Sunday, November 30, 2014

Editorial, LESSONS OF OCTOBER, in 15 November 2014 October Revolution Special issue, Vol. 10, Part 2, No. 21 issue

LESSONS OF OCTOBER
In his historic polemic under this caption Leon Trotsky might have dealt mainly with the course of the proletarian revolution as it was then rife in Russia, on the genius of a Lenin who could gauge the real heat of the then convulsions to make a sudden shift in the leader party’s line and steer it toward victory in the revolution, as also warned against right deviationist, oppressive policies and measures of certain sections of revolutionaries themselves, etc. but here we are more concerned with the great lessons that historic Socialist Revolution left for the humankind as a whole. It was this revolution which for the first time in the world decisively overthrew and declared the demise of the then rampant coarse capitalist development modes in Russia and other backward regions under its control and ushered in a real rule of the masses – a sort of democratic dictatorship of the workers and peasants. New forms of state organization were developed, universal adult franchise for all including women and discriminated races and tribes was granted; the entire land was nationalized but mainly distributed to the poor and needy among the peasantry while protecting the interests of the non-exploitative sections too. All the industries nationalized and collective property made the chief norm with private property confined to personal assets that ought not to allow for exploitation of other humans. The get-rich-quick-anyhow mentality was decried and universal social welfare declared as the prime motif of the revolution. Stupendous efforts were made by the ruling party as well as the dedicated masses for war against counter revolutionary forces and for socialist construction on a gigantic scale and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics emerged as the brilliant beacon for the toilng people all over the world and as a bastion for the fighting forces against all forms of oppression and injustices in all countries. Colonialism was unequivocally condemned and pre & post World War II we saw the enormous contributions of the USSR for the defeat of Fascism and end of colonialism. Of course, totalitarian excesses did occur with not proletarian democracy but a new form of oppression and suppression of human rights and initiatives thriving in the garb of state socialism and all that, with the changing circumstances, contributed to the decline and fall of the Socialist Camp. But this great experiment in human history and its glorious contributions to the cause of socialism, democracy and human welfare still serve as an undying inspiration to the people of the world who now have to take to new measures for building a humane socialist society, with guaranteed human rights and liberties, for sustainable development and universal peace. §§§

Editorial, ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES OF BIFURCATION, in 31 October 2014, Vol. 10, Part 2, No. 20 issue

ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES OF BIFURCATION
have emerged within months of the unfortunate and unwarranted partition of the Annapoorna State. As rightly forewarned by the former CM of united AP, ‘water wars (disputes)’ and ‘current kashtalu (troubles)’ are engulfing the regions, especially Telangana. For the spate of recent peasant suicides in Telangana, already commented upon in these columns earlier, the ‘current crisis’ is a main contributory factor. The excessive consumption of electricity by Telangana people is a main reason. The populist measure of free electricity to farmers has exacerbated the problem for, otherwise, the peasants would have perhaps continued or switched over to other less water-needing crops than paddy – for the cultivation of which these plateau lands, but for the supply of irrigation facilities at enormous cost, are not that suited. Well, the crisis has also brought to notice the phenomenal development of electricity generation in Telangana which shows no discrimination but more favor to this region in the united State. Except for the private power plants and non-conventional and renewable energy sources, all other power indicators in Telangana show high rise – it now possesses 6251.3 MW out of 12425.3 MW i.e. 50.3% of such electricity production of the united AP, and a disproportionately high share in power from hydel sector and central power generating stations [with but 42% of the total population in the united State]. However, the Goebbelsian propaganda by the separatists, continuing to this day, has depicted as if great injustices are, and are still being, done to Telangana in this sphere also – mainly to divert attention from real solutions to which they might not have even applied their minds properly. It is to be stressed that from the very low level of energy consumption with only 11 villages electrified [in contrast to 147 in Rayalaseema and 398 in coastal Andhra] in 1955-56, Telangana has now achieved total rural electrification even, but surely, as Gandhiji always stressed, there are not enough resources in the world to satisfy all the greed of the people. The real solution to such crisis lies not in quarrelling with the other Telugu State but cooperating in an amicable manner and, more important, concentrating on development of minor and medium irrigation schemes as are best suited to the topography and environmental conditions of this region and transforming the mode of agricultural production to one chiefly attuned to cultivation of semi-arid regional crops [metta pantalu], horticulture, floriculture, etc. §§§

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Editorial, PEASANT SUICIDES IN TELANGANA, in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 15 October 2014, Vol. 10, Part 2, No. 19 issue

PEASANT SUICIDES IN TELANGANA



Though it is a very sad and really awkward topic to comment on at this juncture of the nascent State of Telangana, it seems quite essential too. Now, there is no redeeming First Cause of a separatist movement in the account of which all such heartrending happenings could easily be put; nor is there any justification for a psychic chauvinist government to yet make any third parties responsible for what is so evidently a consequence solely of the Tuglaqian policies and measures of governance. Telangana has been a power deficit region and due to the adjustment policies in the united State, a lion’s share was allotted to Telangana consumption much above its population proportion. Now that Telangana has become a separate entity, perforce it has to fend for itself. The share of allotment of power generated through central power production units in the united State as indicated in the AP Reorganization Act 2014 may only be a temporary solace and is also subject to several riders. Instead of concentrating on the imminent power crisis from the day one of its installation, the State Government of Telangana has been focusing on other extraneous matters and also resorting to repressive measures against the people’s liberties. Instead of counseling the agitated farmers, no doubt severely suffering due to non-supply of enough power for their irrigation purposes that has much ruined their agriculture, and so livelihoods even, they have been deliberately ignoring, even repressing, their agitation. The Telangana CM himself declared irresponsibly that neither he, nor his/anybody’s ancestors come alive, could supply adequate power for the next three years; a further provocation to the already broke and disappointed farmers who are committing suicides in droves. This government is in the main responsible for this tragic development though the distorted development policies and measures of the erstwhile governments also play a contributory part. One solution lies in the present government publicly and honestly assuring all the farmers that their losses, and lives, will be taken care of and nobody need worried unduly about their future; and then enter into a meaningful dialogue with the Centre and other states to devise ways and means to solve this intricate problem instead of concentrating on making whipping boys of this or that person or party or sections of people. §§§

Friday, October 10, 2014

Editorial, 'THE AMERICAN CONNECTION" in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 30 September 2014, Vol. 10, Pt. 2, No. 18 issue.

THE AMERICAN CONNECTION





It is hotly debatable whether the much acclaimed American connection is so much essential for our country. True, our new Prime Minister Narendra Modi, till now a persona-non-grata for the US, was welcomed with fanfare and assured of continued support and aid to us, but the point remains whether the US itself is today in a position to help, and not wreck, others. Of course, Modi was also vocal enough to state that the future belongs to Asia but even the present, it is generally felt, is looking towards this continent. Were Modi to invest even half the zeal and energy displayed by him for cultivating America to the case of improving relations with China, our bigger neighbor, whose President has so graciously come forward to first visit our country, our commerce and industry, particularly in the field of high speed railways, would have certainly benefited several times more than what US could help to do. The vexed and protracted border dispute with that country should be solved at the earliest in a ‘give and take’ spirit, for which that side has always been and still remains ready, without being bugged by the prejudices from the past. Perhaps a way out for our ‘oil crisis’ can also be found in close relations with China than banking on the Gas Pipeline that America is so ambitious, and genocidally aggressive, to push through the Middle East for its greedy profits. It is said that the aggressiveness of the US abroad and protectiveness at home go together and due to the latter we may lose several thousand jobs, and more opportunities, for our youths in that country which are available now. It doesn’t seem Modi has addressed that problem at all though he gave effusive exhortations about the Indian jaagaran at Madison Square NY, sounding quite hypocritical in lauding Gandhi (who never visited that country), while completely forgetting or deliberately overlooking Swami Vivekananda, who perhaps was our first ambassador of peace to that land, let alone the indomitable Hindustani Gadar Party with patriots and martyrs like Har Dayal, Baba Sohan Singh Bhakna, Karatar Singh Saraba and Vishnu Ganesh Pingle, who began their valiant fight for our freedom from that free land. Anyway, it is safer for us to remain at a respectable distance from the US lest we be wittingly/unwittingly drawn into the maelstrom of all the ‘terrorist’ wars it is spreading in the world. §§§

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Editorial, 'THE GREAT DECEPTION!?" in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 15 September 2014, Vol. 10, Pt. 2, No. 17 issue.

THE GREAT DECEPTION!?



Well, it could very well be so. Especially if one observes the almost free fall of the WTC 7 tower, not hit by any plane/body, it appears as a controlled demolition and so the non-mentioning of even the fact of its collapse in the 9/11 Commission Report, and ascribing of a silly reason for the same in the NSIT Report which in its turn slighted the 9/11 Commission Report, surely indicates a massive cover-up by the then government of America, which alas continues to this day. Many of us have all along opposed American invasion of Iraq, on the allegations of Saddam Hussein’s belligerent and harsh measures and his alleged possession of the so-called Weapons of Mass Destruction, which ultimately proved fraudulent with not a single WMD found anywhere but even so the Iraqi President, who might have been despotic in his own country but was a rare secular Arab leader of the day, mercilessly executed by a lackey government through a Kangaroo Court trial amidst worldwide protests. But none of us had an inkling that the American extra-territorial expansionist policy and measures could have been built on the basis of a horrendous homicidal crime perpetrated on their own people through this 9/11 carnage, which, per what the 9/11 Truth movement or several war veterans/military-intelligence officers of America now reveal and accuse, is certainly a dirty work of the notorious Bush-Cheney gang then in power. Even the US intervention in Afghanistan was excessive and counter productive. Their recent intervention in Syria in aid of the very al-Qaeda and other fundamentalist outfits and its proxy war on Assad of Syria, another secular Arab leader, has generated the ‘Frankenstein Monster’ of ISIS, a religious fanatic terrorist outfit whose atrocities are so horrendous. It is a matter of utmost shame, even of grave crime, on the part of the US as also the developed democracies of the West that they could not launch an effective criminal investigation into this crime of the century with the UN also supine. We join the voice of the 9/11 Truth Movement and demand an impartial and comprehensive criminal inquiry into the 9/11 incidents, preferably through the United Nations, by an international tribunal comprising of eminent jurists, lawyers, engineers and other experts from all over the world to find out the real causes/ persons responsible for this calamitous crime. §§§

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Editorial, "Alas, the Giants are Departing" in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 31 August 2014 issue, Vol. 10: Part 2, No. 16

ALAS, THE GIANTS ARE DEPARTING



one by one – gargantuan in their respective fields, with superb motivation to serve humanity in general. Their extraordinary achievements in diverse arenas are but contributions to the cause of common human weal. This editor fondly remembers his school days when all the students – generally film goers – would split into two camps of ANR-NTR fans and heatedly argue as to ‘ANR goppaa? NTR goppaa?’ [who is greater hero – ANR or NTR?] and gradually realization would dawn that both were great, unparalleled-in-their-respective-specialized-characters actors who had mesmerized the Telugu film watching public in those days. They were a competing, if not rival, duo in the eyes of people then. In contrast the friendly duo of Bapu-Ramana commanded the Telugu film sector to an extent in recent decades. Bapu’s versatility in art, direction and production is indescribable and sadly his body now extinct, following his demised friend, a magician of the written word in Telugu. Well, as time passed, the fascination for films waned and this editor as also many of the growing up students were drawn into the vortex of academic, social and political developments in the country and some into the movements to ‘change the society’ [samaaj ko badal dalo] when acquaintance first and camaraderie next with giants in political and social transformation movements had taken place. That is how a M.T. Khan and a Bipan Chandra came into the socio-political circle of contacts to this editor and the former was more of a comrade-in-arms, as a revolutionary writer, in the movement for social and human emancipation that shook the country in the late sixties and seventies, which continued to the present day with Khan Saheb more and more immersing himself in and guiding the human rights movements. And Bipan Chandra, a doyen of progressive historians in India, with his in-depth, scholarly studies into the history of the freedom struggle and communist movement, was a sort of Dronacharya for several Ekalavya disciples like this editor. This very personal note is to profoundly condole the passing away of these eminent personalities and, paying them glowing tributes, to rededicate ourselves to their noble ideal of universal human welfare in the sublime spirit of ‘vasudhaiva kutumbakam’ (entire world one family). §§§

Friday, August 8, 2014

Editorial, 'Freedoms of Speech and Residence," in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 31 July 2014 issue, Vol. 10, Part 2, No. 14

FREEDOMS OF SPEECH AND RESIDENCE



both protected, or even ensured, by the Constitution of India, particularly by Articles 15, 19 & 21, are in grave danger due to the ruling regional chauvinism in Telangana. One of those has already been sadly, and so easily, suppressed by a mere cable operators’ federation, allegedly acting at the instance of an eccentrically sectarian Chief Minister, by blocking two reputed TV channels. And the same chief is seeking to extinguish the right to residence of a section of people by mooting the queer proposal of fixing the residential eligibility of student candidates per their parents’ or grandparents’ residential status pre-1956. Till now one is used to hear about the nativity or residential status of a candidate only, but perhaps it is for the first time in free India that proposals for linking the candidates’ statutory entitlements to the origins of their ancestors are being heard. To worse confound the confusion, the ignorant daughter of this notorious chauvinist, she a first time MP too, has gone awry talking about the sovereign status of the State of Hyderabad [hence of Telangana] pre-1948 and decrying its forcible annexation by the Indian Union and linking it to the ever-raging dispute of Jammu and Kashmir – all the while not knowing, or deliberately overlooking, or maliciously suppressing the burning truth of a vast majority of the people in Telangana, as also Hyderabad State, having had militantly agitated for freedom from the despotic rule of the Nizam and for merger with the Indian Union in a popular ‘Join the Indian Union Movement’. And another minister-servile of the psychic chief has hurled a near-racist remark against ‘Andhras’, placing them on a level much below other migrants to Telangana, targeting them for denial of any entitlements on par with others – all the time forgetting that their own revered veteran leaders of Telangana like Survaram Pratap Reddy, author of the award winning ‘Social History of Andhras’, Burgula, Madapati, P.V., Dasarathi et al, all integrationists, had taken so much pride in that denomination. Regrettably, our constitutional courts have also not acted readily and effectively to rein in such unruly horses and remedy the injustices; it seems nowhere else does the maxim ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ apply so aptly as in our country.  §§§

Editorial: "Middle East Boiling Again" in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 15 July 2014, Vol. 10, Part 2, No. 13 issue.

MIDDLE EAST BOILING AGAIN

Zionist extremism in the cause of the only Jewish State in the world and Islamic fundamentalism in Gaza as a part of Palestine liberation movement are once again seriously clashing in the Middle East in the recent background of more gory developments in Syria and Iraq where Sunni Islamic extremism, raising up as the Frankenstein monster created by the notorious American imperialism, has been with impunity engaging in the worst sorts of genocide and atrocities, and this is certainly a problem of profound concern to the entire world community. The wanton killings – especially the collateral damage – perpetrated by the Zionist aggressors as also the Hamas and other Islamic fundamentalist forces are no doubt to be condemned in no uncertain and vehement terms but this is not the time to go on picking faults and hurling condemnations alone. A novel and fruitful solution to this ever raging crisis and especially the now boiling conflict situation in the Middle East has to be devised and the world community should act with foresight and firmness through the United Nations here and now. A United Nations Peace Keeping Force should be specially set up and sent to the Syria-Iraq arena and the entire crisis there should be taken under its wings by the United Nations through its Security Council. As far as possible recalcitrant forces are to be disarmed and at least a cease fire and orderly administration to the extent possible should be enforced by the world community in that field. Coming to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, the Security Council should direct an immediate and effective cease fire and the Camp David 2005 Accords be revived to make meaningful progress in the solution of this age-old crisis. The Arabs and Muslims should be told in no uncertain terms to overcome their psychopathic hatred and give up the disgusting demand of ‘wiping out Israel from the map of the world’; and Israel should be sternly directed not to transgress its limits and engage in wanton atrocities on Palestinians anymore. An intense effort be made to convince Egypt to cede Sinai or a good part of it also to Palestine to make room for a fairly large Palestinian State, the European Union take both Israel and Palestine under its wings as part of a comprehensive peace accord to be struck and strictly enforced under UN auspices. §§§

Friday, May 23, 2014

Editorial, "ELECTIONS FIRST PHASE: REALITY SURFACING" - in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 30 April 2014, Vol. 10, Part 1, No. 8 issue.

ELECTIONS FIRST PHASE: REALITY SURFACING


The general elections 2014 have begun in India and here, the first phase of polls in Telangana are over. However, the pre-poll dog-fight between the political parties in Telangana has brought to surface some stark realities which otherwise would have lied hidden forever. One such important fact is on the so-called suicide drama enacted by Harish Rao, MLA and nephew of KCR, the TRS supremo, during the heat of the separate Telangana movement years back of pouring petrol over his body in a public meeting, and trying to set fire to it but only missing because of non-availability of matchsticks or so! This big drama was the precursor to a spate of suicides occurring among the youths of Telangana which were/are being passed off as sublime acts of self-immolation for the cause of separate Telangana, the figures being inflated per the whim of the narrators and now touted at some 1200-1500 mark. But during the recent election fray some ex-leaders of TRS themselves exposed the drama saying it was not even petrol but only colored water that Harish Rao poured over himself that day to rouse the people to frenzy. At least now right thinking persons/authorities should call for a thorough probe into the alleged suicides for such causes. The second important fact revealed by Sonia Gandhi herself in her election campaign, trying to take advantage of her getting the AP bifurcation bill steamrolled in Parliament against all democratic norms, that long before KCR, at the instance of Congress the separate Telangana movement was begun and it was Congress which always canvassed for and finally delivered the Telangana State; she also called KCR a traitor who promised merger with Congress before the Telangana decision was announced but later backtracked, thus spilling the beans about a secret deal between the two. Of course, all this was in news even before but this is an official confirmation from the so-called lion[ess]’s mouth. And Modi condemned the Congress hacking the Telugu Mother to deliver the Telangana baby, passing over the fact that it was BJP which actively assisted the ruling party in such slaughtering. All this shows the mean depths to which current opportunist and corrupt politicians sink to serve their own nefarious ends and even break up and destroy a vibrant nationality. So people, better beware of such political scoundrels first. §§§

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Editorial, "VOTE WE MUST BUT TO SINCERE AND HONEST", in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 15 April 2014, Vol. 10, Part 1, No. 7 issue.


VOTE WE MUST BUT TO SINCERE AND HONEST

persons and parties/groups which espouse noble ideals – especially who are committed to a corruption-free, exploitation-free human welfare oriented social democratic society. In the context of our soon-to-be-officially-divided state of Andhra Pradesh, there is still some hope lingering that somehow this bifurcation can be stopped or at least stalled for the time being by the Apex Court so that at least a dignified process of equitable bifurcation, if not a change of heart toward maintenance of unity, can be initiated. This is quite essential in case the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act 2014 passed in the Parliament scuttling all democratic processes and with the sheer collusion of the two principal corrupt political parties of the country can have any constitutional/moral standing worth the name and the interests of common people in both the regions are to be firmly protected and promoted. Some sort of a turning back to the fourth option suggested by the Srikrishna Committee could be the best way-out in this regard and the new Parliament to be convened after the completion of the ongoing general elections can address this issue in all seriousness, honesty and with priority to democratic ethics. As such, it would be proper for right thinking people in our State to vote for parties like the CPM or the Jai Samaikyandhra Party which seem to be honestly dedicated to the cause of Telugu unity all along and are till now free from electoral corruption. But simultaneously, the persons contesting need also to be scrutinized and in case any moral or political, etc. lacunae felt and no candidate is deemed deserving, people have now the option of registering their protest vote – by pressing the NOTA (None of The Above) button. This is a very practical and useful method which in times to come can evolve into an effective means for even countermanding any sordidly corrupt election process and calling for fresh elections with new and better candidates in the field. It can also pave the way for the realization, in course, of the ‘right to recall’ of elected but unsatisfactorily or woefully/corruptly performing representatives. So even those who are disappointed by the horrid corruption evident in the current election process better avail this protest vote than cynically abstain and lapse into a sort of inanimate state.  §§§

Editorial, "FOR ACHIEVING THE MARTYRS' IDEALS" in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 15-31 March 2014 Martyrs Memorial Special issue

FOR ACHIEVING THE MARTYRS’ IDEALS
Let us dedicate ourselves to the struggle to create a new world – for a novel human society free from ‘exploitation of man by man’, based on cooperation and mutual aid instead of being riven by strifes and base selfish interests, for which innumerable martyrs of our freedom struggle, as also of democratic and progressive movements and national liberation struggles all over the world fought unto their last. Bhagat Singh’s last letter delineating a revolutionary programme, published in this issue, makes it amply clear that the Shaheed-e-Azam and his comrades unequivocally supported and propagated the ideal of scientific socialism. May be the actual efforts and experiments made to establish socialism in the world, with Lenin, Trotsky and Stalin taking the lead and founding of the first Soviet Socialist Republic of the world, the later activities of socialist construction, the indefatigable spirit and enormous sacrifices of the Soviet people defending democracy in the world and vanquishing the dreaded fascist menace, and the several later socialist, democratic revolutions in East European countries, China, Cuba, Vietnam, etc. and the liberation of the world from the curse of colonialism,  with one-third of humanity coming under the protective wings of a socialist camp, etc. had also their negative factors and deleterious consequences leading to the downfall of the very State Socialisms at one time so admired by the oppressed people around the world. Now we find a free market economy again taking over all such countries in various degrees and a capitalist globalization spree led by the US and other developed countries once more generating an atmosphere of extreme alienation and misery among the peoples – that in an era where the productive possibilites of advanced technologies now can easily carry all humans to a state of abundance that can satisfyof at least all the basic needs but only for the prevalent exploitative and constrictive socio-economic systems based on greed and egoism. And we find the world economic system again facing a deeper crisis, but can also see several thinking, empathetic persons, even in developed countries, desiring a new socio-economic system for societal welfare and collective happiness as, for example, the Zeitgeist movement shows. This cooperative and zealous endeavor to achieve the ideals of social harmony, welfare and a right development for the happiness of the entire human family – by whatever name the desired ideals be called – is the struggle to which all right thinking and socailly conscious individuals should subscribe to and fight for.  §§§

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Editorial, "Vote we must but to sincere and honest.." in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 15 April 2014, Vol. 10: Part 1, No. 7 issue

VOTE WE MUST BUT TO SINCERE AND HONEST

persons and parties/groups which espouse noble ideals – especially who are committed to a corruption-free, exploitation-free human welfare oriented social democratic society. In the context of our soon-to-be-officially-divided state of Andhra Pradesh, there is still some hope lingering that somehow this bifurcation can be stopped or at least stalled for the time being by the Apex Court so that at least a dignified process of equitable bifurcation, if not a change of heart toward maintenance of unity, can be initiated. This is quite essential in case the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act 2014 passed in the Parliament scuttling all democratic processes and with the sheer collusion of the two principal corrupt political parties of the country can have any constitutional/moral standing worth the name and the interests of common people in both the regions are to be firmly protected and promoted. Some sort of a turning back to the fourth option suggested by the Srikrishna Committee could be the best way-out in this regard and the new Parliament to be convened after the completion of the ongoing general elections can address this issue in all seriousness, honesty and with priority to democratic ethics. As such, it would be proper for right thinking people in our State to vote for parties like the CPM or the Jai Samaikyandhra Party which seem to be honestly dedicated to the cause of Telugu unity all along and are till now free from electoral corruption. But simultaneously, the persons contesting need also to be scrutinized and in case any moral or political, etc. lacunae felt and no candidate is deemed deserving, people have now the option of registering their protest vote – by pressing the NOTA (None of The Above) button. This is a very practical and useful method which in times to come can evolve into an effective means for even countermanding any sordidly corrupt election process and calling for fresh elections with new and better candidates in the field. It can also pave the way for the realization, in course, of the ‘right to recall’ of elected but unsatisfactorily or woefully/corruptly performing representatives. So even those who are disappointed by the horrid corruption evident in the current election process better avail this protest vote than cynically abstain and lapse into a sort of inanimate state.  §§§


Editorial, "FOR ACHIEVING THE MARTYRS' IDEALS" in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 15-31 March 2014, Martyrs Memorial Special issue, Vol. 10: Part 1, Nos. 5-6


FOR ACHIEVING THE MARTYRS’ IDEALS

Let us dedicate ourselves to the struggle to create a new world – for a novel human society free from ‘exploitation of man by man’, based on cooperation and mutual aid instead of being riven by strifes and base selfish interests, for which innumerable martyrs of our freedom struggle, as also of democratic and progressive movements and national liberation struggles all over the world fought unto their last. Bhagat Singh’s last letter delineating a revolutionary programme, published in this issue, makes it amply clear that the Shaheed-e-Azam and his comrades unequivocally supported and propagated the ideal of scientific socialism. May be the actual efforts and experiments made to establish socialism in the world, with Lenin, Trotsky and Stalin taking the lead and founding of the first Soviet Socialist Republic of the world, the later activities of socialist construction, the indefatigable spirit and enormous sacrifices of the Soviet people defending democracy in the world and vanquishing the dreaded fascist menace, and the several later socialist, democratic revolutions in East European countries, China, Cuba, Vietnam, etc. and the liberation of the world from the curse of colonialism,  with one-third of humanity coming under the protective wings of a socialist camp, etc. had also their negative factors and deleterious consequences leading to the downfall of the very State Socialisms at one time so admired by the oppressed people around the world. Now we find a free market economy again taking over all such countries in various degrees and a capitalist globalization spree led by the US and other developed countries once more generating an atmosphere of extreme alienation and misery among the peoples – that in an era where the productive possibilites of advanced technologies now can easily carry all humans to a state of abundance that can satisfyof at least all the basic needs but only for the prevalent exploitative and constrictive socio-economic systems based on greed and egoism. And we find the world economic system again facing a deeper crisis, but can also see several thinking, empathetic persons, even in developed countries, desiring a new socio-economic system for societal welfare and collective happiness as, for example, the Zeitgeist movement shows. This cooperative and zealous endeavor to achieve the ideals of social harmony, welfare and a right development for the happiness of the entire human family – by whatever name the desired ideals be called – is the struggle to which all right thinking and socailly conscious individuals should subscribe to and fight for.  §§§

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Editorial, 'A HOUSE DIVIDED' in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 15 February 2014, Vol. 10, Part 1, No. 3 issue

A HOUSE DIVIDED

against itself cannot stand – is an age-old adage which may soon prove itself in case of our State of Andhra Pradesh. It is true that a decided majority of people of the State are for unity of all Telugus in one State, but there is also a deep regional divide in the State. Over and above that one can see the collusion of the two corrupt and cruel principal anti-people political parties of India – Congress (I) and the Bharatiya Janata Party to break up the unity of the Telugu State for their nefarious political ends, especially the former indulging in egregious electoral corruption. The intense anguish and agitation in the 13 districts of Seemandhra against the splintering of Telugu nationality, for the unity of which stalwart veterans like Sri Potti Sriramulu, Prakasam Pantulu, Bulusu Samba Murthy, Ayyadevara Kaleswara Rao, Suravaram Pratapa Reddy, Madapati Hanumanta Rao, Burgula Ramakrishna Rao, Ravi Narayana Reddy, Baddam Yella Reddy et al so steadfastly fought and achieved, is being totally neglected. The poison of regional chauvinism instilled by a solely power-crazy regional party coupled with the strange and solid support to it by many so-called leftist parties and groups, which have even stopped referring to their own earlier history of having championed and sacrificed for the cause of unity of the Telugu State, not only in 1946-56 but also in 1969-73 and even up to 2008, seems to be attaining its fatal effects. The Parliament, generally derided as a talking shop and a quarrelling House over the recent decades, tries to be overzealous and rowdily active only when confronted with such hasty and authoritarian moves for wholly corrupt ends. The Women’s Reservation Bill [for which almost all parties expressed support] is pending since years just to cater to the interests of a select few so badly needed for continuance of the corrupt ruling coteries but this AP Reorganization Bill is sought to be introduced and passed by voice vote, even though the AP State Assembly explicitly rejected it and the mere use of pepper spray by a beleaguered, emotionally surcharged MP for his alleged self-defence is being depicted as a greater blow to the  national polity than this evil scheme that effectively undermines the federal spirit and scheme of our glorious national movement. §§§

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

BHOPAL GAS DISASTER: MY ARTICLE - "MORE ON PHOSGENE, METHYL ISOCYANATE AND THE UNION CARBIDE..."

MORE ON PHOSGENE, METHYL ISOCYANATE
AND THE UNION CARBIDE…
- I. Mallikarjuna Sharma¨
In the previous article – “Killer Gas of Bhopal – Phosgene, not MIC” – we have conclusively established that it could not be MIC ‘gas’ (which after all is a liquid with b.p. around 40oC) which played havoc with the lives of the people of Bhopal. We also concluded that it could be nothing but Phosgene which was the real ‘criminal’. In this article, we try to substantiate our arguments about the identity of the killer gas as Phosgene with more positive evidence and also delve into some more details about Phosgene, MIC and their attendant usual hazards.
Phosgene was the most efficacious killer gas which was introduced first by Germans in the World War I with sensational results and gruesome tragedies. Phosgene is a type of choking gas. We have already learnt about its chemical name and formula (COCl2) –
“The name, phosgene, is derived from Greek meaning generated by light. It was first prepared by John Davy in 1811 by exposing equal quantities of carbon monoxide and chlorine to sunlight. It is used in industry in the manufacture of dyes and for various other purposes. This gas, therefore, was not new when it was first used as a chemical warfare agent by the Germans in a cloud gas attack on the British in December, 1915… it is still an important combat chemical. Its symbol, CG, derives from name given to phosgene by the French, Collongite.
Phosgene is very effective in low concentrations. …it is extremely dangerous because when breathed in low concentrations it may not be immediately severely irritating. Frequently, unless a man has breathed a large amount, the effects may be delayed for several hours or even a day. The symptoms of phosgene poisoning are first coughing and choking. This is followed by inability to expand the chest, hurried and shallow breathing, and sometimes vomiting. Next there is severe pain in the chest, and finally there is blueness of the lips (cyanosis) with either a red bloated face (venous conjection) or with face of grayish colour indicating failing circulation.
Phosgene irritates the nose and the throat only slightly and for this reason men are likely to inhale it more deeply than they would similar concentrations of some other irritating gas such as chlorine. Consequently, men gassed with CG frequently have very little warning that they have been severely affected until it is too late to avoid the danger.
The effect of the gas is cumulative; exposure to even low concentrations over a long period of time may cause severe casualties. A phosgene casualty is very similar to a case of pneumonia and in fact the effect might be called a chemical pneumonia.
The insidious nature of phosgene must be understood, since it is not unusual for a man to be seriously gassed without knowing it until for late, and because the delayed effect is frequently responsible for failure to provide for proper treatment. It is the rule that a man suspected of having breathed phosgene should be treated as a serious casualty until at least twenty four hours have passed. As an example of the delayed action following breathing of a high concentration of phosgene, the following extract from the British Official History of the War (1914-1918) may be cited:-
February 3rd, 1917: A chemist was working on a new chemical product. A siphon of phosgene, required for the synthesis of this substance, burst on his table at 1.00 p.m. A yellowish cloud was seen by a second person in the room to go up close to the chemist’s face, who exclaimed, “I am gassed,” and both hurried out of the room. Outside, the patient sat down on a chair, working [looking?] pale and coughing slightly.
2.30 p.m. In bed at hospital, to which he had been taken in a car, having been kept at rest since the accident. Hardly coughing at all; pulse normal. No distress or anxiety and talking freely to friends for over an hour. During this time he was so well that the medical officer was not even asked to see the patient upon admission to the hospital.
5.30 p.m. Coughing, with frothy expectoration, commenced and the patient was noticed to become bluish about the lips. His condition now rapidly deteriorated. Every fit of coughing brought up large quantities of clear, yellowish frothy fluid, of which about 80 ounces were expectorated in one and a half hours. His face became of a grey ashen colour, never purple though the pulse remained fairly strong. He died at 6.50 p.m. without any great struggle for breath. The symptoms of irritation were  very slight at the onset; there was then a delay of at least four hours, and the final development of serious edema up to death took little more than an hour though the patient was continually rested in bed.
Emphasis on the delayed effect of phosgene should not lead one to believe that its action is normally slow when high concentrations are breathed. Generally under such conditions the effect is immediate and the man becomes a serious casualty at once.
The odour of phosgene is very characteristic. The usual description of the odor of phosgene compared it to the odor of musty hay or of green corn. Some say it smells like newly mown hay. There is also present the suggestion of acid; the individual may note a sour taste in his moth if he breathes much of it.
Phosgene vapour is more than three times heavier than air. A cloud of phosgene, unless it is carried upward by the wind or air currents, will remain near the ground until it is much diluted. This is a great advantage in warfare because the heavy gas will flow into ravines, trenches and dugouts, places where men normally seek refuge against bullets and explosives.
Because phosgene is a gas, except in cold weather (below 47oF i.e. 8.2oC), it is non-persistent and is dissipated rapidly by the wind. In winter weather it will have some what greater persistence than in warm weather, but even at low temperature, it evaporates rather rapidly.
Phosgene is a gas with which the soldier can take no chances. Too much emphasis cannot be given to its insidious nature and dangerous properties. If the odor of CG is detected there is only one thing to do and that is to stop breathing until the gas mask has been carefully adjusted. One good breath of the gas can cause a serious casualty. (See ‘Gas Warfare’ by Brig. General Alden H. Waitt, Revised edition 1944, Duell, Sloan and Pearce, NEW YORK – pp. 39-43.)
Though the foregoing description is quite detailed, educative and crystal-clear, we would like to supplement it with extensive quotations from other sources too:
“TOXIC PROPERTIES: Phosgene and Diphosgene rapidly react with the moist surfaces of the mucus membranes and destroy the function and structure of the cells, causing immediate irritation. Then follows the development of edema of the lungs which is formed in the course of several hours during which the plasma of the blood permeates through the destroyed walls of the bronchioli. This phase corresponds to the clinical period of latency, which is more or less free from subjective complaints. When the edema has reached a certain degree, it becomes suddenly clinically apparent through impairment of the respiration. The breathing surface of the lungs is reduced through the liquid in the bronchioli, lack of oxygen, suffocation occurs. The victim is drowned from within and may now succumb. This process develops within 24 hours, sometimes slower.
TOXIC CONCENTRATIONS of both phosgene and diphosgene are of the same magnitude. The susceptibility of man is also of the same magnitude as that of the commonly used laboratory animals.
40 mg per m3 in a few seconds cause fighting inefficiency.
160 mg per m3 in 1 minute is highly toxic.
40 mg per m3 in 25 minutes may be fatal.
20 mg per m3 in 50 minutes may be fatal.
Smallest concentrations affect the sensations of smell and taste.
Tobacco smoking after such exposure is felt as disagreeable.
Effect on men: The initial period of irritation to the eyes and the throat is followed by a period of latency lasting from 2 to 8 hours, in some cases for three days, during which no or almost no complaints are felt. Then, the color of the face becomes ash grey while there may still be not more than a slight feeling of discomfort, the slightest effort of the patient, an attempt to change his position in bed may produce sudden collapse or death. This state is called the “grey stage asphyxia.” The tissues of the body are at minimum of oxygen supply, at the same time no accumulation of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) takes place, as in the case of ordinary asphyxia. First aid men and doctors must know this condition. When such patients were loaded into ambulances they arrived dead at the hospital.
In the further development of the disease, Carbon-di-oxide is accumulated in the organs and especially in the blood and produces the familiar picture of cyanosia and dyspnoea which is now called “blue stage asphyxia.” At this time the edema of the lungs is at its summit. The patient breathes rapidly and spasmodically, the chest is tight and constricted, severe pains in the chest, highest degree of asphyxia, blue red cyanosis, desperate restlessness, delirium, expectoration of yellow-reddish liquid from the lungs, vomiting and desperate anxiety produce a most impressive clinical picture. It is hardly bearable even for the most cool-hearted physician to pass through a hospital room, where many such patients lie and suffer.
The fate of the patient depends upon the resistance which his circulatory system opposes to the tremendous strain of internal asphyxia. Those who survive the first three days may be considered saved.
Complications, especially secondary infections, pneumonia at a late stage of the disease may still develop. Chronic bronchitis, bronshiectasis, emphysema, “al veolite vegetante” were observed in animal experiments and later in human cases.
Late sequelae may be classified as being of the bronchitic asthmatic, circulatory, cachectic or nervous type.
TREATMENT is symptomatical, removal of the patient from further exposure to gas, elimination of even the slightest strain, application of warm and fresh clean but not cool air, inhalation of oxygen from the first beginning until the blue stage asphyxia is overcome, an all be given by the first aid personnel or laymen, before medical aid is available. Other measures are reserved to the physician: phlebotomy, intra-venous infusions of salt or glucose solution, calcium preparations, digitalis, strophenthus, caffeine, scilla maritime, ephetonin, quinine. The physician knows that in phosgene poisoning, no use of morphine, lobeline and other remedies should be made which affect the respiratory centre.
PROTECTION through gas masks and respirators is satisfactory.” [See, ‘Chemical Warfare’ by Curt Wachtel, Chapman & Hall Ltd., London, 1941, pp. 156-158, emphases ours.]
Further – 
“The importance of Phosgene as an industrial hazard is its toxicity. It is over ten times as toxic as Chlorine for a concentration of 0.50 mg per litre is lethal for an exposure of 10 minutes.
Serious symptoms may not develop until several hours after exposure for the immediate symptoms produced by even a lethal dose may be relatively mild since phosgene elicits no marked respiratory reflexes and thus a person who appears to be but slightly gassed immediately following exposure may become a serious casualty several hours later. Phosgene is a lung irritant and causes severe damage to the alveoli of the lungs; this is followed by pulmonary edema, resulting in asphyxiation. Inhalation of this gas produces catching of the breath, choking, immediate coughing, tightness of the chest, slight lachrymation, difficulty and pain in breathing and cyanosis. Its effects are probable due to hydrolysis and he formation of hydrochloric acid (HCl) inside the body.
The most pronounced symptoms of phosgene poisoning are coughing with bloody sputum and weakness which may last for several months.
An atmosphere containing 1 part by volume of the gas in 6000 may cause lung injuries in 2 minutes, 1 part in 30,000 is very dangerous and 1 part in 2,00,000 is probably fatal for exposures of 30 minutes. The maximum permissible concentration for a prolonged exposure period is about 0.1 ppm. – that is 0.004 mg per litre.
The least detectable odor of phosgene is 5.6 parts per million, the least concentration that affects the throat is 3.1 parts per million, the least concentration causing irritation to eyes is 4.0 parts per million and the least concentration causing coughing is 4.8 parts per million. A concentration of 0.02 – 0.05 percent is lethal to most animals in a few minutes, a concentration of 0.0025 percent is dangerous for exposures of 30 to 60 minutes. The maximum concentration to which animals can be exposed for several hours without serious symptoms is 1 part per million.
DISSECTION AND DETERMINATION: The yellow or orange strain produced by phosgene on test paper containing diphenylamine and p-dimethylamine benzaldehyde has been adopted as the standard test for the detection of phosgene in Britain. The test is capable of detecting about 1 part of phosgene in 10,00,000 of air (1 ppm).
RAPID METHODS: A reagent filter paper is prepared by soaking it in a mixture of 5 c.c. of 0.5 percent solution of 1, 3, 3 – nitrosodimethyl aminophenol both in xylene. This paper held in the suspected atmosphere gives a green colour with traces of phosgene. If the paper becomes dry it should be moistened with alcohol before use. It is said to be a specific reaction for phosgene.
A VERY SENSITIVE DROP REACTION: Add a drop of phenylhydrazine cinnamate to a drop of the solution of the suspected substance in chloroform or carbon-tetrachloride. After 5 minutes, add a drop of 1 percent copper sulphate solution. The red-violet color of diphenyl carbazide is formed in the presence of phosgene. As little as 0.0005 mg of phosgene can be detected by this method.
Phosgene forms diphenyl urea when passed into an aqueous solution of aniline. Pass the suspected air through about 3 cc of a saturated aqueous solution of aniline or p-phenetioline. A white turbidity and then a crystalline precipitate forms in the presence of phosgene. [See, The Analytical Chemistry of Industrial Poisons, Hazards and Solvents, by Morris B. Jacobs, Ph.D., 1941, Interscience pub., Inc., New York, pp 304-305 and 585-586, emphases ours].[1]
The foregoing particulars irrefutably establish the most insidious nature of the War Gas – Phosgene. Not for nothing was the Geneva Gas Protocol prohibiting the use in war of asphyxiating, poisonous and other gases and of bacteriological methods of warfare was signed by 42 nations on 17 June 1925 and is now being adhered to by over 60 countries. Details of this aspect of human gas war will be given in a separate article.
I don’t think, of course, that any person in his senses would venture to dispute the above authentic details about phosgene and its hazardous effects. But which one may freely dispute, and that which the Union Carbide officials are doing, is the fact of Phosgene being the real killer gas in this disaster. They are also trying to suppress the information about and indications regarding this real fact behind the Bhopal holocaust and sadly, even a majority of the experts, journalists, etc. of our country are also joining their bandwagon. To establish that Phosgene is the real culprit gas, we have, in the last article, pointed out that Methyl Isocyanate, which is only a liquid that becomes a gas at circa 40oC could not be cause for the holocaust since the atmospheric temperature in that fateful night in Bhopal was around 14oC only. We also concluded that since most of the deaths were reported due to edemal of lungs and consequent asphyxiation the killer gas could be nothing but the dreaded Phosgene. Since then a lot of positive evidence has come out to irrefutably establish the identity of the killer gas as Phosgene.


According to the Statesman, 20 December 1984 (Thursday, Delhi), the admission by Dr. S. Varadarajan on Tuesday evening that there was some phosgene in the Union Carbide plant after his stout denial of the fact for the past three days has once again brought into focus the question of whether the poisonous gas that leaked out and killed thousands of people in Bhopal was phosgene or MIC or sum of both. “If the gas was phosgene or a mixture of MIC and phosgene, it would show that the Union Carbide management in Bhopal had been guilty of not only acts of criminal negligence, but also gross criminal violation of their own rules.” (emphasis ours). The same edition of the Statesman also reports: “One of the staunchest proponents of the theory that it was phosgene that leaked out is Dr. S.G. Basha, of the Chemistry Department in the Saifia College, Bhopal. He went into great details of comparative chemistry of the two poisonous chemicals to illustrate the point.
First: the physical differences – MIC is a colorless chemical with boiling point of 39.1 degrees Celsius at ordinary pressure. At the pressure in which it was stored in the tank, 2½ times the pressure of the atmosphere, the boiling point would have gone up to somewhere near 65o Celsius. The tolerance level of humans for MIC is 0.02 parts per million in the atmosphere. According to Dr. Basha, the gas, like the liquid, is colorless.
Phosgene is also called Carbonyl Chloride, Carbon Oxy Chloride and Chloroformyl Chloride. Its boiling point as stated earlier is 8.2o Celsius, and the gas is of light yellow colour with a strong odour. Unlike MIC it is only slightly soluble in water. Apart from being highly toxic with a tolerance level for humans of 0.1 ppm, it is an irritant to the eyes.
Dr. Basha pointed to three significant points in these physical properties to illustrate his argument. Firstly, he said, all victims said that they had seen the gas to be light yellow. Secondly, all victims’ eyes had been affected. While the effect of MIC on the human eye had not been proved yet, phosgene was known to be an eye irritant. Thirdly, while Dr. Basha was willing to admit that MIC in the storage tank might have been converted to gas due to an exothermic reaction with water or due to polymerization, he wondered why it had not become a liquid again when it came into the atmosphere since the temperature outside was about 14 degrees Celsius (the same argument we made in our previous article - IMS).
Dr. Varadarajan, who had argued that the gas was only MIC, had said that its effects on the human beings was that it reacted with the water in the lungs to produce dymethyl urea CH.NH2, which is a harmless solid and Carbon-di-oxide, which is again harmless. Dr. Varadarajan said that MIC kills because this dimethyl urea clogs the passages that take air into the lungs.
The autopsies, according to the CBI sources, had shown the evidence of this clogging, but it had also shown that the most of the victims’ lungs were corroded as they would be by an acid, thus strengthening Dr. Basha’s argument.
Dr. Basha said that when phosgene reacts with water in the human lungs (or elsewhere) it produces Carbon-dioxide and Hydrochloric acid, which would corrode the lungs. He also said that in the lungs, due to relative shortage of oxygen, along with Carbon-dioxide some Carbon monoxide would also be produced.
Now, it has been well known that Carbon monoxide is poisonous, and as many people have been killed by it, the scientists know exactly how it kills. Carbon monoxide gets into the blood stream of the humans from the lungs where it destroys the red blood corpuscles. The result is that the victims get drowsy, fall unconscious and then die. Dr. Basha maintained that most of the victims had actually died in that way. There was no confirmation from the CBI sources as to whether the government physicians had found evidence of red blood corpuscles getting destroyed.
In the Hamidia Hospital, where most of the victims had been admitted, there was no agreement among doctors on this point whether the killer chemical was phosgene or MIC. Those who were for MIC said that the victims had died either due to constriction of their air passages or later due to pneumonitis (both of which are quite possible with phosgene poisoning too as evidenced by extensive quotations cited above), while the others gave out the same arguments as Dr. Basha.
We can only say Dr. Basha had put up an excellent argument with which we almost fully concur. But we are circumspect about his version of phosgene reaction in the lungs also forming carbon monoxide due to the relative shortage of oxygen there. As you see, none of the authorities we previously cited and who were well experienced did take into account this possibility. Hence, if at all cases of carbon monoxide poisoning were also there (the cases where red blood corpuscles were destroyed), in our opinion, it should have been due to the escape of carbon monoxide gas along with phosgene in that fateful night. This was quite possible since carbon monoxide and chlorine go into the making of phosgene and were present, stored in the Union Carbide plant. So this gives us the possibility of three gases – phosgene, carbon monoxide and chlorine – simultaneously escaping on that disastrous day. Hence here we take a little diversion to give some details regarding CO and Cl2 also:
“Carbon monoxide is met in any industry in which there is the possibility of incomplete combustion of carbon compounds or carbonaceous material. Not only is carbon monoxide an important industrial poison but it is also the greatest single non-industrial hazard because it is a component of nearly all types of illuminating and heating gases, it is a component of the exhaust gases of automobiles, and is a probable ingredient of the fume gas produced by whatever form of heat is used in domestic cooking – wood, coal, illuminating gas or oil.
For these reasons, carbon monoxide is a hazard in the homes, private and public garages, workshops and thereby polluting streets as well.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas. It is combustible and is lighter than air having a specific gravity of 0.967. [Even so, either because its sp. gr. is subject to variations as per atmospheric moisture or due to some other developments, at times it is found collected in deep wells even - IMS.]
Carbon monoxide in excess of 0.01 percent if breathed for a sufficiently longer time, will produce symptoms of poisoning. As little as 0.02 percent will produce slight symptoms in several hours, 0.04 percent will produce headache and discomfort within 2 to 3 hours, with moderate excess 0.12 percent will produce slight palpitation of heart in 30 minutes and a tendency to stagger in 1½ hours; and confusion, headache and nausea in 2 hrs., a concentration of 0.20 to 0.25 percent will usually produce unconsciousness in about 30 minutes. Its effects in high concentration may be so sudden that a man has little or no warning before he collapses.
Carbon monoxide is really a chemical asphyxiant because it produces its harmful effect by combining with the haemoglobin of the red blood cells forming a relatively stable compound, carbon monoxide haemoglobin, usually abbreviated HbCO, thus preventing this combined haemoglobin from taking up oxygen, forming oxyhaemoglobin (HbO2) and thus depriving the body of its oxygen. The affinity of carbon monoxide for haemoglobin is about 300 times that of oxygen. Hence if only a small amount of carbon monoxide is present in the air taken into the lungs, that carbon monoxide will be absorbed in preference to the oxygen by the blood. Carbon monoxide asphyxia and probably other types of asphyxia produce degenerative changes in nerve cells and [also] throughout the entire brain.
The percentage of haemoglobin in the blood combined with carbon monoxide instead of with oxygen is termed ‘percentage of blood saturation’. Symptoms of poisoning [are] more or less parallel to the blood saturation. The first decided symptoms during rest make their appearance when 20 to 30 percent of the haemoglobin is combined with carbon monoxide. Unconsciousness takes place at about 50 percent saturation and death may occur at a saturation between 65 to 80 percent.
… [But] Carbon monoxide is not as poisonous as many other industrial hazards. [See The Analytical Chemistry of Industrial Poisons, Hazards and Solvents, by Morris B. Jacobs, Ph.D., pp. 316-319].”
Again –
“Chlorine is a heavy greenish-yellow gas which has a characteristic choking and pungent odour with an irritating effect on the nose and throat. It boils at –33.6oC; melts at –102oC; has a density of 2.5 referred to air; and can easily be liquefied for its critical temperature is 146oC. Its specific gravity is 1.41. Its vapor pressure at 20oC is 6.57 atmospheres, at 30oC is 8.75 atmospheres and at 40oC is 11.5 atmospheres. It has a high coefficient of expansion and its solubility in water at 20oC is 215 volumes in 100 volumes.
Chlorine is a strong lung irritant. It was the first chemical war gas used in the World War I (1914-1918). A concentration of 2.5 mg per litre breathed for 30-60 minutes will cause death. Inhalation of Chlorine elicits respiratory reflexes and causes coughing, smarting of the eyes, a general feeling of discomfort in the chest, a hoarse cough, nausea and vomiting. The face may become red and bloated because of venous congestion, or grey in color showing falling circulation. Inhalation of Chlorine affects both the lower and upper respiratory tract and produces inflammation of the entire respiratory tract and edema of the lung after severe exposure. The most pronounced symptoms are suffocation, constrition in the chest and tightness in the throat.
Concentration of 0.10 percent are lethal for animals in a few minutes. Exposure to a concentration range of 0.004 to 0.006 percent for 30-60 minutes will have fatal or serious consequences. The maximum concentration to which animals can be exposed for a period of 60 minutes without serious disturbance is 0.0004 percent and the maximum concentration to which they may be exposed for several hours without serious disturbance or with but slight symptoms is 0.0001 percent by volume (i.e. 1 part per million – author).” (Ibid., pp. 295-296, emphasis ours).
We cannot rule out the possibility of carbon monoxide and chlorine also leaking along with phosgene in that fateful night, but it seems phosgene is the main culprit – the real killer gas – that played havoc.
India Today, 31 December 1984, has revealed some details which substantiate our arguments regarding Phosgene:
“M.L. Garg, retired brigadier and general manager of the paper factory, Straw Products Ltd., was asleep that night when the telephone rang at 1-15 a.m.
It was the factory calling to say some people had fainted: “We are suffocating, Sir,” the voice said. Just then, Garg recalls, his eyes began to water and he himself suffocated. The windows of his house were open and he soon saw a ‘yellow gas’ waff in.” (emphases ours)
Again –
“Shazad Khan, a tanker driver aged 30, too was asleep with his wife and four daughters in Jayaprakash Nagar which also borders the factory. “Main jaaga aur ankhon mein ek dam jalan mehsoos huyi, jaise ke koi nazar utaar rahe ho,” he said [I awoke, my eyes began smarting, as if some had flung chillies into fire to ward off evil eye]. In wild panic, Shazad fled from his room.”    (emphasis ours)
It is quite evident from these reports that the colour of the gas was yellow and it is a strong eye and lung irritant. Again, as the fortnightly reports, Chairman Warren Anderson of the Union Carbide in the US released a report submitted in mid-1982 by three American experts who inspected the Bhopal Plant’s safety measures and equipments. The report was startlingly critical saying that “the plant represented either a high potential for a serious accident or more serious consequence if an accident should occur” – words which proved all too correct in retrospect even though it was claimed that most of the defects have been set right in just this year.”        (emphasis ours)
One of the lapses to which the report clearly pointed was “the pressure gauge on the phosgene tank was bad, showing no pressure even though the tank was in service” (emphasis ours). Now it is doubly clear that not only phosgene was used, a separate tank was there in the plant for its storage. Then the same issue of India Today graphically discusses the defects in safety system, poor training and education of the personnel, even the lack of requisite number of workers to maintain the installment, etc. However here it would do for us to emphasize that the presence, storage and leakage of phosgene is proved beyond doubt by all the evidence obtained so far.
Now we would like to go into some detail about the production process in the Union Carbide plant at Bhopal. These details will again establish the presence, production and storage of phosgene in the plant. The Union Carbide plant at Bhopal produces two pesticides – Sevin and Temick (trade names). Sevin is the world’s most widely used pesticide and naturally a great part of the production in the Bhopal Unit is that of Sevin only. It is also called Carbaryl. Prior to 1978, they used to manufacture Sevin without recourse to MIC (but necessarily with recourse to phosgene) and possibly since 1978 or 1980, they switched over to the more economical process through the use of MIC. We hereunder give some details about Carbaryl produced without recourse to MIC:
CARBARYL
Function:                       Insecticide.
Chemical name:                        l naphtalenyl methyl carbamate
Formula:                        O CO NH CH3
Trade name:                  Sevin ® (Union Carbide)
Manufacture:                             In a first step, sodium l-naphthoxide is reacted with phosgene –
And in a second step, that intermediate is reacted with methyl amine to give l-naphtyl-N-Methyl Carbomate…
[See: Pesticides Process Encyclopedia, by Marshall Sitting, Noyes Data Corp., Park Ridge, New Jersey, USA, 1977).
However, as already mentioned, the production process has changed since 1978 and Methyl Isocyanate is produced and used up as an intermediate product in the new process. This takes us to some details about the production and uses of isocyanates and after delving into those aspects, we finally go into the details about the production process and uses of phosgene itself.
“ISOCYANATES, ORGANIC:
Phosgene reaction: In 1884, Hemtschel obtained an isocyanate from the reaction between phosgene and the salt of a primary amine. Several modifications of this reaction have since been developed. This reaction is especially useful for high boiling isocyanates and di-isocyanates, which may be prepared readily and in good yields by the reaction of a slurry of the amine hydrochloride with phosgene in toluene or di-chlorobenzene…
Manufacture and Processing:
Phosgenation: The reaction of amines with phosgene (phosgenation) has, for economic reasons, been used almost exclusively for the manufacture of isocyanates. The details of processing may vary with the specific isocyanate and, in particular, for aromatic and aliphatic isocyanates (MIC is an aliphatic isocyanate - IMS), but the general approach is the same. Because of several side reactions and associated complications, the development of practical, high yield reaction conditions have been studied extensively. The primary reactions involved in the phosgenation of a simple amine and the further reactions [simply put indicate that] reaction with primary alkyl and aryl amines yield carbamoyl chlorides which can be de-hydrohalogenated to [yield] isocyanates… [See: Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Third edition, Vol. 17, by KIRK-OTHMER].”                                                                (emphases ours)
Hence, it is quite evident that all isocyanates (including MIC) are produced by a process of phosgenation for economic reasons. All the reaction equations in this regard reveal that they are consummated under 200oC which is a fairly low temperature as far as industrial processes are concerned and so quite economical at that. Also we have learnt that all isocyanates and di-isocyanates are high-boiling liquids and in fact it is MIC which has the lowest boiling point (39.1oC) among them all. [See appendix 3 – Physical properties of some Isocyanates].
Further –
“There are five aliphatic isocyanates of commercial significance, although none approach the volume of TDI (Toulene Di-isocyanate) or the polymerics. Methyl Isocyanate is produced by the Union Carbide. Several insecticides and herbicides are derived from this isocyanate, including the widely used l-naphthyl carbamate sold under the trade name, Sevin. It is estimated that 12,000 - 14,000 metric tons of methyl isocyanate was produced in the U.S. in 1975 and 24,000 tons of Sevin. About half of the Sevin was exported. Growth to 23,000 tons of isocyanate is predicted for 1980. Methyl isocyanate is believed to account for about three quarters of all mono-isocyanates manufactured.”
“HEALTH AND SAFETY:
All isocyanates are potentially hazardous and require care in handling. They are lacrimators and may have a mild tanning action on skin, but the primary health effect is respiratory irritation caused by isocyanate vapors. In 2.5% of population that is exposed to low concentrations of isocyanate vapor, a hyper sensitive, asthma like allergic reaction may result. Skin allergies have been observed but are not common. In general, the lower the vapor pressure, the fewer the problems in its use, but adequate ventilation should always be employed…”      [Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, op.cit., emphasis ours]
Now it is significant that though every victim in Bhopal complained of irritation in the eyes, the phenomenon of lachrymation (tears flowing) is not reported that commonly. Further as Sunday reported, the killer gas affected people up to a 10 Km. radius from the Plant Centre and people falling within 5 Km. radius were severely affected. This is simply out of question with regard to MIC ‘gas’ since any MIC converted into gas due to unforeseen high pressures and temperatures developed in the plant, would have immediately cooled down and liquefied in the around 14oC temperature in Bhopal in that night and consequently it could not have affected people beyond a radius of 1 Km. under any circumstances, that too when the wind speed in that night was quite low and it was reported that the gaseous cloud was traversing very slowly all along. So, the brilliant arguments of Prof. S.G. Basha, coupled with our own reasoning and additional arguments, conclusively establish the identity of the killer gas as phosgene. Hence it will be apt here to go into the details of the phosgene manufacture and the necessary storage and safety measures, its uses, etc.
“MANUFACTURE: Depending on the quantity needed and the availability of the raw material, numerous variations of the basic synthetic process are being practiced. Continuous processing and high degree of automation is required for phosgene purification, condensation and storage. Because of its toxicity, careful and extensive safety procedures are incorporated in plant design and operation. The manufacture of phosgene consists of preparation and purification of carbon monoxide, preparation and purification of Chlorine, metering and mixing of reactants, reaction of mixed gases over activated charcoal, purification and condensation of phosgene and recovery of traces of phosgene to assure worker’ and environmental safety.
After condensation, the remaining product gases are scrubbed with caustic soda (NaOH) solution (Caustic scrubber system) to destroy any non-condensed phosgene.
STORAGE AND HANDLING: All phosgene containers require the class A poison gas label. Phosgene is transported in steel cylinders which conform to rigid safety design specifications. The cylinders undergo special hydrostatic testing at 5.5 Mp (800 psi), and extension rings are incorporated in the cylinders to protect the Valves; ……
Careful testing for leaks is required after filling and vapor space must be accommodated in the storage vessel; excessive filling with liquid phosgene must be avoided.
Because phosgene reacts with water, great care must be taken to prevent contamination with traces of water since this could lead to the development of pressure by HCl and CO2. Wet phosgene is very corrosive; therefore, phosgene should never be stored with any quantity of water.
HEALTH AND SAFETY FACTORS: The odor threshold for phosgene is circa 0.5 - 1 ppm, but it varies with individuals and is higher after prolonged exposure. Phosgene may irritate eyes, nose and throat. The permissible exposure TLV by volume in air is 0.1 ppm. The TLV refers to the airborne concentration at which it is believed nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed on a daily basis without adverse effect…
Hazards can be avoided by the use of outdoor installations or extensive ventilation where phosgene must be employed indoors. Ventilation should be sufficient to maintain general concentrations of phosgene in the air below 0.1 ppm, even though liquid phosgene is released. Safety in handling phosgene depends to a great extent on the effectiveness of employee education, proper safety instrumentation, alert supervision, and the use of safe equipment. Plant design should include proper facilities for neutralization and water-fog equipment should be available for emergencies.
In case of extensive leaks or spills, immediate evacuation upwind of the phosgene source is necessary. Phosgene is 3.4 times as heavy as air and may collect in the low-lying areas. Water should not be used on the source of a phosgene leak as the resulting corrosion enlarges the leak. Suitable protective equipment includes eye-protection and respiratory equipment. In case of fire, it is essential to cool all phosgene-containing vessels. Reactivity hazards exist when attempts are made to neutralize spilled liquid phosgene. Especially hazardous chemical reactions of phosgene are with alcohols, Aluminum, Secondary Amines, Potassium and Sodium.
USES: Phosgene is an important and widely used intermediate. Practically all phosgene manufacture is captive i.e. it is used in the manufacture of other chemicals within the plant boundary. Its toxic hazard has created some difficulty in plant-location approvals and has caused the shut-down of a European facility. [See: Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Vol. 17, KIRK-OTHMER, Third Edition, pp. 416-425, emphases ours.]
So, now, we have ample information about the production process of phosgene, MIC and the hazards posed by them and the necessary safety measures to be taken up. Especially safety in handling is reported to depend to a great extent on the effectiveness of employee education, proper safety instrumentation, alert supervision and the use of safe equipment. In this particular case of the Union Carbide plant at Bhopal, we find each of these requirements in effective absence. India Today (31 December 1984) reports thus: “In 1977-78, when work on the MIC plant started, only first class B.Sc. graduates or those with a diploma in engineering were taken as operators. They were subjected to six months’ theoretical training and then trained on the job. That is no longer true, and there are cases of operators without an academic science background and, what is more, they no longer have to undergo the same rigorous training as before. Some operators are matriculates from other plants or units. Worse still, the number of staff has been cut down because of financial problems.” It is quite possible that the secret deals of the Union Carbide management with the Union and State Governments has much to do with this recruitment of ineligible and untrained personnel. Moreover, Mr. Vijay Gupta, the legal advisor of the U.C. plant is said to be a Congress-I leader and close supporter of Chief Minsiter, Arjun Singh. A nephew of the former Education Minister Mr. Narsingrow Diskhit is a public relations officer of the U.C. plant. The company’s guest house at Shyamala Hills was always at the disposal of the Chief Minister Arjun Singh (see Indian Express, 5-12-1984). This political clout of the company was the cause for degeneration in the recruitment of personnel as well as for the defence of its misdeeds by the M.P. and the Union Governments. Even the report of the three US experts regarding the safety measures in the plant found much fault with the safety system there and it is now well-known that the plant at Bhopal did not have the computerized safety-warning system which was installed in the mother-plant in West Virginia, U.S.A. Moreover, the way in which the Union Carbide Management is going all out to deny any presence of phosgene inside the plant raised many an eyebrow. Even Dr. Varadarajan of CSIR, who otherwise was so willingly obliged to the UC people in declaring that it was MIC ‘gas’ which was responsible for the killings, had to admit the presence of phosgene in the plant. This only implies that the U.C. people have been hiding the fact of phosgene production from the beginning and they lied in this respect to the Union and the State Governments as well as to the people in general. We have already learnt that practically all phosgene manufacture is captive i.e. it is used in the manufacture of other chemicals within the plant boundary. This implies that phosgene is not to be stored for long times, but has to be produced as and when required so as to be immediately used for further processing. This ought to be the same case with MIC also. But all these restrictions in case of both these intermediate products seem to have been thrown to winds – all rules and regulations in this regard seem to have been blatantly violated. Even the fact of MIC production was sought to be suppressed and at first the Union Carbide management circulated the big lie that they are importing the MIC. But when this lie was refuted by its own mother corporation in the USA, they had to admit the fact of indigenous production of MIC, but regarding the presence and production of phosgene they are still lying. This is because once they admit this fact they would be in for many-a-trouble, even international censure for their criminal negligence, criminal violation of international regulations and criminal acts of deceit and lying. So naturally they want and try their best to suppress this fact and put the sole blame for the disaster on the MIC ‘gas’. In this hideous maneuver they are being actively assisted by the Union and the State governments and also by the monopoly capitalist press of our country. Most of the scientists, chemists, doctors and other experts are also discreetly silent on this aspect. In such a situation where the very presence and production of phosgene is being denied by the UC people, one can in nowise expect its employees to possess any adequate knowledge about the great hazards that killer gas poses and the ways and means to counter such hazards. As to the lakhs of innocent people of Bhopal one can only guess the holocaust to which they were subject due to the havoc played by a gas against which even professional soldiers were advised not to take any chances. That there have been annual accidents in Bhopal plant ever since it started its production in 1980, that on 26 December 1981, a plant operator Mohammed Ashraf was killed following a leakage of phosgene gas, and that a local journalist Raj Kumar Keshwani has written soul-stirring appeals in his ‘Rapat Saptahik(Weekly Reporter) and also in ‘Jansatta’ about the impending disaster are too well-known to be enumerated in detail. That the political clout of the company saved it each time and that the then Labour Minister Tarasingh Viyogi had so superciliously told Mr. Mahendra Karma, MLA, in the State Assembly in December 1982 that a sum of Rs. 25 crores had been invested on the plant, that it was not a small stone to be shifted elsewhere and that there was no danger to Bhopal nor would there be any in future are also equally well known. This only enhances the culpability of the State Government of Madhya Pradesh many times over and it is only reasonable that it should have at once resigned in the wake of such a holocaust. But since the Chief Minister Arjun Singh still unashamedly continues in office, it is quite correct on our part to have demanded his dismissal; likewise the Union Industries and Chemicals Ministers cannot also escape from their culpability and they too ought to quit. This being the worst industrial disaster in the world, it is only just and reasonable that an International Commission of Inquiry be ordered at once and the United Nations help and guidance immediately sought. Also the entire assets of the Union Carbide Corporation have to be immediately confiscated by the Union or State Governments. The people of our country have to rise to the occasion and fight vigorously for realizing the above demands. Of courts, it is quite true that it would not suffice even if all these demands are conceded and what is especially needed is a total change in the present policy of industrialization. A real humanity oriented and labour intensive industrialization process, with adequate protection to the existing environment, is the need of the day and this involves bitter struggle against the multinationals, and their Indian touts and allies. The sham Socialist measures of the Union and State Governments which only develop private capitalism and drive for money-making more and more have to be countered and effectively fought. But first things first please. Let us first concentrate on the immediate demands ensuing from this unprecedented holocaust in Bhopal and in course of time work for more just, egalitarian and humanity conscious policies, programmes and system.

Hyderabad,                                      I. MALLIKARJUNA SHARMA
Dated: January 1985.                     CONVENER, MARXIST STUDY FORUM,
                                                       
6-3-1243/116, D. Sanjeevaiah Nagar 
                                                                  (M.S. Makta), HYDERABAD - 500 082.
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APPENDIX 1:
PHOSGENE
COMMON NAME
PHOSGENE
Chemical Name
Carbonyl Chloride (COCl2)
Persistency, Summer
Persistency, Winter
5 mts. Open, 10-20 mts. in woods
10 mts. Open, 30 mts. in woods
Tactical Classification
Casualty agent.
Physiological classification
Lung irritant – choking gas.
Odor in air
Like ensilage – fresh-cut hay.
Melting point
–118o C (–180o F)
Boiling point
8.2o C (46.7o F)
Volatility at 20o C (68o F)
6,370 oz./1,000 cu. ft. air.
Vapor density compared to air
3.4
Vapor pressure at 68o F
1180 mm. of mercury.
Density of liquid at 20o C (68o F)
1.37
Solvents for
Cl and PS.
Action on metals
Dry, none; wet, vigorous corrosion
Stability on storage
Stable in dry steel containers.
Action with water
Hydrolizes rapidly.
Hydrolysis product
HCl and CO2.
Physiological action
Burns lower respiratory tracts; causes edema.
First Aid
Keep patient quiet and warm; give oxygen in severe cases; treat like pleurisy; administer heart stimulants; treat as stretcher case.
Odor detectable at
0.005 oz./1000 cu. ft. air.
Minimum irritating concentration
0.005 oz./1000 cu. ft. air.
Lethal concentration
10 minute exposure 0.5 oz./- 1000 cu. ft. air.
Method of neutralizing
Steam hydrolyzes, alkalies and amines react with CG.
Munitions suitable for use
Livens projector shell; cylinders; chemical mortar; large airplane bombs.
Marking on munitions
1 green band – CG gas.
Protection required
Gas mask.

* * * * *
APPENDIX 2:
CHLORINE
COMMON NAME
CHLORINE.
Chemical Name
Chlorine (Cl2)
Persistency, Summer
Persistency, Winter
5 mts. in open, 20 mts. in woods
Same as in Summer.
Tactical Classification
Casualty agent.
Physiological classification
Lung irritant – choking gas.
Odor in air
Pungent.
Melting point
–102o C (–152.5o F)
Boiling point
–33.6o C (–28.5o F)
Volatility at 20o C (68o F)
19,369 oz./1,000 cu. ft. air.
Vapor pressure at 68o F
4993 mm. of mercury.
Vapor density compared to air
2.4
Density of liquid at 20o C (68o F)
1.4
Solvents for
CG, PS, CCl4.
Action on metals
None if dry; vigorous corrosion if wet.
Stability on storage
Stable in iron cylinders.
Action with water
A little dissolves, forming HCl; and.
Hydrolysis product
HCl; HOCl; ClO2.
Physiological action
Burns upper respiratory tracts.
First Aid
Keep patient quiet, warm and treat for bronchial pneumonia.
Odor detectable at
0.01 oz./1000 cu. ft. air.
Minimum irritating concentration
0.03 oz./1000 cu. ft. air (irritates throat).
Lethal concentration
10 minutes’ exposure 5.6 oz./- 1000 cu. ft. air.
Method of neutralizing
Alkali, solution or solid.
Protection required
Gas Mask.
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APPENDIX 3:
Physical Properties of some Isocyanates
Compound
Formula
CAS Registry No.
Mp, oC
Bp, oC
Density,
g/cm3
Refractive index, nb
Flash point, open cup, oC
Methyl isocyanate
CH3NCO
[624-83-9]
38101
0.96204
1.3620
–7








4,4’-diphenylmethane diisocyanate
File:4,4'-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate.svg






[The detailed table considered not necessary for the purposes of this article - IMS.]




¨ Convener, Marxist Study Forum, Hyderabad; Also Convener, Telugu Jati Aikyata Vedika (Telugu National Unity Forum) and Life Member, People’s Union for Civil Liberties. Advocate practicing in the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad and also Editor, LAW ANIMATED WORLD.
[1] Unfortunately, not a single official or any person of civil society had either the responsibility or the presence of mind to collect samples of this fatal gas cloud which was slowly passing through the localities of Bhopal for hours together - IMS.
This detailed article has been written and circulated to select persons sometime in January 1985 itself but now updated on 07-07-2010. The author was also General Secretary, PUCL, AP, at that time but now is only a life member of PUCL. He continues to be the Convener, Marxist Study Forum.