On my way back to Dubai last week, I was reading the transcript of some of the taped conversations that Nira Radia had with just about everybody who is anybody in India, and this is the conclusion: Anything and anybody can be bought or sold at the right price.
The conversations range from the soap opera within the Karunanidhi family to the Reliance drama to the inconic scandal of recent times that dwarfs even CWG and Adarsh, the 2G disaster. All suggest one thing: our hallowed banana republic headed by the venerable Italian (I didn't say mob) is scripting a story that actually might make BJP's communal ideology seem quite acceptable.
If you read, you will figure out that even our benevolent PM might not be the white sheep that we assume his gracious smile to be. He was privy to the processes that at the Info Ministry that has cost a cool $39 billion loss to the exchequer, and ultimately to the common man. Going by the article, this figure can escalate if current subscriber fees are calculated for the licences allotted. One thing's for sure, you have to admit that this is a very impressive statistic that Raja can lay claim to. In politics, guts and shamelessness almost mean the same thing.
The ultimate icing on India's cake of corruption is the fact that the media itself is, as opposed to FT's slogan, with fear, and with favour. You have got Bharka and Sanghvi canvassing and conniving. So, even the fourth estate is economical with the truth and generous with the generous.
Who can you trust in India???
Who can you trust in India?- The common man- the character in Laxman's cartoons who is perenielly living less than hand to mouth. Inflation or recession- his plight does not change. You will find values with him - you will also find compassion, tolerance and resilience in him.
ReplyDeleteTalk of the numbers- 600 crs paid to Karunanidhi family by Maran to get a minister seat, Jadhav appointed as henchman to protect Congress in the 1300 cr Boeing deal kickback saga- people talk of these garangutan amounts with such passing reference as though someone is discussing buying potatoes and tomatoes.
God save the country
At the same breath one should admire Nira for what she achieved- she had the connections of almost the who is who in India. And in India connections is all that matters if you have the money!
It's a tragic joke, actually the truth, that 600 and 1300 crores are being tossed around like 'potatoes and tomatoes'. This is the reality we live in. Part and parcel of the same reality is the millions living on less than $2 a day in the very same country. This is what makes the Krishnans the real heroes of this country. And self-evident is the fact that men, women and politicians are dime a dozen; not the Krishnans. Either way, nothing should stop us from doing our Krishnan part, no matter how miniscule it may be.
ReplyDeleteVictor Frederick Weisskopf an Austrian physicist as quoted by Prof G Venkatraman frequently in his speeches states "Human existence is based upon two pillars: Compassion and knowledge. Compassion without knowledge is ineffective; knowledge without compassion is inhuman"
ReplyDeleteOur problem today is not of the mind but of the heart. We do not want to analyse if and when our actions cause possible anguish, or pain or suffering to others. Compassion is missing in civil society and it is missing because there is no sense of belongingness with fellow humans
Pearl Bailey says “You cannot belong to anyone else until you belong to yourself.” And the only way to increase the sense of belongingness with other humans and in fact with everything else in this universe is to go the source- our centre. Turning and tuning in to spirituality is therefore the answer