Thursday, July 26, 2018
India’s Magna Carta
Marking the 100th year of the Montagu-Chelmsford Report
This month marks the 100th year of the publication of the ‘Report on Indian constitutional reforms’, commonly known as the Montagu-Chelmsford Report (MCR). Edwin Montagu, then Secretary of State for India, had advocated for increased participation of Indians in the British Indian administration and had begun consultations nearly a year earlier. After many meetings with Indian representatives, Montagu and the then Governor-General, Lord Chelmsford, published the MCR on July 8, 1918.
The MCR stands out for proposing some of the most radical administrative changes and for giving provincial legislatures the mantle of self-governance. To this extent, the report advocated the need “to emancipate the local governments and legislatures from central control; and to advance, by successive stages, in the direction of conferring responsible government on the provinces.”
The Montagu-Chelmsford Committee visited Madras Presidency to gather the views of political leaders. T. Varadarajulu Naidu’s book, Justice Movement 1917 , informs us that senior members of the Justice Party led by Sir Pitti Theagaraya met the Committee and made extensive demands, which included the “creation of municipalities and local body institutions with sufficient autonomy to handle their local issues... bereft of the intrusive control of the Government.” They further demanded that administration of the Presidency be eventually moved to the local legislature. To this end, they suggested that departments in administration be placed under the control of legislatures.
Ultimately, the MCR established the framework for devolution of powers and gave credence to the cry for self-governance. This cannot come as a surprise because the report recommended that “the Provinces are the domain in which the earlier steps towards the progressive realisation of responsible government should be taken”. Another one of the most far-reaching objectives of the report was to elucidate the principle of accountable governance by directing that the “Government of India must remain wholly responsible to Parliament.”
Thus was laid the platform for the development of a responsible government. However, in the 32nd session of the Indian National Congress, led by British theosophist Annie Besant, there was strong opposition to the Montagu declaration as something that “was unworthy of England to offer and India to accept.” However, Besant later accepted the reforms as essential for the progress of British India.
The MCR would go on to become the basis for the Government of India Act, 1935, and, ultimately, the Constitution. The key principles of responsible government, self-governance and federal structure grew out of these reforms. The MCR on Indian constitutional reforms along with the Montagu Declaration are, thus, worthy claimants of the title of the Magna Carta of modern India.
Source: The Hindu, 26/07/2018
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Assam tea sets a record with Rs. 39,001 price tag
Golden-hued tea auctioned in Guwahati
Golden-hued tea became Assam’s most expensive tea variety on Tuesday when it fetched Rs. 39,001 per kg at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC).
GTAC officials said the brand Manohari Gold Tea, produced by Manohari Tea Estate in eastern Assam’s Dibrugarh district, fetched the record price for orthodox teas during sale number 30. Guwahati-based Saurabh Tea Traders purchased the tea from Contemporary Brokers for buyers in Delhi and Ahmedabad.
The earlier record of Rs. 18,801 per kg was for a speciality tea from Donyi Polo Tea Estate in Arunachal Pradesh. “A lot of effort went into producing the world-class tea with delicate buds hand-plucked from special clones of tea bushes,” Rajan Lohia, owner of Manohari Tea Estate, said.
He hoped the record price would go a long way in Assam tea regaining its lost glory, adding there are connoisseurs across the globe ready to pay any price for good quality teas. Dinesh Bihani, secretary of Guwahati Tea Auction Buyers’ Association, said GTAC has evolved as a platform for specialty teas. “This will encourage other tea producers to make good quality specialty tea and take the auction route to sell to highest bidders,” he said.
Source: The Hindu, 25/0718
Economic and Political Weekly: Table of Contents
Vol. 53, Issue No. 29, 21 Jul, 2018
In 7 yrs, HIV cases in India dropped by 27%: UN report
New Delhi:
India has witnessed a major reduction in its AIDS burden with new HIV cases dropping by 26.6% and AIDS-related deaths declining 56.8% between 2010 and 2017 backed by sustained and focused efforts, a latest report by the United Nations says. The report warned the epidemic was growing in Pakistan and Philippines.
In India, new HIV infections dropped from 1.2 lakh 2010 to 88,000 in 2017, AIDSrelated deaths from 1.6 lakh to 69,000 and people living with HIV from 23 lakh to 21 lakh in the same time period.
In fact, India has done better than the global average in terms of improvement percentage. Globally, new infections declined by merely 18% since 2010 against a target of 75% by 2020, though deaths due to the virus have dropped by 34% during 2010-2017 with expansion of anti-retroviral therapy and increasing access to other treatment options, the report said.
“Sustained and focused efforts to reach key populations have led to major reductions in HIV infections in Cambodia, India, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam between 2010 and 2017. However, epidemics are expanding in Pakistan and Philippines,” the report titled ‘Miles to go -closing gaps, breaking barriers, righting injustices’ said. The report has been prepared by the joint UN Agency on AIDS (UNAIDS).
Source: Times of India, 25/07/2018
Monday, March 19, 2018
Vol. 53, Issue No. 11, 17 Mar, 2018
Choice vs Destiny
K S RAM
Are we free to exercise our will? Or are we just puppets going through motions in life according to a plan, predetermined by asuperior power? Philosophers have pondered over this question since ages. Omar Khayyam thought we were no better than water, flowing willy-nilly, “where Destiny with men for Pieces plays”. Khayyam’s stand is predeterministic. He hints at an unalterable script.
In contrast to this is the traditional view of Judgment Day of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. This view is based on the conviction that each person is wholly responsible for his conduct in life. The Hindu view of karmic transmigration also supposes choice for individual human beings. Cheiro the palmist compares the human condition to that of a pendulum in motion. The view is close, in a way, to the law of gravity that recognises the interdependence of all bodies, animate and inanimate.
What suffuses all beings and objects is the All Pervasive: Vishnu or Vidyut in Sanskrit, the Ultimate Truth. To participate and submit to the collective rhythm of creation is to attain to bhakti, Narada conveys in his Sutras. This marks progress towards humility. Adi Shankaracharya calls it being harmonised, the samachitta.
The scope of individual will is to choose between confinement to the individual ego, and to submit to the Cosmic Self. Lord Krishna who embodies the Cosmic Self puts it succinctly in the Bhagavad Gita, “The worshippers of other gods go to them; My devotees come to Me.
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