It has taken me a mammoth 6 hours to get started with this post, simply due to the lack of an appropriate title and an appropriate beginning. So, now that I have finally decided to get started, what better way to do it than to relate it to a previous post of one of my friend’s.
Why this sudden spurt of patriotism and Indianness I can’t say, but I’m glad that it has at least come. Better late than never!
One major event which has provoked this post is the current Indo-US Nuke deal. The media merrily calls it a huge success and an astounding breakthrough, but what does the deal offer for a common Indian? As things stand, what we need is not nuclear weapons, but food, water and basic amenities. The anti-Bush protests by carried out by the Left parties, Arundathi Roy and many other activists successfully echo the sentiments of the vast struggling majority of the population who have been overlooked in this whole affair. While the US has agreed to supply India with nuclear amenities (read as ammunition), India has knowingly fallen prey to the US’ strategic interests. Suppose the US starts a war on Iran now, India will be forced to partner the US and send its troops to Iran, something which it refused to do in the case of Iraq, thereby assisting the US in its mission to conquer the world! Adding to trouble is the fact that this Nuke deal has to pass through the US Senate before it gets implemented, something which clearly seems impossible in the short run. True that India has a lot to gain from a partnership with the US but in doing so, it has shred away the vast tradition of ahimsa and righteousness which it has been an epitome of.
A second event which managed to take center stage in spite of the Bush visit, is the recent spat between Ganguly and Chappell (Yes, we gotta go through this ALL over again!). Chappell stated in an interview that Ganguly was imperative in him getting the job as the coach of team India. He however failed to repay the favour to Ganguly and had him thrown out of the team stating that he was way past the end of his cricketing career! Finally, someone has had the guts to nail that fact to him! Ganguly has now complained about Greg Chappell to Sharad Pawar, who knows as much about cricket as he knows about a multiple vein dilation in the left pampiniform plexus! When and where will this end?
Five IIT graduates have decided to sacrifice their best part of their lives to form a political party to contest in the upcoming elections. The Lok Paritran, as they call it, has its own website and do visit it to donate for their cause. The future of our country does lie in the youth and this is a positive step forward in the right direction. I wish them success in their endeavours.
Jessica Lal, an aspiring model, was murdered 10 years ago in a bar when she refused to serve a drink beyond 12 in the night, abiding by the rules of our constitution. She was shot dead by Manu Sharma, the son of a Haryana M.P. All the 10 accused were acquitted in spite of the strong evidence favouring the victim. The case has resurfaced now and the Delhi Police have been found guilty of neglect. I wish ill to that cop who accepted the bribe to set free the accused.
It’s true that none of us plan to do anything about the poor state of affairs in the country, but at times like these, we can just spare a moment for neglected and contribute in any minuscule manner we can.
