Yesterday was back to school day for most schools. I was standing outside my community and watching the hustle and bustle of kids trying to catch their school bus. But what caught my eye was heavy bags on their tiny shoulders. Those bags weighed more than the child's weight. 

I wonder, do schools and governments even care about them? 

 According to my knowledge, the Central government has advised the states, to lessen the burden of school bags for school going children and do away completely with homework for children studying first and second classes, which if it is true, it’s praiseworthy. I really hope the state governments should heed to the sensitive and wise advice immediately. 

In fact, schools can provide book-shelves to every student, and the government can also provide financial support for this. Schools can also change their academic schedule in such a manner that they divide weekdays according to the subjects so that instead of carrying all books every day, a student can use only 3/4books on a particular day. It was even suggested that the pages of textbooks and notebooks should be reduced to half or say 50 pages. Textbooks could be published topic wise or chapter wise. Now the existing system has been stealing all the enthusiasm, creativity, and the spirits of a child in the name of modern education. The elements of morals,  ethics, arts, and creative skills that help one’s overall development are gradually missing in primary education. The reform should start from the very beginning of school life. There should be an innovative solution or we might find schools being the place of least interest for the children of the next generation.

News Papers Headings ”Phir Ek bar Modi Sarkar, Predict polls” a couple of days ago.  Exit and opinion polls at times gauge the mood of the nation very well, but most of the times they fail to predict the final result with reasonable accuracy. A small sample survey can not be considered as the pulse of the people. What better example do we need other than Australia, where the ruling Conservative coalition won surprisingly in the country’s General Election, defying all opinion and Exit polls. Now in India, all Exit polls have indicated a victory for NDA. The favourite illustration critics present for condemnation is the projections of 2004 General Election -Indeed both opinion polls and Exit polls blundered perhaps blinded by the rhetoric of “India shining.”

In 2004 NDA was projected to win between 230 & 275 seats, and UPA in the range of 176-190 seats. Actual results found the pollsters on the wrong side of both trajectory and tally -the NDA won 187and UPA 219seats. The BJP won 138 and Congress 145 seats. Five years later 2009 the Exit polls got the trajectory right but missed the tally --the trajectory for UPA was a low 185 and high 205. And for NDA it was 165 and 195. On the results, day UPA won 262 and NDA got 159. The performance of the pollsters in 2014 was similar -- they got the mood of the voters but missed the tally by a wide margin.

The concept of Exit polls used across the world is an innovation of Warren J Mitofsky. While at Census Bureau Mitofsky designed a number of surveys. He also devised a random digit dial long system for phone polling voters and went on to create the CBS News/New York Times poll. Success Mitofsky underlined, required trained interviewers, an established pattern, and preciseness in calculations.

In India, it’s a different story altogether. Are the psephological surveys such as Exit polls scientifically and logically conducted without partisan biases and prejudices? Do they conduct sample surveys of political preferences of illiterate masses, living in the remote rural areas, hilly terrains, and ghettos? Is it not a fact that psephologists simply conduct interviews and elicit views with the urban voters who are found to be indecisive and apathetic and take the entire process as a joke cracked by vested interests? The truth is the electoral results are decided by mute but mighty masses who despite their vast illiteracy keep their ear to the ground and assess correctly the contesting candidate’s credentials and pass judgment on his performance and promise.

Here the polling is over and results are preserved in EVMs. When people have been patiently waiting for months for results this time, and results will now be out in a day or two, I fail to understand what purpose does it serve to announce Exit poll results now? At most the TRP ratings could be increased for the news channels which in turn promotes immoral betting activities, in the society. Is it fair to encourage public towards speculative activities, instead of educating them in superstitions and other false beliefs?

Predicting an election in the world’s largest democracy has to take into account several factors ranging from caste religion, region, money power to voting percentages. We need fresh methodology and techniques as the results of every election redefine the rules of psephological surveys.
This election what was astonishing to me was, scant concern for corruption issues, was surprising as it was the focal point in 2014 election, and what was equally disturbing is the lack of interest in addressing the most dreadful problem farmer death and peripheral issues related it. All this the ruling dispensation had conveniently side-tracked and the opposition has fallen in the trap. In 2014 it was Modi wave, this time around there is no ”wave” or “under current” being felt by man or woman on the street. So just let us wait for the real verdict on 23rd of this month.

BJP supporters and BJP leaders have taken this notion that Congress has not done anything for the development of the nation in the last 67 years, has taken a propgandic proportions after Modi took over as PM.  So today I would like to jog the memories of BJP leaders and supporters. They try to create an impression that in the last seven decades Congress did nothing, and in their speeches, they give an impression as if India has evolved as leading democratic power only in these last 4 years. And as if only Modi has to be credited for India's economic, financial and infrastructural development.
India got its freedom 3 years before Modiji was born. In 1948 immediately after partition, a war took place between Pakistan and India, and we won.  About 500 princely states, including Hyderabad, got merged in the Indian Union, due to untiring efforts by Patel, Dy PM. Indian Constitution, one of the best in the world was prepared and executed W.E.F 26th Jan 1950.   Indian Govt under Panditji had hosted Asian games in New Delhi in1951 (4th to11th March). Govt under Nehru introduced India’s first five-year plan which defined the model of centralised economic planning and Development. By the time Modiji was 2years Old, First general elections were held in1952. PM Nehru being a great visionary, he could establish Atomic Energy Establishment at Trombay on 3rd Jan1954, which was later renamed as Bhabha Atomic  Research  Centre. Several very important Public sector undertakings like Bharat petroleum, BEL, Hindustan Antibiotics, Hindustan shipyard were made operational, but unfortunately, now if you see many of the PSUs Navarathna companies are ready for privatisation and reasons for it, I want you to comprehend.

Indian Army once again moved into action to liberate Goa, from Portuguese, which was made a Union Territory in Indian Union. This was all done by the Congress government when Modi was not even 11 years old and a year later Pondicherry ruled by French, got merged in Indian Union. In1961 Govt Established, IIMs, in Calcutta, and Ahmedabad and Later IITs at Kharagpur, Bombay, Madras, Kanpur, and Delhi were established and they are all one of the world’s best Institutes, and you know these institutions and Dozens of Indian Universities, have produced top-notch professionals in few thousands since then. We have built BhakraDam on Sutlej, which was the third largest reservoir, and it was described as "New Temple Of Resurgent India” Rihand Dam In UP was also constructed which is India’s largest artificial lake.

When Modi was just 14, HAL was formed in 1964, which was a consortium of Hindustan Aircraft Ltd, and IAF Aircraft Manufacturing Depot, Kanpur, which has already started manufacturing Aircraft’s and Helicopters and if you remember, the same HAL was to be given the Rafale, but who snatched away, and how it happened, is anybody’s guess. Remember, when Modi was 15 years Old, India fought another war with Pakistan 1965, and Indian Army reached Lahore outskirts. Just for crossing the border we are doing a lot of chest thumping in the name of so-called surgical strikes now, and it was 65, our army reached Lahore. In1967, by the time Modiji was 17, the foundation for the Green Revolution was laid,  farmers harvested the first crop of high-yielding wheat. From the era of hand to mouth we became self-sufficient, in production of wheat. If you remember it was Indira who released a special stamp in 1968. The Govt of India created ISRO in 1969 and in the same year, Indira nationalised 14 major scheduled commercial banks for the nation’s development, the same year Tarapur Atomic power station was made operational, which produced 210MW of power.

In 1971 we fought a 3rd war with  Pakistan(Our Modiji must have been 21 years old), and Bangladesh was created as an Independent Nation.1974 Pokhran Nuclear tests were conducted much before our Modiji entered politics. We got our super computer and Application of Information Technology was completed, and when he became 41years, Narasimha Raoji As PM liberated the economy while Manmohansingh was FM then, who was made PM subsequently, in 2004-2014.

Much before Modi became PM Indian government took initiatives for “Chandrayan, Mangalyaan, GSLV, Mono-rail, Nuclear sub-marine, Agni missile, Chetak, Arjun tank, Sukhoi, Dhanesh, etc. Therefore, what I want to reiterate here is, that India as such a very powerful nation with a robust economy and with all this, it is proved beyond doubt, that lot of efforts have gone  into building this great nation, now our great people will blame Nehru for anything and everything very unfairly, which really pains. I had to collect a lot of information, to answer those who say “kuch bhi nahi hua sattar  sal me.” Even after all this history, which they  may hesitate to read, as they think, it’s only surgical strikes that are great, they forget that our forces, are capable of attacking enemy at any point in time, because they do their job, but taking credit by ruling dispensation, was never done by either Nehru or Mrs. Gandhi. And infact credit was given to the forces only.

ECI continues to drag its feet on several complaints filed by opposition leaders against the ruling dispensation, including PM. EC’s attitude raises disturbing questions about the commission’s neutrality, which is worrisome. Perhaps another nudge or even rap on knuckles from SC to act swiftly on complaints of poll code violations alone would make EC sit up and act. What a sad state of affairs. Seshan can be remembered for effectively implementing a model code of conduct for the first time, filing cases and arresting candidates for not abiding by polling rules reigning in money and muscle power in elections. Indian politicians, it was said, feared only God or Seshan, the 10th Chief Election Commissioner. He continued for 6 years and his stick spared none. Two decades on, as EC’s credibility falters, the need for another Seshan arises.
Never before have there been so many violations of the election code. Seeking votes in the name of Army elicited protests from former Army officers and civil servants, but the misuse continued with total silence by EC. If you remember, in the wake of Godhra killings in 2002, Gujarat government wanted to hold snap elections. In Delhi and in Gujarat, BJP was in power, but CEC took the stand that elections would not be held in a hurry and rejected the demand. An elected MLA was disqualified in Maharashtra, as he had used Hindutva as a campaign issue. If you remember, Seshan used to get the election meetings filmed, to ensure that there were no violations. Today’s EC says it has no powers. Gujarat MLA Ramesh Kataria was brazen in his violation, as reported by ANI, where it is said that he told people to press the lotus button “there shouldn’t be any room for errors, as Modi Ji has installed cameras this time. Who voted for BJP and who voted for Congress, it can be seen. Adhar card etc have your photos. If there are fewer votes from your booth then we will come to know who didn’t cast vote and then you will not get the work.” This is more threatening in tone than Manaka Gandhi’s warning to Muslims that made the Election Commission to take action. When a leading party functionary says that systems have been put in place to find out who voted for whom, where is the sanctity of elections?
The third phase of elections having been over, yet there are doubts and suspicions over many issues, while the ruling dispensation’s publicity, has no mention of “development”, whereas its main thrust seems to be on Citizenship, Amendment Bill and National Register Of citizens, which caused upheaval in north-east. The slogan “a fitting response to terrorism “continues.

Three factors according to me are important in this election.

1)Public loss of trust in EVMs.

2)Encouraging defections from other parties to BJP, and getting rewarded, as its being party in power, can offer rewards that matter.

3)The most pernicious feature, the number of tax raids conducted only on opposition leaders without even slightest feeling of guilt, the intention is to deprive the opposition of ready cash, while BJP’s stock of oxygen was never touched. This type of cheating games was never played in Indian elections before.

Conveniently defective EVMs, opportunistic defections, and partisan raids may influence the outcome.Let us wait and see what is in store.

Yet again I want to put forth my impression of the book titled "India After  Modi by Mr. Ajay Gudavarthy. Presently Mr. Ajay is Associate Professor, at the Centre for political studies, JNU, New Delhi. Prior to that, he was in National Law School, Bangalore. He had earlier published few books and this is the latest, which contains Essays, with a reflection on the current political dispensation working under the leadership of PM Modi.It attempts to take a critical view of all the major events that transpired since 2014 and as run up to 2019. It is premised on the argument that “India After Modi” is distinct from what it was before. I understand the writer has attempted to tread a difficult line of making the book readable to the common man and anyone interested in what is going on with Democracy in India. It is mentioned that some of the articles have been published as short essays, in various News Dailies.

INDIA AFTER MODI attempts to address, some of the questions through a thorough analysis of events like “Award wapsi”, Demonetisation, the Crisis in JNU, and higher education, Electoral outcomes, including in the states of Bihar, Delhi, and UP. Through this collection of essays, Mr. Ajay Gudavarthy focused exclusively on Indian Democracy after Narendra Modi took over as PM in 2014. He tried to discuss politics that the country has been witnessing since then and tried to address emerging issues like women’s participation, new urban spaces, etc.  I would recommend this book to Modi bhakts and non-Modi bhakts equally for different reasons.

In the end, I would like to quote Mr. Prabhat Patnaik, Emeritus Professor JNU,
“In this timely and important book, Ajay Gudavarthy offers a compelling and critical commentary on Indian politics. The writing is engaging and jargon-free, and analysis acute. Whilst titled “India After Modi” the book doesn’t spare any political party. Rather it offers sharp insights into the current state of Indian politics, how we got here and where we might be headed. A must read for all those wishing to understand the complex politics of the “world’s largest democracy.”

Jayaprakash Narayan a retired Bureaucrat and a Social activist has expressed his disappointment at our honourable PM for seeking votes in the name of caste, while denigrating the opposition, and in other places for taking the shelter under religion, and at some other place, region, etc.. These tactics for seeking votes are too low for the stature of PM of India, which in past no PM resorted to this type of canvassing .
EC somehow is unable to take cognisance of such utterances by big-shots. Even though after SC’s intervention, EC took some very mild action against two top politicians of UP. But there is still no news of ECI taking cognisance of sting operation of about 20 present and former MPs, as telecast by a newly launched Hindi News Channel on 3/4/19, despite official complaints made through email to ECI

ECI seems to have lost its thread as the utterances of the leaders of various political parties, seem to have drowned the constitutional power of EC. Right from our PM down to an ordinary political worker, the personal vilification has reached its crescendo. Yogi’s comments earned him a mouth gag, for three days, Mayawati for two days. Sexist remarks, racial slurs stoking regional feelings have been the order of the day. Whether 33 percent quota for women will be discussed or not, unfortunately, women are being discussed in an uncouth manner by the likes of Azamkhan. All 4  politicians (Yogi, Mayawati, Menaka,&Azam) have shocked us with their statements.
The EC which rose to the levels of the fiercely independent and intrepid institution under Mr. Seshan has now been reduced to merely issuing routine instructions. Thankfully ECI “woke up to its powers” to borrow the SC ‘s phrase. UP CM Yogi has called the Indian Army as "Modi Sena”, referred to Muslims as “green virus” and bragged if they have Ali, we have Bajrangbali” BSP Chief appealed to the Muslims to vote for SP-BSP and not allow Congress to split their votes. Azam khan referred to “khaki underwear” to emphasise to Jayaprada’s allegiance to RSS. While EC acted against all the above, though mildly, it found nothing wrong with PM’s “majority, minority” comment in the context of Rahul contesting from Wayanad, and his impassioned plea to first time voters to vote for the Pulwama martyrs or for that matter seeking votes in the name caste,(BC Card) , etc.
As a constitutional body entrusted with the task of conducting a free and fair election and it must outgrow its awe of PM and stop it’s the selective and differential treatment of leaders. It must consider all leaders impartially and without bias.
If  Mr. Arora needs a lesson, he should look at the history of Seshan, another retired IAS, who raised the profile of the EC and put the fear of the lord, into the toughest politicians. Not a bulldog, but still tough as nails, was JM Lyngdoh who knew how to straighten the mean-minded politicians.
All of us have a vital role to ensure that the debates, however, acrimonious, be centered on the ideologies and manifestos but not on one’s shape, size, caste, creed, race, and religion

The Supreme Court has shown open-mindedness by rejecting the Government's stance seeking privilege over the admissibility of the "leaked documents" on Rafale deal. I feel that it is a good move for transparency and accountability. 
With this, the mystery over the credibility of the deal is getting murkier, compounded further by the reluctance of NDA to subject itself to scrutiny and come out clean.
 Many of my FB friends may be of the view that the allegations are all concocted. At least now they should realise that all is not well. The AG had the audacity to tell the top court that the documents published by the daily, have been stolen from the Defence Ministry. He went to the extent of initiating criminal action against Hindu, for publishing it, under official secrets act. This shows the weakness of the government by attacking the messenger ignoring the message.  Let us not forget that today’s government was yesterday’s opposition and that in its earlier AVATAR it took the then government to task on the basis of numerous press reports based on “leaked documents”. The Augusta Westland case, for example, saw a blizzard of leaked papers.
The issue in the deal is that there has been avoidable financial loss and there is no official secret about this fact. Every Indian is entitled to know what his government is doing and he has the right to question or criticise, his rulers. Unfortunately, the present dispensation has the mindset that no one opposes its writ. This is the only newspaper which has done its job correctly and courageously and seems it has some ethics.
After new revelations coming to light on the Rafale scam appearing on regular basis in media, the government of the day has been running from pillar to post to get rid of this stigma the deal has created. AG’s averment seemed to echo our PM’s speeches as he campaigns across the country, claiming sole guardianship over national security. By stating that the file has been stolen, the government is pointing the finger squarely at itself for not being able to protect the files of national security.
In fact, I have a feeling that the dispensation has scant respect for the judiciary. It has become abundantly clear that the present dispensation will show no value to the judgments if they don’t fit into their scheme of things. Did we all not see how BJP and RSS openly violated SC’s Sabarimala verdict and tried to foment violence?  I'm afraid, in a democracy which government will appear before the Apex court and have the audacity to state that the files of national security have been stolen and nothing has been done about it.
Even when you see the CAG report on this scam, it throws more questions rather than it answers and it’s clearly a dent on the image of the institution, the reputation of which has never been so controversial than of now. As such it is attributable that there is the force from the government in the wake of ensuing elections. We have been let down by CAG on more than one count to the best of my knowledge. First, the report Commits to the pricing issue of 36 Aircraft’s and concluded that the deal was 2-86 percent cheaper than the one which had been negotiated by UPA without going deeply into the history, which itself indicates that it wants to favor the government and to silence the opposition which was making bad propaganda. Secondly, CAG has chosen not to deal with the cavalier manner in which PM 36 aircraft of the shelf, when there are guidelines to be followed. The issue of the government is that it has agreed to drop the standard requirements for  Bank Guarantees or at least sovereign guarantee and instead of accepting the letter of comfort from France has been repeatedly raised by critics as the disadvantage. By not rising to the occasion, the office of the CAG has let itself down and the integrity of CAG has become a point of discussion among the public. My friends used to comment that the price aspect has been cleared by CAG and SC gave a clean chit and that there is nothing to question.  Now with this everything will come out, if SC does a thorough investigation and that’s what is required.
First, under the cover of the country’s Defence, the argument of classified information was advanced, and later to be followed by “stolen documents." It needs no big brains to conclude that something fishy is clearly wrapped up in the whole episode. It's now time for the top man to break the deafening silence and set the matters to rest by addressing the issue or appoint JPC to probe into the alleged multi-crore scam or some senior judge of SC has to do the investigation.