I am Mohan Bhargav

Before coming to the UK, i had always focused upon the problems that my country would encounter. This did not mean that i hated my country, but it was because i cared for it that led to my criticism of the system. But, now, after being here for 6 months, i now feel that it is no use being somewhere else and just talking about it. I feel that the time has now come where i step into the problems of my country and sort them out. For that, i cannot stay in a foreign land.

This can be interpreted as a sign of Nationalism, or romantic patriotism or signs of an idealistic fool. But, the thing that attracts the people of the east to the west is the large sums of money that they can make, but compromising on an happy life that can be achieved back home. So many people have argued that they have money and wealth, but they lack happiness and they continue to search in a place which is other than their own home.

The title of the post is inspired from a film titled "Swades: We the People". The story is of Mohan Bhargav, who is a project manager in NASA. He remembers his matron who took care of him, and comes to India to visit her. In his stay, he looks at the hurdles that ordinary village folk have to go through to live life. Basic amenities like Food, water, electricity and housing are at a rare premium. He tries to bring about change, and in the process, he decides to stay in India.

His story can be replicated by ordinary Indians like you and me. But, it needs focus, bravery and a steely determination. It takes very few people to leave a lucrative opportunity in a foreign land and struggle back home. But, the last two words can compensate all the difficulties in the world. At home, you DO have happiness. The unfortunate thing is Happiness is absolutely ideal and contradictory to the dynamics of Money.

We are now in such a phase of Capitalism that every individual will have to live for only a glimpse of Happiness and longing. Globalization has meant diversity, but it has destroyed the longing to do something in one's own house. After all, where there are greater opportunities, individuals will flock there. Why in Earth someone must dirty their hands in doing something for their own country?

All these questions have no definite answers. The problem is that human beings have gone so much into the muck of materialism and home bashing that it is almost impossible to awaken Mohan Bhargav. Longing for one's own home is considered nationalistic, idealistic or crudely foolish. Problems will continue to be swept under the carpet, and it will pile up to such an extent, that probably a million Mohan Bhargavs cannot help it.

Freedom, Secession and Identity

There have been several moments that have changed the world. Some of them have been Secessionist movements in the world. The secession of East Timor was one example in 1999, that led to a new nation emerging after years of suppression. The world accepted this and welcomed the new nation. However, another secessionist movement in 2008 has led to the world getting mixed feelings. This one is Kosovo, the small part of former Yugoslavia that has been in the spotlight ever since the NATO bombing campaign in 1998.

The question here is about suppression of Identity and the demand for Freedom. The complication here could be that this could be the final burst in the powderkeg that has been Central Europe for almost 100 years. Kosovo has gotten recognition, but in order to maintain its position, it may have to face numerous obstacles, notably Serbia and Russia, along with some EU nations that have not approved its status as a nation.

The main question here is about Identity and that of the notion of freedom. The majority of Kosovo's population is Albanian, and they have been subject to harsh control by the Serbs ever since the early 1990's. The catalyst for freedom movement came the NATO offensive, coupled previously by Slobodan Milosevic's tough regime. The demand for freedom has been recognized by the US, UK and France with several EU members.

What makes nations want for freedom? The basic concept underlined here is that oppression was reached and the Albanian population could take it no more. Nations have sought independence because of bad governing. The same is true with Kosovo, although recognition is still on the negotiating table.

Kosovo is the newest country, but can it maintain its own will be seen anxiously. The powderkeg has dissolved, but there are some remains of it on the surface. These remains will be fought to the bitter end by certain nations like Russia and Serbia, in particular Serbia, as it does not want to undergo another Trauma of breaking up.

Cricket Capitalism and Olympic unfairness

Lots has been written about how Cricket is the passion of India. The scrutiny with which every action of the Indian team has been monitored is proof of that. The Cricket board of India (BCCI) has launched the IPL (Indian Premiere league), which has attracted lots of cash. Each player has been auctioned for millions and billions of pounds or dollars or whatever currency you may wish to use. In spite of all the setbacks, the game still continues to rake in more money than ever before.

Contradict this, with a latest CNN-IBN expose on the lack of money poured into the athletes preparations for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The situation is so bad that the badminton association has no money to provide for basic training facilities and Shuttle cocks. The other athletes are also no better, and this continues a story that haunts the sporting culture of India.

India's passion with Cricket may lead to the death knell for other sport activities in the country. Athletics and other skill sports are just not encouraged, and on many occasions, the country lies at the bottom of the medals tally with hardly one. Over the last five Olympics, we have not had more than one medal, and the gold medal has eluded us since 1980.

What makes Cricket so popular among the public despite setbacks? If 2007 is to be put in retrospective, it was a mixed bag. We were eliminated from the very first round of the Cricket world cup, won the 20-20 world cup defeating Pakistan, and have won three test series this year against England, Pakistan and Bangladesh. They have also given the Australian Cricket team a "tough" fight down under. Yet, the huge money invested may bring out development of the sport, but it is stagnating other sports, and that too during Olympic year is just uncalled for.

The flip side of the coin is that Money may produce talent, but it needs a constant assembly line of good performances and Advertiser marketing to ensure that the powers-to-be (the BCCI) get their money's worth. Money can destroy talent as well, because all these demands from so many commercial activities might lead to burnout and frustration. There have been many cases where Advertisers have dug the graves of promising sportsmen due to inconsistency.

Too much of emphasis on one game seems to be common place in the Sub-continent, so it should not come as a surprise if India does not go beyond one medal in the Olympics this time as well. If there is solid determination from the lesser known athletes, then India can win more than one medal. But, i guess it is asking too much. If Cricket and Capitalism merge, then all the activities which do not get in the money will be killed off. The Olympic participation of some brave athletes could be a flicker in a storm, and nothing more.

WE ARE INDIANS

First, the communal riots of 1992 and 2002, and now the target is the North Indian migrants to India. The Shiv Sena was the culprit in 1992, the BJP was the culprit in 2002, and now a renegade party called the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS)is indulging in this latest round of violence. This has potential worrying consequences about the social fabric in the country.

Firstly, this is colored with economic motivations. Under the guise of pride and economics, the party views it as legitimate. In this case, the "locals" of the state involved, Maharashtra, is being left behind due to the influx of people from Northern India. In all walks of life in Mumbai city, the local Maharashtrians are allegedly not getting the benefit.

Secondly, this type of gutter politics, will gain legitimacy if not tackled. The shortcut to achieving something in the world of today is perceived through violence. If the state, police and judicial machinery do not tackle this, then there will be no more consideration of the law. People, under the mistaken guise of black and white, will indulge in all kinds of disruptive behavior.

Thirdly, the Judiciary must classify all the people involved in this as Unpatriotic and treacherous. A simple judgment regarding Treason or Sedition must be passed on all of them, so that these acts never occur. For too long have politicians for power interests played games with the lives of ordinary people, so this trend must be nipped in the bud.

Educated Indians have distanced themselves from this and are denouncing this "Party's" stance. They are fully aware that this is divisive politics and will never back such a thing. But, it is important for them to speak out for the affected and denounce all these acts comprehensively. This bunch of Fascists need to know that: WE ARE INDIANS.

The Civility of Man????

Man is supposed to be a cultured individual. They do no harm to each other. They are courteous, polite, a smiling energetic breed of life that gives purpose. But, nowadays, we often see Man as a symbol of destruction for a particular entity. Man turns on his savagery on fellow beings. Wars of destruction and Torture of both mind and body is now commonplace in every society. The lines of civil and savage is no longer clear.

The wars in the past century have gone from bloodier to bloodiest. With each passing conflict, war or revolution, the nobility of humans dims. One cannot pinpoint to an exact reason, but it is the quest for dominance which guides this. Absolute power corrupts everyone, while absolute supremacy destroys everyone. The factor of Absolute is the catalyst behind man's degeneration of his noble psyche.

The quest for absolute dominance nowadays is facilitated by War or unstable activity anywhere in the globe. Terrorism and the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan seem to be just that. The dynamic nature of economic imperialism is giving certain elements renewed energy to pursue these destructive activities. Money has always guided the activity of humans, and so the combination of money and dominance have demented man's nobility to fellow man.

The irrationality is so encompassing that man is turning on man at every level of society. Rich vs Poor, Nation vs Region (In case of diverse populations) and several other colonial ventures have been an outlet for this kind of mass irrationality. However, this is unfortunately the beginning of a long drawn process, which may take generations to end. As long as power and economics dominate decision making among individuals of a state apparatus, the dangerous world which is present today will be permanent.

Fortunately, there are people who are Civil enough to shun all this, but they are the silent majority. How much ever we turn our back on this, there seems to be some justification for a renewed round of savagery. This irrationality is dangerous because it blurs the mind. In this case, man cannot distinguish between right and wrong. The silent majority must shun and speak out against any kind of destructive behavior before it is too late.

Indulging in violent acts is a crime, and torturing individuals is a bigger crime. We all know it is wrong, and we must speak out, so that the tens of millions who have died can at least rest in peace. We have to speak out against this now, otherwise millions more will be wiped out like a plague. This irrationality can be reversed only by knowing truly what is right and what is wrong.

Media and Public, Halla Bol !!!!!!!

The media is important, no one denies it. However, when it misinterprets its mission statement and makes it a business. Profits, Advertiser satisfaction and expansion is of primary importance. Truth and the problems of society are side tracked or kept on the sidelines. Sometimes, they do report serious stuff, but do not follow up, thus dumping it on the side to search for scoops. It is their obsession with infotainment and graphic tabloidization which characterize their outlook.

When media functions like a hype machine or a gossip monger, the result for the state could be very devastating. The factor of hype machine is a double-edged sword. To highlight a particular problem, media needs to focus upon the problem in-depth. If it scratches at the surface, then it may not give the full picture to the audience. Perhaps, hype and tranquility are uncomfortable soul-mates. There are instances with which a hype has threatened state tranquility, whereas some hypes have bought problems into the mainstream and sorted out.

The second type of hype is called nowadays as Media Activism. However, for how long will media work as the slaves of the common man is debatable. The people have to speak out and tell the truth or highlight a problem so that a system can function properly. We cannot expect only the people performing. The simple combination of people, police, law, courts and government must work in tandem, so that problems can be tackled. The first move is BY THE PEOPLE.

However, it is media's obsession with entertainment which makes it guilty of Gossip mongering. The method with which it pursues celebrity scandals to please advertisers is simply not acceptable. If the media portray the suffering of the people in everyday life in such a manner, then you can have a normal state. But, to pursue it will take guts, because it wont be visually appealing to the so-called normal people, and this will enable them to wash their hands of the matter.

The film, by which the second part of the title is taken, could be accused of being too dramatic. But the message is clear. Media HAS to be on the side of the silent majority, the common man. The common man will suffer, if media functions as a tool for vested interests in society. This will create an unstable and unequal society, one which will make people loose faith in.

The recent events of non-Indian behavior by some renegade political members gives us enough reason to shatter the bubble of apathy. The fact is that by doing right, we could suffer isolation and taunts from sections of society who prefer the status quo. But, we have to stand up for what is right and bring in a sense of justice. The conscience of man has to be awakened, the media has to get priorities right, only then we can have a normal society, where people are safe and secure.

History in the making???

The US is always a land of history. Historic events that have shaped the modern world have all revolved around the US. In moments of fear, terror, security and trendsetting, the US has always been a beacon for the rest of the world. The USA of today is in deep trouble, as far as integrity, honesty and credibility is concerned. The image of the US is at its lowest among foreign allies, all thanks to the cowboy policies of George.W.Bush.

The election of 2008 is in its early stages, but you can get a feeling that history of some sort might be made by its outcome. You could have a Afro-American as president, a first or you could have a woman president, also a first in the US. Although, it should be noted that the country's conservative and isolationist history has prohibited this combination. But, as Barack Obama's campaign strategy quotes, "The Time for change has come. YES, WE CAN!!!!". This might precisely happen in about 8 months time.

The euphoria of the primary and Caucus season in the US could be misleading. But, you cannot deny the fact that people are swimming with the tide of this euphoria. From 2000 to 2007, there was a sense of depression in America. The Sub-Prime Mortgage crisis, the continuing chaos in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the continuing domestic crisis on immigration in the US have contributed to people getting disillusioned with the US.

The Democrats have grapsed this opportunity and focused on bringing change. Economic policies FOR the people, opportunities FOR Americans, reinstating America's credibility in the world and bringing back the days of optimism is the aim of the new president in the making.

But, it could be too early to base a concrete decision. Things might change in the coming months as momentum builds up or down. The public mood might last for some moments, but it can soon change. But, the US is now set for the path of history probably. They are really lucky. When the country is in big trouble, a genius crops up somewhere and restore the true America back into the world scenario.

Politics with feelings?

The field of politics is such that people's conscience have to be sold down the drain to achieve something. A fine balance has to be achieved to handle diverse elements in a complex society. Power has to be grasped and policies will have to be manipulated to achieve superiority. Laws have to be manipulated to achieve some work, and above all feelings have to be suppressed in order to consolidate the power base.

But, should feelings be suppressed in politics? The arguements given by so many politicians is that if feelings come in the way, then decisions cannot be taken. The logic goes that Practical realities will be all clouded under an emotional guise. Emotional decisions will then lead to hasty decisions that might affect the population. Facts presented to the executive is the only method by which decisions can be taken and life can be regulated.

If this is the case, then the executive might have to do a rethink. In the face of manipulation, growing corruption and vested interests, politics still remains the gutter for majority of the youth. Ever since freedom was born, the only threats to it have been greed, power and corruption. All these factors have threatened the stability of society and ultimately of the nation. This has all come about as a result of lack of feelings in Politics.

The arguement could be dismissive, simplistic, ignorant and very idealistic, but if analyzed, it could reform politics.

If an individual bases his decision on rational feelings, then decisions will be total in nature. By rational feelings, I mean the conscience of an individual. How much ever human beings try to be practical, they always trust their conscience in the end. They fall back upon the rationality upon which they have grown and witnessed those things around them. By power politics, an individual has to function like someone else.

This would mean that an individual's unique personality has to be suppressed and he will have to be someone else. Power politics ensures that decisions are made in practicality, but overlooking key considerations. If someone can balance feeling with power, then the gutter of politics can be reformed. Human beings are learning something new as each decade goes by, so this is the time to do something new, because for far too long have people shunned politics because it is the gutter

Fact and Offense

The world of Journalism today is such that the above terms might compliment each other. This is more so in the case of religion. The recent incident of an Afghan journalist being sentenced to death for insulting Islam shows how blurred the lines are. For people wanting to view this incident, this is the link:

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/02/02/afghan.journalist/index.html#cnnSTCVideo

This once again shows the irrationality of religion and its so called laws. The nature of this laws are so loopholed that it is even taboo to report on. This case deals with the rights of woman in Islam, and his investigative piece has landed him in trouble. Afghanistan is still coping with its past, and one of the stumbling blocks is the strict adherence to Islamic laws. The remnants of the Taliban are continuing to haunt present day Afghan Society.

I have argued that Islam needs a leader to guide it out of its feudal outlook. I had mentioned Dr. Zakir Naik and his debates. It is one thing to highlight, but it is a completely different thing altogether as far as leadership is concerned. It will be interesting to note how Dr. Zakir Naik handles this.

For people who are interested in how Dr. Zakir naik highlights this aspect of Woman's rights, refer to his 4 part speech on YouTube. All the 4 parts are in that section. The URL is:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=1irxNIDrxwo

The theory of Islam and its application in real life represents the fundamental paradox in society. In this paradox, many people are getting affected, some with deadly consequences

War, Riots and Commissions

In the aftermath of wars and riots, certain instances remain. Other than the destruction caused, the state creates a new commission to view the cause and reason behind the incidences. several commissions are launched and their report is made public. Some highlight the treachery of the state, some highlight the flawed response of the state while some others just delay the process of justice. The question that needs to be asked is whether commissions are required. It also is questionable whether the reports contribute anything to pro-active action, rather than awareness.

If you take the instance of the Winograd report, one can say that Israel failed in its adequate planning of the War strategy in Lebanon. The result of this is that the state acknowledged the theory, and that it represented a moral victory for the Arab nations. The war in Lebanon was indeed one of attrition for Israel, but the people who blundered have been let off. The fact of the matter is that the War could not be prevented. Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, who should have been responsible for the War conduct, if going by the chain of command structure, got only a slap in the wrist.

The spectre of commissions is nothing new for India. The Nanavati commission to probe into the Anti-Sikh riots, the Mandal commission to proble into the Quota system and commissions relating to the Gujarat riots have all been drafted. The public have been made aware, but the trend has been rather to obfuscate the real matter.

If one looks at the plight of the Gujarat riot victims, then nothing has been served, as the alleged mastermind of the riots, Mr. Narendra Modi, has been elected again as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Nobody is able to do anything. The same is also evident for the Anti-sikh riot instigators of 1984. The media is creating awareness about the incident now, but it is still not doing anything. The quota system is a complete muddle. The Mandal commission ensured that the societal system of India be thrown out of gear. This chaos would then spill over into the economy and the education system.

Several commissions have been founded all over the world to monitor country developments in any field. The underlining fact is that they just give you plenty of material to ponder over, but does not enable groups of individuals to take any action. The basic detriment also arises in the fact that commissions can attract a lot of criticism from independent organizations. Human rights watchgroups have criticized the Winograd report for not highlighting the issue of abuse during the Israeli-Lebanese conflict.

Flaws have been picked out by independent human rights organizations, which creates distrust among the public. The public now goes in with a mentality that a commission might delay, obfuscate or hide the actions of the state. The basis for action is indeed difficult. But, the problem also lies in the fact that commissions cannot be done away with. The fact that it creates awareness is the reason why it still is being initiated.

Wars and riots are indeed the worst actions that a state can initiate. Commissions are used to either hide their actions or to just highlight the situation on the ground. But, very few tend to initiate action. The Mandal commission report ushered in action, because it was fundamentally wrong. But, when it comes to riots and wars, people need to trust their conscience and do something to stop it, because bundles of paper cannot.