Re: A total of ten bets on outcomes for India that Modi CAN'T deliver (but the liberals can)

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

Thanks, Sandeep, Nilesh,

Indians have been trained from childhood to switch off their mind and turn themselves into "believing machines". They are brought up as slaves to religion, slaves to the "elders", slaves to the "great" men of India (whether Gandhi, Nehru or Savarkar, each to his/her own taste). 

Unfortunately, those Indians who taught India to think, are never taught in schools today. I never knew about Charvaka in school. Buddha was also shown as a religious person, not as someone who challenged people to think for themselves. He said:

Do not believe something just because it has been passed along and retold for many generations. Do not believe something merely because it has become a traditional practice. Do not believe something simply because it is well-known everywhere. Do not believe something just because it is cited in a text. Do not believe something solely on the grounds of logical reasoning. Do not believe something merely because it accords with your philosophy. Do not believe something because it appeals to ‘common sense’. Do not believe something just because you like the idea. Do not believe something because the speaker seems trustworthy. Do not believe something thinking, ‘This is what our teacher says’. 

And no one teaches about Chanakya's outstanding superlative public administration, his superlative economics, his critical thinking. Why? Because Chanakya said clearly that except for government-owned milch cows, all other cattle can be sold for meat (beef). The moment Indians start reading Charvaka, Buddha, Chanakya, they will stop believing mindless nonsense, but then a lot of priests and "godmen" will lose their jobs.

And no one teaches about John Locke or Hayek in schools. Or about Jefferson's Declaration of Independence and its commitment to life, liberty. Or about the US First Amendment with its commitment to absolute free speech. 

When 99.99 per cent of Indians' education is about hero worship, no wonder we get robots as adults, totally incapable of self-belief, self-respect. They need someone to worship, else they become restless. How else can you explain a super-genius like Nandan Nilekani not challenging a party led by a dunce known as Rahul Gandhi? Where was his self-respect? He never had any since it was removed from him in childhood by parents, teachers, society. We are programmed to search "greatness" in others (including in dynastic dunces), not to demand high standards of ourselves and others. Despite claiming to promote Advaita, we don't look within.

Without intense personal questioning, without due diligence to master govenrance, India can't succeed. Its Golden Age - when it was the greatest power on earth - was underpinned by the thoughts of people like Chanakya. Reading him is absolutely crucial even in this modern age, for he was more modern than most. The good thing is that Balbir Sihag has just published the first analytical book on Chanakya (http://www.sabhlokcity.com/2014/02/kautilya-the-true-founder-of-economics-a-book-by-balbir-sihag-has-just-been-published/). Hopefully Chanakya will become more widely read and understood now.

The situation is not as dire as it may seem at first sight. It is the first time in 15 years of effort that I notice real signs of awareness emerging in India. A lot of people are openly condemning socialism for the first time - but they don't know what is the alternative. 

Even FTI was earlier collecting a lot of confused people. They have all gone now, leaving the sensible ones behind. But even those who left are not entirely lost to India. By now at least 300 people have become exposed to alternative ideas and to some public policy (including through our national competition). Over time, as BJP starts doing EXACTLY what Congress has done (and there is no sign it knows anything better), they will start asking questions. Shantanu may think today that Modi can do something for India but he can't. One day Shantanu will wake up. Let him sleep peacefully, for now. You can't rush people's understanding of things. 

In 2004 I could not find anyone apart from Sharad Joshi to lead the liberals. Today, there are at least 20, and up to 100. These 20 (or 100), if they come together, can start the process of reversing the confusions in the minds of Indians, and empowering them to think for themselves. This must be a lifetime commitment, not just for a few years. If we then become lucky and get some funds, we can then grow this into a serious movement for reform. 

It is crucial that only those totally committed to liberty (with accountability) and to political action as the vehicle for reform, attend the July workshop. I will personally discuss with everyone who has expressed interest in coming before I issue an invitation. 

Those who wish to participate please make sure you have read the SKC agenda and the SBP constitution carefully:

http://sonekichidiya.in/Documents/SKC-totalreformagenda-draft.pdf

and

http://swarnabharat.in/Documents/SwarnaBharatParty-Constitution.pdf

Just another 10 days to express your interest.

Btw, these ten bets I challenged Modi must have some shock waves among BJP supporters. A lot of people are visiting this blog post now. http://www.sabhlokcity.com/2014/05/further-bets-that-i-challenge-modi-to-take-and-why-bjp-is-never-going-to-be-an-answer/.

Most people say these bets are impossible. That's the point - to tell them that these are ENTIRELY doable within the timeframes I've outlined. We have to raise the bar. Then show India how this can be done.

s

On Tue, May 20, 2014 at 3:53 AM, Nilesh Kamani <nilesh...@gmail.com> wrote:

I could not agree more with Sandeep. He is right on point.

Even educated Indians are not ready for change. Forget about Indians in India, but even abroad have no clue how WEST has generated so much wealth.

They are just attracted by wealth and wan to enjoy it.

So our first priority should be to teach young kids about Freedom and Liberty before they turn 20 and get brainwashed by Media and Politician.

It is easy to teach free market economics to a kid (age 12-20) than any adult youth.

Once they are out of college, they don't have time to think about policies when their first priority is to make career in such dull economy.

So I insist everyone to start speaking to students and influence good teachers to teach freedom and liberty as extra curricular activities.

My email to Sanjeev few days ago to which he and other FTI members agreed.

###

Hello Sanjeev,

We have been discussing  a lot over emails, but I prefer that we discuss it over call.

I have been staying in US since last 3 years and I see that libertarian (Classic liberalism) party is having hard time here propagating ideas of freedom and liberty, even though people in US are more educated and it is far easier to reach them than India. Ron Paul had more than 20 years career in US Congress, but finally even he followed what Hayek suggested to Fisher and he started building home schooling curriculum program . Below is snippet of their conversation.

Fisher - I share all your worries and concerns as expressed in The 

Road to Serfdom and I’m going to go into politics and put it 

all right.

Hayek - No you’re not! Society’s course will be changed only by a 

change in ideas. First you must reach the intellectuals, the 

teachers and writers, with reasoned argument. It will be 

their influence on society which will prevail, and the politicians will follow.

I believe that we all have very high regard for Hayek and we should agree with him more or less. He saw why politicians like Ron Paul failed to restore economic and civil liberties in their country and how we might fail too if we don't change the ideas.

I personally will have hard time reaching intellectuals and writers in India, but I can certainly reach out to teachers and children. My strategy will be to reach out to children from age 14-20 and explain them ideas of freedom and liberty before they are brainwashed by media and politicians. These will be the nextgen voters who can help us to start movement. I am not expecting any dramatic results in next 5 years, but I believe that I will see some changes 10 years down the line.

I have some personal things to sort out before I jump on the ground, but I will certainly dedicate at least 4 full months every year to this activity starting next year.

I suggest to other FTI members to reach out to teachers and writers and spread the ideas of liberty.

Thanks,

Nilesh

####

On Mon, May 19, 2014 at 12:58 PM, Sandeep Datir <sandee...@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Sanjeev

To me The recent results seem to have proved following

1: Indian voters don't bother /understand about policy issues or how change can be delivered

2. They don't bother/understand that it's better to have limited gov for very essential things

3:looking at responses on Facebook and talking to friends, to be honest I don't think any one wants to take responsibility for decisions related to their own future, and are happy to be rules by someone. First it was Mughals, then british and now politicians

4. Aap has got socialist policies as well but they managed to generate some hope in Delhi assembly. Initially it looked like ppl have voted based on AK's swaraj philosophy but looking at loksabha results it seems like they voted only because of cheap/free water electricity not because he wanted to give self rule.

5. I think Indians only know one thing and that is to change their ruler every 5-10 yr not because anyone is talking about serious changes in policy or system but hoping that this time their new ruler who has promised more freebies or so called development will fulfil their dreams. They don't understand that it's the gov (ruling or non ruling politicians) who is stopping then from becoming free in real sense

6. AAp has made mistakes and their policies are not the best ones but it seemed that the message was very simple, giving more power to ppl than politicians and still Indians haven't understood this

In short I am not sure if India is really ready for any change. I think they are just happy to be ruled by someone. How are they going to understand SKC agenda ? Initially I thought its best to replace criminal Cong and bjp by a bunch of honest ( though socialist in many ways) ppl like aap who can then be persuaded to liberal policies of SKC but I am not sure if the country really wants any real change

Even ppl like shantanu seems to believe modi (and his crony capitalist) will being some change. It looks like hopeless situation to me..

Sorry to be pessimistic 

Regards

Sandeep

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