Consumer Expenditure by Indians

A summarized analysis of the report released by NSSO

The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Ministry of Statistics, and Programmed Implementation have conducted the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) from August 2022 to July 2023. This survey on household consumption expenditure aims at generating estimates of household Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) and its distribution separately for the rural and urban sectors of the country, for States and Union Territories, and different socio-economic groups. The summary results of HCES 2022–23 relating to MPCE are being released in the form of a factsheet. In absolute terms, the survey noted the average monthly per-capita expenditure (MPCE) in the rural category for 2022–23 at Rs 3,773, up from Rs 1,430 seen in 2011–12. The same for the urban category was seen at Rs 6,459 in 2022–23, sharply up from the average per capita spending observed at Rs 2,630 in the same base year. The survey report prepared by NSSO is released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) every five years. However, the latest set of data comes after 10 years, as the same for 2017–18 wasn’t released by the government owing to the vast variance seen in the figures.

There has been a rise in discretionary spending in both rural and urban categories. According to the study, there has been a decline in food expenditure on cereals and food intake, but an increase in spending on milk, fruits, vegetables, and processed food. Compared to 43% in 2011–12, food expenditure will represent 46.38% of total spending in 2022–2023. According to the consumption expenditure survey, the percentage of money spent in the rural category on "non-food items" increased to 53.6 percent in 2022–2023 from 47.1 percent in 2011–2012. For urban households, the proportion of spending falling into the same group increased to 60.8 percent in the most recent survey year, compared to 57.38 percent in 2011–12. Durables make up a large portion of "non-food items," and their percentage share of spending increased to 6.89 percent from 4.85 percent in the rural category. On the other hand, during the survey period, the proportion of respondents in the urban category increased to 7.17 percent from 5.60 percent. The experts believe that the high increase in discretionary expenditure in rural households is attributable to a decrease in spending on food related items. Alternatively, this also disproves the belief that rural residents have less purchasing power.

The report has observed a sharp decline in spending on major food items like cereals and pulses compared to other items in the food basket. This has been seen across rural as well as urban categories. In the rural category, the percentage share of expenditure over cereals (like wheat, rice, and barley) was seen at 4.89 percent in 2022–23, against 10.69 percent seen in 2011–12 as a part of overall monthly per capita expenditure. The same in the urban category was seen at 3.62 percent for 2022–23, as compared to 6.61 percent seen in 2011–12. In terms of overall spending on food items, the share of average monthly per capita expenditure on food as a part of the overall MPCE has reduced to 46.4 percent in 2022–23, compared to 52.9 percent in 2011–12 in the rural category. The same for the urban category was seen at 39.2 percent, as compared to 42.62 percent in the same period. According to several policy observers, the decline in spending on cereals in the rural category in particular has been due to the implementation of the National Food Security Act of 2013. As of now, 35 kilograms of food grains are provided free of charge to each prioritized household under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). The survey also notes a steady rise in the share of spending on milk, meat, and processed foods in terms of overall spending on food. This has been observed across rural as well as urban categories. This rise, in particular, has been more in the rural category. The share of spend on milk, meat, and processed foods as a part of the overall MPCE in this category has increased to 8.33, 4.91, and 9.62 percent, respectively, in 2022–23, as compared to 8.04, 4.79, and 7.90 percent noted in 2011–12. Experts have observed that the availability of more spendable money owing to the food-security benefits also means an increasing inclination towards high nutrition foods among the lower and middle income groups.

Looking at the area-wise distribution, the northeastern state of Sikkim emerged as the state with the highest MPCE across the rural as well as urban categories. In the rural category, MPCE for the state was seen at Rs 7,731, while the same for the urban category was recorded at Rs 12,105. According to the experts, this has been possible due to Sikkim also having topped the list of states with the highest per capita income at Rs 472,543 in the years 2021–22. On the other hand, Chhattisgarh emerged as the state with the lowest average monthly per capita spending across rural and urban categories. The MPCE for the state in the rural category was seen at Rs 2,466, while that in the urban category was noted at Rs 4,483. The rural-urban difference in average MPCE was also the highest in Chhattisgarh at 82 percent, only after Meghalaya at 83 percent. The report observed that those who were self-employed in non-agricultural professions in rural areas had more spending power than those engaged solely in agriculture. The average MPCE for those who identified as self-employed in agriculture stood at Rs 3,702, lower than the overall MPCE for rural areas. On the other hand, the average MPCE of those who identified themselves as self-employed in non-agriculture was seen at Rs 4,074. In terms of social categories such as Scheduled Tribe, Scheduled Caste, Other Backward Class, and the Unreserved, the average MPCE for all social categories was found to be higher in urban areas than their counterparts in the rural category.

These findings offer valuable insights into evolving consumption patterns and potential areas for policy intervention to ensure inclusive and sustainable economic development across India. The data suggests a move away from staples like cereals and pulses towards milk, vegetables, fruits, and processed foods. This could be due to factors like rising incomes, urbanization, and changing tastes. The rise in spending on non-food items, especially durables, in both rural and urban areas indicates an increase in discretionary spending power. This could be due to factors like government schemes, improved employment opportunities, or rural-to-urban migration. The decline in spending on cereals, particularly in rural areas, could be partly attributed to schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), which provides free food grains to eligible households. The significant difference in MPCE between states like Sikkim and Chhattisgarh highlights the persistent regional disparities in income and spending patterns. Self-employed individuals in non-agricultural professions in rural areas have higher spending power compared to those solely engaged in agriculture. This could be due to factors like better returns from non-agricultural activities or diversification of income sources.

- Soham Sonar

 

 

The Emerging Heroes of Gaganyaan

Mission Gaganyaan is India's first crewed space mission, which is set to launch in 2025. It proves to be India's first human spaceflight project, which aims to demonstrate ISRO's human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three members on a low-Earth orbit of 400km for a three-day mission and bringing them back safely by landing in the Indian Ocean. For the mission, ISRO has reconfigured its three-stage medium-lift Rocket Launch Vehicle Mark-3 or LVM3 (formerly known as GSLV Mark-3) to meet human rating requirements and christened it “Human-Rated LVM3” or HLVM3. India also plans to conduct its first uncrewed orbital test flight for its Gaganyaan human spaceflight program in July this year. To date, only three countries, namely, the erstwhile Soviet Union, the United States of America, and China have so far achieved the feat of sending manned missions into space on their spacecraft. If the mission of Gaganyaan succeeds, India will be the fourth country to do so.

Cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma remains the only Indian to ever travel to space. However, he flew onboard the Russian made Soyuz spacecraft in 1984. It will be after 40 years that an Indian will be travelling to space again. However, this time, the rocket as well as the countdown will all be ours. One of the things that we should be proud of is that most of the equipment of the Gaganyaan is made in India. The goal of launching the Gaganyaan mission was in 2022, but various factors ranging from difficulties in the realization of complex technologies to COVID-19 and Disruptions in global supply chains due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict have upset the plans.

On February 27, 2024, our Honourable Prime Minister announced the names of four Indian Air Force (IAF) Officers who would be part of this mission. He bestowed ‘astronaut wings’ on these four astronaut designates at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. India's four astronaut designates selected for the ambitious Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission are undergoing intense training at the Indian Space Research Organization's crew training facility in Bengaluru. The mission-specific preparations commenced after the four astronauts completed their general spaceflight training in Russia at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. They are being trained on aero-medical aspects, recovery, and survival procedures in addition to academic courses on Gaganyaan flight systems. Their training sessions also include classroom sessions, simulator training, microgravity familiarization, survival drills, and flying practices. Out of the four astronaut designates, or "vyomnauts,” being trained, three will be selected for the final mission. The other one is likely to fly to the International Space Station later this year as a part of a NASA mission, following the agreement between the Space agencies in India and the USA last year.

In order to understand this mission in a better way, we must take a look at these 4 personalities and the reason behind their selection for this mission.

1. Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair-

Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair hails from Nemmara village in Kerala's Palakkad district. Born on August 26, 1976, he is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA) and recipient of the Sword of Honour at the Air Force Academy. He was commissioned on December 19, 1998. The fighter pilot is a Category ‘A’ flying instructor and a test pilot with approximately 3,000 hours of flying experience. As an experienced fighter pilot, he has flown a variety of fighter jets, including the Su-30 MKI, MIG-21, MiG-29, and Hawk, as well as the Dornier and AN-32 in over 25 years of his career in the Indian Air Force. He has commanded a premier fighter Su-30 squadron in the Northeast. Nair has also trained at the United States Staff College and has been a directing staff member at the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington.

2. Group Captain Ajit Krishnan-

Born in Chennai on April 19, 1982, the fighter pilot is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA) and a recipient of the President's Gold Medal and Sword of Honour at the Air Force Academy. He is also an alumnus of DSSC, Wellington. He was commissioned in June 2003 in the fighter stream of the IAF. The officer is a flying instructor and a test pilot with about 2,900 hours of flying experience who has flown a variety of aircraft including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, Mig-29, Jaguar, and Dornier AN-32.

3. Group Captain Angad Pratap-

Born in Prayagraj on July 17, 1982, he completed his schooling at the Army Public School and went on to graduate from the National Defence Academy (NDA) in 2003. He was commissioned in the fighter stream of the IAF in December 2004. The officer is a flying instructor and a test pilot with about 2,000 hours of flying experience who has flown Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and AN-32, among other aircraft. Group Captain Pratap’s selection for the Gaganyaan mission is a testament to his skills and expertise as a pilot.

4. Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla-

Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla was born in Lucknow on October 10, 1985. At the young age of 16, he successfully cleared the NDA examination and is hence an alumnus of the National Defence Academy. He was commissioned by the IAF in 2006. He is a fighter combat leader and a test pilot with about 2,000 hours of flying experience and has flown Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and AN-32, among other aircraft. At the age of 38, he holds the distinction of being the youngest on the team. His extensive experience showcases his expertise and readiness for the upcoming space mission.

During this training period, life was not always easy for these four people. They had to undergo rigorous training at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Russia, lasting about a year, even amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The only thing that keeps motivating them to undergo such a harsh training period is the feeling of nationalism. They symbolize the trust, courage, valour, and discipline of today’s India.

ISRO has always been a part of our country's pride and I am sure that it will continue to make India proud on international platforms with their space initiatives. It has indulged in the development of India in space research and technology. I am hopeful that the Gaganyaan will take its place in the Gagan of success. Through this blog, I would like to acknowledge everyone who contributed to Mission Gaganyaan. The countdown of the rocket inspires lakhs of children in India, those making paper planes today dream of becoming scientists. Initiatives like Gaganyaan have empowered India to expand its space in the global order. Let us hope that the Gaganyaan mission will be an exemplary success in showcasing India’s potential in the field of space research.

 - Swaraj Wandre

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

माझी मराठी

माझी मराठी

माझी भाषा माझी आई 

अर्थ भावनांना देई l 

तिच्या राहावे ऋणात

होऊ नये उतराई ll 

     फक्त मराठी नाही! तर जी आपली मातृभाषा आहे अशी मराठी भाषा ! "संस्कृत" जी पूर्वी देवभाषा होती, अशा संस्कृत नंतर जिचा जन्म झाला ती म्हणजे प्राकृत; माझी मराठी भाषा! आज उपलब्ध असलेले मराठी भाषेतील पहिले वाक्य म्हणजे "श्री चामुण्डराये करवियले." हे वाक्य म्हैसूर जवळ श्रवण - बेळगोळ येथील शिलालेखात आपल्याला आढळून येते. हा लेख इ. स. शके ९८३ म्हणजे ज्ञानेश्वरीपूर्वी ३०७ वर्षी कोरला गेला .

     मराठी भाषेच्या साहित्य परंपरेचा विचार केला जातो त्या वेळी बघणाऱ्याचे डोळे, ऐकणाऱ्याचे कान, घेणाऱ्याचे हात कमी पडतात; कारण अत्युच्च साहित्य परंपरा लाभलेली माझी मराठी सढळ हाताने जो तिचे लेणे लेऊ इच्छितो त्याच्याकडे येते.

     संपूर्ण मराठी भाषेत लिहिला गेलेला सर्वात प्रारंभी चा ग्रंथ म्हणजे "विवेकसिंधू." हा ग्रंथ लिहिणारे मुकुंदराज मराठीचे आद्यग्रंथकार ठरतात. संपूर्ण मराठी भाषेत लिहिलेला हा ग्रंथ इ. स. ११८८ मध्ये त्यांनी लिहिला. 

     मराठी भाषा एक अशी भाषा आहे l जी अत्यंत लवचिक आहे. "वळवावी तशी वळते ती माझी मराठी भाषा..!" असं म्हणताना मन अभिमानाने भरून येतं. आज कोणत्याच भाषेची असणार नाहीत इतकी रूपे मराठीची पाहायला मिळतात. तिचं स्वरूप जरी वेगवेगळं असलं तरी प्रत्येक ठिकाणी ती त्या त्या लोकांची होऊन जाते. 

   खेड्या पाड्यातील रांगडी , अशुद्ध , अपभ्रंश असलेली भाषा असो, कोल्हापुरी ठसक्यात बोलली जाते ती मराठी असो, किंवा मालवणी / कोकणी अशा गोड स्वरात बोलली जाते ती मराठी असो शेवटी असते ती आपली मराठीच! आपली मराठी इतकी श्रेष्ठ आहे की तिची रूपे जरी वेगवेगळी असली ना, तरी एकमेकांच्या मनातील भावना पोहोचवण्याचं काम आपली मराठी करत राहते. 

   पूर्वी मराठी भाषेला राजभाषेचा मान प्राप्त नव्हता पण तो आज काही प्रमाणात मिळाला आहे. इतकंच नाही तर आज प्रत्येक मराठी माणसाच्या हृदयामध्ये मातृस्थानी, मायबोली, मातृभाषा म्हणून माझी मराठी स्थित आहे. कारण आईची भाषाच वेगळी असते. कधी ती नजरेतून बोलते, कधी बोलण्यातून तर कधी स्पर्शातून व्यक्त होते. म्हणूनच तर तिला मातृभाषा म्हणतात! जी पोटातून येते ती मातृभाषा, कळवळ्याची भाषा; आणि जी ओठातून येते ती व्यावहारिक भाषा! 

      आपल्या संस्कृतीमध्ये, इतिहासामध्ये जे संतमहात्मे होऊन गेले त्या सर्वांनी देखील मातृस्वरूप मराठीची अत्यंत मनोभावे सेवा केली आहे. ज्ञानोबा माऊली आपल्या मराठी भाषेचा गौरव करताना लिहितात, 

माझ्या मराठीचीया बोलू कवतुके l परी अमृता तेंही पैजा जिंके l ऐशीं अक्षरें रसिकें l मेळवीन ll

माझी मराठी भाषा इतकी श्रेष्ठ आहे की तिचं करावं तेवढं कौतुक कमीच आहे. गोडीच्या बाबतीत माझी मराठी "अमृताला" पैजेवर, प्रतिज्ञेवर जिंकू शकते. अशा तऱ्हेची रस, अलंकारयुक्त अमृतमधुर शब्दांची रचना केवळ मराठीत करता येते. अशी आपली मराठी!

       असं सगळं असताना आज आपल्या मराठी भाषेची होत असलेली गळचेपी आपण शांतपणे पाहणे ही अत्यंत दुर्दैवाची गोष्ट आहे. आजच्या काळात अगदी "शिक्षण" क्षेत्रातही मराठी भाषेला मानाचे स्थान मिळण्यासाठी संघर्ष करावा लागतोय! खरंतर पूर्वी होऊन गेलेल्या मोठमोठ्या शिक्षणतज्ज्ञांनीही सांगितलंय की ज्ञान मिळण्यासाठी आपली मातृभाषाच उत्तम! परंतु हे आपल्याला समजणार केव्हा? 

मराठी भाषेची गळचेपी थांबवायची असेल तर आधी मराठी शाळांची अधोगती थांबवायला हवी तरच आपल्याला अधिकार आहे," लाभले आम्हास भाग्य बोलतो मराठी " म्हणण्याचा! यासाठी इतर भाषांचा राग, अपमान करण्याची गरज नाही. फक्त आपल्या मातृभाषेचा, मायबोलीचा, मराठी भाषेचा विसर कधीही पडून देऊ नका. आपली भाषा सामर्थ्यवान आहे. मराठी भाषेच्या संवर्धनासाठी आपण मराठीचा जास्तीतजास्त वापर केला पाहिजे. तेव्हाच आपण अभिमानाने सांगू की ही मातृभाषा माझी मराठी आहे !!! 

शेवटी फक्त इतकेच ,

माय मराठी तुझिया पायी तन मन धन मी वाहियले 

तुझिया नामी तुझिया धामी अखंड रंगुनी राहियले ll 

धन्यवाद !!

 - वादसभा सदस्य पूर्वा शिवप्रसाद काणे

शिवाजी महाराज आणि व्यवस्थापन कौशल्य

 शिवाजी महाराज आणि व्यवस्थापन कौशल्य

 

 दिनांक १९ नोव्हेंबर, १६७२ रोजी ब्रिटनमध्ये प्रकाशित होणाऱ्या "द लंडन गॅझेट" या वृत्तपत्रात शिवराय आग्र्यातून औरंगजेबाच्या हातावरती तुरी देवून निसटले. याची पहिल्या पानावरती बातमी छापली गेली. त्यात शिवरायांचा उल्लेख "Shivaji : The King of India" असा केला गेला होता. भारतापासून हजारो किलोमीटर अंतरावरती असणाऱ्या ब्रिटन या देशाने शिवरायांच्या या पराक्रमाची दखल घेतली. यातून दोन गोष्टी साध्य होतात की, पहिली की, शिवराय हे केवळ महाराष्ट्रापूरते मर्यादित नसून ते अखंड हिंदुस्तानचे राजे होते. आणि दुसरी की, ते फक्त आता भारतापुरते ही मर्यादित नव्हते. आज या विज्ञान-तंत्रज्ञानाच्या लोकशाही युगात एकाच राजाचा इतका उदो-उदो का व्हावा ?  त्या राजाच्या विचारात, व्यवहारात आणि चरित्रात असं काय आहे ? की ज्यामुळे या आधुनिक विज्ञानवादी लोकशाही युगात त्या राजाचं स्मरण स्फूर्तीदायक ठरतं ? 'ग्रेट 17 इन द वर्ल्ड' ही जगातील कर्तुत्ववान नामांकित राजांची यादी आहे. ज्यामध्ये सिझर, सिकंदर, हरक्यूलीज, नेपोलियन अशा राजांची नावे आढळतात. भारतातील सम्राट अशोक आणि बादशाह अकबरसुद्धा या यादीत स्थान मिळवतात परंतु या सगळ्यात छत्रपती शिवराय हे एकमेवादित्य राजे झाले, की जे राजे म्हणून जन्माला आले नाहीत. त्यांनी कोणाच्या पाठीत खंजीर खुपसून सत्ता मिळवली नाही. जे स्वकर्तुत्वावर अभिषिक्त राजे झाले. आणि जेव्हा ते अनंतात विलीन झाले तेव्हाही ते राजेच होते.

सांगायची गोष्ट इतकीच, की जगात ग्रेट 17 जे म्हणवले जातात ते या वरील निकषावरती छत्रपती शिवरायांपुढे टिकूच शकत नाहीत. गोव्यात आलेले पोर्तुगीज आपल्या एका पत्रात म्हणतात, शिवाजी महाराजांचे चातुर्य,त्यांचा पराक्रम,  त्यांचे लष्करी डावपेच पाहून त्याची तुलना करायची झाल्यास ती सिझर व सिकंदर यांच्याशी करावी लागेल. त्याच पत्रात पोर्तुगीज म्हणतात, की हे शिवाजी राजे संबंध आशियाशी एकाच वेळी युद्ध करत आहेत. अर्थात त्याकाळी आशिया-युरोप हा एकच खंड असल्याने डच,फ्रेंच, पोर्तुगीज, इंग्रज आणि त्याच बरोबर भारताच्या भू पटलावर थैमान घालणाऱ्या पातशहाया व त्यामधील मंगोल, अफगाण, इराण-इराक, उझबेकिस्तानचे सरदार यांच्याशी शिवरायांनी सह्याद्रीच्या दऱ्या-खोऱ्यात कडवी झुंज दिली. त्यामूळे शिवराय हे १७ व्या शतकातील आंतराष्ट्रीय कीर्तीचे सेनानी होते.

२९ मे १९४२ रोजी जेव्हा नेताजी सुभाष चंद्र बोस अडोल्फ हिटलरला भेटायला गेले. तेव्हा हिटलर "Shivaji and his Time " हे पुस्तक वाचत होता. ज्यावेळी नेताजींनी हिटलर पुढे भारताच्या स्वातंत्र्यासाठी मदतीची इच्छा व्यक्त केली तेव्हा हिटलर म्हणाला, नेताजी तुमच्या देशाला स्वातंत्र्यासाठी कुठल्या 'हिटलर 'ची गरज नाही, तर तुमच्याच देशात जन्माला आलेल्या छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराजांच्या इतिहासाची गरज आहे !

आजवरचा इतिहास पाहता छत्रपती शिवरायांसारखा विज्ञानवादी आणि वास्तववादी दृष्टिकोन असणारा राजा जगाच्या इतिहासात दुसरा आढळून येत नाही.कारण जगात १८८८ च्या आसपास स्पेन, ब्राझील, इंग्लंड, फ्रान्स येथे गुलामांच्या विक्री वरती बंदी घालण्याचा निर्णय घेण्यात आला परंतु त्याच्या १०० वर्षा आधीच १६७७ ला इंग्रज आणि पोर्तुगीजांना दिलेल्या कौलनाम्यात गुलामांच्या विक्रीवरती शिवरायांनी बंदी घातली. विक्रीसाठी आणलेल्या गुलामांना स्वराज्यात आश्रय दिला व नुसता आश्रय न देता त्यांना राज्यकारभारात देखील सामवून घेतले. याचेच उदाहरणच जर पाहायचं झालं तर स्वराज्याचे सरचिटणीस बाळाजी आऊजी.

आज अमेरिकेच्या Boston University मध्ये MBA च्या मुलांना "शिवाजी द मॅनेजमेंट गुरु" हा विषय एक वर्षासाठी शिकवला जातो.जगातील कित्येक राष्ट्रे आपल्या संरक्षणशास्त्रात शिवरायांच्या गनिमी काव्याचा अभ्यास करतात. तर रशिया, व्हिएतनाम, इस्राराइल यांसारख्या देशांनी गनिमी काव्याच्या तंत्रावरती आजच्या घडीला कैक युद्धे जिंकलेली आहेत. इतकेच काय तर त्या काळी युरोपीय देशांना फिरंगी तलवार बनवण्याचे कॉन्ट्रॅक्ट देवून कित्येक देशांच्या कोसळलेल्या अर्थव्यवस्था  देखील शिवरायांनी उभ्या केल्या.

परंतु मला वाटतं शिवरायांची कीर्ती दिगंत ठरते ती जगाला काय  वाटतं म्हणून किंवा जगासाठी काय केले म्हणून नव्हे तर इथल्या मातीतील लोकांना काय वाटतं म्हणून, कारण इथल्या लोकांसाठी आदर्श ठरल्याने ते विश्वासाठी विश्वगुरू ठरले. खरे म्हणजे,राज्यशास्त्रा मध्ये एक सिद्धांत आहे की एखादे राज्य चांगले की वाईट हे ठरवण्याची सर्वोत्तम कसोटी कोणती असेल ? तर त्या राज्यातील सामान्य प्रजेला,बहुसंख्य रयतेला आणि बहुजनाला ते राज्य आपलं आहे असे वाटणं. तेव्हा ते राज्य उत्तम आहे असे समजावे आणि स्वराज्य या कसोटी वरती पुरेपूर उतरणारे ठरते.

'लोकांनी लोकांसाठी चालवलेली शाही म्हणजे लोकशाही' अशा लोकशाहीचा उदय जगात अलीकडच्या काळात झाला. परंतु अठरा पगड जाती, बारा बलुतेदार, विविध धर्म पंथाच्या लोकांना एकत्रित करून स्वराज्य बांधणारे शिवराय होते.

मंगोलियाच्या चंगेज खानाने जागतिक दर्जाचे लष्कर उभे केलं त्याच बरोबर शिवरायांनी देखील लष्कर उभं केलं. परंतु शेतकऱ्याच्या भाजीच्या देठालाही हात लावायचा नाही हा दंडक घालून देणारे शिवराय होते. आज संपूर्ण जग स्री-पुरुष समानतेची बात करत करतंय. रांझ्याचा पाटील आणि कल्याणच्या सुभेदाराची सून यांच्या प्रसंगातून स्री संरक्षण आणि गृहरक्षक दल अशा संकल्पनेतून स्त्रियांना आर्थिक सक्षम करणारे शिवराय होते. भारतात चोळांनी व्यापारासाठी आरमार उभं केलं. पण माझ्या महाराष्ट्राला धोका हा जमिनीवरून नसून तो समुद्रावरून आहे हे ओळखून उफाळत्या दर्यात जलदुर्ग बांधून शस्त्र सज्ज आरमार उभं करणारे शिवराय होते.

आज ग्रीन पीस, WWF,  संयुक्त राष्ट्र पर्यावरण, TNC यांसारख्या पर्यावरणीय संस्था पर्यावरण वाचवा म्हणून रोज बोल लावतात परंतु १७ व्या शतकातील एका आज्ञापत्रात शिवराय म्हणतात, "काय म्हणोन की ही झाडे वर्षा दो वर्षांनी होतात ऐसे नाही. वृक्षांच्या अभावे हनिही होते. यासाठी वृक्षतोड करू नये." असे सांगून पर्यावरण संवर्धन करणारे शिवराय होते.

आज महाराष्ट्रातील नेतेमंडळी, वक्ते-व्याख्याते, लेखक-इतिहासकार आपल्या भाषणाची-लिखाणाची सुरुवात "महाराष्ट्राचा जाणता राजा छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराज"  म्हणूनच करतात आणि अशानेच की काय आपण शिवरायांना फक्त महाराष्ट्रा पुरतं मर्यादित ठेवलं की काय असा प्रश्न पडतो ? भारताचे माजी पंतप्रधान पंडित जवाहरलाल नेहरू इयत्ता चौथीच्या इतिहासाच्या पाठ्यपुस्तकात पहिल्या पानावरील प्रस्तावनेत म्हणतात शिवराय हे फक्त महाराष्ट्राचे राजे नसून ते अखंड भारताचे राजे आहेत. परंतु आज आम्ही शिवरायांच्या कार्याची तुलना करायला जातो तेव्हा मला शिवराय हे खरोखरच विश्वगुरू दिसतात....!

 प्राचार्य शिवाजीराव भोसले आपल्या एका व्याख्यानात असे म्हणाले होते की, इतिहासाचा आंधळा अभिमान हा एक शाप आहे तर, इतिहासाचे यथार्थ ज्ञान ही एक वैचारिक आवश्यकता आहे. मला वाटते अफजलखानाचा वध, पन्हाळ्याचा वेढा, शाहिस्तेखानाची बोटे, सुरतेवर हल्ला या पलीकडे जाऊन,ढाल-तलवारी पलीकडचे विश्वगुरू शिवराय समजणे ही आजच्या काळाची गरज आहे.....

     - प्रज्योत काटकर.

Human Rights Day

 Human Rights Day

 

 Human Rights Day

 10 December 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of one of the world's most groundbreaking global pledges: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). So, I have a lot of questions for you all. Some of them are answered, while others are left unanswered by us, the society, the government, and also the law.

What was the mistake of those poor citizens of Northern Hamas who died in this heinous war?

Why were those 8 Indian ex-navy officers in Qatar sentenced to death in a country where death sentences were as rare as Halley’s Commet?

What was the mistake of those Meitei tribe citizens who gave their place to migrants and are now facing the consequences of abuse due to those migrants?

Are the Human Rights of these people protected?

The United Nations definition of human rights goes as : “Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more. Everyone is entitled to these rights without discrimination.” We all know what an infinitesimal part of this is actually practiced. Today we are celebrating HRD's 75th anniversary, but how much are we contemplative about it, and how much do we strive to achieve the goal mentioned in its definition?

In the most developed country in this world, George Floyd was screaming, “I can’t breathe,” and crying out for his mother under the knee of a white police officer before going motionless in Minneapolis. Why do we need to tell the world that ‘Black Lives Matter’? Was there any day in the history of the USA or UK when someone had to speak out loud that ‘white lives matter’? Have you ever heard of any such thing? In this same nation, they can give women the right to make money but not the right to decide if they can keep or not keep a fetus inside their womb, which they don’t want. Which would be causing her problems in the future. Why don’t you give her the right to make her own decision? Why is the government deciding that?

We say India is a country known for diversity, but if you are not giving people the right to marry whom they want, just because of their gender how do you say that we encompass everyone? How do you say that we preserve diversity? It depends not always on what rights are given; it's also up to you how you use these rights. 

The interpretations and misinterpretations of your human rights make a lot of difference. For someone, the right to freedom means to upload their picture on social media, while someone else uses the same to earn money through editing it. Spoiling someone’s personality, affecting someone deeply—this is the new tech of ‘Deepfakes’! Wasn’t it sufficient to misinterpret (dis)human rights to the extent of rapes, acid attacks, mental abuses, etc. that now it’s even going beyond? Deepfake would be the best example for showing the limits of excess rights and over-freedom.

But even a small hole is enough to bring a ray of light into the dark room. 

The Nobel Prize Laureate, Mr. Kailash Satyarthi says in an interview, “If not now, then when? If not you, then who?” He has rescued more than 90,000 children from the scourge of bondage, trafficking, and exploitative labor over the last four decades in India under his Bachpan Bachao Aandolan. This Human Rights Day, we can take inspiration from him. It’s not always about saving or helping someone directly, just not bothering and not doing anything that would harm somebody else’s human rights will also work!

 Bezwada Wilson has been a long-time activist who has campaigned against the degrading practice of manual scavenging. Wilson has rehabilitated 3 lakh people out of some 6 lakh who are still working as manual scavengers. His ‘Safai Karmchari Andolan’ led the Supreme Court to direct all States and Union Territories to award compensation to the families of manual scavengers who died working in the sewers. He was also awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for "asserting the inalienable right to a life of human dignity". 

“It takes nerves of steel to continuously fight for a social cause in the face of adversity.”For Sunitha Krishnan, it is rescuing victims of sex trafficking and rehabilitating them into mainstream society. She is the co-founder of Prajwala, a Hyderabad-based NGO dedicated to rescuing women from the clutches of prostitution and preventing the second generation from falling into the same trap by providing education. A gang rape survivor, Sunitha, channelled her anger to put a smile on a little girl’s face. She has rescued more than 10,000 women and children and has sensitised many on how to reintegrate them into society. She has been attacked 17 times for the work she does, but that has not deterred her from providing a better life for these women and children. She is also a recipient of the 2018 Padma Shri Award.

If we start searching for it, there are many examples. Even the government supports such people. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) invites youngsters to its annual competition for short films on human rights, held on the occasion of Human Rights Day. They also provide a good amount of prize money to encourage more people to think about these issues and work for them.

Therefore, we should not just limit ourselves to reading about Human Rights Day but think of it as our responsibility towards society and participate in such NGOs and government programmes.

    - Aditi Bhavsar.