A New Year Awaiting

I never planned this post and so it will be really short. I just realised that there are only few hours of 2008 left and then we shall move into 2009. 

So let us welcome this new year with hope and sincerity. Hope to have a clearer mind and sincerity in efforts to get the mind uncluttered. This was my biggest learning of this year and I just hope that I achieve it (clarity of thoughts) as early as possible in the upcoming year.

I wish all a Very Successful and Satisfying New Year.

The eloquent Dr. Manmohan Singh

Portions of PM's reply to the debate on the Motion of Confidence in the Lok Sabha

I say in all sincerity that this session and debate was unnecessary because I have said on several occasions that our nuclear agreement after being endorsed by the IAEA and the Nuclear Suppliers Group would be submitted to this august House for expressing its view. All I had asked our Left colleagues was : please allow us to go through the negotiating process and I will come to Parliament before operationalising the nuclear agreement. This simple courtesy which is essential for orderly functioning of any Government worth the name, particularly with regard to the conduct of foreign policy, they were not willing to grant me. They wanted a veto over every single step of negotiations which is not acceptable. They wanted me to behave as their bonded slave. The nuclear agreement may not have been mentioned in the Common Minimum Programme. However, there was an explicit mention of the need to develop closer relations with the USA but without sacrificing our independent foreign policy. The Congress Election Manifesto had explicitly referred to the need for strategic engagement with the USA and other great powers such as Russia.

In 1991, while presenting the Budget for 1991-92, as Finance Minister, I had stated : No power on earth can stop an idea whose time has come. I had then suggested to this august House that the emergence of India as a major global power was an idea whose time had come.

Carrying forward the process started by Shri Rajiv Gandhi of preparing India for the 21st century, I outlined a far reaching programme of economic reform whose fruits are now visible to every objective person. Both the Left and the BJP had then opposed the reform. Both had said we had mortgaged the economy to America and that we would bring back the East India Company. Subsequently both these parties have had a hand at running the Government. None of these parties have reversed the direction of economic policy laid down by the Congress Party in 1991. The moral of the story is that political parties should be judged not by what they say while in opposition but by what they do when entrusted with the responsibilities of power.

I am convinced that despite their opportunistic opposition to the nuclear agreement, history will compliment the UPA Government for having taken another giant step forward to lead India to become a major power centre of the evolving global economy. Jawaharlal Nehru's vision of using atomic energy as a major instrument of development will become a living reality.

What is the nuclear agreement about? It is all about widening our development options, promoting energy security in a manner which will not hurt our precious environment and which will not contribute to pollution and global warming.

India needs to grow at the rate of at least ten per cent per annum to get rid of chronic poverty, ignorance and disease which still afflict millions of our people. A basic requirement for achieving this order of growth is the availability of energy, particularly electricity. We need increasing quantities of electricity to support our agriculture, industry and to give comfort to our householders. The generation of electricity has to grow at an annual rate of 8 to 10 per cent.

Now, hydro-carbons are one source of generating power and for meeting our energy requirements. But our production of hydro-carbons both of oil and gas is far short of our growing requirements. We are heavily dependent on imports. We all know the uncertainty of supplies and of prices of imported hydro-carbons.

We have to diversify our sources of energy supply.

We have large reserves of coal but even these are inadequate to meet all our needs by 2050. But more use of coal will have an adverse impact on pollution and climate. We can develop hydro-power and we must. But many of these projects hurt the environment and displace large number of people. We must develop renewable sources of energy particularly solar energy. But we must also make full use of atomic energy which is a clean environment friendly source of energy. All over the world, there is growing realization of the importance of atomic energy to meet the challenge of energy security and climate change.

India's atomic scientists and technologists are world class. They have developed nuclear energy capacities despite heavy odds. But there are handicaps which have adversely affected our atomic energy programme. First of all, we have inadequate production of uranium. Second, the quality of our uranium resources is not comparable to those of other producers.Third, after the Pokharan nuclear test of 1974 and 1998 the outside world has imposed embargo on trade with India in nuclear materials, nuclear equipment and nuclear technology. As a result, our nuclear energy programme has suffered. Some twenty years ago, the Atomic Energy Commission had laid down a target of 10000 MW of electricity generation by the end of the twentieth century. Today, in 2008 our capacity is about 4000 MW and due to shortage of uranium many of these plants are operating at much below their capacity.

The nuclear agreement that we wish to negotiate will end India's nuclear isolation, nuclear apartheid and enable us to take advantage of international trade in nuclear materials, technologies and equipment. It will open up new opportunities for trade in dual use high technologies opening up new pathways to accelerate industrialization of our country. Given the excellent quality of our nuclear scientists and technologists, I have reasons to believe that in a reasonably short period of time, India would emerge as an important exporter of nuclear technologies, and equipment for civilian purposes.

When I say this I am reminded of the visionary leadership of Shri Rajiv Gandhi who was a strong champion of computerization and use of information technologies for nation building. At that time, many people laughed at this idea. Today, information technology and software is a sun-rise industry with an annual turnover soon approaching 50 billion US dollars. I venture to think that our atomic energy industry will play a similar role in the transformation of India's economy.

The essence of the matter is that the agreements that we negotiate with USA, Russia, France and other nuclear countries will enable us to enter into international trade for civilian use without any interference with our strategic nuclear programme. The strategic programme will continue to be developed at an autonomous pace determined solely by our own security perceptions. We have not and we will not accept any outside interference or monitoring or supervision of our strategic programme. Our strategic autonomy will never be compromised. We are willing to look at possible amendments to our Atomic Energy Act to reinforce our solemn commitment that our strategic autonomy will never be compromised.

I confirm that there is nothing in these agreements which prevents us from further nuclear tests if warranted by our national security concerns. All that we are committed to is a voluntary moratorium on further testing. Thus the nuclear agreements will not in any way affect our strategic autonomy. The cooperation that the international community is now willing to extend to us for trade in nuclear materials, technologies and equipment for civilian use will be available to us without signing the NPT or the CTBT.

This I believe is a measure of the respect that the world at large has for India, its people and their capabilities and our prospects to emerge as a major engine of growth for the world economy. I have often said that today there are no international constraints on India's development. The world marvels at our ability to seek our social and economic salvation in the framework of a functioning democracy committed to the rule of law and respect for fundamental human freedoms. The world wants India to succeed. The obstacles we face are at home, particularly in our processes of domestic governance.

I wish to remind the House that in 1998 when the Pokharan II tests were undertaken, the Group of Eight leading developed countries had passed a harsh resolution condemning India and called upon India to sign the NPT and CTBT. Today, at the Hokkaido meeting of the G-8 held recently in Japan, the Chairman's summary has welcomed cooperation in civilian nuclear energy between India and the international community. This is a measure of the sea change in the perceptions of the international community our trading with India for civilian nuclear energy purposes that has come about in less than ten years.

Our critics falsely accuse us, that in signing these agreements, we have surrendered the independence of foreign policy and made it subservient to US interests. In this context, I wish to point out that the cooperation in civil nuclear matters that we seek is not confined to the USA. Change in the NSG guidelines would be a passport to trade with 45 members of the Nuclear Supplier Group which includes Russia, France, and many other countries.

We appreciate the fact that the US has taken the lead in promoting cooperation with India for nuclear energy for civilian use. Without US initiative, India's case for approval by the IAEA or the Nuclear Suppliers Group would not have moved forward.

But this does not mean that there is any explicit or implicit constraint on India to pursue an independent foreign policy determined by our own perceptions of our enlightened national interest. Some people are spreading the rumours that there are some secret or hidden agreements over and above the documents made public. I wish to state categorically that there are no secret or hidden documents other than the 123 agreement, the Separation Plan and the draft of the safeguard agreement with the IAEA. It has also been alleged that the Hyde Act will affect India's ability to pursue an independent foreign policy. The Hyde Act does exist and it provides the US administration the authorization to enter into civil nuclear cooperation with India without insistence on full scope safeguards and without signing of the NPT. There are some prescriptive clauses but they cannot and they will not be allowed to affect in any way the conduct of our foreign policy. Our commitment is to what has been agreed in the 123 Agreement. There is nothing in this Agreement which will affect our strategic autonomy or our ability to pursue an independent foreign policy. I state categorically that our foreign policy, will at all times be determined by our own assessment of our national interest. This has been true in the past and will be true in future regarding our relations with big powers as well as with our neighbours in West Asia, notably Iran, Iraq, Palestine and the Gulf countries.

We have differed with the USA on their intervention in Iraq. I had explicitly stated at a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington DC in July 2005 that intervention in Iraq was a big mistake. With regard to Iran, our advice has been in favour of moderation and we would like that the issues relating to Iran's nuclear programme which have emerged should be resolved through dialogue and discussions in the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

I should also inform the House that our relations with the Arab world are very good. Two years ago, His Majesty, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia was the Chief Guest at our Republic Day. More recently, we have played host to the President of Iran, President of Syria, the King of Jordan, the Emir of Qatar and the Emir of Kuwait. With all these countries we have historic civilisational and cultural links which we are keen to further develop to our mutual benefit. Today, we have strategic relationship with all major powers including USA, Russia, France, UK, Germany, Japan, China, Brazil, Nigeria and South Africa. We are Forging new partnerships with countries of East Asia, South East Asia and Africa.

CONCLUSION

The Management and governance of the world's largest, most diverse and most vibrant democracy is the greatest challenge any person can be entrusted with, in this world. It has been my good fortune that I was entrusted with this challenge over four years ago. I thank with all sincerity the Chairperson of the UPA, the leaders of the Constituent Parties of the UPA and every member of my Party for the faith and trust they reposed in me. I once again recall with gratitude the guidance and support I have received from Shri Jyoti Basu and Sardar Harkishen Singh Surjeet.

I have often said that I am a politician by accident. I have held many diverse responsibilities. I have been a teacher, I have been an official of the Government of India, I have been a member of this greatest of Parliaments, but I have never forgotten my life as a young boy in a distant village.

Every day that I have been Prime Minister of India I have tried to remember that the first ten years of my life were spent in a village with no drinking water supply, no electricity, no hospital, no roads and nothing that we today associate with modern living. I had to walk miles to school, I had to study in the dim light of a kerosene oil lamp. This nation gave me the opportunity to ensure that such would not be the life of our children in the foreseeable future.

Sir, my conscience is clear that on every day that I have occupied this high office, I have tried to fulfill the dream of that young boy from that distant village.

The greatness of democracy is that we are all birds of passage! We are here today, gone tomorrow! But in the brief time that the people of India entrust us with this responsibility, it is our duty to be honest and sincere in the discharge of these responsibilities. As it is said in our sacred texts, we are responsible for our actions and we must act without coveting the rewards of such action. Whatever I have done in this high office I have done so with a clear conscience and the best interests of my country and our people at heart. I have no other claims to make.

The Great Indian Circus

The UPA government goes for the "Vote of confidence" tomorrow in the Lower House of the Indian Parliament. As expected, the last few days have been full of political drama, allegations of betrayals and handshakes among arch-rivals.

What hurts an observer like me is the level to which our politicians can stoop to snatch the power. Our history text books defined politics as a noble cause. It was not a job but a duty. Now that I see the Amar Singhs and the Mayawatis trying to retain their chairs, I cannot refrain myself from dubbing them as cunning and greedy. However, the issue here is the absence of ideology. Politics is a conflict of view points but the final destination is the same: the uplift of the society. However, politics minus issues is like a wild gorilla war.

Nobody understands the circus out there. The Left joins the BSP and starts praising Mayawati. The BSP joins the UPA and starts endorsing the Nuclear deal. Does anyone understand what the deal is all about? Does the deal make India a "junior partner" or does it empower the nation. The tragedy is that majority of the Parliament is oblivious to the reality. The issue is the United States of America and George Bush not the merits/demerits of the Nuclear Deal. The entire opposition is still unsure of its stand. Is it the inflation, the reservation or the Nuke deal that they are opposing. Its a strange cacophony out there.

However, it is the lesser might that is making the hay. Crores are exchanging hands, the ministries are being offered as incentives and the old enemies are camping together. But where is the problem? What is the bone of contention? Nobody really knows. Manmohan Singh wisely said "The greatest tragedy of the Indian democracy is the absence of polar politics". As much as I despise corruption, I hope all the horse trading and offers of luxuries work in favour of the UPA tomorrow simply because we need the Nuke deal for our better needs in the future. And I remain indebted to our sundry netas: they are a guiding torch to the road that must never be traveled.

The corporate relevance of Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar is a living legend in the world of cricket. However, there is more to his personality than the supremo that he is with his bat. He is a contemporary genius and an example of excellence. What interests me the most is his relevance to the modern corporate world. Let me elaborate more.

Imagine a guy doing the same routine job day in and day out for more than 20 years at the highest level possible for his profession. For us, at times, even a five-day week sounds like an age. But Sachin has an important lesson for all of us. He testifies what passion can do to a man's caliber. It is just impossible for anybody to undertake such demanding schedules and then perform for so long with such elevated levels of performances. What separates him from mere mortals is his child-like exuberance for the game even after being at the pinnacle for so long now.

Even more commendable is this man's work ethics. Ever wondered how the modern employee frowns when he is transferred to a new team or deputed under a new manager. It is the expectation of the unexpected that transforms nervousness into fear. Sachin has played under innumerable Indian captains. From making debut under Srikant to the modern duo of Anil Kumble (for Tests) and Dhoni (for ODIs), he has been a darling of all his skippers. This certifies his focus on the game, his ability to rise above the mediocre and a stamp of supremacy.

An omnipresent word in the corporates is flexibility. Who better than Sachin to demonstrate this virtue. From the days where physiotherapists were non-existent, when workout meant a jog around the park to the modern day where the trainers decide the chance of participation and tabulate something as strange as fat under the skin to certify the fitness, it is amazing how Sachin has evolved. Not only has he accepted these modern norms but also ensured that he excels the current patterns. It can only be a result of an amazing will power and an ability to embrace technology as it evolves. It also reveals the character of a man who is not imprisoned to imperial thoughts and who judges issues on merits.

Sachin is an enigma. Even after he retires (and how much I desire that day to never come), he will leave behind a difficult path to follow. As Ravi Shastri quoted "God created Sachin and told him to go to earth, play cricket and come back". His contribution cannot be quantified. Class would do whatever it can, genius would do whatever it should. That is what Sachin is, a true genius.

The charisma of being Sourav Ganguly

In life, statistics are often misleading. More so, in the fickle world of professional sports. Statistics are often harsh and do not convey the impetus that a sportsman gives to his team and the sports as a whole. Sourav Ganguly is one such victim.
Few people remember the year 2000 when the Indian cricket was in tatters. The matters were turning ugly and the reputations were at stake. The demon of match-fixing was gaining momentum and every discussion was turning it even murkier. It was then that Dada held the reins of the Indian team.
Ganguly's charisma is infectious. You just cannot ignore him. He gave Indian cricket what we never wanted to have but always admired in others- the aggression and the courage to show it. His background helped him tremendously. The prince that he is, he commands respect from all. However, his greatest gift was his perfect eye for talent. After Imran Khan, he fitted this foil perfectly.
Sourav's contribution to Indian cricket is huge. No matter what the pundits of today write or comment about him, the fact is that he is a rare talent and an even rare leader. He freed our cricketers from the colonial hangover and gave them the courage to combat fire with fire and a sledge with sledge. Leadership is not wielding power. Its about empowering people. And that remains his greatest achievement till date. He gave a fair chance to all the youngsters and then backed them to the hilt. There is never a better leader than the one who is the source of confidence of his team members.
That Ganguly is synonymous to guts is no secret. I admit that when he was not picked up by the selectors, there was no injustice. He had lost his place on account of his poor form. But adversity brings out the true character of a man. He traveled to the dusty towns of the country, played on poor grounds and rubbed his shoulders with the lesser might. That he earned his way back into the team when all had written him off is a testimony to his unshakable confidence and the superiority of his persona.
Ganguly has given enough to Indian cricket to deserve a place in the high echelons of our cricket history. That critics put him on trial every time he wields the willow in his hands is sheer injustice to him. But then people still complain that Kumble cannot spin the leg-break.

Birth of IPL

Surprisingly, the BCCI's biggest bounty has come in the form of an irony. Now that the entire country and the sentries of BCCI are basking in the glory of the success of IPL, few remember the persistent attempts that Lalit Modi (Chairman & Commissioner of IPL) had to make during the past few years to make the concept of Twenty-20 acceptable to our administrators of the game.In fact, most officials in the BCCI would refute the claims that when Modi made the initial proposal a few years back, he was rebuked upon. The Indian mind-set was not ripe enough to accept this novel idea. The explaination given was convincing: Twenty-20 would corrupt the purist's definition of the game and will kill the next generation of Test Cricketers. The BCCI was so uncomfortable with this format that they were almost in the process of drastically reducing the One Day Tournaments for the younger lot.As luck would have it, Dhoni's men did us proud by winning the innaugral edition of the Twenty-20 World Cup in South Africa last year. This achievement could not have come at a better time since India had been knocked out in the first round of the Fifty-50 World Cup earlier in the year. The country was desperate for a trophy and Dhoni gave us that spark. Suddenly, huge commercial opportunities were identified in this infant of cricket and the idea started to get acceptance.The Indian Cricket League did what Modi had struggled to do. The BCCI was threatened with the rebel league and thus was born the "DLF IPL 2008". That Bollywood and corporates follow was only a matter of time. Suddenly we see Yuvi smashing Bhajji and realise a new excitement bursting within us. The IPL has tremendous potential provided the quality of cricket is maintained. The cheerleaders and the hoopla is here to stay but not by themselves. Some babies have abnormal births but they survive to win the marathons in life.