When I was going to the market in the evening I saw a that a  pigeon had fallen on the floor before the quarters of my neighbour and probably it was ill or wounded. It was trying to save itself by hiding below a water cooler. I saw a dog standing there looking at the pigeon. I thought it was going to harm the bird. But no! It was in fact trying to save it. A cat was trying to come nearer, but the dog was barking at it and keeping it away. The dog was standing as a sentry to the pigeon. My neighbour came out, took the pigeon and tried to give water. The dog came nearer and looked at the boy who took the pigeon as if asking whether it was alright. We suggested that the bird be taken to a doctor.

Unfortunately the pigeon was beyond hope. It died in the hands of the boy. It was buried near the garden. We were all sorry for the pigeon. The dog  also looked sorry that the bird could not be saved.

22nd April 2012 is the Anniversary of the Earth Day which started 47 years back. Earth is being ravaged in a number of ways. Forests are made barren by felling the trees in large numbers, the flow of rivers are barred by large number of dams and barrages, hills are annihilated by limitless mining, the rivers and seas are polluted – there is no limit to the ravage of the earth. We have to live in this earth, not only we, but the future generations.  We have to save the earth. Earth Day is observed in hundreds of countries all over the world. Let us also be part of this great campaign.

The speech by Pranab Mukherjee, Finance Minister, at Washington raises so many questions. In the speech he assured the American business circle that India will address their concerns. He also stated that it is inevitable to take some hard decisions. He also stated that we have already committed the preliminary legislature process for the Pension Fund Regulatory Act, the Insurance Act and the Banking Amendment Act. These three, he hoped, will be adopted in the Calendar year, if not in the present session.

What these statements of the Finance Minister of India made during his tour of US mean ? No.1, are these declarations to be made in a foreign soil, or in our own country / Parliament? The Finance Minister do not give any assurance to the people of this country on poverty, health issues, supply of essential commodities, price rise etc. which are the life and death issues of the crores of people of this country. Instead he is giving assurances to the American big business, that their concerns will be met. He is also reported to have stated that the subsidies in the country will be reduced.

Does it mean that Walmart will be allowed to start hundreds of its malls in India endangering the retail business in the country, tax for foreign companies will continue very less as earlier or that no case will be taken for tax evasion of foreign companies? Is he giving assurance to the foreign companies that making necessary legislation the role of PSUs like LIC will be reduced and the foreign companies will be given the dominant role?

Yes, these are exactly what the statements of the Finance Minister indicate. Just like a Nawab reporting to the King/Emperor, what he has done and what he is going to do as per the directions of the king. This is not what the people expect from the Hon’ble Minister. He has to focus the interests of the Indian people and not the American business. He has to bargain hard for the interests of the country and not to succumb to pressures.

Further by passing the above mentioned bills, the future of the PSUs and its workers are being jeopardised. Those bills, which could not be passed due to strong objections from the political parties should be dropped and no further action taken in the matter. These bills should be dropped and not passed.

If the government is moving in the wrong direction, it can expect strong and sustained struggles by the working class in India.

It was after a very long time that I visited Rashtrapathi Bhawan again. The first time I visited was in the 1960s, when there was not that much security and restrictions. Of course, I had only an overall glance of it at that time.

Today along with Com. Balasubramanian and our families, we visited Rashtrapathi Bhawan. We had taken permission and passes earlier. By about  1000 hours we reached the Reception. There were about some two dozen visitors and we were all taken by a guide to the various rooms inside the Bhawan. In one room, there are the big paintings and statues of the British kings and queens and also the Viceroys and Governer-Generals who ruled the country till 1947,  including that of the last one, Earl Mountbatten.  In another room there are the statues or rather the sculptures of the Presidents of India, from the first President Rajendra Prasad to the last President Abdul Kalam. In another room there are some of the gifts received by the Presidents from the various countries.  The Meeting room, tea room etc. were also shown. In another room, the utensils used by the Viceroys were exhibited. The major portion of the Rashtrapathi Bhawan, which area is used by the President, is out-of-bounds for public.

We were also shown a portion of the Rashtrapathi Bhawan Gardens. That was the last and we returned by 1045 – a matter of about 45 minutes. From  outside the building we could take some photos, since it is completely prohibited inside.

The building is  grand and beautiful or rather royal. It was constructed for the Viceroy who was governing the country on behalf of the British King. The construction of the building started from 1912 after the capital of the country was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi and was completed by 1929. Along with the North and South Blocks which accommodates the important ministries like Defence, Home, Finance etc. as also the Connaugt Place buildings – all were planned and constructed by architect Lueton. His statue is  exhibited inside the building.

The present generation might not be thinking of the past when we were ruled by a foreign country. But people like me who were born at a time when the country was not free and had known what it was from one’s own experience, can not forget those days. The visit to rashtrapathi bhawan reminded one of those dark days, when the people were treated with contempt, all the wealth and treasures were looted away by the foreign rulers, and the police and judiciary with all brutalities were used against those fighting for the freedom of the country.   I remembered the thousands of Indian treasures taken away by them which are still exhibited in the British Museum.

The past is past, of course. But what about the present exploitation of the country by the MNCs and the International Finance Capital? What about the rulers who continue with the neo-liberal policies, which are harmful to the common people? It is not the past but the LIVING PRESENT.