That India, a country with an income per head of less that $1,000, is flying to the moon isn't reflective of a society that has its head in the clouds and ignores the reality of poverty on the ground. Instead it shows a society that has the ambition to strive for more. This striving will not be straightforward and there will be hurdles to overcome. Yet as the saying goes ‘per ardua ad astra’ – through struggle to the stars. Ultimately it is this ambition to have more that will solve India’s problems of poverty and inequality.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
India Reaches for the Stars
Good article in the Times of London:
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12 comments:
Speaking for myself , it shows India's screwed up priorities.
There are certain countries where one can confidently open taps even in the bathroom and drink. Without getting cholera/typhoid.
Certainly not in india.
Had it wished it could have achieved at least that much.But clueless slavish rudderless india , RaamarPaalam desecrating Godforsaken india prefers moon missions((
I beg to disagree with tranquil, yes India needs to have basic sanitation and facilities to citizens, but this does not mean that we stem our scientific progress because we do not have clean drinking water.
This is in similar lines to those leftists (tranquil, no offense to you) who argue that India should not have gone nuclear because large number of people do not have enough to eat.
I agree, our infrastructure is in bad condition, but we should not let our R&D scientific research to be held back.
GOI says Lord Rama distroyed the bridge himself
http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/oct/14sethu.htm
Reminded of a Tamil saying:
The spinster who has no husband by her side cooing terms of endearment , makes elaborate plans about naming her great great grandson.
tranquil, India has practiced socialism for over a half-century, and these problems you mention have only gotten worse. Now that India is moving towards privatization and greater embrace of modernity, these problems are slowly being reversed.
Human nature being what it is, if responsibility for solving such problems is offloaded from the individual and put onto the state, then those funds and resources earmarked for this purpose will only end up in pockets of the politicians and their well-connected cronies. That's why these problems have only grown under socialism.
While the financial scandals swirling around us may tempt us to blame 'big business' for all our ills, the plight of poverty in India has been created under the auspices of big government. So it's futile to keep trying to throw more gasoline (govt) on the fire (poverty), in the hopes of eliminating it. Govt ultimately only responds to those with political pull, and that is the nature of the beast.
San ,
When I have to feed certain guests (comprising of hindus , christians, muslims, atheists , even dangerous amainos) who come to my house , I would not segregate-
a)this clean food & water for x
b)polluted stuff for y
c)bombblasts for z
There is absolutely no NEED for one to familiarize oneself with abstruse *isms* to be good or normal/sensible/fair. Take your pick.
What is State but a collection of people? The indian state comprises of thugs.Why defend the indefensible?
Even the *humble*(vegetarian masala dosa preferring , papaya for breakfast) ambanis are ready to kowtow to amainos or asinghs to promote *their* interests.
Well entrenched water purifying industries & water sellers would ensure clean water remains inaccessible to the people.
That is India.
Talking garrulously about Upanishads or religions is one thing.INTERnalising is altogether different.
Unrelated, Look at the UPA govt's latest tirade!
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/ram-setu-not-part-of-hinduism-govt-tells-sc/75806-3.html
sameer ,
You are mixing up issues.(weapons for self defense & moon missions)
Talking of weapons amassing , I might collect a 100 recipes of dosais but pointless if I don't care to even venture into my kitchen:))
When the politicians bandy words like ' desh & suraksha ' they are referring to their own security. Not OUR Hindu Temples , Raamar Paalam , Aadi Shankara Peetham etc.
In my eyes , these deshkiliyehamebananakarenge (thanks to karyakarta on bananapun) are putrefying carcasses that even the cannibals of noida would recoil from licking for FREE !
I have always admired Naseeruddin Shah as much as Shivaji Ganesan for his acting skills.
Nevertheless his recent statement reinforces the indisputable truth that muslims REFUSE to own up their bigotry ,misdeeds & violence.
Whereas an America comes up with Godfather (exposing vatican)Simon Birch , Michael Clayton, American Gangster and so on. Proving they are open minded enough to take a hard look at themselves. Which is why America OUGHT NOT to be written off.
As alleged by naseeruddin if "muslims are shown as terrorists" why isn't he engaging fellow muslims in reforming themselves? Instead he gripes to the media with more verbiage playing me the victim boohoo game((
Yuck.
Like Swapan Dasgupta , I sigh wearily...
" Oh , these intellectuals "....
and yawn.
Priceless comic relief !!
amaino says " she will go to jail "
Why not?
Must be getting honest feedback about the luxurious merrymaking taking place inside indian jails;))from shibu sorens , madanis who got ayurvedic oil massages for FREE....ROTFL...
shibu soren in jail was the wicketkeeper for kirikettu matches played inside.(Fact, no jokes)
Which made cho write saecastically:
" Right choice! One who bumped off dissenters in real life is the fittest person to be the wicketkeeper in jails ".
Indians pooh-pooh materialism, and yet the very needs that Indians complain about are material. Drinking water, food in the stomach, and infrastructure are material needs, and it is by developing capabilities on this material side that such material needs will be solved. Socialism has frowned upon materialism at the cost of creating material deprivations.
san ,
Absolutely.
All anti materialism for conning the aam janata.
Indira gandi would don coarse cotton sari ( of course none can outshine ghoul teresa with her 2 sarees , 1 roti & quarter cup diluted daal charade:))while addressing the poor.
But waltz across to Reagan in expensive outfits.
The leftists are the worst.Must have seen photos of CPI raja in a suit with a tie.
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