Playing With Numbers: Suicides Among farmers In India

The single most frequently used tool by our media to prove a point is sensationalism. Pick up a story or a fact, knead it, buttress it, bake it until it rises up to occupy a volume much greater than the original. Let us take the example of farmer suicides which for most newspapers is damning proof of the government’s failure to provide for them.

When a headline screams: Gujarat Police admit 366 farmers’ suicides; the obvious reaction is one of dismay at the government’s apathy towards its citizens. After reading that headline most people would dismiss it with a weary sigh. But if you are one of the few who do make the effort to read it, then you come to know something totally contrary to your pre conceived notions: Only 16 of these have been classified as having committed suicide over crop failure or financial reasons.

“Government figures!” you scream. They certainly have an incentive to under report suicide figures, but even if the real figures came out, I doubt if they will be earth shatteringly terrible.

There are two myths that are repeated in all these farmers and suicides stories:

1. A huge number of farmers commit suicide. Not so. Approximately 50% of India’s populace is involved in agriculture, its obvious to expect the suicide rates to be heavily skewed towards farmers. But a look at this Chart proves that this is clearly not the case:

2. Almost all farmers take their lives for financial reasons. Probably false again. Let us have a look at the major reasons for suicide:

• Family conflicts, domestic violence, academic failures, and unfulfilled romantic ideals.
• Voracious appetite for high-end consumer goods spurred by moneylenders and hire-purchase schemes.
• The wide gap between people's aspirations and actual capabilities.
• The disintegration of traditional social support mechanisms as was prevalent in joint families.Emergence of a trend towards nuclear families, alcohol abuse, financial instability and family dysfunction.
• A growing population of the aged.
• Failure of crops, huge debt burdens, growing costs of cultivation, and shrinking yield. [Link]
  

Aren't there equal chances of a farmer taking his own life for any of the reasons mentioned above? Then why should it be the financial reason alone?

This article is not an attempt to state that farmers are well off and that they do not need any assistance. I am just trying to prove that suicides rates are one of the worst metrics for an analysis of their situation.

(The image is via Maithri)

To Genius

I doubt if better passwords would have helped stopp the hacker who published a list of 100 email accounts - along with the passwords - of government establishments. But the situation does seem appalling when the usernames are much more difficult to guess than the passwords. No? A few samples:

Username: commercial@indembassy.be
Password: india01

Username: mis
Password: misadmin

Username: amb@indianembassy.org.cn
Password: 1234

Username: rb1002p1
Password: consind1

Username: amb@indianembassy.org
Password: 1234

Username: jpsingh@drdo.com
Password: password+1

Unbelievably the Indian embassies in China and the US use the same password: 1234. Sad.

(Original story via The Indian Express.)

Not Alone

Moral policing in India incites emotions ranging from bewilderment to disgust. At times, even jealousy at the relative freedom that the citizens of the west enjoy. No more. Proof that human insanity is distributed equally all over the globe:

Atlanta considers banning baggy pants: Convinced that sagging pants are an "epidemic" that is becoming a "major concern" around the country, city councilman C.T. Martin has sponsored this rather absurd legislation. Apart from boxer shorts and thongs, bra straps will probably be banned too. Violation ofany of these laws will result in strict fines. Apparently they are not the first to think up something like this:

Earlier this year, the town council in Delcambre, La., passed an ordinance that carries a fine of up to $500 or six months in jail for exposing underwear in public. Several other municipalities and parish governments in Louisiana have enacted similar laws in recent months.

Feel free to sell guns, but dildos? Never.: Blowing up people's heads may be a pretty reasonable thing to do, but a blowjob? Good God No.

And its not just evil dirty dildos that these paternalistic lawmakers have saved the state from, they have banned casinos, lotteries and betting parlours too. Utopia, no?

(Stories via digg)

Touch Me Not

On the 15th, Anwar Jahan Zuberi, VC of Calicut University, hoisted the national flag at the University Administrative Block. But something was amiss: the tri colour was the wrong way up. This error can result in two scenarios:

1. Fiction: An embarrassed  VC orders the flag to be hoisted as it should be. Followed by a little apology to all present for the goof up. The end.
2. Reality: The mistake is noted, the corrections are made. The end? Not so. The members of the Kerala Students Union see an opportunity to add a political twist to the proceedings. A complaint is promptly registered and the police file a case against the authorities under the absurd Prevention of Insult to National Honour Act. Not to be outdone, the Muslim Youth league shoots of a letter to the Governor demanding action against the University Registrar.
   

Another opportunity to practice our very own desi brand of patriotism. As matters of real importance very rarely penetrate the formidable walls of our collective apathy, we assuage our consciences by protecting and nurturing meaningless symbols and irrelevant customs. Why? Because they conveniently allow us to pretend to do something while doing nothing.

(Source: Hindustan Times)

Election Reforms: A Few Random Thoughts

The word democracy conjures up visions of a government run by representatives who enjoy the support of the majority. Lets have a look at the situation in India. The voter turnout in most elections is close to the 60% mark. And even these votes are distributed among a large number of parties. The result is a surprisingly low percentage of votes for the person who is eventually elected. How low exactly? Here is the shocker:

99 per cent of members of legislatures have got in with a minority vote, 60 per cent of them with a minority of less than 30 per cent.
-Arun Shourie in The Parliamentary System.

30% of the votes out of 60% that voted constitutes a majority? I don't think so.

Is there a way out? As long as we allow our votes to be divided among parties which have nothing to separate them except their casteist or communalist affiliations, it is highly improbable. While we can't take away people's freedom to form political parties or their right to vote for people that they want to, the situation is not hopeless.

One of the best things that we can do would be to make voting compulsory.Why? The advantages are twofold:

• 40% of the populace can skew the results to a very large extent. Compulsory voting will ensure that we get a more accurate view about what the public's opinion really is.
• Moreover i believe that this will help reduce casteism and communalism in politics. How? Consider the Yadav who wants somebody from his caste to rule the state: He will go out and make sure that he votes for that person, the RSS fanatic will make sure that he votes for Shiv Sena, similarly the disillusioned Dalit will probably go out and vote for the BSP; it is the person who has no such explicit desires who is least likely to take the trouble to vote. This particular voter is also most likely to vote on economic issues because as we have seen earlier he has no other ulterior motives.

Now to the all important question. Why do we need to make voting compulsory? Why do we need to force people to do some thing that's for their own good? I suspect that the answer to this question for a very large number of people would be disillusionment with the political process. They believe that every single politician is a lout and is not worthy of being elected. Which brings us to the even more important question: Why don't we have the choice to express that during the elections? Why can't we vote for nobody? It's high time that the negative vote was an option, ideally with an accompanying legislation to the effect that if the majority votes negative then that particular constituency should have elections again.

Any suggestions would be most welcome. If i find them good enough then chances are that I will incorporate them in my post.

The NDA Was Better

At least they knew how to name themselves. They were everything they said they were.

• National: Hell, they ruled over the whole country.Thats national right?
• Democratic: A perpetual reminder of the fact that the reason for all your misery is well, You.
• Alliance: Well they were allied in the common cause of draining whatever patience was left in you.

Now sample the UPA:

• United: Pah
• Progressive: You didn't expect that did you?
• Alliance: Ya maybe. Power lust may still help them get through the five years.
  

A Myth? Look Around You

The Organiser apparently feels that the Sachar Committee's report - that showed the extent to which Muslims were under represented in various sectors - is all wrong. How did they come to that conclusion? Well its easy to come to any conclusion if you decide to leave your brains at home while writing an article. And thats precisely what the writer of this piece has done.

Lets go over his arguments:

The committee does not take into account the data from Kashmir, (hold on to your bellies) Pakistan and Bangladesh. Why you ask should data from Pakistan and Bangladesh be considered? Because according to the all knowing author, Muslims count them as one single entity across countries and their apparent backwardness in India should be seen against their prosperity in other countries with a Muslim majority. Now this is about as illogical as it gets. The question that we are facing is why is a particular religious community suffering from under representation in almost all sectors except jails. Its not about whether Muslims in any other country or even some state that are better off. Just because the Muslim is better off in some places, it is not an excuse to let him remain backward in others.

Top political posts in the country such as that of the President, Prime Minister and Army Chief are held by minorities. So what? The Sachar committee's report is not about Muslims occupying the top posts of the country but about their vast under representation in almost all sectors where a 'normal' man may work. Its very imperative for political parties to put in minorities at the top posts in the country as they have to project their 'secular' image. This concern does not extend to the common Muslim and consequently he suffers.

There is no substance in the argument that the Muslim is not under represented. The question is how we are going to address this inequity.

Mandatory HIV Tests

Well every now and then the governments that rule us seem to forget that we live in a free country. They seem to be blissfully unaware of the fact that its for the individual to decide how to run his/her life.

A recent decision by the Andhra Pradesh government to makes it mandatory for couples to undergo an HIV test before getting married. On the surface this looks like a very good idea but it really is a most stupid one. Just because the government cannot educate people to make this choice for themselves they are forcing it upon them. 'So what?' you say, it will at least help to curb the spread of the disease. Oh yeah? Tell me how difficult it will be to get a forged certificate? As easy as pulling those crisp hundred rupee notes into eager hands.

Even the UN has opposed mandatory testing as this will only help corruption to spread its tentacles a bit wider. It certainly wont do anything for the checking the spread of the disease.

So whats the way out? Its education. I don't see any shortcuts. Its much more sane if the bride or groom demands for a test before marriage rather than the government trying to force the test on us.

I hate cheesy quotes like 'Prevention is better than cure' but its the only one I can think of now. Rather than trying to force people into doing something, its much better to educate them so that such autocratic laws will never be necessary.

Elephants = Humans

Apparently the Motor Accidents Claims tribunal in India feels that the lives of humans are equal to the lives of humans. In this bizarre ruling, which was based on a complaint by an elephant rider (mahout) whose 35 year old elephant, Babli had died when a Jeep containing British tourists had rammed into it in 1988. The tribunal awarded the mahout $13,474 as compensation.


And if you are wondering why, the tribunal's answer is that it was at par with humans because it obeyed commands, performed tricks and was the main breadwinner for the family.

Ah, finally i know what it takes to be a human.

Story from Times Online.

Loads of smoke, Little fire

“As further clarified in the section-by-section analysis included in this report, the conferees believe that there should be no ambiguity regarding the legal and policy consequences of any future Indian test of a nuclear explosive device. In that event, the president must terminate all export and re-export of US-origin nuclear materials, nuclear equipment, and sensitive nuclear technology to India. The conferees expect the president to make full and immediate use of US rights to demand the return of all nuclear-related items, materials, and sensitive nuclear technology that have been exported or re-exported to India if India were to test or detonate, or otherwise cause the test or detonation of, a nuclear explosive device for any reason, including such instances in which India describes its actions as being ‘for peaceful purpose.’

This statement in the Act will trouble almost anybody who reads it and rightly so. It seems like an all out attack on India's sovereignty. But what we fail to consider is the fact that even President Bush has gone on to state that most of the parts of the act are like suggestions more than rules. The sections that India is most worried about, may not be binding on us. But then there is the all to obvious question, but who is to stop any future President from stopping trade with our country if we test a Nuclear bomb? Well my answer is based on an assumption, but i feel that it is a fairly safe one. Once nuclear co operation starts between the two countries, we can expect many American companies working on nuclear energy to invest here. Any sanctions against India will them. But why just nuclear energy? Considering the pace at which India is growing, lots of American MNCs are gonna increase their investments in India. And in my opinion the powerful lobbies that these businesses control in Washington should stop the US from imposing sanctions. And on top of that all, we are emerging as the one of the most powerful countries in the world, to consider that we wont have any bargaining power with the US is childish in its extreme.

Lalu Yaadav As PM: May Not Be Such A Bad Idea

Before you think that your fears about the Blogosphere's sanity are confirmed and before you drag your mouse to the close button of your browser; take a second to go through this post. The first question that we need to ask ourselves is: what is it about Lalu that revolts us? Why is it so difficult to imagine that he could one day be our Prime Minister and even if we imagine it, why are the visions that accompany it so apocalyptic?

Largely it has to do with his performance in Bihar. His deliberate ploy to make sure that Bihar never developed. His plan to make sure that whatever happened, the caste divisions should survive. All this is reason enough to make him a subject for our nightmares when envisioning him as our PM. But what we need to understand in this context is that Lalu is not a man who is attached to a dogma. He is a shrewd politician who is smart enough to understand when an idea's life time has expired. He is smart enough to know that his policies which worked very well for him in Bihar will never work at an all India level. This is best exemplified by his role as the country's railway minister. He could very well have allowed it to languish and nobody would have been surprised but he did not do that, he brought back a certain feeling of optimism that yes maybe the Railways can still be saved. I personally perceive this as a step towards his often stated ambition of becoming the country's PM. If Lalu feels that development is the way to go, then its about the best thing that can happen.

There is a huge difference between some one like Manmohan Singh propagating the virtues of development as opposed to Lalu. Like it or not Lalu is one of the most powerful people on the Indian political scene. He is a mass leader and as the charisma to sell the idea to the people. For someone like Dr. Singh the only thing that earns him support from the people is the perception that he is an honest man, he doesn’t have the rustic appeal to connect with the masses. And at this juncture what we need is some one to convince the masses that development through free market policies is the best way forward and Lalu can fit into that role perfectly.

And if Lalu comes across as a supporter for privatization, globalization and a free market economy then it will help it to shed the elitist tag that hangs like an albatross across its neck.

Made My Day

We really need some people to stand up to politicians and take them on, especially among the beaureaucrats. So when the VC of Lucknow University announced that he was not interested in being a rubber stamp and was ready to take any action necessary to maintain law and order in the University even if it angered the political class I was really happy. The guy seems to have a sense of humour too. These are some of the quotes he gave:

He was born to a postmaster so he said that:

“Since my father lived with rubberstamps all his life, I knew its reality and perhaps that is the reason I refused to be a rubber stamp of the CM’’

And then this one:

“I know that Mulayam Singh Yadav is a very good administrator and he will not allow these criminals to be active in the city. He can reform them easily and channelise their energy somewhere else. Maybe in time, booth capturing.”

Elephantine Morality

I saw this queer little report in the Indian Express about an elephant named Laden which was given that title because of his habit of trampling over humans. While the article was good, what really amused me was this comment by Padma Hazarika, AGP MLA:

“It’s a loner and is not afraid of fire or crackers. It is different in behaviour as, unlike other elephants, it also kills women and children.”

Yup unlike other elephants this monstrosity has no particular pity for women and children. As if an elephant cares about stuff like that. And why women and children? Why are they spared by other elephants? I demand a law for equality in the matter of sex and age for the number of people killed by elephants. Maybe we can have the quota system there too.

Reservations For Muslims

When riots broke out in Mumbai a very curious incident happenned with me. When I received the news that the city may soon go up in flames, (sorry for the drama) I called up a certain friend of mine and what she said is rather telling of the common perception of Muslims. She apparently did not know how the riots had broken out but she was quick enough to say that she was scared as she lived in a place that was just a short distance from Mumbra, which she (not so) affectionately called Pakistan 2. No prizes for guessing why. She said that this was because it was the only place that had a non-muslim population of just 3%. She went on to add that all plans for bombings were hatched up there.

This incident may well mean nothing at all; but as far as I am concerned her attitude pretty much sums up the general mistrust towards the Muslims as a community. It is in this context that the governments recent initiative aiming to bring in quotas for Muslims should be seen. When a large number of people already are scared of them, any actions by the government - that seems to give them an unfair advantage - will most likely invite a violent reaction.

But you may argue that nobody is going around burning SCs, STs and OBCs. After all they are recipients of quotas too. But that is missing the point. At worst these classes are perceived as inferior in certain corners of the country, never as a threat. And when the governmemnt plays vote bank politics like this, it is giving much needed fodder to the saffron parties. For a long time they have not had enough effigies to burn, it would do us no good to give them humans instead.

Shahrukh Does Not Understand Politics

In todays newspaper I read that when Shahrukh was asked whether he was interested in being a politician he apparently replied that "I am too bloody good looking to be one." Now i dont want to comment on that coz i am afraid of all the tomatoes and belans that would be flung at me if i were to express my opinion.

What I wanted to point out was that a survey which was conducted yesterday by a leading newspaper concluded that about 65% said that good looks were impoprtant in politics. So obviously Shahrukh is not in touch with his fan base and the people he proposes to entertain. (wah wah they should give me a phd for my theories.)

But then you cant really blaim Shahrukh, the specimens that show up in the parliament are no advertisements of physical perfection. Hell, I am too lenient but its best that it stays that way.

Condoms Too Big For Most Indian Men

In what will undoubtedly turn out to be a major blow to the Indian male's psyche, I saw this report on yahoo news that the Indian male may not be as well endowed as his western counterparts. The institute surveyed 1,400 men and measured their sizes down to the last millimeter. It goes on to say that 60% of the men in Mumbai had their penises atleast one inch shorter than their international counterparts and about 30% had tools two inches shorter.

This apparently resulted in a 20% failure rate with condoms of the usual size. I did not understand this at first as condoms are supposed to be rolled down, so where did the question of size arise? The answer seems to be that condoms do not fit well enough and tear due to slippage.
I dont know how Indian men will take to this story. I am resting happily in the knowledge that Indian men are responsible for making India the second most populous country in the world so much about our abilities and as some smart ass commented: "Its not the size that matters but what you do with it."

And yeah do I expect the political parties to take any action on this? Yes of course my friend, expect this report to be banned for "attacks on the pride of our nation." Sorry for the PJ.

No New Ideas So Mandir Is Back

Well the BJP is out of ideas again. Since the last couple of years or so the BJP was a highly uncertain party with no apparent agenda at all. OK OK it did have an agenda and that was to oppose all the policies of the government which the left did not. But thats not what you would call an agenda is it? Thats more like a habit. Their hopes that the disjointed UPA would fall apart on its own have not materialized either. So what does the BJP think tank do? Stir up the good old gaumutra that it was made on. Yes my friends Ram Janmabhoomi is back again doing what it has always done best: Make a lot of noise.

What happened really was this: Apparently as an anniversary celebration the detractors of the Sangh Parivar decided to adjourn both houses of parliament. Nobody expected the saffron parties to make a lot of noise about it but they were mistaken.

Most of our politicians are illiterate and thats because of a very good reason: they were standing on their benches when the teacher was teaching. Demonstrating that they have not forgotten their school days, they stood up on their benches and shouted

Jai Shri Ram, Hum mandir wahin banayenge and Ram naam se sharmate, Afzal ko gale lagate.

All very dramatic. The female members of the Shiv Sena also had saffron scarves around their necks. The guys from the BJP had even brought placards to the party.

The implications for all this are very serious. Although the BJP claims that :“We want it built through peace and dialogue.” I am not very certain about their steadfastness to truth as far as this issue is concerned. Hopefully the vibrant economy, the feel good factor and simple good old boredom saves this country from another 1992.

Ban Orkut

Indian politicians who exploit their freedom of speech to the maximum shovelling whatever crap they want to down our throats have absolutely no problems when it comes to taking away that freedom from others.

This story in the Indian Express apparently reports that there are fan clubs for gangsters on Orkut. There are eight fan clubs devoted to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and one each dedicated to Chhota Rajan, Chhota Shakeel and Abu Salem on Orkut.com alone. Not a very healthy sign I understand but what is the reaction of the political class and the police? Start monitoring these communities. As if they had nothing better to do. They never cared about corruption or the loads of problems plaguing them but orkut par time pass karne ka mauka kaise chod sakte hain?

Himesh Asha and Burman: The Eternal Hate Triangle.

Asha Bhosle wants to slap Himesh now thats what I call a story. This scoop was sent by vyom. Apparently Himesh is rather defensive about people criticising his style of mooing (oops, freudian slip), singing style that seems more nasal than vocal. So when some reporters cornered him and asked him how he tackled charges that he was singing through his nose, Himesh shot back asking why R D Burman and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan were not troubled by the media? Asha was not pleased with what seemed like an attack on R D Burman and she retorted that anybody accusing Burman of nasal singing should be given one tight slap.

What i wonder is what is the problem if anyone wants to sing through his nose? I mean people do things much worse than that. And if a large number of people love Himesh's burping, farting or sneezing; why does he need to be defensive about it? Loves to be fodder for the media i guess. No other explanation.

Viewer , Voyeur does it really matter?

The good thing about reading the Indian Express is the number of good editorials that you get to read. So I was rather surprised when I saw this shoddy article on whether channels were promoting voyeurism. Not that I am a big fan of shows like Big Boss but neverthless it critices it using almost non existent points.

And just in case you dont know what the Big Boss is all about its a show based on the same format as the American Big Brother the difference being that we have celibrities instead of normal folks. These people stay together at one place and the camera captures all the ensuing drama and tension that is bound to arise.

Here is a sampler:

Celebrity culture is itself a turn-off. Now, their exhibitionism under the powerful glare of public gaze makes it repugnant. The camera has become privy to a seed-bed of base human emotions — intrigue, manipulation, embarrassment, depravity and so on — to quench the viewer’s thirst for such action. Is it not the same appetite that drives us towards gossip?

Now what can I say? Celebrity culture a turn off? For whom? Not for the millions who tune in to these shows everyday for the latest news about their favourite stars. Gossip a bad thing? Try and tell that to my sister or my female friends, then you will know about the reaction to such a statement. One of the problems that the writer of the article seems to have against the show is the fact that it is scripted reality. Now who has a problem with that? Not the tv channels if they rake in the moolah and definietly not the viewers who love these shows. She even tries to raise the issue of the privacy of the stars. When they have agreed to publically display their lives then who are we to judge whether it is an infringement of their privacy? She finishes of the article with an attack on popular culture which is supposedly anti-morality. Would just love to say that its not anti-morality, its just anti holier-than-thous like the writer of the piece.

Oh yeah and the most insane part of the article is where she pours scorn on people for voting for such shows and people not voting in elections. Just says how disillusioned people ae with the political system rather than any problem with their morality as the writer would like to believe.

Read the Express article here.