Sunday, December 30, 2012

Films sanctify pestering and talking of women


31 December 2012
Films sanctify pestering and talking of women

The ghastly assault and rape of female paramedic in Delhi has produced an avalanche of protest and comment on why we treat women so badly. But a major cause, the film industry, has hardly been mentioned. It has fostered thoroughly retrograde male attitudes that tare at least partly responsible.

Some feminists focus on the commodification of women in Bollywood’s “item numbers”, sex-laden dances by Isha Koppilar, Mallia Sherawat and others. Others highlight the popularity of rape scenes to titillate audiences. Old –time villain Ranjeet did close to 100 rape scenes, with the audience almost cheering him on.

I don’t see films in other India languages. Some say they are even cruder, so let’s not blame Bollywood along. I’m told such crudity doesn’t happen in big Bollywood films any more. Really? I saw Rockstar, in which Ranbir Kapoor forces his attentions on a girl, who initially resists but then asks him to take her to a raunchy film!

Let the last word come from somebody in the film business. “There are films in which romantic wooing has been replaced by a kind of harassment of the heroine. The heroes of these films could be considered stalkers in some civil societies. Now imagine that this actor is a role model to millions….wouldn’t his fans think this behaviour is okay? Now imagine that this actress is a role model to millions….what message does it send to women across the country?.”

(An extract of an article published in TOI dated 30 Dec. 2012
by Swaminathan S. Anklesaria Aiyar)


Comments and opinion:

This is one of the reasons for degradation of women’s status in India. The brutal rape of “Damini” on 16 Dec in Delhi has caused the biggest upheaval in the country. There are many other social evils in the society. We need to thoroughly examine such short comings in our “social structure and social behaviors and come out with long term measures to enhance women’s status and finally the women’s, security. 

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Fact File: FDI & The Politics


Fact File: FDI & The Politics                                                                                    10 Dec. 2012
All those who had opposed FDI in retail must now respect the verdict and move on

It has been one of the most divisive issues in recent times and one which brought Parliament to a standstill several times much to the dismay of the public. Now at last, one contentious issue has been resolved with the Lok Sabha vote going the government’s way with 253 voting against the BJP’s motion seeking the withdrawal of the government’s decision to have 51% FDI in multi-brand retail. There were 218 votes in favor of the motion in a House of 471. Of course, there was all the drama and emotion we have come to associate with debates on such controversial issues. But at least all sides were heard and a vote taken. The government had resisted the vote but finally gave in owing to persistent demands from the Opposition. Clearly the Congress has done its political management well. With the BSP and the SP walking out before the vote, the government sailed through.

The BJP certainly put up a good fight with the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, who moved the motion, making a fierce pitch against FDI in retail. But the BJP was always on somewhat shaky ground given that long ago and far away it had actually supported FDI in retail. In addition, its apprehensions that foreign companies coming into multi-brand retail will source their products from outside seem unfounded given past experience. But the more important point is that we have always demanded a level-playing field in international commerce and trade. Indian companies have taken over foreign businesses, the prominent among them being Jaguar Land Rover by the Tatas. Indians have taken over prized hotels and invested in several other areas abroad. The Indian economy is robust enough to withstand what many political parties seem to think is the ‘threat’ of FDI in retail. If they think that the Indian farmer is going to be ‘enslaved’, as one speaker put it, or will be driven out of business, we could well ask what out political worthies have done to make our agriculture more competitive and technologically efficient.

The arguments in favour of FDI in retail are far more persuasive than those against it. As one speaker put it, the decision can always be reversed if it is found that it is affecting local businesses and farmers in an adverse manner. Now that the vote is over, all parties must move forward and deal with the many legislation pending before Parliament. Enough time has been expended on this issue at the cost of other crucial matters which have a far more significant impact on the lives of millions of Indians. The commerce minister has said that this decision was taken after consulting all stakeholders. He has outlined the many benefits, including a drastic reduction in wastage of food that will accrue from this decision. Now that it has been decided upon in the august house, it is incumbent on those who were opposed to it to respect this. This would be true democracy in action.

Not only that some of the observations in the press our worth noting and referred to:

·        “Our opposition seem to have made a habit of “blind opposition”, to what our Govt wants to implement. When the leftist (Marxist) oppose they project as they are the biggest savior of the down trodden. When they support the project as they are the biggest revolutionaries.
·        The opposition does a misinformation campaign as when “Mal Mart” would come to India they would bring an army of white skinned people and take over the reins of India as the “East India Company” did.

Not telling the people.

(a)   They would make substantial investment 
(b)   This would generate a great deal of economic activity
(c)    New techniques and practices would fructify existing norms to modernity.
(d)   Healthy competition would bring   in better customer service. We have seen in Banking, Insurance, and in some selected consumer goods (Cars specially)
(e)   Shashi Shekhar says- “Politician by their utterances spread fear, lawlessness divisiveness just to derive political benefits.

Let us not forget the 1990-91when our economy was at-its worst. The preceding non congress govts (VP Singh, Charan Singh, and Chandra Shekhar) had pawned the country to the global markets, It was Dr. Manmohan singh with his astute economic vision put the country on the right path of liberalization and brought it parallelely to global economy. Opening up the “Retail” for FDI is a bold step and would yield handsome results.  






Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Anna, former Army chief launch joint attack on govt


Anna, former Army chief launch joint attack on govt                    
                                                                                                                07 Nov. 2012
Demand Parliament Be Dissolved; Hazare Backs Kejriwal

“A new set of parliamentarians is needed. Let election be held so that people can decide if they are satisfied,” said V K Singh. “As per our Constitution India is a welfare state in which a democratically elected government is duty-bound to protect and improve the life of the masses,” said Singh. “But the current system has completely ignored these principles and has surrendered to markets forces.”

“People are feeling oppressed due to these policies. MPs too have stopped raising the issues of ownership of water, forest and land in Parliament. Is it not necessary to determine who own the forest, water, minerals and land of this country? To facilitate them in taking this decision, it is imperative to dissolve this Parliament.” This government is looting the nation even more than the British did. It’s time we brought it down.

As reported in the media
Dear General VK Singh

As reported in the newspapers, your recent boldness to caste aspersions on the functional democratic system is atrocious in totality. Reflects your frustration and sense of defeat. You need to update your knowledge on two counts:

(a)   The “British Raj” of more than 150 years and their misdeeds you praised the British Govt indirectly.
(b)   What progress has India made during last 65 years (1947-2012)

You are ignorant and devoid of any rational thinking & reasoning. You claim to have fought wars, the only war you fought as COAS was for revision of your DOB . Which reflected only your personal interest to ten month additional service, and you wanted to set the hierarchical order of succession to the post of COAS to your “CHAMCHA’  pepk

Finally the highest court of the country “Supreme Court” Indicted you and you were made to shut up. You should praise the present democratically elected govt to complete your tenure (as COAS) and retire honorably which you didn’t deserve. You should have been sacked and dismissed from service as Admiral Bhagwat was dismissed and removed as CNS on 30 Dec 1998.

You have shamed the Indian Armed Forces in general and Indian Army a great deal in particular. These are the views expressed by serving and retired officers.

Latest news indicates that you have also decided to “Gherao” parliament in the immediate future. You will further ridicule yourself and put the Indian Armed Forces personnel to greater shame. We wish the almighty better sense should prevail in you.

Air Marshal Ashok Goel (Retd)

Kejriwal-The crusader and damaging


Chortle  ¼tksj ls ‘kCn djuk½ Kejriwal- Utopian & Cynical

“The uncompromising Kejriwal is on mission to end corruption do not extend beyond a magical ombudsman, a Lokpal. A recent caravan profile also suggests that he ignores advice from associates and tends to use people even crowd pullers Baba Ramdev & Anna Hazare. (Who had a public falling out with Kejriwal) The magazine quotes Ramdev’s aide Acharya Virendra Vikram, “He smartly used our platform and then turned his back at a crucial time”.
Samar Haliker
Kejriwal’s Hype is No Harbinger of Hope

“So trust him to continue to turn his press conferences into a kangaroo court where he can level wilder and wilder charges against powerful individuals and indict them with no opportunity to appeal to a higher authority. That is the chosen stratagem of a usurper. If, as a great French thinker, Benjamin Constant, wrote in a pamphlet published in 1814, ‘despotism banishes all forms of freedom, usurpation, in order to justify overturning what it then would replace, needs those forms; but in seizing them, it profanes them’. This is what Kejriwal has in fact done: with his moralizing zeal he has sought to delegitimize the system of governance as a whole. Sooner than later, this is bound to result either in anarchy or in the advent of a messianic leader who promises to impose a muscular regime in the republic. The way to nip this ominous development in the bud is for the political establishment to reassert its legitimacy with deeds, not words, to stem the rot in the system”.
Dileep Padgaonkar
Miss the Lokpal

With an institutional body to look into public impropriety in the cold storage, did we really expect everyone to keep quiet, asks

Couldn’t these charges of impropriety against individuals holding public office have been brought to notice and investigated by an institution rather than by a high-pitched individual? It is, after all, for strategic as well as functional reasons that institutions are preferred over individuals, however well-meaning and noble the latter may be. Now Kejriwal and his band of merry crusaders are convinced that Gadkari and his benefactors are guilty as charged. Their confidence in being right is understandable as they would be silly to make a half-hearted pitch. But being played out in the gamboling grounds of the media, especially in the ‘the-truth-will-return-after-a short-commercial-break’ television media, the invitation to take a leap of faith with IAC is as touching as it is pointless.
Indrajit Hazra
Comments

These are the views of three leading political commentators of the country. In a nutshell Kejriwal is Autocratic, Undemocratic, He thinks he is the only right person, He is choppy ¼njkjkas ls f?kjk gqvk½, Chortle ¼tksj ls ‘kCn djuk½ Clamorous ¼fpYykus okyk½  Media specially Electronic Media should get wiser and just ignore him.
As I was in the process of finalizing the write-up, Kejriwal exploded another IED on 31 Oct. This time on the firing line is Mukesh Ambani, the biggest corporate and the industrial house of the country, charge-nexus with the central Govts (NDA or UPA), having earned the contracts for oil exploration program in the country.
Kejriwal doesn’t appear to be in the know of high-tech and high capital investment in oil exploration programs all over the world. ONGC is the other Govt agency involved in oil exploration in the North East and Coastal based programs. Air Force has been a great support to the ONGC program. Any individual who is challenging such decision of the executive has to go into may technicalities and cost effective benefits and analyze before making such baseless allegations.
Do we realize that such baseless utterances would desist Corporate & Industrial houses to make investment in the development process of the country. Foreign investors would withdraw or think many a times for investment in India. Just to create political space for himself (Kejriwal) he is putting the countries development graph behind by decades.

Is he (Kejriwal) a friend or enemy of the country.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Fact File-FDI in Retail (India)


Don’t Kill The India Dream
On essential reform measures, opposition parties should support the government
               
The amendments to the pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill, 2011 are based on the of Indians is just a bogey.

investing in schemes providing minimum assured returns as notified by the authority. So the BJP, at least, should support pension reform, while there are enough safeguards to ensure
The CPM has lost popularity in recent years; the BP will not profit much by appearing as a CPM clone, even (or especially) with a Hindutva tweak. Likewise, it’s also in the congress’s interest to reach across the aisle and forge a recommendations of the standing Committee on Finance headed by senior BJP politician and ex-finance minister Yashwant Sinha. It would provide investors the option of that the idea of foreigners ferreting out the lifetime savings bipartisanship understanding with the BJP, on measures that are essential to tiding over today’s economic emergency and getting India back to a high-growth, low-inflation path. No party will reap any rewards from burying the Indian dream.

                                                          Extracts of an article in TOI
06 Sept. 2012


We must go with the flow
China has benefited from foreign investment. There’s no reason why India can’t

Empirical evidence suggests that FDI can fuel an economic boom. And a lack of it would only guarantee a Hindu growth rate. Foreign investment does not necessarily mean sounding the death knell for India’s mom-and-pop shops. Rather, it will offer opportunities to build thriving enterprises.
A more recent example is china, which took in as much as $45 billion a year in foreign capital in the 1990s. Its openness to FDI helped it grow more than 9% a year on average, boosting its per capita income fourfold between 1978 and 2000. By contrast, India’s income doubled, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates.
The fear of big retailers gobbling up mom-and-pop shops-a rallying point for the FDI opponents-is more of a myth than a reality. Giant retailers, such as Wal-Mart and Tesco, control barely 20% of the total market share in China two decades after the country opened up the sector to FDI.
Under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s plan, states are free to implement or shun FDI. But those that reject it will sign a pact with economic stagnation. West Bengal, for example, dimmed its prospect to be the shining jewel in Indi’s economic crown because of its misguided policies. The state slipped from rank four in 2007 to rank 13 in industrial investment plans.
Politiciians like Mamata Banerjee and Nitin Gadkari, who profess that they are dedicated to the cause of the have-nots, will harm the nation by pursuing their anti-FDI agenda. What they don’t realize is that capital inflows help everyone, the rich as well as the poor.
                                                                                              Extracts of an article by BZ Khasru,
Editor of the New York-based The Capital Express,
 Hindustan Times, 12 Oct. 2012

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

India’s Modern Day Politicians & Politicking


Since 2014 is approaching (nearly twenty month to go for General Election) politician seem to have lost sense of “Nation Building”, somebody would comment “when did they have in any case”. The opposition role in our context appears to be just “OPPOSE”, come what may. Somehow the other the “constitutional sanctioning”, to “Voice your opinion freely and candidly” remains the most forceful weapon in the hands of “Direction Less” political parties/groups in existence for decades or emerging newly born political outfits.

BJP- always claimed to be a party with a difference,                                                                              yes they are the ones. Their leaders opine differently, they change party constitution to continue to impose a RSS (the parent organization of the BJP) nominee as the president BJP. They claim to have more than half a dozen PM candidates. They change their slogan from “Hindutva to secularism” as well article 370 is of no consequences. As of now the Modi’s candidature remains a taboo to be projected at “National Level”, as they (BJP) might lose some minority votes. Always appear to be directionsless with no vision. At least some body among the top leadership should start behaving like a statesman. (what ABV was). Recently Tarun Vijay (a BJP ideologue) lamented in an article “political leaders are loosing decency and politeness” My dear Tarun Vinay jee it is your top leaders of the day who used words like “Nikamma” for the PM of the country. Better you (Tarun Vijay) to organize some lessons and lectures for your top leaders & spokes persons (of your party) on reht & rgtho

TMC & Mamta- She wanted to run Railway Ministry from Kolkata and now shifted her base to Delhi to run the affairs of her party. A one man (though headed by a woman) party where all other MP’s (or minstens) are just the mute listener or specimen, nodding their heads in affirmative as she speaks. Only one person who dared to show some courage (Dinesh Trivedi) was kicked out from the railway ministry and has been gagged to the extent one wonders if he is alive.

She claims to be ardent nationalist all the time thinking of “Aam Admi”. Only one action of her’s having Ousted Marxist out of WB after their 37 years of rule has created a vote bank which tends to satisfy her. When it comes to national interest,  going to Bangladesh on a preplanned and promised, and agreed trip she ditched the PM at the last moment Governance in her own state is in the state of neglect, (a total governance deficit) just  to divert attention she is trying to nationalize the issues away from WB.

Any way its has been a good riddance from Mamta, most idiosyncratic unpredictable, irresponsible and most of the time unreliable.

Samajwadi- Mulayam & Akhilesh- Having captured UP has been the greatest success. Bribed and lured the voters specially young boys & girls with unemployment allowance – csjkstxkjh HkRrk, laptops, tablats Sarees etc. Actually such promises to the voters should be termed as malpractices by the EC.

Though six months is a short period to assese the performance. Just two important factors power situations, and law & order has worsened. It is a common saying that during BSP regime there was only one Dada in the state that was Mayawati herself. Political leaders of her own party, administration (police & others) had fear in their mind. That  kept the law & order fairly under control. Now every district and Tehsil has local ‘Dada and Goonda’ who try to take control of the law & order, and the situation has worsened.

Few weeks earlier CM/Akhilesh Yadav made a statement “eueksgu us ns”k dks cckZn dj fn;k” He needs some lessons in etiquettes and courtsies, as well as in “macroeconomics” with immediate past of the country (1991 onwards). Mulayam Singh is dreaming of becoming a PM. Just imagine he does not have clarity of speech, thoughts, keeps on changing his stance as he changes his Dhoti, Kurta. One cannot forget 2008 when Mayawati was brought on the center stage and projected as the future PM. CPM is quite efficient in enhancing false status of diffused and confused politicians, be happy and satisfied where ever you have reached.

Anna & Kejriwal- A confused couple. They brought some people like Kumar Vishwas, Sanjay singh, Shazia the people of no consequences to lime light Kejriwal and his associates have brought in indiscipline, disrespect for law & order and a sense of discordant by their false information campaign.  The recent example was against electricity charges in the state of Delhi. He is misguiding people and flouting the existing laws. Kejriwal’s launch of political party and its impact and success needs to be watched. There are many examples of even much stronger bureaucrats having tried this gimmick. 

Recently he has hit another soft target (RV) knowing that there would be large scale reaction. If he (Kejriwal) is honest in his approach of exploring kith & kin of high political people, he should start a campaign with RB, the foster son in law of ABV. It is well known that he had amassed nearly Rs.1000 crores worth of assets in a matter of 5 years.

Ramdev- From ;ksx to jksx. One has to decide whether he deserves to be called a “Baba” any longer. Such people speak loud adopt an offensive approach in their utterances to hide their short comings, weak nesses and wrong doings.

tkxks India tkxks------- Wake up India

IAF 2020 & beyond


Historical Perspective

The Indian Air Force was officially established on 8 October 1932, being the date of its formal constitution. The first aircraft flight, however, was not formed until 1 Apro; 1933, at which time it possessed a strength of six officers trained at RAF Cranwell and 19 havai sephais (literally, air soldiers); its aircraft inventory comprised four Westland Wapiti IIA army co-operation biplanes based at Drigh Road as the “A” Flight nucleus of the planned No.I (Army Co-operation) Squadron.
The year 1946 also saw the establishment of the first RIAF transport unit, No.12 Squadron which had first been raised on Spitfires at Kohat in December 19445 and received C-47 Dakotas in Panagarh in late 1946.
Thus, the principal components of the RIAF at partition were Nos. 3, 4, 7, 8 and 10 squadrons with Tempest IIs, No.2 Squadron with spitfires and No. 12 Squadron with C-47s, plus No. 1 Air observation flight, the establishment of which with AOP Auster 4s, 5s and 6s, coincided with independence. No.6 Squadron, which had been in process of converting from Spitfires to C-47s at Drigh Road, had been stood down and its transports transferred to Pakistan.
On 27 October 1947, No. 12 Sqn was to initiate the remarkable feat of air-lifting the 1st  Sikhs from Palam onto the rough and dusty Srinagar airstrip without planning or reconnaissance as the initial Indian response to the sizeable insurgent forces that were pouring across the border into Jammu and Kashmir. On 30 October, the first Spitfires from the Advanced Flying School at Ambala reached Srinagar and were soon engaged in strafing the raiders beyond Pattan. Within a week, the Tempests of No.7 Squadron were playing a decisive role in the battle of Shelatang which halted the forward momentum of the tribal invaders.
In January 1950, India become a Republic within the British Commonwealth and the Indian Air Force dropped its “Royal” prefix. At this time, it possessed six fighter squadrons of Spitfires, Vampires and a Tempests, operating from Kanpur, Poona, Ambala and Palam, one B-24 bomber squadron, one C-47 Dakota transport squadron, one AOP flight, a communications squadron at Palam and a growing training Organisation.
Particularly significant in IAF annals was the year 1957, which witnessed true beginnings of the major re-equipment programme that was to raise the Service fully to world standards. Deliveries began of 110 Dassault Mystere IVAs,  carrying the service into the realms of transonic flight for the first time, and both Hawker Hunters and Englligh Eletric Canberas began to enter the IAF inventory. A new No.1 Squadron was raised on the Mystere, the existing Vampire-equipped No.1 Squadron being redesignated as No. 27 Squadron; No. 5 Squadron re-equipped with the Canberra B (I) Mk. 58, and, at the year’s end, no. 7 Squadron began conversion to the Hunter FMk.56. It was perhaps appropriate that the year which saw commencement of an immense infusion of modern hardware should also witness the end of the IAF’s piston-engined fighter epoch: No.14 Squadron, the last firstline piston-engine fighter unit, flew in its Spitfire Mk. XVIIIs to Halwara in preparation for re-equipment with the Vampire.
Growth was not restricted to the combat elements for, in parallel, the IAF’s transport force was enlarged to six squadrons, three with C-47s (Nos.11, 43 and 49), two with C-119Gs (Nos. 12 and 19) and one with DHC-3 Otters (No.41)
The first An-12B arrived in India on 1 March 1961, No. 44 Squadron being formed on this type, the II-14s that followed equipping another newly-raised squadron, No. 42. A follow-on order for a further eight An-12Bs was placed early in 1962, the IAF finally beginning to build up a really credible heavy airlift capability which was to be immensely enhanced with the arrival of a further 25 An-12Bs under a loan agreement signed in July 1963, a second squadron, No.25, meanwhile being formed on this type.
The real test of IAF airlift capability came in October 1962, when open warfare erupted on the Sino-Indian border. During the period 20 October to 20 November, pressure on the Service’s transport and helicopter units was intense, troops and supplies heaving to be flown to the support of the border posts virtually around the clock and at extreme altitudes. The helicopters had to constantly run the gauntlet of Chinese small arms and anti-aircraft fire, while operating to the tricky helipads in the mountains. Many notable feats were performed by the IAF during this conflict, including the operation of C-119Gs  from airstrips 17,000 ft (5180m) above sea level in the Karakoram Himalayas, and the air-lifting by An-12Bs of two troops of AMX-13 light tanks to Chushul, in Ladakh, where the small airstrip was 15,000 ft (4570m) above sea level.
The purchase of 12 MiG-21 fighters from the Soviet Union-the IAF’s first combat aircraft of non-western origin-and for Soviet technical assistance in setting up production facilities for the fighter in India was followed by the procurement of SA-2 (Dvina) surface-to-air missiles.
Tension between India and Pakistan had steadily escalated over the years, culminating on 1 September 1965 in a massive attack in the Chhamb sector by Pakistani forces. Possessing the initiative in having chosen the time and place to strike and enjoying overwhelming numerical superiority in the sector in both armour and troops, Pakistan posed a grave threat to Indian forces on the ground and so, in response to urgent requests for air strikes against Pakistani armour advancing in the Chhamb-Jaurian sector, Vampire FBMk.52s of No.45 Squadrom, at the time undergoing operational training at a forward base, mounted their first sorties at 1745 hours on the first day of the conflict, and on their heels came the Mysteres of Nos. 3 and 31 Squadrons operating from Pathankot. The Pakistani armoured thrust was staggered. IAF Gnats proved their mettle in shooting down PAF Sabres in this sector, the first of aerial victories being notched by Nos. 23 and 9 squadrons. Rapidly escalating, full-scale warfare broke out on 6 September all along the international border between West Pakistan and India.
When the September 1965 hostilities began, the MiG-21 had still to achieve operational status. No.28 Squadron had been formed on the MiG-21 clear-weather day intercept model but was still v ery much a trials unit then flying localized CAPs. Early acquisition of MiG-21s of later and more potent version was considered essential to accelerate re-equipment of squadrons still flying such patently obsolete types as the Vampire FBMk.52. Thus sufficient numbers of the improved MiG-21 FL (Type 77 in IAF parlance) were imported in flyaway condition to initiate the programme, and these, together with others imported in CKD form for HAL assembly, were to be sufficient for the re-equipment of nine squadrons during the period 1966-69.
Within three years of the Indo-Pakistan conflict, the IAF, which had achieved equal status with the Army on 15 January 1966, possessed in excess of 70,000 personnel and was nearing its 45-squadron goal. Its composition in the autumn of 1968 included 23 fighter category squadrons, three tactical bomber squadrons, a maritime patrol squadron (with ex-Air India L. 104G Super Constellations), 11 transport squadrons, four AOP squadrons, a number of helicopter units and a few SAM squadrons.
As the sixties moved to the seventies, the IAF consolidated its expansion plans, attaining its 45 squadron goal. Obsolescent equipment was steadily withdrawn to be succeeded by increasing numbers of HF-24s, MiG-21 FLs and SU-&BMs.
By the mid ‘70s, the IAF was clearly in need of urgent re-equipment devisions and various requirements, better known by their acronyms DPSA, TASA, METAC and HETAC, were pursued and decisions were forthcoming at last. Form the trough of the seventies, the IAF was to benefit from a crest in the eighties, the period 1978-88witnessing a major modernization programme which replaced most of the earlier generation and obsolescing equipment with spanking new aircraft types and weapon systems. No less than twenty new aircraft types and sub-types entered the IAF’s service over these years, including various strike fighters, third-generation supersonic interceptors, tri-sonic reconnaissance aircraft, strategic heavy lift transports, medium tactical transports, light transport aircraft, heavy lift and medium-assault helicopters, basic trainers, surface-to-air missiles and an array of sophisticated weaponry propelling the IAF, or Bharatiya Vayu Sena, into one of the world’s better equipped air arms.
By the mid-80s, the Jaguar was in service with Nos. 5.14, 16 and 27 Squadrons while a flight of No.6 Squadron was equipped with the Maritime Jaguar carrying the new generation Sea Eagle anti-ship sea-skimming missile.
Meanwhile, in 1976, the “third generation” MiG-21 bis, considered the definitive variant of the classic tailed-delta fighter design, was to follow-on the “M” sub-type, as a multi-role air superiority/ground attack version. The MiG-21bis assumed the prime air defence mantle and sufficient numbers were acquired in 1976-77 to equip three squadrons (Nos.15, 21 and 23) formerly operating the Gnat light fighter.
With some 580 MiG-21s delivered by HAL and nearly 250 MiG-21s (including the two-seat operational trainers) imported as “fly aways”, the type remained an immense asset for the Indian Air Force for over a quarter century. The quantity vs. quality dilemma inevitably faced by most of the world’s air forces as a consequence of spiraling costs was mitigated for the IAF by the large scale availability of the MiG-21, which type will surely go down as one of aviation history’s all-time classics.
In 1982, a contract was finalized with France for the Mirage 2000 delta-wing, fly-by-wire fighter, with high agility and a formidable radar/missile combination.
in early 1987, even as the first of some 50 MiG -29s had arrived by ship and were being assembled and tested by Soviet personnel at Nasik. The first IAF formations to be selected for conversion to the MiG-29 were Nos.47 and 28 Squadrons and, once more, induction of this advanced fighter was extremely rapid.
A small number of the enigmatic MiG-25Rs were received in September 1982, to form No. 102 Squadron, which literally propelled the IAF into the trisonic era.
After nearly ten years of evaluation and deliberation to replace the elderly Dakotas, Caribous, Packets and II-14s, the Government of India eventually selected the Antonov An-32 to meet the Medium Transport Aircraft (Metac) requirement, which was a powerfully engine and rugged STOL aircraft with rear loading facility. The first of over one hundred An-32s were received by the IAF in July 1984 and over the next four years, re-equipped Nos. 12, 19, 33, 43, 48 and 49 Squadrons plus the Paratroop Training School.
The far larger, jet engine, Ilyushin Il-76 was contracted for to supplant the An-12,the first of these being received in March 1985 to re-equip No.44 Squadron which was followed, in March 1989, by No. 25 Squadron. The massive Il-76 has endowed the Indian Air Force with true strategic airlift capability, which was dramatically demonstrated in a number of actions around south Asia in the late’80s.
Still the largest type in the IAF’s inventory remains the MiG-21 which has had a long (40 years) and chequered career in the Indian Air Force since the first squadron was equipped with this bisonic fighter in 1963. As earlier mentioned, the metamorphosis of the MiG-21 from the limited endurance, lightly armed day-interceptor-21F version  to the basic-21 FL version (built under licence by HAL), through the –Mseries (also built by HAL) to the definitive-21 bis variant (220 built by HAL) has made this the most important combat aircraft type to serve with the IAF. At its peak, some 20 squadrons were equipped with MiG-21 variants, the total number received by the IAF (both direct supplies from the Soviet Union and built under licence at Nasik for airframes, Koraput for engines and Hyderabad for avionics)being nearly a thousand during the period 1963 to 1985.
The IAD has been engaged in identification of a replacement for the MiG-21s, not an easy task considering the quantity involved and costs thereof. The expanded aeronautics industrial base, increasingly capable R & D  organizations and massive home market were the factors that gave birth to the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme. From the mid-1980s, the indigenous LCA was assumed to be the type which would eventually supplant the massive force of  MiG-21s in IAF service. The original concept of the LCA had been a more modest one. An ‘improved’ version of theGnat (or ajeet) would have met the initial requirement for a cost-effective front-line fighter, essentially for close air support with adequate self defence capability.
The Indian Air Force Today
The five Operational commands though administrative  Wings, control some 45 fixed-wings squadrons, 20 helicopter units and numerous surface-to-air missile squadrons, with unit establishments varying from 12 to 18 aircraft. This represents a total aircraft strength of nearly 1,700 including training and support types, manned by some 170,000 personnel.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Adhikaro ka Beja Istemaal


vlhe ds dkVZwuksa dks vfHkO;fDr dh vktknh dk cstk bLrseky vkSj mudh fxj¶rkjh dks lRrk dk nq:i;ksx crk jgs gS& bjQku [kku

vlhe f=osnh ds uke vkSj dke ls dqN fnu igys rd de gh yksx okfdQ Fks] ysfdu vkt ;g ;qok vkSj tquwuh dkVZwfuLV v[kckjksa ds igys iUus ij gS vkSj [kcfj;k Vhoh pSuyksa ds çkbe Vkbe esa bldh ppkZ gks jgh gSA tgka rd vlhe ds fookfnr dkVZwuksa dk loky gS rks eq>s igyh utj esa ;g ekeyk vfHkO;fDr dks Lora=rk ds cstk bLrseky dk yxrk gS] ysfdu vQlksl fd yksx bls vfHkO;fDr dh Lora=rk ij ljdkj ds geys ls tksM+dj ns[k jgs gSA FkksM+k xgjkbZ esa tkdj u, fljs ls eaFku fd;k tk, rks Li’V gks tk,xk fd ;g elyk vf/kdkjksa ds guu dk ugha] cfYd muds xyr bLrseky dk gSA vfHkO;fDr dh Lora=rk dk vf/kdkj lafo/kku us ges fn;k gS] ysfdu bldk ;g eryc ugha fd dksbZ Hkh [kM+k gksdj lafo/kku ij is”kkc djsaA vfHkO;fDr dh vktknh dh Hkh ,d y{e.k js[kk gS vkSj vlhe us bls yka/kk gSA og ftruk tYnh bl ckr dks Lohdkj dj ys] Hkfo’; muds fy, mruk gh mtyk gksxkA fdlh O;fDr dh vfHkO;fDr dh vktknh ogha rd gS] tgka rd nwljksa dh Hkkouk,a vkgr u gksA fQj ;g ekeyk rks ns”k ds çrhd fpguksa vkSj lafo/kku ls tqM+k gSA
;g yksdra= gS vkSj fdlh Hkh ykadra= ds lqpk: lapkyu ds fy, gh dkuwu cuk, tkrs gSA gj ukxfjd dks muds nk;js esa jgdj gh viuk dke djuk pkfg,A ckck jkenso fnYyh ds jkeyhyk eSnku esa vu”ku djrs gSaA eSnku [kkyh iM+k gSA bldk eryc ;g ugha fd og vk, vkSj vkdj cSB tk,aA dkuwu bldh btktr ugha nsrkA og igys blds fy, dkuwu ls vuqefr ysrs gS] fQj viuk vu”ku “kq: djrs gSA bldk ;g eryc ugha fd mUgsa yksdra= esa vu”ku djus ;k viuh ckr dgus dk vf/kdj ugha gSA og dkuwu ds nk;js esa jgdj vius reke vf/kdkjksa dk bLrseky djrs gS] tSlk fd fdlh Hkh ukxfjd dks djuk pkfg,A
ljdkj dh vksj ls mu ij ns”knzksg ds vkjksi yxkuk iwjh rjg xyr gSA
;s cpdkuh gjdrsa ,d ckj rks lqf[kZ;ksa esa yk ldrh gS] ysfdu blds nwjxkeh ifj.kke vPNs ugha gksxsA bl fxj¶rkjh ls vlhe dks lcd lh[kuk pkfg;sA ns”k muds lkFk [kM+k gSA bl iwjs okd;s ls ;g Hkh lkQ gks x;k gS fd vkt dk lekt Hkz’Vkpkj vkSj bl O;oLFkk ds f[kykQ vkokt mBkus okys gj ;qok ds lkFk [kM+k gSA vlhe dks viuh vkokt vkSj cqyan djuh pkfg;s ysfdu nk;js esa jgdjA

Extracts of an article published in Hindi Daily “Dainik Jagran” dated 13 Sep. 2012. An unknown person (cartoonist) who was “Zero” suddenly became a Hero due to wrong and unwarranted reactions, which should have been totally ignored. Air Marshal Ashok Goel (Retd)

Back In Great Form


The PM’s bold measures to revive the economy could herald his finest house in office

One answer to the question should come with the way the government has dealt with Mamata Banerjee’s ultimatum. If it continues to remain firm as it has in its dealings with her, it will signal the strength of its resolve to risk its survival in office to uphold the national interest.

Even more significantly, the BJP, which championed reforms when it was in power but has now become the pied-piper of a no-holds-barred populism, will find it hard to sustain its fierce opposition to the government.

He took that risk when, in the face of stiff opposition from the CPM, he pushed through the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal the CPM that had to eat crow.
For a prime minister who is cautious to a fault, such risk taking must surely be rooted in hard-headed calculations.

Armed with the backing of his cabinet and that of his party’s leadership, the prime minister made bold to take the steps he has taken. That such boldness wasn’t expected of Singh shows the extent to which analysts have underestimated his ability and willingness to rise to the occasion.

Each one of the measures announced over the past few days is thus a pointer to a dramatic change in the prime minister’s approach to governance.

Don’t Cave In
Mamata’s exit is the UPA’s opportunity to uphold a politics of conviction

The purpose of acquiring power is to govern. If coalition compulsions make governance impossible, exercise of power becomes an empty shell. Thanks to Mamata Banerjee, the UPA at the Centre put a moratorium on policymaking. She hobbled virtually everything it tried to pursue: reforms, land acquisition revamp or boosted strategic ties with key neighbors like Bangladesh. Now that UPA-II has shaken off policy paralysis, she’s walked out. Clearly, her backing for the government depends on its kissing reforms goodbye. For the UPA, that’s an unaffordable trade-off.

Extracts of an article by Dileep Padgaonkar
The Times of India, New Delhi
Thursday, September 20, 2012

Cheap Chinese imports can be good for us


Cheap Chinese imports can be good for us
Only in India do opposition parties want to protect the aam bania against the aam admi. The worst argument against foreign retailers is that they will flood India with cheap Chinese goods, squeezing domestic producers and causing mass unemployment. The existing Wal-Mart-Bharti retail chain imports only 3% of its goods, sourcing 97% indigenously.

So, the arrival of foreign retailers will not produce a massive import surge of cheap goods. But even if did, would that be a tragedy? Not at all.

Many Indian politicians believe that self-sufficiency is the Holy Grail, and all imports are bad. In fact, India’s economic success since 1991 has been spurred by steadily reducing the standard import duty from 300% to 10%. Has this made imported goods cheaper? Of course. Has it decimated Indian industry? Absolutely not. Has  it let to slower economic growth or failing wages? On the contrary, it has led to record economic and wage growth.

In the import substitution era, computers cost three times the world price. This held back software and BPO development. India’s software and BPO exports accelerated only when computer costs came down, thanks to new technology and lower duties.

Critics have another argument: why allow Wal-Mart and Carrefour to come in when Indian companies can do just as well? Why allow foreign investment that will crows out Indian business and make profits at the expense of Indian consumers? For an answer, look at the auto industry. Till 1991, it was dominated by indigenous Ambassador and Premier Cars. These have been replaced by a cavalcade of new brands, some Indian but mostly international. Yet it would be moronic to mourn for the heyday of the Ambassador and Premier as a golden era when foreigners were kept out and all profits were retained in India. On the contrary, It was a veritable kalyug.

Extracts of an article by Ankleshwar Iyer, TOI, 23 Sept. 2012
No trick, FDI is a treat

The government has pushed through some long-overdue reforms in the last fortnight. These include allowing higher FDI equity in multi-brand retail and aviation. FDI creates extreme reactions in the country, and it might as well stand for’ Forever Debating Indians’.
Anyhow, it’s a good decision, if not monumental or heroic. Having a global mindset is beneficial for the country. We have seen the benefits of the 1991 reforms. The cell phones we carry, TV channels we watch, vehicles we drive, the appliances we use-are all a result of the liberalization that were initiated two decades ago.

For apart from the praise, there was backlash too. The BJP denounced the new policies presumably to please the trader community that supports it. The Trinamool congress is screaming hoarse about the anti-people nature of such reforms. Mamata Banerjee is hoping to target the poor who have not benefited much from the reforms.

China, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines are just a few examples of emerging economies that have allowed multi-brand retail and have had no major upheavals or large-scale unemployment.

Can we not have some ground rules when looking at reforms? Can the government, the allies and the opposition have just this one area of consensus-the country must bring in economic reforms if we want to create wealth. Can we accept that reforms do ultimately benefit people?

So if we have to debate forever, let us at least do it on the right issues: FDI Wal-Mart, welcome to India!

Extracts of an article by Chetan Bhagat, Sunday Times of India, New Delhi September 23, 2012

Playing to the Gallery

Mamata Banerjee is yet to make the transition from a combative politician to a diligent administration. But such is the political vacuum in Bengal that she may end up as the winner

Your finance minister Amit Mitra who as Federation of India Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) secretary general was a strident votary of market economics, has now done a spectacular U-turn when he cautions against FDI in retail. In an interview, he told me that his shift was occasioned by the poverty he saw in his constituency. But how exactly would the setting up of retail chains affect the poor, or is there a vested interest in keeping the poor in a state of permanent deprivation?

There is where the politics of the Trinamool conflicts with the economics of Ficci boardrooms. Our chambers of commerce unapologetically lobby for FDI because it serves their self-interest. You champion the anti-FDI cause because you believe that the idea of foreign capital overwhelming the countryside will strike fear in the minds and hearts of your voters. You prey on the insecurities of your constituency, they appeal to the interests of their corporate citizens.

Unfortunately, instead of looking to manage and resolve the conflicts of a reformist agenda, you seem to relish the idea of permanent confrontation. Maybe, the antagonisms serve to mask the serious crisis of governance confronting you in Bengal.

Poriborton’ in 2011 was ultimately not just about ridding Bengal of the Marxists but also offering an alternative vision of governance. Maybe, you misread the massive mandate or maybe it was too much to expect an overnight transition from a combative politician to a diligent administrator.

Extracts of an article by Rajdeep Sardesai is editor-in chief, IBN 18 network Hindustan Times, New Delhi, Friday 21 September 2012

Comments
Many analysts, including the industry people and even selective BJP leader (Khandari & Arun Shourie) have spoken favorably, Just the hard core politicians are coming out critically to save their political constituencies. (Say the Vote Bank) Arent such people misguiding the innocent Indians?.

[kaMwM+h vkSj “kkSjh ih,e ds vkfFkZd lq/kkjksa ds lkFk
·        Mhty ewY; o`f) oDr dh t:jr, ih,e us igyh ckj fn[kkbZ rkdr% “kkSjh
·        ç/kkuea=h dk bLrhQk] fl;klh xfrjks/k dk gy ugha% [kaMwM+h

Friday, August 24, 2012

A Big Boost To The Government


11 Silver Estates,
Pilibhit Bypass Road,
PO Rohilkhand University
Bareilly-243006 (U.P.)
Mobile: 9411900090, 09999722636
 
Air Marshal Ashok K. Goel (Retd.)
                                               PVSM AVSM VM

 
 


The Fact File
20 August 2012
A Big Boost To The Government
The UPA government, finally, has some reason to cheer. It seems to have pulled off a pleasant surprise by delivering on its promise of greater inclusive growth. The best evidence of the greater inclusive growth comes from the numbers on consumption provided by the National Sample Survey (NSS) for 2011-12, released late last week.
The NSS numbers show that the spending of the rural population has picked up at a much faster pace than that of the urban segment over the last two years. This is striking in its reversal of the trend of decades.
But what is more important is that the improvements in the fortunes of the rural economy is not just because of the growing subsidy doles, like the fertilizer subsidies and spending on employment creation, or social welfare schemes. It is mainly because of the improvements in investments and productivity in the rural economy and especially in agriculture. And this substantial improvement in productivity of agriculture investments was accompanied by an even more significant development, namely the sharp fall in the number of people employed in agriculture by as much as 157 lakh from 259 million.
Thus the sharp boost to rural consumption, highlighted in the NSS for 2011-12, is no freak accident but a validation of the success of the rural development program implemented by the UPA government.
So it is to the government’s credit that the rural poor have gained substantially in recent years. But this is a record that it will find hard to sustain in the current year with large parts of the rural economy already damaged by a severe drought.

(An extract of an article published in TOI dated 7 August 2012
by Pyaralal  Raghavan)