'Swaraj
“ Text for the context of Paradigmshift in present epoch
Prof.Gopalakrishna
Panicker E.G
krishgindia@gmail.com
Dear
Amm Admi Party leaders and supporters from different districts,
respected resource persons of experience, knowledge and wisdom ,
I
am very much delighted to talk about a book which is guiding the
trajectory of the rest of my life .'SWARAJ' -book by Arvind Kegirwal
.
Book
with its simple and straight forward style starts with a clear
mention of its purpose .Every chapter arranged in problem-solution
format with required logical sufficiency. As our state Secretary
Adv Anil Ikkara has given an excellent overview of the book ,I
shall try to present my understanding and epistemology of the
concept of 'Swaraj ',how it highlights the required 'Paradigm
shift' to our world view
Sree
Arvind Kejriwal after graduating in Mechanical Engineering from
IIT Kharagpur , worked in Tata-steel and then qualified Civil
Service Examination and joined the Income tax department. The book
starts with his experience in the Income Tax Department .Towards the
end of 90's,his team conducted a survey related to the financial
irregularities of Multinational Companies operating in India and
caught them red handed .They accepted the crime and paid the entire
amount without an appeal?!. Had the same crime if committed in their
own country ,they have been behind the bars . During the survey,
one chief executive of an MNC threatened “Your's is a poor country
,We are here to make you better , if your Department continue to
bother us ,We would pack up and leave. We have access to the
parliamentarians of your country. We can deal with the personnel who
bother us “ .The threat rang true when one of the senior officers
of his team was actually transferred. “Did they really have
control over our parliament?” Let me quote from 'Swaraj' “This
thought sent tremors of terror through my mind and body, Are we
citizens of a free country?, Are the Members of Parliament of our
country making laws for the welfare of its people only? “
The
whole book is the answer to these disturbing questions ,with
concrete examples from different parts of our Nation and logical
remedy by citing examples from different parts our country and
abroad . A political alternative with a different Paradigm . Before
discussing the main thesis of my talk “Swaraj as a Paradigm
shift “ let me discuss the episode of Nuclear Civil Liability
bill being presented in our parliament , discussed in the first
chapter of' SWARAJ' itself ,Which shows the methodology of approach
of the Government.
The
bill proposes that if a foreign company sets up a nuclear facility In
the country and if an accident were to occur in the said nuclear
facility then the liability of the company is limited to Rs.1500
Crores only. And no criminal complaint would be lodged !?. It is
compared with the small amount of Rs 2200 Crores offered to the
Bhopal gas victims! with payment delayed indefinitely ,Chairman of
the Union Carbide responsible for the crime was treated as state
guest!?. Please note that the Nuclear Civil Liability bill is trying
to do a bargain related to the tragic possible event of a
Nuclear holocaust ,If there is no possibility of an accident as they
repeatedly claim why can't they offer anything under the sun as
compensation,a baseless claim even they don't have faith!.
In
the Malayalm translation of “Swaraj” it is mentioned that “The
nuclear accident would be equivalent to that of Bhopal gas tragedy “
please correct the mistakes In page 15 para 2 .The original Hindi
book, corresponding line reads “ eak paramanu hadhasaa , na jane
kithane bhopal ke baraber hoga?!” .As an informed physicist, I have
translated it as “How much catastrophic would a Nuclear holocaust
would be ?! “ in the Malayam translation,which I did during the
month of December 2012 and planned to be published in the name of
the state Ad-hoc committee of AAP later ,has not happened , I have
requested the leading AAP workers of Kerala to come together for
two days at Cochin, and I shall read out the Malayalam translation,
line by line and some of you should read the English and then Hindi
version and we can discuss ,argue and finalize the Malayalam version
of “Swaraj “ and publish it in the name of State unit of AAP ,
it has not materialized. My program was to make AAP unit here getting
well versed with the basic concepts of “Swaraj” .Any way apart
from some small mistakes ,We have a Malayalam translation .Please
read it two or three times ,together with the English version and if
possible the Hindi original .I am not going to discuss each and every
chapter of the book ,try to read it in solitude , not to qualify in a
discussion or arguments but to change ourself. Since paradigm shift
has a lock from inside ,nobody but you ,can open it, it is for my
country ,our generation and future generations . Go through the four
interviews ,Arvindji has given, together with our VISION DOCUMENT ,
letters from National leaders ,interviews and talks , try to
synchronize our mind set in harmony with the right thinking and
Paradigm shift it demands .Let me start with the last word of the
first chapter of Swaraj “ We will have to do something different “
Swaraj
as a Paradigm shift
Thomas
Samuel
Kuhn,
an American physicist, historian, and philosopher of science
wrote
in
1962, in the book “The
Structure of Scientific Revolution”
fathered, defined and popularized the concept of "Paradigm
shift" ,He Argues that the scientific advancement is a "series
of peaceful interludes ,punctuated by intellectually violent
revolutions", and in those revolutions "one conceptual
world view is replaced by another".Classic example is the
Renaissance started in Europe and gradually spread to cover the
whole world . Indian counter part was initiated by Rajaram Mohan Roy
,Gopalakrishna Gokhele , and long list of great souls . Swamy
Vivekananda and Sri Arvindho rightly established it's generic link to
our noble tradition while Mahatmaji's “Hind Swaraj' and his life
provided the text relevant to the period of Independence movement .
Every
epoch of change needs its own text ,relevant to the context .We have
now the text 'Swaraj' and for political and social implementation ,
we have the party AAP . Arvindhji seems to tell what Mahatmaji has
written in his 'Hind Swaraj' - "it is my duty patiently to try
to remove your prejudice." .
Glorious
period of Indian Renaissance has produced excellence in every sphere
,science, literature and even sports ,it continued for few more years
at least in the Parliament discussions ,apart from the correction
done by historic J.P movement for freedom of expression and
democratic pursuits, moral and ethical values eroded gradually first
and exponentially in the present decade , nepotism ,influence from
outside and a long list of reasons social ,political and economic
and unrealistic centralized planing can be attributed as reasons
.Corruption graduated from few thousands of Indian Rupees to
hundreds of thousands crores!!.
Let
us have an overview of the existing 'Paradigm' related to social and
political activity with examples and historical lessons from Kerala
,which is more relevant when trying to build up the the right
political alternative in the state .Just like any other state in
India it stared as a continuation of Renaissance , spread of English
education initiated by European missionaries and follow up by
different communities , sawed the seed .It is worth to remember the
Famous comment by Swamy Vivekanda related to the cast system and
Un-touchability , with his moral support and guidance,
Sreenarayana Guru, and Chattampi swamy , started the initial phase ,
Great Ayyankali ( 1863–1941) worked systematically for the dignity
and uplift of Dalits ,the Untouchables
at that time .He
was praised by Mahatmaji during his visit to Kerala in 1937. It is
said that the field prepared by the Renaissance movement provided
the fertile soil for the left movement to flourish in Kerala
,Punnapra-Vayalar
uprising
(October, 1946)in my native district (Alleppey) – and similar
uprising in Malabar (Kayyur) changed the political map of Kerala , it
should be noted that among thousands killed in Punnapra -Vayalar
,none was from the party leadership . Carders believed that there
were only rubber bullets in the gun of 'Diwan C.P Ramaswamy and they
can win the battle with wooden spears ! Group fighting was always
there within the communist party and in Congress both witnessed good
number of splits and reunions – It should be noted that when
C.P.I.(M) was formed majority of prominent leaders were with C.P.I
but in 1967 assembly election ,even though there was an alliance
between C.P.I and C.P.M most of C.P.I leaders were defeated by the
Congress candidates , reason attributed to the fact that there was an
understanding among C.P.M carders to ensure the defeat of the C.P.I
and C.P.M became the big brother in L.D.F. In 1971 C.P.I. has
done the sweet -revenge , Chief minister Sri Achutha menon
(C.P.I)shared the power with Indian National Congress and Muslim
League -, there after smaller parties and communal forces began to
shift there alliance between the two fronts .Alternative sharing of
power in Karala in every five years . This has given a new
opportunity to have an understanding between the leaders in both
fronts to escape unhurt after committing corruption . During the
last assembly election in Karala happiest man in the state was
Mr.Pinarai Vijayan the C.P.M leader, who was able to prevent Mr
Achuthanandan from becoming the Chief minister , Now try to view the
T.V channels. Corruption,nepotism ,scandals ,immoral and unethical
activities are habits rather than incidence. Dear friends we are
trying to develop the 'New Paradigm' in this background – first
thing which is to be changed is our mindset It can be acquired by
continuous practice only, 'SWARAJ ' taught us that our aim is to
transfer power to the people ,Power to the Amm Admi, it must be the
part of our habit even in this infantile stage of our the party in
this state , I must realize that those who are listening me is far
better and capable of doing better , you in turn must understand
that there are hundreds of possible dedicated individuals out side
the party fold now not even heard about this workshop and our
activities .
Please
note that our party line and principles of Swaraj was better
understood and effectively delivered by Respected Resource persons
like Sri C.R.Neelakandan, Prof. Marar and R.T.I activist Adv.D.B .
Binu than anybody here . They are not yet our party members –
Our ability to bring them in to the party fold will bring wonderful
results for the benefit of our nation. For that we have to change our
mind set . Knowingly or unknowingly if our Party work and face book
activities are aimed at keeping the present position as the state
Adhoc -committee member or higher, it will directly or indirectly
cultivate the opposite mindset. This is the real paradigm shift we
need , Let me do it now I am opting out from the state Ad-hoc
committee ,I shall work for the party in a small locality of nearly
10 k.m radius from my hometown and village , I shall work for the
party in Delhi -election and mobilize all kinds of support –
since it is very important and contribute to the spiraling growth
of the new paradigm in to larger domains- try to practice the new
'Paradigm' if you agree with me .Argue with me and criticize me
strongly if you disagree , that again will give me a chance to test
my tolerance and reluctance to get provoked.
Just
look around and see the sad state of affairs
not
only in India but else where. Egypt ,Greece ,Brazil all having long
traditions and past glory , now we have a text relevant to the
context and Philosophy of th epoch “The New Paradigm “ .I have a
dream , like the Renaissance started from Europe – Our country is
in the threshold of showing new path to the whole world – A
philosophy based on tolerance, Humanism, free from corruption
,greed and nepotism . Such a thought will make us more active ,fill
with more readiness to give more taking less.
Thank
you
Jai
Hind
