Is India, the real India that is being projected from
time to time, by media and people alike, both within the country as well as
abroad? There is a need to take a closer look at the issue now, especially
owing to the recent developments which made people of lesser denomination, who
lack basic culture, education and sophistication, yea with hardly any education
too, making a beeline to take a democratically elected government head on as
their target on issues that have been hanging fire since the decline of the
Indian National Congress since a couple of decades now. But to what effect have they succeeded? Incidentally, the topic which has been
wrongly and deliberately raked up by a number of people, that too for wrong
reasons is corruption.
A study
of Indian History would leave no one in doubt about the umpteen instances of
fraud, barbarity, treachery, persecution and crime committed by people of
diverse regions, of different tribes, dynasties, kingdoms or people. Unfortunately, the thrust has always come
from the religious majority which group casts an ominous shadow of threat over
the rest of the religious minorities like Muslims, Christians or any other
religious group. Incidentally, people of India never managed to establish a
rapport among its diverse people or regions, so as to ensure an unbroken and
unblemished record of righteous living, be it at the very start of civilization
in the Indian sub-continent or right up to the present day modern age.
Today,
as we take pride in having survived those turbulent days of rivalry, communal
tension, intriguing riots, intercaste feud, ominous wars and battles, followed
by usurping of throne, butchery of kith and kin as well as making or breaking
with neighbouring countries , there is a crying need to look back at the
agonizing centuries or years which made our today possible.
People who,
with little or no education to their credit but daring to circumvent facts and
figures for taking on an elected government presently doing their term to the
utmost satisfaction of people and regions, ought to know that the nation they
pretend to defend on one issue or the other, has a very obscure and dubious
past, the facts of which do not at all speak well of its people.
During
the early ages when Dravidians crossed over from the Indus valley in to the
northern regions to settled there, tilling the soil and taming cattle for a
living, they neither had a religion to rely on, nor a government to cater to
their needs. However, with firm faith in their own ability to rely on nature
and its produce, they kept up their bid to live and let live hordes of other
people like themselves who too made a living through hard work and the sweat of
their brow.
Unfortunately,
it did not take them long to understand that their race were a far superior one
with an identity which would tell highly on their attitude, which fact makes
them a unique people who live like one whole nation without making the others
their own victim of highhandedness. History speaks of how a different race
called Aryans soon crossed over from the Indus
regions and after driving them out forcefully came to occupy the north on their
own. Naturally, the Dravidians had to abandon what little they had for a
possession and run away to the south. Today they are a people with an identity
of their own. They the Dravidians are a submissive lot giving no place to mar
the relations between diverse people and religions. Frankly speaking, the act
of driving the Dravidians out of their settlements by Aryans, obviously a
vicious people, amounted to gross corruption, which trait cannot be overlooked
even today.
How much
butchery the Aryans might then have inflicted on the Dravidians is nobody’s
guess. When all is said and done, one needs to admit that the Dravidians and
their descendants even today exhibit an exemplary attitude vis-a-vis the
Aryans, who are yet to come to terms with a civilized age of modern day
world.
Corruption,
howsoever one might view it, is an innate tendency within everyone, with the
one only difference that the extent to which this fire of greed might rage
within a person can only be gauged individually by each one. But naming people in the government or
pointing fingers at others only makes one vulnerable to aspersions that being
flung by people who have a better outlook of life and its related aspects.
During
the middle of the 18th century as the industrial revolution and
technical advancement took England first and soon the other parts of Europe by
surprise, giving tremendous boost to the overall domestic and agricultural life
of people, there also started a race by various nations in an attempt to
dominate the Indian arena for enarging their own base. However, the British under the East India
Company, who enjoyed the monopoly in trade by the Royal Grant, secured a strong
base to expand its trade in India
and other Asian countries. With the prospects of many of the local dynasties
and empires showing a decline in trend and influence, the British managed to
monopolize most Indian markets triggering a tremendous boost to the East India
Company, the magnitude of which only matched their nearest rival the
Dutch.
Gradually
the trade rivalry frittered away leaving the British to hold sway over vast
areas of Indian markets thus bringing the Indian peninsula under the influence
of England
headed by its Queen Elizabeth I.
Finding
the overall situation conducive to extensive trade and for confiscating the
rich minerals and wealth of the nation, the British opted to stay on to
colonize the land and rule the people with a heavy hand. However, the natives
read through their ploy realizing the while how the country was being plundered
by the British and therefore, they rose in unison and engaged in a revolt for
gaining control of their motherland.
Since
time immemorial, India
has been inclined to clash on the line of religion. The tussle on most occasions happen to be
between Hindus, who constitute the majority sect in India and the Muslims for whom the
slightest antagonism could send them charging at the other community.
The
animosity between these two groups has always been in the fore and many of the
wars and battles which have taken place have been on account of the religious
divide which separate the two neighbors. The enmity between Hindus and Muslims
persist even today and issues that have long been outstanding without a
solution remain as much even today.
Among
the many instances of clash which took place between the two communities,
noteworthy among them and worthy of mention are the instances of Gujarat riots and the Ayodhya issue. These two
contentious issues have remained the bone of contention between the two
communities.
As a
matter of fact, after a long drawn out battle in court, the recent judgment
brought out by Allahabad High Court in respect of Ayodhya issue did look
biased, inclined more towards the majority sect although the judgment favoured
bartering of the Ayodhya land between three groups, two of the groups other
than the Muslim community pertaining to separate factions within the Hindu
based organizations.
In this
context, it is also noteworthy mentioning the riots which took place in Gujarat where menacing mobs (Hindus to be precise)
charged at Muslim families hacking hundreds of them to death to avenge an
earlier incident of burning of a number of boggies of train carrying Hindu
worshippers on their return from pilgrimage.
Overall,
the Indian sub-continent has always been seething with anger, hatred and
revenge between various communities on the line of religion and politics. In
such a situation the only alternative that could tone down their nerves of
people in order to return to equilibrium is money, wealth, luxuries and
comfort. In short, money has been the root of all evils and what could divert
the attention from riots and yet unite people of various communities happened
to be money or the need for earning cheap buck.
Such a
situation pulled the so called crusaders against corruption. Much controversy was created by Hazare and
Ramdev but both achieved little or no outcome in the end. So, meet the outcome
here and now.
When the
attention and focus of the nation was unnecessarily and indiscreetly dragged in
to areas and topics that were well within the scope of an elected government,
Hazare followed by Ramdev came trekking all the way to hold the government to
ransom with fast unto death.
The
menace so brought about by these crusaders against corruption under the banner
of Kisan Baburao Hazare did create a situation conducive to lurking behind the
back of government by extremists who only need an opportunity to hoodwink the
government or people. And it occurred on
13th July, 2011 when the extremists sneaked through the South Mumbai to trigger three blasts which took a toll of
more than 60 lives. Fortunately or
unfortunately the crusaders againsg corruption survived the blasts.
The out
of turn events during the few months preceding July 2011 had allowed the
miscreants to sneak in to areas and places to wreak damage to lives and
properties. The twin issues of blasts of 7/13 and issue of corruption appear to
have complimented each other to the detriment of the nation and people.
However, the nation and the world are unaware of the real miscreants who
allowed a situation of the sort to develop right under their own eyes. The
death toll has kept mounting and many more battling for their lives. This may
be summed up as the result of individual arrogance. It was arrogance by the two
for carving out niches of fame and renown by Hazare and Ramdev which directly
added fuel to the raging fire of controversies.
Such
disorderly attitude by people with narrow objectives had the nation blinking in
the face of difficult times that was reasonably set after the CWG related
securities. However, the controversies so created by these two namely Hazare
and Ramdev resulted in an air of frustration or disturbance all around which
were appropriately made use of by the sinister elements for carrying out their
errands.
So the
blame for the blasts too go to the government.
That is how the public would piece the outcome. Fortunately for public, the government under
Congress Party never stand up to refute such futile bid by public to lay blame
on government for any silly attempts by miscreants nor would they charge Hazare
and Ramdev for being so casual about the security and integrity of the nation
and its people.
Some
people have a penchant for raking up wrong issues at inopportune time with
scant regard for priorities, the general good and future of the nation. It
implies that we are unable to see eye to eye with honesty, reality and truth.
To be precise, we lack in judgment. In our quest for a scapegoat, we
frantically run around like headless cock to let our fury go off at person or
people whose name name strikes uppermost in our minds. No wonder then the government is there to
take the blame for the public menace as well! Thanks!
Had
there been no government, how many innocent people would have become victims of
our inordinate fury and light headed justifications that we make scapegoat of,
owing to our narrowing patience? How our response to day to day problems
resemble so closely with that of the extremists, who make use of our lesson for
their experience! Incidentally, they are a step ahead of us by way of
“attitude” in that they at least own up responsibility for dastardly acts
committed by them after they are through with it!
While
the extremists counter our peace loving attitude with deafening blasts to
create record mayhem, we do the like by slamming the government, which
(government) too consists of human beings like ourselves being and forming part
of our own set up. Like simpleton, we ignore the daily occurrences of
corruption in courts, government departments and at the cross road of everyday
day life. We forget the unscrupulous manner in which we cheat our neighbor
(nay, even our relative when it comes to property and bulk buck matters). We ignore the match fixing menace, and
thousands of other nefarious activities committed on a day to day basis. We rob the government of the tax due thereof
and commit all irregularities in a most sophisticated manner. And still see
corruption in others, with government or people who do not fall within our
circle.
We care
a hoot when pot-bellied gentlemen in government departments demand that we dole
out huge amounts in return for favors that would have been loathe in coming in
the normal course. These, according to our assessment, do not fall under
corruption. But when the likes of Hazare followed by Ramdev raise a banner of
revolt under ‘Corruption’, we judge the government as the ‘scapegoat’. Our
responsibility ended the moment we uttered our judgment on government. That
settles our final verdict whether the government ought to stay or go. The next time an election comes round the
corner, we jump in to the fray for a seat. And if by any chance we get elected,
we act the same old way giving others their opportunity to make us the
scapegoat. So the life moves on and we
with the blast.
Where
exactly are we right that the determined extremists are not, who affirm
themselves to be in the wrong but carry out their errands with determination
and then own up responsibility? Do we have an attitude to do some soul
searching here or there and find ourselves any the different than the authors
of Bombay
blasts?
The
nation is weary of the like of Kisan Baburao Hazare and Ramdev who do not tire
of stalking a sophisticated age with feeble attempts to rock the government for
earning cheap fame and popularity.
The out
of turn events of last few months had made the miscreants sneak in to areas and
places to do as much and more damage to lives and properties than what the
whole issue of corruption could have wreaked on a nation of innocents
sufferers. The death toll is mounting and many more battling for their lives.
This may be summed up as the result of individual arrogance by some narrow
elements to carve out niches of individual arrogance, thus adding fuel to the
raging fire of controversies by proclaiming fast unto death.
Much
controversy was created by Hazare and Ramdev, achieving little or no outcome in
the end. Such disorderly attitude by people with narrow objectives had the
nation blinking in the face of difficult times that was reasonably set after
the CWG related securities. However, the controversies so created by these
people that resulted in an air of disturbance all around were appropriately
made use of by the sinister elements for carrying out their errands.
With the
attention of the nation and focus diverted, unnecessary tension did the round
making smooth working of government and departments impossible. The miscreants
took full advantage of the haphazard situation to plant mischief which would
otherwise have been nearest to impossible in the face of a vigilant people and
government ready to thwart any extremist acts after the 26/11. Beating breasts
at this belated stage for the controversies created by a few zealous hoodlums
will not retrieve the situation from the scourge of agony and suffering brought
upon the innocents.
Even at
this belated stage, there is need for people to realize that streamlining
matters and getting the people safely under an umbrella of security is not
achieved through blackmail tactics. There is need to suggest measures through
interaction and not by placing spokes in the wheel of government machinery.
There is need for one and all to ponder upon the need to restrain rather than
run around for cheap fame and popularity.
Since
last many months, there have been too much trumpeting by individuals and
holding the government to ransom on one count or the other. Such meanness by narrow thinking people must
end if the nation has to advance together. Elderly people with mean intellect
must learn to restrain their arrogance and allow a generation to advance.
Discipline must enter their brain and not mean minded ‘fast unto death’ for a
ploy to prod the government.
The
unfortunate victims of the blast would now be staring in to an uncertain future
and deciding that there is need for greater vigil all around, not only by the
government but by the society as well to keep strict watch on many grave issues
rather than pinning all our thrust on any one particular area. Let everyone
allow the government to function with greater vigor and thrust and not cater to
their fast unto death as the one slated for 16th August, 2011. Hope
Hazare is hearing my call?
Every
democratically elected government functions within the framework of trust and
confidence. People – at least the ones who are educated and cultured – need to
cherish the preamble to Constitution as a solemn pledge whereby, we as one
people have accepted to work united in purpose and determination. In doing so,
we need to abide by the norms, laws or bylaws of unity and discipline in the
larger interest of the millions for whom the government endeavors to bring
about progress and development. It is unfortunate that the present day mob have
discarded the pledge of upholding values and ideals of democracy and in its
stead they have opted for an approach of confrontation with the Constitution
and the Government.
Any
agitation by people ought to be carried out within the periphery of democracy.
The approach by people ought to be suggestive or constructive but it ought not
be an attempt to gag the government or the Constitution. This attitude
forebodes evil for a democratic nation like India which is aspiring to be a
super power.
Such an
attitude favors the extremists and unsocial elements. It amounts to harboring
mistrust against the government thus corroding the very process of democracy
and government. This would be like giving the extremists a free hand to step up
their mischief unchecked.
People
have a notion that the government is there to work magic, that they hold a
constitutional right to hammer their demands out. This manifests scant regard
for priorities and the larger good. If the public cannot see eye to eye with
the government, if the public cannot put forward their points of view across
the table without allowing government to freely legislate keeping the larger
interest of the nation, it would imply utter disregard by the mob for values
that a nation and the people ought to cherish viz. honesty, reality and truth.
Accordingly,
the primary responsibility of every citizen is to abide by the norms, laws or
bylaws of discipline by extending a hand of cooperation to the government.
However, the present day mob has unevenly twisted the values and ideals of
democracy to press for their arbitrary and unilateral demands without heeding
the presence of government put in place.
Agitation
within the periphery of democracy ought to be suggestive and constructive for
the government but stretching the rights and opportunities granted to people to
extreme levels is making a mockery of the very Constitution adopted by the
nation for a self rule by way of democracy.
This attitude does not augur well for a democratic nation (India) aspiring
to be a super power.
This
attitude only favors the extremists or unsocial elements. This amounts to
harboring mistrust towards the government or looking the other way, while the
extremist gain a free hand to move about unchecked.
People
have a notion that the government is there to work magic and they hold a
constitutional right to hammer their demands out. This manifests scant regard
for priorities, bypassing of general good and future of the nation. If the
public cannot see eye to eye with the government, if the public cannot put
forward their points of view across the table without allowing the government
to legislate with due regard for the entire nation, it would imply a certain
amount of disregard for values that matter viz. honesty, reality and truth.
Invariably,
at the very drop of a hat, the mob runs amuck looking for scapegoat, and the
only one they pick to pour out their fury is the government! Thanks! Had there
been no government, imagine the number of innocent human beings who would have
fallen victim to these extremist-tainted mob who would leave no stone unturned
to bury their ire taking a heavy toll in its wake.
The
attempts by Kisan Babu Hazare and Ramdev to stall functioning of the government
by undertaking fast unto death did sent law and order helter skelter, which
opportunity was advantageously utilized by the extremists to plant their
mischief at various places that triggered the deafening blasts taking a heavy
toll of human lives.
If
people do not learn from such grave mistakes, there is every possibility of
extremists taking an upper hand to make the entire country vulnerable for
which, the government or the Home Ministry cannot be held responsible. If we
have inherited the land, it is our bounden duty to safeguard it or assist the
government to overcome the impossible. But disturbing peace of the land is no
answer to any question of law and order.
Corruption
for which Hazare and Ramdev undertook a flurry of activities merely to self
promote their own arrogance is rampant all over the country. It is another
matter that we ignore or disregard attempts by pot-bellied people in government
departments demanding monetary favors for merely doing that which for which
they are paid and fuelling corruption indiscriminately. So the life moves on and we with the blast.
Where
exactly are we right in our intentions that the determined extremists are not?
How do we distinguish ourselves as peace loving citizens, but miserably fail to
compromise with day to day problems arising out of our own culpability and
place the onus on the government? If everyone attempted to do some soul
searching for the causes and reasons for the unfortunate incidents, we might as
well find ourselves at both ends i.e. the perpetrators of the act as also the
victims! Here is hard cash – take it or
leave it!
The
prime responsibility of people is to trust the government, abide by laws and
norms of discipline and extend a hand of cooperation. No amount of control can
war off the extremist elements if people look the other way. There is no magic
wand and if people harbor mistrust about the rulers such a situation can only
favor the terrorists, hence the blasts!
People
have a notion that the government is there to work magic and they have the
constitutional right to hammer down their demands. They have scant regard for
priorities, the general good and future of the nation. It implies that we are
unable to see eye to eye with honesty, reality and truth. To be precise, we
lack in judgment. In our quest for a scapegoat, we frantically run around like
headless cock to let our fury go at the first name that strikes uppermost in
our minds. The government! Thanks!
Had
there been no government, how many innocent people would have become victims of
our inordinate fury and light headed justifications to make scapegoat of, owing
to our narrowing patience? How our response to day to day problems resemble so
closely with that of the extremists, who make use of our lesson for their
experience! Incidentally, they are a step ahead of us by way of “attitude” in
that they at least by own responsibility for the dastardly acts!
While
the extremists counter our peace loving attitude with deafening blasts to
create record mayhem, we do the like by slamming the government, which too
consists of human beings like ourselves being but part of our own set up. Like
simpleton, we ignore the daily occurrences of corruption in courts, government
departments and at the cross road of everyday day life. We forget the
unscrupulous manner in which we cheat our neighbor (nay, even our relative when
it comes to property and bulk buck matters), rob the government of the tax due
there and commit all irregularities in the most sophisticated manner. And still
see corruption in others, with government or people who do not fall within our
circle.
We care
a hoot when pot-bellied gentlemen in government departments demand that we dole
out huge amounts in return for favors which otherwise would have been loathe in
coming in the normal course. Our contention is that such nefarious activities
do not fall under purview of corruption. But when the likes of Hazare followed
by Ramdev raise a banner of revolt against ‘Corruption’, we make the government
a ‘scapegoat’ and are eager to demand our pound of flesh. Our responsibility
ended the moment we uttered our judgment on government. That settles our final
verdict whether the government ought to stay or go. The next time an election
comes round the corner, we jump in to the fray for a seat. And if by any chance
we get elected, we act the same old way giving others their opportunity to make
us the scapegoat. So the life moves on and we with the blast.
Where
exactly are we right that the determined extremists are not, who affirm
themselves to be in the wrong, carry out their errands with determination and
then own responsibility? Do we have an attitude to do some soul searching here
or there and find ourselves any the different than the authors of Bombay blasts?
The
communal outfits self styled as RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena, Ram Sena etc.
are a blot on the nation and a curse brought on the people by evil spirit or
the devil. These outfits are a menace for the progress of the country and a
hurdle in the way of oneness in a country of over 1.3 billion people of diverse
culture and thinking. It is unfortunate that the nation is being continuously
made to stoop low to redeem its image from an awfully embarrassed world as also
its own people.
The only
purpose in having recourse to formation of such extremist outfits like RSS,
VHP, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena, Ram Sena etc. is to torment the minorities as has
happened off and on within the states of Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Orissa
and such other places, where from time to time the communal party namely the
BJP has managed to garner votes in the name of their communal agenda. It is
unfortunate that the very courts including Supreme Court appear to be looking
the other way without raining in these self-styled stalwarts of Hindu
fanaticism who have already much blood of innocents in their hands.
People
who profess a degree of ostentatious devotion to animal idols need to be told
in no uncertain terms that they by means of their activities can only appease
the evil spirits and the devil. Even the recent judgment in the case of Ayodhya
by the Allahabad
High Court clearly manifested the biased attitude of people even in high places
who are entrusted with the responsibility of imparting justice to people but
are acting like their monopoly to pass judgments suiting their individual
tastes.
By
indulging in hooliganism and heaping insult over a responsible and dignified
Minister like Shri Digvijay Singh, the RSS (including the other outfits) have
shown that they are a possessed lot, and carrying out the bid of evil spirits
or the devil. It is, to say the least, an animal wisdom of different hue, not
akin to human nature but enacted within the framework of human form and
caricature.
Shri
Singh has rightly called upon the country to unite against these extremists and
probe their activities to seal the outfits as ‘untouchables’ both as a part of
Hindu religion as also as outcast citizens of extremist fame and character.
Agitation
within the periphery of democracy ought to be suggestive and constructive for
the government but stretching the rights and opportunities granted to people to
extreme levels is making a mockery of the very Constitution adopted by the
nation for a self rule by way of democracy.
This attitude does not augur well for a democratic nation (India) aspiring
to be a super power.
This
attitude only favors the extremists or unsocial elements. This amounts to
harboring mistrust towards the government or looking the other way, while the
extremist gain a free hand to move about unchecked.
