India's Chabahar Success : Has it Been The Right Investment

In a significant sign of trilateral cooperation, the first consignment of wheat from India to Afghanistan, that was flagged off by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani on October 29, reached the Afghan city of Zaranj near the Iran-Afghanistan border on November 11, via the Iranian port of Chabahar, thereby bypassing Pakistan.

In August 2017, Indian Union Minister of Ports, Nitin Gadkari had informed at an event in Iran that the civil work at Chabahar port developed by India is complete, and the Indian government is ordering INR 400 crores (USD63 million) worth of mechanised equipment and cranes, and the port will be operational in 2018 to export Indian wheat to Afghanistan. after meeting with Iranian President Hasan Rouhani, he said "now, we are building a railway line in Iran. From Chabhar, we can go to Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Russia."

India's Chabahar Port deal is seen as a counter to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, as it has broken through the strategic encirclement by China and Pakistan. It has played its cards right  gaining access to iron from Afghanistan's Hajigak mine and other natural resources from the Central Asian countries. In the long run, the pipeline-to-road-to-rail-to-sea-to-road shipment costs through Chabahar should be circumvented by direct transit through Pakistan. Pakistan has been reluctant to provide such access and with the CPEC in place it never will. The US also sees the Indian presence in greater Central Asia beneficial for spreading the soft power of democratic and friendly regimes. India hopes to see the Western countries use the Chabahar route to link to Afghanistan and reduce their dependence on Pakistan.

India’s engagement with the region must be holistic in its nature and character. It should not be just about energy, oil and natural resources but about cooperating in every sphere. Chabahar deal is an extremely important strategic decision & India has pledged 500 million $ investment to gain access to the region’s resources bypassing the land route via hostile Pakistan. However, India has to be diplomatically proactive since, chronic instability in Afghanistan may limit usefulness of Chabahar as a conduit to Afghanistan and Central Asia. Road networks between Chabahar and Afghanistan rely upon connections to the Afghan Ring Road. Insurgent activity by Afghanistan's Taliban militant group force closure of the Ring Road between Kandahar and Helmand Province at will. Chabahar port, is also the stage for insurgent activity by the insurgent group Jundallah, which claims to be fighting for the rights of Sunni Muslims, and the local ethnic Baloch. While China could force Pakistan to deploy nearly two division of the Army to protect the CPEC, India does not have that luxury. India just has to rely on strategy of making friends with the enemy’s enemy. But with the present world opinion of  Iran's criminal support of terrorism; has India invested rightly is the question ? 

Abe Victory: A New Sunrise

“Heartiest greetings to my dear friend @AbeShinzo on his big election win. Look forward to further strengthen India— Japan relations with him,” Prime minister of India Narendra  Modi tweeted on 23 Oct 2017.

 White House has also announced President Donald Trump’s first visit to Asia as U.S. leader in Nov 2017 — a trip full of potential minefields — as he seeks to firm up the country’s alliance with Japan and heap pressure on nuclear-armed North Korea. The visit will come just two weeks after Sunday’s Lower House election, in which Abe returned to the helm.

The consequences could be huge. Abe, a nationalist by Japanese standards, has long been pushing for Japan to build up its military and prepare to use force well beyond its borders if necessary. That means amending Japan’s post-World War II constitution, which commits the country to a pacifist foreign policy. A large enough victory in this election allows Abe to push through some version of “constitutional revision,”  putting the country down the road to remilitarization.

The impact would resonate far outside Japan’s borders & could end up having major long-term consequences for a vital part of the world. China, in particular, has long been deeply concerned about the prospect of a fully militarized Japan — and would see any move toward it as a threat to its security. “Because of reasons of history, the international community, particularly Asian neighbors, have always paid close attention and been on alert to Japan’s military tendencies,” as mentioned by a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson after the May 2017 speech by Abe. Managing the resulting tensions would be a major challenge for American diplomacy in the region.

Japan’s constitution was written right after the country’s crushing defeat in World War II with the war’s horrific consequences in mind. It is almost unique among constitutions in essentially prohibiting Japan from having official armed forces. The text of Article IX, the provision enacting this prohibition, is especially strong:

       Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.

      In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.

In the years following the war, Japan faced a series of major security threats — most notably from China and North Korea. As a result, it started to build up its military capacities in 1954, calling the new branch “Self-Defense Forces” (SDF) to avoid constitutional problems. Today, Japan has the world’s eighth-largest defense budget; the SDF has more active-duty troops (2,27,000) than the French defence forces (2,03,000).

The Malabar exercise which  started in 1992 with the navies of US and India in the Indian Ocean now has  Japan as a permanent partner of the  exercise since 2007. A pronounced thrust on anti-submarine warfare (as the Indian Navy  recorded an "unusual surge" in the number of Chinese warships and submarines entering the Indian Ocean Region in the recent past) being exercised was clearly visible with Poseidon-8 long-range maritime patrol aircraft deployed. Beijing also appears to be trying to achieve dominance in the controversial South China Sea as Japan counters its claim . The massive Malabar naval exercise - is the most visible sign of tri nation partnership which emboldens Abe towards militarization of Japan.

Other major threat that Japan sees in near future is that of North Korea which had the audacity to launch two missiles over Japan in August & September this year. Abe’s bid to enshrine Japan’s military might comes amid growing concern about North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

How long will it take for the Japanese people to recollect  the phrase “Fukoku kyōhei”( Enrich the state, strengthen the military), Japan's national slogan during the Meiji period is anyone’s guess.  The ideology in Japanese empire that militarism should dominate the political and social life of the nation, and that the strength of the military is equal to the strength of a nation, will see a revival with Abe playing his cards well (as he has done so far). It will be a new sunrise for sure.

Destination Djibouti - Is India in Time ?

  Ram Nath Kovind the President ofIndia visited Dijbouti City in Oct 2017, on his maiden trip abroad after assuming office. The President, is the first Indian leader to visit Djibouti and was received by Djiboutian Prime Minister Kamil Mohamed. India currently does not have an embassy in Djibouti. The president’s visit suggests that wisdom is finally coming and New Delhi is now revisiting its approach towards the region to re-engage strategically. The president's visit comes in the backdrop of Chinese  troops conducting their first live-fire military drills overseas on their base in strategically-vital Djibouti in Sep 2017 as a major display of military presence in the region. Is this the start of India’s efforts to contain China’s Indian Ocean agenda after it has consolidated its presence in Hambantota (Srilanka),Gwadar (Pakistan) and now in Djibuti; all vital for maritime supremacy in Indian Ocean.

    China’s enormous investment in CPEC, and port infrastructure in the Indian Ocean, serves much more than trade. It advances Beijing’s “String of Pearls” strategy, as well as its unofficial agenda to encircle India. On the Horn of Africa, too, Beijing has made its presence felt, with the opening of its first overseas military base at Djibouti. In smaller, poorer countries , China’s influence is based heavily on economic leverage, using its formidable financial resources to create a niche for itself by focusing on industrial cooperation, environmental protection and the reduction of poverty.  China has long been interested in the commercial and strategic potential of Hambantota,  Gwadar and Djibuti.

While the Indian Ocean is itself a crucial space, being the bridge between Africa and the Middle East on one side and Southeast Asia on the other, Hambantota is right in the middle of vital energy supply lines in the Indian Ocean, connecting the Middle East and East Asia. As China expands its maritime reach in the Indian Ocean, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands off the coast of India have gone high up on the priority list for New Delhi’s defence policy.

    China has  established its presence in neighboring Pakistan, with its port at Gwadar, which is also a vital link in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project under Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative.  Gwadar port  is considered a strategic location, giving China an access to the Gulf region and the Middle East. Chabahar port being operationalized in Iran in 2018 by India, at one end of North South Transport Corridor will be beneficial to India in countering Chinese presence in the Arabian Sea.  

    Djibouti's strategic position, in Bab el-Mandeb strait allows the country to rent some of its territory to foreign military bases. Bab-el-Mandeb acts as a strategic link between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal the backbone of sea trade.  The secret to Djibouti's continued global importance and its success in recent decades lies in its strategic position on the Bab el-Mandeb strait and its status as the lone maritime entry and exit point for its dynamic neighbor, Ethiopia. Djibouti maintains several advantages in the region, including its relative stability and its current ports and infrastructure. Competition for access to interior African trade and resources will intensify, and the tiny country will be pressed to find additional investment as it tries to hold on to its status as a regional trading hub. Over the years, Djibouti has moved beyond France after its independence in 1977 and opened its territory to other powers. The United States,  Japan, Italy and China  have facilities in Djibouti, and Saudi Arabia has reportedly signed agreements allowing for its eventual presence there. China remains a  long-term strategic partner for Djibouti as trade competition intensifies across the region.

    Is India in time to invest and exploit the willingness of the tiny country to get a toe-hold for commercial & strategic base in the most important trade corridor? With limited resources at hand India could strengthen relations on the basis of providing skills, educational and medical facilities, which are perceived as India’s three areas of greatest strength. India has been deploying one Naval ship in the Gulf of Aden on anti-piracy tasking since October 2008. The IN ships escort merchant ships through the 490 nautical mile long Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC).  It will not be too late for India to look for an opportunity to set up a base for anti-piracy monitoring as a start.

Indo-Japanese Relation a Need of the Hour

Things you see in the rear view mirror are not very far.  The name Radha Gobind Pal is not old enough to be forgotten by the Japanese at least. In fact they revere him more than any Indian & have two shrines the Yasukuni Shrine and the Kyoto Ryozen Gokoku Shrine with busts  specially dedicated to Judge Radha Gobind Pal.  Ryōma and his associate Nakaoka Shintarō  the national heros of the Mieji Restoration who dreamt of an independent Japan without feudal trappings  are also given a place of honour in these shrines. Judge Pal was one of the Asian judges appointed to the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, the "Tokyo Trials" of Japanese war crimes committed during the Second World War. Among all the judges of the tribunal, he was the only one who submitted a judgment which insisted all defendants were not guilty; Judge Pal never intended to offer a juridical argument on whether a sentence of not guilty would have been a correct one. However, he argued that the United States had clearly provoked the war with Japan and expected Japan to act. On 14 December 2006, Manmohan  Singh the PM of India, made a speech in the Japanese Diet stating  “The principled judgment of Judge Radhabinod Pal after the War is remembered even today in Japan. Ladies and Gentlemen, these events reflect the depth of our friendship and the fact that we have stood by each other at critical moments in our history”.

The two nations are once again working on kindling the fire of friendship with development of economic, financial, industrial and cultural sinews.  India’s regional policy will get a shot in the arm with the help from a highly developed country helping it steer its manufacturing revolution and providing hi-tech solution to its defence problems.

 As East Asia forsees changes in the regional order due to distractions in US policy towards security gurantee  to Japan, that started from the Obama era; which allowed China to establish itself in South China Sea; Japan is getting uneasy. In fact, the recent launch of a missile by North Korea over Japanese island of Hikkaido has not drawn reactions from USA which can be called strong enough for deterrence and the fact that China accounts for 90% of North Korean imports is making Japan uneasy.  It has begun to wonder that it has to face the twin challenge of North  Korea & China all alone. China has begun to alter status quo in South China Sea by constructing islands on low tide elevations, these islands will be used as military base in future. China claims that it has ‘indisputable sovereignty’ over the land features and waters involved in the South China Sea. It refuses to be bound by the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ) tribunal’s anticipated decision on the grounds that the decision will necessarily deal with issues of territorial sovereignty (who owns which disputed islands) and maritime delimitation (how conflicting national water boundary claims should be resolved) and that China has never consented to any third party impartial arbitration of these issues. Both India & Japan use the sea lanes that pass through that region.  

In Doklam, China preferred to change the status quo by consolidating their position in a region crucial for Indian defence posture. On August 28, 2017, it was announced that India and China have mutually agreed to a speedy disengagement on the Doklam plateau bringing to an end a military face-off that lasted for close to three months. Chinese foreign ministry sidestepped the question of whether China would continue the road construction. The CPEC corridor through disputed POK is already a threat to India. Sovereignty over two separate pieces of Indian territory has been contested by China in Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh. The McMahon Line which was part of the 1914 Simla Convention between British India and Tibet, has been rejected by China. Though India’s maturity and diplomatic stance helped in resolving  the Doklam  issue, but the uncertainty still exists till the next time when the status quo will be tampered again by China in some other sector. Down south Chinese presence in Srilanka (Hambantota) is now real and how far it will effect India’s maritime endeavor in times to come is anyone’s guess.

Abe was  here to rekindle the fire of friendship between Japan & India  and strengthen the coalition against a common challenge. Japan is keen to expand infrastructure projects  amid China’s OBOR initiative and, along with India, it is exploring opportunities to develop projects in ASEAN. This is part of Indo-Japan corridor  for the Indo-Pacific region that also extends to Eastern Africa under Asia Africa Growth Corridor, an initiative that would provide an alternative to OBOR, which is being implemented in a non-transparent fashion dictated by China’s interests.  Only  close cooperation between the two nations;  in commerce , cultural and defence  will help improve the trust and tide over  common challenges and drive forward, while looking in the rearview mirror.

Ex Servicemen a Force Underutilized

With reference to the article which appeared in a national daily regarding the grave shortage of Welfare officers in nearly seventy percent districts of a leading state (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/severe-shortage-of-sainik-welfare-officers-hits-ex-servicemen-hard/articleshow/60359799.cms), it only undermines the use of a potent trained force available to the nation. Why at all do these important seats keep lying vacant in a State Government’s important department. The first and major cause that comes to one’s mind is the lack of pride in the post. An officer who has been a class one Gazetted officer; on retirement does not expect to be placed in a hierarchical post lower to the one he/she last held. In a state that has no dearth of retired   Military officers, such apathy is uncalled for.

In India, defence personnel generally join the armed forces in their late teens or in their early 20s and retire from service between the ages 35 and 48. When they retire, they are still fit for another job. Year on year the Military releases lakhs of exservicemen(ESM), at a young age with pensioner benefits. They rummage for a suitable employment in the Civvy Street and most of them finally settle into a cozy pensioners life at such an early age that even their near and dear ones ‘wonder how’! Most of these ESM are highly motivated lot and come with a skill set which can be put to use in National Development. They do not want to be a burden on the finances of the nation but need to be put to use as a positive human resource with a Star Quality called HONESTY.

There are Govt and quasi Govt agencies which do help the Exservicemen in addressing their needs for training, employment assistance and provision of soft loans to start a venture on their own. More often than not this help does not yield the desired results although there are exceptional cases where ESM have setup clusters with the help of Small And Medium Enterprise Department and have even setup Cooperative banks in semi urban areas. A number of them also get employed in police force or security agencies, or start their own. But the ratio of fruitfully employed ESM to the ones otherwise is very dismal.

What is more alarming is that the force which comes from rural core of the nation does not return to their roots in nearly half the cases. This is due to their raised aspiration levels and the changed lifestyles of the family; add to that the educational requirements of the next generation. If properly channelized the young pensioners can be the harbingers of sustainable development in the rural areas of the country.

The use of ESM in establishment of PURA( Provision of Urban Resources in Rural Areas), a dream that Dr Kalam dreamt, cannot be overlooked. This will result in  providing employment opportunities that lasts a life time. If a person is employed, he/she has access to good education, health, electronic media and other facilities for his growth. An ESM is a responsible citizen who needs to be included as a cog in the wheel to development. Making Dr Kalam’s dream a reality is no easy task but motivating the ESM to return to their roots by providing them suitable employments that gives them self-pride will help positively to resuscitate the hinterland.

Rural Reporting a Need of the Hour

“Rural India is not the priority of mainstream media by a thousand miles. So Gorakhpur is what happens when governments don't have any way to monitor poor governance by local functionaries, and when the mainstream media rarely covers public health — except when 23 children suddenly die”.

                                                                                            Nilesh Misra ( Times of India 20 Aug 2017)

        When other major hospitals in UP bought liquid oxygen directly from manufacturers like INOX or Lende Gas, why was an intermediary, Pushpa Sales, given the BRD contract for years? How was the hospital principal Rajiv Mishra's wife exercising control on his behalf? How were the doctors running a private service and even advertising it on the walls of the government hospital? Why were warnings of oxygen shortage ignored? These are the questions to which, the press needs to seek answers from the government functionaries rather than running after hyped political news that covers more than 50 percent of the print media.Imagine if this is the case from the city which is a Chief Ministers constituency, what could be condition in rural areas where there are no patrons.   This is what concerns us, the very basic sectors  Health, Education and Agriculture need to be given due importance by our press lest it wants to reach a stage of impotence. We need reporters in rural hinterland to compel agencies to  crystal gaze the impending problems of health and education  as a result of poor governance in rural areas through their stories. 

        Journalists are proving to be couch potatoes and reporters from the field are no longer finding satisfaction in their work. Indeed there is no rivalry between the field reporters & those on the desk just because the reporter earns his bread & stays free while reporting from urban beat. Reporters seldom spend nights  in the rural areas just because it isn’t sought for by the news agencies , until & unless it’s a report that leads to propaganda which further leads to increased circulation & TRP. Most of us do know where the city's waste goes, and how it is collected, but is waste collected in a village, and where does it go? Well, nowhere. A filth time bomb is ticking away in rural India because lifestyles are changing there and the same chips packets and water bottles and other urban non-biodegradable waste is choking the landscape. One visit to any rural Govt School or PHC (Primary Health Centre) will give so many stories that the reporter can publish for better governance in the hinterland.

         The issues prevailing in rural India and suggested measures to improve standards of living are never pondered by the journalist since they are focused on the cities and find easy controversies to be reported. Inclusive development to provide urban amenities in rural areas through prompt reporting will help maintain the social structure of the country and reduce migration of rural masses to urban areas in search of better lifestyle. Appropriate rural reporting will improve the standard of living amongst the poor rural population through voluntary campaigns such as community participation and entrepreneurship.

         Shadow reporting of any grant or aid from the Govt or any international NGO to various health agencies working in India has been a challenge & the journalists also don’t find it interesting enough. The press needs to rekindle the faith of all agencies and prove to be a cog in the wheel to success rather than a spoke in the wheel that puts a stop to the success. Isn't it time to shed the mainstream media bias and embrace  watchdog journalism that informs the public about goings-on in institutions and society, especially in circumstances where a significant portion of the public would demand changes in response.

GATLIN the BOO merang ! Are we a Sport ?

Gatlin, 35, clocked 9.92 seconds as he beat second-placed compatriot Christian Coleman and legendary Jamaican Usain Bolt, who was third. Bolt, 30, was unable to secure a 20th global gold in his final individual 100m race before retiring.

Gatlin, who has served two doping bans, was booed before and after Saturday's World Championship final at London Stadium, and when he was presented with his medal. In 2001, when he was still at college, Gatlin was given a two-year suspension for taking a banned amphetamine. He successfully argued this was because of medication he took for attention deficit disorder and was allowed to return to competition after a year. Then, in 2006 - having won the 100m and 200m double at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki - he tested positive again, this time for testosterone. Gatlin was banned for eight years, avoiding a lifetime ban in exchange for his co-operation with doping authorities. This suspension was halved to four years on appeal. But the crowd at London Stadium booed before and after Saturday's World Championship when Gatlin was presented with his medal. Even the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) chief Lord Sebatian Coe aired his views saying  "I'm not eulogistic that someone who has served two bans has walked off with one of our glittering prizes."

It's not Gatlin's fault in any way that he proved his mettle. He played by the rules laid down by WADA [the World Anti-Doping Agency] that allow him to return. The IAAF reinstated him and allowed him to compete. Bolt had no problem with Gatlin competing and later winning the race which was to be the Grand Finale to a glittering career of Usian Bolt; he remains the grand sportsman that he is but the reaction from the crowd & Lord Coe is indeed worth reviewing. Gatlin won the bronze medal at London in 2012 [Olympics] and no-one said a word. It was only when he started to challenge Bolt after 2015 it became an issue. Booing of Gatlin was surely “disrespectful to the sport" as remarked by Gatlin’s father.

The point to ponder is; what drew such reaction from the crowd. Are we not human enough to forgive faults or are we such hero worshippers that we can’t see our hero fading away? Can we forget the un-fateful day on 13 March 96 at Eden Gardens Kolkatta when the fans got unruly and hurled abuses at the Srilankan Cricket team since their heros were at the point of surrender and finally the match referee Clive Lloyd awarded the match to Srilanka. Next day the crowd did apologise and over the next few days, Concern for Calcutta an NGO placed half-page advertisements in newspapers with a single word, “Sorry”, printed in 400-point size across the space.  In an arena where sportspersons display their spirit does the crowd have the right to display their disdain and not allow an athlete to ever prove his/her mettle as if a final verdict has been passed against their participation. Are we sport enough to participate, even as an audience ? 

SHARIF GONE; IS A COUP POSSIBLE ?

     Mr Sharif, who was serving as prime minister of Pakistan for a record third time, was less than a year away from becoming the first in Pakistani history to complete a full term in office. He served as prime minister from November 1990 to July 1993 and from February 1997 until he was toppled in a bloodless coup in October 1999. This time the Supreme court of Pakistan killed the dream and repeated history.. Nawaz Sharif has resigned as prime minister of Pakistan following a decision by the country's Supreme Court to disqualify him from office. The ruling came after a probe into his family's wealth following the 2015 Panama Papers dump linking Mr Sharif's children to offshore companies.He was the 18th prime minister of Pakistan. Not a single one of the 17 prime ministers that preceded him have completed their full term in office. The once Ex Prime minister who was once denied landing in Pakistan and forced to return into exile in 2007 may now not be allowed to fly out of the country.  With the geopolitical scene not being in favour of  the  terror haven even Saudi may not grant him exile.

Will Pakistan Face a Coup Again ?

     Pakistani Army has a considerable political clout and the political parties in Pakistan are not yet in a position to challenge the militarys grip over internal affairs. Over the years, Pakistans military has begun to manipulate the national narrative as well. It has moved from a military inc. to a media inc. and defines the local view of people regarding India, which certainly doesnt paint India amicable. As the Pakistani Polity is inherently weak, demonstrated by the military coups, a tough decision to put an end to terrorist camps and along with it solving of border dispute is next to impossible without militarys approval. The Pakistani identity is based on the idea of hatred towards India. As remarked by a scholar, the discourse is shaped by the trinity of "Allah, Army & America". To put an end to terrorism, the radicalisation must be stopped and thus the Pakistani military will lose its card of shaping regional politics through terror groups.

      Politics in Pakistan is very unpredictable. But at the moment it does not look like a coup is in the wings. Simply because the military does not want to come in front again when it can  rule in proxy. Staging a coup means automatic stoppage of US aid, both civil and military, and also various other sanctions/suspensions form other countries/organizations. For a country which needs regular foreign grants, which is not worth it any more. Moreover, the army is tied up in FATA with terrorists and on the eastern border with India. They can ill afford to divert resources to run the entire country.

Politically and socially - a coup works against any progress Pakistan. Indeed even for India it makes most sense that there is a stable and progressive neighbor since a stable and progressive society will mean  better economics in the region.

     So what would be best for India would not be a military coup in Pakistan but rather the influence of the military to wane in political matters (which seems unlikely in the near future). The coup, if it happens, may  be militarily headed because it is the only institution in Pakistan that has the capability to pull it off and cling onto it as well right now. The likelihood of this coup is, like most things Pakistani, is 

UNPREDICTABLE. 

Palestine hubbub to hush-hush

A senior Israeli interlocutor once told a visiting Indian External Affairs Minister some time ago that New Delhi treated Tel Aviv like a “mistress” – by keeping the bilateral relationship away from the public gaze.

Till last year, India abstained in a resolution, at Human Rights Council in Geneva; submitted by Palestine and the Organisation of Islamic Countries, for a probe by the International Criminal Court (ICC) into alleged war crimes by Israel during the 2014 Gaza offensive. India’s arguments for abstaining for the last three years have been the reference to the ICC, since India is not a party to the Rome Statute, which set up the world judicial body. In line with its voting records, India voted in favour of four other resolutions criticising Israel, including those on the expansion of settlements and the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, what happens after the Modi visit to the Indian stance is anyone’s guess.

 As a founding-member of the Non-aligned Movement (NAM), India saw itself as a champion of all oppressed, colonised people, and its commitment to the Palestinian cause has had been unwavering. Along with its large Muslim minority, India did not want to antagonize its relations with the Arab world. Until now India’s stance at the U.N. has been an irritant in Indo-Israeli relations, with Tel Aviv frustrated that close bonds had not resulted in any change in the stance on Palestine

Even former Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee’s government, which invited Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to India in 2003, did not amend India’s voting record at the U.N. The year Sharon came to New Delhi (2003) marked a watershed moment in the history of the India-Israeli relations. Diplomatic relations had been elevated to full ambassadorial level only a decade earlier. While both countries established relations soon after Israel’s creation, India kept them low key, with only a small Israeli consular office operating out of Mumbai. But given Sharon’s controversial record, no senior Indian official attended his funeral.

India’s Minister of External affairs in 2007 had mentioned that "India's support to the Palestinian cause had not wavered," He mentioned that India supported a "negotiated solution resulting in a sovereign, independent, viable and united states of Palestine within secure and recognised borders living side by side at peace with Israel as endorsed in the Roadmap and UN Security Council Resolutions 1397 and 1515." The minister had referred to the humanitarian contribution that India had made to the Palestinian people who were "coping with multiple challenges". Together with the Palestine National Authority, India was working on several developmental projects, including a cardiac hospital in Gaza, a school in Abu Dis (recently raided by Israeli forces in Apr 2017) and an IT Centre at the Al Quds University( Inagurated by Sushma Swaraj in Jan 2016). 

The Jewish state had been created in 1948 and its sovereignty recognised by most of the world's countries. But as soon as the guns fell silent in 1967, Israel, in direct contravention of international law, began building illegal settlements for its citizens on land it does not own. In 1953, Israel committed the most notorious reprisal massacre in the West Bank against the village of Qibya, where 45 houses were blown up and at least 69 Palestinians were killed.  Fifty years ago, the state of Israel shocked the world when it seized the remaining Palestinian territories of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza Strip, as well as the Syrian Golan Heights, and the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula, in a matter of six days. In a war with Egypt, Jordan and Syria, known as the 1967 War, or the June War, Israel delivered what came to be known as the "Naksa", meaning setback or defeat, to the armies of the neighbouring Arab countries, and to the Palestinians who lost all what remained of their homeland. The Naksa was a continuation of a prior central event that paved the way for the 1967 war. Nineteen years earlier, in 1948, the state of Israel came into being in a violent process that entailed the ethnic cleansing of Palestine.

In the 1967 War, Israel took control of the shaded areas of the Egyptian Sinai, Syrian Golan Heights, and the Palestinian territories of the West Bank including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.

The rest of the occupied Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, housing some 5.1 million Palestinians, remain under Israeli military control under the pretext of security. Their lives have been dictated by hundreds of military checkpoints, a colour-coded permit system, and a Separation Wall that has divided families. In sum, Israel's prolonged occupation creates a situation of serious human rights violations and unbearable living conditions, in which communities and individuals see no other option but to relocate.

On paper, India remains friendly to the Palestinians and to Mahmoud Abbas, who New Delhi calls the "president of Palestine", not of the Palestinian Authority. However, his visit to India in May was low-key and the declaration India made in support of a two-state solution notably failed to mention East Jerusalem as Palestine’s future capital.

India isn’t going to lead an Israeli-Palestinian peace process, as being done by Sweden by placing its envoy; send troops to Syria or confront Iran as the U.S. does. Its stance on these issues has no practical effect, which   gives it the freedom to be friends with everyone. Modi visited arch-enemies Saudi Arabia and Iran last year, and now he has landed at Ben-Gurion International Airport. Will India continue its support to the cause of Palestine ……… Only time will tell !!!

KANDLA TO CHABAHAR AND ONWARDS TO BIG MARKETS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said on Monday that Kandla port in Gujarat will soon be connected with Iran’s Chabahar port, which will give a boost to India’s international trade and place the Indian port firmly on the global map. India Ports Global Pvt. Ltd (IPGPL) will develop and operate the Chabahar port. IPGPL is in the process of setting up two container berths and three multi-cargo berths there. Chabahar Port in Iran, which is located to the west of Gwadar Port in Pakistan is being developed and used jointly with Iran. And based on the Chabahar Port, we are also making our very own roadway and railway (in Iran) to join Iran and Afghanistan, without really having to join or touch Pakistan

Chabahar port allows India to have access to major Afghanistan cities like Kabul, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandhar. which directly allows Afghanistan to be less dependent on Pakistan (a troublesome neighbour) for Indian product as Chabahar port bypasses Pakistan directly. On Iranian side India can directly access International North South Trade Corridor (INSTC) to reach its goods to Europe. This route is 40% shorter and 30% cheaper than current sea route (currently sea route via Red sea to Suez canal is used for trade and transportation). Chabahar corridor could bring down cost and time of cargo trade to Europe by about 50%. The port is connected to Iranian existing highways which are linked to Zaranj in Afghanistan which further connects to 218 km Zanranj-Delaram highway constructed by India in 2009 at cost of Rs 600 crore. So ultimately it is a lifeline for landlocked country like Afghanistan to boost its trade and regional connectivity to International market and ensure its economic growth. IRCON International will set up a railway line at Chabahar to move goods right up to Afghanistan. Indian companies would set up a range of industries from aluminum smelter to urea plants in the region. State-owned NALCO ( National Aluminum Corporation) will set up an aluminum smelter while private and co-operative fertilizer firms are keen to build urea plants.

At present, Pakistan does not allow India to transport through its territory to Afghanistan.  It would be absurd to consider India’s investment in Chabahar port as just a strategy to counter China’s influence in Central Asia. To have diplomatic and trade relations with Central Asian countries is important for India as well. But the problem has been the Pakistan’s approach. It was either Pakistan or Iran, through which India can reach to Central Asia via Afghanistan.

Chabahar port will make way for India to bypass Pakistan in transporting goods to Afghanistan using a sea-land route.The route primarily involves moving freight from India, Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia. The objective of the corridor is to increase trade connectivity between major cities such as Mumbai, Moscow, Tehran, Baku, Astrakhan etc. More or less CPEC ( China Pakistan Economic Corridor) will help only PAK & China but Chabahar has potential for other countries also. Keeping its importance in mind it would not be wrong to say Chabahar Port run by India will be as successful as CPEC. The success of Gwadar would depend on stability in Pakistan and the success of Chabahar can be maximized with a stable Afghanistan.

Solar Solution To Power Problem In Rural Africa An Inspiration For India

     More than 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa lack access to electricity; 71 million in Kenya and Tanzania alone. Without any other options, these citizens are forced to either go without power or use kerosene, an expensive and oftentimes dangerous fuel that pollutes the air and creates fire hazards. But there is a solution that could bring affordable electricity to unserved and underserved populations while growing the local economy: pay-as-you-go solar.

     In a "pay-as-you-go" (PAYG) business model, a company essentially rents consumers a solar home system that comes with a battery, a charge controller, a solar panel, LED bulbs and a mobile charger. Basic systems have enough power to charge phones and lights, and larger ones could power small appliances like radios or TVs. Consumers use basic mobile phones – widespread in East Africa – to make payments on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.

     Through this model, companies can minimize the cost of collections by automating the receipt of payments, while remote rural customers get immediate access to basic electricity without having to take out a loan. A grid expansion project, while it may provide power to bigger appliances, can take years and significant investment to reach a rural or low-income community.

     PAYG entrepreneurs now service about 500,000 households in Kenya and Tanzania, but they represent only four or five companies, most of which are owned, managed and financed by foreign investors. This is a missed opportunity—both for citizens and for local businesses. However, local commercial banks are still not lending to these businesses because of the perceived risk of this new model. As a result, local entrepreneurs can’t access the capital they need to get started. Public finance from development finance institutions (DFIs) like the African Development Bank, Green Climate Fund or KfW could play a key role in growing the PAYG solar industry.

      DFIs have long relationships and active lines of credit with banks throughout Kenya and Tanzania, so they can spur commercial banks to make debt capital available in the local currency to entrepreneurs. Their involvement could include providing guarantee schemes or lines of credit to local banks, channeling investments through impact investors, or investing in PAYG companies’ marketing and distribution strategies, among other initiatives.

MADHESI DEMANDS IN NEPALI CONSTITUTION

      

The Madhesi people  are non-tribal, caste Hindus of Indian origin who live in the Terai region of Nepal. They are also referred to as Teraibasi Nepali  and are an indigenous ethnic group of Nepalese people. The word "Madhesh" derives from the Sanskrit term Madhyadesh which means "middle country" which was used to refer to the land between the Himalayas and the plains i.e. to the ancient kingdoms such as Videha and Shakya whose capital and minor parts are now a part of Nepal while major parts are in India. Middle country including Awadh is now in India and partially in Nepalgunj and Tulsipur Dang region of Nepal. The word Madhesh in modern days is used by Pahari Nepalis to refer to the entire flat Terai region within  Nepalese territory. The total land area of the Terai is less than 34,109 square km and comprises 20 districts that account for 23% of Nepal's total area. According to a population census of in 2001, 48% of Nepal's total population of  lived in Terai districts.

       A new Constitution was promulgated in Nepal on 20 September 2015. It has failed to satisfy the Madheshis and Tharus who constitute 70 per cent of the Terai population, who regard the formation of seven federal provinces as per the Constitution as grossly unfair to them. Only eight districts in the Terai region, from Saptari in the East to Parsa in the West, have been given the status of a province (see Map from ekantipur newspaper below); the remaining 14 districts are to be joined with the hill districts, with the sole purpose of converting the local people into a minority. The Madheshis and Tharus were sidelined in the entire constitution making process due to prevailing distrust towards them among the mainstream political parties. Of course, the Bijay Kumar Gachhadar-led Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum–Democratic was initially involved in the constitution drafting process; but later on it also had no option but to quit the alliance as its point of view was not entertained.

       Consequently, none of the major Madhesh-based parties signed the Constitution, which has serious flaws. The new Constitution has a provision for a 165-member Parliament, but the constituencies have been demarcated in such a way that the people of the hill and mountain region would get 100 seats, despite the fact that their share in Nepal's total population is less than 50 per cent. On the other hand, the Terai region constituting over half of the country's population has been allocated only 65 seats. Nepal is now widely polarised between those who support and those who oppose the Constitution. China, Pakistan and a few other countries have welcomed the new Constitution, but India has indirectly shown its displeasure over the development, which is worrisome.

       In context of new constitution, major demands of Madhesis  are  that, current constitution allocates parliamentary seats on basis of geographical area and as a result, Madhesis who represent 50% of population, will get just 39% of parliamentary seats (65 out of 165). So, Madhesis demand representation on basis of population.  Similarly, geographical spread and not population is also a precondition for other benefits and rights like - representation in National Assembly. Such provisions need amendment. There is also a clause that only persons who are by 'descent' Nepalis shall be able to occupy high constitutional posts like President, PM, Security heads, Speaker of assembly and so on. This will exclude lakhs of Madhesis who have acquired citizenship on the basis of birth or naturalization. Seven new provinces  have  manipulated  boundaries (of electoral constituency) so as to favour one party or class & they work against Madhes population. Provinces have to be redrawn to club Madhes populations together. Finally, the constitution provides delimitation exercise (re-adjustment of the electoral boundaries) after 20 years, but Madhesis wanted it to be done in 10 years ( the earlier draft outline of constitution also had the same provision, but was changed in final constitution).

       Madhesis fear that Indians will dump their political agenda once it has achieved what it wants in Kathmandu, which could be a stake in the control of water resources or priority rights in business and security contracts. The Indian establishment knows from experience — it was instrumental in breaking up Madhes-based parties in 2010 to build and bolster an anti-Maoist coalition through inducement and coercion — that not all leaders of the Madhesi movement are trustworthy. There is a reason protests are most effective in Birgunj, a city not too well known for progressive politics: It’s the only place outside of Kathmandu where there is a permanent Indian diplomatic mission.

      

There have been unconfirmed rumours of late that the Indian establishment is contemplating a change in its Nepal policy. Reportedly, Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj has been impressed upon by the Hindutva and business lobby to make peace with the PEON instead of staying the course and seeking constitutional corrections to address Madhesi, Tharu and Janjati grievances. The fear of Beijing  in New Delhi has led the southblock  to wonder whether they have ended up ceding considerable space to the Chinese in Kathmandu. A section in New Delhi also probably feels that the Madhes agitation isn’t going anywhere. Two constitutional amendment bills tabled in the parliament and a couple of promises are being bandied about as a face-saving formula.

       Should India manage to keep the trust of Madhesis, neighbourly relations between India and Nepal will grow towards familial ties in future. However, if New Delhi fails to follow through its declared policies of insisting that Nepal make its constitution more inclusive, there is a risk that the relationship will slide back to the level that existed in 1980s when Kathmandu tried to counter every overture from New Delhi with patronage from  Washington and Beijing.

       Diplomacy in line with cultural affinities is a necessity rather than choice. Despite temporary setbacks, this is a reality that Kathmandu and New Delhi will have to keep in mind. History and society can change with time, but geography is destiny. India will need to be patient and keep trying to drill some sense into the short-sighted, self-serving and prejudiced permanent establishment of Nepal. There is no shirking of responsibility that comes with being one of the most powerful players in the domestic politics of a neighboring country.

SANGLI SISTERS THEN AND NOW

     I had always known Sangli as the Chess Town, the place from where the Khadilkar sisters hailed. Rohini Khadilkar was the youngest of the three Khadilkar sisters (Vasanti and Jayshree the other two). All of them dominated Indian Women’s chess championship for a decade.  Khadilkar became National Women’s Chess in 1976 at the age of 13 and was the first to win that championship in three consecutive years. She has held the title on five occasions. Khadilkar became the first female to compete in the Indian Men’s Championship when she participated in 1976. Her involvement in a male competition caused a furore that necessitated a successful appeal to the High Court and caused the World Chess Federation president, Max Euwe, to rule that women cannot be barred from national and international championships.  In 1981, Khadilkar also became the Asian Women’s Chess Championship when the competition was held at Hyderabad. She was unbeaten in that competition and scored 11.5 out of a possible 12 points, which also made her International Woman Master (IWM).  In the same year, she became an International Chess Masterand in November 1983 she again won the Asian Women’s title when the competition was held at Kualalumpur, Malaysia.

     Today I identify Sangli as the place where nineteen aborted female fetuses have been found. Sisters of a different kind from the same town, who were never born.  I thought such news was only found in the most backward regions of the world. The fact that this has been reported from Sangli , a bustling town in Maharastra, a state with high literacy and inclusive society,  is indeed a matter of concern.  Maharastra assures free education to the girl child as also implements all  national level schemes for girl child with due diligence. In a bid to achieve its objective of improving the skewed girl child ratio in Maharashtra, the state government relaunched its “Majhi Kanya Bhagyashri” scheme in 2015.The scheme was relaunched at all district headquarters with the guardian ministers handing over certificates of encouragement to couples, who  registered under the scheme. However, it has failed to gain momentum in its implementation largely due to lack of public awareness.

     Female foeticide has been linked to the arrival of affordable ultrasound technology and its widespread adoption in India, in the early 1990s. Obstetric ultrasonography, either transvaginally or transabdominally, checks for various markers of fetal sex. It can be performed at or after week 12 of pregnancy. At this point,  75% of fetal sexes can be correctly determined, according to a 2001 study. Accuracy for males is approximately 50% and for females almost 100%. When performed after week 13 of pregnancy, ultrasonography gives an accurate result in almost 100% of cases.

     In India this most brutal form of killing females takes place regularly, even before they have the opportunity to be born. Female feticide--the selective abortion of female fetuses--is killing upwards of one million females in India annually with far-ranging and tragic consequences. In some areas, the sex ratio of females to males has dropped to less than 8000:1000. Females not only face inequality in this culture, they are even denied the right to be born.

      Why do so many families selectively abort baby daughters? In a word: economics. Aborting female fetuses is both practical and socially acceptable in India (as a helpless option). Female feticide is driven by many factors, but primarily by the prospect of having to pay a dowry to the future bridegroom of a daughter. While sons offer security to their families in old age and can perform the rites for the souls of deceased parents and ancestors, daughters are perceived as a social and economic burden. Prenatal sex detection technologies have been misused, allowing the selective abortions of female offspring to proliferate. While abortion is legal in India, it is a crime to abort a pregnancy solely because the fetus is female. Strict laws and penalties are in place for violators. These laws, however, have not stemmed the tide of this abhorrent practice as seen in the recent case. There are many such places where abortion of female fetus is a norm rather than exception. Only education can resolve this issue and offset traditional practices. Real challenge before the society is not to introduce new and need identified schemes but, their implementation & promulgation on ground which can only be done by the educated classes to uplift the masses. Time has come for us to commit ourselves to the cause and work for results rather than doing lip service and see to it that the girl child is happily accepted as the most important part of society.

INDIAN INTIATIVE IN GREAT LAKES REGION OF AFRICA : Visit by Vice President

                                

 The ongoing visit of Vice President of India Mr Hamid Ansari to Rwanda & Uganda is part of the conscious broadening of India’s diplomatic footprint in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially in the Great Lakes region. In Rwanda, Ansari launched India-Rwanda Innovation Growth Programme as part of which there would be a technology expo of India’s low-cost innovations. President of Rwanda Paul Kagame had earlier attended the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in January. During his visit to Uganda from February 21-23, the Vice President met his counterpart and the President of Uganda. Relations between India and Uganda are characterised by historical cultural linkages, extensive economic and trade interest and a convergence on major bilateral and international issues. The visit is expected to deepen and expand the bilateral relationships. The visit of the Vice-President is part of the conscious broadening of India’s diplomatic footprint in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially in the Great Lakes region.

      India and African continent’s relations are marked by cordiality, convergence of views and cooperation on major international issues, increasing bilateral trade and investments, greater people-to-people contact and a deep sense of mutual respect . Crucially, they have the potential to do much more business with one another. But while greater integration between India and the African continent presents mutually beneficial opportunities, it won’t be without challenges.

      Africa enjoys strong economic relationships with traditional partners like the EU. China is fast becoming one of the region’s main investors as well – alongside the US, China is currently Africa’s second largest trade partner. Meanwhile, India’s trade role in Africa has grown at a steady – albeit lesser – pace. The Indian government’s financial resources are not as large as China’s. It is Indian private investors who tend to be leading and financing the country’s activities in Africa.

      African and Indian consumers have similar levels of income and, consequently, compatible quality requirements. This opens a trade opportunity for Indian firms that would fail to make their mark in developed countries. India shares certain cultural and institutional similarities – such as language and institutions based on a common colonial past, particularly in Great Lake Region which saw Indians coming to build their railways under the British rule & later, the influx of Gujarati traders; only to be disrupted for time being during the rule of Idi Amin in the early seventies. This facilitates investment in areas where other foreign investors would be dissuaded. Being in close time zones, fluent in English and having similar legal systems are all advantages in the provision of business, legal and telecommunications services. This also allows Indian services providers to expand and diversify both destinations and type of services.

      Through greater ties with India, African firms will have access to a gigantic market whose consumers have similar level of income. Again, this is a chance to specialise in products with similar quality standards. Rwanda & Uganda can also benefit from the large pool of skills India offers: engineers, managers and other professionals are available at a short travel distance to provide essential services and help build their professional capacity. Experience with similar challenges (such as poor infrastructure), which require the ability to operate with scarce resources, can facilitate the exchange.

      Making the necessary policy changes for stronger trading relationships is a major challenge. Ensuring free temporary movement of people in the provision of services would allow skilled Indian professionals to transfer their skills; this will be achieved through easing out the visa formalities & establishment of resident mission in Rwanda as planned. Duty free access to each other’s market will be essential for African and Indian exporters. India-Africa relationship is growing stronger and governments are signalling their intention to institutionalise this further. But to deliver real benefits for people in two of the world’s poorest regions, they need to put the right policies in place to back up their good intentions.

TRUMP IS HERE

WELL FOUGHT BLUE RED IS THE WINNER

     Donald Trump was sworn in by chief justice John Roberts as the 45th president of the United States, as Barack Obama handed over White House on 20 Jan 2017 to the businessman, who has never held office or served in the military. President Donald Trump delivered a 16-minute inaugural address that emphasized his populist campaign themes, promising to drain the Washington swamp and revitalize manufacturing and the middle class. "From this day forward, it’s going to be only America first. America first," Trump said. "Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families."

     His victory was not unprecedented, however, in terms of votes in the Electoral College, and he lost the popular vote to Clinton by more than 3 million. He won almost 57 percent of the available votes in the Electoral College, which puts him in the bottom quarter of presidents in American history.  In 2000, George W. Bush, who like Trump had lost the popular vote but whose victory hinged on the U.S. Supreme Court, had a special obligation to try to unite the country. His address had repeated references to unity and a shared American community. Some critics thought it rang hollow, but it was a deliberate attempt. Trump did not make that attempt.

     Despite a bitter and divisive campaign, Trump made no acknowledgement of his political rival, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, who attended, all smiles, with her husband, former president Bill Clinton. And he made only brief mention of Barack Obama, but only to thank the now-former president and first lady for their help through the transition.

     The address was vintage, with Trump, rehashing some of the same-old fiery campaign slogans and themes he used on the trail: make America great again, put America first, bring back jobs and secure the borders. Trump ripped into the establishment, accusing them of reaping the rewards of government "while the people have borne the cost." The politicians' victories have not been their victories, he said, and while the politicians celebrated, the people struggled. The speech sounded "very angry" and like "classic populism”. Here are the key points from the new President :

      1.  We will follow two simple rules: buy American and hire American.

      2. We’ve defended other nation's borders while refusing to defend our own.

      3. We’ve subsidized the armies of other countries while allowing for the very sad depletion of our      military. 

      4.  We’ve made other countries rich while the wealth … of our country has dissipated over the    horizon.

      5.  An education system flush with cash, but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived  of all knowledge that need change

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     In sociology, a system is said to be social equilibrium when there is a dynamic working balance among its interdependent parts. Each subsystem will adjust to any change in the other subsystems and will continue to do so until an equilibrium is retained. The process of achieving equilibrium will only work if the changes happen slowly, but for rapid changes it would throw the social system into chaos, unless and until a new equilibrium can be reached.

     Pluralists stress civil rights, such as freedom of expression and organization, and an electoral system with at least two parties. On the other hand, since the participants in this process constitute only a tiny fraction of the populace, the public acts mainly as bystanders. How far can Trump go to fulfill Libertarian promises he made in his first speech as President. Only time will tell.

The Kolhapuri Dangal

“Kai Pahalwan”(What say! Pahalwan) this was a common form of greeting young lads from Kolhapur in the days gone by. Wrestlers are called pahalwan in most Indian languages. As a young boy I too had my tryst with the sport of Kushti or wrestling at the local Talim ( Akhada) and swelled with pride when called Pahalwan. The talims used to be full strength early in the morning with the sounds of chest thumping and the aroma of sweat filling the air. Youngsters took pride in building their bodies and playing the sport.  It was very common practice in those days  that young boys from Haryana & Punjab came to Kolhapur in the Talims  to  build their bodies and learn the nuances of wrestling, many of them could be seen competing at the local wrestling matches called ‘Dangals’. Though the number of such enthusiasts has reduced it is still not uncommon to find young lads from North doing their ‘Dand Baithaks’ (squats & pushups) in the talims of Kolhapur.

    Genesis of Kushti was rooted in 1894 during Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj’s rule when he built hundreds of talims throughout Kolhapur and invited wrestlers from all over pre-partition India, several of them from the part of Punjab that now lies in Pakistan. Kolhapur was also the alma mater of the legendary Gama pehelwan, born Ghulam Muhammad in 1878, who remained undefeated in a career spanning over 50 years, his story known to every pehelwan. The saga of Kushti continued even after the death of Shahu Maharaj who had built the Khasbag Maidan, a stadium for witnessing the dangals or fights. This place can comfortably accommodate a large crowd with a gallery for the royals & has its inspiration in the colosseum of Rome. Kolhapur has been the venue for a number of reputed matches including that of the defeat of then famous  Stanislaus Zbyszko the two time world champion from Poland to Rahim Baksh  from Lahore, as also the Hind Kesari championship in 2012. But the one remembered till date by all Kolhapuris is the loss of Satpal Maharaj of Delhi akhada to Yuvraj Patil of Kolhapur.

     Kolhapur boasts of the first Indian Olympic medal in individual sport by KD Jadhav, when he won the bronze in 1952 at Helsinki. Such was the love for this sport in Kolhapur that Barrister Balasaheb Khardekar, principal of the Rajaram College, where Jadhav studied, mortgaged his home for Rs 7,000 to send his former student to the Olympics while other sports lovers also added to the funds. On his return he was welcomed to a big fanfare including elephants.  Later came many famous wrestlers from the talims of Kolhapur that include Hind Kesari,  Birajdar & Dadu Chougule. But of late there has been no significant contribution to the list of wrestlers of repute, so much so, that even the Pro Wrestling League doesn’t have any wrestler from Kolhapur.

Where did Kolhapur lose it all then? Despite the love for the sport and despite the pride with which the Kolhapuri once thumped his chest on being called a Pahalwan the day has come when no longer Kolhapur can bask in in its old glory of wrestling. Could it be the fact that the Kolhapuri is too stuck to his traditional Kushti in the talims on the ground rather than on the mats. Or due to the lack of Government support in promoting the Greeco Roman & Freestyle forms of wrestling and the paucity of exposure to the pahalwans of Kolhapur. Lack of style quotient attached to the sport has also been a reason till the recent past; movies like’ Dangal’ & ‘Sultan’ have surely contributed to the resurgence of interest in the sport.  Only time will tell, whether, the Kolhapuri Pahalwan will rise again.

     In the meantime may good sense prevail and the Pahalwans accept change & take to the popular forms of wrestling on the mat and may Kolhapur keep producing international sportspersons like Shailaja Salonke, Tejaswani Sawant, Rahi Sarnobat & Veerdhawal Khade. A day will surely come when the Kirti Satmbh of KD Jadhav at the famous Bhavani Mandap, the central Pavilion of old palace at Kolhapur, will have to add space to honor other international sportspersons from Kolhapur.

The Kolhapuri Dangal