11:05 am Indian Standard Time, 28th July 2006
An Anguished Indian, I am. Anguished, because the only thing that works in India is corruption. Our politicians ( incidentally, every politician calls himself/herself and now 'him-her'self as 'Leader') . I do not see many ( some would debate this and want to use 'any' instead of 'many') honest politicians. Politics is the mirror of a country and alas, our mirror is quite dirty.
The other day, a poor 4 year old kid fell into a shaft that was dug for a bore-well. Firstly, the hole should not have been there. The dry shaft should have been filled-up, but nobody noticed it, maybe some contractor ( the one who was supposed to drill the bore well) , finding no water, just left it that way, since he felt that he is not accountable.
The news channel fell on each other to 'cover' the story and for two days we were fed with second to second feed of the 'story'. The poor kid showed more grit than the media-persons for whom the reports meant more 'eye-balls' to the idiot box. On top of that the Politicians were all there as if they can do anything. Then free publicity and showing 'oh-my-heart-bleeds-for-the-poor-thing' attitude.
The wide coverage meant that disaster tourists ( some 15000 people) thronged the site, which could have caved in the bore and thus putting the kid, Prince in danger.
All's well that ends well, ( out of the well!). Prince came out with the timely and active help of the Indian Army. Then comes the drama of the politicians ; the local MP had arranged for a cake ( it was the birthday of Prince) and the Chief minister of the state was there paying a visit. In the melee the MP was pushed aside and perhaps he was the only one who had a piece of cake..literally!
Suddenly it rained money on the kid, everyone announcing money...I do not say that it is a bad thing to give money to the kid, but the question is WHY? Just because the kid fell into the well? Well the wicked answer is because it looked nice with the TV channels covering it widely. Would they have announced such 'rewards' for falling, if there was no coverage? the answer is a sad NO.
On the other side, without the publicity, the quick actions take would not have been taken.
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11 comments on An Anguished Indian
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But I suppose you aren't serious when saying "the only thing that works in India is corruption". Have you read the essay 'mein or mera desh' by Balakrishna Bhatt? It is a must-read for all Indians[SMILE]
and they don't look in their backyards, to busy saving the world
.Florida and New Orleans are coupla hurricane disaster they are ignoring, so long homeless. All over america people are starving and live in squaller
Movie stars worst spend millions for weddings and big parties, tho some doing good.
They are to busy campaining for the next election.
Shy I have now read all your articles, very good..
I. bet you blog at work. and they say are you on that darn computer again?
My husband says i have lost my wife to blogging ,not true, just leave it on ,and if mail e or blog i read it amen, a full day ahead, work and pills to fill 12 presc.(so I may be on here 5a.m. before he wakes. and i feed and dress him and clean up etc.etc.etc)
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have to be put up, plus all those good vitamins we take to keep us going.
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