अभिव्यक्ति की स्वतंत्रता और इसका महत्व

अभिव्यक्ति की स्वतन्त्रत्ता भारतीय संविधान का एक अनुपम उपहार है। यह मौलिक अधिकार वाले खंड में अनुसूचित है। किसी भी लोकतंत्र के लिए यह स्वतंत्रता नितांत आवश्यक है। लोकतंत्र में लोगों को अपना प्रतिनिधि चुनना होता है। यह चुनाव बिना उपयुक्त जानकारी के असंभव है। तर्कसंगत और उपयोगी जानकारी बिना स्वतंत्र और निरपेक्ष मीडिया के संभव नही है। भारतीय संविधान में समाचार पत्र अथवा अन्य माध्यमों का वर्णन नही है। यह सब अभिव्यक्ति की स्वतंत्रता में ही सन्निहित है। इसी स्वंतत्रता के भरोसे हम निर्भीकता से अपनी बात कहने में सफल होते हैं। यह विचारों के आदान प्रदान में सहायता पहुंचाता है। इसके बूते बिना हिंसा के क्रांति आ सकती है। भारतीय न्यायालयों ने भी इस स्वतंत्रता को समुचित आदर कि दृष्टि से देखा है।

भारतीय लोकतंत्र एक सफल लोकतंत्र साबित हुआ है इसमे संविधान की इस धारा का महत्वपूर्ण योगदान है। अगर हम अपने पड़ोसी मुल्कों या भारत के साथ ही आजाद हुए देशों को देखें तब हमे ये अनुभव होता है कि हमारा लोकतंत्र कितना विश्वास के साथ आगे बढ़ा है और बढ़ रहा है। ये किसी भी भारतवासी के लिए गर्व कि बात है।

अभिव्यक्ति कि स्वतंत्रता हमे एक स्वर देता है। इस स्वर का इस्तेमाल हम स्वच्छ राजनीति, सुशासन एवं विकास के लिए कर सकते हैं। इस स्वर का उपयोग दमन के खिलाफ कर सकते हैं। इस स्वर से समाज की अन्य कुरीतियाँ यथा गरीबी, जातिवाद, सामंतवाद, धर्मान्धता, दहेज़ प्रथा, स्त्री भ्रूण हत्या का समूल नाश किया जा सकता है।

लेकिन प्रश्न यह उठता है कि भारत में ऐसा हो क्यों नही रहा है। इतने आदर्श विचारों के बाबजूद आदर्श समाज क्यों नही बन रहा है। इसके कई कारण हैं। सबसे प्रमुख कारण है अज्ञानता, अशिक्षा एवं रुढिवादिता। इसके अलावा अन्य कारण है स्वार्थ। स्वार्थ समाज के हर चरण और हर वर्ग में है। लोग अपने से कमजोर लोगों का अपने फायदे के लिए दोहन कर रहे हैं। सब अपना हित साधने में लगे हैं। लोगों का विचार सामाजिक या राष्ट्रीय नही है। भारतीय गाँधी जी के धरोहर्ता (trusteeship) के अवधारणा को भूल गए हैं। सब अपने अधिकार कि बात करते हैं किन्तु जब कर्तव्य कि बात अति है लोग बंगले झाँकने लगते हैं। मनुष्य एक सामाजिक प्राणी है और इसे समाज के लिए सोचना चाहिए। आज अगर हमने उन्नति कि है तो उसमे हमारे समाज का योगदान है। अगर ये समाज न होता तो हमे बोलना नही आता। जिस प्रकार हमारे शारीर को सुगठित करने में वातावरण का महत्व है उसी प्रकार हमारे मानसिकता को संवारने में हमारे समाज का महत्व है। आज व्यापारी केवल अपने लाभ का विचार कर रहे हैं। सरकारी सेवक अपने कर्तव्यों का निर्वहन नही कर रहें हैं। राजनेता अपने वोट कि व्यवस्था में लगे हैं। इस सामाजिक मानसिकता के ह्रास के वजह से ही संविधान में वर्णित अनमोल विचारों का फल नही मिल रहा है। यहाँ तक कि समाचार पत्र एवं इलेक्ट्रोनिक मीडिया भी किसी न किसी दवाब में आकर पक्षपातपूर्ण रवैया अपनाते हैं।

किन्तु इस प्रश्न का उत्तर भी अभिव्यक्ति कि स्वतंत्रता में ही है। एक सुनियोजित, शांतिपूर्ण वैचारिक क्रांति कि आवश्यकता है। अन्याय के खिलाफ खरे होने कि आवश्यकता है। अपने दिए गए कर्तव्यों का समुचित, सुरुचिपूर्ण निर्वहन की आवश्यकता है। भारत बदल रहा है, यह तेजी से प्रगति पथ पर अग्रसर है। हम कामना करते हैं कि यह बदलाव भारत को विश्व में एक विकसित एवं सामाजिक समरस राष्ट्र के रूप में स्थान दिलायेगा। यह एक ऐसा देश होगा जहाँ सही मायने में अभिव्यक्ति की स्वतंत्रता होगी।

Recognition of Gandhian values

United Nations decided to observe the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi on 2nd October as International Day of Non-violence. Gandhi was the leading light of the strenuous freedom struggle of India. He believed in simplicity and led by example. This half clad Fakir inspired the freedom struggle and other social and politicial struggle of the world. His philosophy of truth, non-violence, tolerance and trustee-ship is still very relevant in this strife torn world. He believed in hating the crime and not the criminal. His works were carried on by Nelson Mandela and Marthin Luther King Jr. in substantive way.

Today world has become very intolerant. People are not ready to listen to others' viewpoints. They force their perspective on others even with violent means. Violence can not solve any problem. It can only compound and will launch counter violence. Gandhiji said, "An eye for an eye only ends up in making the whole world blind".

In this backdrop, United Nations has taken a very positive step. It should not allow it to become another ritualistic day organization. The philosophy and ideals of Mahatma should be propagated to the every corner of the world to make this world a better place to live. Gandhi does not any introduction to the world, but his philosophy does need an introduction.

Boost to Renewable Energy

The price of the crude oil is hovering around USD100 per barrel despite the slow down of US economy. The other reason for this high rate is the domestic problems of major oil producing nations and depreciation of USD. Indian economy is developing at a rate of 9 percent per anum. For sustaining this rate of growth India requires huge amount of energy. Beside the fossil fuel is depleting at a very fast pace. We need to have sustainable energy use policy. The other big consumer among developing countries is China. Both India and China are at the basic level of development. Both of them have to develop economic lot of around 2.5 billion of people. Therefore, the requirement of energy is going to increase only.

There is a clear cut case of development of alternative and renewable energy. Earlier, the investment in research and development of alternative energy was not lucrative. But with the high crude oil price and the threat of climatic change the investment in this field is feasible. There is need of huge investment in solar, wind, geothermal, tidal, micro-hydel, biomass, hydrogen energy. Concerted efforts of both National Government and private sector players are urgently required.

In such scenario, the Indian government has allotted rupees 10,460 crores (2.6 billion USD) for the development of new and renewable sources of energy in the country during the 11th five-year plan from 2007 to 2012. This is a big positive step. Government of India has been doing incremental effort for this sector. Probably, this boost in the allocation of resources in the current five year plan may go a long way.

Mithila Painting

Mithila is the land of Paag, Paan, Maach and Makhan (traditional maithil headgear, beetle leave, fish and a water fruit). It is the place where Sita was born and brought up. It is the land where Lord Ram fell in love. However, in modern days the Mithila or Madhubani painting has given Mithila a place of pride among the art world. Mithila painting is a very traditional art passed from generation to generation. Tulsidas has describe the intricate painting on the walls of Jankapur during the marriage of Shri Ram in his acclaimed Ramchartiamanas. This is an art practised by Maithil women. Few decades ago, girls learnt this art by making Aripan (floor painting) on different religious occasions or by painting around the main doors. Still in some villages, Aripan is seen and appreciated by all villagers on the occasion of “Devothan Ekadashi”. Some of them become more adept in this art and start teaching the next group of young girls. Mobility and nuclear family broke this tradition. This void has, however, been filled by the training institutes in Mithila painting. Secondary and college going girls take this Art as hobby ensuring continuous flow of accomplished artists.

Mithila painting has a rural origin and in the beginning only home-made colours were used. Colours are derived from clay, bark, leaves, berries and resins. Basically white, black, green and red colours were used. Colours were obtained from plants and resins. These plant extracts were then mixed with juice of banana tree or other gum for better adhesion of paint. Two types of brushes are used in drawing the painting. One is made of bamboo twigs sharpened at the tip. This is used for making thin lines (Kachni) and other minute details. The other is made by putting some cloth on bamboo tip and is utilized for filling up. Some experts perceive three streams of Mithila painting by use of colours. The first is by women of Brahmin community who use brighter hues. The second stream is that by Kayastha ladies, who use the same colour but in muted brightness. They basically use black and red colours. The third is by Dusadh community (watch man) which is a scheduled caste community. This is called “Godhana” style in Mithila painting. They use hand made paper dipped in the liquid of cow dung. This gives it a bit dull look. However, in modern day all three styles have intermingled. The colour scheme prevalent earlier is no more relevant. The easy availability of artificial colours in different shades and special nibs have given wings to the imagination of Mithila painters.

This tradition started when people used to paint the walls of their mud houses with murals of gods, goddesses and flora and fauna for beautifying their abode. The theme of Mithila painting is generally taken from the sacred texts. The Ramayana, the Mahabharata, Purans and some Tantric mythological tales provide splendid scope of this style of painting. Kohbar, Dasavtar, kamaldah, Krishna Leela, RAAS, Ram vivah. The motifs of Goddess Kali and Durga also find place because of prominently “Shakta” orientation of Maithils. These paintings serve an important spiritual function, creates auspicious and protective settings for the family’s rituals. Like the Kohbar, meaning nuptial room, is meant for protection of the newly wed couple, bless them in their conjugal life and bestow fertility. Kohbar painting has both mythological folk tales and tantric symbolism. The central theme in the Kohbar may be Sita Ram wedding/love or RadhKrishna Leela. Kohbar contains symbols of fertility and prosperity like bamboo tree, fish, peacock, elephant, turtle and lotus etc. take peripheral place in the Kohbar. No marriage is solemnized without the Kohbar painting. Dasavtar gives the ten manifestation of the Lord Vishnu. The subjugation of “Kaliya Nag” by Lord Krishna is also a favourite theme.

A colossal drought hit Bihar in 1962. During that period under the motivation of some NGO, maithil women for the first time painted on Paper. This became an instant hit and the Art community liked it very much. Thereafter there has been no looking back. This is now painted on Sarees, Salwar suits, Ties, handkerchief etc. Mithila painting on a pure silk Saree is a mature and sober fashion statement. Even the reputed greeting card brands do not miss to have Mithila painting designs on their cards for all occasions.

The villages of Jitwarpur and Ranti in Madhubani district have produced many widely acclaimed Mithila painters. In these villages, painting is done on a commercial scale. All sorts of painting ranging from portrait to landscape are painted. Sometimes paintings are made on commercial demands and sometimes just the shear imagination of the artists produce innovative painting. Ganga Devi depicted her journey from Madhubani, a small town in north Bihar to All India Medical Sciences, New Delhi. She came to Delhi for treatment of cancer she was suffering from. The train, doctors, hospital, syringe, medical ward everything she drew delicately. Her innovations were excellent, appealing and unique in many respects.. Jamuna Devi enjoyed painting animals especially cows. She painted some cows upside down. Some critics however did not appreciate such step thinking that it might disturb the originality of the folk painting of Mithila but majorities of them were in agreement with them. The other prominent painter are Karpoori Devi, Pushpa Kumari, Mahasundari Devi, Godavari Dutta and many more. The positive aspect about Mithila painting today is that it is supplementing income of many households, has brought out the rich cultural heritage of Mithila, has bestowed pride to Maithils and is enriching the canvas of Art world.

Indian Super Computer is fastest in Asia

The Super Computer EKA developed by Computational Research Labaratory, Pune has been adjudged 4th fastest in the world with the peak speed of 117.9 terraflop per second. The Computational Research Labaratory is a TATA subsidiary. The name EKA has been taken from the Sanskrit word meaning unity or one. EKA is a Hewlett Packard Cluster platform 3000 BL460c system. The innovation by CRL is the unique routing technology through which it has achieved this speed. The vista of super computers has traditionally been dominated by United States. But the forthcoming list of top super computers is expected to have new entrants from countries like Sweden and Germany.

The super computers have wide applications in Automative engineering, oil exploration, nanotechnology, drug synthesis, weather forecasting etc. These applications require huge amounts of mathematical computation at tremendous pace. Currently fastest super computers are:-

1. BlueGene/L System (IBM) US
2. BlueGene/P system, (IBM) Germany
3. Silicon Graphics (SGI), New Mexico
4. Eka, CRL (arm of Tata Sons) India.
5. HP Cluster Platform (Sweden

The significance of this Indian feat can be adjudged from the fact that the second fastest computer of India installed at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, is ranked 58th in the world.

Bravo India bravo!!!!! Kudos to Tatas!!!!

“JAANKARI” – RTI Act Innovated

The right to Information Act came into existence on 12th October 2005. After some reminders of the Judiciary, this Act was made operational in Bihar in June 2006 after framing of Rules etc. It came late in Bihar but it came with a bang. The bang was the innovative use of Information and Communication Technology for RTI Act.

Bihar is at the lowest level of development among states of Bihar. It has the lowest literacy rate. In this scenario, it is not easy for the larger populace to reap the benefits of revolutionary Right to Information Act. Many a time it has been felt that even writing simple application is beyond the capability of some individual. Even if he can write, he may not be aware about whom to address. The Government functioning is under veil of secrecy. The decision making process of the government is not easily comprehensible. In such a scenario “Jankaari” the ICT based RTI facilitaion centre comes handy. It is first of its kind in India. The Government of Bihar has collaborated with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited for this purpose. The general number 155311 can be dialled to reach “Jaankari”. The call can be made either from the residential telephone or from PCOs. In first case Rs. 10/- would be charged in the bill each time. While dialling from PCO the required card has to be purchased for paying the fee. The operator then gathers information from the caller and ask few questions and a RTI application to the concerned official is generated. You can know the status of your application subsequently by dialling the “Jaankari”. You can even appeal through them.

We may hope that this political will to unshackle the realm of governance to general public in Bihar would help in bringing Bihar up from the Abyss.

The functioning of “Jaankari” can be viewed from this Youtube video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq3H5i6bkmk

Right to Information Act 2005

The most important act after independence of India is probably the introduction of the Right to Information Act 2005. The independence gave India the political space in the comity of nations. Expectations were high as is usual for the newly independent nations. Able guidance of contemporary national leaders steered India on the right path. Institutions were created with a lot of foresight and thought. The foundation of strong Union was envisaged to take care of the possible separatist tendencies of such a big nation. The administration became a huge monolith. The so called License permit Raj was established. The admixture of socialism and capitalism created unforeseen and undesired results. Despite independence, the Administration continued working behind the curtains. The people were left out of governance. This gave rise to corruption, ad-hocism and other mal-practices. Theoretically people were empowered but in real sense only a handful of people started reaping undue benefits. Vicious nexus of different interests colluded to bleed the nation. Transparency and probity hid behind the red-tape creating a fertile ground for breeding of corruption. Gradually, corruption became a way of life. People in general started losing faith in the Government machinery. Middle men made merry. Everything was possible at a cost. Nothing was possible without consideration. This was a very terrible situation for a nation.
The devolution of power by the way of Panchayati Raj Institutions came as a ray of hope. Hope was genuine because of the nearness of the governance. But the election politics on Panchayati level, caste-ism, lack of political will of State Governments, rule by proxies, inability to understand modern day governance and widespread illiteracy did not allow the Panchayati Raj system to provide the intended benefits.
In this gloomy scenario, the Right to Information Act 2005 came. This is a revolutionary Act and can be panacea of all ills of meal-governance. The need is to utilise this tool in an effective way. Alliance of intellectuals, common people, media can really make a difference by the help of this Act. Fortunately all the Government machinery has somehow established the necessary infrastructure for this Act. In the modern day information is the real empowerment. The crooks thrive on the denial or lack of information. Corruption spread its tentacles because of lack of information. Availability of information is the real empowerment of people. It is all more important in Democracy. Democracy is exercising of choice. Choice has to be informed. Good decision can be only made after having correct and related information.
The provisions of the Act is very simple. The fee for seeking information is reasonable. There is no fee for Below poverty line people. It does not ask the applicant the reason for asking information. The application format is simple. Information has to be provided in a time bound manner. Except for certain activities related to the State secret, commercial secret and relation with foreign governments, all other information can be obtained without much fuss. There is provision for pecuniary penalty for deliberately non-disclosure of information. Appellate authorities are in place to listen to the grievances relating to denial of information. The act also forces voluntary disclosure by all public authorities. This Act has the potential to herald India in a corruption free society. It will, of course, take time. Dissemination of information about this Act would go a long way in this regard. The need of the hour is to make people aware about this potent weapon. Bureaucracy would be forced to change by the pressure of this Act. The way India governs itself shall become different in coming years. Long live the Right to Information Act 2005.

More information about this Act can be obtained from http://www.rti.gov.in/

Self reliance of India in Cryogenic engine & GSLV

ISRO has achieved a significant milestone through the successful test of indigenously developed Cryogenic Stage, to be employed as the upper stage of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). The test was conducted for its full flight duration of 720 seconds today (November 15, 2007) at Liquid Propulsion test facility at Mahendragiri, in Tamil Nadu. With this test, the indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage has been fully qualified on the ground. The flight stage is getting ready for use in the next mission of GSLV (GSLV-D3) in It may be recalled that a ground test for 480 seconds of the complete stage was conducted on August 4, 2007. The indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) is powered by a regeneratively cooled cryogenic engine, which works on staged combustion cycle developing a thrust of 69.5 kN in vacuum. The other stage systems include insulated propellant tanks, booster pumps, inter-stage structures, fill and drain systems, pressurisation systems, gas bottles, command block, igniters, pyro valves and cold gas orientation and stabilisation system. Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) from the respective tanks are fed by individual booster pumps to the main turbo-pump, which rotates at 39,000 rpm to ensure a high flow rate of 16.5 kg/sec of propellants into the combustion chamber. The main turbine is driven by the hot gas produced in a pre-burner. Thrust control and mixture ratio control are achieved by two independent regulators. LOX and Gaseous Hydrogen (GH2) are ignited by pyrogen type igniters in the pre-burner as well as in the main and steering engines. Apart from the complexities in the fabrication of stage tanks, structures, engine and its sub-systems and control components, CUS employs special materials like Aluminum, Titanium, Nickel and their alloys, bi-metallic materials and polyimides. Stringent quality control and elaborate safety measures have to be ensured during assembly and integration. Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) is the lead centre for the development of Cryogenic Upper Stage with the involvement of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and other ISRO centres as well as several industries, both in public and private sector. The successful ground test of the indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage for the full flight duration has validated the design robustness and performance adequacy for its use in GSLV.

source: http://www.pib.nic.in/