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Competition for the Graduates of CCS Seminars

An annual competition exclusively for the graduates of CCS Seminars (LSS, LACS, one day seminars) which judges the participant's understanding and real life implementation of the ideas discussed at the seminar and the follow-up initiated to further the cause of liberty in their college/ city/ state.

I, Sumandro Chattapadhyay (far more popular as 'riju the first cloned human being'), was a participant in LSS Ahmedabad, 2003, held in EDII, Ahmedabad. There is no way of putting it subtly, LSS changed my life a big way, or rather a very very big way. I passed my high school exam on 2003, mostly decided in my mind to pursue BA in english. Gave test and got chance of admission in the best college for english in my state: Jadavpur University, English Department. Instead of pursuing my dream, I suddenly decided to study economics in my hometown, Santiniketan. Why? I do not know till date. And thus started my studying of economics.

Just before i got the acceptance call to LSS from vidi, for days i have been going through mental storms, cursing myself why I did not took admission in JU english. And then there was LSS. it is hard to tell what exactly I learned there that changed my outlook so much. One thing for sure, I learned there that I stand right up there with the bright guys of my age. Don't know about the watchers and listeners around me at that time, but I was definitely astounded at the ease with which I homologated the 'liberal' ideas into my brain. I still remember the various sessions we attended in which I was increasingly getting surprised at my fellow friends' inability to digest the liberal viewpoints. One of my proudest moments was when talking about the way the education sector functions, Parth asked everyone that whether they go with my stance on how they should function in future and what the government's role should be. At the top of everything what LSS had taught me to how to analyse different problems from the liberal mindset.

Academics apart, LSS increased the list of my friends in my hotmail address book a great deal. I happened to find some absolutely great friends there. One of the major prize of these friendships being opening my inbox and finding it in a critical '100 % full' state, courtesy to forwards. Jokes apart, it is not easy to find good friends in this earth. But LSS helped to achieve the same.

As I was saying I went to Ahmedabad bearing major doubts about why I am studying economics and thanks to my love for studying philosophy, what good I am doing by staying alive? I returned with quite a clear idea about why I am alive, kicking and studying economics.

Almost each of my ongoing and future plans are connected with some wisdom I gathered in LSS. Yes, I knew about things like liberalism, free market, globalisation... but LSS actually urged me to know about them. Anyway, the things i have done and am doing and will be doing are thus:

# currently, am working with Agnish and Aritra (LACS graduates 2003) to help CCS to organise seminars in Kolkata in 2004
# am waiting for the completion of those seminars, to set up the Friends for Freedom in Kolkata
# wrote to the vice chancellor of my university to ask the CCS to held one economics in one lesson seminar in our university
# asked him also to buy the 'liberal shelf' for our library
# 'khoai'(dry arid landscape of red latterite clay) is one of the biggest geographical characteristics of our area. It is getting destroyed for rapid increment of human dwelling in the area. Famous people of the area have PIL-ed stop this destruction. Am trying to work with Pratichi Trust (founded by Amartya Sen) and to proceed like Nature Conservancy Group and to raise fund to buy up the volume of khoai land still intact
# there was an intra-university debate, open for the students as well as the teachers, on 'environment and development are incompatible'. I represented my department in it and won. my stance obviously was against the statement. Really am grateful to Parth for that amazing 'environment: the tragedy of the commons' session. My argument borrowed largely from what I learned there. Used the example of the campfire programme in Zimbabwe to illustrate how men and nature can co-exist without much ado, if only these so called required-to-protect-nature rules and regulations can be deleted.
# discovered that the rural fairs of our region (I think it is true for all the regions) are the most fantastic examples of a perfectly competitive marketplace. Here, the number of buyers and sellers are sufficiently big to stop them from influencing the market value of a commodity; the buyers and sellers have almost perfect knowledge about each other; the buyers are absolutely free to maximise their utility obtained from buying a good/service. Am planning to do a research on them and to find out if the things we read in Froyens and Mankiws are really functioning in this level.
# met a friend of my dad who does business of inter-state transport of goods by trucks and trailers. Surprised to realise that most of his business is illegal. Feel that much of this 'illegalness' is due to some absurd government rules that helps nothing except hafta-damanding. Would love to do a research on this area.
# had numerous arguments on the viability of the liberal capitalism thought with class mates, seniors and teachers even.
# wore the CCS t-shirt and carried the CCS bag everywhere. When asked: what the heck is CCS? answered with a broad smile to check out ww.ccsindia.org.

Second Prize: Ayoob OK (LSS Cochin 2003)

I am Ayoob, ALSS, Delhi participant. The Advanced Liberty and Society Seminar by C C S was a great experience to me in all the sense. I am a Keralite. From the beginning of my trip from my home railway station, throughout the seminar and afterwards I really enjoyed it. After the seminar I went to Agra and Jaipur which were of a very fine experience to me. I went round Delhi in two days. I had a good shopping in the streets of Delhi. It was really amazing for me when I got inside the Parliament Of India with one of my friend. Thus I made my trip for ALSS worth it, "in all the sense' as I said.

When I first received the mail from Mana I was not sure that I will be going to Delhi. When I put the subject before my parents they too were not willing to let me go, there were many reasons. First of all I am not used to long trip alone and they thought I am only a kid and can't bear going alone. Another fact was that I was not really able to tell them for what I am going, every one asked me "what certificate you will get after attending the seminar?" see. I cannot really make things work for me. But still there was a hope, I said my father that I am very much interested in the subject and the part I will be having in Delhi will be helpful to me in a great extend , more than that such a long trip " alone " will be of great and great experience to me. He understood my will, also he know my craze to travel and at last "GRANTED". Thank god.

What happened to me after I attended the A L S S? This is the question which can tell what I will be doing after all. After attending L S S Cochin, I had felt there is something working with Parth, Raj and C C S. and it is actually that feeling led me to know more about. I had gone through some of the websites and read columns about liberal approach in many aspects; I have almost covered the P E R C web. After attending A L S S my thoughts and ideas almost got a strong base which made me able to talk about libertarian approach to anyone I wish and much time I succeeded in doing the same while talking to my cousins and some of my friends and proved it.

What I am going to do next? After A L S S I started reading Economic Times somewhat regularly. My way of thought to many problems around me took the shape of the libertarian ideas and I am so happy that I can prove it works. The part which is going on now is the "analysing part" of those facts you said, like the statistical reports about Indian economy, details about CAMFIRE Project etc. Many lectures in A L S S where worth by itself as they did some finishing works to my thoughts and approaches to problems. But I can never say the work (thinking) is finished and definitely it is prospering may be leaping its hands towards perfection. I wish.

I am really proud to tell you what happened in train back to home. I got fine companions in my cabin. There was one family, two teachers and one business man. At some part of our talks we came across Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar. There I said about the tax reduction given to him on importing Ferrari and made a talk on that. Hearing Sachin ...Ferrari and all some students next to our cab also joined the discussion. I extended the talk to many other facts we discussed. I enjoyed the whole time being in the centre of the hot discussion. It was really fine to think how I talked and I don't know how, but I was able to prove that there is something burning with the present system and approach. At last one of them said "it's fine that the college people are sending you students for such seminars so that "we" were able to know about all this". We talked about the present education systems, matters regarding different social issues. Throughout the discussion I tried to point out the defects of the present system and asked them how it will be saying the libertarian approach. I think I got a majority with me saying making a law doesn't mean that the whole trouble is solved, they said that the implementation part is greatly misused. Then I asked them, do we want such a law which can be greatly misused? I WON.

Back in home I talked to my cousins and some of my friends who are interested in the topic. I found many
of my friends and colleagues turning my side after I talked about all this to them but I cannot say I am having a fine success in all my debates with friends and all. The problem happens in many cases is my lack of knowledge so I will be trying to read and know more about the approach of libertarian principles in much a deep sense. I just cannot stop talking about what I learned though my studies on the subject will take its way as it should.

I have planned to conduct some "arranged discussions" for much selected small groups, the plan is on the way and the first one of its kind is planned on next Tuesday in my college. I think I will be able to do it well. The reason why I am doing this is for just nothing but to form a group: may be a small group of Liberals by the help of which, I wish I can spread the message, I will be able to conduct some good sessions by experts about libertarian principles of Rule of Law, Competitive markets etc. I wish and I'll try to bring C C S to my college for the purpose and also some seminars in some of the clubs where I am working. Like OISCA (Nature and environment), Pain and palliative (Health care) like that. Here in my home town Kozhekod, we have a club called "Viewers Circle". We use to screen one or two documentaries or films a week. It is not a big club but the participants (I mean viewers) are those who are really serious about the global and regional affairs. I expect in future I'll be able to bring 'Stossel documentaries to screen in Viewers Circle.

I am very much interested in theatre arts, photography and videography. I wish to do some work in those for spreading the message. I have found that a small skit, done well, will work really well than a one hour lecture. I hope I will. Also I have a plan to start "Friends of Freedom" club in my city, but only after fine sessions and classes on the subject. I don't know whether I had undergone a "brainwashing" from C C S, as many of S F I (a student political party) friends in my college say, but I am sure that what I wish to do is for good. As I really feel it by my heart.

I remember arguing with my Eighth Grade History teacher how actually the Laissez Faire could work in India (we were studying about French Revolution). But she was convinced that a kid barely out of middle school could not change her point of view. I got exposed to Objectivism after reading Ayn Rand's Fountain Head much after that & certainly came to know about Libertarianism much later at LSS. How I long to have the same discussion about Free Trade now!

My own parents never subscribed to either Communism or Capitalism. But I am glad that the daily dinner table discussions about the current scenario have become more stimulating with my newly embraced ideology.

I gave a presentation on the dysfunction of Public Sector units in my college. And needless to say my background at LSS really helped me to get across my stance. I was able to convince the audience & my Business Communications Lecturer that India is a 1st world country with a 3rd world Government.

During my project work at college I looked into the Emergence & functioning of Radio channels. I interacted with a lot of listeners, Music Stores, Radio Station managers. My findings ascertained that this arena is also oppressed by a license fee structure which makes sure that only the big fish survive. The listeners want a wide variety of music & not all channels cater to their musical needs. In Los Angeles there are 91 channels unlike Delhi which can't even boast of 5. Only time & (the task force setup by govt) will tell if the Radio Industry goes the Pager Industry way!

I have also introduced the core ideas to my peers & we discuss about them often. My experience at LSS also helped me to make friends, interact with students of my generation (besides the fact that I was the youngest one at LSS!). Infact I didn't know students of my college but LSS got us all of us united. Even in college, we now regard ourselves the "enlightened lot".

I have taken the initiative to compile & design LSS Graduate's quarterly e-newsletter, eCatalyst. My vision for it is to make it a livewire for all LSS Grads, forum for all, where "feathers of the same kind flock together".

My viewpoint is in accordance with CCS course of action. It's not really about shouting slogans & rebelling against politicians but mobilising youth (who are the torchbearers) through awareness about alternatives.

I do not underestimate the power of word of mouth. Infact Mahatma Gandhi was able to swing public opinion in his favour even in the days of censored press & newsreels & no internet. It was Gandhiji's Dandi Salt march, which really galvanised India into realising that the British were cruel taskmasters, imposing the salt tax. He let word of mouth percolate to convert an individual's act of defiance into a people's participatory movement.

I hope that attending Advanced LSS will also be an extension of my horizons & I will able to do more work on the "field" than I have done during this short run-up post-LSS.

I, Society & Public Policy Program (ISPP)