Floods of tears!!!

Now that the Karnataka Government has finished its game of 'Ring a Ring o' Roses', and all have fallen down to their stupor, the BJP high command can now heave a sigh of relief. Advaniji must have had a good birthday as was evident with the participants and organizers of the game feeding each other cakes (vanilla, i suppose from the look of it)...a classic example of having the cake and eating it too!!! No, I am not saying this has got anything to do with Marie Antoinette and her cakes!!! Yeddy did make it very clear when he was very apologetic to the people of the state, and his tears did make up for what he was not able to portray verbally; as much as his smiles did when he finally managed to hold on to his 'khursi'!!!

All's well that ends well, but for whom did this really end well? The Yeddy-Reddy confrontation threw up a lot of possibilities as far as Karnataka politics is concerned, and the politicians had their hands full making the most out of it!!! While a few were making merry in Goa and Hyderabad enjoying a 'well deserved' paid for holiday, some others had camped in New Delhi keeping the cooks of Karnataka Bhavan very busy!!! Those who were left in Bangalore were ruing the fact that they didn't take a stance. What a pity!!!

In the midst of all this, what they forgot was that a part of the state was going through one of the worst natural disasters it had ever faced. As per an estimate, some 130-odd people have perished in the 14 affected districts; standing crops have been washed off and fields inundated leaving the affected hungry and without work!!! And just when they needed relief and solace, this drama had unfolded. Just sanctioning money and giving assurances has never been enough, but history has shown us again and again that the people in charge are capable only of that. We heard some MLA's claim that they can single handedly build 5000 houses in the affected areas - what everyone passively heard was about their overflowing bank vaults. And they say that politicians are much misunderstood folk!!!

For the people of North Karnataka, life will surely go on as usual. Some will work as laborers on some construction projects, others will migrate to urban areas in search of jobs - after all everyone does need to have a means to feed themselves and their families. They will wait to get back their lands and start farming once it becomes suitable to do so. Meanwhile we will see some houses built, some ads in newspapers about money donated for the cause and a few smiling faces; proclaiming it to be the victory of the government on the disaster. And during the next elections, these leaders will again be seen visiting the villages asking help from the electorate!!! I really miss those old days when we were taught about conscience in the moral science classes; now I wish they had taught political science instead of that...atleast I could have tried my luck in this great tamasha called Indian democracy!!!

Economics and elections!!!

Over the next few weeks, we will witness one of the biggest 'melas' that happens across the world. Though it may not be the same fodder for the global media as the American presidential elections, the elections to the Lower House of the Indian parliament is much more fun, and is contested with much more passion and gusto. The stage is already set for this drama, and the innumerable characters are well-versed about their roles. The audience is left gasping with the twists and turns that abound in this circus. My, my.....I can hardly wait to see the grand finale, which I am sure will be no less spectacular.

Few countries have successfully managed liberalising the economy within an established democratic order...India has been attempting this tranformation with mixed results since 1991; this is commendable since free market fundas and established Indian democratic norms are not that easily aligned. India was established as a socialist country characterized by extensive regulations (Licence Raj) and protectionism leading to a slow growth of rate (derisively called the Hindu rate of growth). J R D Tata held 2 things responsible for this slow growth, the socialist policies which he said only lead to redistribution of poverty, and high population growth.The 5-year plans were copies of already existing plans from the Soviet Union. Major industries were nationalised from 1950's onwards. However anti-capitalistic was the stance of the government at that time, it was American help that lead to the Green Revolution which made India self-sufficient in food grains and saved so many of the poor people from inherent starvation; rather than any existing government policies. So much for socialism and its so-called pro-poor policies!!!

As of 1991, India was on the brink of economic collapse. The government was close to defaulting and foreign reserves were so less that India could finance only 3 weeks worth of imports. This prompted the government to usher in several reforms which has been called as liberalisation. The impact was that FDI's increased phenomenally, and invester confidence increased. As a whole, it was a avery good thing to happen, and most of us that belong to the middle class owe our jobs to those policies from 1991 and later.

In the upcoming elections, all the political parties will have their own manifestoes which will include a host of promises, mostly economical. These will range from rice at 2 rupees to free televisions. Some will state what will do regarding the nuclear pact that was recently signed...others about reduced income taxes and implementations of pay commissions. But not a single party will talk about bringing in more reforms. There are 2 basic reasons for this...one, none of the parties actually know what the public really thinks about Indian economics; as per me, it is mostly about what the public KNOWS about it. Second reason is these parties wouldn't know as of now as to with whom they will be forming post-poll alliances. What if they have to form a coalition with the communist parties as Congress had to in 2004? So there goes your ideology out of the window along with the colourful manifestoes!!! Clearly, the relationship between Indian democracy and Indian economics is of a love-hate sort. Proponents of the erstwhile socialist model have always been at loggerheads with the implementers of free trade; and this rivalry is more clearly seen and heard at election times resulting in none of the parties being able to frame a proper economic model for them to follow; and once they come to power, the coalition allies do not let them implement a single proper policy. Too many cooks do spoil the broth, and it is the general populace that has to suffer the stomach aches due to this mixed 'khichdi'!!!

Mining in Goa - Boon or Bane?

Very few of us are aware that Goa is one of the largest exporters of iron ore in India, mostly to the new pig iron plants that have been setup in China. This has resulted in a huge economic boom for the state, but at a very dear cost to its fragile ecology and residents.

Goa is well known on the tourist circuit, and hardly a handful of the tourists ever wander the hinterlands of the region. Forget about tourists, I wonder how many Goans have actually witnessed the scars that have been caused by the open pit mines affecting the 5 talukas of Sanguem, Sattari, Bicholim, Ponda and Quepem. As per records, nearly 70 legitimate mines operate in these areas, and scores of other mines are operated illegally. Most of the mines are operated without giving a damn to the existing environmental norms. An estimated 60,000 tonnes of mud, silt and sludge goes into the 2 main rivers of Goa. How long will it take for these rivers to die out?

The government itself is flouting laws by giving new mining leases in forest areas, including inside wildlife sanctuaries. In 2003, the supreme court ordered closure of mining in these wildlife sanctuaries. The fallout of this was that, while we were supposed to have new wildlife sanctuaries in the state, it was not to be so that these illegal mines can carry out their nefarious work. Forests and hills have been cut down to make way for mines in places like Morpirla. Historical sites have been removed from archeological registers for the same reason.

People who are in favour of mining talk about the economic implications of closing of mines. A visitor to Sanvordem (the place I belong to) will see a staggering number of trucks parked outside most of the homes. Also, many people from these areas are employed in the mines. But the same visitor can also not ignore the ecological implications that are there for everyone to see. The roads are dusty, the leaves are coated with a reddish hue, and the air is heavily polluted with the ore particles. No wonder, the number of lung-related diseases is very high and respiratory problems are on the rise. Nearly 5000 trucks ply on the roads at break neck speed leading to increased noise pollution. We have also witnessed related law and order problems. Recently, some trucks were damaged by a few envious individuals who had bought new trucks but couldn't get these hired in the mines. Some RTO officials were roughed up for giving challaan for overspeeding. I wonder what we will get to see next.

Villages near the mines have been worst affected. The traditional means of livelihood have been destroyed. The mine sludge is poured into their fields overnight destroying their crops. The water level has decreased alarmingly, and the wells dry up by February...something which we never experienced in the whole of Goa a few years before. With no agriculture, these folks are left with nothing else but to take temporary jobs elsewhere. The once proud people have been reduced to the level of slaves. And if they ever try to protest, the state machinery in cohorts with the mine lobby, brutally suppress them, not even leaving out old folk and children. Why don't we hear of all this in the press? How will you when most of the newspapers in the state are owned by these same oppressors!!!

My granny's house in right next to the Zuari river in Sanvordem. Loading of ore on barges takes place nearby. My grandfather used to tell me tales of how they used to go out in boats and have fun in these waters. About how the place was covered with trees and shrubs. About how they used to fish in the river. About how the nearby woods were so thickly forested that there were tigers about. And how, a long time ago, tigers used to roam in the markets of Sanvordem at night once in a while. I envy him for the type of life he experienced and could proudly tell us all these tales. And I feel sorry for myself that I will not be able to tell similar stories to my grandchildren!!!

Being 'Nuste'lgic!!!

There is a famous poem in Konkani by the son of the soil Bakibab Borkar, where he implores the God of Death (Yamraaj) not to collect his soul that particular day as there is fish curry for dinner!!! People have asked me what is so special about this poem; some have even modifed it replacing the fish curry with dal makhani, tandoori chicken, and also curd rice, depending on their popular food. Well, poetry should never be taken for literally, specially it's transliteration should not be taken at face value. What certain things mean to certain communities cannot be understood by others; how can Goans know what a llama means to a Quecha? Now don't ask me what is a llama (well, certainly not related to the Dalai Lama) and who (or what) is a Quecha!!!

Fish to a Goan is much more than manna, even though they will be having fish almost daily as part of their diet. I usually use this as a means to identify an authentic Goan from pseudo-Goans. Neo-Goans will always go for 'Visvonn' or 'Paaplet' while a niz-Goenkar will consider himself lucky if he gets to have 'Karli' or 'Kaalva' for dinner that day.  No, don't take me wrong...I do not believe in regionalism; but I consider a person's origins very important for his/her identity. But let's not get into that as of now.

An environmentalist friend of mine once remarked to me that in this world of overconsumption and the subsequent decline in species numbers,  the only place he can think of where people can give their life to conserve fish, is Goa...not because of economic reasons, but because if all the fish in this world were to disappear, the Goan psyche will be disturbed, and the Goan identity, culture and ultimately the Goans themselves will go extinct. The Goans are born environmentalists, they will always speak about the ill-effects of tourism and how the hotel industry is creating problems for Goa and Goans...but dig deeper into this and you will find the real reasons for such thoughts...the best and freshest fish is always picked by the hotels and Goans have to do with what is left...which niz-Goan can bear such heresy!!!

My migration to Bangalore has resulted in a culture shock to me as far as fish is concerned. What I used to know as 'Muddoshi' now has a new name 'Kaane'. I was very happy with my 'Visvonn', but now I need to differentiate between seer fish and kingfish, and also to know which of these is 'Anjal'. In Goa, I could believe my nustekaar for the freshness of what I would be buying from him, but now I have to further my skills to check on the produce (like the puffiness of the body, colour of the gills, etc.). Back home in Goa, I used to get nice thin slices of Visvonn without even asking the fishmonger; but here inspite of imploring the vendor, what I get is like a steak slice...and in this case, more is simply not merrier. At one restaurant in Marathalli which advertised itself as a specialist in fish, when me and my friend asked the waiter as to what fish they had that day, we were told that they had boneless fish!!! Surely, there cannot be anyone more specialising in fish culinary than them!!!

Goans love their fish wholeheartedly...they may grudge the rising prices of seafood, but that will not stop them from buying their share of 'Postaam'. And fish for them is not limited to what the whole world thinks of as fish. Anything that belongs to the waters, and is edible (except of course, seaweed) is 'nuste'. You ask a Goan what fish he/she bought today, and you will never get an answer that there was no fish, they could only buy prawns and crabs; Goans dont believe in discrimination - everything has been dutifully given a place in the venerated fish pantheon!!! And that should be the reason why 'Nusteshwar' has always been so graceful to his real bhakts!!!