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Tuesday, October 26, 2004

Once again Bihar leads the way

BBC NEWS | Programmes | Newsnight | New Florida vote scandal revealed

The US elections are over and the electorate has spoken loud and clear. This article is from before the elections. And, I had been wanting to comment on it.

A few years back Dhilip D'Souza on rediff.com wrote an article stating we should not lament Bihar's current state of affairs - Bihar which was the light of the civilization, the cradle to the first university system, he argued, still leads the way. Today it is where criminalization of politics first began and now it is all over India...

There was a time when I felt that democracy in countries like India should aspire to move towards what happens in the US. But, I am getting the feeling that democracies in countries like the US will move towards the Indian style of democracy - invoke god, amplify the differences and win

Saturday, October 23, 2004

Why do we like Robinhoods - The Verappan Story?

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Veerappan remains hero to poor

First of all, I am glad that Verappan is dead. It was long overdue. But, I guess connections (the criminal-political nexus) can keep you alive for a while. It is bit like a slow spreading variety of cancer - it keeps you alive for a while but it certainly will kill you.

What I found interesting about this story is that public seem to take the side of Verappan. They believe that the police faked the encounter. They believe that Verappan was a hero and helped the poor. Yet, no one knows anyone who has been benefitted by Verappan.

What is the heroism in killing elephants for ivory, felling the sandalwood trees, kidnapping people and killing people? Did Verappan transfer wealth from the rich/corrupt to the poor and honest? There is no evidence of that. There is evidence to the fact that he killed honest law enforcement officals in cold blood. His actions put the very villagers that he was supposed to be helping at risk.

And, Is he a Robinhood? I don't know. Even if he is a Robinhood, why do we like such figures? The fact remains that all Robinhoods broke the law, did not use their power to create social change. Instead they relied on fear and loyalty to survive and never took responsiblity for their actions.

Are we so disgusted with the politicians whom we elect, the government and its representatives that we subscribe to "enemy's enmey is my friend" doctrine? We need to ask ourselves - "Are you willing to walk with the devil to cross the bridge?".

Thursday, October 14, 2004

Comrades last stand

BBC NEWS | Business | India's struggle to befriend investors

What amazes me about Indian communists is there exists a species like this. There was time when I thought the socialist/ communist ideas were great. But, soon I realized that their concept of equality is like the old Tata Telecom ad - "All PABXs are created equal. Some are just more equal than others"

They seem to believe they have the solution for all issues world wide. If that is the case why is it that West Bengal and Kerala where they have ruled resemble development graveyards. The old foggies who run the party seem to think that development and progress happen without working for it.