KOLKATA, TUESDAY 30 APRIL 2024
Western perceptions
and Indian realities
HARSHA KAKAR
W
riting for The Chatham
House, a British think-
tank, Dr Cheitigj Bajpaee,
mentions: “Over the
decade that the BJP has been in
power, assessments of the country’s
democracy have pointed to a down-
ward trajectory, with its democratic
principles, including freedom of
expression, under strain. At the same
time, it is important to recognize that
Indian democracy is more robust than
may be commonly perceived.” He
concludes by stating, “Already, there
are some worrying signs as the BJP
government pursues a more divisive,
identity-driven path at home, and
where the party’s Hindutva agenda
spills over into India’s external engage-
ments.”
An op-ed in the Irish Times of 11
April criticized India’s free speech
claims mentioning that journalists
critical of the government are prose-
cuted “under colonial-era sedition
statutes.” An editorial in the same
newspaper titled, ‘Modi tightens his
grip,’ mentioned, “he (Modi) has leant
heavily on a widespread crackdown
on free speech and opposition parties,
with hundreds of politically targeted
corruption and tax cases filed against
opposition MPs and leaders. India’s
democratic credentials have been
severely tarnished.”
It went on to term PM Modi as a
‘strong leader’ and added, “the age of
strongman leaders like Viktor Orbán
and Recep Erdogan, and their ‘illiberal
democracies’, marches on.” This
prompted the Indian ambassador to
Ireland, Akhilesh Mishra, to respond.
In a letter to the editor, Mishra wrote,
“PM Modi has implemented a para-
digm in the ethos of development
focused on the empowerment and
welfare of the poorest, including
youth and women.”
Mishra added, “The fight against
the deeply entrenched ecosystem of
corruption (created by the 55-year
AI needs United Nations oversight
PETER G KIRCHSCHLÄGER
M
any scientists and tech
leaders have sounded the
alarm about artificial
intelligence in recent
years, issuing dire warnings not heard
since the advent of the nuclear age.
Elon Musk, for example, has said that
“AI is far more dangerous than nukes,”
prompting him to ask an important
question: “Why do we have no regula-
tory oversight? This is insane.”
The late Stephen Hawking made
a similar point: “Unless we learn how
to prepare for and avoid the potential
risks, AI could be the worst event in
the history of our civilisation. It brings
dangers, like powerful autonomous
weapons, or new ways for the few to
oppress the many.”
Given the potentially catastroph-
ic consequences of unchecked AI,
there is a clear need for international
guardrails to ensure that this emerg-
ing technology—more accurately
called data-based systems—serves the
common good. Specifically, that
means guaranteeing that human
rights are upheld globally, including
online.
To that end, governments should
introduce regulations that promote
data-based systems that seek to pro-
tect the powerless from the powerful
by ensuring that human rights are
respected, protected, implemented,
and realised within such systems’
entire life cycle, including design,
development, production, distribu-
tion, and use.
Equally important, the United
CROSSWORD
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07
rule, including the first 30-years by a
single dynastic party in India) is a
major factor behind Modi’s ever-grow-
ing popularity.” This came in for criti-
cism within India with the opposition
demanding action against Mishra.
Jairam Ramesh tweeted, “defending
the government of India is one thing
and expected. But to attack opposi-
tion parties openly in this manner like
a party apparatchik is not expected
from an ambassador.”
Anti-India and anti-Modi criti-
cism has been on the rise in recent
years. Seventy members of the US
Senate penned a letter to the Biden
administration prior to PM Modi’s visit
to Washington last June. They said, “A
series of independent, credible reports
reflect troubling signs in India toward
the shrinking of political space, the rise
of religious intolerance, the targeting
of civil society organizations and jour-
nalists, and growing restrictions on
press freedoms and internet access.”
Subsequently, the same critics gave
Modi a standing ovation post his
address to the US Congress.
Nations must urgently establish an
International Data-Based Systems
Agency (IDA), a global AI watchdog that
would promote safe, secure, sustain-
able, and peaceful uses of these tech-
nologies, ensure that they respect
human rights and foster cooperation in
the field. It would also have regulatory
authority to help determine market
approval for AI products. Given the sim-
ilarities between data-based systems
and nuclear technologies, the Interna-
tional Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
would be the best model for such an
institution, not least because it is one of
the few UN agencies with “teeth.”
The success of the IAEA has
shown that we are capable of exercis-
ing caution and prohibiting the blind
pursuit of technological advances
when the future of humanity and the
planet are at stake. After the bombing
7 ACROSS
YESTERDAY'S SOLUTION
P Y M T
MA RMA L A D E
A O R N M
D A V I D D P E N
15
A I OW L
MU S I C A L E P
E I O I
NORM A N F R
C N P E
HOS T A GE E Y
21
U R NOD
R I CH A RD B R
C A B U A E
HO T E L R A C ON
S E E K T S
The Sweden-based V-Dem Insti-
tute reported that India was “on the
verge of losing its status as a democra-
cy” because of severe “shrinking of
space for media, civil society, and the
opposition under PM Modi’s govern-
ment.” It classified India as an “elec-
toral autocracy.” Freedom House
terms India as a “partially free democ-
racy.”
Can such criticism really be true?
Morning Consult, a US based research
company has described PM Modi as
the world’s most popular leader. It
mentions that he possesses 77 per
cent approval rating based on its latest
data collated between 30 January and
5 February this year. He received 17
per cent disapproval and 6 per cent
don’t knows. His nearest rival was
Andres Obrador from Mexico with 65
per cent. A 77 per cent rating implies
approval from all sections of society.
Erik Solheim, a former minister of
Norway tweeted, “With an Incredible
77 per cent approval rate for PM Modi,
maybe it’s time for Western media to
give India and Modiji some positive
of Hiroshima and Nagasaki revealed
the devastating humanitarian conse-
quences of nuclear war, research and
development in the field of nuclear
technology was curtailed to prevent
even worse outcomes. This was made
possible by an international regime –
the IAEA – with strong enforcement
mechanisms.
A growing number of experts
worldwide have called for establish-
ing an IDA and supported the creation
of data-based systems founded on
respect for human rights. The Elders,
an independent group of global lead-
ers founded by Nelson Mandela, have
recognised the enormous risks of AI
and the need for an international
agency like the IAEA “to manage these
powerful technologies within robust
safety protocols” and to ensure that
they are “used in ways consistent with
8 Top show almost missing its
E H slot for broadcast (9)
M E A N S 9 Nothing about revolutionary
A I C woman (5)
A R T H 10 Contestant’s appearance
C E ignoring a rule (5)
I GR AM 11 Material on roof: that
P E E feature’s beginning to grate
A NC E (9)
T T P 12 Bits of film presented in
E B A L L middle of week showing
N A astronomical phenomenon
UGB Y (7)
L E 14 Someone who tries things is
T E UR tense when cornered by a
drug user (7)
NOTE: Figures in parentheses denote the number of letters in the words required. (By arrangement with The Independent, London)
coverage?”
The same agency had given a
similar result through 2021 to 2023.
PM Modi’s rallies aimed at interacting
with the Indian diaspora abroad have
drawn thousands. Addressing the rally
alongside PM Modi in Sydney, Aus-
tralian PM Anthony Albanese, men-
tioned, “The last time I saw someone
on this stage was Bruce Springsteen
and he did not get the welcome that
PM Modi has got. PM Modi is the
boss.”
When questioned on appearing
alongside ‘tyrant’ Modi on the stage
and calling him the ‘boss,’ Albanese
replied, “India is of course the world’s
largest democracy ... PM Modi is cer-
tainly popular, not with everyone, it’s a
democracy, but he’s popular with a
majority of people.” There has been
immense enthusiasm in every diaspo-
ra event addressed by PM Modi
spreading from the UAE to the US.
President Trump mentioned
while attending the ‘howdy Modi’
event in Houston in 2019, “I'm so
thrilled to be here in Texas with one
international law and human rights
treaties.” Consequently, they encour-
age countries to submit a request to
the UN General Assembly for the
International Law Commission to
draft an international treaty establish-
ing a new AI safety agency.
Among the influential supporters
of a legally binding regulatory frame-
work for AI is Sam Altman, the CEO
of OpenAI, whose public release of
ChatGPT in late 2022 kicked off the AI
arms race. Last year, Altman called for
an international authority that can,
among other things, “inspect systems,
require audits, test for compliance
with safety standards, [and] place
restrictions on degrees of deployment
and levels of security.” Even Pope
Francis has emphasised the need to
establish a multilateral institution that
examines the ethical issues arising
16 No sarky comments about DOWN
bridge team offering some
security (3-4)
18 Absolutely certain woman is 1 Place never represented in
to reject first soldier (7) measure of popularity? (10)
19 Conductor confused 2 Scheduled League clash? (4)
situation, overlooking line and 3 Move at chess? Players
metre (7) initially look edgy (6)
20 Farmers gutted about cow 4 Explanatory material little
plants (7) encountered in essential
22 Not for many to know with stuff given to Academy
respect to changing (8)
(3-6) 5 A timeless story supported
24 Return of academics keeping by song and dance
year for religious meeting connoisseur (10)
(5) 6 Malevolent spirit turning up
25 Doctor, say, drawn to singular in fireplace (4)
contents of used bottle? (5) 7 Woman about to enter
26 Legally required to stop English resort, spurning
imprisoning teacher (9) European (8)
CMYK
of America's greatest, most devoted
and most loyal friends, PM Modi of
India.” The rally was attended by over
50,000 Indians, most of whom had
travelled across the US and Canada to
be present.
Rhea Mogul, writing for the CNN,
recently said: “At his (PM Modi’s) ral-
lies, tens of thousands gather in near
frenzied religious devotion in support
of a man whose policies they say have
transformed the lives of ordinary Indi-
ans – and helped enshrine the nascent
promise of social mobility in a country
still riven by caste divisions.” She
adds, “According to 2023 Pew
research, about eight-in-ten Indian
adults have a favourable view of Modi,
including 55 per cent who have a very
favourable view.”
The fact is that if India is not
democratic and the current govern-
ment is not working for its people,
would the rating give the same output
over the years? Further, if democracy
was sliding and autocracy was the
norm, would there be such hysteria
across all parts of the world to listen to
the PM?
Such a contradiction is not possi-
ble in a globally connected environ-
ment, especially in nations where the
Indian diaspora is well educated,
aware and in touch with their relatives
in India. The criticism by a few dis-
gruntled or jealous individuals or
institutions cannot be assumed as
views of the majority.
The fact that PM Modi has
worked to project a positive image of
India, making it a global voice, has
evoked both praise and criticism. The
fact is that all democracies are not
similar and cannot be compared on a
common yardstick. Some Western
governments have disapproved of
India's strategic autonomy and its
refusal to toe their line. But India
today is no longer a nation which can
be sidelined.
(The writer is a retired Major-General of the
Indian Army.)
from AI and regulates its development
and use by “a binding international
treaty.”
The UN, for its part, has high-
lighted the importance of promoting
and protecting human rights in data-
based systems. In July 2023, the
Human Rights Council unanimously
adopted a resolution on “New and
emerging digital technologies and
human rights,” which notes that these
technologies “may lack adequate reg-
ulation” and stresses the need “for
effective measures to prevent, miti-
gate, and remedy adverse human
rights impacts of such technologies.”
To that end, the resolution calls for
establishing frameworks for impact
assessments, exercising due diligence
and ensuring effective remedies
human oversight and legal accounta-
bility.
More recently, in March, the UN
General Assembly unanimously
adopted a resolution on “Seizing the
opportunities of safe, secure and
trustworthy artificial intelligence sys-
tems for sustainable development.”
This landmark resolution recognises
that “the same rights that people have
offline must also be protected online,
including throughout the lifecycle of
artificial intelligence systems.”
Now that the international com-
munity has recognised the imperative
of protecting human rights in data-
based systems, the next step is obvi-
ous. The UN must now translate this
global consensus into action by estab-
lishing an IDA.
The Kathmandu Post/ANN.
NO-292766
8 Swear nothing is omitted
from part of meal (5)
13 Holy times reanimated after
priest offers Hindu belief?
(10)
15 Traffic merging, say – it
requires a lot of workers
(5,5)
16 Unexpectedly tamed one
parasitic worm (8)
17 Prince taking on monster to
get further (8)
20 Soccer group’s discretion
upset rich businessman? (3,3)
21 Speak about Democrat and
Liberal with regret (5)
23 Look – alloy has no little
weight (4)
24 15’s upset about hospital
offering no openings (4)
100 YEARS AGO
OCCASIONAL NOTE
EARL Winterton has thrown some
light on the value of Ministerial salaries.
During his two years of office as Under-
Secretary for India the approximate
amount left out of his official salary, after
deducting income- tax was £2,200,
instead of the £3,000 with which he was
nominally, credited - the salary attached
to the office being £1,500 a year. Costs of
unopposed elections, travelling expenses,
and necessary secretarial assistance
involved expenditure amounting to
£1,850. This left a final balance of £350 to
represent the clear remuneration
received for ''two years' toil in an impor-
tant office frequently necessitating four-
teen hours' work a day." Such work for
such pay would make the blood of a trade
unionist run cold. Yet if the Labour Min-
istry attempted to increase their own
salaries there would be an outcry, even if
it were only propose#! to provide what for
British Hera would he a bare living wage.
NEWS ITEMS
USE OF
CINEMATOGRAPH
AT WEMBLEY
While the rest of the Empire is making
good use of the cinemato-graph at Wemb-
ley to illustrate life in their countries
Britain, the Manchester Guardian points
out is surprisingly backward in this res-
pect. England has only one film - an aerial
picture of the Port of London, illustrating
and explaining its activities. There are no
films of the English countryside; no films of
historic places in England, no sea coasts
and there is no scotland, no Ireland and
no Wales while London is forgotten. Many
interesting films have been made of
Britain's industries, but they not yet
reached Wembley. In the use of the cinema,
as in many other things, the Dominions
have left the old country behind.
IMPOSING
CEREMONY AT
SIMLA
( FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT)
THE funeral of Mr. E, O. Wilsey, for-
merly personal assistant to the Adjutant-
General in India, who retired in 1905, and
one of the oldest freemasons in Simla, took
place this morning. The deceased was
accorded full Masonic honours, his funer-
al being attended by representatives of all
the Masonic bodies in Sinaia. The high
esteem in which the deceased was held
was shown by the presence of the repre-
sentatives of all communities, many Hin-
dus, Mahomedans, Sikhs and Parsis.
assembling at the gate of the Walker Hos-
pital and accompanying the hearse to the
Sanjauli Cemetery. The hearse was drawn,
by a party of Masons to the cemetery gate,
and the coffin was carried into the ceme-
tery by Past Masters who acted as pall
bearers. The impressive Masonic service
was conducted by Wor, Bro, Goldstein, the
Worshipful Master of Lodge Himalayan
Brotherhood, the premier Lodge of the
Punjab, of which the late brother was an
old and esteemed member.
E. I. H. TERMINAL
CHARGE
FOR some time the Committee of
the Bengal Chamber of Commerce have
had before them a question affecting the
carriage of coal and coke booked to
Ramkristopore Station on the Shalimar
branch of the Calcutta Port Trust Rail-
way. It appears that, with effect from
April 1, 1922, the East Indian Railway
and the Bengal-Nagpur Railway levied a
Calcutta terminal charge of 4 as. 6p. per
ton on coal delivered at Howrah, the
Docks, and all Calcutta stations; and
that, with effect from May 1, 1922, the
special charge of 4 as. 6p. per ton levied
by the Calcutta Port Commissioners, in
respect of the Ramkristopore (Shalimar)
branch of the Port Trust Railway, was
increased to 9 as. per ton.
BUFFALO AMOK
EXCITING SCENES IN
RANGOON
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
EIGHT people were gored by a buffalo
bull which ran amok here last night, Some
of the injured are in a serious condition.
The buffalo escaped after being
detrained at the railway station and
charged up Phayre Street towards the Zoo-
logical Gardens. It tossed the first man it
overtook, Jacob, a Madrassi Christian, and
then stopped and gored him,
A man of sixty named Madura at
tempted to take the animal's attention
away from Jacob, but it turned on him
and gored him until he, too, lay uncon-
scious. Another Indian returning from a
wedding was then tossed and gored.
Five other persons who got in the bull's
path received lesser injuries. Curiously
enough, although a large crowd had
gathered, the bull disappeared. He was
not found overnight, but started busi-
ness early next day by goring a cooly.
Later in the morning Mr. Christopher, a
barrister, shot the animal dead.