Gandhian philosophy

26/11 and I woke up this morning remembering all those who lost their lives last year on this tragic day in Mumbai. Especially, our dearest Ashok.



Annikki and I remembered Madhu and her children, their spouses and her grandchild, who should bring a new breath into Madhu’s life.



In the evening we went to the Kocharab Harijan Ashram to which Mahatma Gandhi returned to after his South African spell. We were given a personal guided tour by a wonderful man, Mr. Ramesh Trivedi, who looks after the place. The minute we mentioned Finland, he proudly pulled out his mobile phone and said "Nokia". He gave us a most refreshing lemon and ginger drink. He would not accept any money from us for anything.

I explained to him the history of Nokia as a small town and its entry into mobile phones and the role of the University of Oulu, Microelectronics Laboratory, in the process in the late 1980s.

It was fascinating to get a personal picture, from Mr. Trivedi, of the life of Mahatmaji, his distrust for the law process and the denial of justice for the common man, much of which has not changed around the world even today.

While discussing Mahatmaji, I asked Mr. Trivedi the question we had posed on the blog earlier today, as to what Act Gandhi would have opposed to draw terrorism to a close.



Mr. Trivedi immediately produced a special invitation for Annikki and me to attend, that very evening, a lecture by Prof. Johan Galtung, the subject being "State Terrorism and Non-State Terrorism; A Gandhian Inspired Action Plan from Violence to Non-Violence".

We were indeed most fortunate to be able to attend this lecture by this Norwegian professor who has been active from as far back as 1959 in peace negotiations around the world - Somalia, Yugoslavia, Northern Ireland, Basque area of Spain, France, North and South Korea, Sri Lanka, Israel, Palestine, etc., etc.

Prof. Galtung is driven by Gandhian values and for 40 years he has been at the forefront of international peace generating activities. He has written 140 books, translated to 33 languages, and authored over 1500 articles reflecting an original thinking across an incredible broad range of issues including Mahatma Gandhi and his philosophy, Non-Violence. Last week, he was talking to the CIA, etc., etc. His a work without an end as conflicts are growing by the hour.

Although Prof Galtung spoke on all the major issues that drive international and Indian domestic terrorism (including suggesting a solution to the Indo-Pak Kashmir issue), he could not come up with and answer to what we had asked on our blog yesterday.

Earlier today, I had a let down in my euphoria about the ICICI Bank. They had been so good in opening the account, but when it came to internet banking, they have far too many glitches for someone who has had a trouble free internet banking experience with Nordea Bank over the last 20 years.

First I discovered that for Fund Transfer to another ICICI customer, I needed yet another password, and that would take almost a week to get hold of. Then this morning, when I tried to log into my account, I was told that for security reasons I would have to log in using my original login details provided by the bank. When that failed, I was told I had two more attempts before my account would be locked. So I used the login details that I had changed as soon as I had activated the internet banking facility. That also failed.

Instead of losing my last attempt, I went to the nearest ICICI branch and explained my problem. The officers had a great deal of problem understanding this simple problem. In their presence and following their instructions, I made my final attempt and it failed, locking me out of my ICICI account altogether.

Luckily, I still had access to my Finnish bank accounts, so I was not left penniless.

It is obvious that ICICI have not thought through their internet banking experience. They can certainly put a lot of people into hot water if their accounts behave the way my account has been locked out. And as they have a very aggressive investment division, pushing people to do this and that, it could lead to utter chaos. And even after this, they could not understand why I had reservations about following their advice!

I have bills to pay and travel money to use, all locked away till I, probably, get access again, next Monday, in New Delhi.

So be wary of any internet banking system with any bank in India, as they may have great software engineers in this country, but they do not have the skills demanded for a site which has extra security demands.

Emails are still pouring in about the views we have expressed about India. But, today, the tide turned dramatically with 100% of the respondents supporting our opinions and views. They all agreed that India is a Garbage Dump, a horrendous one at that.

We do hope that we can bring around those who have been most verbose about this to think positively so that we can do something to make this country better and prevent what we see as a terminal decline!

Respects to Gandhiji

We have been slammed by a few of our regular readers for what we wrote in our last blog entry. Some were disappointed in us for what we expressed. Others were plain angry with us.

But this one comment got a hang of what was in our mind.

A comment on your note "The Garbage Dump - India":

"Annikki & Jacob: This is one of your outstanding articles that I have read. Hope now u know why I keep screaming about shifting base to Finland. Civic sense is short lived. Leave the poor and the people in slums - Even the middle class and well to do have this urge to spit, litter and create a fountain wherever possible. My job with XXXX is to create economic opportunities thru the students for communities. The future is the young students who will make the change provided they join this program and work together. Now u know why "Slum Dog Millionaire" got its award. Jai Ho. A dear Mumbaite friend. "

Behind our luxury temporary home in Ahmedabad, the scenery is this. It has been the same since we arrived last Sunday.



Another writer pointed out that India is a democracy, unlike China, and has a billion people.

We are not comparing India with China or any other country. We have not been to China to make any such comparison.

What we tried to explain is how easy it is if one sets up a code of civic practice and abides with it. What is difficult about that, especially for the educated, who are some of the ones screaming blue murder at us? This is exactly what the Minister said a few days ago.

Also, are there not are many many large democracies who have managed to get their house in order?

And think back. Was it better or worse when India had a population of 750 million? So when the projected population is 1.5 billion, where will this country be? Better than today, or will the excuse be the same that we have a population of 1.5 billion and India is a democracy!

Go back to the fact that Ebbi and Jacob pointed out this scenario over 30 years ago, andsuggested a remedy. But no politician or Industrial Development Corporation sought to take action.

But did the politicians and bueaucrats not take action to give the corporate powers what they wanted for their bottom line, regardless. Double standards?

And who will take the responsibility for the present chaos?

Anybody standing with their hands up?

We have no apology to make for what we wrote. It is a fact. Anyone who takes umbrage with us on this is living with their heads stuck in the sand.

And here, in a posh locality in Ahmedabad, in the middle of the road, the stray dogs get a share of the littered prasadam somebody dropped. The perpetrators did not even have the courtesy to drop it in a nearby garbage bin (if there was one around!).



Is it OK to litter the streets with this?

Annikki prepared to go out this afternoon in Ahmedabad wearing the dress code that most women appear to follow in this city.



The dust, dirt and pollution is so overpowering that women here know that their dress sense must protect them. A sad reflection on what abodes in this once magnificent city.

The situation in an expensive location in Ahmedabad is just the same as near a slum. It is just garbage, garbage, garbage strewn everywhere.

We finally reached the Gandhi Ashram to pay our respects to the man who was responsible for the freedom of this country and also who taught the world that non-violence was an important weapon.

It was almost dark,. Most of the fluorescent lights in the Museum were not working. We finally got to see the depiction of the breaking of the Salt Act.



What would be Gandhiji's reaction be to the India we are witnessing around us today? Would he start a Satyagraha to correct this mindless senseless rape of this country.

We wondered what Act Gandhiji would break to drive this nation back to its senses!