In 2009, I became extremely concerned with the concept of Unique Identity for various reasons. Connected with many like minded highly educated people who were all concerned.
On 18th May 2010, I started this Blog to capture anything and everything I came across on the topic. This blog with its million hits is a testament to my concerns about loss of privacy and fear of the ID being misused and possible Criminal activities it could lead to.
In 2017 the Supreme Court of India gave its verdict after one of the longest hearings on any issue. I did my bit and appealed to the Supreme Court Judges too through an On Line Petition.
In 2019 the Aadhaar Legislation has been revised and passed by the two houses of the Parliament of India making it Legal. I am no Legal Eagle so my Opinion carries no weight except with people opposed to the very concept.
In 2019, this Blog now just captures on a Daily Basis list of Articles Published on anything to do with Aadhaar as obtained from Daily Google Searches and nothing more. Cannot burn the midnight candle any longer.
"In Matters of Conscience, the Law of Majority has no place"- Mahatma Gandhi
Ram Krishnaswamy
Sydney, Australia.

Aadhaar

The UIDAI has taken two successive governments in India and the entire world for a ride. It identifies nothing. It is not unique. The entire UID data has never been verified and audited. The UID cannot be used for governance, financial databases or anything. It’s use is the biggest threat to national security since independence. – Anupam Saraph 2018

When I opposed Aadhaar in 2010 , I was called a BJP stooge. In 2016 I am still opposing Aadhaar for the same reasons and I am told I am a Congress die hard. No one wants to see why I oppose Aadhaar as it is too difficult. Plus Aadhaar is FREE so why not get one ? Ram Krishnaswamy

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.-Mahatma Gandhi

In matters of conscience, the law of the majority has no place.Mahatma Gandhi

“The invasion of privacy is of no consequence because privacy is not a fundamental right and has no meaning under Article 21. The right to privacy is not a guaranteed under the constitution, because privacy is not a fundamental right.” Article 21 of the Indian constitution refers to the right to life and liberty -Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi

“There is merit in the complaints. You are unwittingly allowing snooping, harassment and commercial exploitation. The information about an individual obtained by the UIDAI while issuing an Aadhaar card shall not be used for any other purpose, save as above, except as may be directed by a court for the purpose of criminal investigation.”-A three judge bench headed by Justice J Chelameswar said in an interim order.

Legal scholar Usha Ramanathan describes UID as an inverse of sunshine laws like the Right to Information. While the RTI makes the state transparent to the citizen, the UID does the inverse: it makes the citizen transparent to the state, she says.

Good idea gone bad
I have written earlier that UID/Aadhaar was a poorly designed, unreliable and expensive solution to the really good idea of providing national identification for over a billion Indians. My petition contends that UID in its current form violates the right to privacy of a citizen, guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. This is because sensitive biometric and demographic information of citizens are with enrolment agencies, registrars and sub-registrars who have no legal liability for any misuse of this data. This petition has opened up the larger discussion on privacy rights for Indians. The current Article 21 interpretation by the Supreme Court was done decades ago, before the advent of internet and today’s technology and all the new privacy challenges that have arisen as a consequence.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MP Rajya Sabha

“What is Aadhaar? There is enormous confusion. That Aadhaar will identify people who are entitled for subsidy. No. Aadhaar doesn’t determine who is eligible and who isn’t,” Jairam Ramesh

But Aadhaar has been mythologised during the previous government by its creators into some technology super force that will transform governance in a miraculous manner. I even read an article recently that compared Aadhaar to some revolution and quoted a 1930s historian, Will Durant.Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Rajya Sabha MP

“I know you will say that it is not mandatory. But, it is compulsorily mandatorily voluntary,” Jairam Ramesh, Rajya Saba April 2017.

August 24, 2017: The nine-judge Constitution Bench rules that right to privacy is “intrinsic to life and liberty”and is inherently protected under the various fundamental freedoms enshrined under Part III of the Indian Constitution

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the World; indeed it's the only thing that ever has"

“Arguing that you don’t care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don’t care about free speech because you have nothing to say.” -Edward Snowden

In the Supreme Court, Meenakshi Arora, one of the senior counsel in the case, compared it to living under a general, perpetual, nation-wide criminal warrant.

Had never thought of it that way, but living in the Aadhaar universe is like living in a prison. All of us are treated like criminals with barely any rights or recourse and gatekeepers have absolute power on you and your life.

Announcing the launch of the # BreakAadhaarChainscampaign, culminating with events in multiple cities on 12th Jan. This is the last opportunity to make your voice heard before the Supreme Court hearings start on 17th Jan 2018. In collaboration with @no2uidand@rozi_roti.

UIDAI's security seems to be founded on four time tested pillars of security idiocy

1) Denial

2) Issue fiats and point finger

3) Shoot messenger

4) Bury head in sand.

God Save India

Friday, September 27, 2013

4630 - Beyond Aadhaar - Speaking Tree

Beyond Aadhaar

By: V S Krishnan on Sep 20, 2013

Unique Identification project was introduced by the Government of India in order to provide a distinct identification to every citizen of India.   Apart from giving the Government agencies a clear proof about the identity of the recipients in its welfare programme, the Aadhaar card also helps the individual in his dealings with the various agencies of the Government.  This identification is issued based on the individual's date of birth, place of birth, location etc.   He may be performing different duties at different places but this Aadhaar card with a number and image on it clearly authenticates the genuineness of his identity.  

But apart from giving an authentic fact about the location, age or image of the individual, the Aadhaar card does not go beyond.  These are identifications which pertain to his personality and the role he performs as member of the family and society and as citizen of a country.  Do these functions reveal his true identity?  They do not, because what they reveal are matters material and what they do not reveal are matters spiritual. 

Normally, we identify a person by various means of his name, his profession, his relation, his character, interest etc.  In other words, we identify him by the functions he carries out by means of his body and mind.  Are these criteria enough to identify a person?  Is the individual consists of only his body and mind?  Body is merely an instrument by which one performs certain duties.  Body is the instrument one possesses and the body cannot become the possessor.   Body can only feel the sensation but body cannot perceive.  Nor mind is the cognizer.  Body and mind are only aids by which the individual perceives a truth.  There is 'somebody' beyond the body who is conscious of the working of the body and mind.  There is 'somebody' behind the eyes who sees, there is 'somebody' behind the mind who thinks and there is somebody behind the ears who listens.  Kena Upanishad says:  “That which is not thought by the mind and that by which mind is thought, is the unique identity of the person, the Self. 

But the individual does not agree.  Having identified himself with the body, he thinks that his true identity consists of what his mind tells him: "I am the body".  It is this misconception that lands him in sorrows and miseries.  Though he listens to discourses, goes to temple and read scriptures, his plight is miserable because he is not able to transcend his personality beyond the realm of his body and mind.   His personality is divine, vast and universal which is beyond barriers.  It transcends to infinite regions, but just because he associates himself with his mind and body, he becomes a localized personality.  He should stop mixing up of his body and mind with his unique identity.  He should realize that it is his Consciousness, illuminated by the Self that gives him the awareness of his existence.  It is this Consciousness that serves as the mind behind the mind, the hearer behind the ears, and the seer behind the eyes.  It is this consciousness that forms his true identity.  But the individual does not agree. 

A lion cub got separated from its mother in the jungle.    Having separated from its flock, it wandered here and there.  It grew up in the midst of some sheep and gradually acquired all the characteristics of a sheep.  The other sheep also accepted the lion-cub to their fold.  The lion-cub went along with other sheep seeking greener pastures.  Though, over the years, the cub grew up as a big lion, it showed only the qualities of sheep.  It was always fearful and never daring to strike.  One day, when another lion came to attack, the entire flock of sheep ran away and this lion too ran along with other sheep.  The offensive lion managed to keep abreast of this lion and asked:  “Why are you afraid?  You are also a lion just like me”.  “No, I am a sheep”, replied the defending lion.  “Look at the pond below”, the offensive lion said. “You will see your image.  Fearlessness and courage are your qualities.  Do not get identified with qualities that are not yours”.

Just as the lion does not realize its natural state, character and strength, the individual too does not realize his true natural state, the Atmaswarupa, the Self.   The Upanishad says: “You are That”.  “You are the Brahman who symbolizes the eternal reality.   The Self (Atman) within you is the manifestation of Brahman, the Supreme Power.  The Self is Knowledge- Absolute by which all your perceptions and experiences become possible. It is ever-existing and self-effulgent (Nitya Chaitanya). Realize your greatness, the Self.”

Though it would be necessary for us all to possess the Aadhaar card as proof of our identity in this material world, it would be equally necessary for us to realize our natural state, our unique identity, the pure Self, the manifestation of Brahman, which alone would liberate us to a state beyond normal identities
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