There was once a village and it was visited by a smooth talking charlatan who wanted the villagers to be in his control. So, he found the most gullible person in the village and convinced him that if he cut his nose, he would be able to see God. The hillbilly fell into the trap and had his nose cut. Now, he had a problem. If he said he cannot see God, he would be the laughing stock of the village. If he said he did, then he would be lying and the lie might be found out.
Our villager chose the second option. He claimed with all the vehemence at his command that he could see God and even talk to Him. He made a great show of devotion to the charlatan and made him his guru and savior, giving offerings and showing respect every day.
After a couple of days, when this matter became the talk of the village, a second villager fell into the same trap. He thought why not I see the God too. He had his nose cut by the first “nose-less” villager. He could see nothing. But the charlatan and the first “nose-less” one were looking at him expectantly. He now had the same choice as the first one. He too chose to live the lie for the rest of his life.
Over time, a majority of villagers were converted and their noses were removed, and they started living the lie that they were able to see God. As the lie they were living took deeper hold of their lives, they took to mocking those who refused to deform themselves in the hope of something they suspected was impossible. The “nosey” lot rather chose the path of checking everything rigorously before accepting it as truth. Over time, they developed the Scientific Method and made technological advances.
The nose-less lot then made rules that no one could question the fact of God being visible to them. If anyone did, either within the nose-less community, or anyone outside, he or she would be killed. They also deified the charlatan who, long dead now, had started the whole business of nose cutting. Any criticism or mocking of the charlatan threw the nose-less lot into uncontrollable rage. The more rational nosies sometimes applied their scientific reasoning to argue that there was no way God could become visible by cutting the nose. Each such instance resulted in rioting and arson, to a point when it took extraordinary courage on anyone's part to rake up the matter.
Over centuries, the original lie became part of the genetic code of the nose-less ones' culture. Very few amongst them dared to apostasize. The nosey ones either did not bother or, when the nose-less committed acts of violence to re-assert that they could see God, took to claiming that the faith of the nose-less was benign, and only a tiny minority of extremists amongst them indulged in violence.
In such a world, one person, out of hatred for nose-less lot (since he had lived in a country of nose-less ones where his kind were hopelessly outnumbered and, therefore, regularly abused), made a crude movie showing the original act of the charlatan when he fooled the first lot of nose-less ones into cutting their noses. Facing truth they had avoided for all their lives, and indeed generations, was impossible for the nose-less. But letting the filmmaker get away with this act of defiance would tantamount to admitting that indeed their ancestors had been fooled into cutting their noses. So they felt the need to silence the filmmaker. Now there was problem. The filmmaker lived in a powerful country of “nosey” people. This powerful country had no law binding people not to tell the truth about the charlatan. So the rage of the nose-less found outlets in acts of violence against all symbols of the powerful nosey country – flags, effigies, embassy buildings, and in one case, an ambassador and his companions.
As of the time of writing, the rage shows no sign of abetting. Moreover, trouble may be expected even after the violence abates. Because some “nosey” person will again rake up the charlatanry of the charlatan. Maybe this time, the re-creation of history may be artistic, authentic and interesting. Nose-less ones can be seen to be mortally afraid of that. After having run away from the truth for centuries, they are finding it increasingly hard to avoid it. This writer believes that there will be a major fight between the nose-less and the nosey before the truth finally prevails.
The current crisis in Delhi was just a matter of time. A despotic, dynastic money and power hungry party like Congress cobbling a government with amoral regional parties is not a recipe for stability. What I would like to do is examine the stands of various political parties and how they are behaving during this current crisis.
Congress: In 2004, Sonia Gandhi gave up the post of PM but not power. She was and still is the defacto PM. Manmohan Singh was just a patsy who was only too happy to become the PM. This man who had never won an election found himself at the top post. Power went to his head and his lust for power has been exposed again and again. The power sharing between Singh and Gandhi was a recipe for disaster because all the credit went to the Gandhi family and blame to Singh. Moreover, Sonia and her coterie believed in stealing (themselves and their allies) and bribing (allies and the Indian voter through all the freebies). Manmohan Singh could not do anything right even if he wanted to. Prudent fiscal policies were replaced with populism. Cheap diesel prices were costing various oil companies in excess of 40,000 crore. That is just one example.
Faced with the current disaster, the Congress continues with the corrupt and tired politics of survival. If not Mamata then Mulayam. If not Karunanidhi then Mayawati. How did we keep electing a party, bereft of ideology with a self-serving agenda?
BJP: An idea, which instead of evolving, exploded on the national scene. Opportunists filled the vacuum. The existing cadre could not resist the trappings of power. After Atalji, the party went around like a headless chicken, completely unable to exploit crisis after crisis in Congress. Even now, they have more PM aspirants than genuine leaders. Until they decide their leadership issues, Congress has nothing to fear, now or 2014.
Samajwadi Party: Mulayam Singh represents all that is wrong with Indian politics. Thanks to caste / minority politics, he is in power again. For him, it is all about his family and his own ambition / survival. He is running from pillar to post trying to resuscitate that decomposed corpse of the third front. Once he realizes that his dreams of becoming PM are not going to come true then he will demand the best possible deal from the Central government. Right now, no matter what he says or does, he will not let the UPA government fail because he can squeeze large amount of money from them and use it to prop up his son’s government in UP which is turning out to be a lot worse than Mayawati regime (an impressive feat indeed). After bribing the gullible UP voters, he thinks that around 40 Loksabha seats from UP will make him a kingmaker. Plum posts in the central government and lots of undeserved money for the state will be the reward.
Bahujan Samajwadi Part and DMK: Both these parties are major losers in their state elections. An early election is not in their favor because they need SP and AIDMK to fail so they can win some seats. These two will huff and puff but will continue to support the UPA. The ultimate goals of these parties in same as that of SP.
Trinamool Congress: Mamata Bannerjee has regained some of her reputation by making good on her threat. However, she is well aware of the fact that the Commies got more than 40% of votes in the last state elections and are going to be a factor in the next elections. She needs the centre money to make her administration look good. However, her poor sense of politics left her vulnerable the Congress dirty tricks department. Now she hopes that her momentum will carry her in the central elections.
JD: Nitish’s tricks have fallen flat. People like him as the CM of Bihar but not as a national figure. His most recent statement that he will support anyone who can give Bihar a special status affirms his status as a regional leader. I hope that he gives up his pipe dream of becoming a PM and continues to do good work in Bihar. He still has a very long way to go there.
Various Communist Parties: They are like the vultures soaring over carcasses. They are waiting for Mamata to stumble and they may not have to wait long. As long as voters in Poschim Bongo think that they have to choose between TMC and Communists, the commies have hope and the state does not.
Other regional parties have similar stands or positions on the matter. Point being that as long as the voters continue on this self-destructive path of mixing local and national concerns, India will continue to lose. Of course the major national parties can address local concerns by giving their state units a greater degree of autonomy. That is the only way out of this mess.
At a conference on Bus Rapid Transit System, which was attended by management experts from Africa, Latin America and other parts of Asia, Bhai Narendra Modi said the following:
“Gujarat succeeds where Delhi fails.”
I have seen the system, which was under construction in Amdavaad, and I can tell you one thing: it will be fantastic! In fact it almost seems that Modi is so impatient in putting his vision in place that the state seems to be left breathless while trying to catch up to it.
Our readers know that we are unabashed admirers of Modi. All you have to do is type his name in the search bar and read all that we have written. This post is not about his vision or achievements. This is about wishing him well on his journey.
Bhai Narendra Modi has begun his campaign in Gujarat. We all hope and pray that this “yatra” ends in New Delhi with him taking oath for the highest office in the land. He is not campaigning for his post in Gujarat. He is fighting for the soul of Mother India. These are the darkest days since Indira Gandhi robbed us of the one thing we were proud of – our democracy. UPA 1 and 2 have raped and plundered the country. Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev stand defeated in front of this criminally corrupt and Goebbelsian regime. The nation is hopelessly divided and the marauders united. Abject Kalyug is what it is. One is reminded of the following from the Bhagwat Geeta:
“Yada Yada Hi Dharmasya
Glanirva Bhavathi Bharatha,
Abhyuthanam Adharmaysya
Tadatmanam Srijami Aham’.
Bhagavad Gita (Chapter IV-7)
(“Whenever there is decay
of righteousness O! Bharatha
And a rise of unrighteousness
then I manifest Myself!”)
Of course it too much to expect Lord Krishna to grace us with his presence but may he can bless the modern day Arjun with his wisdom and strength. Comparing Modi with Arjun is a reach but he is the one politician who comes closest to being a “Dharm-Yoddha”. And now that he has undertaken this arduous journey towards salvation of the country, I can only pray and hope that the aam aadmi will do the same. I hope that the ‘aahvaan’ raised by Bhai Narendra will have the same impact on his enemies as did Arjun’s as described below:
Picking up his conch, the golden Devadatta, Arjun blew on it fiercely; the heavens echoed with the noise, and the chariot warriors stood petrified on the field. Their horses stood paralysed, with eyes wide open ...
-Mahabharata, Book Seven: Drona
We may be at the advent of a turning point in our history. Bhai Narendra needs help of the voters and supporters. We need to do the best we can to ensure a resounding victory for him in Gujarat and beyond. We should resist temptations of free laptops and other meaningless crap. We should inform ourselves of the truth and achieve freedom from the falsehoods perpetuated by the Congress and its “daanav sena”. This is the time to put aside petty differences and come together for the betterment of our neighborhoods, our cities, our states and most importantly, our country. May all the gods bless Bhai Narendra.
As the slogan goes: “Modi Tum Sangharsh Karo. Hum tumhare saath hain”
The BRTS article can be read at: http://www.firstpost.com/india/gujarat-succeeds-where-delhi-fails-modi-446821.html
All our lives we have seen how Hindu conservatives are discriminated against in India. What started during the British rule has thrived during successive Congress regimes. An American newspaper says what the nation has been saying about Manmohan Singh and the entire Congress machinery goes into a tizzy. However, when liberal rags in the west were equating the RSS with KKK (a murderous racist organization in the US) or when falsehoods about Narendra Modi were being spread in the west (in collusion with Indian liberals in the west), nary a peep was heard either in the government or the media.
The pseudo secular brigade has an absolute control of the media. Post Godhra riot is called a pogrom while 1984 massacre of the Sikhs is brushed under the carpet. Narendra Modi has been called every name in the book for the post Godhra riots (unofficial toll: about 1400 Muslims and 700 Hindus). Hiteshwar Saikia who was CM during the Nellie riots in Assam (unofficial toll: 5000 Muslims) has been referred to as a nationalist who crushed militancy because he belonged to Congress. Judgments exonerating Narendra Modi were eyed with suspicion and judges deemed in competent while the judgment in Naroda-Patiya was deemed extremely fair (because it placated the pseudo-secular brigade). One gets the idea.
With the advent of Internet, the playing field has become a lot more level. Try as they may, the Congress mavens cannot control what goes on the net or the social media on the net. Anyone with a net connection can get his or her opinion out there. Like-minded Hindus can meet over the net without any fear. Consequently, the leaders who are marginalized in the media (negative publicity does not count) can reach the voters via the net. Ronald Reagan is credited with the idea of talking directly with the voters, bypassing the print media.
If Narendra Modi gets on the net and communicates with his supporters or critics, no one can stop him. He does not need a VISA or support of the media houses to do so. Sibal-Ambika Soni duo can put blocks on Twitter accounts but how far can they take their oppressive ways in the infinite world of the net? Narendra Modi talked to millions on Google+. Ajay Devgan (a rare Modi supporter in Bollywood) mediated the “Hangout”. Kanchan Gupta expresses it better than I when he says:
What Modi did was simple. He bypassed mainstream media, especially the English language media, such as it is, and did his own thing. Since technology is no longer the preserve of big media there’s little that could be done to prevent it. And while doing so, as the transcript of his Hangout will show, he spoke on the future and not the past. There was a message in this: While large sections of the media which shares its agenda with Modi’s political opponents would have liked Friday night’s show to be dominated by the past, Youngistan looks at and thinks about the future. Modi addressed their concerns, leaving his critics to fret and fume. And that's why he connected so well to the millions of eager listeners.
I like the term Youngistan. The Indian youth have the most at stake. Like any poor country, we have a very high population of the young. The youth can adopt a blasé attitude, marinade in their hormones and hope for the best or they can grab the opportunity, make the right choice and vote for a forward thinking and performing leader rather than the good looking empty shirt. Unless the young go out in large numbers and vote objectively in the next elections, the future of India will remain mired in the status quo, which clearly is unacceptable.
Our blogpost on the same topic can be read at: http://thenethindu.blogspot.com/2011/01/indian-media-vs-internet-hindus.html
Mr. Kanchan Gupta's article can be read at: http://www.dailypioneer.com/columnists/item/52366-hanging-out-with-namo-late-into-friday-night.html
We all know what patriotism means. Shivaji versus Muslims, Azad / Bhagat Singh versus British, defence forces versus Chinese / pakis, police versus terrorists are the obvious examples. But how does a patriotic aam aadmi display his patriotism during peace times? I guess doing ones duty, following the laws of the land and act in way, which is beneficial for the country, are some ways.
The example I would like to cite first is that of Late Satyendra Dubey who was fellow IIT alum. This intrepid man was killed by organized crime after he blew the whistle on the criminal activity in the Golden Quadrilateral Project. The BJP government was helpless in bringing his killers to justice.
Dubey represents a new breed of Indian patriots – the Whistleblower. Of you look at it, these guys represent the helpless aam aadmi in face of the omnipotent monster of corruption. This monster represented by the neta-babu-lala nexus has emerged stronger than before in the successive UPA governments as we have seen. Scams have become larger and the money involved astronomical.
The latest scam is the Coalgate, which involves bigwigs in Congress and prominent corporate houses. A man whose name is lost in the noise (created by the ambitious leaders of the BJP while neglecting the real hero) is that of a BJP MP Hansraj Gangaram Ahir who has been carrying out this fight since 2005. It is absolutely amazing that despite of his allegations, the Congress won the elections and it is only now that this scam has come to fore. Fortunately for Hansraj Ahir, he has the BJP to protect him otherwise he would have encountered the same fate as Satyendra Dubey.
A very nice article talks about some more examples. Sanjiv Chaturvedi who is an IFS officer blew the whistle on the Haryana Forest Department, Major (Retd) S.K. Lamba, the war veteran who exposed Adarsh scam, Aseervartham Achary, Raja's PA., who blew the lid off 2G scam, Manjunath Shanmugan who blew the whistle on the petrol mafia in UP and Rajinder K. Singla blew the whistle on the various education scams in Punjab are some of the true heroes.
These men are the modern day Chandrashekhar Azads of India and should be treated as such. They are the heroes India needs and deserves. They need to be protected by any and all means available to the system. We need to look at the Whistleblower Protection Act, which has been put in place in the USA, and emulate it (a better idea than copying mall designs). If we do not protect these heroes then we are worse than the murdering British who at least gave our freedom fighters there day in court rather than murdering them in the street.
The excellent article on the topic can be read at: http://readability.com/m?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FOHhBVF
