|
Editorial
Revisiting 1699 and Neo-Liberalism
As Sikhs celebrate Vaisakhi the world over, it is time we
travel back to the day in 1699 and understand its significance. The
foundation of the Khalsa was a great and unprecedented initiative in
presenting before the world a completely different worldview of how
society can be. The world of the Khalsa, the world of The Pure, was
the way forward. It was a more equalitarian world, a more
egalitarian society, a new definition of relationship between the
leader and the led. The Singh and the Kaur erased all notions of
caste and discrimination. The Panch Pardhani presented a notion of
consensus and democracy.
As we face new challenges and a new world order, it is
necessary to keep turning back and re-engage with the egalitarian
spirit of the Khalsa. Khalsa was about ensuring a regime of the
fearless, an equal society. And for this he was armed with weapons
and a will to defend the poor and the needy.
In the current times, the nature of attacks has changed, so
the nature of weapons also changes. The forces that attack the
notions of an egalitarian society are far more subtle, their
corrupting influences come with better wrapping and more nuanced
defences. It is necessary for the Sikh community to acquire new
weapons, understand the inimical forces and equip itself to fight
for a more egalitarian society.
The formation of a country is based on a social contract,
central to which was universal adult franchise, secularism, civil
liberties, the end of caste and gender oppression and construction
of an egalitarian society. Right now, what is happening? We have
created a world in which at one end are top billionaires and at the
other peasant suicides. This is a violation of the social contract.
neo-liberalism regimes are based on defence of such violations.
In
India, such violation is happening in the form of withdrawal of
state support to peasantry, education and health and petty
production. The character of the state has changed. It is no more
standing above all classes and mediating. It has tilted towards the
upper echelons of bourgeoisie that has gotten integrated with
international finance capital.
Over 300 years ago, a Guru attained martyrdom because that
was a way to defend the weak and the defenceless. Today, hundreds
are being pushed to certain death and malnutrition. As politicians
fight over whether Congress should be called an old woman or a doll,
the Reserve Bank of
India quietly ends
Rs 6,000 crore general line of credit enjoyed by the National Bank
for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). This when India is
sitting on mountains of reserves.
The percentage of people unable to get their daily energy
intake of even 2,200 calories rose from 58.5 percent in 1993-94 to
69.5 percent by 2004-05. Position now is even worse.
Every year after 2004, public spending on education is
significantly lower than required. In 2007-08, total public spending
was Rs 1.4 lakh crore, a deficit of 36 per cent. In 2003-04,
official data puts 52 per cent children as out of school. The number
of single teacher schools rose from 2 per cent in 2002-03 to 10 per
cent in 2007-08.
Over one in 18 infants dies before they are one year old.
Access to quality health care is basic human right. So is education.
Once again, the poor and the defenceless are under attack.
This time the attack is from the forces they can’t even see or
understand. It is time for the evolved society to engage with the
universal values of Sikhism and launch a fight against those who are
pushing innocent people to certain death. The spirit of Vaisakhi
demands no less.
The banner that flew from the plane over
Surrey parade
talked of India killing its minorities. It is time we fought on all
fronts. Who else but the Khalsa of Guru Gobind Singh will take up
the initiative? Let’s build a more egalitarian world. That was the
true dream of 1699.
15
April 2009
|
Read Also