China's Duplicity

In continuation with my thoughts of yesterday, I would like to bring out China’s duplicity in its actions directed against our country. And it, definitely, has a sinister pattern!
Towards the run up to the Chinese preparations for the ‘Beijing Olympics of 2008’, a two decade thrust was initiated on building up the infrastructure. The main aim was to showcase the best of China at the time of the Games and almost everything went as per their government’s plans except for the following happenings:-
(a) The massive rallies organized by exiled Tibetans all over the world, as and when the Olympic torch passed through each of the member countries highlighting the repressive nature of the Chinese government that brooked no dissent. Delhi was like a beseiged fortress during the day of the torch run.
(b) At the almost flawless opening ceremony, a good looking girl was shown as the Games’ face, while the voice over was that of a child who’d to remain in the background as she was unfortunately not photogenic enough, to be beamed on the millions of television sets, all over the world!

China was nice with India during the period. But after the successful completion of the Olympics, just see as to what that country has done with regard to Kashmir:-
(a) All foreign media correspondents who visit Tibet are given maps that show Kashmir not as a part of India.
(b) All Kashmiris with Indian passports are given Chinese visa endorsement on a separate sheet of paper implying that they consider such passports as invalid.
(c) Though both India and Pakistan have agreed to solve the Kashmir issue bilaterally, China offered to mediate which was mischievous in intention.
(d) The deployment of Chinese troops in the Gilgit-Baltistan area of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir - the official explanation being that they’re carrying out civil works – is an irritant (Perhaps, the Siachen issue continues to simmer because of the proximity of Chinese troops?)
(e) And the latest is its denial of the Northern Army Commander’s visit to China just because he has Kashmir under his charge.

In addition to the above, the under mentioned factors also point a finger at China’s intentions:-
(a) The Karakoram highway, through the length of PoK, enables quick movement of Chinese troops in the shortest possible time, on to our western borders.
(b) The unrestricted use of the port of Gwadar at the Arabian Sea, which it had funded and help build.
(c) Three airbases and six more being built in Tibet
(d) Deployment of long range ballistic missiles on Tibetan soil, aimed at various cities of India.
(e) The Quing Hai – Tibet railway line that can shift military resources over long distances.
(f) And finally, to top it all, the media keeps telling us of frequent border skirmishes all along the Sino-Indian border.

But having said all that, China has a lot to worry internally as it has numerous problems. Just to cite one example, the youth yearn for freedom and the rage within is simmering. And from the observations made by many foreign visitors, development has been lopsided and many of the modern facilities are yet to reach the rural landscape.

China up to tricks again!

I think China continues to view India as its major adversary and has been doing a lot of things much to our discomfiture, whereas, we've always supported its cause at various world forums.

Their entry into the United Nations was a classic example wherein our articulations helped. And in return, they've consistently blocked the expansion of the Security Council so that India does not share the high table with them.

They do not like the Indian media giving coverage to the happenings in Tibet and their anger at Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, a few months back, was palpable to say the least. And now they've playing footsie in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, aided and abetted by Pakistan. Coming as it is soon on the heels of their visa denial to our Northern Army Commander, they surely want us to be put on the defensive.

Thankfully, the nation has risen together to make our displeasure known to them in no uncertain terms. We must show the Chinese that they can neither be churlish nor heavy handed while interacting with us. They need to understand our strengths.

Interpol says so!

What amazed me was a news item that says that about 650 Indians have been issued with 'red alert' notices by the organisation over a period of the last five years. Of these, 25% of the cases are related to over speeding and traffic accidents. I can understand that it could be out of sheer ignorance about the existent rules on the part of the perpetrators but we, Indians seem to have a penchant for getting into trouble.

The other cases include dowry deaths and frauds.

In a similar vein, I remember having read an article on the 'attitude of Indians' working in world organisations. Indians, more often than not, have a 'KUPD'(Kiss Up Piss Down) syndrome. They play up to their superiors unabashedly while being very demanding/ harsh on their subordinates. I would rather take this observation with a pinch of salt, though.

But we, Indians need to take note of others' sensitivities and the prevalent customs while travelling abroad for the sake of their own safety and acceptance!

A bountiful Yamuna

Today, we had gone on our monthly trip to NOIDA. The sky was overcast and though it was humid, the heat was quite bearable. The traffic was thankfully fast flowing and there were no glitches enroute.

The route taken was through the DND(Delhi-NOIDA-Direct) Flyover and naturally, we'd to negotiate the bridge that straddles the River Yamuna (I prefer this name as it sounds feminine as I feel that rivers have the strength of character of that of a woman. And Jamuna sounds so masculine, in a comparative sense!), just off the Oakhla barrage. After having got used to the sight of an apology of a river with hardly any water and if at all there was some, which was outright filthy, it was so nice to see the Yamuna in full swell. I'd stopped my van for a few minutes, just to take in the rare sight.And for this singular reason, I thank the rains for its persistence!

A swift flowing, clean Yamuna is what Delhi needs to make it majestic in sight! And it's my sincere hope that this magnificent sight continues through the Commonwealth games, so that our foreign guests carry this sight in their memories when they return to their native lands.

Tailpiece.
The fact, however, is that the Yamuna is creeping the danger levels and consequently, a high alert exists. With Haryana, opening the sluice gates of its dams, the entire population living on the banks of the river have been shifted to temporary shelters and the possibility of another spell of rains just cannot be ruled out!!

Mother Teresa

A person for whom I've tremendous respect and am glad that I too have had the privilege of living during her lifetime. She's the classic example of selfless love towards fellow human beings. The love and care that she provided to the wretchedly poor, impoverished and ailing people from the streets of Calcutta(and of course, to the world at large through her 'Missionaries of Charity') is legendary.

How does one explain the phenomenon of this frail but majestic lady, having left her home and hearth in Albania (of the erstwhile Yugoslavia), to be with the needy in India? India is indeed blessed to have been the land of her calling!

On the occasion of her birth centenary, which falls on this date, I salute her in all earnestness and offer a silent prayer to her soul for everlasting peace in eternity. I'd like to reproduce an extract of Rabindranath Tagore's 'Geetanjali', which sums it all up so beautifully,
"It's in giving that you're given
It's in loving that you're loved
And it's in dying that you're born to eternal life".

The essence of the Gita

"Main zindagi ka saath nibhatha chalagaya
Har fikr ko dhuen mein udatha chalagaya"

The beautiful opening lines of a Hindi movie number sung by one of my favourites, Dev Anand! Roughly translated - pardon both my Hindi and Urdu - the wordings mean something like this,
I've been faithfully following my life's calling and in the process, I was left with no worries as each of them vapourised into thin air thanks to my attitude!

This essentially, is the essence of the Gita. Man thinks that he's in control of his life and consequently, goes about utilising his resources towards achieving his perceived goals, utilising means based on his upbringing. As the meaning of life dawns upon him, it becomes clear that his life in this world's arena was based on a preordained script and He was its author.

Very, very disturbing!

Yesterday, there was a prominent 'breaking news' on the Malayalam 'Surya' channel that highlighted the existence of a market, trading human beings - yes, you heard it right - in God's own country! I really was flabbergasted as they showed the venue( Kolancherry junction at Perumbavoor - a sleepy hamlet about 75 kms north-west of Kochi) and the process of sale.

Labourers and skilled workers come in droves and assemble at the market place in the morning. Potential contractors come with appropriate vehicles(depending on the number of labourers they require), haggle over the price with the middlemen or even with the labourers directly and clinch the deal. There was a guy who'd collected about fifteen odd labourers and stacked them like cattle, into a pick up truck, which was the most searing of the sights provided by the TV grab!!

And while the prices are negotiated, the incentives offered are liquor, drugs and 'paan'. Is a human being's worth so less? Is life so meaningless and cheap?

Another reason for Keralites to hang their heads in shame. Quite disturbing indeed!!!