We are resilient by Force, not by Choice - A Wednesday.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

TRANSLATED LETTER SENT TO MR. NIKHIL SOORYAVANSHI, DAINIK BHASKAR, BHOPAL

Nikhil Ji,
Hello.

Sorry for bothering you again. I thought I had one more chance, I would write to you in English and if you find it useful you may help spreading the message for the national cause.

Like the whole nation I too was stirred by the blatant terror attack on Mumbai. I was very angry and started thinking about the solutions not only for Terrorism but bringing India to the top. One solution stood above all was that our Politics and Politicians were failing us. So the need for Political Reforms should be the topmost agenda of us, from political reforms would flow other reforms and we could have a strong, developed and united nation.

Naturally, present day political parties aren’t suitable as well as deaf for meeting these demands. They are happily playing the Musical chair of power aided by Corruption, Reservation and Religion. If the present process continues for another 10 years, I doubt that there will be any existence India as we see today, forget about the India of My Dreams.

People’s anger is at its highest this time but it is being expressed in the form of SMS, Candle Light Vigils, Posters, Banners and Pamphlets. I am not a votary of such tactics, though I used to do these earlier. Some more proactive citizens have started forming parties on the regional and local levels like that given in your report. I do not agree to this too, but I respect every persons fundamental right form association.

My main objection to local and regional parties is that eventually they lead to further fragmentation of our politics and delicately balanced governments that survive on whims and fancy (and corruption) of a local leader (e.g. Shibu Soren). In this context I would like to draw your attention to Jago Party.

Jago Party is essentially a party of citizens with non-political background, common people like you and me. It was formed with the major goals of eliminating reservation, tackling crime and terrorism with severest punishment (death sentence) and banishing corruption from India. The party devoted to bringing the activity of government to the basics and all other activities be divested or put under the private sector. The educational agenda of the party is free education for all in English medium in private schools. So is the aim of privatizing the Power Sector and Railways. Above all, the mission of Jago Party is to make India a very safe, strong and rich country.

Within 6 months, more than 2 lakh people have come forward to support the party. Sadly enough, the party is not well known in Madhya Pradesh especially in Bhopal. I think that becoming a part of a national party will channelize our efforts in one direction and bring fruitful results. Otherwise, though there may be changes at the surface nothing will change at the core of our nation. We are surrounded by enemies and are alone, if only all the Indians come together we can face the challenge. The politicians have developed vested interests in the system they will not gift us reforms, we have to snatch it from them and for that reason more and more people need to join politics so that politics does not stay the game of scoundrels.

If only people would know that work has already started and their help is absolutely needed then only we could expect a change of such magnitude. This is where you become the key element in the chain. I request you to make Bhopal aware of the Party and its goals and help the great cause.

Expecting the most from you in this work of nation building,
Sincerely,
Latent Dissent.
(www.latentdissent.blogspot.com)

DATUK SHAHRUKH KE PEECHHE HAI KYA TUK?

WHAT’S THE LOGIC BEHIND GIVING SHAHRUKH KHAN THE TITLE ‘DATUK’ BY MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT?


I was shocked to see that Shahrukh went to receive the title from Malaysian government. I thought in this moment of great crisis of our country he will refuse to take the award. But that was not to happen.


Naturally the question you will ask, WHY DO YOU THINK SO?


First, let us know for what he has been awarded this title, it is for shooting a song for the (flop) movie One 2 Ka 4 which starred Shahrukh Khan, Juhi Chawla and Jackie Shroff (I think) in Malaysia. Do you feel that it is an achievement or service of highest order? Leave that have you even watched the movie?


I believe that awards given by various governments have an underlying political statement. This award should be seen within the context of the recent widespread agitations of Malaysian Indians under the banner of HINDRAF. Now with this award the Malaysian government has hit two targets. First, they portrayed to the Malay Indians that India was on the government’s side (Shahrukh representing India, being first Indian to become Datuk).


Then they covertly raised the issue of Pan-Islamism, that the all the Muslims of the world form a great culture that is not bound by regional territories. It also sends a clear message to the various parties in India following so-called Hindu Ideology and are said to be supporting the struggle in Malaysia.


Whatever be the case (I am not taking sides), the person who will suffer in all this will be ordinary citizens like you and me whether here or in Malaysia. The appropriate thing to do for Shahrukh as an Indian was to humbly deny the award till the political crisis was over.


WE AS INDIANS MUST SEND OUT A CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE WORLD AS ALSO WE MUST STAND TOGETHER WITH THE PEOPLE OF INDIAN ORIGIN AND NON RESIDENT INDIANS. However. . .


On a lighter note, Raghu of MTV Roadies has advertised more about Malaysia in India through Roadies 5.0 The Game Goes International than Shahrukh’s One 2 Ka 4 , didn’t somebody tell the Malaysian minister about roadies. However. . .


For knowing more on this issue kindly visit:


1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HINDRAF


2. http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/10608-government-says-no-bias-against-hindraf-opposition-baffled-by-ban

My Views on Jago Party’s Economic Vision.

The debate over Capitalism versus Socialism/Communism is not relevant now. More so on grounds of what happened in USA, Russia, Japan and China. The problem with this approach is that people start to take sides rather than being neutral or being on the side of India. Both are ways of looking at a thing, the exchange of goods and services in the society.


Disintegration of USSR not only symbolizes the failure of Socialism but also the dirty politics and tactics of USA. Using unjust means to reach the most just end cannot bring out good outcomes.


As for Japan, their army was completely destroyed by USA after World War II (I am no expert in history kindly pardon errors if any.) and it stands under constant watch of Uncle Sam till now. Can any Indian do business in such a situation, keeping their national pride at the hands of another country?


China, how can we follow its model? Following a policy ruthlessly is only good and favourable for the persons making it and implementing it, not for the public that has to follow the orders. What’s going on inside nobody knows, what's the extent of this ruthlessness no one knows.


Turning our eyes to the happenings in 2008, we saw big companies and banks of USA going bankrupt. Can we say that the Free Market is the best solution for our country? While I agree that Government should do what is does best, Govern but I still feel something goes missing in this discussion.


That missing part is ‘Ethics and Morals’. When a bank gives loan knowing that the person can’t pay it back just for a couple of percent interest, it is not only clear example of Unethical Business Practice but it also turns the notion of utility of Free Market at its head.


Moreover, there are some businessmen who actually solicit illegal activities as it brings more profit.


Also, the businesses’ prime concern is profit; it is very evident from Union Carbide’s behavior (it is a company from the doyen of Capitalism, USA) which caused Bhopal Gas Tragedy. Due to falling profits cost cutting measures were undertaken and the cost was cut from maintenance of plant that contains extremely toxic chemicals.

As to the statement, A few capitalists and businessmen have done more to help mankind live a more enjoyable life (indeed, most people would not even be alive today if it weren't for capitalists) than all humanitarians, social workers, and clergy men combined. If one considers human life a value, then they should regard capitalists as one of its greatest promoters.


I want to add that all capitalists, entrepreneurs and businessmen require a very stable, safe and strong state to function and if the motives are not clean, morals are low and ethics is missing we have a corrupt (failed and bankrupt) state as India was during License-Permit-Quota Raj. A businessman becomes the most dangerous enemy of another businessman.