t is to inform you that new Executive Committee (EC) of India-FNF Alumni Network (IFAN) was elected in recently concluded IFAN General Meeting 2008 in Mumbai. The line-up of EC members are:
1. National Coordinator : Ms. Iris Madeira irismadeira@usa.net
2. Deputy Coordinator : Mr. Touseef Magray touseefmagray@gmail.com
3. Secretary : Mr. Shabi Hussain shabi.fof@gmail.com
4. Treasurer : Mr. Satyajit Dey satyajit@ccs.in
It is further to inform you that EC has formulated a certain plan of action aimed at reforming the network (IFAN) and how to take up activities this year. We will be getting back to you from time to time. But since we say that we are a network, so for this network to work successfully we require support of each member/organisation. We can't do anything with out your active support and contribution. It is in this regard you are hereby requested to lend your kind support from time to time in our future endeavours. In the meantime, you can contact anyone of us for any clarifications/suggestions.
Looking forward to your active support.
New EC
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
A NEAR CRASH EXPERIENCE
Monday, April 7, 2008
A NEAR CRASH EXPERIENCE
MID-AIR JETLITE PILOT DETECTS TECHNICAL SNAG
BOMBAY-PATNA JETLITE FLIGHT 6721 DIVERTED TO AHMEDABAD
`HAWA MEIN PLANE KHARAB HO GAYA' frantic passengers call home after landing...
A first person account by Manuwant Choudhary
After a liberal meeting in Bombay taking the early morning Jetlite flight at 5.35 is never easy and the only consolation is that within 2-and-a-half hours I would be in Patna but not this time. What does it feel when mid-air you hear a crackle and your pilots voice says all is not well.
We had almost done some 40 minutes of flying when I could feel suddenly the engines making less noise than they did and a few seconds later the crackle of the speakers, "This is your pilot. We have detected a technical snag and will be diverting this plane to Ahmedabad...."
A pause...
And then to reassure passengers the pilot stammers ...."The...the....situation is under control...so nothing to worry."
One could hear the silence.
A few passengers just slept, but those awake tried to look out from their windows.
As the pilot changed direction we could feel the flight was not normal.
At one point it swayed but found its path again.
And a girl in front called the airhostess and asked, "Is this serious?"
Airhostess "There is a snag so only the pilot knows but we will keep you informed if anything changes."
But within ten minutes the pilot spoke again, "We are ready to land at Ahmedabad so please fasten your seat belts."
And we held our breadth.
The pilot successfully landed.
There was a sigh amongst passengers but no celebrations...just murmurs and people frantically reaching out for their cellphones.
As soon as the plane taxied to a halt people called up their relatives, "Hawa mein plane kharab ho gaya" (Our plane got spoilt mid-air).
But a journalist does not call relatives. He calls the news channels. I sent SMSs to my freinds and soon the news was on air.
First passengers were asked to remain seated and the plane would take off once engineers rectify the problem.
But then there was another announcement, "All passengers are to deplane and they must take another flight to Delhi and then another to Patna and Ranchi. The Ranchi passengers did not even have a connecting flight.
A few Jetlite ground-staff were there but clearly they were not sure of what they must do in such situations.
We were issued some four boarding paases for this journey from Bombay to Patna.
And in Delhi after the usual identification of baggages etc..passengers were issued new boarding passes.
When passengers got on board the scene looked like a train or worse a bus in Bihar where passengers fought over seats.
Soon it was found that Jetlite issed similar number seats to passengers.
Two foreigners on the flight were having a harrowing experience due to the confusion, until I helped them out.
Fortunately, everyone did finally get a seat and we landed at Patna at 12.35 p.m. after an all-India tour and a near-crash experience.
Jetlite's are the planes that came with the Jet-Sahara deal.
Manuwant Choudhary
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Thanks
Dear friends,
I express my sincere thanks to all of you to be the part of our team and inspite of being so many hurdles you all continued to be in the group.
In any organisation or group when it is newly formed, the first year goes very difficult because in that first year nothing would had been set. So this crucial period is very delicate and generally is the most difficult one.
However during this time when you all had worked so hard inspite of being your busy schedule and other engagements, I take this onus to thank you all.
We the Executive Committee (Former) has done whatever we could in the given phase and resources so hats off to all of you. I spoke to Barun afterwards but I couldnot get time to speak to you Rajesh thanks for everything.
I am also thankful to FNST for their support and to all the other members for their faith in me for electing me as the first National Coordinator of IFAN.
Being the IFAN National Coordinator I must greet you and at the same time I convey my best wishes to all the newly elected Executive Committee.
Regards,
Ashraf Ahmed Shaikh
Former National Coordinator
IFAN
Mumbai
+919867855733
I express my sincere thanks to all of you to be the part of our team and inspite of being so many hurdles you all continued to be in the group.
In any organisation or group when it is newly formed, the first year goes very difficult because in that first year nothing would had been set. So this crucial period is very delicate and generally is the most difficult one.
However during this time when you all had worked so hard inspite of being your busy schedule and other engagements, I take this onus to thank you all.
We the Executive Committee (Former) has done whatever we could in the given phase and resources so hats off to all of you. I spoke to Barun afterwards but I couldnot get time to speak to you Rajesh thanks for everything.
I am also thankful to FNST for their support and to all the other members for their faith in me for electing me as the first National Coordinator of IFAN.
Being the IFAN National Coordinator I must greet you and at the same time I convey my best wishes to all the newly elected Executive Committee.
Regards,
Ashraf Ahmed Shaikh
Former National Coordinator
IFAN
Mumbai
+919867855733
Monday, March 31, 2008
Report on Networking
Dear Friends,
We (EC) would be grateful to all of you if you could provide us with, the networking benefits or activities that you have as an individual or your organisation have received, provided or done.
I.e, Barun ( liberty institute) has done some work with, Zainab, Manu and Rajesh.
Rajesh had helped CCS in organising a meet at patna, etc.
This information is important as primarily it has to be reported and analysed on our second alumni meet at Mumbai.
Considering, there are only a few days left please, do so urgently.
please send in the details to my personal email id: maniyarpur@yahoo.co.uk
or post as a comment on the blog.
Regards,
Rajesh Singh
Deputy Coordinator
IFAN
We (EC) would be grateful to all of you if you could provide us with, the networking benefits or activities that you have as an individual or your organisation have received, provided or done.
I.e, Barun ( liberty institute) has done some work with, Zainab, Manu and Rajesh.
Rajesh had helped CCS in organising a meet at patna, etc.
This information is important as primarily it has to be reported and analysed on our second alumni meet at Mumbai.
Considering, there are only a few days left please, do so urgently.
please send in the details to my personal email id: maniyarpur@yahoo.co.uk
or post as a comment on the blog.
Regards,
Rajesh Singh
Deputy Coordinator
IFAN
Monday, March 24, 2008
Monkeys Deserve Peanuts
The recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission are making the news now. This reminds me of the time when the 5th Pay Commission met over a decade ago. Then, an officer of the Indian Administrative Service named Srivatsa Krishna wrote an article in The Economic Times quoting Lee Kwan Yew's dictum "If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys". His argument was that IAS blokes like him must be very highly paid.
I was a regular contributor to the editorial pages of ET then, and wrote a rejoinder titled "Monkeys Deserve Peanuts". It provoked wide outrage in the IAS mafia and a flurry of letters to the editor followed. Unfortunately, this was in the pre-digital era, and no electronic records exist. But I can mail photocopies to anyone interested.
Of course, my arguments were correct. The 5th Pay Commission bankrupted the State and public services did not improve at all. This scenario will be repeated again.
Babus who perform no useful work should not get paid at all. Indeed, because they produce nothing, babus are "unproductive". What is worse, many are "misproductive", causing losses to the community - like, for example, when the beat officer extorts money from all street vendors. They produce nothing, but impose costs. That is "misproductive" employment.
The greatest joke, of course, is that these misproductive types get tonnes of cash from the public treasury in order to "generate" gainful employment!
Pay hikes for this misproductive bureaucracy must be strongly opposed.
Monkeys deserve peanuts.
Sauvik Chakraverti
Your are requested to visit the blog of Sauvik Chakraverti
http://sauvik-antidote.blogspot.com/
I was a regular contributor to the editorial pages of ET then, and wrote a rejoinder titled "Monkeys Deserve Peanuts". It provoked wide outrage in the IAS mafia and a flurry of letters to the editor followed. Unfortunately, this was in the pre-digital era, and no electronic records exist. But I can mail photocopies to anyone interested.
Of course, my arguments were correct. The 5th Pay Commission bankrupted the State and public services did not improve at all. This scenario will be repeated again.
Babus who perform no useful work should not get paid at all. Indeed, because they produce nothing, babus are "unproductive". What is worse, many are "misproductive", causing losses to the community - like, for example, when the beat officer extorts money from all street vendors. They produce nothing, but impose costs. That is "misproductive" employment.
The greatest joke, of course, is that these misproductive types get tonnes of cash from the public treasury in order to "generate" gainful employment!
Pay hikes for this misproductive bureaucracy must be strongly opposed.
Monkeys deserve peanuts.
Sauvik Chakraverti
Your are requested to visit the blog of Sauvik Chakraverti
http://sauvik-antidote.blogspot.com/
Thursday, March 20, 2008
WRONG, MR. EDITOR
by SAUVIK CHAKRAVERTI
Some months ago, the editor of the Times of India, Gautam Adhikari, published a signed article claiming that this leading Indian newspaper is wedded to 'classical liberalism'. However, the lead editorial of March 15, titled "Clean up Goa", lets the side down. It is illiberal, intolerant and unsympathetic; it is blind to reality; and its prescription is astoundingly impractical. Allow me to elaborate on each point.
The editorial begins by saying that, because of the easy availability of drugs, and because 'liquor flows uninterruptedly', Goa has become 'an attractive hangout for socially dysfunctional people'. Actually, people who successfully 'score' illegal drugs are not at all socially dysfunctional; rather, they are 'black market savvy'; they are 'street smart'. Living in Goa, as I have been for over two years now, it becomes apparent that the really dysfunctional people here are the local alcoholics (and there are scores of them). Still, I wonder if Goa would be a better place if it was like New Delhi, where the government monopolistically sells warm beer in staggeringly hot weather, where drinking in bars in unaffordable even for newspaper editors, and where all queue up outside government shops to buy alcohol.
This first portion of the editorial smacks of intolerance. A true classical liberal would appreciate the fact that 'it takes all kinds to make a world' – and make room in his theories for all these types. Robert Nozick, the liberal philosopher, made the telling point that a truly free society is not one Utopia conceived of by the theorist; rather, it is a 'society of utopianism', wherein each can look for his own utopia.
The next part of the editorial lacks any sympathy for a bereaved mother. This second paragraph should never have been published, being completely irrelevant to the main issue. At a moment of stark state failure, and tragedy, it attempts to implicate a mother who was, in the deepest sense, 'liberal' with her wilful teenage daughter.
Thereafter, the editorial is blind to reality. It asks the totally stupid question: "How is it that the drug trade in Goa is flourishing, that too, in full public view and under the nose of the state police who's duties include cracking down on such activities?" The drug trade is flourishing all over the world, including New Delhi. I myself scored marijuana in London a stone's throw from the headquarters of Scotland Yard. The duties of the Goa police also include ensuring road safety. Every Goan, local as well as tourist, would be safer if this duty was performed. The drug trade should be legalized – but this is probably 'too liberal' an idea for the editor. He wants state action in checking the 'resident status and visa validity' of all foreigners here, a recipe for tyranny. A true liberal would favour a free, long-term 'visa-on-arrival' so that tourism, the largest industry in the world, is encouraged. Goa gets a full forty percent of India's tourism. Of the five million foreigners who risk their necks visiting India every year, two million come to Goa. But fifty million visit China and eighty million go to tiny France. If the editor has his way, tourism in Goa will slump.
The editorial then proceeds to display complete lack of 'knowledge' on drugs saying that 'locally available intoxicants like bhang and charas are a tradition' in Goa. The real hippy tradition here is of ganja. Bhang is not used in Goa, either by locals or tourists. Charas is not a local substance and is imported from the north. Because of illegality, quality charas is hard to find. Only brand names can ensure quality, which requires legalization. I met a group of German tourists who smuggled Moroccan hash into Goa for their holidays, knowing well that good charas is unavailable here. A Dutch tourist I met complained that Goa offered 'bush grass and horseshit hash'. In Holland, all this (and more) is legal, quality is excellent, and the cops are socially functional.
This illiberal, unsympathetic and ignorant editorial then descends to rank idiocy, calling upon Goan civil society to undertake an 'anti-drug crusade' led by the local musician Remo Fernandes. What the state police, armed with draconian legislation and guns, cannot accomplish, cannot be miraculously performed by a performer. Actually, if you talk to drug dealers, you realise that they do not want legalization, which would ultimately institute a market regime of 'normal profits'. Branded ganja and charas would then be sold at probably the same price as Darjeeling tea. Drug dealers abhor this idea because today their profits are astronomical. They share these huge profits with those in authority, corrupting institutions. This also makes them much more powerful than any civil society group. If Remo took up cudgels against them armed with just his guitar, he would not get far.
The editor has revealed his Utopia as a drug-free world. He wants this accomplished by state as well as civil society. But the sorry fact is that his vision has no place for the twin liberal values of Freedom and Justice. The editor of the Times of India, thus, is not a liberal at all.
--
Sauvik Chakraverti
Goa contact (0832) 2643048
Some months ago, the editor of the Times of India, Gautam Adhikari, published a signed article claiming that this leading Indian newspaper is wedded to 'classical liberalism'. However, the lead editorial of March 15, titled "Clean up Goa", lets the side down. It is illiberal, intolerant and unsympathetic; it is blind to reality; and its prescription is astoundingly impractical. Allow me to elaborate on each point.
The editorial begins by saying that, because of the easy availability of drugs, and because 'liquor flows uninterruptedly', Goa has become 'an attractive hangout for socially dysfunctional people'. Actually, people who successfully 'score' illegal drugs are not at all socially dysfunctional; rather, they are 'black market savvy'; they are 'street smart'. Living in Goa, as I have been for over two years now, it becomes apparent that the really dysfunctional people here are the local alcoholics (and there are scores of them). Still, I wonder if Goa would be a better place if it was like New Delhi, where the government monopolistically sells warm beer in staggeringly hot weather, where drinking in bars in unaffordable even for newspaper editors, and where all queue up outside government shops to buy alcohol.
This first portion of the editorial smacks of intolerance. A true classical liberal would appreciate the fact that 'it takes all kinds to make a world' – and make room in his theories for all these types. Robert Nozick, the liberal philosopher, made the telling point that a truly free society is not one Utopia conceived of by the theorist; rather, it is a 'society of utopianism', wherein each can look for his own utopia.
The next part of the editorial lacks any sympathy for a bereaved mother. This second paragraph should never have been published, being completely irrelevant to the main issue. At a moment of stark state failure, and tragedy, it attempts to implicate a mother who was, in the deepest sense, 'liberal' with her wilful teenage daughter.
Thereafter, the editorial is blind to reality. It asks the totally stupid question: "How is it that the drug trade in Goa is flourishing, that too, in full public view and under the nose of the state police who's duties include cracking down on such activities?" The drug trade is flourishing all over the world, including New Delhi. I myself scored marijuana in London a stone's throw from the headquarters of Scotland Yard. The duties of the Goa police also include ensuring road safety. Every Goan, local as well as tourist, would be safer if this duty was performed. The drug trade should be legalized – but this is probably 'too liberal' an idea for the editor. He wants state action in checking the 'resident status and visa validity' of all foreigners here, a recipe for tyranny. A true liberal would favour a free, long-term 'visa-on-arrival' so that tourism, the largest industry in the world, is encouraged. Goa gets a full forty percent of India's tourism. Of the five million foreigners who risk their necks visiting India every year, two million come to Goa. But fifty million visit China and eighty million go to tiny France. If the editor has his way, tourism in Goa will slump.
The editorial then proceeds to display complete lack of 'knowledge' on drugs saying that 'locally available intoxicants like bhang and charas are a tradition' in Goa. The real hippy tradition here is of ganja. Bhang is not used in Goa, either by locals or tourists. Charas is not a local substance and is imported from the north. Because of illegality, quality charas is hard to find. Only brand names can ensure quality, which requires legalization. I met a group of German tourists who smuggled Moroccan hash into Goa for their holidays, knowing well that good charas is unavailable here. A Dutch tourist I met complained that Goa offered 'bush grass and horseshit hash'. In Holland, all this (and more) is legal, quality is excellent, and the cops are socially functional.
This illiberal, unsympathetic and ignorant editorial then descends to rank idiocy, calling upon Goan civil society to undertake an 'anti-drug crusade' led by the local musician Remo Fernandes. What the state police, armed with draconian legislation and guns, cannot accomplish, cannot be miraculously performed by a performer. Actually, if you talk to drug dealers, you realise that they do not want legalization, which would ultimately institute a market regime of 'normal profits'. Branded ganja and charas would then be sold at probably the same price as Darjeeling tea. Drug dealers abhor this idea because today their profits are astronomical. They share these huge profits with those in authority, corrupting institutions. This also makes them much more powerful than any civil society group. If Remo took up cudgels against them armed with just his guitar, he would not get far.
The editor has revealed his Utopia as a drug-free world. He wants this accomplished by state as well as civil society. But the sorry fact is that his vision has no place for the twin liberal values of Freedom and Justice. The editor of the Times of India, thus, is not a liberal at all.
--
Sauvik Chakraverti
Goa contact (0832) 2643048
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
IFAN 2008
With the alumni meet close, some activity, (at least on the blog) has been visible. It’s obviously a welcome thing. Not, that I am criticizing non-activity for the rest of the year, because, if I would point a finger, rest four fingers would be pointed at me, I am a culprit too.
However, in good trust, we all know how busy we all have been in doing whatever we have been up to. And there is absolutely no reason to feel guilty for have not been able to do something visible and concrete that would enable us another getaway in mumbai.
Not to offend anyone, but the writing is on the wall. Almost everyone suggests that the alumni association should do some activity. Well my point is, activity in any alumni association is limited to annual dinner at poolside, which we are doing anyway. It gives us an opportunity to meet friends old and new. Make them aware of your happenings in the past days and get acquainted with theirs. Which we are doing pretty well. At the most what needs to be done, is to streamline the same process, so that members can communicate more effectively, yield results and make the rest of the members aware of their plans and problems. It would be a platform to discuss individual achievements, goals and to seek assistance.
All these points are the ones that we had agreed on, at the last meet. And the association had taken a correct direction. But the communication gap of last one year has perhaps laid some dust on our memories added by the guilt of the same. We have started getting enthusiastic about doing some activity. The moment we start to do that, we will have clashes of interests. (Two liberals have three views). We will lose friends.
This year we should concentrate on the logistical part, of how to make this helpful for each of us, doing what we are good at, individually. Maybe, find a way of not being a burden on FNF financially. Maybe changing geography for each meet. Maybe awarding an individual from within or outside the association.
These are my individual views.
Rajesh Singh
Patna
However, in good trust, we all know how busy we all have been in doing whatever we have been up to. And there is absolutely no reason to feel guilty for have not been able to do something visible and concrete that would enable us another getaway in mumbai.
Not to offend anyone, but the writing is on the wall. Almost everyone suggests that the alumni association should do some activity. Well my point is, activity in any alumni association is limited to annual dinner at poolside, which we are doing anyway. It gives us an opportunity to meet friends old and new. Make them aware of your happenings in the past days and get acquainted with theirs. Which we are doing pretty well. At the most what needs to be done, is to streamline the same process, so that members can communicate more effectively, yield results and make the rest of the members aware of their plans and problems. It would be a platform to discuss individual achievements, goals and to seek assistance.
All these points are the ones that we had agreed on, at the last meet. And the association had taken a correct direction. But the communication gap of last one year has perhaps laid some dust on our memories added by the guilt of the same. We have started getting enthusiastic about doing some activity. The moment we start to do that, we will have clashes of interests. (Two liberals have three views). We will lose friends.
This year we should concentrate on the logistical part, of how to make this helpful for each of us, doing what we are good at, individually. Maybe, find a way of not being a burden on FNF financially. Maybe changing geography for each meet. Maybe awarding an individual from within or outside the association.
These are my individual views.
Rajesh Singh
Patna
IFAN 2008
My dear friends in Ifan,
One of the key things in democracy is numbers.We liberals in India lacks in numbers.So one of the key challenges before us is to increase the number of convinced liberals in India.Once Hitler is reported to have asked the question how many members the Pope had in his army.How we can increase the numbers?.There are several ways of doing it.Let us start thinking about it.
Prof.Babu Joseph,President,LiberalGroup-Kerala.
One of the key things in democracy is numbers.We liberals in India lacks in numbers.So one of the key challenges before us is to increase the number of convinced liberals in India.Once Hitler is reported to have asked the question how many members the Pope had in his army.How we can increase the numbers?.There are several ways of doing it.Let us start thinking about it.
Prof.Babu Joseph,President,LiberalGroup
Monday, March 17, 2008
IFAN MEET 2008
Dear IFAN Members and Liberals,
I just want to request all of you that kindly send your confirmation if you are able to attend the IFAN MEET 2008 to be held in Mumbai from 5 to 7 April. it would be ideal to send a mail of confirmation to Nupur so that she can make necessary arrangements for you, as she is working very hard for this meet as usual.
Regards,
Ashraf Ahmed Shaikh
National Coordinator
IFAN
Mumbai India
+919867855733
I just want to request all of you that kindly send your confirmation if you are able to attend the IFAN MEET 2008 to be held in Mumbai from 5 to 7 April. it would be ideal to send a mail of confirmation to Nupur so that she can make necessary arrangements for you, as she is working very hard for this meet as usual.
Regards,
Ashraf Ahmed Shaikh
National Coordinator
IFAN
Mumbai India
+919867855733
Liberal Group – Kerala
Dear Libertarian Friends in IFAN,
I am glad to inform you that Liberal Group – Kerala is coming out with its new web site with an email attached to it. Although we might start it as a monthly publication we might soon make it a weekly. I request you to find some time to go through the same and let me have the benefit of your suggestions.
Our web address being www.liberalgroupkerala.org.
Let the slogan of our Bombay meet be "Let 100 Libertarian Groups of 10 to 25 people bloom in various parts of India". I suggest this slogan since we badly lack in numbers.
Regards,
Babu
I am glad to inform you that Liberal Group – Kerala is coming out with its new web site with an email attached to it. Although we might start it as a monthly publication we might soon make it a weekly. I request you to find some time to go through the same and let me have the benefit of your suggestions.
Our web address being www.liberalgroupkerala.org.
Let the slogan of our Bombay meet be "Let 100 Libertarian Groups of 10 to 25 people bloom in various parts of India". I suggest this slogan since we badly lack in numbers.
Regards,
Babu
Monday, March 3, 2008
Suggestions on IFAN Meeting 2008- Mumbai
Hi Liberals,
Centre for Public Policy Research plans to host South Asia Youth Summit in the month of November in Delhi on Liberal Youth South Asia (LYSA) platform. This would be the first of its kind in South Asia. we wish all the Liberals support this initiative. Hope the upcoming IFAN meeting will discuss this in detail.
D.Dhanuraj
www.cppr.in
Centre for Public Policy Research plans to host South Asia Youth Summit in the month of November in Delhi on Liberal Youth South Asia (LYSA) platform. This would be the first of its kind in South Asia. we wish all the Liberals support this initiative. Hope the upcoming IFAN meeting will discuss this in detail.
D.Dhanuraj
www.cppr.in
Suggestions on IFAN 2008 meeting
I have given my suggestions with regard to each objective, which has been formulated for next IFAN meeting proposed for April-2008. Please have a look and see whether they can be utilized in some manner.
I. Improving understanding of Liberal Ideas and promoting Liberal Values: -
As IFAN member I have already formulated a group of liberals and started discussing and debating with people the ideology of liberalism. This year I want do the activity in a different manner. See whenever I ask people something about liberalism; the first question generally asked is what is it all about? Though people have vague ideas of the concept but that is not going to serve the purpose. As a student of law and political science it is quite easier for me to identify with the liberal notions of politics, state, liberty, equality, democracy, market economy and competition. But when we speak of spreading and promoting liberalism as an ideology i.e. a set of ideas, we need to make people understand the thought in every aspect whatever their field of specialization is. People shall truly identify themselves with the ideology of liberalism and thereby strive to promote the values propagated by this ideology. We can’t conceive of a situation wherein we can promote liberal values without making people understand liberal ideas.
So as IFAN member I think my focus as well as of whole network this year should be making people understand this ideology. For this we need to start from basics. This can be done by conducting seminars, discussions, youth summits in different parts of the country wherever we are stationed. We can go to state capitals and therein move to universities, colleges and conduct our workshops, brainstorming sessions aimed at making people understand the liberal notions. We can invite lawyers, political scientists, and economists, people engaged in social activities to speak at these events and thereby help us in promoting the ideas of liberalism by improving the understanding. As IFAN has a vast network with its representatives stationed in different parts of the country, the members can do these activities in their respective areas and wherein collaborations and support is required we can share it and come to the rescue of brother members.
II. National Liberal Convention: -
The proposed National liberal Convention is a step in right direction. This will take the liberal movement to the next level. As this event will bring the movement to forefront and attract the people to this ideology. Here the role of IFAN is quite important. Before this event, we have to cover a lot of ground in our respective areas by spreading the ideas of liberalism and improving its understanding. This convention will help us to take our struggle a step ahead and from a regional level we can move to national level. We also need to promote this convention in a wider manner so as to ensure maximum participation and thereby have these delegates of the convention as our messengers. This will help in enlarging the IFAN and thereby the message will travel far and wide.
A. Possible Themes/Topics for the Convention:
i. Liberalism-a set of ideology.
ii. Neo-Liberalism
iii. Liberal view of Politics.
iv. Liberal-Individualist perspective on the State.
v. Rule of Law.
vi. Liberal-Individualist view of Liberty-Negative and Positive Liberty.
vii. Right to Property-Liberal Perspective.
viii. Liberal/Libertarian perspective of Justice.
ix. Concept of Liberal Democracy.
x. Liberal perspective of Market Economy/Competition.
xi. Liberalism vis-à-vis Welfare/Socialist State.
xii. Liberalism- Viability in Indian Context.
The list is mere illustrative and not exhaustive. Though the themes may sound more of academic importance but these have to be included somewhere in the schedule of the convention as it will bring more clarity regarding the concepts of Liberalism. These topics can be either merged or included under other broader themes depending upon the feasibility of time and speakers. A session or two can be devoted to discuss these themes. The idea here is to enhance the understanding of learned delegates of the convention regarding the intricacies of Liberalism so that they can act as better messengers.
B. Speakers/Resource persons:
I suggest following persons from my state:
i. Mr. Muzzafer Hussein Beigh.
Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister,
Jammu & Kashmir.
Mr. Beigh is one of the best legal luminaries; the State of Jammu & Kashmir has ever produced. He is also a seasoned politician of the state and is one among the senior leaders of People’s Democratic Party which is a partner in the current ruling coalition government of the state. He takes keen interest in these activities and I believe he will be an asset for proposed National Convention and with a mix of law and politics he will be an asset for our purpose.
ii. Mr. Omar Abdullah.
President
National Conference.
Mr. Abdullah is a young and dynamic politician of state. He is the president of main opposition party in Jammu & Kashmir. Having already served as Union Minister of State for External Affairs in N.D.A. government headed by Shri. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Mr. Abdullah presents a mix of youth and politics. A different and modern outlook to life and politics, having him as one of the speakers will greatly benefit us.
iii. Prof. Amitabh Mattoo.
Vice Chancellor
University of Jammu.
Prof. Mattoo took over as Vice Chancellor of University of Jammu in 2002 at age of 42 years. Being the youngest Vice Chancellor of University of Jammu, within a short period of about six years he has created a history of sorts by taking University of Jammu to an international level from a lesser known regional University. The recent honour by Union Government by conferring Padma Shree on him stands testimony to the commendable works done by him. An expert in International Relations, having him as resource person will be of immense benefit.
In addition to these I will be adding few other names from time to time that I think will benefit us. Furthermore, if a consensus is reached on any of the names, which I have proposed, I can then pursue with them so as to ensure their participation.
III. Liberal Youth Forum-India:
The launch of LYF-India will provide much needed oxygen to build afresh a liberal youth movement. Once this is done the movement can be taken to State levels by constituting its State units and within states also further decentralization can be done to district and tehsils/taluka levels. This approach will help to attract the youth to the ideology that is an essential requirement given the fact that a considerable chunk of our population is youth. Furthermore by investing in youth we are going to invest in future as these are going to be leaders, academicians, scientists etc of tomorrow. So it is a step in right direction at a right time.
Looking forward to your feedbacks and comments,
Thanking you,
Regards,
Touseef A. Magray
Jammu & Kashmir.
+919419222058
I. Improving understanding of Liberal Ideas and promoting Liberal Values: -
As IFAN member I have already formulated a group of liberals and started discussing and debating with people the ideology of liberalism. This year I want do the activity in a different manner. See whenever I ask people something about liberalism; the first question generally asked is what is it all about? Though people have vague ideas of the concept but that is not going to serve the purpose. As a student of law and political science it is quite easier for me to identify with the liberal notions of politics, state, liberty, equality, democracy, market economy and competition. But when we speak of spreading and promoting liberalism as an ideology i.e. a set of ideas, we need to make people understand the thought in every aspect whatever their field of specialization is. People shall truly identify themselves with the ideology of liberalism and thereby strive to promote the values propagated by this ideology. We can’t conceive of a situation wherein we can promote liberal values without making people understand liberal ideas.
So as IFAN member I think my focus as well as of whole network this year should be making people understand this ideology. For this we need to start from basics. This can be done by conducting seminars, discussions, youth summits in different parts of the country wherever we are stationed. We can go to state capitals and therein move to universities, colleges and conduct our workshops, brainstorming sessions aimed at making people understand the liberal notions. We can invite lawyers, political scientists, and economists, people engaged in social activities to speak at these events and thereby help us in promoting the ideas of liberalism by improving the understanding. As IFAN has a vast network with its representatives stationed in different parts of the country, the members can do these activities in their respective areas and wherein collaborations and support is required we can share it and come to the rescue of brother members.
II. National Liberal Convention: -
The proposed National liberal Convention is a step in right direction. This will take the liberal movement to the next level. As this event will bring the movement to forefront and attract the people to this ideology. Here the role of IFAN is quite important. Before this event, we have to cover a lot of ground in our respective areas by spreading the ideas of liberalism and improving its understanding. This convention will help us to take our struggle a step ahead and from a regional level we can move to national level. We also need to promote this convention in a wider manner so as to ensure maximum participation and thereby have these delegates of the convention as our messengers. This will help in enlarging the IFAN and thereby the message will travel far and wide.
A. Possible Themes/Topics for the Convention:
i. Liberalism-a set of ideology.
ii. Neo-Liberalism
iii. Liberal view of Politics.
iv. Liberal-Individualist perspective on the State.
v. Rule of Law.
vi. Liberal-Individualist view of Liberty-Negative and Positive Liberty.
vii. Right to Property-Liberal Perspective.
viii. Liberal/Libertarian perspective of Justice.
ix. Concept of Liberal Democracy.
x. Liberal perspective of Market Economy/Competition.
xi. Liberalism vis-à-vis Welfare/Socialist State.
xii. Liberalism- Viability in Indian Context.
The list is mere illustrative and not exhaustive. Though the themes may sound more of academic importance but these have to be included somewhere in the schedule of the convention as it will bring more clarity regarding the concepts of Liberalism. These topics can be either merged or included under other broader themes depending upon the feasibility of time and speakers. A session or two can be devoted to discuss these themes. The idea here is to enhance the understanding of learned delegates of the convention regarding the intricacies of Liberalism so that they can act as better messengers.
B. Speakers/Resource persons:
I suggest following persons from my state:
i. Mr. Muzzafer Hussein Beigh.
Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister,
Jammu & Kashmir.
Mr. Beigh is one of the best legal luminaries; the State of Jammu & Kashmir has ever produced. He is also a seasoned politician of the state and is one among the senior leaders of People’s Democratic Party which is a partner in the current ruling coalition government of the state. He takes keen interest in these activities and I believe he will be an asset for proposed National Convention and with a mix of law and politics he will be an asset for our purpose.
ii. Mr. Omar Abdullah.
President
National Conference.
Mr. Abdullah is a young and dynamic politician of state. He is the president of main opposition party in Jammu & Kashmir. Having already served as Union Minister of State for External Affairs in N.D.A. government headed by Shri. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Mr. Abdullah presents a mix of youth and politics. A different and modern outlook to life and politics, having him as one of the speakers will greatly benefit us.
iii. Prof. Amitabh Mattoo.
Vice Chancellor
University of Jammu.
Prof. Mattoo took over as Vice Chancellor of University of Jammu in 2002 at age of 42 years. Being the youngest Vice Chancellor of University of Jammu, within a short period of about six years he has created a history of sorts by taking University of Jammu to an international level from a lesser known regional University. The recent honour by Union Government by conferring Padma Shree on him stands testimony to the commendable works done by him. An expert in International Relations, having him as resource person will be of immense benefit.
In addition to these I will be adding few other names from time to time that I think will benefit us. Furthermore, if a consensus is reached on any of the names, which I have proposed, I can then pursue with them so as to ensure their participation.
III. Liberal Youth Forum-India:
The launch of LYF-India will provide much needed oxygen to build afresh a liberal youth movement. Once this is done the movement can be taken to State levels by constituting its State units and within states also further decentralization can be done to district and tehsils/taluka levels. This approach will help to attract the youth to the ideology that is an essential requirement given the fact that a considerable chunk of our population is youth. Furthermore by investing in youth we are going to invest in future as these are going to be leaders, academicians, scientists etc of tomorrow. So it is a step in right direction at a right time.
Looking forward to your feedbacks and comments,
Thanking you,
Regards,
Touseef A. Magray
Jammu & Kashmir.
+919419222058
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Suggestion for IFAN Meet 2008
K ABBAS DODHIYA
Hi all,
It gives me great pleasure to know that our network of liberal thinkers in the form of IFAN is alive and wants to spread the liberal message through a convention. Going by the current political situation in Mumbai we the members of the liberal network need to play a proactive role in promoting and advancing liberal values.
Last week was indeed an unfortunate period for Mumbai and Maharashtra when a group of citizens of the so called advanced and most modern city of India took to the streets and beat up hapless cab drivers and hawkers and caused damage to public property and disrupted the normal lives of more than 1.5 crore people of the city on the grounds that the cabbies and hawkers were not original residents of the state and were migrants from North India.
The disturbing events of last week have raised a pertinent question on the usefulness and practicality of democracy wherein people belonging to a particular community harass and harangue people on the basis of ethnicity. In such a scenario the imporatnce of the ideas and values of liberalism come to the fore.
In the light of the past week's disaster that Mumbai witnessed, the liberal convention would be able to provide plausible solutions and also discuss ways and means of spreading the liberal messsage.
The proposal to start a fresh liberal youth movement -Liberal Youth Forum of India would go a long way in creating awareness of liberal values at the grass root level which can be also leveraged upon in the long run to create a group of peace makers.
With regards to the convention I would like to contribute in the form of inviting the man behind changing the face of the largest slum of Asia Dharavi into a beautiful suburb of Mumbai - Mr Mukesh Mehta. Mr Mehta is the man who was scoffed by the media and the general masses when he suggested ways in which the slum dwellers of Dharavi could be integrated in mainstream Mumbai. However his plans and ideas of sustainable development based on liberal values has been largely accepted and will see the light of the day by the end of this year. His thrust has always been on alleviation on poverty and making the city and country slum free. His ideas are based on public-private participation and he has been appointed as advisor to the governments of Maharashtra and Karnataka. He is also a successful businessman and has been in the business of making luxury homes in Louisville, USA. He is the most sought after man by governments of various countries across the world and had recently been invited by the South Africa government to share his slum redevelopment ideas.
Looking forward to your feedbacks. Thank you.
K ABBAS DODHIYA
Mumbai
+91 9820036543
Hi all,
It gives me great pleasure to know that our network of liberal thinkers in the form of IFAN is alive and wants to spread the liberal message through a convention. Going by the current political situation in Mumbai we the members of the liberal network need to play a proactive role in promoting and advancing liberal values.
Last week was indeed an unfortunate period for Mumbai and Maharashtra when a group of citizens of the so called advanced and most modern city of India took to the streets and beat up hapless cab drivers and hawkers and caused damage to public property and disrupted the normal lives of more than 1.5 crore people of the city on the grounds that the cabbies and hawkers were not original residents of the state and were migrants from North India.
The disturbing events of last week have raised a pertinent question on the usefulness and practicality of democracy wherein people belonging to a particular community harass and harangue people on the basis of ethnicity. In such a scenario the imporatnce of the ideas and values of liberalism come to the fore.
In the light of the past week's disaster that Mumbai witnessed, the liberal convention would be able to provide plausible solutions and also discuss ways and means of spreading the liberal messsage.
The proposal to start a fresh liberal youth movement -Liberal Youth Forum of India would go a long way in creating awareness of liberal values at the grass root level which can be also leveraged upon in the long run to create a group of peace makers.
With regards to the convention I would like to contribute in the form of inviting the man behind changing the face of the largest slum of Asia Dharavi into a beautiful suburb of Mumbai - Mr Mukesh Mehta. Mr Mehta is the man who was scoffed by the media and the general masses when he suggested ways in which the slum dwellers of Dharavi could be integrated in mainstream Mumbai. However his plans and ideas of sustainable development based on liberal values has been largely accepted and will see the light of the day by the end of this year. His thrust has always been on alleviation on poverty and making the city and country slum free. His ideas are based on public-private participation and he has been appointed as advisor to the governments of Maharashtra and Karnataka. He is also a successful businessman and has been in the business of making luxury homes in Louisville, USA. He is the most sought after man by governments of various countries across the world and had recently been invited by the South Africa government to share his slum redevelopment ideas.
Looking forward to your feedbacks. Thank you.
K ABBAS DODHIYA
Mumbai
+91 9820036543
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Comments on Manali's suggestions on IFAN meeting
I couldn't not post my comments on the blog so I am writing an email
instead. I agree with Mana in that we must seek ways to make the
network valuable to the members. I am not sure how it can be done but
sharing one's interest would be a way forward and eventually we may
find constructive way for members to derive value from this liberal
network. Since this might be the only one of its kind in India, I am
sure there are many activities that are waiting to happening through
it.
My interest in the network is mainly in understanding the importance
of 'Rule of Law' in a free market society. Since I have got an
opportunity to pursue an LL.B degree, I am interested in developing a
strong understanding of the importance of law in a liberal society and
how the some of the current laws are putting impediments to individual
and economic freedom. I particularly curious about property rights and
competition law. I am also keen on critically evaluating
'rights-based' approach to social change. It would very informative to
to know what the great liberal thinkers like Hayek, Mises etc have
said on these issues and also to discuss them in today's context with
other liberals. All this may feed into my interest in free-market
litigation (the kind of work the Institute of Justice does in the US).
I look forward to meeting more people with similar interests at the IFAN.
Regards,
Makarand
instead. I agree with Mana in that we must seek ways to make the
network valuable to the members. I am not sure how it can be done but
sharing one's interest would be a way forward and eventually we may
find constructive way for members to derive value from this liberal
network. Since this might be the only one of its kind in India, I am
sure there are many activities that are waiting to happening through
it.
My interest in the network is mainly in understanding the importance
of 'Rule of Law' in a free market society. Since I have got an
opportunity to pursue an LL.B degree, I am interested in developing a
strong understanding of the importance of law in a liberal society and
how the some of the current laws are putting impediments to individual
and economic freedom. I particularly curious about property rights and
competition law. I am also keen on critically evaluating
'rights-based' approach to social change. It would very informative to
to know what the great liberal thinkers like Hayek, Mises etc have
said on these issues and also to discuss them in today's context with
other liberals. All this may feed into my interest in free-market
litigation (the kind of work the Institute of Justice does in the US).
I look forward to meeting more people with similar interests at the IFAN.
Regards,
Makarand
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Suggestions on agenda for IFAN 2008 meeting
I am not sure how to give my inputs to this since I will not be physically around to do anything here. I have been thinking about this for a while and I do feel strongly about what a network should do and should not do which I thought I will share with you.
A network by definition is a web that connects members [individuals, groups, organisations etc]. Before anything, we need to have a aim for a network, why does a network exist? What is its core purpose? In this case IFAN exists to connect and build capacity of liberals especially those who have been FNSTalumni.
A network has to have the following core functions
a) Build membership: Connect and expand member base: identify the potential members, reach out to them, get them to become members, engage them in network activities and RETAIN their membership;
b) Regular communication across the members: through a website, blog, newsletter, resource directory etc, a network has to have a place where members can go to, to access information about members and other shared resources;
c) Improve capacity and effectiveness of members: a network basically enhances synergy of all individual members’ efforts and can thereby be a stronger force in terms of advocacy or representation at public fora.
The network needs to first identify the needs of its members, match those needs with resources which may exist within the network itself, and if not bring in external resources. This process of needs assessment and resource sharing has to be active and ongoing so that all members take ownership in doing this along with the network secretariat.
The main thing to remember is that it is a two-way relationship. A network can truly success only if the members derive the needed benefit from it and the network also gets something from the members. Membership needs to be dependent on something concrete inputs which members must provide to the network.
To this end, I think IFAN first needs to concentrate on activities (a) and (b) before it can even think of (c) if it intends to be a strong and effective network.
Manali Shah
CCS, New Delhi
A network by definition is a web that connects members [individuals, groups, organisations etc]. Before anything, we need to have a aim for a network, why does a network exist? What is its core purpose? In this case IFAN exists to connect and build capacity of liberals especially those who have been FNSTalumni.
A network has to have the following core functions
a) Build membership: Connect and expand member base: identify the potential members, reach out to them, get them to become members, engage them in network activities and RETAIN their membership;
b) Regular communication across the members: through a website, blog, newsletter, resource directory etc, a network has to have a place where members can go to, to access information about members and other shared resources;
c) Improve capacity and effectiveness of members: a network basically enhances synergy of all individual members’ efforts and can thereby be a stronger force in terms of advocacy or representation at public fora.
The network needs to first identify the needs of its members, match those needs with resources which may exist within the network itself, and if not bring in external resources. This process of needs assessment and resource sharing has to be active and ongoing so that all members take ownership in doing this along with the network secretariat.
The main thing to remember is that it is a two-way relationship. A network can truly success only if the members derive the needed benefit from it and the network also gets something from the members. Membership needs to be dependent on something concrete inputs which members must provide to the network.
To this end, I think IFAN first needs to concentrate on activities (a) and (b) before it can even think of (c) if it intends to be a strong and effective network.
Manali Shah
CCS, New Delhi
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Suggestions for the next IFAN Meet
Nice to see your mail. I am very much delighted after
hearing about the proposed IFAN Meeting during April
2008. This meeting will provide us an opportunity to
discuss in detail about the issues and challenges in
advancing liberal movement. It also helps us in
deciding the Theme and sub themes for the proposed
National Liberal Convention.
I strongly feel people from politics, civil society,
government, NGOs, academicians should be invited for
the convention.
I suggest Dr.Jaya Prakash Narayan, Lok Satta, National
Convenor as one of the speakers as he being former
civil servant and as leader of several movements will
provide different perspective for the delegates.
I would like to associate with other members of the
IFAN network in identifying the theme and sub themes
for the same.
Looking forward to meet you and all our members in the
meet.
With regards
Dr Jampala Rajesh Choudary
hearing about the proposed IFAN Meeting during April
2008. This meeting will provide us an opportunity to
discuss in detail about the issues and challenges in
advancing liberal movement. It also helps us in
deciding the Theme and sub themes for the proposed
National Liberal Convention.
I strongly feel people from politics, civil society,
government, NGOs, academicians should be invited for
the convention.
I suggest Dr.Jaya Prakash Narayan, Lok Satta, National
Convenor as one of the speakers as he being former
civil servant and as leader of several movements will
provide different perspective for the delegates.
I would like to associate with other members of the
IFAN network in identifying the theme and sub themes
for the same.
Looking forward to meet you and all our members in the
meet.
With regards
Dr Jampala Rajesh Choudary
Suggestions for the next IFAN Meet
It is great to hear about the Liberal Convention that FNSt plans to organize in Delhi. I would personally love to get involved - feel free to call upon me for any assistance with regard to Congress leaders, the media or anything else.
However, kindly keep one thing in mind - 4 major states (including Delhi) will be facing elections in October/November. Any clash of dates from the run up to the final results (a period of 5 odd weeks) will make it virtually impossible for any political leader to get involved.
regards,
Ashish Talwar
However, kindly keep one thing in mind - 4 major states (including Delhi) will be facing elections in October/November. Any clash of dates from the run up to the final results (a period of 5 odd weeks) will make it virtually impossible for any political leader to get involved.
regards,
Ashish Talwar
Suggestions for the next IFAN Meet
Thank you so much for you email. I went through the report and here are my suggestions. See if any part of this is helpful -
Since the document already makes clear the overall agenda and general aims, what i have tried to do is to fill it in with specific events and more focused areas that you could look at:
1. Focus on students - through a campus liberal paper to begin with. this could be a small magazine, journal or even just a spreadsheet that is published once a month by the students of DU and circulated just to create a forum to disseminate liberal ideas. once this is done on a monthly basis we can have an annual issue - a culmination of all these 12 journals. this could be a stock taking even for us to see how far we have go in the process of publishing these ideas. then once this is an annual affair we could build around this or make this event coincide with other events like the Convention (that you are planning this year) etc. i began with a small journal spreadsheet bec it is viable - ppl will be wiling to work and commit , it doesn't need too much labour AND it really has an impact.
The content of this can be worked on some creative lines. i have looked at some campus papers but they all seem to be lacking in one thing - they do not address issues that concern the students directly. we could refocus on that. show liberal approaches to univ-students problems and solutions; draw inspiration and information from liberal movements around the world and be able to spread information. This could be one channel of access to students. If we try in DU and it works then im sure the 'movement' can also spread to other cities and universities. it will also bring like minded people on campus together
2. freedom weekends - we could have alternate weekends as 'freedom weekends' and tap students' attn - those who live on campus. a HUGE number of students live in hostels or accommodations around the univ area. if we could organise films/book readings or other events on alternate weekends then we could create space for people to come together and discuss issues. Slowly this group/groups might also want to evolve and take up events/projects on their own - but at least we can provide a forum for people to come together
3. of course the association with LYFI is tehre to tap - events for this will concretize i think once the plan of action has met and come up with the final agenda.
4. we all seem to only react to 'current events'. after a thing has happened we all tend to draw out solutions to it. but it would be interesting to see what can come out of being proactive. we could have a research team who will look into budding problems and devise methodologies of liberal responses to these problems. we can run a project of this sort and show people how IN EXPERIENCE a liberal approach will take you further than just trying to treat symptoms of problems. the project could be anything even minor - like deforestation in one small area in delhi or traffic regulation in one route anything small or big - but if we are able to show the importance of being proactive AND having a realistic liberal approach to it; we will be able to prove many points i think. this exercise will do good for everyone - those who undertake it and those who witness it.it will be interesting to hear people's responses at least.
5. the annual convention can be a forum to being all global friends of FNSt together - we could have sessions where global interns can present their experiences; it can be a meeting point of various kinds of experiences and information and see what india can learn from it. this will be a good forum for the indians to interact within themselves and also have a global experience of what will and what wont work in india. a stock taking of sorts.
this is what occurs to me right now. if any more creative thoughts come my way i will certainly email you. hope this helps...im not sure if this is the line of response you were expecting...let me know!! this is also a very informa documentation of my thoughts...hope that is alright.
best regards,
manvitha.
Since the document already makes clear the overall agenda and general aims, what i have tried to do is to fill it in with specific events and more focused areas that you could look at:
1. Focus on students - through a campus liberal paper to begin with. this could be a small magazine, journal or even just a spreadsheet that is published once a month by the students of DU and circulated just to create a forum to disseminate liberal ideas. once this is done on a monthly basis we can have an annual issue - a culmination of all these 12 journals. this could be a stock taking even for us to see how far we have go in the process of publishing these ideas. then once this is an annual affair we could build around this or make this event coincide with other events like the Convention (that you are planning this year) etc. i began with a small journal spreadsheet bec it is viable - ppl will be wiling to work and commit , it doesn't need too much labour AND it really has an impact.
The content of this can be worked on some creative lines. i have looked at some campus papers but they all seem to be lacking in one thing - they do not address issues that concern the students directly. we could refocus on that. show liberal approaches to univ-students problems and solutions; draw inspiration and information from liberal movements around the world and be able to spread information. This could be one channel of access to students. If we try in DU and it works then im sure the 'movement' can also spread to other cities and universities. it will also bring like minded people on campus together
2. freedom weekends - we could have alternate weekends as 'freedom weekends' and tap students' attn - those who live on campus. a HUGE number of students live in hostels or accommodations around the univ area. if we could organise films/book readings or other events on alternate weekends then we could create space for people to come together and discuss issues. Slowly this group/groups might also want to evolve and take up events/projects on their own - but at least we can provide a forum for people to come together
3. of course the association with LYFI is tehre to tap - events for this will concretize i think once the plan of action has met and come up with the final agenda.
4. we all seem to only react to 'current events'. after a thing has happened we all tend to draw out solutions to it. but it would be interesting to see what can come out of being proactive. we could have a research team who will look into budding problems and devise methodologies of liberal responses to these problems. we can run a project of this sort and show people how IN EXPERIENCE a liberal approach will take you further than just trying to treat symptoms of problems. the project could be anything even minor - like deforestation in one small area in delhi or traffic regulation in one route anything small or big - but if we are able to show the importance of being proactive AND having a realistic liberal approach to it; we will be able to prove many points i think. this exercise will do good for everyone - those who undertake it and those who witness it.it will be interesting to hear people's responses at least.
5. the annual convention can be a forum to being all global friends of FNSt together - we could have sessions where global interns can present their experiences; it can be a meeting point of various kinds of experiences and information and see what india can learn from it. this will be a good forum for the indians to interact within themselves and also have a global experience of what will and what wont work in india. a stock taking of sorts.
this is what occurs to me right now. if any more creative thoughts come my way i will certainly email you. hope this helps...im not sure if this is the line of response you were expecting...let me know!! this is also a very informa documentation of my thoughts...hope that is alright.
best regards,
manvitha.
Masani s Manifesto
Book Review: Minoo Masani, by S. V. Raju
Published by National Book Trust, Rs 40
Masani s Manifesto
Atul Chaturvedi
Indian Express
10 February 2008
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/270692.html
When Minocher Rustom (Minoo) Masani died in 1998, just seven years short of his centenary, it was the end of an era. For Masani was the last of a particularly unique brand of politician — an intellectual to whom principles mattered, and one without the faintest hankering for power.
S.V. Raju, an associate of Masani's, has filled the huge gap in our knowledge of his life, and brought him to life for a generation that has, sadly, not even have heard his name. The field till now had been held by Masani's own vivid, two-volume account, Against the Tide, now unjustifiably out of print.
Masani was a lawyer who joined the freedom struggle, and was imprisoned in 1932 and 1934. At 38, he was elected as Bombay's youngest mayor. Masani also worked for J.R.D. Tata. It speaks volumes about the two of them that when Masani courted arrest, he first told Tata, who told him to get in touch once he was out of jail!
Politically, Masani was a radical who espoused socialism. In the Congress, he was a member of a ginger group, the Congress Socialist Party, and counted among his colleagues Jayaprakash Narayan, Achyut Patwardhan, and Ram Manohar Lohia. Masani was an admirer of the Soviet Union, but not an uncritical one.
He began to distance himself from the Soviets after examining all the information he could get about the purges. This, in turn, led him to warn against the Communist Party of India, its call for a United Front, and its policy of infiltrating the Congress.
Masani's disenchantment with Socialism grew apace, especially after he came into personal contact with Gandhi. By the early 1950s, we can safely say that Masani's political stance was an interesting combination of political liberalism and Gandhian ethics. For a former socialist, he was unique in stating that a mixed economy was a necessity for India. What, then, was the difference with Nehru? Masani believed that Nehru's was a statist economy, in which individual liberty was subordinated. The story goes that an offer was made to Masani to join the government, conditional on whether he would support Nehru or Patel. His replied that he would support anyone who supported his principles. Result — no ministry.
Masani entered Parliament in 1957, and soon became general secretary of the newly founded Swatantra Party, under the leadership of the venerable C. Rajagopalachari. He was the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, and for almost a decade opened the debate on the budget from the opposition benches. In Parliament, he refused to oppose for the sake of opposing. When the rupee was devalued, he supported the move after consulting economists. He insisted that a no-confidence motion should be moved only if a viable alternative was available.
After the failure of the Swatantra Party in the 1971 polls, Minoo Masani left politics. He, however, became active again during the Emergency, supporting his old comrade JP. He won a landmark case against the government when it tried to put fetters on his journal, Freedom First. For the first and only time in his life, he occupied an official position as Chairman of the Minorities Commission, but quit after deciding that the Janata government had no interest in it. To the end, principles prevailed over power.
Published by National Book Trust, Rs 40
Masani s Manifesto
Atul Chaturvedi
Indian Express
10 February 2008
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/270692.html
When Minocher Rustom (Minoo) Masani died in 1998, just seven years short of his centenary, it was the end of an era. For Masani was the last of a particularly unique brand of politician — an intellectual to whom principles mattered, and one without the faintest hankering for power.
S.V. Raju, an associate of Masani's, has filled the huge gap in our knowledge of his life, and brought him to life for a generation that has, sadly, not even have heard his name. The field till now had been held by Masani's own vivid, two-volume account, Against the Tide, now unjustifiably out of print.
Masani was a lawyer who joined the freedom struggle, and was imprisoned in 1932 and 1934. At 38, he was elected as Bombay's youngest mayor. Masani also worked for J.R.D. Tata. It speaks volumes about the two of them that when Masani courted arrest, he first told Tata, who told him to get in touch once he was out of jail!
Politically, Masani was a radical who espoused socialism. In the Congress, he was a member of a ginger group, the Congress Socialist Party, and counted among his colleagues Jayaprakash Narayan, Achyut Patwardhan, and Ram Manohar Lohia. Masani was an admirer of the Soviet Union, but not an uncritical one.
He began to distance himself from the Soviets after examining all the information he could get about the purges. This, in turn, led him to warn against the Communist Party of India, its call for a United Front, and its policy of infiltrating the Congress.
Masani's disenchantment with Socialism grew apace, especially after he came into personal contact with Gandhi. By the early 1950s, we can safely say that Masani's political stance was an interesting combination of political liberalism and Gandhian ethics. For a former socialist, he was unique in stating that a mixed economy was a necessity for India. What, then, was the difference with Nehru? Masani believed that Nehru's was a statist economy, in which individual liberty was subordinated. The story goes that an offer was made to Masani to join the government, conditional on whether he would support Nehru or Patel. His replied that he would support anyone who supported his principles. Result — no ministry.
Masani entered Parliament in 1957, and soon became general secretary of the newly founded Swatantra Party, under the leadership of the venerable C. Rajagopalachari. He was the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, and for almost a decade opened the debate on the budget from the opposition benches. In Parliament, he refused to oppose for the sake of opposing. When the rupee was devalued, he supported the move after consulting economists. He insisted that a no-confidence motion should be moved only if a viable alternative was available.
After the failure of the Swatantra Party in the 1971 polls, Minoo Masani left politics. He, however, became active again during the Emergency, supporting his old comrade JP. He won a landmark case against the government when it tried to put fetters on his journal, Freedom First. For the first and only time in his life, he occupied an official position as Chairman of the Minorities Commission, but quit after deciding that the Janata government had no interest in it. To the end, principles prevailed over power.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Expose the soclialist lie in our Constitution
There has been an interesting development this month. A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the validity of 'socialist' in the Preamble to the Constitution. Also, questioning the constitutionality of the need for all registered political parties to pledge allegiance to socialism under the Representation of People Act. For long, the liberals have been demanding that the socialist pledge is a violation of the democratic spirit and the Constitution. And now we have an opportunity to build awareness of the issue among the people. Here is a list of articles in the media that have looked in to this issue the month of January 2008. All of these articles, and others are also compiled at www.InDefenceofLibertyt.org
1) Socialism, it would then appear, has had no meaning in the Indian Constitution. All along, it has been an empty vessel into which any content could be poured: it was a convenient alibi to rationalise the constitutionality of the economic policies of incumbent governments at various points, writes Shubhankar Dam, in a two-part article in the Daily News of Pakistan, on 13 and
2) Constitution says that
3) Countries where socialism was the only political ideology of the state inevitably degenerated into dictatorship. So, is there any need for all political parties to pledge allegiance to socialism in a multi-party democracy like
4)The Supreme Court recently shot down a challenge to Indira Gandhi's 1970s-era ploy to stamp her economic policies on the country in perpetuity. At issue: Does the word "socialism" belong in the Indian Constitution? Parliament can still fix this mess, but no party is likely to take up the cause because in political circles capitalism and profit are, like Nehru said, "bad words."
5) Socialist control on industry brought License Raj, which damaged our moral character, making us one of the most corrupt societies. Socialist labour rules shattered accountability among state employees. Hence, above-average people in government produce below-average results--unlike
6) The liberal mantra can be summed up as: Free trade, economic freedom, private property, sound money, the rule of law, and collective investment in genuine collective property, which is roads. Yet, liberal parties remain barred. India is condemned to 'hover through the fog and filthy air' of socialism, a political doctrine that places society above the individual, and collective property above private property. Circumstances have committed the entire political process to socialists, and they alone are to be allowed into electoral competition excluding the liberals, writes Sauvik Chakraverti, in the Indian Express on 31 January 2008.
If you write anything on this issue, or if you come across interesting analysis of this issue, please share it with all of us. Please feel free to comment.
Agenda for April 2008 IFAN MEET
- Dear IFAN Members,
- Here is the agenda for next IFAN meet.
- Kindly give your suggestions, comments and feedback. Most important is how will you contribute in this given agenda to achieve liberalism, your role, and your efforts. Please reply soon.
IFAN as network, which provides a platform for the members to exchange ideas, and explore ways of collaborating with each others, in order to build synergy towards a wider liberal movement in India.
In the last two meetings of IFAN, we have worked to provide a structure and direction to the network. In last meeting, Alumni’s have also shared their area of interest and the area where they can promote liberal ideas. At the 2008 meeting, we could strive towards a few specific outputs. With this in mind, we may like to discuss the following objectives for the next IFAN meeting, which could be held in the first week of April 2008.
Objectives:
1. IFAN members discuss on activities how they would engage themselves in improving understanding of liberal ideas and promoting liberal values and also add value to members of the network.
Once common grounds are found, the members might break up in different working groups to explore in details the possible areas of cooperation, and the nature of that collaboration, with the aim of coming up with specific programme of activities from each of working groups.
2. FNSt is proposing a national Liberal Convention for later this year. And IFAN members may discuss the possible way they could contribute to making this a success. Particularly, suggesting themes and topics, identifying speakers and resource persons, and pursuing with the resource persons to ensure their participation. Also, where possible, volunteering to participate in the organizational aspects of the conference.
3. FNSt is supporting to build afresh a liberal youth movement - Liberal Youth Forum of India (LYF-India). IFAN meeting may be coordinated with the launch of LYF-India, and the core group of LYF-India members may be invited to participate in IFAN as observers, to explore another possible area of collaboration.
In the last two meetings of IFAN, we have worked to provide a structure and direction to the network. In last meeting, Alumni’s have also shared their area of interest and the area where they can promote liberal ideas. At the 2008 meeting, we could strive towards a few specific outputs. With this in mind, we may like to discuss the following objectives for the next IFAN meeting, which could be held in the first week of April 2008.
Objectives:
1. IFAN members discuss on activities how they would engage themselves in improving understanding of liberal ideas and promoting liberal values and also add value to members of the network.
Once common grounds are found, the members might break up in different working groups to explore in details the possible areas of cooperation, and the nature of that collaboration, with the aim of coming up with specific programme of activities from each of working groups.
2. FNSt is proposing a national Liberal Convention for later this year. And IFAN members may discuss the possible way they could contribute to making this a success. Particularly, suggesting themes and topics, identifying speakers and resource persons, and pursuing with the resource persons to ensure their participation. Also, where possible, volunteering to participate in the organizational aspects of the conference.
3. FNSt is supporting to build afresh a liberal youth movement - Liberal Youth Forum of India (LYF-India). IFAN meeting may be coordinated with the launch of LYF-India, and the core group of LYF-India members may be invited to participate in IFAN as observers, to explore another possible area of collaboration.
Regards,
Ashraf Ahmed Shaikh
National Coordinator
IFAN
IFAN MEET APRIL 2008.
- Dear IFAN Mmebers,
- I wish all of you a very haapy new year 2008.
- We are planning to have next IFAN Meeting in the first week of April 2008 with some new exciting ideas.
- Nupur would have sent you all the copy of agenda, we request you to give your comments and suggestion soon. This will enable us to decide the rest of the programme.
- Since this blog is made, inspite of repeated request our members are not contributing much on this. I know the potential of our members and their work. I therefore request all of you to share you synergies here so that we can be aware of your good work.
- You all are also requested to encourage and motivate other members too ,to use this blog and participate actively in the activities of our own IFAN.
- Hope to hear from you,
- Ashraf Ahmed Shaikh
- National Coordinator
- IFAN
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