Bhyrappa's Parva turns 40!

Yes, Dr. S.L. Bhyrappa's 'Parva' was launched 40 years ago as a Kannada novel. Since then it has kindled the imagination of connoisseurs of literature all over the world.  It is now translated and published in 10 languages including English and Sanskrit.  Its Kannada version has found 21 reprints and its Marathi version has found 15 reprints! 

Parva is Vyasa's Mahabharath rewritten.  But Dr. Bhyrappa has viewed Mahabharath not as mythology, but as a live event of our history.  Obviously he has demystified all characters and events of the great epic. Although Krishna (the God!) is a major character in this novel too, he is depicted as a human character susceptible to follies of life! Dr. Bhyrappa's demystification of the entire epic brings the story and its characters closer to our lives.

'Akshaya vastra pradhan' is probably the most touching event in Mahabharath.  Disrobing and rape of women is happening in the present day world too, where Krishna/s never come to the rescue!
But in Vysa's Mahabharath, Krishna, the God sends an unending chain of sarees from his place to protect Draupadi's honour.  Demystifying this event, Dr. Bhyrappa has given a different twist.  With husbands and elders not ready to come to the rescue, helpless Draupadi shouts at Duryodhan saying that 'Krishna is still by her side and she will take revenge with his help'!  When reminded of Krishna and his clout, Duryodhan orders his brother to stop the act of disrobing.  Thereby Bhyrappaji demystifies the event and makes it look convincing, but still effective!

Guru Drona's act of robbing Ekalavya's archery skills by demanding the 'most infamous Gurudakshina' is a black mark on the community of teachers.  Bhyrappaji, himself being a teacher has given a new twist to the entire saga to deflect the black mark away from 'Guru Drona'.  I am presenting Bhyrappaji's version in the form of my self-composed-poetry.  Please read on.

GURU DRONA

(A Soliloquy)

'Acharya Devo Bhava' says Upanishad
Yes, I am a revered Guru, yet
I am remembered as a Cheat!

I was born poor
martial arts was never my forte
Yet, I mastered all that
thanks to my Guru’s touch!
I was determined to teach
caste, creed and religion were no hitch, yet
I am remembered as a Cheat!

When my life was under threat
I had to seek retreat under
Bhishma, the uncrowned King of Hastinapur
Yes, I became a royal Guru, yet

I am remembered as a Cheat!

No doubt, Arjun was  bright

but when I saw Ekalavya, the forest kid

I couldn't resist

I was thrilled by his skills!

And I dared to teach him along with Kuru Princes!

I adored Ekalavya and Arjun more than my own son, yet

I am remembered as a Cheat!

I forgot I was a royal stooge

my Gurukul was under siege

Raged Bhishma thundered

poor Ekalavya had to be barred

And my heart became heavy and eyes wet, yet

I am remembered as a Cheat!

Teacher in my heart continued to beat 

and I kept secretly boating to Ekalavya's forest

Taught him all secrets of skillful combat 

and made him world's great, yet

I am remembered as a Cheat!

Talent can never be hidden for long

And one day when Ekalavya came to light

arrogant Bhishma could not tolerate!

I was pulled and ordered to eliminate 

my most talented pet!

And I was made a hapless ploy for 

fulfilling the royal might, yet

I am remembered as a Cheat!

My heart sunk into my boot

when I demanded 'Gurudakshina' 

of my beloved’s thumb, so deft at right

and how shameful I felt?

I did balm that injured fist

I even taught him the four-fingered archery art

but nothing could wipe my guilt, yet

I am remembered as a Cheat!!!

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Yesterday I had the honour of attending a national seminar at Bengaluru  on the occasion of 40 years of Parva.  The program had the privilege of presence of Dr. S.L.Bhyrappa (4th from left) himself.  The seminar was inaugurated by Jnanapeeta awardee Mr. Chandrashekara Kambara (5th from left), who is also the President of Central Sahitya Academy.  He announced that the Academy is taking measures to get the great novel 'Parva', translated to all major languages of the world!  Literary greats from outside and inside the State participated in the seminar. 

I appeal to all our friends to read this great novel 'Parva' to experience the fallibility of human characters to the temptations of life.  Those who have already read may please share their views through the medium of this blog.  Comments from all our honourable readers are most welcome.

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Nirbala Economy?

Nirbala Economy?  This is the question being asked not by Modi-baiters, but by Modi-Bhakts!

I remember a story of a King who had four princes.  Ambitious King had put them under martial training under a worthy Guru. 

After sometime, the King asked his minister to take a test of the progress of his children.  All the four princes failed in almost all the tests.  Angry King sacked the Guru and appointed another renowned Guru after careful considerations. After some more time when the minister took the tests again, all the four princes scored lesser than earlier tests!  What's happening?  The King was dismayed! The anxieties in the minds of sensible observers of our economy are not very different.

More than five years ago, Modiji was voted to power with great hopes.  Early this year, he was given a second mandate too with hopes of 8% GDP growth rate.  But the growth rate has now nosedived to 4.5% after continuous falls since last 4 quarters!

Index of Industrial Production (IIP) has contracted for third month in a row, witnessed first time since 2012. Less said the better about our Agriculture.  Late and erratic monsoon rains this year have brought our farmers down to their knees!  Floods have washed away most crops in many states.  The recent shoot in prices for onion is grim reminder of the state of our agriculture and economy.

Fiscal deficit till October (excess of expenditure over revenue) has exceeded the budget proposals for 2019-20!  Inflation is ruling high

 and vegetable prices have shot up by 36% compared to last year. Exports have registered a small improvement, but they are doing badly when compared to early 2010s.

Government is left in the lurch on GST collections owing to tumbling demand.  Most states are crying for GST dues from Centre.

As per one report unemployment has hit the rock bottom to 45 years low! It may not be an exaggeration.  It is estimated that a drop in GDP growth rate by 1% will take away about 1 crore jobs. Remember our GDP growth rate has fallen by at least 2.5% since 2016! Manufacturing industries only can create jobs in huge numbers.  Indian manufacturing industries employ just 14 millions compared to more than 100 millions in China!

All our public sector banks (if IDBI included too) put together have registered net loss for Sep 2019.  They are reeling under pressure of 10 lakh crore rupees of NPAs. No wonder if more NPAs too are in the pipe-line.  Even private sector banks have registered a decline in profitability by about 10%.

New nightmares are emerging in the form of NBFC fiascos! Burgeoning dues piled up by IL & FS, DHFL and Co are really disturbing. It's in fact an extension of the real estate mess!

Vows of our telecom operators are headed by BSNL with about a lakh crore rupees of accumulated losses.  Tumbling under the pressure of huge losses, private sector telecoms have increased their tariff by 50% since Dec 1st. Since demo 2016, real estate sector has never raised its head! 

Moody's have recently degraded India's ratings to negative from stable!  However the silver-lining is provided by our consistent stock market with a sensex level of 40000.  This is said to be due to consistent inflows from FIIs bringing cheap money from foreign sources.  Also is it an indicator of inherent strength of economy?

What are the causes?
India's economic vows are said to be cyclical in nature.  After having consistently hit the peaks of about 7% GDP growth for long since 2009, this down-turn looks logical. Moreover the world economy itself is witnessing a slow-down at 3% growth.

Trade war between two giants America and China is certainly not helping the Indian cause. Although the present Government has initiated many reforms, still many obstacles are persisting. Indian interest rates and tax rates are considered high when compared to world standards.

Also in 2000s, our Country could produce giants in fields of IT, Pharma and Auto sectors. But no such sectors have secured firm holds during 2010s.  Government has not done much in pushing emerging sectors like education, health and tourism which could be our next set of world-beaters!

Does all these mean that our Government has not done anything in last 5 years? Certainly not!  Our GST initiative which almost looks set is a major step. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) introduced for solving huge NPAs of banks is another major reform. Extending IBC cover to NBFCs is a welcome move.  Recent reduction in corporate taxes to 22% (15% for startups) has brought India at par with the best in the world! GDP has grown from 2 to 2.9 trillion dollars during 2014-19. As a result our country has reached the rank of 63 in 'world bank rank of ease of doing business', a jump from 140 during 2014! 

Huge infra by way of highways, railways, airports, seaports created during last 5 years is note-worthy.  Merger of public sector banks is one more initiative which may help in improvement.

What can be done further?

Stable Governments at the center and most states is a positive factor.  It's time we go for more reforms, especially in the areas of land acquisition and labour.  Presently there about 44 labour laws and there is a scope for reducing them to 4.  Industries with more than 100 laborers have to comply with most of these 44 laws!  The recent initiative of 'disinvestment' of PSUs like BPCL is a welcome initiative.  Also the plan to invest 100 lakh crores of rupees in improving our buildings and infra also may help the cause.

Before it becomes late, we have to take all steps to attract multi-nationals who want to move away from China, in view of the ongoing trade war!  Any delay will make us to lose the opportunity which may be taken away by competitors like Cambodia, Philippines and Vietnam.

Also it may be right time to launch the major initiative of inter-linking of our rivers which is bound to boost job creation.  Finding funds may not be a big problem as huge funds are available at very low cost in the world market.

Economic cycle is bound to turn favouring our economic development. Our Government and entrepreneurs have to make right decisions at right time.  Let's hope that India reaches its target of becoming a 5 trillion economy by 2024!

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