SOCIOLOGICAL RELEVANCE OF WOMEN IN POLITICS.

BY K P PASWAN

Relevance of women in contemporary world is much talked about subject. Women have played and are playing excellent role in politics from ancient times. From Cleopatra of Egypt to Catherine the great of Russia both played dubious role in politics of their country but they are still remembered with awe and wonder.  Than we have excellent royal women in Great Britain whose contribution to the growth of parliament system cannot be underestimated.

We have to study the relevance of women in modern times, especially after second world war which witnessed the fall of colonialism and growth of western system of democracy, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth is ceremonial head of a country known as founder of parliamentary democracy.H M Elizabeth has proved beyond doubt that it would be hard for an elected government to run administration without a ceremonial head as the royalty in Britain is the embodiment of national unity. Leftists in Britain demanded in the past to abolish monarchy but once in power they forgot their agenda.

  SriLanka witnessed the first elected women president Mrs Bandaranaike who in the decade of 1960 promoted stability in her tiny country. Several women presidents were seen in Latin America but they failed to impress the world. There were elected Muslim prime minister in Turkey and Pakistan. Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan was a highly educated PM of an orthodox Muslim country, she was assassinated as the fanatics disliked being governed by a woman. Benazir Bhutto had little time to devote her talent for the welfare of common people.

 South Korea had a very dynamic woman president who was convicted for accepting bribes from Samsung, she was pardoned. But this woman president played important role in maintaining economic stability of an economically advanced South Korea.

In Honduras, president election has been just concluded, Mrs Xiomarra is the president elect. The country is notorious for bad laws and order problems. New woman president has promised to crush the anti social elements with iron hand.

 At present Finland is headed by a woman prime minister and New Zealand is also headed by a dynamic woman prime minister. Unfortunately, atrocities against women have increased in these two countries but the relevance of these two prime ministers cannot be overlooked. Both these women politicians enjoy people‘s support and both are known for their good-looking face and both are not astute politician.Recently Jocinda Arden, the woman PM of Newzeland has announced her wedding after the end pf pandemic. This is surprising as she has already given birth to a child whose biological father is going to be her husband. Her action does not deserve condemnation but cannot be appreciated. She is very popular in her country because of her honest image.

 In the past Imelda Marcos was democratically elected president of modern Philippines but the lady was known for hoarding of women’s wear and her corruption blurred the image of Philippines.

 Relevance of woman in politics may be seen in the personality of Golda Meir, the late prime minister of Israel. During the Munich Olympic (1971), participating Jewish sportsmen were kidnapped by terrorists patronized by Al Fatah and the Jewish sports persons were mercilessly butchered. German spy system collapsed and the entire world remained passive, simply condemning the slaughter of sports persons.  The chain smoker woman PM of the Jewish state was not alarmed, the iron lady as Golda Mair was known, proved to the contemporary world that she was an angry tigress. With the help of Mossad, the dreaded spy agency of Israel all the perpetrators of the crimes were picked from distant lands and neutralized. She was criticized for killing some innocent persons in the process, but she became an embodiment of women’s empowerment. It was after neutralization of all the terrorists involved in Munich Olympic that a woman politician named Hanna Ashrafi played important role in negotiation between Al Fatah and Israel. Ms Ashrafi represented Palestine liberation force. She enjoyed respect in Israel.

Margret Thatcher of United Kingdom proved to be the best PM of the country known for popular monarchy and parliamentary democracy. She was a clever politician and a brilliant statesman. There were no marked atrocities against women during her tenure as PM of UK She was also known as iron lady. She openly called South Korea a criminal state for dumping cheap electronic products in UK. Right now, Chinese products are flooding the UK markets and no UK politicians dare to speak against China. Under Margret Thatcher, UK remained a superpower and Thatcher had excellent rapport with monarchy, UK had considerable influence in international politics. There was no talk of Brexit as UK retained its economic supremacy in the EU.

Two prominent politicians Mrs Indira Gandhi in India and Angela Merkel in Germany shaped the destiny of their respective countries. Indira Gandhi was a towering personality of her time. She lived and died for her country. She enjoyed the support of every section of Indian society. Her success created intense jealousy among her opponents and disgruntled supporters of her own party. Neighboring Pakistan continued to export terror and brutalities committed by Pakistani soldiers in East Pakistan created political and economic problems for India.

 During 1971 Indo Pak war, Indira Gandhi was abused by American president Richard Nixon and his hard-headed National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger. US and UK sent their destroyers in the Bay of Bengal. Unfazed by such international pressure and external threat Indira Gandhi fought the war and forced Pakistan to accept humiliating defeat. Russia stood by India while entire Islamic world stood behind an Islamic Pakistan. A new nation Bangladesh came into existence because of Indira Gandhi. Internal bickering and her tough stand against Khalistan terrorists led her tragic assassination. It is difficult to say whether India in future will get such a bold PM. She imposed emergency to save India from social and political anarchy. She is criticized for suspending fundamental rights and arresting a large number of her opponents.

Second respected woman politician is Angela Dorothy Merkel of Germany. She is no longer the Chancellor of Germany. She was a daughter of a pastor but she loved Germany more than her religion. Her diplomacy witnessed the economy of Germany at its zenith and she emerged a forceful voice of EU. She welcomed Syrian and refugees from war torn Middle East with open arms. Her policy for accepting refugees on large scale created social problems not only in Germany but in entire Europe. She supported a dictator like Erdogan of Turkey just to placate Turkish people in Germany. Her currency manipulation infuriated Donald Trump, the president of US, but she cared little either for US or Russia, German MNCs are doing profitable business in China and Russia. Russia did not like Angela Merkel but there was nothing for Vladimir Putin of Russia to do anything against Germany. Angela Merkel used NATO to strengthen the economics of Germany.  She left behind a legacy which may be compared with the legacy left by Otto Von Bismarck.

 Last but not the least is the successful regime of the current prime minister Sheik Hasina of Bangladesh which happens to be a Muslims majority state. Sheikh Hasina is the daughter of late Muzibur Rahman. He was the founding father of Bangladesh and a tolerant Muslim. He was brutally assassinated by Muslims zealots. Sheikh Hasina like Golda Mair of Israel neutralized the killers of her father one by one by catching them from different parts of the world and forcing them to stand trial. She is a democratically elected PM of Bangladesh.

 Margret Thatcher, Indira Gandhi and Angela Merkel never faced corruption in their life. Attempts were made to defame Indira Gandhi but the charges of corruption remained unproved and confined to electronic media. Male dominated politics never reconciled the relevance of successful women politicians. Mrs Theresa May a successful PM of UK had to quit as her policy on Brexit was disliked by her party men. She was an honest politician.

In US, before the presidential election Bernie Sanders used insulting words against Elizabeth Warren which was widely criticized. Many women Senators and Congresswomen in US are participating in various hearings and their contributions are admired.

 It is only corruption which tarnished the image of certain women political heads and they failed to create a place of glory for themselves. Otherwise it is necessary to encourage deserving women to participate in politics, with passage of time brutalities against women may come down and that will be the days of glory. At present I.M.F and WTO are being headed by women while certain MNCs are being run by successful women but running corporate sectors and doing politics are poles apart. For politician besides being responsible for lifting poverty and increasing industrial activities are of paramount importance while corporate sector is interested in making profits and some times doing charity works just to remain in limelight.

 FINAL THOUGHT.  Women politicians are more efficient in running the administration of a country. This statement may or may not be true but in future participation of women in active politics is bound to grow and with this relevance of woman in political will assume new dimension.

 

 

 

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING FOR POLITICIANS.

BY K P PASWAN.

Politicians all over the world are behaving  as per their choice and whims. Once elected democratically or undemocratically they behave like prophets and with extraordinary power under command they try to enforce their ideas which may or not may be beneficial to common people They try to centralize political powers in their own hands in the name of democratic principles. These democratic principles are bizarre ideas neither supported nor endorsed by late American president Monroe who defined democracy as for the people, by the people and of the people. Under such circumstances, some intellectuals are suggesting political education for aspiring people who desire a career in national politics.

 It is advocated by intellectuals in certain countries that politicians need professional training and education to run the administration of the country..

 The question is the subject matter and nature  of education, as every country in the world has people with different needs and even the nature of politics like division of society on the basis of caste and language  is not identical. Rich try to become richer by hook and crook and if not succeeded they resort to unfair means to amasses wealth. Than there is important question who will supervise the training of these politicians? Political scientists derive political ideology from the writings of Plato, Aristotle and other thinkers of ancient world. With progress in society several political thinkers emerged especially in Europe who inspired the contemporary political structure of various countries, Such political ideology was greatly influenced by religious scriptures.  In fact, religion is still playing important role in shaping the political agenda of a country.  Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey is a democratically elected dictator and has turned to religion to remain in power. In the Islamic states it is religion and scriptures which are more important than formal training in politics. 

American foreign policy is greatly influenced by religion. For Taliban, religion and not training of politicians decides the nature of governance.

In Latin America most of the elected heads of government are highly educated having received their education in reputed colleges but most of these politicians care little for education and are engaging in patronizing drug cartels for survival. Without the active support of drug traffickers and money launderers these politicians cannot retain their power. In Africa, several heads of state tried in vain to extend the tenure of their terms by unfair means.It is impossible to talk of political education for such type of political thugs.

 No education can lead to paradigm shift in the attitude of ambitious politicians. Karl Marx was a great political thinker and the communist ideology once was feared as the mother of all political ideology but it failed badly. Marxist philosophy is still being taught in every leading schools and college throughout the world but politically this ideology cannot succeed and even a trained and highly educated politicians may find it difficult to enforce this political philosophy upon unwilling subjects.

Herbert Spencer propounded the theory that only the fittest can survive which means, poor and oppressed have no place in politics. His views are still practiced and admired by certain politicians while ruling the country but Herald Lasky whose political theory of state is the corner stone of modern political science is opposed to Spencer’s political education. Chanakya in ancient India and one Italian political thinker favors deceptions and espionage for the rulers for smooth functioning of state, several secret agencies are sincerely following such policy for spying against other states, such ideologies are also applied in corporate world where espionage and counter espionage are common features.  Ancient political thinker like Augustine laid greater emphasis on good governance which is not followed but is being taught in every university.

  Political training is needed in the functioning of state legislature. Politicians are trained in the corridor of elected assembly, politicians are being kept abreast of latest political and economic situation in the country. If politicians are forced to acquire the political skills in running the administration, there must be external and internal agencies to supervise the success or failure of such training. Judiciary  being an internal agency may supervise, but baring exception judges are appointed by elected members and may be removed by the politicians if judiciary goes against the wishes of powerful politicians. United nations may play important role in monitoring the nature of internal politics of member states. But present UNO has become toothless and cannot exercise power to even admonish bad administration.

 However international organisations like World Bank, IMF, WHO, WTO and international court of criminal justice are providing education and guidance to the world and such type of guidance may be treated as formal training to politicians.

Specific professional training to politicians is likely to fail. Administration of a nation depends upon certain categories of dedicated professionals. Without technical skills, economic activities cannot be boosted, without engineers, construction activities and creation of infrastructures cannot be imagined.  Modern states whether democratic or dictatorship is a welfare state. For creating health infrastructure politicians are bound to seek advice from medical professionals and in the banking sectors, nothing moves without financial skills for which services of economists are imperative. Moreover, in present days world, every country has become interdependent. Globalization is certainly not the answer for economic prosperity and political stability, but has opened  window from which politicians, even less educated, may see a world filled with deception. Clever politicians may device ways and means to avert deceptive politics. Political and social turmoil in different parts of the world bear testimony of a world dominated by neurotic politicians for whom professional training do not matter much, once in power they will do what they deem to do and no training is going to change the  politics.

 In western system of democracy, specific training or education for politicians may not serve any purpose at all. They are elected for a fixed tenure and try to amass wealth by corrupt means. China is not following the western system of democracy but has emerged an economic super power, but it does not mean every country will emerge economically strong if they follow Chinese ways of democracy, Soviet Union  tried to follow Chinese system of carrying out the government but ended in a fractured Russia, and lost its status of superpower.

 FINAL THOUGHT. Every political head needs to give proper attention to skilled work force, technocrats and financial experts otherwise such politicians will be thrown out of power. Incompetent politicians and in some cases even highly educated heads of states are facing the wrath of common people against the misrule and corruption.Politicians must be forced by the people to abide by the laws of the land and listen to advice of professionals.Politicians in power do not need any specific teaching or training

 

RELIGION CONVERSION IN INDIA.

 

BY K P PASWAN.

In India, a fierce debate is going on regarding religious conversion. Several states have passed laws forbidding forced conversion and interfaith marriage wherein forced conversion is reported. India was divided on the basis of religion and an united India  emerged from political and social chaos. In the constitution there was a proposal to declare India as a Hindu state as Hindus are found only Lime Jews Hindus had no separate home land.  However, the founding fathers of the constitution favored a religious tolerant state with special emphasis to protect minorities like Muslims.

 At the time of independence India was a poor state with lowest literacy rate. Ruling elites in the decades of 1950 used to mock Hindus, but these mockers of Hindus won and formed the government. Majority of Indian wanted economic prosperity and they did not mind abusing their religion by prominent leaders. Religion conversion is happening in India from the time Islam and Christianity entered India, Foreign rulers forced people to embrace their religion or face death while Christianity introduced modern system of education for everybody, but converted people were preferred while granting monetary aid.

 At present Dalits are converting to Christianity, while interfaith marriage between Hindu girls and Muslims are not uncommon.  Both Islam and Christian religion preach universal brotherhood and there is no place for discrimination on the basis of caste. Dalits remain Dalits even if they convert to other religion. In Punjab, a large number of Dalits’ are converting themselves to Christian religion as the higher casts have refused to treat these Dalits on equal footing. For these Dalits there is nothing to chose between Sikhism and Hindus. This is happening all over India. So conversion by force becomes conversion out of compulsion.

·       Mass conversion of Dalits means trouble for India and the upper caste Hindus. It also means widespread social tension involving converts and the rest of the people who abhor such steps.

GEOGRAPHY. Entire North East of India is giving nightmarish sleep to the policy makers of the central government. People of these areas do not like to live in sovereign India. Armed forces have been given special powers to deal with the insurgents who are being patronized by foreign powers. Except Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, Christianity predominate Tribal regions of small states. Credit goes to Christian missionaries for spreading modern education among the tribal and creating wonderful health infrastructures in the tribal areas. Unfortunately converts  are creating all sorts of problems and it is difficult to say whether they are loyal to the constitution of the country even they enjoy special treatment.

Constitution gives liberty to people to profess religion they love. India became a republic on 26^th January 1950 and from this date onward conversion started in legal or illegal ways. Rigid caste system led to systematic oppression of certain castes known as Dalits and Tribes. Christian missionaries known for charity works all over the world tried to convert Dalits by extending financial help, sick people were adopted and care homes were established. One interesting thing about these missionaries is emphasis on education. Missionaries schools and colleges are found every nook and corner of India. Except in northern states almost every school established by Christian missionaries is  flooded by students belonging to caste Hindus and barring exceptions no caste Hindu has been converted. We may draw conclusion that Christian missionaries are interested in imparting quality education and students are free to convert themselves to Christianity but this is not happening.

NORTH EAST. In North Eastern states of India, there is no problems of conversion, Nagaland ,Mizoram, Meghalaya are Christian majority states while in Manipur  Hinduism is fast losing to Christianity. It is only in the rest of India that conversion from Hinduism to other religion is  taking place and is creating fear psychosis  as history of India tells us that weakening of Hinduism has endangered the concept of a united India,

There is no legal bar if a person converts himself to other religion out of his own choice. In Kerala. Interfaith marriage between Hindu girls and Muslims boys don’t makes big news. In other big towns marriage between Hindu girls with Muslims are not uncommon. 

 Muslims and Christians try to take advantage of oppression of Dalits by upper castes and Dalits are converting themselves to Christianity in every state of Hindi speaking state and to some extent South India, honestly speaking, foreign missionaries cannot be blamed for alluring Dalits for the purpose of conversion. Economic enlistment of Dalits matters much. Some of the upper castes men and women advocate abolition of reservation for Dalits and Tribal and instead they suggest economic assistance to Dalits. This is a strange arguments as we know that economic criteria cannot be basis for reservation and due to widespread corruption, economic upliftment of Dalit is not only difficult but impossible.

 There are reasons to believe that in certain states like Odisha, UP, MP, Rajasthan, Punjab and Karnataka, foreign missionaries are adopting unfair means to convert Dalits to other religion. Apart from genuine but meager financial help foreign missionaries are not preaching virtues of their religion but insist on curing dreaded disease like HIV and Cancer just by converting to a particular religion.

 Situation in Punjab needs debate and action. Both Hindus and Sikhs are caste ridden and Dalits are escaping from discrimination. In the Sikh religion, Jats will not allow non Jats to come closer to them and in Hindus too Jats Hindus and other upper castes enjoy in suppressing the lower castes. Dalits have no options but to forgive reservation and convert to Christianity. But the conversion is not based on superiority of scriptures, which the Christian boast but on allurement and superstitions. As per police records in Punjab and Haryana some criminals being accused of rape and drug trafficking have became Prophets and Rev Fathers and are extorting money from the oppressed castes in the name of curing certain disease and depositing the money in their personal accounts. Well recognized Church has denied any connection with these persons who call themselves as prophets, Rev Father and true gospel. While certain upper castes Hindus and Sikhs, who are well educated have converted to Christianity out of choice and protests and agitations were not reported.

 There is also the insignificant question of love jihad which means nothing but interfaith marriage. Marriage between Hindu girls and Muslims is not uncommon. As per limited data most of the Hindu girls belonging to high castes and are educated and they fall in love with boys belonging to opposite faiths, these girls convert to the faiths of their husbands. No legislation is going to put a brake on such type of interfaith marriage.

Nearly ten years back a few bureaucrats used to visit once in a week to a remote area inhabited by poor Dalits and Tribal. We used to take rice pulse and other items for them, they were poor and half starved. The roads were not motorable.  After eight years when we were not in a position of strength, I along with a friend visited the area. To our pleasant surprise a motorable road has been constructed and after reaching the villages we were overwhelmed to see that under PM’s special programmes for poor, every family was living in good houses. There are two schools run by Lutheran Church and another by RSS, an organization of Hindus. Both the organisations were competing with each other in doing charity works, The Lutheran Church informed us that they were not interested in forcible conversion, instead they are providing health related facilities. The Hindu organization is  more popular and also doing very good charity works. Most of the people still practice Hindu religion but there is a feeling of hatred against each other. A few elders who recognized us informed that they were earning enough to meet both ends and that they had no hard feeling. 

FINAL WORDS.

While returning back I told my friend that there was no need of dreaded competition between foreign missionaries and Hindu organizations but a healthy cooperation which is essential for keeping the unity of India, but this is not going to happen. Anti-conversion legislation is unlikely to serve the purpose for which these are being advocated.

ACTORS AND ACTRESS IN POLITICS.

BY K P PASWAN

We are living in strange era. In the name of open or restricted democracy, people with different backgrounds are entering in politics. Comedians are contesting election and winning to become president but unable to keep people happy.Priests and holy men are also in the fray. Rise of ISIS was due to ambition of an educated man who spread the terror and committed suicide when encircled by killer squad.

Advent of actors in Indian politics may be traced back to MG Ramachandran, who was a successful Tamil actor and proved a competent CM of a Hinduised state.Ramchandran inspired other actors both male and female to flex their muscle in politics and the tradition continues.

1. Before elaborating the parts played by actors in India, we must bear in mind that Donald Trump in his youth was a prominent figure in television. Arnold Schwarzenegger was a celebrated and soldier like brave man of Hollywood and later on became the Governor o California  The present president of Ukraine is a celebrated Comedians and appeared in many television series.In India southern states but mainly Tamilnadu is dominated by male and female actors. They were democratically elected by people who were enthralled by their performance in big screen/ Karunanidhi and Jaylalita were CM of Tamilnadu for a long time and during their reign, other  political parties failed badly to secure sufficient seats in the state legislature.