India: 60 Years: 60 Words: [13] Divide and Rule

India: 60 Years: 60 Words: [13] Divide and Rule

[India has competed 60 years of independence and to mark this, I am presenting this series of Articles, about the words, that are meaning a lot for the progress of the country. If you feel I missed some thing [For listing of words see the first article “India: 60 Years: 60 Words”] do inform me at premputar@gmail.com I will try to include that at the end of series]


A primary school children is taught “United we stand, divide we fall” this is in total contrast of the primary policy and main administrative tool of “Divide and Rule” of governing during the days of British rule in the lands of India. It is unfortunate that still the political leadership is finding it hard to escape from falling pray of temptation of using this trusted and time proved policy, which is proving all important hurdles on the progress path of vigorously developing country on the roads of technological excellence and modernization.

India is the country of bunches of people with diversified religious faiths, life style and belonging to numerous casts and creeds. It is fact that over the years, from time to time at the various occasions of national calamity, either natural or originated from behavioral attitude of human beings from other parts of the globe, Indians have developed an attitude of using this diversity as the tool of adhesive instead of dividing and shown the entire human world that diversification is the strength of Indians instead of being a weakness as the majority of world population thought. This is also a fact, when it comes to using the natural resources and think of developmental plans, this narrow thought process, emotion of proving one’s supremacy over the other either on the grounds of region or cast has always worked as the obstacle for the growth speeds.

Most unfortunate thing is that political wisdom of the country, instead of coming with remedial measures finding more interest in keeping clashes alive on the basis of either regionalism, religious grounds or even on the economic status of a particular bunch of people belonging to certain casts. All the southern states were united to oppose the national language status of Hindi. Communal harmony of the country is constant under the fire just a slightest sparks has proved sufficient for the broke of communal riots. A distinguish war is visible in the employment sector for getting a secured place on the basis cast and creed. It is not uncommon to see that wisdom and talents are being defeated by cast factor in the various important sectors like the education and administration.

India had opted democratic set up of ruling and in the democracy numbers are bound to play all important role but when this number game start pushing the progress and development of the country and works against the interest and welfare of larger sector of population, it surely needs to be addressed very sincerely and a strong political will and stiff remedial measures emerge as the need of hour. After the 60 years of living under the governess of self this is most appropriate time to look in to about the problem and come forward with some rigid, stiff and time bound decisions.

The problem of division among the Indians is mainly by two reasons of region and religion or cast. Our constitution says that India will remain as non secular country. If we look back the majority of division on the religious fronts is generated from the and at the times of religious social celebrations, an ordinance can be passed for making the religious worship limited within the personal levels of citizens. Collective prayers, celebrations of religious days and coming to certain places for the purpose by masses should be banned. All the religious monuments should be decaled as the national property and a board should be constituted for taking care of these monuments. There should be only two language schooling one national language Hindi and other language regional one with medium of instruction being Hindi, however for the mother tongue permission should be granted but not at social levels, limited to personal levels. As for as, the regional developments are concerned, these should be related with the revenue sharing of the region towards the national revenue. Every state will get developmental funds in ratio of revenue, however to bring uniform development of the country, the high revenue yielding regions [say top five] will gets funds matching to 80% of their ratio and remaining 20% will be diverted towards the funds of lowest revenue yielding areas [again lowest five].

Two majority sectors Education and Jobs causing division among the Indians, both are presently running under the influence of reservation. It has passed 60 years in the same status and almost third or forth generation is in the budding phase since the implementation of this, hence this time to come forward either to withdraw it or make it time bound limited to next 5 – 10 years, however a monetary support for education of deprived classes can be introduced but that should be also a time bound program with the provisions of non extension.

All the majority of divisions among the Indians can be root caused to single reason. We all living in a country in which you need certain education level even for the job of peon but for being the ultimate boss of these appointing authority no such educational limitations are there. The need of hour is establish a relation between the education and political leadership, we can’t allow growing the division reasons for ever and only political will, can work as the remedial measure. We are in the process of increasing the women participation in the political arena but without relating it with education surely this will work as the back door reason of strengthening the male dominance in our society.

Ram Setu Dispute

Ram Setu Dispute

Emotional clashes are on and it seems that once again country will face the problem of confusion over the do or don't. Yes, I am talking about the "Ram Setu" dispute; all this came in the existence with the oath paper of IAS [Indian Archeological survey] on behalf of central Government in the court and had produced much turmoil for the communal harmony of the country. Before going further into the matter it will good to know "What Ram Setu is?

In the south east India at Rameshwaram, there is about 50 km long lime stone bridge shaped structure which is connecting this piece of land with the Gulf of Mannar SriLanka. This is Ram Setu, as according to Puranas this the bridge constructed by Lord Ram to cross the sea and go to Lanka for releasing, kidnapped Sita ji. NASA is recognizing this bridge as the Adam's Bridge. It is faiths that till the 15th century people were using this bridge but as now, due to some geographical changes sea depth at this place is increased hence the bridge is underwater now and not in use.

Set Samudaram canal project

As at present Tamilnadu bounds ships from Kerala has to go by making a round through the Srilanka, which is adding 30 hours of time and about 650 km of distance to journey, hence in the 2005 central government announced "Setu Samudaram Canal Project" to save this time and distance. According to plans this will make Rameshwaram the biggest shipping harbor of the country, Tuticoran harbor will convert into a Nodal Port and coastal area of Tamilnadu will have as many as thirteen new airports. Surely this is a great greed for the developing country like India, as it will add a lot to economy and infra structure availability of the country.

According to Dr Badrinarayanan former director of the Geological Survey of India "It is not a natural formation; the top portion of it appears to be a man-made structure. To understand what I am saying from the geological point of view, you have to get to know several things. What is known as Adam's Bridge is originally a natural grade divide separating the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean to the south. So, the geological aspects are different on either side. About 18,000 years ago, we had Ice age when the sea level was lower by 130 metres than what it is now. Due to de-glaciations, the sea level rose. Around 7,300 years back, there was major flooding and the sea level rose to 4 metres more than what it is today. This has been verified by several researchers throughout the world. But the bridge that connects India and Sri Lanka is different; it is not just a sand dune."

Now look at the statement of oceanographer Prof Tad S Murty of the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa in Canada, who is a world renowned expert on tsunamis, with reference to December 2004 tsunami and present canal project "In the December 2004 tsunami, the very southern part of Kerala was not significantly impacted by the tsunami mainly for the following reason. Some of the tsunami energy propagated south of Sri Lanka and a part of it diffracted north and affected the middle part of Kerala. Tsunami, being a long gravity wave, somewhat similar to tides and storm surges, can only take a wide turn, and in this process, missed the very southern part of Kerala. An analogy is like a car making a turn; a long car can only take a wide turn, while a short car can make a narrow turn. The middle and northern parts of Kerala were also impacted to a certain degree by tsunami waves reflected from the Lakshadweep-Maldives Ridge as well as from the east coast of Africa. Whatever may be the reason; significant tsunami energy did not propagate through the waters separating India and Sri Lanka during the December 2004 event and did not impact much the southern part of Kerala. Deepening and widening the Sethu canal will provide a more direct route for some of the tsunami energy to travel and impact southern Kerala."


All was going as per the plans and most of the Indians were not aware of the fact this project will demolish some parts of Ram Setu but when IAS submitted affidavit in the court that there are no historical evidence for the existence of Ram or Ramayan [though Government after wards withdraw it], all of sudden a layer of anger and aguish got the surface and once again the faith of billions and technological advancement got a clash. At present the two parties of dispute are billions of Indians primarily lead by "Sangh Parivar" opposing the project as it will destroy a pre-historic land link between the two nations that was erected by Lord Ram and his Vanara Sena and Government of India, for this issue being lead by Shipping Minister T R Baalu, say the project will cut down shipping time drastically, leading to major savings in fuel etc.

I do not agree with the view of opposition that government should resign on this issue but I wish to raise yet another issue. Keep apart the economic boost and addition to infrastructure facilities of the country. Can't government drop the idea and go for alternative ways for respecting billions of citizens? I have heard it some many times while the proceedings of Lok Sabha speakers says that though this is not a rule but following the traditions of the house I am giving this ruling? Keep apart the historical evidence about Ram and Ramayana; any body, in the world can dare to deny that Lord Ram is a traditional faith of billions of Indians since so many centuries? My question is that when government is following a tradition of few years of democracy practice, why the same government is trying to neglect traditional faith of centuries of the billions of citizens? Will it not be joke, for achieving progress traditional faith of billions and billions is forced to go to graveyards? The matter is in the court, it will be interesting to know the judiciary ruling and the stand of government of India in this matter.


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