I was pained to read a news item “in spite of law, old parents are left to fend for themselves.” One Mrs Sheela Rani, 75, was found reading scriptures, in her room, in an old age home.  Her room is equipped with a wall-mounted shrine, pictures of deities hanging on walls, utensils and few boxes, of biscuits, and other eatables --all crammed in a room. The only way to pass her time is reading books on scriptures etc. It is mentioned that Mrs Rani who has son and two daughters, has been living away from her children for the past 13 years. When asked she replied that the reasons for her being there can be inferred easily, and she was reluctant to speak the truth, but on persuasion it seems she said that “had my husband been alive, I would have still been at home, with my grand children around me” she lamented. She added that her husband died 26 years ago, and her equation with her son and his wife had not been the same thereafter.

The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior citizens Act 2007 makes it legal obligation for children and heirs to provide maintenance to parents by giving monthly allowance, which includes Food, clothing, residence, and medical attendance, treatment etc. When asked why she doesn’t file a case , she replied that a mother doesn’t fight, with her own children.

Sanyasa (renunciation) is the most apathetic stage in life disabling the aged with ailments, pains and sufferings.They need proper health care system, which is in a vulnerable position. Governments turn Nelson’s eye to the shelter homes for the aged as 64% of the present generation of youngsters are brutally kicking them out, as per one report.  Government needs to build “Homes for the aged” charging nominal fee. As per latest CII report India’s elderly population, is expected to reach 300 millions by 2050 from 104 millions at present, accounting for18% of the total population. To put it proper perspective, India’s population of 60+ is already equal to the entire population of Mexico, and Russia and by 2050 it may be close to the whole population of US.  Our population of 80+ age group will itself be equal to Belgium, or Greece. This is both an opportunity and a challenge. As it is, the senior care is in its nascent stage, and obviously there is need for Centre to create a Ministry for Elders care, in my view. If you read Bhagavatam (Dasamaskanda) it is mentioned that if we ill-treat elder people it will destroy our fame, wealth, lifespan, and well being.

On last Saturday Mr ImranKhan was sworn in as Prime Minister of Pakistan. But he will be daunted with many challenges. The country has balance payments crisis. The judiciary, there must be in hyperactive mood, many Pakistanis, including senior military officials blame the incompetent, political class for its chronic problems. They have been yearning for a messiah like figure who can turn Pakistan into a financially autonomous, and militarily robust nation that is respected globally. They see Mr Khan as man of that destiny. Imran Khan was repeatedly proclaimed as front runner by the Pakistani media made people suspect that he has backing of Army-ISI. An interesting fact about him is that , though it’s a coincidence, Khan made his team, world champion in 1992 by 22 runs, became 22nd Prime Minister, of Pakistan after 22 years of struggle. His slogan for NAYA PAKISTAN, must have got acceptance as he constructed a cancer hospital and must be providing a world class Education in the form of Nama University. If Mr Khan who sought to portray himself as different from others and is aspiring to change the narrative of Pakistan, let him attempt it.

Today’s special focus,in NTV,9/30pm was very interesting.While discussing about drastic fall in rupee ,a doubt was expressed that Petrol price,touching Rs100/per litre, is not far away.A spike in oil prices is leaving the people ,particularly middle class,and the poor harried.Iam sure it will definitely show negative impact,on the economy, as inflation will flareup, and the RBI will again be forced to hike the lending rates.The result will be industrial recession,compounded or multiplied by deceleration of rupee value further, against the dollar, the reports say.India needs to take up with Saudi Arabia to secure adequate supplies.It should also demand waiver of sanctions,from Trump Admn,(US) , on oil trade with Iran,The zUS calls India its strategic partner, ,but we should know whether it is a rhetoric.It is said that taxes by centre and states account for over 50% of the sales price of oil.They need to find other resources to raise the funds,as letting oil prices, scale up any further will create incendiary situation in India,which may singe the central government, in particular.

It is an everyday phenomenon to see political opponents outwit each other all the time through their daily quotes, speeches and bites to media. But in that process of outsmarting each other they quite often they get their facts incorrect. Recent statement of BJP chief, during his  West Bengal tour, who said that his party can never be dubbed as anti-Bengali, as alleged by Mamta, because the party’s founder itself was a Bengali, Shyamaprasad Mukherjee. But many pointed out that Mukherjee founded Bhartiya Jansangh, in 1951, not BJP, as the BJP came into existence in 1980. 

Another instance also like this Mr Sha, while expressing his solid support for “one nation, one election,” he had stated that there were instances when people in a state, had voted for one party at the centre, and another in the state, when both Assembly,and Parliament elections held together and also it was stated by him that in Karnataka in 1980 the voters chose Congress for Parliament and for the state, Janatadal secular. But the statement was incorrect on two counts (I stand for correction if Iam wrong) one, in 1980 the elections were not Simultaneous held and secondly, Janata party’s win was in the year 1983.

Again if one just goes back to period of recent Karnataka elections, where our PM and the Congress, both national parties gave totally incorrect information to the public, just to garner the sentiment and votes. Most of the mistakes were from our PM, but here again I don’t like to blame him totally, (as it must be his speech writer

who fed the information) , but whatever it was, PM  who said during elections rallies, that , it was in the year 1948, it was under General Thimmayya’s leadership the war against Pakistan was won and after that victory the saviour of Kashmir, Gen Thimmayya  was repeatedly insulted by the then PM Nehru and then Defence Minister VK Krishna Menon and it was for this reason Gen Thimmayya had resigned for his post.

But there was no element of truth in it. In the first instance Gen Thimmayya was not the Chief of Army, at that time, it was Mr Roy Bucher. It is authoritatively learnt that Gen Thimmayya was divisional Commander with the rank of Major General. While it was correct to say that Gen. Thimmayya  played critical role in the Kashmir war, he was never humiliated either by PM or Defence Minister at that point of time. Thirdly it is incorrect to say that Krishna Menon was the Minister of Defence, it was Sardar Baldevsingh. 

  The cursory look at the carrier of Thimmayya,shows how Nehru rewarded him,for the good work.In1953 Nehru appointed him to head the UN Neutral Nation’s Repatriation Commission I. A very prestigious appointment, and subsequently awarded Padmabhushan, in 1954, by Nehru Govt, later he became Army Chief, superseding two officials. Unfortunately,the Congress spokes man, who was to correct the record straight, also did the mistake by clarifying that Gen Thimmayya was Indian High commissioner in UK during 1957-62. The fact of the matter is Gen Thimmayya was Army Chief in Delhi, Ofcourse the high commissioner was V K Krishna Menon .

Coming to Gen Cariappa, he was not Army Chief during 1962 Indo-China war. He had retired 9 years before., and the fact is his 4th successor was Chief when the war broke out. Further it was stated that Gen Cariappa was also traeated badly, by the Nehru, also, the facts suggest other wise. The fact could be Nehru and Cariappa might have had differences, but the fact was, that after his term, as Chief of Army, he was sent as High Commissioner to Australia, thus starting a tradition that the Sevice chiefs could be sent as Ambassadors, and this trend continued till 1980s.  importantly, after 33 years ,Rajiv made him Field Marshal, which will never have any retirement,if Iam correct.

If you ponder over all these facts, Congress Governments ill treated military heads of Karnataka, is far from truth, as the facts speak the other way. If Mr Surjewala had kept quiet, the mistakes would have been one sided.