The journey thus begins....

A long cherished dream finally comes to fruition, in 4 hours from now I will embark on a trip across the nation, a Bharat-yatra one can say. The original plan encompassed a travel around all the 29 states across a span of 45 days. But rarely ever are idealistic visions translated into reality in their complete sense. Hence, the journey has been cut down to 21 days and the states intended to be covered, 17. I am always short of words when I am asked about the intent of this journey. I am not known among friends and family as an avid traveller and hence they seem the most surprised. The intent is simple, to know my nation better. I cannot pride myself on being an Indian(as I most often do), an Indian who knows his country well, if my only physical exposure to the country is restricted to a few cities and my native place. Hence the desire to journey around the country. The garbs that I don will be many, at times those of a tourist, at others those of a philosopher, an ascetic, a scholar, but they will all be driven by one single desire.....the pursuit of knowledge.
I shall try and post logs of my journey as often as I can, but a complete record of my journey in its exact chronology shall be posted on this blog by the end of next month.

Nuclear Storm

For all the success that was claimed by the government in negotiating a fair deal with Uncle Sam for the 123 agreement, the public didn't see themselves having to head to the polling booths. But if the political storm that has been raised at New Delhi doesn't blow over, the public could very well be headed there. It must be said that the situtaion is not all black and white. The left has raised some valid concerns and have had so since July 2005. It is a different story altogether that the media didn't pay much attention to communist cries, until the crescendo theatened to topple the government. One of the main concerns raised by the left is that the nuclear deal is much more than the deal alone, it involves a alignment of India's foreign policy alongside USA's geo-political strategy for Asia. Proof of this was seen when India voted against Iran at the IAEA both in 2005 and 2006. An independent foreign policy that is not subject to coercion, cannot be snuffed away as an idealist demand, the left cannot be chided for this demand. When the Prime Minister and the US ambassador, plead with the country to make the most of the opportunity that presents itself, the opportunity being that Bush is the friendliest US president that India has seen, they seem to miss the point. Bush could very well go down in world history as the worst US president ever. Does India wish to seek a strong association with a US president, who clearly is very unpopular in his home country. As of May 2007, Bush's approval ratings had dropped to 28% .
However as was stated earlier all is not black and white, while an independent foreign policy is definitely desired, our foreign policy has definitely to reflect the political strategy India has in place to keep a rising China in check. If China is to become the sole superpower in Asia, then it will affect our dealing with not Beijing alone, but with Islamabad as well. Negotiations, ranging from border disputes to criminal extradition will become more difficult. Backing out of the nuclear deal, will be a missed opportunity to join the club of countries that control nuclear trade and technology in the world. The nuclear deal could strengthen trade ties with many developed nations, not only in the nuclear arena but in others as well. This will indirectly help in giving the country a push towards becoming a developed nation faster. It bodes well for India to be seen as China's equal.
The situation is not such that a stand can be taken easily, both sides, the Congress as well as the left, have perfectly valid reasons for their particular stands. The BJP makes a fool of itself when it opposes the agreement for foreign policy reasons, for it was during their governance that the tone for greater coooperation with the United States was first set. Extended debates among the political community will be needed to decide which is the course best suited for the country. Just like any sovereign country, both America and China will put their interests first ahead of India's. In the same vein the sovereign state of India has to decide based on what serves it's interests the best.

India, 60......Bharat, 5000

For a civilisation whose recorded history dates back atleast 5000 years, of what prominence is a miniscule figure as 60. In modern history, it symbolises the triumph of our brave freedom fighters who delivered independence to the nation. (In an age where sport is war, the victory of our cricket team at England over our past colonisers, couldn't have come at a more apt time, it tastes sweet).
With due respect to the past, more time has to be spent dwelling upon the future and the course that India takes. The country is announcing it's presence in the global arena, and there is a tacit recognition of it's importance. However, back at home, in the villages and cities, in the plains and valleys of this beautiful country, where we define what being an Indian is, is where we need to introspect and build a stronger country.
The congratulatory tones("India rising", "The sleeping giant awakens..") that surround us, hide from us the fact that we still remain a country grappling with social issues which affects millions. The run up to Aug 15, has not been pleasant. Light was shed upon the huge prevalence of female foeticide and infanticide in many parts of the country. Secularism doesn't look threatened, but religious intolerance among the majority and the minorities seems to be on the rise. The rains that wreaked havoc across the country, left villages stranded for days on end. It is ironic that we lose lives both to drought and rain. Politicians were landing blows on each other at a meeting of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, hardly a sign of a civilised democracy. Little children still try and make a living at traffic intersections of cities either through a display of acrobatics or by selling small items.
While the world begins to take notice of Indians and treat them with more respect than they commanded earlier, we should be reminded that our house is not in order yet. We still have a long way to go. Independence as an ideal is yet to be understood by a majority in the country, a majority that struggles to make a livelihood, a majority that is marginalised, a majority that lives without the hope of opportunity. Our celebrations of Independence will be even more joyous when we have saved every single child in the country from the clutches of hunger and child labour, when we have built an environment where the gender of the child will not affect her/his survival, when honest hard working individuals are suitably rewarded, when every Indian attains the right to a life of dignity and respect, irrespective of caste and creed.