Emphatic Obama’s visit to India

After the three days of bonhomie between the leaders of two great democracies the World is astounded by their incredible chemistry. Besides the similarities which have drawn both nations quite close- be it the unstinted belief in democracy or the binding life line of unity in diversity, a new air of optimism and positivity has dawn over the two nations.

India was traditionally perceived to be a close friend of Russia. Impressed by its steady progress and social structure India has imbibed the guiding philosophy of socialism and owned the concepts of commendable five year plans of Russia that formed the back bone of our economic policies. After Modi assumed power, these two concepts began to bite dust with his rousing call to the World of Make in India. He drubbed the planning commission and replaced it with Neeti Aayog and showcased to World his serious intent to reframe and revitalise India. While the results of the new changes are yet to yield results, it surely have caught the attention of mighty US. The UPA government under Man Mohan Singh has eventually sculpted a new path of friendship with the US. But he couldn’t carry the relationship further as the civil nuclear bill throttled by liability clause failed to evince US’s interest in India.

Diplomatic Card

Trumping all predictions of critics who believed that rightist Modi would thwart India’s friendly ties with the US, Modi galvanized the powerful nation with his infectious dynamism and proactive engagement. Against the popular belief of begrudging the US for denying his Visa twice, Modi displayed exemplary character and won the accolades of the President and Indian Diaspora as well during his US trip. Back in India, Modi’s US trip was sharply criticised as being high on euphoria and low on substance by the opposition who were forced to retract their words when President Obama surprised everyone by accepting the invitation to preside over Republic Day celebrations. This major diplomatic stratagem startled political pundits who underestimated the foreign policy acumen of Modi.

The culmination of personal connects between Modi and Obama extended beyond the discussions of economic, strategic and diplomatic polity of the two countries. Personal reflections and musings generously offered by stalwart leaders in the joint Mann Ki Baat echoed their cordiality. Conventionally politics and high offices have been the domain of the rich and well connected families. But defying this existing cult of dynastic rise in politics, both these leaders from humble backgrounds christened new chapters in these respective countries. They have been through phases and periods of scorn, deprivation and discrimination. Against all odds they captivated electorate by reinvigorating a horizon of new hope and aspiration. Subsequently, they spruced up their respective democracies by rising to the highest offices by the dint of the unparalleled people’s support. Thus, a grandson of a cook and a tea seller steered into upper echelons of power. Indeed the inherent qualities of conviction to serve people, exuberant dynamism and the struggle endured by the two electrifying personalities might have been the invincible magic that catalysed the association. Besides mutual admiration, sympathetic understanding, fighting for larger global causes and above all the compelling need to stall the overtures of the Asian giant has brought both nations much closer.

Treaties/ Agreements

It is worth reckoning that beyond the warmth and extraordinary hospitality Obama’s trip was high on business. In a major leap towards assertive future cooperation the limbo on the civil nuclear deal was overcome endowing India with self reliance in power generation. With flow of $4 billion funds from US, India can substantially fund several developmental initiatives. Major agreements were reached on bilateral investment treaty wherein renewed defence framework with co-production and co-development can boost the concept Make in India. Both leaders prioritised their commitment towards climate change and cooperation for tracking terror. By inking agreements on clean energy, the US promised transfer of technology and know-how for extensive solar generation.

Economic and Strategic Cooperation

Against its earlier stance towards, US made a major U-turn augured by Modi’s commitment to transform India through a slew of efficacious business easing measures. Barring US all other major economies have slowed down across the world and it is looking forward to India. India after a period of economic dud is trying to rebound. With exhaustion of cheap labour the intangible asset of China, US wants to diversify its business. India with its three D’s (Democracy, Dividend and Demand) seems to be a lucrative market.

Under Modi, India is trying to shed its image of a meek and inhibited partner. The joint China-centric strategic vision to rein on the muscular dragon has strengthened the cordial relations between the nations which are contemplating on an extensive strategic cooperation. During the Indo-US joint statement, Modi indicated about trilateral dialogue with Japan and also reinforced his interest in forging relations with Asia-Pacific partners. The US putting a full stop to its jarring silence for the absence of India in the largest trading group of APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum) reiterated its support for full membership to India. In short the paradigm shift in US’s policy is cornered around the realisation that India can be a major player in rebalance of Asia. Also, the three million strong Indian Diaspora in the US largely restructured US’s calculus towards India.

 Meanwhile, Obama made brilliant efforts at the Siri Fort Auditorium to cast an impregnable mark on Indian soil similar to Modi’s Madison Square Garden act. While the Modi-Obama romance has been feted, India needs to exercise caution and be wary of the largest economic power. Unlike other allies of the US who side with US on international platforms India must be wary of extending similar support to US on all issues at the UN. Undoubtedly, the economic ties with the US provide the needed impetus to Indian economy but India can ill afford to delineate its historical friendly ties with Russia.

 

 

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Marshall Islands Sue Nine Nuclear Nations

The Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI), in the Pacific Ocean with a population of 70,000 is creating ripples in what is deemed to be a David vs Goliath challenge. Marshall Islands sued nine nations in possession of nuclear Weapons which include: The US, Russia, France, UK and China that signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1968 and other four nations: India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea containing nuclear arsenal at International Court of Justice (ICJ), Hague. Law suits were filed against the nations for their continuing modernisation of nuclear weapons against the pledge of cessation of nuclear arms race at an early date and disarming nuclear weapons under strict and effective international control in the NPT. It contends the NPT nations for the breach of the treaty and for legally violating its objectives. Under the customary international law, it reprimanded the non NPT members of indulging in quantitative accumulation of the nuclear weapons, qualitative up gradation of nuclear arsenals and for engaging in nuclear race contrary to the nuclear disarmament objectives.

Marshall Islands under this appeal has requested the ICJ to order the nations to curtail the on-going arms race at an early date and to comply with the principle of nuclear disarmament within one year of the judgement. The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation which supports the lawsuits informed that there are over 16,000 nuclear weapons worldwide and nearly 94% of them are with the US and Russia despite signing several treaties like START in 2010.

Following the occupation of the Marshall Islands during the World War II, the US between 1946 and 1958 conducted 67 nuclear tests on the Bikini Atolls of Marshall Islands including the most power Castle Bravo (1954), the largest nuclear detonator ever blasted. It was 1000 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. These tests resulted in death of a fisherman and evacuation of two atolls. In 1956 the United States Atomic Energy Commission regarded Marshall Islands as the most contaminated place in the World. The islanders severely berated the nations for testing the weapons of poison and mass destruction away from the shores of the nations testing them. Located at an altitude of 7ft from sea, the islands are precariously poised and threatened by the rising sea levels. Rapid climate changes made the islands highly prone to submersion. The RMI is conglomeration of 29 atolls and 5 isolated islands paid heavy price for the indiscriminate nuclear testing. Islanders suffered irreparable and catastrophic damages due to severe environmental changes and the radiation fall which resulted in radiogenic cancer and abnormal birth defects.

RPI filed law suits not in anticipation of monetary compensation for enduring the radiation contamination but to address the disputes between nations by invoking the painful history of his own land and to rekindle global concern about the nuclear arms race. If the on-going nuclear race isn’t curtailed it might entail disastrous consequences on the human race.

International lawyers inspired by the courageous move of the diminutive nation devoted time in compiling the law suits. Even if court rules the case in favour of the islands prospects of the nuclear nations heeding to such judgement is exceedingly low. But the action will draw substantial attention towards the most neglected issue of nuclear disarmament. Among these nations UK, India and Pakistan recognised court’s ruling as compulsory, China has replied that it will not accept the court’s jurisdiction and other nations don’t have a binding to adhere to court’s ruling.

While treaties prohibiting the use of chemical, biological and other weapons of mass destruction have been successfully enforced, possession of nuclear weapons have never come under scanner. The issue has merit as the world is going through international tension. In the recent meeting convened at Vienna on humanitarian law, scientists warned that use of even a small percentage of nuclear arsenals would drastically change the atmosphere causing drop in temperature resulting in massive crop failures. While nations have qualms about the climate changes, what can they hope to gain with peaceful resolutions on climate change with looming threat of burgeoning nuclear arsenals set to annihilate the world? Islanders are appealing to the World by drawing parallel between climate change issues and nuclear disarmament as they both affect security and survivability of human kind.


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Delhi Assembly Elections Poised to Set Stage for A New Trend in Politics

The high traction Delhi assembly elections are going to witness a spectacular clash of titans where a decisive mandate for either candidate is presumed to change the contour of Capital city. It is perhaps for the first time that two Public servants who have served the nation are entering the fray to adorn the top notch position of the Chief Minister of the State. Delhi state elections will be fought between the BJP’s CM candidate Kiran Bedi, the iconic Iron Lady and the Anti-Corruption Crusader and the founder of AAP, Aravind Kejriwal. Unlike the clash between thugs which used to be order for few decades, Delhi people are going to encounter the furious exchange of rhetoric between individuals who are revered in the society for their exceptionally committed aspirations. Even rumour galore on the social media is abuzz with the achievements, strengths and weakness of these two potential Chief Ministerial candidates. These particular assembly elections are going to be very interesting.

For decades elections have failed to garner enthusiasm of the elite public and educated as it was deemed to be the fiefdom of the corrupt and weapon-wielding thugs. As a result, certain sections of the people preferred to stay away from election debates and refused active participation.  Abominable distrust towards political system prevailed in the society due to permanence of politicians who lacked morals and intent to serve the society. Consequently people began to deliberately shun individuals or organisations with political affiliations. Apprehensions about political system were thus deeply engrained. As a result the political system under the burden malefactions began to sink into an interminable syndrome and couldn’t be remedied. Sadly, Indian political system is crippled and riddled by scrupulous leaders. There has been no respite from corrupt politics so far.

Thankfully, the system is now showing signs of revival and new hope as civilised and highly accomplished individuals began to repose faith in the electoral system. Eventually, Delhi Assembly elections might stoke way for gainful entry of self-made individuals to overwhelmingly embrace the Indian political system. Meteoric rise of AAP and its public appeal in the capital city in this regard remains as the towering example for this new trend. As of now, within the frame of an urban setting, the political system seems to have evolved conscientiously. The assembly elections in particular are going to be iconic, if this new trend in the political system continues to receive massive public support.

Kiran Bedi, a political novice and outsider was brought in by the BJP to circumvent the tremendous popularity of Arvind Kejriwal and to knock-off media propaganda of pitching him against Modi. While BJP is already experiencing a backlash from his armed contingent of dedicated workers for such an announcement, it desperately needed a tenable Chief Ministerial candidate since local leadership failed to evoke public interest. Whatever be the underlying political game play, Delhi is poised to experience the rule of trained public servants who administrative skills have been honed. Both of them equally appraised of the basic problems of common man and launched their own NGO’s to vouch for their social responsibilities. Being acquainted with the problems of this exploding city and its limited and unsustainable infrastructure Delhiites are anxiously looking forward for workable solutions from both candidates to make the capital a better and safer place to live.

This clash between the two former anti-corruption crusaders hailing from the Anna Hazare camp and recipients of Raman Magsaysay Award would mark a new beginning. This electoral battle mirrors the aspirations of progressive Urban India committed to seek solutions for a better society. Seeds of change are sown and raised by them by reposing faith in issue based approach rather than voting on lines of caste, religion and ethnicity etc. Truly the contest between such elite personalities has been long overdue in a young nation like India. Delhi is indeed fortunate to choose between candidates who are scrupulous and eager to deliver. Hope this trend of constructive politics which originated in the capital would continue to spread its legacy to other parts of the country as well.

When responsible leaders/ individuals are at the helm of affairs, people can anticipate change and rapid progress. It might perhaps be premature to be supremely optimist about new transformations in the Indian political system. But after all there is no harm to anticipate sweeping changes in our governance that can augur country’s trajectory towards progress and development of nation. 

 

 

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Change of guard witness a new bonhomie in Indo-Sri Lankan relations

The stunning victory of Maitripala Sirisena as the Sixth President of the Island nation ended a decade long regime of President Mahinda Rajapaksa marred by nepotism and corruption. By 2014, Sri Lanka’s economic growth rate was remarkable 7.5% and with total annihilation of LTTE, era of peace and prosperity commenced. Rajapaksa who was confident of consolidating his third term owing to buoyant economic growth called for snap polls two years ahead of schedule. The results which were unthinkable stunned even Rajapaksa’s astrologer who prevailed on him to conduct polls on January 8^th.

The ascendency of President Sirisena, a low profile, non-English speaking and son of World War II veteran, hailing from rice growing hinterland was unpredictable till few weeks back. Sirisena, a former ally who served as health minister in Rajapaksa’s cabinet defected in November and entered the fray with the support of opposition party for the Presidential elections. Change of guard in Sri Lanka barged in at a time when Indo- Sri Lankan relations are going through a phase of massive turbulence owing to Colombo’s deep embracement with China. India’s discomfiture increased and New Delhi was intensely dismayed when last year Sri Lanka provided berthing facilities twice to a Chinese Submarine at its Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT).  Chinese presence at a sniffing distance from Indian coasts in the Indian Ocean Region clearly rattled Indian government. Besides, Sri Lanka has silently let off Pakistani Consular General hitching a plan to strike the US Embassy in Chennai.

Mounted by the growing pressures of the West over the human rights violations and consequent downsizing of development aids to Sri Lanka by Canada, President Rajapaksa moulded into Chinese ambit for economic and military support. Indian government too under intense pressure and compulsion of coalition parties sided with the international community. Due to strained Indo-Sri Lankan relations Sri Lanka sought Beijing’s recourse and thereafter Rajapaksa brazenly and assiduously taunted India. During President’s Xi Jinping’s visit to Sri Lanka he unabashedly endorsed China’s Maritime Silk Route initiative.

Amidst these overtures, the newly elected President Sirisena in his election manifesto questioned the heightened Chinese presence in the island. With Chinese investments exceeding $8 billion in the island, he disapproved foreign presence and lamented that it might soon turn Sri Lanka into a colony. Growing Chinese presence worried the islanders who feared losing sovereignty. This has eventually accounted for the defeat of Rajapaksa. Even Tamils felt marginalised as Rajapaksa defected on promise of bringing them back into national stream line. He overtly supported the Buddhist oppression of Muslims even. Embroiled minorities who constituted 30% of the 24 million population paved for the defeat of the authoritarian Rajapaksa. Sirisena’s sensational victory is a strategic setback for Beijing which has been blatantly enticing South East Asian nations with economic bounties. Prime Minister Modi cognizant of spectacular rise of Sirisena sent out a warm congratulatory note and personal invitation to visit India to him even before results were officially announced.

Further, the visit of new foreign minister of Sri Lanka two days back, his first port of call marks the return of bonhomie. The free and frank talk of the diplomat is in sharp contrast to the cold response of Rajapaksa’s rule particularly in the last two years. Though India has delivered its promise of rebuilding houses for the displaced Tamils in Lanka Rajapaksa neither evinced interest nor even acknowledged India’s commitments.

 Meanwhile, Sirisena expressed his keen interest to restore historical, cultural and ethnic ties between India and implied to possibly reduce burgeoning influence of China. Probably, India will be first destination of Sirisena’s foreign visit. Indian government must respond positively to foster long term relationship with the island. Instead of buckling under domestic pressure, India must extend full support to the new government without interfering in its domestic issues and by express abiding concern for the well being of Sri Lankans. India should pro-actively take up the issue of regional cooperation with countries like Maldives and Sri Lanka to subvert the China’s strategic containment of India. China has already encircled India across its land borders by “Silk Road Economic Belt” and accelerated its maritime encirclement through “21^st Century Maritime Silk Road”. China’s diplomacy of cornering India received a shot in arm when Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal appeared to be supportive of its admission into SAARC as a full member.

Modi through his Act East Policy has reiterated India’s desire of renewing ties with its East Asian neighbours. India needs to be pragmatic and should realise that China with its deep pockets has been wooing the South East Asian Nations to invoke faith in its leadership. If India has to take advantage of the new leadership of Sri Lanka at the helm of affairs, it must be sensitive to its concerns and supportive of its issues to win back the hearts of the islanders.

 

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The Clamour of Ancient Science Session at Science Congress

The 102nd Indian Science Congress held at University of Mumbai is omniscient in the newspapers. Sadly, its benevolent theme of science and technology for human development was blissfully lost in the cacophony of dubious arguments surrounding the presentations in the session commemorating the Ancient Science through Sanskrit. The session on the Ancient Science has been introduced for the first time in this Science congress. Consequently rationale behind non- inclusion of such dedicated session was radically questioned by many scientists who were excited and startled by the revelations of Vedic Mythology of Aviation.

There were all together fourteen sessions dedicated towards latest research advancements in various fields of STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Medicine). But none of the sessions drew much interest and clout as the session on Vedic Sciences. Instead of anticipating the deliberations on the Ancient Sciences as a move to resurrect the Indian achievements which was not well-documented and studied for centuries, the new session drew ire and snicker from all corners of the media. The claims made in the sessions were chuckled as ludicrous and derided as fantastical. While the political opponents and public in general pounced on opening remarks of the Minister of Science which adorned the front pages of major news papers as being stupid, there has been cynical satisfaction that the Hindutva glory of has been trampled. But, why has been preserving the glorious past of India was attributed to bastion of Hindutva alone? Why India as a nation never took pride in its scientific & technological achievements and in its indigenous knowledge heritage? It is national shame that we know so little about our civilisation. This glaringly exposes the absence of synchronisation of Indian education with its ancient texts. While the West had ceremonially honoured the Greek scholars India has grossly failed to honour rich legacy of Indian scientific contributions.

While preposterous claims about interplanetary travel might prevent proper understanding of Indian science and mathematics, there is need for scientific approach to research the ancient treatises to decipher the intellectual treasures. The history of the knowledge has been documented by the West in a Eurocentric approach. It is probable that Indian contributions towards mathematics and astronomy might have been dismissed or disregarded. Moreover the present Indian tendency of imbibing knowledge from the Western sources dismantled its ability to boot its own scientific resources. Indian tradition abhorred mechanical devices and hence their expertise in manufacturing goods was limited. But they reached the pinnacles of the development of abstract theories.

But unfortunately, the transmission of the unparalleled expertise eroded over a period of time. Some opine that the existence of the caste-system in the ancient India prevented the huge participation of people in creating the base for education and sharing of knowledge. As a result discoveries were confined to closed groups or families. With the demise of these flourished groups intellectual wealth was wiped out. Indian Philanthropists are now pledging huge amounts towards preservation of ancient intellectual history through digitisation and documentation. Intriguingly, some Western Universities brought into fore valuable insights about roots of Indian science and technology. These astonishing references indicated that Rig Veda asserted gravitation 24 centuries before the Newton’s postulates. Vedic civilisation subscribed to the idea that earth was spherical when Greeks believed that it was flat. By fifth century Indian’s calculated the age of earth as 4.3 billion while the West could estimate the age as 4.6 billion years by 20^th century.

The book titled Lost Discoveries by Dick Teresi unravelled non-western foundations of modern science which includes the contribution of Indians, Egyptians, Babylonians, Mayans and other Africans. While India is honoured for its greatest contribution to mathematics for the invention of number zero, the book informs that even modern numerals referred to as Arabic numbers were invented in India. Indian mathematicians had invented even the negative numbers and Jain thinkers in 6^th century understood rational numbers. The Sulabha Sutras composed between 800 and 500 BC indicate that India had Pythagoras theorem much before the Greeks and way of getting the square root of 2 correct to five decimal numbers. Invaluable contributions of Indian mathematician Nilakantha who introduced pi and Aryabhatta who explained the rotation of earth on its own axis, conceived the elliptical orbits thousand years before Kepler and contributions of astronomers Varamahira and Brahmagupta towards Cosmology were clearly elucidated. Besides these advancements in Chemistry, Medicine, Surgery, metaphysics, metallurgy, paper making, printing etc were illustrated.

Unfortunately, the Indian colonial mind-set still hankers for approval from the West to endorse our own ancient intellectual wealth. Even now none of the Indian institutions have the ambition or the skill to research on our intellectual history. Instead of knocking down each of the claims made in the current session with derision and disbelief, it is time to be open-minded. Science is based on experimental proof and evidence hence efforts should be on to fathom the depth of ancient science and technology with a rational scientific approach. Further, all the hankering to the ancient glory will be in vain if we fail to attain excellence in the contemporary sciences. In the clamour for mustering the lost glory, India shouldn’t forget the need for sprucing up Indian science to new frontiers by laying foundations for a sturdy scientific architecture.

 

 

 

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Global Water Shortages: A threat to World Peace

Water is indispensable for living. Indeed water is most important component whose presence is now detected to confirm existence of life during space explorations too. While 70% of the earth is covered with water only 2.5% of it is fresh water rest of it is saline water. Just 1% of water is accessible and the rest of it is trapped in glaciers and the huge snow fields at the poles. To sum up, just 0.007% of planet’s water is available to cater for the needs of 7 billion. While the amount of fresh water remained nearly constant over centuries population has exploded. Water use has been increasing at more than twice the rate of increase of the population in the last century. By 2025 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity and two-thirds of the population could live under water stress conditions.

There has been a surge in water related crises across the World and countries started experiencing worst forms of drought. A billion of people don’t have access to safe drinking water. Over the past hundred years while the population has increased three times there has been six-fold surge in water consumption. If the present trend continues there could be 40% gap between water availability and demand by 2030. Demographic changes and unsustainable economic practices are taking a toll on the quality and quantity of water available.

Data from Grace Satellites of NASA indicated that California is on the verge of epic drought and that ground water resources have depleted enormously. It indicated that countries in the North latitudes and tropics are becoming increasingly wetter and those in the middle latitudes are running low on water. Middle latitudes includes countries which are arid and semi-arid are more likely to become dry. Middle East, North Africa and South Asia are projected to experience severe shortages due to bad management and overuse. Further water intensive cropping systems, rapid urbanisation, cooling power plants, fracking oil and gas wells, besides intensified dry might spell have aggravated the water crisis. Overuse of ground water has become staggering in the stretch extending from Eastern Pakistan, northern plains of India and into Bangladesh. Almost 75% farmers in this region depend on pumped ground water for farming. Other critical water basins identified are the Nile, Tigris-Euphrates, Mekong, Jordan, Indus, Brahmaputra and Amu Darya.

Water shortages would greatly impact food production, energy supply and might put extra pressure on governments struggling with poverty and social conflicts. The Pacific Institute which studies issues of water and global security has indicated that violent confrontations over water has increased by four fold in the last decade. While chances of nations waging war over water is slim sub-national conflicts like those between farmers and cities, upstream and downstream users of river water is on rise. There are legal tools to resolve the disputes between nations internationally but there are fewer tools at sub-national level.

According to the research studies of the US centre of Naval Analyses and Aarhus University of Denmark, by the year 2040 there will not be enough water in the world to quench thirst of the World population if we continue with the water-intensive energy production. It recommended that power production from nuclear power and coal that use excessive amounts of water for cooling should be replaced by solar and wind energy which virtually needs no water for power generation. Energy production is by far is the biggest source of water consumption bigger than agriculture.

Most recently ISIS in Iraq has exploited access to water to expand its control over territory and to subjugate the population. It has deliberately cut off water supply to the villages which resisted their advances and substantially flooded regions to displace thousands of people. In a chilling prospect it has now gained control over the Mosul Dam which indirectly sustains lives of 500,000 people in Bagdad. Water has been issue of conflict between nations. The proposal for construction of Rogun Dam and hydroelectric power plants in Tajikistan raised tensions in Uzbekistan over the impact of the dam on its cotton field’s irrigation systems. But in reality as the fresh water shortages becomes increasingly acute, the threat of violence also increases. In classical case of Indus water treaty between India and Pakistan, water has become a source of cooperation.

More than 90% of World’s population lives in countries that share river and lake basins and 148 countries share at least one trans boundary river basin. Almost 420 international water agreements were signed between1820 to 2007. Reduced access to water increases social tension, political conflicts and rapid refugee flow. Lack of access to water can augur conflict and even threaten peace and stability hence the new mantra seems to be hydro-diplomacy. It has potential to focus on water as a source of cooperation rather than as a source of conflict. Hence the immediate challenge for every nation is to reduce water foot print and to involve in global water conservation practices to avert the impending global water crisis.

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