Reflections

This is an analysis of casteism that seeks to challenge both narratives in vogue – one, that it is centuries old, and the other that it is recent. The reality, in my opinion, has to be different; what follows is my opinion based on my extensive reading on a variety of topics. Further, at no point is it my contention that the current system of casteism is defensible – it isn’t; it is an insult to humanity. And at no point is it my intention that people did not suffer; they did…  THE BEGINNING The ancient system was the Varnic system, which is completely different from casteism; varnas where the result of deeds, not vice-versa. Then came the commercial and political structures stated below, which existed for 1500 years minimum, leading to internal marriages, and the evolution of distinct identities due to a common gene pool caused by intermarriage.   At this point and for some time afterwards, there was no hint of casteism. The slow degeneration started in only th...

It has taken a long time coming, but at long last some central government is at least talking about the right things – Defence, Education and Health. It is a separate matter that they aren’t doing anything about it, hemmed in as they are with issues, expectations and pressures from all sides, and with the attendant demands and needs of a myriad set of sub-groups and institutions that are present in a diverse and multicultural democracy such as India, especially given its income distribution and economic structure. One of the reasons for this inactivity, or rather inadequate acrivity, is admittedly the lack of funds and the difficulty in generating excess funds, or allocating enough funds, or generating resources internally for the same. There are other issues – I shall deal with these in another article, as they are equally vexatious, dealing with implementation problems and tackling vested interests. What amazes me is that people in India seriously believe that several hundr...

I closed my previous article with these words  :  " What we are in effect saying is, Corporate India, Middle Classes can reap immediate benefit, while making no efforts to tackle the real problems beings faced by Rural India, like reducing middlemen, education, etc. This is a majority government, they can easily take hard decisions. And yet they are not doing so - as I had foretold much earlier. And that is what makes this budget completely unimpressive, and very UPA 3-ish . " The Union Budget 2015-2016 - Glaring Holes Given below are the problems that I consider to be the real problems that impact us as a nation, encapsulated in very short :  A) DEFENCE : Dramatic increase in budgetary allocation to defence. The plain and sad fact is that The Indian Armed Forces are in dire need of funds infusion; we need Fighter Aircraft : Medium Role Combat Aircraft in particular; we need Artillery Guns to replace the ageing bofors; we need munitions; We need urgen...

For all the article my key resource is the complete text of the speech of the Finance Minister, available here :  Full text of Budget 2015-16 speech , which I have perused in full before and during answering this question.  Please click on the link and keep it open on another page, I have extensively referred to this document throughout the article I am frankly surprised at the high-decibel coverage at this non-event, given that it does nothing that was not expected, as also it does nothing of import in most fields... I am more than a little disturbed to see a continuance of the status quo that we have been used to... and I am shocked that few commentators, a select few apart, have not noted the fine print of this budget.  Before I rip into this budget {My focus is on the negatives} - let me place on record that the current Government is the best we have had in a long time... but democracy gives me the right to criticize what is wrong and disturbing. More th...