Government has won the confidence vote and we can now see the nuclear deal pass but in probably the most utterly forgettable fashion. The cabinet’s ambivalence was clearly evident and the goings on in the Lok Sabha were not exactly cheerful. But has the government managed to secure the more important asset than even the nuclear deal, the people’s faith? Nuclear deal or no nuclear deal, current government will go in history as being very opaque even notorious on various occasions as regards safeguards agreement. Why did the ministry decline to release the contents of the safeguard’s agreement to the public when IAEA itself did not pose any restrictions whatsoever, giving an impression that they are just somehow muddling through?
Opposition’s double-standards were quintessential BJP – making every possible allegation to quash the deal. One comment was, “UPA is doing injustice to the Muslim vote-bank by supporting US (and thereby Bush) who has been a cause of misery to Iraq – a Muslim country – and to the innocent Saddam Hussain. This deal is inherently evil”. Why did then Jaswant Singh remark that “This deal is our [NDA’s] baby. Why should UPA act in such urgency vis-à-vis the safeguards agreement”? This smacks of power mongering with utter disregard to nation’s goodwill.
Left had good intentions, they rightfully backed-off. I like this politics in which our leaders are putting country first. They drew our attention to the particularly hazardous outcomes of the nuclear deal and the fact that several nations including US, Germany are loathe to having new nuclear power plants for civilian energy purposes. But their fears for the country, becoming a US henchman with this strategic alliance thereby compromising national sovereignty, are unfounded. The most obvious outcome, they argue, could be a terrorist backlash against India due to its wholehearted support to Bush’s regime.
Terrorism is the most potent challenge world over, but this bull has to be taken by its horns. No country can afford a strategy of avoidance over prevention against terrorism. By not going along with US we are not sure to be spared by the terrorist organizations simply because India has been a perpetual target way before even the 9/11. Post 9/11 the terrorist organizations have found a more pressing agenda but India has never been outside their radar. Hence, India cannot afford not to enter this alliance simply because it might prick the terrorist fraternity.
Overall, I am not exactly unhappy that India has managed to take the nuclear deal to the next level, which is a very progressive mindset to meet our energy requirements in the long run (the next 50 years). But our governance has major challenges:
1. Policy making is easy, implementation is tough. Nuclear fuel is potential hazardous if not dealt with high standards of security. A country of billion people cannot afford a Chernobyl in the making here.
2. We are very close to the terrorist warheads; the archetypical enemies of the world are next door to us. I leave the potential disasters of nuclear fuel finding their hands to everybody’s imagination.
3. India’s strategic alliance with US does not and must not mean that we support US for the terrible war crimes in Afghanistan or their wholehearted support to Israel against Iran, which has brought these countries on the brink of a war. And this should be clearly spelled out to the international community.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Nuclear deal - a failed success?
Saturday, July 19, 2008
In the deep recess of my mind, I find that I have really struggled for the past few years in identifying with myself. It has been a perpetual conflict pervading my life all along. I know that I want something, and precisely how I can get it but another very potent force which is much more subtle but clearly overpowering all other forces seizes any constructive efforts towards my goals.
A good start is very important, most important in fact. But it’s the start which is most likely to go bad. You can survive few initial years with good start but it cannot ensure sustenance of well being. As a human, you will tend to loose enthusiasm and subsequently focus in your work. It is very important to learn from your mistakes from very early stages of your life because you don’t want to be making unpardonable errors at crucial stages.
Anything which lasts long and healthy gives a sense of success and achievement, one which justifies all the pains and suffering you incurred. You tend to feel that you could hold onto your cause through the thick and thin.
An even better scheme of things is when you constantly reposition your aspirations. As an individual this will give you a sense of adventure all your life. This leads to another very important conflict. Is it important to change your goals and never being satisfied with anything in your life? I sense that this is a notion which I have forced upon myself very solemnly – meaning I must not aspire to keep changing my priorities all my life and must have a point of saturation somewhere. This will help me ponder over my life after I have lived most of it. This will also bring cutting edge perfection into my work just like a painter or musician who becomes a master of his art and sensibilities. I will not want to keep going back to my past and always feel ashamed of myself for all the “acts of childishness”. On the other hand, I will not want to achieve finality, which will kill all my endeavours to achieve more and higher. This is a very difficult exercise one which demands absolute honesty on my part. How much I succeed depends directly on how honest I am in my self-evaluation.
A good start is very important, most important in fact. But it’s the start which is most likely to go bad. You can survive few initial years with good start but it cannot ensure sustenance of well being. As a human, you will tend to loose enthusiasm and subsequently focus in your work. It is very important to learn from your mistakes from very early stages of your life because you don’t want to be making unpardonable errors at crucial stages.
Anything which lasts long and healthy gives a sense of success and achievement, one which justifies all the pains and suffering you incurred. You tend to feel that you could hold onto your cause through the thick and thin.
An even better scheme of things is when you constantly reposition your aspirations. As an individual this will give you a sense of adventure all your life. This leads to another very important conflict. Is it important to change your goals and never being satisfied with anything in your life? I sense that this is a notion which I have forced upon myself very solemnly – meaning I must not aspire to keep changing my priorities all my life and must have a point of saturation somewhere. This will help me ponder over my life after I have lived most of it. This will also bring cutting edge perfection into my work just like a painter or musician who becomes a master of his art and sensibilities. I will not want to keep going back to my past and always feel ashamed of myself for all the “acts of childishness”. On the other hand, I will not want to achieve finality, which will kill all my endeavours to achieve more and higher. This is a very difficult exercise one which demands absolute honesty on my part. How much I succeed depends directly on how honest I am in my self-evaluation.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Explosive culture
My first impressions of New Delhi, the capital city of India, have been mixed. They have ranged from mildly fulfilling to absolutely gut wrenching. Now what can I say about that? Doesn't sound very palatable to me. I like Delhi for what it can offer to me, and I hate Delhi for its people. It is not an instinctive serial-killer-syndrome, but I despise them, knowing that in doing that I despise myself as well. I am ready to take that self character assassination so long it enables me to spew out my angst, euphemistically "Negative Energies".
I hate their overly eager, irate and hurried attitude, their non-chalance towards queues, their too fat bellies, their disregard towards have-nots, or worse their pity towards have-nots. When I read signs on roads, saying, "Please mind the steps" or "Please take diversion carefully" etc, I feel why has anyone cared for being so nice with such nasty brats. Like they really care.
For Delhi, it's people are the real let down. When I portray India to others, I say there is love, caring for others, even strangers, but thats really not my country. May be it once was, but certainly not now. Look at TV channels for example, why are we seeing so many useless soaps, songs, movies and not to forget news day in and day out. What do they think about us? Are we as mindless as that! Why are radio channels replete with useless noise. "Because, some dumbfuck takes interest in them and we have to serve our client in whatever way we can", they might argue. If India was a country of 1 billion sheep, we would have been more civilized, atleast we would be safe from anti-evolution.
I think desire is the evil root of all.
I hate their overly eager, irate and hurried attitude, their non-chalance towards queues, their too fat bellies, their disregard towards have-nots, or worse their pity towards have-nots. When I read signs on roads, saying, "Please mind the steps" or "Please take diversion carefully" etc, I feel why has anyone cared for being so nice with such nasty brats. Like they really care.
For Delhi, it's people are the real let down. When I portray India to others, I say there is love, caring for others, even strangers, but thats really not my country. May be it once was, but certainly not now. Look at TV channels for example, why are we seeing so many useless soaps, songs, movies and not to forget news day in and day out. What do they think about us? Are we as mindless as that! Why are radio channels replete with useless noise. "Because, some dumbfuck takes interest in them and we have to serve our client in whatever way we can", they might argue. If India was a country of 1 billion sheep, we would have been more civilized, atleast we would be safe from anti-evolution.
I think desire is the evil root of all.