Should caste be included in Indian census?

For the first time since 1931 India is debating whether to include caste in census, many experts say that it can be used for better governance and will help government in implementing its socio-economic development programmes while other say that’s it will divide India on basis of caste and will harm sovereign concept of nation.

The census is the largest single source of a variety of statistical information on different characteristics of the Indian people. The census operation, held once in 10 years, will cover 1.2 billion people — and more — in one single database.

Supporters of caste enumeration argue that caste is an inescapable reality of Indian society and census categories merely reflect existing classifications, and that only the census can provide the figures necessary to map inequality by caste. For social justice, we are made to believe there is no alternative to reservation, and for reservation, no alternative to counting caste.

This caste-based census is nothing but an identity politics in our elections. The politicians who are interested in the caste census data are not as interested in advancing the living standards, as they are in organising them into vote banks. If they are so interested then what were they doing till now, waiting for this Census.

“Demand for caste based census is only the illogical product of quota based politics.”

This Census will give rise to new problems. It has been asserted by the government that this data will not be subjected to analysis. Caste groups and their status differ from region to region. A certain caste in a particular state having the same name can be an upper caste, a backward caste in another state and the most backward in the third state.

In the last 70 years, some caste names have changed, quite a few new ones have emerged, several castes have merged with others or have moved up or down the social hierarchy, and many have become politically active.

Also, such legitimisation of casteism will strengthen the hands of reactionary and obscurantist like khap panchayats.

There is no doubt that stringent affirmative action policies are required to make formal institutions more socially inclusive, but to shackle the census to this agenda betrays a failure to learn from the past or to think imaginatively about the future.

Caste based census is nothing but a ploy to further the segregation of Indians into a myriad of entities which can be relied upon as vote banks.

In the 21st century as the whole world is concerned more and more of development, there is no need for furthering casteism and caste-based vote banking.

We need to change this caste based ugly reality into a better future. Therefore, there is a need for a different approach to remove this caste-based politics and differentiation. Reservation should be given only to those who are socially and economically backward and not to those who belong to a particular caste.

“Census recording of social precedence is a device of colonial domination, designed to undermine as well as to disprove Indian nationhood.”

Let us end this politics of division, of reservation, of favour and corruption now. Let us acknowledge what shameful legacy of caste we Indians have been given by our forefathers and refuse to reenact it through the census. Let us once and for all face it down and bury it.

Social Inequality Threatening India's Economy

Can a country where a third of the population is illiterate be an Information Technology superpower? Can a country where 78 million rural homes have never seen electricity be an economic superpower?

While India’s educated elite are reveling in their new found status on the global stage, inequitable distribution of wealth and opportunities are shaking the very foundation of India’s new economy.

India has one of the fastest widening of social inequalities, where rich are getting richer and poor are getting poorer. India is becoming rich land with poor people.













Let me share some of the quivering facts

One-Third of world’s poor is in India. You need only to look out onto the streets, to see the enormous increase in conspicuous consumption by the rich and even the urban upper middle income groups, and also to see side by side how the lives of the poor have become even more vulnerable and precarious.

In the last five years (2004 to 2009) the number of people below the poverty line has increased from 270 million to touch 325 million. That is an increase of 55 million people below the poverty line in five years.

In the last 12 years, India’s economy has grown at an average annual rate of about 7 percent, reducing poverty by 10 percent however about 42 percent of our population lives below the international poverty line of $1.25 per day, most of them without even basic of amenities.

More than one third live on less than a dollar a day, and 80 percent live on less than two dollars a day. Though many of our countrymen were featured in the list of the richest people of the world, we still have more than seventeen million children working as bonded laborers.
India has the higher rates of malnourished children than sub-Saharan Africa, with about 46 percent of Indian children under the age of 3 years suffering from malnutrition.

Undoubtedly, these statistics are not in India’s favor.

The distribution of the benefits of economic expansion tends to be severely unequal. This is for a variety of reasons, in which, of course, the unequal ownership of capital is an important factor. We thus have an odd situation, in which the process of economic development is going ahead at a reasonably fast pace, but where a very large section of the community - indeed, the majority of the community - is not in a position to join in it. A decent society cannot be built on the ruins of hunger, malnutrition, ill health and illiteracy.

The biggest failure in India is social inequality; it takes its toll both directly - in terms of the quality of life - and indirectly - in terms of reducing the economic opportunities that people have.
Let’s come together from all the walks of life and help change such statistics by our noble deeds. Let’s reach out to the underprivileged.

Let’s join hands and raise our voices against malpractice, incompetence, corruption and apathy of most of the administrative systems of our society.

Let’s think beyond the obvious to lend a hand to the poor and needy at the time they need a friend like us.

Lets treat the impoverished with empathy and not sympathy. We all are citizens of India and have equal fundamental duties and rights. Let’s believe and make others believe in the social equality.

And let’s begin by helping our country change those poor statistics

An open letter to Ms. Mayawati

Respected Bahenji,

Hope my letter finds you in the pink of health.
I am addressing this letter to your Excellency in my capacity as a common citizen of UP. I have heard a lot about you but have not met you in person. I have heard that you are the youngest politician to become a chief minister of most popular state of India i.e. Uttar Pradesh. Not only this it’s fourth time you are holding this office. Bahenji, recently we saw a stampede in Krapalu baba's ashram in UP where 37 women and 26 children died. This is certainly shocking and heart wrenching for all of us.

Days after 63 people, all women and children, were killed in a horrific stampede, the blame game has begun on who was responsible.

“There was a police outpost barely 50 meters from the ashram. Yet, when 15,000 people gathered and that too at a scheduled event, there was no attempt to manage the crowd, or bring in reinforcement just a short distance away is the police outpost. All the people who gathered at the ashram had to have passed the outpost. Why didn't the police realize then?" said Swami Mukundanand, spokesperson for Kripalu Maharaj.

But your administration has blamed the ashram.

Clearly there are no regrets on either side.

All the people who died belonged to lower caste and were very poor and no one can compensate loss of a child or a mother ever. Big politicians like Rahul Gandhi visited the village and the same was expected from you but you just issued a press release saying: "The state does not have the money to compensate the victims' families. The emergency fund covers natural calamities, and not tragedies like stampedes."

Are you serious ma’am? This was probably the least you could have done for the victims.

You are the leader of dalit party and works for their upliftment and favour. After spending 2000 crores of rupees for constructing statues of elephants and dalit leaders, including yourself, it’s obvious that state may not have the money to compensate the victims' families.



I have come to know through a news channel that you are geared up to celebrate 25th anniversary of your party next week with pomp and style. I am sure dalit victims of stampede will not be joining that party.

Ma’m this is not where my concerns ends. I am not in a mood of comparison but please have a look what Nitish Kumar and Mr Modi have done for their states.

Bihar, once almost synonymous to despondency, is rising from the ashes of gloom and murkiness. The nearly infamous GDP growth rate of 11.03% that was termed as miracle more than once is not just where the story begins or ends. The dreadful past that saw this north eastern state decelerating, deteriorating and degrading is hard to picture vis-à-vis the present Bihar.

As a result of Modi's elaborate efforts, Gujarat registered a GDP growth rate of over 10% during his first tenure.
As a Chief Minister, Modi concretely put to practice his envisaged Gujarat by means of various yojana. This includes Panchamrut Yojana, a five-pronged strategy for an integrated development of the state, Sujalam Sufalam, a scheme to create a grid of water resources in Gujarat in an innovative step towards water conservation and its appropriate utilization.
He has made Gujarat a new industrial destination. But what about UP?

As Mr. Nitish Kumar rightly said, “If Bihar can change, the whole nation can”. But Ms. Mayawati, we are not asking you to change the nation, we are talking about UP alone. Please do us this favour.

Mam, the huge amount of money which is allotted for building status and Ambedkar parks could have been used for promotion of trade and industries. Rs. 1,000 crores will help wipe out poverty of thousands of people and will provide basic amenities and education.

Thus all in all, happy UPites and more followers for you, just like that of Nitish Kumar and Mr Modi.

Mam, False reputations, like statues, are prone to fall at the slightest ill-wind while true respect and admiration built on rock-solid deeds weather the strongest storms.

UPites have shown faith in you and appointed you as a chief minister for many reasons which are still unfulfilled. We too want our state to be like Gujarat with the highest GDP.
Please don’t take it as joke. There are many youngsters, like myself, who want to see an all pervasive growth of the state, but what have you been doing?

I don’t intend to criticize you or your efforts but please act in more balanced way that can lead to all-round development of our state. We have the potential to grow. We have given this country leaders like Jawahar Lal and Lal Bahadur. We too can develop industrial hubs like that of Bangalore and Mumbai. Only overall development of state will add to your popularity.
We sincerely hope that you will give us the lead and your support in our endeavour.

With Kind regards,
Ankur Mittal

IPL bowled out Pakistan!!

Cricket auction for IPL ended with a big surprise right away when Pak star players were bowled out from IPL and even Shahid Afridi could not found any bidder.

It came as a shock not only for the Pakistan cricket players present there but also for both Indian and Pakistani cricket fans.



Angry over perceived IPL snub to its cricketers, Pakistan has threatened India that it will respond in a ‘befitting manner’.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik quoted “India or any other country that does not give respect to Pakistan will be treated the same way by us. If there is a desire to improve Indo-Pak friendship, respect should be given to Pakistani sportspersons”

The question arises “Were IPL franchises right in ignoring Pak players?”

After all IPL is a business venture and what’s wrong if the various franchise teams snubbed Paki players.Choosing Pak players doesn’t make any business sense when they might not even get a visa to play here because of the past unpredictability of relations between the two countries.

IPL is an independent entity it has got nothing to do with the sentiment of any nation, it is purely meant for money .Last year IPL shifted to South Africa when Indian govt. showed constraints due to elections and security.

If Pakistan feels India has snubbed their players deliberately then it is a good strategy to show them the sentiments of INDIAN mass.

There have been numerous incidents when the two countries decided not play with each other or not to play in each other’s land. Why Pakistanis are making so much of hue and cry now for IPL?

Because money matters :)

If the Pakistan feels so bad about this - Why don’t their start own PPL and make as BIG as IPL.

Mr. Rahman also quoted “The manner in which the players were ‘insulted’ showed that India is not serious about the peace process with Pakistan.”

Some Indians may say that it will hamper peace projects like Aman Ki Asha initiated between India and Pak. But what kind of peace?

Remember, friendship or good relation is a two way traffic lane, not one way. Both have to come forward. Only India shouting brotherhood from the top does not take us anywhere.

Pakistan has not taken even a single step to maintain good relations with India. The wounds of 26/11 victims of Mumbai are still fresh and talk of Aman Ki Asha is a distant dream when ceasefire violations are taking place everyday. A country which has used its land, people, resources and what not for covert and at times overt terrorism needs to be put down at all costs.

IPL franchises deserve to be congratulated. May these so called (Pseudo) Intellectuals develop some affection for their own country and people.Even today the pakis treat the terrorists as their national heroes. The Mumbai Terror masterminds in PAK are enjoying royal treatment and are plotting more attacks on INDIA

Reality shows: Can we relate them?

Yesterday while surfing various TV channels i came across a show on NDTV Imagine. The show had some 16 girls involved in search of an ideal groom and the centre stage groom-in -waiting was rahul Mahazan.

Rahul Dulhaniya Le Jaayega (RDLJ)” :)

Rahul is a married man but divorced & now he wants to start new fresh life. He is getting his own show where he would get a chance to interact with 16 girls to find his ’Life Partner’.



That probably makes him perfect choice for the second season of swayamvar show after Rakhi Ka Swayamvar concluded recently when she chose NRI Elesh Parujanwala and later declared that she would like to spent 6 months with Parujanwala and than will decide his fate.
These reality shows are hot amongst some youngsters, ridiculous for some and just a mere time pass for others

Risking your life and claiming to be a ROADIE , confessing about your personal life, your sexual affairs and your intimate relations and experiencing your past life which you can never experience, what these soaps are showcasing and this is what television viewing has been reduced to.


Surprisingly this all is shown at cost of our cultural and moral values. The use of abusive language, obscene sexual exposure is one thing that has become an indispensable part of these reality shows. Flirtation, betrayal, tears, bitching and scheming, is all shown in name of reality.

Shows like Sach ka Samna raises questions upon trust and faithfulness and weakens the thread of bonding. These shows only plant seeds of dissension amongst families and relations rather than bringing enlightenment.

This is what this television and the glamorous world of silver screen is taking away from us.

I don’t know what these people are trying to show? Whether it is the reality or scripted but the picture that it is projecting is really corrupted. People have found their shortcut to fame, popularity and money in these reality shows.

What media and television has given to us is undoubtedly tremendous but what it is taking from us is the question to be asked.How justifiable it is, showcasing all this vulgar acts and nonsense on television?

There has been much debate about reality TV shows and whether they are ethical or not, but no one has been able to completely justify themselves. As the television reaches its new era and reality is in demand, people are creating scripted shows and calling it reality.These are badly affecting minds of Indians specially youths.

It is not only affecting the minds of the people but morally corrupting them as well. Girls seems to forgotten the decency of living and boys have gone too far in their behavior. Excess of everything is bad and this phenomenon has rightly been fulfilled by these reality shows for the sake of entertainment and so called masala. Its time to buck up and think of what all it is leading up to.

Run Mumbai Run

Every year mumbai runs,a blind gets eyesight.

Every year mumbai runs,a child gets fresh air.

Every year Mumbai runs,a women gets empowerment.

A marathon provides the city with a platform to come together in a celebration that cuts across social and economic barriers. It brings together the common man, the corporate czar, the politician, the socialite and the physically challenged onto one platform. It is an event that stirs the conscience of every citizen, encouraging them to reach out in aid of a cause or charity.

Reliance ADA Group would be participating in the upcoming Standard Charted Mumbai Marathon 2010 being organized in Mumbai on Sunday, January 17, 2010 .

For the last few years we have been supporting the Harmony Silvers” Run as well as participating in the marathon under the corporate membership.

Please be there to cheer the runers.

You would be required to reach Bandra kurla complex in the morning at 6.00 A.M on Sunday, January 17, 2010

Attack on Indian students in Oz: A wake up call

As the spate of attacks against Indian students continued in Australia I could not resist myself from writing and putting my views forward to the people who seem to be disappointed over the racial attacks on Indians in Australia.

“MY ADVICE to every Indian student now, who wants to come to Australia, is please don’t come and there’s no life here.” This statement of Baljinder Singh, a victim of the recent ‘racial’ attack on Indian students in Australia, is quite justified.

The question arises(since there are 20 such incidents in last 1 month)if the Aussie punks are bashing only Indians or are other immigrants also receiving similar personal agitations ? if no, why only Indians?

One can comment that some of the Indians settled there are ill-behaved, do not mingle well with the Australian society, do not fit in with the Australian way of life, and are pre-occupied with their own poor lifestyle , blah...blah . But does all this justify the Australians’ discreditable act of racial attacks? Every country has its own issues.

Some of the Indians in Australia have gotten voluntarily Citizenship...I am not concerned about them.( Even I don’t like it) but what about students who are studying there? There are more than 1 lac Indian students in Oz. Of course, India has many institutions of excellence, but to get into them is like a windfall in Lotto raffle.

The Australian govt blamed media for hyping the attacks and declaring them as racial one.Our External minister asked a genuine question to his Oz counterpart ” How can you say every time that these so many attacks are non racial in just one hour of attack without any investigation? ”

Chief of Police in Oz commented that” Indians in Australia are more safer than they are in India”

How can the Chief of Police in Australia justify the racial attacks on Indian’s by comparing that Indians are safer in Australia then in India.

By comparing the safety of Indian, The chief is strongly opinionated. By smiling while he is making the statement shows how much he values a Life of an INDIA.

If 100 people of Afghanistan die in bomb attack in India,India cannot shrug it off saying it happens daily in Afghanistan

I DEEPLY EMPATHIZE WITH THE VICTIMS OF THE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST INDIANS IN AUSTRALIA THIS IS TOTALLY INHUMAN AND UNCALLED FOR.

Indian Govt must take strict actions to stop this racism and must save life of Indians...

For Indian in Oz: The Dog Bites when you are in his Backyard, If you cant fight the dog ,then go to your yard. Home Sweet Home - There is no place like home. Indians with high intellectual quotient are a threat to any developed society.

Adolescent Suicides: Where is young India?

Competition pressure and stress on children starts right after their 2nd birthday.

One student, Sushant Patil, 12, was found Monday in the school’s toilet, while another student, Bajanjit Kaur, 18, was found hanging from the ceiling fan at her home in Powai and the third child, Neha Sawant, 12, was found hanging to a ceiling rod inside her apartment.

Prior to committing suicide, Kaur, a first-year student of physiotherapy D.Y. Patil Medical College in Navi Mumbai who had failed clear three subjects in her second semester exams, wrote on the wall of her room, “I have to achieve my goal by securing good marks.”

Neha had participated in three TV dance reality shows, including the famous “Boogie Woogie.” As a student of a dance academy, she excelled in different forms of dances.

A few months ago, Neha’s family had pulled her out of the academy, as they wanted her to concentrate on her studies.

This news surfaced all over the media yesterday, and chilled most of us. The parents of these children are in deep grief. The question that rose in my mind was, "was it stress, confusion, pressure or motivation?”
A child should have no reason to know the spelling of 'suicide', let alone to commit it. How does an 11 or even 12-year-old go through the motions involved in hanging oneself? How do their little fingers manage to tie the slip knot?

What are we doing to our kids? Why our teens are killing themselves? Reason is simple child is under pressure to perform. Parent’s attitude ' see what Mr. Rameshwar's child is doing, taking so many tuitions and scoring highest marks ’ is just pressurizing children to over perform. How can everyone be first?

Is the cremation of your child's dreams more important than what society will say?

How many kids will die before Indian parents learn that let kids pursue their dreams instead of forcing their own whims on them?
Parents believe that best is what they want and they don’t realize dreams of their children. Their over burdening expectations are making children struggle to achieve things that are not in their forte. The childhood of the child is snatched in one go.

Someone has quoted well "Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”
Recently released movies" Tare Jamin Pe" and "3idiots "staring Amir Khan pictured the same concept very well. The only need is to adopt it.

Dr Shubhangi Parker, head of psychiatry department at KEM Hospital, said, “Parents must understand that the age group from seven- to 18 years has low levels of tolerance and gets frustrated easily. It’s also when they respond strongly to humiliation and failure.”

A study proves that 70% of urban parents force their children to take up the professions or courses they want them to, as compared to only 15% in semi urban and rural areas. Children are not provided freedom to choose their own areas of interest.Chilren are not allowed to do what they feel interesting.

When children don’t get success in what their parents like the system makes them believe that are not capable enough.

Our society believes that science graduates are more intellectual than arts students. Today, when alternative career opportunities like music, dance and photography are springing out and creating good financial gains, we must open up our minds and must look ahead.

We must realize that success is not pursuing the most sought after goal or profession; it is the excellence we achieve in what we are good at.