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
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
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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