Striking Balance between Freebies and Economic Growth

 

   

         "Wealth cannot be distributed unless it is created." The statement hits the bulls eye. It is not required to go into debate on Socialism, Capitalism, Marxism to get hold on it. 

The Socialist ideology also believes in creation of wealth, but in their own way of public ownership of means if production and all. Capitalism believes in, bring up an idea, raise capital and create wealth. There will be lease intervention of the Govt in business arena. Apparently both the systems ended up creating huge economic disparities. 

There is no much difference in Gini Coefficients of Capitalist economies, and former or current socialist regimes. When the economic disparity is rampant, when economically vulnerable sections form huge chunk of the electorate, populist measures of freebies come in. Economic disparity plays part in developing economies, but in developed countries such expenditure is a normal thing. The expenditure on freebies may turn out to be successful only if the society is tax compliant enough to sustain such outlay. Otherwise, it may turn out to be economic catastrophe.

Barak Obama administration could bring the Health benefit scheme popularly known as 'Obamacare' because USA economy is the largest economy. Moreover it has got set establishment of Wealth Creators and Taxpayers. Depending upon those USA can bring in such schemes. After change in regime President Trump thrashed that scheme in bin. 

Greece, in Europe, kept on spending on salaries & pensions raising public debt to the extent of 200% of its GDP. Spending on freebies, non productive sectors instead investing for wealth creation leads to economic catastrophe. End result ,EU is still trying to ease out crisis arose due to Greek problem. 

Oil rich country of Venezuela based its economy entirely on oil revenues. offered number of freebies to its subjects. almost neglected the other sectors. Global oil prices crashed and Venezuelan economy is collapsed. 

Another freebie that has been in discussion across the globe is the Universal Basic Income. India's Economic Survey for 2016-17 also discussed the possibility of such in Indian economy. In this case Switzerland put a precedence by rejecting the idea of Universal Basic Income in the referendum. Striking a balance between Freebies and Economic Growth is difficult yet necessary task. 

          

After independence for a long time Indian economy followed the socialistic pattern of society. India adopted a multiparty Parliamentary democracy with quasi federal model. Indian political system works from Panchayat level to Parliament. At every level issues are different, type of political struggle is different but one thing is common. That is announcements of 'Freebies' if come to power. 

The form of freebies change according to the institution. Pressure cookers, Irons, etc. are offered at the Municipality, Municipal Corp. elections. Farm loan waivers, Electricity bill waivers/concessions, Laptops, Tabs form the part of freebies offered at the Assembly elections. And the general elections to Loksabha comes in with different sort of freebies.

For example the 'Interim Budget' presented a month before announcement of General elections officially offered freebies such as PM KISAN and rebate in individual income tax up to 5 lac rupees slab. Congress party offered altogether different scheme that may seem like Universal Basic Income called NYAY, Offering 72,000 per year to 'poorest' 20 percent population. 

Tamil Nadu based Dravidian parties are leading in not just announcement but implementation of such freebies at the cost of neglecting/extending fiscal limits of state treasury. Amma canteen, Indira canteen, free laptops and most interesting to note is freebie for poultry farming and supply. 

These schemes put a huge burden on state's coffers. 

To implement the PM KISAN scheme with retrospective effect the union government provided for additional spending in previous year budget and revised the fiscal deficit target also. That's why striking a balance between Freebies and Economic Growth is necessary.  

         

To analyse this issue let us go with an example of farm loan waivers and schemes such as Rythu Bandhu and PM KISAN. Farm loans are given by banks at lower interest rates. Union government as well as various state governments offer interest subvention schemes for farm loans. Agriculture sector has been facing various issues. Those are irregular and inadequate supply of fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, farm labor and loans also. Another major issue is price for the agricultural produce.    

Some regions of Maharashtra faced a classic problem. Failure of Kharip crop due to deficient rainfall, lack of irrigation and destruction of Rabi crops due to thunderstorms and hailstorms. In this scenario farmers were demanding farm loan waivers in various states. 

There was an unprecedented 'Farmers Strike' in Maharashtra. So Maharashtra government announced farm loan waiver scheme of 36,000 crore, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgadh, Rajasthan governments announced farm loan waivers. 

Clearing the loan accounts and enable farmers to seek new loans for new cultivation seasons, is the basic idea behind farm loan waivers. But, just after announcement of farm loan waiver scheme the NPA in farm loans rose to 24 percent in Madhya Pradesh. Farmers who fell under scheme criteria simply stopped repaying the loan and those who didn't refused to repay loan. They started expecting similar waiver.

Result, NPAs have risen. Farmer's previous loan accounts are not clear. According to Banking rules Banks are not ready to advance further loans to farmers. Half of cultivation 2019 Kharif season is gone with more or less average monsoon but farmers are not able to get funding for cultivation season. 

Here the PM KISAN and schemes like Rythu Bandhu, KALIA frames in with the objective of fulfilling the working capital needs of farmers. 

          

There are major policy level freebies in India since long time. Like the Public Distribution System, which eventually got the statutory status under Food Security act. Union Government passed it in 2013, but state governments such as Chattisgadh have been running it for many years before it. 

These systems work only when both the beneficiary and the supplier are benefitted.

Another policy level freebie is in existence known as MGNREGS. Annual Financial Statement for 2018-19 provides 89 thousand crore for the scheme. Has this scheme created any long term assets? 

There are few states which collaborated the NREGA with state programs such as Maharashtra. 'Magel Tyala Shet tale' (Farm pond on demand) and Jalyukt Shivar scheme were collaborated with NREGA. It has created a disintegrated watershed structure across Maharashtra, especially in drought prone areas. With this scheme 24 TMC water could be preserved and Ground water table rose substantially. 

Despite of deficient rainfall in successive years farm productivity rose substantially. 

The Mid Day Meal scheme for Government schools. Which might seem unnecessary expenditure, scope for corruption etc. But one thing must be considered that it has resulted in rise in enrollment in rural areas also improved health indicators of underprivileged children. In a way it is to be considered as an investment for the future. 

Balancing the fiscal prudence, maintaining the growth story is a tremendous task. 

While considering all the lacunae in spending on subsidies Direct Benefit Transfer has made a huge impact. Current Government is trying to cut down expenditure on subsidies. 

Prime Minister emphasized the importance of wealth creators in independence day speech. It is necessary to emphasize on wealth creation with least hurdle. Creation of a society which will not seek freebies but contribute more and more to economy has to be the objective. To achieve that objective Striking balance between freebies and Economic Growth is the way forward. 

Shivraj Ashtak: Digpal Lanjekar

A Perfect Blend of  Adhering to Historical Facts and Creative Liberty 

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is a scared, revered figure for the Maharashtrians, Indians. He is not any other king who found his kingdom by defecting a weak existing king. He is revered because his ideals, his actions, his vision changed the course of history. India, especially Hindus in India owe their existence today to Shivaji Maharaj. Maharaj always iterated that establishment of Hindavi Swarajya is will of Shri (Ishwar), I am the marshal of that will. Many historians have written biographies, historical accounts on Maharaj. Some of the most authentic historians are Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale, Va. Si. Bendre, Jadunath Sarkar, Vi. Ka. Rajwade, T. S. Shejwalkar and many more. There are great scholars like Narhar Kurundkar who have put brilliant analysis on life and times of Shivaji Maharaj at various platforms. I would like to quote what Narhar Kurundkar has stated about Maharaj, and will go to the topic, 

"Shivaji Maharaj changed the course of history. There were Hindu kings in medieval period India. Their kingdoms maintained status quo in victories and faced complete destruction in loss in battle. They used to face destruction due to an invasion (Islamic Invasions in fact). Invaders used to march in their territory easily. One invasion could destroy their prosperous kingdoms. Shivaji Maharaj overthrown this legacy. He chose his own battlegrounds. He kept close watch on enemies. His kingdom expanded in victories, he managed to keep the core kingdom intact in backlashes. He looked after his subjects like children, his ideas, vision inspired common people. Common people believed its their Swarajya too. That vision gave common people the inspiration to fight Mogul forces of Aurangzeb for 27 years, defeating the greta Mogul." 

The great personality has been inspiring and will continue to inspire authors, filmmakers, playwrights, painters, sculptors. There is a great legacy of novels of based on life and times of Maharaj. There is a great legacy of playwrights. And the unforgettable legacy of Bhalji Pendharkar and his movies based on Shivaji Maharaj. In modern period Shivaji Maharaj came back to the screen with great production value, historical accuracy, with the TV serial, Raja Shivchhatrapati. Starring Amol Kolhe, Mrunal Kulkarni and many others. Director Digpal Lanjekar has brought Shivaji Maharaj to the big screen with his Shivraj Ashtak (8 Movies based on life and times of Shivaji Maharaj). Can be termed as Shivaji Maharaj universe, quoting the Marvel Movie Universe term. 

The saga started with the film 'Farzand' based on the valor of Kondaji Farzand and Annaji Datto who captured the Panhala fort with only 60 troops. The second one was 'Fatteshikast' rightly termed as India's first Surgical Strike. A daring attack led by Shivaji Maharaj himself, on Shahista Khan at Pune's Lal Mahal. Third is 'Pawankhind' the glorious saga of valor, sacrifice of Baji Prabhu Deshpande and Bandal Sena at the Pawankhind. And latest is 'Sher Shivraj-Swari Afjalkhan' a mind game of diplomacy and greatest strategic war planning. Next in line is the stunning, impressive act of escape from Agra. These movies have come and are coming in the right times. 

The cinema, storytelling, technologies have changed. One can use VFX and other technics to give a visual treat to audience. When the technology blends with entirely Indian stories, stories of valor, stories of Indic values, it profoundly puts forward the Indic perspective before the audience. Be it the magnum opus Bahubali or the Shivraj Ashtak. Though Bahubali was entirely a fiction, offering great visuals of Indic values, glory of Indian kingdoms, Shivraj Ashtak is based on a life of great man. There is little scope for liberty, especially in the current times when sensitivity is at its peak. Some or the other community gets hurt. But Digpal Lanjekar is class apart. 

Digpal Lanjekar has tremendous hold over historical facts. He has studied the primary sources of history. He has hold ancient texts. He has hold over folk tales. He has the great ability to build a perfect screenplay based on undisputed historical facts, folk tales, legends and creative liberty to make the art more attractive. For example, the first film Farzand. Where primary sources, writings of historians present only fact that 60 troops climbed the mountain, fought and captured the fort. To make this one liner into a feture length film, creative liberty was mandatory. So folk tales, stories of espionage, gathering troops, stories of families of generals, soldiers come in. But the fact remains, no one can question the writer-director Digpal over this liberty. 

Take the example of Fatteshikast and Sher Shivraj. A daring act like attack on Lal Mahal, a masterpiece of strategic planning like Afjalkhan Swari or should be termed as battle of Pratapgad to take it to broader level, were impossible without intel gathering. History mentions few names of spies in Shivaji Maharaja's armies. The head of intel department of Shivaji Maharaj, known as the eyes of Maharaj, Bahirji Naik's name is only mentioned in some sources. It actually is the great success of the intel force. So writer-director took creative liberty, creating characters who helped Bahirji Naik in intel gathering. When the creative liberty adds on the craft it takes the movie to a great levels. Lanjakar has got the knack. 

Finally the most important thing in the Shivraj Ashtak universe, is the unapologetic portrayal of Hindu symbols. There is an unnecessary, uncalled race to prove Shivaji Maharaj being a secular (in modern terms. The Hindu bashing type of secularism). Digpal Lanjekar portrays the Temples, Shivaji Maharaj performing daily offerings, Maharaja's court having big Bhavani Murti at the back walls, Big Hanuman Statue at the place where they practice warfare, References to Ayurveda, its use in strategic warfare, References to ancient texts like 'Agnipurana' for ancient weaponry, brilliant dream scenes depicting Bhavani herself blessing Shivaji Maharaj. This makes Writer-Director Digpal Lanjekar class apart. 

All the four movies have received critical acclaim as well as are box office hits/blockbusters. Honesty towards the topic, adhering to the history, taking creative liberty to enhance the visual experience is accepted by the audience. Digpal Lanjekar has proved it. The Marathi cinema industry has been recharged with the universe. It is equally necessary to take the saga of Shivaji Maharaj at pan India level with this kind of honesty and integrity. Let's hope for the best in future. 

 

Published: Swarajya Mag

Shivsrushti: Where History Becomes Alive

Photo Credit: Vaastu Vidhan

The magnum opus 'Shiva Bawavani' as "Kashi ki Kala Jati, Mathura Masjid Bhayi, Agar Shivaji na hote, to Sunnat hoti sabki," No other poet is as profound as Kavi Bhushan to describe the civilizational importance of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. 

Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Defense Minister of India Yashwantrao Chavan described the importance of Shivaji Maharaj, as, "Had there been no Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the entire world knows what would have the fate of India. There would not have been a need to go very far to find Pakistan border. Perhaps the border could have been found outside your and my house." 

Union Home and Co-operation Minister Shri Amit Shah quoted this in the inauguration ceremony of first phase of the Shivsrushti at Pune, a dream of the late Shivshahir Babasaheb Purandare come true. 

Shivshahir Babasaheb Purandare had dedicated his life to bringing Shivaji Maharaj to people with every tool at his disposal. He did extensive research from the primary sources of history on Shivaji Maharaj. He left no stone unturned to get hold on the sources of history like Sanads, Letters, Chronicles (Bakhar), foreign traveler's accounts and many more. His quest for studying and presenting the history of Shivaji Maharaj continued till his last breath. After doing a considerable research he came up with his magnum opus 'Raja Shivchhatrapati' a chronicle based on evidences (Purava Adharit Bakhar). 

Photo Credit: Vaastu Vidhan

Babasaheb Purandare didn't stop there. He gave a whopping 12,000 lectures on Shivaji Maharaj at multiple occasions, places across the world. He wrote and curated the magnum opus play named 'Janata Raja' where he staged Shivaji Maharaj's history at a massive scale. There have been 1,200 shows of the play across the world and counting. 

The idea of 'Shivsrushti' an exhibition where history shall become alive came to Babasaheb's mind. In the year 1967 he came together with Chhatrpati Pratapsinh Maharaj, descendant of Shivaji Maharaj at Satara, Rajmata Sumitraje Bhosale to form Maharaja Shivchhatrapati Pratishthan. He donated the proceedings from these 12,000 lecture and 1200 shows of Janata Raja for the erection of Shivsrushti at Ambegaon near Pune, of which the first phase has been inaugurated by Union Home and Co-operation Minister Shri Amit Shah. 

Shivsrushti is probably one of the best exhibitions where every modern tool, technology has been used to bring history to live. The technologies of holography, project mapping, motion simulations, 3D, 4D tech, Audio-visual tech are employed. Miniatures of historical forts Shivaji Maharaj built, captured have been erected. The historical tools, weapons are at display. In the second and subsequent phases the replicas of Rajsabha, Jagadishwar Temple at Raigad, replicas of various forts, temples shall be dedicated to people. 

Replica of Jagadishwar Mahadeo at Raigad. 
Photo Credit: Vaastu Vidhan

Union Home and C0-operation Minister Shri Amit Shah, being an admirer of the Maratha history stated that no other day would have been accurate to inaugurate the first phase than the Birth anniversary of Shivaji Maharaj. Shah quoted Maithilisharan Gupt's stanza about Shriram, "Ram tera charit swayam hi kavya hai, kavi ban jae to sahaj sambhavya hai.." Babasaheb also quoted it and stated that it also applies to Shivaji Maharaj. 

HM Amit Shah stated that Shivaji Maharaj carried out multiple projects of for Panchangshuddhi, he encouraged to write Karankaustubh Granth, the Raj Vyavahar Kosh for Bhasha Shuddhi. Where 1400 words were stated down to replace foreign words with Sanskrit, and Sanskrit originated Indian languages. Shivaji Maharaj carved his Rajmudra in Sanskrit, ending with the words "Esha Mudra Bhadray Rajate" that describes the vision of Lok kalyan. 

HM Stated that Shivaji Maharaj was the torch bearer of Dev, Desh, and Dharma. He rebuilt many temples razed by Muslim and Christian invaders. Shivaji Maharaj recaptured and rebuilt the Arunachalam temple of Tiruvannamalai during his Dakshin Digvijaya. He rebuilt the Raj Daivat of Goa Shri Saptkoteshwar razed by Portuguese forces. The Govt. of Goa has recently renovated the Saptkoteshwar temple and dedicated it to the people. 

HM Amit Shah also stated that the movement of Swaraj did not with Shivaji Maharaj but grew eternally to the glory. Sambhaji Maharaj, Shahu Maharaj, Bajirao Peshwa, Madhavrao Peshwa took the legacy forward to build the empire. The legacy of Dev, Desh and Dharma, in the form of recapturing, reconstructing the razed temples was also carried forward by many including Shahu Maharaj, Bajirao, Madhavrao Peshwa, and Ahilyabai Holkar. Shah stated that Hon'ble PM Shri Narendra Modi ji is also following the legacy with the Kashi Vishwanath corridor, gold plating of the Somnath temple, Kedarnath and the Ram Mandir. Shivaji Maharaj not just brought in Swarajya, Sushasan, and Swadharm but also brought back the glory and 'Swatwa' among the Hindus. 

It is pertinent to quote Shivshahir Babasaheb Purandare from his 'founder's message' for Shivsrushti, where he says, "To make our great nation even greater every generation has to develop their national character.. ideal values and ethics need to be installed in our youth. Hence, to endeavor this colossal task the life history of Shivaji Maharaj is one of the great sources from yore.. history is the most valued treasure." The project of Shivsrushti which will be Asia's largest historical theme park when completed shall inscribe a sense of pride, and righteousness in the minds of generations to come. 

पूर्वप्रसिद्धी: 

How poets personified Shivaji Maharaj

 

साजि चतुरंग सैन अंग में उमंग धरी 

सरजा शिवाजी जंग जीतन चलत हैं 

भूषण भनत नाद बिहद नगारन के 

नदी-नद मद गैबरन के रलत हैं 

ऐल-फैल खैल-भैल खलक में गैल गैल 

गजन की ठैल-पैल सैल उसलत हैं 

तारा सों तरनि धूरि-धारा में लगत जिमि 

थारा पर पारा पारावार यों हलत हैं 

This is how Kavi Bhooshan describes how Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj looks like when he begins his march for a war. He says, the sounds of kettle-drums are deafening and the young bull-elephants are secreting so much that, there are rivers of them flowing. The elephants are spreading such commotion that there is chaos and disorder in the paths of enemy, where this treads. So thunderous is there movement that the hills along are being uprooted. The feet and the hooves of this army raise so much dust that it covers the sky and the shining sun is reduced to but like a twinkling star. As the massive army marches through, the earth trembles like mercury on a wobbling plate. (Translation by Atul Sabnis. at thecustodiansin.wordpress.com)

There cannot be more apt description of great armies of Shivaji Maharaj that established the Hindavi Swarajya, that eventually went on to become Hindavi Samrajya. There are multiple heroic moments in the life of Shivaji Maharaj that prove his greatness. But one incident, one moment of his life that changed the course of the history of India is the Rajyabhishek i.e. Coronation. The 'Sabhasad Bakhar' (Chronicle) says, "या युगी सर्व पृथ्वीवर सर्व म्लेंछ बादशहा. हा मऱ्हाटा पातशाह येवढा छत्रपती जाला. ही गोष्ट काही सामान्य जाली नाही." meaning, There are only Mlenchh Badshah in current times. A Marhata king becoming Chhatrapati is not an ordinary thing. It indeed isn't an ordinary thing, and we are celebrating the 350th anniversary of Rajyabhishesk, to be rightly called as the Hindu Samrajya Din. 

The greatness of Shivaji Maharaj is sung by many, in multiple formats like chronicles, ballads, poems, Mahakavyas and many more. Here, it is an attempt to look at how contemporary and some modern poets described Shivaji Maharaj through their poems. There are contemporary poets who wrote on the greatness of Shivaji Maharaj, like Kavindra Paramanand Newaskar, Kavi Bhooshan and Ajnandas. There are many contemporary poets who have composed poems but here is an attempt to deal with some of them, including Mahatma Phule, Swatantryaveer Savarkar, Shankar Vaidya, Kusumagraj, etc.

 

Kavindra Paramanad Newaskar was contemporary to Shivaji Maharaj. He was with him during the Agra campaign of Shivaji Maharaj, where he mysteriously escaped from the captivity of Aurangzeb. Shivaji Maharaj had given an order to Kavindra Paramanand to write his biography. According to it, Paramanand wrote the biography in Sanskrit, known as the Shiv Bharat. This Sanskrit biography is in the form of a Mahakavya. Modern historians, authority on history of Shivaji Maharaj consider this as one of the most authentic source of history. Kavindra Paramanand being contemporary to the life and times of Shivaji Maharaj, describes the battles, incidences, the character of Shivaji maharaj as Dharm Abhimani very well. 

There is a glorious tradition of 'Powada' i.e. ballads based on heroics of the great men in Maharashtra. There have been many contemporary 'Shahirs' who compose these ballads. Shahir Ajnandas is one of the important among them, who has composed a ballad on the battle of Pratapgad i.e. slaying of Adilshahi general Afzal Khan. The ballads are mostly composed in Veer Rasa. There are some modern Shahirs, poets who composed ballads on the life of times of Shivaji Maharaj. Social reformer Mahatma Jyotiba Phule is among them. The 'Shivaji Cha Powada' composed by him is quite well known. There is another important name in this league is Swatantryaveer Savarkar, who composed ballads on the incidences of battle of Pawankhind and battle of Sinhgad. These ballads are sung, presented by many modern folk artists in Maharashtra, along with new compositions also. 

The topic of poems on Shivaji Maharaj would be incomplete without mentioning of Kavi Bhooshan. He was born in Trivikrampur (Tikmapur) in Uttar Pradesh. His family has immensely contributed to the Hindi literature. He was the one travelled across India in the 17th century, met multiple kings, people at different places, but he says it was Shivaji Maharaj who admire the most. Kavi Bhooshan has composed the 'Shiva Bavani' and many Chhand praising Shivaji Maharaj. The Chhand quoted at the beginning is from the Shiva Bavani. No other contemporary poet has described Shivaji Maharaj as Kavi Bhooshan has done. 

In modern times, a poetic, musical masterpiece 'Shiv Kalyan Raja' was created by the genius minds of Pt. Hridayanath Mangeshkar, Lata Mangeshkar, Babasaheb Purandare. In this musical the poems, Chhandas of Kavi Bhooshan, Swanatntryaveer Savarkar, Kusumagraj ( Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar), Govindagraj (Ram Ganesh Gadkari), Shankar Vaidya, Samarth Ramdas, woven in  such a way that described the life of Shivaji Maharaj. Babasaheb Purandare narrated the story background in brief and the songs described the story. 

It has lori (lullby), written by Govindagraj, where Jijabai is igniting little Shivaji's mind for the cause. It has the aarti of Shivaji Maharaj written by Savarkar, which he had written in his college days. The aarti was sung at the meetings of the secret revolutionary organization Abhinav Bharat. It has another poem by Savarkar, 'He Hindu Nrusinha Prabho Shivaji Raja' describing Shivaji Maharaj as 'Hindu Nrusinh'. It has two Chhanda by Kavi Bhooshan. It has the long open letter written by Samarth Ramdas, not just to Shivaji Maharaj but to the people of Maharashtra describing him as 'निश्चयाचा महामेरू, बहुत जनांसी आधारु। अखंड स्थितीचा निर्धारु. श्रीमंत योगी।।

The musical has another most important poem by Shankar Vaidya describing how the Rajyabhishek is saffron light emerged from a Yajna going on for centuries. 

शतकांच्या यज्ञातून उठली एक केशरी ज्वाला 

दहा दिशांच्या हृदयामधुनी अरुणोदय झाला

The coronation of Shivaji Maharaj is one of the most important moment in the history of India. It has changed the past, present of India, and going to shape the future surely. Historians have critically studied the sources and presented the history in front of us. The Shahirs, Poets have composed ballads, poems, Mahakavyas on that history that will keep us ignited. In the end, the last stanza of Shiva Bavani is evident to be cited as it sums it up the importance of Shivaji Maharaj in the history, present and future of India. It says, 

कासीहू की कला जाती, मथुरा मसीत होती, 

अगर शिवाजी न होते तो सूनति होत सबकी।

 

Published: Swarajya Mag special issue "350 Years of Swarajya"