Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Parallels

Three unconnected matters struck me as parallels.

Kashmir is on fire. Schools and colleges are forced to shut. One of the important leaders of separatism proudly states there is nothing wrong in students losing their academic year. She declares loss of studies, opportunities, future and even lives of these students is nothing compared to achieving 'freedom'. But her minor son applies for Indian Passport to go abroad and study there. It shows to go that either duplicity is practiced or she has no influence over even her son. Reports indicate that many separatists' children pursue studies elsewhere.

It is reported that quite a lot of youth, especially students, committed suicide for the cause of separate Telengana state. Students of University in Telengana districts lost valuable academic time and probably early employment opportunities too. But, the irony is not a single suicide has occured from the families of 'Leaders'. Not that I recommend dying for a cause. As Gen.Patton had said, no body attains anything by dying but by living and fighting. But fact is fact. Suicides and death only for masses.

There is another tamasha going on in the name of 'Odarpu Yatra' - consolation journey. It appears that hundreds have died on hearing about the death of former AP CM. But not a single soul from his family or party leaders. Here also the so called grief stricken deaths from masses only.

VIPs will be VIPs - Like Lord Venkateswara's darshan.


...ponder

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Misplaced Priority

After the 2003 Afro-Asian Games at Hyderabad, the major international sporting event being held in India is the forthcoming Commonwealth Games at New Delhi.

The amount spent by the Central Government for the CWG (bogged down in corruption allegations, cost overruns, delays) is Rs.28,054 crores whereas a measly Rs.100 crores was allotted to the Hyderabad event and it was expected rest of the cost would be raised from private sources. Even after taking into account that 7 years have passed and the inflation, the contrast is stark.

As stated by the Hon'ble Minister, the lion-share of this amount will go to create permanent infrastructure for the city. That is, indirectly, you are developing a city, which already had such bonanza during Asiad, further starving funds elsewhere.

Instead of creating infrastructure which will generate jobs perpetually, investment in stadia and swimming pools will take us nowhere except these will rot as we know our sports potential. These will be put to political use. How many sanctioned projects of public importance are given token allocations in budget for want of funds. How many foundation stones have been laid without a revisit to those sites.

This is skewed development, if not, parochial. New Delhi may be the capital of India. But our attempts to showcase India by projecting it to the exclusion of the rest of the country again and again is pathetic. Except for enriching the pockets of a few, what do these games achieve? How much of these thousands of crores goes to the athletes or the coaches? What infrastructure is created elsewhere in the country to spot, train and nurture talent?

For all round development, not only infrastructure but also talent, these games should be played at various venues. Sailing in Hyderabad, Rowing in Kerala, Football in Bengal, Hockey in Punjab or Jharkhand, etc The whole country should be involved and showcased and importantly nurtured.

We already see the results. Except for a miniscule number of individuals, our country never gets to the podium as a team. A country teeming with a billion population


....ponder