Riots in Delhi - February 2020

The violence happening in Delhi is a matter of grave concern. There goes an African proverb - When two Elephants make love or war, it's grass which suffers the most. When two communal factions fight, it's the image of the country which suffers.

No doubt recent events at our nation's capital is a catastrophic failure of the administration. No question it is Nation's shame as it projects a very wrong image of India to the outside world in age of internet and social media which has shrunk the world to a global village.

Question is not about who among the Right or Left is at the wrong end. Truth is the casualty these days when blame games abound. I am not very sure who is the culprit behind this violence as I don't trust the overtly biased media. Those on social media are polarized based on their own political ideology and believe in what they want to believe. Morphed footages galore, originated by the IT Cells of political parties to suit their political agenda.

That leaves the Police to maintain the law and order - ideally without any fear or favor. But the violence can't happen without the complicit of the police force. And we know which side the police is, who along with our politicians are often the de facto criminals in India. I vividly remember during my College days on the aftermath of a youthful prank gone wrong we found ourselves huddled inside a police lockup for a night.

As it got darker, Police cooked chicken dinner and took their turns in enjoying the company of a local prostitute. As one policeman zipped his Khaki pants while coming out of a shanty room with a satisfied grin on his face, the next one followed. One of them was impatient enough to drop his shorts outside and barge inside the room in his underwear. All this happened a few feet away from us.

Not all police are corrupt though. It may sound unbelievable these days, but I have come across honest police officials, some who have given their life fighting miscreants. Yet there are a good number from their tribe who have given them a bad name. Except perhaps sub Saharan Africa and few other nations like Pakistan, no where Police is as corrupt as in India.

In a scene from the movie KALCHAKRA (The Wheel of Time) in the 1980s the actor Sadasiv Amrapurkar playing a corrupt police utters - "POLICE KE SAATH JYADA DOSTI YA DUSHMANI ACHHI NAHI HAI (It's not wise to be too friendly or enemical with the Police). Nothing is far from this truth. Police is hardly trustworty as its loyalty invariably lies with the ruling party. They can't go to shit without the permission of their political masters. Every ruling party mis(uses) them. Delhi police who is being accused of being complicit in this riots is no different. 

How to end the anarchy without the ubiquitous left vs right, secular vs liberal blame game ? If we want to stay Democratic, then we must allow our citizens freedom of speech and right to peaceful protest. When things go wrong then the law enforcement  authorities must act without fear or favor - as criminals have no religion or ideology.

We have 200 million minorities in our nation. As our former Prime Minister Vajpayee once said - we can't change our neighbors. Similarly we can't throw 200 million from our population into the Bay of Bengal. We must learn to live with them. For those advocating theocracy,  if you are so desperate to be a Saudi Arabia or Iran, change the Constitution. We can't have it both ways. Jeffersonian democracy doesn't work everywhere.

Trump's trip to India 2020 - Concluding part

I came, I saw (India) and I Conquered (signed $3 billion Arms deal) - this is pretty much how Trump's just concluded trip to India can be summarized.

The visit was more symbolic than substantial. Trump in particular and Americans in general don't like to travel outside their own country. International exchange students from outside readily jump at the opportunity to come to the United States, most others given an opportunity. Even stringent critics of America either send or plan to send their kids to US. On the other hand, American students take least interest in these exchange programs, beyond short term summer  trips to Europe, Japan and other developed nations.

In that context, Trump's visit to India is important. There must be some reasons which tempted Trump to fly 15 hours nonstop for a 36 hour trip to a country located on the other side of the globe. Here are the possible reasons.

1. Being an egotistical and narcissistic person Trump enjoys the adulation from huge crowds. As around 100,000 turned up to greet him in India, he is already boasting about 7 million people coming to see him. This will help him in his sales pitch to his home audience to showcase how popular he is all over the world.

2. All politics is local. Indian Americans though nationally insignificant in number, are significant enough to impact the results of important swing states where they are in a sizable number. Trump is aware of the fact and this is part of his reelection campaign where every single vote in swing states counts.

3. Again, all politics are local. A $3 billion sale of military weapons will bring jobs to the heartland Americas. He can boast about being the architect of it by selling it at his election rallies.

American Presidents get lot of attention in India - from media or otherwise, but this one Trumped all. Tens of millions of dollars were spent by India to impress the US President. Putin, the President of a nation who time and again stood by India at time of crisis, must be going green with envy - for he gets a fraction of attention which Trump got. The visits of the heads of states of Nigeria, South Korea or Brazil goes largely unnoticed.

Americans are poor in pronouncing Indian names - especially the long ones which they find as tongue twister. Trump was no different as he mispronounced the names of Swami Vivekananda as "Viv-eka-munand" and Sachin Tendulkar as "Soo-chin Tendul-kerr”.

But Mr. Trump doesn't have to worry. We are not greatest speakers of Anglicized names either. I have heard Odias (folks from my state back home) speaking PAKHALA KHIA English (English spoken by Odias after consuming a stomach full of water drenched rice) pronouncing Rodney Hogg's last name sounding like HAGGA (Go shit).

But Trump got pretty much what he wanted - the fanfare laced attention and as a businessman he was able to make successful sales pitch for his goods, without giving much away. This is the Election year in America. He will be in trouble if he even talks about giving concessions to India when insourcing and protection of American jobs is his slogan. It would be anathema to his "Make America Great Again" slogan. He is a smart businessman. Do you think he will ruin his reelection chances by giving India a chance to send more IT Pros to US on H1B Visa in an election year ?

Trump again indicated about mediating on Kashmir. It is known that without using the word mediation, US has intervened between India and Pakistan before, time and again at times of crisis. Kargil war of 1999, playing behind the scene to de-escalate tension after 26/11 in 2008 and most recently, the tension between the two nuclear armed nations post Pulawama attack. 

Contrary to many Trump fans back home, the US President is an egotistical, arrogant person who was here on purely  business mission mixing with pleasure which shouldn't be mistaken as any kind of affinity towards India. Did he concede anything tangible for India, rather than finalizing some Arms sell deals which will benefit US ? No. The trip was more symbolic than anything else. No more, no less.

US Presidential trips to India

As Trump just boarded Air Force One for a 15 hour non stop flight to India, here are a few trivia about the visits of America Presidents to India jotted down from my memory.

1. Dwight Eisenhower (IKE) - The first US President to visit India. It was in the 1950s. Don't know anything more regarding his visit, except there was hardly any security around him when he visited the iconic Taj Mahal - A must of dignitaries in their first trips who don't visit India too often.

2. Richard Nixon - He visited in 1969. With India's tilting towards the then Soviet Union was gaining steam, the chemistry between Indira Gandhi and Nixon was as cold as the cold war. According to archives, he privately referred to her as not so flattering "that Bi**h".

3. Jimmy Carter - His visit to India in 1978 was at the peak of cold war. In an embarrassing moment the visiting American President apparently unaware that the microphone was switched on was caught saying that he doesn't have a good impression about the Indian PM Morarjee Desai and going to send a stern letter after getting back. After this the US Presidents decided to give India a pass in the 1980s and 90s.

4. Bill Clinton -  He came in the year 2000 at the fag end of his 2nd term when an American President is considered as lame duck. The trip generated a lot of enthusiasm as an American President stepped on Indian soil after twenty two long years. Love him or hate him the Charmer-in-Chief enchanted his way into getting a rousing reception and rock star treatment by our MPs who rushed to shake hands with him. A lover Of Indian food he ate a stomach full before deciding to dump his waste in the toilet of Pakistan during his 4 hour halt at Islamabad on his way back home.

5. George Bush - I think it was year 2006 when came to India at a time his popularity was high in India compared to the rest of the world including home where his popularity was tanking. He wasn't as charismatic as his Bill Clinton, his predecessor, but meant business with his no nonsense straight forward Texan Cowboy approach.

6. Barack Obama - Arrived in India in the year 2009 within a year of his first term and danced to the Diwali celebrations charming the hosts. He promised a lot but returned back without delivering much of his promise. For a change the first lady Michelle Obama impressed with her immense people skill.

Obama's second trip as the guest of honor at India's Republic day parade on a rainy day was a media fiesta. But hardly anything tangible result came out from the trip.

As far as visits by Indian Prime Ministers to US are concerned, I think everyone of them visited the United States probably with the exception of Lal Bahadur Shastri, Charan Singh, V P Singh and Chandra Sekhar. More than anything else their short tenure in office prevented them from doing so.

Trump's trip to India 2020

Trump's trip to India has brought a lot of excitement in air. American Presidents visiting India get a lot of media attention - social or otherwise. But the flamboyant nature of Trump is driving the fanfare which will put King George's opulent reception in 1911 during the British rule.

All arrangements have been made for a Rockstar's welcome. Crores have been spent on flowers and decorative. Crores more have been invested erect a fence across the road carrying his motorcade to hide India's ugly underbelly - the city's vast slums. Scores will line up the 10km (6 mile) drive on the Parkway by Donald Trump's entourage en route to inaugurate the world's largest Cricket stadium in Ahmedabad. It's another thing this honor should have gone to someone like Kapil Dev or Tendulkar rather than to the President of a nation where cricket is an insect, not a sport.

We are often critical of America being a ruthless practitioner of self interest driven foreign policy, least sensitive and caring a hoot about India's strategic interest. Yet we go overboard when US President lands on our soil. Forget about other nations, even the President of Russia, a time tested, all weather friend of India hardly gets attention anywhere close to his American counterpart. 

At the same time, the American media barely blinks when an Indian Prime Minister to the United States. But back home even our regional, vernacular channels in India leaves no stone unturned, outbidding each other to cover US President. Even our lawmakers aren't left behind in this rate race. I have seen the video of our Members of Parliament rushing towards Bill Clinton, their face glowing with salvation after shaking hands with him which will make a Putin, Xi Xing Ping or Sinzo Abe green with envy.

Will there be any tangible outcome from the trip, a la Nixon's historic visit to China - other than the perfunctory, high profile (social) media coverage ? Don't think so. Only thing predictable about Trump is his unpredictability. The man doesn't follow any standard pattern or protocol typical of American Presidents. Being overtly egoistic, arrogant and vindictive in nature he can be a foreign policy nuisance, sometimes nightmare. He might even end up embarrassing his hosts - something he is very much capable of and has a history of doing so. 

Here are a few examples. Modi's fans should note that Trump onced mocked Indian Prime Minister English accent. This has been duly noted and published in the Press. Another time during his meeting with Modi he pronounced Nepal as "Nipple" and Bhutan as "Button", considered both Nipple and Button being part of India. Modi was visibly surprised and embarrassed.

This may be blamed on Trump's lack of awareness. But he was fully aware of India's sensitivity about outside interference on the volatile Kashmir issue when he offered not once, but twice his hand to mediate between India and Pakistan on Kashmir. That's dangerous, considering Trump's lack of grasp on international affairs, not to mention his mercurial tendency.

Trump should understand that Kashmir is no Middle East. It's no Syria, or a North Korea sitting on tinderbox. Being an astute businessman and salesman, he will bring a lot of stuff to sell, especially defense items to the table. Don't think he will give any concessions on contentious issue of H1B Visa and IT industry in his reelection year as he needs to showcase insourcing of jobs and MAGA (Make America Great Again) to the electorates at home. All politics are local. That's why Trump said earlier this week "I'm really having the big deal for later on". It seems he is here to enjoy the pomp and gaiety and the associated attention than anything.

For India the best case scenario is to attract as much Foreign investment as possible when China is reeling under the effects of Corona virus. Keeping fingers crossed, hoping for the best from Trump's maiden trip to India.

Height does matter

Michael Bloomberg, the New York based businessman has spent $100 million of his own money running in Democratic Primaries. Sensing his rise and possible challenge to him, the mercurial Trump has started doing his usual character assassination. As height of meanness, the guy a champion of making tall claims about himself is mocking Bloomberg as "Mini Mike", alluding to latter's relatively short height.

At 5 feet 8 inches, which would be considered as a pretty decent height in India, Bloomberg stands short compared to Trump who is 6 feet 3 inches tall. In fact, all American Presidents since Jimmy Carter who was shy of 6 feet (5 feet 10 inch) - Ronald Reagan, both Bush dad son duo, Bill Clinton, Obama are 6 feeters. 

Size may not matter, but height does. Logically height shouldn't matter. But in reality, it does. A good height always attracts the opposite sex, adds to the stature and personality. It is an added strength, acts as additional advantage. 

One of the unwritten rules of leadership is a good height. Most company CEOs and strong leaders national leaders are reasonably tall. There are a few notable exceptions though. Napoleon Bonaparte had the height of a Lilliput. Hitler was a short man who stood tall surrounded by his mountain sized German generals. 

Closer to home, Lal Bahadur Sastri was a diminutive man with towering personality. General Zia Ul Haq of Pakistan who milked the Americans and kept India on tenterhooks was a short, shrewd guy amongst tall Punjabi and Pashtun dominated military. 

Trump's belittling of his rival, the Florida Senator Marco Rubio as "Little Marco" worked for him in the Primaries of 2016. The US President's strategy to define his rivals in a negative way and destroy them before they define themselves has worked well for him so far. It could work for him again, as defeating a sitting President is a tall order in American Presidential elections unless the incumbent has a bad economy to defend. Yet, height does matter in the real  world, like it or not.

Voters are the King - Analysis of Delhi Elections 2020

The results of the Elections in Delhi are out. The Bollywood Actor Anupam Kher, now a prominent member of BJP should deliver to Modi-Shah duo his famous dialogue playing the role of Dr. Dang from the movie KARMA, "IS THAPPAD KI GOONJ SUNI TUMNE" (Did you hear the reverberation of this slap) ?

The outcome of the Delhi Elections is a much needed slap on the face of BJP  and a well deserved one. Hope the leadership of the party smell the coffee and wake up, focus on more pertinent issues like economy rather than waste time on issues which are hardly urgent and polarizing people

Voters are the King in a democracy. Delhi voters are smart lot. Those BJP folks now accusing the city-zens of national capital as MUFTKHOR (Suckers for Freebies) for voting AAP,  should remember that BJP made a clean sweep of Metro in Lok Sabha Elections held last May. They never complained at that time. Now, in 8 months or so the Delhites became Freeloaders ! Hypocrisy galore.

It is not uncommon for voters to choose separate parties in Lok Sabha and Assembly Elections. We must respect the choice of electorates. Those who blame the Delhi voters being suckers for freebies, should remember that the same suckers for freebies voted for Modi in 2019.

This leaves only 3 of the current breed of opposition leaders who have been reelected inside BJP's second term. They are Kejriwal, Mamata and our own Naveen Patnaik (who I believe keeps a low profile and is soft on BJP at center) aren't politicians at national level. These leaders are at best Regional Sartraps and have their own limitations, hardly capable of challenging Modi led BJP at the center.

Those who supported AAP (Common Man's Party) big time should know that the party is now mostly reduced to our Nation's Capital. It is a big let down from what once perceived as a national level alternative to Congress and BJP. It reminds me of the jibe traded at last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Sah Zaffer's ever shrinking empire -

SULTAN SAHA-E-ALAM
AAJ DILLI SE PALAM.
(The mighty emperor's Kingdom,
 Is now from Delhi to Palam).

The BJP supporters don't have to lose heart. As of now there is no national alternative to Modi. The Lok Sabha Elections are a different ball game. Though India is a Parliamentary democracy, its National Election is fought in Presidential style. There is no viable alternative to Modi at the center. Looking at history two sitting Prime Ministers popular at National level lost their reelection as the opposition was able to prop up an alternative.

Only due to JP (Jaiprakash Narain) bringing all opposition parties together under a single umbrella in 1977, Indira Gandhi was removed from power. VP Singh's arrival in 1989 ousted Rajeev Gandhi. Unless the opposition comes up with a viable national level face as an alternative to Midi, be ready for a 3rd BJP term in 2024.

Crawling then, crawling now

Indira Gandhi imposed national emergency in June, 1975, followed by clipping the Freedom of Press. She expected the media to bend. But to her surprise media crawled, mostly towing the government line.

Now fast forward to the year 2020. Kunal Kamra, a stand up comedian hitherto unknown to most public, publicly heckled Arnab Goswami, a news anchor who is a household name in India. What he did was totally unacceptable. Apparently it was a pure publicity stunt, although Arnab Goswami is no lily white either.

In such cases of unruly behavior, the perpetrator is usually handed over to the law enforcement authorities, as Odisha's CM Naveen Patnaik often says - "Let law take its own course". But what followed was a classic case of overreaction. The Airlines competed with one another to ban Kunal Kamra. Frankly the Airlines raised storm in the teacup - making mountains out of molehills. The stand up Comedian succeeded in his mission. I didn't know who Kunal Kamra was until little more than a week ago. Now I am writing about him.

So much water has flown in river Ganga since 1975. Indira Gandhi strangulated the Press at a time when the electronic media was government controlled monopoly - Black & White TV limited to few Metros and the ubiquitous government mouthpiece All India Radio. Now we have hundreds of private channels ruling the airwaves. Internet has brought information to fingertips. Social media has made everyone a citizen journalist, with a double edged sword.

What hasn't changed over these years ? We were spineless then, we are spineless now. Mainstream media is crawling when asked only to bend before Mahaprabhu and co. The Airlines flew a step higher to prove their unflinching obsequiousness - doing the comic act by competing with one other to ban a stand up Comedian. There is no winner in this drama except Kunal Kamra who must be happily walking to his bank.

Coronavirus and Chinese reaction

Prevention is always better than cure. Though China is currently addressing the Coronavirus on a war footing basis, it certainly mishandled it in the initial stages when the dreaded disease was in its infancy.

A doctor who took the disease seriously when it initially appeared towards last year end, revealed the same on a WeChat group about the virus ( WeChat is a popular microblogging site in China where Facebook, Twitter etc are banned). He was summarily disciplined by the Communist Party, quickly accused of rumor mongering.

The solution to any problem starts at admitting of its existence and owning it, followed by decisive actions taken. The secretive, insecure and image conscious Chinese authorities disowned it by "pooh poohing" the initial scare, allowing the disease to progress into a stage which can be very well described using the Odia phrase - NEDI GUDA KAHUNI KU BOHI JIBA (Allowing Jaggery from the palm to flow into the elbow). It simply means, knowlingly allowing a problem to persist, until it reaches an unrecoverable. Chinese authorities exactly did that, reacted only when the epidemic had spread its tentacles far and wide enough to disclose about it to the rest of the world.

This is a typical characteristic of authoritarian regimes - refuse to acknowledge the existence of an issue at first and then procrastinate any attempt at resolution. When confronted, deny it and act later. We see similar trends in India, though not in Chinese scale. Now we have a government at center who refuses to admit that there exists a problem in its economy whose health right now can be described as sick & struggling at best. 

Rather than tackling the prevailing weak economy, the inept authorities are working round the clock in Pushing GALLUs defending it (transliteration of Odia term GALU PELIBA, which means Stubborn and shameless self denial. Will appreciate if someone can provide me the most appropriate word for GALUAMI). They are still in a sleep mode, frugally applying cosmetic bandaid after bandaid to a wound which needs surgery. 

A la YATHA RAJA, TATHA PRAJA (Like the Ruler, like the Ruled) their equally GALUA devotees, a diehard bunch of closed minded faddists, many of whom are government servants, retirees and those with a secured income who don't feel the pinch of a bad economy continue to defend their government at the helm. 

Akin to China's initial reaction to Coronavirus, we are still in a denial mode regarding our economy which is in bad shape and in dire need of urgent steps of resuscitation. 

But alas, CHEIN SOUTHIBA JIE, TAKU UTHEIBA KIE (Who will wake up the one who is awake pretends to be sleeping). Though late, the Chinese authorities have woken up and on target to built two huge makeshift hospitals in a week as their machinery is hurrying round the clock 24X7 to reach their target. They may well achieve that and contain the disease. Can we smell the coffee and replicate the same to our economy ? Your guess is as good as mine.