Today, 11th December 2011, is the 37th Death Anniversary of the Revolutionary leader,Comrade K.G.Bose. He passed away in a London Hospital on 11th December 1974.

BSNL Employees Union and lakhs of P&T Workers will always be indebted for the progressive leadership given to them by Comrade KG. I cherish the close friendship and guidance received from him  during while he was living and leading the organisation.

It is to be appreciated that BSNLEU has decided to name their newly owned building as ” K.G.Bose Bhawan” in respectful memory of the great leader.

I pay my respectful homage to Comrade KG Bose!

New Delhi is completing a century as capital of India. It was on 12th December 1011 that  King George V, the Emperor of India, declared in the Coronation Durbar at Delhi, that the capital of India is shifted to Delhi from Calcutta.

Since the British entered India through Bengal, Calcutta was their headquarters from the first. Bengal was one of the biggest states also at that time. Later it was bifurcated in to Bengal, Bihar, Assam etc.

But the credential of Delhi goes far back. It was the capital of Mughals from Shajahan  till  the end. However, for a brief period under Humayun, Delhi was capital. But before the Mughals, Delhi has been the capital of six other dynasties. Mehrauli, Siri, Tuglakabad, Firozabad, Purana kila – all were the capital at some time or other.  But however, it was after Shajahan shifted from Agra to Delhi, the city got its glory at the maximum.

It is 100 years since British made Delhi capital. Within these 100 years, Delhi has changed so much. India got independence.The Viceroy’s residence became Raj Bhawan.  The New Delhi city was constructed under the British by architects  Edwin Landseer Lutyen and Herbert Baker. The present Rashtrapathi Bhawan, North and South Blocks, Connaught Place – all were constructed under their supervision. Even now, it is called Lutyens Delhi.

First time i visited New Delhi in the 1960s. I do not remember the exact dates. During these 50 years itself, there has been major changes. It is a saying that those who comes to Delhi wants to be in Delhi only. May not be applicable in every case.

The demand of the JAC and the BSNL to accept surrender of the low quality BWA Spectrum and refund the money to BSNL has been accepted by the DOT. BSNL has been made to pay more than Rs. 8000 crore towards BWA spectrum without allowing to take part in the auction. The spectrum allotted to BSNL was an inferior quality which will not be able to meet the requirements of the future generations of technology. Hence the demand for surrender and payment of the money back.

The process should be speeded up so that the money is returned to BSNL early.

Despite the fact that Government of India has received names of secret account holders in 10 foreign countries, the government is sitting tight on the information. As per Finance Secretary, it is reported, the secret accounts are just like tax not paid. The demand for disclosing the names of the account holders are also being kept secret.

What the government should do is to disclose the names of the offenders, confiscate the amount and initiate criminal proceedings against them. Many other countries would have done it. Why this  reluctance on the part of the indian Govenment to take action against them? The people would like to know. Who are these very influential people who can stop the government from taking action against law-breakers?

At about 03.30 hours in the early morning today, I got an SMS from com. R.P.Joshi, Rajkot intimating that Com. R.T.Sharma, senior Trade Union leader of Vadodara has passed away . I was shocked. I could not believe the sad news. Only a few weeks back, I have met him at the Circle Conference of BSNLEU Gujarat Circle on 4th November 2011 and he was hale and hearty. Since the Conference was going on, we could not speak much, but  of course exchanged greetings and remembered about the old times. I contacted leaders of BSNLEU and got confirmed about the sad news. I contacted RT’s family and conveyed my condolences.

Com. R.T.Sharma was one of the senior leaders  along with Comrade A.C.Shah and other leaders who built up AITEU Class III, AITEU Class III(N) and then BSNLEU after corporatisation in Gujarat Circle. Comrades A.C.Shah and R.T.Sharma was a very strong team which changed the situation in Gujarat to the advantage of  BSNLEU and got majority. Even now I remember the Vadodara CEC meeting, when both of these leaders personally gave liberal donations for the work of the CHQ. In the earlier times, I have toured the entire Gujarat with these leaders.

It was a pleasant surprise to meet RT at the Gujarat Circle Conference due to obvious reasons. I never thought that this will be our last meeting. But it was to be so.

I express my deep grief at the untimely demise of Com.R.T.Sharma and convey my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and comrades. My Red Salute and respectful homage to the departed leader and comrade!

A long cherished dream of BSNL Employees Union to have its own building at New Delhi is fulfilled. The three-storied building in Shadipur near Dada Ghosh Bhawan ( about 20 minutes walk) has been taken possession by CHQ today, 8th December 2011. The keys of the building was handed over to Com.P.Abhimanyu, Managing Trustee of  K.G.Bhawan Memorial Trustee by the previous owner of the building in the presence of Comrades V.A.N. Namboodiri, President, P.Asokababu, Dy.GS, G.B.Salakki AGS,  K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary, AIBDPA and T.A.Biju, Office Secretary.

It is due to the combined efforts of all the members and leaders of BSNLEU that we have been able to purchase our own building. To purchase this building, including stamp paper, registration etc.  a good amount is spent. CHQ has taken about Rs.one and half crore loan from the bank and that is to be returned at the earliest. It can be done only with the full support of the workers. The Jaipur CEC meeting has called upon the workers for maximum donations towards this purpose. I am sure that the workers will respond to the call in an overwhelming manner  and ensure that the loan is returned at the earliest.

In preparation for the 15th December Strike, the Joint Action Committee of BSNL Associations/Unions have called workers to organise massive rallies on 8th December. The Circles were also called to organise rallies and submit memorandums to the Governers of the states with regard to our demands. JAC has already approached Members of Parliament of various political parties and conveyed the issues for taking up with the government. Many have supported our position.

A few weeks back Mallikarjun Kharge,Labour Minister expressed the hope that this year the interest on Employees Provident Fund may be increased from the present  9.5%. Workers were happy. It was fully justified since the interest rate has already been increased during the last year on loans etc.

But now the bolt from the blue. It is reported that the interest rate, instead of increasing may be reduced to 8.25%! What a non-sense! When the interest rate every where is increasing how it can be reduced for the EPF only? This should be strongly protested. Hope the Central Unions will take the issue seriously and make the government to decided in favour of increased rate.

Yesterday I had given some calculations of wage bills based on an estimated wage bills for T.Nadu circle for 2011-12. Now some of the officers in the corporate office has informed me that it is not fully correct. I have asked them to give the official All India information. Once it is supplied we will be able to find out the real position.

For the first time in history, a planet similar to earth has been discovered. It is 600 years away from earth and is 2.4 times the size of earth. The finding of this planet – named Kepler 22b- has been confirmed by the scientific community. The temperature is 22 degree celsius and indications of water availability is also noticed. Whether there is any life is yet to be found out. But all the findings so far indicates that life may be there.

So another Earth, another civilisation? The coming times will give the answers.