Confronting Unethical Journalism

“In the beginning was “Malayala Manorama”, the leading daily of Kerala, renowned for spreading venomous propaganda. It churned the waters of Periyar vowing to demolish the Mullai Periyar dam, and fixed the spurious “time – bomb” in the minds of Keralalites, through its article entitled “Mulla Periyar is about to explode” (1978).  Then there came the “firmament in the midst of the waters” that ‘separated the people from people’.

The hoax bomb triggered off by “Malayala Manorama” ‘blossomed’ from the ‘auspicious’ counsel of the engineers of Kerala State Electricity Board. In the late 70s the Congress party in power, upset over the poor performance of the newly commissioned Idukki dam (1976) failing to achieve its hydro – power generation targets, sought the advice of the KSEB engineers. The idea of demolishing the Mullai Periyar dam to enable hydro – power production at Idukki was the ‘thought bud’ that ‘blossomed’ from this ‘think tank’.

Conspiring to demolish the dam, the Congress party led government came up with the ‘solution’ of sowing panic among the people about the impending disaster of the supposed “time-bomb”. It approached “Malayala Manorama” whose close ties with the party is well documented. The aforementioned article was published in its front page, followed suit by every single media outlet in Kerala. It also has to be mentioned in this context that in the recent spate of Kerala state sponsored bursts, the employees of Manorama with the blessings of its management, had organized a protest demanding the demolition of the dam.

Since then, conspicuously ignoring the ground fact that, the people of Kerala benefit from the agricultural produce of the southern districts of Tamil Nadu, dependent on the waters diverted through the Mullai Periyar dam, the Kerala media have resorted to spread a fear psychosis among the people of Kerala. “Malayala Manorama” is in the fore front of this campaign with its long established proclivity for unethical journalism.

It is to be further inquired why the successive governments of Kerala have tenaciously ignored the fact that, both the people of the adjunct states are beneficiaries of the dam. For the present moment, it has to be noted that, the Kerala governments’ principal concern is the production of hydro – power to meet the needs of the industrial units located down steam Periyar river, and Kerala chose its present disastrous path against the interests of its own people.

Academic researchers have long noted Kerala’s “power predicament” and have suggested the alternative path of “thermal energy” to meet the state’s electricity needs. But in spite of their futuristic predictions and cautions, the state’s policy makers are stuck up with the developmental path laid down during the final decades of the colonial rule.

The current stale mate which Kerala finds itself arise from this initial developmental path paving way for state sponsored immigration in the late 60s and the “remittance economy” of the 70s, finally taking chauvinist overtones in the recent violence unleashed on Tamils, with explicit instigation by the state agencies of the Kerala government irrespective of the parties.

The protest organized by the movement known by the appellation May 17 last Sunday, 8 January, 2012, at the “Chennai Book Fair” demanding the withdrawal of “Malayala Manorama” book stall, contrary to what is being projected in the mainstream media as “fascistic, undemocratic, etc., etc.,” was a democratic demand against unethical journalism which ultimately have led to the current impasse.

The mainstream media’s projection of the movement as a “fringe element” springing from extreme Tamil nationalistic prejudices is to turn blind eye to hard facts of the ground. Ignoring facts and projecting panic is analogous to the one who “heard the sound of thee in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked”.

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Let people decide for themselves if this is a peaceful democratic protest or fascistic arm twisting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4LEy7tq518

Filed under: Politics , malayala maronama, May 17, mullai periyar

Misrepresenting Periyar and his legacy

Questions can be raised either to put forward one’s own preconceived answers or problematize existing paradigms. The author of the article “Questioning Periyar’s legacy”(12.03.03) Mr. Ravikumar M.L.A has done it the former way and it has to be questioned in the latter manner.

Periyar

The author has been raising the same ‘questions’ ‘rigorously’ for the past six or some months in Tamil little magazines and has been refuted even by Ambedkarites (Dalit Murusu -March 2003). Now he has shifted his arena to the English readership.

The first question I would like to raise concerns about Periyar’s legacy. Can we take for granted the DMK and its offshoots as Periyar’s only legacy, if not at the minimal level – one of his legacies?

It’s an historical fact that Periyar vehemently negated the DMK from its inception and was criticizing the party, its leaders and their slogans to the end of his life. Even the famous ‘reconciliation’ with the ex-chief-ministers Messrs. C. N. Anna Durai and M. Karunanidhi was never without reservations and Periyar never hesitated to criticize them even in their own platforms.

Periyar’s legacy cannot be circumscribed to the DK of Mr. K. Veeramani or DMK and its offshoots. There have always been internal struggles within DK after Periyar’s demise and one of the first persons to pursue a different line was the veteran Periyarist Mr. Anaimuthu. In the early 80′s a considerable number of rigorous youth formed themselves in a loosely knit readers’ circle called “Periyar Maiyam” and tried to grapple with the contemporary issues in the light of Periyar’s teachings.

By the early 90′s the Tamil theoretical journal “Nirapirihai” initiated a radical rethinking of Periyar, of which the author himself was a part and about which he is now silent. Of late we see the “Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam” upholding Periyar with its own reinterpretations. This is a minimal history of Periyar’s legacy.

The second question is regarding the misinterpretation of Periyar’s view on minorities. The author, if not deliberately, is (mis) interpreting Periyar’s view of majority/minority from within the academic nomenclature-majority Hindus and minority Muslims. But for Periyar, who fortunately was not an academic and was not brought up in the breed of ‘historiography’ which the author promotes, the minorities were ever brahmins. He often referred to them sarcastically as 3 1/8 percent populace.

As for his criticism of Muslims, even quoting from the same article the author quotes, his attack was on their not “doing any coolie work or labor that involves the flexing of bodies, do not let our gaze fall on their women…” In other words, it was targeted on their elitism and patriarchal relations within the community. And it was not as a ‘counter-shock’ that Periyar suggested conversion to Islam. His statements are categorical regarding this problem: “Conversion to Islam is liberation from caste system.”(Periyar EVR Sinthanaigal,Vol I Izhivu Neenga Oru Marundhu, pgs:27-34.)

Periyar’s approach towards Dalits was never antagonistic or casteist. He was the only leader in the history of Tamil Nadu politics who consistently stood by them and the first to mass-mobilize them. His whole approach towards them is summed up in his declaration, “Only if the socially stigmatizing appellation of pariah is dissolved, can you people free yourselves the shackle of sudra appellation.” Again, it is an irrefutable historical fact that Periyar’s split from “Justice Party” precipitated on the issue of Dalits and Dr. Ambedkar stood by his side.

Finally, if one can charge Periyar for everything the ‘legacy’ the author fixes, would it not be equally absurd like blaming Dr. Ambedkar for the alliance Ms. Mayawathi forged with the BJP at the height of Gujarat massacres?

Note: This article was written in response to the center page article referred above in “The New Indian Express”. 

Filed under: Politics , durai, english readership, little magazines, m karunanidhi, problematize, theoretical journal

Death of a Salesman – Jyoti Basu

January 19, 2010 truthdive.com

“Outside the hall there were members of an organisation called the Indian Progressive Study Group. They were handing out free pamphlets with a bold front page slogan bannered in red exhorting readers to: Expose and denounce the crime steeped lackey Jyoti Basu enemy of the Indian people. The pamphlet itself was packed with the sort of rhetoric that the unconverted seldom bother to read. Couched in almost tantric tantrums of blood and fire, it denounced Basu personally, the CPI(M) collectively, put in a plug for Charu Mazumdar and ended with the prediction that “Jyoti Basu and his masters will be burnt to ashes in the raging flames of the Naxalbari struggle”.

The above quote is from an article written in the August 23, 1972 issue of Economic and Political Weekly, “Jyoti Basu Goes West” by Farrukh Dhondy. The subaltern sections in South India have a unique tradition of ‘judging’ a person’s life in his death bed. Mourning the death of a person, they list down each and every deed and misdeed of the person and pass the verdict whether the person in question will end up in heaven or hell. The tradition is steeped in the culture to the extent that at times it manifests in the political unconscious of the politically conscious radicals and I have to confess am no exception (though I defer the label ‘radical’).

I had to choose the quote above, to bring to attention an important episode in the career of the late ‘veteran communist’ and former Chief Minister of West Bengal, ‘Comrade’ Jyoti Basu, which the media, in its euphoria to pay homage to the deceased, had ‘unconsciously’ thrust deep into the recesses of the collective memory: the custodial death of Charu Mazumdar, the founder – leader of CPI (M-L), during the tenure of Mr. Jyoti Basu as the Deputy Chief Minister also in charge of the Home ministry. It was in reaction to the cruel murder of their leader, who inspired the youth across the country, the study group mentioned in the above article chanted their ‘tantric tantrums’.

No one can adhere to the un-political politics laid down by Charu Mazumdar, which in the words of Lenin can be denounced as a sort of “infantile disorder”. But his unwavering commitment to the liberation of the oppressed masses deserves veneration beyond words. It was this Charu Mazumdar and young students in thousands who were inspired by his call to revolution, that were murdered cold bloodedly in every nook and corner of West Bengal, again I would like to emphasize – during the tenure of Jyoti Basu as Home Minister and Deputy Chief Minister.

It has to be remembered that Jyoti Basu emerged as a powerful player in the political field of West Bengal treading a ruthless blood path. It has to be reminded so that the memories of those who sacrificed their lives for the well being of the toiling masses kept alive, in the spirit of the writer Mahasweta Devi.

It also has to be reminded at this juncture that Jyoti Basu was not as much of a venerable person holding uncompromising values, as the media in its euphoria and selective amnesia is projecting sky high. The Left Front’s regime under ‘comrade’ Jyoti Basu, was accused of many scams involving his son Chandan Basu. The Bengal Lamps scam, the Salt Lake land scam, the SUV car scams are just a few to mention.

But, the scam that never surfaced, the one which ended in the Nandigram episode is nothing else than the CPI (M)’s much touted land reforms. As many academic researchers have come to note recently, the land reform in Bengal was hopelessly unequal during Basu’s tenure. In practice, the land distribution was mediated by the grass root cadres of the CPI(M). The beneficiaries were granted land on the condition that they owe their political allegiance to the party if not active participation. This gradually evolved to a covet form of land grabbing by the cadres themselves from the rural and tribal masses finally leading to the blood bath in Nandigram.

In short, Jyoti Basu’s career began with a blood bath of the youth and paved way for a massacre in Nandigram. One has to give the credit that Jyoti Basu was a master wielder of the reins of power, a supreme bureaucrat who apportioned the lands of the masses, with the perspicacity of a technocrat.

Filed under: Politics

Communist Party of India (Manuwadi) – CPI(M)

January 19, 2010 truthdive.com

Champions of secularism, vanguards in the struggle against communalism, vehement crusaders (note: no jihadis) fighting America’s nuclear deal, uncompromising patriots – this is the self image that the CPI(M) often projects about itself in its political rhetoric. But, in spite of such proclamations, when it comes to core issues of democracy, the party has time and again proved itself that its policy and practice does not differ much from the Hindutva brigade, perhaps even worse.

Saffron Sickle

The recent verdict of the Kerala High Court upholding the state government’s order providing reservation for financially backward students of forward communities for UG and PG courses in government educational institutions has brought to light once again the CPM’s policy towards reservation. The significant point here is that, the CPM has proved it has the guts to pursue what even the Congress or the BJP would hesitate and pursue carefully by creating a consensus through propaganda and persuasion.

One might contend that the CPM’s policy towards reservation is its Achilles heel, and does not at all compromise the party’s struggle against the Hindutva brigade, which is of extreme significance. But two seemingly unconnected ‘minor incidents’ suggest otherwise.

The first one: the recent amendment to the West Bengal Special Marriage Act and West Bengal Hindu Marriage Act made by the Left Front government headed by the CPM in its bastion. The law would make it mandatory that couples’ parents or legal guardians be informed before the marriages are solemnized. From now on, couples who fall in love and wish to marry on their own will have to submit their recent photographs, documents verifying residential address, names and other details of parents or legal guardians!

Contrast this with the Hindutva brigade’s tirade against lovers and Valentine Day celebrations in Bangalore, Mumbai and other cities. The Hindutva hooligans’ violence was directed against such couples forcing them to tie the knot at the spot. To put it in simple terms even the Hindutva brigade is not against love marriages (the brigade might refer to “kandharva vivaha” from the epics). They did not coerce the couples to get their parent’s permission. But the “red brigade” makes it mandatory by law!

The second one relates to another ‘minor mishap’ that happened down south, in Kerala. Paul Zacharia, Kerala’s most noted contemporary short story writer and novelist was beaten up by a six member-gang belonging to Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the CPI (M)’s youth wing on the streets on January 9.

The gang’s attack was provoked by a speech the author had made a day before, criticizing the government led by the CPM in relation to a ’sex scandal’. The incident relates to the CPM cadres’ moral policing action, moving bluntly into the house of a woman at midnight over camera, with whom a Congress leader was found in an ‘objectionable state’. The same “red brigade” which condemned the “saffron brigade” vociferously, for its attack on the renowned artist MF Husain, in the north, is in the forefront in the south, leading an attack on a renowned author, just for his critical remarks.

Some might wonder what sort of paradox is this. But, here down south in Tamil Nadu, among radical political circles, the common talk that goes around is this: “when the red fades, it is saffron”.

Filed under: Politics

War crimes turned to war games in the Sri Lankan election campaign

January 9, 2010 truthdive.com

Sri Lanka has once again come under international pressure to submit to a war crimes investigation in the wake of United Nations authenticating the video showing the brutal murder of prisoners by the Sri Lankan troops last year. Earlier, mid – December, the British daily The Times confirmed the video authentic, after an analysis by Grant Fredericks, an independent forensic video specialist who is also an instructor at the FBI National Academy. The issue is now a hot topic’ within Sri Lanka, with the opposition common candidate, General (Retd) Sarath Fonseka charging the government openly, of ordering the killing of surrendering top LTTE leaders. The pressure on the Sri Lankan government is on two fronts – international and national.

Sarath Fonseka

The response of the ruling regime in Sri Lanka on both fronts is unabashedly confrontational denying out-and-out that no such crimes were committed. More to it, the Sri Lankan government seems to have been successful to a considerable extent in turning the table in the home front, charging the former general as a traitor. To phrase it differently, the ruling party is on the offensive by setting the terms of debate – who won the war, the President or the General – claiming that it was the President.

On the international front too, the Sri Lankan government has made clear to the UN and the powers pushing it, that it has no intention of submitting itself for any kind of intervention. And here again, the response of the Sri Lankan government has been one of outright belligerence and arrogance. The Sri Lankan human rights minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, in response to the UN human rights envoy Philip Altson, who confirmed the authenticity of the video footage on Thursday, has charged back stating that, “Philip Atson is on a crusade of his own to force an international (war crimes) inquiry against Sri Lanka.”

Mahinda Rajapakse

The same belligerent response came from Sri Lanka’s foreign minister Rohitha Bogollagama, three weeks back, when Mr. Altson raised the issue of war crime investigations. The minister charged the UN official of meddling with the internal affairs of the country, pointing out to the “deliberate timing to coincide with the current sensitive phase of national elections”.

The sad thing about these whole series of charges and counter charges on both fronts is that all the parties involved have pushed issue of the rehabilitation of the languishing Tamils who are still herded in despicable conditions within the inhuman internment camps in the North. The whole issue is in oblivion. The UN and most of the ‘international actors’ it seems, are in tacit agreement with the Sri Lankan government that it is a ’settled’ issue. All parties have taken for granted that the inhuman treatment and torture of those in internment camps are a fact of life and the sufferers have to endure if they have to survive as bare humans.

It is in such circumstances that initiatives by independent groups out of the pale of the mainstream assume significance for their un-daunting efforts to bring the culprits of crime to justice. The recent announcement of the “Irish Forum for Peace” on Sri Lanka to hold a People’s Tribunal on the war in Sri Lanka in Dublin in January 2010, to investigate the war crimes of the Sri Lankan government during the final phase of the war, assumes extreme significance in the background of the failure of the tainted ‘angels’ of peace.

It is worth mentioning here that the “Permanent People’s Tribunal” that is to conduct the investigations on Sri Lanka, was instrumental in examining the cases of Tibet, Western Sahara, Argentina, Eritrea, the Philippines, El Salvador, Afghanistan, East Timor, Zaire, Guatemala, the Armenian Genocide, the intervention of the United States in Nicaragua, the Brazilian Amazon, and many other countries.

Filed under: Politics

Media India grabbing on Australian stabbings!

January 5, 2010 truthdive.com

The stabbing and subsequent death of 21 year old Indian student Nitin Garg, in Australia has again provoked hues and cries, raising the specter of racism from the Indian media. The minister of External Affairs S M Krishna was quick to issue a statement to the effect of reprimanding the Australian authorities of the “deep anger” caused by such incidents and the “bearings” they could have on bilateral ties – as quoted in the media.

Nitin Garg

The immediate rebuttal from the Australian side terming the attack “vicious” but too premature to decide if it were “racist” too was quoted but not much attention or caution seems to have been heeded to it. It is assumed tout court that the Australians 100 percent are racists. After all, the Indian audiences have been witness to more than one instance of unruly behavior by the Aussie cricketers in our pitches.

No doubt, racisms of all sorts, wherever it happens, have to be condemned unconditionally. But, do the opinion makers of the Indian subcontinent – the media, the elite, the political commentators have ever stood up to such high moral grounds?

Let me try to recollect a few instances.

1. The ODI series between the West Indies and Indian cricket teams in 2002-03. I hope a few might remember that the series was marred by instances of audience hooliganism in more than one venue. Of particular significance was the incident of “bottle throwing” that happened in Rajkot on 12th November. Significant since it was apparent that the Indian side would emerge as the winning team. Neither the media nor our diplomats hyped on the incident, and it was not discussed with due attention with the exception of one singular commentary, but in the recesses of the “sports column”. The article written in the November 23 – December 06, 2002 issue of “Frontline” (available here) is worth quoting in length, since it throws light upon some less known facts about the racism prevalent among the Indian audience some decades back in time:

More disturbing is the trend of behaviour towards black cricketers who visit India. The West Indies suffered unruly Indian crowd behavior as early as 1967, when a police attack and subsequent mismanagement by local administrators led to the interruption of the Calcutta Test. In January 1975, a pitch invasion and subsequent riots in the final Test at Bombay resulted in the loss of 90 minutes of play. Even during their 1994 tour of India, there were widespread complaints from the Windies players about instances of stones, bottles and fruits being thrown at them. Courtney Walsh was struck by a glass bottle in a ODI at Kanpur on that tour. Statements from the West Indies players such as “we are not animals” should really make Indians hang their heads in shame. One uncomfortable question begs to be asked: Is there not a racist angle in the abuse of West Indian players?

Let’s leave the question open for the readers to ponder over it for themselves.

2. Coming back to the future, when the first flurry of whining about the racism of “White Australia” began to flow through the pages of the media since May 2009, a few alternate viewpoints raised by some Indians residing in Australia were swept “down under” in the typical Indian fashion. In spite of that, those views are still relevant and needs studied thinking. Here is Abhijeet Satapathy (http://abhijeets.blogspot.com/2009/05/racism-and-multiculturalism-conflicting.html), an engineering student’s reflections on his experience with Australians to the ‘core’:

My work here in Australia working at mine sites leads me a lot more into country Australia rather than Sydney.… Singleton, the town where I currently reside is a majority Anglo-Saxon based populace with a virtually non-existent expat Indian presence.… As a result, everyone I meet here and most of my “mates” here are white. So do I get the usual racial taunts because here it is just me against ‘em. The answer is a resounding NO…. These people are obviously ignorant about Indian customs but not once do I hear a sneer or derisive comment about these being weird or antiquated. In fact they relish a conversation as they learn more about India. And I am only more than happy to help. Are these country towns multicultural? No. But are they racist? No again.

Allowing the possibility that some might rebuff it as an isolated experience, I would like to bring to attention a more studied observation by another student. (http://www.somethingaboutthelaw.com/2009/06/02/attacks-on-indians-reflections-from-australia/) Ms Amrita Khemka who was in Australia in 2009, on a student exchange program with the University of New South Wales, after listening to the opinions of students from diverse backgrounds concluded that,

From what I understood after listening to the views from people living here, the situation is one that merits immediate attention; Indians are victims most of time mainly because they are scared to report to the police. Even when there has been complains to the police there is no immediate action.

Having said that, I do not agree with the way the Indian media has been portraying the entire matter. This is a sensitive issue and the way it is being dealt in India will definitely affect Indians living in Australia as well. I agree that the there is need for curative steps, but response must be measured and not taken in haste.

Incidentally, except one of her interviewee most do not concur with the opinion that “all Australians are racists”, and most of them express concern over the sensational hype in Indian media over the whole issue. And it is important to note that two of them raise the question “do we Indians have any moral grounds to charge other cultures of discrimination”.

This brings us the next point which I wish to raise.

3. In October 2009, the UNHRC decided to declare discrimination based on caste in its list of human rights abuses. Much to the surprise of many observers the govt. of Nepal accepted the move by UNHRC while the Indian diplomats lobbied to their utmost capabilities to remove the word “caste” from its draft. These are well known facts and it did get some good coverage in the media. But did we get as much “hue and cry” as in the case of the innocent Indians stabbed in some far off land, suffering racial discrimination in some white man’s land – Australia? Did the media rise up on its heels to analyze the issue with an open mind, let alone condemn the Indian government’s bashful approach framing it “as international meddling in internal affairs”? Any concerted effort on the part of any media group to stand up against such a policy?

Blink! Blink! Just don’t think! That’s the attitude of most of the ‘responsible’ media in India.

No point in raising all these questions to the ‘independent and responsible’ media. No way that an ordinary citizen can opine on issues crucial to the society. Better be dumb and numb. That’s what seems the ‘best way of life’ these days.

Set not to think, I had no other option than to settle with the best one at such circumstances – the idiot box, to relax or better to numb my already numbed senses.

Browsing through the channels finally settling down on channel Pogo, I had the misfortune of watching this disgusting cartoon series titled “The New Adventures of Hanuman”. The routine of the little hero Maruthi in the series is to fight evil forces, as can be expected in all sorts of moralistic adventure stories. But in this particular series imagine who turns up evil. Well, it’s China! The character personifying evil, is a lizard (mini – dragon?) which has the powers to take on any form it wishes, and curiously it takes the form of a Chinese boy and tries to steal Indian treasures.

Now, this is how the media injects slow poison into the veins of our young saplings. This was how, as I now recollect, that our own generation were fed with by Amar Chitra Kathas in our ‘good old times’. And this is how our media is trashing our minds.

Filed under: Politics

Agriculture turns ‘exotic’ with science

January 8, 2010 truthdive.com

Note: This “story” – as its is called in journalistic jargon – was ‘covered’ for “Dainik Bhaskar” the No. 1 Hindi Daily in the North Western states. It is published here with permission from “Dainik Bhaskar”. The Hindi version of the article can be read here: page 17, Jaipur e-paper edition, Jan 8, 2010.

The IIT educated mechanical engineer turned “farmer” is a sensation in the surroundings of Padappai, a small town 40 km from Chennai. R. Madhavan who quit his job with ONGC to pursue his passion – agriculture, is of the firm opinion that India could attain self – sufficiency in agricultural production provided we resort to scientifically proven methods.

Mr. Madhavan in his experimental farm

The first step to scientific cultivation is soil analysis he recommends. Ascertain the properties of the soil, add proper fertilizing elements in the right proportion and other things fall in place is his formula. Indeed it did work out miracles. Farmers in and around Kancheepuram, Thiruvalluvar and Perambalur districts are now cultivating broccoli, tim tomatoes, asparagus, red and yellow pepper and such exotic vegetables, which until now were thought could only be cultivated in cold climates.

Imparting scientific knowledge on agriculture, Madhavan often visits the local farmers practically infusing confidence in them about the new practices. He recommends a 3 month rotational cultivation, with paddy in monsoon, vegetables in winter and pulses or oil seeds in autumn. The average yield per acre through the existing practices was 250 kg per acre, but Madhavan assures them of 700 – 800 kgs per acre through scientific farming. Those who dared to try out his methods are now earning more than Rs. 50,000 per annum against Rs. 6,000 in the past.

“When I visit these villages I see most children suffering from malnutrition. Some statistics say that 49 % of our child population below the normal nutrition levels. This is absurd considering how rich we are in resources,” anguishes Madhavan. One can sense the determination in his voice to put an end to such dismal conditions.

To the question on how he intends to market his exotic products he replied, “We cannot afford to export and should not until we make food cheaper in India (nutritionally). Once our demand is met we have the potential for feeding the world.” Madhavan is set on improving the conditions of our rural masses and certainly has no personal inclinations to become a future entrepreneur.

However, when asked about what goal he has set himself for the coming decade he explained his target in clear terms. “Agriculture must become like any other industry. Only then can we achieve self – sufficient productivity levels. Scientific methods of agriculture can be more formalized when agriculture develops as an industry. For that we have to convince entrepreneurs to invest in agriculture. We have to prove them that agriculture is a profitable area to invest. I have talked to a few entrepreneurs through my friends who were interested in my work. As a start I am on the lookout for concerned NGO’s who are willing to collaborate with me in imparting training to the farmers and future entrepreneurs.”

Agriculture achieving the levels of industry is a big dream indeed. But one that our policy makers, and planners must give heed seriously if their real focus is on the rural masses.

Filed under: Science & Technology