This morning started with another report of an attack on an Indian in Australia. This time, four youngsters attacked a taxi driver from India while travelling in his cab. The Australian response would have been hilarious if it were not so tragic.
The Australians have claimed once again that this was not a "racial" attack - simply "opportunistic". I wonder what that means. I guess the Indian taxi driver gave the white Australian an "opportunity" to attack him since he took them in as passengers, and they were only using that opportunity to beat him and spit at him. Presumably, that is what all civilised passengers in Australian cabs are expected to do if given the "opportunity"! Poor chaps, we should not blame them. Does this remind you of the response to a recent rape case in Goa, where a venerable member of the assembly had accused the victim of "allowing" herself to be victimised?
The next question to ask is - how do the police know that these attacks are NOT racially motivated? Since they claim to have not yet solved any case - or made any arrests, where is this certainty coming from?
I came across a website with an interview with, seemingly, some Indian official. Both, the tone of the questions (suggesting Indian media were blowing up the cases without adequate information), and the Indian officials obsequiousness (suggesting that Australia was a better place than India) almost made me throw up. The only blog comment on the site is telling - the writer commends the Indian government advisory to students - since that would restrict Indian from taking away jobs!
The US, meanwhile, has issued a demarche to China - asking for an explanation wrt the hacking attempt on Google! Just goes to tell you how important it is for US to protect commercial interests. For the current Manmohan Singh government, on the other hand, a few Indian lives is not worth protesting over - Will someone please tell Shashi Tharoor that tweeting on visa issues is not the only job of a junior minister of foreign affairs. Writing out a demarche to Australia may be more workmanlike. But then who ever said that we had a government that wants to work.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Pulling fewer punches
The start of a new year - though only a change of calendar, invariable leads to some amount of introspection and, sometimes, a resolve to make some course corrections for the future. One such resolve I have made of myself in 2010 is to pull fewer punches. Even in the past, I have tried to express my thoughts without trying to be "politcally correct". However, I have evaded a few topics that I thought would be too controversial. Not any longer. My apologies to people who may feel offended. These are my own thoughts and readers can chose not to read them.
The year started with the two stock exchanges engaged in a juvenile competition of "my (timing) is longer than yours". Clearly, the BSE now suffers from the same sense of irresponsibility towards its constituents that used to be the hallmark of NSE thus far. No one in the administration of either exchange bothered to explain WHY it was necessary to extend market timings. Despite the majority of members of the exchanges being against such a move, the change was introduced.
The exchanges called a meeting of "leading brokers" for "consultation" having already announced their intent. These brokers, predictably, and in contrast to the majority, came out with rhetorical statements in favour of the exchange move - adding one hour will make our markets "International" they said! Privately, people close to these "industry spokesmen" have told me that these spokesmen were themselves not in favour this extension. So why is it necessary to lie in public?
In India, where sycophancy starts from the highest political level, can there be any other expectation. Opposing the views of "the powers" serves no purpose - much better to create regulatory "goodwill". No doubt, this will lead to some quid pro quo at an appropriate time. This in itself is only a small example of "crony capitalism" - once the bane of Japan, then of South Asian economies, and now of the USA. Private gain again dominates general good. However, it is for these "leaders" to ponder on what example they are setting to the youngsters of the country by such blatant falsehood.. But then - they did not get where they are by worrying about such spiffy things! All the best - and look out for yourselves - your "leaders" are doing just that - looking out for themselves!
The year started with the two stock exchanges engaged in a juvenile competition of "my (timing) is longer than yours". Clearly, the BSE now suffers from the same sense of irresponsibility towards its constituents that used to be the hallmark of NSE thus far. No one in the administration of either exchange bothered to explain WHY it was necessary to extend market timings. Despite the majority of members of the exchanges being against such a move, the change was introduced.
The exchanges called a meeting of "leading brokers" for "consultation" having already announced their intent. These brokers, predictably, and in contrast to the majority, came out with rhetorical statements in favour of the exchange move - adding one hour will make our markets "International" they said! Privately, people close to these "industry spokesmen" have told me that these spokesmen were themselves not in favour this extension. So why is it necessary to lie in public?
In India, where sycophancy starts from the highest political level, can there be any other expectation. Opposing the views of "the powers" serves no purpose - much better to create regulatory "goodwill". No doubt, this will lead to some quid pro quo at an appropriate time. This in itself is only a small example of "crony capitalism" - once the bane of Japan, then of South Asian economies, and now of the USA. Private gain again dominates general good. However, it is for these "leaders" to ponder on what example they are setting to the youngsters of the country by such blatant falsehood.. But then - they did not get where they are by worrying about such spiffy things! All the best - and look out for yourselves - your "leaders" are doing just that - looking out for themselves!
Aman Ki Asha
The Times of India the Jung Group in Pakistan used the start of 2010 to "come together to develop a stronger Track 2 in the diplomatic and cultural relations between India and Pakistan". My daughter asked me a few days back on why I was not optimistic about this initiative.
First - let me state that a new year wish list for most Indians has to include peace with our neighbour, and I am no exception. That said, one of the problems with growing older (more cynical? or sadly, more realistic)is the development of the "sense of the possible". If peace between India and Pakistan were to be possible by cultural exchanges between the peoples of the two countries, we would perhaps have had peace a few decades ago.
The reality is that the Pak army is the largest economic power in that country, and, finally, all politics is an outcome of economics. For the Pak army to maintain its pre-eminent position in Pakistan, it must have an enemy that rallies its "subjects" - the people of Pakistan. India in currently the only country that can fill this need. Attacks against India are a given - only the timing is in question.
If I seem like a war monger, see this.
A very happy, and peaceful new year to all.
First - let me state that a new year wish list for most Indians has to include peace with our neighbour, and I am no exception. That said, one of the problems with growing older (more cynical? or sadly, more realistic)is the development of the "sense of the possible". If peace between India and Pakistan were to be possible by cultural exchanges between the peoples of the two countries, we would perhaps have had peace a few decades ago.
The reality is that the Pak army is the largest economic power in that country, and, finally, all politics is an outcome of economics. For the Pak army to maintain its pre-eminent position in Pakistan, it must have an enemy that rallies its "subjects" - the people of Pakistan. India in currently the only country that can fill this need. Attacks against India are a given - only the timing is in question.
If I seem like a war monger, see this.
A very happy, and peaceful new year to all.
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