Every once in a while, one comes across a weekly/monthly/journal that turns out to be a joy to read. Such a one is the September issue of Freedom First, which at one time represented the views of the Swatantra Party. On August 1, this year, a programme was held by the monthly to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of Swatantra Party, which, alas, is no more! Its aim was to emphasise the primacy of the individual vis-à-vis the State and to promote an economic policy that was bitterly opposed by the then ruling Congress(I).
The Swatantra Party was opposed to Jawaharlal Nehru’s concept of socialism and Freedom First articulated the party’s views in full measure. The latest edition of the monthly says that Freedom First “was not in the past, nor will it in the future be a mouthpiece or an organ of any political party”, only to add that “this does not mean that we will not associate with any entity or organisation that has policies that promote liberal values and ideas”.
So, in its own way, Freedom First is a totally independent journal, which has the courage of its convictions and the daring to air them. But why is the current issue notable? For one, it carries a stringent article on the Government of India’s current policy towards Maoists, which, says the author V Balachandran, “lacks depth and will fail miserably”. And he provides cogent reasons for coming to that conclusion. For another, greatly-recommended reading is Maj. Gen. (Retd) ED’Souza’s article on Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh under the heading: “Are We Heading for a 1962 Repeat”? Remember what happened in 1962 when India suffered a sickening defeat at the hands of the Chinese, to the utter discredit of both Jawaharlal Nehru and his then Defence Minister VK Krishna Menon?
News reports have been warning in recent weeks of China repeating its 1962 adventure. Gen. D’Souza’s advice to the Government is “to act NOW” on the grounds that “we have lead time to get our act right”. And this advice comes from a retired General who is familiar with the scene. He believes that the government in Delhi has done some good work to “improve our preparedness posture” and the wisest step taken by it was to appoint an ex-Army chief as Governor”. As Gen. D’Souza sees it: “So far as our manpower is concerned and the quiet confidence of our officers and men, given the tools, our response (to any Chinese aggression) will be good.” That is a heartening thought.
On the political side, a third, but short, article is one Indo-Pak relations written by Firoze Hirjikaka, which lambasts the current Government of India’s policy towards Pakistan as ‘farcical’, giving as it does “the appearance of a lumbering whale being made to jump through hoops, at will by the minnow Pakistan”. An entirely relevant comment, believe it or not.
India is not behaving like a major power “clearly superior to Pakistan in every aspect-military, economic and size”. Yet, says Hirjikaka: “It is allowing Pakistan to barter as an equal partner.” So what should India do? Says Hirjikaka bluntly: “For one thing it can start asserting the clout it possesses, but has been reluctant to use. It is time India makes it plain to Pakistan and the United States that its patience has been fully exhausted. India should issue an ultimatum to Pakistan to book and punish the guilty of 26/11 forthwith, failing which it will put its armed forces on high alert. The threat of Pakistan being compelled to withdraw the bulk of its military from the Afghan border and transfer them to the Eastern front will rattle the Americans so much that they will finally put pressure on Pakistan to do the right thing.” All that one can to this advice is “Amen”! Adds Hirjikaka: “India is a large and powerful country. It is time it started acting like one.” Hurray!
But unquestionably the most scholarly article is on Ganesh Chaturthi and especially on Ganesh himself, the Vighneshwara, Vinayak whom millions worship and adore. The author is Suman Oak, a retired lecturer on education, SNDT University, who is associated with Stree Hitakarini, Centre for the Study of Social Changes and Andha Shraddha Nirmoolan Samiti. According to Suman Oak, Ganesh is not mentioned independently as a God in the Vedasamhitas or Brahmana Granthas and no Ganesh idol belonging to the period earlier than the fifth century has been discovered. Apparently the Kautilya Arthashastra does not mention Ganesh either even while describing temples dedicated to other gods. She says: “Skanda and Ganesh are both originally Dravidian deities like Rudra-Shiva and they were assimilated in the Vedic religion along with Rudra-Shiva.” Furthermore, writes Suman Oak, the Aryans originally thought of Ganesh as a vicious ‘graha’ but later absorbed him, making Vinayak into Siddhivinayak, God of prosperity and success. During the Gupta period, the Puranas were refurbished and God Ganesh became Prathamesh, the deity that has to be worshipped first and foremost before starting any work or worship.
The article provides much more information that would, no doubt, fascinate worshippers of Vighneshwara. What is relevant about this and other articles appearing in Freedom First is that they are provocative and challenging. As for the article on Ganesh, an editorial note says: “The intention here is not to condemn all rites, rituals and festivals outright but to look at their utility, propriety and necessity critically, and loosen their grip on the minds of our people.” It doesn’t seem likely, though, that Suman Oak will dissuade millions of Hindus from observing Ganesh Chaturthi in style, not to say pomp.
