திண்ணை காணாப்போச்சு

தென்னிந்தியாவில் வீடுகளில் ஒரு கலாச்சார எடுத்துக்காட்டாக இருந்த திண்ணைகளை இப்போது காணப்படுவதே இல்லை. ஏன்??

ஆர் கே நாராயணின் நாவல்களை படித்தவர்களுக்கு Pyol என்ற வார்த்தை தெரிந்திருக்கும்! அதுதான் நம் திண்ணை. ஆங்கிலத்தில் இப்படி திண்ணை என்ற ஒரு கலாசாரமே இல்லாதபோது – இது எப்படி உபயோகத்துக்கு வந்திருக்கலாம் என்ற கேள்வி நியாயமானதுதான். ஆர் கே நாராயணின் நாவல்களை படிப்பவர்களுக்கு “நமஸ்காரம், தோப்புக்கரணம்” போன்றவற்றை விளக்க அவர் எவ்வளவு கஷடத்தை அனுபவித்திருப்பார்? அவர் தமிழில் கற்பனை செய்து ஆங்கிலத்தில் மொழி பெயர்ப்பவராக இருந்திருந்தால் “எது எது எப்படி எப்படி நடக்குமோ அது அது அப்படி அப்படித்தான் நடக்கும்” என்று ஏதாவது அவரது கதாபாத்திரம் கூறி இருந்திருந்தால் துண்டைக்காணோம் துணியைக்காணோம் என்று ஓடி இருப்பார். இது ஒரு பக்கம் இருக்கட்டும். நாம் இந்த திண்ணைக்கு வருவோம்.

இது ஒரு காலத்தில் கிசுகிசு, சீட்டாட்டம், சில சமயங்களில் ட்யூஷன் எடுப்பதற்கும் கூட இது ஒரு இடமாக இருந்தது! ஆம் திண்ணைகள் அவ்வளவு பெரியது. நம் அண்டை வீட்டாருடன் பழகுவதற்கு அப்போது அவர்களுக்கு நேரம் இருந்தது. நாமும் நம் பெற்றோரின் கோபத்திற்கு ஆளாகாமல் உங்கள் நண்பர்களுடன் பேசக்கூடிய இடம் அதுதான். வீட்டு வேலைகளில் இருக்கும் நம் உறவினருக்கு எந்த தொந்தரவும் இல்லாமல் தொடர்ந்து ரகசியமாக எதையும் பேசிக்கொண்டிருக்கலாம். டீ, காபி என்ற சம்பிரதாயம் கூட தேவையில்லை!! என் நெருங்கிய நண்பர்களுடன் நம் பிரபல நடிகர்களை (நிச்சயமாக நடிகைகளும்தான்) கிசுகிசுத்தது, A ஜோக்குகள் பகிர்ந்து கொண்ட விலைமதிப்பற்ற நேரத்தை என்னால் மறக்கமுடியாது.

திருமணங்கள் (அல்லது அசுபகாரியங்கள் எது நடந்தாலும்) வீட்டில் நடக்கும் காலகட்டங்களில் திண்ணைகள் கை கொடுக்கும். ஷாமியானா வேண்டாம். வீட்டில் அவசியமானவர்களைத்தவிர மற்றவர்கள் திண்ணையில்.

வழிப்போக்கர்கள் இரவு தங்குவதைக்கூட அனுமதிப்பது உண்டு. அது ஒரு காலம். பிறகு அதுவே ஒரு ந்யூசன்ஸ் ஆனபிறகு கேட் போட்டுவிட்டார்கள். வீட்டின் ஒரு பகுதியாக இருந்தது. வீட்டில் வயதானவர்களை ‘கடைசி கால உபசாரம்’ அங்கு செய்வதையும் பார்த்திருக்கலாம்.

ஆனால் எங்கள் சொந்த ஊரில் உள்ள வீட்டில் அதே திண்ணை இன்றும் இருந்தாலும், இப்போதெல்லாம் அது அரிதாகவே பயன்படுத்தப்படுகிறது – அது நீண்ட காலத்திற்கு முன்பே பார்க்கிங் இடமாக மாறிவிட்டது!!

இடத்தட்டுப்பாடுகள் மற்றும் அடுக்குமாடி குடியிருப்பு வடிவமைப்புகளின் காரணங்களால், இதுபோன்ற தனியுரிமைகள் கட்டுப்படியாகாத ஆடம்பரங்கள். நகர வாழ்க்கையின் என்னவோ நமது கலாச்சாரத்தின் சில அம்சங்கள் அடையாளம் காண முடியாத அளவுக்கு மறைந்துவிட்டன!!

Are wits only for the intelligentsia?

Does a sharp wit indicate a certain type of intelligence?

I know that sharp people understand a joke quicker than dull people.

Witty statements are entertaining if they express some kind of truth or irony and aren’t obvious.

This all goes back to Shakespeare’s dictum that brevity is the soul of wit. What this means is that being witty means being able to say a lot with a little; being able to pack a lot of meaning into a very short statement. The reason that this is witty is because it takes a lot of effort, or a lot of intelligence, to take something very complicated and express it succinctly. You’ll notice that a lot of the best jokes and a lot of the best humor consist of making incisive observations in a very brief format.

The answer to this question is: yes, if someone can consistently make sharp, witty observations that make you think, “I couldn’t have done that that quickly,” then you can infer that you’re probably dealing with someone who has a certain kind of intelligence.

Some could be a single sentence or a narration culminating in a sharp wit. Here are a few such quick wits are given as examples for you to envy such intellects!

Nancy Astor, who was a member of Parliament and Churchill were often at odds. She said to Churchill: “if you were my husband, I’d poison your tea” Churchill: “If you were my wife, I’d drink it”

During a visit to the FDR White House, FDR (in his wheelchair) rolled into Churchill’s stateroom unannounced while Churchill was just getting out of the bath, to which Churchill quipped “The Prime Minister of England has nothing to hide from the President of the United States.”

Due to the clouds and haze, the pilot could not determine the helicopter’s position and course to fly to the airport. The pilot saw a tall building, flew toward it, circled, drew a handwritten sign, and held it in the helicopter’s window. The pilot’s sign said “WHERE AM I?” in large letter.

People in the tall building quickly responded to the aircraft, drew a large sign and held it in a building window.Their sign read: “YOU ARE IN A HELICOPTER.”

The pilot smiled, waved, looked at the map, determined the course to steer to the airport, and landed safely. After they were on the ground, one of the passengers asked the pilot how the “YOU ARE IN A HELICOPTER” sign helped determine their position.. The pilot responded “I knew that had to be the Microsoft building because, the response they gave me was technically correct, but completely useless.”

Laugh it out loudly….. If you can’t or if you require assistance to explain what is witty in these examples, may be you don’t belong to that ‘intelligent’ category! Some may not require to be that sharp – say for example, crazy Mohan, Wodehouse… Witty jokes need not necessarily be vulgur though such of those excite you more..

World War -III has just begun

Trump has announced stiff tarrifs on goods across the board and across the shores. The countries are shell shocked at the unconventional trade war on a scale unheard in the modern era.

Globalisation has gone for a toss. It, as a concept has always the risk of potential failure that stems from several factors, including economic inequality, job displacement, environmental degradation, and a decline in cultural diversity, which can lead to social unrest and instability. This despite the belief that close commercial relations would overcome racial, linguistic and border disputes!

Since the World War II, USA pursued a policy of lower tarrifs for friendly countries which were also provided with defence protection and assumed the leadership. The policy stems from the theory that commercial interests would compel the nations to be at peace. The friendly nations invested in US$ and traded in that currency that inflated the exchange rates despite the huge balance of trade deficit for USA.

But in the present world, unlike in the past few decades, even allies do not look up to USA as the leader in innovation, manufacturing or in defence technology. Many have grown in stature. It is now a multipolar world with many players in the arena.

Trump realised an impending slump in US$ even before it really began. To pep up the domestic players, imports must be regulated. That is what he is doing now by correcting the trade imbalances with appropriate tarrif revisions. This is bound to send shock waves across the world – US is no more an easy and attractive market especially to large trading nations such as EU, Japan, Canada, China and India. With their products now getting costlier in US, would the domestic pressure in US coerce to reverse and moderate the tarrifs or the country could bear such inflationary shocks? Would the demand for US$ moderate leading to its devaluation against Euro, Yuan, Yen?

There will be investment stalemate in this uncertain environment! How long would take for the world market to stabilise one way or the other?

US is the biggest world market and taxing the imports differentiallly would impact the exporting countries that have a large bilateral trade surplus. This would have a ripple effect.

India is Relatively better than many others. It might be even open more export opportunities. According to a Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) report, India stands out as a potential winner if it plays its cards right. The GRTI report said the US’s protectionist tariffs might actually open up for India through shifts in global supply chains. But to take full advantage, India needs to improve ease of doing business, invest in logistics and infrastructure, and ensure policy stability, it added.

India and the UK could exploit their non-aligned or pro-US stances to secure exemptions, while Mexico and Canada might lean on regional ties. These nations could see export growth or stability if they pivot supply chains to meet US demands, potentially reshaping global trade alliances.

The losers—China, the EU, Japan, and Southeast Asia—face immediate export declines and long-term uncertainty. China would get hit the most!!

In 1979, Deng, the then Chinese premier, realised being friendly with USA could make China richer. And indeed it had a phenomenal rise by opening up. In forty years it grew in stature and challenged even the mighty US! Would it get reversed now by Trump?

Anyway, it is indeed a welcome disruption once in a while for a highly volatile trade environment to come to terms with reality!

Would this put the wars in Ukraine and Middle East, behind our back?

Is it the beginning of world war -III with world organisations like WTO irrelevant? U.N. is one in that list long since the Covid era – isn’t it?

சொர்க்கமா சொந்த ஊரா?

மனிதனின் உலகம் இயல்பாகவே சிறியதுதான். அவனுடைய உலகம் அடிப்படையில் இனம், மொழி, மதம், பிராந்தியம் என்ற அடையாளங்களில் ஏதாவதாக இருக்கலாம். இவற்றை தாண்டிய உறவுகளை ஏனோ மனிதன் தேடுவதில்லை. ஒருவேளை அது பாதுகாப்பற்றது நினைக்கிறானோ என்று தோன்றுகிறது.

ஒருசில கட்டாயங்களாலோ அல்லது உலகமயமாக்கலாலோ, ஒத்துழைக்கவேண்டியது அவசியமாகும்போது, பழக்கவழக்கங்களை விட்டுக்கொடுக்க வேண்டிய அவசியம் நேருகிறது. இதனால் பொருளாதார அளவில் வசதியாக இருந்தாலும், அன்றாட வாழ்க்கை ஒருவகையில் மன அழுத்தத்தை ஏற்படுத்தலாம். சுயநலவாதிகள் இந்த அழுத்தத்தை பெரிதாக்கத்தான் செய்வார்கள். யதார்த்தவாதிகள் அழுத்தத்தை மறந்து காலம் காலமாக அனுசரித்து வாழ்வதையும் நாம் பார்க்காமல் இல்லை.

சுயநலவாதிகளின் கை ஓங்கும்போது நிம்மதியை இழக்க நேரிடலாம். சட்டம் ஒழுங்கு கூட நிலைகுலையலாம். இதுதான் உலக இயற்கை. இந்த வாழ்க்கை ஒரு வகையில் போராட்டம்தான்.

நமக்கு ஆறுதலான குறுகலான குழமத்திலிருந்து வெளியேறி, அடுத்தவர்களின் வழிமுறைகளைப் புரிந்து கொண்டு, விட்டுக்கொடுக்கும் மனப்பான்மையை பயிற்றுவித்தால், அந்த சமுதாயம் ஒரு சொர்க்கம்தான். இந்த போராட்டங்களை ஏற்றுக்கொள்பவர்களே தன் ஊர் எல்லையை தாண்டலாம். இல்லை என்றால் கிடைக்கும் வாய்ப்புக்களை தொலைத்துவிட்டு ‘குண்டு சட்டியில் குதிரைஓட்டி மகிழலாம்’!

“சொர்க்கமே என்றாலும் அது நம்ம ஊரைப்போலாகுமா” என்பதும் சிலரின் யதார்த்த வாதம்தான்.

இந்த சமுதாயப்போராட்டங்கள் ஒரு புறம் இருக்க, உலகமயமாக்கல் உச்சத்திலிருந்த காலம் கடந்து இப்போது தேசியவாதம் என்ற முழக்கம் கேட்க ஆரம்பித்துவிட்டது. காலச்சக்கரம் சுழன்று இப்போது குறைந்த விலையில் பொருட்கள் என்பதை கடந்து நாமோ அல்லது நமக்கு வேண்டியவர்களோ தயாரிக்கும் பொருள்களை வாங்கவேண்டிய காலத்தில் இருக்கிறோம். காலம் மாறிவிட்டது… கடல் கடந்து திரவியம் தேடவேண்டியது அந்த காலம் – make in India இந்த காலம்.. இந்திய, ஜப்பான் சீன நாடுகளின் விளையாட்டை அமெரிக்கா புரிந்துகொண்டுவிட்டது.. எல்லா நாடுகளும் தேசியவாதிகளாகி விட்டார்கள். நாடுகளிடையே இந்த பொருளாதார அழுத்தத்தை தாண்டி மத இன வேறுபாடுகளாலும் உலக சமுதாயத்தில் நல்லிணக்கம் வெகுவாக குறைந்துவிட்டது. எங்கு எப்போது வேண்டுமானாலும் போராட்டங்கள் வெடிக்கலாம்….

இதற்கு விடிவுதான் என்ன? காலம்தான் விடை சொல்லவேண்டும்!

Language Blossoms through Poetry

The first verse of Valmiki Ramanaya is a beautiful rendering with a double meaning depicting the Rishi Valmiki, who witnesses a hunter kill a male krauncha (crane) bird, and is moved to sorrow and compassion, which leads him to spontaneously compose a verse which became the first verse of the Ramayana.

मा निषाद प्रतिष्ठां त्वमगमः शाश्वतीः समाः । यत् क्रौञ्चमिथुनादेकमवधीः काममोहितम् ॥

Though it might mean spontaneous cursing by the saint of the hunter, it praises the protagonist of the epic he is going to write.

Prose rendering of the verse goes thus: हे निषाद, यत् क्रौञ्चमिथुनादेकं काममोहितं अवधीः, त्वं शाश्वतीः समाः प्रतिष्ठां मा अगमः ।

“O Nishada (hunter), because you killed one of the Kraunca couple who was engaged in love, may you never obtain peace.”

मा निषाद in the shloka prima facie appears as two separate words; मा is used in the meaning of “don’t” and निषाद is used to address the hunter.

However, the shloka needs to be changed to accomplish the second meaning. It needs to be modified as below:

मानिषाद प्रतिष्ठां त्वमगमः शाश्वतीः समाः । यत् क्रौञ्चमिथुनादेकमवधीः काममोहितम् ॥

As you can see, the first word is now a compound (समास). It is explained as:

मानिषाद = मा लक्ष्मीः यस्मिन् निषीदति निवसति स मानिषादः where Mā (Lakshmi) resides, i.e. Vishnu’s heart. Hence Vishnu is called मानिषाद.

However, the word क्रौञ्च is to be interpreted as a human.

So the verse is addressed to Vishnu:

“O Mānishāda (Vishnu), because you killed one (Kraunca) “human” who was lustful (i.e. Ravana), may you always obtain fame.”

So you see, the original shloka has to be modified, to come up with a second meaning.

Sanskrit literature has many such beautiful poems that have double (or many) meanings, that have to be deciphered by their disciples (commentators), without whom it would be difficult for others to easily interpret!!

For example, the first verse of the celebrated Sanskrit poet Kalidasa’s famous epic poem Raghuvamśa (“the story of the dynasty of Raghu”, a king of the solar lineage of India) is as follows:

वागर्थाविव संपृक्तौ वागर्थप्रतिपत्तये ।

जगतः पितरौ वन्दे पार्वतीपरमेश्वरौ ।।

“I bow to the mother and father of the world, Pārvatī and Parameśvara (Ṥiva), who are inseparably conjoined, just like a word and its meaning are inseparably conjoined for the purpose of comprehension.”

This is the classic meaning of the verse. However, clever scholars discovered that they could make a pun on the last word by splitting it slightly differently.

First method of splitting:

पार्वती – परमेश्वरौ = Pārvatī and Parameśvara

Second method of splitting:

पार्वतीप – रमेश्वरौ = Pārvatīpa and Rameśvara

= Pārvatī’s husband and Ramā’s husband

= Ṥiva and Viṣṇu

In the second case, the word पितरौ is easily translated as “two fathers” instead of the special meaning of “father and mother” for the first case.

This seems to be a clever way of showing the equivalence of the two great Gods Shiva and Vishnu with the aim of calming sectarian rivalries and conflicts.

It is a joy to read poetry and be blessed to be blissful rather than get entangled in a controversy of which language is older… !

கேள்விக்கு என்ன பதில்?

பிரயாகையில் 56 கோடி யாத்ரீகர்கள் குளித்ததாக அறிக்கை கூறுகிறது. மிகவும் மலைப்பாக உள்ளது. அது இந்தியாவின் மக்கள்தொகையில் மூன்றில் ஒரு பங்கிற்கும் அதிகமானோர்! இந்த போக்கில், சிவராத்திரிக்குள் அது நாட்டின் மக்கள்தொகையையே கூட தொட்டுவிடலாம்!

பயணிகளின் கணக்கு, செயற்கை நுண்ணறிவு மூலம் விடியோபதிவுகளை கொண்டு கணக்கிடமுடியும் என்பது ஒருபுறம் இருக்கட்டும். இந்த கணக்கின் நம்பகத்தன்மை என்ன? ஒருவேளை எங்காவது தவறி இருக்கலாமோ?

இதில் சர்வதேச பயணிகளின் எண்ணிக்கை எவ்வளவாக இருக்கும்? விமானப் பயணத் தரவுகளிலிருந்து இதை மதிப்பிடுவது ஒன்றும் கடினம் அல்ல!

தினமும் நீராட பலர் அங்கு முகாமிட்டிருக்கலாம் – சாதுக்களைப் போல – அந்த எண்ணிக்கை என்னவாக இருக்கும்?

இந்த கேள்விகளை கேட்டாலே இவன் இந்துக்களுக்கு எதிரி என்று முத்திரை குத்திவிடாதீர்கள்!

உங்களுக்கு நினைவிருக்கலாம் – கோவிட் காலங்களில், நாட்டில் இறப்பு விகிதம் வியக்கத்தக்க வகையில் குறைவாக இருந்தது என்று பலருக்கு அவநம்பிக்கை இருந்தது. வேண்டுமென்றே குறைத்து மதிப்பிடுவதாக ஊடகங்களில் பதிவிட்டிருந்தனர் – உண்மை ஒருபோதும் அதிகாரப்பூர்வ ஆதாரங்களில் இதுவரை வெளிவரவில்லை. பாராளுமன்றத்திலும் யாரும் வினவவில்லை. அரசாங்க பதிவேடுகளலிருந்து இதை கண்டுபிடிப்பது ஒன்றும் கடினம் அல்ல! ஏனோ இதைப்பற்றி இப்போது யாருக்கும் கவலையில்லை. ஒருவேளை நமக்கு எந்த புள்ளிவிவரங்களின் மீதும் நம்பிக்கை இல்லையோ?

உலக அளவில் கூட இந்த தொற்றைப்பற்றி யாரும் இப்போது கவலைப்படுவதாக தெரியவில்லை. இந்த தொற்றுக்கு சீனாதானா மூலம் என்ற குற்றச்சாட்டுக்கும் விடை இல்லைதான் – ட்ரம்ப் கூட இதைப்பற்றி கவலைப்படவில்லை! ஏன்?

வரலாறு நமக்கு பல பாடங்கள கற்பிக்கிறது. அவற்றை மறக்கலாகாது. இவ்வளவு விஞ்ஞான வளர்ச்சி இருந்தும் சில வினாக்களுக்கு விடையை நாம் தேடுவதில்லை! பதைந்து கிடக்கும் உண்மைகளை அறிய மனமில்லை – ஏன்?

இந்த பொறுப்பற்ற சமுதாயத்தை வருங்காலம் மன்னிக்காது!

How long the other side of Atlantic be green?

Jus soli, meaning ‘right of soil’, commonly referred to as birthright citizenship, is the right of anyone born in the territory of a state to nationality or citizenship. The establishment of this law by European colonial powers is to entice immigrants. This is a popular law in US enacted in 19th century (the country itself is born in 18th century) primarily for abolishing slavery.

This law is not universal but country specific. For example, In 1986, a constitution amendment passed by the Indian parliament repealed the then existing birthright citizenship. This was solely because of excessive refugees showing up at the Indo Bangladesh border in addition to the Sri Lankan Tamils who came to marine border post 1983.

America unlike India is not a civilizational state. It is made up of Immigrants and is barely 250 years old. Everyone including the President hails from immigrant families. So birthright citizenship is a normal thing. Just about everything is available on welfare except Healthcare, the costliest part. The most important aspects of life are food, shelter and health care.

Other immigrant countries like Australia and New Zealand don’t have birthright citizenship. This could be because of free health care.

Trump cohorts believe an older immigrant has the moral right to deny citizenship to a relatively new immigrant! May be.. but the growth engine of that country is oiled primarily by the bright immigrants and not by the lazy lots (sorry Uncle Sam – I am only quoting Vivek)!

Mahakumbh Mela – A Rare Celestial Event

The Magh Mela of Prayag is probably the oldest among the four modern-day Kumbh Melas. It dates from the early centuries CE, given it has been mentioned in several early Puranas. However, the name Kumbh for these more ancient bathing pilgrimages probably dates to the mid-19th century.

The timing of Kumbh mela is determined by the position of key astronomical bodies. The most important factor is the alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Jupiter. When Jupiter enters Aquarius (the zodiac sign of Kumbh), and the Sun and Moon align, it’s time for the Mahakumbh. The kumbh cycle is once in 6 years while that of Mahakumbh is 12 years. This rare celestial alignment creates the perfect moment for the holy bath, believed to cleanse devotees of all sins!

The Kumbh Melas of the past, albeit with different regional names, attracted large attendance and have been religiously significant to the Hindus for centuries. However, they have been more than a religious event for the Hindu community. Historically the Kumbh Melas were also major commercial events, initiation of new recruits to the akharas, prayers and community singing, spiritual discussions, education and a spectacle.

Some traditions ascribe Kumbha Mela’s origins to the 8th CE philosopher Shankara as a part of his efforts to start major Hindu gatherings for philosophical discussions and debates along with Hindu monasteries across the Indian subcontinent.

The festival is observed over many days, with the day of Amavasya attracting the largest number on a single day. According to official figures, the largest one-day attendance at the Kumbh Mela was 30 million on 10 February 2013, and 50 million on 4 February 2019. More than 200 million Hindus gathered for the Kumbh Mela in 2019. Taking dip at the confluence of Yamuna, Ganga and ‘ mythological’ Saraswathi rivers, in a cold winter along with the sea of humanity, itself is an experience by itself!

The gathering at the Mahakumbh 2025 is set to double this number at 400 million at least and deliver a significant economic boost, contributing up to Rs. 2 trillion to India’s economy. Uttar Pradesh’s GDP is expected to grow by over 1%. Trade in daily essentials is projected at 173 billion, with the hotel and travel sectors reaching Rs. 2.8 billion. Religious materials and flowers are estimated to generate Rs. 20 billion and Rs. 8 billion, respectively.

Religious sentiments apart, this humongous congregation is sure to propel India’s GDP growth engine!

A Flight Landing Announcement at Prayagraj international airport gives a flavour of not only the reverence but the excitement too!

Bloated Ego or Arrogant Insecurity?

Sam Manekshaw’s military career started with service in World War 2 and spanned 4 decades. He was instrumental in the Indo-Pak war in 1971 and was the first person to be promoted to Field Marshal. He was awarded both Padma Bushan and Padma Vibushan during his lifetime.

But, in spite of all the exemplary leadership, when he passed away on 27 June 2008, the then UPA Government neither declared a national day of mourning nor any Government official attended his funeral The primary reason is that he fell out of grace of the Congress govt for his straight forward responses.

Alarmed at the high influx of refugees Indira wanted Sam Bahadur to go for war immediately in April 1971. The Army Chief declined citing monsoon rains among other things. For Indira Gandhi, the refugee crisis is taking monstrous proportions as the indigenous population was being subsumed by the heavy influx of refugees and there was tremendous rage against her inaction. Anyway Sam Bahadur prevailed and army operations were postponed till the winter which proved fruitful as the Indian Army’s victory was swift. It took just 13 days to win that war (3-16, Dec 1971).

Manekshaw always questioned the attitude of politicians in general and was very critical of them. The Congress govt could not ever make him sing their tune, so he was sort of punished with a lowered salary and paltry pension. He was not paid his arrears until 2007 and it was Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam who gave him the check of 1.3 crores. Not the victory that made Indira ‘Durga’, but the denial kept lingering in the minds of congress leadership (Sonia and her coterie?) even though Indira had died long back.

Obviously when this brave soldier of the nation departed he was not given a farewell he deserved at all. Congress never gave P.V. Narashima Rao too the respect he deserved even after his death in 2004. Even the congress party headquarters gate did not open to keep the body for sometime for the congressmen to pay respects.

Sonia Gandhi insulting the then prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh is legendary – is it a telling evidence of her ego or arrogance of legacy?

Sonia Gandhi ignores Dr MMS is spite of his being PM of the country

And her lieutenants take the cue lest they fear the . Such is the grand old party’s tradition to keep a family’s ego above the nation’s cherished tradition!

Indian Political Leadership – Time to Introspect

Are democratic institutions in india deteriorating beyond redemption? Is the country becoming hopelessly ungovernable?

The institutions of democracy are not able to respond adequately to the challenges posed by economic development and social change with their growing political awakening and raising expectations.

Frequent walkouts in parliament and legislatures, unruly scenes, disgraceful disorderliness, disruptive tactics and sit ins have taken precedence over reasoned arguments and give and take attitudes.

Inability to accommodate and reconcile contending demands, increasing recourse of people to violent and extra constitutional agitations, growing corruption render the governance tough.

There is certainly deterioration of calibre and integrity of political leadership. Compromise for power and personal wealth are rampant amongst most of them. Consequently, even major parties and political leaders, though are able win elections are neither able to govern nor maintain authority and thus not able to check erosion of institutions like the party, parliament or the bureaucracy!

The interests of caste and sub groups take precedence over all other issues and to protect their interests, they vote en masse. Since there are too many such vote banks, though separately subcritical, elections are fought with their support. Their uncompromising demands far outweigh other saner requirements for development.

There are fingers pointing to questionable judicial integrity, especially in lower courts. Political interference in law and order enforcement has been prevalent ever since 1960’s. Police and courts are the last resort of a common citizen!

Media is under the control of business houses and political parties. Bureaucracy is never shy of using all means at their disposal to throttle their voice!

Would these deteriorating institutions of pillars of democracy, make this country ungovernable? Would this frustrate the public soon?

No, it appears at present everybody is happy in India, for they have happily mastered the art of seeing hope even where none apparently exists. No one appears to be unhappy enough to ensure that anything radically changes in their lives. This make-belief House of Happiness will be challenged only when ordinary citizens, especially the young, come out of their stupor, and begin to find far more effective means to display their unhappiness.

Would Diversity itself be a liability? Many politicians believe “divide and rule” would enable managing the country of such magnitude!

But this would only be a short term solution. It would not be a surprise if there is violent upsurge of unrest in the not so distant a future! At that time, only the political leadership of the country should take the blame, not the ‘deep state’! Statesmen of stature is the need of the hour!

https://www.asianage.com/opinion/columnists/pavan-k-varma-why-india-worlds-happiest-country-but-must-get-rid-of-that-status-1848771?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0sPTSufG_GqSXqT2rHlnuGg61CZYdJzk61eZjJ2KUDtgas6DsBjKa_26U_aem_axJAMX2QSxXoiMSEg3k6KA