We are living in strange times.
During an official visit to U.S.A our minister for Overseas Affairs Shri.Vayalar Ravi was reported to have pleaded with Condoleezza Rice, U.S State Secretary to speed up the process of signing the Civil Nuclear Deal. He might have implored her with folded hands. Ms.Rice while providing him assurance to the effect that his humble request would be taken in to consideration as early as possible, might have held back a suppressed laughter. And she might have had a hearty laughter with President George W Bush, at the time of disclosing to him about the humble request of our Minister for Overseas Affairs.
As a political leader, incidentally he is a good economist also, had pointed out at a time U.S.A was groping in the dark to find a solution to the unprecedented “financial meltdown” that nation was desperately in a hurry to conclude the deal (Mr.Bush and his cohorts were really somewhat happy) because they could benefit or compensate one seventh portion of the total “bail-out package” of 700 billion U.S dollars with the help of India.
As an observer of the day to day happenings around our surroundings, I was surprised and alarmed by the eagerness with which our Minister pressed for the early signing of the Civil Nuclear Deal. While I was in my teens, I recall the face of the angry young men in our Parliament the so called ‘Young Turks’ who were the vociferous advocates of socialist ideals and also Jawaharlal Nehru’s concept of Non-Alignment Movement. The ones who stood behind the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi like a rock while her own opponents in the party made a kerfuffle over the Nationalization of the Private sector banks in 1969.
These ‘young turks’ of the yesteryears (unfortunately all of them are in their late sixties now, some already in their heavenly abodes), have now evolved in to the champions of Neo-Liberalisation and Globalisation, and are in the forefront of Privatisation of even the “Navaratna undertakings”. Funny and at the same time pathetic. Who told- “Politicians are a rare kind of species”?
Some years ago, I had a rare chance to pass through Cherthala of Alleppey district, Vayalar Ravi’s native land. While walking over the sand filled interiors of that blessed land with thick growth of coconut trees providing shade to all I could see the enlarged framed photographs of Khadi-clad Vayalar Ravi adorning the walls of almost all the middle-class houses, and was surprised to notice the tremendous clout he wielded among the people of Cherthala and adjoining areas, the land of communist revolutionaries and martyrs. I hope still they are holding him in high esteem with reverence, thanks to his political acumen (or chicanery).
A few months back, I happened to notice a news item, involving Ravi- then also he was a Minister in the Union Cabinet- talking to Venkitesh Ramakrishnan of ‘The Hindu’, that it is high time we looked backwards (a sort of introspection) pointing out disparities in the society on account of Neo-Liberalist agenda and Globalisation. I was not at all surprised or alarmed at the sudden ‘volte face’ because “such are the ways of our politicians nowadays”. They can turn the tables at any time depending upon whichever way the wind blows. A ‘neo-liberal’ Ravi can transform himself to the socialist Ravi at the most opportune moment.
We could see many of our Congress leaders including A.K.Antony, our Defence Minister (this gentleman Gandhian is also in desperate hurry to pile up deadly weapons to fill his armoury and occasionally seen with the soldiers in camouflage uniforms. After all patriotism is the need of the hour.) and Oommen Chandy, our opposition leader, among hundreds of Khadi-clad congress men undertaking ‘Dandi March’ wearing ‘Gandhi caps’ commemorating the 75th anniversary of Mahatma’s Dandi March in protest against British government’s policies, our erstwhile rulers. We can also see them offering floral tributes to Mahatma at Rajghat on his birth and death anniversaries. That, Gandhi always stood and fought for ‘Swadeshi’ ideals is a different matter. Suppose Gandhi were alive today…..!
Sorry sir, I am not a Gandhian…
During an official visit to U.S.A our minister for Overseas Affairs Shri.Vayalar Ravi was reported to have pleaded with Condoleezza Rice, U.S State Secretary to speed up the process of signing the Civil Nuclear Deal. He might have implored her with folded hands. Ms.Rice while providing him assurance to the effect that his humble request would be taken in to consideration as early as possible, might have held back a suppressed laughter. And she might have had a hearty laughter with President George W Bush, at the time of disclosing to him about the humble request of our Minister for Overseas Affairs.
As a political leader, incidentally he is a good economist also, had pointed out at a time U.S.A was groping in the dark to find a solution to the unprecedented “financial meltdown” that nation was desperately in a hurry to conclude the deal (Mr.Bush and his cohorts were really somewhat happy) because they could benefit or compensate one seventh portion of the total “bail-out package” of 700 billion U.S dollars with the help of India.
As an observer of the day to day happenings around our surroundings, I was surprised and alarmed by the eagerness with which our Minister pressed for the early signing of the Civil Nuclear Deal. While I was in my teens, I recall the face of the angry young men in our Parliament the so called ‘Young Turks’ who were the vociferous advocates of socialist ideals and also Jawaharlal Nehru’s concept of Non-Alignment Movement. The ones who stood behind the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi like a rock while her own opponents in the party made a kerfuffle over the Nationalization of the Private sector banks in 1969.
These ‘young turks’ of the yesteryears (unfortunately all of them are in their late sixties now, some already in their heavenly abodes), have now evolved in to the champions of Neo-Liberalisation and Globalisation, and are in the forefront of Privatisation of even the “Navaratna undertakings”. Funny and at the same time pathetic. Who told- “Politicians are a rare kind of species”?
Some years ago, I had a rare chance to pass through Cherthala of Alleppey district, Vayalar Ravi’s native land. While walking over the sand filled interiors of that blessed land with thick growth of coconut trees providing shade to all I could see the enlarged framed photographs of Khadi-clad Vayalar Ravi adorning the walls of almost all the middle-class houses, and was surprised to notice the tremendous clout he wielded among the people of Cherthala and adjoining areas, the land of communist revolutionaries and martyrs. I hope still they are holding him in high esteem with reverence, thanks to his political acumen (or chicanery).
A few months back, I happened to notice a news item, involving Ravi- then also he was a Minister in the Union Cabinet- talking to Venkitesh Ramakrishnan of ‘The Hindu’, that it is high time we looked backwards (a sort of introspection) pointing out disparities in the society on account of Neo-Liberalist agenda and Globalisation. I was not at all surprised or alarmed at the sudden ‘volte face’ because “such are the ways of our politicians nowadays”. They can turn the tables at any time depending upon whichever way the wind blows. A ‘neo-liberal’ Ravi can transform himself to the socialist Ravi at the most opportune moment.
We could see many of our Congress leaders including A.K.Antony, our Defence Minister (this gentleman Gandhian is also in desperate hurry to pile up deadly weapons to fill his armoury and occasionally seen with the soldiers in camouflage uniforms. After all patriotism is the need of the hour.) and Oommen Chandy, our opposition leader, among hundreds of Khadi-clad congress men undertaking ‘Dandi March’ wearing ‘Gandhi caps’ commemorating the 75th anniversary of Mahatma’s Dandi March in protest against British government’s policies, our erstwhile rulers. We can also see them offering floral tributes to Mahatma at Rajghat on his birth and death anniversaries. That, Gandhi always stood and fought for ‘Swadeshi’ ideals is a different matter. Suppose Gandhi were alive today…..!
Sorry sir, I am not a Gandhian…
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