USA’s travel advisory to its citizens to be most vigilant while travelling to/across India as a terrorist strike is imminent at any place across the nation is laughable, to say the least. We are at a loss to know from where this ‘sudden enlightenment’ came from.
It seems the self-proclaimed Super Power nurses paranoid delusions since 9/11. Even after passage of more than seven years, these delusions persist in the American psyche. While other nations fell victims to occasional terrorist threats and attacks, USA remained pretty comfortable caring two hoots to the painful state of other nations after falling victims to terror attacks. Its complacency was so strong that it was impervious or immune from such horrendous crimes committed by religious fanatics across the world.
And USA’s role in nurturing the lunatics was condemned by many nations and those condemnations were never attended to by the successive governments of America.
USA is now engaged in an hot pursuit of Taliban and Al-Quaida elements engaged in fierce battle against the Army of Hamid Karzai regime who is presently the head of Afghanistan, ruling ofcourse with the whole-hearted support of USA. It is somewhat amusing to note here that the Taliban elements and also the Al-Quaida militants led by World’s most wanted terrorist Osama Bin Laden were provided with money power and logistical support to fight against the erstwhile Soviet Union to drive them away from Afghanistan. The Frankenstein’s monster later turned against its own god-father is a cruel joke of history. This creature even went to the extent of striking at the very nerve-centre of its creator on 9/11, thus giving an unexpected and unforgettable jolt and in the process snuffing out the lives of 3000 innocents.
The hunt for the perpetrators still continues. A massive hunt followed, Guantanamo Bay, Abu Graib, extra-ordinary rendition and hitherto unheard of cruelties like water-boarding were committed with the overt support of George Walker Bush, the former President. His hawkish approach could only inflame the religious passions of a community thus making a lot of Muslim nations its enemy. Barack Obama, his successor is now busy engaged in a damage-control exercise and in hot pursuit of befriending the Muslim nations across the globe and his historic speech at Cairo University is a pointer in that direction. How far he will be able to succeed in his venture is another thing. But such a positive approach itself is something to be applauded. While President Obama was addressing a large gathering at Cairo University it is sort of ‘tamasha’ (comedy) that an advisory to its citizens to be vigilant while travelling to and across India, World’s largest democracy by the US government.
True, India occasionally falls victim to terrorist attacks. But an advisory at the present juncture to its citizens is somewhat baffling. It is worthwhile to note that a terrorist attack can affect anywhere across the World. USA is not an exception.
Citizens across the Globe sometimes are subjected to humiliations by the American Intelligence authorities in the name of security checks. Even VIPs fall victims to their paranoid delusions. Recall the humiliation our former Defence Minister, George Fernandez had to undergo years ago. He was strip-searched by the intelligence authorities after a prolonged grilling on suspicion of being a terrorist. No amount of explanation could satisfy the security officials. Recently an Indian super-star had to undergo similar grilling at the hands of those officials. The Indian super-star was not that ‘super’ to US security officials. These types of absurd and meaningless steps are nothing but the after-shocks of 9/11.
The reason behind USA’s not-so-friendly-attitude is not at all a mystery. The greatest democracy from ‘time immemorial’ wanted to keep a check on India. India’s development in various fields are not to the liking of Uncle Sam. And to have a check on it USA found a convenient way by providing money and logistical power to the ‘traditional enemy’ Pakistan. As if by reading the mind of US authorities, Pakistan turns its guns in the direction of India (now nuclear weapons also), provides assistance and training to all sorts of terrorist elements who try to intrude across the border to create massive law and order problems, destruction of life and property, thus trying to deflect the attention of the authorities away from the developmental agenda of the nation as a whole. Pakistan has already been classified as the epicentre of terrorism. Whether they take pride in this categorization is something to be watched. Otherwise the release of Hafeez Muhammed Saeed, the founder of LeT and also JuD by the Lahore High Court and USA’s ‘vow of silence’ on this serious matter is deplorable.
As one strategic analyst pointed out, it is time for India to stop holding on to the coat-tails of USA and evolve a foreign policy framework and engage in bringing international pressure on Pakistan to desist from indulging in nefarious activities to wreak havoc with the peaceful atmosphere in our nation. Whether the foreign policy mandarins will listen to his advice is something to be awaited and seen.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
MATCH WORDS WITH DEEDS, MR. KEVIN RUDD
Dreaming big is everyone’s dream, particularly of youngsters. Climbing up the steps to reach the top of the ladder- nobody can find fault with it. To reach somewhere, if not at the top we have to have dreams. When one’s dream is materialized he/she will have a sublime feeling. Or ask Dr.A.P.J Abdul Kalam, our former President who goes on addressing the educated youngsters of the land to dream big and reach the top bringing glory to the nation as well as the whole World.
Some people dream about saving money to sustain themselves and also for the next generation. They dream about flying abroad, finding lucrative jobs and earning attractive salaries. By sheer grit, determination and perseverance they slug it out in oil-rich countries day-in and day-out to earn fabulous sums. Their hard-earned salaries, thanks to the phenomenal development in IT and Science, within no time reach their accounts maintained in their native land and thus the foreign exchange reserves of their lands go on piling up. Their children’s education are well looked after and the latter do not have the need to knock at somebody’s door to beg or to drop out of their studies without the course being completed.
Now come to the subject. The hot news of the day especially for us Indians.
Australia, our neighbour and one of the CommonWealth countries also have a hubris of sorts in declaring to the whole World its reputation for calmness, harmony and solidarity. This country always finds time to shower praises on themselves for being a peaceful country. This hubris has led to a mistaken notion on its part and also a sort of derision towards even its neighbouring countries which suffer terrorist attacks and sabotages at intermittent intervals. During cricket or tennis seasons in India, Pakistan or SriLanka, the Australian government while eulogizing itself for its peaceful atmosphere shows reluctance to send its team fearing for their lives citing inadequate security. It would be wise of them if it is bound to reach a conclusion that terrorism can hit anywhere and it has no boundaries, caste, creed or religion. Even the ‘Super Power’ USA had to shed its complacency after the 9/11 and the Americans still shudder to recall that day even after a hiatus of eight years. The nightmares they underwent that fateful day still linger in the inner recesses of their hearts refusing to fade out of their memory.
Our educated youth always keep higher aspirations to aim high and bring marvel to the country. Therefore it is quite natural on their part to further continue their higher studies abroad- be it USA, Europe, Germany, China or Australia- and the government of India spend millions for the higher education of its students. While going through an article recently soon after the racial outbreak against Indians by Australians, I came to know about the stark truth that government of India spends Rs. 20000 Crore for its students’ education in Australia. The columnist derisively concludes the article by stating that- Indians pay to get killed in Australia.
Being educated is not at all everything. Among the terrorists, there are/and were many educated young men/women- software engineers, chemical analysts, medical practitioners (like Dr Ayman Al Sawahiri), civil engineers, and MBAs (like Osama Bin Laden) a whole lot- a lot of them fell victims to their deeds, some incarcerated and are still languishing in prisons, some well embedded in their safe-havens along mountainous terrains.
Love of humanity, irrespective of caste, creed or religion is the foremost quality expected from each in this world. And for that a man must be a cultural citizen. In fact no religion in the world preaches hatred, intolerance or hostility.
An educated man/woman can very well be an anti-social element, a thug or a hooligan. And if those elements are let loose by the government, they will certainly play havoc with the lives of others or hold the innocents to ransom. Thus a country’s reputation before the world gets tarnished because of a minority. The only remedy being a confident resistance on the part of law-makers thus bringing those elements to justice.
I doubt whether a confident resistance on the part of government of Australia is being undertaken. Mere rhetoric won’t do. Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister and Stephen Smith, Foreign affairs Minister, and all other at the higher echelons must ensure the safety of students, either Indians or any other nationality. Then only the whole turbulence will come to an end. While showering praises on oneself, one must make it sure to remain praise-worthy. Empty promises or platitudes won’t lead us anywhere.
Xenophobia, at times, rears its ugly head in certain countries across the globe. For example, France while Jacques Chirac was at the helm, xenophobia raised its ugly head, that time against the black-Africans. Nicholas Sarkozy, then the Interior Minister and now enthroned in the President’s chair was vocal in his support of the anti-social elements who went on the rampage against the Africans. The aftermaths of the electrocution of two black boys and the riots that followed lasted for weeks in the country are still haunting memories. Now the respected President has mellowed somewhat, most of us do not know why, is even playing a la Ban Ki Moon in the affairs of certain countries. The Russian-Georgian tussle over South Ossettia was defused with the help of President Sarkozy.
In Italy Silvio Berlusconi, Media baron and millionaire, xenophobic elements surface and play havoc with the lives of a minority community causing enormous damages in the form of destruction of life and property. All with the silent and tacit blessings of the Prime Minister himself.
On the one hand, man speaks about Globalisation and in the same breath he advocates for more and more protectionism.
Through which path we have to tread on…?
Some people dream about saving money to sustain themselves and also for the next generation. They dream about flying abroad, finding lucrative jobs and earning attractive salaries. By sheer grit, determination and perseverance they slug it out in oil-rich countries day-in and day-out to earn fabulous sums. Their hard-earned salaries, thanks to the phenomenal development in IT and Science, within no time reach their accounts maintained in their native land and thus the foreign exchange reserves of their lands go on piling up. Their children’s education are well looked after and the latter do not have the need to knock at somebody’s door to beg or to drop out of their studies without the course being completed.
Now come to the subject. The hot news of the day especially for us Indians.
Australia, our neighbour and one of the CommonWealth countries also have a hubris of sorts in declaring to the whole World its reputation for calmness, harmony and solidarity. This country always finds time to shower praises on themselves for being a peaceful country. This hubris has led to a mistaken notion on its part and also a sort of derision towards even its neighbouring countries which suffer terrorist attacks and sabotages at intermittent intervals. During cricket or tennis seasons in India, Pakistan or SriLanka, the Australian government while eulogizing itself for its peaceful atmosphere shows reluctance to send its team fearing for their lives citing inadequate security. It would be wise of them if it is bound to reach a conclusion that terrorism can hit anywhere and it has no boundaries, caste, creed or religion. Even the ‘Super Power’ USA had to shed its complacency after the 9/11 and the Americans still shudder to recall that day even after a hiatus of eight years. The nightmares they underwent that fateful day still linger in the inner recesses of their hearts refusing to fade out of their memory.
Our educated youth always keep higher aspirations to aim high and bring marvel to the country. Therefore it is quite natural on their part to further continue their higher studies abroad- be it USA, Europe, Germany, China or Australia- and the government of India spend millions for the higher education of its students. While going through an article recently soon after the racial outbreak against Indians by Australians, I came to know about the stark truth that government of India spends Rs. 20000 Crore for its students’ education in Australia. The columnist derisively concludes the article by stating that- Indians pay to get killed in Australia.
Being educated is not at all everything. Among the terrorists, there are/and were many educated young men/women- software engineers, chemical analysts, medical practitioners (like Dr Ayman Al Sawahiri), civil engineers, and MBAs (like Osama Bin Laden) a whole lot- a lot of them fell victims to their deeds, some incarcerated and are still languishing in prisons, some well embedded in their safe-havens along mountainous terrains.
Love of humanity, irrespective of caste, creed or religion is the foremost quality expected from each in this world. And for that a man must be a cultural citizen. In fact no religion in the world preaches hatred, intolerance or hostility.
An educated man/woman can very well be an anti-social element, a thug or a hooligan. And if those elements are let loose by the government, they will certainly play havoc with the lives of others or hold the innocents to ransom. Thus a country’s reputation before the world gets tarnished because of a minority. The only remedy being a confident resistance on the part of law-makers thus bringing those elements to justice.
I doubt whether a confident resistance on the part of government of Australia is being undertaken. Mere rhetoric won’t do. Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister and Stephen Smith, Foreign affairs Minister, and all other at the higher echelons must ensure the safety of students, either Indians or any other nationality. Then only the whole turbulence will come to an end. While showering praises on oneself, one must make it sure to remain praise-worthy. Empty promises or platitudes won’t lead us anywhere.
Xenophobia, at times, rears its ugly head in certain countries across the globe. For example, France while Jacques Chirac was at the helm, xenophobia raised its ugly head, that time against the black-Africans. Nicholas Sarkozy, then the Interior Minister and now enthroned in the President’s chair was vocal in his support of the anti-social elements who went on the rampage against the Africans. The aftermaths of the electrocution of two black boys and the riots that followed lasted for weeks in the country are still haunting memories. Now the respected President has mellowed somewhat, most of us do not know why, is even playing a la Ban Ki Moon in the affairs of certain countries. The Russian-Georgian tussle over South Ossettia was defused with the help of President Sarkozy.
In Italy Silvio Berlusconi, Media baron and millionaire, xenophobic elements surface and play havoc with the lives of a minority community causing enormous damages in the form of destruction of life and property. All with the silent and tacit blessings of the Prime Minister himself.
On the one hand, man speaks about Globalisation and in the same breath he advocates for more and more protectionism.
Through which path we have to tread on…?
Saturday, May 30, 2009
A PRO-ACTIVE JUDICIARY, CLIMATE CHANGE AND HUMANRIGHTS ACTIVISTS
It is quite heartening that all the four pillars of our democracy day by day are showing signs of concern to the happenings going on around us- be it right to freedom of speech and expression, environment protection, law and order obligations and infrastructure development. The complaint of certain quarters against the media crossing limits has some substance, on the whole our media, both print and visual, play cardinal roles in digging out and thereby exposing the festering sores still refusing to heal and thus helping all to take immediate remedial measures.
Similar is the case with our judiciary also. Years ago judiciary was seen by many in our society as the prisoner of elite and also holding a dogmatic approach which allegedly cared nothing for the uplift of the masses. Gradually Judiciary’s mindset underwent sea -change for the good of the society. Jurists of the calibre of Justice V.R.Krishna Iyer were there, he always cared for the social aspects while passing judgements. Justice Krishna Iyer, the nonagenarian, now in the twilight of his life is still active albeit his old age and poor health, pens a lot for drawing the attention of those at the helm of affairs towards the inequalities still prevailing in our society.
Once in a while a Krishna Iyer is incarnated over the past one decade or two but that couldn’t save much purpose.
On thinking about Judiciary and Judicial activism, writer and social activist Arundhati Roy came to my mind. In her book “Algebra of Infinite Justice” , she has mentioned about a Supreme Court verdict pronounced by a three member jury consisting of A.S.Anand, J.P.Kirpal and S.P.Barucha. The verdict was in response to a Public Interest Litigation filed by Narmada Bachao Aandolan appealing to the court to order a stay to the further construction of Sardar Sarovar Dam as the rehabilitation of the displaced poor had not reached anywhere.
Barring S.P.Barucha, who passed a dissenting judgement, Chief Justice Anand and Justice Kirpal passed a verdict allowing the authorities to proceed with the construction. The hapless poor felt themselves in the lurch by the highest court of the land. This verdict was passed on October 18, 2000.
Nine years have elapsed since then. Governments came. Governments went. Ministers came. Ministers went. Judges came. Judges went. Mindsets underwent enormous changes. And are still undergoing vast changes. Much water has flowed down Narmada since then.
Now the Chief Justice of India (CJI) is Justice K.G.Balakrishnan.
While taking part in a seminar on Law and Environment on May 21 at Chandigarh, he stressed the need for protecting our environment and he didn’t even forget to advise those responsible, to shelve a project whenever it is found to be detrimental to our ecology. Justice Mukundakam Sharma who participated along with Justice Balakrishnan in the seminar also dwelt on the importance of protecting our environment and to desist from deforestation and rapid industrialisation urged all to spread awareness about ecological protection.
The subject of climate change has turned out to be a hot issue haunting the environmentalists, Scientists and citizens across the globe. The Copenhagen summit is fast approaching where a vast number of nations are supposed to participate to deliberate upon and evolve new solutions to save the earth from a catastrophe. The growth of developed as well as developing nations ,both stakeholders alike, have to gird up their loins and fight to bring down the level of carbon emissions in the ensuing years. It is said that even if the developed nations bring their carbon emissions to zero degree level, it won’t prove to be a blessing to all if the developing nations are left untouched. Means, they have also to play prominent roles - and if debt-ridden appeal for aid from developed nations or the latter must generously extend their helping hands. We should ensure in the process that coming generation’s future shouldn’t be cooked at any cost, as one environmentalist put it.)
In comes another verdict passed by the highest court of our land, the Supreme Court. It is the case of a well-known human-rights activist Dr.Binayak Sen. He was incarcerated in a Chattisgarh Jail in May 14, 2007. Dr.Sen who is a reputed padeatrician who cared a lot for the down-trodden in the society was a regular visitor to a Chattisgarh jail to treat the inmates. He was imprisoned on the charges of acting as a courier of to a maoist inmate of the prison by the State government. Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was slapped on him by the Government. The well-known human-rights activist had to languish in the prison for two years inspite of protests and processions staged by human-rights activists and intellectuals around the world.
Finally his case reached the Supreme Court and the jury consisting of Justice Markandeya Katju and Justice Deepak Verma freed him within no time, telling Dr.Sen’s eminent lawyer Shantibhushan that, “We know the facts of this case. He has been in jail for two years. We are granting him bail”.
Touching, to say the least. A pro-active Judiciary free from a
dogmatic approach and with a humanitarian attitude is always a
blessing for the society at large.
Similar is the case with our judiciary also. Years ago judiciary was seen by many in our society as the prisoner of elite and also holding a dogmatic approach which allegedly cared nothing for the uplift of the masses. Gradually Judiciary’s mindset underwent sea -change for the good of the society. Jurists of the calibre of Justice V.R.Krishna Iyer were there, he always cared for the social aspects while passing judgements. Justice Krishna Iyer, the nonagenarian, now in the twilight of his life is still active albeit his old age and poor health, pens a lot for drawing the attention of those at the helm of affairs towards the inequalities still prevailing in our society.
Once in a while a Krishna Iyer is incarnated over the past one decade or two but that couldn’t save much purpose.
On thinking about Judiciary and Judicial activism, writer and social activist Arundhati Roy came to my mind. In her book “Algebra of Infinite Justice” , she has mentioned about a Supreme Court verdict pronounced by a three member jury consisting of A.S.Anand, J.P.Kirpal and S.P.Barucha. The verdict was in response to a Public Interest Litigation filed by Narmada Bachao Aandolan appealing to the court to order a stay to the further construction of Sardar Sarovar Dam as the rehabilitation of the displaced poor had not reached anywhere.
Barring S.P.Barucha, who passed a dissenting judgement, Chief Justice Anand and Justice Kirpal passed a verdict allowing the authorities to proceed with the construction. The hapless poor felt themselves in the lurch by the highest court of the land. This verdict was passed on October 18, 2000.
Nine years have elapsed since then. Governments came. Governments went. Ministers came. Ministers went. Judges came. Judges went. Mindsets underwent enormous changes. And are still undergoing vast changes. Much water has flowed down Narmada since then.
Now the Chief Justice of India (CJI) is Justice K.G.Balakrishnan.
While taking part in a seminar on Law and Environment on May 21 at Chandigarh, he stressed the need for protecting our environment and he didn’t even forget to advise those responsible, to shelve a project whenever it is found to be detrimental to our ecology. Justice Mukundakam Sharma who participated along with Justice Balakrishnan in the seminar also dwelt on the importance of protecting our environment and to desist from deforestation and rapid industrialisation urged all to spread awareness about ecological protection.
The subject of climate change has turned out to be a hot issue haunting the environmentalists, Scientists and citizens across the globe. The Copenhagen summit is fast approaching where a vast number of nations are supposed to participate to deliberate upon and evolve new solutions to save the earth from a catastrophe. The growth of developed as well as developing nations ,both stakeholders alike, have to gird up their loins and fight to bring down the level of carbon emissions in the ensuing years. It is said that even if the developed nations bring their carbon emissions to zero degree level, it won’t prove to be a blessing to all if the developing nations are left untouched. Means, they have also to play prominent roles - and if debt-ridden appeal for aid from developed nations or the latter must generously extend their helping hands. We should ensure in the process that coming generation’s future shouldn’t be cooked at any cost, as one environmentalist put it.)
In comes another verdict passed by the highest court of our land, the Supreme Court. It is the case of a well-known human-rights activist Dr.Binayak Sen. He was incarcerated in a Chattisgarh Jail in May 14, 2007. Dr.Sen who is a reputed padeatrician who cared a lot for the down-trodden in the society was a regular visitor to a Chattisgarh jail to treat the inmates. He was imprisoned on the charges of acting as a courier of to a maoist inmate of the prison by the State government. Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was slapped on him by the Government. The well-known human-rights activist had to languish in the prison for two years inspite of protests and processions staged by human-rights activists and intellectuals around the world.
Finally his case reached the Supreme Court and the jury consisting of Justice Markandeya Katju and Justice Deepak Verma freed him within no time, telling Dr.Sen’s eminent lawyer Shantibhushan that, “We know the facts of this case. He has been in jail for two years. We are granting him bail”.
Touching, to say the least. A pro-active Judiciary free from a
dogmatic approach and with a humanitarian attitude is always a
blessing for the society at large.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
“BERTH PANGS” OF A NEW MINISTRY
Vinod Mehta, Editor-in-Chief of Outlook, during a talk-show in NDTV 24X7 was heard saying about the long memories of elephants one year ago. His comment was in the context of discussing about Kumari Mayawati, presently Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh whose party’s election-symbol is incidentally elephant.
I recalled the event while going through a weekly column ‘Reductio Ad Absurdum’ in The New Indian Express dated 23-05-09, by its Editor-in-Chief, Aditya Sinha who is based in Chennai. I enjoy his weekly column due to his inherent sense of humour especially when writing about the great Indian circus- Indian politics.
Last Saturday his column dwelt mainly on the ‘ditching’ of former allies of UPA by Indian National Congress. According to Mr.Sinha, the ruthless spurning of certain allies was most unbecoming of Indian National Congress and as per his observation the spurning really smacks of arrogance on the part of Indian National Congress, the Grand Old Party of India.
Mr. Sinha while casting aspersions on Congress for distancing itself from some regional parties with whose support Dr.ManMohanSingh governed the nation for the full five year term (2004-2009) warns of the consequences in the long run. According to him, spurned friends have long memories like pachyderms and hence it would have been better on the part of Dr.ManMohanSingh to have invited them to join the government.
I do not want to contest Mr.Sinha’s claim as he has every right to stick to his claim. Conveniently or not, Mr.Sinha forgets the history of the oldest National Party of India, yes it was to be squarely blamed for its reckless governance not giving much of its attention to the overall development of nation as a whole in the fields of infrastructure, poverty, malnutrition, illiteracy and a host of essential aspects especially on the social front for decades after independence. If the people got fed up with governance of the party and formed regional parties under local leaders to fight for their well-being and prosperity of the States they represented, they could not be blamed. The mushrooming of regional parties, in later years under different local leaders gradually lost their real goal of bringing prosperity to their States and instead by hook or crook, concentrated more in amassing crores and also for leading pompous lives shedding all ethics which any political party is bound to have always. Selfishness and greed became their motto. And in the process generosity and magnanimity turned to be the casualities. The common man and the poverty stricken became the ultimate losers.
With the mushrooming of regional parties on a daily basis, ego-clashes, the urge to draw national attention and piling up crores became the ulterior motives of the regional parties and it continues to be so, Indian National Congress and Communist Party of India (its splinter parties also abound now) were forced to “beat a retreat”. During election times the national parties which became marginal in due course had to seek support of the regional parties of each State and had to be satisfied with the crumbs the regional parties threw to them.
Indian citizens have also long memories, I think so. While the national party took care to uplift them, the latter felt no hesitation in voting for them. And when the GOP went off the track forgetting their obligations to the masses the latter derived solace in casting votes to the regional parties expecting a lot from their rulers.
In course off time, those regional outfits got power-drunk and arrogant caring not much of their subjects. The masses changed their tracks. They got fed up. What an average Indian citizen mostly expects is a square meal a day and he votes for the party which provides it.
And the Grand Old Party, Indian National Congress could fathom the depth of the despair of the masses and could feel the pulse of the common man by keeping aloof from certain squabbling regional outfits contested on their own and they reaped dividends. It proved to be a wise decision.
Now have a look at Indraprastha. Our Prime Minister, Dr.ManMohanSingh is literally sweating it out to pacify and placate a sulking DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) led by Sharad Pawar and Trinamool Congress of Mamata Banerji, by allotting berths in the Ministry to the satisfaction of all. These outfits are in a nasty race for capturing plum portfolios in the Ministry forgetting all their grand promises to the electorate during their whirlwind election campaign. DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) and TC (Trinamool Congress) of Mamata Banerji, one confined to Tamil Nadu and the other to West Bengal are notorious for their regional chauvinism. How long the ‘berth pangs’ will continue to haunt Dr.Singh is anybody’s guess. And if Congress was forced to accommodate all the regional outfits in the Ministry, the unfolding of an absurd drama would have been the consequence.
Will the ruling party come to grip with Indian realities and proceed along the path of human welfare, especially the common man (Aam Admi) in the coming days? We have to wait for the euphoria to settle down.
I recalled the event while going through a weekly column ‘Reductio Ad Absurdum’ in The New Indian Express dated 23-05-09, by its Editor-in-Chief, Aditya Sinha who is based in Chennai. I enjoy his weekly column due to his inherent sense of humour especially when writing about the great Indian circus- Indian politics.
Last Saturday his column dwelt mainly on the ‘ditching’ of former allies of UPA by Indian National Congress. According to Mr.Sinha, the ruthless spurning of certain allies was most unbecoming of Indian National Congress and as per his observation the spurning really smacks of arrogance on the part of Indian National Congress, the Grand Old Party of India.
Mr. Sinha while casting aspersions on Congress for distancing itself from some regional parties with whose support Dr.ManMohanSingh governed the nation for the full five year term (2004-2009) warns of the consequences in the long run. According to him, spurned friends have long memories like pachyderms and hence it would have been better on the part of Dr.ManMohanSingh to have invited them to join the government.
I do not want to contest Mr.Sinha’s claim as he has every right to stick to his claim. Conveniently or not, Mr.Sinha forgets the history of the oldest National Party of India, yes it was to be squarely blamed for its reckless governance not giving much of its attention to the overall development of nation as a whole in the fields of infrastructure, poverty, malnutrition, illiteracy and a host of essential aspects especially on the social front for decades after independence. If the people got fed up with governance of the party and formed regional parties under local leaders to fight for their well-being and prosperity of the States they represented, they could not be blamed. The mushrooming of regional parties, in later years under different local leaders gradually lost their real goal of bringing prosperity to their States and instead by hook or crook, concentrated more in amassing crores and also for leading pompous lives shedding all ethics which any political party is bound to have always. Selfishness and greed became their motto. And in the process generosity and magnanimity turned to be the casualities. The common man and the poverty stricken became the ultimate losers.
With the mushrooming of regional parties on a daily basis, ego-clashes, the urge to draw national attention and piling up crores became the ulterior motives of the regional parties and it continues to be so, Indian National Congress and Communist Party of India (its splinter parties also abound now) were forced to “beat a retreat”. During election times the national parties which became marginal in due course had to seek support of the regional parties of each State and had to be satisfied with the crumbs the regional parties threw to them.
Indian citizens have also long memories, I think so. While the national party took care to uplift them, the latter felt no hesitation in voting for them. And when the GOP went off the track forgetting their obligations to the masses the latter derived solace in casting votes to the regional parties expecting a lot from their rulers.
In course off time, those regional outfits got power-drunk and arrogant caring not much of their subjects. The masses changed their tracks. They got fed up. What an average Indian citizen mostly expects is a square meal a day and he votes for the party which provides it.
And the Grand Old Party, Indian National Congress could fathom the depth of the despair of the masses and could feel the pulse of the common man by keeping aloof from certain squabbling regional outfits contested on their own and they reaped dividends. It proved to be a wise decision.
Now have a look at Indraprastha. Our Prime Minister, Dr.ManMohanSingh is literally sweating it out to pacify and placate a sulking DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) led by Sharad Pawar and Trinamool Congress of Mamata Banerji, by allotting berths in the Ministry to the satisfaction of all. These outfits are in a nasty race for capturing plum portfolios in the Ministry forgetting all their grand promises to the electorate during their whirlwind election campaign. DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) and TC (Trinamool Congress) of Mamata Banerji, one confined to Tamil Nadu and the other to West Bengal are notorious for their regional chauvinism. How long the ‘berth pangs’ will continue to haunt Dr.Singh is anybody’s guess. And if Congress was forced to accommodate all the regional outfits in the Ministry, the unfolding of an absurd drama would have been the consequence.
Will the ruling party come to grip with Indian realities and proceed along the path of human welfare, especially the common man (Aam Admi) in the coming days? We have to wait for the euphoria to settle down.
Friday, May 22, 2009
ABOUT RUBINA ALI AND AZHARUDHEEN ISMAIL – THEIR PLIGHT
Azharudheen Ismail seems to beseech us- please don’t forget me!
Rubina Ali seems to weep loudly and implores us with folded palms- please don’t forget me!
Hundreds and hundreds, thousands and thousands of Azharudheen Ismails’ and Rubina Alis’ cries explode in our ears daily to extend a helping hand to wriggle out of a quagmire of poverty, malnutrition and homelessness.
We tend to ignore all their cries for help.
How many among us know who this Rubina Ali is. How many among us know who this Azharudheen Ismail is.
How many of us recall the Oscar Award Winner ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ which brought before the world the pathetic life of slum-dwellers?
Azharudheen Ismail and Rubina Ali were two main child actors of ‘SlumDog Millionaire’ which brought fame, glory and alongside the murkier side of an India about which many a people across the world is unaware of.
Bandra(E) is known to an average Mumbaikar. He/she is also aware of the shanties along the railway lines of Bandra. Last week Mumbai civic authorities demolished a part of about 30 shanties defying the protests and helpless cries of the slum-dwellers. One among the demolished slums was that of Azharudheen Ismail, the child hero of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. The news about the demolishing of Azharudheen’s- the little celebrity- couldn’t even create much of a flutter among us.
The case was similar when the news about the ramshackling of another part of shanties was flashed across the TV screens and through Print Media on 20-5-2009. In the second episode of the serial ‘demolishings’, Brihu Mumbai Municipal Authorities created history of sorts by demolishing among other slums, the slum of Rubina Ali, the main female actor of the film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. While the demolishing process was going on , the child was in the market to purchase something, her second mother was at the spot to make a hue and cry, the authorities cared two hoots for her protestations and the makeshift area disappeared within seconds.
Not much hullabaloo. Not much hue and cry. Business as usual in the city. Politicians are pretty hectic in their activities. Post-election scenario is turning out to be transparent day by day. The victorious ones upbeat. Those who remained with great expectations and lost in the race mulling their next course of action still licking their wounds simultaneously don’t much bother about Azharudheen Ismail and Rubina Ali. The elections are over for the time being. And hence the shedding of crocodile tears also have to take some leisure moments.
The producers of the Oscar winner have also not much to say about the little child actors of the film who were instrumental in piling up huge collection for them. The trend of things happening in our nation.
Dehumanization of the society is not common to India, but to the World as a whole and the reversal of the process is the dream of an average peace-loving world citizen.
Rubina Ali seems to weep loudly and implores us with folded palms- please don’t forget me!
Hundreds and hundreds, thousands and thousands of Azharudheen Ismails’ and Rubina Alis’ cries explode in our ears daily to extend a helping hand to wriggle out of a quagmire of poverty, malnutrition and homelessness.
We tend to ignore all their cries for help.
How many among us know who this Rubina Ali is. How many among us know who this Azharudheen Ismail is.
How many of us recall the Oscar Award Winner ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ which brought before the world the pathetic life of slum-dwellers?
Azharudheen Ismail and Rubina Ali were two main child actors of ‘SlumDog Millionaire’ which brought fame, glory and alongside the murkier side of an India about which many a people across the world is unaware of.
Bandra(E) is known to an average Mumbaikar. He/she is also aware of the shanties along the railway lines of Bandra. Last week Mumbai civic authorities demolished a part of about 30 shanties defying the protests and helpless cries of the slum-dwellers. One among the demolished slums was that of Azharudheen Ismail, the child hero of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. The news about the demolishing of Azharudheen’s- the little celebrity- couldn’t even create much of a flutter among us.
The case was similar when the news about the ramshackling of another part of shanties was flashed across the TV screens and through Print Media on 20-5-2009. In the second episode of the serial ‘demolishings’, Brihu Mumbai Municipal Authorities created history of sorts by demolishing among other slums, the slum of Rubina Ali, the main female actor of the film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. While the demolishing process was going on , the child was in the market to purchase something, her second mother was at the spot to make a hue and cry, the authorities cared two hoots for her protestations and the makeshift area disappeared within seconds.
Not much hullabaloo. Not much hue and cry. Business as usual in the city. Politicians are pretty hectic in their activities. Post-election scenario is turning out to be transparent day by day. The victorious ones upbeat. Those who remained with great expectations and lost in the race mulling their next course of action still licking their wounds simultaneously don’t much bother about Azharudheen Ismail and Rubina Ali. The elections are over for the time being. And hence the shedding of crocodile tears also have to take some leisure moments.
The producers of the Oscar winner have also not much to say about the little child actors of the film who were instrumental in piling up huge collection for them. The trend of things happening in our nation.
Dehumanization of the society is not common to India, but to the World as a whole and the reversal of the process is the dream of an average peace-loving world citizen.
CERTAIN SALUTARY ASPECTS OF 15th GENERAL ELECTIONS AND ITS VERDICT
The dust has been settled, a clear picture merged and the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) led by Indian National Congress is back with a renewed mandate, albeit within a short distance to reach the magical figure of 272. That doesn’t matter. The UPA led by the Party has more than enough supporters in queues to provide a stable government without expecting cabinet berths or anything of that sorts. No need to be embarrassed or surprised by the decisions taken by some power hungry politicians - not because they became the ardent devotees of Lord Krishna overnight, whose advice to Arjuna, the veteran Kshathriya warrior not to wait for the fruits of his action- but because quite unexpectedly their calculations and hopes went awry after the final results emerged. Shattered dreams like a broken glass castle are something painful and in politics also such painful things occur quite unexpectedly especially during election.
AmarSingh, SP leader was in an upbeat mood days before the elections and he was awaiting for an opportune moment to extract his pound of flesh from the UPA, as it was predicted to have a slight edge over the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) led by BJP and the Third Front led by Leftists with a hotchpotch of opportunist parties like AIADMK, TDP and PMK who were waiting keeping options open.
Soon after the clear picture became evident to all the Congress leaders like DigVijay Singh and Janardhan Dwivedi, they went euphoric within no time, such is the way of the world sir, openly declared Congress Party’s determination to keep SP (Samajwadi Party) out of the alliance once and for all. Their statements dealt heavy blows to the already humiliated Samajwadi Party with its 23 seats and INC contrary to their own expectations could improve its tally with 21 seats in UP, thus establishing their clout in the State with largest number of Parliament seats. Out of 80 seats in the State, BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) led by the Chief Minister Kumari Mayawati could garner only 19 seats much to her chagrin. Now she has also come out into the open with unconditional support to the coming UPA led government, ie with no strings attached.
Amar Singh was ‘heart-broken’ on hearing the statements of DigVijay Singh and Party spokesman Janardhan Dwivedi. They should not have spoken so rudely, after all it was Amar Singh’s Party which rushed to the rescue of ManMohanSingh government at a time the leftists withdrew support to UPA on the issue of Civil Nuclear Deal. “Too ruthless Too thankless and most unbecoming.”
Lalu Prasad Yadav bit by the sting find its very hard to swallow the pain after the unexpected drubbing his Party suffered at the hustings and the unexpected victory of Congress even to its leaders is in a pathetic state. His friend Ram Vilas Paswan is now nowhere in the picture after the leader himself drawing a blank at Hajipur constituency. He was quite magnanimous when he declared ( to quote his own words) ‘those who bring power to the centre should be worshipped. I couldn’t do it unfortunately.’
The Fourth front consisting of RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal), LJP (Lok Janshakti Party) and SP (Samajwadi Party) formed with the sole purpose of exerting maximum pressure on the UPA alliance which was supposed to have a slight edge over other fronts to extract the maximum from the coming government have nothing much to demand from it.
Unconditional support with no demands for the consummation of a stable government so as to enable it to deliver maximum prosperity and happiness to the ‘Aam Admi’ (common man) is only their motivation. Howzaat ? All in desperate rush to save the country from vested interests. Patriotic gentlemen always move ahead in tandem or on the same wavelength.
Even NDA (National Democratic Alliance) who were also dreaming power at the centre and most vocal in its criticism against the UPA alliance and the Third front have shed its belligerent mood and have decided to keep a low profile for the time being and at the same time have decided to extend constructive opposition to the government in the coming days.
Regional parties except a few were the worst sufferers in the 15th General Elections. The ruling alliance at the centre, if sincere in catering to the needs of dissatisfaction in certain parts of the country the mushrooming of regional parties can be avoided to a large extent. And that is a good omen. Those who associated with them to garner maximum number of seats, with glowing dreams of a prosperous dawn also fell in the quagmire of petty politics losing much of their fame, rigour, the revolutionary zeal and glory. The leftists swam with these regional players and in the process sunk with them. The one, INC which was ready for the gamble to regain the lost glory of the Party tasted victory albeit with a partial success. The frantic efforts of Lalus’, AmarSinghs’ and Mayawatis’ to rally behind the governing alliance are exercises in futility if they are always kept at a reasonable distance.
AmarSingh, SP leader was in an upbeat mood days before the elections and he was awaiting for an opportune moment to extract his pound of flesh from the UPA, as it was predicted to have a slight edge over the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) led by BJP and the Third Front led by Leftists with a hotchpotch of opportunist parties like AIADMK, TDP and PMK who were waiting keeping options open.
Soon after the clear picture became evident to all the Congress leaders like DigVijay Singh and Janardhan Dwivedi, they went euphoric within no time, such is the way of the world sir, openly declared Congress Party’s determination to keep SP (Samajwadi Party) out of the alliance once and for all. Their statements dealt heavy blows to the already humiliated Samajwadi Party with its 23 seats and INC contrary to their own expectations could improve its tally with 21 seats in UP, thus establishing their clout in the State with largest number of Parliament seats. Out of 80 seats in the State, BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) led by the Chief Minister Kumari Mayawati could garner only 19 seats much to her chagrin. Now she has also come out into the open with unconditional support to the coming UPA led government, ie with no strings attached.
Amar Singh was ‘heart-broken’ on hearing the statements of DigVijay Singh and Party spokesman Janardhan Dwivedi. They should not have spoken so rudely, after all it was Amar Singh’s Party which rushed to the rescue of ManMohanSingh government at a time the leftists withdrew support to UPA on the issue of Civil Nuclear Deal. “Too ruthless Too thankless and most unbecoming.”
Lalu Prasad Yadav bit by the sting find its very hard to swallow the pain after the unexpected drubbing his Party suffered at the hustings and the unexpected victory of Congress even to its leaders is in a pathetic state. His friend Ram Vilas Paswan is now nowhere in the picture after the leader himself drawing a blank at Hajipur constituency. He was quite magnanimous when he declared ( to quote his own words) ‘those who bring power to the centre should be worshipped. I couldn’t do it unfortunately.’
The Fourth front consisting of RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal), LJP (Lok Janshakti Party) and SP (Samajwadi Party) formed with the sole purpose of exerting maximum pressure on the UPA alliance which was supposed to have a slight edge over other fronts to extract the maximum from the coming government have nothing much to demand from it.
Unconditional support with no demands for the consummation of a stable government so as to enable it to deliver maximum prosperity and happiness to the ‘Aam Admi’ (common man) is only their motivation. Howzaat ? All in desperate rush to save the country from vested interests. Patriotic gentlemen always move ahead in tandem or on the same wavelength.
Even NDA (National Democratic Alliance) who were also dreaming power at the centre and most vocal in its criticism against the UPA alliance and the Third front have shed its belligerent mood and have decided to keep a low profile for the time being and at the same time have decided to extend constructive opposition to the government in the coming days.
Regional parties except a few were the worst sufferers in the 15th General Elections. The ruling alliance at the centre, if sincere in catering to the needs of dissatisfaction in certain parts of the country the mushrooming of regional parties can be avoided to a large extent. And that is a good omen. Those who associated with them to garner maximum number of seats, with glowing dreams of a prosperous dawn also fell in the quagmire of petty politics losing much of their fame, rigour, the revolutionary zeal and glory. The leftists swam with these regional players and in the process sunk with them. The one, INC which was ready for the gamble to regain the lost glory of the Party tasted victory albeit with a partial success. The frantic efforts of Lalus’, AmarSinghs’ and Mayawatis’ to rally behind the governing alliance are exercises in futility if they are always kept at a reasonable distance.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
DREAMING OF SPRING TIME TO ARRIVE
I always call him Comrade. True, I know his real name with initials. Admit. Some friends call him by his initials. But I call him Comrade. It is my preference.
He is a revolutionary. Fire-brand ofcourse. Whenever he addresses his Comrades, the real revolutionary in him comes out into the open. He spits fire. He shivers with rage. His baritone voice goes up up and up to great heights. So, says his closest comrades. And on listening to his thunderous speeches their spirits rise up in tandem.
Sorry, I have not yet met him in person. That luck still remains elusive, since we got in touch with each other over phone ten years ago. One day, yes, one day I will meet him, exchange pleasantries with him and will engage in serious discussions connected with trade union, politics, art, literature and culture.
Once in a while, I see him in print media, visual media, leading processions chanting slogans with clenched fists and his voice reverberating all over the surroundings. Tall, sturdy, bushy growth of hair covering his head, thick moustached and clean shaven. Ofcourse a typical revolutionary.
Whenever I think about him I am reminded of former shining jewel of Mumbai journalism, Behram Contractor alias Busybee, who with his daily evening column, ‘Round and About’, first in Evening Times of Times of India (Behram Contractor was Times Of India’s Bombay bureau Chief), then Mid-day and after a short stint in Mid-day his own Afternoon Despatch Courier. The Mumbaikars were madly after him, his evening column with his illuminating style and substance, provided us food for thought and also a great deal to have hearty laughs while on commuting to our homes in the local trains or while waiting for buses at bus-stops, coffee houses, beer parlours, anywhere and everywhere in Mumbai. After a hectic day in offices immersed in tiresome and tedious jobs, Busybee was always there outside to rejuvenate our sagging spirits, to enable us to relax and rejoice with his ‘Round and About’.
But our Busybee in the city doesn’t have much in his kitty to provide us happiness and leisure. Even without it he is a Busybee. In his city he is always held in high esteem for his sincerity to the cause of people, especially employees, incidentally- he is also an employee - and also for his contribution to the development of art, literature and culture by being the owner, printer and publisher of a cultural magazine and to film world by being the head of a film society to display good and sensible films which have something for them to contribute to the growth and enlightenment of society as a whole.
The busy schedule stretching from early morning till late into the night actually deprives him from leading a successful family life. But he continues to be happy or pretends to be happy to everyone, his wife, who also continues to be happy or goes on pretending to be happy to her near and dear ones by not showing or displaying pain and sorrow - a sort of existential agony - for failing to have a flower bloom in their life even after twenty five years of marital bliss.
He comes late into the night. She calmly, patiently waits for him beside the telephone till his arrival under the table lamp reading something which is the only source of her solace, love and affection till the footsteps of her beloved approach infront of the door.. After a shower, he comes out afresh, combs the hair in front of a mirror and both of them sit opposite to each other and serve and share dinner, under the ceiling fan revolving at its peak. Not much to talk to each other. Even if there is something to talk about, not much time is left to spare because it is very late in the night and both of them have to get up early, for her to go to the kitchen and him to the office.
When, part of a story remains fully unveiled, the other part remains veiled and nobody cares to know about it. After all who is here to think and feel sorry for a barren existence or a barren island in the hustle and bustle of an urban existence? This is after all the whole gamut of the humdrum existence of all of us, humanbeings.
He is a revolutionary. Fire-brand ofcourse. Whenever he addresses his Comrades, the real revolutionary in him comes out into the open. He spits fire. He shivers with rage. His baritone voice goes up up and up to great heights. So, says his closest comrades. And on listening to his thunderous speeches their spirits rise up in tandem.
Sorry, I have not yet met him in person. That luck still remains elusive, since we got in touch with each other over phone ten years ago. One day, yes, one day I will meet him, exchange pleasantries with him and will engage in serious discussions connected with trade union, politics, art, literature and culture.
Once in a while, I see him in print media, visual media, leading processions chanting slogans with clenched fists and his voice reverberating all over the surroundings. Tall, sturdy, bushy growth of hair covering his head, thick moustached and clean shaven. Ofcourse a typical revolutionary.
Whenever I think about him I am reminded of former shining jewel of Mumbai journalism, Behram Contractor alias Busybee, who with his daily evening column, ‘Round and About’, first in Evening Times of Times of India (Behram Contractor was Times Of India’s Bombay bureau Chief), then Mid-day and after a short stint in Mid-day his own Afternoon Despatch Courier. The Mumbaikars were madly after him, his evening column with his illuminating style and substance, provided us food for thought and also a great deal to have hearty laughs while on commuting to our homes in the local trains or while waiting for buses at bus-stops, coffee houses, beer parlours, anywhere and everywhere in Mumbai. After a hectic day in offices immersed in tiresome and tedious jobs, Busybee was always there outside to rejuvenate our sagging spirits, to enable us to relax and rejoice with his ‘Round and About’.
But our Busybee in the city doesn’t have much in his kitty to provide us happiness and leisure. Even without it he is a Busybee. In his city he is always held in high esteem for his sincerity to the cause of people, especially employees, incidentally- he is also an employee - and also for his contribution to the development of art, literature and culture by being the owner, printer and publisher of a cultural magazine and to film world by being the head of a film society to display good and sensible films which have something for them to contribute to the growth and enlightenment of society as a whole.
The busy schedule stretching from early morning till late into the night actually deprives him from leading a successful family life. But he continues to be happy or pretends to be happy to everyone, his wife, who also continues to be happy or goes on pretending to be happy to her near and dear ones by not showing or displaying pain and sorrow - a sort of existential agony - for failing to have a flower bloom in their life even after twenty five years of marital bliss.
He comes late into the night. She calmly, patiently waits for him beside the telephone till his arrival under the table lamp reading something which is the only source of her solace, love and affection till the footsteps of her beloved approach infront of the door.. After a shower, he comes out afresh, combs the hair in front of a mirror and both of them sit opposite to each other and serve and share dinner, under the ceiling fan revolving at its peak. Not much to talk to each other. Even if there is something to talk about, not much time is left to spare because it is very late in the night and both of them have to get up early, for her to go to the kitchen and him to the office.
When, part of a story remains fully unveiled, the other part remains veiled and nobody cares to know about it. After all who is here to think and feel sorry for a barren existence or a barren island in the hustle and bustle of an urban existence? This is after all the whole gamut of the humdrum existence of all of us, humanbeings.
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