RE: [nukkad] Happy Independence days - some stray thoughts ..

["Net Geek" <>]

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Dear Indian Rediff

>Is there anything to be happy about?

I would say a mixed bag of fortunes. Some achievements, some progress and a 
lot of missed opportunities.

>Is India really better off as an independent country?

India maybe politically independent but economically still a colony.

>Do we deserve our democracy and freedom?

>Maybe India does not deserve her freedom?

I agree that India is the perfect example of democracy and freedom gone mad. 
But that doesn’t change my beliefs. Yes India does deserve freedom and 
democracy. The very fact that democracy is still active and kicking in spite 
of all the inherent problems is enough for proof. I really don’t mind having 
a controlled democracy like Singapore. But then we may have to recall Gandhi 
from heaven to take the place of President Li.

>What would happen in the US if (say) New Hampshire (whose state slogan >is 
>'Live Free or Die') decides to break away from the Union? Will we >have a 
>convenient scapegoat in Canada or Russia whom we can blame for >everything 
>that happens? Is it possible that we would have die-hard >NH'ers who fight 
>for their freedom? Will terrorism be as rampant here >as it is in India?

Every human being has differing personalities and identities. He can have 
national identity, religious identity etc. An American is no exception. Deep 
in heart isn’t he an Irish or Scottish or Greek or Italian and so on? If he 
can effectively wear a mask of American identity, then isn’t it the 
prosperity of his present homeland that is the factor? Any individual in 
black and white is a fine person. When he or she is well off they become 
sensible and responsible citizens. When he is deprived of food, shelter and 
emotional bonding he turns on to other means to escape his or her miserable 
condition, resulting in arsonists, criminals, terrorists and other 
anti-social elements. US can boast of an advanced and sophisticated society 
owing to its present prosperity. But don’t forget it took a long civil war 
for US as a nation to mature. Indian nation is just 50+ years old. Isn’t it 
fair to offer the same chance for India to mature?  Coming to what would 
happen if someone wants to break away from US, should I ask you counter 
question? How would have US handled the situation had there been rampant 
resistance movements during the great depression era?

>Have we treated the Kashmiris rightly in the past 54 years?

A difficult one to answer.  No, I cannot categorically say yes. But in the 
same token, does India really deserve the brickbats that it is currently 
receiving? Is Kashmiri a holy and divine race who can keep on switching 
allegiance at the drop of a hat?

>Did Bangladesh really need to be 'liberated'?

Isn’t it something a Bangladeshi should ponder about? Does India need to 
have any parental responsibility when it comes to Bangladesh or Pakistan?

>Was the refugee problem real? Or was it just human migration patterns (just 
>like the population of Indians in the US has doubled in the past >10 
>years)?

I was a primary school kid during the 1972 war so can’t really comment about 
it? But don’t you feel that India acted in its best interests by preventing 
encirclement of its land borders by Pakistan? Is the NATO intervention of 
Kosovo conflict fully justified? Is intervention by US in Vietnam justified? 
Why is UN and the world community keeping mum when Israelis are shooting 
down Palestinians? Let me clarify here that I’m not a Palestinian 
sympathizer nor am I an Israeli opponent. I have hardly any interest in what 
is happening there. The point I’m trying to drive home is that the terms 
right and wrong has long back lost its relevance when it comes to national 
affairs. What is relevant is good or bad. An act becomes good if it is in 
the best interests of the nation and vice versa. If the West and US can act 
in that manner why single out and accuse India?

>Are Indians as a breed or community honest? Do they work for the 
> >betterment of themselves? Or do they work for the betterment of >society 
>in general?

>Are we inherently jealous of the success of other fellow Indians?

Can you point out any society or foreign national who satisfies all the 
above conditions?

>are we so steeped in the past that the first thoughts of work invoke 
> >shadows of the desire for easy money - leading to corruption?

I agree with you here. High ambitions are good but success should be 
achieved only through hard work and dedication. Not through short cuts. 
There is a very pressing need to alter our work ethics.

>A VERY pensive Indian.. wondering ..


Bye


An optimistic Indian
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