Bihar assembly polls, 2010

Nitish Kumar's landslide victory in the Bihar polls comes in the wake of a committed performance in his previous term as Chief Minister. That the people reposed their faith and hope a second time is an acknowledgment of the processes that his government has put in place - working for making the state power sufficient, developing anti-corruption laws, doing away with caste, attracting newer & safer investments, etc. Women empowerment and education has been another big factor - girls have been provided with bicycles to reach schools !
Such instances of leaders winning successive elections are not uncommon though. The huge margin of 206 out of 243 seats kind of mirrors the achievements of the Left Front in West Bengal in 2006, when it garnered 235 out of 294 seats. Such victories often the ride the wave of people's hope for better governance and development. But, as it has turned out for the CPM, since then they have lost the 2008 rural polls, the 2009 Lok Sabha polls and the KMC elections earlier this year. Nitish Kumar should do well to learn from Bengal, how people's hopes from a leader can turn to anger and frustration if promises are not delivered.
Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's government started well in 2006, with large investment and capital being attracted. Investors responded well. IT zones, chemical hubs, steel plants, car factories, etc. were planned. But subsequently, the government somehow seemed to falter and failed to deliver on most of the promises of development. That Mamata Banerjee opposed several measures is no excuse - she only did what she has done earlier too ! Also, inability to keep the party away from the government administration has played a major role in the reversal of fortunes. Nitish Kumar, however, has so far been quick to admit that the margin of victory places on him a great responsibility. In his own words, the victory is for the people; what he has got is a very tough job.

Wildlife tourism

Does tourism help or hinder the increase and protection of wildlife? This has become an issue of considerable debate in recent times, particularly after reports of animals in sanctuaries and national parks falling prey to tourist vehicles. The most recent incident is that of a tigress being found dead in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, after hit by one of the many tourist vehicles that visit the area; the cause of death was later ascertained to be liver rupture.

While it would be simplistic to suggest that blocking tourists will help wildlife thrive, those opposed to such a ban argue that the move will reduce the income of those living in fringe areas, making them easy associates in the poaching network. Plus, the revenue generated from tourism is channeled into conservation efforts. The dwindling income of forest authorities could actually leave corrupt staff to have a field day!

In India, liberating the jungles from any form of human presence is a complicated issue. Indigenous, tribal people have co-existed peacefully with the forest and its animals. With this in mind, conservation efforts can be based on an inclusive model, utilizing the skills and traditional knowledge of the local people, with an aim to reduce man-animal conflict. Tourist inflow into core areas should be regulated, while limiting the visits and making them more expensive can also be looked into.

The city

I was returning home from Dalhousie, feeling quite jaded. The day at office had been taxing, so it didn't help matters when we had to wait in a long queue for a bus to arrive at the stand. Even the metro train services had been disturbed due to some reason. The over-crowded bus, where I thankfully managed a seat, snailed its way through the evening traffic, stopping now and then at the frequent signals. Some of my fellow riders were shifting restlessly, as was I in my seat, while others were simply too tired. Several people started a talk on how their city had fallen behind, while others had progressed - traffic jams, pollution, politics and mismanagement, etc. etc. I didn't like it at all - I realized how, for many years now, Calcutta has inspired little but self-loathing among its own inhabitants.

It is a very dismal state of affairs for a city when its own residents consider it a shame to live there! Calcutta, in recent times, has come to represent all that is wrong in modern metropolitan life. The quality of the city's air, the filth on the roads, the lawlessness of traffic and the huge strain on the city's infrastructure by the high population density (almost 7 times that of London!!!) has made healthy and dignified civic life almost impossible to lead.

While financial resources, or the lack of it, may sometimes hinder change and development, in Calcutta's case, it is more of a lack of vision for renewal and the lack of a work culture to bring about qualitative change. Councilors here incorporate a political approach to civic management - their energies are spent mainly on scoring political points over their rivals!

Recently, much has been publicized about transforming Calcutta into London. Whether our politicians can make good their words remains to be seen! London has its problems too - busy, dirty with litter in areas, traffic jams, pockets of deprivation, crime, etc. Yet, politicians there aspire to bring out the best - helping its companies to grow, its communities to thrive, and its people to prosper. To reduce vehicular air pollution, there is even a congestion charge of 8 pounds for cars entering the city centre during the day. One just cannot imagine Calcuttans readily agreeing to pay Rs. 500 to do the same!

Drastically big measures are necessary for Calcutta's renewal - tackling air pollution, making the city more investment-friendly for international business, modernization of heritage buildings, beautification of open spaces and green patches, doing away with bandhs, vast improvement of transport services, incorporation of a better civic sense, and above all, good leadership to look after the needs of the common man. Involving experts in urban planning and management are more useful strategies than mindless populism!