If contribution is the concern, why hasn&#39;t top award gone to VP Singh and Kanshiram?

If contribution is the concern, why hasn't top award gone to VP Singh and Kanshiram?

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*

Bharat Ratna awards to late prime ministers PV Narsimha Rao, Chaudhury Charan Singh and MS Swaminathan has been welcomed by all. I have always stood against the state award sponsorship, as it basically means that your work is 'liked' and 'appreciated' by the top leadership.

Awards have always been political. Congress gave Rajiv Gandhi, MG Ramchandran, Lata Mangeshkar and Sachin Tendulkar these awards. In 1977, when Moraji Desai-led Janata government took over, they abolished all these awards given by the state, including Padma Awards. When Indira Gandhi returned to power in 1980, she initiated them again, but it is a fact that most of the time these awards have been controlled by the ruling party.

There is a commonality in the choices of these awards. Karpoori Thakur and PV Narsimha Rao are known for their relationship with saffron forces. Charan Singh actully walked out of the Janata government, when he was Deputy Prime Minister, and later formed the government with the support of Indira Gandhi. In fact, many felt that it was Charan Singh and his ambitions which resulted in the fall of Janta government.

Charan Singh ensured that Indira Gandhi was jailed and humiliated, as all the court cases and commissions did not yield anything politically except that he became prime minister and has the record of not facing the parliament.

Narsimha Rao's relationship with top leaders of BJP and RSS was well known. He did not act to stop the Babri demolition and was all the time manipulating things to keep the Gandhis out of the power politics. That apart, Rao opened up India's door, hailed as father of economic reforms, but it can be safely said that his acts demolished Congress and its socialist tag. Under Indira Gandhi, Congress worked to bring parity in the lives of SC-ST-minorities but Rao killed everything in the post Mandal identity politics. If Congress is completely decimated in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the credit goes to Narsimha Rao.

Karpuri Thakur's relationship with Jan Sangh is well known. He formed government with them and was needed by Jan Sangh in the same way as Nitish is needw BJP. The upper caste BJP can't take on the might of Lalu Yadav and hence they needed this Maha Dalit and Ati Pichhda game. Nitish knew it well that on his own, he would never be able to do that and hence, despite 9 terms, it is not the hunger of Nitish kumar to be in power but never allow Lalu family to have political domain in Bihar. The upper caste rule can only be ensured if there are divisions in the OBCs. Unfortunately, the role of powerful OBC leaders in denying a space to Karpoori Thakur resulted in his association with the RSS and BJP.

MS Swaminathan is overhyped for so called MSPs. Kisan's' issues are not MSPs alone. His theory would only help the power elite of the farmers and ultimately pave the way for the industrialization of the farm sector.

If you have read Charan Singh and his thesis, you will realise it is nothing about farming but more to protect the interest of his community. In his book on Zamindari Abolition, Charan Singh's entire focus is on demolishing the USSR model of Collective farms. He gives American, British, French and German examples but I have not read words of sympathy from Charan Singh for the Dalits, landless farmers. How is that Charan Singh not aware of the Punjab act. He speak against 'absentee landlords' but does not want government to follow the Russian model but prove that American model is far better where big investors work on land. Actually, Zamindari Abolition was linked to make Rajput land owners feel guilty but at the same time it was never advocated and acted in Punjab and western Uttar Pradesh.

Karpoori Thakur promoted Lohia's anti-English sentiments. Do we want our children to not study English language? Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have paid a price for English not being promoted. Mulayam Singh Yadav, Karpoori Thakur all were the followers of Charan Singh who was against technology in the farm sector. Kisan's should not use tractor he has written emphatically. The farmers in Western Uttar Pradesh are among the most prosperous because they embraced technology.

Actually, this is the age of identity and not ideas. Market driven ideas assimilate the identity and promote their ideas through selling the identity of even those who have been diametrically opposed to it. Hence, it is not important what are the ideologies of individuals as well as their acts but their jaatis. So the farmers should now forget everything and feel good as Charan Singh and Swaminathan have got the Bharat Ratna, Telugus should feel great about Narsimharao getting the award. OBCs should not seek representation in jobs, and see what has been done to them, but must feel happy that all their issues are resolved.

If some one ask me a question, I would say, give Bharat Ratna to Babu Jagdev Prasad Kushawah as he spoke for the land rights of the dalits and OBCs. If work for the people is concern, why the Award is not given to VP Singh and Kanshiram. They deserve is better than any one else but definitely they will also get one day when the ruling party feel that the awards can help them reap political benefit. At the moment, I dont see it happen because the work of VP Singh as well as Kanshiram jolted the ruling elites and they still fear and resent their impact.

Anyway, Bharat Ranta mubarak to all the family members of the awardees. Now they can safely ask questions to Gandhi family and join the ruling party bandwagon for a 'better' future.

---

*Human rights defender

Comments

70,000 migrants, sold on Canadian dream, face uncertain future: Canada reinvents the xenophobic wheel

By Saurav Sarkar* Bikram Singh is running out of time on his post-study work visa in Canada. Singh is one of about 70,000 migrants who were sold on the Canadian dream of eventually making the country their home but now face an uncertain future with their work permits set to expire by December 2024. They came from places like India, China, and the Philippines, and sold their land and belongings in their home countries, took out loans, or made other enormous commitments to get themselves to Canada.

Kerala government data implicates the Covid vaccines for excess deaths

By Bhaskaran Raman* On 03 Dec 2024, Mr Unnikrishnan of the Indian Express had written an article titled: “Kerala govt data busts vaccine death myth; no rise in mortality post-Covid”. It claims “no significant change in the death rate in the 35-44 age group between 2019 and 2023”. However, the claim is obviously wrong, even to a casual observer, as per the same data which the article presents, as explained below.

PM-JUGA: Support to states and gram sabhas for the FRA implementation and preparation and execution of CFR management plan

By Dr. Manohar Chauhan* (Over the period, under 275(1), Ministry of Tribal Affairs has provided fund to the states for FRA implementation. Besides, some states like Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra allocated special fund for FRA implementation. Now PM-JUDA under “Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan(DAJGUA) lunched by Prime Minister on 2nd October 2024 will not only be the major source of funding from MoTA to the States/UTs, but also will be the major support to the Gram sabha for the preparation and execution of CFR management Plan).

Operation Kagar represents Indian state's intensified attempt to extinguish Maoism: Resistance continues

By Harsh Thakor Operation Kagar represents the Indian state's intensified attempt to extinguish Maoism, which claims to embody the struggles and aspirations of Adivasis. Criminalized by the state, the Maoists have been portrayed as a threat, with Operation Kagar deploying strategies that jeopardize their activities. This operation weaves together economic, cultural, and political motives, allegedly with drone attacks on Adivasi homes.

How Amit Shah's statement on Ambedkar reflects frustration of those uncomfortable with Dalit assertion, empowerment

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* Dr. B.R. Ambedkar remains the liberator and emancipator of India’s oppressed communities. However, attempts to box him between two Brahmanical political parties betray a superficial and self-serving understanding of his legacy. The statement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Rajya Sabha was highly objectionable, reflecting the frustration of those uncomfortable with Dalit assertion and empowerment.

Balod tech fest tests students’ interest in innovative ideas in the fields of science, engineering, start-ups

By Our Representative A techno fest scheduled on December 20 and 21 in Balod district of Chhattisgarh will test the innovative ideas of school students in the fields of science, engineering and start-ups. For this two-day fest organised at Maheswari Bhawan of the district, a total of 824 models made by students were initially registered. Out of those, a selection committee chose 200 models from several schools spread over five blocks of Balod. These will be on display on these two days from 10am to 4.30pm. Out of many ideas, one of the most interesting models is a smart glove which can be used by children with impairments and disabilities. For those who cannot speak at all or have speech difficulty, they can ask for help from caregivers by pressing their fingers on the glove after wearing it. This will attract attention.

Ideological assault on dargah of Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti will disturb pluralistic legacy: Modi told

Counterview Desk Letter to the Prime Minister about "a matter of the utmost concern affecting our country's social fabric": *** We are a group of independent citizens who over the past few years have made efforts to improve the deteriorating communal relations in the country. It is abundantly clear that over the last decade relations between communities, particularly Hindus and Muslims, and to an extent Christians are extremely strained leaving these latter two communities in extreme anxiety and insecurity.

Defeat of martial law: Has the decisive moment for change come in South Korea?

By Steven Lee Late at night on December 3, soldiers stormed into South Korea’s National Assembly in armored vehicles and combat helicopters. Assembly staff desperately blocked their assault with fire extinguishers and barricades. South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol had just declared martial law to “ eliminate ‘anti-state’ forces .”

Affable but arrogant, embodying contradictions, Raj Kapoor's legacy will endure as long as Bollywood exists

By Harsh Thakor* December 14 marks the birth centenary of Raj Kapoor, a filmmaker and visionary who revolutionized Bollywood, elevating it to new heights by exploring uncharted emotional and social territories. Kapoor wasn’t just a filmmaker; he was a storyteller who touched the souls of the masses and reflected the pulse of post-partition India with unparalleled depth. His films acted as a unifying force in a divided nation, transcending social and cultural boundaries.

Search This Blog