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
Monday, March 31, 2008
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)