Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: minority

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Sunday, December 1, 2013

WOMEN’S VOTEBANK – A Distant Dream?

WOMEN’S VOTEBANK – A Distant Dream?

WOMEN CENTRIC VOTE BANKS FOR EMANCIPATION OF WOMEN IN INDIA

Musings

VIKRAM KARVE

ELECTION DAY IN GIRINAGAR – An Apocryphal Story By Vikram Karve

This happened a few years ago when I lived at a place called Girinagar near Pune.

“I want the day off,” Sushila, our maid, asked my wife.

“Why?” my wife asked.

“We have to vote. Today is election day,” she said.

“That’s good,” I said.

I was quite surprised at Sushila’s eagerness to vote because Sushila was totally illiterate.

Yes, she lived just a few kilometres away from a modern city like Pune (often called the “Oxford of the East”) – yet, like so many others, she could not read or write.

But her keenness to vote indicated what a vibrant democracy we were.

“Who are you going to vote for?” I asked, in jest.

She told me a symbol – “I am going to vote for XXX symbol,” Sushila said.

“But why?” I asked.

“WE have decided,” she said.

“WE” meant her husband.

Apparently, her husband had gone for a “meeting” and it was decided that the entire neighbourhood will vote for XXX symbol.

“So you vote for XXX symbol every time,” I asked her.

“No, last time we all voted for YYY symbol,” she said.

“Why?” I asked.

“Because “WE” had decided,” she said.

Of course, she did not know anything about the ideology of the political parties to which the symbols XXX and YYY belonged.

It was none of her business.

Before every election, it was the men who had a meeting and decided who to vote for and the women dutifully complied.

(Of course, the men had a “leader” who guided them in these matters)

Like Sushila’s husband, most of the men in that area were drunkards who lived off their wives’ earnings.

But all that did not matter.

In the patriarchal society that prevailed, the women dutifully obeyed their men, even if the men were good-for-nothing drunkards.

So, in Sushila’s family of 7 voters (she, her husband, her two sons and daughters-in-law, and unmarried daughter), all would be voting for the symbol XXX which had been “decided”.

Added up, it was quite a large number of votes in the locality, and since they all of them voted en-bloc for a certain “symbol” it was quite a sizeable “votebank”.

A few more such solid votebanks could ensure victory in the election, as the victory of the XXX candidate proved.

Around 3 in the afternoon we saw Sushila standing near our gate.

“Have you voted?” I asked her.

“No,” she said.

“Voting time will be over soon. Why didn’t you vote in the morning?” I said.

“They haven’t come to take us,” she said.

A friend of mine who had come over and was hearing the conversation said, “Don’t you know? Someone has to come and take them to the polling booth in a vehicle – and then give them some inducement, here it is mostly liquor – only after that will they vote.”

After some time I saw a van arrive to take all them for voting.

In the evening we saw Sushila’s husband and her sons lurching in a drunken manner on the road, as were most men.

It was obvious that liquor was flowing freely on election day (though strictly speaking it was a “dry day”)

At night, when Sushila came to work, we saw tears in her eyes.

She said that her husband and her sons were drunk – and her husband had thrashed her as he always did when he was drunk, and one of her sons had thrashed his wife too.

“See,” my wife said to Sushila, “you voted for the person who gave liquor to your husband and sons – you all women voted for those who are causing you harm.”

What an irony!

Why do women vote for someone who causes them more harm than good?

IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A WOMEN’S VOTEBANK ?

Isn’t it a similar story everywhere?

We see media reports of male chauvinistic politicians who make derogatory remarks about women from time to time.

Is it possible for them to get elected unless women vote for them?

After all, women comprise 50% of the electorate.

Though it is a secret ballot, obviously, most women do not vote independently and freely for that candidate or party who may best serve women’s interests.

In our patriarchal culture it is the men who decide who to vote for and women comply meekly.

That is why votebanks are male-centric.

And that is why many politicians have no qualms about denigrating the dignity of women by making tasteless comments, because they are confident that women will still vote for them.

In a democracy like India, the only way women can emancipate themselves is to organize themselves into a formidable women’s votebank.

A women’s votebank will have 50% of all voter strength.

The women’s votebank will be larger than all other votebanks put together and it will be the women’s votebank which will decide the results of the elections.

Women have to emancipate themselves, not depend on men to do so, especially when democracy has given them the opportunity to do so.

I wonder why women politicians are not taking the initiative to consolidate women’s votebanks to address and mitigate women’s issues?

For example, in the place I mentioned, alcoholism was a major issue which was affecting most womenfolk.

If all the women had got together and decided to vote en-bloc for that candidate who promised in his manifesto to shut the liquor shops and introduce prohibition of alcohol in the area, would it not have been better for the women?

A strong women’s votebank will ensure that political parties include women’s issues like safety, security, gender equality etc in their manifestos and try to implement them otherwise the women may throw them out in the next election, or better still have their own candidate.

I feel that the best solution to achieve betterment of women in a secular democracy like India is to have a strong women’s votebank cutting across caste, creed, linguistic and religious lines and including all women.

We have all sorts of votebanks.

Isn’t it high time for a gender based women’s votebank which can be a game changer in Indian Politics?

VIKRAM KARVE

Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

Disclaimer:

All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

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About Vikram Karve

A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.

Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramkarve@hotmail.com

Twitter: @vikramkarve

Friday, August 23, 2013

WOMEN’S VOTEBANK - Panacea for the Betterment of Women in India

WOMEN AS A “VOTEBANK”

Musings on Improving the Condition of Women in India

VIKRAM KARVE

In India, women face many problems.

The first problem is that India is not a safe place for women.

In India, crime against women is on the rise and the situation is worsening.

Rapes and sexual molestation cases are reported almost everyday in the media.

Just yesterday, a gang rape has been reported by the media in Mumbai.

A young woman photographer was allegedly gang-raped by five men in Mumbai.

Last December, there was a horrendous gang rape in Delhi that evoked widespread public concern about the abysmal state of safety and security for women and even prompted the government to bring about an amendment in the law.

But does anything really change once the protests die down?

Has changing laws brought about any improvement in the safety of women?

If metros and cities are not safe for women, one wonders what will be the state of affairs in rural areas?

Are politicians genuinely concerned about the safety of women?

Are they really interested in women’s rights?

Do they want the emancipation and upliftment of women?

Will the patriarchal mindset and condescending attitude of politicians towards women change?

Why is that women's issues are given the lowest priority by politicians and political parties?

While various bills are passed at top speed, the women's reservation bill is pending for over 17 years which is a very long delay, and justice delayed tantamounts to justice denied.

From time to time, the media reports derogatory gender-biased remarks made by politicians with a feudal mindset who seem to have no qualms about making disrespectful comments about women.

I feel that there is only one way to improve the situation.

Women must vote as a single “votebank”.

Yes, women must resort to “votebank politics”.

During elections politicians try to woo various votebanks based on caste, religion and language.

A votebank (also spelled vote-bank or vote bank) is a sizable group of voters who vote en bloc as a group for a political party or candidate during elections.

We have votebanks based on caste, religion or language.

These votebanks are patriarchal in nature.

It is the men who decide who their families will vote for.

Women vote in accordance with the dictates of their husbands or fathers.

Women vote as directed by the men in the family.

This happens despite the fact the we have a secret ballot.

In theory, a woman is free to choose and vote for anyone she wants to.

If women voted as per their choice, there would be no votebank politics of the kind which is prevalent today.

One wonders why any woman should vote for a candidate who has a criminal background or displays a contemptuous attitude towards women?

But in the prevailing situation of “votebank politics”, a woman is likely to cast her vote based on caste, creed, religion or language as per the dictates of her husband or father or men in the family.

While casting her vote, the woman will not care whether the candidate or political party is women-friendly or not.

This is how so many gender biased politicians get elected.

The result is that women’s issues are neglected and not addressed properly.

Now, it is high time for a gender based votebank - a “women votebank”.

Most political parties resort to votebank politics.

If you read any election manifesto you may find a number of promises made to the various “vote banks”.

You will find many sops, concessions and benefits aimed to woo and appease various “votebanks” despite the fact that these “vote banks” comprise only a relatively small percentage of the electorate (sometimes as less as 10% or 20% of the total voters).

Women comprise 50% electorate.

(No candidate can win an election if women do not vote for him)

Despite this fact, Women’s Issues are not be given priority in the election manifesto of any party.

Women are taken for granted by political parties and politicians.

This is because women are not considered as a “votebank”.

Women comprise half the electorate and the vote share of women is 50%.

This women’s vote share of 50% is much more than any caste combination or religious community or linguistic group which are considered as “vote banks”.

While indulging in appeasement politics, politicians play the caste card, the minority card and so many other “cards”.

But does any political party play the women’s card?

Women must understand the power they wield in a democracy.

Women voters must realize the value of consolidating their votes into a solid “women votebank”.

Just imagine what will happen if all women vote together en bloc as a single votebank.

The “women votebank” will comprise 50% of the votes and this numerically powerful women’s votebank will sweep away all other caste, religious and linguistic votebanks.

Once women become a formidable vote bank, it is women who will determine the result of the election.

This is especially true in our “first past the post” multiparty multi-candidate electoral system, in which a candidate with just 30% of the votes can win in constituencies where there a large number of candidates.

Similarly, in the prevalent multi-party system, a political party which gets much less than 50% of the total votes sometimes forms the government.

On some occasions parties with a vote share of just 30% votes have managed to form a government.

In this scenario, the “women’s votebank” comprising 50% of the total votes will be the decisive factor in elections.

While other votebanks may be able to influence votes, the “women’s votebank” will decide the election.

The “women votebank” will overshadow all other votebanks.

In such a situation, politicians and political parties cannot afford to neglect this powerful “women’s votebank”.

If this happens, politicians will have to address women’s issues on priority if they want to win the elections and come to power in a democracy.

Women need to ask themselves as to why they vote for candidates who insult women and commit crimes against women.

Will it not be better to elect candidates who uphold the dignity of women and promise to work towards the emancipation of women ?

This is possible in a democracy only if all women unite at the time of elections and vote en bloc as a single group for the best candidate.

Thus, if women want their problems to be solved by the political class, all women must come together and create a “women votebank”.

Yes, all women, irrespective of caste, creed, religion or linguistic group, whether belonging to majority or minority communities, rural or urban, must unite themselves into a numerically influential “votebank” which can determine the results of elections.

To start with, “women’s votebanks” can be formed at the constituency level.

Then these “women’s votebanks” can be amalgamated to the regional and national level into a cohesive mighty invincible “election-winning votebank”.

Women must clearly state their gender-specific concerns like safety, security, discrimination, rising crime and domestic abuse due to increasing alcoholism, sexual harassment, rape, molestation, eve-teasing, social taboos and any other local problems faced by women which need attention and alleviation.

Women must tell politicians which specific issues they want addressed on priority and demand results in a time bound manner.

Political Parties and Candidates must prioritize mitigation of women’s issues with a proper time-bound plan for implementation in their election manifesto.

In fact, every political party manifesto must clearly state what the party is going to do for women, at the national, regional and constituency level.

At all levels, the “women votebank” should vote for that candidate or party who includes clear-cut strategies to tackle women’s issues and redress problems and concerns pertaining to women in the election manifesto and demonstrates maximum promise to deliver in a reliable, effective and time-bound manner.

It is only when women unite to become a formidable cohesive “women’s votebank” will politicians will start giving importance to women’s issues.

Politicians who insult the dignity of women will find it difficult to get elected.

Politicians who provide good governance and a safe environment for women and politicians who are responsive to women’s issues will get elected.

Political parties will start fielding more women candidates in elections.

It may sound bizarre to suggest that women must take recourse to “votebank politics”.

But it seems that the much-maligned democratic tool of “votebank politics” may actually lead to the emancipation of women in this country.

Yes, in the present democratic system, “votebank politics” may be the best panacea for the problems that women face in India.

Why don’t women unite and organize themselves into “vote-banks” and try out “votebank politics” in the next elections in 2014?

Are any women politicians willing to take the lead?

The only thing a politician fears is defeat in an election.

And repeated defeats in elections can finish off a political career.

So, once a politician realizes that victory or defeat in an election depends on the “women’s votebank” - only then will the politician start bothering about women’s issues and try to alleviate the problems faced by women in India.

In the present electoral system of democracy in India, it is clear that the numerically strong formidable “women votebank” can overshadow all other votebanks.

Therefore, women must unite and vote en bloc as a solid “votebank”.

Yes, women will have to play “votebank politics” if they want a better life.

VIKRAM KARVE

Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

Disclaimer:

All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

NB:

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Friday, August 16, 2013

SOLDIERS ARE NOT A VOTEBANK

SOLDIERS ARE NOT A VOTE BANK

Yesterday, on Independence Day, I was chatting with some youngsters.

Most of them had heard, on the media, some rather unbecoming statements about soldiers made by politicians in the recent past.

Most of them wondered why politicians do not care about the plight of soldiers, except for some lip service jingoistic rhetoric in times of crises.

The answer is simple.

Politicians care for those who vote for them, especially their “votebanks” comprising those voters who vote en-bloc based on caste, creed, religion or on linguistic lines.

That is why politicians woo various caste groups and minorities and try to appease them with sops, welfare measures and benefits in order to garner their votes.

Soldiers are not votebanks.

In fact, most soldiers do not vote in elections as they are deprived of their right to vote due to an inefficient postal ballot system.

The improvisation of proxy voting has also failed miserably.

One does not understand why the archaic method of postal ballot is still being used despite being so unsuccessful.

Though Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have been introduced long back, there is no initiative to introduce Electronic Online Voting for soldiers.

It seems that the Election Commission and Senior Defence Officers do not seem to be keen on ensuring that each and every military officer and soldier gets an opportunity to exercise his franchise and is able to cast his vote in the elections.

Hence, for no fault of theirs, most military personnel are denied their democratic right to vote in an election.

I feel that both the Election Commission of India and Defence Services must take initiatives to ensure that all military personnel are given proper opportunity to vote in the next elections, in 2013 and 2014.

It is only when “soldiers” start voting in large numbers, will politicians start taking genuine interest in the welfare of servicemen, ex-servicemen and their issues.

Till then, politicians will keep ignoring soldiers for the simple reason that soldiers are not votebanks.

I had written a blog post on this subject sometime back, on 27 July 2013.

I am reposting it below as requested by my young friends, and also for everyone else to read and reflect upon.

WHY POLITICIANS IGNORE SOLDIERS

Musings on Improving the Military Electoral System

VIKRAM KARVE

(The generic term “soldier” includes all uniformed security forces – soldiers, sailors, airmen, paramilitary and policemen)

Yesterday was Kargil Diwas.

It was ignored by most politicians.

There is a perception that politicians do not care for soldiers.

Yes, they want soldiers to protect them, to lay down their lives in the line of duty.

As exemplified in the poem “The Charge of the Light Brigade” soldiers are expected to scrupulously follow the dictum:

“Theirs is not to reason why, theirs is to do and die”

Why do politicians ignore soldiers?

Politicians ignore soldiers because they are not a votebank.

Forget about not being a votebank – most soldiers don’t even vote.

As citizens of India, soldiers have a democratic right to vote in elections.

However, in actual practice, most personnel of the security forces (soldiers sailors airmen paramilitary and police) are denied their democratic right to adult franchise as a citizen of this nation because they are unable to cast their votes.

Soldiers don’t vote because they are deprived of their right to vote owing to an inefficient postal-ballot system.

The postal ballot system remains inefficient because senior officers are disinterested.

Apparently, many Senior Officers believe that being “apolitical” means that you should not vote.

Even 66 years after independence, there still remain traces of feudal culture, or should I say “colonial mindset”, in some senior officers.

These “Relics of the Raj” do not encourage or facilitate voting in the uniformed services because they feel that voting in an election is not important – some probably think that voting is undesirable.

This apathy of the services towards the electoral process results in “soldiers” being excluded as a voter during elections.

This exclusion of “soldiers” from democratic elections has other ramifications too.

You may have noticed that whenever there is an issue involving “Law-Enforcers” versus “Law-Breakers” many politicians tend to take up cudgels on behalf of the law-breakers.

This may sound bizarre, but haven’t you seen this happening?

Why should politicians (law-makers) espouse wrongdoers (law-breakers) and deprecate their own security forces and police (law-enforcers)?

The answer is simple.

“Law Breakers” are “votebanks” (or they influence votebanks) who will help politicians win elections.

In the present day political scenario, you matter only if you are a votebank and soldiers are not a votebank – in fact, soldiers don’t even vote.

At the local level too, politicians do not bother about soldiers from their own constituency, since the politicians know that these soldiers, serving at distant places, are not going to vote in the election.

India is a democracy and a soldier has a right to vote.

In view of his “nomadic” life due to frequent transfers, a soldier and his family are registered as “service voters” and are entitled to vote by postal ballot at their native place or hometown.

However, owing to the inefficiency of the present system, only a very small percentage of soldiers and their families are able to exercise their franchise.

Someone told me that it is the same situation in the paramilitary and police too, who are deployed on “election bandobast” duties far away from their homes and mostly they too miss out on voting.

Thus, due to factors beyond his control, a soldier is unable to cast his vote and loses his basic democratic right to exercise his franchise.

It may be interesting to find out the following information:

1. What percentage of “soldiers” and their families are registered as service voters?

2. How many “soldiers” and their families have actually cast their votes in the previous elections?

I am sure that these details can easily be found out and the results will be an eye-opener for the election commission.

You may find that in many cases soldiers and their families are not even registered as service voters (the onus of ensuring this lies with the respective superior officers).

And even amongst the few who are registered, many are deprived of their right to vote due to lapses in the postal ballot system.

Let me give you my own example.

After I joined the Navy, the moment I became 21 (the voting age those days) I was given a form to fill up to register as a service voter.

The Navy is very good at getting forms filled up.

Of course, what happens afterwards is another matter!

A few years later, there was an election and I eagerly awaited my postal ballot.

My postal ballot did arrive – but it arrived too late.

The envelope containing my postal ballot was delivered to me a few days after the election was over and the results had been declared.

I observed that in my ship, very few postal ballots came. Most of the individuals did not get their postal-ballots at all, and of the few that came, most postal ballots had arrived too late.

Due to this, hardly anyone was able to cast his vote.

After I got married, my wife also registered as a postal ballot voter, but she too was unable to vote in the next elections, since once again the postal ballots did not arrive in time.

The same thing happened again and again.

Either the postal ballots arrived too late or they did not come at all.

If you told your senior officers, they just laughed it off saying that anyway the elections were over and your vote did not matter.

If you have served in uniform, in the army, navy, air force, paramilitary or police, do tell us of your experience.

Did you and your family register as a service voter?

How many times in your career has your postal ballot arrived well in time?

How many times in your long service career have you actually voted in an election?

I am sure the Election Commission of India wants everyone to vote in elections and they are keen that service voters are able to exercise their franchise like any other citizen of the country.

Various initiatives like “proxy voting” have been tried but they have not borne the desired results and have been unsuccessful.

Unfortunately, the archaic voting method of postal ballots continues.

Yes, even telegrams have been discontinued but postal ballots still continue.

Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have replaced paper ballots in India.

Introduction of EVMs in elections happened many years ago.

But nothing has been done to change the old postal ballot system.

Why can’t we have an electronic online voting system for service voters?

In today’s world, I am sure that information technology can be harnessed to enable a soldier to electronically cast his vote online from wherever he is located via the internet.

It can be easily ensured that all “soldiers” and their families are given the opportunity to exercise their franchise and cast their votes in the elections.

The technology, the connectivity, the expertise – everything is available.

Then why is electronic online voting for “service voters” not being implemented?

Well, as I said, it is a question of antiquated colonial mindset.

In the uniformed services, it is very easy to get things done – you pass orders and fix responsibility.

If the defence services could carry out a mammoth rescue operation in Uttarakhand which such alacrity, precision and efficiency, I am sure they can ensure that every “soldier” is able to vote in the next elections.

The onus of ensuring that every eligible individual is registered as a service voter and is able to exercise his franchise, by casting his vote on time, lies with the respective uniformed service.

At the micro level, Commanding Officers can be made responsible and held accountable for this – to ensure that all “soldiers” under their command register as voters and cast their votes in time.

“Returning Officers” can be appointed in every unit to supervise the electronic voting by soldiers and ensure smooth conduct of elections.

At the macro level, each service must liaise with the election commission to ensure 100% registration of eligible service voters and facilitate electronic voting by providing the necessary technological and human resources during elections.

In the same manner as they set up “pay commission cells”, each service must set up “election commission cells” tasked with ensuring 100% voting by “soldiers”.

Like they have in every state during elections, each uniformed service can appoint a Chief Electoral Officer responsible for the conduct of election in his service and reporting to the Election Commission for all election related matters.

Despite efforts of the election commission, due to archaic mindset of senior officers and consequent indifferent approach, it seems that most “soldiers” are not able to exercise their franchise and are being deprived of their basic democratic right of casting their vote in an election.

Service Voters must be able to vote in elections.

This is not an insurmountable task – the process, the technology, the resources, everything is readily available and the uniformed services are geared up to take on any task.

It is just a question of attitude and will.

Let’s hope things change positively and every “soldier” is able to vote in the ensuing 2014 Lok Sabha Elections.

In modern elections, with multiplicity of political parties and large numbers of candidates contesting in each constituency, victory margins are decreasing, and every vote is becoming important.

Maybe, when “soldiers” start voting in large numbers, will politicians start taking genuine interest in the welfare of servicemen, ex-servicemen and their issues.

Disclaimer:

All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Did you like this article?

COCKTAIL ebook

If you prefer reading ebooks on Kindle or your ebook reader, please order Cocktail E-book by clicking the links below:
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925

Foodie Book: Appetite for a Stroll
If your are a Foodie you will like my book of Food Adventures APPETITE FOR A STROLL. Do order a copy from FLIPKART:
http://www.flipkart.com/appetite-stroll-vikram-karve/8190690094-gw23f9mr2o

About Vikram Karve

A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.

Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramwamankarve@gmail.com

Twitter: @vikramkarve

Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve

Sunday, December 1, 2013

WOMEN’S VOTEBANK – A Distant Dream?

Friday, August 23, 2013

WOMEN’S VOTEBANK - Panacea for the Betterment of Women in India

Friday, August 16, 2013

SOLDIERS ARE NOT A VOTEBANK

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