Forget IIMs and IITs,let's cheer for IIC

Welcome to IIC (Indian Institute of Corruption), Ranchi! As all of you are aware of our enviable reputation as the pioneer in corruption education, the initial briefing shouldn’t take long. IIC was established in the year 2000 to impart social, political, cultural and moral corruption with an international perspective. The view was to instil the lowest levels of morality and honesty in public life and achieve international fame through administrative failure, political instability, zero industrial investment, record unemployment and to top it all establish Jharkhand as the worst state of India by 2010.

Today, we feel honoured to announce that despite the global recession, our illustrious alumni have achieved the deadlines in 2009. Since the dates of the entrance examination have been declared, it is customary on our part to let you know the expectations that we have from the aspirants vying for these coveted 81 seats.

Our main criterion is your passion for fraudulence; so we have no bar whatsoever with age, education, sex, religion etc. As an institute we follow a policy of equal opportunities to all our students. But like any other academic set up, everything finally boils down to the student’s devotion, sincerity and potential to make the best of his time here and utilise this publicly chosen stint to take Jharkhand back by as many years as possible. So, few don’t excel but these handfuls surely don’t represent our high academic standards and knowledge sharing tools. The competition is particularly tough because we run one session in five years and if a candidate fails the entrance exam, his waiting time can go up to five years. Though we have drop outs and occasional vacancies, but they are rare; so even more difficult.

The list of our bright pedigree is impossibly long but a few names deserve definitive mention and a huge round of applaud for setting new benchmarks of fraud and swindling almost half of the annual budget of the state. The man who pulled of a startling scam of 4000 Crores is our esteemed alumni and Independent MP Madhu Koda- the longest serving independent Chief Minister of the nation. The scam is undoubtedly the biggest in Independent India. And, I must mention that the speed of these earnings can bring a Warren Buffet to shame. Though I am sure not all of you know who Buffet is, don’t worry as this is not a part of the syllabus.

We also have some distant programmes for people who otherwise are equally talented but can’t qualify through the main entrance test. Our super-talented alumni get them on board by relaying their rays of knowledge in all directions. Recently our two distant programme participants Vinod Sinha and Sanjay Chaudhry under the able leadership of Mr. Koda became national headlines by extending their business interests from the backwaters of Chaibasa and Chandil to Glitzy Dubai and Hongkong- all with the exchequer’s money. Their story is copybook rags to regime and it’s a matter of time before a curious soul starts a book on them.

The success saga of IIC doesn’t end here. But, statistics are like miniskirts, what they hide is vital and what they reveal is suggestive. So, like the B school on-campus salaries that never say anything about the in-hand package, this pre-recruitment talk also won’t divulge all details. Once the results are declared on the 23rd December, the chosen ones are more than welcome to access those stashed bits of critical information. We wish you all good luck with your exams and hope to see you soon!

Let's save Jharkhand,Rahul

Dear Rahul,

After taking the nation by storm in the general elections and becoming the proverbial poster boy of Congress you are coming to Jharkhand to revive the dilapidated morale of your party-men. In your whirlwind tour, you plan to cover almost everything including ‘The Dalits’. After your grand success in Uttar Pradesh and Tamilnadu, Jharkhand also expects you to repeat the same and perhaps change the status quo.

In the youngest nation in the world, activities around youth raise omnipresent expectations. From MTV icons to Indian idols, names across professional verticals reflect the hope India holds in its young ambassadors. And when the credo hits Jharkhand, the reference parameters are genuinely high because the competition comes directly from the most eligible bachelor of India: M .S.Dhoni.

Though the rules in politics and cricket differ subjectively, the aspirations with the stars do share striking commonality. If multitudes worship them for successes, they also offer them the deserving ridicule when they fail to deliver. Ranchi hardly took anytime to forget Mahi’s T20 triumph when team India lost in England. Similarly, you don’t have many options in one of the most troubled states of the country should you fail it.

The timing of your tour gathers more relevance because of several real-time coordinates. The local youths are routinely de-motivated with the incompetent leadership across social, political and cultural ranks since the formation of the state. The last four killings by Naxalites that include Police Inspector Francis Induwar and other government employees, have received national attention. Vigilance department is about to use Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against an ex-Chief Minister and his ministerial colleagues for their national as well as international escapades. Mittal has made it clear with enough finality that inordinate bureaucratic delays can no longer be the excuse to buy time.

Infighting in local outfit of Congress has attained alarming proportions with five ex MPs flagging revolt against the local leadership. The old ally JMM has declared to go alone in the ensuing assembly polls; and so have the RJD and left parties. Even for your talent hunt campaigns to encourage young, educated and determined people to join politics, Jharkhand portrays a sorry picture. All the previous selections have been nullified because of dodgy procedures and fresh hunt has again been ordered.

Champions love to deliver against the odds and they see them as opportunities to take charge. Mahi does it naturally and you also have proved your mettle by choosing the most difficult political terrains. Since your Jharkhand tour primarily zeroes in on the membership drive, you need to send the message across from the first ball in no uncertain terms. You need to establish that young minds with vision, drive, constructive thought process, education and most importantly honestly dedicated to the cause of Jharkhand will get priority over sycophancy, pedigree, wealth, criminal affiliations and most importantly impatience to get a party ticket without enough hard work. May be, asking all the ticket aspirants to ideate on NREGS in Jharkhand or visiting a few sites can be useful. Your secret tour to UP has raised hopes and don’t discount Jharkhand should you want to do that again.

Even if these initial steps don’t look to deliver a grand success in the next elections, long term gains should be aimed at. A consistent and selfless cleaning of its political infrastructure can save Jharkhand and the responsibility surely lies on your shoulders. Mahi has given so much to the nation and its people; his home state needs your help to reciprocate. Please don’t let Jharkhand down!
Kunal Sarangi
Jharkhand

Jharkhandi colors of austerity

Austerity was never so voguish. Like KKR, CSK and DDD during IPL, economy class, cattle class, slipper class are the buzz words for this political season. May be the corruption plank will be passé in ensuing assembly elections and battle will be drawn on the lines of mileage points, air miles, frequent flier memberships and colour of boarding passes. With president rule coming to an end soon and a tested and trusted governor from the old school of congress loyalties in the hot seat, the party will surely try to paint Jharkhand with its united colours of austerity.

A check on the track record of UPA and its allies, sleeping partners, brand ambassadors and ex-members during their raj in Jharkhand will help to follow the score on its blacksheeps and holy cows.

In the last three years of UPA dispensation, the misuse of helicopters incurred loss of Rs50.98 crore -all thanks to 2236 flying hours. Any comment or action by the UPA bosses? Not that we heard of.

Two cabinet ministers went to jail with unaccountable wealth running into crores. PILs are being filed against a few more and TRP triggering marriage bashes by its ministers and vulgar display of muscle power, private jets, collection of designer shoes and political clout still get occasion mentions in media. But, political circles are abuzz that they might get to contest on UPA tickets.

Prof Jean Dreze, member of the Central Employment Guarantee Council, refers to Jharkhand State as “ one of the worst performing states as far as NREGA is concerned” in the country [The Hindu, 19 July 2008]. Monitoring by Rahul Baba or his brigadiers to improve things? The membership drive of his youth force finds more media space. Huh!

An ex-UPA supported Chief Minister’s closest aides got caught with foreign currency at Mumbai airport and one of the leading Hindi daily ran regular headlines with direct allegations on him of amassing unfathomable wealth. Who cares? The BJP own 8 out of 14 and looks to do well in assembly as well. Congress won only one. So, Jharkhand can wait. Right, Mr. Gandhi?
Ex-Governor Mr. Raji’s (ex-congress cadre) OSD- Avinash kumar (ex District Collector of Ranchi during UPA regime) - who was summoned back to Ranchi from his holy trip to Devghar when CBI raided his residences and the findings also led to Kumar’s suspension. Another sidekick of the Mr. Raji and ex-Health Secretary Mr. Pradeep Kumar was also raided by the CBI. These officers had an almost free reign during UPA times and they were the political favorites.

Last but not the least of these counter austerity stories- the Congress in-charge K Keshav Rao was zoomed out of Jamshedpur by a chartered plane (courtesy one of his well wishers who also doubled up as ticket seeker for the next elections). But attempt to find the generous soul? Zero.
The same state has leaders like Kadia Munda –the Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha- whose simple living exemplifies the common touch that is so much sought-after to fight this hypocritical sharade. There are many other Jharkhandi MLAs and MPs who are equally austere most of them because they genuinely can't afford anything else.

One retired senior govt. official has a very nice but pragmatic take on austerity by politicians. If Netas start travelling economy class, where will their chelas fit into? The challenge to maintain the balance of power and to accommodate the desires of their cadre class is not child’s play. Did anyone check the boarding passes of Sachin Pilot and Ashok Tanwar during their maiden trips to Ranchi? But will that really help Jharkhand? Hope, the most austere female of congress party who renounced Prime Ministership can use her cost cutting motives to slice down on Jharkhand’s misfortunes by helping form a democratically elected govt.

The balancing act of Jharkhand

Time is a great leveller; and so is Jharkhand. Its extremities in terms of striking a balance between both the dark and bright sides of human life predictably get more TRPs than any other State. A closer look on all the newsmakers unravels the prudent judiciousness.

If record-breaking corruption among its incompetent ministers of the previous Cabinet makes one cringe with frustration and hopelessness and asserts Jharkhand's place in the lowest rungs of backward states; the news of a next door girl winning an international archery competition, a hard working bureaucrat being chosen to lead a national mission, an outstnding maiden speech delivered in the Rajya Sabha by a newly elected young MP reaffirm the talent the State has. But, will the brighter aspects extend some convincing lessons to the newsmakers from the other side of the fence? For the uninitiated, they were among the most powerful names in the last cabinet.

Mr Kamlesh Singh! It's immoral to amass unaccounted wealth by looting the public exchequer, getting your daughters married off in a Saahi way when Kanyadan yojna in the State is running way short of its deliverables; and exhibiting your designer collection - 89+1 (the pair you are wearing) when our talented but poor athletes get rejections from international tourneys for lack of compatible shoes.

Mr Enosh Ekka! It's criminal to flaunt glares of Gucci and Armani from funds designated for 70 per cent Jharkhandis who live in villages, flying business class with someone's money who doesn't even have access to a bicycle and buying tea estates and resorts with the money meant for the homeless aspirations.

Mr Bhanu Pratap Sahi! It is unhealthy workout for the proverbial six packs in an in-house multi gym sponsored by those doctors who bribe you and your department for prized postings and have never treated the majority of the state that live to struggle for a square meal a day.

Mr Bandhu Tirkey! It's exemplarily illiterate to expect any qualitative inputs and transparency from the practically defunct JPSC and other affiliates to Jharkhandi education, when an ex-education minister showcases his lethal interests in kattas and other equally dynamic weaponries. And, to talk of the Jharkhandi version of national games that became a national shame with its inordinate delays, your VVIP inspections and strategic meetings with incompetent bureaucrats were more regular than the ground level preparations. Striking the riches and power is never wrong if achieved through honesty and hard work; and the achievement is permanent and stable. But these names have dealt a deadly blow to the State and its future.

Mr RS Sharma's track record got a Nandan Nilekani stamp to head the Unique Identification Number project; Deepika won Gold in youth world Archery championship despite the State's dilapidated sports infrastructure. Allegations of favouritism through a heavily loaded surname and guruji preferring son over talent couldn't stop Hemant Soren from delivering a 22 minutes maiden speech that got appreciated by parliamentarians across party lines. These authentic approvals are not only for the magnanimity of glamour, power, monetary rewards and media attention, but for their contribution to Jharkhand and they are bound to stay here and get counted. But for the infamous names from the power corridor, its curtains! The blinded passion to make the most of godsend opportunity rushed them to write their own political and social obituary, and as the history suggests life style becomes a habit if one doesn't watch out, their misery will haunt them to no end.

Did you hear? Mahi got a brand new Hummer H3 and omnipresent reaction is of celebration and pride. Reason is obvious. After all, the less travelled roads through sincerity and uprightness are not that discouraging Elections are knocking and it's time for politicians to change loyalties. But for Christ sake, please change it for Jharkhand and join the brighter side of the fence. As they say: It's never late to become what you might have been. Johaar!!