SHORT STORY
He came late in the night. She was sleeping. Their two children were sleeping. On hearing the calling bell ringing, she woke up from her sleep and jumped to her feet.
She switched on the lights. The clock on the wall informed- it is 12.35 AM. She was a bit embarrassed. Might be him?
She rushed to the door. Who is there?- she was inquiring in a frightening voice.
‘Me’-
She heaved a sigh of relief. With eagerness and enthusiasm she unlocked the door from inside. Her joy knew no bounds.
“My better-half is always modest with his words! A miser!”
She smiled to herself. He was standing there with his brief-case. He looked pensive. The agony of loss writ large on his face.
“Within a brief span, Ramu has gone frail!” – she could very well notice the change in him.
He didn’t smile. Just entered the drawing room and placed his brief-case on the table. She went inside and brought him a lungi. Chappals pushed under the sofa.
She rushed to switch on the fan. Beads of sweat shining on his forehead. It is summer season. The city is reeling under intense heat.
The city never sleeps. Like a 24X7 TV channel. It is always vibrant and throbbing with life. She could hear the local trains chugging along to and fro. The vehicles- speeding down the streets blowing horns under the sodium vapour lamps. The airplanes roaring through just above the flat.
Nowadays the noise pollution doesn’t disturb her. She is even oblivious of the noises all around. Got accustomed to the city life or has learnt to live with such hustle and bustle of the city. Sometimes she felt, she was falling in love with the city.
During her leisure times, she used to recall her early days in the city. That was just after marriage. She was a total stranger to the city. “A new face”…. Severe home-sickness lasted for months. She used to weep sitting alone in her room. Ramu was a reserved type. Always a miser with words. Miser with smiles. He looked indifferent to everything always.
“You are quite new to the city. In due course, the home-sickness and strangeness towards the city will vanish”- Those were his words of consolation.
Nothing more. Nothing less. He was talking to her as if he had read her mind already.
Sometimes calls came from her house- mother, father or sisters and her brother, close relatives and her intimate friends in the neighbourhood rang her up occasionally. Those were in the early days. Later the number of calls dwindled gradually. Now only one or two calls, once or twice in a month. That too from home. The faces of relatives and friends once in a while came to her mind and played vanishing tricks like magicians. Those were the good old days. College campus, cracking jokes with friends, picnics, enjoying the beautiful landscapes and a lot to read and write.
She liked reading and gradually felt like penning a few lines. Sometimes verses, sometimes stories. Parents and friends encouraged her always. She wrote in college magazines and a few periodicals. Yeah, those were the good old days…Spring times with lush greenery, blooming colourful flowers, verdant hills, sparkling streams and lakes, cool breeze, vast areas of paddy fields like green carpets, full of joy and vibrant spirit everywhere…yeah those were the glorious days of the yester years still etched in her mind.
With the passage of time, reading, writing and all kinds of hobbies came to a halt. Even now she feels like penning something. Scribbling a few lines for her own satisfaction and inner peace.
About the city, the life in the city, the hustle and bustle, people from various walks of life, sky-high buildings, Arabs and westerners roaming through the streets and the painful feeling of an outsider, and of late a feeling of insecurity after terror struck the city frequently resulting in the loss of large number of innocent lives. The city- a cross section of the World.
“Come what may, I have to live with it. All of us have to live with it. A life without any guarantee”. –She sometimes consoles herself.
After taking a bath he came out. Ramu looks refreshed now- she jokingly told to herself.
“Switch off the light”- while lying on the bed he told her calmly. He was looking in the direction of their two children, who were in deep sleep.
“Had your supper?”- she inquired .
“No appetite. Doesn’t feel like taking anything”- he replied in a tired voice.
The agony of loss still tormenting him. Abhirami was his only sister. His beloved sister. That too in the prime of life. Now her two children’s care and protection- the sole responsibility of her husband. With a shudder running down her spine she was visualizing a painful situation: suppose Abhirami’s husband decides to marry a new girl and deserts the kids even if in the distant future, the two kids for no fault of theirs may have to lead an orphaned life…such a possibility was always unbearable to her…she was thinking about her own children.
Certainly quite unbearable to the children. The care, the affection, the warm hugs of a mother- all lost to the kids. Never can they wipe out the fond memories of precious moments with their mother, will persist like a gnawing pain through out their life. She felt like weeping.
Ramu was lying there with his eyes shut. She looked at him with pain and sorrow. Father gone. Mother gone and now the one and only sister gone… A kind of rootless existence. She was imagining a weeping mind, a boiling mind, a restless mind like a rough sea…in the inner recess of his heart….
“I am with you. I am always with you. I will be with you throughout. Don’t worry kid…” For a split second, a kind of motherly affection engulfed her.
“As long as I am with Ramu, nobody needs to worry” – She heaved a deep sigh.
She switched off the lights.
Seconds and minutes ticked past…
She was lying beside him. She put her one hand around him…
Local trains roaring past….The vehicles speeding along blaring their horns….Pedestrains walking down the road mumbling something –She couldn’t make out anything. Some vague and rough sounds.
He couldn’t sleep. She couldn’t sleep. Both of them immersed in
deep thoughts.
He was quite tense. His mind was like a bow-string. Heart beats like drum-beats. Mind a restless rough sea. He wanted to escape from all gnawing .pain and thoughts.
As if in a wild fury, with all his might he embraced her. Their lips got locked. She was feeling the pain. The usual caressing and mild sucking of her lips were absent. He was getting wild. He bit her ears, nose, cheeks and in a hurry he forced her to undress. He eagerly pounced on her like a cat on a mice and passionately sucked her breasts like a hungry baby…..His warm hands were moving all through her body as if frantically searching for a hidden treasure. Top to the bottom he was planting kisses on her.
“Ramu ,going mad ?”Are you in your senses? paining , Ramu. Slowly, please”
In a whispering tone she was imploring him, beseeching him for his kindness.
He was quite oblivious of what he was doing.
As if in a frantic search for an escape route he entered her.She placed her arms around him and pressed him close to her writhing body. She was also going wild. Both of them like wild beasts tearing each other apart…
After a violent transaction of lovemaking both of them lay side by side ,gasping for breath and profusely sweating.
Gradually she was about to slip into a deep sleep.
She woke up with a sudden jolt on hearing him weeping pressing his face on the pillow…..
She was recalling the day they came back after attending his mother’s funeral and performing all the rituals related with it after one month leave.
That night in the city was exactly like this.
“Weep my kid,weep, till the last drop dries out”
She gently caressed Ramu. In the mean time she fell into a deep slumber ,unawares…….
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
ENIGMA CALLED THE AMERICAN PSYCHE
I wonder whether Barack Obama, like his predecessors, nurtures a mistaken notion that God Almighty has entrusted him with the right to shoulder heavy responsibilities, both internal and external, to have a close watch on the goings on in the nations across the World and if found necessary to interfere in their internal affairs even without seeking their permission. One is reminded of Atlas, the Ancient Greek Mythological figure, who was believed to have shouldered the entire World and if he felt like shrugging, the entire edifice would crumble down.
Look at a few instances of USA’s intervention in various parts of the World. Iraq came under their attack in 2003 and since then that nation is reeling under the onslaught of American Military prowess. George Walker Bush - (his “fond memories” are indelibly imprinted in the minds of citizens around the world) - Obama’s predecessor went on the offensive defying even the diktats of United Nations, with the help of his submissive allies charging Iraq with keeping Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) which later turned out to be an utter falsehood. Iraq was pounded mercilessly and in the process caused immense destruction of properties and lakhs of Iraqi citizens were brutally done to death - the aftermaths of that murderous war still persist in that nation’s psyche causing nightmares to the surviving men, women and children. The occupation, even after six years have not ended. The incumbent President Barack Obama, while on his hectic election campaign had assured the electorate- most of them are bitter critics of USA’s intervention in Iraq - of his resolve to withdraw the armed forces from the soil of Iraq with in 16 months of his rule. Now the time limit for withdrawal has been extended up to 2011. Assurances still remain assurances. According to the estimates of Nobel Laureate, Joseph Stilglitz, USA has already squandered U.S $ 2.3 Trillion which is sufficient to feed more than half of the starving millions across the World. Bush has gone with a warm smile on his lips for all the “good deeds” accomplished during his eight years of Presidency. A happy man indeed! Before vacating White House, he could ensure the collapse of American economy which is reeling under recession now and economic collapse and its aftermaths later turned out to be Global Financial Downturn.
Even when sweating it out to rescue the American economy from the clutches of recession which was his promise to the electorate during his whirlwind campaign tour through the American States- Barack Obama has not evaded from his “international obligations”. Really heartening! His stimulus package of US $ 787 Billion as a bail-out, has not helped much to overcome the mounting economic crisis is another sad truth. Further bail-out packages are in the pipe-line.
The man is really smart! Simultaneously he is closely watching the developments in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, to name a few. A decision was already made- to deploy more American troops- “a surge” in the words of George W Bush- to tackle the menace of terrorism and also the “hard-liners” of Taliban, the militant organization who are bent upon installing an Islamic regime in Afghanistan. The defiance of overbearing authority of any nation is a trait in the character of a typical Afghan citizen and his unending thirst for freedom is famous.
That might be one of the reasons behind Obama’s efforts to befriend the “soft-liners” in the militant organization. His determination to eliminate all terrorists particularly those of Al-quaida is well-known who are hiding in their safe havens along the North-West frontier of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan fomenting incessant provocations in Afghanistan as well as Pakistan.
By waging a relentless battle against the elements who are bent upon overthrowing the Karzai regime by American troops along with the help of Pakistani soldiers and the “soft-liners” in Taliban (?) Obama is confident enough of freeing Afghanistan from the clutches of terrorists and the “hard-liners” in Taliban.
After taking over the reins of power from George Bush eventhough belatedly, Obama has discovered the epicentre of terrorism- Pakistan. So far so good! Hence his mission extends up to Pakistan, to be precise, he has come to the conclusion that only by tackling the terrorist menace in Pakistan first can he concentrate his attention fully in Afghanistan. Unfortunately the remedy he has in mind is aiding Pakistan with weapons and billions of dollars. Inevitably, the power behind the throne in Pakistan is not even the Pak army but a govt. in a faraway Country, ie. USA. Asif Ali Sardari, Yusuf Raza Gilani and General Ashfaq Parvez Kiyani are now the puppets in the hands of American rulers. The weapons as well as billions of dollars as financial aid pumped into Pak by USA could be a detrimental to India in the long run.
The other day a news report relating to Indo- American Civil Nuclear Deal appeared in the newspapers. At a seminar in the prestigious Broolyns Institution, John Steinberg, the deputy Secretary of State, USA, is reported to have given the assurance to India to proceed with the Nuclear deal. Simultaneously he has requested India to co-operate with US in crafting a NPT regime. It is pertinent to note here that India is not a signatory in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. He has also appealed to India to help US in strengthening CTBT (Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty). By becoming a signatory, to the treaty a nation is banned from conducting nuclear tests- either for peaceful purposes or for assembling nuclear weapons. Syam Saran, India’s permanent envoy on climate change, who was present in the seminar outrightly turned down the request of Mr. Steinberg. He also asserted that if all countries are ready for a nuclear disarmament, the controversy over the CTBT would “recede into background”.
Whenever USA decides to keep India in good humour, we can very well presume that there is some motive behind their sweet words. Same is the case with this turn of events. Mr.Steinberg has appealed to India to co-operate with USA by fighting with their troops in Afghanistan and Pakistan along with Pakistani troops against the Taliban and terrorists holed-up in safe havens along the border with Pakistan. The developmental works undertaken by India in Afghanistan was also profusely applauded by the gentleman. Imagine the consequences if Indian troops were also dragged into that quagmire at a moment the Taliban and Al-quaida militants are hand-in-glove with the Pakistani terrorists who are determined to upset the secular fabric of our nation and to cause maximum damage in India.
Palestine, Israel, Iran, Georgia, Ukraine, the Latin American nations which are pro-left, North Korea- an unending list actually, where USA lose no opportunity in intervening either directly or indirectly to display its might.
It is often said that charity begins at home. It is better if Obama is willing to withdraw from the turbulent zones of other countries and devote his full attention to the internal problems particularly the problems on the economic front shedding the halo of Atlas in the coming days.
Look at a few instances of USA’s intervention in various parts of the World. Iraq came under their attack in 2003 and since then that nation is reeling under the onslaught of American Military prowess. George Walker Bush - (his “fond memories” are indelibly imprinted in the minds of citizens around the world) - Obama’s predecessor went on the offensive defying even the diktats of United Nations, with the help of his submissive allies charging Iraq with keeping Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) which later turned out to be an utter falsehood. Iraq was pounded mercilessly and in the process caused immense destruction of properties and lakhs of Iraqi citizens were brutally done to death - the aftermaths of that murderous war still persist in that nation’s psyche causing nightmares to the surviving men, women and children. The occupation, even after six years have not ended. The incumbent President Barack Obama, while on his hectic election campaign had assured the electorate- most of them are bitter critics of USA’s intervention in Iraq - of his resolve to withdraw the armed forces from the soil of Iraq with in 16 months of his rule. Now the time limit for withdrawal has been extended up to 2011. Assurances still remain assurances. According to the estimates of Nobel Laureate, Joseph Stilglitz, USA has already squandered U.S $ 2.3 Trillion which is sufficient to feed more than half of the starving millions across the World. Bush has gone with a warm smile on his lips for all the “good deeds” accomplished during his eight years of Presidency. A happy man indeed! Before vacating White House, he could ensure the collapse of American economy which is reeling under recession now and economic collapse and its aftermaths later turned out to be Global Financial Downturn.
Even when sweating it out to rescue the American economy from the clutches of recession which was his promise to the electorate during his whirlwind campaign tour through the American States- Barack Obama has not evaded from his “international obligations”. Really heartening! His stimulus package of US $ 787 Billion as a bail-out, has not helped much to overcome the mounting economic crisis is another sad truth. Further bail-out packages are in the pipe-line.
The man is really smart! Simultaneously he is closely watching the developments in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, to name a few. A decision was already made- to deploy more American troops- “a surge” in the words of George W Bush- to tackle the menace of terrorism and also the “hard-liners” of Taliban, the militant organization who are bent upon installing an Islamic regime in Afghanistan. The defiance of overbearing authority of any nation is a trait in the character of a typical Afghan citizen and his unending thirst for freedom is famous.
That might be one of the reasons behind Obama’s efforts to befriend the “soft-liners” in the militant organization. His determination to eliminate all terrorists particularly those of Al-quaida is well-known who are hiding in their safe havens along the North-West frontier of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan fomenting incessant provocations in Afghanistan as well as Pakistan.
By waging a relentless battle against the elements who are bent upon overthrowing the Karzai regime by American troops along with the help of Pakistani soldiers and the “soft-liners” in Taliban (?) Obama is confident enough of freeing Afghanistan from the clutches of terrorists and the “hard-liners” in Taliban.
After taking over the reins of power from George Bush eventhough belatedly, Obama has discovered the epicentre of terrorism- Pakistan. So far so good! Hence his mission extends up to Pakistan, to be precise, he has come to the conclusion that only by tackling the terrorist menace in Pakistan first can he concentrate his attention fully in Afghanistan. Unfortunately the remedy he has in mind is aiding Pakistan with weapons and billions of dollars. Inevitably, the power behind the throne in Pakistan is not even the Pak army but a govt. in a faraway Country, ie. USA. Asif Ali Sardari, Yusuf Raza Gilani and General Ashfaq Parvez Kiyani are now the puppets in the hands of American rulers. The weapons as well as billions of dollars as financial aid pumped into Pak by USA could be a detrimental to India in the long run.
The other day a news report relating to Indo- American Civil Nuclear Deal appeared in the newspapers. At a seminar in the prestigious Broolyns Institution, John Steinberg, the deputy Secretary of State, USA, is reported to have given the assurance to India to proceed with the Nuclear deal. Simultaneously he has requested India to co-operate with US in crafting a NPT regime. It is pertinent to note here that India is not a signatory in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. He has also appealed to India to help US in strengthening CTBT (Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty). By becoming a signatory, to the treaty a nation is banned from conducting nuclear tests- either for peaceful purposes or for assembling nuclear weapons. Syam Saran, India’s permanent envoy on climate change, who was present in the seminar outrightly turned down the request of Mr. Steinberg. He also asserted that if all countries are ready for a nuclear disarmament, the controversy over the CTBT would “recede into background”.
Whenever USA decides to keep India in good humour, we can very well presume that there is some motive behind their sweet words. Same is the case with this turn of events. Mr.Steinberg has appealed to India to co-operate with USA by fighting with their troops in Afghanistan and Pakistan along with Pakistani troops against the Taliban and terrorists holed-up in safe havens along the border with Pakistan. The developmental works undertaken by India in Afghanistan was also profusely applauded by the gentleman. Imagine the consequences if Indian troops were also dragged into that quagmire at a moment the Taliban and Al-quaida militants are hand-in-glove with the Pakistani terrorists who are determined to upset the secular fabric of our nation and to cause maximum damage in India.
Palestine, Israel, Iran, Georgia, Ukraine, the Latin American nations which are pro-left, North Korea- an unending list actually, where USA lose no opportunity in intervening either directly or indirectly to display its might.
It is often said that charity begins at home. It is better if Obama is willing to withdraw from the turbulent zones of other countries and devote his full attention to the internal problems particularly the problems on the economic front shedding the halo of Atlas in the coming days.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
WHETHER MARX OR AYN RAND THE NEED OF THE HOUR?
During the eighties, the fascination for socialist ideals began to decline and a new found interest in capitalism was on the rise. Marxism was going down, Existentialism was going down, the attraction and interest in free-market economy slowly began to spread across the World slowly and steadily. Ayn Rand, Alan Greenspan, Nathaniel Branden and Milton Friedman became the buzz words in the corridors of power and also among the business and industrial circles. An unregulated economy was their aim and ambition and according to the economists of that time “controls breed more controls and regulations would discourage the budding entrepreneurs and industrialists forcing them to turn away from plunging into fresh ventures.
Existentialism took a back seat, even the youths who were the ardent followers of Jean Paul Sartre, Albert Camus and Martin Heidegger branded the philosophy as one which preaches The Negation of Life. It is reported that even Jean Paul Sartre who for years influenced the then intellectuals of France like a Colossus has become a persona-nongrata in that nation and is unheard of among the new generation. Sartre is sleeping in the book-shelves of even the yesteryear intellectuals. I don’t know how much truth is there in the report but while sitting glued to the present trend the report might be true.
Thus, capitalism began to rule the roost and capitalist ideals spread across the World, and with the collapse of ‘socialist ideals’, the World leaders and the industrialists turned their eyes and ears to the resurrection of the “forgotten philosophy”-capitalism. The rest is history.
The collapse of Soviet Union, Rumania, the brutal overthrow of Salvador Alleude- the Marxist ruler of Chile by the tyrant Augusto Pinochet and his implementation of free market economy ( which later collapsed like a pack of cards is another truth), Poland, Hungary, Checkoslovakia, Yugoslavia, a number of other socialist nations - the aftermath of decline of socialism and the reincarnation of Capitalism.
In 1991, the then Prime Minister of India, P.V Narasimha Rao fished out a renowned economist Dr. Manmohan Singh and appointed him as Finance Minister of India. Dr.Singh drawing inspiration from USA and like-minded nations, introduced neo-liberal economic policies loosening the controls on the economy gradually, thus paving the way for a new generation of business class and the liberal flow of funds from MNCs in the form of Foreign Direct Investments and also from other sources. Subsequently with the unprecedented growth of industry and business as a result of deregulation, the mind-set of the young generation underwent a sea-change and they began to ape the western culture and also with lots of money in hands indulged in a life of extravagance. On the other side, the teeming millions of Indians categorized as the ‘have-nots’ became more and more helpless, found it difficult to make both ends meet. The farmers found themselves in the lurch because of lack of attention from the Govt. side- the FM was obsessed with ‘welfare and prosperity’ of the industrial giants –in the mean time they got opportunities to reap a huge harvest- thus forgetting the seventy percent rural Indians, mostly consisting of farmers. They borrowed money from the local money lenders at exorbitant rates and with the failure of a good harvest due to the lack of irrigational facilities and also the mounting prices of fertilizers their debts piled up and on finding no other way to repay the debts, they found solace in suicide. The slashing of import tariffs and large-scale import of grains ,other items and also the gradual dismantling of subsidies caused enormous hardships to the farmers. Thousands and thousands of farmers were forced to end their lives. Even now the farmers who feed us all are in dire straits. Opening up of economy and the deregulation or loosening of controls resulted in such a situation.
Sorry, I have digressed from the main subject.
All hell broke loose last year first in USA, then in Europe, and it spread to other nations across the globe as a result of the “hands off” approach adopted by the nations, the developed countries particularly. As each nation’s economy is integrated with the Global economy and all nations are intertwined it is quite natural that each nation has to face the heat. Starting with the burst of housing bubble, the American economy collapsed like a pack of cards affecting the Investment Banking, Banks, IT firms, Automobiles, Insurance companies etc and the panic spread to the other nations like Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Japan and now the collapse is almost complete.
While going through the news of financial-melt down affecting the whole World. I happened to read a news story about the revival of interest in Marx, his well-known master-piece – ‘Das Capital’, and his ideals even among the rulers of the western world and also their citizens. The ones who abhorred Marxism and Marxist ideals found themselves engaged in implementing controls and even began to nationalize the banking institutions and other firms to wriggle out of a hopeless situation. Even the bail-out packages involving billions of dollars have not been able to stem the tide and the rulers are still groping in the dark to escape from the vicious circle. The fire brand advocates of Laizezz Faire Capitalism and Free Market Economy are keeping a low profile now.
An article by Oliver Burkman titled “The Surprise Success of an Economic Armageddon” appeared in a newspaper the other day. On going through the article, I was somewhat alarmed to discover that the advocates of Laizezz Faire and Free Market Economy have not yet conceded defeat. Some big guns playing behind the scenes. Otherwise in a pitiful situation prevailing across the World as a result of global-meltdown, some are still busy dusting off the books by Ayn Rand like “Atlas Shrugged” – her economic policy is somewhat summarized in the book- her love of virtue of selfishness, self-interest, the de-regulation or in her own words “a hands-off approach by the government of the day and her hatred towards altruism, welfare state and sacrifice at a moment when the aping of her philosophy blindly by the rulers landed the World economy in shambles, particularly the American economy. Before Ben Bernanke, her confident Alan Greenspan was Federal Reserve chairman for 18 years and reforms initiated by him were the root cause of the economic down-turn, that America faces today.
Even now her philosophy of ‘Objectivism’ is being shown as the way to heaven by some men hiding behind the scenes is a wily ploy to bring back the philosophy which has paved the way for the economic down-turn through the back door. It is only because of their blind opposition to socialism. The sudden spurt in the sale of “Atlas Shrugged” at this moment is a pointer towards it.
However I don’t want to quote the words of Noam Chomsky, one of the greatest writers and thinkers of our times about Ayn Rand.
The sudden revival of interest in Marx, his ideals and his master-piece “Das Capital” is very much understandable because of his preaching of equality, and his love for whole humanity, welfare and harmony among the people. But at a critical juncture like this, surreptiously driving the young generations’ interest in a work like “Atlas-Shrugged” (by Ayn Rand) is absurd and ridiculous and also with ulterior motives. Ayn Rand always preached virtue of selfishness, self-interest, deregulation of the economy and hated the concepts of a welfare state ,altruism and sacrifice in unequivocal terms.
She was a very articulate, powerful writer and had a rare knack for driving her philosophy straight into the heart of a novice and if the latter is willing to ponder over it for sometime, he can very well arrive at a conclusion that her philosophy is nothing but trash. Look at the goings on in America and the burden the incumbent President Barack Obama carries on his shoulders. The legacy left behind by his predecessor.
A philosophy which always stands for the welfare of humanity, sacrifice, equality and love will always withstand time with setbacks at certain points in history, but ultimately it will emerge victorious. A philosophy which caters to the needs and aspirations of a chosen few like businessmen and industrialists will not last long. While going through Ayn Rand’s works I was embarrassed to find out that there are no mentions of people leading miserable lives at the bottom of the ladder…Even then a lobby is seeming to be behind the surge of sales of Ayn Rand’s master-piece
Existentialism took a back seat, even the youths who were the ardent followers of Jean Paul Sartre, Albert Camus and Martin Heidegger branded the philosophy as one which preaches The Negation of Life. It is reported that even Jean Paul Sartre who for years influenced the then intellectuals of France like a Colossus has become a persona-nongrata in that nation and is unheard of among the new generation. Sartre is sleeping in the book-shelves of even the yesteryear intellectuals. I don’t know how much truth is there in the report but while sitting glued to the present trend the report might be true.
Thus, capitalism began to rule the roost and capitalist ideals spread across the World, and with the collapse of ‘socialist ideals’, the World leaders and the industrialists turned their eyes and ears to the resurrection of the “forgotten philosophy”-capitalism. The rest is history.
The collapse of Soviet Union, Rumania, the brutal overthrow of Salvador Alleude- the Marxist ruler of Chile by the tyrant Augusto Pinochet and his implementation of free market economy ( which later collapsed like a pack of cards is another truth), Poland, Hungary, Checkoslovakia, Yugoslavia, a number of other socialist nations - the aftermath of decline of socialism and the reincarnation of Capitalism.
In 1991, the then Prime Minister of India, P.V Narasimha Rao fished out a renowned economist Dr. Manmohan Singh and appointed him as Finance Minister of India. Dr.Singh drawing inspiration from USA and like-minded nations, introduced neo-liberal economic policies loosening the controls on the economy gradually, thus paving the way for a new generation of business class and the liberal flow of funds from MNCs in the form of Foreign Direct Investments and also from other sources. Subsequently with the unprecedented growth of industry and business as a result of deregulation, the mind-set of the young generation underwent a sea-change and they began to ape the western culture and also with lots of money in hands indulged in a life of extravagance. On the other side, the teeming millions of Indians categorized as the ‘have-nots’ became more and more helpless, found it difficult to make both ends meet. The farmers found themselves in the lurch because of lack of attention from the Govt. side- the FM was obsessed with ‘welfare and prosperity’ of the industrial giants –in the mean time they got opportunities to reap a huge harvest- thus forgetting the seventy percent rural Indians, mostly consisting of farmers. They borrowed money from the local money lenders at exorbitant rates and with the failure of a good harvest due to the lack of irrigational facilities and also the mounting prices of fertilizers their debts piled up and on finding no other way to repay the debts, they found solace in suicide. The slashing of import tariffs and large-scale import of grains ,other items and also the gradual dismantling of subsidies caused enormous hardships to the farmers. Thousands and thousands of farmers were forced to end their lives. Even now the farmers who feed us all are in dire straits. Opening up of economy and the deregulation or loosening of controls resulted in such a situation.
Sorry, I have digressed from the main subject.
All hell broke loose last year first in USA, then in Europe, and it spread to other nations across the globe as a result of the “hands off” approach adopted by the nations, the developed countries particularly. As each nation’s economy is integrated with the Global economy and all nations are intertwined it is quite natural that each nation has to face the heat. Starting with the burst of housing bubble, the American economy collapsed like a pack of cards affecting the Investment Banking, Banks, IT firms, Automobiles, Insurance companies etc and the panic spread to the other nations like Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Japan and now the collapse is almost complete.
While going through the news of financial-melt down affecting the whole World. I happened to read a news story about the revival of interest in Marx, his well-known master-piece – ‘Das Capital’, and his ideals even among the rulers of the western world and also their citizens. The ones who abhorred Marxism and Marxist ideals found themselves engaged in implementing controls and even began to nationalize the banking institutions and other firms to wriggle out of a hopeless situation. Even the bail-out packages involving billions of dollars have not been able to stem the tide and the rulers are still groping in the dark to escape from the vicious circle. The fire brand advocates of Laizezz Faire Capitalism and Free Market Economy are keeping a low profile now.
An article by Oliver Burkman titled “The Surprise Success of an Economic Armageddon” appeared in a newspaper the other day. On going through the article, I was somewhat alarmed to discover that the advocates of Laizezz Faire and Free Market Economy have not yet conceded defeat. Some big guns playing behind the scenes. Otherwise in a pitiful situation prevailing across the World as a result of global-meltdown, some are still busy dusting off the books by Ayn Rand like “Atlas Shrugged” – her economic policy is somewhat summarized in the book- her love of virtue of selfishness, self-interest, the de-regulation or in her own words “a hands-off approach by the government of the day and her hatred towards altruism, welfare state and sacrifice at a moment when the aping of her philosophy blindly by the rulers landed the World economy in shambles, particularly the American economy. Before Ben Bernanke, her confident Alan Greenspan was Federal Reserve chairman for 18 years and reforms initiated by him were the root cause of the economic down-turn, that America faces today.
Even now her philosophy of ‘Objectivism’ is being shown as the way to heaven by some men hiding behind the scenes is a wily ploy to bring back the philosophy which has paved the way for the economic down-turn through the back door. It is only because of their blind opposition to socialism. The sudden spurt in the sale of “Atlas Shrugged” at this moment is a pointer towards it.
However I don’t want to quote the words of Noam Chomsky, one of the greatest writers and thinkers of our times about Ayn Rand.
The sudden revival of interest in Marx, his ideals and his master-piece “Das Capital” is very much understandable because of his preaching of equality, and his love for whole humanity, welfare and harmony among the people. But at a critical juncture like this, surreptiously driving the young generations’ interest in a work like “Atlas-Shrugged” (by Ayn Rand) is absurd and ridiculous and also with ulterior motives. Ayn Rand always preached virtue of selfishness, self-interest, deregulation of the economy and hated the concepts of a welfare state ,altruism and sacrifice in unequivocal terms.
She was a very articulate, powerful writer and had a rare knack for driving her philosophy straight into the heart of a novice and if the latter is willing to ponder over it for sometime, he can very well arrive at a conclusion that her philosophy is nothing but trash. Look at the goings on in America and the burden the incumbent President Barack Obama carries on his shoulders. The legacy left behind by his predecessor.
A philosophy which always stands for the welfare of humanity, sacrifice, equality and love will always withstand time with setbacks at certain points in history, but ultimately it will emerge victorious. A philosophy which caters to the needs and aspirations of a chosen few like businessmen and industrialists will not last long. While going through Ayn Rand’s works I was embarrassed to find out that there are no mentions of people leading miserable lives at the bottom of the ladder…Even then a lobby is seeming to be behind the surge of sales of Ayn Rand’s master-piece
IS OUR WORLD HEADING TO A DISASTER?
Most of us must have pondered over the painful and shocking state of affairs prevailing across the World. Anger, helplessness, cynicism and stoicism might have tormented and still tormenting many of us. In the course of time, however like the citizens of Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, Pakistan and even India after suffering casualties and losses due to the intermittent attacks by the terrorists and also because of long years of war, all will learn to live with their misfortune and losses like the deaths of their dear ones and loss of property. In other words the citizens become immune to the deadly attacks carried out by the terrorists, by a self-styled super power in Iraq and Afghanistan and genocide committed by certain nations like Israel, Sudan ,Congo etc- the list is endless.
Barring a few, all nations across the World are reeling under the onslaughts of various anti-social and wicked elements- the reasons may vary from nation to nation- like ethnic clashes, territorial ambitions, religious fundamentalism, muscle power etc. As I have already pointed out starting from the self-styled super power- USA- down to poverty stricken war-ravaged country like Somalia- the Horn of Africa- there are problems.
I don’t want to list out each of them and I do admit I am not much of an International expert, here I would like to name certain nations which are suffering most.
Now almost everyone across the nations’ is aware of the present plight of the World. With the collapse of free market economy in USA and the subsequent financial melt-down leading to recession staring at all the faces of a host of countries across the World including India as a result of neo-liberalism and Globalism. It is said that the current depression is worse than the Depression of 1929 which lasted up to 1939, ie. till the Second World War, this time it is feared to last for a very long period affecting the very livelihood of citizens across the World because of the massive retrenchment on a daily basis and it is matter of great concern that even the cream of economists across the World are at a loss to arrive at a solution to rescue the citizens from this hapless situation.
While the unregulated economy has already played havoc with the nations on the one hand, the frequent attacks carried out by the terrorist elements are causing casualties on a massive scale and the properties ravaged. Adding fuel to the fire, the deadly attacks carried out by USA in Iraq and Afghanistan are causing nightmares to the innocent citizens of both countries on the other hand.
Pakistan has become the hot-bed of terrorism and this sad truth is acknowledged by many nations. The worst sufferer is naturally India, their traditional enemy. Like a Frankenstein monster, the terrorist hydra has now spread its tentacles across that nation causing deaths on a large-scale -bombings, grenade attacks and firing targeting VIPs- please recall the gruesome gunning down of Benazir Bhutto, the former Prime Minister and also landmarks like the Marriot Hotel with the help of Taliban and Al-quaida militants infiltrated from across North Western frontier. The recent attack on the Sri Lankan cricket players in broad day light was watched by us with shock and pain. They had no difficulty in jumping the security blanket and fearing nobody sprayed bullets on the vehicle carrying the cricket players causing injuries to seven players and after completing their mission walked away casually. Those elements are still at large is an embarrassment even to the outsiders. We can very well imagine the state of affairs prevailing in that country- lack of adequate security cover, no sense of responsibility on the part of the civilian government, the infighting going on between the ruling Pakistan Peoples’ Party under the leadership of Asif Ali Sardari and PML(N) of Nawaz Sherif, the former Prime Minister. Furthermore the growing unrest prevailing among lawyers demanding the reinstatement of Iftiqar Chowdhari, former sacked Chief Justice of Pak Supreme Court and his sacked colleagues, and the lawyers scheduled long march to Parliament on March 15 and an indefinite dharna around the parliament house- a nation totally in turmoil and the possibility of an army take-over looming large on the horizon.
Sudan:
Sudan caught the attention of the World community last week as the news of an arrest warrant issued by ICC (International Criminal Court) against the leader of that nation Omar-Al-Bashir for causing the deaths of millions in Darfur. In Darfur, the poverty-stricken Darfurians including mal-nourished children are being looked after by the NGOs. On getting provoked by the arrest warrant, the Sudanese Govt. has ordered the NGOs and the Doctors Sans Borders to flee the country and even the Uncle Sam, remaining indifferent to the plight of the poor Darfurians. The already pathetic situation prevailing in Darfur is expected to be worse and the innocent children are going to be the worst sufferers due to lack of food and also due to diseases like cholera as a result of consuming polluted water. Without the NGOs and the Doctors Sans Borders imagine the consequences- large-scale infant mortality will be the result. Water-scarcity in the region is acute and with the ouster of NGOs and Doctors Sans Borders from the country, every source of relief to the Darfurians will come to a naught.
Sudan and its friendly countries are up in arms against the arrest warrant issued against Omar-Al-Bashir, the ruthless dictator. Even Peoples’ Republic of China- still claiming to be a socialist country (?)- is in good terms with the dictator caring two hoots for the starving Darfurians. While declaring their commitment to Socialism and welfare of humanity China is always concerned with their immediate problems to accomplish their goals, they don’t have any compunctions to side with any dictatorships- be it Sudan, Myanmar or any other country.
Israel-Palestine Conflict:
It seems the Israeli-Palestine conflict is not going to subside even in the distant future. Now that conservative parties are sure to be in the saddle their attitude to the Palestinians, particularly Hamas will be more hostile and Benjamin Netanyahu, the hawkish leader of the Likud Party, the Prime Minister - designate will become more belligerent and he will have no hesitation to retaliate violently against the slightest provocation from the side of Palestinians causing untold miseries to them. The smell of death is still permeating the atmosphere of Hamas ruled land of Palestine as a result of the gruesome bombings- even deadly phosphorous bombs were used- one month back. No mediator has not yet been able to settle the dispute between Israel and Palestine and if things are going on like this, even God will have to watch the situation helplessly. The genesis of the dispute between the two countries dates back to 1948.
SriLanka:
This neighbouring country is literally burning. The hostility between the LTTE (Liberation Tigers Of Tamil Elam) vs the Govt under the leadership of Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President has reached its peak. Mahinda Rajapaksa, unlike any other leader of the past is in an unforgiving mood and is bent upon destroying the terror-network with all might and he is determined to capture the LTTE Supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran dead or alive. The SriLankan army is on the move and it is matter of days to wipe out the Tamil militants, if the present trend continues. Here also the innocent Tamilians are caught between the army and the militants as they are being used a shield by the militants to escape from the onslaught from the opposite side resulting in the deaths of thousands of innocent people. Ever since the fight for an independent Tamil Eezham started, lakhs and lakhs of citizens, militants, rulers like Premadasa, Lakshman Kadir Gamer, Jayawardene and army personnel fell victims to the devastating battle. Even India had to pay heavily in this murky war as our former PM Rajiv Gandhi was blown up in a suicide bomb attack carried out by the militant organization. The fight is still raging.
Zimbabwe
Robert Mugabe, the founder of Zimbabwe is 80 now. He fought against the British might and finally succeeded in forcing them flee the country ending several years of colonialism and became the defacto ruler of Zimbabwe in 1980. Since then he continues to be the President of that country. During his initial years as President of Zimbabwe, he was widely respected by the whole Zimbabwe as well as the people all over the World, for years of his courageous fight against apartheid and for bringing glory to the nation by liberating the citizens from the British yoke ultimately. Zimbabweans held him in high esteem and was regarded as Nelson Mandela of Zimbabwe who fought against the British rule and apartheid undergoing 27 years of rigorous imprisonment and murderous assaults of the ruthless British soldiers and finally succeeded in ending the colonial rule by the British in SouthAfrica.
As the years progressed, Mugabe displayed tendencies of a ruthless dictator forgetting his past as the saviour of people of Zimbabwe and the slightest opposition against his misrule was mercilessly suppressed. Even after suffering defeat at the hustings by his principal opposition Party MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) led by Morgan Tswangirai in the elections held one year ago, he refused to respect the verdict and declared himself to be the President of Zimbabwe.
The country’s economy is in shambles and the masses are suffering from poverty and malnutrition, literally they are starving unable to purchase the essential commodities for their livelihood because of the unprecedented inflation and the subsequent skyrocketing of prices. The inflation rate is alarming, about 230 million percent and is going up with lightning speed day by day, minutes by minutes and even seconds by seconds. The plight of the suffering masses didn’t deter him from celebrating his birthday last week squandering $250000/- with his supporters and sycophants of ZANU-PF, his party.
In the previous elections, after declining to step down from the post of President, the relationship between him and the leader of the winning party Morgan Tswangirai grew worse and Tabo Mbeki, the former President of SouthAfrica had to intervene to play the role of a mediator as the African nations apprehended rebellion and blood-shed by the Zimbabweans’ against Robert Mugabe’s dictatorship.
Mbeki succeeded in thrashing out a solution after months of negotiations and according to the agreement arrived at in the end, Mugabe can continue in the chair of President and Tswangirai can occupy the Prime Ministership. The beleaguered Tswangirai is slogging it out to ameliorate the pathetic conditions of the masses by appealing to the developing as well as the developed nations to extend aid to Zimbabwe liberally.
How far he will be able to succeed in his hardwon responsibility as the PM is anybody’s guess.
Tibet:
It was in the year 1959 that Dalai Lama, the Spiritual leader of the Tibetan Buddhists was forced to escape to India seeking asylum as a result of a violent aggression unleashed by the Chinese army in Tibet killing about eighty thousand Tibetans and annexed the Himalayan nation. Since then, Tibet is under the iron-rule of China. Fifty years have elapsed since then, however the unending thirst for freedom of the Tibetans continues unabated. Tibetan exiles settled in various nations are still raging with anger against the Chinese occupation and they want nothing short of independence for their beloved country. Occasionally violent uprisings erupt against the Chinese rule and last year- the 49th year of Chinese occupation- we witnessed massive protests in various parts of the World including India, by the freedom aspirants. In all the countries where the Tibetan exiles are spending their root-less existence the Olympic flame was the target of the Tibetans and defying security and other precautionary steps they went on a rampage and tried to extinguish the flame at a few places with success.
It was in Lhasa, the Capital of Tibet, that the uprising grew worse and the Tibetans went on the rampage killing many Chinese men and also destroying properties and within no time the rebellion spread like wild fire and the Chinese rulers had to face the heat particularly when an International game was about to open with pomp and pageantry in Capital, Beijing. As a pre-emptive move, the rulers didn’t take risks this time and deployed the Red Army along the sensitive areas fearing a more aggressive rebellion in the historic 50th year of occupation.
China’s territorial ambitions are notorious and while preaching friendship with India, they have not backtracked from their demand for the State of Arunachal Pradesh claiming it be their integral part.
As I have already mentioned, the list is endless. I have written about the state of affairs prevailing in only a few countries. If I am about to write about all of them, it would turn out to be a book. I don’t want to elaborate about each of them. I only wanted to draw the attention of the readers to the pathetic and also horrible conditions pervading the nations across the World. Like you, I am also at a loss to make out the shape of things to emerge in future. Hoping for a light at the end of tunnel is human nature and hence let us eagerly wait for a new dawn…
Barring a few, all nations across the World are reeling under the onslaughts of various anti-social and wicked elements- the reasons may vary from nation to nation- like ethnic clashes, territorial ambitions, religious fundamentalism, muscle power etc. As I have already pointed out starting from the self-styled super power- USA- down to poverty stricken war-ravaged country like Somalia- the Horn of Africa- there are problems.
I don’t want to list out each of them and I do admit I am not much of an International expert, here I would like to name certain nations which are suffering most.
Now almost everyone across the nations’ is aware of the present plight of the World. With the collapse of free market economy in USA and the subsequent financial melt-down leading to recession staring at all the faces of a host of countries across the World including India as a result of neo-liberalism and Globalism. It is said that the current depression is worse than the Depression of 1929 which lasted up to 1939, ie. till the Second World War, this time it is feared to last for a very long period affecting the very livelihood of citizens across the World because of the massive retrenchment on a daily basis and it is matter of great concern that even the cream of economists across the World are at a loss to arrive at a solution to rescue the citizens from this hapless situation.
While the unregulated economy has already played havoc with the nations on the one hand, the frequent attacks carried out by the terrorist elements are causing casualties on a massive scale and the properties ravaged. Adding fuel to the fire, the deadly attacks carried out by USA in Iraq and Afghanistan are causing nightmares to the innocent citizens of both countries on the other hand.
Pakistan has become the hot-bed of terrorism and this sad truth is acknowledged by many nations. The worst sufferer is naturally India, their traditional enemy. Like a Frankenstein monster, the terrorist hydra has now spread its tentacles across that nation causing deaths on a large-scale -bombings, grenade attacks and firing targeting VIPs- please recall the gruesome gunning down of Benazir Bhutto, the former Prime Minister and also landmarks like the Marriot Hotel with the help of Taliban and Al-quaida militants infiltrated from across North Western frontier. The recent attack on the Sri Lankan cricket players in broad day light was watched by us with shock and pain. They had no difficulty in jumping the security blanket and fearing nobody sprayed bullets on the vehicle carrying the cricket players causing injuries to seven players and after completing their mission walked away casually. Those elements are still at large is an embarrassment even to the outsiders. We can very well imagine the state of affairs prevailing in that country- lack of adequate security cover, no sense of responsibility on the part of the civilian government, the infighting going on between the ruling Pakistan Peoples’ Party under the leadership of Asif Ali Sardari and PML(N) of Nawaz Sherif, the former Prime Minister. Furthermore the growing unrest prevailing among lawyers demanding the reinstatement of Iftiqar Chowdhari, former sacked Chief Justice of Pak Supreme Court and his sacked colleagues, and the lawyers scheduled long march to Parliament on March 15 and an indefinite dharna around the parliament house- a nation totally in turmoil and the possibility of an army take-over looming large on the horizon.
Sudan:
Sudan caught the attention of the World community last week as the news of an arrest warrant issued by ICC (International Criminal Court) against the leader of that nation Omar-Al-Bashir for causing the deaths of millions in Darfur. In Darfur, the poverty-stricken Darfurians including mal-nourished children are being looked after by the NGOs. On getting provoked by the arrest warrant, the Sudanese Govt. has ordered the NGOs and the Doctors Sans Borders to flee the country and even the Uncle Sam, remaining indifferent to the plight of the poor Darfurians. The already pathetic situation prevailing in Darfur is expected to be worse and the innocent children are going to be the worst sufferers due to lack of food and also due to diseases like cholera as a result of consuming polluted water. Without the NGOs and the Doctors Sans Borders imagine the consequences- large-scale infant mortality will be the result. Water-scarcity in the region is acute and with the ouster of NGOs and Doctors Sans Borders from the country, every source of relief to the Darfurians will come to a naught.
Sudan and its friendly countries are up in arms against the arrest warrant issued against Omar-Al-Bashir, the ruthless dictator. Even Peoples’ Republic of China- still claiming to be a socialist country (?)- is in good terms with the dictator caring two hoots for the starving Darfurians. While declaring their commitment to Socialism and welfare of humanity China is always concerned with their immediate problems to accomplish their goals, they don’t have any compunctions to side with any dictatorships- be it Sudan, Myanmar or any other country.
Israel-Palestine Conflict:
It seems the Israeli-Palestine conflict is not going to subside even in the distant future. Now that conservative parties are sure to be in the saddle their attitude to the Palestinians, particularly Hamas will be more hostile and Benjamin Netanyahu, the hawkish leader of the Likud Party, the Prime Minister - designate will become more belligerent and he will have no hesitation to retaliate violently against the slightest provocation from the side of Palestinians causing untold miseries to them. The smell of death is still permeating the atmosphere of Hamas ruled land of Palestine as a result of the gruesome bombings- even deadly phosphorous bombs were used- one month back. No mediator has not yet been able to settle the dispute between Israel and Palestine and if things are going on like this, even God will have to watch the situation helplessly. The genesis of the dispute between the two countries dates back to 1948.
SriLanka:
This neighbouring country is literally burning. The hostility between the LTTE (Liberation Tigers Of Tamil Elam) vs the Govt under the leadership of Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President has reached its peak. Mahinda Rajapaksa, unlike any other leader of the past is in an unforgiving mood and is bent upon destroying the terror-network with all might and he is determined to capture the LTTE Supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran dead or alive. The SriLankan army is on the move and it is matter of days to wipe out the Tamil militants, if the present trend continues. Here also the innocent Tamilians are caught between the army and the militants as they are being used a shield by the militants to escape from the onslaught from the opposite side resulting in the deaths of thousands of innocent people. Ever since the fight for an independent Tamil Eezham started, lakhs and lakhs of citizens, militants, rulers like Premadasa, Lakshman Kadir Gamer, Jayawardene and army personnel fell victims to the devastating battle. Even India had to pay heavily in this murky war as our former PM Rajiv Gandhi was blown up in a suicide bomb attack carried out by the militant organization. The fight is still raging.
Zimbabwe
Robert Mugabe, the founder of Zimbabwe is 80 now. He fought against the British might and finally succeeded in forcing them flee the country ending several years of colonialism and became the defacto ruler of Zimbabwe in 1980. Since then he continues to be the President of that country. During his initial years as President of Zimbabwe, he was widely respected by the whole Zimbabwe as well as the people all over the World, for years of his courageous fight against apartheid and for bringing glory to the nation by liberating the citizens from the British yoke ultimately. Zimbabweans held him in high esteem and was regarded as Nelson Mandela of Zimbabwe who fought against the British rule and apartheid undergoing 27 years of rigorous imprisonment and murderous assaults of the ruthless British soldiers and finally succeeded in ending the colonial rule by the British in SouthAfrica.
As the years progressed, Mugabe displayed tendencies of a ruthless dictator forgetting his past as the saviour of people of Zimbabwe and the slightest opposition against his misrule was mercilessly suppressed. Even after suffering defeat at the hustings by his principal opposition Party MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) led by Morgan Tswangirai in the elections held one year ago, he refused to respect the verdict and declared himself to be the President of Zimbabwe.
The country’s economy is in shambles and the masses are suffering from poverty and malnutrition, literally they are starving unable to purchase the essential commodities for their livelihood because of the unprecedented inflation and the subsequent skyrocketing of prices. The inflation rate is alarming, about 230 million percent and is going up with lightning speed day by day, minutes by minutes and even seconds by seconds. The plight of the suffering masses didn’t deter him from celebrating his birthday last week squandering $250000/- with his supporters and sycophants of ZANU-PF, his party.
In the previous elections, after declining to step down from the post of President, the relationship between him and the leader of the winning party Morgan Tswangirai grew worse and Tabo Mbeki, the former President of SouthAfrica had to intervene to play the role of a mediator as the African nations apprehended rebellion and blood-shed by the Zimbabweans’ against Robert Mugabe’s dictatorship.
Mbeki succeeded in thrashing out a solution after months of negotiations and according to the agreement arrived at in the end, Mugabe can continue in the chair of President and Tswangirai can occupy the Prime Ministership. The beleaguered Tswangirai is slogging it out to ameliorate the pathetic conditions of the masses by appealing to the developing as well as the developed nations to extend aid to Zimbabwe liberally.
How far he will be able to succeed in his hardwon responsibility as the PM is anybody’s guess.
Tibet:
It was in the year 1959 that Dalai Lama, the Spiritual leader of the Tibetan Buddhists was forced to escape to India seeking asylum as a result of a violent aggression unleashed by the Chinese army in Tibet killing about eighty thousand Tibetans and annexed the Himalayan nation. Since then, Tibet is under the iron-rule of China. Fifty years have elapsed since then, however the unending thirst for freedom of the Tibetans continues unabated. Tibetan exiles settled in various nations are still raging with anger against the Chinese occupation and they want nothing short of independence for their beloved country. Occasionally violent uprisings erupt against the Chinese rule and last year- the 49th year of Chinese occupation- we witnessed massive protests in various parts of the World including India, by the freedom aspirants. In all the countries where the Tibetan exiles are spending their root-less existence the Olympic flame was the target of the Tibetans and defying security and other precautionary steps they went on a rampage and tried to extinguish the flame at a few places with success.
It was in Lhasa, the Capital of Tibet, that the uprising grew worse and the Tibetans went on the rampage killing many Chinese men and also destroying properties and within no time the rebellion spread like wild fire and the Chinese rulers had to face the heat particularly when an International game was about to open with pomp and pageantry in Capital, Beijing. As a pre-emptive move, the rulers didn’t take risks this time and deployed the Red Army along the sensitive areas fearing a more aggressive rebellion in the historic 50th year of occupation.
China’s territorial ambitions are notorious and while preaching friendship with India, they have not backtracked from their demand for the State of Arunachal Pradesh claiming it be their integral part.
As I have already mentioned, the list is endless. I have written about the state of affairs prevailing in only a few countries. If I am about to write about all of them, it would turn out to be a book. I don’t want to elaborate about each of them. I only wanted to draw the attention of the readers to the pathetic and also horrible conditions pervading the nations across the World. Like you, I am also at a loss to make out the shape of things to emerge in future. Hoping for a light at the end of tunnel is human nature and hence let us eagerly wait for a new dawn…
DIFFERENT ROLES CELEBRITIES PLAY
“Which role did you play today?”- inquires an handsome young guy with a charming smile to the television audience. (film-stars are always young- to be precise ‘evergreen’- even our Dev Anandji is still evergreen). Am I confusing you? Sorry.
This is the advertisement of Toyota Innova, a marvelous luxury car and its brand ambassador is the aforementioned young hero Aamir Khan, the bollywood fame, not only an actor but also a well-known director and to a few an intellectual also. By playing the role of brand ambassador of ‘INNOVA’, he might have signed a contract or agreement (?) involving a huge sum.
Then another day we find him playing the role of the brand ambassador of Coca Cola. In the advertisement he is seen explaining the misconceptions prevailing among the majority regarding the harmful effects of consuming Cola and his certification to the effect that Coca Cola is really harmless and at the same time a rejuvenator and is an apt cool-drink for anybody to consume at any time, any day especially when one suffers fatigue after a tiresome job or play. He demonstrates his certification of the cool-drink by consuming a bottle of Cola in one gulp. Howzaat?
In films as well as advertisements, he plays different roles and amasses huge amounts. Lucky chap!
On March 28, at sharp 8.30 PM, 500 cities in 75 countries- India is one among them- each of us is advised to switch-off the lights and fans for one hour inorder to create an awareness about the looming threat of Global Warming and therefore to exhort us to be more vigilant atleast in the future to save our planet and also the coming generation from Carbon emissions and ecological plunder or destruction, thus paving the way for total wiping out of the entire planet into oblivion.
The exhortation was made by the respected Nobel Laurate Rev. Desmund Tutu and in India the exhortation is to be made by our young actor-director, Aamir Khan.
The harmful effects of Coca Cola and the destruction its manufacture affects the people the world over is notorious and even in the campuses of America, the students stopped drinking Cola according to news reports about a year back and they came out in support of the environmentalists who fight for the banning of Coca Cola. The environmental disaster its manufacture causes to the people can very well be witnessed and get enlightened by visiting Plachimada of Palghat district in Kerala. Ground water depletion and the presence of poisonous metals like cadmium and lead beyond the permissible limits, and the sludge containing these metals was sold as fertilizer to those who were not quite aware of the ill-effects by the multinational giant.
I don’t know whether Aamir Khan recalls his brand ambassadorialship of this cool drink explaining the rejuvenating and rejoicing effects of the same and also the news report about the plight of the people of Plachimada, who are languishing there owing to the scarcity of potable water in the whole Panchayat as a result of the manufacture of this drink on a vast scale. Years have passed and the people of Plachimada are still on the war-path to pack up the multi-national giant and force them to flee the place.
Whether they will succeed in this venture against the might of money power is a million-dollar question.
Dear Aamir Khan, are you going to play both roles simultaneously? If so, you are really great! Like our great Shashi Tharoor! The former UN-Under Secretary General who is also an ardent advocate of this multi-national giant and one more truth Mr.Tharoor is hailing from the district of Palakkad and is supposed to be aware of Plachimada agitation going on for the last several years! Howzaat?
This is the advertisement of Toyota Innova, a marvelous luxury car and its brand ambassador is the aforementioned young hero Aamir Khan, the bollywood fame, not only an actor but also a well-known director and to a few an intellectual also. By playing the role of brand ambassador of ‘INNOVA’, he might have signed a contract or agreement (?) involving a huge sum.
Then another day we find him playing the role of the brand ambassador of Coca Cola. In the advertisement he is seen explaining the misconceptions prevailing among the majority regarding the harmful effects of consuming Cola and his certification to the effect that Coca Cola is really harmless and at the same time a rejuvenator and is an apt cool-drink for anybody to consume at any time, any day especially when one suffers fatigue after a tiresome job or play. He demonstrates his certification of the cool-drink by consuming a bottle of Cola in one gulp. Howzaat?
In films as well as advertisements, he plays different roles and amasses huge amounts. Lucky chap!
On March 28, at sharp 8.30 PM, 500 cities in 75 countries- India is one among them- each of us is advised to switch-off the lights and fans for one hour inorder to create an awareness about the looming threat of Global Warming and therefore to exhort us to be more vigilant atleast in the future to save our planet and also the coming generation from Carbon emissions and ecological plunder or destruction, thus paving the way for total wiping out of the entire planet into oblivion.
The exhortation was made by the respected Nobel Laurate Rev. Desmund Tutu and in India the exhortation is to be made by our young actor-director, Aamir Khan.
The harmful effects of Coca Cola and the destruction its manufacture affects the people the world over is notorious and even in the campuses of America, the students stopped drinking Cola according to news reports about a year back and they came out in support of the environmentalists who fight for the banning of Coca Cola. The environmental disaster its manufacture causes to the people can very well be witnessed and get enlightened by visiting Plachimada of Palghat district in Kerala. Ground water depletion and the presence of poisonous metals like cadmium and lead beyond the permissible limits, and the sludge containing these metals was sold as fertilizer to those who were not quite aware of the ill-effects by the multinational giant.
I don’t know whether Aamir Khan recalls his brand ambassadorialship of this cool drink explaining the rejuvenating and rejoicing effects of the same and also the news report about the plight of the people of Plachimada, who are languishing there owing to the scarcity of potable water in the whole Panchayat as a result of the manufacture of this drink on a vast scale. Years have passed and the people of Plachimada are still on the war-path to pack up the multi-national giant and force them to flee the place.
Whether they will succeed in this venture against the might of money power is a million-dollar question.
Dear Aamir Khan, are you going to play both roles simultaneously? If so, you are really great! Like our great Shashi Tharoor! The former UN-Under Secretary General who is also an ardent advocate of this multi-national giant and one more truth Mr.Tharoor is hailing from the district of Palakkad and is supposed to be aware of Plachimada agitation going on for the last several years! Howzaat?
Friday, March 6, 2009
ABOUT THE GREAT INDIAN JAMBOREE- HOWZAAT?
Election fever is briskly catching up in India. Political leaders, analysts, psephologists, media-world and even the citizens are busy engaged in watching the whole scenario with deserving seriousness and also with interest, excitement, palpitation and a few with a sense of detachment. Could we call this last category of people “observers”? Sorry sir, I don’t know. They are adding, substracting, dividing and also multiplying frequently the approximate number of seats to be won by each alliance and the chance of which party or alliance coming to power after all the hullabaloo is over. As the equations change overnight because of the frantic search for allies by the national parties the calculations of political analysts, psephologists and even some political leaders get angry and confused and start from the very beginning.
Three fronts or two fronts actually? The Grand Old Party (GOP) of India, Indian National Congress with a sense of nostalgia is weighing the chances of capturing the Delhi throne single-handedly so as not to depend upon the allies who are always a pain in the neck of the Party. And with a declaration to contest the elections without forming a national alliance and simultaneously forming alliances at the State level (or regional level), a farsighted approach really! In the event of the Party emerging with below the magical figure of 272- in politics anything is possible- the leaders are well aware and therefore if a chance to cobble together an alliance with the help of regional parties to reach the magic figure, the Party can very well form a Govt. at the Centre, eventhough reluctantly and also with a feeling of shame. The GOP is still nursing the sweet memories of the past, when it was able to rule India alone, without seeking the help of any other party thus getting an opportunity to implement the Party’s policies and programmes can rejoice at the “historic victory” after a gap of several years. But majority are of the opinion that coalition politics is here to stay and single party rule is a thing of past. Who is to be believed? No idea sir.
The other front is NDA alliance under BJP- the Party with a difference- and it is heartening that BJP (Bharathiya Janata Party) is not at all nurturing ambitions of capturing power at the Centre alone unlike the GOP , the leaders are on the look out for befriending as many parties as possible- regional or national to stitch together a grand alliance. They still keep the glorious memories of good old days of their reign under the leadership of the veteran leader, Atal Bihari Vajpayee- unfortunately he is bed-ridden now fighting his helplessness characteristic of old-age.
BJP had in the past , about twenty two regional parties as allies and now they find it very difficult to bring back their old friends who deserted them after unexpected defeat at the hustings in 2004.
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) led by Chandrababu Naidu,
AIADMK (All India Anna DMK) led by Kumari Jayalalitha, Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee and a number of splinter parties have become progressive overnight and are under the third front (except Trinamool Congress) led by none other than the leftists- which always stand for freeing India from the clutches of two bourgeois parties- The Indian National Congress and Bharathiya Janata Party- both are ‘corrupt’ and ‘communal’ and the ‘agents’ of industrial tycoons like Ambanis’, Mittals’ Birlas’,TATAs’ and like-minded fat-cats. The leftists have already fished out a deserving, charismatic and an apt leader to be the next PM who is none other than Kumari Mayawati, the UP Chief Minister and the undisputed leader of BSP (Bhujan Samaj Party). BSP, TDP, AIADMK, (unfortunately they couldn’t rope in BJD ( Biju Janata Dal of Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister of Orissa as he was already canvassed by BJP- his friend in need and he is very much comfortable with them). The only aim of the Leftists is to keep both Indian National Congress and Bharathiya Janata Party, away from power, and to install a Govt. of third front while supporting outside- in the role of a king-maker. It is the best way to implement their policies and programmes by arm-twisting the Govt. with the threat of withdrawing support, if their demands are not met. Howzaat?
Three fronts or two fronts actually? The Grand Old Party (GOP) of India, Indian National Congress with a sense of nostalgia is weighing the chances of capturing the Delhi throne single-handedly so as not to depend upon the allies who are always a pain in the neck of the Party. And with a declaration to contest the elections without forming a national alliance and simultaneously forming alliances at the State level (or regional level), a farsighted approach really! In the event of the Party emerging with below the magical figure of 272- in politics anything is possible- the leaders are well aware and therefore if a chance to cobble together an alliance with the help of regional parties to reach the magic figure, the Party can very well form a Govt. at the Centre, eventhough reluctantly and also with a feeling of shame. The GOP is still nursing the sweet memories of the past, when it was able to rule India alone, without seeking the help of any other party thus getting an opportunity to implement the Party’s policies and programmes can rejoice at the “historic victory” after a gap of several years. But majority are of the opinion that coalition politics is here to stay and single party rule is a thing of past. Who is to be believed? No idea sir.
The other front is NDA alliance under BJP- the Party with a difference- and it is heartening that BJP (Bharathiya Janata Party) is not at all nurturing ambitions of capturing power at the Centre alone unlike the GOP , the leaders are on the look out for befriending as many parties as possible- regional or national to stitch together a grand alliance. They still keep the glorious memories of good old days of their reign under the leadership of the veteran leader, Atal Bihari Vajpayee- unfortunately he is bed-ridden now fighting his helplessness characteristic of old-age.
BJP had in the past , about twenty two regional parties as allies and now they find it very difficult to bring back their old friends who deserted them after unexpected defeat at the hustings in 2004.
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) led by Chandrababu Naidu,
AIADMK (All India Anna DMK) led by Kumari Jayalalitha, Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee and a number of splinter parties have become progressive overnight and are under the third front (except Trinamool Congress) led by none other than the leftists- which always stand for freeing India from the clutches of two bourgeois parties- The Indian National Congress and Bharathiya Janata Party- both are ‘corrupt’ and ‘communal’ and the ‘agents’ of industrial tycoons like Ambanis’, Mittals’ Birlas’,TATAs’ and like-minded fat-cats. The leftists have already fished out a deserving, charismatic and an apt leader to be the next PM who is none other than Kumari Mayawati, the UP Chief Minister and the undisputed leader of BSP (Bhujan Samaj Party). BSP, TDP, AIADMK, (unfortunately they couldn’t rope in BJD ( Biju Janata Dal of Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister of Orissa as he was already canvassed by BJP- his friend in need and he is very much comfortable with them). The only aim of the Leftists is to keep both Indian National Congress and Bharathiya Janata Party, away from power, and to install a Govt. of third front while supporting outside- in the role of a king-maker. It is the best way to implement their policies and programmes by arm-twisting the Govt. with the threat of withdrawing support, if their demands are not met. Howzaat?
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