While the state government of W.Bengal & the Chief Minister continue to maintain  its stork like view of a ghastly reality, the farmer suicide toll  reached 50. The erstwhile granary of Bengal, Bhardhamaan, witnessed this  unsavoury milestone with Khnadu Ghosh, age 56, belonging to Bardhamaan  Sadar, Block no.1, committing suicide.

After the Trinamool has taken over this is the 50th suicide. Is the Central Govt. listening?

The Parliament has adopted an important bill which extends reservation for SC/ST/OBC in educational institutions from a period of three years to six years. The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation and Admission) Bill 2010 passed by the Rajgya Sabha yesterday has become an act since the Lok Sabha had already adopted it. The original Act of 2008 had given the benefit up to 2011, which will now be extended up to 2014.

The Reuter has reported that an international group of 23 scientists have asked the developed countries to think and reduce the high consumption level so that it will help the developing and underdeveloped countries in more than one count. They also suggest that life-style choices, human volition and incentives enshrined in government policies can make a significant difference to patterns of consumption.

They argue that this will help in control of the population especially in the developing and underdeveloped countries whose population is increasing on a large-scale. The world population has crossed 7 billion ( 700 core) last year and is expected to grow further.

The favouritism towards the corporates by the UPA-II government is once again established through the revelation that 63.5 % of the tax rebate was granted to them, while only the balance to the common people. Out of a total rebate of Rs. 1,38,931 crores rebate in 2010-11, the majority, Rs.88,263 crores, were for the corporate.

Another shocking information is that only 3.8 lakh companies out of a total of 7.2 lakh companies are in the tax net. Others, more than 50% are not paying any tax at all.

What the Income Tax Department and the Government have to say on these revelations?

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.

The Human Rights Commission has sought a full investigation & report from the Police Commissioner on the ‘Cartoon-gate’ arrest of the Jadavpur University professor. This step has been taken suo moto, after a detailed discussion at the Human Right Commission on the issue. This is sure to increase the embarrassment of the Trinamul government. Meanwhile, Facebook has not taken cognizance of the CID’s missive to provide information on the sources of the cartoons lampooning the CM & the order to delete all unflattering references to the CM. There have been serious doubts amongst the legal fraternity as to the legitimacy of such an order. The Indian constitution allows freedom of expression & Facebook is governed by a strong principle of protection of privacy. Moreover, the request is person specific & not bipartisan as it is silent on the extremely vulgar representations on the left leaders. The situation of partisanship on the part of the government where its police has been singularly consistent in protecting the aggressors & punishing the victims, worsened with another such incident at Baruipur, on the fringes of the Kolkata city. Prof. Aparesh Bhattacharya & his daughter were beaten up in broad daylight at his home by Trinamul goons. The police refused to act on his complaint. Having returned from the US after a long career there, he recently retired as a senior principal scientist at Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB). His attempt to seek justice from the CM’s secretariat was rebuffed thrice.

Kerala State was declared as Full Literate State on 18th April 1991, that is full 21 years back. It was not easy to attain this coveted position, though the state was much advanced in education position even earlier. The position could be achieved only after much hard work, campaign and also with the full support of the people, the government, all political parties and others. The government gave free books, the educated persons including teachers, employees, students etc. gave coaching throughout the year in the evening – night-time to the required uneducated persons near their homes – wide propaganda was also given.  It was a challenge and the people of Kerala faced it and achieved the unbelievable.

What is the situation in other states? Recently, Com. Manik Sarkar, Chief Minister of Tripura stated at the open session of the 20th Party Congress of CPI(M) at Calicut that the state has improved its literacy much and it is expected to become full literate state within a few years. There are some other states also moving in this direction.

But unfortunately, this is not the case with many states. Literacy is around 50% only. There are not sufficient schools or teachers. Sufficient funds are not made available. In some places, classes are held under the shades of trees due to lack of accommodation. Though there are acts and orders against child-labour, children of the school age are made to work and deprived of education, which is their constitutional right. The political parties also have not taken a serious view of the situation. The central government has reduced the % of amount granted for primary education.

It is a shame that India continues to be less illiterate than many countries in the African continent, which was called the Dark Continent.  All of us has the responsibility and duty to improve our literacy rate in the country and give the power to read and write to all the people.