The beginning of the end

           One word that might describe the current situation in India is “Chaos”. Be it on economic front, social front or political front, there is a confusion of the highest order. While the country has seen each of these three problems several times, this may be the first time since information revolution that all three have struck and struck hard, at the same time.

            I was in school when the “India shining” advertisement hit the screen. Since that time till my graduation, I continued to believe that India was not as bad as perhaps my ancestors would have lived in. But, today, when I ponder on the lines of similar thoughts, a sense of negativity, uncertainty and disgust starts developing.

             The world may be in deep crisis. US may not have come out fully from the 2008 crisis. Euro zone is faltering. Japan had severe natural calamities. China is slowing down. African and middle-east nations are in rebellious mood. Perhaps, not the ideal kind of environment that would lead to outstanding growth.

            But, even in such dire situations what we fight over is a cartoon dating back in 1950s. What is our solution to fuel hikes? Nation-wide bandhs! We want to tweak the IIT entrance exam to reduce the stress on students. We do it by implementing some very foolish criterion which will drastically reduce the quality of students. We do not want to strive to make the environment conducive to research and development.

            Political system has become more of a joke. We want to increase tariffs of railways so that we can reduce it the next day to attain political mileage. We want to tax a deal and thereby want to disobey the outcome in Supreme Court. We want to cancel 2G licenses which have thrown out some giant telecom companies out of this country. Telenor, the biggest Norwegian telecom company, is willing to write-off its investment!  Reebok India is being scrutinized for massive frauds.

            To create jobs, you need to sell a product. Yes, services industry especially in IT, pulled off spectacular growth for India. But, how long can we bank on that alone? Having worked for 2 years in IT industry, I can surely say that even in this field most people are doing the donkey work that most of the US counterparts would not have the time to do. Which world-class products have originated from India? Cheap labor cannot be the advantage that we can ride forever. Innovations need to come. Research needs to be done. Creativity needs to be encouraged. And nothing of this is going to happen in the short term.

            And to that the bigger issues. FDI in retail is suspended. Aviation industry is totally in doldrums. Two of the biggest airlines have most of their flights grounded. A leading newspaper stated India’s national carrier is Emirates based on the amount of traffic it flows! With one-tenth of coal reserves, we still have to import coal and are facing acute power crisis. Lesser we talk about agriculture, the better.

            Seeing above factors, it seems a miracle that we attained 5.3% growth! It would be a miracle if we grow at all. Ironically the country is headed by the same man who brought this country out of the scariest crisis of 1991. As an economist he is the best, leader not at all. It is because of his work as an economist that I have a job. Perhaps, we will see fate reverse itself. Perhaps, it will be because of him and his party, I will lose my job.

The Gentleman was, the Hooligan is.

                                                     

The other day I was watching the greatest Indian sporting spectacle – IPL. And what was happening on the cricket field was nothing short of carnage. Gayle, the West Indian mammoth, was dispatching nearly every ball out the field. It was a perfect example of how raw power can help you. For every ball that was hit, there were some Slovakian/Croatian/Scandinavian cheer leaders dancing. The audience loved what they were paying for. As Ravi Shastri would say in his clichéd language “The atmosphere was electric”.

But, while I switched the channel to other match, being played half-way across the world, I could not help but notice the strange contrast. Chanderpaul, belonging to same nation as Gayle, was single-handedly trying to save a test match for his team. But, in here, there were no semi-nude ladies dancing. In here, there were no reckless shots. It was a test of perseverance. Patience. Skill. Things that do not matter in the short game. There was no electrifying atmosphere. The crowd did not come for entertainment. But, for sport. For watching cricket. Dressed in suits, applauding every shot/wicket by a mere clap, this crowd looked completely different.

            And then, I realized the change the game has undergone. And, by no means, it looked a change-for-the-good. Yes, test cricket at times might test the patience of the viewer also. That is why perhaps a limited over edition was introduced.  And, in today’s fast world who had the time to spend 8 hours for a game. So, there it was. Even shorter version. T20. Test cricket was a game of skill. It was a test of mind games. Shots were played exactly as written in the book. It was about working relentlessly towards a goal. And, there were no short-cuts. Some might argue, rains affect the longer version such that a game of 5 days turns into one with no result. That the game turns boring. The first argument is true and is a sad, unlucky affair. But, test cricket is never boring. Never on pitches where bowlers get help. Of course, sub-continent has fewer such pitches. Ashes or the India-Australia tours have plenty of excitement.

           

            True. We live in 21^st century now. Time is more than money now. But, had IPL remained just a game, would have been better. Business, politics and bollywood have all converged to create a big mess. Every match, the camera for half of the time is on the owners. Players have started to somehow take the I-don’t-give-a-damn attitude from their owners. Controversies have been plenty. Players and owners have both been involved. Shreesanth-Harbhajan row, financial irregularities, Shashi Tharoor scandal have rocked the event. Amongst the latest, spot-fixing, SRK brawl and also the assault on a woman by a player show how the game has been denigrated. An event that was started with the goal to find new talent and provide opportunities to youngsters has somehow completely failed in the process. In fact, youngsters are now increasingly desperate to enter IPL and not international cricket. A fact that is substantiated by the recent dismal performance in England and Australia. IPL has shown that you need not strive hard to earn money. It’s easy. Just ball a no-ball or get out at a pre-determined time and you are there.

           

            The next generation might love this version. But, for me having seen some of the finest moments in cricket, having seen some of the greatest legends and having loved the game, this extravaganza is difficult to digest. Gentlemen’s game it was. Hooligan’s it is becoming.

The bloody mess of the Holy cow.

 

Respect. Respect it was then and respect it is now. For the men in uniform.  No one could have ever doubted the integrity and honesty of these men. And the aura of these men compels you to do so.

                But, unfortunately, the holy cow has been stained with marks of corruption. The latest controversy regarding Tatra seems to be the tip of the iceberg.  Why has there been such a mess over the most respected organization in the country? What started with an age-row controversy has culminated into a would-be-scam in the army. However, it would not be appropriate to link the two events, though many would disagree to this.

                Rather than making a hue and cry over the General’s intentions or the so-called vengeance, the Government needs to take this opportunity to clear the “system”. Why is it that India is continuing to import arms and has no clear plan chalked out for the indigenous production? China which was the largest importer of arms from 2002 to 2007 has dropped to fourth position. Compared to that, India’s imports are rising every year. No wonder it is now the biggest importer of arms.  Plus, why is there such a secrecy maintained over the procedure of imports?  Agreed that such matters are of national importance and should not be disclosed to general public. But, we can at the least have a basic system of checks and ensure that these are not flouted. Perhaps, we cannot eliminate middle-men completely but we can at least get a transparent system in place to eliminate their influence. And, what is of utmost importance is the thorough testing of the imported weaponry.  Sub-standard equipments should at no cost be a part of the armed forces.

                The budget for Indian Army is one of the highest in the world. Hence, it provides a perfect breeding ground for the corrupts to make merry. But, this is the question of national security. We cannot show laxity in this regard. The guns of the army soldiers have not been upgraded. The policemen are fighting with a rifle. If we continue to show such apathy towards our security forces, then only God can save us if there is another 26/11 or a Kargil. If we are not well-equipped in the basic artillery, how are we supposed to excel with unmanned planes or weapons with AI?

                Also what does this mean for the jawan who actually fights on the border? Surely, he would have been deeply hurt over the events that have unfolded over the past few months. How will he show confidence in the weaponry that he has? Would his spirits not be dented by such unfortunate events? Some one’s greed for money is actually putting his life in risk. Unfortunately, the vigilante on the border has been conveniently ignored over the decades.

                Another shame was the leak of letter issue and the near fight between the General and the Minister of Defence.  Is this the kind of co-ordination that the Army and Government has? Perhaps, the PM could have stepped in before the fight got bigger.  But the PM had several other fires to douse. The lack of ammunition for tanks, though may be a rumor or a miscalculation, should not have got to the press. With two hostile nations ready to encroach on every inch of our space, is this the kind of preparedness that we are following?

Things must be done and must be done swiftly.  Indigenous production of weaponry, better co-ordination between the Army and Government, improved process of imports, better health and financial benefits for the jawans could be the few things that must be focused upon.

            But, the need of the hour is to respect the sanctity of the Army. Let us not make it another opportunity to siphon away billions. Let us not make them look like guards protecting fools. Let us respect them.

The Aged Lion Conundrum

The lion is young. His bones are hard, claws sharp and teeth that can cut steel. This lion is aggressive and bold, terrifying and petrifying, ruthless and cruel. He devours on every animal that comes in his way. Every resistance that challenges his supremacy and dominance is preyed upon. Spilling enough blood, this lion makes his way to the top. He is now the King of the jungle. For others, he is God.

              Sachin Tendulkar was the new lion in the jungle. This lion covered countries and continents and thrashed bowlers all over the world. If it was Warne in Sharjah (my favourite one) then it was Akhtar in South Africa World Cup. Roger Federer marks the other version of the lion. Though coming from another sport, this lion was no less in terms of dominance. Elegance, style, composure, maturity – you name it and it was there in his game. From Australian to French, from Wimbledon to US, this man had conquered all and demolished every one. 

              Time passed. The lions grew older with each passing day. The very strengths which would intimidate the prey, started fading. The jungle soon showed signs of instability. Other lions were soon seen on the horizon. Alas, the spot for the King was just one. Only one could sit on the throne.

              The Spaniard and the D’Joker arrived. Class soon seemed outclassed. Elegance faded in thin air.  Composure was lost. Feet started moving slowly. Crowds switched side.  Forehand and backhands no longer garnered applause. The finals which were once marked with tears of joy soon were highlighted by dejection and dullness. The other lion, after getting things right for 99 times, could not find it going for 100^th  one. Depression and disappointment marked the battles. Foreign jungles soon seemed to be alien territory. Head went down after every battle. Shots which fetched boundaries, few years ago, went to slips. Fatigue was seen in body language.

              So, what should the old lion do in such a case? Should he give up his power and move to other avenues of life and explore other options? Should he continue to resist and fight till the last drop of blood in his body? Is it worth holding the land, when you have already proved your valor? What if the lion perishes on the battlefield due to his stubbornness? One thing that the lion needs to remember is that the crowd remembers what you did in the recent past. They will never remember your glorious past if you have an inglorious present. History remembers those who went to the top and stayed there. Not those who hit the nadir after reaching the pinnacle.  

              The last battle the old lion has to face is the fight within. He has to find that opportune moment to step down. And no one can know it better than him. Perhaps, he does have one last fight remaining. If this is what echoes within his inner conscience, then it should be seen in the performance on the field. Dropped shoulders, dejected face and slow feet are surely not the signs of it. The poor form does not hurt only the player. It gives excruciating agony to the fans that idolized, worshipped and cherished everything that the player did. Be it good or bad. Soon, as the form keeps dropping, a sense of negativism starts gripping the fans. Fanatics would remain loyal. But, emotional and sane fans will not. Others will soon start hating the person. Sadly, many in India fall in the last category.

The lion is exceptional and no one can ever match him. But the lion needs to be prudent enough to know when it is time. However, no one should coax the lion to retire. After all, he is the lion, the King and the best one. But in order that people remember this lion for the blood that he shed in the battles and the battles that he has won, it is important that the lion ends the story at a winning note. As Harvey Dent rightly puts it in The Dark Knight “You either die as a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become a villain.”

The crusader who fought on a sinking ship

Novelty is what grabs the attention of masses. The latest anti-corruption drive again proved that humans tend to be excited on seeing anything new which is not banal.

        Why would a 79-year old person want to undertake a fast-unto-death? Was he not happy with his life? Or like the celebrities, did he want some clicks on front page and be the talk-of-the-town by doing a “tamasha”? Certainly not. The reason was the plight of Indian people or to be specific, the common Indian man. I do not recall a month since the 2G scam had broken out, when there was no news of mass corruption. More agonizing were the events that unfolded after the cat was out of the bag. The minister refutes and later resigns. An investigation team is in place. They raid some offices. Claim to get evidence. Matter is in court. Within the next few months, the minister is out and the smile is back on his face. The smile symbolized a slap in the face of Indian judiciary, administration and common people. After the news faded, the miscreant was back in mainstream politics. This was not new in India. But the frequency with which this has happened in the recent months has left everyone aghast. Had it become so easy to swindle the nation, to cheat the public and still very comfortably get away with it?

        Everyone had almost lost hope in the judiciary and as Sushma Swaraj had rightly said the CBI had become an acronym for “Congress Bachao Institution”.  Not that I am anti-Congress or pro-BJP, but the sheer number of scams by Congress at Centre and at the States where it is in power, is enough to induce anger even in people who stay aloof from politics. The entire nation was simmering but there was no channel through which people could have resented.  And then, one fine morning a physically feeble 79 year old man steps into the Mecca of politics, Delhi. Fast-unto-death it was.

        The entire nation, caught unaware, was hypnotized with the courage of this old man. Tens turned into hundreds and the numbers kept swelling every day. It was not a secret, that the ministers were corrupt. That law was failing. That police were audience and CBI a mere puppet. What was new was the hope that had kindled in the hearts of billions. The Government playing it foul arrested the new Indian Idol on charges of threatening democracy. Ironically, if democracy is what we are seeing in India, then it’s better that we move to something different.  Soon the nation was behind the protest. Media went frenzy. Decisions were reverted. Ministers contradicted each other. Opposition lost their way. Such was the hysteria, that India’s whitewash in test cricket was nowhere heard in news.

        Anna became the new statement. It became more than that. A fashion statement. Not giving a bribe soon became a fad. Actresses were seen flaunting the anna-caps during fashion weeks. Mobs were seen on motor-cycle rides with Indian flags adorning the rallies. Was it a new India? It certainly looked so. One billion, one pulse, one cause was the drama.  The common people were, however, inadvertent to what the Lokpal actually was. Who cared as long as there was a person comparable to Gandhi (not at all referring to the recent Gandhians!!) fighting for them. I remember a TV journalist asking a construction worker if he knows what Lokpal is or who is Anna. The person perfectly symbolizing the Indian impoverished, dressed in a dhoti and no shirt, replied “Agar sabko kuch mil raha hai, toh hume bhi milega.”

        The days passed and with each new day the health of the crusader got worse. His blood pressures flashed on news channels like share prices on a tumultuous day in market. Finally, the parliamentary session after much ado decided to scrutinize the bill. What followed was celebration. Anna recovered. People moved on.

        And that’s the worst part. Soon Anna’s news was seen on third-fourth page and the excitement all suddenly died.  Politicians did what they are skilled at – Foul Games. Investigation started on the members of Team Anna. The very media which ran in support of them turned the tide against them.

Anna soon became alone in the billions.

        So the question is after so much of hoopla, have we really changed? Would we ever change?  The answer is no. A thousand Annas cannot change what has now become a part of our genes.  Call me a cynic, pessimist or skeptic.  But this is the bare truth. You can have as many Lokpal’s as you want, but there is always going to be a certain section of society which will be powerful. And power attracts corruption. This power is going to reside in the hands of politicians whose sole motive is to accept bribe. Does this mean India is now beyond the point of no-return?

        Probably not. One thing can still usher in an atmosphere conducive to development. And that is education. Only education can teach people what outcomes corruption can have.  Yet, even while I write this, there are innumerable so-called-educated people who give bribes.  But it is worth trying to spread awareness and make people literate. And this has to start with the educated-illiterate.

        The light at the tunnel is fading very quickly. India is becoming a juggernaut in world politics and economics, but at home it is sinking. And I feel bad for the crusader who fought on this sinking ship.