Articles by BM

BM A mid-term poll for the Lok Sabha is not only inevitable but has become imperative for the return of political stability, social cohesion and economic advance. The political and social cost of not going to the polls for a fresh mandate, after the Congress withdrew its support to the UF coalition and forced a change of leadership, has been enormous. These costs must not be allowed to multiply by political dithering and the interests of politicians and coteries surrounding the leaders of the UF and the opposition parties.

End of the Road for the UF BM A formal alliance between sections of the United Front and the Congress is now very much in the offing and fundamental economic and social interests and conflicts are sought to be contained under flimsy political power-sharing arrangements. Lacking in political authority, a Congress-UF government will be based on shady deals and abuse of the administrative apparatus for personal and party political ends.

Falling in Line, Smartly BM The government has been very vocal about its supposed achievement in recording a build-up of exchange reserves. The WTO has taken this seriously and has now suggested that the quantitative restrictions on imports be lifted. And the government has promptly accepted the directive.

tiffins, the dabbawallas are part of the Mumbai landscape. When they set out togetheron a pilgrimage, their absence leaves a vacuum. They are usually appreciated by the population which considers them courageous workers. The majority of the citizens state that if they disappeared, a part of Mumbai's identity and soul would disappear too. However, this expression of social 'appurtenance' is not synonymous with insertion in the sense that the dabbawallas remain deeply foreign to the city. They only occupy the space: they do not recognise themselves as city-dwellers and do not even try to become city-dwellers. They do not look at the city as a place where they can free themselves from the social and cultural constraints of their birthplace. To settle in the city is just a question of survival and of escaping from poverty. So reference to the village continues to regulate their lives, whether culturally, emotionally or socially, and is not questioned at all. However, they have to wait until retirement in order to resettle permanently and have a comfortable position within the village. All their savings are thus invested in the purchase of land, cattle or mill equipment.

NEW DELHI Quick Decline of UF Government BM Popular discontent over the performance of the Deve Gowda government is gathering rapid momentum. Those who have been striking brave postures and proclaiming that the government will last its full term, if only because no political party or MP wants to face another general election are being shortsighted. The UP election may well turn out to be the catalyst to precipitate a crisis for the UF government.