Are women themselves responsible?

I have heard females complaining about various aspects of the society. I totally agree with them that males have manipulated the law of society for own gain. Also, large part of the problem can be attributed to the historical reasons and evolution of society where power played an important role than any human endeavor. Although, I totally understand their concerns and fully empathize with them but I think the responsibility of the current situation lies with females also. The concerns raised by them are complex and interlinked, so every issue can not be isolated from other.

Dowry system in India – This is major issue that our government is struggling to eradicate for a long time since 1950 and even before that social activists were opposed to this. Despite of that even today females are married with dowry, and its not the case just for the uneducated mass without any empowerment. Majority of educated females still go through rigorous process of scrutiny before the marriage by her in-laws and then marries as per family wishes by paying dowry along with humiliation to her family members during every stage of marriage process. There are many reasons for that. 

First even people involved in love relationship want to get married under traditional system with the wished of family members. So, they must make their parents to agree with the relationship. That is why even the adult and most educated people get into this traditional trap. Even if the country’s constitution treats every person after adulthood as fully responsible for his/her life's decision, it is not so in reality because of people own willingness to surrender their power of wisdom for making family member agree to their decision, and to make a love relationship converted to arranged marriage. The biggest problem of converting love relationship to marriage is caste system. Even after knowing the rigorous and violent system throughout the country, people persist to expect family support for love relationship to be converted to arranged marriages. It is highly improbable that anyone happily agrees to intercaste marriage, even in the upper most caste and upper most class family in all the region of the country. So, it is pure foolishness to expect or demand family agreement to the decision made my young female. The maximum extent that family goes to support the love-cum-marriage relationship under different caste, if not a violent reaction, is the indifference attitude, without any support along with continuous warning what could go wrong in the relationship in future. So, even at the age of 25-30 female demand family support for their relationship and surrender their independence. 

Another interlinked problem in the current approach taken by females is the demand of family support in the future after love or love-cum-arranged marriage. Females are traditionally forced to do many things against their will by her in-law family, so she wants family support in case of any trouble. This is completely insane if she had to follow her own decision then why she should look for any family support to sort out the marital issues. Only conclusion that can be drawn from this observation is females themselves are not confident of their decision and don’t want to take ownership of their decision with full responsibility.

If we look further into this issue, female demands that the male partner, under the love relationship should be carrying out all the task of making both family agree with the decision. This is again a traditional view, but the marriage relationship is a shared responsibility, then why should only one member take the full responsibility when both members are looking for their independence in their decision making, especially when they are behaving independently in professional domain. Why female still want to rely on the male member for their life? In a shared relationship both person are responsible for the success or failure of the relationship.

Now comes the property right. Ask any female to which house they belong after marriage, they still perceive as belonging to in-law family after marriage even if they get settled as nuclear family in a distant city. This is totally ridiculous because after marriage they have separate family identity. Even earning female members claims that her family is in-laws home although almost every female wants to help their parental home financially. Females never talk of taking any money or financial help from the parental home even though they have equal property rights as their brothers but they are willing to claim the property right in the in-law's property, may be through her husband. So, when it comes to dowry they claims that it is asked by pressure but when they are requested to claim their inherited property they totally reject the request. So, why should any parents give any claim to her daughter-in-law when their son is getting nothing as son-in-law, if he don’t take dowry. This is largely because of the traditional belief that daughter-in-law belongs to the husband’s family and son-in-law has no rights on the wife’s parental property. The easiest solution to the whole mess could be to get the property rights for husband and wife from their respective families. Like every family there is cost of living, so it does not make sense that male’s family take all the burden of female’s living without asking anything. It could be their generosity if they don’t ask anything. So, here again females are making mistake of claiming all the rights from the in-laws family and not claiming her birth right from her parental family .The important question here could be that females get their share during the growth process and work in the married family. The answer to this question is, they don't get equal share in the growth process as they are discriminated as female child. Also, after marriage both partner works, inside or outside home, and similarly both partner should get similar property right from their parents and share similar burden of old parents.

Ideally in an evolved society, any adult should not demand anything from the parents as their parent have already invested everything for the growth of their children till adulthood. But when private property right is given and inherited by next generation, it has to be equally distributed among males and females.

So, it can be concluded that females are also responsible, not completely though,  for their current situation by acting irrationally, They demand family support even after adulthood for marriage, puts males to take leadership of family and making the whole arrangement, ask family support to resolve family issue after marriage, claiming belongingness to their in-laws, demanding financial support from husband’s family and at the same time not taking legal property right from parents. The whole issue is mixed up by double standard followed by the females. I understand that the society is still evolving but when the most educated and empowered class behaves hypocritically, it becomes very difficult to sort out the problem and backward people to catch up with the evolution.  I am in not supporting the heavy handed attitude by the society on females and I am totally against taking any violent action against females under any situation, with the belief that an adult person should be able to live in the society without any support what so ever, and only rely on government and their own capability.

New Zamindari System

The traditional system of Zamindari has been working for centuries in India. It has origins of powerful people represented by kings and caste groups owning large segments of lands and collecting favors from the people living on that. The symbolic system was abolished in India after the independence in 1947. The land was taken away from the zamindars and used for public purpose for the development of nation. The idea behind the zamindari system was that once the land was captured either by power or by other means it becomes hereditary and the next generation kept enjoying the benefits. It was represented by specific higher caste group and the people living or farming on that land had no right on the land, they had to pay part of their earning the owner of the land.

Although the zamindari system is legally banned, it is still persistent in the rural area in different part of the India. The dominant caste still own huge portion of land and it is given to the laborers who don't have any rights but are required to pay specific portion of the farm output. Like many laws in India abolition of zamindari system is not implemented properly. Land reform is only limited to few states and forward caste still works like zamindars in their villages. 

Not so surprisingly, the zamindari system works in urban areas also. I  would like to say it is sophisticated system of zamindari, as it keeps the spirit intact of the traditional zamindari system. The urban areas are dominated by forward caste people as they were progressive with education and business due to better economic and social background. The government sector despite the law of reservation in government jobs is unable to fill up the vacancies and private sector never bother about upliftment of the backward SC/ST population. Forward caste migrated to urban centers and captures most of the real estate properties. Now who so ever comes for employment in especially in private sector, with whatever right educational background, has to pay the huge rent for staying in the city and do some economic activity. The rent authorized by government or paid by the company is never close to the actual market rate. A bright candidate would spend more than 20 years to pay the EMI, if he chooses to buy a decent flat near the place of working. 

I understand that many people will raise eyebrows on the above claims made by me and question, how is this zamindari system? They would give example that irrespective of caste people pay similar rents. Also, who so ever own the property must have purchased it earlier with their hard work and not by power. And most important of all, everyone is free to own his private property legally. I would agree will all these statements but does these statements removes the actual essence of zamindari system. First of all this is a hereditary system which was earlier practiced in traditional system. Second, it is still dominated by forward caste. Even though I don't have  quantifiable figures to support it, I have sufficient reasons behind it. Forward caste people owned good property in the urban areas before independence. Also, mostly forward caste people came for the formal sector of employment and business with their better education and social background. Now that mostly the first generation after independence have settled, they own the property. Till date most of the businesses are owned by the forward caste people and hence they own the private business world related assets. Third, to classify the present system the user has to pay the rent (his economic output), which is mostly being done in all places. Forth, the property are not captured by power argument has some strength but in the present system of India, it is still not properly implemented. The law and order is still for the rich and forward caste people. Many people would not deny that even a simple FIR is not registered in many cases. Real estate is still owned by people related to powerful politician. Government is acting like goons in the hands of powerful politician to capture the lands from villagers and distributing them to people related to politicians. 

The modern economy, which does not necessarily means capitalist system, is meant for the right allocation of asset for the maximum output. The government plays the role to regulate this system to maximize the welfare of society. In the present system both the modern economic system and government is failing to complete their jobs properly. First, the modern economic system is still incapable of allocating resources to gain maximum output. It gives the asset to people related with politician and not to entrepreneurs or the working employed people. The money is still transferred to the hereditary of the older generation occupying the prime spots in property market.The government is not regulating the real estate market to maximize the welfare. First the most real estate property still belongs to the forward caste people which is not good for a healthy society relationship between different communities. Second, government is capturing land from the weak farmers and giving it to corporate. 

How to improve the present system? First of all, the employment of a person and his stay near the working place has to made mandatory. That will also save the environmental and fuel cost of the country.Although government jobs have these things but the private sectors should not be left in the current chaotic form. The payment for housing in private sector should be linked to the market rates. Most importantly the role of black money in the real estate property market has to be removed. People would not be surprised to know that 70% of the real estate price is paid in black money in India. So, the argument that all the people are free to earn and own private property becomes senseless. The government rates for registration and rent should be market rate, and it must be implemented strictly. Also, all the transaction of rent and buy/sell should be with paid service and income tax.This would provide free regulated market for the new generation and a welfare society.

Comparison of Caste and Gender Discrimination in Indian Society before Independence

Caste and Gender discrimination has happened for centuries in India and it is legitimated under the Hindu religious rules. They are often compared to show that caste and gender discrimination are equivalent. 

Backward / lower caste groups has been eliminated from the main stream society and their involvement was only limited to very less respectable jobs. They were highly discriminated and never allowed to mingle with high caste people. Lower caste people were usually treated with violent means. The caste boundaries were very rigid. The rules were legitimized with the religious laws which prohibited any mixing between different caste people. Lower caste group was considered untouchables and they were not allowed to enter temples and learn religious books.

The gender discrimination of woman has also been practiced since long time in India. It has biological origin where male member were involved in outside jobs and women were involved in household jobs due to physical strength and child bearing capability. Even in the kingdom era, women were not involved in wars. In Indian society, Hindu religion prescribed the role of women as the dependent member of the family where she had no decision making role. Women had no property right and considered burden on the parents till marriage. After marriage,  husband ruled them and after death of husband they were supposed to live a lonely life or die as Sati. 

In both the system, there was commonality of religious rule and exploitation of people without any fault of their own. But there was a shuttle difference female child can become a part of powerful group if both of her parents were higher caste members but a child has to remain in lower caste if any parent belonged to lower caste. Many times women were given rights of decision making in-case of death of male member. Women were never treated as untouchables. The biggest difference was that women could be a member of family but a lower caste person can not be a member of higher caste family. 

So, women and caste discrimination was never same in Indian society.

Indian Education system: Competition, Merit and Private Tuition

Education system of any country is the most vital element of the social and economic growth. India is very lucky nation to get first Prime Minister Pt. JawaharLal Nehru, who gave special emphasis to education and build the foundation stone of premiere institutes, which later emerged as the driving force of nation’s development. He should be given credit for setting up IITs, IIMs and central universities which are now globally renowned as centres of excellence. Like many other domains of education system of India has its fallibility. There are lots of problem which needs immediate attention in the education system. One of the major problems is private tuition offered by individuals and flourishing coaching centres which is weakening the backbones of education system.

In present time, it is rare to find any student not taking private tuition. It has been found out from a survey that one third of the income of middle class family is spent on the child’s private tuition. Tuition can start from class 12, class 5 or even class 1. Private tuition can help student by giving him some extra time and necessary push for relatively not so brilliant student. Also it helps the students whose parents are uneducated and can’t give any input to their academic work. Some educated parents found private tuition helpful because it gives them necessary relief of not spending their time with their children. Also it is sometime beneficial to some students who find other school teacher better in certain subjects. Another possible reason, which may sound absurd, is that children don’t follow the parental teaching them academic course due to some psychological reason. Above all the stated reasons can be kept aside, and the most important reason that parents and students feel that private tuition and coaching is beneficial for them because it will enable them to compete in the class and securing a seat in entrance examination.

Let us analyze what are the pitfalls of private tuition and why all the above stated reasons are absurd. Most of the problem for which people think private tuition is necessary can be solved by filling the gap in the education system i.e. making school to strengthen their roles in children’s life. First of all, private tuition makes children less attentive in the class. Student feels that they will be studying the same thing in private tuition in a better way, so they lose respect for the school teachers and their teaching. Another pitfall of private tuition is that children spend less time with their family and friends. Also they don’t participate less in extracurricular activities and sports, as they need to spend their evenings attending private tuitions. Another important problem that is caused by private tuition, which impacts his/her career, is by making a bad habit of spoon feeding. Student don’t spend time in self studying and reading books, as they depend entirely on the summary notes provided by private tutor. One very important parameter that gets missed out in the child career, which often causes disaster to their career, is the loss of innovative thinking and following individual interest, as the subject to be studied in private tuition are recommended by parents considering their aspiration for their children and not the child’s aspiration for himself/herself. Coming to the system loop holes in education system, teachers often push class student for their private tuition, as it gives them extra bucks. Some teacher goes to the level of threatening the student to fail. Many give extra credit marks in the examination to private tuition going students. Some teachers go to the extent of giving question out before the examination to the private tuition. Few of teacher gives the examination paper at home in private tuition after the examination for completing their answers. Adding another angle teacher also promises to give complete marks in practical examination to tuition going student and deduct marks to non-tuition going students. All these measures taken by teachers, despite being illegal in some government schools, to lure students for private tuition for earning little money, gives small happiness to private tuition students and their parents but causes a very-very serious damage to the long term student’s career.

Coming to the coaching institutions, this provides employments and now a big industry in itself. It enables students to compete in entrance examinations of professional courses like engineering, medical, law etc. Although, institutes tries to make the entrance examination by changing patter etc such that no student taking private tuition have better chances than non-tuition going students, but private tuition is has grown to such a mass scale that 99% student get admission by taking private tuition only. It is strange and ridiculous that people who talk about reservation to Sc/St as wrong, although Sc/St spend minuscule or sometime none on private tuition compared to others, can’t do self study for examination and later talk about meritocracy. Coaching are exactly similar to private tuition, except for the fact that most of coaching institutes are registered entities and hopefully pay taxes for their earning. God can only save us if a teacher who teach small children ethical classes and build their foundation stone, earn money unethically from private tuition and evades taxes.

Let us discuss the probable solution to the whole problem. First of all school teachers should be prohibited to take private tuition, as already being done unsuccessfully to some government schools like KV, especially to their own class students. If teachers can’t teach student in class they why he is doing the job. Students should be encouraged to seek support from teachers during school time in leisure periods. This is already implemented in colleges like IITs. Serious steps should be taken against teachers who lure students for private tuition. Teacher should give extra support to the weak students during class and also after class. Teacher’s assessment should be done on the basis of class performance. Parents should be strictly advised against tuition. All the students taking entrance examination should be prohibited to attend coaching, as all the subjects are covered in school course curriculum. Although it is quite difficult to implement but an innovative way should be found to give incentive to self studying students. Parents should be encouraged to meet teacher to know the child’s academic progress. Although not liked to education system, strict tax collecting measures should be taken for private tuition money.

Private tuition is a menace to the Indian education system, which has corrupted the whole system. It has damaged the very stem of nation i.e the young students. Immediate steps must be taken to eliminate this serious problem

RBI intervention

The rupee has depreciated rapidly in the last month to a new high for last year. It toughed to a new high at 49.50 per dollar in the forex market. The depreciation in the market has multiple implications in the Indian economy. RBI is under pressure from different players in the economy to intervene and stop further depreciation of Indian rupee.

On one hand, the depreciation of rupee leads to the increase in import bills, especially petroleum products which is largely imported by India. Another important consequence of the depreciation of rupee would hit the corporate who have large External Commercial Borrowing (ECB). ECBs are good way to raise money from foreign market due to cheap rates and stable currency. But this also lead to forex exposure. The corporate who have ECB unhedged forex exposure are finding it difficult to pay high rupee amount.

Also, the corporate raise money from foreign market by using another instrument called Foreign Currency Convertible Bond (FCCB). FCCB is similar to a other convertible bonds which pays regular coupon with a option to convert the bond into equity at maturity at pre-fix price. If the equity price is higher than contracted conversion price, they can convert the investment to equity. And, in case equity price is lower than contracted price, then bond holder will be paid at contracted price. Due to boom in the last decade, many corporate raised FFCB from the foreign market in early 2000. They are finding it difficult to repay the bond holder with depreciated rupee.

For quite some time inflation is the main concern for the Indian economy and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The Indian industry and consumers buy a lot of good for production and consumption from the global economy, due to the largely global integration of the Indian economy. The prices of the tradable items have also risen due to exchange rate depreciation.

The depreciation of the Indian currency rupee helps Indian exporters which are largely engaged in labor intensive business and high tech services. Due to very fragile developed economies, exporters are directly affected. The decrease in demand from the developed economies must have caused financial stress on the exporters but currency depreciation would have marginally offset the pain to them. In 2009, RBI had intervened into the forex market to maintain the edge of the exporters by limiting the rupee appreciation.

The RBI has played a very important role in forex market by regulating the participant but limited its direct intervention in the market. Last time, RBI intervened in forex market in 2009 by supplying rupee liquidity to limit the rupee depreciation and save Indian exporters.

 RBI has a foreign exchange reserve of $ 250 billion, which is very limited compared to size of the economy and forex market. RBI intervention cause very little impact in the market while depleting its reserve. Also, the uncertain global economy requires RBI to be more cautious and save its fire for the future time, in which Europe market is expecting some more damaging events in case of sovereign default by any nation.  

Controversially Yours

The autobiographical book published, on one of the world's most renowned cricketer in the last decade "Soaib Akhtar", recently is rightly named as "Controversially Yours". He is known to every cricket loving fan for right or wrong reasons. No one can miss his presence in the team and the game. Many games became interesting just because of his presence in the Pakistani team. Once he was one of the fastest bowler on the planet. He was also known as Rawalpindi Express for his pace int he bowling. He bought a lot of energy in the game of cricket.

In his book, he accepts the fact of match fixing and ball tampering, which most of the people realize by now after so many media news. It is a courageous things to accept this and still showcasing the capability and admiration of the opposition. He accepted the fact that it was very difficult not to accept money coming from very poor background in developing countries.

Even though, I don't remember him single handed winning the match for his team, but he did unsettle the situation in many matches. Many of the people watched matches due to his presence and he did create media news with his regular controversy inside the team and outside the team. For me his long run up to the pitch, always made me think how could he throw ball after that. He suffered regular injuries in his shoulder and ankle and he did know that it was difficult for him to continue his career for long. He gave all he can to the cricket and possible cricket gave him what he is today.

  

About the controversy on this comment for Sachin and Dravid, I think it was unnecessary to create so much noise asking him to respect any specific person. It is his right to choose his role model. He has already said that he consider Sachin a great, not the greatest, cricketer. 

Coming from a very poor background, he kept himself in touch with all the people who were dear to him. He party hard and created lot of headlines in his career for good and bad reasons. But I must say he gave a lot to cricket and cricket also gave him a lot to live a memorable life.