Social engineering in Goa

Social engineering in Goa


CAMIL PARKHE

Sakal Times, Point of View  column

Friday, March 09, 2012 AT 09:14 PM (IST)
Tags: Social engineering,   Francisco Sardinha,   Goa politics

I was aghast over a decade ago when Francisco Sardinha of the Congress deserted his party's ministry to form his own government, supported by the BJP. That was the first time a BJP-propped up government had come to the power in the coastal state. Sardinha, a Catholic seeking the BJP's support to fulfil his ambition to become the chief minister, left many people like me completely shocked. I could not understand how Catholic politicians could support BJP --  a party seeking its inspirations from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh whose anti-minorities policies were not secret. Although I no longer lived in Goa, I presumed that the Goan Catholic voters would not support any politician forming an alliance with the BJP. It was akin to Muslims supporting Narendra Modi in Gujarat.
But this week, Goa electorate gave a clear mandate to a BJP government led by Manohar Parrikar. The victory for the BJP was possible -- especially in Salcette and other parts of south Goa -- only because the Catholics there had preferred the saffron party while rejecting the Congress and the NCP.
Parrikar has indeed successfully played the card of social engineering to bring his party to power. His party nominated many Christians and supported some independent Christians, many of whom have been elected. This is the third time Parrikar will take over as Goa chief minister but this is the for the first time that he has won over both the major communities in the state -- Hindus and Christians. Of course, the BJP state leadership’s conversion was clearly due to its realisation that it was not possible for the party to come to power without the backing of the Christian community, which forms nearly 30 per cent population in the state.
The Goa BJP unit has indeed been a "party with difference," far different from its parent body at the national level. In Gujarat too, Chief Minister Narendra Modi has been working overtime to woo the minorities although he continues to be anathema for his own party during poll campaigns in other states. Muslims in Gujarat seem to have left behind Modi's anti-Muslim image. In Uttar Pradesh five years back, Mayawati had discarded her upper caste bashing and nominated many Brahmins and other upper caste candidates for the state polls, helping her to win a landslide victory.
The Goa model should serve as an eye-opener not only for the BJP but all political parties not to project themselves as messiahs of a single caste or community. That would hopefully usher in the real era of secularism in the country.

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Comments
On 15-03-2012 07:42 ?.??. Fr. Michael G. said:
How long will Christians support Congress inspite of their sins of corruption and lethargy? Let us hope that with this term in the hands of BJP the Chrsitian politician will learn a lesson. Goa politics portrays Christianity as not any different from other religions.

On 15-03-2012 05:47 AM diago almeida said:
Thanks for the insight Camil, but if you see over the years the goans in goa and else where majority of them are selfish esp. the politician where they want to enmas wealth and power for themselves and their fly. Examples are plenty in goa itself.

On 12/03/2012 07:35 PM suresh deuskar said:
The paper sees through the glasses which are of their chosen colour.

On 10/03/2012 06:16 PM val dsouza said:
the christians elected on the bjp ticket remind me of an old limerick which i cannot remember correctly, but the gist is - a woman went for a ride on a tiger; the tiger came back with a smile on its face and the woman inside. maybe someone remembers the limerick exactly.

On 10-03-2012 02:09 PM rob said:
Yes, magic in Goa Politics. No doubt about it. Mr. Parrikar has played his cards intelligently and skillfully. Full marks to him and his party. Please do not forget the track record of Goa, how often the elected members switch over and betray. Very few members in the assembly, so let's wait and watch. Hopefully, Parrikar and BJP will remain longer and complete their term. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Meals, cash, and election campaigns

http://www.sakaaltimes.com/20120216/4911469263282283596.htm

CAMIL PARKHE

Sakal Times

Thursday, February 16, 2012 AT 08:30 PM (IST)

Tags: Pune civic polls 2012,   Camil Parkhe column

So, what was the menu yesterday?” I asked our domestic help as soon as she had settled down to with her work. Her face lit up as she started describing the menu at the meal given by one of the  poll contestants in our municipal ward. “There was puri, jilebi, masala rice... brinjal curry...”   For the past few days, she along with her family members have been attending lunch and dinner hosted by various poll contestants. In the recent past, my daily conversation with the domestic help has been confined to the poll scenario in our ward. During the initial phase of campaign, when she did not come to work without prior intimation, my wife and I were unhappy. However  when we learnt that she had been attending the poll rallies of different candidates and getting paid Rs 300 to Rs 500 for that from each contestants, both of us mellowed down.

I enquired as to how many of her family members had participated in the poll campaign. “My  daughter and her two young daughters, and I,” she replied, adding enthusiastically, “they pay equal amount even to children, no matter what’s their age, as long as they are able to walk on their feet and carry a banner or a flag.”

“But I will not join the campaign this afternoon... it's too tiring walking and shouting slogans for two to three hours in the scorching sun. I'll rest for a day and will join the rallies tomorrow. I'm told the payment for each participant will shoot up further tomorrow as it is the last day of the campaigning,” she said. I was curious to know how the money was paid to people without attracting attention of the police or the election authorities. “Two or three people slip in the currency notes in our hands as we walk in lines. We are allowed to check the amount only later. We decide to join or not to join the rally next day of that candidate depending on the amount the contestant pays that day,” she explained.

A friend told me that a poll candidate has distributed cookers to his voters while keeping the lid of each cooker with himself. The shrewd fellow told the voters to collect the lids only after he is elected to the municipal corporation. Some candidates have distributed cricket bats to youngsters.

I wonder whether these strategies help the candidates to win the polls conducted through secret electronic voting machines. If not, why would the poll veterans indulge in these practices?

Anna Hazare A soldier’s journey

A soldier’s journey

CAMIL PARKHE

Sunday, August 28, 2011 AT 06:50 PM (IST)

Tags: Anna Hazare,   Ralegan Siddhi,   Mohan Dharia,   Baba Adhav

I remember my first reporting assignment related to Anna Hazare two decades ago. I had arrived from Aurangabad to Pune to join a national newspaper. One morning, I, another reporter and a photographer rushed to Wadegavhan near Shirur. Three farmers protesting against the power distribution company were killed there in police firing. The farmers agitation was led by Anna Hazare, who had resorted to his first indefinite fast in Ahmednagar. Hazare was hospitalised and called off his fast only after securing an assurance from the authorities.

A couple of years later, I met Hazare for the first time at Ralegan Siddhi, where he had resorted to a "maunvrat" to demand action in some corruption cases. Reporters would ask him questions and he would write the answers on a note pad. Then in mid-20s, I could not suppress my laughter on seeing this exercise was. I remember being admonished by my colleagues. Visits to Ralegan Siddhi became frequent later. I developed a close relationship with the social activist and once camped in his village for couple of  days to get acquainted with his development projects. To this date, I have preserved my black and white photographs with Anna and the letters Anna wrote to me, acknowledging receipt of newspaper clips on him or news about some of his new projects.

Hazare has always been media savvy. Ignoring protests from his office staff, he would give journalists complimentary copies of books on success stories of Ralegan Siddhi. For some unknown reasons, most journalists from Ahmednagar used to scoff at Hazare. It was  only after some Pune journalists regularly wrote on Hazare in English newspapers that his unique contribution became known in the state and later all over the country.

The fight against corruption has been an issue dear to Anna's heart. For years, he used to launch a fast around the Kranti Din of August 9 and would end it after a token assurance from the authorities. He was criticised and made fun of because of this. Once, about a decade back, Anna teamed up with Mohan Dharia, Baba Adhav and others to take on the issue of corruption. Otherwise, he was always a solitary crusader. Anna had never studied in a college but this former soldier-driver in the army has graduated to becoming a revered leader in the country during the past three decades. Now he is articulate, has clarity of thought and most important, has the moral strength to lead the masses. No wonder, his protests now move the entire country. 

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Visit Arc de Triomphe or the Arch of Triumph

Camil Parkhe

It was the first day of our Europe tour and we had boarded the metro at Anvers station for a sightseeing tour of Paris. Led by our local guide, Anupam Bari, a young Puneite now working in Paris, we alighted at Charles de Gaul terminal and started walking. Nearly 20 minutes later, we took an underground passage and when we had reached above the ground, we were near a huge monument. There was no need to seek introduction about this great Arc de Triomphe or the Arch of Triumph. I remembered that just a couple of years ago the Indian armed forces, including the jawans of the Maratha Light Infantry, had along with the French armed forces participated in the annual Bastille Day Military Parade here. The event was attended by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

The Arc is located at a very busy traffic intersection; 12 streets spread out from this crossing. As we moved around in that locality, we had to watch out for the vehicles that were zooming past us. So, our guide advised to opt for the underground passage. The huge structure reminded me of the India Gate in New Delhi which too symbolises the might of the Indian nation and the members of the armed forces who sacrificed their lives for the nation and civilisation.
The Arc de Triomphe too honours those who fought and died for France in the French revolutionary and the Napoleonic wars, with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I with the Eternal Flame.
Noted French sculptors have been represented in the Arc. The important works here are independent trophies. The four sculptural groups at the base of the Arc are The Triumph of 1810, the Resistance and Peace, and the Departure of the Volunteers of 1792 which is also known as La Marseillaise. It represents the allegorical face of France that is calling the citizens. In the attic above the richly sculptured frieze of soldiers are 30 shields engraved with the names of major Revolutionary and Napoleonic military victories. There are six reliefs on the facade of the Arc as well that depict the important moments in the history of France. No wonder that the Arch has now become a symbol of patriotism for the French. Standing some meters away from the monument, watching the French colours adorning the Arc, I stood speechless, wondering how many dignitaries, leaders, soldiers and commoners may have been at this wonderful monument that stands high.
The presence of thousands of tourists from various countries, races and cultures near the historical monument gives it a global feel. Just as it was in the case of Eiffel Tower where we were few hours back. The crowd at the Arc was much less than that near the Eiffel Tower. But the importance and the glory of the Arc is not diminished a bit. Rather, the importance of the structure seemed to be far greater: the crowd was much quieter, being respectful of the soldiers who have been celebrated here.
A word of caution is necessary about Paris. As in most famous tourist sites, the visitors need to be careful about their Euro and other valuables. Within a first few hours in Paris, we lost cash as we headed towards Arc. Although the amount the thief managed to steal was insignificant, nevertheless it was a lesson for us. During the remaining part of our Europe tour, never did we carry all our currency, passports and valuables in one bag.

Changing technology

Changing technology

CAMIL PARKHE

Monday, January 16, 2012 AT 09:08 PM (IST)

http://www.sakaaltimes.com/SakaalTimesBeta/20120116/5619522746749319182.htm

Tags: Camil Parkhe column,   Anna Hazare

This happened less than two decades back. A jeep from the tehsildar's office arrived at Ralegan Siddhi to take social activist Anna Hazare to Parner town. The tehsildar's office had received a message from the Prime Minister's Office, seeking telephonic contact with the social activist. At that time, the electronic revolution was still some years away in future. The entire  Ralegan Siddhi village did not have a single landline telephone connection. The only way to make Hazare's telephonic conversation with the PMO possible was to transport him to the tehsildar's office, which did have a landline telephone connection.

 

Hazare was given a lift to the tehsildar's office. The telephonic contact was established. And Anna spoke to the then prime minister, P.V. Narasimha Rao. The prime minister spoke with Hazare in chaste Marathi. He said his government was planning to confer Padma Bhushan on the social activist. Rao wanted an assurance from Anna that he would not threaten to return the title in the course of any of his subsequent agitations. Anna had earlier threatened to surrender his Padma Shri in protest against the government's failure to meet his demand in an anti-corruption agitation. The prime minister did not want Hazare to use the Padma Bhushan in his campaign. Hazare had then assured the prime minister that he would not use the civilian honour to embarrass the government. 

In the absence of a telephone at Ralegan Siddhi, mediapersons from Pune too experienced difficulty in  communicating with Anna. Those days, I used to post my newspaper reports and articles related to Hazare to him to Ralegan Siddhi. Some days later, I would get back a letter by Hazare, acknowledging the receipt of the clippings. The typed letters would carry Hazare's signature, Ki (Kisan) Ba (Baburao) Hazare alias Anna. Those days, courtesy environmentalist Mohan Dharia, Hindi Rashtra Bhasha House was Hazare’s camp site in Pune. He used to meet journalists there.

 

These incidents flash before my eyes now when I witness the live television coverage of Hazare addressing the gram sabha in his village or speaking to mediapersons there on his next plan of action on the Lokpal Bill. With the mobile and email facilities,  one can contact any person in any part of the world almost instantaneously. A tehsildar’s jeep carrying Anna from Ralegan Siddhi to Parner only for a few words with the prime minister on telephone now seems an occurrence of the past century. I am simply left marvelling at the tremendous pace of development of technology.

 

A scanned image of the letter  written by Anna Hazare to me, dated  January 30, 1991:

Visit to the Sistine Chapel, Rome

Visit to the Sistine Chapel, Rome			pune City Speak State Nation World Views Sports Stock Market Industry Home Finance Corporate Literature Cinema Entertainment Latest News Fashion Food Health Infotech Music People RelationShip Small Screen Wheels Editor's Pick Features Maglets Blog
Amid the masterpieces Sakal Times, Pune  By CAMIL PARKHE Published on December 25, 2011  Parkhe recalls how he soaked in the ambience of Sistine Chapel during his recent tour of the Vatican Museums    While entering the Vatican Museums, which include the famous Sistine Chapel, one’s mind is filled with rich expectations. There is so much written about the paintings of the Renaissance artists Michaelangelo and Raphael. Therefore, I almost grew impatient as I, along with my family, waited in a long serpentine queue to enter the Vatican Museums. There were many touts approaching tourists to offer them entry tickets with premium Euros to jump the queue. But not prepared to take the risk of being duped, we waited patiently. To our pleasant surprise, we soon reached the entrance, and purchased the entry coupons.   While the visit to St Peter’s Basilica and its spacious campus is free of cost, the entry fee for visiting the Vatican Museums is 14 Euros for adults and eight Euros for children below 16 years. There is some concession for Catholic priests wearing the Roman collar. Having visited other museums and tourist attractions around Europe, I found this fee quite exorbitant. But the desire to visit the museum made me think beyond those calculations.   The museums in the Vatican are a series of galleries adorned with statues, paintings, relics and draperies from the ancient, medieval and the Renaissance periods. For the connoisseurs of art and culture, research scholars in history and archeology, and anthropologists, a visit to these museums is a golden opportunity.   But, the movement in the Vatican Museums is one way and the visitors cannot turn back to the entry point. They are constantly on the move towards the exit. So for an average visitor, there is not much time to stand at one place to admire an exhibit for a long time. There are thousands of exhibits, and visitors must rush from one gallery to the other to see them. It can take a few weeks to observe minutely all the art pieces.   We decided to go slow when we entered the illuminated galleries that are decorated with draperies.  As we walked, I suddenly realised that we had entered the famous Sistine Chapel, which used to be the venue for the conclave of cardinals to elect the new pope, and where Michaelangelo created his wonderful paintings. Michaelangelo, who was commissioned by the Pope in 1508, took several years to create these paintings.   Soon it became clear that the atmosphere and the mood in Sistine Chapel, named after Pope Sixtus IV, is far different from the other Vatican museums. It is a chapel — a sacred place, and tourists have to maintain decorum here.   Ignoring our complaining necks, we looked up — and were thrilled to see the precision and aesthetics with which the great artist used bright colours to create the masterpieces. Equally thrilling was coming face-to-face with the Last Judgement. Just behind the altar at the Chapel, this grand painting made me speechless. The scale of all these frescoes put me in a trance, as I soaked in the ambience to my heart’s content.   And after all that, I changed my opinion. The entry fee may have been heavy on pocket, but the masterpieces at these museums are so priceless and fascinating that it is worth every Euro.

Playing Santa Claus to bring in joy

Playing Santa Claus to bring in joy
CAMIL PARKHE
Monday, December 26, 2011 AT 08:38 PM (IST)

 Tags: Point of view,   Christmas,   santa claus,   Camil Parkhe
It was the Christmas in 1985 in Lucknow when for the first time I played Santa Claus to a group of 50 journalists drawn from all over India. We were camping there for a three-month diploma course. Those days, Christmas was not yet commercialised by the market forces and the Santa Claus costume was not so easily available. I had to sport a white beard and a mustache glued onto a cardboard paper. I used a long black overcoat. But none of the campers minded it as this was the first encounter with Santa Claus for most of them. Since then, I have played the role of the old man in red and white attire a number of times.
After the birth of my daughter, playing Santa for her and her peer group became a necessity. Those days, the young ones, majority of them non-Christians in our building and colony, looked forward to meeting Santa Claus on the eve of Christmas and the parties we had in the parking lot on Christmas morning. Their parents too were willing to contribute in various ways to make these events more enjoyable. Now  the children have grown up and are studying at colleges. I am sure they cherish their memories of meeting Santa Claus and the enjoyable parties with him.
When I rang the door bells of my neighbours donning Santa Claus attire for the first time, there were clear signs of disbelief and pleasant shock on their face. I remember a young mother who opened the door around 11 pm and shrieked after seeing the mask of Santa and shut the door. She burst into laughter when she, along with her family members, opened the door again and recognised Santa. The children below three years too have a similar fear reaction when they see a bearded masked man for the first time. It is only a couple of years later that they grow quite fond of Santa Claus.
My teenager daughter no longer expects me to play Santa Claus for her and her friends during Christmas but there are always tiny tots in the building and in the neighbourhood. And they have helped me retained my enthusiasm to don the red and white gown, the long cap, and ring the bell at their home on December 24 night to cheer them and also the elders. Christmas has no longer remained a religious festival of a particular community. It is a joyous festival, a season of sharing gifts and joy with others. This realisation propels me to don the red and white attire every time around Christmas.