Daksha Ignores Shiva

In Hindu mythology, Daksha is regarded as one of the progenitors of mankind. Daksha is also known for being the father in whose house, Uma or Parvathi took birth. The great yagya instituted by Daksha, is known to many Indian villagers, who believe in the virtues and faith of Parvathi, as representative of the family devotion that a married woman is expected to have in the Indian rural setting towards her duties and well being of her family.
Needless to say, India is no more the same India, nor is Bharat the same Bharat. Bharat from which India took shape, is these days trampled by urban interests and neglect. We now hear that after farmers of Vidarbha, Maharashtra, Andhra, Kerala, farmers of Uttar Pradesh, from where Mrs Sonia Gandhi contests parliamentary elections, are also learning the virtues of desperate mass suicides as the visible face of Indian government's agricultural policies and undeclared farm exit policy.
U.P. farmers too, are joining the Indian farm band wagon, and also taking to suicides, to escape the fate of rural debt, and forcible land and assets recovery operations, that Congress economic policies are leading them towards.
I do wonder, when the Farmer Leaders will give a call for farmers to Quit their Land in the villages and make a mass exodus for Indian urban life.
"Apni Zameen Chhodo" -
Indian urban life, is a fast emerging paradise, that even the likes of Tesco, Walmart, Marks and Spencers, Adidas, Nike, European banks and investment majors, financial services companies, are eyeing with great affection. So why not the Indian farmer ?
Why is the Indian farmer unable to see the charm and attraction of Indian urban life ? Anyone who puts on a thinking cap, knows that is " where the action is ".
Gaon Chhodo, Shahar Chalo - this I am sure is the only solution to the problems of Indian farmers. Chinese farmers of course have restrictions on their migratory freedom. Indian farmers need to make the best of their current migratory freedom, before some legislation in India, bans them from voluntarily leaving agriculture.
Maybe, the Indian farmer is still traditional, illiterate, old fashioned in his thinking, and steeped in traditions, and thus feels hesitant about going to the house of his daughter in law in the cities, to escape his dire situation. But yes, one of these days, the Indian farmer will have to understand that his future, depends on discarding his false pride and moving en masses to the house of his daughter in law (bahuriya ka ghosla), who lives in the city.
There will surely be initial discomforts and hiccups, but overall his situation will improve for the long term better. All the leading so called economic pundits of India, say with a wink .. "afterall, no gain without pain.." Some use more fanciful terms like structural adjustments.
"Bahuriya ke ghar chalte hain" ... this must be the song on the lips of Indian farmers. And of course, there can be some very good lyrics to accompany this song title. And music, oh, just think of the sheer creative possibilities of setting this song to lilting music and celebratory thumkas, dhol and drums, shehnai and guitars, folk as well as modern versions of the songs, will sell exceedingly well in all the outskirts of Indian cities. Who said there is no money to be made in entertainment from rural areas ?
T-Series can bring out a "Top Collections" of Aaj Ke Kisan Ki Awaaz - casette and I am sure it will make some people very, very rich.
"Ab der kis baat ki bhaya, bahuriya ke ghar chalo, bahuriya ke haath ki chai shahar chal ke piyenge, mastee se pade rahenge, TV aur fillum dekhenge ...".
Farmer leaders, need to give this call in every Indian village, and then see how the pessimism of Indian farmers changes to long term optimism. Suicides rates will come down and urban areas will experience unprecedented growth.
Indian GDP projections will go straight out of the roof, foreign investments will shoot up, stock brokers, investment consultants, forex experts, hedge funds and wealth managers will make a beeline for India.
The Indian Finance Minister, Commerce Minister and Agriculture Ministers, will be parcelling out, rapid fire, 5 minute appointment slots, as European business leaders, and trade delegations, line up outside the Delhi, South Bloc offices. Things will become terribly busy for these three ministries and 24 hour days will be short.
China will be forced to reconsider its ban on farmer migrations to urban areas, industrial labour strategies, Special Export Zones, as it feels that the yawning Indian Tiger will shoo away, if not swallow, the Chinese panda. Maybe, in return, the border row will also be forgiven and forgotten, as Indians and Chinese premiers, embrace to kiss and tell and sell. They will wonder how the Indians have woken up to the powerful strategy of an undeclared Farm Exit policy, and taken a page from their manuals.
The Chinese will try to read up on the wonderful economic strategy, and whisk away the secret team of economic think tanks, of Indian political and development planners, for trebling growth every Five Years. And mind you, not just wishy washy future projections and PowerPoint slides, but real, solid statistics.
But while everyone will see the merits of this approach to economic restructuring, the Indian farmer may still fight shy of overcoming his old fashioned views of not going to the house of his urban daughter in law. For after all, he stills lives under a " false sense of pride ", and refuses to learn anything at all from the TV soap serials that attempt to mentally prepare him for his urban push and how he must carry himself in the cities.
And yes, to delay his decision, on this uncomfortable lifestyle choice, he will raise silly, diversionary questions.
Like ...
... who will look after the village lands in my absence, will they not become fallow ?
... who will feed the birds that gather daily around me ?
... who will reassure the buffalo and her calf every morning at dawn ?
... What if the daughter in law refuses to make chapatis ?
... What if I nostalgically miss the village banter of childhood friends around the hookah ?
Yes this is certainly tricky, and maybe some expensive psychiatrists, corporate gurus, motivation pundits, lifestyle trainers, can be persuaded to offer motivational sessions for Indian farmers as they ponder the question of significant lifestyle changes.
For after all, reading the writing on the wall, is what all consultants are about. Swallow the bitter pill now else...a stich in time, saves nine...etc, etc
After all, a sniff of the countryside will do them also some good, now that six lane excellent highways have been laid for their Toyota Corollas, in the name of upgrading rural infrastructure.
As regards, the farmer assets, left behind in the villages, no need to worry, Indian bankers, economists, agricultural scientists and Planning Commission, can take just what they want... maybe we can have a whole range of new, innovative, courses in Agricultural Research and Extension Institutes on - Best Practices for Leaving Fertile Land Fallow - How food crop seeds can be treated for 5 year delayed harvest - after all who in his right mind wants to do Contract Farming in the villages of India ?
Maybe switch roles for 5 Years and see the success of this Alternative Five Year Plan ?
Any ISB Hyderabad grads out there who want to try this strategy of making India a Global Power ? If the Railway Ministry can inspire Kellogg and American management under grads, why cant we inspire ISB grads ? The whole world has its eyes on us now.
Think outside the groove... that is what they say, dont they...