Sat Sri Akal Daddy ji.

Last week my 83 year old father had a brain seizure. His brilliant brain, sort of short circuited, and he was suddenly mentally incoherent. All this caused by a condition called hypoatremia, where sodium levels in the body plummet.

As I sit by his bedside in the Intensive care unit of the hospital I listen to my father. Dad has lost touch with reality. Random communications tumble out of his mouth.

I observe that Dad is not fully conscious, yet he was struggling very systematically to undo the knots and bindings that strap his wrists to the hospital bed ( to prevent him from pulling out the various tubes and needles plunged into his frail body). I admired his persistent and combative nature fighting challenges even in his semi conscious state.

My admiration soon evaporates, and I am suddenly filled with dread and gloom. I realise that I may never be able to sit and talk about God, life, philosophy or politics and a thousand other things. We might never be able to share jokes and laugh again. I sense a strange hollowness in my being.

The hospital room is stifling and I go for a walk, I meet a couple of friends and try to pretend that everything is ok, Maybe this is just a bad dream, one from which I will wake up and learn that my anguish was caused by a trick played on me by my mind.

In the life of a family where you stay and work together, there is a lot of scope to do stupid stuff, to say and do things which we look back with regret in later years.
I and my father had our share of disagreements. I was too keen on doing things right and he was keen on getting things done asap (as soon as possible). I can't help but feel that he has been a better dad than I have been a son.

Dad and I were estranged for several years. Maybe it was a blessing that we lost everything that was material and thus eventually found our love in each other again. He hasn't changed that much but I have learnt to be a better son. I no longer wish to change him, I merely want to be with him.

Traditionally Indians have described their fathers as 'Anna Datha' the provider and hence life giver. The same term is also used for God. The one who gives and protects us. This we so readily forget.

I can recall numerous instances where our father walked those extra miles to get us whatever we desired or needed to guide and protect us, sometimes excessively. We were sometimes unreasonable and selfish, yet he never refused us anything, ever.

I remember when I was about 8 years of age and studying as a boarder in Bishops School, Pune. I can vividly recall my Dad riding one chilly morning into the school on a Lambaretta scooter with a bundle of blankets, one for each of us brothers. He had sensed that the winter was exceptionally cold and he had travelled 200 kilometers to Pune to get us extra blankets so that we would be warm.

My life is full of many kind acts of my parents and I am sure there in everyone’s life. The tragedy is, we seem to have a selective memory of remembering clearly the few unpleasant things they may have said or done while remaining blank on all the wonderful things and the sacrifices they have made for us.

It is difficult to understand human behaviour. Maybe it is best to stop rationalising and start feeling. I now know that feelings of love and gratitude humble us, and make us better people.

I feel blessed that I can look after my aging parents and my widowed aunt. Not to be their feeder and caretaker but to be their companion. This is always easier when you have a compassionate and supportive spouse.

All those who are born must leave us someday. Between the borning and the departing is but a short spell. Let us not waste it on collecting things at the price of losing family and friends.

I have nowhere to go and nothing to do. I want to just bask in the love and blessings of my parents. A service only lucky children are privileged to get.

I pray that my dad gets well soon and we can have a little more time together, doing nothing more than enjoying the passage of time.

I remember my Uncle Manohar Singh ji with whom I stayed for many years and who looked after my Grandmother with great devotion and love, once remarked; "The elderly need so little , but they need that little, so much".

Paradox of our times ..

      Image by Ben Heine

We have bigger houses but fewer residents,

More conveniences, but less time.

We have more degrees, but less common sense.

More knowledge, but less judgement.

We have more experts but also more problems.

More medicines, but less wellness.

We spend too recklessly;

laugh too little,

drive too fast,

get angry too quickly,

stay up too late,

read too little

watch TV too much,

meditate and pray too seldom!

We have multiplied our possessions,

but reduced our values.

We argue too much,

love too little,

lie too often.

We have learnt to make a living, but not a life.

We've added years to life, not life to years.

We have taller buildings,

and shorter tempers.

Wider roads but narrower viewpoints.

We spend more but we have less,

We buy more, but enjoy it less.

We've been all the way to the moon and back, but we have difficulty in saying hello, smiling, or reaching out to shake a hand.

we have conquered outer space, but not inner space.

We have split the atom, but not our prejudices.

We write more, learn less, plan more but accomplish less.

We've learned to rush but not to wait.

We have higher incomes but lower morals.

We build more computers, to hold more data, to spread more information, make more copies, yet we have less communication.

We are long on quantity, and short on quality.

These are the times for fast foods and slow digestions;

Tall men and short characters.

More leisure and less fun;

More kinds of foods, but less nutrition.

Two incomes, but more divorces.

Fancier houses, but broken homes.

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That is why I propose; 

that as of today, you do not keep anything for special occasions because every day you live it's a special occasion.

Enjoy the passage of time, be one with creation

Read and discuss more,

Seek wisdom along with your search for knowledge, 

Admire the view.

Spend time with your family and friends.

Eat your favourite foods, and visit the places you love.

Life is a chain of enjoyments, not merely about surviving.

Use your crystal goblet, and don't save your favourite perfume, use them when you feel like it.

Remove from your vocabulary words like "one of these days" or "someday".

Write the letter you've thought about writing.

Tell your friends and family, how much you love them.

Don't delay anything that brings joy and happiness into your life.

Every day, every hour, every minute is special.

You never know if it will be your last.

Last but not the least

Never forget Him, that made this wonder called life possible.

My Thanks to Mr. Ephrem Augustus for this contribution

US$ 4.77 Billion for a chair.

History is full of tragedies. Not so long ago the deadliest war in terms of casualties was World War II. 60 Million people perished unnecessarily because of the arrogance and stupidity of European leaders.

Almost 5.7 Million, that is approx 78% of the 7.8 Million Jews living in German dominated Europe were killed in what came to be called the 'Holocaust'. Most of them innocent civilians. They were the citizens of the very countries whose governments ordered them to be looted and killed. Their only crime was that they belonged to the Jewish faith.

Before World War II the laws in most European countries prohibited Jews from owning land /property. Yet the Jews were by and large wealthier than their fellow citizens. Most of their wealth was in assets that could be easily liquidated.

When the atrocities against Jews gained prominence, many Jews fled with whatever wealth they could save to Switzerland which bordered Germany, Italy and France. Many people stayed behind in their countries mainly in Poland and Germany but sent their money and wealth for safekeeping with Banks in Switzerland. After all the Swiss had announced that they would remain neutral in any war.

The Jews believed that, they had safeguarded the future for their children and families.

Unfortunately the anti-Semitism wave killed most of the Jews. Even their bodies were scavenged for things like gold from the teeth, which was melted down and sent to Switzerland to finance the war effort.

It was estimated that in the years just before the war US$ 700 Million at that time (worth about US$ 8 Billion today) of savings and money was kept with the Swiss Bankers for safekeeping by Jews.

After the war survivors and many families of Holocaust victims, sought information on the dormant accounts of their parents and deceased family members.
The Swiss refused to cooperate. Citing time held procedures and guidelines the Swiss bankers simply refused to address the special circumstances of the situation. They demanded death certificates etc and created numerous other obstacles so that descendants were unable to get the wealth saved by their elders for them.

Soon after the war the WJC (World Jewish Council)was formed. It sought amongst many other things the restitution from the Swiss for the families of the victims of the holocaust.
Nothing really happened for a long time until the WJC got a new President, Mr. Edgar Bronfman.

Edgar Bronfman the North American liquor baron and owners of Seagram group who made gigantic profits during the US prohibition years amassed a fortune worth of US$ 9.5 Billion by the late Nineteen eighties. Bronfman was a shrewd, and resourceful man. He was a seasoned fighter and politically extremely well connected.

To recover the wealth of the Jews who had banked with the Swiss, Bronfman sought a meeting with the Swiss bankers. He pursued the bankers for a long time. Finally the bankers agreed to grant Bronfman an audience. In Sept 1995 Bronfman flew to Switzerland to meet the Swiss bankers . The meeting was a disaster.

It is believed that this is what transpired;
The Swiss had heard of Bronfman's aggressive nature and decided to show him his place. Bronfman was initially kept waiting and then eventually ushered into an office where no chair was made available for Bronfman. As an insult he was made to stand during the brief meeting.

Bronfman was undeterred, he delivered his message and ultimatum standing up. 'The Swiss were only custodians and not owners of the money parked with them. They must return the money of the Jews who were Holocaust victims to the families, descendants and inheritors". The enraged Bronfman struggled to keep his temper under control.

Smarting over the high handed, and disgraceful conduct of the Swiss, Bronfman now made this issue a crusade. He used his influence with the United States political machinery, the administration and lobbied both Republican and Democrat leaders.

Soon thereafter the American government machinery swung into action. The Americans launched a multi pronged investigation to look into Switzerland's war time dealings with Nazi Germany.

The Swiss government eager to avoid an avalanche of skeletons tumbling out of its cupboards, advised the Swiss bankers to cooperate with the Americans and show some token of good faith.

Fearing punitive action by the US government on Swiss banking and other interests in the United States, the Swiss bankers agreed to attend hearings in Washington.

The Swiss bankers did not know what hit them. Skillful manoeuvring by Bronfman and his colleagues within and outside the US government coupled with the inept attitude and ham handed approach of the Swiss bankers (who hardly ever speak) cost them dearly.

The hearings based on the testimony of thousands of Holocaust survivors and descendants of victims clearly portrayed Swiss bankers as heartless, arrogant, and guilty of denying the victims their due rights.

____________________________________

It is easy to get carried away by the trappings of power and position that they ride roughshod over others. This high handed approach can frequently come back to haunt the perpetrator of the slight.

Eventually after facing a global embarrassment the Swiss bankers and the government had to shell out US$ 4.77 Billion for a restitution fund. An amount significantly higher and multi fold more than what the WJC originally sought.

For the Jews justice was seen to have been done. However for the Swiss it was a huge price for denying a visitor a chair.

A great boss.

My wife and I were watching the grand and surprisingly good inauguration of the Common Wealth Games on the third of October. The crowd was enthusiastic and the mood was jubilant.
Prince Charles of Great Britain was heartily welcomed. Political leaders and various dignitaries received varying degrees of appreciation by way of cheer and applause. The crowd however reserved their greatest cheer with many standing up to applaud when the name of a particular individual was announced.

I recall a story narrated by my friend Tushar Parekh about this great person. This article illuminates one of the numerous reasons why he is considered great and so deserving of the love and respect he always receives.

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A Great Boss . . .

There were about 70 scientists working hectically and tirelessly on a very demanding project.

All the scientists were extremely frustrated by the demanding pressure of work and the high standards of their boss. They complained but yet they persevered, for their boss possessed something mystical about him. Loyal to him and excited by the vision he showed them,  they could not even conceive of quitting their jobs.

One day, a scientist came to his boss and told him - "Sir, I have promised to my children to take them to the exhibition going on in town". "I want to leave the office at 5 30 pm."
His boss replied "Sure, if it's important to you, you need to go home at 5.30, it's alright".

The scientist resumed work immediately, eager to complete the next phase of his work at the earliest. As usual he got so involved with his work that he lost all track of time. Just as he was completing the work for the day he glanced at his watch, it read almost 8.30 pm.

He looked forward to getting home and spending time with his lovely children. He was aghast for he suddenly remembered his promise to the children. He searched for his boss, who was almost the last to leave, but could not find him.

Well, he had already informed his boss that he would leave early so he closed everything up and departed for his home.

He felt a great pang of guilt, he had let his children down, gain. He was sure they would be disappointed.With great trepidation he entered his home.

The children were not there, and his wife alone was sitting in the living room reading a magazine. He knew from past experience that any excuse could only boomerang on him and make the situation worse. He braced himself for a severe tongue lashing.

His wife smilingly asked him "Would you like to have coffee or shall I serve dinner if you are hungry?”
The man replied "I would love to have a cup of coffee if you are getting yourself one too" "Where are the children?" he queried
Wife seemed surprised "You don't know ?? Your boss came here at 5.15 pm and took the children to the exhibition."


This is what had really happened ..

At 4.45 pm the boss noticed the scientist deeply engrossed in his work. He knew from his experience that the work could not be competed in time to permit him to leave for home early as planned.

"Such devotion to work by the scientist cannot be a cause of unhappiness for the children", thought the boss. "The children must visit and enjoy the exhibition they longed for and promised by their father."

So he took the children to the exhibition.

Now more than ever there is bad trend of pampering employees. Bribery never works to build good individuals, teams or great organisations. The leader need not be a nanny, but does demonstrate leadership in umpteen ways.

Good leaders knows how to get the best out of their people. A good leader considers the team members and followers subjectively as people not objectively as a mere resources, or things with just a number.

Winning the hearts of people is a necessary element of any collective effort. Winning the minds is an essential requirement, particularly in endeavours requiring intelligence, to deliver the extra zing to produce superior outcomes.

That is why all the scientists at Thumba continued to work with great success under their boss even though the demands made from them were seemingly impossible.

The boss was none other than Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, Former-President of India.

Humility is more effective than aggression

It is a good habit I guess, to reflect on all what we say or do.
This is an excellent way to learn from our actions and thoughts, and thus to better ourselves.

We Punjabi's are naturally hot blooded, therefore for us physical action and violence is normally the first thought and course of action rather than the last..
I have however learnt that this approach often yields bitter fruit and only temporary respite.

Most people face problems in understanding and handling power.
Is being violent or belligerent a sign of power or is it the ability to command resources to achieve desired goals and objectives that can be considered to be a sign of power?

Are brutal and aggressive people without scruples powerful or does the person who wins your heart with kindness, humility and morality more powerful?

When faced with moral and spiritual dilemma, I often turn to Sant Baba Ishwar Singh ji my teacher and spiritual guide.
I asked Baba ji, about use of aggression and violence to seize power and control
How could anyone rule and maintain power without being aggressive?

Smilingly and with his usual softness he asked me a question "Can you name me one incident or issue that was resolved by violence?"
I was embarrassed to say I could not think of even one issue.
"Violence only begets more violence. Sure you must be prepared for self defence. Violence is prevented not initiated", Babaji remarked. "You can beat to death a violent man but it is near impossible to keep on attacking a humble and defenceless person".

"You have to be aggressive for what you want, by persevering and relentlessly pursuing your goals, but not by being aggressive in your behaviour and conduct", he concluded.

I found it hard to swallow this advice, but I had faith in Baba ji.

So began a journey into managing my anger and aggressive behaviour and learning more about one of the most negative of human traits. My introspection and study eventually led me to agree with Baba ji.

To illustrate, I draw your attention to a great man Shri. Mohandas Gandhi popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi ji, the father of the Indian nation.
Gandhi ji taught the world, that, humility is infinitely more powerful than violence and aggression. Here is an illuminating example of this philosophy of real power.

The British exploited India during its rule of nearly three hundred years. Like all exploiters they ruled with an iron hand.
As per Lord Hastings the British Viceroy that by the year 1900 an amount of 1,000,000,0000 Pounds had been earned from India by the British Crown. This amount is valued at 1 Trillion pounds by today's standards. This is greater than India's current GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

It was natural that the majority of Indians yearned to be free from the British yoke. The restless Indians united under the banner of the Indian National Congress party (INC).
Late in the year 1929, the INC agreed to Gandhi ji's advice to start a civil disobedience movement to make India ungovernable by the British and thus force them to leave India.
The INC requested Gandhi ji to lead the movement.

Gandhi ji had observed that Indians had neither the weapons nor the training for an armed conflict. Any attempt by his more violent colleagues would lead to unnecessary deaths and provoke the use of excessive reactive force by the British. The British could easily justify it as self defence.

In any event violence was not an option for Gandhi ji, for he believed in 'A-Hinsa' that is the path of non-violence.

Early in 1930 Gandhi ji wrote an open letter to Lord Irwin (the British Viceroy in India) of his plans to lead a march from his ashram in Mumbai to the coast in Gujarat to collect salt from the sea in defiance of the salt tax imposed by the British on its monopoly of the salt trade.

The British laughed at Gandhi ji and decided to let him do what he wanted. They were sure that it would be a non starter and everyone could sleep easy. In any event it would not look good for the British to attack an old, frail and half naked man with his ragtag band of followers.

This was a fatal mistake of the British. Even members of the Indian National Congress were dismayed at Gandhi ji's seemingly timid form of resistance.
We should not judge such people too harshly, for it is easy for most people, particularly aggressive and violent men, to mock and underestimate the capability and capacity of peace loving people, mistaking non-aggression for weakness.

Gandhi ji called press reporters from all over the world and made a grand event out of the march to Dandi in Gujarat. He converted a civil disobedience program into a spiritual war. He called on the citizens of India , businessmen, civil servants, labourers, villagers and students to join him on the march to protest against injustice.

By the time the crowd arrived at the sea shore they were nearly an electrified hundred thousand strong. The event ignited hope and courage in the marchers and in all Indians.
The marchers gathered salt from the sea. The salt was sold at nominal price and often freely distributed to Indians in the cities.

Eventually the British arrested Gandhi and came down heavily on most Indians. However it was too late for the British, for the fire of freedom was now burning ever so strongly in the hearts of most Indians. This was a turning point in history and started the end of the British Raj.

Using great intelligence and tenacity, Gandhi ji prepared and executed a brilliant strategy. It was a powerful spontaneous mass movement where every Indian irrespective of caste, creed, social status or religion could participate. In addition the movement required very few material resources. It drew on the human spirit for strength and effect.

It is the ruled who grant authority to the rulers by obeying and cooperating with them. Power is bestowed on the ruler by the ruled people who obey rulers. Stop obeying and cooperating and the rulers have no authority .
Gandhi ji chose the right battle with no violence. Touching issues close to the heart of most Indians he demonstrated the vulnerability of the British Raj's incapacity to rule a united and charged people of India. Gandhi ji was thus able to unite Indians in their goal to drive the British out of India.

Sure Gandhi ji had human failings. Not every decision he made was perfect or politically beneficial. He however lived by a noble and high spiritual code delivering spectacular results.

Today the 2nd day of October is Gandhi Jayanti the birth day of the Mahatma.
Gandhi ji, we say we bow to you. Unfortunately most of us find it easier to live by the code of hatred and aggressiveness rather than love and humility.

SIMS Students, welcome to the real world.

Student life can be fascinating. If you were a real student you should have learnt about various subjects , about yourselves and the world around you, then you are ready for the real world.

The real world is however quite different from student life and more demanding.
People will not always be logical, polite or kind. Unless your parents own the organisation where you will work, most often the rule is that as a fresh joiner and intern you can expected to be treated rather impatiently and often impolitely.

Getting a job these days is not difficult, however whether you will be successful, happy or satisfied is debatable. Even in a recession most employers complain of not being able to get and retain good people. It is your choice whether you want to be recognised as good or just another 'has been'.

Here are some tips that should make your career journey smoother, more meaningful and likely to project you as a winner.

• Perception lasts longer than fact. Your reputation will make or break you. Your reputation will come from your conduct and more important from your ability to deliver results.


• Never argue with others, particularly your boss on basis of opinions. Facts are difficult to dispute where as it is easy to dismiss an opinion.


• I believe in the philosophy “Do not say , show. Do not claim, prove”.


• It is more important to be respected than to be liked.


• When two people agree on everything one of them is useless. When two people disagree on everything then both of them are useless.


• Your education never ends, you must constantly learn, unlearn and relearn. So keep your old books, acquire new ones and stay up to date. Remember a well educated person should know something about most things and everything about something.


• Try to work for and with people with whom you share similar values. It does not mean you will not have disagreements, it just helps you to resolve differences quicker and understand each other.


• If you seek career and personal development and progress, you must win the trust of your colleagues and particularly your boss. Trust comes from trust worthy actions.


• We Indians are the world’s leaders in making excuses for non performance. Success needs no explanation and failure tolerates no excuses. In today’s challenging and competitive world performance talks and failure walks.
  

If you want to have a meaningful career and personal life it might help to look at the story of the pickle bottle and two cups of tea.

The Pickle Bottle.
When things in your life seem, almost too much to handle,
When 24 Hours in a day is not enough,
Remember the pickle bottle and 2 cups of tea.

A professor once stood before his class of students who were about to graduate
When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty pickle bottle and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students, if the bottle was full.
They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the bottle. He shook the bottle lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.
He then asked the students again if the bottle was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the bottle.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He asked once more if the bottle was full. The students responded with a unanimous ‘yes.’

The professor then produced two cups of tea from under the table and poured the entire contents into the bottle, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

‘Now,’ said the professor, as the laughter subsided,
‘I want you to recognize that this bottle represents your life.
The golf balls are the important things - family, children, health, Friends, and favourite passions
Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, Your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car.
The sand is everything else –The small stuff.

‘If you put the sand into the jar first,’ He continued, there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

So…

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
‘Take care of the golf balls first - The things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.’

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the tea represented.

The professor smiled. ‘I’m glad you asked’.
It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a cup of tea with a friend.’

This article is written by Gurvinder Singh for the SIMC student website at the request of Mr. Mohan Sinha.

Solving the Naxalites & Maoists problem

Every day we read about some crisis or the other caused by Maoists & Naxalites and how the government is responding with massive force. Yet the situation gets only worse with each passing day.

History always provides interesting lessons, if only we attempt to learn.
_____________________________________
Herman Cortes a young Spaniard, had visions of conquering Mexico for Spain and making himself very rich by plundering the huge stockpile of gold the powerful Aztecs possessed.

In 1518 landing on Mexico's east coast with just 500 men, the 33 year old Cortes set up the town of Veracruz and then began to study his quarry.
The fierce Aztecs had 500,000 warriors. They were ruled by the powerful Moctezuma from his palace at Tenochtitlan, 250 kms west of Veracruz .
Herman Cortes learnt from local tribes and through his spies that Moctezuma ran a highly centralised system with Moctezuma at the very centre. Cortes hatched a daring plan. When Moctezuma granted Cortes an audience in his court, Cortes lunged and killed Moctezuma in front of many of the king's subjects.

The Aztecs thought Cortes to be a powerful God, for he had with great ease decapitated the all powerful Moctezuma. The powerful Aztec army meekly surrendered. Thus Cortes conquered Mexico.
The weakness in the strong kingdom came from its reliance on an individual at the centre. The organisation structure could be called a spider structure.
This is based on the observation that if one were to cut the head of a spider, in spite of its eight legs it will die almost instantaneously .

_______________________________________
In similar fashion the Spanish tried to conquer several of the Indian tribes of what is now the southern part of The United States of America by adopting the same approach that Cortes used with Moctezuma and the Aztecs. Yet for two hundred years they were unable to overpower the seemingly primitive Apache Indians. Why did the Spanish fail in this endeavour in spite of being stronger and more powerful than ever?

At this point, let's look at another type of organisation called the starfish structure.
This is based on a creature called the starfish. If one cuts a starfish into many parts , each part will grow into another starfish.

The Apache Indians unlike the Aztecs or some other Indians times had a highly decentralised existence. They lived in temporary camps and were always on the move. They had a distributed democratic leadership which was shared by all individuals.
What the eldest (called Nant'an) did everyone simply followed. If a Nant'an died in battle or in a hunt a new one would take his place and everyone followed him.

The Spanish found it exceedingly difficult to attack the highly mobile Apaches. Even if the attacked and killed the Nant'an, a new one would rise immedeately. The Apaches frustrated the efforts of the Spanish for over 200 years.

The American settlers eventually conquered and killed off the Apache by giving them cattle. Once they accepted the valuable cattle the Apache settled down at various places. The Apaches got rooted and set up a centralised system to fight and control the scare resources of the cattle. After that they were easy pickings for the kill and therefore soon conquered.

________________________________________________
Let us return to the topic at hand.
If one looks at the parallel from history it is not difficult to see why the Government administration is having so little luck in tackling the Maoists and the Naxalites.

They are using classical war techniques to attack a spider organisation whereas the challenge is a starfish organisation. Therefore all efforts under the present strategy and approach are doomed to fail and that to at great cost to the Indian state and people.

33% of India's land mass is covered by forests. These forests are rich in wildlife, forest products and mineral resources.

Corrupt and crooked politicians often lording over various ministries have the entire government machinery including the law and order aspects at their disposal, treat these lush and lucrative areas as their private fiefdom.

Many of these 'leaders have their own private armies', mercenaries who get a small share in the plunder of the lands and its people.

Many of the 'leaders' are small timers. They lack the capital, technology and the management to exploit the huge mineral resources that lie in the lands belong to locals and tribal people.
Now enter the capitalists who want access to these rich mining areas. They let the politicians use the government machinery do the dirty of work of getting them the mining concession on highly attractive terms and also provide the local infrastructure.

Developing lucrative mining areas is a good idea if the local people benefit from the development. All too often the lands are virtually stolen, toxic waste pollutes ground water and the air and many locals get a very bad deal. They do not even get the pittance that is promised to them and payable by law for seizing and depriving them of their lands.

When the locals attempt to protest, many are beaten up, tortured or even killed. Often trumped up charges are made against innocent people and they are then incarcerated to rot in the jails for a long time.

Locals and oppressed people may get intimidated, but a fire burns within them. This huge tinderbox awaits the arrival of someone to light the fire and start a movement.

Once started no matter how many 'leaders' are killed more people will keep on coming. The government has to realise that they are dealing with a starfish and not a spider organisation. The current efforts are doomed to fail because of a faulty strategy.
_______________________________________________

Then what is the solution?
There are no quick fixes and war definitely is not a permanent answer. War only serves to make forces of evil stronger.

Unless inclusive development starting with decent infrastructure, education, health services and job opportunities are provided along with a suitable law and order machinery backed up by a genuine judicial system the Maoists and Naxalites will grow in strength.
Deny the leaders the cause which they claim to champion and their war will end.

Huge amounts of money are now being invested in the so called fight against the so called Maoists or Naxalites, this has set up a huge money spinning opportunity for people to supply equipment, resources, people, and even fake rehabilitation schemes.

Development is the only solution.
It makes great social and economic sense to spend on genuine development which will bring greater and permanent gains as compared to the huge amounts of funds currently being spent and likely to be spent on waging war.
People's representatives and democracy must serve the needs of the people rather than their own. In our present value system and the apathy of the average Indian, no changes are expected to take place any time soon. Again taking a cue from history, things will need to get a lot worse before there is any hope of them getting any better.

We compound our folly with even greater follies. We then top it off with tough and unproductive rhetoric. Alas this is all in vain.
Troubles can bloom all so easily in a divided and unjust home.

It will be impossible to win this war, but it is definitely possible to win the peace.