For me Indus Valley civilization has always
been a combination of contrasts. It preached about its glorious past and practiced
a convenient philosophy devoid of the values it took pride in. So much so that
of late this contrast started taking shape of a culture ridden with hypocrisy.
Cut One :Few days ago Pakistan
Govt passed a resolution, condemning Afzal Guru's hanging. India reacted
strongly. After all it is a democratic govt which had punished the perpetrator
of terror. What right Pakistan had to protest? Fair Enough .A week later, DMK,
the allies of ruling party walks out of the Govt in protest against atrocities
against Tamils in Srilanka , leaving a nation walking on a financial tightrope
exposed to naked horse trading or downgrading by rating agencies that will lead
to financial strangulation. Foreign policies are by product of century old
treaties & conventions and have a legacy. They must be left in the hands of
experts .Using them for political mileage is a dangerous proposition. Yes as a
democratic so called super power India can talk to Sri Lanka, but why pass a
resolution with the term "genocide" used in it. After all the Sri
Lankan Govt is also a democratic govt which is ruling by majority. India has
its own house to put in order before it starts preaching others and souring
relationship with strategic partners. Why the entire world was a silent
spectator when USA was violating human rights left, right & centre. What next … we will sniff our ties with
Bangadesh on Teesta river, with China on some other issue. I completely agree
that India must play a proactive and vital role in maintaining pace & human
rights in the South – East Asia Pacific region, but that must be through continuous
dialogue.
Cut : Two A girl in Delhi, is
brutally raped and killed, the nation erupts, its psyche brutalized. Common men expected a political renaissance
and a change in attitude towards women. A committee was formed, which acted
promptly to recommend some pivotal changes in the judicial system. Three month
later we made a mockery of the death of that Girl in the parliament by debating
for a week on the age of consensual sex. Some of our eminent and shameless ministers
also gave example of Shila’s and Munni’s to drive home their point that eve
teasing is a socially acceptable practice. We epitomized the dead girl as “Nirbhaya” and conveniently
went back to our “Nirlaja” way of functioning.
For us “means” no more justify
the “end”. As we keep treading on a path of convenience than of conviction,
future looks bleak. The only saving grace is the future generation, which seems
much more aware and upright about what it wants and how it wants.
