If WE were US

What I mean by my post title here has dual connotations. If only We (Indians) were is some cases like the US (Americans). Being the largest democracy if we incorporated some federal laws from the oldest democracy, as a nation we certainly would have been better governed.

Our laws as a mechanism of state policy & good governance are not only incomplete but ridiculous. Day in and out we hear of outrageous crimes being committed in full public view and somehow we just dont know how to take those responsible to their end. I am going to keep this post focussed on Kasab and Terrorism else I will end up writing for days if I were to discuss all that is happening in India. Kasab, Afzal Guru have become household names today; terrorism has become a way of life. Politicians call it "a dastardly act"; world calls it "act of cowardice"; well wishers say "our hearts go out to the injured and dead" and WE the people call our selves "Resilient"!? Bullshit!

Not sure why we try and cajole ourselves in to believing that if we dont respond, the terrorists will feel they have failed their objective with the killings they committed. Hell...their objective was and is to terrorise and kill...period! And they have always succeeded in their objectives.

Look at the way Americans have responded post 9/11 which was by far the single largest terror attack anywhere in the world. Have you ever heard of even a single killing post 9/11? Do we even know what has happenned to those who were suspects in 9/11. In all possibilities they have been executed! Since 1991 till date casualties of Indian armed forces as well as civilians across the country has surpassed 10 times (or may be more) than those killed in 9/11. And what have we done? Dialogue with the rogue nation and release of the terrorists. Worse, we have captured a few terrorists of the likes of Guru and Kasab and the exchequer has paid over INR 50 cr on something as frivolous as their food, security, lawyers, etc. And here is more - this money for their upkeep goes from our pockets including families of those very people that were killed in these attacks!

I fail to understand what stops them from executing them and sending a strong message not only to future rogue mercenaries but also to their masters and the state.

I fail to understand if this kind of character that we pride ourselves in by calling it Resilient, Patient, Non Violent et al means that the ultimate of these traits is shown by succumbing to these threats regularly?

Even gods fought and killed the wrong. Even they took to the swords, bow & arrow and the sudarshan chakra! Even they stood united and waged wars.

When will we stand united. When will we stand together. When will WE become US!

Jaydeep Deshpande

Making Maharashtrians & India proud

I know, people know and even Mr. Raj Thackeray knows that whatever he is saying is simply a political propaganda and nothing else. Its a way to garner votes, but it is different from how how it used to be done in the yester years. Earlier, votes were driven on religious parameters, today it is driven on regionalism.

Anyways, so here is Mr. Raj Thackeray who is suddenly taking key interest in maharashtrians. The concept is good. The state is Maharashtra and the people who hail from this state are maharashtrians and technically the sons of the soil. It is very similar to India which is the country of all Indians who are people from different states constituting India.

But I guess the means of execution is absolutely incorrect. You cannot get abusive and start riots because that tantamounts to nothing but a form of terrorism! What is happenning as a result of these means of Mr. Thackeray is that while a lot of maharashtrians are game for the concept, only the goons, illiterate, vagabonds and those who have nothing better to do are forming a part of his maharashtrian support. Again, if this is simply a hogwash to gain votes (at the moment it seems so), then Mr. Thackeray is doing precisely what anyother political goon does. Get elected and then forget about their own mandate.

On the other hand if his stance and means are more democratic, logical, intelligent and "really wanting to make a difference to maharashtrians", then as a proud maharashtrian I can suggest a few things, that I am sure will be noticed and agreed by those literate and affluent maharashtrians as well.

*  It can be as basic as ensuring that all maharashtrians and non maharashtrians in this state follow traffic rules! If Mr. Thackeray's command can get a million people to do riots, then I am sure his request to everybody and support to the government (police) can do wonders.

*  Ensuring that the cities in maharashtra maintain hygiene. His support and a directive to the municipal corporations to ensure cleanliness can do wonders

*  His requests to the maharashtrian community if not others to keep their state clean can do wonders

*  Thinking of ways to ensure that education in maharashtra is not only made available but compulsary to all children till graduation. Thus ensuring that maharashtra becomes the most literate state in India.

*  Ensuring that current governments and other future governments (if in power then his government) fulfills the promises made during election time with will and perfection.

*  Ensuring all infrastructure and development projects in maharashtra are completed, completed on time and are corruption free. In fact I am sure even if Mr. Thackeray does a riot for this cause all maharashtrians and non maharashtrians will back him!

*  Ensuring that the government service people (like police, municipality, etc) get competitive salaries so that even the thought of corruption does not come to their mind.

*  Ensuring that the maharashtrian community drops their lazy and lackadiasical attitude and become competitive.

Well I can go on and on...

If this is what he can do, I am sure he will be proud of himself and people too would want to have someone like him in power. And he will have support from not only the vagabonds but also educated ones! At least he can count one vote in ( if at all he thinks that one vote is important for him) and that is mine.

I know I am drawing a parallel with a party that is rival of MNS, but then who says 2 political people/ parties who are willing to do something genuinely good for the people cant learn from each other? The person I am talking about is Mrs. Sheila Dixit - CM of Delhi. Look at the pace and the amount of development that has happenned in Delhi! She took some hard stands, initially people were against her, but today I am sure all sane and literate populace as well as illiterate populace hails for what she has done!

Well lets hope someone does make a difference to this state and this country. I believe that if Mr. Thackeray broadens his means and is genuinely concerned about this state and its people, then he can be that someone who can make a difference.



Jaydeep Deshpande

The power of 2

In subtle terms, the Indian political system has always been a bone of contention in the recent years. However, the harsh reality is that it is no different that prostitution. The seat being the prostitute and politicians being the pimps! It is hard to believe that a nation of more than a billion has a bunch of illiterate immortals in the governing body who are qualified in a subject called "nothing". What is more worrisome however is that the remaining populace selects and elects them time and again. It is not because we shy away from owning responsibility towards our nation or we are too apathetic to think on the topic of national polity. It is because of not acting in the past and present that we have created such a pool of contestants none of whom are capable enough of being the right one.

Anyways, I do not intend contesting on a heavily debated topic of the current state of political scenario in the country. Rather, I propose to raise a point for all of us to think logically for a moment, what may be the reason for us to be in such a situation and what possibly could be the way forward. Historically and presently, if you look at all the nations that we perceive to be as successful and futuristic, it seems that almost all of them have a 2 party system that dominated their politics; be it USA, Russia or UK. Even single ideology systems have made nations successful; be it China or Germany.

On the other hand, when we look at India, there are numerous political parties large and small existing at every nook and crony. Each one of them having their own selfish agendas to appease their limited following and a national vendetta to create a furor each time some policy comes up which is in a national interest but not in their personal. These are fence sitters who will auction themselves for money and power.

As a result what we are seeing today is that such fence-sitters, however small they are, are becoming menacingly powerful enough to destabilize governments and thereby national governance. If the seats arent traded, if the positions arent shared, if money doesnt change hands under the table, the entire nation's governance will be held at ransom by them. In political circuits, they self-prophesize themselves as a part that can make or break governments; in sane terms it is called nuisance value. What happens thereafter is a mockery of the system; mockery in the name of "coalition" governments. In comes the NDA and in response the UPA is formed. Its good as along as the agenda of all parties in a coalition remains constant and consistent and as long as the objective of the coalition takes precedence over intra party feud. But the problem is that it aint possible as a result of existence of individual party preferences within a coalition. In Indian political coalitions, anybody can simply walk out if the policies and actions do not appease individual whims and fancies, thereby holding the enire governments at brim.

What our nation needs to look and think, is having in power a mechanism with primary concern for national governance and progress of citizens and country as a whole. This is possible at a faster rate when we start having 2 party structure. Lest the games of accusation will keep oscillating and we will simply prolong our development.

Jaydeep Deshpande

Sane call it being cautious, insane tag it as religious discrimination

APJ Abdul Kalam's frisking episode was just dying and Sharukh's took birth. Whilst I am not agreeing that frisking should be banned, but in certain cases - India's ex-president for example, certain diplomatic protocol needs to be followed.

However, I fail to understand what this fuss was all about regarding Sharukh's episode and depending on the celebrity's stature in the industry, the media airtime varies! There was this Irfan Khan episode some months back as well about how he was detained and questioned in US but it didnt get much publicity - coz he is still a billu barber!

Are we as a nation suggesting that celebrities are like gods who have the right to surpass what is applicable to others? Or are we saying that they are way above all of us lesser mortals? Its just that if it was you and I, this wouldnt have been an episode. The reason - because you and I believe in rules laid down for our and everyone else's safety. There are millions of people who go abroad and face stringent security procedures per the country's laws. Is there anything wrong in ensuring the safety and security of a nation?

Why are we blaming others when the lacunae resides within us? Yes, I am talking about us - Indians. Our problem is that we treat celebrities as gods, but that does not mean that others too should. Think for a moment, would you allow a person who may be known to others in your family but unknown to you straight in your house? Would you not ask questions about his identity? Now critics may argue that it is not "someone", it was "Sharukh Khan". Well, lets do one thing, why dont we go and ask a CRPF constable manned at the our airport if he knew who "Brad Pitt" was!

Are we saying that just because he is a celebrity, he is away from what is applicable to a billion others?

The whole world knows what happenned on 9/11. So is being extra cautious about the safety and security about one's brethren being racist? Let's face it people, the cautious nature exists because it aint lives of just one or two people at stake but millions. America has seen it, experienced it and learnt it. Suffice to say that post 9/11, not a single cowardly incident has taken place on that soil.

Sane people call it being vigilant and following proccesses no matter who it is. Insane people term it as descrimination. I guess its high time we Indians grew up and act mature.

We dont even have a right to shout actually. What have we done to protect our countrymen? Every year there are numerous terrorist strikes the country.Hundreds die on the borders fighting insurgency. Have we learnt anything? Yes, we have! We have learnt how to be lackadaisical.

What is more appaling is the way in which media reacts. For them everything is breaking news! They are the ones who blow the trumpet when the security isnt tight and they blow it yet again, when the security is doing their job. What is it that they want? Thers is a lot beyong the TRPs folks!

I am not someone who is pro-US, but an Indian who feels that this insane, uneducated, how-dare-you-frisk-me attitude stop in the national and international interest of the larger population. And for safety's sake, our people who make a mockery of it have no right terming what US does as paranoia!

Jaydeep Deshpande

The mettle of the metal

Epoch 1991: The nation of the patient, the world's largest democracy was stunned in silence to what it never imagined in its wildest dreams would happen. It was the death of a thought, loss of youth and demise of hope that young India was expecting in its future. It was the assasination of one of India's most beloved leaders - Rajiv Gandhi. Yet, what was seeded in that bereavement was the birth of determination.

Circa 1991-98: The country's strongest and largest political party was suddenly without a head, the country without a leader, and the government trying to maintain its footing. The common questions doing the rounds were "what next" and "who next". A lot of contenders came to the fore and somewhere the name that was subtly breezing around was that of someone the post independence India was not expecting. India has already had a past with the white skin and most Indians were just not ready to the idea of yet another one taking control over the nation's proceedings.

Political vendetta gave rise to a nation wide uproar of only an Indian leading the country. Questions were raised. How can someone who was not even born here, couldnt speak the country's national language and didnt have a clue about running a nation, lead this "democratic" country of a billion plus? Dont we have the capability in our blood and skin to find "the one"? Can a country that gave birth to the Mahatma not find someone to lead it? Political parties were up in arms, heated arguments started, abuses were hurled, and the personality in question was made the laughing stock. A nation that boasts of its education and upbringing had started mimicking this personality, albeit to make fun. The common agenda across the Indian polity was precisely how a foreigner cannot contest for elections in India. Surprisingly, the same country had forgotten to think and contest on the lines of development, power to youth, and literacy that once upon a time, its slain leader was emphasizing.

In the midst of these questions and heated debates and while the world was watching in amazement about the time utilization by our leaders, a silhouette was making sure that 10 years down the line, India changes its perception about someone they were calling with an alias - "Italian". Today the same Italian by virtue of her determination can speak India's national language, is as much an Indian as other Indians, is known for her tough and good decision-making in Indian politics, is the most powerful woman in India and is numbered amongst the most powerful women in the world.

Epoch 2004: She did not take India's most powerful post whilst she could have; and ensured it went to someone more qualified and someone who she believed could do India much better.

Epoch 2009: Under her leadership, India's largest political party saw a historic win in the current elections.

Ultimately, winning or losing depends on proving your mettle and by doing so, Sonia Gandhi showed what metal she is made up of.

Jaydeep Deshpande