What prompted me to delve into this was the Google information that the unorganised sector in India is present mainly in manufacture, construction, electricity and water, transport and hotel industries and they compose 93 per cent of our workforce! In places where electricity is not available or unreliable, farmers have adapted their motorcycle engine or use of the cycle to pump water. The roadside mechanic attends to urgent repairs of vehicles, some even extending to home service pickup and delivery back at nominal charges. A poorly dressed boy at a kiosk fixes an I-phone at minimum charges. The government needs to enact consumer right to repair. And how would busy families manage household chores, looking after children or pets when they are out at work, etc. I see people giving the keys of the flat and even leaving the house in their care when they have to go abroad or in some emergency. The Anganwad/Asha, garbage collection labour and so many essential services by migrant labour!
It is also evident in that from the UNO to every nation that the way the world is run, the whole system which breeds imbalance in creation and distribution of wealth, corruption, human trafficking, and degradation of humanity needs to change! Truth requires fearlessness and courage in freedom, and compassion that breeds human dignity which cares for mother earth and all its incumbents to coexist in happiness and peace. Our values are based on false premises! We evaluate and qualify a person not understanding that there are different types of intelligence and persons we consider idiots may have in built genius if given a chance to develop their potential. A few types listed are: Logical, mathematical, Musical, Spatial, Naturalistic, linguistic, bodily or kinesthetic. A NGO taking school children on a nature outing was amazed at one of the students knowledge of birds, medicinal plants and nature, was surprised to find from his teacher that he was no good in studies and at the bottom of his class!
The unorganised illiterate labour, who slog at manual work and farmers who feed us remain poor whilst others make millions by exploiting them. I remember being surprised at being told by a sailor on a Japanese merchant vessel that his salary is more than the young captain due to his service and age. Some nations have tried to do something about logical fair wealth distribution and with welfare measures, but it is obvious the whole world disorder needs to change.
I will not comment on world politics here but the devious way the Centre engineered the overthrow of the MVA government, was detailed blow by blow in the media. Getting around the anti-defection law becomes a specialty with our elected representatives! Ethics and values have all changed and corruption, violence, lies and deceit seem acceptable to “we the people”. Our national emblem preaching peace, “Satye Mayve Jaye Thae” (truth shall prevail) perceived by many with new militant lions atop our coming new parliament building.
Today it is very difficult to know what is the truth and the Modi Mantra Sab Ke Saath, etc, is for propaganda because communal harmony is actually being shattered by hate speeches and militant Hindutva dominance with bulldozing politics and a strange kind of democracy where free speech and dissent is criminalised wherever possible and it is also very difficult to know whom to trust! The master stroke politically chosen President and vice President, misuse of government agencies, the BJP mad rush for total political power regardless of social harmony, trampling on constitutional values and honest democratic norms prevail. The divided opposition candidates exhibit bankruptcy of new ideas.
Loyalty of MLAs is generally bought or coerced by any means and poaching is prevented by whisking them away to ruling party states and all apparent rubber stamp authorities are placed from the highest to Governors, Chief Ministers, government enforcement agencies, police, government being the biggest litigant! The courts are routinely being challenged for example the Goa government moves the Supreme Court after the High Court quashes government decision to postpone Panchayat elections. If right from Father Stan Swamy to journalists and those who dare differ or demand transparency and accountability can be incarcerated under draconian laws; how can there be any vishwas?
If we go back in history from the Roman Empire collapse to when the Dutch became the super power, to Britain, Hitler, America and the dollar reserve currency detached from the gold standard to our present mega deficit financing all nations are practicing merrily printing paper money and living beyond their means, we will find cycles! Broadly: work hard, rise, gain power, corruption; eliminate opposition, systems law and order compromised, police, army misused, values change with prosperity, degradation, and downfall. The insane Russia Ukrainian war, Chinese hegemony with India trying to fit in will follow the same cycle in due course! It is just that nuclear threat is delaying the proceedings, also technology, changing nature of war, bit coins, artificial intelligence and further inventions leading to drastic changes.
The people’s revolt in Sri Lanka to reestablish democracy is relevant. We must see happy signs of peace, love, hope, earn more than spend, treat each other with respect, reclaim universal values and care for each other! What will it take for enlightened humankind to be able to rise above, handle/overcome these devastating historical cycles?
(The author is a retired naval officer and freelance writer)
