Click here to go to the main page of Star Of Mysore.
Click here to go to the main page of Sri. K.B.Ganapathy.
Please send your opinions, feedbacks, articles to shshenoy at yahoo.com

Writing a book, on any subject, even an autobiography, is no mean task. Yet many venture to do so. Specially those who can hire a ghost - writer. Like Capt. G. R. Gopinath, whose “Simply Fly - A Deccan Odyssey” is a unique work for an autobiography, thanks to the ghost.

I am presently reading another book, not autobiography, by one of the founders and the former Second – In - Command of Infosys Technologies Limited, Nandan Nilekani, who now enjoys a Cabinet rank as the Chief of Unique Identity Card Project of the Government of India, after leaving Infosys. The book is titled “Imagining India - Ideas for the new century”. It is undoubtedly a hurriedly produced book of eclectic thoughts and full of quotations.

Of late, I realise that those aspiring for new opportunities and openings after retirement or just before, write books so that an aura of an “expert” or a “think tank” or an “intellectual” is created about the author to be acceptable for the new, big office. Of course, some are already so famous and acceptable they do not need to indulge in this “trick”. I am sure Nandan Nilekani does not need this kind of “booster”. But all the same, he has produced this tome of a book and good for the knowledge - hunters like me.

Whether there was a ghost here in this book is difficult to discern. But sure there must have been an array of aides helping the project. Oh, yes. These days, even writing a book is considered a project. Let it be.

The point is, this man, Nandan Nilekani, seems to have deep concern for “developing” this country that seems “reluctant” for such efforts. After all, a pig is happy where it is! As it is!! Yet, there are people like Nandan Nilekani who have ideas and visions for getting our country out of this morass and rut. They are idealists, not entrepreneurs. While the former thinks of people, the latter thinks of profit.

Some of the quotes and ideas I have found in the book so far are both revealing and interesting. For example, he writes what Leo Tolstoy wrote about India that was enslaved by the British (after being enslaved by Muslim conquerors). Tolstoy writes: "What does it mean that thirty thousand people, not athletes, but rather weak and ordinary … have enslaved millions of freedom - loving people? … Do not the figures make it clear that not English but Indians have enslaved themselves?"

How right. We seem to love being enslaved. After all, a slave has no responsibility. It is easy to obey, not command. To obey you don't need brains. To command, you need brains. See, who the de facto ruler of India is today — after the days of the former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

For long we have been hearing about "Vote Bank" politics, a term coined, we all thought, by the BJP to deride the Congress for their ostentatious policy of appeasing particularly Muslim and Dalit minorities of our country. After reading the book, “Imagining India” by Nandan Nilekani, now I know who had coined the phrase “Vote Bank”.

The phrase was coined by the renowned Indian sociologist, M. N. Srinivas in 1957 while making a speech at the Indian Science Congress, predicting that India would not fulfill the great hope of a casteless society, noted that caste in India was far from dead. And as we can see, it is here even today! Caste is very much alive and kicking! He also said that our country was witnessing a growing manipulation of the democratic process and politics by caste lobbies, which for the first time he described as “Vote Bank”. The BJP was certainly clever enough to borrow this phrase and use it effectively against its Number One political rival the Congress.

Another interesting information the book gives is about the people who really ruled the Indian villages and Indian cities. It appears Indian villages were dominated by Zamindars under different nomenclatures. For instance in old Mysore, it was the Yajamana or Patela presiding over the local affairs, including dispensing justice. However, the stamp of Imperial, British, rule was apparent all over the cities. The renowned freedom fighter, Lala Lajpat Rai who worked in Hissar (Punjab) municipality described the European officer as an “extremely mischievous and tyrannical” man. Similar was the experience of Vallabhbhai Patel with the Ahmedabad municipality. I may find such gems as I move on with Nandan Nilekani's book and for sure, I will share it with you.

Tail Piece:
Devotees carrying leftover leaves on their heads to fulfill their religious vow at Subramanyaswamy temple in Nagalamadike in Pavagada Taluk, Tumkur, on Jan. 2, 2010.

"Even as the 500 - odd Brahmin devotees inside the Subramanyaswamy temple finish their meal, served on plantain leaves, the tension amongst the 4000 or more devotees standing in wait outside reaches a crescendo.

Because it is the leaves, on which the Brahmins eat, that the crowd of devotees are eyeing. The devotees have vowed to carry these leaves on their heads and put it away into the Pinakini River on the occasion of Subramanya Shashti, which they believe would sort out problems in their lives.

This century - old ritual is believed to be the cure for all skin ailments, ear infections and even help childless couples."

How can you “imagine India” with this kind of people and remain a mute spectator? Enter Nandan Nilekani!

By K. B. Ganapathy
Courtesy: Star of Mysore