioner, Mr. N. Vittal in ‘2T for good governance,’ explains how the ‘2T principle’ suggested by him can ensure a clean system over a period of time.  He emphasizes on transparency in selecting the right people for the right posts.

In ‘Redesigning the bureaucratic apparatus,’ Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan, Founder of Lok Satta Party, writes that empowering local governments, putting an effective system of accountability in place, redesigning the bureaucratic apparatus and redefining the role of the State are four important measures that need to be swiftly adopted in a sustainable manner to make the bureaucracy an effective instrument in a democratic society.

In ‘Bureaucracy needs a makeover’, Mr. N. Ramarao, IAS (retd), advocates the urgent need to revamp bureaucracy and the first step, he says would be to change the recruitment procedure. Let us develop in our young recruits a sense of self-esteem and self-confidence, so that they can serve the country with their heads held high, he says.

Mr. T. S. R. Subramanian, former Cabinet Secretary to the Government of India and former Chief Secretary to the government of Uttar Pradesh, writes that despite political interference and stories of corruption seeping into the system, members of higher civil services perform brilliantly; many stand out to take on major responsibilities on their shoulders, and help keep the system going. The country owes a debt of gratitude to the unsung heroes, he says.

           

In ‘Plots and Plans to end corruption,’ Mr. S Shankar Menon, IAS (retd.) and former Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Maharashtra (1995-99),  draws out a blueprint to weed out corruption in the country by proposing a new scheme called the Sardar Patel Yojana.

Mr. Prakash Bal Joshi, senior journalist and artist, in ‘The Powers that Be,’ writes that ‘Committed Bureaucracy’ has no place for neutrality in civil services, as more often than not, bureaucrats are expected to toe the official line of the political executive in power. 

In ‘Face to Face’ Pamela Philipose has a tete-a-tete with Aruna Roy, founder member of the National Campaign for the People’s Right to Information (NCPRI) and the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). She traded a promising career in the bureaucracy for an activist’s existence in 1975, and is presently intensely involved in the crusade against corruption.

Know India Better features Agra, the city on the banks of the River Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh, which achieved fame as the capital of the Mughal emperors, is one of the most favourite tourist destinations in India, because of the many magnificent historical buildings, most notably the legendary Taj Mahal, an architectural marvel. The Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri too are impressive and etched in history for the power struggle of the Mughal kings as well as their love for art. All three structures are UNESCO World Heritage sites, putting the city on the global radar. Text and Photographs by Dr. M. A. Haque

Great Indians profiles:

Nain Singh Rawat (1830 - 1895) - At a time when there were no vehicles or maps to take you to far off places, Nain Singh Rawat, mapped the trade route to Tibet through Nepal, found the altitude of Lhasa and also mapped a major section of the  River Tsangpo.

Chaudhary Charan Singh (1902-1987) - Charan Singh was one of those rare politicians and a leader of the farmers, who regarded nation’s interests above everything else. He was also a social reformer who brought much notable development in the country.

 

Vice Admiral N Krishnan PVSM DSC (1919-1982) - It was his wise plan that saved INS Vikrant. A colourful and engaging personality, Vice Admiral N Krishnan’s formidable legacy continues to this day.

Also read our guest column by Nagesh Kini, a Chartered Accountant and activist, and regular columns on culture, vedic mathematics and rural concerns! To order a copy, call 022 – 2353 44 00 or mail to oiopsub@fouressindia.com

November 2011 issue – Stress & You

Whether one lives in an urban area or a rural setting, life has become quite different from what it used to be a few decades ago. Today in the fast paced world and changing life styles, people are going through various kinds of health problems with stress and tension topping the list. Stress refers to the consequence of the failure of a person to respond adequately to mental, emotional, or physical demands, whether actual or imagined. With increasing stress in all areas of life, there has been an increase in the number of cases with depression and anxiety. Stress has now become an inevitable part of daily life and conversation. OIOP’s November 2011 issue has Stress as its theme, where experts give their opinion on how to cope with stress, but more importantly on how to live a stress free life.

In the lead article, ‘Adopt a healthy lifestyle’, eminent psychiatrist and founder of Mindtemple, Dr. Anjali Chhabria recommends simple solutions to decrease stress in your life and achieve mental fitness at a time when work-life imbalance, family and marital conflicts, low tolerance level and hectic lifestyle are increasing stress levels of people today.

In ‘A healthy mind for a healthy body’, Assistant Honorary Consultant, Psychiatry, B. J. Wadia Hospital for Children in Mumbai, Dr. Vani Kulhalli says that as mental stress affects every part of the body, we must take care of our mind to have a healthy body.

Eminent psychiatrist Dr. Harish Shetty in ‘Student life: Beating the blues’, emphasises that if corrective measures are not taken in dealing with stress in students, things can aggravate and lead to more serious problems. Therefore, he suggests that parents should seek a counsellor’s advice before things get out of control. Professor and Head, Dept. of Psychiatry, Sion Hospital, Dr. Nilesh Shah and Consultant psychiatrist and psychotherapist, Dr. Avinash De Sousa in their article offer excellent tips on managing stress.

Consultant and Head, Human Strategies Organisation, Mr. Jolly J Mathews talks about the significant role of HR in devising policies in reducing and managing stress at work place and to create an organization with happy, productive and passionate employees.

Prominent spiritual leader Shri Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev says stress is unpleasantness and is self created. It can be dropped and a stress free life can be created by ‘Inner Engineering”. His article guides the reader to inner engineering technique.

Practising Ayurveda doctor, certified yoga teacher and yoga therapist, Dr. Aashish Phadke highlights the role of ayurveda and yoga in effectively dealing with stress. 

Secretary and Research Coordinator, The International Board of Yoga, Mumbai, Dr. Shantharam Shetty writes that meditation can reduce stress but it requires hard work to reach the state of higher consciousness through meditation.

In Know India Better, travel writer Akul Tripathi rides, walks and climbs from Dehradun to Ghangria in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand to play with the fairies in the Valley of Flowers and cleanse his soul with a dip in the icy waters of Hemkund Sahib.

Former Central Vigilance Commissioner N. Vittal in the column Patriotism Redefined asks if the idea of patriotism is becoming irrelevant in a borderless world.

In Face to Face senior journalist Pamela Philipose speaks to Radha Kumar,  one of the three interlocutors appointed by the Government of India to initiate a sustained dialogue with people in Jammu and Kashmir and search for a way to peace in the troubled state. Kumar narrates her experience as a woman interlocutor and her hope for a resolution of conflict in the state.

Three Great Indians who have been profiled include:

Rt. Hon. V. S. Srinivasa Shastri –  a powerful orator, an ardent nationalist, he was a multi-faceted personality. His contribution to the country as a statesman is invaluable.

Saraswathi Gora – Brave, an incorrigible optimist, social reformer and progressive thinker, she was a great champion of women’s rights and individual dignity.

 

Lt. Triveni Singh AC – The young officer knew no fear. His raw courage averted what could have been a blood bath of innocent citizens.

Also read the regular columns on culture, vedic mathematics, nature and contemporary issues.

Hurry! Get a copy. Call 022-2353 44 00 or email – oiop@vsnl.net