Why do we treat our modern cities as Harappan towns?

(Part 1: Animal and Manual labour)

Let’s take our thoughts 5000 years back, to Indus valley civilization. There’re no trucks and trailers around, all transportation of goods were done manually, either by animal back or animal carts and carriages. They were safest and fastest modes of transport in that era The Indus valley people were talented enough to uses the fastest or most appropriate modes of transport of their era. Now, let’s take our thought to modern Indian metropolises Delhi, Bombay (Mumbai), Calcutta (Kolkata), Madras (Chennai), Bangalore (Begaluru), Hyderabad etc. It’s been 5000 years when Indus valley civilization flourished, now our metropolises are flourishing but we are still adamant to use all out dated modes of transportation in our modern cities. What was to be the difference had we lived 5000 years ago? We could have said we use latest modes of transport in our town, but can we say this now?

We are a computer literate society now, India exports a huge amount of software, of course we must have been taking enough care about latest versions, but our thoughts go in vain when we step out from our offices and use the 5000 years old version of transports where a man pulls a cart or when we load our goods on hand carts. Man carts, cycle rickshaws, bullock carts, tonga (horse cart), camel carts, hand carts used in our various metropolises give a tag of shamelessness, cruelty and insensitivity. Problems which rise from such outdated transportation is traffic jams on roads. Imagine you’re driving a car which can attain 100 km/hr in few seconds but you’re forced to ‘stop go stop’ on road just because there’s one bullock cart ahead of you. It not very uncommon to see a whole road blockage and a huge traffic jam just because there’s one bullock cart or a hand cart ahead of traffic. Bullock carts which carry ice on streets of Bombay look really pathetic. Same is the case for cycle rickshaw in Delhi.

I feel there must be a complete ban on human or animal pulling a vehicle which either carries load or other people. Issue of cheap transport is not appealing when we talk about humanity, dignity and animal cruelty on other stage. It’s really pathetic to see a man pulling a cart soaked in sweat, or a bullock pulling a cart when its legs are seen shivering, really disgusting! If we put ban on such transport a demand would be created for transport which would eventually be supplied in due course of time by other appropriate transport, it’s all demand and supply issue, so no need to worry about who will carry out such loading unloading then? Shame on Indian Oil ltd, it’s a public sector company and it delivers kerosene on bullock cart and how proudly it displays its name on the cart.

Of course, bicycles are another issue altogether if they are used for personal to and fro there is no problem but if they are used to transport heavy loads legislation be issued on such loadings. Cycles only for personal use be allowed and not as a mode of loading and unloading. Similarly, vintage ride of horse and camel carriage are a different issue, they be allowed within particular range where motive is recreation that too with proper legislation. Like medical check for animals, four wheels so it doesn’t put weight on animal’s neck and minimum number of people to be pulled.

At last a three month period be allotted for a complete removal of such pathetic and outdated vehicles and transport from our modern cities. I don’t like to see Indian metropolises be comparable to towns which existed 5000 years ago, do you like it?

Shaikh Mazher

Govt. employees, public servants (Babu) and waist size

Administrative machinery of India rest on government employees, public servants of all cadres, they are the one who are responsible for smooth functioning of government on all levels, from rural, municipal, and state up to central servants. Lethargy of Indian public servants and government officials (Babu, as they are better known by) is famous and we all know this national fact. Although bribery is one famous attribute associated with them, but worst is their slow and lethargic work output.

They are the one who are foremost in seeking benefits, allowances, promotions and increment. At all time some section/ union of babu are agitating for some or other facility or increment, this pay commission that pay commission. All these are born by tax payers; do we get in return what we pay in terms of services? A bigger question than it appears. From road sweeper to IAS officer, almost all are slowest sloths. I feel biggest reason is their big pot bellies. Can any sensible Indian imagine a babu without the symbolic pot belly? Such babu bellies first make them lethargic and later make them prone to diabetes, high cholesterol, heart problems, making public services slower, public services output becomes lower, in reality making India slower. I feel they must be asked to maintain their belly size within limit (40 inch for males and 36 inch for females) else they be suspended till they bring the size under control if not at least their pay be correspondingly decremented.­­ Still better would be stepped sizes be allotted.

At appointment they be not critically undersized waist in correspondence with their height, 40 inches be allowed only to those with 3 year left to retire, slots be divided into 1 year, 3 years, 6 years left to retirement and thus 6 year left to retirement be never allowed to have 36 plus waist, while 3 years be allowed to have below 40 waist. No actions be taken with those left with 1 year for retirement for the year policy is adopted. Initially, they be given a 1 year period to get waist under control but 50% of improvement be required at 6 month if not action be taken either suspension or pay decrement be started.  Of course, they be asked not to take the wrong way to get fit like unneeded surgery or harmful shortcuts. Be medically guided by official health guidelines.  Right control on diet and appropriate exercises be propagated.

Fast and healthy public servants, free from ailment could result in low medical absence, faster public services and a healthy public office. On national level our diabetic and heart related ailment’s load on government would come down, giving further relief on government exchequer and thereby relief to tax payer, after all why should we pay for health of babu when they themselves earn maximum. Imagine, a healthier babu, fast and efficient public services and thereby a better India!

Gold be commodity rather an investment, to control inflation

Indian rupee is neither on any of gold standard nor pegged to any currency. It’s traded in open market following demand and supply pricing. On national level gold is an investment and control on inflation has loosened, creating financial and psychological crisis.

To bridle inflation we must fix the upper limit price of gold making it a commodity rather than investment. Putting an MRP (maximum retail price) for gold would be beneficial in controlling inflation.

It would really be a stupidity to put an MRP on current time frame, this would create havoc which would be uncontrollable and would be more devastating than being beneficial.

So, what we can do is fix the MRP for the fourth or fifth year from now, applicable from fourth or fifth year. This postponement would act as shock absorber for current financial havoc. Thereby reviving the MRP of gold after every third year but the MRP tag revived would always be applicable from third year from revived date.

Thus, gold be sold only at MRP rather than fluctuating ever incrementing rates.