WHAT IS WRONG WITH US IN INDIA?

WHAT IS WRONG WITH US IN INDIA?

Prof Dr Colonel (Retired) K Prabhakar Rao


On the political front, India basically suffers from the self-glorification as a world peacemaker and apostle of peace. It beats it’s drum as the world peacemaker although it fought many wars with Pakistan and continues to fight in Jammu and Kashmir ( J & K) a proxy war. It is fighting many separatist outfits in North Eastern front apart from the militant communists all over the country except in few states. Yet it claims as the land of peace. With departed MK Gandhi in backdrop as father of nation, many acclaim it as a unique nation that won freedom by non-violence and admired India. During the tenure of Pundit (Enlightened) Jawaharlal Nehru, the first and much acclaimed Prime Minister, it founded Non Aligned Movement (NAM) along with President Sukarno of Indonesia, Marshal Tito of Yugoslavia, Charismatic President Gamel Abdel Nasser of Egypt and preached world peace and some world nations joined the out fit. Most of these nations were insignificant and poor nations and had no say on world affairs. They were just clapping crowd and trying to find some identity on world forums. Super powers had their own inhibitions about NAM and cared hoots to it. John Dulles the famous Secretary of State, USA in the past called Non alignment as a sin much to the indignation of the NAM leaders who fumed and fretted. NAM has now literally died although Indian politicians from Congress party in particular do not accept and are sure to shout at pitch of voice of its success. The coffin of NAM has been put in the trench and nails are yet to be driven hard. Although NAM stood for no internal quarreling its own members fought bitter wars. Although India theoretically remained non-aligned, in practical sense it rubbed shoulders and embraced Soviet Union vigorously. On various occasions India’s relations with USA were not cordial if not hostile. It was touch me not love affair for years. However things appear to have changed recently with disappearance of fad of socialist euphoria in the country and privatization and deviating from the policy of controls and restrictions and more so after fall of USSR, there is a strong allegation that India has landed in the US camp. Time only would tell us the realities. Communist leaders in India no more sport typical dress with a satchel across the shoulders and simple dress with slippers outwardly showing poor look. They are now clad in spotless whites sporting gold rings and move in air-conditioned limousines with escorts too. Children of most of these leaders are in West/USA earning US dollars. Democracy- practicing communist parties no way differs from other political parties and suffer the same ills and turned to be opportunists doing horse-trading in parliamentary politics. Recent parliamentary crisis in India on the nuclear deal is the best example to prove the point.
The present terrorism in India is due to its own self-doing, wrong policies and mishandling, appeasement of minorities and ill planning and lack of vision. The vacillating and appeasing short sighted policies towards minorities right from the days of Independence in 1947 and even before has made a section of Indian minorities very bold and a portion of this section has taken towards terrorism and anti national activities. When Grand mosque in Middle East was bombed by Israel, Muslims in old city in Hyderabad destroyed Hindu temples and damaged property. During Indo pak cricket matches some of the Muslims in Hyderabad waved Pakistani flags. Cancerous Kashmir problem is a self-doing of Pundit Nehru who referred the matter to UNO when India was on the brink of victory in 1948 and till to day it is an unresolved issue. Blood of Indian soldiers has been wasted. It remains as the classical mishandling for eternity in the life of Pundit Nehru. He was riding on his popularity in India a newborn nation projecting as the land of peace and non violence (Although peace did not prevail and violence was the order of the day)) decided to seek justice from UNO. Although he was eminent leader and much acclaimed worldwide he failed to see the practical implications of seeking solution through UNO. He did not realize how useless was the world body when it came to resolving the issues of others. UNO was basically dominated by Western powers. India always suffered the dogma of a wronged nation at the hands of west. It repeats like a parrot till today the divide and rule policy of Lord Robert Clive of East India Company and claims that the Europeans have carried India’s wealth away by enslaving India. Divide and rule policy was not an invention of Lord Robert Clive. It was there from time immemorial. This is one of the state craft taught in the ancient political treatises and was practiced by past rulers. Any number of examples can be quoted. This was very much taught and practiced by Kautilya (Chanakya) the master politician and teacher of Magadh Empire in the court of Chandra Gupta Maurya a contemporary of Alexander the great. But why this was allowed at first Instant? Who are to be blamed for this? Is it not true that Indian rulers to settle their own scores requested help from the Englishmen and French men? It is like two cats fighting for a piece of bread seeking the help of a monkey and finally monkey escapes with the bread.
History of Hyderabad right from the days of Chinkhilijkahn, Nizam I was engulfed in the games of politics between the French and the Englishmen with whom the ruler hob knobbed. The rulers played into the hands of these foreign men. Salabat Jung who ruled for 10 years, as Nawab of Hyderabad after Nizam I was a puppet of the French. He was not bestowed with the honor and title of Nizam II although ruled for 10 years. His brother Nizam Ali who became the puppet of the English men became Nawab with a title Nizam II and deposed him. Salabat was imprisoned. Why such things should happen? This no one answers. Why blame Europeans when our own house is not in order and is in shambles? They were surely more dynamic and enterprising. Remember, in past only those ruled who were dynamic and took risks. We call them usurpers and colonial in disposition. Indians are to be blamed for passing the country into the hands of Englishmen and no one else.
Is Indian race inferior and unable to protect own country? Probably this is not true fully. Muslim raiders on several occasions were defeated on western front by Hindu princes. Lack of unity became the concern. King Jai chand connived with Mohammed Ghori of Kabul and this helped him in defeating Prithviraj Chauhan at Kanoj in the past leading to Muslim rule in India. Indians did not lack in valor and spirit but surely lacked cohesion. The same thing continues today even in modern times. States in India keep fighting each other. Recently Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunannidhi passed damaging statement against Lord Rama the Hindu deity that was most disgusting. In Maharashtra, leaders gave statements condemning North Indians leading to crisis. In Tamil Nadu no one wants to speak Hindi and all English and Hindi writings are smeared with black Tar. In Andhra Pradesh, Andhrites and Telanganites fight for separate state hood. Brahmins have been hounded out of Tamil Nadu and one can hardly find a Brahmin in government service in this state. In Maharashtra State people fight for dividing the state in to Vidarbha. Karnataka also wants to be split as Upper Karnataka and lower Karnataka. Tamil Nadu was the first state that threatened after independence to break away from India in case Hindi was imposed on them. Even today, the leaders are damn scared of Tamilnadu owing to this issue and try to appease them on various issues. Hatred among various castes is being built up day and day that can lead to a serious crisis at any point of time. Frequently Karnataka and Tamil states are at loggerheads on various issues. Buses are also burnt in these agitations. People forget that buses are their own national property. Thus Indians lack unity and self-discipline and oneness although they act as if they belong to one nation. Burning buses is a hobby for Indian masses in all agitations.
An interesting incident from the past is a must to remember. When Subhas Chandra Bose the most charismatic leader of Indian independence struggle reached Germany during World War II to get help from Adolph Hitler the Fuehrer of Germany in throwing out the Englishmen from India by waging war, he faced a very difficult question. It is believed that Hitler asked him how a vast country like India was allowed to be taken over by the White people and why all these years they could not be thrown out. Probably Hitler harbored very poor notion about Indians as a race that suffered under the rule of Englishmen without waging a determined war to throw the whites out. Probably subhas had no worthwhile answer. Although Subhas enjoyed the status of Head of a state in Germany and great respect and was provided with facilities, the help was much limited and soldiers under his command did mostly patrolling duties and really did not participate in major events on German front. This was a preparatory period for him before he moved to Japan to play a dynamic role as commander of Indian National Army (INA) on the Japanese front. His actions no doubt shook the foundations of British rule in India.
Were not Indians enslaved due to own bickering and in fights, jealousy for fellow kings? What prevented entire Indian princes to rise en block against English rule in 1857 that was called Sepoy (Soldiers) Mutiny by the English men while Indian Historians glorify it as the first war of independence. In this war, many princes and rulers stayed away and helped the East India Company. Rulers of Gwalior, Hyderabad, Kingdoms of Punjab and south such as Mysore, Travencore Cochin stayed away. There was no common cause. Every one fought for his grievance. Mostly it was inspired due to the loss of kingdom as the result of failure to produce a legal successor. It happened at Jhansi and Nagpur. They were enraged. If all rulers had united and fought probably Englishmen would have been defeated decisively. But some rulers derived advantage by abetting Englishmen and won laurels and titles for their loyalty. Was this not a blot on Indian character? One such ruler of a major state was Afzaluddaula, the 5 th Nizam of Hyderabad. For abetting the English men he was awarded titles and honors. Princes and rulers lined up before the queen for the chain of awards and titles. All these rulers have vanished in to pages of history (Dark?) who betrayed the cause of India. But history books in India are scared to call a spade a spade thus misleading the young minds at schools.
Were we not scientifically backward and miles behind west in thinking and in action too and more taken over by religious rituals, euphoria of festivals, meditation, babas, swamis, Gurus and blind faiths and cockeyed beliefs to most extent? Probably Indians dominated the field of philosophy that however did not give freedom from alien rule. Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan the former President of India was the world famous philosopher apart from Jiddu Krishnamurthi in contemporary India. Swami Vivekanaanda was an exception and exemplary. Yet philosophy did not drive Englishmen out. While Europeans ventured over seas to reach other places at distance, Indians suffered at the hands of ancient beliefs that forbade traveling over seas and they were treated as outcastes. Indians imagined their Gods flew in the air sitting over various mounts ranging from a crow to bull; peacock to eagle, the westerners invented aeroplanes, tanks and helicopters and changed the course of world and warfare too. Indians clapped in appreciation, but claimed that in Ramayana Rama and Ravana ( Devil king) and Kubera ( Richest deity) used divine aeroplanes and Indians knew these already. We claim that Tippu Sultan the ruler of Mysore in 18 th century and known as Mysore Tiger was the father of rocketry in India who used rockets at battle of Srirangapatnam with East India company. Then who prevented Indians from developing further the missiles and rockets. We have ventured only after westerners mastered the art. Where the technology disappeared? No one knows. The concepts of forts have disappeared with the flying machines. Indians spent their time in arts, singing classical music, sculpture, music, classical dance, rituals, writing scriptures, poetry, temple building and other easy going and time- pass activities, while West exploited science and raced towards modernity and to further exploitation of science to the fullest. The funniest thing to note is that Indians claim that every thing of modern science is already there in Vedas, the Hindu scriptures. Then who prevented Indians from exploiting them to their advantage? Discussing about various explosives, missiles and even nuclear weapons, Indians claim that all these were great Astraas (Weapons) and were known in Vedas and warriors in yore used them. They cite Mahabharatha and Ramayana war and claim that the Brahmastra (Weapon of Lord Brahma) was the ultimate weapon. But why we were unable to develop and use them before whites developed them although we claim that our ancestors knew them and they were given in the scriptures? How the science has disappeared that Indians knew? Many claim that Europeans stole them from our scriptures. A joke indeed. Indians are experts at the art of blaming others for their own inability, ignorance and failures. They shout more at pitch of the voice and do less in reality. Empty vessels make more noise, some one rightly said.
India is plagued by Terrorism in J and K. Scores of Muslim fundamentalist out fits have surfaced in India and these are abetting another partition of India. The appeasement policies in India have done great damage to the nation. Most of the Muslims in India feel that they have special status as citizens and are now even demanding special reservations in jobs and education. Pseudo secularism that is being practiced in India has done the greatest damage to the nation. Some Muslims objected to singing Vandemataarm song that inspired millions during freedom struggle. Why? At every point and at every time Indian rulers succumbed to Muslim pressure for the fear of minority backlash. At the time of independence Muslims voted enblock for creation of Pakistan, but many stayed back with dual loyalties. Although Sardar Patel said that once Muslims stay back with India they could have only one loyalty, his fears came true. Many Muslims in India love Pakistan and Arab countries more than India. This was exhibited several times in the past. When Taliban damaged Bamiyan Buddhas in their country, Imam of Jama Maszid in Delhi uttered anti national statements and he was let off Scot-free. No action was initiated against him. A Muslim leader from South also threatened that they would demand another partition some time ago. Some Muslim men also claimed Mughalistan in northern India. The Muslim leader who threatened another partition was from a strong political minority out fit from Hyderabad. As usual, he is happily going around. Taslima Nasreen the Bangladeshi writer was attacked in Hyderabad by the Muslim legislators and goons and they were glorified as heroes by the local Muslim leadership. They were even garlanded by the leader of a local Muslim party. No action was taken to punish the culprits. They even gave threatening calls to kill her. Some time ago some of the Muslim legislators in Hyderabad attacked doctors at Hospitals that led to a prolonged strike by them while many patients and poor suffered. As usual the goons and legislators escaped. Some patients died too awaiting treatment. Why such things happen India? Indian justice is highly delayed. It is unable to even hang the anti nationals like Afzal after awarding death sentence. Some time ago a youth torched bogies of Kakateeya Express train in Andhra Pradesh and several passengers died for none of their fault. The culprit was caught and tried and was awarded death sentence. However it was commuted to life imprisonment because he was from a Dalit community and was poor. What happened to the several people who lost lives due to the crazy guy. None is bothered. Recently a young lover in Andhra Pradesh cut off the neck of his girl friend because she refused to marry him. He was given death sentence and later on his sentence was reduced to life imprisonment because he was young. Killing of girls by the mad lovers is a regular and common feature in Andhra Pradesh. Justice is weak and delayed. Country suffers from the euphoria of minority appeasement and practice of pseudo secularism. Every political setup in India is based on appeasement of minorities to create vote banks.
India is hated by every one of its immediate neighbors. Bangladesh that was liberated by Indian blood gnaws its teeth at India. None of the Arab countries came to India’s help in Indo Pak wars in the past and India takes up all Arab causes at world forums and beats the drum of Arab cause. India miserably failed in Sri Lankan operation and reduced to rather pulp by LTTE guerillas and in utter embarrassment withdrew its army called peace keeping Force not before many Indian soldiers were killed. India failed to arrest rise of communists in Nepal and ultimate destruction of a Hindu state. Communists obviously from China are now right at Indian borders with Nepal. There was no forethought on the issue and the political leadership has frittered long-term security interests of the country away. Lack luster policies and failure to contain communist militancy has created a communist corridor in the country running from Nepal to Tamil Nadu along the Eastern wing of India. India has failed to realize that Communist take over of Nepal is the first step of China in annexing portion of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in years to come. Who is to be blamed for this? With Indian Army suffering serious officers shortage and the unhappiness over the recent pay commission and many officers waiting in a queue to say good bye to uniform, what sort of defense India can put up against the Chinese threat apart from the J and K crisis on western front. Bright youth in society are not willing to join Defense services. Youth are no more opting for armed services and are running to west and to corporate sector. Army officers themselves discourage their sons to take up Defense service as the career. Third-rate stuff is seeking opening in the services. From beginning, India leaned towards Socialist set up as a result of European exploitation of India and after 1947; Indians rubbed shoulders with Soviets and Chinese vigorously. Nehru coined the slogan ‘Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai...’The slogan did not work. All these things are self-doing and no foreign power can be blamed for the present state of affairs.
The Chinese built roads right up to our borders and strengthened their positions. Advises by senior military commanders were ignored in the past. Defense preparedness was left to winds. Army became a ceremonial set up and neglected. They were busy with guard of honors, regimental dinner nights proposing toasts, parties, riding horses, playing polo matches, organizing tambola games in officers’ messes and of course swinging hands and saluting on republic day parades. All this resulted in most shameful defeat in 1962 at the hands of Chinese army that can never be forgotten. In few years after the defeat, Nehru died heart broken. The country was let down by the much glorified politicians who framed poor policies and pursued them ignoring sane advise from the bright men. They cared more for elevating their personal image abroad than country’s welfare and security. Some probably expected Nobel peace Prize too that never came across their way. Communists in India were literally given free run and they found a strong militant base in different States and have exploited this to maximum. Political interference has discouraged strong police actions in containing Communist militancy and in a state like Jharkhand, militant Communists are running a parallel government. In Andhra Pradesh senior Communist militant leaders along with cadres were surrounded at Nallamala forests some time ago by the vigilant police and were surely to be annihilated. But sadly the seize was lifted and they were allowed to go free and to have nice time. In recent times police parties were ambushed in a lake at Orissa border and many were slain. How this can happen without political patronage? Police hands are tied. Can a government eliminate militants with such spineless and weak policies? The answer would be surely NO.
The multiparty parliamentary system has done greatest damage to the nation. Although we claim to be the second largest democracy in the world. The parties are family based and dynastic enslaving is the order in these political parties. For most of the political leaders, politics is a thriving business. Each and every leader grooms his or her son or daughter to take over after him. For this, he leaves no stone unturned. It is rather strange that Indians are not yet free from dynastic rules. After Jawaharlal Nehru, his daughter, then his grand son became prime ministers as leaders of Congress party. They were rather thrust into chairs by the sycophants who in turn got coveted posts and positions. Men and stalwarts like PV Narsimha Rao who led congress and nation in most difficult times was given a cold shoulder after he lost his clout and was even in death was dishonored. His half burnt body was staring at sky on a Hyderabad road. It had to be gathered and burnt again. What a shameful and disgusting affair indeed meted out to a very senior stalwart of India by their own party? Now ground is being prepared for Rahul, son of Rajiv ( known as prince) to be pushed in to the throne. He is not to be blamed. Sycophants clap that he is the only guiding beacon to the nation and the most deserving candidate for the throne while Dr Manmohan singh is still alive and is in the chair as Prime Minister. This is the classical example of political sycophancy and dynastic slavery in India. They cannot expect to win at elections without Gandhi’s name. What slavery it is indeed? Without Gandhi’s name congress cannot survive in the country. They have no way out if Bharateeya Janata Party (BJP) has to be kept away from the rule. In the name of parliamentary democracy, mockery goes on in the country Infact. There are cases where members of parliament were caught red-handed taking bribes and money for asking questions in parliament. There are different rates for different questions. Legislators in the country are facing charges for passport scams and smuggling out humans on false passports. Political stalwarts are involved in cases of murders. In the recent political crisis in the country, Congress managed to get the numbers at the voting not before luring other parties with a carrot. Now the chief minister in a state has to be changed to satisfy a person who supported congress in voting. The inner blackmail politics go on. This is the real Indian democracy for which we beat chests going around and try to equate us with USA and UK. We are nowhere near them and many light years are away.
On the social front we find that the people of the country lack basis civic discipline. At every corner of the road and street they throw litter and it rots over for days breeding germs and insects causing serious pollution. The cities are over grown and basic civic amenities People chew beetle nut as regular habit and spit at all places around. In most of the flats in the localities entire stairs are dirtied by the people who spit there. What a shabby habit? Many people smoke in public transport and throw the cigarette buds under the seats. People do not believe in queues. They push around at all places such as railway bookings, paying counters for telephone, electricity bills etc. Buses do not stop at the bus stops. People collect as mobs at the bus stands and run after the buses that stop at a distance. Weak and old cannot get into buses. They also get trampled down. Recently more than 100 people died mostly elders, children and women when they were trampled down at a hill temple in a northern state. Children flying kites race on the roads and streets and chase falling kites. Accidents are common and some die too. At temples exorbitant fees are collected to see the god. What a shame? Poor cannot see God because they cannot pay. They have to wait hours together in waiting lines. Temples are mismanaged by the committees. Their lands are swallowed and sold to leaders at throwaway prices. In the name of modernization, ancient temples that are Indian heritage are defaced and modified. Other religions are allowed to propagate near Hindu temples. After great uproar this is slightly under control. Some Hindu religious leaders are booked and farmed in cases to settle scores. But such things do not happen with other communities. They are arrested at midnight and taken away by flight and even denied bail. Criminals like Veerappan roamed freely in South Indian Tamilnadu forests for more than 25 years with impunity till he was shot dead by Police. But a Pontiff of Kanchi religious center was denied a bail in a case filed against him. Indians spend very lavishly at weddings and food is wasted. The entire refuse and remains of food and paper plates are thrown outside the wall after the marriage where dogs and pigs fight next day for the remains. Some unfortunate humans too join them for the remains. What a gory scene it presents. Such things are most common in all the streets. What a devastating scene it presents indeed? Real India is represented there. Scores of young brides get killed, murdered and commit suicides due to dowry harassment by the in laws. Most of them turned into suicides.
Reservations based on Caste continue unabated in India although it was meant for a limited period by the Constitution. The appeasement politics and vote banks have taken the toll of merit. Instead of keeping reservation on economic basis, caste has become the deciding factor. Meritorious students are helpless on this account and they are shown the door. Consequently the bright youth are leaving the country to settle in USA and at other places. India has turned into a supplier of technical manpower to west. Reservations have done great damage to the various government services and the infamous inefficiency of these government services is attributed to lack of balanced development and growth of personnel. He field of education has run into rough weather in recent times. South India dominated the field of engineering education in private sector. Scores of engineering colleges are opened indiscriminately throughout the southern states and this has resulted in very poor standards. We turn out engineers from these colleges where majority of these students who graduate as engineers cannot express or write faultless English. These graduates are apology to the term engineers. These Institutions are managed by many dubious men including politicians, land developers ( A better word for land grabbers), liquor barons, School managements, Junior college managements and corporate colleges. Most of them lack vision and academic orientation. Moneymaking is the sole aim for most of them. With glut in college numbers suitable faculty members are not available at these Institutions leave alone qualified principals and staff change colleges very frequently. The business houses reject most of the graduate engineers as unfit material. Lesser said is better about the education standards in these engineering, medical and other colleges.
India although has done well on IT sector and its Rupee has done well against Dollar recently, the country suffers extreme poverty and distribution of wealth is improper. There are multi-storied buildings while next to it people sleep on footpaths. There are hunger deaths just opposite the five star hotels. There are many suicides for failure of crops. Corruption is so rampant in the country that roads and dams constructed recently were breached due to few heavy rains. There appears to be no accountability for such failures. Militancy is on rise in India. Police firings are very common on slightest pretext and it appears as if police wages a war against its own population. Such violators get Scot-free. Many states are engaged in fighting each other over various issues such as river water distribution and building dams. The chief ministers of these states throw mud at each other and derive pleasure in such activities.
Thus India has its own way of life and still continues to produce more and more population and mouths to feed. The development whatever is achieved is nullified by ever increasing population. India has produced nuclear weapons, missiles, aircraft carriers, submarines, tanks, guns and all types of small arms. On agriculture front it literally achieved self-sufficiency. Yet tragedy is that it still remains the poor country and suffers at the hands of terrorists. The main problem plaguing the country is the lacking of self-discipline and character, committed leaders with vision devoid of self interests (It occupies a good position as a corrupt country in world ratings). Such large country cannot win gold medals in world sport events and ranks among the lowest. A Communist Russian in past commented, after seeing India, He started believing God. That summarizes everything and once for all.

Dr K Prabhakar Rao.