Education Today

When all have equal constitutional rights why quality education is not available to all. Today only few selected category have the financial capacity and might for getting quality education. The downtrodden and poor are deprived of quality education. Instead of distributing unemployment allowance and Kanya Vidya Dhan, why this money cannot be invested for a permanent system through which one and all could get the benefits of quality education. Today’s competitive world shows the door to the less educated as today people look for result oriented visionaries and class educated people. Our nation is progressing in all directions but we are not giving proper attention to education. Quota policy6 should be abolished and in its place, equal rights for education should be given to the poor, downtrodden and those underprivileged so that they come up on their own. Quota system is like crutches for the disabled. We should not make them disabled and instead make them independent for their better tomorrow. Our nation can become mightier only if we have quality education. One more area which we are sidelining is cultural values. Our roots are our assets and our country have diverse cultural values which should be preserved so that secularism does not derail the education independence. Today, we have a national policy on education which is reviewed by several commissions and committees. Much has been done and much has to be done. National policy on education is needed for right to education. Let us hope for a tomorrow where there is a common core and a mechanism through which words like underprivileged, backward, downtrodden and poor do not exist. Let us hope for a educated and developed India where citizens have equal right for everything.

Harsh Dwivedi

B.A.Media Studies

3rd semester

University of Allahabad

IS SINGH REALLY KING

NEWSWEEK has selected Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as one of the top ten world leader’s. In INDIA according to a poll shows that only 1% of the people polled thought that he was best suited to be a P.M. His rating’s are below even that of controversial politician’s like Narendra Modi & Mayawati. His popularity abroad is completely opposite here in our country.

We as an Indian’s , should feel proud that P.M Manmohan Singh has been included with a despot like King Abdullah of Saudi, scandal prone Nicholas Sarkozy, or a new P.M of Britain David Cameron. The only leader which is a popular is President Lula da Silva of Brazil. We should not forget how former U.S president Jorge W Bush , was told by Manmohan Singh that Indian’s loved him at a time when his rating at home were touching bottom line. So now I can undoubtedly say that there is no direct relation between a leader’s popularity abroad and at home. Such list should be taken seriously.

The reason’s why NEWSWEEK choose to put the Indian P.M on it’s list of top leader’s is obvious enough. The Economic growth story of India as NEWSWEEK puts it “from stagnant socialism to capitalism”. In the recent published book of Raghav Bhel-“SUPER POWER” it has been showed that India and China are the two competitors for the throne of Super Power. In abroad Manmohan Singh is also looked upon because of perception that he is pro west and pro American. P.M also knows that the door’s of the throne of Super Power passes through Washington D.C.

One of the plus in the list of P.M Manmohan Singh is his technocratic qualification’s which are not there in most of the World leaders. As we all know that he has been an Economist, so a time when world is barely recovering from a recession, he can suggest right way to back on the path of growth. There is not at all a doubt that in his tenure till date India has done what was expected of it by America. He has ensured that our polices does not reflect America in spite of terrorist attack’s from our neighbors. He is therefore an ideal candidate to be in NEWSWEEK list.

I am unable to access why P.M Manmohan Singh is not popular at home. The only thing I can state that people have become indifferent to him and his P.M tenure. There is no emotional connection between him and people of India. Political leadership in India has traditionally a strong emotional connection that is the main reason why certain Nehru, Gandhi’s are so emotionally connect with every people of our country. In India, when people generally go for voting they vote on criteria can be defined as ‘emotional connection theory’.

Manmohan singh’s Independence Day speech from the red fort conformed the suspicion that he has developed non of the electrifying qualification of leadership. He showed no emotion’s, displayed no convictions and offered no solutions.

He seems not to think like an ordinary citizen and appears indifferent and aloof from the Indian reality. He was not bothered about price rise and food inflation. He tolerated corruption charges including some within his own government. His Kashmir policy is a compel disappointment. He seems confused about how to tackle the Maoist insurgency. His economic agenda caters to a urban minority who live in islands of plenty surrounded by the sea of poverty.

Excluding Kashmir issue and relation with Pakistan, he has initiated nothing that has gone terribly wrong. Daily in Parliament question’s has been raised about the performance of United Progressive Alliance Government, but none about Manmohan Singh. No major national crisis has erupted in the last half decade when we need a popular leader. But as of now, Kashmir seems to be going on slippery slope and moist terror is increasing day by day. Manmohan singh after half decade we can say that was the right choice to Sonia Gandhi.

The international countries only sees his progress not his popularity at his place. So in last I can undoubtedly say that Singh is definitely a King.

PRATEEK PATHAK

Ist year

B.A In Media Studies

University of Allahabad

The Corruption Games

The 19th Commonwealth Games {CWG}can be undoubtedly termed as most corrupt games ever. From treadmill to the tissue roll, these are charges of corruption of everyone involved in games from top to bottom. Calling these games Corruption games or Crying Games will not be incorrect.






The best we can do as a citizen of INDIA for this festive-fortnight mostly, is a test event for Indian Olympic Administration and specially Mr. Suresh Kalmadi. There are allegations of massive corruption in the construction of DDA flats, MCD road projects, the Cannaught Place beautification project, Commonwealth Games Village and most recent Sponsorship programme seeing the present trend India is appearing not much different from a Banana Republic. The lack of accountability in the system and lack of action taken makes us ashamed as an Indian.






Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was selected in the top ten world leaders by NEWSWEEK but what’s the point of having an honest P.M if he is powerless to stop Corruption. The charge of corruption is on the officials of every grade. Corruption is now being accepted as way of life in India bit its not about taking a gas connection or water supply for our own household. It’s about nation’s pride. We generally come across articles and speeches where we compare ourselves with China. But if we look at Olympics in China everyone was talking about great design, infrastructure, world class facilities, English conversing volunteers, what a show it was.






Nobody talking about the wisdom to host the games at such a mammoth public expenditure, there is no point hosting the games when India with just 3-4 medals in Olympics is yet to be reckoned as a potent sporting power. The politicians and the bureaucrats choose to host this event and during the preparations will fully delayed things so that they can make big Corruptions money by awarding distressed contracts and accepting sub-standard work at the 11’th hour. Now it’s seems that the situation has gone out of hand so some extent with the 28000 thousand crores spent on CWG, there could have been very useful infrastructure built, even for impound for sports and Indian sport’s man winning at any international event’s could have made us much more proud than the news of massive corruption.






Just compare this to the 1982 Asian’s games. In just 20 months,5 new brand new sport’s complexes and state of the art staid were erected apart from the renovation and expansion of 12 existing others. Forty-nine agencies were involved, yet work happened since there was accountability fixed Buta Singh under the guidance of Rajiv Gandhi. Seeing present scenario India has learned nothing from past experiences.






These games of corruption can also be said as MHAHABHARATA of corruption. But where are Krishna and Arjuna who will take thev responsibility in cleansing the system who will save our country from comp[arision to the banana republic .Nobody can escape from his/her responsibility whether it’s shila,kalmadi,sonia,manmohan or any one. If the 2010 CWG can give us legacy let it be to have Indian sport’s finally focus on it’s champs not its chumps.






PRATEEK PATHAK
                                                                                          I st year
                                                                                    B.A media studies





                                                                                                       

A Hazard called - TERRORISM

We are living in a new world. We are in a world in which the possibility of terrorism, married up with technology, could make us very very sorry that we did’nt act.

Condoleezza Rice

India in the last two decades has witnessed the hazard called terrorism at its peak point, whether we consider the serial bomb blasts in Mumbai, Jaipur, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Varanasi, Kanpur, attack on Indian parliament and finally the worst attack on Indian soil in which hostages were held in famous hotels and a Jewish outreach center in Mumbai. Over the past 20 years, terrorists have committed extremely violent acts for various political or religious reasons.

It is not only India dealing with the menace. The largest act of international terrorism occurred on September 11, 2001 in a set of coordinated attacks on the United States of America where terrorists hijacked the civilian airlines and used them to attack the World Trade Centre towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. However this is not the only issue to be pondered over. The other face of the issue is the use of technology. As confessed by the alone surviving terrorist of 26/11 Mumbai attacks Amir Ajmal Kasab, the terrorist organizations have been using technology in its latest form to aid their cause. The web and the gadgets like satellite telephones are used extensively in terrorist activities these days. The aggressive use of modern technology for information management, communication and intelligence has increased the efficiency of terrorist activities. Weapons technology has become more increasingly available and the purchasing power of terrorists is on continuous hike. Quite simply, they are exploiting modern tools to perform terrorist actions. In its true sense terrorists are now trying to supersede even the most developed nations in terms of technology. But what is the government doing to curb down these attempts? And if at all they are doing something, how far they have been successful in their endeavors and efforts? Not much has been achieved when it comes to taking concrete and firm actions to tackle terrorism. Only drafting of plans doesn’t seem to work out in this case. A practical implementation to it needs to be done.

The Mumbai terror attacks shaked up the whole government and as a result the government passed the bill for setting up of National Investigate Agency (NIA). But what next? Two long years of patience required just to prove whether Kasab was an accused or not. This raises a very vital question and also a very valid one – Is our government capable enough to deal with such serious issues concerning the nation. Isn’t it a matter of great shame for us that it takes decades to prove someone accused. Even if it gets proved the actions to be taken are awaiting. Why is the government not taking any actions against them in India. The answers to these questions lies only with the govt. The need of the hour however is that the nations should join hands and buck up against terror. Laws are required but hasty laws are even more damaging. Agencies and authorities need to put their heads together and get cracking.

Thank You.

Shantanu Mishra

B.A in Media Studies 2^nd year

University of Allahabad

COMMUNALISM AND CASTEISM

BOON TO INDIAN POLITICS

BANE FOR INDIANS

In my 1st article for this blog I would like to raise one of the most important issues concerning the national politics in India and that issue is about how communalism and casteism have now become a part & partial of the Indian political scene. Before writing anything further I would first like to tell you why have I chosen this topic as my first topic. I personally feel that this issue is one of the biggest hindrances in the way of India’s development and if not taken care of will only lead to degradation of the nation in the near future. I would also like to quote something on this issue before beginning.

“ the way communalism and casteism are played in Indian politics will ultimately lead to bloodshed and nothing else”

Politics in contemporary India is marked by the resurgence of caste and communal politics. The past two decades have witnessed a dramatic collapse of the political formations and parties which had dominated the ‘Nehruvian era’. The politics of that era were mainly driven by issues such as corruption, black marketing, hoarding and food shortages or economic issues. India boasts of running the largest democracy for the last 63 years and as our constitution mentions that no discrimination will be made between people on the basis of caste, creed, sex or religion,but in 1990’s with the emergence of political parties such as Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Samajwadi Party (SP), and the Janata Dal started claiming that they are representing the so called backward castes and it was this glorious period that marked the beginning of the unseen and never thought caste politics in India. In today’s time we cannot claim a single political party of India to be secular in its true sense. Each one of them is as much responsible as anyone else in bringing India to this situation which she is forced to accept. If I am to say, I would say that it is good that our freedom fighters and the great leaders of 60’s & 70’s are no more to see this ridiculous situation pertaining now or they would have died of shame. They were definitely not fighting for the India of 21st century. It is a matter of shame and pity when our so called secular government arranges Haj yatra for muslims on subsidy and does not even bother to arrange for some concessions for Amarnath Yatra in case of Hindus, when a candidate belonging to upper caste gets a fair chance with genuine merit while the same post or chance is offered to the so called lower caste with lower criteria and on quota. I would like to draw the attention of the authorities towards the fact that many youngsters are committing suicides because of not getting a fair chance. We are losing the ones who are appropriate for the task. This is also one of the reasons why candidates belonging to upper caste are opting for private jobs instead of government ones. The reservation policy is one of the main reasons behind the fact that government posts are facing a shortage of intellectuals who have the responsibility of transforming India into a developed country, to take India to heights never achieved, to make India globally competitive. But despite of all these facts it seems that our government has got nothing to do with it as its main aim is to remain in power, which does not seem to be possible without playing the very deadly caste politics.

There are many events that have proved the interest of political parties towards caste and communal politics such as the Amarnath issue, godhra riots, gujjar agitation etc. BJP after losing the 1984 elections began to create a hysteria among the Hindu masses (specially the OBC’ S & dalits) on the issue of Ram Temple. The slogan “ mandir wahin banaenge” ( we will construct Ram Temple there only i.e. at the site of Babri Masjid) successfully created a mass hysteria among the Hindus and a sense of great insecurity among the Muslims.

The above discussion raises a big question: whether our political leaders are adhering to the basic features of the Indian constitution or taking the nation further to a chaotic condition ?

The laws framed in the constitution are only for the purpose of putting it into black & white and keeping it safe for future reference or in a museum to be displayed and there is no practical implementation done with it.

If the current situation remains to be the same, I am afraid that India will witness another partition among Hindus and Muslims and that according to me will be the most shameful day for us to die for. The problems relating to caste and religion have become so acute and it has so deeply rooted itself in Indian political arena that there can be no solution to it unless and until our mentality towards each religion changes. There is an urgent need to drastically change the mental mindset of people towards each other, rather other religions.

But then at last it has to be us, the people of India who will bring change to the society, the state and ultimately the nation. And now I would like to put an end to this discussion with the following poetic lines:

“What is there in caste,

What is there in name.

What is there in creed,

What is there in fame.

Feel the heat of humanity,

Spread love in all.

India is a secular country,

Where all religions are same”

Thank you

Shantanu Mishra

B.A in Media Studies 2^nd Year

University of Allahabad

WHY ARE WE BLOGGING

63 years of independence, but still a developing country.

2nd largest population in the world, but absence of leadership.

No shortage of funds, but corruption at its peak.

We have witnessed 17 prime ministers, 15 presidents, many planning commissions and the 5 year plans. But where do we stand today if compared to other so called developed countries. The above figures themselves speak about the INDIA of 21st century. While reading a book, I went through a paragraph in which it was mentioned that Australia’s population is not even 1/4th of that of India, but still they have been successful in making themselves count in the list of developed countries. Their per capita income is much more higher than ours. Lets take another example of Japan. The geographical area which Japan has is much more less than India but still they are the 2nd most developed country of the world after States even when Japan had to face the nuclear attack on two of its cities Hiroshima & Nagasaki.

What is the main reason behind the tremendous speed of their development?

Why India always falls back when compared to them?

Will India ever be able to compete with them?

If yes. How?

If no. why?

These and many such other questions are the ideas on which our initiative of students blog is based upon. To find an answer to these questions and to make people aware of other problems and issues concerning our nation is the basic idea behind this step. We are here not to become leaders but to make leaders.

Other fact which we cannot overlook is that we are living in the 21st century an era of technology, science and youth. And as such we must take into consideration the thoughts and opinions of the youths ‘the builders of the nation’. I personally feel that priority must be given to those who are affected by it the most.

Our respected PM Manmohan Singh while addressing the nation on this 15th August confessed the problems of red terror and cross border terrorism as the biggest hindrances in India’s development way, but he could not suggest a solution to this problem. We have been fighting for the Kashmir issue since we gained independence in 1947 but even after attaining 63 glorious years of independence, it remains an issue. What kind of government have we chosen to govern our country. Is our country in able hands or are we mistaken somewhere. The problems of unemployment, illiteracy, corruption, child labour, female foeticide etc. have now turned into sobriquets used in context of India. Are these problems so acute that that even after spending lakhs and crores of rupees, we are unable to eradicate them. While thinking of these questions sometimes I think whether we are really democratic or our constitution is merely a bag of borrowings. A famous saying is as follows ‘a man cannot help another person directly or indirectly until and unless he is helping himself’ and this saying goes with INDIA in perfect order. I have not seen a single person working heart and soul for the development of the country and as such the time has come when somebody from somewhere should come forward who thinks that he can contribute his most for the country. The time has come when our mother INDIA wants to get rid of these titles and thus I think that the time has come to prove the English saying ‘a pen is mightier than a sword’ true. It is ultimately we the people of INDIA who I think can bring a change to the situation and it will be possible only when our thoughts, opinions, messages and our perspective reaches to the mass. And in this era of technology it is possible only through such a medium which is fast and reaches even to the last person which is none other than internet. I request all of you to please join hands with us to promote us and to make us more strong in the aim which we have set for ourselves and in return I can assure you that this step is going to be a landmark in the history of change that we and our coming generations will witness

Or jaisa ki Dinkar ji ne RASHMIRATHI mein likha hai

“manav jab zor lagata hai, patthar pani ban jata hai”.

To waqt aa gaya hai doston ki hum Dinkar ji ki kahi in baton ko sach saabit kar dikhayen.

AAMEEN !

Thank’s,

Students Blog Team

Centre of Media Studies

University of Allahabad.