(The author, Professor J S Rajput, is the former Chairman of the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). He was also the Director of the National council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) during 1999-04. He has been very close to the BJP think tank.)
These are the times of IPL bonanza and the media attention on glamorous owners of the internationally constituted cricket teams from Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad and others you know. A mere mention of the heady mix of Khans, Ambanis, Zintas and the icons of the cricket world brightens the faces of the young cricket lovers. Then there are the cheergirls. Some spoilsports like Maharashtra BJP leader Nitin Gadkari are talking of double standards and are getting it back from the ever-present television guest Suhel Seth: Gadkari is intellectually innocent! One wonders how Gadkari could survive the chuckles of a few senior television anchors and the much-admired cricket 'expert' Mandira Bedi! Gadkari was certainly missing the level. Why did he get stuck up at the 'double standards'? If he ever had a chance of being in the august company of the Left intellectuals, he would at least have graduated to the level of multiple standards!
IPL indicates the progress India has made in recent years. What an attractive alternative it provides when some people are bent on discussing farmers suicides, food crisis or inflation. These are routine issues to those busy with IPL. It is IPL all around in print and electronic media. A great favour has been done to the people of India, particularly the young learners in schools and colleges, by the introduction of live telecast of the proceedings of the Parliament - full time. Students in schools and colleges do not have to learn democratic practices by organizing mock Parliaments. The reality is before everyone. The coterie of self-styled secular-leftists need not strain themselves by writing chapters on legitimate means of democratic protest. Children learn these far better and much ahead of their masters.
An old-timer who has spent his lifetime in schools, colleges, universities, government offices and national level institutions, I watched the much maligned statement of the Hon'ble minister T.R. Balu on the floor of the House. He was defending his having persuaded the PMO to grant favours to his firms. I have been always in search of persons in public life who (claim to) lead a value-based life. I attempt to meet them and learn from them. I never had a chance to meet minister Balu nor did ever know that he was such a devotee of the most important of the eternal human values -Truth! Yes I am referring to the same 'Truth', which Gandhiji said 'is God'. Being fully aware of my limitations, I do not recall any other statement in recent times that I could put in this exclusive category of 'principled adherence to truth with exceptional courage and boldness'! And I put this before you in all seriousness. Cite me another instance of an honorable cabinet minister ever conceding on the floor of Parliament and, in fact before the whole country, that he/she has favored his kith and kin and had the courage to pose a counter query:' what is wrong with it'.
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The prevalent public perception is that political leaders, rare exceptions apart, never hesitate in seeking favours for their kith and kin. Those around them know that the best of the times are around once their 'leader' is in the position of power and authority! They take full advantage of it. One can go on citing umpteen instances that are in public domain but that would amount to repeating what every one is already aware of. After all, most of the political parties have learnt from the oldest political party of India that there is nothing wrong if the 'young of the family' inherit the political mantle and strengthen the dynasty. They all claim that their 'sons and daughters are in prominence because of their concern for the poor, the downtrodden, the weak and the minorities and the like. Having been accustomed to the rule of Rajas, Maharajas and Nawabs, people accept the logic and several family scions become elected leaders of the masses of India-overnight!
Sadly enough, no one admits such established facts. Minister Balu has done it. He deserves kudos from all around. I salute his courage.
Those in power and authority outside the government are probably a few steps ahead of the politicians. Indian Hockey Team's exclusion from the Olympics has shocked innumerable fans. Not the grand Chief of Indian Hockey (that was) K P S Gill! He is serving the Indian Hockey with the aura of Punjab policing achievements behind him. I am sure Gill does not believe in repairs. He intends to start on a clean slate - when every memory of the past is removed and people even forget that Hockey was ever played in India. Let the existing structures be dismantled fully and totally. Only then reconstruction could begin. He appears to be a staunch believer in the adage " What I say is right even if the whole world says it is wrong". Right from the Union sports minister to the players to any one having even a peripheral interest in hockey wants him to go! He won't. He has to rewrite (do not read seal) the fate of Indian Hockey.. Any criticism of Gill is against the 'sportsman's spirit'. One can be sure Gill is proud of his contributions to the 'rise' of Indian Hockey as is minister Balu of his contributions to the dynamic principled functioning of the ministries under his charge. In the government none can raise a finger
against him as but for the support of his Party, the Union government would collapse. Others can only raise their right hand in support of minister Balu. Who remembers the instances of Keshav Dev Malviya, T.T. Krishnamachari or Lal Bahadur Shastri in today's fast-paced, eyeball-grabbing politics?
I wonder whether Gill and Balu have met each other recently or not. I wish both of them a long stay in their positions - what is wrong in it?
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