Recently, a few political leaders in Bihar were convicted for killing a conscientious IAS officer in 1994. Among them were the usual suspects: criminal-politicians. And how has the political class in Bihar reacted to it,
The interesting aspect of the visit, however, was the presence of Rajput caste MLAs cutting across party lines. Around half a dozen MLAs of the caste representing the JD(U), BJP and LJP accompanied Fernandes and expressed solidarity with Anand Mohan—who during the early nineties had emerged as the tallest leader of the Rajputs. JD(U) MLAs Neeraj Kumar Bablu (Raghopur) and Jay Kumar Singh (Bikramganj) and Ashok Kumar Singh (Paru) were accompanied by Subhash Kumar Singh (Gopalgunj) of the BJP and Achutanand Singh (Mahnar) from Ramvilas Paswan’s LJP.
Last Friday, Bhumihar leaders cutting across party lines had met JD(U) MLA Munna Shukla in the civil court. They came out in protest when Shukla—awarded life imprisonment in the DM murder case—was brought to the court in handcuffs. Shukla complained to them about the ill-treatment being meted out inside the jail.
Reports from across the state have it that upper caste Rajputs and Bhumihars were severely annoyed with the JD(U) Government after their caste leaders were given “harsh” punishments by the trial court. These two castes had supported Nitish during the last Assembly polls. The MLAs who paid a visit to the jail also echoed the sentiment. “People across the state are angry. Anand Mohan is being tortured in jail,” remarked BJP MLA Subhash Singh, adding that this was being done under instructions from the state administration[link](boldness added)
A career criminal accused of lynching a senior government official wins political support. But then one may ask: What’s new?
I have said this many times before but it bears repetition: India sucks because her people do so. India is sick because the Indian society is sick.
Till that civilizational crisis is fixed (don’t ask me how!) India will always remain what it is now: Third-world, third-class, third-rate.
After all, does a country of third-rate people deserve any better?
p.s Yeah, I know I shouldn’t be making such broad generalizations. Maybe I won’t. When I am less angry.
Filed under: Rants
There are lots of intellectuals who believe in a natural cycle of crests and troughs in any civilization. History lends credence to this view – great civilizations in the past collapsed while barbaric ones survived. People site the example of US, a new civilization, therefore it has great vitality. India being an old civilization is assumed to have emaciated. The same is true for China. However, expatriate Indians and Chinese do quite well when they move to other countries. This proves that only quality of people will not help, there is indeed some truth in the folklore about civilizations being like living entities who must get old and eventually perish.
The alternate view is that a civilization can continuously renew itself. Socialism leads to ossification of societies. Since the pie is perceived to be of fixed size, everything appears to be a zero sum game. This perception leads to strong group formation. Absent property rights and law enforcement, the only means of survival is trusts obtained through other means – such as social identity.
” India sucks because her people do so. India is sick because the Indian society is sick………”
Such a gross universalisation, so conveniently at such an abstract level. R, you made me furious!
Its that Caste/Religion Iron-casted,Crusted, Rusted Populace – Political leaders who are supposed to serve India and her people to be blamed, who further ignite such illogical and unjust riots, to be blamed. and their whole bunch of misguided psychopants have to be punished.
if you say, most of us, including you,other leading bloggers, me…live in such a comforting, analeptic arm-chair patriotic fervor and social conscience, I will agree with you.
I wonder why there’s such a calm acceptance from the sea of conscientious IAS officers’ humanity towards this unpleasant development? situation certainly would be different, if they’d raised a voice against peace-lives-suckin political leaders
I am not getting into any conveniently modified theories of civilisation over here…
but I contest “expatriate Indians and Chinese do quite well when they move to other countries” Barb.
How do you define “do well”? lifestylsh, career advancements, global challenges or contemporary mindset or the ever-narrowing affection or affinity for one’s country?
“those who move do well” – could largely be due to the environment arund there.
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The judgment comes as small relief.
Strong words but unfortunately true. I can understand your frustration.
It would be interesting to study the reasons for the persistence of caste. The post:
http://neweconomist.blogs.com/new_economist/2007/10/caste-out.html
links to an article which gives some partial clues along the lines of the first post above.
R
the latest Tata Tea’s brand campaign “Jaago re” focusses on Social awakening, with a young man usurping the role of socially responsible individual who scares the living daylights out of a politician who comes to him beggng for his vote by quizzing him on his casual approach towards his job, what are his various achievements during X years of experience in serving the nation and people…
and we cant ignore TOI’s high-decible campaign “Lead India” ….at this point of time, I dnot want to be pessimistic about the success of such efforts in the popular culture. Hope people dont see this as yet another trend in the media, watch it, enjoy it, consume it n forget it, just like “Fill it.Shut it.Forget it” ad. But people should feel that severe itchiness to raise their voices of frustration against the sick system, whenever possible….
Jyothsna,
Most of the TOI Lead India contestants are hopeless.. Most of them are the NGO types, jobless lawyers and out-of-work journalists.. whose idea of removing inequality is to make everyone poor..
In Pune, one of the contestants put forth his views regarding “No to Dams”. A smart judge, some Aga , CEO or somebigshot of Thermax , asked him later in the Q&A round.. How will you solve the problem of water shortage in Pune… His answer – Build more dams… LOL..
BarbarIndians,
I had read a quote earlier , similar to – “In India, the Constitution was written by lawyers, and in US, it was written by brewers”.
Rippu
She is Ms Anu Agha- Chairperson of Thermax, a brilliant woman.
N I resist self from ridiculing “TOI Lead India” campaign. I respect this trickle of Social Conscience, a quiver of Social responsibility in India, the country which is being plundered and rummaged shamelessly by politcians and bureaucracy, the country – being a home of professionals like you and me who work in organisations that are created to maintain Status Quo. your immediate need could be acquiring a Plasma TV, while slipping into a bigger car or travelling to Singapore could be my need. and we do “arm-chair” social service. But I am different from you, forever skeptical being (I am sorry, I consider you a good friend of mine). I respect the thought behind NGOs, the fervent desire to create a world of difference to people from poorer/lower strata, the humble / discerning decsion behind it…..can you think of leaving the comfort and security of your career? no.Can I think of.yes to some extent.
let’s respect those momentous crossover decisions n financial and lifestylish sacrifices, a few individuals have made- the passion, the commitment to one’s self
Shukla Bose, an IIM-Calcutta alumna, who resigned her stratospherically well paid job to start the Parikrma Humanity Foundation, Ramesh Ramanathan who quit a dream job with Citibank in the US to successfully kickstart Janagraaha, a citizens’ movement for better governance in Bangalore, citizens participation democracy — whose crossover story was an inspiration for Swadesh
NGO-not a simple job, it does demand professionalism, funds-raising and project implemen-tation capability. let’s not make fun of it!
#Ajaya Shreshtha – quit a high potential career with Time Warner (USA) to take charge of the anti-child labour unit of the Mumbai-based Pratham.
#Illa Hukku – according to the article , Hukku heads the strategic planning division of CRY (Child Relief and You).
#Madhav Chavan. An alumnus of Ohio State University, with Pratham
#Sandeep Pandey. An alumnus of the University of California, Berkeley, Pandey quit his teaching job at IIT-Kanpur to set up Asha, a Lucknow-based grassroots education NGO. The Ramon Magsaysay award in the emergent leadership category.
# Umesh Malhotra. An alumnus of IIT-Madras and Infosys Technologies.Hippocampus, a not-for-profit which networks with government schools and community libraries.
#Balaji Sampath. An alumnus of IIT-Madras and University of Maryland, Sampath abandoned a promising IT industry career in the US to promote the Chennai-based Association for India’s Development — AID-India — in 1997. In 2002, chandra anil, a IIT-Mumbai, Wipro and HCL alumnus and a. ravishankar, (IIT-Madras, Carnegie Mellon University, IBM, USA) joined Sampath.
flood
read ………
http://www.educationworldonline.net/eduworld/article.php?choice=prev_art&article_id=517&issueid=37
I see many well educated individuals like you who fail to respect, recognise, spread the message across or to lend a hand to /to be part of such noble efforts, and I would conside self a fool if I expect the same from blood-suckn politicians…
Hi Jyotsana,
I agree with you and appreciate the fact that you brought it out so well.
I hope our Indian polititians someday consist of people of such breed and thinking.
Thank you Priyap3. Should thank R for his posts & for his forum, which leave ample ground to cover for those who have opinion on relevant issues (the opinion could be laden with optimism, or a sense of helplessness/resentment served with certain degree of encuragment)
yes, I agree with you.such individuals (mst have humble family backgrounds,they went through severe struggle before to display IITs,IIMs tags) who are clear-minded, and interestingly focussed on one critical issue that plagues Indian society are rare a breed, n the country needs it now, when the economy is surging ahead..n nothing should stop this momentum, forget politicians, even economic terrorism that tries to cripple the morale n optimism of commoners, especially, when they are amidst festivities (bomb blasts).
Most political leaders used to promise the moon and stars for the older generations who were busy in managing their respective lives n they continue to do the same, ignoring the fact, the older gen has been replaced by demanding, intellectually aggressive, probing,moderately sensitve younger kids who are tasting success younger, in whatever field chosen.
“.issues like clean drinkig water,employable vocational skills, sanitation, basic nutrition….through corporate and NGO partnerships….” Public Goverance (?)/funds + Private management (Global brand manager from Unilever)
“…to launch Micro-finance schemes as an employment tool for women…” (late 20s, IITan, IIMan)
“….organisation to train teachers, who can contribute in changing te mindset of people at grassroot level..”
“….to use the fun for he farmers of Vidarbha…”
HOW MANY POLITICAL LEADERS CAN BE SO SHARPLY ARTICULATED N SO FOCUSSED WITH A NERVE OF ACCOUNTABILITY?
The effort, at least, would minimise the SKEPTICISM -the forever companion who resides in each one of us…
thank you R.
Dude, you seemed to subscribe to Nitin’s “one can love India, south Indian food, pam’s assets, nose picking in public, his caste, religion at the same time only if India is a country of freedom lovers” line. Whats wrong with this then? Or rather, how is this different from candle light vigils to reopen cases in which a rapist/murderer was set free by a court? The mob then had compelling reasons to believe that the accused was the perp and the mob in this case has its own reasons to believe that the accused is not the perp. Does it even matter what the mob believes in? In both cases, the mob is trying to influence the court’s verdict. As long as the law courts are not given to such whims and stay within the limits of reason and law, India wont suck.
Sriram,
Surely, there is some difference between endorsing murderers and marching for victims for murderers?
And yes I do endorse Nitin’s pov but not completely. My line of freedom doesn’t extend as far as Mr Pai’s does.
You suck !
Gaurav, ofcourse he does.
Drop ‘em!
“The more I know about men the more I like dogs”
All Men Suck Big time
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