English Editorials 09.08.2021

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6 EDITORIAL DELHI
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2021

THE HINDU
The looking glass of history in Afghanistan
The reason for the U.S.’s failure is no different from that of the Soviets; India too can hardly impact the ground situation
now armed with nuclear weapons; dia to assume a nonoperational the army fragmented, paving the
destabilising such a state would position on Afghan developments way for the mujahideen to take ov
Golden arm have incalculable consequences.

Now, a new U.S. leader, Presi
and restrict its role to pressing the
Soviets to leave. Once it became
er in April 1992. Soon enough, in
tramujahideen conflict resulted in
THE HINDU PHOTO ARCHIVES

Indian sportspersons showed selfbelief dent Donald Trump announcing clear that Pakistan wanted a muja complete instability in the coun
his Afghanistan policy in August hideen government without Naji try. That set the stage for the rise
at the Olympics to return with a record tally Vivek Katju 2017, said, “We can no longer be si bullah’s participation or Zahir of the Taliban with Pakistani assis
I
ndia took on a golden glow at Tokyo on Saturday as lent about Pakistan’s safe havens Shah’s leadership, India decided tance. The internecine mujahi
Neeraj Chopra hurled the javelin to fetch the country for terrorist organizations, the Ta to fully support the Najibullah go deen hostilities, fortunately, pro
M
ikhail Gorbachev became liban, and other groups that pose a vernment. This even before the vided India strategic opportunities
its first Olympics gold in track and field. Neeraj’s
General Secretary of the threat to the region and beyond. last Soviet soldier left Afghanistan to influence the ground situation
winning effort at 87.58m capped the finest ever perfor Communist Party of the Pakistan has much to gain from Union over three decades ago the in February 1989. in Afghanistan along with Iran and
mance by Indian sportspersons in the quadrennial glo Soviet Union in March 1985. By partnering with our effort in Af U.S. too accepted the idea of an Af As part of its outreach to all Af Russia. But fortune does not smile
bal stage. India won seven medals — one gold, two sil then Soviet forces had been in Af ghanistan. It has much to lose by ghan interim administration ghan parties in 1987 and 1988, In at all times.
vers and four bronzes — and cumulatively edged past ghanistan for over five years. They continuing to harbo[u]r criminals which included the Taliban. The dia was also in contact with the
the previous best of six at the 2012 London Games. For had failed to successfully combat and terrorists (https://bit.ly/3fI February 2020 U.S.Taliban agree mujahideen. In February 1988, Ra Afghanistan today
a country resigned to a meagre yield or none at the the mujahideen groups, most of giLP).” He followed this with a ment (https://bit.ly/3xw1yFG), jiv Gandhi met Peter Galbraith, a Now, like Rajiv Gandhi in the 1986
Olympics since its debut in 1900, the latest edition was whom were based in Pakistan. The tweet on new year’s day 2018 ac which Mr. Trump’s successor Pre staffer with the U.S. Senate Com 1988 period, Indian foreign policy
mujahideen received crucial sup cusing Pakistan of “lies and de sident Joe Biden has honoured, mittee on Foreign Relations, and and security managers are advo
laden with riches. At 23, Neeraj has the world at his feet
port from the United States but the ceit”. For sometime, the Pakistani marked the strategic defeat of the whom he had known from his cating the formation of an inclu
and the skies to aim for. The Indian Army man has critical factor was their Pakistan leadership was concerned by the world’s preeminent global power. youth. Mr. Bhattacherjee records, sive government. So, ostensibly
grown in stature, and to supplant German Johannes base. Secure with the U.S. fully be mercurial Trump but then realised It was reminiscent of the Geneva “To Galbraith’s surprise, Rajiv said are the western powers including
Vetter, until now the world’s best javelin thrower, was hind it, Pakistan knew that the So that his were empty threats, signs Accords of 1988 which were a stra that India had reached out to all the U.S. The problem is that Af
no mean task. Neeraj’s golden tryst was special at many viet Union would not risk crossing of the U.S.’s frustration. It conti tegic defeat of a then superpower, sections, including the mujahi ghanistan President Ashraf Ghani
levels; it was India’s maiden gold in athletics at the the Durand Line to take armed ac nued with its Afghan policy as the Soviet Union. They both paved deen inside Pakistan and Afghanis is no Najibullah. His capacity to
Olympics while Norman Pritchard had won two silvers tion on Pakistani territory. before. the way for the safe withdrawal of tan and was now assessing the en hold Kabul together is questiona
In his insightful book, The Great foreign forces. tire formula for a broadbased ble. Besides, the Kabul political
in 1900. It was also India’s second individual gold at the
Game in Afghanistan: Rajiv Gand- A thread in these approaches From 1986 to 1988, the Soviets government in Kabul”. This shows elite is at odds with itself and if it
Games after shooter Abhinav Bindra hit bullseye at Beij hi, General Zia and the Unending Within a year of taking over, Mr. tried hard to put in place an inclu that Rajiv Gandhi pursued the re frays, will the Afghan National Se
ing in 2008. That Neeraj had previously won golds in War, Kallol Bhattacherjee records Gorbachev was convinced that the sive government in Afghanistan. quirements of realpolitik: even curity Forces remain united? The
the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games are all that immediately after becoming Soviet Union’s Afghan quest was Najibullah, a forceful if brutal Af while firmly supporting Najibullah extent to which the U.S. will be
pointers to a journey that is on cruisemode while his the Soviet Union’s supreme leader, futile. In February 1986 he told the ghan leader of Pashtun ethnicity, he was not averse to acknowledge, willing to support Kabul post Au
coach Klaus Bartonietz keeps a close watch. Mr. Gorbachev had met the Pakis Communist Party that Afghanistan became President in 1986. He vir at the highest political level, that if gust 31 (the date of complete with
Neeraj’s dash of magic seasoned in sweat and mus tani dictator in Moscow. He had had become a “bleeding wound”. tually abandoned communist ide Indian interests demanded so, In drawal) remains to be seen. This
warned him that “Moscow would He now decided to prepare for the ology for Afghan nationalism and dia would not hesitate to do busi situation of total flux could have
cle, found mirrorimages within the Indian contingent.
ensure that Pakistan faces the con retreat of the Soviet forces. His aim stressed the country’s Islamic her ness with any Afghan group how been easily foreseen. Equally, the
Wrestler Bajrang Punia won bronze in the men’s frees sequences of backing the mujahi was to have an orderly withdra itage. He reached out to all sec soever regressive its ideology. need for maintaining open and di
tyle 65kg bout, pinning down Kazakhstan’s Daulet Ni deen”. Zia was unfazed by the wal. He also abandoned the idea of tions of Afghan society. The U.S. India’s 2021 Afghan dilemma rect contacts with all Afghan polit
yazbekov. It also bolstered India’s medals’ kitty that had threat because he knew that the leaving behind a “socialist” go and Pakistan seemed to go along mirrors, to an extent, the one it ical parties could also have been
prior contributions from Mirabai Chanu, Lovlina Bor new Soviet leader was posturing. vernment and sought to have a with the idea of an inclusive go faced post the Soviet withdrawal anticipated only if pragmatic and
gohain, Ravi Kumar Dahiya, P.V. Sindhu and the men’s broadbased one which would in vernment as long as the final assu in 1989. There is a major difference correct strategic attitudes had
hockey team. What stood out was the Indian contin From the USSR to the U.S. clude the mujahideen. rance of Soviet withdrawal was not though. In 1989, Kabul was led by a guided Indian policy.
Thirtytwo years later, the wheel Fourteen months after warning gained. strong Afghan leader, Najibullah, Notwithstanding all the appro
gent’s belief that they can compete on level terms with
of history had turned. It was the Pakistan of serious consequences who had the capacity to hold the priate diplomatic noises India may
their fancied rivals. It showed in Aditi Ashok’s golfing United States which was bogged in his August 2017 policy announ The Indian initiative situation together with Soviet as make, it has now no real capacity
endeavour as she came tantalisingly close to silver be down in Afghanistan. For 16 years cement, Mr. Trump too caved in Significantly, India too advocated a sistance. That was forthcoming, to impact the ground situation in
fore a rainmarred day out at the greens undid her it had, despite a military surge, and authorised talks between U.S. broadbased government and for while the Geneva Accords pro Afghanistan. And, even if the best
rhythm and the Bangalorean finished at the fourth failed to quell the Taliban insur diplomats and Taliban representa Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was vided that neither side would help option for India comes to pass —
spot. When the curtains were lowered on the latest gency even though the group tives in Doha. In these talks, the in the forefront in advocating it. their protégés, they continued to the formation of an inclusive go
Olympics on Sunday, the Indiastory was largely driven merely had the support of Pakis U.S.’s principal objective was to se India took active measures, in do so. Thus, for three years, Naji vernment — its absence of open
tan. The reason for the U.S.’s fai cure a Taliban guarantee that it cluding contacting the former bullah kept the mujahideen at bay. contacts with the Taliban will
by Neeraj, hockeyrenaissance and womenpower
lure was no different from that of would not harbour international King Zahir Shah, living in exile in It was with the collapse of the So place it at a great disadvantage.
while shooting proved underwhelming. Among the the Soviets. It could not carry the terrorist groups in territories un Rome, to lead it. This annoyed the viet Union in 1991 that the political
rest, it was status quo as the United States of America war into the territory of Pakistan, der its control. And, like the Soviet U.S. and Pakistan. Both wanted In unity of Kabul frayed. With that Vivek Katju is a former diplomat
and China led the medals tally with host Japan and
Revisit the idea of ‘aging out’ India’s coal plants
Great Britain following while India was placed 48th in
the table. Usain Bolt’s stardust was missed but Jamaica’s
Elaine ThompsonHerah added zest while setting a new
Olympic record of 10.61 seconds in the women’s 100m
sprint. The pandemic delayed the Games by a year but A more nuanced analysis considering the various characteristics of individual plants would be appropriate
it marches on unhindered while the fans look forward emission standards announced by sions. However, even here, the ar calls for investments in coalbased
to the 2024 version at Paris. the Environment Ministry, and gument is not blackandwhite. baseload capacity by Stateowned
hence it would be better to retire There are some old plants that entities. About 65 gigawatts (GW)
Tightrope walk them. The recent order from the

Central Electricity Regulatory
may continue to be economically
viable even if they install pollution
of thermal capacity is already in
the pipeline, of which about 35
Commission (CERC) allowing Del control equipment as their current GW is in various stages of con
The RBI should not undermine its own
GETTY IMAGES
Ashok Sreenivas & hi’s BSES distribution company to fixed costs (which would increase struction. This is likely in excess of

credibility by delaying steps to rein in inflation Maria Chirayil exit its concluded 25 year old pow with pollution control equipment what the country needs, and
G
overnor Shaktikanta Das’s statement accompa er purchase agreement with the installation) are very low. Indeed, further addition to it, driven by
nying the RBI’s latest policy announcement National Thermal Power Corpora about half the coal capacity older State political economy considera
A
s part of the Union Budget tion Limited’s DadriI generating source, reducing coal transport than 25 years has already issued tions, will lead to stranded assets
highlights the bind that monetary authorities
address for 202021, the Fi station, also lends some credence costs. However, this just highlights tenders for pollution control and lockedin resources.
find themselves in. While the central bank’s growth nance Minister, Nirmala to this (https://bit.ly/3lJymZQ). the complexity of the issue, since equipment installation. This is not to say that no old
supportive actions — maintaining the benchmark inter Sitharaman, said that the shutting Since plants older than 25 years efficiency does not naturally tran plant should be retired. However,
est rate at a decade low, ensuring ample liquidity and down of old coal power plants, make up around 20% of the total slate to savings. Risks with retirement using age as the only lever to drive
an accommodative policy stance — are yet to help en which are major contributors to installed thermal capacity in the The question then becomes these decisions is too blunt an in
gender a meaningful recovery, inflation continues to emissions, will aid the achieve country and play a significant role A savings analysis whether these limited savings are strument, and can prove counter
disquietingly hover around the 6% upper bound of its ment of India’s Nationally Deter in the country’s power supply, de Indeed, our analysis (https:// worth the risks associated with productive. Instead, a more disag
mined Contributions, an idea cisions regarding their retirement bit.ly/3jDat3a) suggests that the to early retirement of coal plants, es gregated and nuanced analysis,
mandated target. Governor Das acknowledged the
which has been endorsed by the merit finer scrutiny to see if the tal savings in generation cost from pecially given the current trends in considering the various technical,
RBI’s predicament when he said: “Before the onset of Power Minister, R.K. Singh claimed benefits really accrue. shutting down plants older than 25 the country’s power sector. To economic and operating characte
the pandemic, headline inflation and inflationary ex (https://bit.ly/3jQnQxl). years would be less than ₹5,000 support the growing intermittent ristics of individual plants and un
pectations were well anchored at 4%, the gains from The benefits crore annually, which is just 2% of renewable generation in the sec its, while also accounting for as
which need to be consolidated and preserved. Stability Some studies cite advantages How significant are the potential the total power generation cost. tor, there is an increasing need for pects such as intermittency of
in inflation rate fosters credibility of the monetary pol Some research studies have also benefits? These savings may not be suffi capacity that can provide flexibili renewables, growing demand, and
icy framework and augurs well for anchoring inflation argued in favour of it, citing the While there are some old plants cient to even pay for the fixed ty, balancing, and ancillary servic need to meet emission norms,
expectations. This, in turn, reduces uncertainty for in economic and the environmental tied up in expensive power pur costs (such as debt repayment) es. Old thermal capacity, with low would be appropriate to make re
benefits of shutting down coal chase agreements, as in the case of that would have to be paid any er fixed costs, is a prime candidate tirementrelated decisions. Hence,
vestors... increases external competitiveness and, thus,
plants older than, say, 25 years. It the CERC order, there are also sev way, even if the plants are prema to play this role until other tech it may be prudent to let old capac
is growthpromoting.” It is this vital inflation targeting is argued that the availability of eral old plants, which generate at turely retired. Similarly, savings in nologies (such as storage) can re ity fade away in due course, while
remit that the Monetary Policy Committee has tempo underutilised newer (and pre lower costs. For instance, plants coal consumption by replacing place them at scale. Further, the focusing on such detailed analysis
rarily set aside in the wake of COVID19 and its brutal sumably more efficient) coal such as Rihand, Singrauli (both Ut generation from plants older than capacity value of the old capacity and weeding out the needless ca
impact, while the central bank focuses its efforts on us based capacity means that shut tar Pradesh), and Vidhyanchal 25 years with newer coal plants is critical to meet instantaneous pacity in the pipeline, to derive
ing all available policy tools to simultaneously preserve ting down older inefficient plants (Madhya Pradesh), are all over 30 are also likely to be only in the peak load, and to meet load when longterm economic and environ
financial stability and support a durable economic re would lead to improved efficien years old and have very low gener 1%2% range. renewable energy is unavailable. mental benefits.
cies, reduced coal usage, and ation costs of around ₹1.7/kWh, The argument about older There is also a political econo
vival. Still, the central bank’s outlook for growth and in
hence, cost savings. which is lower than the national plants finding it uneconomical to my risk, as aggressive early retire Ashok Sreenivas and Maria Chirayil are
flation shows it is cognisant of the ground realities and Further, it is argued that it average. This may be due to loca install pollution control equip ment of coalbased capacity, with from the Prayas (Energy Group), and
the limits to its policy options. would be uneconomical for old tional advantage rather than effi ment to meet environmental out detailed analyses, could result work on topics which include the
Asserting that domestic economic activity has start plants to install pollution control ciency, as older plants are likely to norms is a stronger one, as all coal in real or perceived electricity interlinkages of the coal-thermal and
ed to recover with the ‘ebbing of the second wave’, the equipment required to meet the be located closer to the coal plants should indeed reduce emis shortage in some States, leading to power sectors
MPC is hopeful of a bounce back in rural demand on
the back of agricultural output remaining resilient, cou LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters emailed to letters@thehindu.co.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials.
pled with urban consumption recovering as the manu
To read more letters
facturing and service sectors rebound with a lag, and as Tokyo and after and nurture talent. It is be mentally tough to face shamefaced. That the family to learn lessons from these online, scan the QR code
increased vaccinations help release pentup demand. The historic moment of clear that there is no competition, the next of Vandana Katariya, one of deeply inspiring life stories
However, given that underlying conditions are still glory should be inscribed in scarcity of talent. Olympics is sure to see India the players in India’s rather than demoralising or & Technology’ page, August
weak and the Current Situation Index of consumer con letters of gold. The overall V. Subramanian, firmly on the path to glory. women’s hockey team at the insulting some of our 8), to be educative, It was
performance of the Indian Chennai Olympics, faced alleged sporting heroes. interesting to read that
fidence in its own July survey is still stuck near the all Yoganandh T.,
contingent is no mean Salem, Tamil Nadu casteist abuse after the Jyoti Kunwar, “traditional yoga exercises
time low polled in May, the RBI has retained its fullyear Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh
achievement in the ■ With the alltime best Indian team lost the are seen to stimulate the
GDP growth forecast at 9.5%. The fact that it has at the
backdrop of a raging medals haul in Indian ■ Our favourable semifinal clash, is growth of hair.... ” In my
same time lowered the Q2, Q3 and Q4 growth projec pandemic. Unlike many Olympic history, it is demographic profile does disgusting. Winning and ■ This mushrooming of case, there was no hope and
tions it made just two months ago, by between 0.5 and other popular games, probably time for both the not seem to be yielding a losing any game is a part and religious/casteist after trying traditional cures,
0.9 percentage points, belies the uncertainty in its out which have a committed authorities and us people in proportionate performance parcel of sport. discrimination in the country ranging from oil concoctions
look. With the monsoon rainfall deficit once again wi audience to boast, athletes India to start looking at how in competitive sports. D. Sethuraman, is alarming. Yet our political to tonics, I have had to settle
have to motivate those who succeeded have Scouting for talent and Chennai leaders seem reticent and do for a natural hair wig. I do
dening to minus 4% as on August 8, latest kharif sowing
estimates revealing an almost 23% shortfall and compo themselves to do their best done it rather than looking at honing it in highgrade nothing to eliminate this envy the bountiful crown of
as hardly anyone notices what ails the system. Modern competition is needed to ■ While on one hand we are menace for reasons best hair that Olympian Neeraj
site PMI data for July showing a persistent contraction
and appreciates them to equipment, worldclass touch world class. This busy celebrating the heroic known to them. We are in Chopra has — a TV
in business activity and continuing job losses, it is hard enhance their morale. training and a good financial entails huge financing and achievements of some of our need of comprehensive laws commentator says Neeraj is
to see either a nearterm revival in demand or an easing Many who participated in support system are probably drive. Governments and Tokyo Olympians, it is to enable the extermination also known as Mowgli. I do
in inflationary pressures from cereal and edible oil pric the Olympics are from a what are getting our corporates must fund and disturbing that a few of casteism in the country. hope that there is progress in
es. Admitting the price pressures, the RBI has also rural background who have sportspersons to be among innovate big time. countrymen are intent on Thomas K.M., abolishing quackery in
raised its fiscalyear inflation projection by 60 basis scaled greater heights with the best in the world. Besides R. Narayanan, pulling down other Muvattupuzha, Kerala trichology, which was also
points to 5.7%. Also, with one of the six members of the limited or inadequate the medal winners, there Navi Mumbai achievers. One must realise the theme of the 2012
MPC dissenting and voting against the language of the infrastructure to hone their have been quite a few near that it takes much sweat and Hair loss meeting in Chennai of the
skills. Not resting on misses which only goes to This is jarring sacrifice for the families As a person who Hair Research Society of
policy stance, it seems clear the central bank may soon laurels, this euphoric show that we have a new The details in the report, concerned to overcome experienced severe hair loss India. There needs to be a
er than later have to bite the bullet and start normalis moment should be breed of Olympians. With a “Casteist abuse shameful, sarcasm, taunts and bias in (alopecia) from an early age, breakthrough achieved in
ing rates if it wants to avoid undermining its own cred sustained with an allocation little more focus in the hunt says women’s hockey team ensuring that their son or I found the article, “Some reversing hair loss.
ibility by delaying steps to rein in inflation. of enhanced funds and for genuine talent among our skipper” (Inside pages, daughter fetches a medal for facts on hair – why it drops Vedanth Bharadwaj,
training facilities to identify youth and training them to August 8), left one the country. Many of us need and how it grows” (‘Science Bengaluru
CM A ND-NDE
YK
THE HINDU
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2021
DELHI
OPED 7
The sovereign right to tax is not absolute Recusal of a Readers’ Editor FROM THE READERS’ EDITOR
BIT provisions to challenge taxation measures include expropriation and fair and equitable treatment
right to tax in the public interest
The line dividing the professional creed of a journalist from her
should be balanced with the inves anxieties as a citizen is getting blurred by executive excesses
tor’s interest of legal certainty. In the
context of amending tax laws re freedom and dignity of human beings, the
troactively, such an action should be rights of a free and independent press, the
justified by a specific purpose that right to thrive in society without facing dis
Prabhash Ranjan could not be accomplished by apply crimination on the basis of race, ethnicity,
ing taxes prospectively. The tribunal gender, sexual identity, disability, or
held that the public purpose that jus religion.”
An important bill introduced in Par tifies the application of law prospec A.S. PANNEERSELVAN NPR’s policy has already become a subject
liament last week aims to nullify the tively will usually be insufficient to of debate. The public media organisation has
regressive 2012 amendment in the justify the retroactive application of been a witness to some of the defining deve
Income Tax Act. The 2012 amend the law. There must be an additional In the judiciary, judges sometimes recuse lopments in the U.S. such as the Black Lives
ment overturned the Supreme public purpose to justify the retroac themselves from hearing cases listed before Matter movement and the Pride parade.
Court’s decision in Vodafone Inter tive application of the law. For exam them. The reason for their recusal is either NPR’s chief diversity officer Keith Woods ex
national Holdings v. Union of India ple, India argued that the 2012 conflict of interest or prior association with plained the factors that led to the changes.
and made the income tax law re amendment was to ensure that fo one of the parties involved in the case. It While he agreed that it is important for jour
troactively applicable on indirect reign corporations who use tax ha must be kept in mind that there are no writ nalists to keep many of their personal views
transfer of Indian assets. The retroac vens for the indirect transfers of un ten rules on the recusal of judges from hear private, he also argued that “there are things
tive amendment resulted in Voda derlying Indian assets pay taxes. ing cases listed before them. Judges use their in the world where we are not torn about
fone and Cairn Energy suing India However, the tribunal held that this discretion in making the decision of whether where we stand. We are against bigotry, we
before InvestorState Dispute Settle objective could be achieved by or not to hear the case. As the Readers’ Edi are against discrimination and unfairness.”
ment (ISDS) tribunals of IndiaNeth amending the income tax law pros tor of this newspaper, I have often wondered NPR Public Editor Kelly McBride said the
erlands and IndiaU.K. bilateral in pectively, not retroactively. It is criti what would be the case from which I would recent policy “confronts the generationsold
vestment treaties (BITs). Both the cal to bear in mind that the tribunal recuse myself. question in newsrooms: Where does the
tribunals held that India’s retroactive did not rule against retroactivity of journalist end and the citizen begin?” NPR
amendment of tax laws breached the “Carving out taxation measures from the scope of the BIT does not mean that tax laws per se but against the re The individual views of journalists lists its guiding principles: “honesty, integri
fair and equitable treatment provi states are free to do as they please.” A vodafone store in Mumbai. AFP *
troactive application that lacked pu I have participated in protests defending ty, independence, accuracy, contextual
sion of the two BITs. blic policy justification. freedom of expression and the rights of jour truth, transparency, respect and fairness”. It
The proposed amendment, long of a country is a matter relating to the ploration under the United States nalists to perform their work without fear of adds a new reference to its “democratic role
overdue, is a welcome development. sovereign power of the state, and Ecuador BIT. The tribunal held that Carving out taxation measures intimidation. I have been part of teams that as watchdogs”. NPR also has a section on un
However, it is being presented as a thus “the State has a sovereign right under customary international law, India in its 2016 Model BIT carved defended democratic rights, raised voices iversal values such as human rights, a free
domestic legal reform undoing a past to enact the tax measures it deems there are two limits on the state’s out taxation measures completely against jingoism, and supported the idea of press, antidiscrimination and antibigotry.
mistake. It appears that this amend appropriate at any particular time”. right to tax. First, the tax should not from the scope of the investment pluralism. I am aware of editors and media The question that haunts Ms. McBride is
ment hasn’t been proposed to comp Not just this, the ISDS tribunals have be discriminatory; second, it should treaty. Nonetheless, carving out taxa managers who are wary of journalists ex the one that forces me to retain my ambiva
ly with the two adverse ISDS deci also held that whenever a foreign in not be confiscatory. In another ISDS tion measures from the scope of the pressing their views publicly. On the other lence. She asked: “What if a journalist wants
sions rendered against India or to vestor challenges states’ taxation case, EnCana v, Ecuador, a Cana BIT does not mean that states are hand, there are also editors who have taken to picket an abortion clinic or demonstrate
comply with India’s international law measures, there is a presumption dian corporation sued Ecuador for free to do as they please. As it was the view that individual views, as long as in support of women’s autonomy over their
obligations contained in BITs. This is that the taxation measures are valid valueadded taxes under the Canada held in Yukos Universal v. Russia, if they conform to the foundations of ethical bodies? What about a journalist who wants
because there is an erroneous belief and legal. For instance, an ISDS tri Ecuador BIT. The tribunal held that a states act in bad faith towards foreign journalism, should not be curbed. The Socie to express her general support of the Second
in the bureaucratic and political cir bunal in Renta 4 v. Russia said that state’s tax measures would amount investors or abuse their right to tax ty of Professional Journalists has distilled Amendment?” The Second Amendment to
cles that since taxation matters are when it comes to examining taxation to an expropriation of foreign invest or adopt mala fide taxation mea journalistic ethics to four operational princi the U.S. Constitution provides “the right of
part of sovereign measures, they can measures for BIT breaches, the start ment if the tax law is extraordinary, sures, they won’t be able to take the ples: seek truth and report it, minimise the people to keep and bear Arms”.
not be challenged before ISDS ing point should be that the taxation punitive in amount, or arbitrary in benefit of the carveout provision. harm, act independently, and be accounta
tribunals. measures are a bona fide exercise of incidence. The biggest takeaway from this ble and transparent. A blurred line
the state’s public powers. In the context of the fair and equit nineyearlong sordid episode of re In the case of public media organisations In the Indian context, the line that divides
Sovereign right to tax able treatment provision, foreign in trospective taxation is that India such as the NPR of the U.S. or the BBC of the the professional creed of a journalist from
Several ISDS tribunals have recog Limits on the right vestors have often challenged taxa should exercise its right to regulate U.K., the rules for public engagement and her democratic anxiety as a citizen is getting
nised the fundamental principle that Notwithstanding the state’s sove tion measures as breaching legal while being mindful of its interna demonstrations are more stringent but blurred by the day due to executive excesses.
taxation is an intrinsic element of the reign right to impose taxes and the certainty, which is an element of the tional law obligations, acting in good layered. For instance, the BBC makes it clear When institutions that are supposed to pro
state’s sovereign power. For in presumption about the validity of fair and equitable treatment provi faith and in a proportionate manner. that accuracy, evidence, facts, transparency vide checks and balances become an exten
stance, in a case known as Eiser v. taxation measures, there are certain sion. Although legal certainty does ISDS tribunals do not interfere with and informed judgments are constituent sion of the executive or an apology for it, is it
Spain, where foreign investors chal limits on the exercise of this public not mean immutability of legal fra such regulatory measures. In sum, parts of an impartial approach. The NPR, fair to expect journalists not to express their
lenged a tax imposed by Spain on power. The two most used BIT provi mework, states are under an obliga the debate never was whether India which started as a national radio but has now anguish as citizens? When constitutionally
electrical producers under the Ener sions to challenge a state’s taxation tion to carry out legal changes such has a sovereign right to tax, but transformed into an important news media guaranteed rights are abrogated, and bills
gy Charter Treaty, the tribunal held measures are expropriation and the as amending their tax laws in a rea whether this sovereign right is sub organisation across multiple platforms, are pushed through without any discussion
that the power to tax is a core sove fair and equitable treatment provi sonable and proportionate manner. ject to certain limitations. The answ tweaked its longstanding policy last month. in Parliament, silence becomes an unbeara
reign power of the state that should sion. In the context of expropriation, The tribunal in Cairn Energy v. In er is an emphatic ‘yes’ because un Its new ethics policy, which was unveiled on ble burden.
not be questioned lightly. Likewise, one of the key ISDS cases that ex dia said that taxing indirect transfers der international law the sovereign July 7, has given more elbow room for jour As the Readers’ Editor, I would recuse my
in El Paso v. Argentina, where the in plained the limits on the state’s right is India’s sovereign power and the tri right to tax is not absolute. nalists to express their personal opinions on self from hearing any case that asks me to
vestors challenged several facets of to tax is Burlington v. Ecuador. In bunal would not comment on it. Ho a range of issues. The policy, in part, reads: draw the line that divides journalism from
Argentinian tax measures as breach this dispute, investors challenged wever, such matters are not of “abso Prabhash Ranjan will soon join Jindal Global “NPR editorial staff may express support for citizenry.
ing the United StatesArgentina BIT, Ecuador’s windfall tax imposed on lute, unquestioning deference and Law School, O P Jindal Global University as democratic, civic values that are core to
the tribunal held that the tax policy excess profits resulting from oil ex there are limits on it”. Thus, India’s professor and vice dean. Views are personal NPR’s work, such as, but not limited to: the readerseditor@thehindu.co.in
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The many hurdles for students DATA POINT

FROM THE ARCHIVES
Indian students studying overseas and those seeking
FIFTY YEARS AGO AUGUST 9, 1971
to go abroad face many COVID-related challenges
Site where Socrates was sentenced
Tridivesh Singh Maini students have to look for circuitous
routes and end up paying higher air A team of American archaeologists has com
Students from China and India ac fares. While students are able to pleted piecing together the site where So
counted for 47% of all active foreign make it to Canada through expensive crates stood trial and was sentenced to
students in the U.S. in 2020, as per and indirect routes right now, Austra death in Athens 24 centuries ago [Athens,
the Student and Exchange Visitor lia is likely to keep its borders closed August 8]. The site is the royal stoa, or ar
Programme, part of U.S. Immigration well into 2022 given the surge in cas cade, which according to ancient writers
and Customs Enforcement. Indian es there. The U.K. and the U.S. have was Athens’ seat of religious and judicial af
students comprised the second lar tried to make exceptions to their fairs. It was discovered and unearthed in the
gest student community in the U.K. rules for international students, but western corner of the agora (market) at the
and Australia in 20192020. there remain a number of foothill of the Acropolis by a group of Amer
In recent years, Canada has rules and regulations which ican archaeologists under Professor Theo
emerged as a soughtafter have made it very cumber dore Shears Jr. of Princeton University. The
destination for Indian stu some to enter these coun stoa was a covered colonade, about 20
dents. One of the biggest tries, if not impossible. metres long. It was part of the marketplace
beneficiaries of the Donald The second problem is and civic pulse of ancient Athenian life, a
Trump administration’s that of vaccination. As un centre of public services, business establish
restrictive student visa pol iversities abroad open up ments and gossip. In 399 B.C. it provided the
icies was Canada. Indian for international students site for the trial of the famous philosopher
students are now the largest group and begin allowing inperson classes Socrates, found guilty of “corrupting youth
within the international student com from fall 2021, many require students and refusing to worship Gods.” Socrates
munity in Canada. to get vaccinated before they go. Co boldly reiterated his beliefs before his judg
But in spite of their role in enhanc vaxin and Sputnik V are yet to be re es, and was sentenced to drink a cup of poi
ing India’s soft power internationally, cognised by the World Health Organ sonous hemlock. His last hours were spent
through their excellent academic ization. Countries like the U.S. do not discussing the immortality of the soul with a
performance as well as seamless inte accept students who have been inoc group of his disciples. “It is thrilling for an
gration into these countries, Indian ulated with these vaccines and have archaeologist to sit on the benches near the
students face several problems. told them to get revaccinated. Many north wall of the stoa — where the Athenian
These are often overlooked. Howev students who have been vaccinated judges sat and where such wellknown and
er, in recent years Indian student as with Covishield are waiting for the 12 notorious events have taken place,” Prof.
sociations have been trying to draw week gap to pass in order to get their Shears said.
attention to these concerns. second dose. To help them, States
which send a large number of stu A HUNDRED YEARS AGO AUGUST 9, 1921
Three major challenges dents abroad have prioritised vac
Ever since the outbreak of the CO cines for international students. Position of Indians.
VID19 pandemic, Indian students al Third, due to the disruption
ready studying overseas as well as caused by COVID19, students over Simla, August 8 — Information has just been
those seeking to go abroad have seas are finding it difficult to get jobs. received from His Majesty’s Secretary of
faced several challenges. First, most State for India, that the following resolution
Indian students were forced to delay Addressing issues has been adopted by the Imperial Cabinet in
their plans in 2020 due to the imposi In a postCOVID19 world, there are regard to the Position of Indians in the Domi
tion of lockdowns, disruption of likely to be numerous disruptions, nions: “The Imperial Conference while reaf
flights, and embassies not issuing stu but it is important for officials and firming the resolution of the Conference of
dent visas. This led to a drop in the universities to work jointly to address 1918, that each community of the British
number of Indian students going the challenges which overseas Indian Commonwealth should enjoy complete con
abroad to study in 2020. According to students face. It is impossible to trol of the composition of its own population
the Ministry of External Affairs, while predict when things will get back to by means of restriction on immigration,
in 2019 nearly 5.9 lakh students went normal and when logistical issues re from any of the other communities, holds
overseas for higher education, in lating to Indian students seeking to that there is an incongruity between the po
2020 only 2.6 lakh were able to go. study overseas will be addressed. sition of India, as an equal member of the
While the first two months of 2021 While there are certain issues which British Empire and the existence of disabili
saw 72,000 students going overseas, specifically impact students, there ties upon British Indians, lawfully domiciled
the devastating second wave impact are others such as policies pertaining in some other parts of the Empire. The Im
ed the career plans of students. This to air travel and recognition of Covax perial Conference is accordingly of the opi
is not to say that the enthusiasm to go in which need to be addressed at the nion that in the interests of the solidarity of
overseas has waned; embassies and earliest to facilitate smooth travel for the British Commonwealth, it is desirable
high commissions are unable to deal tourists seeking to go overseas. that the rights of such Indians to citizenship
with the backlog of applications. should be recognised. The representatives
Furthermore, many countries Tridivesh Singh Maini is a faculty member at of South Africa regret their inability to ac
have closed their borders and/or res the Jindal School of International Affairs, OP cept this resolution in view of the exception
tricted flights from India. As a result, Jindal Global University, Sonipat al circumstances of the Union.”
CM A ND-NDE
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4 THINK BusinessLine
MONDAY • AUGUST 9 • 2021
0
xyz
monday, august 9, 2021

Will PLI scheme for specialty steel deliver ?
All about control While the govt believes it will be a winner, critics feel it favours big players and the incremental production target is too steep
confident that the scheme will be incremental production year on
SEBI has overlooked key issues in shifting compliance nefit not only big players, but also year as prescribed in the PLI may be
secondary steel manufacturers and a challenge. Once the detailed
onus from “promoter” to “controlling shareholder” MSMEs. “The PLI scheme doesn’t dis guidelines are out, things would be
criminate,” he said. clearer,” he pointed out.
T
he Securities Exchange Board of India ‘Specialty steel’ is a downstream,
valueadded product of the steel New development stage
(SEBI) has approved a major concep RICHA MISHRA
manufacturing process. According To compete globally, the Indian
tual shift in securities market and to the Steel Ministry, it was chosen steel industry has to enter into a
CAPITAL IDEAS
governance laws such that the onus as the target segment because out new development stage in keeping
for regulatory compliance henceforth falls on of the production of 102 million with changing dynamics. The rapid
L
‘controlling shareholders’ and ‘persons in con ast month India’s steel sec tonnes of steel in India in 202021, rise in production has resulted in
tor got a booster shot when valueadded steel/specialty steel India becoming the second largest
trol’, rather than on the promoter and pro the government an produced in the country is only 18 producer of crude steel during 2018
moter group. Given that it is shareholders who nounced inclusion of ‘spe million tonne. and 2019, from its third largest posi
exercise de facto control over a company this cialty steel’ under the Production Apart from this, out of the 6.7 mil tion in 2017. The country was also
shift is certainly logical. Key laws that ensure Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. Bit lion tonnes of steel imported in the the largest producer of sponge iron
late in the day, but better late than same year, around four million or DRI in the world and the second
minority shareholder protection in India, from never it is. What does the govern tonne was specialty steel, resulting largest finished steel consumer in
LODR/ICDR regulations to the Takeover Code ment have to say about it? in forex outgo of approximately the world after China and the US in
and Prohibition of Insider Trading rules, are With a budgetary outlay of ₹30,000 crore. By becoming aat- Right impetus India is aiming to move up the steel value chain ISTOCK 2019, based on rankings released by
based on definitions of ‘promoter group’ and ₹6,322 crore, the scheme is expec manirbhar in producing specialty the World Steel Association.
ted to bring in investment of ap steel, India will move up the steel centives, the lowest being 4 per cent Another worrying component is “…We believe that it will bring a
‘persons acting in concert’. While redrafting
proximately ₹40,000 crore and value chain and come at par with and highest being 12 per cent which a provision of statutory audit. complete change as far as domestic
these laws, SEBI must keep in mind the peculi generate employment both direct advanced steelmaking countries has been provided for electrical As Sidhartha Jain, Partner at EY, production of specialised steel is
arities of the Indian market, where business and indirect. The duration of the like Korea and Japan. steel (CRGO). The scheme will en puts it, “PLI limits per company concerned, our import will go
families or top managers tend to exercise dis scheme is for five years from 2023 Specialty steel is valueadded sure that the basic steel used is group has been set at ₹200 crore down and we will be able to export
proportionate influence over corporate ac 24 to 202728. The benefit of this steel wherein normal finished steel ‘melted and poured’ within the annually (total entitlement — also,” the Minister said.
scheme will accrue to both big play is worked upon by way of coating, country, which means that raw ma ₹1,000 crore) and hence the expect MSMEs can take advantage in the
tions even with a minority shareholding. ers — integrated steel plants — as plating, heat treatment, etc, to con terial (finished steel) used for mak ation considering the overall downstream side of the sector. Even
SEBI has offered a twofold rationale for this well as to the smaller players (sec vert it into high valueadded steel ing specialty steel will be made in budget of ₹6,322 crore seems to be today, MSMEs are producing alloy
change. With large listed companies acquiring ondary steel players). which can be used in vari India. to encourage large players to incur products, and this allows enough
a diversified shareholder India’s steel sector is ous strategic applica From this, it appears there capex and drive the agenda for spe opportunities to them, he felt.
dominated by six big Scan & Share tions such as defence, should be no room for worry. But cialty steel. MSMEs will likely have But critics feel that the govern
Scan & Share base with more institutional players — four in private space, power, apart from there are concerns and they come only a limited space to participate ment’s thinking is that only larger
investors, SEBI believes that sector and two in public automobile sector, spe from the basic structure of the and that too largely in coated/ players can attain the objective, as
promoters’ influence has sector — and as the Union cialised capital goods, scheme. The areas of concern in plated steel and some products in in the steel sector the capex itself is
waned while institutions are Minister for Steel, Ram etc. clude the cap of ₹200 crore on an alloy steel/wires.” so huge.
Chandra Prasad Singh, eligible company across product “Another aspect is the condition Some industry observers believe
now calling the shots. But
puts it, “Steel is a deregu The chosen categories categories, threshold on minimum of annualised incremental produc that most companies that opt for
there are caveats to this view. lated sector, and the role of the Min The five categories of specialty steel incremental production and min tion prescribed in the PLI scheme. the scheme will seek deferral in the
Recent boardroom battles istry is that of a facilitator to the which have been chosen in the PLI imum investment. Our discussion with companies re first year, as it will be difficult to
have shown that promoters hailing from mar steel industry. One has to see the scheme are: coated/plated steel The quantum of investment re veals it is too high a requirement. If meet the set targets. Also, the stat
quee business families or a firm’s founders contribution of these players in products; high strength/wear res quirement for high strength and the requirement was across the ten utory audit clause is worrying, and
steel production too. If you see the istant steel; specialty rails; alloy electrical steel is such that smaller ure, it could still be better,” he said, it could impact the actual
continue to wield considerable influence over private sector, it is contributing steel products and steel wires; and players are ruled out, say industry adding “besides, if the company disbursement.
corporate decisions long after they have di about 86 per cent of steel produc electrical steel. It is expected that observers. For smaller players, even doesn’t meet the commitment, While the government is work
luted their equity. While index or bluechip tion and the public sector is con after completion of the scheme, In ₹200 crore is tough. In fact, some then for that year, the incentive will ing on the rules for implementing
companies may have a wide dispersion of pub tributing about 14 per cent...” dia will start manufacturing say even big players may find it dif be at risk.” the scheme, the actual success of
If this be the case then how will products in these product categor ficult to meet the target of incre “A company may have to make the it will depend on the intent. If
lic ownership, promoters still rule the roost this scheme attract smaller players, ies. mental production on an annual upfront investment to set up the ca the intent is clear, then it is indeed a
across most mid and smallcap firms at India particularly MSMEs? The Minister is There are three slabs of PLI in basis. pacity. Hence, to meet the criteria of booster dose for the steel sector.
Inc with their average holding in NSElisted
companies still at 4445 per cent. Domestic in
Finally, an end to the draconian retro tax

stitutions such as insurance companies and
mutual funds seldom call promoters or man
agements to account for governance infrac
tions. Therefore, while redrafting its laws, SEBI
will need to ensure that the definition of ‘per
sons in control’ is watertight and take institu The Bill nullifying retrospective effect of indirect transfer taxation will restore confidence of international business community
tional investors to task on exercising their
RAJENDRA NAYAK share of a foreign company is tax ive taxation of indirect transfer of furnishing of an undertaking to the
rights. able in India if such share, directly Indian assets are not clarificatory in effect that no claim for cost, dam
T
IPObound companies have been cut some he issue of taxability of or indirectly, derives its value sub nature and instead tend to widen ages, interest, etc., shall be filed. It is
slack too. For IPOs that are primarily offers for gains arising from the stantially from the assets in India. the tax base. The Committee recom also proposed to refund the amount
sale and don’t entail capex, the lockin period transfer of assets located After causing much consterna mended that the amendment collected in these cases without any
in India through the trans tion in the international business should be modified with clear defin interest thereon.
for the minimum promoter stake of 20 per
fer of the shares of a foreign com community by the retrospective itions to apply prospectively. While Enactment of the Bill as law
cent has been trimmed from three years to 18 pany (commonly understood as “in amendment of 2012, much was ex the law was amendment in 2015 to should reassure the business com
months. Promoter holdings beyond this and direct transfer of Indian assets”) was pected from the new Government provide clarity on a number of as munity on the intent and direction
shares of private equity investors will now be a subject matter of protracted litiga that took office in 2014. In the first pects relating to scope, the retro of India’s tax policy as well as the
subject only to a sixmonth lockin after the tion prior to 2012. The Supreme Budget presented by the new Gov spective application was retained. ability of the Government to make
Court, in a landmark decision in ernment in July 2014, the Finance bold and transformational de
IPO. As most IPOs nowadays are from estab Vodafone International BV v Union of Minister stated that clarity in tax A welcome move cisions. The Government needs to
Seeking more than a fair share of tax
lished businesses where promoters and India (341 ITR 1), delivered in January laws, a stable tax regime, a nonad In the above backdrop, the intro be congratulated for the bold step
private equity investors have been onboard for 2012, had ruled that the Revenue versarial tax administration and a to lay claim on the Government’s as duction of the Taxation Law that seeks to restore the principle of
a while, SEBI reckons there’s no need for them does not have an authority to tax an fair mechanism for dispute resolu sets to recover the tax refund due (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in Parlia certainty in taxation, even though it
offshore transaction between two tion as the underlying theme of the from the Government. While India ment by the Finance Minister on Au may cause revenue loss.
to demonstrate further skin in the game. While nonresident companies where a new Government’s tax policy. may have reached from Rank 142 in gust 5 to nullify the retrospective ef While arguably this may be one of
this will cheer the startup and PE community, nonresident company is pur Despite a number of initiatives by 2014 to 63 in 2020 in the World fect of the indirect transfer of Indian the biggest sore points in adminis
it enhances risks for public investors in IPOs. chased in the transaction in order to the Government over the last seven Bank’s Ease of Doing Business index, assets provision is therefore wel tration of Indian tax policy which
Allowing all major shareholders to bail out of a control the interest in an Indian res years to achieve these policy goals, a but inability of the Government to come. The Bill proposes to amend may now be behind us, there are a
ident company. resolution to the indirect transfer of resolve the retrospective amend the tax law so as to provide that no number of other areas that still re
company shortly after its listing may make for
While the Supreme Court ruling Indian assets arising from the retro ment issue was casting a shadow on tax demand shall be raised in future quire attention. The Government
less business continuity and management sta should have settled the controversy spective amendment was still future prospects. Continued uncer on the basis of the said retrospective should look at strengthening the
bility. This could put at risk the high growth on this issue not just for the tax elusive. tainty on this issue was therefore a amendment for any indirect trans framework for obtaining advance
trajectory that is used to justify the astronom payer involved in this litigation, but On the contrary, the matters got a cause for concern. fer of Indian assets if the transaction ruling and advance pricing agree
ical valuations for the current crop of IPOs. for all other taxpayers involved in little more complicated with two of Interestingly, the Expert Commit was undertaken before May 28, 2012 ments to provide an effective mech
similar transactions, that was not to the litigants who were impacted by tee constituted under Parthasarthi (that is, the date on which the Fin anism for preventing disputes. This
be. As the ruling was perceived to be the retrospective amendment initi Shome in 2012 to review some of the ance Bill, 2012 received the assent of will go a long way in further improv
inconsistent with the legislative in ating arbitration proceedings on amendments introduced by the Fin the President). ing the investment climate and ease
tent of the Indian tax law, the Fin the issue under India’s Bilateral In ance Act, 2012 had recommended It is further proposed to provide of doing business in India and
ance Act, 2012 introduced an vestment Treaty. The arbitration was that amendment to tax laws having that the demand raised for such would further support achieve
30/30: THREE DECADES OF REFORMS RAVIKANTH amendment not only nullifying the unanimously decided against the retrospective effect should be done cases before May 28, 2012, shall be ment of the policy goal of creating a
apex court ruling but also giving the Government, resulting in a further in exceptional cases and should not nullified on fulfilment of specified nonadversarial tax regime.
amendment retrospective effect. appeal against the Arbitration have the effect of widening the tax conditions such as withdrawal or
The amendment purported to cla award by the Indian Government as base. Further, the Shome Commit furnishing of undertaking for with The writer is Partner, International Tax
rify that gains arising from sale of well as one of the litigants seeking tee was of the view that retrospect drawal of pending litigation and Services, EY India. Views are personal
BELOW THE LINE

companied by his Minister of State market observer to point out that clave that the government with its Covid plan in alphabet soup
arrived for the briefing. In all, the gains made in market cap by ₹12lakh crore borrowing was A hapless Kerala may have re
eight people, including the Addi Cairn Energy shareholders on Fri clearly crowding out the corpor placed the test positivity rate (TPR)
tional Secretary and Principal Dir day may have been more than ate bond market, which was see — erstwhile benchmark to decide
ector General of PIB were on the what the company would other ing annual issuance of about ₹8 on which areas to come down
stage. wise get as tax refund if it were to lakh crore. hard with total lockdown — with
Of these eight, only two spoke go through the process set by the You may wonder why the CEA the weekly infection population
while the PIB official conducted Indian government. got perturbed about this. Well, ac ratio (WIPR) in the revised Covid
the briefing. As for the media, While the Indian stock market tually it goes like this — the Eco- containment strategy. But only
there were 20 or 25 of them. Later, may not have cheered the govern nomic Survey had this year just! According to detractors, the
a government official quipped, ment’s move to abolish retro tax, provided evidence on the rate of hospitalisation should
One too many on the dais when junior ministers are not part the market in the UK gave it a crowdingout versus crowdingin alone matter.
With Cabinet expansion, many of of Cabinet deliberations what is thumbs up. phenomenon. It showed that in In After all, vaccination can make a
the Central Ministries have got ad the need for them to be on the dia there is no evidence of fiscal lot of difference here. Chance of in
Humble request
ditional Ministers of State. These stage. spending actually creating fections in vaccinated individuals
Ministers, however, are normally Chief Economic Advisor Krish crowdingout. remains significant, but only a few,
Retro tax tailwind
not invited for Cabinet meetings. namurthy Subramanian has made “It maybe a tempting argument if at all, land in hospitals. So, two
But this does not mean they can If there has been one immediate a humble request to senior offi to make (that govt fiscal spending localities can have the same num
not be part of media briefings beneficiary of the Modi Govern cials at SEBI and the citizenry. As was creating crowding out), but ber of infections but have varying
called after Cabinet meetings and ment’s move to abolish retro tax the main architect of the Economic data does not support it,” Sub degree of severity of disease. And
addressed by the Information of from the statute book, it is the Survey, Subramanian wants them ramanian noted. Can’t agree with WIPR misses the mark where it
Broadcasting Minister along with shareholders of Cairn Energy Plc. to read the Survey carefully and the CEA more — most people don’t matters, aver the detractors. There
the Cabinet Minister concerned. On Friday, the shares of Cairn En use the latest evidence presented realise that savings are procyclical must be a way to adjust for the
Last Wednesday, the Cabinet ergy surged 6.12 per cent in Lon there to drive thinking on eco with growth. Maybe a masterclass rates of vaccination in a locality
took a decision on education, and don to close at £168.20, up £9.70 nomic matters. from the CEA would help policy with the WIPR to obtain meaning
the Education Minister, his three over the previous day’s close of He was referring to a senior SEBI makers as well as the citizenry on ful trends, they aver.
deputies and the I&B Minister ac £158.50. This prompted a canny official saying at an industry econ this front. Our Bureaus
Published by N. Ravi at Kasturi Buildings, 859 & 860, Anna Salai, Chennai-600002 on behalf of THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD., and Printed by D. Rajkumar at Plot B-6 & B-7, CMDA Industrial Complex, Maraimalai Nagar, Chengleput Taluk, Kancheepuram Dist., Pin: 603209. Group Editorial Officer: Krishna Prasad. Editor: Raghuvir Srinivasan (Editor responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act). ISSN 0971 - 7528
CM . ..... .. . ...
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CHENNAI
BusinessLine
MONDAY • AUGUST 9 • 2021 THINK 5
RBI’s sanguine stance ‘India has carved out its own path in foreign policy’
Monetary policy defuses fears over inflation, growth
In his new book, former diplomat Vijay Keshav Gokhale throws fresh light on India-China relations since Independence
K SRINIVASA RAO 45.4 in July from 41.2 in June 2021
showing widening bandwidth of RICHA MISHRA tion between various departments within particularly from the time of PM Vajpayee,
I
n line with market expectations, growth. The first quarter results this the government which might have fed into India has mainly followed the policy of
T
the RBI has kept the policy rates fiscal of nonfinancial corporates and the foreign policy process and as a result multialignment, which essentially means
steady. But the differentiator has leading banks, more importantly SBI, he element of distrust between we suffered some setbacks in our initial re that we grow our own bilateral relation
been the display of optimism, have shown better profitability, indic India and China is not just from lationship with China. ships and partnerships with all the major
which can potentially propel the ating early signs of buoyancy. India’s side but from China’s side But, as I do point out, subsequently, countries in the world — Russia, the US,
market sentiments to boost growth. The rate of headline inflation is too, said Vijay Keshav Gokhale, a former career some of these lacunae or rather quite a few China, the EU. Bilateral relationships have
It turned the tables with its right tab slowing down and can further taper diplomat turned author. of these lacunae have been addressed. I am, always assumed primacy in our foreign
on high frequency indicators while with fuel and food inflation calming Gokhale, who was the 32nd Foreign of course, not claiming that the situation is policy and multialignment approach
keeping the rest intact. with receding supplyside disrup Secretary of India, was also the Indian completely optimal, there is room for im feeds into that. We believe each has a place
Keeping the stance of the policy ‘ac tions. Taking cue from positive devel ambassador to China. In conversation with provement, but certainly we have learnt in our foreign policy. However, it is fairly
commodative’, it went beyond its opments, the CPI inflation for FY22 is Business Line on his latest book, The Long lessons in our dealing with the Chinese evident that bilateral relationships obvi
earlier assurance to extend support projected upwards from its earlier es Game: How the Chinese Negotiate with India, side and hopefully this will continue in the ously impinge on others as well. While bi
until the impact of Covid is mitig timate of 5.2 per cent to 5.7 per cent Gokhale said, “The idea behind penning this future. lateral relationships are important, we
ated. This combines into a medium but is expected to stay within its up book was to not turn it into a research paper, should not give veto powers to any country
term assurance that can potentially per end of the comfort level of 6 per but to speak about our relations with China to The first chapter begins with to decide what our relationship with other
add a tinge of comfort to the market cent. a wider audience, as China interests everyone.” “Recognition” — how the two countries Title: The Long Game: How the Chinese countries should be like.
players. With pentup demand set to ac Stating that Pokhran and 123 deals are fine (India and China) see each other. The Negotiate with India
It defused the fear of inflation by re quire a durable character with accel examples of how India has carved its perception on ground is that Author: Vijay Keshav Gokhale Is India weak as a negotiator?
O
inforcing that it should be transitory erated pace of vaccinations, the buoy own path, Gokhale points out that the there is lack of consensus Publisher: Penguin I have to disagree with you on this. Our ca
with OPEC agreeing to raise oil pro ancy in exports, pickup in Masood Azhar incident should be seen within our political parties. Is it Price: ₹699 pacity to negotiate with China has substan
duction to prepandemic level by government expenditure, including to understand as to how the principle of true? tially improved and continues to improve.
September 2022 that can soften the capital expenditure, and the recent consensus works so far as the Chinese In a democracy it is perfectly In the last 20 years, the power differential
spot and future crude prices from its economic package reaching the tar are concerned. Excerpts: fine to have differences in policy. say this on the basis of whatever evidence has widened — in other words China’s GDP
peak in early July. get group, a wellfounded revival is in That is part of the democratic process. But, is available in the public domain that both is now six times India’s and China’s milit
Crude price is a key the offing. In your book you have debated upon in general, in terms of foreign policy, those the Americans and the Chinese were ary expenditure is four times India’s. Given
factor that propelled infla India’s diplomatic perspectives, taking differences have not been many. In fact, caught by surprise at our nuclear test. The this background we have broadly been
tion in many economies, Assurance to banks some key incidents as examples. Do you there has been a broad consensus in the underlying point that I am making is that able to achieve some successes.
even leading to policy rate In order to pump prime think India has been consistent in its overall direction of our foreign policy. That we did not seek the prior approval of Our negotiating tactics have improved.
rise in some countries. In these growth nodes and policy, particularly with China? is true with respect to China as well. One of anybody. Of course, there is room for further im
the near term, it hinted at continuing its liquidity Well, I think consistency has to be defined the points I bring out in the book is that the Thereafter, of course, how we were able provement. I think sometimes we beat
moderation of indirect support, the RBI has ex because no government’s foreign policy Chinese perhaps assumed that there were to overcome the challenge that we faced is ourselves up on matters where we should
tax component of pump tended the duration of (i) can be static or remain unchanged. Every greater differences within the Indian polit another matter. There I think there is a le actually be looking at whether we have
prices by the Centre and ontap TLTRO and (ii) re country is either growing or shrinking not ical system than was actually the case. gitimate diplomatic strategy to use the achieved a credible objective or not rather
States laxation in marginal just in terms of economic capacities but Both during the 1998 nuclear tests and help of some to make others see our point than imagining that we must achieve a cer
standing facility (MSF) also in terms of relative power vis-a-vis during the subsequent IndoUS 123 deal of view. This is where diplomatically we tain objective and then decide we haven’t.
Faster revival till December 2021. other countries and, therefore, foreign there was a general political consensus on leveraged relationships with some coun Obviously, the objectives are first set by the
Diving deep into the early growth It also extended the deadline for policy is a fluid process where adjustments the direction, although there may have tries to ensure that others who were op government and then we set out to achieve
trends, the RBI expects that post the achievement of financial parameters are being made continuously. So, what I been some differences in terms of modalit posed to us, who were in the shadows to them.
second wave of Covid, the revival is under Resolution Framework 1.0 to can say is that in the early years after Inde ies — on how to approach the Chinese side block us, were also brought in agreement.
faster than earlier, reflecting sus October 1, 2022. These postponement pendence, particularly in relation to or on how to square the issue with them. Here, obviously, because China was the So why is this trust deficit with China?
tained adaptations to Covidrelated of timelines will provide assurance to China, we not only suffered some disabilit So, I think it is important even now to re major one, and we have had a troubled his I think firstly we must be clear that it is mu
protocols and easing of containment the banks. ies because of the lack of diplomatic exper member that in terms of foreign policy the tory, their opposition was likely to be tual. It is not simply that the Indians dis
forming a formidable pathway for The RBI has affirmed its positive ience, which was because we were a colony national consensus continues to hold. greater. But India’s position had changed trust the Chinese, it is equally true that
growth. outlook to keep the GDP estimate of of the British, and we didn’t have any direct with the five nuclear tests. The lesson that Chinese distrust Indians too. If we look at
Though the high frequency indic FY22 at 9.5 per cent despite some diplomatic dealings with other countries. Why is our foreign policy being seen as should be drawn from the two chapters the history of Indian diplomacy, we have
ators have dipped during May and global think tanks changing their But, also immediately after In de getting influenced by the Americans? Pokhran and the IndoUS 123 deal is: once given an appropriately high position —
June due to local lockdowns and clos outlook based on the temporary dis pendence, we did not build The chapter on Pokhran clearly demon national priorities are clear then you lever from Prime Minister Nehru to Prime Minis
ure of business units, their revival in ruptions caused by second wave. a larger structure of for strates that we acted as our own master. I age it diplomatically, unless you are so ter Modi — to China, the respect and atten
July has been indicative of their force The RBI has made it clear that its eign policy for consulta powerful that you could do it alone — today tion it deserves as a major power. However,
ful comeback. priority is to ensure restoration of tion. In other words, bey Z
Y even the US cannot do it alone. All coun we must ask ourselves whether it has been
While bilateral relationships are
Noticeable is the resurgence of growth. Banks, now on a stronger ond the government tries leverage their diplomatic relation reciprocated. Whether China sees India as
important, we should not give veto
rural demand. The manufacturing footing, should come forward to use there were no other mech ships with others to achieve national ob a major country and gives it the respect
powers to any country to decide
purchasing managers’ index (PMI) the policy relaxations/extensions by anisms such as think jectives and we are doing nothing different and position that is due to India. My own
what our relationship with
that had dropped to 48.1 in June for accelerating credit flow. tanks, re from everybody else. assessment is that this has not been the
the first time in 11 months, reboun search insti other countries should be case. Distrust perhaps has been generated
ded well into expansion zone with a The writer is Adjunct Professor, Institute of tutions or like. Do you think bilateral relations are because of Chinese behaviour and they
reading of 55.3 in July. Insurance and Risk Management, even better VIJAY KESHAV GOKHALE important? need to introspect on this far more than
Former Foreign Secretary
Even the Services PMI recovered to Hyderabad. Views are personal coordina Z
Y I think after the end of the cold war, and India.
Is the dream of running private trains going off-track? BusinessLine

TWENTY YEARS AGO TODAY
SUDHANSHU MANI Railways and private investors. ways. Ever since qualified compan lator: Multiple issues like punctu
It proposes a concession period ies were invited to submit RFPs (re ality, service, accidents, etc., and August 9, 2001
I
ndian Railways (IR) launched of 35 years with a PTO (passenger quest for proposals), prospective penalties would arise, but with all US restores duty-free benefits
an ambitious plan to privatise train operator). A PTO would in bidders had been asking for more infrastructure and operating staff In a move designed to impart dynamism in bilateral
5 per cent of Mail/Express duct a new train, pay fixed haulage time. controlled by the Railways, can the relations, the visiting United States Trade Representative
trains, 109 OD (OriginDestin charges for use of fixed infrastruc Submission of a viable bid PTOs be expected to place their (USTR), Mr Robert Zoellick, today announced the decision of
ation) pairs in 12 clusters. ture, electricity and crew and would involve financing plan, trust in the proposed Independent the US Government to restore the dutyfree benefits under
The objectives were — induction share revenue with the Railways to train selection and commercial Engineer without any regulatory the generalised system of preferences (GSP) to India on 42
of modern technology, reduced be quoted in the bid. The PTO analysis to decide the percentage or adjudicatory authority? products including jewellery, leather and carpets.
maintenance, improved travel would have to ensure 95 per cent of revenueshare. A novel PPP contract should not Announcing this after an hourlong discussion with the
time and enhanced safety besides punctuality, reliability and super Bidders’ concerns must be addressed be unwieldy; a 24year contract Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Murasoli
worldclass travel experience. It ior onboard services like cleanli No risk for Railways would be more reasonable. Maran, Mr Zoellick said this would benefit Indian exports.
also sought to bridge the demand ness and catering. The PTO’s train Progress has been slow and bids For economies of scale, a bidder The other areas that need IDBI seeks long-term capital infusion
supply deficit in the passenger sec would require to clear tests to val have been received only for three must bid for at least three clusters change are: Lack of freedom to THE Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) has
tor and facilitate private invest idate it before introduction. Main clusters — in one cluster only the and commercial analysis of each choose timings of trains as well discussed with the Ministry of Finance the possibility of a
ment of approximately ₹30,000 tenance of trains would be done by Indian Railway Catering and Tour would require a month. It also the origin/destination within a future infusion of longterm funds from the Government by
crore. the PTOs for which they would ism Corporation (IRCTC), and in needed to hold dialogues with city. The exit clauses and penalties way of a suitable debt instrument to further augment its
The PPP project is a sound step need to create facilities. two clusters IRCTC and a half manufacturers of trains. But the needed tweaking as a PTO would capital adequacy ratio (CAR). The issue was broached at a
given the dire straits that the Rail The Railways stood to gain with hearted private player quoting a request to extend the closing of dread an exit with no possibility of meeting convened by the Finance Secretary, Mr Ajit Kumar,
ways’ is in. Its operating ratio (OR), more revenues without invest meagre 1 per cent revenue share. bid to September went unheeded; salvaging its investment in trains. with the top management of IDBI to review the
which has been kept below 100 by ments, PTOs would make profits IRCTC is poised to bag all these extension was eventually given The indexing of haulage charges performance of the Mumbaibased financial institution.
statistical jugglery in last two fisc and passengers would get better clusters. The Railways has bravely from January to July 23, which needed to be relaxed as it would ex However, the discussions on capital infusion was of a
als, is a measure of operational effi travel experience. The project stated that investment of ₹7,200 failed to provide any comfort to ceed the likely increase in fares. preliminary nature and no figure was indicated.
ciency. It is working expenses di would not hit the common man crore had been proposed but it the bidders. The charges themselves should be HC upholds SAT order on Castrol
vided by gross earnings which on because it envisages only aircon would not be PPP by any standard. The model had no risk for the telescopic with distance covered. The Bombay High Court today upheld the SEBI Appellate
appletoapple comparison is a dis ditioned trains for which travellers IRCTC, a listed company but Railways, whereas a bidder had to The Railways should address the Tribunal's (SAT) order directing BP Amoco to pay ₹350 per
mal 125 per cent; the situation is so would be willing to pay more. The owned by the government, may contend with high investment and concerns of the bidders for the re share for acquiring 20 per cent equity in Castrol India. The
bad that the contribution made to only question was whether in mobilise the required funding but operational risks. The Railways’ maining clusters. It is a good initi company today offered an undertaking to the High Court
pension fund (PF) has been vestors would be attracted. as a major shareholder, the Rail help to make the project as risk ative for the country and should that it will make an open offer at ₹350 per share. BP has said
brought to nearly zero, meeting Improvement in punctuality is ways runs the risk of a failed pro averse as possible was a sine qua not be allowed to derail due to it would need three weeks to make the offer and has asked
the burden from borrowings and predicated on PTOs deploying ject and a devalued non. But gaps remained between cussed babudom in the Railways. the Securities and Exchange Board of India not to initiate
extra budgetary support. modern high power trains, but the equityholding. what the prospective bidders any criminal proceedings against the company during the
The Railways is hardpressed to infrastructural upgrade by the The blame for lack of interest in wished and what the Railways was The writer is an Independent period. The court has ordered that the company put up a
invest in new projects. A project in Railways to support higher speeds this premium segment of travel willing to concede. Consultant and former GM, Integral bank guarantee of ₹136 crore in favour of SEBI as interest
PPP mode could benefit both the is uncertain.. must lie squarely with the Rail Absence of independent regu Coach Factory payable from March 14, 2000, onwards because of the delay.
SHORT TAKE easy bl two-way crossword 1941 not so easy

Singaporeans anxious ACROSS
1. Pushcart (6)
DOWN
2. The bleak (fish) (5)
ACROSS
1. In which to trundle one to the
DOWN
2. A wager about pounds of fish (5)
over foreign workers 8. Temporary stop (5) 3. Turncoat (8) tumulus (6) 3. Need to change gear as an apostate (8)
4. Unwanted plant (4) 8. If sea gets up like this one 4. Not wanted in bed, get married
S ingapore Prime Minister Lee
Hsien Loong on Sunday under
lined the need to address Singapor
9. Flounder about, make a
mistake (7)
11. Act of giving birth (8)
5. Divide (5)
6. Throw off vapour (4)
should wait a while (5)
9. Halfblue is beneath making
around end of June (4)
5. Divulge secrets, and make oneself
7. Old size of paper, roughly A2 such a gross mistake (7) scarce (5)
eans’ anxieties over foreign work 12. Scaffold, elevated platform (5) (4) 11. The way the ball is bowled 6. Be in a rage with some the Mufti
pass holders as there has been a
15. Incursion (4) 10. Unwilling (9) around every lid (8) overturned (4)
rising concern among them about
job losses to migrant professionals. 16. Perform on 12 Across (3) 12. Surging waves on sloping 12. Theatrical old coach (5) 7. Half made the writer's old paper size
Singaporeans understand that 17. Eject, expel (4) beach (4) 15. Right to help one with an air (4)
the country needs to welcome the 19. Convenient, near (5) 13. Gift (8) attack (4) 10. Unwilling to let curtain be made
talent and expertise that Singa 14. Remain (4) 16. Be on 12 Across for a short without one (9)
21. Construction, edifice (8)
pore’s economy needs, Lee said in 18. One doing nothing (5) prayer (3) 12. Sea foam almost certain to start
24. Betrayer (7) 20. Odd, laughable (5)
his televised address to Singapor 17. Expel us, to put it another forming (4)
eans ahead of Singapore’s 56 Na 25. Not confined (5) 21. Volume, size (4) way (4) 13. It's given to party going to the
tional Day on Monday. 26. Put together hastily, 22. Metal club (4) 19. Useful cards one holds at country (8)
However, when the number of unceremoniously (6) 23. Seize, grasp suddenly (4) start of Yule (5) 14. Don't go and stop the execution (4)
work pass holders is large, people 21. Edifice constructed for guild 18. He's not working for money in
naturally become worried about SOLUTION: BL Two-way Crossword 1940 in Birkenhead (8) throwing ride (5)
competition for jobs, Lee noted. 24. Treacherous person has a 20. Amusing puppet is about right for it
The uncertainties of Covid19 ACROSS 1. Rightminded 8. Roasting 9. Iron 10. Shard 13. Trio 16. Iris
characteristic touch with (5)
have worsened these anxieties. 17. Huss 18. Hope 20. Stamp 24. Part 25. Woodsman 26.
Impeachment gold (7) 21. The greater part of the cargo (4)
Work pass holders reinforce the 25. Is not bound to render solo at
DOWN 2. Iran 3. Hitch 4. Minor 5. Drift 6. Archbishops 7. 22. Edible seaweed given up as a source
team, but may also compete directly
Endorsement 11. Arras 12. Dogma 14. Rout 15. Gimp 19. Estop 21. start of entertainment (5) of it? (4)
with their local colleagues.
Tronc 22. Modem 23. Amen 26. A lot of money it takes to 23. Take what one can, and brag about it
Lee said he understands these
wrap up warmly (6) (4)
anxieties and problems, and the
government is addressing them. PTI
CM .. . . . . . ...
YK
>
OPINION 9
STAY INFORMED THROUGH THE DAY @ WWW.BUSINESS-STANDARD.COM
Illustration Ajay Mohanty

Volume XXVII Number 235
NEW DELHI | MONDAY, 9 AUGUST 2021
The base effect investments do not take place.

Corporate performance remains uncertain BITs are an elegant mechanism through which
this risk is neutralised. BITs effectively constitute
C
orporate results for April-June 2021-22 have been buoyed by the low
an insurance policy, supplied to all foreign investors,
base effect of the corresponding period of the previous year. There are by the Indian government, against expropriation
also incipient signs of revival and the global bull run in industrial metals risk and policy risk. In any one case, there can be a
has provided an impetus. But the credit offtake has stagnated, and legitimate dispute about whether expropriation
consumption is flat. A sample of 894 listed companies have registered a year- took place. This calls for a hearing, at a neutral
on-year rise of 38 per cent in net sales at ~17 trillion. There is a 23.6 per cent rise forum, where both sides argue their case. As an
in operating profits (PBDIT) at ~5.04 trillion, with profit after tax (PAT) up by example, arbitration in London is a good way to get
high-quality rulings.
166.5 per cent at ~1.53 trillion and profits adjusted for extraordinary items (PIE)
The very presence of a BIT creates an additional
increasing by 120 per cent. Financing costs are down 10 per cent. Corporate tax layer of checks and balances against bad behaviour
collection has risen by 56.7 per cent and employee-related expenses are up 15 by Indian state organisations. Even when BIT liti-
per cent and power/fuel costs by 48 per cent. gation and damages do not come about, they are at
Excluding volatile sectors like banks, non-banking financial companies, and work, invisibly improving the quality of policy work.
refineries, the remaining 775 companies have witnessed a 49 per cent rise in oper- For a foreign investor, a strong BIT creates peace
ating income, 88 per cent in PBDIT, and 292 per cent in PIE. Refiners and oil-mar- of mind. A certain class of risks are removed from
consideration. This encourages greater investment
keting companies have seen lower refining margins due to rising crude oil prices.
into India, which is in the country's interests. In
The 31 banks in the sample have seen a 2.7 per cent fall in operating income, the annual investment flow of about $500 billion
What good are BITs?

while PAT is up 39 per cent, boosted by a 10 per cent drop in interest costs and 24 into India, there will always be a few episodes where
per cent rise in fee-based income. The agro-economy, which was buoyant a year a state organisation has behaved badly, and there
ago, is plateauing but the sugar cycle may be on the downswing. Growth has will be a steady flow of payments of a few billion
moderated in agro-chemicals, fertilisers, and tractors. Profits in fast-moving con- dollars a year, on account of these cases. This is a
good deal, from India's point of view. We should
sumer goods, which depends on semi-urban consumption for momentum, have
been flat with a 17 per cent revenue expansion and 8 per cent rise in PAT. Payouts on account of BITs are like insurance payments that view these small annual payments as being like
insurance payments that undergird the vast enter-
The automobile and auto-ancillaries industries have weathered the worst. undergird foreign investment prise of foreign inflows each year.
In auto ancillaries, 35 firms under review have seen a 140 per cent revenue expan- When an individual employee in a government
M
sion and aggregated PAT of ~522 crore versus losses of ~804 crore YoY. Six of any of us in India are irritated when the ket economy located in a liberal democracy. There department is challenged with a BIT, she has to do
seven automobile majors have reported a 129 per cent revenue expansion, with country's state agencies lose cases, and is no rapid solution to this problem, other than the the work of dealing with an arbitration in London.
~2,203-crore rise in PAT versus losses of ~108 crore YoY. The seventh, Tata Motors, large penalties have to be paid on account long process of achieving mature state institutions. She faces the potential consequences of losing, and
of Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs). But from This is a bigger problem for foreign investors then of having to find resources in the public
struggled with losses of ~4,451 crore. The castings and forgings sector saw a 188
India's viewpoint, it is efficient to enter into BITs. than it is for domestic persons. Locals have a greater finance system to pay damages. This work is irk-
per cent revenue expansion and a turnaround, moving to profits from losses. As India is at an early stage of development, foreign voice in the political system and have a better sense some for the employee. However, we should see
The capital goods sector also saw a turnaround with revenues up 51 per cent. investors face a certain risk of expropriation, and of how policies will evolve in future. Foreign that the flow of a few lost cases a year is the price
The industrial chemicals industry delivered a similar performance. Paper, pack- BITs give them protection when such situations investors know less about India, have a low voice that we pay for reducing the hurdle rate for the vast
aging, and paints industries all benefited from the base effect. Cement, con- arise. We should view penalties in the political system, and may capital flows into India. There is a gap between the
struction, infrastructure, and logistics saw a revenue expansion and better prof- paid on account of BITs as the even face a certain degree of perspective of the people of India and that of the
itability alongside optimistic advisories. occasional insurance-like pay- xenophobia. For an analogy, official that contests a case.
ments that help energise large- consider the ratio of income tax Entering into strong BITs can kick off a spiral of
Among export-oriented sectors, IT and pharmaceuticals are steady. The IT
scale foreign investment into paid by a company to its profit policy reforms through which expropriation risk
industry reported a 27 per cent rise in PAT and 18 per cent rise in revenues. Pharma India. It would be useful for the before tax. The rate of tax pay- comes down, the rule of law is strengthened and
reported a 48 per cent rise in PAT and 19 per cent rise in revenues. Textiles saw a Indian state to harness lost BIT ment by foreign companies policy risk is reduced, as follows. The political lead-
134 per cent revenue expansion and moved to profitability from losses. The big cases as a feedback loop for operating in India is systemat- ership should view each lost case as a bug report,
bull stories are in metals and minerals. Across 35 steel companies, profit hit an improving policy framework. ically higher than local compa- as a trigger for commensurate policy reform. Each
aggregate ~11,604 crore versus losses YoY. Revenues rose 131 per cent. In non- The term of art in this field nies. This is because local com- lost case should lead to improvements of the policy
ferrous metals, revenues rose 65 per cent and PAT rose 680 per cent. Miners is "expropriation". When the panies are more confident in framework through which similar situations would
state grabs private property, this their activities, and take greater not recur. Over the years, as the policy frameworks
reported an 80 per cent rise in revenues while PAT rose by 325 per cent. Given the constitutes expropriation. In an risks in the interpretation of improve, the flow of payments per year would dwin-
base effects of the 10-week lockdown a year ago, this is not a very strong perfor-
mance and the second wave had a negative impact. Growth remains fragile, and
early-stage democracy like
India, the checks and balances SNAKES & LADDERS law. Foreign companies are
more unsure, and opt for
dle away, thus signalling that India has become an
advanced economy. At this point, BITs would
would weaken further in the case of another wave. that control the behaviour of the AJAY SHAH extremely conservative inter- become relatively unimportant, they would become
state are limited. As an example, pretations. insurance contracts against extreme events that
property is not a fundamental Expropriation risk and poli- practically never arise.
Tentative beginning right in the Constitution ever since its very first
amendment. From the viewpoint of a foreign
investor, making business plans in India involves
cy risk is difficult to quantify and impacts upon dif-
ferent situations in a non-uniform fashion. It is not
easy to label a precise outcome as having involved
By this reasoning, countries come in four kinds:
(A) Advanced economies that do not need BITs, (B)
Emerging economies which harness BITs well, (C)
RBI’s position is still fraught with risks expropriation risk. Alternatively, an Indian state expropriation. Hence, it is not an insurable risk: It Developing countries that harness BITs to limit
A
s widely expected, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve organisation can change a policy in ways that inflict is not a risk against which the global insurance mar- state power and protect foreign investors but lack
large losses upon private persons. ket will supply protection to foreign investors. the feedback loops, and (D) Developing countries
Bank of India (RBI) left the policy rate and stance unchanged on Friday.
In advanced economies, the protection of private In the field of public policy, if we do nothing which lack BITs.
However, the resolution of the rate-setting committee and comments property and the rule of law create conditions in about this, the required rate of return for investment
by Governor Shaktikanta Das have given an impression to many in the which private persons are safe. But in India, it's a into India is enhanced to the extent that such risks The writer is a researcher at the Pune International
financial markets that the central bank has made a tentative beginning towards long journey ahead to graduate into a mature mar- are present. The hurdle rate goes up, and many Centre
normalisation of liquidity and monetary conditions. There were two important
signals in this context. First, Jayanth Varma, an external member, did not vote in
favour of the resolution to continue with the accommodative stance as long as
necessary. Second, the RBI intended to increase the amount of liquidity absorption
under the variable rate reverse repo window, which was held in abeyance because
of the pandemic, and reintroduced in January this year.
Making trade work for climate
S
hould India oppose the European Union’s (EU’s) this was also the time when the world was busy signing the emerging world — China, India, Brazil, Indonesia,
Financial markets expect this move to affect liquidity, which has resulted in plan for a carbon border tax — duty on imported free-trade agreements — stitching the economies Vietnam, and all the “other” world exporters — saw
the hardening of bond yields, albeit only marginally. The RBI, however, insisted goods like aluminium, steel, cement, and elec- together so that global trade would be unfettered and their emissions rise. This is why we are on the edge of
that it should not be seen as a reversal of policy accommodation. Clearly, the central tricity from countries with less stringent greenhouse flourish. The reason for this furious activity — express- the climate precipice today.
bank doesn’t want any disruptive signal for the markets at this stage. There is still a gas standards? The answer is both “yes” and “no”. Let ly opposed by many in the developing world, includ- The EU wants to fix this through its carbon border
me explain the complexity, as ing India — was that the already tax. But it is ham-handed at best — deeply divisive
risk of another wave of Covid-19, which could weaken the ongoing recovery, and the
global trade is critically linked to rich world was finding the cost and flawed. The fact is that the erstwhile proponents
RBI would prefer to maintain the support through monetary accommodation. GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions. of production too high there. It of free trade have changed colours; protectionism is
However, this policy position is also fraught with risks. The inflation rate, based on The EU’s move is purported to would be cheaper for its indus- on the rise as they want to manufacture domestically,
the consumer price index, is running above the tolerance band and has forced the pressure other countries to tries to set up shop in parts of the and the EU is no different. But today, it’s a different
MPC to revise its full-year projection. It now expects an average inflation rate of 5.7 impose similar taxation and world, like in China, where world. The former naysayers are vested in this system.
per cent in the current fiscal year, compared to the previous estimate of 5.1 per cent. thereby reduce emissions. But labour was cheap, labour condi- They believe growth happens when they manufacture
This means inflation will remain significantly above the RBI’s target of 4 per cent. the question is if this plan, which tions were weak, and environ- cheap and export to the world. So, how can this system
reeks of protectionism in an mental safeguards could be be reformed through this one clumsy action? It will
In fact, if the actual inflation outcome is marginally higher than the projected rate, increasingly inequitable world, ignored. It worked. Reduced the only add to the distrust between the old and the new
India will have above 6 per cent inflation for two consecutive years. will take us towards a more coop- cost of production enabled con- producers of goods, and emissions.
It has been argued that the average inflation rate at 5.7 per cent in the current erative world required to combat sumption and economic growth Then, it is also a fact that the border tax will add
fiscal year will be an improvement over the 6.2 per cent last year, and it will be brought climate change. in the rich countries. to the revenue of the EU — the UN Conference on
In the early 1990s, when world In the three decades since Trade and Development (UNCTAD) estimates that at
down by spreading the disinflation process over the next two-three years to reduce
the loss in output. There are at least two issues here. First, what happens if the inflation leaders came together to discuss DOWN TO EARTH then, the world has changed dra- $44 per tonne, the carbon border adjustment mech-
and then sign the Framework matically. Today, China is the anism (CBAM) income, as it is called, will rise by $2.5
outcome is above the projected rate. Inflation has surprised the central bank on the
Convention on Climate Change,
SUNITA NARAIN biggest exporter; it has overtaken billion in the EU and fall by $5.9 billion for the export-
upside — the latest revision in projections being a case in point. Also, the central they recognised ecological glob- all other countries, including the ing countries. It will further the inequity; and it won’t
bank believes that inflation is being driven by supply-side issues. Second, how will alisation. It was understood that US. With economic meltdown in go far enough to change the production-consumption
this stated disinflation process move forward? The banking system currently has the emissions would add to the warming of the planet several countries as a result of the pandemic, its share pattern and reduce emissions.
very high levels of liquidity, which is unlikely to help. The daily absorption of liquidity and inevitably lead to catastrophic weather changes in global trade is only increasing. It is then no surprise The world cannot dodge the question of global
by the RBI under the liquidity adjustment facility is about ~8.5 trillion. that knew no borders. It was understood that carbon that China is also the world’s biggest GHG emitter — trade and consumption anymore. It needs a carbon
The central bank seems to have made a hesitant beginning towards normalisa- dioxide was a long-lived gas — it lasts over centuries it emitted 10.35 giga-tonnes (Gt) of carbon dioxide in tax — enough to disincentivise consumption and to
in the atmosphere. And therefore, what was emitted, 2020 as compared to 5 Gt by the next top polluter, the make production systems climate-friendly. But the
tion, but it remains to be seen how it moves forward without creating dislocations
say, in the 1780s — at the start of the industrial revo- US. In this way the rich parts of the world also “export- monies collected from this tax, including the EU car-
in financial markets. A significant delay in addressing inflation risks can increase lution — was still in the atmosphere and would “force” ed” their emissions to the balance sheet of “other” bon border tax, should be spent in countries worst
the cost of containing it in the medium term. A sustained higher inflation rate will the temperatures to rise. countries — called embedded emissions — and con- impacted by climate change. If climate change is a
affect expectations and dent the credibility of the central bank. Besides, real negative I am repeating this well-known fact to reiterate tinued to consume goods at cheaper rates. In 2015, global problem, so must be its resolution. The EU car-
interest rates for too long can affect household financial savings. Recent data suggests that ecological globalisation require countries to act an individual in the US consumed 50 per cent more bon border tax is neither here nor there in the way
that small investors are increasing their investment in the stock market, partly together and to act differentially — equity was under- goods and services than in 1990. The real tragedy is ahead.
because of negative real rates, and may end up hurting themselves. The central stood to be at the core of the climate change conun- that rich countries did not reduce their emissions. So
drum. It was not a moral question but an imperative. even as manufacturing moved to “other” countries, The writer is at the Centre for Science and Environment
bank will need to find the right policy balance soon.
If rich countries emitted in the past, poor countries their emissions, driven by the consumption of goods sunita@cseindia.org
for their development would emit in the future. But and electricity, continued to rise. At the same time, Twitter: @sunitanar
Friedman and the free market debate have happened if the Federal Reserve
Board had done its job and stabilised the
money supply. That is, simple
technocratic measures would have been
and it wasn’t enough. Soon Bernanke was
pleading for help from fiscal policy — that
is, pleading for Keynesianism to come to
the rescue.
Maynard Keynes, took an active role in used to manage the economy — to useful predictions beyond those that sufficient — no need for all that Libertarian policies reached a high-
trying to fight recessions and American college classrooms. And his come from simple supply and demand. Keynesian stuff. water mark in the 1990s, as industries
maintain full employment. concept of the “neoclassical synthesis” — And his first best-selling book, Capitalism Both the United States and Britain from power generation to banking were
Over the decades that followed, markets can work, but only with and Freedom, was more a political tried to implement Friedman’s belief that deregulated. But all too many of these
however, there was sustained pushback government-created guardrails — in sermon than a work of economic analysis. the authorities could stabilise the deregulatory ventures ended in grief,
— first intellectual, then political — effect provided the intellectual That said, Friedman was no mere economy by ensuring steady, slow growth with incidents like the California power
BOOK REVIEW against these constraints, an attempt to justification for the post-war economy. propagandist: He was a brilliant in the money supply; both efforts failed crisis of 2000-1 and, yes, the banking crisis
restore the freewheeling capitalism of But politics was never more than a analytical economist capable of doing dismally. Friedman didn’t help himself by of 2008.
PAUL KRUGMAN yore. Nicholas Wapshott’s Samuelson peripheral concern. path-breaking making wild If you look at the Biden
Friedman: The Battle Over the Free Friedman, on the other hand, was very academic work SAMUELSON predictions about administration’s proposals — which are
FRIEDMAN: The Battle
T
he New Deal and World War II Market is basically an account of this much a political animal. Of course, when he set his runaway inflation for the most part very popular, although
transformed the US economy from pushback and its eventual fate, framed as political crusades make for better mind to it. His work Over the Free Market and depression, their legislative fate is uncertain — they’re
a market free-for-all into a system a duel between two famous economists — entertainment than quiet scholarship, so on monetary Author: Nicholas none of which pro-market, but involve substantial
that was still capitalist, but with many of Paul Samuelson of the Massachusetts Friedman’s life story dominates policy, in Wapshott came true. government spending and regulation in
the rough edges sanded off. Institute of Technology and Milton Wapshott’s book. particular, A number of an attempt to tilt the arc of markets
Profit-seeking business remained very Friedman of the University of Chicago. So, about that political animal: persuaded many Publisher: W W Norton economists had toward social justice. In other words, they
much the norm — America never went in Maybe the first thing you need to Friedman first achieved prominence in economists who Price: $28.95 looked closely at sound a lot like what Paul Samuelson was
for significant government ownership of know is that the idea that what happened academic circles as co-author of a 1946 disagreed with him Friedman’s saying decades ago.
the means of production — but was a personal duel between economic pamphlet denouncing rent control (not about almost Pages: 352 arguments about So by all means you should read
businesses and businesspeople were titans is best seen as a literary conceit. mentioned in this book). He received everything else. the Great Wapshott’s history. But you should also
subject to many new constraints. Taxes Certainly nobody told Paul Samuelson wider notice with a 1953 essay, “The And his Depression, and ask a question I don’t think the book
were high, in some cases as high as 92 per that he was engaged in a fight for Methodology of Positive Economics,” magnum opus, A Monetary History of the found them wanting. And the aftermath answers: Was all of this just a grand,
cent; a third of the nation’s workers were capitalism’s soul. that seems maddeningly abstract until he United States, 1867-1960 (with Anna of the 2008 financial crisis vindicated the ideologically driven detour away from
union members; vigilant antitrust policy Samuelson did write a best-selling finally gets to the meat: A demand that Schwartz), while a magisterial work of doubters. Ben Bernanke, the Fed chair sensible economic theory and policy?
tried to limit monopoly power. textbook that brought Keynesian economists ignore theories about scholarship, clearly had a major political and a huge Friedman admirer, did And why did that happen?
And the government, following the economics — the idea that changes in monopoly and imperfect competition axe to grind. For its big takeaway was the everything Friedman and Schwartz said
ideas developed by Britain’s John government spending and taxes can be because, he claims, they don’t make any claim that the Great Depression wouldn’t the Fed should have done in the 1930s — ©2021 The New York Times News Service
10 NEW DELHI
MONDAY
AUGUST 09, 2021
Opinion
{ OUR TAKE }
E STA B L I S H E D I N 1 9 24
The limits of the
Tokyo 2020: A subjudice rule
new era begins The House can discuss
any matter of public
tures. This rule prohibits the admis- court’s judgment or if going to be dis-
sion of motions, resolutions and cussed before the Supreme Court is
questions for discussion in the House not the point which we are going to
on the ground that the matter is discuss here at all.”
importance. Freedom of before the court. But it is not applica- But as the issue persisted, in 1967,
India’s success, both visible and invisible, speech of legislators ble to bills or an issue of privilege. the then LS Speaker appointed a
can mark the start of a new journey prevails over a self-
The point is that the rule does not committee under VS Page, chairman,
have universal application to all Maharashtra Legislative Council, to
imposed restriction types of business of the legislature. examine the scope of rule of subju-
I
ndia has an Olympic track and field gold. In When the rule of subjudice was dice in a legislature and suggest
itself, that is breathtaking. But Tokyo 2020 has incorporated in the House guidelines to be followed in
T
been a landmark Games for India in more than he Union government, as Rules, the rule-makers had the application of this rule.
reported by this newspa- taken a rather strict view of An important recommen-
one way. Even the medal tally — India’s best per on Friday, has said this, and did not want a dis- dation of this committee was
ever with seven — doesn’t do justice to the that since the Pegasus cussion in the House to that the “freedom of speech
breakthroughs India’s athletes have made, the issue is before the influence the proceedings is a primary right whereas
Supreme Court (SC), the in the court in any way. But, PDT the rule of subjudice is a self- On many occasions, Parliament has discussed issues which were before the
number of medal contenders India had, and those matter is subjudice and, therefore, a over a period of time, the imposed restriction, so, Supreme Court. Further, the rules of procedure contain a rule which
who opened new routes. So, along with Neeraj Achary
question on it ought to be disallowed legislature gradually where need be, the latter empowers the House to suspend any rule to facilitate a discussion
Chopra, Mirabai Chanu, Lovlina Borgohain, Ravi in Parliament. This principle is also changed its approach to the must give way to the SONU MEHTA/HT PHOTO
being used to block a discussion on rule. former”. Thus, the primacy
Dahiya, PV Sindhu, Bajrang Punia and the men’s the issue in the House. It is another The problem it encountered was of the freedom of speech of members As a matter of fact, the rule of sub- tate a discussion. The rule of subju-
hockey team — all champions — it is important to matter that when a discussion on the that the moment an issue was of the legislature was recognised as judice was introduced in the rules of dice can also be suspended, if need
remember others. Bhavani Devi, the first fencer issue was first demanded, the issue brought before the court, the legisla- against the restriction imposed by the legislature as a matter of caution. be. This underscores the fact that the
was not before the court. ture would find itself unable to dis- the rule of subjudice. The legislature wanted to avoid a sit- rule of subjudice is not immutable or
from India to compete at the Olympics; Nethra Res subjudice is a legal term cuss it, howsoever important it may In 1968, the LS Speaker explained uation where a debate on a subject in inviolable. Since it has been imposed
Kumanan, the first Indian woman sailor to qualify which, in simple language, means be from the point of view of public the approach to be adopted in the the House may influence the court, by the members on themselves, it can
for the Games; Aditi Ashok, who, in a star-studded that if a matter is before a court, the interest. A legislative House, which is application of this rule. He said, which may impair the fairness and be changed when there is an urgent
same matter cannot be brought the highest representative body of “While on the one hand the chair has objectivity of a judicial decision. But necessity to do so.
field of the world’s best women golfers, missed out before another court by the same the people, could not be placed in to ensure that no discussion in the there has been no evidence so far to Parliament should be able to
on a podium finish by one shot; or the Indian parties. This rule is contained in sec- such a helpless situation. House should prejudice the course of prove that this has happened. On debate all issues of public impor-
women’s hockey squad who made a giant leap that tion 10 of the civil procedure code. The legislature began finding ways justice, the chair has also to see that numerous occasions, Parliament has tance. If the rule of subjudice is rigor-
The purpose of the rule is to prevent around it. In 1955, Lok Sabha (LS) the House is not debarred from dis- discussed issues which were before ously followed, any person can sty-
almost took them to a medal. contradictory orders on the same Speaker GV Mavlankar, while deal- cussing an urgent matter of public SC. Major financial scams were mie a debate in the House by just fil-
All these names suggest two heartening trends. issue being issued by two different ing with a subjudice matter with importance on the ground that a sim- debated by the Houses although they ing a case on the subject in any court
One, it symbolises a welcome shift where women courts. Various rulings by courts, regard to the prize competition bill, ilar, allied or linked matter is before were before the court. Thus, the free- in the country. Therefore, the plea of
however, indicate that this rule is not 1955, said that what the House would the court of law.” The main concern dom of the House to discuss all issues subjudice need not be stretched to
are overcoming social obstacles to shine. Two, it invoked liberally while admitting discuss would be different from the among legislators was that the House of public importance was accorded absurd lengths.
highlights the difference that proper training in suits. point the court might deal with. Mav- should not be hobbled by undue primacy.
the right kind of environment makes. India’s sport The subjudice rule has found a lankar said: “Whatever law might restriction imposed on its freedom to Further, the rules of procedure PDT Achary has served as secretary-gen-
place in the rules of the Houses of have been discussed there, in the discuss matters of great public inter- contain a rule which empowers the eral, Lok Sabha
governing bodies have done well to step back from Parliament and also the state legisla- appellate judgment or the first est. House to suspend any rule to facili- The views expressed are personal
seeking to control every aspect of an athlete’s
career and allowing them the freedom to choose
their coaches and training bases. The federations
must now build a wide base for their sport by { STRAIGHTFORWARD } { NV RAMANA } CHIEF JUSTICE OF INDIA
creating infrastructure, but of the right kind, and Shashi Shekhar
giving access to the maximum number of young P
people possible. Devi almost gave up on fencing
If, as an institution, the judiciary
because in India, the sport has almost no presence.
This is understandable— fencing’s cultural roots
lie in Europe and it is expensive. But what about
Restoring governance wants to garner the faith of the
citizens, we have to make everyone
running tracks? Astroturfs? Wrestling mats?
Punching bags? Javelins?
Neeraj Chopra, a truly gifted athlete who has
and normalcy in J&K feel assured that we exist for them.
For the longest time, the vulnerable
made the nation proud, also got lucky in some n Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), on The painful stories of common people population has lived outside
ways. He was spotted early, at 16, by a great coach;
he had time to build on the fundamentals, and was
then carefully nurtured by a succession of great
I August 5, the second anniversary of the
effective abrogation of Article 370,
nothing of the kind that separatists
were expecting happened. To be sure, there
were some protests. But rallies with the Tri-
don’t go unheard anymore. The victim told
me, in detail, how bureaucratic decisions
and attitudes under previous governments,
run by two political dynasties, were contin-
gent on whether they would be of personal
A
the system of justice.
coaches. Most athletes in most sports in India colour were also held at various locations gain and loss to the chief minister.
don’t get that care till they have already reached
Regardless of season
across the Valley. This was unimaginable in Later, explaining this lack of grievance
an elite level of performance. But as challenges the past, for these were the same spots redressal in the past, J&K’s Lieutenant-Gov-
where Pakistan’s flag used to be visible and ernor, Manoj Sinha, said that there used to
persist, there is little doubt that India’s success at its national anthem could be heard. be two types of Members of Legislative
Tokyo is both visible — in terms of the medals —
and invisible — in terms of progress across
disciplines. The stage is set for Paris and beyond.
Though shops did not open in the old
markets on August 5, was it a symbol of
mukhalifat (resistance), fear or doubt?
On a recent visit to the Valley, two weeks
Assembly (MLAs) — one of the people, and
the other of the collector. The district
administration used to do what collector’s
MLA wanted. It was this political-bureau-
or size, Singapore-India
before the August 5 anniversary, I met a
man who was trembling on his numb legs
and moving with the help of a stick. He said
cratic nexus that led the Valley to misery.
During the visit, I also met a top intelli-
gence official who said terrorists nurtured
ties remain robust at 56
There will be more that he was returning home after shopping by Pakistan could be divided into three cate- ugust is a special month for Singa- policy unveiled in 2014 by Prime Minister (PM)
floods. Be prepared
in the evening, and it was getting dark.
“Suddenly two people stopped me and
asked, ‘Is your name…?” I said yes. As soon
as they heard me, one of them hit me on the
back of my neck. When I fell down, one of
gories. “The first are those who carry guns
and regularly announce on social media
that they are mujahideen. Second, those who
are partly involved in terrorism due to
unemployment or as a pastime. These are
A pore. We celebrate two important Narendra Modi. Singapore has always been
occasions on August 8 and 9 — the one of the earliest and strongest proponents of
establishment of the Association of closer ASEAN-India ties. We believe that the
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1967, and growth and opening up of India will contribute
the independence of modern Singapore in greatly to peace, prosperity, and stability in our
them asked me, ‘Did you vote?’ I said yes. He the people who carry out grenades or other 1965, respectively. region. The evolving regional architecture will
he number of people exposed to floods world- drew a pistol. I begged for mercy, but he small attacks. There is another category, August also holds special meaning for India. be stronger and enhanced by India’s active par-
T wide has increased by almost a quarter over the

last two decades, according to an analysis of
satellite-based data by Columbia University’s Earth
could not be dithered. I was shot in the legs
and they disappeared.” I asked him if the
attackers were caught. He said that since
they had covered their faces, he couldn’t
recognise them.
those who use social media to provoke the
masses” He added that it was those from the
second and third categories who were more
dangerous. “They live a normal life but pur-
sue the attitude of a terrorist. No one knows
On August 15, 1947, India emerged from British ticipation.
rule to become an independent country. While As PM Modi said at the 37th Singapore Lec-
nation-building is a never ending task, both ture in November 2015, “In the flux and transi-
Singaporeans and Indians have much to be tion of our times, the most critical need in this
proud of. Our two nations have built multi-ra- region is to uphold and strengthen the rules
Institute. The report, published in Nature last week, The victim said that he had visited sev- their deeds, that is why the neighbours sup- cial, multi-religious societies based on equality and norms that must define our collective
has three main findings. One, nearly 86 million eral leaders for help, but no one had lis- port them when they are raided…It is diffi- and the rule of law. behaviour”. These words have
people, driven by economic necessity, moved to tened. He then went to the authorities, and cult to overcome their duplicity, but we are India is a longstanding friend of proven to be prescient as our collec-
got an assistance of ₹75,000 and a promise on the right track.” Singapore and was one of the first tive behaviour will determine how
flood-prone regions between 2000 and 2015. Two, of job for his brother in the police. Pakistan wants at least 200 armed terror- countries to recognise our inde- quickly the world emerges from the
the majority of flood-prone countries are in South While he preferred to remain anony- ists to be active in the Valley and the police pendence. The historical, literary, depths of the Covid-19 pandemic.
and Southeast Asia. Three, most flood events were mous, the man’s story can answer questions are still looking for around 180 of these. But cultural and economic ties go back Despite our obvious differences
about today’s Kashmir. The terrorists this does not mean that terrorism is still as many centuries. Many Singapore- in size, our shared strategic outlook
caused by excess rainfall. wanted to make him a moving pamphlet widely prevalent. The empowerment of the ans have family ties in India. When
Vivian impels us to work for and uphold an
Floods happen due to both heavier than normal against Indian democracy but they failed J&K Police has increased its ability to com- Covid-19 first hit last year, India sup- Balakrishnan open, inclusive, rules-based interna-
rainfall, and the limited capacity of rivers, drainage miserably. After casting his vote, without municate with the villagers. And security ported Singapore by keeping the tional system. Isolationism and pro-
being distracted by threats, he is now fight- forces are able to nab most youths even supply chains of essential goods tectionism will not be the solution
and water harvesting structures to discharge excess ing for his rights under the Indian Constitu- before they become trouble. open. India subsequently found itself confront- to creating opportunities in a world undergo-
rainwater. The climate crisis is causing disruptions tion. His story tells us that how Kashmir is According to Inspector-General of Police ing the second wave, and I am glad that Singa- ing radical changes in geopolitics and the
in monsoon patterns, and scientists warn that floods changing now, after going through all the Vijay Kumar, 1,394 incidents of stone-pelt- pore could reciprocate with our modest contri- ongoing digital revolution. We need to invest in
ups and downs. ing were recorded between August 2017 and bution of oxygen-related supplies. our people, our infrastructure and reform our
will only become more frequent and powerful. To July 2019, which dropped to 382 in the next Singapore and India are natural partners. economic structures on the domestic front. We
minimise loss, planners need to combine traditional year. In those two years, 27 civilians and We must continue with this spirit of collabora- should build support for a rules-based multi-
knowledge (which saw floods as a natural process four security personnel were killed. In the tion as we navigate a pathway out of the pan- lateral world order.
last year, this figure has reached zero. Simi- demic and re-emerge stronger. This is also the central task for ASEAN in the
one had to find ways to live with), robust data, and larly, there has been a significant decline in Bilaterally, we enjoy close partnership in the years ahead. At a time of great geostrategic
innovative strategies. terrorist incidents. economic, security, and people-to-people churn, preserving ASEAN unity and centrality
Conventionally, hard infrastructural solutions — Is that enough? No, there are more prob- domains, including on skills and urban devel- and strengthening the multilateral framework
lems in the Valley. The separatist senti- opment. Singapore has been India’s largest will require sustained and concrete actions by
such as embankments and dams — have been ments have been fed by the syllabus of pri- source of foreign direct investment for three both ASEAN member-states and its external
popular to reduce the impact of flooding. But there is mary schools and madrasas in Kashmir. A consecutive years, averaging $16 billion in total partners.
now a shift towards nature-based solutions due to new syllabus is being implemented from equity inflows annually. We are further deep- With its strategic heft, India can play a
August to reverse this. At the same time, a ening our partnership in areas that will unique role in buttressing ASEAN’s efforts. As
their co-benefits. For example, while mangroves list of teachers, state workers, and officials become even more salient in the post-pan- Singapore commences its three-year term as
protect coasts, they also support fisheries and food with a separatist attitude or those who are demic world — fintech, innovation and skills, country coordinator for ASEAN-India Dialogue
security, and act as a carbon sink. Cities are also nurturing terrorists has also been compiled. and digital connectivity. Relations this month, we will work unremit-
So far, action has been taken against more Our bilateral efforts in these areas can also tingly to strengthen the ASEAN-India Strategic
trying out new methods such as developing a than 100 people. be a pathfinder for others in the region. For Partnership. We invite India to give even fuller
network of green areas, which can absorb excess Despite all these efforts, it will take some example, Singapore is looking into expanding expression to its “Act East” policy as ASEAN
water, and porous pavements to tackle urban time to win the trust of the masses in the our Business sans Borders (BSB) initiative and India mark 30 years of relations next year.
Valley. There are many wounds on the beyond our pilot partners of India and the Phil- I am confident that Singapore and India will
flooding. To reduce the impact of flooding, it is also hearts and minds of this land and its ippines, to all 10 ASEAN member-states. When continue to work closely for the mutual benefit
critical to go back to basic practices: Plant more Despite many confidence-building efforts descendants, which need to be healed with complete, the BSB initiative will enhance of our peoples and the region, just like what we
trees, restore water bodies, improve soil cover with by the government led by Lieutenant- the efforts of the government. regional economic growth and increase finan- have always done, regardless of season.
Governor, Manoj Sinha, it will take some cial inclusion in our local communities.
plants, and stop destroying and encroaching upon time to win the trust of the masses in the Shashi Shekhar is the editor in chief of Hindustan We welcome India’s continued engagement Dr Vivian Balakrishnan is the Foreign Minister of
the floodplains of rivers. India needs to pay heed. Kashmir Valley PTI The views expressed are personal with ASEAN, anchored by India’s “Act East” Singapore. The views expressed are personal
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Editor: KUNAL PRADHAN

12 MONDAY, 9 AUGUST 2021
NEW DELHI VIEWS LIVEMINT.COM
OUR VIEW MY VIEW | ON THE OTHER HAND

BLOOMBERG
Our broken growth model is in

acute need of some repair work
Solving India’s chicken-and-egg problem of income and investment will take government action
bank loan defaults. Also, some business Indians and not the income growth of
promoters simply siphoned off money an average Indian. These are two very
borrowed from banks. different things. It is safe to say that the
This led to huge bad loans for banks income growth of an average Indian
that peaked at ₹10.36 trillion, as of 31 must have been even slower.
March 2018. More importantly, this In this scenario, if income growth has
pushed banks away from funding indus- to pick up, investment needs to go up in
trial projects. Also, many corporates order to create jobs and spur economic
were not in a position to borrow, having activity. The trouble is that many busi-
VIVEK KAUL already gone on a borrowing binge. In nesses are not in a position to borrow.
is the author of ‘Bad Money’. the process, India’s investment to GDP Even if they are, the capacity utilization
ratio fell. In 2020-21, it was at an almost in many sectors continues to be low,
two-decade low of 27.1%. Even before which means that producers have no
2020-21, between 2015-16 and 2019-20, need to expand unless consumer
The recovery of India’s

it had been in the 28-29% range. demand rises to justify it.
Meanwhile, Indian exports fell to Consumer demand is a function of
I
ndia was expected to grow in double 18.7% of GDP in 2020-21. Even between income growth. Income growth, in
digits in 2021-22. This was primarily 2015-16 and 2019-20, these were in the turn, depends on investment. This has
because of the contraction of our 18-20% range. This fall has primarily become like a chicken-and-egg story,
reputation on tax policy economy in 2020-21. The low base of

the last financial year would have made
economic growth this year look good.
However, most double-digit eco-
been driven by a massive fall in outward
shipments of goods.
Nevertheless, private consumption,
or the money you and I spend on buying
which has proven difficult to break.
On exports, there has been some
good news this year. India’s goods
exports between April and July stood at
nomic growth forecasts for the current things, came to the rescue. It continued $130.5 billion, almost 22% higher than
financial year have been cut to single to grow in double digits post 2011-12 between April and July 2019.
Two decisions last week, one on contract validity and another on retrospective taxation, have digits. The International Monetary and up until 2016-17. After that, con- If India must extricate itself from this
Fund recently cut its growth forecast for sumption growth declined, but up to situation, both central and state govern-
reassured global investors of a stable business environment. Let no further confusion prevail India from 12.5% to 9.5%. 2019-20, it was still very close to 10% per ments need to spend more. This could
Of course, the two covid waves have year. The trend led to consumption’s involve everything from putting more
had a huge role to play in this. Neverthe- share in our economy increasing from money directly in the hands of citizens
less, even pre-pandemic, India’s eco- 56.2% in 2011-12 to 60.5% in 2019-20. In in the form of tax cuts to spending more
P
olicy consistency is among the interest and penalty on capital gains made on a nomic growth model of recent years 2020-21, consumption contracted by money on capital-intensive infrastruc-
hallmarks of a democracy. It gives 2007 deal done overseas that saw it buy control was in the process of breaking down. 6%, leaving it at 58.6% of GDP. ture projects. Cutting excise duty on
But before we get to that, it’s important Private consumption was funded petrol and diesel could be a small start.
investors the confidence that busi- for $11 billion of Hutch Essar, an Indian telecom to look at what drove economic growth through savings as well as increased The worry here is that this will
ness rules will not change without business, from a Cayman Islands unit of Hong during the first decade of the new borrowings. Bank lending to the retail involve governments having to borrow
good reason. Two developments last Kong’s Hutchison Whampoa. Even more com- millennium and a few years after. sector increased from 9% of GDP in more in a situation where the liabilities
week have helped salvage India’s plex was the case of Cairn, which in 2015 was The two things that drove economic 2011-12 to 14.3% in 2020-21. There has of the central and state governments
reputation for policy stability among global slapped with a tax bill of about $4.3 billion growth were investments and exports. also been an explosion in retail lending have already touched around 91.7% of
Our investment to gross domestic prod- by non-banking finance companies. GDP, as of March 2021, which is a very
investors. On Friday, our apex court ruled in traced to a 2006 transfer of Indian oil assets to uct (GDP) ratio was at 26% in 2000-01. This is something that cannot con- high figure for an emerging economy.
favour of America’s Amazon Inc, upholding a a group entity as part of an asset consolidation By 2011-12, it had jumped to 34.3%. tinue indefinitely, given that the ability While economists, politicians and
Singapore arbitration interim order halting exercise. To claim this sum, India seized and Exports jumped from 13% to 24.5% of of people to repay loans and of banks to analysts like to talk of clear-cut solu-
Reliance’s $3.4 billion acquisition of Future later sold off shares held by Cairn in a local unit GDP during the period. They rose give out fresh retail loans depends on tions for every situation, the one we are
Group’s retail assets on account of the latter’s that was in the process of being merged with further to 25.4% in 2013-14. This drove income growth. Per capita gross currently in doesn’t have an easy way
growth like never before. national disposable income grew in out. Our two waves of covid, along with
prior pact with the US company. On the same Vedanta. This money, we must now repay. Our The story started to unravel there- single digits between 2014-15 and the breakdown of India’s growth model
day, the Lok Sabha okayed a bill that amends refusal to do so even after international awards after. Inflation hit double digits. Corpo- 2019-20. Growth in 2019-20 was just prior to that, have left the Indian econ-
the Income Tax Act and Finance Act, 2012, to of arbitration in Cairn’s favour made it press rates found that they had been a little 6.8%. In comparison, this growth had omy on a wing and a prayer.
scrap retrospective taxation of indirect trans- for compensation enforcement, and a recent too optimistic in their assumption that stood at 16.9% in 2010-11. Time, it is often said, is the greatest
fers of Indian assets. Offshore deals on foreign French court directive nearly saw Indian assets India would be the next China. Projects Also, it is worth remembering that healer. The Indian economy needs time
did not take off on time, leading to huge this is the average income growth of to heal, and quite a bit of it.
holdings will still be taxable, but only if done grabbed by it in Paris. The shock of this made it
after a 2012 tweak to that effect came into force clear how untenable our insistence on retro tax
on 28 May 2012, not before. As this will nullify payments was. Vodafone, likewise, had also
demands raised on transactions done earlier, it won its argument against our tax authorities. As
marks a welcome U-turn on the government’s India has signed foreign treaties that require us
effort to squeeze the likes of UK-based Voda- to abide by global arbitration, our rejection of
fone and Cairn Energy for taxes on deals done those awards had left global observers aghast. www.livemint.com New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh*, Pune* Tuesday, August 9, 2011 Vol.5 No.188 `3.00 32
24 PAGES
+ 4 MARKETS PAGES
before they were made taxable. It’s unfortunate A lid can finally be placed on that saga now, WSJ: Germany opposes
larger rescue fund >19
NATION: Corruption accusations against
two CMs turn heat up on Congress >6
that it took a string of adverse rulings by arbi- but our principles of taxation must not get CORPORATE: First quarter order inflows
skid even as L&T sticks to guidance >5
[India’s] decision to
EXCLUSIVE PARTNER
EARNINGS: Mahindra & Mahindra’s June
quarter net increases 7.6% >7
trators abroad, exposing our tax policy to global confused in all its twists and turns. We must not SENSEX 16,990.18 æ 315.69
Govt to present
NIFTY 5,118.50 æ 92.75
TRACKING EUROPE
DOLLAR `44.97 Æ `0.24 EURO `63.78 Æ `0.19 GOLD `24,930 Æ `395 OIL $106.19 æ $2.37
QUICK EDIT
ridicule, for us to alter our stance. To settle mix up our right to tax offshore deals involving
status report
on Air India,
Arvind Jadhav
Markets fluctuate as Next in the
line of fire abolish retrospective
uncertainties persist I t’s interesting to
speculate on the
B Y T ARUN S HUKLA & next member of the
P .R . S ANJAI
taxation shows the

club of AAA-rated
························· sovereigns in the line
those disputes, the Centre is now expected to local assets with the absurdity of such a rule’s
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI
of downgrading fire.
T he United Progressive Alli-

ance government will give Policymakers, central
Only rating agencies
can give a definite
lawmakers an account of the
state of debt-laden Air India
bank try to assuage Amid turmoil, outlook gets murkier answer to that. But
three days after the
Ltd on Tuesday even as moves concerns of investors; VOLATILITY US downgrade, France,
may be afoot to replace its Sensex down 1.82%, Volatility indices soar worldwide on the first day of trading
for most markets after S&P's US credit ratings downgrade.
UNCERTAINTY
OECD says its composite leading indicators show that most of the
it seems, is in a hard
chairman Arvind Jadhav, spot. Among AAA-rated
whose appointment is being closes below 17,000 35 34.45*
world's largest economies are heading for a period of slower growth.
countries, yields on its
refund levies already collected, provided off- retrospective application. Had we not closed
NSE volatility index
Month-on-month growth rate (%) See Page 19
challenged by the opposition, 33.47* 10-year government
government’s commitment
FTSE100 volatility index
CBOE volatility index 0.4
aviation ministry officials said. B Y V YAS M OHAN & securities are one of the
30 US
Currently undergoing a gov- A NIRUDH L ASKAR 0.2 highest. Credit default
ernment rescue, Air India’s ························· swaps on France are
MUMBAI 0
debt is expected to touch $20 25 EURO more than double those
billion (`90,000 crore today)
by the end of this fiscal. It has
been afflicted by labour strife,
hasn’t paid its employees for
I ndian stocks staged a dra-
matic recovery on Monday
tracking early gains in Eu-
rope after the region’s central
20
18.41 -0.2
-0.4
AREA -0.1
-0.3
of the UK—it is one
of the most expensive
AAA-rated countries to
protect against a default.
the-hook assessees drop their legal charges and the loophole we did in 2012, we may well have
two months and most recently bank was said to be buying -0.6
CHINA -0.6 While this is not an
its entry into the Star Alliance Spanish and Italian bonds to 15 28.78 indicator of how likely
-0.8 INDIA
grouping was suspended. ward off defaults, but lost 16.52 it is to be downgraded,
to... a stable investment

At least five members of Par- ground by the close of trade as 16.20 *updated till 9.10pm -1.0 -0.9 it speaks of how jittery
10
liament (MPs) have issued a European shares reversed their markets are.
-1.2
calling-attention motion on advance. 30 Jun 8 Aug The danger to France
Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Air India. BSE’s bellwether equity in- comes from its being a
Aviation minister Vayalar dex, the Sensex, hit an intraday SAFETY big pillar of the euro
Ravi, who is suffering from a low of 16,759.45 points, losing International gold prices cross $1,700 per ounce as investors seek safe havens. See Page 3
do not demand interest on the money owed. seen an overseas market emerge for Indian
zone economy: If its
sore throat, may lay the Air In- at least 3% in early trade as a 1,720
(Gold spot $/oz) share of liabilities in,
dia statement in the House or rating downgrade of the US by 1,718.2 1,697 say, protecting Italy
another minister may speak on Standard and Poor’s (S&P) 1,710 11.01am
and Spain rises—as it
his behalf. triggered panic selling across 1,681.70 may—then its burden
1,700
“A statement will be laid to- Asian equity markets. It closed can rise dramatically.
regime and consistency

morrow morning in reply to at 16,990.18, down 1.82%. 1,690 The markets can see
the questions that have been The 50-share Nifty of the Na- 1,680 these dangers plainly.
asked,” said a ministry official, tional Stock Exchange (NSE) 3.30am 7.24pm
As the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party had assets beyond the reach of our tax system. Our
who did not want to be named. recovered from an intraday Source: Bloomberg
Jadhav’s appointment is also low of 5,054.05 points to close
AHMED RAZA KHAN/MINT
likely to be under focus in the at 5,118.50, down 1.78%.
House. He may be asked to
leave soon, a top government
All major Asian indices end-
ed in the red, with the Shenzen Broad-based RESCUE EFFORTS
Govt report says
official said. “The green signal
is there from all levels,” he
SE Composite Index declining
4.43% to top the losers. slide in the US Fed still has some tricks 4 in every 1,000
said, adding that the hunt for The fall may continue on
notes are fake
of policy.
replacements is on. Tuesday with the Dow Jones R EUTERS
left, but none are magic
slammed the then Congress-led government’s error was to think tax notices could be slapped
Two candidates who were Industrial Average dropping feedback@livemint.com
approached for the job said 357.27 points, or 3.12%, to ························· B Y A PPU E STHOSE S URESH &
few want the post, because Air 11,087.34 at 10pm India time. NEW YORK
D INESH U NNIKRISHNAN
India “has been ruined com-
pletely”, according to one of
The panic was palpable,
with policymakers rushing to U S stocks tumbled in heavy
volume on Monday, with
B Y J ON H ILSENRATH
The Wall Street Journal
of them are very small. Some
might bite. And he’s reluctant
·························
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI
them. The second candidate

said: “No one would like to
leave with the reputation of
reassure investors that neces-
sary steps will be taken to
cushion the impact of a fresh
more than 1,000 stocks traded
on the New York Stock Ex-
change hitting 52-week lows,
·························
S ince the onset of the finan-

cial crisis in August 2007,
to pull them out until he is
sure the audience is ready.
In January, the Fed project-
F our in every 1,000 currency
notes in circulation in In-
dia are fake, amounting to as
closing an airline.” Both candi- bout of global economic un- after rating agency Standard Federal Reserve (Fed) chaired US economic output would much as `3,200 crore in 2010,
2012 shift as “tax terror”, the Narendra Modi on deals going back to 1962. This was akin to,
dates declined to be named. certainty stoked by US and and Poor’s cut the US’ perfect man Ben Bernanke has been grow by as much as 3.9% this a confidential government re-
The Bharatiya Janata Party euro zone sovereign debt wor- AAA credit rating, rattling al- pulling rabbits out of his hat. year. In April, it revised that port has found in a first-ever
(BJP) blamed the Prime Minis- ries. ready jittery investors. He cut interest rates to near down to 3.3%, in June, 2.9%, attempt to estimate the quan-
ter’s Office on Saturday for Even before the markets The Dow Jones Industrial zero, printed $2.3 trillion (`104 and now that looks optimistic. tum of counterfeit notes in the
opened, India’s central bank Average dropped 357.27 points, trillion today) to buy treasury Unemployment is stuck above country.
TURN TO PAGE 3® issued a statement saying it or 3.12%, to 11,087.34. The S&P bonds and mortgage debt, and, 9%. Prices rose more than the The so-called white paper
was monitoring the global situ- 500 Index fell 45.23 points, or with a posse of sleepless econ- Fed expected early in the year, on the status of fake Indian
ALSO SEE ation and would “respond 3.77%, to 1,154.15. The Nasdaq omists, devised an alphabet though inflation shows signs of currency notes, prepared
>Air India’s recurring default ‘credit quickly and appropriately to Composite Index lost 98.24 soup of rescue programmes for retreating. jointly by the Intelligence Bu-
administration’s pursuit of those cases had say, the Queen of Wonderland penalizing
negative’ for its banks >P6 the evolving situation”. points, or 3.88%, to 2,434.17. commercial paper markets, If Bernanke can help the reau, Research and Analysis
The Reserve Bank of India Bank of America Corp. money market funds, dollar- economy, even at the margins, Wing, Directorate of Revenue
N A R E N D R A MOD I
(RBI) said the Indian banking shares fell as much as 16.4% starved European banks and his record shows he will try. But Intelligence and the Central
system does not face any im- after American International other strained organizations in he is also determined not to stir Bureau of Investigation, says
mediate liquidity stress, and it Group Inc. said it is suing the the vast global financial sys- up inflation—now running this seriously affects the “credi-
vowed to ensure adequate ru- bank to recover more than $10 tem. nearer to the Fed’s 2% objective bility of the rupee as legal ten-
pee and forex liquidity. billion over a “massive fraud” The objective: to keep the —more than he already has. der”.
Assurances also came from on mortgage debt. damaged post-bubble econo- Worries about causing infla- Mint has reviewed a copy of
finance minister Pranab my from drifting into zombie- tion fears, coupled with divi- the report that was submitted
WWW.LIVEMINT.COM
been a surprise. Of the 17 retro tax demands, someone for past violations of a rule only just
Mukherjee, Planning Commis- land. Now, stock markets are sions inside the Fed, make it to the government in June.
sion deputy chairman Montek Log on to our website to keep gyrating and the economic unlikely that Bernanke is about Fake currency is
track of developments. outlook is growing dimmer. to unleash a torrent of new se- 0.0004-0.0012% of bank notes
TURN TO BACK PAGE ® Standard and Poor’s down- curities purchases, known as in circulation, it cites the Re-
grade of US debt is a reminder quantitative easing (QE). That’s serve Bank of India (RBI) as
ALSO SEE >Non-ferrous metal firms to bear
that the financial system is one the big rabbit that might bite. saying, which is four in every
the brunt >P14 shock away from more insta- The earlier round of pur- one million, much lower than
>Overseas revenue stream may weigh on >MINT MONEY: Use corrections to bility. As Bernanke prepares to chases was meant to hold the white paper estimate.
some firms >P4 enhance equity portfolio >P16 lead a meeting of the US cen- down long-term interest rates, The central bank does not
the most prominent case was that of Vodafone made up. Business, though, can only operate in
>Promoters may have to pledge more >Gold prices up, but stick to 5-10%
shares as collateral >P4 tral bank’s policy committee and spur investment and have an estimate of fake cur-
allocation >P16
>Strong yen to hurt Japanese car on Tuesday, he must be asking spending, but printing lots of rency notes circulating in the
>WSJ: Finance ministers pledge
manufacturers in India >P4 to calm markets >P19 himself: Are there any rabbits dollars puts upward pressure country, an RBI spokesman
Mint is also available for R5.50 with >MARK TO MARKET: Do US and Europe >Commodity currencies a refuge as left?
Hindustan Times under a combo offer have a plan B? >P14 intervention upends havens >P24 The answer: Yes. But some TURN TO PAGE 2® TURN TO PAGE 2®
Plc, asked to cough up $2.7 billion in taxes, a world of rules that are rational and clear.
MY VIEW | MODERN TIMES
Indians await ‘normal life’... but what is normal life?

dards for hygiene and inter-city travel. India food that is not only inessential but deadly, For Indians, normal life is about throngs of ancholic in rich nations, where mental afflic-
MANU JOSEPH could have even quit perceiving and treating made inexpensive by heavy subsidies. people. Everywhere. People are the back- tions are not expected to have major causes,
all Indians as though they are poor. India is in a perpetual—hence normal—war drop, extras in the more interesting stories Indians have to invent grand sociological and
But we did little, if anything. All those against poverty. And India’s main assumption about ourselves. We have been missing them. medical reasons, even grave injustice, to
months when Indians stayed at home did not that shapes all policy is that the only thing that Even though they make long queues longer, explain their affluent sorrows.
see much done in terms of public works. Nor- is essential is food. Thus India will continue to talk in movie theatres and cut lanes, we feel Our balcony enthusiasts have always felt it
A
s the pandemic wanes and the world, mal Indian life is going to be highly recogniz- confuse a basic necessity with what is essen- lost without them. Indians are unaccustomed somewhat indecent to lament their half-
tired of fearing death, opens up, Indi- able. India, which does not wish any Indian to tial. It will not concede that what is essential to to empty roads. Vast hectares of pastures glooms in a nation where people have tragic
ans look forward to the return of die of corona, will let them die in other ways. life, even for the poor, is fun without even a sign of peo- stories and yet manage to live banal lives with
‘normal life’. As though normal life in India When things get back to ‘normal life’, more and other joys. ple is the very idea of sor- banal joys. The pandemic, briefly, offered
was something pleasurable. Indians will die on the roads, and in factory That the poor must be Contrary to row for us. Insufficient pub- India’s rich a respectable trigger. They talked
When covid first began to spread, the most fires, but without masks. There will be longer preoccupied with eating, lic infrastructure results in about how the uncertainty of everything and
contagious pathogens were alarmist analyses queues of people shuffling into government and when not eating with predictions, the a life that is never devoid of their house-arrests, even though their homes
of American commentators whose influence hospitals for a host of seasonal illnesses, and foraging, and when not for- crowds, and that has its own were large enough to have balconies, affected
on modern Indian thought is disproportion- urban smog will return. Indians will spit in aging with grim things, is an
pandemic did happy energy. their mental health. Those were still not
is a journalist, and a novelist,
most recently of ‘Miss Laila,
ate to their capacity to be correct. And the
most influential idea then was that a post-
public spaces as before, and cough on others.
The office, too, is far from dead. Bosses will
overarching assumption
not only of the government,
not change us Indians, even those given
to balcony enthusiasm, who
acceptable reasons by Indian standards,
which require bereavement or impoverish-
Armed And Dangerous’ pandemic world would be unrecognizable.
This was convincing then, but was naive, as
demand that their subordinates be physically
present to reassure themselves that they still
but every organization in
the world that aims to elimi-
much. Normal suffer from chronic sorrow
will have to return to ‘nor-
ment to justify anguish. But still, among all
the reasons affluent Indians have cited for
we now know. The same politicians, the same have underlings who can show through long nate poverty, including the life will be highly mal life’ by seeking non- their reasonless sorrow, the pandemic gloom
billionaires, the same addictions, anarchies, unnecessary hours and wasteful acts that American tech industry. covid reasons for their mel- was the most respectable. After all, it had the
biases and fears run the world. they are doing what looks like work. The same people who recognizable ancholies. It is hard for potential for death and destruction.
There was a long phase during the pan- Also, India’s great political stamina for responded to the pan- them to explain their rea- As ‘normal life’ returns, the sad among the
demic when Indians granted Prime Minister useless things will return in full force as cit- demic—in governments, aca- sonless sorrow because the balcony lot will have to go back to their old
Narendra Modi exceptional influence over ies open fully for agitations and disruptions demia and activism—are those who will be at threshold for what constitutes misery is very lame reasons and feel the unreasonable
them. And India had an opportunity to per- of life. All for lofty esoteric concepts and the helm of ‘normal life’, when India and other high in this country. Hence sorrows need to shame of feeling low even though they have
form a revolutionary coup on its way of life never for foundational, basic necessities. nations shift their focus to their other deadly have exalted reasons. But melancholy, dejec- been more fortunate than most Indians. And
and transform itself forever. India could In the ‘normal life’ that will return, the epidemic—poverty. Their poor performance on tion, depression and other phenomena on to cure their emptiness, they will try to make
have redesigned roads and pavements, national definition of ‘essential commodities’ covid is a reminder of why and how they fail to the spectrum of gloom need not have an iden- the world a better place and thereby make it
changed rails, created new minimum stan- will continue to be food, mostly the kind of bring our other epidemic to an end. tifiable emotional cause. So, unlike the mel- worse. I am not a big fan of normal life.
LIVEMINT.COM VIEWS MONDAY, 9 AUGUST 2021
NEW DELHI 13
GUEST VIEW M I N T C U R AT O R
The SC’s Amazon ruling upholds App streaming entertainment

is clearly not a zero-sum game
the doctrine of party autonomy Netflix’s lead is intact but there is space for multiple challengers
The judgement endorses the sanctity of mutually agreed contracts and thus boosts confidence in commitments being honoured
PTI
TARA LACHAPELLE
is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist
covering the business of entertainment
and telecommunications, as well as
JAGVIR SINGH broader deals.
is founding partner, Jupiter Law Partners
T
he streaming-TV market was only
supposed to have room for so many
apps: Netflix, Disney+ and maybe
T
his is an unbelievable victory, a jubilant one other. But with the American con- The pandemic’s expansion of the global
Gopal Subramanium reportedly sumer showing such little resistance to the OTT market is proving permanent
whispered to his team of lawyers as higher prices seen lately in most other
soon as India’s Supreme Court (SC) areas of their everyday world—grocery What’s interesting about the growth at
pronounced its much-awaited judge- stores, clothing, car dealerships, fast food— Paramount+ and Discovery+ is that it shows
ment in the Amazon-Future Retail it seems streaming companies may be ben- the power of niche, enthusiastic fan bases
case, unaware that his microphone was still on. efiting from this phenomenon, too. We built on cable TV. Compared with the bar-
The judgement, like others penned by Justice R.F. aren’t yet choosing among the different rage of advertisements when Disney+
Nariman, is detailed and minutely traverses the online-video services; we’re signing up for launched in late 2019, ViacomCBS hasn’t
statutory provisions to reach a reasoned decision. them all. made the same wide push, instead focusing
The SC answered two questions. First, whether This largesse is giving the also-rans a on luring viewers of its CBS, MTV, Nickelo-
an award by an emergency arbitrator under Singa- chance to gain traction, even as the leaders deon, Comedy Central and other channels
pore International Arbitration Centre Rules (SIAC don’t lose much of any. ViacomCBS Inc, to Paramount+ with franchises that are
Rules) could be valid for consideration under the the latest cable-network-operator-turned- familiar favourites.
Indian Arbitration Act, and two, whether a court streamer to open up its books, said on late “It’s not about just cutting a cheque to
order enforcing such an award is appealable. We last week that its Paramount+ app drove buy a bunch of advertising real estate,”
deal with second one first. The court, after deliber- the bulk of its 6.5 million new streaming Naveen Chopra, ViacomCBS’s chief finan-
ating on a plethora of relevant legal provisions and customers last quarter, bringing the total to cial officer, said in a phone interview. The
judicial precedents, held that while the interim 42 million. That’s a stronger pace than Wall strategy appears to be working as some 42
award itself was subject to review by an appellate Street had anticipated, sending Via- million make the switch, initially enticed
court, a single-judge decision of the Delhi high comCBS shares up 5%. Earlier this week, by programmes such as iCarly, The Chal-
court (HC) on its enforcement was not. Discovery disclosed 18 million streaming lenge: All Stars, the straight-to-streaming
To reflect upon the SC’s response to the first subscribers—also not bad for a reality-TV film Infinite and UEFA Champions League
question, let’s recount the concatenation of events programmer that only just launched its soccer games.
leading to the appeal in India’s top court. Pursuant namesake service in January. AT&T lifted Of course, the tide can’t keep rising for-
to some agreements, Amazon invested some ₹1,431 for enforcement of the Singapore arbitration judicial pronouncements that have lent much- its estimate for HBO Max subscribers to at ever, and some boats will link up with oth-
crore in Kishore Biyani’s Future group, with a clear award. The single judge, in a detailed judgement, needed support to party autonomy and also the least 70 million by year-end. And analysts ers to avoid being swept out to sea.
understanding that Future Retail’s assets could not accepted the emergency arbitrator’s award as a virtues of contractual integrity and certainty. The are calling for 113 million Disney+ subscrib- Discovery is buying WarnerMedia and
be transferred without Amazon’s consent, to be valid interim award under the Indian Arbitration judiciary is also more accepting of international ers when Walt Disney Company releases HBO Max from AT&T, while Comcast CEO
exercised indirectly through its shareholding and Act, ordered its enforcement, issued a show-cause and foreign arbitration awards now. In April this earnings next week on the heels of its Mar- Brian Roberts has reportedly entertained
resultant governance participation in Future notice to the Future group for deliberately flouting year, in PASL Wind Solutions Pvt Ltd vs. GE Power vel film Black Widow and new series Loki. merger options for NBCUniversal to sup-
Coupons, a shareholder in Future Retail. Future the award’s injunctions and imposed a fine on it. Conversion India Pvt Ltd, the SC found it kosher for Together, these tallies suggest immense port its Peacock streaming service
Retail was also prohibited from encumbering or This judgement was stayed by a division bench of two India-incorporated companies to agree upon a subscriber overlap. (although Comcast investors may be better
transferring its retail assets to specified “restricted the Delhi HC upon an appeal by Future. Amazon foreign seat of arbitration. In 2017, the Delhi HC The fear heading into summer was that served by forgoing streaming). A distribu-
persons”, Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance group being then knocked at the SC’s door against it. allowed the enforcement of a London Court of post-pandemic reopenings would discour- tion partnership announced Thursday
among them. Only a few months after this invest- The key takeaways from the SC’s response to the International Arbitration award obtained by age paying for at-home activities. Instead, between Paramount+ and Comcast’s Euro-
ment, Future group did a transaction with first question are as follows. First, the doctrine of Japanese giant NTT Docomo against the then a J.D. Power survey released recently sug- pean pay-TV provider Sky forges a closer
Ambani’s Reliance Retail involving a transfer of all party autonomy is the grundnorm and guiding Cyrus Mistry-managed Tata Sons and thwarted the gests the opposite is happening: The num- relationship between the companies.
of Future Retail’s assets to it by way of its amalga- principle of all arbitrations. Parties to a contract latter’s attempts to hide behind alleged violations ber of households that say they subscribe The spread of the delta variant may delay
mation with the former. This rattled Amazon, con- have complete freedom to choose the forum and of India’s foreign-direct-investment policy and to four or more online-video services rose things, but at some point consumers will
straining it to commence arbitration proceedings rules of arbitration. A necessary corollary of this is walk away from its agreed obligations to pay to 57% in June from 50% in December as choose which streaming services they
under mutually-agreed SIAC Rules. Amazon that once contracting parties choose certain Docomo damages under their shareholder more choices entered the market. Con- really need. Only after this eventual shake-
sought interim relief, demanding an injunction forums and rules, upon receiving an adverse award agreement. The Delhi HC in early 2018 ordered sumers also continue to place increasing out will clearer profit models emerge.
against the Biyani-Ambani transaction, which the from any such forum, a party cannot wriggle out of the enforcement of a foreign arbitration award value on watching TV, paying an average of Scarlett Johansson’s lawsuit against Dis-
emergency arbitrator granted and ordered that its solemn commitment made voluntarily and with favouring another Japanese company, Daiichi $55 a month on streaming, up 45% since ney shows the challenge of moving from
status quo be maintained. The proceedings were eyes wide open. It cannot part-choose an institu- Sankyo, against Ranbaxy’s promoters, wherein the April 2020, the survey showed. the profitable and predictable box-office
under the SIAC Rules. The Future group brushed tion’s jurisdiction. Two, though the institution of latter were held to have misrepresented to Daiichi That said, the pandemic’s tailwind effect and cable-TV businesses to the opaque
aside the award, labelling it a nullity, and continued an emergency arbitrator is not specifically pro- some details on US Food and Drug Administration has lessened for some of these businesses. world of streaming. Still, Chopra says
to pursue the transaction, approaching regulatory vided for in the Indian Arbitration Act, its provi- investigations to induce it to acquire shares in Last Wednesday, Roku executives blamed streaming is the best use of funds. For now,
authorities for the requisite permissions. It did sions are broad enough to recognize the former’s Ranbaxy; the Indian company’s promoters were loosening covid restrictions for posting it’s “about achieving scale in terms of sub-
not challenge the arbitration award by way of an award as interim relief. In fact, the SC recognized ordered to pay hefty damages, interests and other fewer active customer accounts and scribers and revenue, and in the longer
appeal, though it asked the Delhi HC for an inter- the utility of an emergency arbitrator’s award in costs. The SC summarily dismissed the special streaming hours than analysts had been term we think that that scale translates into
diction of the Amazon-initiated arbitration pro- decongesting an already burdened court system by leave petitions filed against that Delhi HC order. projecting, and its shares are being pun- a nicely profitable business,” he said. As
ceedings and restraining Amazon from indulging imparting urgent and expeditious relief to those These judgements by the Supreme Court and ished for that. Netflix has also lost steam in consumers decide which apps are worth
in “tortuous interference” in its civil rights by deserving. Third, even if a judicial/ quasi-judicial high courts will inspire confidence among interna- the US. But considering that Netflix paying for, “we think we have a very solid
influencing regulatory authorities by sharing the order is eventually found contrary to law and tional investors, as contractual enforcement has warned its library would be hurting last opportunity to be one of those.”
emergency arbitrator’s award. The Delhi HC is set aside by a superior forum, in its interim been a major cause of discontent among them quarter from 2020’s production shut- Netflix looks unlikely to lose its lead, but
refused to grant relief to the Future group. subsistence, it must be obeyed. and has been the Achilles Heel of India’s claim downs, the app’s subscriber retention the battle for second or third place hasn’t
Concomitantly, Amazon requested the Delhi HC This SC judgement is the latest in a series of of having improved the ease of doing business. remains impressive. been decided. ©BLOOMBERG
MY VIEW | IN THE MARGINS
The pandemic at an inflexion point calls for extra care

emerged between ‘Red’ (Republican) and or less, by later this autumn or early winter. where rates of vaccination, even of first doses, It is indeed a tragedy that, as rich countries
VIVEK DEHEJIA ‘Blue’ (Democratic) states—the former have Variations of this pattern may be observed remain low, with full vaccination percentages such as the US and Canada sit on vast stock-
relatively low levels of vaccination compared in other advanced Western countries, such as often in the single digits. These countries, piles of vaccines, many of which are sure to
to the latter. This is not due to any supply con- in Europe, all of which have now attained rel- spanning the globe from Latin America to expire unused, there are millions of people in
straints—the US is awash in vaccine doses— atively high rates of vaccination, and most of Africa and Asia, remain acutely vulnerable to poorer countries still awaiting a second jab,
but on account of vaccine hesitancy, which is whom are now well on a re-opening path. outbreaks of infection, especially of the viru- or in many cases, even a first shot.
F
ully a year and a half into the covid-19 much higher among Republicans, especially This summer has seen the return of major lent and highly-transmissible Delta variant of Major international financial organiza-
pandemic, the world appears to be at an supporters of former president Donald music festivals, such as the the virus. Recent weeks tions, such as the World Bank and Interna-
inflection point in the management of Trump. While Blue states, such as New York, Salzburg Festival in Aus- have seen major outbreaks tional Monetary Fund, as well as banks,
the virus, and a clear divide is emerging press ahead with re-opening while maintain- tria, with relatively few A divergence across Southeast Asia, investment houses and management con-
between advanced and emerging countries. ing some pandemic-era curbs, such as social restrictions. Indeed, the somewhat reminiscent of sultancies, have also lent their weight to the
Last time, your columnist discussed the pros distancing and mask mandates, Red states are festival had even dispensed in recovery the devastating second argument, as report after report shows that
and cons of the UK’s re-opening plan, with seeing a surge in new infections even as with mandatory mask-use wave that India experi- ongoing pandemic-related restrictions in
the penultimate stage of unlocking on 19 many, such as Florida, have eliminated all within concert and theatre
between rich enced earlier this year. many developing countries will be a drag on
is associate professor of
July—dubbed “Freedom Day” by British tab-
loids—while cases were still on the rise,
pandemic-related restrictions. Florida’s gov-
ernor Ron DeSantis has gone so far as to ban
venues, until a fully-vacci-
nated ticket-holder tested
countries and The world now stands on
the cusp of a two-speed
the incipient global economic recovery.
The implicit argument, although it is rarely
economics and philosophy at
Carleton University, Canada.
driven by the Delta variant. As I noted then
(‘Boris Johnson is taking a big gamble with
local jurisdictions from re-imposing mask
mandates, which the state has eliminated.
positive. The mask man-
date was hastily re-intro-
the rest would recovery—both from the
pandemic and of the econ-
stated directly, is that it is in the enlightened
self-interest of the rich world to ensure that
‘Freedom Day’’, 26 July), British Prime Min- Meanwhile, Canada, the other major duced, but few other be bad news omy—driven by differential poorer parts of the world quickly get up to
ister Boris Johnson was taking a a major risk. Anglo-American country in the Western restrictions remain. A short vaccination rates in rich speed on vaccination, else the consequences
The gamble appears to have paid off. After hemisphere, has taken something of a middle distance across the border for everybody countries as compared to will be dire for the rich world itself. Not only
coming to a crest, new infections have begun path. With high rates of vaccination, most in the German state of poor. This has fuelled cries will the ongoing global recovery stall, but
to taper off, and serious illness, hospitaliza- Canadian provinces are on a re-opening path, Bavaria, the Bayreuth Fes- for “global vaccine equity”, denizens of rich countries will be at risk from
tion, and mortality remain far below the lev- albeit at different speeds. Thus, while tival, devoted to the music of the 19th century and even the World Health Organization infection through successive putative new
els of earlier waves of infection that pre- Ontario, the largest province, retains a mask composer Richard Wagner, is also back in full (WHO) has thrown its weight behind the idea. variants of Sars-CoV-2, emanating from the
ceded widespread vaccination. If things go mandate in indoor spaces, other provinces, swing. Intra-European travel has also just Recently, the WHO called for a pause on large number of people left unvaccinated,
according to script, the UK is poised to such as Alberta, have eliminated it. Absent a about returned to normal, and foreign tour- ‘booster’ doses being planned in several rich against which the vaccines currently in use
remove the rest of its pandemic-era restric- major new Delta-driven outbreak, which can- ists have also begun to return. countries, arguing that the need of the hour will presumably be less effective.
tions later this month. not be ruled out, Canada as a whole appears The story, however, is very different in is to ramp up vaccination rates in the devel- Much is at stake as the world stands at this
By contrast, in the US, a clear divide has to be on track for a return to normalcy, more most of the emerging and developing world, oping world. inflection point.
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Education needs to include principles like compassion
and non-violence. As we are missing something if we are
physically fit but full of anger and anxiety, we must learn Dalai
about tackling destructive emotions for peace of mind Lama
08 CHENNAI MONDAY 09 08 2021

� �
What caused differences between the nations was basic

disagreement about the role of major powers. The current
INDIAN EXPRESS IS NOT AN
INDUSTRY. IT IS A MISSION. upswing began with the ascendancy of Goh Chok Tong
UPS AND DOWNS IN

— Ramnath Goenka
GOOD RIDDANCE INDIA-SINGAPORE

OF RETROSPECTIVE RELATIONS
TAX OF THE UPA ERA
I
f it weren’t for the threats from Cairn Energy
to seize Indian assets abroad, including the
assets of national carrier Air India in the US, V SURYANARAYAN Senior Professor (Retd), Centre for South and
Southeast Asian Studies, University of Madras
and multiple legal setbacks at international
arbitration tribunals, the Centre’s latest move AMIT BANDRE
W
to repeal the UPA-era retrospective tax on capi-
hen Singapore was part of Malay- July and September 1964. Lee and quested Indira Gandhi to utilise the During the 1970s, I used to argue the ascendancy of Prime Minister
tal gains from indirect transfer of Indian assets
sia (16 September 1963 – 8 August his advisers, especially journalist facilities for shipbuilding and ship that China was one country that Goh Chok Tong. He created a mild
would have been called another Modi master- 1965), it made the recital of the Alex Josey (popularly known as repair. She ignored the suggestion. had used force to buttress its terri- “India fever” in Singapore and
stroke. But given the suddenness and the hush- song, Malaysia for Ever, compulso- Rasputin), criticised the policies of The second phase began when torial claims—against India in pushed New Delhi’s case as a dia-
hush way (no one in the government seems to ry in all schools. “Let’s get together, the inter-communal Alliance, which triangular relations among Mos- 1962, against the Soviet Union in logue partner in ASEAN, much to
have claimed credit for it) the Centre brought sing a happy song, Malaysia forev- was in power since 1955; carried on cow, Beijing and Hanoi began to de- 1968 and Vietnam in 1979. There China’s chagrin. Defence relations
in the Bill, it looks like it had few options to er, 10 million strong, land of the a mischievous campaign in Eng- teriorate. ASEAN, in general, and was much appreciation for my have been expanded and the Singa-
free, marching as one.” When Sin- land, Australia and New Zealand Singapore in particular, began to point of view, but today all South- pore Air Force is getting training
save itself from further embarrassment.
gapore became a separate state on against Malay leaders, including criticise New Delhi as the “surro- east Asian countries have joined in Barrackpore Air Base. Trade
Whatever may be the reason, it is a wise 9 August 1965, the students made a Tunku Abdul Rahman; hinted at al- gate of Soviet Union”. ASEAN the Belt and Road initiative. China and investment are forging ahead.
move to rectify a longstanding policy mistake. small change: instead of 10 million ternate arrangements (Singapore made common cause with Beijing has embraced a hybrid system of Singapore has also played a com-
It will repair some damage to India’s image strong, they sang 10 minutes long. with Penang and Malacca); and fi- and the US, provided legitimacy to capitalism, it has integrated into mendable role in the setting up of
among global investors and reinstate it as a From 1954, when the People’s Ac- nally questioned that Malays could the Pol Pot regime, and rallied be- the world economy and the CCP is Nalanda University.
credible investment destination. That it was a tion Party (PAP) was formed, Lee not claim to be bumiputras (indige- hind Thailand, the “frontline state”. firing all shots. But with increasing It must be underlined that Sin-
legacy of the UPA regime—which in knee-jerk Kuan Yew maintained that Singa- nous people). Communal tensions From Hanoi’s point of view, Pol Pot strains in the US-China relations, gapore has surplus capital and en-
pore was not, could not and did not rose high, Lee’s political brinkman- by himself was only a nuisance, but questions are being asked as to how trepreneurial skill. What is more,
fashion passed the infamous 2012 amendment— want to be a nation and its destiny ship failed and Tunku Abdul Rah- Pol Pot backed by China was a countries like Singapore would re- it wants to diversify investments.
does not exonerate the present government was intertwined with Malaya. The man decided to separate Singapore threat to Vietnam’s security. It, spond as they are located at the in- All parts of India, especially Tamil
from continuing with a policy patently bad in first essay of Singapore’s independ- from Malaysia. Lee met his Canossa therefore, militarily intervened in tersection of major powers. Nadu, could gain if we modernise
law. It must be remembered that it was the cur- ence was in the context of Malaysia, on August 7. He was faced with a fait Cambodia in December 1978 and What caused Singapore-India our infrastructure, develop skilled
rent government that had in 2016 frozen Cairn but when Singapore, not without accompli; his desperate plea for put its puppet Heng Samrin in pow- differences was basic disagree- manpower and create a congenial
India’s dividend payout in order to recover the reason, was separated, its leaders loose arrangements was turned er. New Delhi viewed the development about the role of major pow- atmosphere for foreign direct
had to make a sudden volte-face and down; the British High Commis- ments from a different perspective. ers. Lee pleaded for intensification investment.
tax dues, and barred Cairn Energy from selling
proclaim “we are a nation and we sioner could not help his protégé Given deep anti-China sentiments of the American bombing of Viet- The political systems in the two
its 10% residual stake. Besides, it kept harping would continue to be a nation”. and what is more, Tunku insisted throughout Vietnamese history, In- nam to compel Hanoi to come to countries are very different. Any
on the point that tax is a sovereign right not to Within three hours of the inde- that the separation agreement must dia considered Hanoi to be the bul- the negotiating table. It was music attempt to replicate the Singapore
be decided by bilateral treaty rules, despite pendence proclamation, Lee sum- be signed by all members of the Sin- wark against Chinese expansion- to the ears of American hawks like model in India would be disastrous.
multiple unfavourable judgments at interna- moned Thomas Abraham (then gapore cabinet. Thus Lee became ism. As K R Narayanan succinctly Henry Kissinger. But behind the It is worth narrating what took
tional tribunals. Commissioner of India) and re- the first “reluctant” prime minister summarised: “While driving the exhortation was the plain truth place in the famous lecture that
quested him that India should assist of independent Singapore. wolf (US) from the front door and that war would give a boost to Sin- Narasimha Rao gave in October
Though late in the day, the decision to scrap
in the building up of its armed forc- India-Singapore relations had warding off the tiger (Soviet Union) gapore’s economy. A nation of 1994. Lee presided and, in a mag-
the retro tax does seem to be well-timed. It has es. Had Lee’s request been accepted, undergone many twists and turns. through the back door, ASEAN shopkeepers, Singapore is pre- nanimous gesture, compared Rao
come when Vodafone Idea, buffeted by an I-T the first Chiefs of the Army, Navy Sunanda Datta-Ray has summed it should not allow the dragon to step pared to sacrifice principles for with Deng Xiaoping. There was a
department demand of $2.1 billion, is facing an and Air Force would have been In- up: “The journey from the sunlit in or force its way through the side money. Two illustrations are in or- question-answer session. There
existential crisis due to shortage of cash. For dians. New Delhi was lukewarm peaks of hope into valleys of deep door.” Narayanan’s warning has der. Tunku Abdul Rahman was was a remark, obviously planted:
the company, the decision has come not a day and Lee turned to Israel for help. despair and now, towards the radi- come true, the dragon today is the spearheading the campaign for the “What India requires is not democ-
too soon. Besides, the government is facing the New Delhi’s reluctance could be ance of a new dawn.” The first pre-eminent power in the region. expulsion of South Africa from the racy, but discipline.” Rao paused
explained in the context of separa- phase could be termed as “missed Commonwealth. To his embarrass- for 10 seconds. Then he said, “The
uphill task of repairing a Covid-ravaged econ- tion. The main reason for the failure opportunities”. Within a few days ment, he found that Singapore, antidote for the evils of democracy
omy, and it needs foreign investors’ support to of the new federation was Lee’s im- of independence, the India-Paki- then a part of Malaysia, was carry- is not less democracy, but more de-
revive it. The Centre has put some conditions. patience to come to power in Malay- stan war in 1965 took place. Singa- ing on trade with the apartheid re- mocracy.” There was thunderous
The companies are required to give up on dam- sia. As relations began to get pore was the first country to extend gime. Tunku immediately put an applause, in which many members
ages and other claims as well cease and with- strained, Lee challenged the very spontaneous support to India. Had Lee Kuan Yew’s request within hours end to the trade. Lee was very un- of the Singapore cabinet joined.
draw arbitration and other legal disputes. basis of Malaysia, where Malays When Singapore Airlines started, it happy, but could not do anything. The only person, who was found
of independence been accepted by our nation,
had special rights and privileges wanted to have technical coopera- Second, despite the most hawkish profusely sweating, was Lee.
Given the circumstances, it would be wiser for and political power vested in their Singapore’s first Chiefs of the Army, Navy
tion with Air India, but New Delhi statements against Hanoi, Singa- (The author was the founding
the affected parties like Cairn Energy to hands. His utter disregard of the did not respond. When the British and Air Force would have been Indians. pore carried on prosperous trade director of the centre in the
choose the middle path and settle with the gov- United Malays National Organisa- decided to withdraw from their bas- New Delhi was reluctant, for a reason with Vietnam. University of Madras)
ernment amicably. tion (UMNO) led to racial riots in es, Lee visited New Delhi and re- The current phase began with (suryageeth@gmail.com)
WHAT NEERAJ MOMENT

MEANS TO ATHLETICS SHIVALINGA: MOVEMENT OF FORMLESS TO FORM
T
he diameter of the gold medal Neeraj
from the same period is in the Par- ing various museums and collec- is placed vertically between his
Chopra received is 85 mm, its weight is asurameswara Temple at Gudi- tions, two magnificent Shivalingas eyebrows. He is shown sporting a
556 grams. Its weight to India, though, mallam (Andhra). The Gudimal- are still in their original shrines, smile with his eyes half-closed.
will be immeasurable. You will have lam linga, in worship even now, one at the Udayagiri Cave and an- As the Mukhalinga faces east, it
heard stories about its significance—the SAURABH Founder of Puratattva, a has an image of a male figure other in the Shiva Temple at Bhu- may represent the Tatpurusha
SAXENA documentation of heritage sites carved over its shaft. This male fig- mara, both in Madhya Pradesh. aspect of Sadashiva.
country’s first gold ever in athletics in Olympic
history—but it’s still worth talking about. With ure, in the appearance of a hunter, The Udayagiri caves near Vidi- The iconography advanced with
represents Shiva, shown holding sha (MP) are famous for some of time, resulting in new dimensions
T
swimming and gymnastics being the other two,
he pious month of Sravana is dedi- va as Vamadeva, Sadyojata, Aghora, an axe and a ram and standing the earliest Hindu iconographic and transformations. The Chau-
athletics is considered one of the gold standard cated to Lord Shiva. Devotees visit Tatpurusha and Ishana. They rep- over a dwarf demon. representations. These caves mukhnath Temple, Nachna in Pan-
events of the Olympic programme. India has Shiva temples to get darshan of the resent five elements, directions and The iconography of Mukhalin- were excavated during the reign na district (MP) is famous for its
won Olympic gold before in hockey and shoot- God, offer milk, water and bilva colours. Vamadeva faces north, rep- gas started taking shape during the of the Gupta king Chandragupta Chaturmukha linga (8th century
ing. But never in one of the three glamour dis- leaves, and observe a fast on the resents jal (water) and is of red col- Kushan period in northwest India II (380-415 CE). Cave number 4 has CE). Inside the temple is a 5-ft-high
ciplines. What Neeraj essentially did on Satur- four Mondays of the month. Ac- our. This is carved with a feminine and was soon crystalised during the an ekamukha linga enshrined in- linga with four faces carved on its
quiring the knowledge of the Su- aspect reflecting Uma, thus also Gupta period as we find many side. The face is round with the shaft, which represent the Tatpuru-
day is to change this.
preme is the goal of a devotee.. The called Umavaktra. Sadyojata faces Mukhalingas installed in temples hair tied above in a knot and fall- sha, Aghora, Vamadeva and Sadyo-
Until Saturday afternoon, it was a dream. Supreme is manifested as God west, represents prithvi (earth) and and shrines. While many Gupta- ing on the sides, making a frame jata aspects of Sadashiva. The as-
When he hurled the spear to a distance of 87.58 through a threefold manifestation. is of the pearl-like colour of the full period Shivalingas are now adorn- around the face. Shiva’s third eye pect of Ishana is conceived as a
m, it quite literally gave wings to the idea of a The first stage is nishkala (form- moon. This is also known as Nandi- notional fifth head assumed over
future where India could aspire to win multiple less) where the Supreme is con- vaktra as it represents Nandi. Ag- the top of the Shivalinga. The face
athletic medals. It also literally punched a hole ceived in space. The second stage is hora faces south, represents agni of Aghora is very elaborately
in the idea of India not being capable in the when nishkala evolves into a par- (fire) and is of dark blue colour. carved, reflecting this terrific as-
tial form or a symbol. The third This shows the ferocious character pect with an open mouth, contract-
field of athletics. Sure, one medal today may and the final stage is the complete of the deity. Tatpurusha faces east, ed brows and protruding teeth.
not mean much, but one must consider the big- transformation into a full iconic represents vayu (wind) and is of Placing flowers, incense, and other
ger picture. For a winning culture to emerge, form. In Shaiva iconography, the golden yellow colour. It reflects the offerings in the open mount of the
there has to be a pathbreaker. The 23-year-old’s first manifestation is known as Mahadeva form of Shiva. Ishana Aghora face is a general practice of
generation-defining effort could be just that. Para-Shiva, the second as Sadashi- faces the sky, representing akasha the devotees in the temple.
Even if cricket was always popular, the 1983 va and the third as Mahesha. (sky) and is of crystal-white colour. Lord Shiva manifests in his vari-
While a Shivalinga represents This head is told to be beyond the ous forms to his devotees and each
World Cup and the 1985 win in Australia her-
the Para-Shiva, a Mukhalinga (with ken even to yogis. devotee approaches Him with what
alded a new dawn. Shooting received a shot in one or multiple faces) represents The earliest Mukhalinga is an is convenient. Let the Lord have his
the arm after the 2002 Manchester Common- the Sadashiva. In a Mukhalinga, the inscribed panchamukha linga grace on each devotee with all his
wealth Games and 2004 Olympic silver. Saina God reveals himself partially with from Bhita (Prayagraj), now in the blessings in this auspicious month
Nehwal’s badminton bronze in 2012 inspired a his head projecting out. The aga- State Museum, Lucknow (2nd cen- (L) Chatrumukha linga of Chaumukhnath at Nachna, Madhya Pradesh; Ekamukhalinga and always.
generation of kids to take up the sport. Like- mas mention five heads of Sadashi- tury BCE). Another unique linga at Madhya Pradesh’s Udayagiri Caves, excavated during Chandragupta II’s reign (Puratattva.India@gmail.com)
wise in wrestling and boxing after the medals
in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Neeraj’s watershed moment could have the
same effect. It all depends on how the legacy
would be moved forward. For once, his success Neeraj’s historic victory Dreams realised Learn from Odisha England’s lower middle order. May the is a living example who follows this
is not just his personal brilliance but also a re- Many congratulations to Neeraj Chopra We have all read about the Battles This was India’s best-ever Olympics. We golden boy Neeraj inspire the cricket principle. One can only wish that
flection of a system that had managed to work for scripting history. The gold medal is of Panipat. This time, Panipat is celebrate the success of the athletes, team throughout this series. large corporate hospitals extend their
all the more significant for the nation again in the news thanks to the but we also need to stand with them R Ganesan, Chennai services to the underprivileged.
together. The Athletics Federation of India, given that our women’s hockey team 23-year-old Subedar. The dreams of during their struggles. Governments Biju C Mathew, Thiruvananthapuram
Sports Authority of India and JSW Sports’ con- and golfer Aditi Ashok slid out of medal Milkha Singh, P T Usha and others should come forward to promote sports May his tribe increase
tributions cannot be disregarded. Scientific contention by the narrowest of margins. have finally been realised. as Odisha did for hockey. This is with reference to The ‘10 rupee Markets of Madurai
training was provided along with a personal R Sivakumar, Chennai Baby Harline J, Tirunelveli Manoj Kumar Jena, Cuttack doctor’ strikes a chord (Aug 8). In The city of Madurai can boast of several
coach. Talent scouting in athletics is just the times where quality healthcare is out daily and weekly markets. But one has
Kudos to Army too Well done, Aditi Inspiring India of bounds for the common man, the to ponder whether the markets are
first step. Creating the right conditions and en-
Neeraj has become India’s golden boy. Bengaluru’s Aditi Ashok missed a medal It was a day of equal honours for English selfless service of Dr V Narayanan located strategically and adhering to
vironment in pursuit of glory is an entirely dif-
His name would be immortalised in by a whisker. Though ranked No. 200 in batsmen and Indian bowlers. Joe Root’s in the tribal hamlet of Attappadi time norms. Some need to be relocated
ferent thing. If India manages to increase this the annals of Indian sports. Kudos to the world, she held her own against the century was filled with exquisite shots. is commendable. As said by Swami as they are functioning on busy
tally of one in Paris in 2024 or Los Angeles in the Army for its Mission Olympics 2020. world’s top players in the Olympics. When it appeared Day 4 might slip Vivekananda, ‘Service to humanity thoroughfares causing traffic snarls.
2028, there will be a silent nod to 7 August 2021. H R Bapu Satyanarayana, Mysuru M S R Rao, Bengaluru away, Jasprit Bumrah ripped through is service to God’, and Dr Narayanan M Potrivel, Madurai
THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS

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EDIT
THE ASIAN AGE | MONDAY | 9 AUGUST 2021 | NEW DELHI
pg 5
9 AUGUST 2021
Neeraj Chopra lights a Subhani

flame for Indian sport
N
eeraj Chopra’s golden arm that propelled the javelin to an Olympic
gold promises to change India’s sporting history. A nation with a pop-
ulation in excess of 1.35 billion is filled with zealous followers of sport
but when it comes to winning medals on the track and field in blue
riband events denoting athleticism as defined in the Olympic credo of “faster,
higher, stronger”, it has only been a wistful journey of more than 100 years, of
performances that were nearly there but not quite of the podium kind. It took
a farmer’s son from India’s wheat granary Haryana to put India on the athlet-
ics map. He is the spark that has lit the flame of inspiration.
The ebullient actor-athlete Norman Pritchard, born and educated in India,
was the first Asia-born sportsman to win Olympic medals, bagging two silvers
in the 1900 edition in Paris in the 200m and 200m hurdles. The IOC still credits
those medals to India though the country has been competing officially in the
Olympics only since Antwerp in 1920. It took more than a century for an
Indian sportsperson to win an Olympic gold medal. Abhinav Bindra struck
gold in 2008 in the esoteric sport of shooting in a career marked by a single
minded pursuit of the highest calibre perfor-
India may not mance in the 10-metre air rifle event.
become a sporting Neeraj Chopra is of a similar mould, his record
powerhouse in in the last five years testimony to his graded
improvement at hurling the javelin until majestic
decades to come throws in his first couple of attempts in qualifying
but a path to sport and in the final proving sufficient to win the gold
as a vocation has and let the main Olympic stadium reverberate
Restoring confidence is LETTERS
BAD LUCK, ADITI
been illuminated by with the Indian national anthem. The discipline of
a career in the Army as a Subedar was reflected in
a golden light his endearing comments crediting legendary mid-
dle distance runner Milkha Singh, who lost out on
a medal by a whisker in Rome in 1960, as a national inspiration for aspiring
athletes.
key to economic growth an entire decade to double total exports. This com-
Despite giving it her best
shot, it is unfortunate that
Bengaluru’s Aditi Ashok
missed a medal at the
It is moot whether Neeraj has opened the floodgates to Olympic gold medals India’s GDP. pares with the $291 billion
Tokyo Olympics by the
but what is assured is there will be no dearth from now of athletes striving to This line of thinking is achieved in 2020-21 and proverbial cat’s whisker.
achieve their dreams. The lumbering Indian system has been changing with Sanjaya Baru also reflected in the views $313.5 billion attained in Ranked 200 in the world
deep-rooted corruption in administration and prejudice in selection just about of another member of the 2019-20.
making way for an orderly backing of sportspeople with amenities for train- PMEAC, Sajjid Chinoy, While companies and in women’s golf, Aditi had
Sanjayovacha finished her previous
ing at home and abroad and plenty of incentives to excel. It is said that a who has recently written diplomats can do their bit
teenaged Neeraj tried his hand at sport to reduce his weight and was straight- that exports and public to push exports, the min-
away seen as a natural at the javelin. Since then he has trained hard to be investment will have to istries of finance and com- three rounds in the top
amongst the world’s best with the gold medal just desserts for years of effort. drive economic growth in merce will have to play three but slipped to
T
India may not become a sporting powerhouse in decades to come but a path he upward move- finance minister, to claim- the near term given the their part too in terms of fourth in the last round.
to sport as a vocation has been illuminated by a golden light. There may be ment in India’s ing credit for what may subdued sentiments of addressing exchange rate
anguish in near-misses as in the golfer Aditi Ashok’s final round of heartache stock market in- well prove to be, with hind- firms and households. “All and tariff policies. As part She was even tied with
but, going forward, Indian sportspersons can expect to have the backing of a dices, claimed sight, “irrational exuber- told”, said Mr Chinoy, of its “Atma Nirbhar eventual gold medalist
support team and it will be up to the individual to perform in chosen disci- Union finance ance”. It is not at all sur- “exports and public invest- Bharat” strategy and in
plines. The highest haul of seven medals in an Olympics is representative of minister Nirmala prising that Ms ment will need to create a seeking to contain Chinese Nelly Korda for first place
achievers making their mark in varied fields — javelin, weightlifting, boxing, Sitharaman, in response to Sitharaman chose to be so growth and jobs bridge imports, the Modi govern- on Saturday for a fleeting
badminton, men’s hockey and wrestling — to show that India is just not all a question in Parliament bold as to claim credit for until private investment ment has aligned its trade moment. She joins the
cricket when it comes to winning performances. last week, “is driven pri- the sentiment on Dalal andconsumption recover”. policy against imports in
marily by the expectations Street. After all, the Union The Union government general. The global experi- likes of Milkha Singh, P.T.
of future economic government has been des- has been trying to push ence shows that any strate- Usha and Dipa Karmakar
growth”. Quite under- perate to get hold of some public investment but fis- gy to push export growth
standably, the finance positive economic indica- cal constraints have been has to be aligned with a on the list of Olympians
Shot in arm for vaccine effort minister attributed these

positive expectations and
the market sentiment to
tors so as to boost investor
and consumer confidence.
The ride has been rough
imposed on it by slower
growth. The slow progress
of privatisation of public
country’s import policy.
All major exporting
economies are also import-
who came so close to a
podium finish, and her
display will go down as
T
he decision to grant emergency use authorisation (EUA) to Johnson government policy. for Ms Sitharaman. sector enterprises has also ing economies. Given the
& Johnson’s single-dose Covid-19 vaccine is a welcome move as it Having made that confi- Despite her best efforts, posed a challenge. In some structure of Indian one of the best. Tough
would augment the country’s vaccine availability at a time when dent assertion Ms Sith- and visible results on the traditional sectors of pub- exports, and the commodi-
every dose counts. The company has claimed the single-shot vaccine is 85 araman went on to reas- fiscal front, both invest- lic sector spending, like ty pattern of the recent luck, Aditi!
per cent effective in preventing severe disease 28 days after vaccination. It sure Parliament that the ment and consumption defence production, the surge, this link is all the N.J. Ravi Chander
will be administered to people aged 18 years and above. Narendra Modi govern- remain subdued due to government is hoping that more relevant.
As per the government’s own claim, the US-based company applied for ment, the country’s central persistent modest expecta- private investment will in While the external affairs Bengaluru
EUA on Friday and was granted it the same day by the Drugs Controller bank and the stock market tions about the near term. fact make up for inade- minister has been actively
General of India. The fast-track approval marks a break from the past regulator were all monitor- The Reserve Bank of
India’s consumer and busi-
quate public investment.
In the short term, increas-
reviving free trade talks
with the European Union,
THIS ONE FOR MILKHA
when the foreign manufacturers had far too many hurdles to clear before ing market indices to
they were to get the clearance. The government has now relaxed several of “ensure orderly function- ness confidence surveys ing public investment is Australia, Britain and so NEWLY-CROWNED Olympic gold-
the earlier conditions, which included production of data on the bridge ing of the stock markets continue to suggest that not merely a fiscal chal- on, the commerce minister medallist Neeraj Chopra on
trial conducted in India. At present, a vaccine with approval from regula- and maintain macro-finan- both companies and house- lenge. It is even more an has stopped criticising the Saturday dedicated his historic
tory bodies of other countries or on the list of the World Health cial stability”. holds are not yet voting for administrative challenge. United States, Japan, achievement to sprint legend
Organisation would be given the EUA with the condition that clinical tri- Market analysts, howev- the future even as there is Even the Chief of the Army South Korea and the Milkha Singh, who died of Covid-19
als could be continued later. At present, India has five vaccines — Serum er, take a more nuanced an improvement in both Staff had recently Southeast Asian nations in June, a gesture that left his son
Institute’s Covishield, Bharat Biotech’s indigenously developed Covaxin, view. Some see portfolio contemporary sales and bemoaned the constraints on trade imbalances. To and ace golfer Jeev Milkha Singh
Russia’s Sputnik V, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. inflows from a global econ- capacity utilisation. There imposed by bureaucratic top it all, trade with China overwhelmed with “eternal” grati-
Indian manufacturers have, of late, increased production of the vaccines omy awash with easy is a post-lockdown recov- inertia on public spending. is again rising, albeit tude. Milkha Singh — who finished
but the fact remains that India is far from being on track to meet the money, thanks to US ery, but it is distinctly K- There has been some below the radar of the fourth in the 1960 Rome Olympics —
December 31 deadline it had set for itself to vaccinate all eligible Indians. President Joe Biden’s fis- shaped, indicating a good news on the export BJP’s Swadeshi Jagran wanted to hear the national anthem
There are many segments of society, including teachers, traders and daily cal liberalism, fuelling widening gap in income front with a 74 per cent Manch. India’s exports to in an Olympic stadium. Chopra, the
wage earners, whose vaccination is critical for the opening of the econo- market engines in India. and expenditure between jump in exports in the first China grew by close to 70 first native Indian to win a track and
my. The government may prioritise the use of the single dose vaccine Shying away from China the upper classes and the quarter of 2022 over the per cent in the first half of field gold, fulfilled his dream.
keeping its advantages in mind for targeted vaccination. It may also adopt for geopolitical and eco- masses. “first lockdown” quarter of 2021, even though the trade Sankar Paul
international practices in approving vaccines so that procedural delays do nomic reasons, they are Economic and financial 2021. Not surprisingly, deficit remains significant- Chakdaha, West Bengal
not stop their launch in the country. coming to India, among analyst V. Anantha Prime Minister Narendra ly high.
other emerging Nageswaran, a member of Modi has sought to associ- After spending its first
economies.
Others believe that the
the Prime Minister’s
Economic Advisory
ate himself with this good
news by chairing a meet-
term in office criticising
the Manmohan Singh gov-
THANK YOU, PARENTS
Reserve Bank of India’s Council, recently wrote on ing with the representa- ernment’s trade policy, the EVEN AS WE celebrate the success of
monetary policy, with low his widely read and highly tives of export firms, trade BJP has quietly come to the Indian contingent at the Tokyo
rates of interest at a time regarded blog (thegold- promotion councils and terms with the necessity of Games, let us not forget the contribu-
when inflationary expecta- standardsite.wordpress.co Indian diplomats overseas external trade policy mov- tion of the athletes’ parents in their
tions are rising, is en- m/author/jeevatma/): “If where he set a target of ing from inward orienta- success. Most of the female partici-
couraging investors, big India manages to grow its $400 billion for this year’s tion to outward orienta- pants have come from impoverished
and small, to chase equi- real GDP by five per cent tion. In a democracy, poli- families. It was hard for them to pro-
ties. The rise in valuations and nominal GDP at nine cy change is more often vide equipment or training for their
does not necessarily corre- per cent between 2021-22 than not a product of daughters. In addition, they had to
spond to trends in the real and 2029-30 and assuming a
The government is necessity rather than bear taunts and jeers for “spoiling”
economy. Indeed, even Ms USD/INR exchange rate of trying to push choice. their daughters. Not all have been dec-
THE ASIAN AGE Sitharaman has focused on 70, India’s real GDP will be public investment orated with medals, yet they have
“expectations” rather than $6.7 trillion by the end of amid fiscal The writer is an made India proud with their efforts.
KAUSHIK MITTER K. SUDHAKAR “performance”. the decade.” Besides skirt- constraints imposed economist, a former The entire nation owes a big thank
Editor Printer & Publisher
Over the years Union ing the fact that the econo- newspaper editor and was you to this silent community!
THE ASIAN AGE office is located at: finance ministers have my will not be a $5 trillion by slower growth. an adviser to former Anthony Henriques
New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, 219 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi-110002. Phone: had to swing between one in 2024, a goal set by The slow progress Prime Minister Mumbai
(011) 23211124. claiming that they “do not Prime Minister Narendra of privatisation of Manmohan Singh. His `500 for the best letter of the
Published and Printed on behalf of and for lose sleep” over fluctua- Modi in 2017, when India’s public sector most recent book is New
◗ Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited, Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, 219 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg,
tions in market indices, as GDP began approaching Cold War: Henry week goes to Anna Mary Yvonne
New Delhi 110 002 at BFL Infotech Ltd., C-9, Sector-III, Noida -201301.
◗ London: Quickmarsh Ltd, 8th Floor, Block 2, Elizabeth House, 39 York Road, London, SE1 7NQ. Dr Manmohan Singh the $3 trillion mark, it also enterprises has also Kissinger and the Rise (August 8). Email:
RNI Registration number: 57290/94 famously did in his days as suggests that it would take posed a challenge. of China. asianage.letters@gmail.com.
T
he double landlocked Central project “has already gained broad sup- cooperation with all parties in the Mumbai port with Chabahar in Iran relentless advance of the Taliban, the
Asian republic of Uzbekistan port, including from the leading inter- region and jointly combat the “three and further to the Caspian Sea. real Quad in connectivity which looms
hosted a landmark Conference national financial institutions”. He fur- evil forces of terrorism, extremism and Uzbekistan will benefit by an INSTC on the horizon is between a Taliban-
on “Central and South Asia ther noted that this Trans-Afghan rail- separatism”. This claim flies in the face spur, the Trans-Caspian Railway, head- dominated Afghanistan, an expansion-
Regional Connectivity: Challenges and way corridor would connect with of the consistent Chinese protection ing east from Iran into Turkmenistan, ist China, a hostile Pakistan and
Opportunities” in its capital Tashkent China and it fully corresponds with the given to Pakistan as a safe haven for which connects with the Uzbek rail net- Uzbekistan — the only country that is
in the middle of July. Recognising their Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). UN-proclaimed terrorists like Masood work through Urgench in Uzbekistan. friendly to India in this group.
Skand Tayal geo-economic centrality for connectivi- Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Azhar and Dawood Ibrahim as well as
terrorist organisations like the
In Tashkent, there was some excite-
ment about the proposed “Trans-
China has already signalled that it is
willing to work with both sides in
ty, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirzi- spoke at length, offering Karachi and
yoyev invited Afghan President Ashraf Gwadar as convenient ports for the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba and Jaish-e- Afghan Railway” linking Uzbekistan Afghanistan. On July 28, foreign minis-
Ghani and Pakistan Prime Minister Central Asian republics. He referred to Mohammad. via Mazar-e-Sharif in Afghanistan to ter Wang Yi met with a Taliban delega-
Imran Khan as his chief guests. the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor For Uzbekistan, the BRI project could Peshawar in Pakistan. This $5 billion tion led by the head of the Afghan
In his inaugural address, the Uzbek (CPEC) as the “flagship project of BRI” help open the transport corridor project is linked with the “Quadri- Taliban Political Commission, Mullah
President recalled the ancient era and and invited the Central Asian nations towards the Persian Gulf. Uzbekistan lateral Traffic in Transit Agreement”, Abdul Ghani Baradar, in Tianjin.
Central Asia’s medieval age links between Central

and South Asia from the Harappan
civilisation to the Baburid states.
to join the CPEC, stressing that it was
“not exclusive”.
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi
has already expressed its desire to par-
ticipate in BRI projects through bilater-
al and regional platforms. China is also
between China, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan
and Kazakhstan, that also links to the
CPEC. Uzbekistan expressed its desire
Pakistan will continue to block India’s
access to Afghanistan and Central Asia
and this country’s only option might be
bid for access Babur originally came from Fergana conveyed Beijing’s readiness to “join energetically promoting the “Silk Road to join this pact last year. to focus on developing Chabahar Port
Valley present-day Uzbekistan. He hands with the Central and South Economic Belt” and Mirziyoyev was an Eyebrows were raised when at the and the INSTC. The US needs to be per-
noted the current stark reality that Asian countries to forge a closer honoured guest at the First Belt and Tashkent Conference the United suaded to give a waiver to Indian and
“there are no effective trans-boundary regional connectivity partnership Road Forum held in Beijing in 2017. At States, Afghanistan, Pakistan and other multinational companies operat-
to sea may see routes and the trade-economic ties are

poorly developed”.
President Mirziyoyev proposed the
through high-quality cooperation
under the BRI”. Foreign minister
Wang Yi made a four-point proposal on
this forum, the two countries signed
115 deals worth more than $25 billion,
which covered electrical power, oil pro-
Uzbekistan announced the creation of a
new “Quadrilateral Diplomatic
Platform” that focussed on enhancing
ing at Chabahar port.
Afghanistan is poised at the knife’s
edge and the region would see new geo-
regional connectivity. The US media strategic equations. India needs to play
new Quad rise
development of modern, effective and promoting connectivity in Central and duction, chemicals, textiles, trans-
secure transport and logistics infra- South Asia. He also called on World portation, infrastructure, etc., and by note said that the “parties intend to its cards adroitly in order to remain rel-
structure in Central and South Asia. In Bank, the Asian Infrastructure road and rail to the Caspian Sea. cooperate to expand trade, build transit evant and effective.
his view, “a key element” of this con- Investment Bank and ADB to invest in Uzbekistan has also joined the India- links, and strengthen business to busi-
nectivity architecture would be the these connectivity projects. For the sponsored “International North-South ness ties”. The writer is a retired diplomat and
Termez-Mazar-e-Sharif-Kabul- record, Mr Yi added that China will Transportation Corridor”, or INSTC, a However, with the shrinking foot- has served as India’s ambassador to
Peshawar Railroad. He noted that this deepen law enforcement and security multi-model route that will connect print of the US in the region and the Uzbekistan and South Korea
NEW DELHI, MONDAY 09 AUGUST 2021 07
ATANU BISWAS
I
s the addition of a new word in
the Olympics motto the greatest
legacy of the pandemic-hit
Tokyo Games? Upon the creation
A tale of togetherness 100 YEARS AGO
OCCASIONAL NOTE
Awkward and even embarrassing as it may
of the International Olympic Com- be to the Government to be “heckled” on
mittee (IOC) in 1894 in Paris, Pierre the subject of the negotiations with Sinn
de Coubertin proposed “Citius, Fein, it is quite natural that individual mem-
Altius, Fortius” which is Latin for bers of the House of Commons, and the
“faster, higher, stronger” as the public generally, should desire information
Olympic motto. Coubertin borrowed with reference, not merely to their progress,
it from his friend Henri Didon, a but also to their nature. Nor is it in the least
Dominican priest who was also an unnatural, pace Mr. Chamberlain, that
athletics enthusiast. In fact, Cou- some people should suspect the rebels of
bertin believed: “These three words making use of the “armistice” in order to
represent a programme of moral prepare for eventualities should the “war”
beauty. The aesthetics of sport are be resumed. It is to be hoped that the Gov-
intangible.” The motto, however, was ernment is doing the same. A clear month
introduced at the 1924 Paris Olympic has now elapsed since the declaration of a
Games. truce, and it is at least four weeks since De
In 2021, the IOC approved the Valera came to London for his preliminary
addition of a new word to the conversation with the Prime Minister. Yet
Olympic motto. The word ‘Commu- Parliament is apparently to rise without
niter’, Latin for ‘together’, comes after being given even a hint of the nature of the
a hyphen is added to the earlier proposals which are under discussion. In
motto. The proposal to include the these circumstances it is hardly surprising
word was made by IOC President that rumour is rife, and that alarmist reports
Thomas Bach, which was endorsed have gained considerable credence. While
by the IOC’s Executive Board in April. no one would desire for a moment to jeop-
“Solidarity is at the heart of every- ardise the present opportunity of bringing
thing we do. Solidarity fuels our mis- about an Irish settlement, it is difficult to
sion to make the world a better place avoid the feeling that, if the issues are so
through sport. Because we can only delicate that they cannot even be conveyed
go faster, we can only aim higher, we to the House of Commons in a secret ses-
can only become stronger, if we sion, they must be of a somewhat fragile
stand together – in solidarity,” Bach order.
said.
The IOC certainly needed to Games apparently had at least one and the first-ever summer Olympics twenty-four carat friendship that I an Algerian television station, NEWS ITEMS
emphasise ‘togetherness’ with added fairy-tale moment. When two without spectators. The Olympics felt for Long at that moment,” Owens Nourine said his political support for
vigour as the global body was des-
perate to ensure that the Olympics
Olympic high jumpers – Qatar’s
Mutaz-Essa Barshim and Italy’s
have created a platform for unity and
togetherness in the past. It brought
said later.
However, to be honest, the mod-
the Palestinian cause made it impos-
sible for him to compete against an CHARGE AGAINST
take place this year despite the
uncertainty around Covid-19 and
Gianmarco Tamberi – decided they
both deserved the gold medal, it was
the two Koreas together under a uni-
fied flag at the 2018 PyeongChang
ern Olympics have never been con-
sistently politics-neutral. The 1920
Israeli.
The present call for ‘together- POLICE SERGEANT
strong resistance among the Japan- much applauded in the international Winter Olympics, for example. Earli- Antwerp Olympics, for example, was ness’ is perhaps to enable a much- Bombay, Aug 8
ese people against holding the media. Well, they didn’t do it until er, a historic moment was created at looked upon as a reconciliation from needed opportunity for the world to At the Esplanade Police Court, today, before
Games amid such a pandemic. This both of them failed thrice to clear the 2000 Sydney Games when the the shock of World War I – marked as come together to fight against an Rai Bahadur C.H. Setalvad, Acting Chief
is, however, not the first time that the 2.39 meters. Barshim then asked if North Korean and South Korean ‘Games Reborn’. However, Germany invisible enemy – a deadly virus. Presidency Magistrate, eight persons,
IOC is promoting togetherness. In they could share the gold medal teams marched as one at the open- and its wartime allies didn’t compete, However, the motto – togetherness – including the European Police Sergeant, T.
September 2020, in an address given instead of a jump-off to decide the ing ceremony holding the “the flag of nor did Bolshevik-controlled Russia. can reach much beyond that. For Harris, and a police constable of Bandra,
to mark the International Day of winner. The officials agreed. The fol- reunification”. These gestures, at In fact, they weren’t invited – Ger- example, the culture of releasing were charged with causing grievous hurt
Peace, Bach said: “The Olympic low-up electric celebration – the two least, are no less important. And only many was blamed for the outbreak doves was introduced at the pan- and rioting. Asked by the magistrate if he
Games today are the only event in athletes clasping hands and whoop- the Olympics could offer the oppor- of the World War I. Figure skating was demic-and-war-hit Antwerp had any objection to being tried by an Indi-
our world which manages to really ing for joy, Tamberi leaping into tunities to create such magical a part of the Summer Olympics Olympics exactly a century ago. an, the sergeant answered in the negative.
bring the entire world together.” Barshim’s arms, belly-flopping onto moments. before the Winter Games started in Although releasing doves is widely The first witness for the prosecution said
In 2016 also, in the backdrop of the hard track, rolling around a few In an op-ed piece in ‘Gulf News’, 1924, and one Swedish figure skater seen as a symbol of peace, the Bel- that Harris was standing with the party who
the Rio Olympics, the IOC launched times, and screaming – would cer- Fawaz Turki discussed the issue of was reportedly forbidden from per- gian sports historian Roland Renson came to Bandra and assaulted a neighbour
its global promotional campaign tainly become a part of Olympics togetherness in the Olympics and forming to German music in the said: “They released doves, although of witness at the instigation of a relative of
titled “Together we can change the folklore. “This is a dream come true. perceived that the Olympics Games 1920 Antwerp Games. Then, in 1980, these were not necessarily doves of the victim. The sergeant did nothing to pre-
world” to communicate the Olympic It is the true spirit, the sportsman enact core values inherent in our to protest the Soviet Union’s invasion peace, because these were doves vent the assault, nor did he do anything
Movement’s vision of building a bet- spirit, and we are here delivering this common humanity of fair play on a of Afghanistan, American President which had served in the war and they afterwards. He only arrested the witness
ter world through sport. It coincided message,” Barshim said. However, it public stage. Let’s take some exam- Jimmy Carter ordered a boycott of were released by military men.” when the latter approached him with an
with the Olympic Flame lighting cer- was apparently a win-win situation ples. The 1936 Berlin Olympics is the Moscow Games. And the Soviet Thus, although it still has miles appeal for help. The further hearing was
emony for the Rio Games, at which for both Barshim and Tamberi. marked as the success story of Jesse Union, along with its Communist to go, the Olympics is an ode to glob- adjourned to Friday next.
the IOC President said: “Like no Whether or not this is exactly an Owens, a Black American sprinter. allies, reciprocated in the 1984 Los al togetherness, for sure. An attempt
other human activity, sport is about
bringing people together in the spirit
example of ‘togetherness’, the media
(and the IOC also) always need such
Owens also won gold in the long
jump event in which a German ath-
Angeles Games. Even in Tokyo in
2021, with a revised Olympics motto
that has mostly been successful. Not
just now, but from the very beginning
LIBERAL
of friendship and respect... By com-
ing together in unity to celebrate the
stories.
Exactly 125 years after the first
lete, Carl Ludwig Long, finished sec-
ond. Long congratulated Owens and
– officially enriched with ‘together-
ness’ – the world witnessed the Alger-
– despite the occasional dark spots.
Now, the Olympics have officially
CONFERENCE AT
rich diversity of our shared humani- modern Olympic Games took place they both walked, arm-in-arm, to ian judoka Feith Nourine opting to embraced the sentiment in the LUCKNOW
ty, the Olympic Games give us all in Athens, the Tokyo Olympics, collect their medals. And this hap- withdraw from the Olympics as he motto.
hope that a better world is possible. delayed by a year amid the world- pened in Hitler’s Germany! “You can had a possible second-round show- Lucknow, Aug 8
Together, we can change the world.” ravaging pandemic, is one of the melt all the gold in the medals I have down against Israeli Tohar Butbul in The writer is Professor of Statistics, Indian With the exception of three, all the resolu-
The pandemic-hit Tokyo 2020 most unwanted Olympics in history and they wouldn’t be a plating on the the men’s 73kg division. Speaking to Statistical Institute, Kolkata. tions down for consideration were passed at
the United Provinces Liberal Conference
IT CAME TO MIND | MANISH NANDY which concluded its sittings yesterday. In
an eloquent speech, Pandit Gokaranath
The best bookseller

Misra moved the Conference’s disapproval
other for its fish-and-meat delicacies. that bordered the campus of a col- of the non-cooperation movement as inju-
Next to the first was a store whose lege, just outside of which they plied rious to the best interests of the country,
windows displayed spectacular saris, their trade. What could not be dis- and condemned the acts of violence com-
of colorful silk and exquisitely played they kept in cheap metal street. I explained that I was a stu- mitted in some places. Pandit Gokaranath
designed cotton. Ample middle-aged boxes on the ground. It was aston- dent and I liked reading literature, also moved a resolution pointing out the
women came to haggle and buy but ishing how well they remembered but I had very little money to buy necessity of introducing the principle of
occasionally came a slender young the titles and authors of the books new books. responsibility in the Central Government
beauty that fluttered my heart. Set they displayed or kept in storage. All Bidhu Babu had worked in a and of making the provinces wholly
back from the corner was a large, you had to do was say half an small printing shop, but when busi- autonomous after the term of the present
messy market that repelled me, but author’s name or a fragment of a title, ness shrunk he was let go. Since he Councils. He said that no more progressive
next to that was a dream house, a and the vendors would produce the was a widower and his son lived and reform than that could be desired, and, in
movie theatre. On its upper-floor book in an instant. Their metal boxes worked in Pune, he decided he urging for that reform, the Liberal party
deck were huge cutouts of beautiful also contained a plastic cover. That would start a business that required showed that it was alive to the best inter-
stars, facing the window of my room, was their tenuous protection from a little or no capital. I liked both his ests of the country.
and a well-endowed Madhubala was sudden downpour that could destroy enterprise and his personality. I felt
enough to populate my erogenous
dreams for a month.
their painstakingly collected books
and decimate their inventory.
we had connected at some level.
From then on, whatever money I
MORE TICKETLESS
But the most exciting thing in
that buoyant, boisterous corner was
Rain, in fact, was what caused
my first acquaintance with Bidhu
had from my parents or earned by
tutoring students, I used to buy nov-
PASSENGERS
the long series of second-hand books Babu. He was a sixtyish man, with els from Bidhu Babu. He found the Following upon the recent arrest of 125 tick-
for sale. There were seven to nine thinning white hair and old-fash- latest authors for me and gave me etless passengers at Sonarpore station, Mr.
vendors who ran well-stocked con- ioned metal glasses. I lived next door attractive prices, and I tried to recip- Mathews of the Eastern Bengal Railway,
signment stores, selling all manner and passed the booksellers morning rocate by bringing my friends as new with 30 of his assistants, stopped three local
of books. One or two specialized in and evening. I could not help but clients. trains at Belghurria station yesterday morn-
science tomes or college texts but notice his august bearing and quiet Four years later, when I was ing, and arrested 157 passengers, of whom
most sold all manner of books, rang- way of talking with customers. leaving for the university, Bidhu 21 were first and second class European
ing from classic novels to how-to Returning home one afternoon, I was Babu said he was leaving too, for his passengers, on a charge of cheating the rail-
books to dictionaries and encyclope- suddenly caught in a heavy down- son had invited him to live with him way by travelling either without tickets or
Illustration: Debabrata Chakrabarty
dias. Some books were soiled or had pour and started sprinting for the in Pune. with short journey tickets. The Europeans
Y
ou can’t love Venice without the large French windows to mute a missing cover, but many were in front door. Passing Bidhu Babu, I “I am not as young and strong were released on their personal recogni-
loving its canals and bridges; the din. Trams created a metallic great shape and could be had for vir- found him fully drenched, still trying as I was. Still, I am considering sance to appear before the Police Magis-
you can’t love Italy without racket, buses honked and their con- tually a song. If you bought more to put the last book in a box. whether to start a book-selling shop trate of Sealdah on summonses being
loving gelato and Sophia ductors hollered. There was a steady than one volume, the shopkeeper I stopped and said, “That’s my again in Pune. My son says he can issued against them. All the accused plead-
Loren; you can’t love Europe without hum of vendors and traders offering would readily offer a discount. When home. Let me take that box. You col- rent a stall near his home.” ed guilty, and six of them were sentenced
loving its small bistros and narrow their wares. Young, heedless, I clients were few, they even allowed lect the other books and follow me He looked happy, and I felt to pay a fine of Rs 50 each, two to pay a fine
streets. And you can’t love Kolkata became inured to this unwelcome you indulgently to stand and read a before all those get soaked.” When happy for him. But I was losing the of Rs 20 each, and the remaining 128 to pay
without loving its second-hand orchestra in three weeks. I slept well, few pages or more. we got indoors, I saw him shivering best bookseller in town. a fine of Rs 15 each.
booksellers on College Street. punctuated only by erotic dreams. The display was modest but and went to get a towel. I was also losing a friend.
An impecunious student, I lived
at the busy, bustling, blaring corner
I was excited by the vibrancy of
the place. In two opposite corners
ingenious. None of the vendors had a
bookshop or a stall worth talking
I hadn’t done much, but Bidhu
Babu seemed touched. He told me The writer is a Washington-based
MATIARI
of College Street and Harrison Road.
Even on the third floor we often shut
stood two fragrant restaurants, one
famous for its confectionery and the
about. They displayed their books on
small planks hung from the railings
his name and added that he had seen
me often looking at old books on the
international development advisor and had
worked with the World Bank. He can be
reached at mnandy@gmail.com
DISTURBANCES
ENQUIRY
CROSSWORD NO 28998
Bombay, Aug 8
A Bombay Government resolution regard-
ing the Matiari disturbances states:- H.E.
the Governor-in-Council has appointed a
ACROSS 17 What could make my pants (7) (5,4)
offensive to others? (9) 2 Conservative breaks genuine 16 Extremely sensitive setter cop Committee consisting of Mr. E. Raymond,
1 Nun and hot prior resume fooling < the Additional Judicial Commissioner of
20 Beat up revolutionary by university peaceful agreement (5) tickled? (3-6)
around (6,8)
9 Little drink Tory laced with drop of
in London (5) 3 Superb spreadsheet provided for 17 Fiery editor sat on by police in Sind, as chairman; Messrs. Harchandrai
22 Spirit haunting a hall of justice in limited time? (9) America (6) Vishindas, and Ghulam Hussain Kasim, as
ouzo (7)
Battle (9) 4 Offend royal that's boring? (7) 18 Trainee nurse picked up by boss on
10 A Parisian backing patent for a type
24 Drug news you texted primarily 5 Dash of red seen below bowl on side time (7) members, to investigate and report on the
of bomb (7) causes and circumstances of the distur-
increases weariness (5) of armoire (7) 19 Model had to secure university place
11 I give out cards of the most
desirable quality (5)
26 Old and handsome model (7) 6 Vacuous reverend injecting whizz (7) bances which took place on July 21, at
27 Wind that's besetting doctor in was rushing (5) 21 Famous Young British Artist chap Matiari, in the Hyderabad district of Sind.
12 Criminal intends to take over half of
Scottish town (7) 7 Everybody on ale out of it, having initially ignored (7)
city events (9)
28 Joe Bloggs or Ken Barlow? (3,2,3,6) also snorted line (3,3,3) 23 Vehicle one brought across quiet The Committee should record an opinion
13 Female arbiters throwing out case? on the question as to whether the firing by
8 Castaway from ship's company island (5)
Sweet! (5) DOWN dead, so the radio said (6) 25 Tend to swear after nationalist the police was justified by the circum-
15 Dog tag earned having gone
1 Old lady having row about small dog 14 A maid all up over a religious leader ousts leader (5) stances. The Commissioner in Sind should
through training (5,4)
arrange that all facilities should be granted
to the Committee for the purpose of
enquiry, and should place at their disposal
NOTE: Figures in parentheses denote the number of letters in the words required. (By arrangement with The Independent, London) such temporary establishments as may be
necessary.
4 EDIT DELHI MONDAY 9 AUGUST 2021
(AUGUST 9 IS WORLD
Plan for India’s sporting glory INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S DAY)
T here are no words to express the

happiness at the unprecedented
success Neeraj Chopra has achieved
heartthrob of the country by winning
a gold medal at the World U-20 Ath-
letics Championships. It was for the
be noticed is that most of the medal
winners are from the rural back-
ground. This should be an eyeopener
ment revived its focus on sports in
schools and reintroduces sports
classes for all classes, help the educa-
at Tokyo Olympics. The entire coun- first time an Indian won a gold medal to the political executive, both at national institutions in getting neces-
try is basking in his glory and why in an Athletics World Champi- tional and state levels. Its high time sary sports equipment as well. In-
not. When one’s child achieves such onships. His gold medal-winning per- they stopped talking about the sports stead of being practical in its
a stupendous success on a global formances continued in Asian Athlet- infrastructure like stadiums in major approach, the central and the state
arena, it brings joy to the parents, the ics Championships 2017, cities and towns where no sports are governments are busy politicking and
family and the nation. Neeraj Commonwealth Games 2018, and played or hardly any sportspersons experimenting with educational sys-
Chopra’s victory has once again Asian Games 2018. are trained and focus attention on ru- tem. Most of the schools do not have
proved that if one has the support of Finally, in Tokyo the 23-year-old ral areas, identify the talent, extend even playground and the concept of
family who keep motivating one to farmer’s son from Khandra village full support including best of train- PT (physical training) and moral
pursue one’s passion, then living up near Panipat in Haryana stunned the ing, if need be by getting coaches from classes has been given a go-by. Let us
to the nation’s expectations is not dif- world and emerged as gold winner, outside since India does not have hope the Prime Minister would come
ficult.
It is also important to remember
how much effort a player must put in
ending India’s century-old wait for a
track and field medal in Olympics.
The country too has started recognis-
coaches of international standards as
yet, and see that the young teams par-
ticipate in various international
up with his Mann Ki Baat on making
drastic changes in the education sys-
tem and see that it gets back its old Tribal uplift remains
a cry in wilderness
to win an award whatever its colour ing his hard work and rewards have sports events so that they can be glory, when he would address the na-
be. Neeraj started climbing to glory started pouring in. ready to shine in Olympics. tion from the ramparts of Red Fort
from 2016 by when he had become a One significant thing that needs to It is high time the Union Govern- on August 15.
SRIRAMAKAVACHAM SK
Using oil revenue for government consumption?

ONe of William Shakespeare’s characters in King Lear says, “As flies
to the wanton boys are we to the gods; they kill us for their sport.”
Now in modern India, the tribals have become the flies while there
are many who play the role of the wanton boys.
Tribals are the autochthonous or indigenous people of the land.
T
THE WAY AHEAD he price of Therefore, there is no threat to the man- They have been struggling in the woods and put to hardships despite
fuel oil in ufacturing sector from an increase in the their rich and gorgeous cultural heritage. They have conserved the
the interna- price of oil. Furthermore, the share of forests, the wildlife and have played a pivotal role in maintaining the
tional market in manufacturing in our GDP is less at 15 ecological equilibrium. They have never done any harm to the forests.
2015 was $111 per per cent. The share of services is about Recognising their contribution, even the Constitution of India has
barrel. This fell to 54 per cent. The services sector that in- accorded them total rights on the forests. “even God is not empow-
$23 per barrel in cludes software, education, health and ered to enter the forests without their permission,” says Dr BD
2020 in the wake such activities use one-tenth of energy Sharma, the Chairman of the SC & ST Commission. But now their
of the Covid pan- as compared to manufacturing. Thus, life is at stake and the very entity of the innocent and ignorant tribals
demic. The price of the impact of price of oil will not affect has become uncertain and questionable.
Dr Bharat petrol should have our economic growth much. The manu- The tribal hamlets are suffering from viral and pesky diseases.
Jhunjhunwala declined in tan- facturing sector does not use oil in man- They languish from malnutrition and lack of medical facilities. It is
dem. That did not ufacturing; the share of manufacturing reported that over 700 students died in the tribal residential schools
happen, however, because the Union in GDP is less; and the services sector run by the Maharashtra government in a span of 10 years and the
government increased the excise duty uses less energy. For these reasons the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had to plunge into ac-
on oil in tandem with the decline in the negative impact of high price of oil on tion. The pathetic condition of tribals in Odisha is inexplicable. Re-
price of oil. As a result, the price of oil in price rise and economic growth will be cently 17 tribal students succumbed to an unknown disease. Most of
the domestic market remained stable muted. the tribal hamlets do not have transport and medical facilities. They
around Rs 70 per litre while the price in
international market declined.
There are two benefits of high price of
oil. We import about 85 per cent of the
The revenue is expected to surpass Rs 3,00,000 struggled a lot during Covid last year. They had to go on digging
metres together for their food like tubers.
Now, in the recent months, the price oil consumed by us. Our economy will be crore in the current year from Rs 72,000 crore in In the name of development, often criticised by the rights activists
of oil in the international market has devastated if we are unable to import oil as destructive and detrimental, the successive governments in the
gradually climbed back up to $76 per due to geopolitical or other disturbances. 2015. The government has claimed that the States have planned for irrigation projects displacing and evacuating
barrel. It has increased three times in An increase in price of oil will lead to re- increased revenue is being used for making capital lakhs of tribals. One can remember how the protests and the move-
about a year’s time. The government, duction in consumption, less depend- ments were led against the construction of the Narmada Dam. They
however, did not reduce the excise duty. ence on imports and strengthen our eco- expenditures and implementing welfare schemes. had to spearhead the movement in the interests of the tribals who
The result has been that the price of
petrol in the domestic market has in-
nomic sovereignty. Secondly, the burning
of oil leads to carbon emissions that are
Facts do not support this claim. It is clear that the were subjected to displacement and alienation. even many organi-
sations opposed the construction of the Polavaram Dam which would
creased to about Rs 100 per litre from leading to global warming and an in- revenues from oil are being used to enhance result in submergence of over 276 tribal hamlets and displacement
about Rs 70 per litre that had been pre- crease in natural disasters. An increase of 3 lakh people.
vailing for the last many years. The rev- in price of oil will lead to less carbon government consumption such as paying enhanced In the recent times mining is displacing them. Forests are the best
enue collected by the government in- emissions. I reckon the negative impact salaries to its employees source of rich natural resources. The innocent tribals are subjected
creased hugely. It had collected a on price rise and economic growth to be to evacuation to facilitate mining for the MNCs.
revenue of Rs 72,000 crore in 2015. This much less than the positive impact on last year to Rs 65,000 crore. The outlay Rs 100,000 crores every month for the The assiduous efforts put in by unusual and extraordinary bureau-
is expected to surpass Rs 3,00,000 crore economic sovereignty and environment on rural electrification has been reduced last three years. The government must crats like Dr Brahma Dev Sharma, SR Sankaran and the great per-
in the current year. hence expensive oil is good. The policy from Rs 4,500 crore to Rs 3,500 crore. take the following steps in this situation. sonalities such as Maha Swetha Devi, Medha Patkar and the recently
This increase in the price of oil will of the government to impose high excise The fact is that the revenue is being First, the investment in infrastructure died Stan Swamy have raised voice for them and they are successful
lead to an increase in the prices of large duty is in the right direction. used to increase government consump- should be reoriented towards rural in creating awareness and sympathy among the public, but what the
numbers of commodities. However, the The problem lies in the use or misuse tion. The expenditures of the govern- roads, lighting in the slums and provid- tribals need today is empathy. The 1/70 Act, PeSA, Tribal Sub-Plans
impact may not be huge. A report by of the huge revenue obtained from this ment are classified in “capital” and “rev- ing free wi-fi in small towns. This will have been barely and blatantly violated for the benefit of a few persons
Care Ratings suggests that the price of excise duty. The government has claimed enue” heads. Capital expenditures enable the common man to earn in- at the cost of tribal lives. Their lives are disrupted and destructed. It
petrol contributes 1.6 per cent and diesel that the increased revenue is being used include investments such as in highways comes, he will be able to buy goods from is pitiable and even surprising that the Reports were shelved when
3.1 per cent to the wholesale price index. for making capital expenditures and im- while revenue expenditures include the market and demand will increase. some tribal women were molested in Vakapalli in Vizag district by
The combined contribution would be plementing welfare schemes. Facts do salaries paid to the police and such ac- Second, the government should use rev- some military forces in 2006. Not a single person was punished in
less than 5 per cent. An increase of Rs 1 not support this claim. The capital ex- tivities. The revenue expenditures of the enues from oil to transfer money in the this connection.
in the price of oil will lead to an increase penditures in the present year 2021-22 government increased by Rs 3,00,000 bank accounts of the common man in- The governments have done little in the aspect of educating the
of only 5 paise in the price rise. Though have indeed been increased by Rs crores in this year. Only recently on July stead of transferring to the bank ac- tribals which will emancipate them from the clutches of ignorance
important, this negative effect is less 1,15,000 crore. However, at the same time 1, 2021 the government increased the counts of its employees. The govern- and illiteracy in the present scenario. The eklavya Model Residential
than the benefits of expensive oil that the receipts from the sale of capital assets dearness allowance paid to the government would be justified in increasing Schools managed by the HRD of the Union Government will become
we shall discuss shortly. have increased by Rs 1,42,000 crore. ment employees from 17 to 28 per cent. the excise duty on oil even further if the a boon for the uplift of the Tribes. If opportunities are provided, they
The second alleged negative effect of Therefore, oil revenues are not being It is clear that the revenues from oil are revenue is used in this way. A selling will prove their mettle and they may also become best rulers, officers,
high price of oil is that it can affect our used for making the capital expenditures. being used to enhance government con- price of petrol of Rs 150 per litre would politicians and even bureaucrats or policy makers, as Thomas Gray
economic growth. However, the main The second claim is that the revenue ob- sumption such as paying enhanced be justified as long as the revenue in one of his poems in “elegy Written in the Country Churchyard”
source of energy in the manufacturing tained from oil is being used for welfare salaries to its employees. earned is used to make infrastructure about innocent poor people. They have scaled the greatest mountains
sector is electricity the price of which expenditures. This too is doubtful. The Our economy is down. The main rea- for- and transfer money to the common in the world, cracked the All India Service exams and the IIT, NeeT
has been declining for the last many outlay on MNReGA has been cut by 34 son is that the common man does not man. and AIIMS to prove what they are.
years and is presently less than Rs 4 per per cent in the current year. The expen- have purchasing power. His savings have There are nomadic tribes who are utterly neglected by the civilised
unit on the India energy exchange. Oil diture on Pradhan Mantri Kisan Yojana evaporated in the pandemic. This is seen (The author is former professor of society. Some of tribal communities called Particularly Vulnerable
is not used in manufacturing much. has been reduced from Rs 75,000 crore in the rather flat GST collections around Economics at IIM, Bengaluru) Tribal Groups (PVTGs) are on the verge of extinction. It’s the duty
of the civilised society to save them and preserve their cultural her-
itage.
against hospitalisation and death. The single-shot vac- Chopra in his debut Olympics. At last, a gold for India in
LETTERS cine can also help speed up India’s vaccination drive be-
sides improving herd immunity.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
Tokyo Olympics is thrilling 1.34 billion Indian hearts.
Neeraj's super golden throw was 87.58 m, breaking his
own national record. Tapeworm drugs hold
Bajrang Puniya wrestled like a champ and won a
A very strong deterrence to rapes
T his refers to an article ‘Unless men change their at- A strong impetus to investments
bronze. Women's hockey too played skilfully like champs
(though no medal). Till now, India has won 7 medals in promise to cure Covid
titude, rapes will haunt Indian Society’ published in
Readers' Pulse (August 8). The narration is strong, but
conclusion is weak. At one stage, he says present obscen-
F inally, the Centre has decided to amend the indirect
tax law (Retrospective tax) that was enacted when
late Pranab Mukherjee was the Finance Minister. The
Tokyo-2020 and a total of 35 medals in Olympics since
1900: 10 gold, 9 silver, 16 bronze. So, onto the next sum-
mer Olympics in Paris-2024. A group of
medica-
ity in Indian cinema, web series, TV serials, etc., are some amendment to the law not only frees investors from pay- PS Nivriti Sreelekha, Secunderabad tions long
of the reasons for rapes. Contrary to this, he concludes ing the tax on their past transactions but also refunds prescribed to
that the incidents of rape in our country are not because the already paid tax which is about Rs 8,100 crore. It is treat tape-
of sexual attraction. In this connection, I borrow the believed that the amendment was made consequent to III worm has in-
caption of one more reader in the same page, ‘Fear of
punishment is absent in our system.’ This is to be very
very stringent and quick even by shooting the rapists
the bitter experience that the government faced at the
International Court of Justice at the Hague in Nether-
lands in cases relating to Vodafone and Cairn energy,
T he Indian national anthem played out at olympics
for the first time since 2008 also heralding a new
chapter in olympics for India is not only but a great mo-
spired
compound
that shows
a
immediately after their confession with evidence since both UK- based companies. Now, the democratic gov- ment to cherish. Though stupendous show by the gold two-pronged
our legal system travels slower than snail's pace. Modify ernments must realise that the amendments that were medalist Neeraj overshadowed the heroic win by Punia effectiveness
or rewrite our criminal laws giving power to police to made to the tax laws to bypass the courts would send in wrestling, yet both the star performers had put their a g a i n s t
follow suit as in Disha rape and murder case. Sadly, a wrong signals across the globe. With this amendment, heart and soul to finish the game on a high note. Notwith- Covid-19 in laboratory studies, a new study suggests.
number of rapists are enjoying their stay in prisons at India has cleared the air of suspicion over foreign in- standing certain disappointments in women's hockey The study, published in the journal ACS Infectious Disease, in-
the cost of public money. vestments. and Golf where they missed the medal by a whisker, na- dicates that the compound, part of a class of molecules called sali-
N Ramalakshmi, Secunderabad Pratapa Reddy Yaramala, Tiruvuru tion cheers both the medalists for bringing laurels to the cylanilides, was designed in the laboratory by a team of researchers,
nation and as well losers for putting a spirited perform- including Kim Janda from Scripps Research. "It has been known
ance. for 10 or 15 years that salicylanilides work against certain viruses.
Mixing sports and politics bad Neeraj Chopra’s golden throw KR Srinivasan, Secunderabad However, they tend to be gut-restricted and can have toxicity is-
H onouring Indian field hockey player Major Dhyan

Chand is welcome but renaming Rajiv Gandhi Khel
Ratna award is not in good taste and akin to disrespecting
W inning in any form of sport is a great motivation
for an upcoming star and winning an individual
Olympic 2020 gold is more satisfying than anything else Honour Dr Yellapragada Subba Rao
sues," Janda said.
The experiments showed that of the many modified salicy-
lanilides he had built in his laboratory, No 11 affected pandemic
former Prime Minister. Why to mix sports and politics?
If the Modi government is really concerned about im-
proving sports, it should allocate more funds and provide
in the field of sports. When Neeraj made it to his first
Olympic final, one of the other finalists was Pakistan's
Arshad Nadeem. Arshad and Neeraj's camaraderie had
I am afraid that once a government changes, the suc-
cessor renames organisations or awards to their liking.
But it's obligatory to honour the memory of the late lead-
coronavirus infections in two ways. First, it interfered with how
the virus deposited its genetic material into infected cells, a process
called endocytosis which requires the virus to form a lipid-based
training and infrastructure for the same. Sport provides become a talking point at the Asian Games in 2018. The ers or those who did good to the nation. It's my long-felt packet around viral genes.
common platform to unite people, cutting across caste, Pakistani thrower was one of the first to congratulate wish that either nation or state(s) better recall the The packet enters the infected cell and dissolves, so the infected
creed, religion and let not our politicians pollute this Neeraj when he won gold in the final. The bandana-wear- yeomen services of Dr Yellapragada Subba Rao, a pio- cell's protein-building machinery can read it and churn out new
area also. ing athlete from Panipat in Haryana gave 1.3 billion peo- neering biochemist who invented folic acid, tetracycline, viral copies. No 11 appears to prevent the packet's dissolution. "The
Kshirasagara Balaji Rao, Hyderabad ple a reason to celebrate, a reason to cry, and a reason to hetrazan etc. compound's antiviral mechanism is the key," Janda said. "It blocks
unite. Wearing the medal, which many in India have The great author of human anatomy, Sir Henry Grey the viral material from getting out of the endosome, and it just
yearned for, Neeraj remembered the legendary Milkha succumbed to tropical sprue while treating his nephew gets degraded. This process does not allow new viral particles to
A booster dose to vaccination drive Singh, who finished fourth in the 1960 Rome Olympics. since the saving drug folic acid had not been invented by be made as readily," the researcher added. Importantly, because it
T he drug regulator’s nod for emergency use of the sin-

gle-dose Covid-19 vaccine by Johnson, a subsidiary
of the US pharma giant Johnson and Johnson, is another
It was a dream-like performance and show and a golden
jab to end the games.
CK Subramaniam, Navi Mumbai
then. I appreciate American Lederle Labs for honouring
him a statue on the campus. He is a pride of India, and
Telugus in particular. Had he lived longer he would have
acts inside cells rather than on viral spikes, questions about
whether it would work in new variants like Delta and Lambda
aren't a concern, he adds.
shot in the arm for India’s vaccination drive. J&J’s sin- won a Nobel which, alas, is not awarded posthumously. "This mechanism is not dependent on the virus spike protein,
gle-dose vaccine joins four other eUA vaccines in India’s II Dr T Ramadas, Visakhapatnam. so these new variants coming up aren't going to relegate us to find-
approved list. The vaccine is nearly 85% effective against
severe or critical disease and demonstrates protection A FTeR a wait of 100 years, India got a golden medal
in Athletics through the golden arm of Neeraj
thehansreader@gmail.com
ing new molecules as is the case with vaccines or antibodies," Janda
said.
04 OPINION THE TRIBUNE
JALANDHAR | MONDAY | 9 AUGUST 2021
50 years of Indo-Soviet treaty

THE TRIBUNE established in 1881
New Delhi, Moscow remain committed to each other’s territorial integrity
thereof, the High Contracting Parties
shall immediately enter into mutual
consultations to remove such threat
Golden show in Tokyo and to take appropriate effective meas-

ures to ensure peace and security of
their countries’. This gave India the
Chopra’s gold caps India’s best performance in Olympics confidence that the US and China
T
would not consider directly and militar-
HE stunning throw of 87.58 metres, with which Neeraj Chopra won VIVEK KATJU
ily intervening in the conflict. The Sovi-
the javelin throw gold at the Tokyo Olympics, made Saturday EX-SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS et Union stood by India but the record
India’s best day ever in their Olympics journey — wrestler is believed to show that it too cautioned
T
Bajrang Punia had won bronze less than an hour before Chopra threw HE ‘ Treaty of Peace, Friend- India against seeking the disintegra-
the javelin past 87 metres on his first two attempts. Chopra’s medal, ship and Cooperation tion of West Pakistan. Despite that, the
India’s second gold in an individual event in all Olympics, took our haul Between the Government of treaty had served the Indian purpose.
from the Tokyo Olympics to seven. The previous best was six at London India and the Government of The treaty was a product of a global
2012, while the previous individual gold came in 2008, from shooter Union of Soviet Socialist Republics’ situation and the evolution of Indo-
Abhinav Bindra. India’s shooters, who went to Tokyo with high hopes, was signed fifty years ago on August 9, Soviet relations. It also created a posi-
returned empty-handed from their second consecutive Olympics after 1971. It is now history as is the Soviet HISTORIC: The then PM Indira Gandhi with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev. The treaty was tive sentiment for the Soviet Union in
medalling in three Olympics in a row from 2004 — if they had performed Union, which imploded in 1991. The among the most significant documents signed by India after Independence. FILE PHOTO Indian decision makers and added to
to potential, India's medal count would have passed 10. treaty is also almost completely out of the relationship, especially in the secu-
Chopra’s gold, India’s first medal ever in athletics — Norman
Indian public memory; but it was Apart from warning India against taking military action, rity sphere. Did the nature of Indo-Sovi-
diplomatically and strategically among et ties in the 1970s and the next decade
Pritchard won two silver at Paris in 1900 while representing India, but
the most significant documents signed the US also encouraged China to take such action, circumscribe Indian options as India’s
he was a British citizen — is rightly being hailed as historic for it was
won in a mainstream sport that demands a very high degree of athleti-
by India after Independence. This is should India militarily intervene in Pakistan. geopolitical environment changed
because it immensely contributed to adversely with the Soviet ingress into
cism, strength and technical finesse. Before Chopra arrived on the this country’s ability to successfully Afghanistan in December 1979? India
scene, the hope of India winning an Olympics track and field medal — meet one of the greatest security chal- They were convinced that once in pow- In 1971, Pakistan also played a vital did privately convey its unhappiness
let alone gold! — seemed an impossible dream. The performance by lenges it has faced in the past seven er Mujib would create conditions for role as a go-between to help the US at Moscow’s Afghan policy but the
the hockey teams was exceptional, too, with the men winning bronze decades. And within this challenge lay East Pakistan’s secession. This was and China establish contacts. This nature of bilateral ties prevented it
to end a 41-year drought. The silver won by Ravi Dahiya and Mirabai a very great strategic opportunity incorrect, for Mujib desired autonomy process culminated in Henry from taking an adverse public posi-
Chanu and the bronze by PV Sindhu — the first Indian woman to win which India positively realised not secession. A facade of working out Kissinger’s dramatic and secret visit tion. During the 1980s, India sought to
medals in two Olympics — were just rewards of great performances. through the break-up of Pakistan. a compromise to break the political to China from Pakistan in July 1971. open up with the US but its strong
The most pleasing aspect of India's show was that the circle of India’s It is difficult now to appreciate the impasse was enacted by the army and It earned Yahya Khan the great grati- Soviet connection and its public posi-
competitiveness expanded, if ever so slightly, in Tokyo. Aditi Ashok was critical situation that confronted the Bhutto. But that was a cover for a bru- tude of President Richard Nixon who tion on Afghanistan was a barrier in
country on several fronts in 1971. The tal and bloody crackdown on East Pak- wanted to go down in history as the this process. It was also in this decade
in contention for a golf medal until the very end; fencer Bhavani Devi
domestic political situation had been istan launched on March 25. American leader responsible for the that Pakistan became nuclear, with the
and Fouaad Mirza in equestrian impressed, too. All in all, the festival of
shaken by the Congress split in 1969. The Pakistani army’s genocide in breakthrough with China. Nixon was US looking the other way. India could
sport went off pretty well, despite an alarming surge in Covid-19 cases In order to consolidate her position, East Pakistan led to a grave security sit- also antipathetic towards India and effectively do nothing about it.
in Tokyo. Crucially, the pre-Olympics horror scenario, as projected by PM Indira Gandhi was beginning to uation for India as refugees began to had an irrational personal dislike for After the end of the Soviet Union,
Japan’s doctors and health experts, was averted. Over time, we’ll know take the country further down on the cross the border; their number eventu- Indira Gandhi. This and larger geopo- India signed a treaty of friendship
the cost to Japan’s economy for holding the Olympics during the pan- road of socialism. She had also ally grew to a crore. The overall implica- litical fears led him to overlook the and cooperation with Russia in 1993,
demic. For now, let’s celebrate our and the world’s exceptional athletes. brought forward the General Election tions of hosting them were unbearable. Pakistani army’s genocide against its but with the omission of an Article
by a year, to March 1971. She achieved They had to be sent back but Pakistan own people. Apart from warning like IX of the 1971 treaty, it was very
a decisive victory, but within weeks of was unwilling to create the conditions India against taking military action, different, and gradually the nature of
her taking oath of office for a third that would make that possible. The the US also encouraged China to take the India-Russia ties has become rad-
Haryana’s child pregnancies time, the immediate external envi-

ronment became grave because of
internal developments in Pakistan.
atrocities against the population—and
Hindus were specially targeted—also
led to general popular pressure on Indi-
military action, should India militari-
ly intervene in Pakistan. And, Sino-
Indian relations were cold and hostile
ically different. The halcyon years of
the 1970s and 1980s are now a remote
memory, but both countries remain
Shift in societal mindset, swift action imperative Elections were held in Pakistan, then ra Gandhi for military intervention. while Sino-Pak ties had become firm, committed to each other’s territorial
under the military dictator Gen Yahya The armed forces needed time to pre- based on a shared hostility with India. integrity as enshrined in their consti-
S
TATISTICS have been pointing to the frighteningly rising graph Khan, in December 1970. The Awami pare. As the months passed, it became In this situation, India simply had to tutions. Meanwhile, Sino-Russian
of sexual offences against minor girls in Haryana. Equally party led by Sheikh Mujibur Rehman evident that the Western powers led by possess the cover of a security assur- relations have become fundamental-
shameful are the grossly inadequate steps taken by the state to won 167 out of 169 seats allotted to East the US had no real sympathy for ance from the Soviet Union, even if that ly transformed in this century. Article
Pakistan. The number was sufficient to India’s predicament and their major superficially impaired the tenets of 9 of Sino-Russian treaty of friendship
deal with the situation that is potentially pregnant with multifarious
enable him to form the national gov- objective was the maintenance of Pak- non-alignment. This was provided by of 2001 is almost identical to Article
repercussions, for the gaps in the system only embolden the culprits.
ernment. However, the army and the istan’s territorial integrity. As India pre- Article IX of the treaty which stated IX of the Indo-Soviet treaty of 1971.
The surge in the number of cases reported under the Protection of politicians of west Pakistan refused to pared for military action, it helped the inter alia, ‘In the event of either Party The two countries recently decided to
Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act reflects the general hand over power to the Awami party. East Pakistani resistance. being subjected to an attack or a threat extend the treaty by five years.
trend. Betraying the vulnerability of children to sexual abuse, mostly
by men they trust, is the rise in child pregnancies in the state. Com-
pared to 54 such cases reported under the Act last year, the first five
months of 2021 have already witnessed 37 pregnancies.
That in only 21 of these 37 cases could the pregnancy be terminated
lays bare the loopholes in the state’s efforts to curb this social evil. While
mostly the abortions could not be carried out as they were reported after
A thing for numbers
the permitted 24 weeks, criminal delays by child welfare committees or Raj Kadyan splashed muddy water on me from a the matriculation examination. Histo- 1664. The botany book weighed 3.6
medical boards have also led to the missing of the crucial deadline. Pub- street puddle. ry came easy to me because I could pounds. When I graduated, the top-
licity campaigns to sensitise both children and adults towards this
heinous crime need to be ramped up. The girls’ education about good
and bad touch in homes and schools can be effective only in conjunction
with boys being raised with morals imbued with sensitivity to women’s
A N average human brain is
known to have a finite storage
capacity. If one tries to crowd
in more bytes, some earlier ones get
pushed out.
The staircase in our village house
has 14 steps; of the 29 wooden beams
in the ceiling, the 12th from left car-
ries seepage marks. My school head-
master’s cycle had four spokes bro-
remember which king ruled from
when to when, made how many miles
of roads and had how many wives.
I had better academic prospects in
history through college. But my uncle
per’s score was 33.4% ahead of mine.
My eldest brother was on field post-
ing and his Fiat car bearing the regis-
tration number USQ 3193 was with me
in Dehradun. In June 1968, I drove it to
agency and the shedding of misogynistic patriarchy. The stigma of rape I have a head for figures. They get ken on the front wheel. made me choose science. More than Delhi to attend a friend’s wedding. It
must stick to the violator rather than to the naive victim. permanently lodged in the cranium. The country’s switch to the metric the avuncular respect, it was his 74.5- had five punctures en route and the
Also essential to deterring the perpetrators is swift and assured jus- And once there, they simply refuse to system in the 1950s caused me no prob- inch height and 223 pounds of weight journey took 13 hours 20 minutes.
tice. More courts like the one set up in Ambala last year to exclusively deal leave, not unlike city tenants. lem. A postal envelope cost 19 paise. that gave him an intimidating posi- Alas, I seem to have reached the
with child abuse cases — nearly 100 under the POCSO Act are pending Perhaps it was a sense of revenge The price of a readymade shirt my tion in family matters. memory limit. Last month, on my
in the district — are needed to fast-track trials. Notably, the SC’s rejection that started it all. In kindergarten, I mother bought me was Rs 2.45. The I found science dull but kept up return from the market, I handed over
of the plea of the Catholic priest (now defrocked) for marriage with his vic- once received three tight slaps from first pair of Bata shoes cost me Rs 13.95. with the figures in college. I remem- the groceries, the bills and the balance
tim whom he had impregnated four years ago — after all scandalous the class bully when I spilt ink on his In Class VIII, the only girl in our ber the roll numbers of all seven girls. amount to my wife. After calculation,
tricks to escape the 20 years’ RI awarded to him failed — affirms that new shirt. I could never take revenge class had five small pox marks on her As many as 407 had captivating light when she demanded the remaining
child rapists invite upon themselves nothing but punishment. but haven’t forgotten the figure right cheek. It has long become blue eyes, 156 were the friendliest. Rs 36 and 29 paise, I could not
three. Similarly, I still remember the redundant, but I can’t get rid of Our zoology professor rode a black explain. I could not even speak, lest
number of the car that in the 1980s 97512, which was my roll number in motorcycle, registration number she should smell the beer breath.
❝ ❞
thought for the day letters to the editor
Peace is not made at the council table or by treaties, but Threat to judges rather they are fine being called dered for personal political gains. to plan and evaluate the progress of
in the hearts of men. — Herbert Hoover Apropos of ‘Judges receiving human beings, like all of us. SURINDER KUMAR JINDAL, MOHALI sports in the state. A sports nursery
threats but IB, CBI not helping, Many have lost their lives while can best be nurtured in schools.
says SC’, the matter is serious as cleaning sewers. Recently, the Gandhi's ashram The sports fund at the school level
the allegation has been levelled Mohali MC paid Rs 10 lakh each to Sabarmati Ashram is like Ram should expand and state-of-the-art
on this day...100 years ago by the highly trustworthy and the kin of two sewer men who lost temple for Gandhi devotees infrastructure should be made
respectable judicial institution of their lives. When the government (‘Sabarmati Ashram recast’). Any available for the students to prac-
India. Judicial cases are is spending crores on MPs, MLAs attempt to desecrate the purity of tise sports of their choice. Close
addressed in accordance with the and municipal councillors who the ashram in a bid to convert the coordination should be ensured
law of the country. Cases of work only for a few days in a year, place into a tourist centre amounts between the education department
threats to judges when adverse why can’t it cut salaries and other to deconstructing a Gandhian and the sports department and
lahore,tuesday,august 9, 1921
judgments are passed deserve useless expenses and buy monument of great historic signif- facilities like coaches should be
strong condemnation. Indifferent machines to clean the gutters, as icance. There are ashrams galore availed of by the schools as per the
“TRUTH” VS. EXPEDIENCY. attitude of the IB and the CBI, the done in foreign countries? They of modern ‘godmen’ that resem- programme chalked out earlier.
WHILE there may be more than one opinion regarding the question of the top-ranking institutions, is have a right to live a clean, ble five-star hotels. Gandhi was a The government should take
validity or otherwise of the elections to the All-India Congress Committee by the beyond understanding. They respectable and dignified life. true political saint who practiced sports seriously.
Provincial Congress Committees of Bengal and Madras, which had been must do their duty and uphold SUKHWANT BHULLAR, CHANDIGARH what he preached. His simplicity, S KUMAR, PANCHKULA
referred to the Working Committee for disposal, there will be no disposition in the confidence of the people. Bad authenticity and veracity are
any quarter to question the wisdom of the decision arrived at by that Committee. elements should never get an Sidhu’s dera visit exemplified by the ashram. It Give hockey its due
To hold an enquiry like that suggested by the dissenters would have interfered upper hand in a democratic setup. Reference to ‘Sidhu pays visit to should not be violated for com- Our men’s hockey team, which
with the carrying out in both Provinces of the programme on which the All-India The judiciary must go on dis- Doaba deras ahead of polls’; mercial considerations. The BJP’s battled a heartbreaking slump in
Congress Committee has just resolved that the attention of the country should charging its duties as per the law. while it’s one’s call to visit any philosophy of Hindutva is diamet- the past four decades, made the
be concentrated. The real question before the Working Committee, therefore, Law-abiding people of the coun- dera/baba, there should not be rically antagonistic to the philoso- resurgence of the last couple of
was not whether the elections to the All-India Congress Committee in Bengal try are always with it. any politicking in the name of phy espoused by Gandhi that years count in the best way possi-
and Madras were valid, but whether it was desirable to hold an enquiry into this SUDESH KUMAR SHARMA, KAPURTHALA deras for votes. All religions and embraced all castes and communi- ble with an Olympic medal. One of
matter at the grave risk of the object on which the Congress had set its heart not castes should be given due ties in its fold. the most memorable comebacks
being successful in two of the most important provinces, and in view of the Pitiable existence respect and representation. The ROSHAN LAL GOEL, LADWA in the history of the game, they
further fact that fresh elections would be held in November. To that question, the Political parties have always used news item mentions that the fought back from a two-goal
decision of the Working Committee furnishes what many will regard as the only Dalits as vote banks, but did little accompanying Cabinet minister Sports nursery deficit to turn the match. The win
possible answer. But while this is so, we hope that the decision of the Working to uplift them. Even Gandhi gave Charanjit Channi sought 101 Refer to ‘Start from the grass- will encourage more Indians to
Committee will, for all practical purposes, be accepted as the last word in the them a new name, ‘Harijan’, but acres of land for the dera. If any roots’; every state is equipped with join hockey rather than cricket as
matter, and its advice to “such persons as may feel themselves aggrieved in their lot did not improve. We live political party wants to donate a sports department, which usually hockey is our national game. Peo-
Bengal and Madras to co-operate with the Provincial organisations in both in the 21st century but Gandhi’s anything to any dera or communi- organises a few tournaments or ple all over the country should
Provinces in the prosecution of the programme to a successful issue” will be Harijans are still cleaning gutters ty, it should be done from their extends skeletal facilities at some support such youngsters who
loyally followed, let us understand the implications of this advice. Here was the with their hands. They don’t own resources. The state’s com- places. There is a need to develop a bring laurels to the nation.
first question raised since Mahatma Gandhi had come into power, in which the want to be called Harijan or Dalit, mon resources are not to be plun- State Sports Advisory Committee RUKMA SHARMA, JALANDHAR
issue was definitely between abstract truth and justice on one side and
expediency on the other, and the decision amounts to a victory for the latter. Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: Letters@tribunemail.com
THE TRIBUNE
JALANDHAR | MONDAY | 9 AUGUST 2021 OPED 05
Regional security brings India, Iran closer

neither side and risks conflict. Suffice to
say, Iran is on the threshold of a trans-
formative period that will be hugely The diplomatic signalling coincides with a
consequential. In anticipation, as
many as 73 countries from different
radical shift in the situation around Iran as well
continents, including the European as in India’s political economy. Washington and
Union, sent high-level delegations to
attend the ceremony in Tehran. Iran’s Tehran are inching toward an agreement and
MK BHADRAKUMAR integration into the world community
FORMER AMBASSADOR has become unstoppable. a lifting of US sanctions against Iran. In
The hands-on role that the PM and
anticipation, as many as 73 countries, including
T
HE presence of External EAM have assumed to navigate the rela-
Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar tionship with Iran also shows a deep the EU, sent delegations to attend the
at the swearing-in ceremony of understanding of the realignments in
Iran’s new President Ebrahim the world order. India’s eagerness to ceremony in Tehran. Iran’s integration into the
Raisi in Tehran last Thursday consti- charter a mutually beneficial relation-
tutes a major foreign policy recalibration ship anchored on economic cooperation world community has become unstoppable.
FILLIP: By reaching out to Iran, India has shown that it understands realignments in world order. TWITTER
attuned to the historic changes under- is self-evident. The lifting of sanctions
way in the regional and international sit- will unlock Iran’s vast resources.
uation. As recently as on July 7, the Raisi, in his inaugural speech, stressed from revving up trade and investment. ‘civilisation states’. tions and foreign policies took revision- can play a constructive and useful role in
EAM had called on President-elect that his mandate in the June election is Tehran is an irreplaceable partner for Interestingly, Raisi began his inaugural ist hues during the past decade or so. ensuring security in the region, especial-
Raisi in Tehran and handed over to to improve people’s livelihoods, “mak- Delhi in regional connectivity, which speech on Thursday with a poignant Jaishankar would agree with the con- ly Afghanistan, and Tehran welcomes
him a message of greetings from Prime ing the economy resilient to shocks, makes India a stakeholder in Iran’s invocation of Iran’s pre-Islamic past. He cluding words in Raisi’s speech: “The New Delhi’s role in establishment of
Minister Modi. He was in fact the first curbing inflation, strengthening the massive infrastructure development. said, “The new government today world is changing, and the pursuit of security in Afghanistan.”
foreign dignitary to be received by national currency and restoring stabil- Raisi welcomes the private sector. Again, stands on the heights that a world civil- the interests of nations depends on Both support the Afghan govern-
Raisi after his election victory in June. ity to the country’s economy, support- India can turn its rapidly growing needs isation with several thousand years of understanding of the new world and ment, whom they consider to be legiti-
Yet, in an extraordinary gesture, ing national production and striving of energy into innovative paradigms history has built, a culture that has been strategic interaction with emerging mate, and insist that there has to be a
Raisi received Jaishankar for a second for self-sufficiency in meeting basic that go beyond the buyer-seller relation- at the forefront of human history for powers and a successful foreign policy political settlement. Both are stake-
time on Friday. These are anything but needs, technological progress” and the ship in oil trade. Iran is deeply interest- centuries, and, by combining monothe- is a balanced foreign policy.” holders in Afghanistan’s security and
happenstances. Delhi and Tehran are “optimal management of the country’s ed in the Indian market. ism and progress, has provided a model Indian analysts have rightly highlight- stability and both are staunchly
conveying their abiding regard and mines, water, gas and oil resources.” Historically speaking, India’s broad of spiritual life. The culture and civilisa- ed the two countries’ convergence of opposed to foreign interference while
respect for each other. All in all, Jais- A window of opportunity is opening for empathy for the 1979 Iranian Revolution tion of Greater Iran, when it embraced interests over the situation in pursuing their specific interests.
hankar has visited Tehran four times India, given the complementarity was almost instinctive. Atal Bihari Vaj- Islam, recreated this pattern of progress Afghanistan. Yet, it must be clearly Unlike India, Iran is vociferously criti-
in the past 18 months, more than to any between the two economies. Iran is payee, India’s Foreign Minister at that and became the forerunner of world understood that the halcyon days of their cal of the US occupation of Afghanistan
other country as foreign minister. poised to enter an epochal era of recon- time, and Indira Gandhi as well as the knowledge and literature.” close cooperation or the momentary qua- but that is a minor detail today. The
This diplomatic signalling coincides struction, rehabilitation and regenera- Foreign Minister during her tenure, PV India and Iran are natural allies as si-alliance in buttressing the anti-Taliban commonality here underscores that the
with a radical shift in the situation tion. India’s energetic participation in it Narasimha Rao, could sense the nation- regards the centrality they attach to resistance at the end of the 1990s are no Indian leadership was prescient in its
around Iran as well as in India’s political holds promise of a ‘win-win’ outcome alist moorings of the revolution, its stri- strategic autonomy in their foreign longer replicable. Simply put, circum- judgment forty years ago that Iran,
economy. Washington and Tehran are for their respective post-pandemic eco- dent rhetoric of political Islam notwith- policies. Iran has been attracted to stances have changed. Nonetheless, both emerging out of the tumultuous revolu-
inching toward an agreement and a lift- nomic recovery. The government should standing. The Indian leaders were at India’s robust sense of independence India and Iran do enjoy strong conver- tion, would be a factor of regional stabil-
ing of US sanctions against Iran. This think up big ideas in industrial collabo- once struck by the similarity in the — and Tehran felt despondent when- gence as regards regional security. Raisi ity and a steady partner for India in its
assumes of course that stalemate suits ration, engineering projects, etc. apart national aspirations of the two resurgent ever Delhi’s diplomatic peregrina- told Jaishankar on Friday, “Iran and India difficult neighbourhood.
Chance for India to make its mark on UN stage

I
NDIA has assumed the monthly pres- revival of the UN Trusteeship Council this issue his top priority by both invok-
idency of the United Nations Security with a new mandate for the environ- ing his career long experience as well as
Council (UNSC). On August 1, India ment and the global commons. The to vindicate the trust reposed by the
took the seat at the head of the prover- UNSC is the right forum and the PM PM. It would be worth trying for the
bial horseshoe table after a decade. India making out a case in his August 9 EAM to park himself at the Permanent
would be a “voice of moderation, an advo- address to the virtual UNSC heads of Mission of India to the UN (PMI) in New
cate of dialogue and a proponent of interna- government meeting would be an ideal York at least during the August presi-
BHARAT H DESAI tional law”, S Jaishankar, the Indian Exter- occasion for this idea that the post-Covid dency to personally lead the consulta-
nal Affairs Minister (EAM) said. world desperately needs. tions in the matter. Possibly, it would be
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU CHAIR AND PROFESSOR Though India took up the non-perma- Lastly, it is now known to all that India a good idea even to reach out, seek ideas
OF INTERNATIONAL LAW, JNU
nent seat of the UNSC for the seventh does aspire for a permanent seat at the and strategise with some of the finest
time on January 1, 2021, the assumption horseshoe table. It appears that in the Indian scholars and MEA veterans,
of the rotational presidency has come to earlier six Indian stints as the non-per- including his cabinet colleague Hard-
The UNSC meeting today India for the month of August. On manent member, overt and covert eep Singh Puri, who last chaired the
August 9, Prime Minister Narendra Modi efforts were made to get the agenda item UNSC presidency a decade ago.
under PM Modi’s is slated to chair the meeting of the heads dropped on ‘India-Pakistan Question’. We need to ensure that most of the
presidentship would be the of government of the UNSC members. Still, it now makes great sense to deftly issues on the agenda of the UNSC are
The UNSC monthly presidency is high set in motion a process to have this item laced with critical issues of international
right occasion to walk the on symbolism. Still, it provides a unique de-listed from the UNSC agenda. law, and hence, the statements periodi-
opportunity to showcase India as a ‘dif- Notwithstanding the fact that the UNSC cally read out by the Indian representa-
talk and showcase the ferent’ power as well as to make a differ-
AT HELM: Peace and security should be the framework for India’s UNSC August presidency. AP
has not addressed the issue of J&K after tives at the UNSC meetings need to con-
Indian ‘commitment to ence to the functioning of the UNSC and and securing peace. As a corollary, India International Criminal Tribunal for the last UNSC resolution 307 (1971), Pak- tain concrete international law elements
to international peace and security. In could lead the Council to effectively inte- Rwanda” and called for adherence to istan still harped on it through an urgent and position both to indicate India’s seri-
international law’ so as to global peace and security concerns, grate ‘women, peace and security’ “the principles of justice, impartiality communication from the Pakistani For- ousness in addressing some of the UNSC
India will be required to express its posi- (WPS) considerations, especially by and fairness.” It is noteworthy that the eign Minister on August 13, 2019, in the agenda items as well as to provide a con-
be taken seriously as a tion, and if possible, even propose a solu- including the list of “terrorist entities Indian statement took note of the work aftermath of the decisive Indian internal crete basis for their resolution.
global solution provider. tion. There are at least four crucial areas involved in violence against women in of the mechanism for scheduling judg- measures on August 5 of that year. Jaisahankar’s statement on assump-
wherein the Indian leadership will mat- armed conflicts.” In fact, this needs to be ment in June 2021 in three pending pro- At the time, closed-door parleys were tion of the August presidency on being a
As it is said, res ipsa ter. The August presidentship can duly supplemented by the growing con- ceedings (Mladic case, Simatovic case held among the UNSC members on ‘proponent of international law’ as well
loquitur — things speak for enable India to sow the seeds that could
yield dividends by the end of December
cerns on climate change exacerbating
sexual and gender-based violence
and Nzabonimpa case). Though India is
not a party to the 1998 Rome Statute of
August 16. The move sought to push the
UNSC to “take stock of an issue” that the
as international law being a crucial part
of the tripod of the Indian vision on
themselves. Hence, the 2022 when the membership would end. (SGBV) against women. India needs to the International Criminal Court, yet Council did not address “in several maintenance of international peace and
First, the Indian statement (June 2) by add greater value, urgency and shape to this support to the residual mechanism decades” and it was also known before- security, needs to be reflected in all the
right content in the PM’s First Secretary Vidisha Maitra called for the UNSC agenda on WPS. for the ICTY and ICTR became crucial hand that “several members will empha- substantive issues. The PM also needs to
presidential address “meaningful participation of women in
decision-making, substantially strength-
Secondly, the statement (June 8) of the
Deputy Permanent Representative, R
in underscoring as well as drawing of the
‘red lines’ for the perpetrators of SGBV
sise the importance of de-escalation,
diplomacy and restraint while referring
‘speak the language of international
law’ in confabulation with heads of state
would do so. The UNSC en prevention efforts, deepen the effec- Ravindra in the UNSC debate on Inter- in the conflict zones. India speaking up to previous Security Council resolutions and government. The August 9 meeting
tiveness of peace-building and develop national Residual Mechanism for Crim- in the matter with concrete ideas, con- as a guide to addressing the crisis”. would be the right occasion to walk the
monthly presidency stability in society.” This issue pertains to inal Tribunals (IRMCT) indicated anoth- tent and the future roadmap is essential. Therefore, it is high time India sets in talk and showcase the Indian “commit-
provides a unique the long-standing UNSC resolution 1325
(2000) that was a landmark step for link-
er front wherein India reiterated its
“support for the mechanism and com-
Thirdly, the PM’s reference to trustee-
ship of the planet at the G20 (Riyadh)
motion an emphatic process by assur-
ing its resolution in the bilateral mode
ment to international law” so as to be
taken seriously as a global solution
opportunity to showcase ing gender equality with the mainte- mends its contribution to the fight virtual meeting on November 21, 2020 and create a consensus among the provider. As it is said, res ipsa loquitur —
nance of international peace and securi- against impunity and to the preserva- was significant. In order to provide flesh- UNSC members to have the agenda de- things speak for themselves. Hence, the
India as a ‘different’ power. ty. It has recognised women’s tion of the legacy of the international tri- and-bones to the said idea, India needs listed after more than seven decades. right content in the PM’s presidential
participation as key in resolving conflict bunal for former Yugoslavia and the to promote and push for the idea of Maybe the Indian EAM needs to give address would do so.
quick crossword su do ku calendar forecast

ACROSS AUGUST 9, 2021, MONDAY SUNSET: MONDAY 19:09 HRS
1 Pull oneself
together (4,3,2,2) 3 5 1 2 ■ Vikrami Samvat 2078
SUNRISE: TUESDAY 05:47 HRS
9 Frightful (7) ■ Shaka Samvat 1943

10 Capital of Japan (5)
11 Admonish (4) 1 7 5 ■ Shravan Shaka
■ Shravan Parvishte
18
25
Sunny Partly Cloudy Cloudy
CITY MAX
Rainy
MIN
Foggy
12 Winding (8)
Chandigarh 35 27
7 4 2
■ Hijari 1442
14 Encourage (6)
16 The film industry (6) 8 ■ Shukla Paksha Tithi 1, up to 6.57 pm New Delhi 34 26
18 Norwegian explorer (8) ■ Variyan Yoga up to 10.14 pm Amritsar 35 27
19 Leave out (4)
22 As aforesaid (5) 4 6 5 9 8 ■ Ashle Nakshatra up to 9.50 am
■ Moon enters Leo sign 9.50 am

Bathinda
Jalandhar
36
35
27
27
23 Keep track of (7)
Ludhiana 35 26
24 Engage in dispute (5,6)
3 9 7 2 5 SATURDAY’S SOLUTION
Bhiwani 36 27
DOWN 1 8 2 3 4 7 6 5 9 Hisar 36 27
2 The lowest point (5)
3 Conspiracy (4) 2 5 1 9 6 3 5 6 9 8 1 7 2 4 Sirsa
Dharamsala
36
30
28
20
4 Eventual outcome (6) 4 9 7 6 5 2 3 1 8
5 Leave behind (8) Manali 25 16
6 Annoying (7)
7 Open display of
6 3 5 8 9 3 8 1 7 6 2 4 5 Shimla 23 18
5 6 4 8 2 3 9 7 1 Srinagar 31 18
voting (4,2,5)
8 To begin with (3,8)
13 Total write-off (4,4)
2 8 7 7 2 1 5 9 4 8 3 6
Jammu 35 26
Kargil 21 14 11
SATURDAY’S sOLUTION 15 Stroll (7) 6 7 5 4 3 9 1 8 2
4 1 6
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nature, 20 Set an example, 23 Pool, 24 Fatal, 25 Bear, 28 Inspired, 29 Tawdry, 30 Gingerly, 31 Sandal.
17 Messenger of Greek
gods (6)
9 2 4 9 7 1 8 5 6 3 Dehradun 31 25
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as a bell, 15 Index, 16 Array, 18 Splendid, 19 Betrayal, 21 Spring, 22 Worsen, 26 Dire, 27 Java. 21 Ruin the hopes of (4) V. EASY TEMPERATURE IN OC
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ven as we celebrate our
LQJGD\RIWKH*DPHVDQGWKHHYHRIFORVLQJ,WLVQRZWLPHIRUWKHTXHVWLRQVDV best ever Olympic perfor-
XVXDODVDWWKHHQGRIHYHU\2O\PSLFV:HDUHPRUHWKDQDELOOLRQRIXVDQG\HWZK\ mance this year in Tokyo,
GRZHJHWVRIHZPHGDOV"7KHTXHVWLRQLVFOLFKHG7KHDQVZHUVDUHWRR+RZHYHU a retrospective view is in
WKHUH LV VRPH GLIIHUHQFH EHWZHHQ QRZ DQG WKH SDVW 7KH LQWHUHVW WDNHQ E\ WKH order. Much effort and money
was invested by India in the 1982
*RYHUQPHQWDQGVKRZQE\WKHSULYDWHVHFWRULVSDOSDEOHWKRXJKLWLVQRZKHUHQHDU Asian Games. However, at one
ZKDWLVH[SHFWHGRIERWK7KH8QLRQ*RYHUQPHQW event, the guest-in-chief was one
FODLPVWRKDYHRYHUKDXOHGWKH6SRUWV$XWKRULW\RI of our cine superstars. When he
,QGLD6$,DIWHUWKHLQGLIIHUHQW,QGLDQWDOHDWWKH5LR approached the podium to award
the medals, the audience erupt-
2O\PSLFVRI,WLVDSSDUHQWO\OHVVEXUHDXFUD ed in wild applause, as if the play-
WLVHGOHVVFRUUXSWPRUHHIILFLHQWDQGPRUHFRQVLG ers did not matter; the gold, sil-
HUDWHRISOD\HUV·LQWHUHVWV7KHFRPSODLQWVKRZHY ver and bronze winners were not
HUUHPDLQUDQJLQJIURPOHVVQXWULWLRXVIRRGWRLQIH Indian. The coach of one of the
winning teams asked who this
ULRU TXDOLW\ HTXLSPHQW IDYRXULWLVP DQG RUGLQDU\ chief guest was, to which the
FRDFKLQJ7KHVHDUHV\VWHPLFIDXOWVWKDWGLOXWHWKH rather chirpy reply was: “Don’t
LPSDFWRIFURUHVRIUXSHHVSRXUHGLQWRWKH$XWKRULW\ you know him? He is our most
DQGLWVYDULRXVQDWLRQDOFDPSV famous cine star.” To this, the
coach’s response was: “I now
7KHUHLVDQDWWLWXGLQDOIDXOWLQWKHFRXQWU\,WKDV understand why a vast country
WRGRZLWKDFDVXDODSSURDFKWRVSRUWVLILWLVQRWFULFNHW7KHJDPHLVWKHPRVWSRS like India is nowhere in sport.”
XODULQ,QGLDHYHQWKRXJKKRFNH\LVVDLGWREHWKHQDWLRQDOVSRUW3DUHQWVZRXOGQRW Except for a few privileged
KHVLWDWHWRVXSSRUWDFKLOGVKRZLQJWDOHQWLQFULFNHWEHFDXVHWKHJDPHLVSULPDULO\ families, sport has not been
regarded as integral to Indian
VHHQDVDPHDQVWRHDUQLQJPRQH\DQGIDPHLQWKDWRUGHU2WKHUZLVHVSRUWVDUH society. This wasn’t so in ancient Over the centuries, most Tokyo. Apart from the decline, The Olympic Games orig-
FRQVLGHUHGDUHFUHDWLRQ,QDFRXQWU\ZKHUHHFRQRPLFDQGVRFLDOLQHTXDOLWLHVGHWHU India; in the times of Indians stayed aloof from war hockey was an illustration of inated some 3,500 years ago in
PLQHWKHFRQWRXUVRIKXPDQH[LVWHQFHDWDOHQWHGFKLOGKDVWRRYHUFRPHIRXUKXU Mahabharata, proficiency in and perhaps from sport. how not to be smug about Greece as a mark of homage to
GOHV2QHLVWKDWJLYLQJWLPHWRVSRUWVUHGXFHVFKDQFHVRIHDUQLQJIRUWKHKRXVH archery and other weaponry Cricket has been an exception, one’s success. As an instance, God Zeus. To begin with,
were a part of the education of the in which modern facilities Indian players were adept at there were many Greek city
KROG7ZRVSRUWVFDQEHDFNQRZOHGJHGRQO\DIWHUWKHSOD\HUDFKLHYHVDPHGDODQG Pandava and Kaurava boys with are available in the cities. But dribbling the ball while the rest States participating in the city
EULQJVLQFDVKHOVHORRNIRUDZHOOSDLGMRE7KUHHVSRUWVUHTXLULQJDWWLUHWKDWGR Dronacharya as their guru. In the even these are not affordable of the world had adopted the of Olympia. In the early games,
QRWFRYHUDZRPDQ·VERG\DUHDJDLQVWWKHODZVRIVRPHUHOLJLRQV)RXUDORZHUFDVWH war that followed between the by the poor although the technique of passing the ball the events were very few but
SHUVRQZLQQLQJDVSRUWLQJPHGDOFDQVWLOOH[SHFWGHULVLRQIURPWKHXSSHUFDVWHQHLJK boys when they turned men, Board of Control for Cricket from player to player as a later increased. Chariot and
Dronacharya was a general. in India (BCCI) is lately replacement. For several play- horse racing came in. There
ERXUV7KHUHFRXOGEHPRUHVXFKKXUGOHV7KHJOLPPHURIKRSHLVWKDWWKHQHZJHQ But in later times, sports did rolling in wealth. ers, Indian hockey could not were no medals but wreaths
HUDWLRQRIWDOHQWHG\RXQJVWHUVLVLJQRULQJWKHVHREVWDFOHVWRILJKWWKHLUZD\RXWRI
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not travel or touch villages until
recently. Governments seldom
I do not know whether we
would pay sufficient attention 1DC8=;0C4A adjust to Astroturf or manda-
tory wearing of shoes. Earlier,
and garlands. When the
Romans conquered Greece,
VXSSRUWV\VWHPSXEOLFDQGSULYDWHWRIRVWHUWKHP([FLVHWKHLUIHDURIJRLQJKXQ took any interest and most sports in setting up an academy for C8<4BB?>ACB there were years when our the Games carried on until
bodies were treated by their the poor to provide for the hockey wizards won because Emperor Theodosius I in 393
JU\DQGRVWUDFLVPDQGJLYHWKHPWKHKRSHWKH\DVNIRU7KHVWUDWHJLVLQJDQGPDN members as little political arenas vital need of diet and nourish- 383=>CCA0E4; they played barefoot. AD who disapproved of young
LQJRIFKDPSLRQVFRPHODWHU for self-promotion. As a result,
regional representation was more
ment, currently unaffordable
for many a family in our
>AC>D27 In the 1936 Berlin
Olympics, India faced
men (there were no women
participants) stripping. The
?82D1<; important than players’ potential. country. In this context, the E8;;064BD=C8; Germany in the hockey final. Olympics were revived at the
It is said, “The battle of
Waterloo was won on the play-
Odisha Government deserves
hearty congratulations for A424=C;H At half-time, India led the
hosts by only 1-0. Maharaja
initiative of Baron Coubertin
of France in 1896 at Athens.
ing fields of Eton”. This implies patronising hockey. On the 6>E4A=<4=CB Sayajirao Gaekwad of Baroda, The numbers of coun-
how sports help make capable contrary, West Bengal, which who was present in the stadi- tries and players have been
military officers of young men. was once noted in football, B4;3><C>>:0=H um, was concerned and visit- increasing, except at Moscow
Sports build the physique, intro-
duce strategy and tactics in the
allowed its clubs to recruit
players from other States and
8=C4A4BC0=3 ed the dressing room. He
advised Dhyan Chand to play
in 1980 because of the boycott
by 60 nations led by the West
lives of youth and teach how to even overseas. In the process, <>BCB?>ACB barefoot for the remainder of to oppose the Soviet Union’s
outwit the opponent. While the
East India Company and later the
local players declined in num-
bers as well as quality. If other 1>384BF4A4 the match. The eventual score
was India-5, Germany-1;
invasion of Afghanistan in
1979. The Olympics have also
British Indian Government States could choose other CA40C431HC748A Dhyan Chand scored three of endured tragedy in the form
employed Indian soldiers, they games a la Odisha, it would be the four goals. The result was of the massacre by terrorists of
confined their choice to what a great national service. <4<14AB0B not pleasing to Führer Adolf a dozen Israeli athletes in the
they labelled ‘martial’ communi-
ties, which meant a limited pool
It is also important to
note that we were monopolists
;8CC;4?>;8C820; Hitler, who was also watching
the contest. Nevertheless, he
1972 Munich Games.
(The writer is a
of selection in a vast country. In of the Olympic gold medal in 0A4=0B5>A called Dhyan Chand later and well-known columnist, an
any case, most of those recruit-
ed were employed as sepoys, with
hockey until 1960. Today, we
are celebrating our men’s hock- B4;5?A><>C8>= offered him the rank of a
colonel if the latter came over
author and a former member
of the Rajya Sabha. The views
no officerial exposure, a level ey team winning the bronze at to Germany as its citizen. expressed are personal.)
they remained confined to.
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Sir — India has colossally performed at the
Tokyo Olympics. The performance by our
>_dXY^Wd_UaeQ\dXYcW\_bi aXVWcbP]SQ^SX[h
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ed wholeheartedly by the entire country. WX]SbXVWc cWTbT fTaT ]^c cP]cP[XbX]V bcPcX^]b2dbc^SXP[
They set an extraordinary example as some \^\T]cb*XcfPbP]T\_WPcXRfX]=TTaPY câcdaTP]S^cWTa_^[XRTPca^RX
of them belong to poor families and are not fPbPcWXbSPii[X]VQTbcSdaX]VWXbUXabccf^ cXTbPaT_a^Q[T\b
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their success, we need to stand with their
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More priorities and better facilities
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&
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8
LQWKHOHJDOV\VWHPLVWKHSROLFHVWDWLRQ$WD1DWLRQDO/HJDO6HUYLFHV$XWKRULW\ know, quite a many of the talented young- ]fX]]X]VcWTV^[S\TSP[X]YPeT[X]cWa^f <X[ZWPBX]VWP]Sb_^ZTÛWXbSTT_X]STQc P]ScWT_^[XcXRP[
sters lack adequate support, which can be PccWTC^Zh^>[h\_XRb=TTaPY2W^_aPSXS TS]Tbbc^WXbUP\X[hUaXT]SbP]SR^PRWX]V _PacXTbPaTSTcTa
1$/6$IXQFWLRQKHVDLGPRVWRIWKHKXPDQULJKWVDEXVHWDNHVSODFHDWWKH due to pressure from families or situations \âTcWP]bPeTdbcWTT\QPaaPbb\T]cÛ bcPUU \X]TSc^W^[ScWT
SROLFHVWDWLRQV,QGHHGDSROLFHVWDWLRQLVWKHILUVWSRVWZKHUHDQRUGLQDU\FLWL]HQ to focus more on academics than on sports. WPeX]V]^V^[S\TSP[*WTT]STScWT ! CWTaTfTaTU[PbWTbÛQaX[[XP]RTX]W^RZ _Pa[XP\T]cPahT[TR
KDVWRJRWRJHWOHJDODVVLVWDQFHDQGSHUKDSVWKDWLVWKHPRVWWHGLRXVWDVNRIDOO In this regard, the Governments should hTPafPXcUâPV^[S\TSP[X]PcW[TcXRbCWTaT Th QPS\X]c^] Q^gX]V faTbc[X]V P]S cX^]bPbbRWTSd[TS
2IWHQWKHFRPSODLQDQWLVPDGHWRIHHODVLIVKHLV come forward to promote sports just like Xb]^cWX]V\âTRêTcTScWP]cWPc_XTRTÛ fTXVWc[XUcX]Vc^^1dc8]SXP³bêTaP[[_TaUâ ^]>Rc^QTa
education, as Odisha did for hockey. bWX]hhT[[^f\TcP[cWPcP]PcW[TcTP]SQh \P]RTfPb]^c`dXcTfâcWhÛPb_âcX]V
WKHFULPLQDO1RZRQGHUDQRUGLQDU\FLWL]HQLVDIUDLG More value should be attached to sports; TgcT]bX^] WXbWTa ]PcX^] aTRTXeTb Pc cWT ]PcX^] CWT c^cP[ Û bTeT] \TSP[b UT[[ UPa 8aP`X?aX\T<X]XbcTa
WRHYHQVWHSLQWRDSROLFHVWDWLRQOHWDORQHGDUHILOH it will result in a shower of glories for our >[h\_XR_^SXd\ bWâcÛfWPcfTR^d[SWPeTPccPX]TSfXcW ¯ <dbcPUPP[:PSWX\X
DFRPSODLQW3ROLFHUHIRUPVKDYHEHHQRQWKHDQYLO country. One hopes that the performance FTfTaTT[PcTSQhcWTCaXR^[^daU[hX]V VaTPcTaR^\\Xc\T]c=^^cWTaR^d]cahWPb
of our athletes in the Tokyo Olympics will WXVWP]ScWT=PcX^]P[0]cWT\QTX]V_[PhTS Pb \dRW d]cP__TS Wd\P] aTb^daRTb Pb
IRUVHYHUDO\HDUV$OOOHJDOOXPLQDULHVDJUHHWKDWWKHVH bring about a change in people’s mindset
8UTT[bWTSPdVW
fXcWP]8]SXP]bcP]SX]V^]cWT>[h\_XReXR 8]SXPCWTVX\\XRZÛaT]P\X]VbcPSXPP]S cTaXbPQTccTaPRcâ
UHIRUPVVKRXOGWDNHSODFHEXWWKDWQHYHUKDSSHQV towards sports. câh_^SXd\X]P]TeT]cSPcX]VQPRZc^cWT PfPaSbf^]³cS^8cXbd]Uâcd]PcTcWPccWT cWP]\T8cXbb^
7KHSROLFHFRQWLQXHWRRSHUDWHDVWKH\GLGLQWKHSUH Manoj Kumar Jena | Cuttack P]RXT]c6aTTZ>[h\_XRbCWT\PXST]PcW[Tc 6êTa]\T]cWPbaTRT]c[hb[PbWTSUd]SbUâ TUUâc[Tbb8Ydbc
,QGHSHQGHQFHHUD(YHQWKHXQLIRUPVRISROLFHSHU XRbV^[SR^]UTaaTS^]=TTaPY2W^_aPPRTa b_âcb8c\dbcX]eTbc\âTX]b_âcbPaT[X ZTT_[^^ZX]V
D9=5D?B5?@5>=E=219C38??<C cPX]X\\âcP[Xch PQ[T QPa^\TcTa Û P R^d]cah³b WTP[cW P]S
VRQDOUHPDLQZKDWWKHVHZHUHEHIRUH,QGHSHQGHQFH Sir — Many principals, parents and students CT[TeXbX^]PRcâ
CWTcW^dVWccWPc]ÛT[[^fR^\_TcXcâ fTP[cW
7KH&KLHI-XVWLFHRI,QGLDVDLGWKDWWKHXVHRIWKLUG feel that schools in Mumbai should now be bW^d[S QTccTa WXb '&$'\ \PaZ êTa 63PeXS<X[c^]| CP\X[=PSd ¯BWfTcPCXfPaX
GHJUHHDQGWKHZD\SROLFHEHKDYHDWWKHWKDQD OHYHO reopened as COVID-19 cases have dropped
OHDYHVPXFKWREHGHVLUHG significantly. The Maharashtra Government =TTaPYXbPU^RdbTS
must hold a meeting with the disaster man- room makes more sense. the party’s quintessential leader and led it
,QGHHGDSHUVRQ·VERG\LQWHJULW\DQGGLJQLW\DUHVDFURVDQFWDQGPXVWQRWEHPHG PcW[TcT7T]TeTa
agement authorities to discuss the issue. An The continuous closure of schools is with a firm grip, serving as the Chief fX[cbd]STa_aTb
GOHGZLWKQRPDWWHUKRZVHULRXVKHUKLVFULPHPD\EH7KLVLVWKHEDVLFSUHPLVHRI expert committee must be formed to affecting the students’ mental health. The Minister for 14 years in five different bdaTP]ScWXbXbP
WKHUXOHRIODZDQGVRDODZRIILFHUPXVWQRWDQGFDQQRWVWRRSWRWKHOHYHORIDVWUHHW examine the issue as several principals are result of this is that neither they are able to stretches. Amma, as she was fondly called, eTahX\_âcP]cUPR
of the opinion that schools could now be meet friends nor able to discuss their career symbolised the AIADMK much like the câX]X]cTa]PcX^]P[
JRRQ0DQ\UHDVRQVFDQEHDWWULEXWHGWRSROLFHDWURFLWLHVDQGWKHLUFRQGXFWWRZDUGV or education. The Education Department party represented her. R^\_TcXcX^]b
reopened as there is no danger, especially
RUGLQDU\FLWL]HQV:HKDYHIDLOHGWRWUDQVIRUPWKHSROLFHV\VWHPWKDWZDVIDVKLRQHG to the students. The fact of the matter is that of the State must issue the Standard Things went downhill soon after
WRRSHUDWHLQWKHFRORQLDOHQYLURQPHQWWRWKHRQHIRUDZHOIDUH6WDWH7KHODFNRIVHQ by-now frustrated, depressed, tense and Operating Procedures (SOP) for the Edappadi Palaniswamy and O
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reopening of schools as early as possible. Panneerselvam took over the party, and it
VLWLVDWLRQDQGSURSHUEHKDYLRXUDOWUDLQLQJGRHVWKHUHVW2IWHQWKHSHUVRQQHODWWKHORZ anxious students are willing to come to
Bhagwan Thadani | Mumbai was more about individuals than the ¯?CDbWP
HVWUXQJDUHSUHMXGLFHG7KH\EHKDYHLQDFDVWHLVWDQGFRPPXQDOPDQQHUWKURZLQJ school but their parents are against it and
there is a need to convince them. party and its governance. And the warring
DOOFRQVWLWXWLRQDODQGOHJDOSURYLVLRQVWRWKHZLQG,QWKLVVFHQDULRQRWPXFKFDQEH The parents and students should DB?E2<54D9=5C6?BD851914=; factions of EPS and OPS are far from 8Wd\Q[haT`dTbc
H[SHFWHGWLOODFRPSOHWHRYHUKDXORIWKHSROLFHV\VWHP+RZHYHUWKH&-,·VREVHUYD mentally prepare themselves as it has been Sir — Perhaps for the first time since its resolving their differences. The AIADMK ^da]Tf2WXTU
formation in 1972, the AIADMK is in dan- of today is no longer the party with unity <X]XbcTac^fXcW
WLRQVDUHODXGDEOHWKHVHFDQOHDGWRIDUUHDFKLQJLPSOLFDWLRQV+HTXRWHG0DUWLQ/XWKHU over a year since the schools were shut
ger of disintegration as the demise of J and with military-like strict discipline it was
down. Students have been taking online SaPfcWXbâSTa
.LQJ-XQLRULQKLVDGGUHVV´(YHU\VWHSWRZDUGVWKHJRDORIMXVWLFHUHTXLUHVVDFULILFH classes and things need to be normalised Jayalalithaa has plunged the party in a lead- under Jayalalithaa’s regime, and it now PRRâSX]V1BHcWT
VXIIHULQJDQGVWUXJJOHWKHWLUHOHVVH[HUWLRQDQGSDVVLRQDWHFRQFHUQRIGHGLFDWHGLQGL now with all precautions taken against ership crisis over the last five years (‘Falling struggles with factionalism. 2PQX]TcaP]Z
YLGXDOVµ:HQHHGGHGLFDWHGSHRSOHZKRFDUHIRUKXPDQULJKWV$JRRGVWDUWFDQEH COVID-19. At times, it gets difficult to apart?’, August 7). Ranganathan Sivakumar | Chennai
Ever since the death of her political
PDGHE\VWUHQJWKHQLQJWKHIUHHOHJDODLGV\VWHPDQGLQIRUPDWLRQGLVVHPLQDWLRQEHVLGHV understand what is being taught in online
mentor MGR, Jayalalithaa had emerged as BT]Shh^daUUTTSQPRZcc^) :Pa]PcPZP19?[TPSTa
classes, so imparting education in a class- [TccTabc^_X^]TTa/V\PX[R^\ ¯1BHTSXhdaP__P
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few years back, a young boy I
F9>1IC89<60DC0< knew intimately - a boy who
7
excelledboth in academics and
KHDELOLW\WRZRUNZLWKRWKHUVLVRQHRIWKHEDVLFUHTXLUHPHQWVRI outdoor sports - suddenly
OLIH,WSUHFHGHVWKLQJVOLNHFOLPDWHFKDQJHQXFOHDUGLVDUPDPHQW seemed to have lost his interest in both.
ZRUOGSHDFHRULQGHHGKDQGOLQJDYLUXV7KHPRPHQWDFKLOGIHHOV The otherwise cheerful and outgoing boy
KXQJU\LWLQVWLQFWLYHO\NQRZVKRZWRDVNIRUDIHHG7KLVPHDQVVHQG abruptly turned into an introvert and his
LQJDPHVVDJHWRZKRHYHULVZLOOLQJWROLVWHQ8VXDOO\LWLVLQWKHIRUPRI school grades started nosediving. The
FU\LQJRUPDNLQJDVRXQGVHHNLQJDWWHQWLRQ,IWKHFKLOGGLGQ
WKDYHWKLV worried parents, both working, discovered
FDSDFLW\WRGHDOZLWKRWKHUVLWZRXOGQHYHUJHWIHHG that at the root of the problem was a video
computer game the boy had become
*UDGXDOO\WKHLQGLYLGXDOOHDUQVWRFRPPXQLFDWHZLWKJHVWXUHVDQG addicted to. They confiscated the CD, but
PRYHPHQWV6RXQGVEHJLQWRIDOOLQDSDWWHUQ/DQJXDJHFRPSHWHQFLHV the boy was too intelligent, and by then
HPHUJH 3HRSOH OHDUQ WR UHVSRQG FRKHUHQWO\ DQG D GLDORJXH EHJLQV too addicted, to be deterred by such sim-
/DQJXDJHLVHPEHOOLVKHGZLWKDQH[SUHVVLYHDQGODUJHUYRFDEXODU\:KHQ ple remedies. It took them a year of
QHHGHGERG\ODQJXDJHRUIDFLDOH[SUHVVLRQVUHSODFHZRUGVWRPDNHFRP patient persuasion to motivate the boy to
PXQLFDWLRQVXEWOHU finally give up the gaming, but not
7KHSXUSRVHKHUHLVWRUHIOHFWKRZGHDOLQJZLWKRWKHUVLVEDVLFWR before it had taken a toll on hisphysical
and mental health.
KXPDQH[LVWHQFH0RYLQJEH\RQGFKLOGKRRGWKHLQIDQWJURZVLQWRDQLQGL This is a recurring story: countless
parents have gone through similar ago-
nies and many children have paid dear-
ly for such addiction to video games. On
August 2,pointing to the "devastating
adverse effect" of addictive online games
on "the development of children", an addi-
tional district judge in New Delhi wrote ?;0H8=6C74B4
to the Prime Minister for banning two cerns and dangers of video gaming use violence; it also desensitises Video gaming is a multi-billion-
online games - Free Fire and PUBG India 60<4B for children. them to violence in real life. dollar industry, more than the
- on the lines of the government's earli- A4;40B4BC74 Numerous studies conducted "Gaming disorder" is listed as movies and DVDs combined.
er decision to ban one of the most pop- ?;40BDA468E8=6 all over the world have repeatedly a disease in WHO's "International Covid-19 has been a 'tipping point'
ular mobile games called"Player =4DA>274<820; drawn attention to the severity of Classification of Disease" and for online gaming, as the KPMG
Unknown's Battlegrounds"(PUBG 3>?0<8=48=C74 their adverse effects on children, many countries have started treat- study titled "Beyond the Tipping
Mobile) in the country. Drawing attention which includeimpeding their phys- ing it. I know of an addicted boy Point" noted. Confined to their
to the fact that the long hours spent by
1A08=C4;;8=68C ical and mental development, who forgot how to speak and had homes for more than a year, both
children in playing such games wreak C>²3>8C0608= increasing juvenile violence, and to be treated and counselled for children and adults have sought
YLGXDOZLWKLGHQWLILDEOHSUHIHUHQFHV7KHLQGLYLGXDOHQWHUVDKLJKHUOHYHORI havoc on their studies and social behav- BCD384BB7>F suicides. The games are designed more than six months before their escape from boredom through
SHUVRQDOLW\GHYHORSPHQWDQGLVFRQVFLRXVDERXWKRZRQHFDQJDLQVXS iour, he pleaded that a law is framed to C70C60<8=6 by experts trained in neurosciences, relearning how to speak again. Yet online gaming in massive numbers.
SRUW$SHUVRQQHHGVFORWKLQJDSODFHWRUHVWDQGEHJLQVWRORRNIRUFRP restrict exposure of children to such 20=270=64C74 psychology, and human behaviour governments have taken a benign FY21 has seen a major boom in
IRUW7KHSHUVRQ
VUDQJHRIUHODWLRQVKLSVJURZV games. This suggestion merits serious in order to make them addictive. stance all over the world, passing online gaming with over 433 mil-
consideration by the government, and not
BCAD2CDA4>5 Playing them releases the pleasure- on the responsibility to parents lion users, with estimated revenue
,QWHHQDJHDQGDGXOWKRRGWKHLQGLYLGXDOUHFRJQLVHVVRPHSHRSOHDUH <0=HA468>=B
only for these two games. giving neurochemical dopamine in instead, without realising the lim- of Rs 136 billion which is poised to
HDV\WRJHWDORQJZLWKDQGVRPHDUHQRW7KHLVVXHLVQRWRISLFNDQG India banned PUBG on September 2, >5C741A08= the brain telling it to "do it again." itations of such an approach. The grow to Rs 290 billion with 657 mil-
FKRRVH,WLVEDVLFDQGERXQGHGEHFDXVHWKHQHHGVRIIRRGVKHOWHUFORWK 2020, along with 117 Chinese apps under 8=E>;E43F8C7 Studies show that gaming can industry also has its proponents lion users by FY25. India had
LQJDQGUHVRXUFHVDUHOLPLWHGWRILQGLQJLWIURPDERXQGHGHQYLURQPHQW Section 69A of the IT Act. PUBG was 78674A change the structure of many who forcefully argue that video about 400 video gaming companies,
7KLVLVRIWHQDQLQVWLWXWLRQVXFKDVDVFKRRORUFROOHJHRUDVRFLDOVHWXS linked to Tencent, the Chinese multina- regions of the brain involved with games also have positive connota- including respected names like
2>6=8C8>=C74
OLNHWKHIDPLO\7KHUHDOLWLHVRIVRFLHW\VWDUWVXUIDFLQJ,WEHFRPHVREYL tional technology giant. The game is higher cognition. The designers tions in children's education, life Infosys, TCS, and Zensar. India is
banned not only in India, but also in 34B86=4AB control the players' behaviour by skills,and brain functions, but the number one market for video
RXVWKDWLQVWLWXWLRQVDQGVRFLDOJURXSVDUHLPSRUWDQW+RZHYHUWKHUHLV
Pakistan, Afghanistan, Korea, Jordan, 2>=CA>;C74 providing simple stimuli and these are far outweighed by their games, and domestic and foreign
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Israel, Iraq,and even in its home country ?;0H4AB reward them at strategic points. negative impacts. companies would use all their lob-
China, on account of itsbeing too addic- 1470E8>DA1H Children, especially those with Fifteen countries have banned bying power to prevent any ban or
GHDOZLWKDSHUVRQDWWKHELOOLQJFRXQWHUIRUDFTXLULQJJRRGVRUIXOILOOLQJ tiveand having serious effects on users' poor impulse control or struggling some forms of video games. China regulation upon such lucrative
DQHHG2QHFDQQRWULVNEHLQJDEUDVLYHEXWRQHFDQQRWDOVRDOZD\VPDU ?A>E838=6
health without warning them about the with studies andnot knowing the has imposed a time limit of 90 business.
VKDOWKHQHFHVVDU\SDWLHQFHDWWLWXGHRUHYHQWKHZRUGVWRJDLQFRPSOL dangers of long screentimes (as if it would B8<?;4BC8<D;8 consequences,are most vulnerable minutes on weekdays, but they are The Chinese government is
DQFH7KHDUWRIGHDOLQJZLWKRWKHUVJHWVODUJHUDQGELJJHU(DFKLQGLYLG have made any difference) and for prop- 0=3A4F0A3 to fallprey to their evil charm. difficult to regulate when played now going all out against its own
XDOKDVDGLVWLQFWSHUVRQDOLW\DQGH[SUHVVLRQVYDU\IURPSHUVRQWRSHU agating violence. But the effect of the ban C74<0C What follows is not only falling offline. The US Supreme Court giant technology companies, the lat-
VRQDQGHYHQVLWXDWLRQWRVLWXDWLRQ7KLVLVZKDWPDNHVGHDOLQJZLWKRWK in India was only temporary; in June this BCA0C4682 grades, but also sleep deprivation, refused to regulate the sale of vio- est target being the for-profit
year, the app was again made available on ?>8=CB fatigue, irritability when stopped lent video games in 2011, citing the onlinetutoring industry. The next
HUVDFUDIW Google's Play Store under a new avatar, from playing, increased anxiety, First Amendment regarding free- target could well be Tencent whose
6XPPLQJLWXSRQHKDVWROHDUQKRZWR
UHDG
RWKHUVDQGQDYLJDWH "Battlegrounds Mobile India", with some obesity, aggressive behaviour, and- dom of speech which cannot be shares plummeted by 6.1 percent on
YHU\ FDUHIXOO\ WR DFKLHYH RQH
V JRDOV ZLWKRXW GLVUXSWLQJ RU cosmetic changes like green blood instead lack of interest insocial interactions restricted by any law. The UK has August 3after a Chinese state-
DQQR\LQJ+RZHYHUWHPSHUDPHQWHJRYRFDEXODU\DQGDERYHDOOWKHFRP of red (as if it reduces the effect of violent and other physical and mental a system of rating of games,like owned media article called gam-
SHWHQF\WRWKLQNDQGWDONEHFRPHVLQFUHDVLQJO\FULWLFDO2QHGHDOVZLWK content), etc. It has been blamed not only activities essential for healthy films, for different age groups, ingthe "opium of the mind".
RWKHUVWKURXJKZRUGVJHVWXUHVH\HFRQWDFW7KHOLVWLVORQJDQGGHDO for poor academic performance but also (The writer is a former growth. Video games provide an making it illegal to sell games rated Already under regulatory fire, the
LQJZLWKRWKHUVEHFRPHVFRPSOH[7XQHDQGPHWHUFRPHLQ0XVLFDQG for violent behaviour and suicides among Director General of the easy escape for the children from 12, 16, or 18 to any child below that company has lost $400billion in
children, besides causing untold agony and Office of the Comptroller seeking more purposeful real-life age; but these ratings are inapplic- market value since February and its
VRQJVHPHUJH7KH\JHWHPEHGGHGLQDQHQYLURQPHQWRIOLJKWDQGVKDGH distress to the hapless parents, prompting & Auditor General of relationships with friends. Studies able to games bought online. India game may be ending in China.
FRPIRUWDQGGLVFRPIRUW7KHLQWHUSOD\RIVRPDQ\IRUFHVPDNHVLWFKDO a Goanese minister to call it "Demonic". India and currently, a
using brain scans showed has no such system and no law to Before this lethal opium enslaves all
Professor at the Arun
OHQJLQJWRVWD\LQFRQWURO Faced with ban threats, PUBGearlier Jaitley National Institute decreased activity in areas of the regulate video games, unlike the our children here, we need to act.
,QGHHGWKHRQO\GLPHQVLRQRQHFDQKDYHVRPHFRQWURORYHULVRQH tried to placate parents and the govern- of Financial brain dedicated to self-control films for which we have the Otherwise, it might be too before
VHOIWKHFKRLFHVRIZRUGVJHVWXUHVWLPLQJYRLFHLQIOHFWLRQDQGLQWRQD ment by promising to put time limits for Management. The views and an increase in emotional Central Board of Film an obese and intellectually stunted
its use, which hardly addresses the real con- expressed are personal.) arousal while playing games that Certification. generation comes of age to lead us.
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t first I was going to there a few years ago because I the 'alpha male' model of The only people who have and seeking to dethrone him). ('civilisation', as we called it),
write about the 'Arab wanted my wife to see the old leadership is still successful in plausible answers are the But our own species, homo we had to go autocratic for a
Problem', because there Lebanon before ISIS came over many countries that are people who study human sapiens, probably spent most of while, because you couldn't run
is not a single functioning the mountains and destroyed it, formally democratic: Putin in nature: the psychologists and its career living in entirely a group with thousands or
democracy in the Arab world. but in the end, that didn't Russia, Orban in Hungary, sociologists, of course, but egalitarian groups of fewer even millions of people by
The presidential coup in happen. They did it to Erdo?an in Turkey. Indeed even more importantly (because than one hundred people. They consensus. There was no way
Tunisia has probably ended themselves instead. Why is the genuine democracies of long- they are getting at the root of had no formal leaders, they for them even to include
7GI>>53H4A
democracy in the one country Arab world cursed? standing can be seduced by a the problem) the made their decisions by everybody in the discussion.
that actually achieved it during But that's too melodramatic. 'great' leader, like De Gaulle in anthropologists, the consensus, and they shared So five thousand years of
the 'Arab Spring' of 2010-11. The Arab world is an outlier, but France. (No, I don't know primatologists, and the almost everything. How do tyranny - but as soon as we got
In Syria and Yemen and not very far out. Consider the where Trump fits in this ethologists. And many of them we know? Because all the mass communications (just
Libya, attempted democratic Philippines, the heir to not one Pantheon.) would argue that the human hunter-gatherer bands who printing, to begin with), the
revolutions led to dreadful civil but two non-violent democratic And yet at the same time, race has a dual heritage. survived into the recent past egalitarian model started
wars - and now Lebanon, the revolutions and a genuine we have countries that remain We are members of the lived that way. coming back, because we are
closest thing to an Arab democracy today - with a democratic even under great primate family and particularly Two heritages: the more comfortable with it.
democracy for most of the past president who was legally elected but as he would probably say, pressure, like Brazil's close to the chimpanzees, autocratic and the egalitarian. We call it democracy now,
century (though always five years ago and will soon leave you can't make an omelette democracy under attack from whose little societies are We have them both, and we can and it certainly does not mean
dysfunctional) is actually office peacefully at the end of his without breaking eggs. Bolsonaro, South Africa under generally tyrannies run by an switch between them, but the absolute equality. It does mean
collapsing. In a once prosperous one permitted term. And in all that time Zuma (and during his recent alpha male. The other default mode is probably that the differences of wealth
country, many people are close Rodrigo Duterte is also, by Duterte's public approval assault on the rule of law), or members of the group have egalitarian (i.e. democratic), and power must not become
to starving, and desperate his own admission, a mass ratings have never fallen below Indonesia ever since Suharto. strong submissive reflexes to because that's the way we spent too great, or the whole
Syrian refugees are going back (Gwynne Dyer's new book is murderer whose death squads 70%. There are a lot of people The question is not why does protect them from his bullying most of our human past. structure of consent will
to live under Assad's regime. 'Growing Pains: The Future have killed thousands of people. who will admire a 'strong' democracy fail or why does it (but at the same time the When we started living in collapse and we're back to
I guess it was Lebanon that of Democracy (and Work) Some were real drug dealers leader, even if he is a killer. succeed? It's why does it do subordinate males are mass societies around five autocracy. Nevertheless,
put me on this track. We went and some were 'false positives', Leaving actual killers aside, both? constantly making alliances thousand years ago democracy is the default mode.

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MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2021

Golden arm have incalculable consequences.

THE HINDU PHOTO ARCHIVES

Tightrope walk them. The recent order from the

Ashok Sreenivas & hi’s BSES distribution company to ﬁxed costs (which would increase struction. This is likely in excess of

The many hurdles for students DATA POINT

monday, august 9, 2021

Finally, an end to the draconian retro tax

BELOW THE LINE

Is the dream of running private trains going off-track? BusinessLine

SHORT TAKE easy bl two-way crossword 1941 not so easy

Illustration Ajay Mohanty

The base effect investments do not take place.

What good are BITs?

T wide has increased by almost a quarter over the

Editor: KUNAL PRADHAN

OUR VIEW MY VIEW | ON THE OTHER HAND

Our broken growth model is in

The recovery of India’s

reputation on tax policy economy in 2020-21. The low base of

taxation shows the

T he United Progressive Alli-

to... a stable investment

regime and consistency

them. The second candidate

S ince the onset of the finan-

MY VIEW | MODERN TIMES

Indians await ‘normal life’... but what is normal life?

The SC’s Amazon ruling upholds App streaming entertainment

MY VIEW | IN THE MARGINS

The pandemic at an inflexion point calls for extra care

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08 CHENNAI MONDAY 09 08 2021

What caused differences between the nations was basic

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GOOD RIDDANCE INDIA-SINGAPORE

WHAT NEERAJ MOMENT

THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS

Neeraj Chopra lights a Subhani

Shot in arm for vaccine effort minister attributed these

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