Election Symbol - Congress

This is an interesting article about how the “Hand” became the election symbol for the Indira Congress.

 

http://www.hindustantimes.in/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=LifeStyleSectionPage&id=04ad8c40-79a7-4aeb-9d9b-8c01616a85b3&Headline=Congress+symbol+inspired+from+Kerala+temple%3f

 

Did you know that in 1952, the “Plough” was the election symbol for the Congress?

Begum Aizaz Rasul

Well, I am mentioning a few unsung heroes (my perception perhaps).

Begum Aizaz Rasul was another person I discovered thanks to Ramachandra Guha. She was quite a stellar figure during the parliamentary debates for creation of the indian constitution.

Should try to get a hold off her autobiography : From Purdah to Parliament: A Muslim Woman in Indian Politics

Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer

Alladi Krishnaswami Iyer was another personality I came across in Ramachandra Guha’s book. It is amazing to see people who have worked hard and have made an impact even during the British Rule. I am always amazed to see people who fight their environment and background and rise far above it inspite all odds.

He was one of the architects of the Indian constitution. I felt he was one of the “operations” people who don’t seek attention to themselves but ensure work is done in record pace. People like this form the foundation and are often unsung heroes.

Given below is more information about him in an article written by his grandson.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mag/2003/09/28/stories/2003092800270400.htm

Philip Spratt

Chanced upon a reference to Philip Spratt in Ramachandra Guha’s : India after Gandhi.

Philip Spratt was apparently a communist sent to spread communism in India. He was imprisoned in the Meerut Conspiracy Case. He spent awhile in prison reading and thus became virulently anti-communist. He stayed on in India and got married to an Indian lady.

Interesting stuff. Not much information about him on the internet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Spratt

Longue Duree

The longue durée is a term used by the French Annales School of historical writing to designate their approach to the study of history, which gave priority to long-term historical structures over events. The approach incorporates social scientific methods into history and was pioneered by Marc Bloch and Lucien Febvre in the first half of the 20th century. The approach was carried on by Fernand Braudel in the second part of the century. Recent applications of the longue durée may be found in Robert Putnam's and Bent Flyvbjerg's studies of democracy in Italy and Denmark, respectively. Both studies find that a key to adequately understand modern democracy is the understanding of centuries old, pre-modern structures of governance and what impact these have on democracy today.

 

I found the work “Longue Duree” in the book “India after Gandhi”. The context – “ The larger princely states were a product of the longue duree of Indian History”