Like all years, today is April Fool’s Day; but my reflections are no less random:

1. India’s political class is known to make policies and programmes to attract, nurture and expand their ethnic vote banks, mostly by diverting public funds towards private political gains. Similar phenomenon has been noticed in some other ‘democracies’ of Asia—Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia etc. Therefore, similar behaviour by the ruling political party of ‘BC Liberals’ in the province of British Columbia (Canada) didn’t seem particularly surprising. However, what was pleasantly surprising was the public outcry, legislative reprimand and resignation of certain Ministers from the Government when an internal memo of the party in power was leaked through the media. “Ethnic vote-bank’ mobilisation by political parties in Canada is construed as violation of democratic principles of equal treatment by the state. Do Indian politicians need an exposure?
2. The event which captured most media attention during this period was the election of the new Pope. While public speculation was rife about the chances of various cardinals to be elected Pope, a civil society network publicly listed those whose record to address sexual abuse in the Church had been unacceptable. The network is called “SNAP-----Survivors’ Network of those Abused by Priests” and produced a list of ‘Dirty Dozen’ cardinals it claimed to be ‘dis-interested’ in or involved in sexual abuse inside the Church. This is a network demanding justice from the ‘abused’ believers. This network should be supported to reach out to several other religious orders where sexual abuse may not yet be such a public outcry.
3. The winter in western Canada this year found a new slogan—“Idle NO More”. This is a movement of indigenous First Nations’ people of Canada who have been gathering their fraternity to organise. Triggered off by four women, their statement is ‘we are not victims, we don’t beg’; they are claiming their citizenship rights, as proud indigenous folks. They have organised ‘flash mobs’ and dancers in Malls during Christmas rush, and are rejecting the label of being ‘idle’ to demonstrate they are ‘active’. This is another form of ‘occupy’, though it speaks of ‘active’ citizenship. There is a spontaneity and creativity in this movement, which has surprised established leadership of indigenous people as well.
4. Brasil’s demographics are not very different from that of India, when it comes to youth. Both countries have a substantial proportion of their population (between 45-50%) below 25 years. However, the public presentation of this demographic profile varies greatly. When a visitor arrives at the immigration counters at Sao Paolo (Brasil) she is met with young, smartly dressed, well-spoken and welcoming women ‘manning’ the immigration counters. Contrast that to arrival in Delhi (India)—older men, largely dis-interested. The leadership of various government departments shows a similar pattern. Civil society leadership appears to be similarly patterned as well. Brasil seems to be proud of its youth, girls and women; India seems to be afraid and ashamed of them!
5. International Women’s Day on March 8 has now been captured by the market. Television advertisement tells how buying a ‘fairness’ crème can result in empowerment of women. Newspapers highlight the achievements of women on this day, along with full-page advertisements from a variety of consumer firms extolling the virtues of womanhood. Yet, the month of March continued to witness rape and other forms of violence against girls and women. Nearly 75% of Indian girls and women have faced stalking, staring, lewd comments, groping and molestation in public spaces in their lives. And, the system continues as it was. Politicians continue to blame women’s dress, mobile, food habits—even tooth paste—for ‘attracting’ such treatments. Courts and police continue to intimidate, harass and even laugh at victims of such treatments. Can the market alone change these attitudes and behaviours?

Best wishes, and sincerely

Rajesh Tandon
April 1, 2013