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November 6, 1998
ELECTIONS '98
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How Readers responded to T V R Shenoy's last column
Date sent: Sun, 01 Nov 1998 10:23:40 PST
Mr Shenoy reveals his ignorance of Indian realpolitik and North culture. Haryana's dominant population is Jats, who claim all the 10 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Jats form 17 per cent of the Rajasthan population, and have 40 Vidhan Sabha and at least five Lok Sabha seats. Further, they are the dominant population in the neighbouring Punjab and also in western UP, called Yamuna Pradesh or Harit Pradesh by local Jat organisations. This area covers 21 to 23 Lok Sabha constituencies. Let's also not forget Delhi, where they dominate another 20 Vidhan Sabha constituencies. Thus, Jats dominate nearly 60 Lok Sabha constituencies, more than three times that of the Kerala contingent. They have provided one PM in Charan Singh who was equally at home in Baghpat and Panipat and Dholpur and Ludhiana. Let us not forget the second point, that three of the Jat regions -- Haryana, Punjab, western UP and upper Rajasthan -- are Green Revolution regions, providing most of the food grains for the rest of country. Uttar Pradesh, with a population of 170 million, has a per capita food production of 251 kg. The per capita food production in Kerala is 161 kg to 177 kg while the national figure is 201 kg. Thus, the Jats in UP produce food for 137 million of the population. Basically, food produced by UP Jats make up for the Purvanchal, Bengali and Bihari deficits. The excess food from Punjab and Haryana goes a long way in filling those 20 pc empty stomachs of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It is good to have technology but we cannot eat it. As someone recently remarked, you cannot grow food on the Net! Further, Jats are a dominant and unipolar group. Their only differences are religious, but this seldom lends to conflict. Jats and Sikhs get on well together. On the other hand Keralite leaders are Muslims, Christians, Nairs, Namboodiris, Ezhavas etc. So not only are they representing smaller population, they are representing sub groups too. You claim they are being robbed of their rightful place under the sun. The few Kerala leaders who transcended these inner divides reached high. A prime example is Krishna Menon, who used to contest from Bombay if I remember right (Sorry, I was only born in 1973.) The point is, for being national leaders you have to transcend regional, communal and caste differences. Haryana leaders have the advantage of being born into a community where this feature is programmed in. Pranshu B Saxena
Date sent: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 15:38:50 -0800
What about Tamil Nadu? I am currently living in America but hail from Madras, and am piqued by the absence of any news related to my state. In case you guys forgot, our state is one of the pioneer ones in the country. We have a heritage that few others could match around the world. But we have been ignored for too long and too often. I feel ashamed to be called an Indian at times. I take pride in identifying myself as a Tamilian first and, depending on circumstances, Indian next. If this is what the mandarins of the central government and the media can do to someone who is educated, then god help the less fortunates. I am sick and tired of North Indians and their callous attitude towards anyone who doesn't speak that god-forsaken language, Hindi. Of course, I pay them back in the same coin, even though that is only small comfort. Journalism in India has to grow up and represent every state fairly. Enough said. Kannan Swamy
Date sent: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 22:34:38 -0600
I would like to disagree with your assessment. I feel that the press in Delhi gives importance to what is happening in Delhi and surroundings, the same way the press in Kerala gives importance to whatever is happening in Thiruvananthapuram and surroundings. Thus the story of the Lals, Bhajan, Bansi and Devi is more important to a Delhi newspaper. Similarly, Malayala Manorama gives priority to the various groups in Congress in Kerala, or the faction wars in the CPI-M. There won't be that many Delhiites who are interested in such news. Of course, there are news items that have national importance like the forthcoming election, which I believe will be adequately covered by all. The fact is that there is no national newspaper to carry all the news from the nooks and corners of the country. In fact, I don't think it is viable financially or can sell much or can have the same number of pages as a normal newspaper. Sankar
Date sent: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 17:21:10 -0500
Very true. It makes me wonder why the country comprises 24+ states. There's nothing that unites them all other than history. It's time India balkanised. Every state then will either sink or float. Then, states like Bihar, very rich naturally but looted by politicians, will survive because the people will learn real quick and throw the corrupt elements out. The balkanisation process will begin sooner or later, like it or not. Ram
Date sent: Sat, 03 Oct 1998 12:55:59 -0600
I welcome these statements. Chandra
Date sent: Sat, 26 Sep 1998 13:21:07 +0530
Trends in the society will backtrack when setbacks occur. The setbacks will be the ones that people forget, the importance of them. When that comes, people will relish going to the past glory & hence the 'The Golden Period of..." syndrome. Zameer Ahmed
Date sent: Sat, 19 Sep 1998 21:11:24 +0530
This time the erudite and sharp Shenoy is not fully convincing. Yes! Civil servants need to be taught about accountability. But more important is that the politicians (in this case ministers) be taught how to run the apparatus. They should know how to control and get things done. If you have a bumbling petrol minister (what is his name?), a dumb personnel minister, a foot-in-the-mouth urban affairs minister and semi-literate law minister... what can you do? Do not blame the civil servants. They are only pawns. It is the ministers who tie them in knots, not the other way. Shenoy knows well the proverb (in all southern languages) about the dancer and the stage. Half the current Cabinet don't know about governance and procedures and are not interested in learning. This is the price we pay for having one and half member parties bullying the PM, CMs and DMs. Come on Shenoy, suggest having ministers with calibre who know the difference between BOP crisis and BJP crisis! Professor R Vaidyanathan
Date sent: Thu, 16 Jul 1998 11:33:47 -0700
Good article with a comprehensive story. Would like more like this.
Venkat
Date sent: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 12:04:10 -0600
T V R Shenoy is a commentator with superb talent. He brings to fore the very relevant issues of today. I congratulate him. I like his writing.
T R Rao |
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