Opinion - Letters to the Editor LTTE’s defeat
The Sri Lankan government should engage in a reconciliation exercise and adopt measures to eliminate discrimination against the Tamils. If the causes that gave rise to the LTTE are not addressed, the void created by its defeat will be filled in no time.
G. Gokul Kishore,
New Delhi
http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/20/stories/2009052054791001.htm
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Letter in FE
Letters to the editor : Saving grace
The editorial (‘Floor for rate cut?’, Apr 22) argues that the government-fixed small savings interest rates are higher than what banks may be able to offer and hence, distort competition. Small savings schemes offer both safety and stability of income. We can hardly deny the consumer better services by pulling one down to the level of the other. The editorial bats for the industry at the cost of small investors. It cites underbanking, but it’s wrong to say that PSU banks have failed in this respect, as neither foreign banks nor new generation private banks have any rural penetration. Small savings is the best avenue the small investor can ever get. Withdrawal of tax benefits to interest earned, which diminishes the attractiveness of bank deposits, is a point validly made.
—G Gokul Kishore New Delhi
The editorial (‘Floor for rate cut?’, Apr 22) argues that the government-fixed small savings interest rates are higher than what banks may be able to offer and hence, distort competition. Small savings schemes offer both safety and stability of income. We can hardly deny the consumer better services by pulling one down to the level of the other. The editorial bats for the industry at the cost of small investors. It cites underbanking, but it’s wrong to say that PSU banks have failed in this respect, as neither foreign banks nor new generation private banks have any rural penetration. Small savings is the best avenue the small investor can ever get. Withdrawal of tax benefits to interest earned, which diminishes the attractiveness of bank deposits, is a point validly made.
—G Gokul Kishore New Delhi
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Letters to Editor - The Hindu
Letters to the Editor Politicisation
It is unfortunate that the Sri Lankan Tamils issue is occupying centre stage in Tamil Nadu politics. Every party is trying to outdo the other in portraying itself as the champion of the Tamils’ cause. The ruling DMK is resorting to flip-flops to ensure that even while it remains part of the UPA, it is not compelled to yield ground to other parties.
The real issue has been obfuscated and the plight of the Sri Lankan Tamils has become secondary in comparison with the LTTE, which is getting undue coverage and misplaced sympathy.
G. Gokul Kishore,
New Delhi
It is unfortunate that the Sri Lankan Tamils issue is occupying centre stage in Tamil Nadu politics. Every party is trying to outdo the other in portraying itself as the champion of the Tamils’ cause. The ruling DMK is resorting to flip-flops to ensure that even while it remains part of the UPA, it is not compelled to yield ground to other parties.
The real issue has been obfuscated and the plight of the Sri Lankan Tamils has become secondary in comparison with the LTTE, which is getting undue coverage and misplaced sympathy.
G. Gokul Kishore,
New Delhi
Friday, April 10, 2009
Vaiko's Speech - Letters to Editor - The Hindu 10-4-2009
Mr. Vaiko’s inflammatory speech is unacceptable. India, already battered by terrorism, cannot afford to allow such leaders to sow the seeds of discord and misguide the younger generation.
G. Gokul Kishore,
New Delhi
G. Gokul Kishore,
New Delhi
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Article on Poll Reforms - Unpublished by media
Poll time - Debugging franchise
By Gokul Kishore & Subhashree Kishore
It is poll time again in India. And it is time too to put electoral reforms on the agenda again. The Election Commission of India has begun blown the bugle with the proposed curbs on exit polls.
Democracy evolved to counter concentration of power - monarchy or other forms which often ended up in abuse of power. But de jure leaders in today’s democracy remain de facto kings, no matter victorious or vanquished at the hustings. The general decay in moral standards in public life, the perpetuation of dynastic rule cloaked in modern instruments of power and our impassive response to opportunism being ‘politics is refuge of scoundrels’ or ‘politics makes strange bedfellows’ often undermine faith in this form of governance.
Democracy has become all about winning elections, consolidation and staying rather than serving. Of course some incidental progress happens and India manages to be a functional democracy with separation of powers and guarantee of civil rights but good governance remains elusive. Experiences of developed nations reveal that proportional representation or opinion polls cannot combat selfish interests or bad decisions.
Electoral reform is a topic often debated when the polls are round the corner only to be consigned to the backburner later. Asset declaration and general media outcry against criminals in the fray are major developments perceived as having brought semblance of reforms. But the agenda remains unfinished and of course, daunting. Certain measures do suggest some changes but are confined to addressing administrative difficulties and costs. Something concrete is yet to come up to ensure fairer elections. For, a climate of responsibility is a must and elections should be treated with the seriousness and respect they deserve. Not just because of the outgo in monetary terms, but also for the fact that the electoral process is bedrock of the system of governance we have chosen.
Campaign money becomes a quicksand of quid-pro-quo syndrome with candidates seeking to reach maximum voters in a limited time frame and trying to ‘capture’ their imagination. Hardly is there any party immune to corporate lubricants. The largesse from business houses borders on extortion once elections are in the air. State funding has been much talked about and there are no takers as obviously opinion is unanimous that public money cannot be wasted for such ‘undeserving’ exercise. The collection spree gets the tag of voluntary contribution by the loyal supporters and arms of the Indian Income Tax law do not extend in this direction. On a practical plane, campaigning should ideally begin at least six months before elections and emphasis should be on door to door campaign rather than accentuating pollution through loud speakers and festoons, paper handouts and road blocks. Mud slinging and unsubstantiated statements should cease.
Any meeting should be treated sacrosanct. Instead of rabble raising monologues, election meetings can be a two way affair with some time devoted to responding to the queries of voters. Unbridled campaign till the D-Day deprives the voter of his 48 hours of calm to reflect and decide. Campaign restrictions must also extend to other forms of media like private TV channels. Also mandating equal airtime by private channels, if they choose to broadcast political ads, will be a step towards fair campaigns. A code of conduct, self-imposed by the media, may serve the purpose.
Elections cannot be belittled nor electorate slighted by candidates choosing to fight elections whimsically hopping constituency in last minute. Election Commission of India had floated a proposal sometime back to collect cost of resultant bye-election from the candidate. A candidate oblivious of his constituency or its problems, can hardly be represent it and demand measures for its growth. A pre-condition that the candidate should have stayed in his constituency for certain specified period prior to nomination can be explored.
In this era of 24 x 7, the Indian news channels and print media with their battery of psephologists vie to give accurate forecast and analysis. In this process, caste and religion wise vote share is highlighted rather disproportionately. Statistical or scientific analysis may be unbiased but the obsession with such divisive factors is counter-productive and diverts focus from larger issues. Reasonable restrictions must be imposed on such analysis. We don’t need constant reminders about our differences through lens (dis)coloured by caste/religion or social strata. With elections becoming a major law and order issue, staggered poll schedule has become order of the day. In such a scenario, attempt to gauge voting preferences through exit polls, which are inherently unreliable as respondent may not reveal his actual choice, should be regulated effectively. Election Commission has advocated restriction on publishing results of such opinion polls for a particular period.
There is no dearth of suggestions on poll reforms. The political class retains the key to usher them in. Public opinion needs to be mobilized so that the men intending to serve the public, achieve that ‘noble’ end to mutual satisfaction.
It is poll time again in India. And it is time too to put electoral reforms on the agenda again. The Election Commission of India has begun blown the bugle with the proposed curbs on exit polls.
Democracy evolved to counter concentration of power - monarchy or other forms which often ended up in abuse of power. But de jure leaders in today’s democracy remain de facto kings, no matter victorious or vanquished at the hustings. The general decay in moral standards in public life, the perpetuation of dynastic rule cloaked in modern instruments of power and our impassive response to opportunism being ‘politics is refuge of scoundrels’ or ‘politics makes strange bedfellows’ often undermine faith in this form of governance.
Democracy has become all about winning elections, consolidation and staying rather than serving. Of course some incidental progress happens and India manages to be a functional democracy with separation of powers and guarantee of civil rights but good governance remains elusive. Experiences of developed nations reveal that proportional representation or opinion polls cannot combat selfish interests or bad decisions.
Electoral reform is a topic often debated when the polls are round the corner only to be consigned to the backburner later. Asset declaration and general media outcry against criminals in the fray are major developments perceived as having brought semblance of reforms. But the agenda remains unfinished and of course, daunting. Certain measures do suggest some changes but are confined to addressing administrative difficulties and costs. Something concrete is yet to come up to ensure fairer elections. For, a climate of responsibility is a must and elections should be treated with the seriousness and respect they deserve. Not just because of the outgo in monetary terms, but also for the fact that the electoral process is bedrock of the system of governance we have chosen.
Campaign money becomes a quicksand of quid-pro-quo syndrome with candidates seeking to reach maximum voters in a limited time frame and trying to ‘capture’ their imagination. Hardly is there any party immune to corporate lubricants. The largesse from business houses borders on extortion once elections are in the air. State funding has been much talked about and there are no takers as obviously opinion is unanimous that public money cannot be wasted for such ‘undeserving’ exercise. The collection spree gets the tag of voluntary contribution by the loyal supporters and arms of the Indian Income Tax law do not extend in this direction. On a practical plane, campaigning should ideally begin at least six months before elections and emphasis should be on door to door campaign rather than accentuating pollution through loud speakers and festoons, paper handouts and road blocks. Mud slinging and unsubstantiated statements should cease.
Any meeting should be treated sacrosanct. Instead of rabble raising monologues, election meetings can be a two way affair with some time devoted to responding to the queries of voters. Unbridled campaign till the D-Day deprives the voter of his 48 hours of calm to reflect and decide. Campaign restrictions must also extend to other forms of media like private TV channels. Also mandating equal airtime by private channels, if they choose to broadcast political ads, will be a step towards fair campaigns. A code of conduct, self-imposed by the media, may serve the purpose.
Elections cannot be belittled nor electorate slighted by candidates choosing to fight elections whimsically hopping constituency in last minute. Election Commission of India had floated a proposal sometime back to collect cost of resultant bye-election from the candidate. A candidate oblivious of his constituency or its problems, can hardly be represent it and demand measures for its growth. A pre-condition that the candidate should have stayed in his constituency for certain specified period prior to nomination can be explored.
In this era of 24 x 7, the Indian news channels and print media with their battery of psephologists vie to give accurate forecast and analysis. In this process, caste and religion wise vote share is highlighted rather disproportionately. Statistical or scientific analysis may be unbiased but the obsession with such divisive factors is counter-productive and diverts focus from larger issues. Reasonable restrictions must be imposed on such analysis. We don’t need constant reminders about our differences through lens (dis)coloured by caste/religion or social strata. With elections becoming a major law and order issue, staggered poll schedule has become order of the day. In such a scenario, attempt to gauge voting preferences through exit polls, which are inherently unreliable as respondent may not reveal his actual choice, should be regulated effectively. Election Commission has advocated restriction on publishing results of such opinion polls for a particular period.
There is no dearth of suggestions on poll reforms. The political class retains the key to usher them in. Public opinion needs to be mobilized so that the men intending to serve the public, achieve that ‘noble’ end to mutual satisfaction.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Recipe posted in NDTV.com
Idly Fry - Receipe posted in Ndtv.com by Jayasree Varadarajan (our sister)
Link : http://cooks.ndtv.com/showrecipes.asp?id=4351&dishtype=
Chef: Jayashree Varadarajan
Ingredients:
Idlis (well cooled) - 2 to 3 nos
Red Chilli powder - 3/4 teaspoon
Turmeric powder - 2 pinches
Tomatoes medium sized - 2 nos - cut to small pieces
Onion- 1 no - finely chopped
Mustard seeds - 1 teaspoon
Green chillies - 2 nos- chopped fine
Urad dal - 1 teaspoon
Coriander leaves finely chopped to garnish
Salt to tasteGaram masala- one pinch (optional)
Cooking oil to roast idli and make gravy.
Method: Cut the idli into small cubes. Pour about 5 teaspoon of oil in a kadai and pop mustard seeds. Then add the cut idli pieces, chilli powder. Roast it for about 5 minutes so that most of the pieces get a golden brown edge. Keep this aside. Again heat oil in kadai. Add urad dal and green chillies, after a minute saute onion pieces. Add the tomatoes, turmeric powder and salt. Keep on medium flame till tomatoes are cooked and all items blend intofine gravy. You may add water if required. Turn off the gas and add the fried idli pieces. Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot.
Link : http://cooks.ndtv.com/showrecipes.asp?id=4351&dishtype=
Chef: Jayashree Varadarajan
Ingredients:
Idlis (well cooled) - 2 to 3 nos
Red Chilli powder - 3/4 teaspoon
Turmeric powder - 2 pinches
Tomatoes medium sized - 2 nos - cut to small pieces
Onion- 1 no - finely chopped
Mustard seeds - 1 teaspoon
Green chillies - 2 nos- chopped fine
Urad dal - 1 teaspoon
Coriander leaves finely chopped to garnish
Salt to tasteGaram masala- one pinch (optional)
Cooking oil to roast idli and make gravy.
Method: Cut the idli into small cubes. Pour about 5 teaspoon of oil in a kadai and pop mustard seeds. Then add the cut idli pieces, chilli powder. Roast it for about 5 minutes so that most of the pieces get a golden brown edge. Keep this aside. Again heat oil in kadai. Add urad dal and green chillies, after a minute saute onion pieces. Add the tomatoes, turmeric powder and salt. Keep on medium flame till tomatoes are cooked and all items blend intofine gravy. You may add water if required. Turn off the gas and add the fried idli pieces. Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Letters to Editor - The Hindu
This letter was published in The Hindu dated 07-03-2009
Gandhian legacy
The incident highlights the need to initiate measures to collect and bring home the invaluable belongings of our leaders. By persuading well-known museums, auction houses and collectors and by seeking the cooperation of governments, India should ensure that national treasures are not commercially bought and sold. The personal belongings of patriots are an integral part of our nation’s legacy.
G. Gokul Kishore,
New Delhi
http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/07/stories/2009030755681002.htm
Gandhian legacy
The incident highlights the need to initiate measures to collect and bring home the invaluable belongings of our leaders. By persuading well-known museums, auction houses and collectors and by seeking the cooperation of governments, India should ensure that national treasures are not commercially bought and sold. The personal belongings of patriots are an integral part of our nation’s legacy.
G. Gokul Kishore,
New Delhi
http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/07/stories/2009030755681002.htm
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Letters to Editor - The Hindu
This letter was published in The Hindu dated Feb 20, 2009
The LTTE has decimated all the groups opposed to it. The Centre should make it amply clear to the political parties of Tamil Nadu that even while we support the cause of Tamils, any support — direct or otherwise — to the Tigers will not be tolerated.
G. Gokul Kishore,
New Delhi
Link : http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/20/stories/2009022052901003.htm
The LTTE has decimated all the groups opposed to it. The Centre should make it amply clear to the political parties of Tamil Nadu that even while we support the cause of Tamils, any support — direct or otherwise — to the Tigers will not be tolerated.
G. Gokul Kishore,
New Delhi
Link : http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/20/stories/2009022052901003.htm
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Poem - this too shall pass - (NDTV.com 6/2/09)
This too shall pass
- Subhashree Kishore
Having a sudden attack of gall,
Raju said, "I'll tell all".
"Less of it, Less of it"
Cried the aces at audit.
Raju blared "I did cook books"
The missus perked up, "What cook books?
Get me one and THE BABY NEEDS NEW SHOES"
"Story of my life", Raju mused.
He weeps behind the bars
Pining for his luxury cars
His mate says "You are a fool"
You forgot the golden rule."
Never worry, never be sorry"
The baba explains looking cross
"Why volunteer to wear the albatross?
"Raju claps his forehead, "Alas!"
...Read more at
http://www.ndtv.com/reading-room/bookspoetrycorner.asp?page=1&frmarchives=&id=3029&nxtstart=
http://www.ndtv.com/reading-room/bookspoetrycorner.asp?page=2&frmarchives=&id=3029&nxtstart=
- Subhashree Kishore
Having a sudden attack of gall,
Raju said, "I'll tell all".
"Less of it, Less of it"
Cried the aces at audit.
Raju blared "I did cook books"
The missus perked up, "What cook books?
Get me one and THE BABY NEEDS NEW SHOES"
"Story of my life", Raju mused.
He weeps behind the bars
Pining for his luxury cars
His mate says "You are a fool"
You forgot the golden rule."
Never worry, never be sorry"
The baba explains looking cross
"Why volunteer to wear the albatross?
"Raju claps his forehead, "Alas!"
...Read more at
http://www.ndtv.com/reading-room/bookspoetrycorner.asp?page=1&frmarchives=&id=3029&nxtstart=
http://www.ndtv.com/reading-room/bookspoetrycorner.asp?page=2&frmarchives=&id=3029&nxtstart=
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Letter in FE
The Financial ExpressPosted: 2008-12-31 00:35:48+05:30 ISTUpdated: Dec 31, 2008 at 0035 hrs IST
Font Size
: The editorial (‘Price growth high’, Dec 20) warns against RBI being too interfering. It also advocates greater accountability for RBI’s actions. The problem is, more accountability often means more interference which is mostly political, an anomaly in these times when state intervention is considered both pious and blasphemous. Effectiveness is preferable over efficiency, as Drucker put it. RBI can be all but unpopular with the cash-rich few who indulge in labyrinthine financial games. No open economy can be immune to market swings. A central controlling agency which can understand them and act is sine qua non. Conservative wisdom that has staggered meltdown effect is preferable to convoluted activism.
—Subhashree Kishore New Delhi
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/letters-to-the-editor-convoluted-activism-wont-do/404738/
Font Size
: The editorial (‘Price growth high’, Dec 20) warns against RBI being too interfering. It also advocates greater accountability for RBI’s actions. The problem is, more accountability often means more interference which is mostly political, an anomaly in these times when state intervention is considered both pious and blasphemous. Effectiveness is preferable over efficiency, as Drucker put it. RBI can be all but unpopular with the cash-rich few who indulge in labyrinthine financial games. No open economy can be immune to market swings. A central controlling agency which can understand them and act is sine qua non. Conservative wisdom that has staggered meltdown effect is preferable to convoluted activism.
—Subhashree Kishore New Delhi
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/letters-to-the-editor-convoluted-activism-wont-do/404738/
Friday, December 26, 2008
Letter in FE
Letters to the editor :
The wrong parallel
The Financial ExpressPosted: 2008-12-26 23:22:40+05:30 ISTUpdated: Dec 26, 2008 at 2322 hrs
Your editorial (‘By FDI for the poor’, Dec 24, 2008) draws a parallel between the vast volumes in the telecom sector and its promise of prosperity for the poor. With respect to raising living conditions, telecom and insurance are as different as chalk and cheese. Judging by use, telephone is not a necessity in the way medical care or life insurance is. The telecom success story and the mobile phone’s so-called levelling effect or its contribution to GDP may gratify but it doesn’t warrant hiking FDI or rolling the red carpet for reinsurance to the Lloyd’s which has been rocked by losses. Most of the foreign insurance players in Indian market are going through financial nightmares in the countries of their origin. This Bill may be an opportunity for them to cover up problems at home and reap benefits from the more secure Indian market. Shouldn’t we promote domestic Indian insurance firms instead of chasing faulty foreign ones?
—Subhashree Kishore New Delhi
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/letters-to-the-editor-the-wrong-parallel/402891/
The wrong parallel
The Financial ExpressPosted: 2008-12-26 23:22:40+05:30 ISTUpdated: Dec 26, 2008 at 2322 hrs
Your editorial (‘By FDI for the poor’, Dec 24, 2008) draws a parallel between the vast volumes in the telecom sector and its promise of prosperity for the poor. With respect to raising living conditions, telecom and insurance are as different as chalk and cheese. Judging by use, telephone is not a necessity in the way medical care or life insurance is. The telecom success story and the mobile phone’s so-called levelling effect or its contribution to GDP may gratify but it doesn’t warrant hiking FDI or rolling the red carpet for reinsurance to the Lloyd’s which has been rocked by losses. Most of the foreign insurance players in Indian market are going through financial nightmares in the countries of their origin. This Bill may be an opportunity for them to cover up problems at home and reap benefits from the more secure Indian market. Shouldn’t we promote domestic Indian insurance firms instead of chasing faulty foreign ones?
—Subhashree Kishore New Delhi
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/letters-to-the-editor-the-wrong-parallel/402891/
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Letters to the editor : Baleful bailout mantra
The Financial ExpressPosted: 2008-12-13 01:00:02+05:30 ISTUpdated: Dec 13, 2008 at 0100 hrs IST
Rama Bijapurkar’s article ‘Problem isn’t consumer demand’ bats for ailing companies. She pleads that the consumer is too small or well-preserved by his/her own prudence and does not need any stimulus. Big companies are cash-strapped and need to be helped. The nice-sounding reason for this is that if companies fail, people lose jobs and current problems will snowball. A few things may have to be put in perspective. Recession implies piling up of stocks owing to dwindling demand. Injecting funds through bailouts or facilitating liquidity through banks to companies will mean that consumers lose from both ends. Price cut is ruled out in seller’s market and private losses are socialised. The fittest survive in a free market. If firms have over-leveraged and made a mess, there is no reason why government should help them to clean up. It’s a win-win for companies who need to give up neither control nor revenues.
Subhashree Kishore New Delhi
The Financial ExpressPosted: 2008-12-13 01:00:02+05:30 ISTUpdated: Dec 13, 2008 at 0100 hrs IST
Rama Bijapurkar’s article ‘Problem isn’t consumer demand’ bats for ailing companies. She pleads that the consumer is too small or well-preserved by his/her own prudence and does not need any stimulus. Big companies are cash-strapped and need to be helped. The nice-sounding reason for this is that if companies fail, people lose jobs and current problems will snowball. A few things may have to be put in perspective. Recession implies piling up of stocks owing to dwindling demand. Injecting funds through bailouts or facilitating liquidity through banks to companies will mean that consumers lose from both ends. Price cut is ruled out in seller’s market and private losses are socialised. The fittest survive in a free market. If firms have over-leveraged and made a mess, there is no reason why government should help them to clean up. It’s a win-win for companies who need to give up neither control nor revenues.
Subhashree Kishore New Delhi
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Short story by us on the web
Please visit
http://www.writersblock.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1224001219/0#0
for a short story penned by subha and uploaded in the site writersblock.com
http://www.writersblock.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1224001219/0#0
for a short story penned by subha and uploaded in the site writersblock.com
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Letter to Editor - Financial Express
Twisting the welfare logic
The editorial (‘No country for old men’, Aug 21) suggests a cure worse than the disease. It calls for excluding the main stakeholders—employee unions and employer's representatives—on the ground of their ignorance on pension economics. To seek defined contributions to the exclusion of defined benefits is to prefer short-time gains over long-term welfare. This is again evident in the agrument against extending the EPFO cover to firms with 10 or more employees. The basic objective of a pension system is to provide some relief in the autumn of one’s life. How does one guarantee this when benefits are not certain? The entire new policy on pension management is investment oriented rather than welfare oriented.
—G Gokul Kishore, New Delhi
—G Gokul Kishore, New Delhi
Monday, August 11, 2008
Article in The Hindu dated 10th Aug 2008
Alcoholism – sipping and slipping
SUBHASHREE KISHORE
The wine industry has grown by nearly 35 per cent last year. This is hardly in the legion of ‘happy statistics of mountains of edible happiness’ as Robert Lynd described the British fondness for chocolates. The varying levels of alcohol content and the health benefits from controlled consumption apart, wine can hardly be hailed as the next best thing to organic foods or sprouts. This is the age of freedom and individual freedom is to be respected, untempered by responsibility or even the best interests. Hence advocating a ban on what is without question a vice would be shouted down as too prudish.
Ill effects of addiction
Addiction is a habit which begins with the most innocuous sip. For all our rocket science and space odysseys, we have very little scientific temper. While judging age-old practices rooted in culture, tradition or religion or changing lifestyles, we are supremely rational and critical. We seek to usher in bold new ideas. Yet when it comes to denouncing alcohol and its milder cousins, we quail.
Alcohol has also made it to the basic necessity list and governments actively participate in its procurement, distribution and control all in the public interest of earning revenue. The wine industry has been nurtured with duty cuts. Hours for serving liquor have been extended in the interest of consumers. The ‘representatives of people’ take cover under such arguments as livelihood, consequences of a sudden closure and public ire and, more specifically, discouraging illicit brewing and prohibition proving fruitless in many countries.
However, the same stories do not appear to hold good while constructing dams across the Narmada, displacing people or closing down vaccine manufacturing units in Kasauli or Coonoor. Ideally, the government should propagate the merits of abstinence, stem the free availability especially near schools and colleges, enforce law regarding location of such shops near temples and residential colonies, but then ideals are unattainable.
Rationing system
The market for wines and the sojourn to harder drinks is set to grow phenomenally in the wake of rising incomes of people under 30s, adoption of a ‘broader’ outlook, global culture and etiquette. Governments may examine rationing of alcohol and all its variants. It has had admirable success in rationing wheat or rice and no one has faced the ill-effects of over-eating. Sweden had reasonable success with the Dr. Bratt rationing system instead of outright prohibition. In Bratt’s words, the fight against excesses was lost to profiteering purveyors of alcohol, and the rise of continental drinking habits when Sweden joined the EU.
We look westward for ideas of progress and to measure up to the various statistics of health or per capita income, legal systems and imbibe without learning from their mistakes. We must learn to separate the chaff from the grain. Equality, fraternity, liberty, punctuality, professionalism are all very well but lack of public censure, shame, flexible morals, money splurging, or problem of underage drinking, ought to be taboo. There is no romance in scarred livers (in cirrhosis), or a riddled esophagus nor any enjoyment in being victim of a drinking bout or brawl as people sleeping on pavements of Mumbai would testify if they could.
We cannot be callous to normal healthy people and in particular generation next wasting away in hangovers and playing with its health and the well-being of a good many others. What we need is an ice-cold resolve and a drop of unadulterated reason.
SUBHASHREE KISHORE
The wine industry has grown by nearly 35 per cent last year. This is hardly in the legion of ‘happy statistics of mountains of edible happiness’ as Robert Lynd described the British fondness for chocolates. The varying levels of alcohol content and the health benefits from controlled consumption apart, wine can hardly be hailed as the next best thing to organic foods or sprouts. This is the age of freedom and individual freedom is to be respected, untempered by responsibility or even the best interests. Hence advocating a ban on what is without question a vice would be shouted down as too prudish.
Ill effects of addiction
Addiction is a habit which begins with the most innocuous sip. For all our rocket science and space odysseys, we have very little scientific temper. While judging age-old practices rooted in culture, tradition or religion or changing lifestyles, we are supremely rational and critical. We seek to usher in bold new ideas. Yet when it comes to denouncing alcohol and its milder cousins, we quail.
Alcohol has also made it to the basic necessity list and governments actively participate in its procurement, distribution and control all in the public interest of earning revenue. The wine industry has been nurtured with duty cuts. Hours for serving liquor have been extended in the interest of consumers. The ‘representatives of people’ take cover under such arguments as livelihood, consequences of a sudden closure and public ire and, more specifically, discouraging illicit brewing and prohibition proving fruitless in many countries.
However, the same stories do not appear to hold good while constructing dams across the Narmada, displacing people or closing down vaccine manufacturing units in Kasauli or Coonoor. Ideally, the government should propagate the merits of abstinence, stem the free availability especially near schools and colleges, enforce law regarding location of such shops near temples and residential colonies, but then ideals are unattainable.
Rationing system
The market for wines and the sojourn to harder drinks is set to grow phenomenally in the wake of rising incomes of people under 30s, adoption of a ‘broader’ outlook, global culture and etiquette. Governments may examine rationing of alcohol and all its variants. It has had admirable success in rationing wheat or rice and no one has faced the ill-effects of over-eating. Sweden had reasonable success with the Dr. Bratt rationing system instead of outright prohibition. In Bratt’s words, the fight against excesses was lost to profiteering purveyors of alcohol, and the rise of continental drinking habits when Sweden joined the EU.
We look westward for ideas of progress and to measure up to the various statistics of health or per capita income, legal systems and imbibe without learning from their mistakes. We must learn to separate the chaff from the grain. Equality, fraternity, liberty, punctuality, professionalism are all very well but lack of public censure, shame, flexible morals, money splurging, or problem of underage drinking, ought to be taboo. There is no romance in scarred livers (in cirrhosis), or a riddled esophagus nor any enjoyment in being victim of a drinking bout or brawl as people sleeping on pavements of Mumbai would testify if they could.
We cannot be callous to normal healthy people and in particular generation next wasting away in hangovers and playing with its health and the well-being of a good many others. What we need is an ice-cold resolve and a drop of unadulterated reason.
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