Bahujana hitaya, bahujana sukhaya

Lyrics of Vande Mataram
वन्दे मातरम्

सुजलां सुफलां मलयजशीतलाम्

सस्य श्यामलां मातरंम् .

शुभ्र ज्योत्सनाम् पुलकित यामिनीम्

फुल्ल कुसुमित द्रुमदलशोभिनीम्,

सुहासिनीं सुमधुर भाषिणीम् .

सुखदां वरदां मातरम् ॥

सप्त कोटि कण्ठ कलकल निनाद कराले

द्विसप्त कोटि भुजैर्ध्रत खरकरवाले

के बोले मा तुमी अबले

बहुबल धारिणीम् नमामि तारिणीम्

रिपुदलवारिणीम् मातरम् ॥

तुमि विद्या तुमि धर्म, तुमि ह्रदि तुमि मर्म

त्वं हि प्राणाः शरीरे

बाहुते तुमि मा शक्ति,

हृदये तुमि मा भक्ति,

तोमारै प्रतिमा गडि मन्दिरे-मन्दिरे ॥

त्वं हि दुर्गा दशप्रहरणधारिणी

कमला कमलदल विहारिणी

वाणी विद्यादायिनी, नमामि त्वाम्

नमामि कमलां अमलां अतुलाम्

सुजलां सुफलां मातरम् ॥

श्यामलां सरलां सुस्मितां भूषिताम्

धरणीं भरणीं मातरम् ॥

English Transliteration:

vande maataram, vande maataram..

sujalaam sufalaam malayaj sheetalaam

sasyashyaamalaam maataram ... vande..

shubhrajyotsna pulakit yaaminiim

phulla kusumita drumadal shobhiniim

suhaasinim sumadhura bhaashhinim

sukhadaam varadaam maataram.. vande maataram

sapta koti kantha kalakala ninaada karaale

nisapta koti bhujaidhruta kharakarvaale

sapta koti kantha kalakala ninaada karaale

nisapta koti bhujaidhruta kharakarvaale

ka bola ka noma eith bole

bahubal dhaariniin namaami taariniim

ripudalavaariniin maataram

vande maataram ...

tumi vidyaa tumi dharma, tumi hridi tumi marma

tvan hi praanaah shariire

baahute tumi maa shakti,

hridaye tumi maa bhakti,

tomaarai pratimaa gadi mandire mandire

vande maataram..

tvan hi durgaa dashapraharanadhaarinii

kamalaa kamaladala vihaarinii

vaanii vidyaadaayinii, namaami tvaam

namaami kamalaan amalaan atulaam

sujalaan sufalaan maataram

vande maataram..

shyaamalaan saralaan susmitaan bhuushhitaam

dharaniin bharaniin maataram

vande maataram....

Meaning:

Mother, I salute thee!

Rich with thy hurrying streams,

bright with orchard gleams,

Cool with thy winds of delight,

Green fields waving Mother of might,

Mother free.

Glory of moonlight dreams,

Over thy branches and lordly streams,

Clad in thy blossoming trees,

Mother, giver of ease

Laughing low and sweet!

Mother I kiss thy feet,

Speaker sweet and low!

Mother, to thee I bow.

Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands

When swords flash out in seventy million hands

And seventy million voices roar

Thy dreadful name from shore to shore?

With many strengths who art mighty and stored,

To thee I call Mother and Lord!

Thou who saves, arise and save!

To her I cry who ever her foe drove

Back from plain and sea

And shook herself free.

Thou art wisdom, thou art law,

Thou art heart, our soul, our breath

Though art love divine, the awe

In our hearts that conquers death.

Thine the strength that nerves the arm,

Thine the beauty, thine the charm.

Every image made divine

In our temples is but thine.

Thou art Durga, Lady and Queen,

With her hands that strike and her

swords of sheen,

Thou art Lakshmi lotus-throned,

And the Muse a hundred-toned,

Pure and perfect without peer,

Mother lend thine ear,

Rich with thy hurrying streams,

Bright with thy orchard gleems,

Dark of hue O candid-fair

In thy soul, with jewelled hair

And thy glorious smile divine,

Loveliest of all earthly lands,

Showering wealth from well-stored hands!

Mother, mother mine!

Mother sweet, I bow to thee,

Mother great and free!

Kannada Transliteration:

ವನ್ದೆ ಮಾತರಮ್    ||ಪ||

ಸುಜಲಾಂ ಸುಫಲಾಂ ಮಲಯಜಶಿಇತಲಾಮ್

ಸಸ್ಯ ಶ್ಯಾಮಲಾಂ ಮಾತರಂಮ್.ಹ್

ಶುಭ್ರ ಜ್ಯೊತ್ಸನಾಮ್.ಹ್ ಪುಲಕಿತ ಯಾಮಿನಿಇಮ್

ಫುಲ್ಲ ಕುಸುಮಿತ ದ್ರುಮದಲಶೊಭಿನಿಇಮ್

ಸುಹಾಸಿನಿಇಂ ಸುಮಧುರ ಭಾಷಿಣಿಇಮ್.ಹ್

ಸುಖದಾಂ ವರದಾಂ ಮಾತರಮ್.ಹ್ ..

ಸಪ್ತ ಕೊಟಿ ಕಣ್ಠ ಕಲಕಲ ನಿನಾದ ಕರಾಲೆ

ದ್ವಿಸಪ್ತ ಕೊಟಿ ಭುಜೈರ್ಧ್ರತ ಖರಕರವಾಲೆ

ಕೆ ಬೊಲೆ ಮಾ ತುಮಿಇ ಅಬಲೆ

ಬಹುಬಲ ಧಾರಿಣಿಇಮ್.ಹ್ ನಮಾಮಿ ತಾರಿಣಿಇಮ್

ರಿಪುದಲವಾರಿಣಿಇಮ್.ಹ್ ಮಾತರಮ್.ಹ್ ..

ತುಮಿ ವಿದ್ಯಾ ತುಮಿ ಧರ್ಮ ತುಮಿ ಹ್ರದಿ ತುಮಿ ಮರ್ಮ

ತ್ವಂ ಹಿ ಪ್ರಾಣಾಃ ಶರಿಇರೆ

ಬಾಹುತೆ ತುಮಿ ಮಾ ಶಕ್ತಿ

ಹ್‍ಇದಯೆ ತುಮಿ ಮಾ ಭಕ್ತಿ

ತೊಮಾರೈ ಪ್ರತಿಮಾ ಗಡಿ ಮನ್ದಿರೆ-ಮನ್ದಿರೆ ..

ತ್ವಂ ಹಿ ದುರ್ಗಾ ದಶಪ್ರಹರಣಧಾರಿಣಿಇ

ಕಮಲಾ ಕಮಲದಲ ವಿಹಾರಿಣಿಇ

ವಾಣಿಇ ವಿದ್ಯಾದಾಯಿನಿಇ ನಮಾಮಿ ತ್ವಾಮ್

ನಮಾಮಿ ಕಮಲಾಂ ಅಮಲಾಂ ಅತುಲಾಮ್

ಸುಜಲಾಂ ಸುಫಲಾಂ ಮಾತರಮ್.ಹ್ ..

ಶ್ಯಾಮಲಾಂ ಸರಲಾಂ ಸುಸ್ಮಿತಾಂ ಭುಉಷಿತಾಮ್

ಧರಣಿಇಂ ಭರಣಿಇಂ ಮಾತರಮ್.ಹ್ ..

Gujarati Transliteration:

વન્દે માતરમ       ||પ||

સુજલાં સુફલાં મલયજશિઇતલામ

સસ્ય શ્યામલાં માતરંમ.હ

શુભ્ર જ્યોત્સનામ.હ પુલકિત યામિનિઇમ

ફુલ્લ કુસુમિત દ્રુમદલશોભિનિઇમ

સુહાસિનિઇં સુમધુર ભાષિણિઇમ.હ

સુખદાં વરદાં માતરમ.હ ..

સપ્ત કોટિ કણ્ઠ કલકલ નિનાદ કરાલે

દ્વિસપ્ત કોટિ ભુજૈર્ધ્રત ખરકરવાલે

કે બોલે મા તુમિઇ અબલે

બહુબલ ધારિણિઇમ.હ નમામિ તારિણિઇમ

રિપુદલવારિણિઇમ.હ માતરમ.હ ..

તુમિ વિદ્યા તુમિ ધર્મ તુમિ હ્રદિ તુમિ મર્મ

ત્વં હિ પ્રાણાઃ શરિઇરે

બાહુતે તુમિ મા શક્તિ

હ‍ઇદયે તુમિ મા ભક્તિ

તોમારૈ પ્રતિમા ગડિ મન્દિરે-મન્દિરે ..

ત્વં હિ દુર્ગા દશપ્રહરણધારિણિઇ

કમલા કમલદલ વિહારિણિઇ

વાણિઇ વિદ્યાદાયિનિઇ નમામિ ત્વામ

નમામિ કમલાં અમલાં અતુલામ

સુજલાં સુફલાં માતરમ.હ ..

શ્યામલાં સરલાં સુસ્મિતાં ભુઉષિતામ

ધરણિઇં ભરણિઇં માતરમ.હ ..

Telugu Transliteration:

వన్దె మాతరమ్      ||ప||

సుజలాం సుఫలాం మలయజశిఇతలామ్

సస్య శ్యామలాం మాతరంమ్.హ్

శుభ్ర జ్యొత్సనామ్.హ్ పులకిత యామినిఇమ్

ఫుల్ల కుసుమిత ద్రుమదలశొభినిఇమ్

సుహాసినిఇం సుమధుర భాషిణిఇమ్.హ్

సుఖదాం వరదాం మాతరమ్.హ్ ..

సప్త కొటి కణ్ఠ కలకల నినాద కరాలె

ద్విసప్త కొటి భుజైర్ధ్రత ఖరకరవాలె

కె బొలె మా తుమిఇ అబలె

బహుబల ధారిణిఇమ్.హ్ నమామి తారిణిఇమ్

రిపుదలవారిణిఇమ్.హ్ మాతరమ్.హ్ ..

తుమి విద్యా తుమి ధర్మ తుమి హ్రది తుమి మర్మ

త్వం హి ప్రాణాః శరిఇరె

బాహుతె తుమి మా శక్తి

హ్‍ఇదయె తుమి మా భక్తి

తొమారై ప్రతిమా గడి మన్దిరె-మన్దిరె ..

త్వం హి దుర్గా దశప్రహరణధారిణిఇ

కమలా కమలదల విహారిణిఇ

వాణిఇ విద్యాదాయినిఇ నమామి త్వామ్

నమామి కమలాం అమలాం అతులామ్

సుజలాం సుఫలాం మాతరమ్.హ్ ..

శ్యామలాం సరలాం సుస్మితాం భుఉషితామ్

ధరణిఇం భరణిఇం మాతరమ్.హ్ ..

Tamil Transliteration:

வன்தெ மாதரம்       ||ப||

ஸுஜலாம் ஸுபலாம் மலயஜஶிஇதலாம்

ஸஸ்ய ஶ்யாமலாம் மாதரம்ம்.ஹ்

ஶுப்ர ஜ்யொத்ஸனாம்.ஹ் புலகித யாமினிஇம்

புல்ல குஸுமித த்ருமதலஶொபினிஇம்

ஸுஹாஸினிஇம் ஸுமதுர பாஷிணிஇம்.ஹ்

ஸுகதாம் வரதாம் மாதரம்.ஹ் ..

ஸப்த கொடி கண்ட கலகல னினாத கராலெ

த்விஸப்த கொடி புஜைர்த்ரத கரகரவாலெ

கெ பொலெ மா துமிஇ அபலெ

பஹுபல தாரிணிஇம்.ஹ் னமாமி தாரிணிஇம்

ரிபுதலவாரிணிஇம்.ஹ் மாதரம்.ஹ் ..

துமி வித்யா துமி தர்ம துமி ஹ்ரதி துமி மர்ம

த்வம் ஹி ப்ராணாஃ ஶரிஇரெ

பாஹுதெ துமி மா ஶக்தி

ஹ்ற்‍இதயெ துமி மா பக்தி

தொமாரை ப்ரதிமா கடி மன்திரெ-மன்திரெ ..

த்வம் ஹி துர்கா தஶப்ரஹரணதாரிணிஇ

கமலா கமலதல விஹாரிணிஇ

வாணிஇ வித்யாதாயினிஇ னமாமி த்வாம்

னமாமி கமலாம் அமலாம் அதுலாம்

ஸுஜலாம் ஸுபலாம் மாதரம்.ஹ் ..

ஶ்யாமலாம் ஸரலாம் ஸுஸ்மிதாம் புஉஷிதாம்

தரணிஇம் பரணிஇம் மாதரம்.ஹ் ..

Punjabi Transliteration:

ਵਨ੍ਦੇ ਮਾਤਰਮ          ||ਪ||

ਸੁਜਲਾਂ ਸੁਫਲਾਂ ਮਲਯਜਸ਼ਿਇਤਲਾਮ

ਸਸ੍ਯ ਸ਼੍ਯਾਮਲਾਂ ਮਾਤਰਂਮ.ਹ

ਸ਼ੁਭ੍ਰ ਜ੍ਯੋਤ੍ਸਨਾਮ.ਹ ਪੁਲਕਿਤ ਯਾਮਿਨਿਇਮ

ਫੁੱਲ ਕੁਸੁਮਿਤ ਦ੍ਰੁਮਦਲਸ਼ੋਭਿਨਿਇਮ

ਸੁਹਾਸਿਨਿਇਂ ਸੁਮਧੁਰ ਭਾਸ਼ਿਣਿਇਮ.ਹ

ਸੁਖਦਾਂ ਵਰਦਾਂ ਮਾਤਰਮ.ਹ ..

ਸਪ੍ਤ ਕੋਟਿ ਕਣ੍ਠ ਕਲਕਲ ਨਿਨਾਦ ਕਰਾਲੇ

ਦ੍ਵਿਸਪ੍ਤ ਕੋਟਿ ਭੁਜੈਰ੍ਧ੍ਰਤ ਖਰਕਰਵਾਲੇ

ਕੇ ਬੋਲੇ ਮਾ ਤੁਮਿਇ ਅਬਲੇ

ਬਹੁਬਲ ਧਾਰਿਣਿਇਮ.ਹ ਨਮਾਮਿ ਤਾਰਿਣਿਇਮ

ਰਿਪੁਦਲਵਾਰਿਣਿਇਮ.ਹ ਮਾਤਰਮ.ਹ ..

ਤੁਮਿ ਵਿਦ੍ਯਾ ਤੁਮਿ ਧਰ੍ਮ ਤੁਮਿ ਹ੍ਰਦਿ ਤੁਮਿ ਮਰ੍ਮ

ਤ੍ਵਂ ਹਿ ਪ੍ਰਾਣਾਃ ਸ਼ਰਿਇਰੇ

ਬਾਹੁਤੇ ਤੁਮਿ ਮਾ ਸ਼ਕ੍ਤਿ

ਹ੍ੜ੍‍ਇਦਯੇ ਤੁਮਿ ਮਾ ਭਕ੍ਤਿ

ਤੋਮਾਰੈ ਪ੍ਰਤਿਮਾ ਗਡਿ ਮਨ੍ਦਿਰੇ-ਮਨ੍ਦਿਰੇ ..

ਤ੍ਵਂ ਹਿ ਦੁਰ੍ਗਾ ਦਸ਼ਪ੍ਰਹਰਣਧਾਰਿਣਿਇ

ਕਮਲਾ ਕਮਲਦਲ ਵਿਹਾਰਿਣਿਇ

ਵਾਣਿਇ ਵਿਦ੍ਯਾਦਾਯਿਨਿਇ ਨਮਾਮਿ ਤ੍ਵਾਮ

ਨਮਾਮਿ ਕਮਲਾਂ ਅਮਲਾਂ ਅਤੁਲਾਮ

ਸੁਜਲਾਂ ਸੁਫਲਾਂ ਮਾਤਰਮ.ਹ ..

ਸ਼੍ਯਾਮਲਾਂ ਸਰਲਾਂ ਸੁਸ੍ਮਿਤਾਂ ਭੁਉਸ਼ਿਤਾਮ

ਧਰਣਿਇਂ ਭਰਣਿਇਂ ਮਾਤਰਮ.ਹ ..

Bangla Transliteration:

বন্দে মাতরম         ||প||

সুজলাং সুফলাং মলয়জশিইতলাম

সস্য় শ্য়ামলাং মাতরংম.হ

শুভ্র জ্য়োত্সনাম.হ পুলকিত য়ামিনিইম

ফুল্ল কুসুমিত দ্রুমদলশোভিনিইম

সুহাসিনিইং সুমধুর ভাষিণিইম.হ

সুখদাং বরদাং মাতরম.হ ..

সপ্ত কোটি কণ্ঠ কলকল নিনাদ করালে

দ্বিসপ্ত কোটি ভুজৈর্ধ্রত খরকরবালে

কে বোলে মা তুমিই অবলে

বহুবল ধারিণিইম.হ নমামি তারিণিইম

রিপুদলবারিণিইম.হ মাতরম.হ ..

তুমি বিদ্য়া তুমি ধর্ম তুমি হ্রদি তুমি মর্ম

ত্বং হি প্রাণাঃ শরিইরে

বাহুতে তুমি মা শক্তি

হ‍ইদয়ে তুমি মা ভক্তি

তোমারৈ প্রতিমা গডি মন্দিরে-মন্দিরে ..

ত্বং হি দুর্গা দশপ্রহরণধারিণিই

কমলা কমলদল বিহারিণিই

বাণিই বিদ্য়াদায়িনিই নমামি ত্বাম

নমামি কমলাং অমলাং অতুলাম

সুজলাং সুফলাং মাতরম.হ ..

শ্য়ামলাং সরলাং সুস্মিতাং ভুউষিতাম

ধরণিইং ভরণিইং মাতরম.হ ..

Malayalam Transliteration:

വന്ദെ മാതരമ്           ||പ||

സുജലാം സുഫലാം മലയജശിഇതലാമ്

സസ്യ ശ്യാമലാം മാതരംമ്.ഹ്

ശുഭ്ര ജ്യൊത്സനാമ്.ഹ് പുലകിത യാമിനിഇമ്

ഫുല്ല കുസുമിത ദ്രുമദലശൊഭിനിഇമ്

സുഹാസിനിഇം സുമധുര ഭാഷിണിഇമ്.ഹ്

സുഖദാം വരദാം മാതരമ്.ഹ് ..

സപ്ത കൊടി കണ്ഠ കലകല നിനാദ കരാലെ

ദ്വിസപ്ത കൊടി ഭുജൈര്ധ്രത ഖരകരവാലെ

കെ ബൊലെ മാ തുമിഇ അബലെ

ബഹുബല ധാരിണിഇമ്.ഹ് നമാമി താരിണിഇമ്

രിപുദലവാരിണിഇമ്.ഹ് മാതരമ്.ഹ് ..

തുമി വിദ്യാ തുമി ധര്മ തുമി ഹ്രദി തുമി മര്മ

ത്വം ഹി പ്രാണാഃ ശരിഇരെ

ബാഹുതെ തുമി മാ ശക്തി

ഹ്‍ഇദയെ തുമി മാ ഭക്തി

തൊമാരൈ പ്രതിമാ ഗഡി മന്ദിരെ-മന്ദിരെ ..

ത്വം ഹി ദുര്ഗാ ദശപ്രഹരണധാരിണിഇ

കമലാ കമലദല വിഹാരിണിഇ

വാണിഇ വിദ്യാദായിനിഇ നമാമി ത്വാമ്

നമാമി കമലാം അമലാം അതുലാമ്

സുജലാം സുഫലാം മാതരമ്.ഹ് ..

ശ്യാമലാം സരലാം സുസ്മിതാം ഭുഉഷിതാമ്

ധരണിഇം ഭരണിഇം മാതരമ്.ഹ് ..

Bahujana hitaya, 

bahujana sukhaya

The missing sentiment  in polity

By Dr R Balashankar

"Bahujana hitaya, bahujana sukhaya.” This has for long been the motto laid down for Indian rulers. The Indian ideal of statecraft so fascinated the sixth century Japanese prince Shotoku Taishi that he adopted bahujana hitaya as his country’s motto and carved the first Constitution of Japan as Seventeen Articles Constitution based on it. He took the Sanskrit text Usnisavijaya dharani which contains these verses for the consecration of the Constitution in 552 AD. He wrote commentaries and these verses are still recited in daily rituals.

On her second return as Prime Minister, after the defeat of the Janata Party in 1980, late Indira Gandhi dismissed all Janata governments and held fresh elections. At that time Congress adopted the bahujana hitaya as its election slogan and plastered all over Delhi posters with Indira Gandhi’s reassuring, smiling pictures with these lines on the top. Attending many election rallies as a cub reporter I remember the great BJP leader Atal Behari Vajpayee taking a dig at the Congress battle cry saying, ‘bahujana hitaya bahujana sukhaya is a fantastic ideal. The poet attributed these words as the utterances of Gautama Buddha as he renounces his kingdom, palace, beautiful consort and toddler son and takes to sanyas for the emancipation of humanity. The words jar on the lips of Indira Gandhi who is out to perpetuate her dynastic rule undermining all democratic norms.’

On this Republic Day, sixty-five years after Independence it is worth analysing if we are anywhere near this goal of bahujana hitaya, bahujana sukhaya. We are again witnessing a number of assembly poll campaigns. Indira Gandhi’s party under her Italian daughter-in-law seems to have rephrased bahujana (large majority) into alpajana hitaya, alpajana sukhaya (for the will and benefit of the smallest segment of the society). What else do we make of the persistent onslaught on Hindu interests and identities by a minority government, led by a non-elected, nominated Prime Minister, with all the major offices of the state and the ruling party reserved for individuals with minority tag and deliberate attempt to divide and subdivide and micro-divide the Hindu society in the name of caste, sub caste, mini and miniscule castes for special state patronage.

This is not the way of statecraft or nation building. This is deliberate and vengeful destruction of the nation and its moorings. Even the British did not perpetuate such cruel divide and rule policy on the people of this country. When free India adopted the new Constitution the ideal was to strive for the creation of one nation, one people where all minor identities were to enrich the macro Indian nationhood. The country was to be a model of welfare state. Democracy in true letter and spirit, with people as the sovereign was the goal. Not the repeated assertions by discredited politicians and media persons that Parliament is supreme.

We never envisaged a situation where the government on very flimsy grounds would pit itself against the Army Chief, who was forced to drag the government to the apex court for justice.

What it has exposed is the Achilles heel of the UPA government.  It has lost all its moral authority. A sagacious and popular Defence Minister or Prime Minister would not have allowed the escalation of such a situation. AK Antony is a good man. He could be a good PCC president. But he as Defence Minister is a big anachronism of our democracy, a travesty of Sonia Gandhi’s whimsical selection of wimpy minions into onerous positions. The Army Chief who vowed to cleanse the system and restore the reputation of the Indian Armed Forces has become the fall guy. This is what happens when the system patronises mediocrity and denounces meritocracy. 

Does our Constitution reflect in any manner the government of today? Power without responsibility, power without accountability, power without constitutional sanction. This is what Sonia Gandhi exhibits with unfathomable display of brazenness. And we have a political class that has forgotten the fundamental principles of political career.

We are saddled with the shameful spectre of over two-fifths of India’s children going to bed underfed. Infant mortality is one of the highest, not much improvement in literacy levels, access to safe and clean drinking water and countless other curses that afflict the poor. This is not the muckraking reporter’s fantasy for raising uncomfortable issues. I recently came across a book that masterfully narrates the macabre wave of crime that poverty and  exploitation breeds in the society.

“…people say that they are going to Malaysia or United States with a glimmer of hope in their eyes. In Tsunami Nagar (Tamil Nadu) people speak that way about selling their kidneys,” says the book with a revelation that every single person there has sold his/ her kidney because of poverty. The book, The Red Market, by Scott Carney (reviewed in this issue), narrates a heart wrenching situation where blood dairies thrive sucking the human blood by modern day monsters. The report reads like this; recently, a few days before the Indian celebration of Holi, an emaciated man with graying skin, drooping eyes, and rows of purple needle marks on both arms stumbled up to a group of farmers in the sweltering Indian border town of Gorakhpur… At first the farmers ignored the man’s request for bus fare. But he persisted. He wasn’t a refugee, he said. He was escaping from a makeshift prison where his captor siphoned off his blood for profit. The farmers shook off their stupor and called the police.

“The emaciated man brought the officers to his prison of the last three years: a hastily constructed shack sandwiched between Pappu Yadav’s concrete home and a cowshed. A brass padlock hung from the iron door’s solid latch. The officers could hear the muffled sounds of humanity through the quarter inch of metal.
“They sprung the lock and revealed a medical ward fit for a horror movie. IV drips hung from makeshift poles and patients moaned as if they were recovering from a delirium. Five emaciated men lying on small woven cots could barely lift their heads to acknowledge the visitors…The Blood Factory, as it was quickly known in the press, was supplying a sizable percentage of the city’s blood supply…”

It is not only the blood and organs of the poor that is not safe in today’s rich man’s world. Even the dead body, hair, skin and burnt out bones are not enough to satiate their greed. Who buys all them? Only those who can afford. Where is the market? It is huge and mostly in the West elite circuit.

This is not the India of our dream. There is enough in the nature for the needs of every one, we often say. But not enough to satisfy the greed of even a few. The book says till recently, the trade in dead bodies was so extensive that just about every classroom skeleton in “America must have come from India.” This is a story of the invisible crime and racket that lurks in the wings of every miracle medical breakthrough and dazzling recoveries from the jaws of death. It also exposes the savage human cruelty on the hapless victims by the powerful only to preserve and protect their health and beauty.    

Republic Day is not the time to entertain depressing thoughts. India’s economy is thriving in spite of Sonia and Manmohan Singh. Perhaps we will still continue to be the second fastest growing economy in the world. The European Union and the US are looking at India along with other BRIC countries to maintain the momentum of capitalist growth model. The other day The Economist in its cover story acclaimed India’s Unique Identity (UID) scheme saying, “one massive problem in India is that few poor people can prove who they are. They have no passport, no driving licence, no proof of address, The state spends a fortune on subsidised grains, for the hungry, but an estimated two thirds of it is stolen or adulterated by middlemen. Armed with the system, India will be able to rethink the nature of its welfare state, cutting back on benefits on kind and market distorting subsidies, and turning to cash transfers paid directly into the bank accounts of neediest”

But whose baby is the UID after all? Already 200 million identity cards have been made. Another 200 will be ready in the next one year according to reports. But the Planning Commission, Finance Ministry the Standing Committee of Parliament the sarkari NGOs and the Home Minister P Chidambaram have raised objections and it is being reported the scheme will be aborted. Is it that Sonia Gandhi does not want it? Because no other power in the UPA would have prompted such a massive opposition to a scheme launched with such fanfare. Perhaps an identity card might in many ways save the poor man from the crimes of the powerful as mentioned above. 

India would have been a better place to live had its politicians been less self-serving and more patriotic. In no other country a coterie of religious minorities and foreign born citizens would have been calling the shots in a democracy. It is often said that India is a rich country inhabited by poor people. It is more appropriate to describe India as a rich country held hostage by a gang of super rich politicians. If not, who has stashed away Rs 25,00,000 crore from the country and why does the government not bother  to get the money back? Not that all politicians are bad, but a vast majority are. If all this money had been put to public use, the Republic would have already become a superpower and there would have been no poverty, which according to a recent report leaves annually thirteen lakh children dead before their first birthday and 230 million Indians go to bed hungry, daily.