Racist and us

Its strange to read reports claiming we Indians are racists and our racist attitudes are taunting Australians. Because we have always attached to claims of maral supremacy. Wasnt it racial discrimination against Gandhi that made him sit up and fight for freedom. While the Aryan-Dravidian divide was always evident and it is a legitimate claim that some of us do discriminate against blacks. For eg look at our matrimonial ads. We always ask for fair girls in marriage. Even the black guys.

There is an inherent liking for white and dislike for blacks amongst indians too. But we have never shown that against foreigners. We have liked the West Indians so much that one Bollywood heroine even kissed Viv Richards. We have liked Brian Lara and the entire generation of West Indian cricketers. But why are we showing such an attitude now. May be its not just race. Its the antipathy towards the Australians. We do not like them winning and we got a chance in Andrew Symmonds and we are trying to psyche him. That is probably the reason why for the first time there is a public act of racism against a foreigner in India.

But, this opens more questions than answers. Have we gone so weak that we cannot accept talented people, we cannot se champions who perform consistently and dislike them so much to hate them. The Australians have been forthcoming in appreciating any good talen they find. They compete, but appreciate. Arem't we good enough to do the same rather than psyche a person using such differences.

Karnataka Experiment Bye Bye

I heard this dialogue in one Tamil film "Smugglers are the most straight forward, with no papers, no legal fall back, they are able to do business dealing with crores of rupees". Politics also beleives a lot in agreements between people. Coalition governments are now a norm. There are no sign-ups saying the support will have to last this long, but the decisions are taken on face value. I have always wondered how long such agreements will work.

The Karnataka experiment has proved conclusively that agreements do not work. Agreements depend on the characteristics and straight forwardness of the people involved. And our politicians for one are never ever straightforward. The form of agreements saying we will be in power for 2 years and then you will be in power for another 2 years, is highly risky business. t depends on the party taking power first returning the favor the next time.

Janata Dal has proved clearly it wouldn't honor its agreement. This has opened a pandora's box virtually. You cannot believe in power exchange. People will tend to retain power at all costs. That they enjoyed the fruits of power and are now deceiving the coalition partner BJP, is striking. The BJP should pull the rug from under the JD(S) government and go for the polls. There is no other option left. But I am concerned that no magazine/newspaper has written or condemned the power hunger of the JD(S). Deve Gowda's assertion that this is not a auspicious time for transfer of power (All for Secularism). The party's request to the CM to stay in power. At whose cost?

That secular parties (So called) could cheat others in open and no one will accuse them for any wrong doing is strange. The media needs to change its ideas and ignore political orientations while commenting on issues.