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Tuesday, May 5, 1998

	The rise of illiberal democracy -- II "Let it be constitutionalism" A proper appreciation of constitutional liberalism has a variety of implications for American foreign policy. First, it suggests a certain humility. While it is easy to impose elections on a country, it is more difficult to push constitutional liberalism on a society. The process of genuine liberalisation and democratisation is gradual and long-term, in which an election is only one step.		The teachers are betrayed Finally, university teachers have got a revised pay scale. Unfortunately, the low priority universities receive is starkly demonstrated by Union HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi's award of April 25. The government's recommendations are based on the Rastogi committee which was rejected by the teaching community in June 1997. Teachers from all over the country had offered detailed criticism of the Rastogi committee recommendations and had provided alternatives.
	Playing Chinese Checkers Defence Minister George Fernandes's recent outburst against China, his subsequent chastening by the Prime Minister and his renewed attack reflect the impatience of Indian policy-makers when it comes to working out a strategy for Beijing. The first ever Chinese military head General Fu Quanyou's visit to the country only adds to the political symbolism in current India-China relations.		George's personal dragon Union Defence Minister George Fernandes has this uncanny knack of wearing his threat perceptions on his sleeve. In a manner reminiscent of a war-time Churchill, he talked of China as "potential threat number one" which, given its geographical location and that of its allies, was in a position to encircle India along the borders it shares with Myanmar and Pakistan.

Caution is the word
The BJP's keenness not to fritter away the opportunity it got at the Centre was evident in all its deliberations at Gandhinagar. The party seems to realise that it has reached a stage in its growth when it can no longer adopt jingoistic policies, be it on Hindutva or economic reforms. It is for this very reason that neither the new party chief, Kushabhau Thakre, nor his predecessor and Home Minister, L.K. Advani, made any reference to such contentious issues as Article 370, the Ram temple at Ayodhya and a uniform civil code in their speeches.

Day of the long knives
A few days ago, I came to know that a cock-fight was being arranged in a village called Kambur in Madurai district of Tamil Nadu. I had never been witness to such an event before -- in fact, I thought they'd gone out of style -- so I decided to take a dekko. I reached the venue, a tamarind grove, in good time.