Man proposes GOD disposes….

Man is essentially a thinking and acting being with wishes and desires, and he is never contended. He fulfills his one wish and immediately another one rises from its ashes like sphoenix. His desires are unlimited despite limited resources at his command. The psychologist had discovered the pyramid of human desires with the biological ones at the base to self expression at the zenith. In between there are uncountable desires and needs under several layers. This is the tragedy and beauty of human existence at the same time. Man struggles to fulfill his dreams and wishes, yet they remain elusive and distant. Sometimes his dreams are also fulfilled. There is nonetheless, no mechanism, no scientific rule which can guarantee that his dreams will be fulfilled, his needs met and his proposals disposed. Therefore mankind is confined to ever exist with his uncertainties.

“GITA” the holy book of Hindus offers a way out. According to it a man has only right to his duties. He must not contemplate upon rewards and fruits. Honest dedication with single minded devotion is all that is within his jurisdiction. The rest may best be left to the will of GOD. We may that only such man is worthy of proposing who performs his duties well and his proposals must be expressed through his work. The rest may be left to GOD, because only he has the power to dispose. We do not have even the right to think whether he will dispose or not. An honest proposal never goes undisposed. It is sufficient for us to know that GOD is all powerful, all merciful and benevolent and loves all his creatures alike. Who then, can have power of disposal if not GOD ?
If we internalize at the same time that it is very nature of man to proposes and the powers of disposing rests none other than the Almighty, the first cause, the uncaused cause, then we will have no difficulty in accepting the truth of the above given statement.

Tracking Provident Fund Balance, Claim Status or Lodging Complaints (only for India).

First open the website www.epfindia.com. Then if you want to know your pf balance, click on (Know Your PF Balance). A website on EPF balance status will be opened. There click on (Please select your office name and press submit). Only selected datas are available for now, much more data will be uploaded with time.

Insert your Employee PF Account Number* :  Required.

Name (as appears in EPF Slip) : Required.

Mobile : Required.

Then click on I Agree box and submit your information to see your balance status.

To Know your Claim status, go back to the main /home page; and click on (Know your Claim status).

Then click on (Click here for the status). A claim status page will be opened where fill up the following information.

Select Office :- Select the office of your region or where you have submitted the PF documents. While selecting office automatically the first two box of employees provident fund number will be filled up. For Example:- WB CAL.

Employees Provident Fund Number :- Insert the rest numbers of provident fund. Example :- WB CAL 0012345 000 0001234. Chronologically the order is state, office, Establishment Code (maximum 7 digits), Extension Code (maximum 3 digits), Account Number (maximum 7 digits). Then submit your information.

If you want to lodge any type of Grievances or complaints. Return to home page i.e. www.epfindia.com . There in left hand side in menu Click on (Customer Service). A page will open.

Click on EPFiGMS and this page will be opened.

HOME         REGISTER GRIEVANCE          SEND REMINDER CLARIFICATION           VIEW STATUS     CHANGE PASSWORD

Click on Register Grievance and a new page will be opened. Fill up with proper information and then submit. Keep Registration number and password for further reference.

Eradicating Corruption.

The most distressing aspect of wide corruption in India is the fact that it is not anymore confined to politicians or the government machinery alone It is prevalent among almost every section of the society and at every level. The study of world phenomenon on corruption has repeatedly branded India the list of one of the most corrupt countries of the world. Unfortunately, this view has not disturbed most of the Indians at all and they do not seem to care as to what opinion the world has about them; so long as the existing systems and practices would allow them to make money and get things done in one way or the other. It does not shock Indians anymore to know that not only the politicians, ministers, bureaucrats are corrupt but even the judges, professors, doctors and NGOs are not out in the race. Corruption is not only prevalent among the rich who are greedy in possessing enough but also prevalent among poor may it be to earn their bread.

What is most alarming and extremely disturbing about this country is that ministers are also suspected have a hand in murder. Chief Ministers of swindling crores of public money, senior police officers of molestation charges are all living in comforts and enjoying position, thus effectively exposing the fact that the crusade against corruption has finally failed in India. The bureaucrats are generally doing all such things in association or under the protection of their political bosses. A huge number of cases are pending against many politicians, even the highest political office of PM has not been freed from the corruption charges. Is there any salvation for our country from this virtual poisoning of entire system? Unless the general mass is awaken, the evil of corruption cannot be rooted out from the Indian society. Every citizen has to take cudgels to fight this evil, and if we like to save our beloved country from the jaws of monstrous animal.

I hope to share with you my views in fighting corruption, which has made India branded in corruption before the world. In India we must have a very strong anti-corruption policy or law, which would recognise corruption and try to eradicate it. ( This article is based on the eradicating corruption model of Singapore ).

To fight against corruption we should have the following measures in place:

a.  Legislative Measures against Corruption.

b.  Administrative Measures.

c.  Preventive Guidelines.

d.  Action against corrupt government officers.

e.  Court Punishment for Corruption.

f.  Departmental Punishment for Corruption.

g.  Roles of Government Agencies.

Corruption is the biggest social evil of our society and we can frequently see that syndicated corruption and greasing the palms of public officers in return for the services was common.  Enforcement action against the corrupted is difficult because of prevailing weak laws. Gathering of evidence was difficult because of the weak anti-corruption law and this had resulted in many corrupt public officers getting away with their crime. Most of the people generally are less educated and did not know their rights, even their fundamental rights. They were submissive in their dealings with public officers in authority and were accustomed to unfair treatment by them. Government/public officers are not adequately paid compared with those in the private sector.  Many of them became indebted through lavish lifestyle.  Integrity in the public service was therefore lacking and some of the public officers resorted to corruption to make ends meet. Political Leaders should create a climate of honesty and integrity, by divesting themselves from any involvement in financial or commercial ties. Any law enacted for eradicating corruption, should be reviewed regularly to ensure that offenders do not escape from legal punishment and that corruption does not pay. This includes requiring the court to order any person convicted of corruption offences to repay as penalty an amount of money equivalent to the bribe he had accepted. The concept that corruption does not pay should be further fortified by the Enactment of more Strict Laws. Those persons who without paying heed to the Laws; try to take bribe then proper action should be taken by confiscating or freezing their properties and assets obtained by corrupt offenders.

ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES

Along with the legislative measures, administrative measures should  also be taken to reduce the chances of public officers from being getting involved in corruption and wrongdoings. These measures should include by removing opportunities for corruption in government work procedures by streamlining cumbersome administrative procedures; slashing down excessive red tape which provides opportunities for corruption; reviewing public officer’s salaries regularly to ensure that they are being paid adequately and comparable to that of the private sector; reminding government contractors at the time when contracts are signed that bribing public officers administering the contracts may render their contracts to be terminated and proper strict clause to this effect should form part of the contract.

PREVENTIVE GUIDELINES

Strict guidelines in the form of instructions should be taken to prevent public officers from getting involved in corruption or wrongdoings.  Some of the instructions are that a public officer cannot borrow money from, or in any way put himself under a financial obligation to any person who is in any way under his official authority or has official dealings with him (as rule prevalent for an auditor); a public officer cannot use any official information to his private interest; a public officer is required to declare his assets at his first appointment and subsequently annually; a public officer cannot engage in trade or business or undertake any part-time employment without approval; a public officer cannot receive entertainment from members of public; a public officer should be required to disclose his assets ( direct or deemed assets ) properly.

EDUCATION OF PUBLIC OFFICERS ON CORRUPTION

Besides the legislative and administrative measures, regular talks should be made by appropriate authority to public officers especially those in the enforcement agencies on the pitfalls of corruption. Advice on how to avoid getting involved in corruption should also be given. A strict Anti-Corruption Act should be passed with all the relevant standards of the belonging country. Further, public officers should also be made aware of the Prevention of Corruption Act through the incorporation of the relevant provisions of the Act in the Government Instruction Manuals.

ACTION AGAINST CORRUPT PUBLIC OFFICERS

Depending on the availability of evidence, a corrupt public officer should be dealt with in any one of the two ways charging him in court if there is sufficient evidence for court prosecution or charging him departmentally if there is insufficient evidence for court prosecution. Both the giver and the receiver of a bribe are guilty of corruption and should be liable to the same punishment as a giver not only gives money, he/she also spreads an equal amount of corruption. Any person who is convicted of a corruption offence can be fined set up by government or sentenced to imprisonment as upto the rule of the country or to both.  If the offence relates to a government contract or involves a Member of Parliament, the term of imprisonment should be increased as because they are being selected by people, through election keeping faith on them, that they will run the machinery of a country in an efficient manner. Besides fine and imprisonment, the person convicted of corruption offence will be ordered by the court to return the amount of bribe, which he had accepted in the form of a penalty and the amount should be utilised by government for social upliftment of those classes those who are backward till now, financially. In addition to the punishment, which the court may impose on a convicted person, the court should also be empowered to order the confiscation of the property obtained by corrupt offenders.

DEPARTMENTAL PUNISHMENT FOR CORRUPTION

A public officer if is convicted in court for a corruption offence, then he should be compelled to resign from his job and if he is a pensionable officer then he should loose his pension and other benefits as well.  He should also be debarred from any future public appointment. A public officer who is convicted of a departmental charge may, depending on the severity of the charge, should receive one or a combination of the following punishments:- dismissal from the service; reduction in rank; stoppage or deferment of increment; fine or reprimand; retirement in the public interest.

CONCLUSION

No country in the world today can claim to be free from corruption.  However, India today portrays itself as a king country in corruption. Today people of India is trying to bring “ Jan Lokpal Bill ”  as a strong bill for fighting against corruption, and is headed by Shri Anna Hazzare, the pioneer of this movement. Let us hope for the best. So for getting success in fighting corruption everybody should be aware of the fact that corruption leads to down turning of a country, and in one voice 1.21 billion people should say :-

“SAY NO TO BRIBE….”

Shri Sathya Sai Baba.

Shri Sathya Sai Baba.

Shri Sathya Sai Baba (85 years old), one of the India’s most popular spiritual leaders, died at “ Puttaparthi ” (Puttaparthi, Anatapur district, Andhra Pradesh, India) on April 24, 2011 after a prolonged illness, plunging millions of followers across the world into glooms. The man whom many worshiped as God despite controversy, breathed his last at the Sathya Sai Super-speciality hospital where he was admitted on March 28, with cardiac problems. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condoled Baba’s death, saying he was an inspiration to people of all faiths and that his death was an irreparable loss to all. The Sathya Sai Baba Trust runs a state-of-art hospitals, university and several other institution to serve the poor in over 160 countries. However, he himself reportedly visited only two foreign countries—Uganda and Kenya. Born as “ Sathyanarayana Raju ” in humble backward caste family in 1926, Baba emerged as one of the most popular God man in India in modern times. Initially he attracted attention through acts like producing articles like sacred ash and lingam which his detractors claimed was a sleight of hand, but later he came to be known for his founding institutions of learning and philanthropy. His devotes were spread throughout the world.

Sai Baba’s History

Nov. 23, 1926 : Born in Puttaparthi, Anatapur district, Andhra Pradesh.

Oct. 20, 1940 : Declares that he is Sai Baba.

1950 : Builds Prasanthi Nilayam, his Puttaparthi ashram.

1954 : General hospital established at Puttaparthi.

1968 : Sets up colleges for girls at Anatapur.

1972 : Founded Shri Sathya Sai Central Trust a charitable trust that undertakes social welfare projects.

1976 : General hospital set up at Bangalore.

1978 : Sets up colleges for boys at Puttaparthi.

1981 : Sri Sathya Sai university inaugurated.

1991 : Sri Sathya Institute for Higher Medical Sciences set up.

1995 : Launches Anatapur drinking water project.

2001 : Launches Medak and Mahabubnagar drinking water projects.

Sets up Sri Sathya Sai  Institute for higher Medical Sciences, Bangalore.

2002 : Launches Chennai water projects.

2007 : East Godavari and west Godavari water projects were launched.

2009 : Launches construction of Sathya Sai University campus.

Donation :-

Among one of Sathya Sai Baba’s donors was Issac Tigrett, who started Hard Rock Café. Sai Baba said to come up in his dreams and saved him from a fatal disease. Tigrett apparently sold his café chain for 108 million dollar and in 1991 donated the money to the Guru and this is how the famous Puttaparthi hospital was funded.

Vital Stats :-

Rs. 250 crore is the cost of Anatapur piped-water project, which benefits nearly 750 villages.

Apparently 30 million is the number of estimated Sai Baba Devotees.

INDIA--ASEAN.

The India –Asian Free Trade Agreement, which came into force on 1^st Jan 2010, is a milestone in the relations between India and ASEAN. The agreement was the result of 6 years of negotiations. The FTA would eliminate tariffs on 4000 products. The tariff on 4000 goods would be reduced by the year 2013 and tariff on the remaining 800 products would be reduced by the year 2016. The FTA was signed on Aug 13, 2009 at Bangkok. The 498 goods excluded from the list of tariff concession and 590 goods excluded from tariff elimination in the FTA are related in the farm products, automobiles, some auto parts, machinery, chemicals, crude and textile products. Tariff cuts in respective of certain sensitive items like palm oil, tea, coffee, pepper would be graduated during a period of 10 years. The FTA is likely to boost trade between the two in coming years. It should be noted that FTA covers trade in goods only. Trade in services and investments are not covered by this agreement. During the Hanoi Summit (Oct 31, 2010) both India and ASEAN have agreed to an early conclusion of negotiations with respect to FTA in services and investments. ASEAN has already signed such FTA’s with China, Japan and South Korea.

India-ASEAN Summits

Ist              Nov, 2002                       Phnom Penh—Cambodia.

IInd            Oct, 2003                       Bali—Indonesia.

IIIrd          Nov, 2004                       Vientiane—Laos.

IVth            Dec, 2005                       Kuala Lumpur—Malayasia.

Vth              Jan, 2007                        Cebu—Phillipines.

VIth            Nov, 2007                       Singapore.

VIIth          Oct, 2009                       Chaam Hua Hin—Thailand.

VIIIth        Oct, 2010                        Hanoi—Vietnam.

IXth            May, 2011                         Jakarta.

XIIth Summit is proposed to be held in India, in 2012 on the eve of 10^th anniversary of beginning of India-ASEAN Summits. A major achievement in the cultural cooperation is the planned development of Nalanda University ( which was a great learning center for Buddhism, in ancient times).

Some highlights of India’s 12th Five year plan (2012-2017).

Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia
(Dy. Chairman Planning Commission, India)

Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia has opened the growth target of 9% to 9.5% for the coming 12^th five year plan (2012-2017) of India. He also clarified that 10% average growth target for 12^th plan period will not be feasible and it would be somewhere between 9%-9.5%. The major area of focus is going to on increasing agricultural productivity. In 11^th plan, the agricultural growth was targeted at 4% on an average but it has been estimated to remain at only 3% level. Planning wants to make sure that agriculture should attain 4% average growth targeted in coming 12^th five year plan. The approach paper of 12^th plan lays stress on “faster more inclusive and sustainable growth”. The outline of the approach paper also puts special thrust on achieving more progress in health and education, besides improving the gender ratio.

Planning Commission has favoured further liberalisation of the foreign direct investment (FDI) policy and improvement of business regulations to raise the growth rate of gross domestic product to 9%-9.5% in the 12^th five year plan (2012-17). Taking the note of weak manufacturing performance, Planning Commission emphasised the need to target a growth of 11%-12% in this sector in 12^th plan period. Infrastructure constraints are the major concerns for the plan panel. Setting up of National Manufacturing investment zones and a better business regulatory framework to ensure a broad industrial base have been outlined by the plan panel. The plan panel has estimated country’s economic growth during 11^th plan (2007-12) at 8.2& on an average which is lower than the original growth target of 9% set for the 11^th plan period. However, the Planning Commission finds 8.2% growth as ‘remarkable’, considering the global economic downturn during 11^th plan period. On micro, small and medium enterprises, the panel supported the idea of promoting clusters to enhance productivity in the sector. The Planning Commission also said that the government should target 4% growth in agriculture, during the 12^th plan period. For this, farmers should be provided with better rural infrastructure, including storage and food processing facilities. The panel had also suggested expanding the Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojana to develop the farm sector.

Cloning Matters.

Sir Ian Wilmut

Cloning is an advance technological invention for producing a genetic twin of a living thing, an organism that starts life with the same genes as of its parents. In 1997, researchers at Scotland’s institute, led by embryologist Ian Wilmut successfully cloned a lamb—named Dolly—from the cell of adult "ewe" and this was of its first kind in the world. Sir Ian Wilmut is an English embryologist born on 7^th July 1944 in Hampton Lucy, Warwickshire, England is best known for cloning. He has been awarded with some prestigious awards of OBE, FRS, FMedsci, 1997 Time man of the year runner up.

The ethics of cloning is an extremely controversial issue. The term is generally used to refer to artificial human cloning; human clones in the form of identical twins are commonplace with there cloning occurrence during the natural process of reproduction. There are two commonly discussed types of human cloning : “ Therapeutic Cloning and reproductive Cloning “. Therapeutic  cloning involves cloning cells from an adult for use in medicine and is an active area of research. Reproductive Cloning would involve making cloned humans. A third type of cloning is called “ Replacement Cloning “ is a theoretical possibility, and would be a combination of therapeutic and reproductive cloning. Every such inventions has some merits and demerits. Human cloning could be misused to destroy the existing humanity and civilization. We have seen the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the spectrum of germs and chemical warfare. Scientist, Philosophers, Thinkers, Philanthropists from all over the world spoke out against human cloning, prompted by fears that the world has taken a step further towards nightmare of humans replicated in the laboratory. The human cloning can tear the society into pieces, it can endanger the very existence of human being in this world. Advocates of human therapeutic cloning believe that the practice could provide genetically identical cells for regenerative medicine, tissues and organs would neither trigger an immune response nor require the use of Immunosuppressive drugs. Both the basic research and therapeutic development for serious disease such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes, as well as improvements in burn treatment and reconstructive and cosmetic surgery, are areas that might benefit from such new technology.

India & G-20.

The emergence of G-20 group and  its continuous strengthening highlights the rise of multilateralism in the management of global financial and economic order. This goes well with the policy and position of India. India has been a founder member of G-20 groups. It has played an active role in the summit meetings and other deliberations of G-20. The membership of G-20 has enabled India to play a major role in the global financial and economic matters, which is commensurate with the sustained economic growth and size of the country. The participation of G-20 is likely to boost India’s global image as a responsible emerging power. However, one of the major achievements of G-20 is the reform of international financial institutions, which has been a longstanding demand of India for many years. India being a major developing country, has the opportunity to represent the interest of other developing and Least Developing Countries at the global level through its active participation in a global financial forum like G-20. The active role played by India is likely to strengthen its claim and opportunity to get effective representation in other international bodies like the UN Security Council. India can also utilise G-20 as an effective forum of North-South dialogue.

G-20 facts :

There are striking similarities between G-8 and G-20 as far as their origin is concerned—both originated in the wake of financial or economic crisis. It should be recalled that G-8 was originated in 1975 in the wake of oil crisis as an aftermath of Arab-Israel war, 1973. Similarly the G-20 was originated in 1999 in the wake of Asian financial crisis, 1997. Both were concerned with the management of emerging crisis.

The G-20 originated as a forum of Central Bank Governors and Finance Ministers of 20 emerging economies in 1999. Its first meeting was organised in Berlin (Germany) in December, 1999. These Governors and Ministers used to meet once in a year.

As the global financial crisis deepened in 2008, the G-8 was found inadequate to manage the crisis. Hence, G-20 ministerial meeting was elevated to summit format in 2008. G-20 summits are held twice in a year. The summit meetings so far held are give below:-

   No of Summit          Place                   Country             Date

Ist              Washington              U.S.A              Nov. 2008      

IInd                London                    U.K              April. 2009

IIIrd             Pittsburg               U.S.A             Sep. 2009

IVth               Toronto                Canada             June. 2010

Vth                  Seoul                   S.Korea             Nov. 2010

VIth and VIIth summits are to be held France(2011) and Mexico(2012).

It should be noted that from the year 2011 onwards, the G-20 summit shall be held at annual basis. During the IIIrd summit held at Pittsburg in Sept. 2009, it was decided that G-20 would replace G-8 as the main forum of global financial and  economic consultation.

The G-20 consists of 20 members. These are 19 countries and one regional organisation- European Union. It should be noted that by Lisbon treaty, 2007, the European Union has assumed a separate legal identity and is represented as single entity at various international forum. The 19 members countries of G-20 are:- Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America.

The G-20 has so far not evolved any formal organisational structure. However, the work is carried out through the following bodies.

Summits consists head of government of member countries. It is the highest decision-making body of G-20. The personal representative of leaders are known as ‘ Sherpas ’.

Meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of member countries. It meets once in a year and prepares agenda of summit meetings.

Working Groups and expert Groups. These groups are established when need to support the works of summit leaders, finance Ministers, central Bank Governors.

So far working groups and three Expert groups has been appointed to carry on the work of G-20.

The four working groups are :

On framework of strong, sustainable balanced growth.

On Anti-corruption (established by Toronto summit).

On Development (established by Toronto summit).

On International Monetary Fund Quota and Governance Reform.

The three expert groups are :- On Financial safety, On Financial inclusion and On Energy.

The work of G-20 is also supported by the key international financial and economic organisations such as World Bank, IMF, OECD (organisation of Economic and Development),  ILO (International Labour Organisation), WTO (World Trade Organisations) and United Nations. It should be noted that the representative of IMF and World Bank take part in the summit meetings of G-20.

Food Crisis in World.

FAO Report

Food and Agricultural Organisations and United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said in its report that the number of hungry people in the world remains unacceptably high despite expected recent gains that have pushed the figure below 1 billion. The new estimate of the number of people who will suffer chronic hunger this year is 925 million—98 million down from 1.023 billion in 2009. But with a child dying in every six seconds because of undernourishment related problems, hunger remains the world’s largest tragedy and scandal. The continuing high global hunger level makes it extremely difficult to achieve not only the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG) but also the rest of MDGs. The recent increase in food prices, if they persists, could hamper efforts to further reduce the number of world’s hungry. It is ironic that the majority of them actually live in rural areas of developing countries. Indeed over 70% of the world’s extremely poor (those people who live on less than US Dollar one a day) live in rural areas. That’s a billion people, and four out of five of them are farmers to some extent or the other. Globally, the 2010 hunger figure marked a decline of 9.6% from the 2009 level. The reduction was mostly concentrated in Asia, where 80 million people were estimated to be going hungry this year. In sub-Saharan Africa the drop was much smaller (about 12 million) and one out of three people there would continue to be undernourished.

Some of the Key findings are :

Two thirds of the world’s undernourished live in just seven countries of (Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, China and India).

The region with the most undernourished people continues to be Asia and The Pacific with 578 million.

The proportion of undernourished people remains highest in sub-Saharan Africa at 30% in 2010, or 239 million.

Progress varies widely at country level. As of 2005-2007 the Congo, Ghana, Mali, and Nigeria had already achieved MDG 1 in sub-Saharan Africa; Ethiopia and others are close to achieving it. However, the proportion of undernourished rose to 69% in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In Asia, Armenia, Mayanmar and Vietnam had already achieved MDG 1 and China is close to doing so.

In Latin America and Caribbean, Guyana, Jamaica and Nicaragua had already achieved MDG 1 while Brazil is coming close.

Evolution of Britian’s Voting System.

Jeremy Bentham

Emmeline Pankhurst

                
                       1430 : Males who own land worth 40 shillings so called forty shilling freeholders—had the right of giving vote.

                                                      1817 : Legal and Social reformer Jeremy Bentham was the first to advocate votes for woman.

                   1832 : Reform Act increases number of individuals entitled to vote in parliamentary elections to one in six adult males, but majority of working men still can’t vote.

                    1867 : Second Reform Act doubles electorate to around two million, giving vote to all male householders as well as lodgers who pays rent 10 pound a year or more, agricultural landowners and tenant farmers.

1869 : Municipal Corporation Bill results in unmarried women householders being allowed to vote in local elections.

                           1872 : Voting by secret ballot introduced by William Ewart Gladstone’s Liberal party.

1884 : Third Reform Act extends vote to 2/3 rd of adult males in England and Wales, but servants and most members of armed forces remain disenfranchised. Electorate now totals over 5,500,000.

 1897 : Women’s suffrage campaign, led by Emmeline Pankhurst, gains momentum.

                  1918 : Representation of People Act gives right of voting for women aged 30 and older, and men aged 21 or older.

1928 : Equal voting rights granted to women from age 21.

                   1966 : Harold Wilson’s Labour Government extends vote to 18 year olds.

 2000 : First trials of touch screen electronic voting machines and on-line voting.

                   2001 : Postal voting introduced.

2011 : Uk’s voters had chosen first-past-the-vote against the alternative voting system.

                             United Kingdom’s first referendum in more than 30 years was held on May 5, 2011 when the people had decided not to abandon the current first-past-the-post (which is used to elect MPs to The House of Commons) against the alternative vote ( in which voters ranks candidates in order of preferences ). The voting decision of UK was somewhat like this; 6,152,607 (32.10%) votes was polled in favour of changing to alternative voting system and 13,013,123 (67.90%) votes was polled against changing to alternative voting system. Alternative voting system is practiced only in three countries—Australia, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

William Gladstone

Political Cultures.

The Political cultures of Developing and Developed Countries.

The concept of political culture was developed by American scholars like G. Almond, Sydney Verba etc. to analyse the political process of newly emerged developing countries after the Second World War. The concept of political culture refers to the values, belief and emotional attitudes of people towards various aspects of political system. Developing countries are those countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America who got independence from colonial rule and were on the process on socio economic-development. Though, these countries have adopted formal political institutions of developed countries or their colonial masters, their political culture displays distinct patterns in comparison to developed countries. First, according to Almond, developing countries have paroachial or subject political culture, where roles and structures are not diversified and citizens are more concerned with the output aspect of the political system. On the other hand, the political culture of the developed countries is a participant political culture. Second, in developing countries, as distinct to developed countries, the political culture is the mixture of modern values like democracy, rule of law, liberty and equality and traditional affinity of caste, race, family and religious values. In other words, the political culture of developing countries is not secularized to the extent of the political culture of developed countries. 

State politics in India.

Importance of State politics in INDIA

India has opted for the federal form of Government, in view of the size of the country and the nature of regional and cultural diversities found in India. At both the center and state levels, the parliamentary form of democratic set-up has been adopted. A historical overview of the operation of this arrangement shows that the congress, being the party of national movement, was a ruling party at both center and the states, till 1977 with few exceptions. However, since then the hold of Congress party has been weakening at states and regional or state parties have gained ground gradually; which imparted new dynamics in the state politics. This tendency has become more pronounced in late 1980s, having deep bearing on the national politics also. Some of the following points will explain the importance of state politics:- Rise of state parties and weakening of National parties. The practice of coalition politics at national level, where state parties have become king maker. Increasing tendency of regional identity based politics leading to demand of new states. The growing practice of bargaining between the state/regional parties and national parties.

Mercy Killing or not ?

EUTHANASIA:

“ Euthanasia means an action which aims taking the life of someone at his expressed request, it concerns an action of which death is the purpose and the result “. This definition applies only to voluntary Euthanasia and excludes the non-voluntary or involuntary euthanasia, the killing of a patient without patient’s knowledge or consent. Some call this “ life –terminating treatment”. Euthanasia or “ mercy killing ” is directly intentional killing of a patient with either their consent (voluntary), without their consent when impossible (non-voluntary), or without consent but not sought (involuntary). Many patients are in immense suffering and may be led to choose death as the answer by these ‘doctors’, friends or relatives. The culpability for the patient, in these cases may be lessened, but, this action of killing can never be justified. These patients, whether having an incurable disease, being elderly or suffering in other ways, are crying out for help and love. As humans we cannot always see the answers and for that reason, it is not we to decide about the death of a human being, GOD has not given us this authority. We must also ask ourselves concerning euthanasia, where it will end ? If we allow the elderly or the incurable to be assisted in suicide, what other groups will be given this ‘right’. Will the handicapped or mentally retarded be the next ? Will teenagers, who are the leading age group of suicide, also have this ‘right to die’ ? The answer rests in our hands, if we continue to disrespect human life and it’s creator, GOD, the we will destroy ourselves. A right is a moral claim and since we do not have a claim on death, which itself has a claim on us we cannot act for the right we don’t have. Perhaps Mother Teresa was right when she said that “ if a mother can kill her own child, what is there to stop you and me from killing each other ”.

Liberalisation in India.

LIBERALISATION

India’s serious efforts at economic reform had started in 1991, when Rao government initiated a fresh wave of reforms. Since July 1991, it devalued the currency and made it partially convertible; reduced quantitative restrictions on imports; reduced import duties on capital goods; cut a number of subsidies, including that on fertilizers; progressively liberalized interest rates; abolished production license for most of the industries; ease restrictions on repatriating dividends and royalties; established a partial tax exemption on profits from export sales; allowed a partial sale of shares in selected public enterprises; reduced restrictions on foreign trading companies; revised the system of personal income tax and so on. The years of reform showed creditable progress with the country recording a fast recovery from a deep macro-economic crisis. The growth rate of Gross Domestic Product recovered to 5.3% by 1992-93 from the abysmal 0.8% in 1991-92. In the next few years the growth rate averaged at around 7.5%--close to that of powered performers of East Asia. We in the year of 2006-07 became the second fastest growing major economy after China. Exports recovered and exports earnings increasingly paid for the major part of imports. The foreign exchange reserves achieved a respectable look. Encouragement to the foreign investment resulted in foreign direct investment increasing at the rate of nearly 100%.

          So far so good ! But how have the reforms affected the people? the masses? The ‘ average citizen ’ ? Critics of the reform, most of them from the Left, charge that the process being followed is anti-poor, that it helps only the rich to get richer. The major challenges before Indian economy are to increase the agricultural and industrial strength of the country. Beyond all these lies the character of the country, its people; our attitude to change and to work. Economic reforms cannot merely be a matter of policies nor can economic efficiency be an automatic product of the right economic policies. If India has to forge ahead, the power of vested interest and the resultant corruption in every field including--education--must be curbed.

Temple standing by 1000 years.

BRIHADEESWARAR TEMPLE

Chola regime and its committment to the arts and culture to the dream Temple:

A World heritage site “The Brihadeeswarar temple” standing still with its head high, and is celebrating its millennium birthday in year 2011. This temple is also known as Rajarajeshwaram, located at Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, (South Indian state). It is the earth’s prototypal through granite temple and a glorious instance of the leading place achieved by the Cholas in temple structure. It is a gem in the crown of Indian heritage and culture and was built during the dominion of Chola King Rajaraja I (985-1016 A.D) The temple has got more deluxe and sculptures portraying the architectural achievements of the Cholas. There is also a resemblance of the reverend with his Guru, Karur, Thevar. The hulk has quintuplet definite storeys, each marked by a projecting balcony. The ordinal trey storeys are prefab of red sandstone, the 4th and ordinal of sandstone. A stone table inscribed with a lotus on the top has the Navagrahas (9 planets of solar system) sculptured on to its sides. A large Nandi mould constructed of blocks in the front of the pedagogue temple. Brihadeeswarar temple has a height of 65 meters and the tower over the privileged spot rises to a peak of 15 meters. Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur has a 107 paragraph long inscription on the walls of the Vimanam records the contributions of Raja Raja Chola and his sister Kundavai to the Thanjavur temple. The temple stands within a fort, whose walls are later additions built in the 16th century. The towering vimanam is about 200 feet in height and is referred to as Dakshina Meru. The octogonal Shikharam rests on a single block of granite weighing 81 tons. It is believed that this block was carried up a specially built ramp built from a site 6 kilometeres away from here. Huge Nandis dot the corners of the Shikharam, and the Kalasam on top by itself is about 3.8 meteres in height. Hundreds of stucco figures bejewel the Vimanam, although it is possible that some of these may have been added on during the Maratha period. The Shivalingam - Peruvudaiyar, Rajarajeswaramudaiyar - is a huge one, set in a two storeyed sanctum, and the walls surrounding the sanctum delight visitors as a storehouse of murals and sculpture. The long prakaram surrounds the great temple (500 feet/250 feet), and the walls surrounding the prakaram again go back to Raja Raja Cholan's period. The walls house long pillared corridors, which abound in murals, Shiva Lingams and Nandis. The Periya Nayaki temple within the temple is a later addition from the Pandya period, and so is the Subramanyar Temple sung later by the Saint poet Arunagirinathar. Incidents from the lives of the Nayanmars, several of the 108 Bharata Natyam Dance postures, manifestations of Shiva (Aadalvallaan - Nataraja, Tripurantaka, Dakshinamurthi etc.) are depicted in sculptured panels or in exquisite Chola murals. Both the interior, and the exterior walls of the temple, are replete with images of the kind described above. The sanctum, the ardhamandapam, the mukhamandapam and the Mahamandapam, although distinct, form a composite unit with an imposing appearance that awes visitors, forcing one to wonder how such timeless architectural feat was executed about a 1000 years ago. Entrances to the Mandapams and the towered entrances to the Prakarams are majestic. The grandeur of the architecture and the sculptural finesse speaks volumes of the skills of the Imperial Cholas. Inscriptions refer to Shiva as Dakshina Meru Vitankar and Aadavallan. The Nandi, which dates back to the Nayak period, is housed in its own mandapam and it matches up to the grandeur and size of the temple. It is a monolithic Nandi weighing about 25 tonnes, and is about 12 feet high and 20 feet long.

History of Cholas: 

Raja Raja Chola I, was clearly the greatest of the Chola Monarchs. During his reign (985 - 1014 AD) he brought stability to the Chola Kingdom, and restored from obscurity the brilliant Tevaram hymns of the Saivite Nayanmars from obscurity. Raja Raja was a great builder, and the Peruvudaiyar Koyil or the Big Tmeple at Thanjavur was his creation. His son Rajendra Chola (1014 - 1044 AD) was a greater conqueror who marched all the way to the banks of the Ganges. This march was commemorated with a new capital Gangaikonda Cholapuram and another 'Periya Koyil'. Gangai Konda Cholapuram was the capital of the Cholas for about two centuries, although it is nothing more than a village now with this rather well maintained magnificient temple. 35 Kilometers from Thanjavur lies Darasuram, once known as Rajarajapuram - a part of the Chola's secondary capital of Pazhaiyarai. Here is the Airavateeswarar Temple built by Raja Raja II (1146 - 1173). It was during the reign of Kulottunga III (1178 - 1218) that the Kambahareswarar temple at Tribhuvanam was built.