I Day : The 65th

Independence Day. The 65th in the History of our still relatively young Nation. Ever since we passed out of school, the figurative importance of this day has declined on an exponential basis. Regret to say that I almost slept through all the 4 I-Days that saw me through college. Now, even though as a part of fulfilling a commitment being a Public Sector Organization, I have actually celebrated Independence day for the first time since the past 5 years.

Amidst all the wishes & Greetings, Thoughts & Debates exchanged, few phrases and para-phrases actually got me thinking on the significance of it all (not just the face value of the celebrations that we participate in). Would like to document these :

1. We are the Manifestations of our Intent trapped in Flesh & Bones. Unless the Intent is there, even countless I-Days are not going to help.

2. Independence isn't an end in itself. It's not the ultimate goal. Independence merely provides an opportunity to begin - to begin the process of change.

3. 25 Organizations call a Bandh on Independence Day celebrations all across Assam. Is everyone only after the greed or there really has been some serious oversight by the Nation's Bureaucrats?

4. 15th August : A Nation is Born. 16th August : One of India's greatest living patriots decides to go on a fast. Doesn't it sound familiar to what happened to Gandhiji after Partition?

5. Someone mentioned India is great because she never invaded any nation in the 10,000 years of her ancient existance. Wasn't she busy getting invaded herself? Why do we lie to ourselves? If one takes away the oneness of the National Freedom Struggle & the wars with China & Pakistan, there is very little that binds us together as Indians. We need that thread to revive. 

6. Can Globalization be held responsible for the decline in Patriotism?

I Think we really need to find answers to the above, even before we start calling ourselves as forward-marching!

The Indian State : Failed & Doomed?

The Economic Recession sweeping over the United States & Europe had been much talked and hyped over in India. Not long ago, the Ballooning Recession bubble had finally burst; leading to catastrophic consequences in the Economies of these nations, which ultimately needed to be bailed out by money plucked from peoples' pockets. Unscrupulous Investment Banks of these Power Nations had got to their knees, firing away people left-right&centre to save themselves from drowing (few even did). After year long stimulus packages, it seemed the rubble of the bubble-burst was finally getting cleaned off.

Two important developments now have changed the whole equation :  As per latest reports (sourced : http://www.tehelka.com/story_main50.asp?filename=Ws020811OPINION.asp) , Indian Ventures like FlipKart and MakeMyTrip are being vulgarly over-valuated in the Wall Street, even after making losses or only marginal profits. That's pure American Myopia for you. This is how the Bubble builds up to an Obsene Obese Diameter & then bursts.

Secondly, the famous Standard & Poor's rating of United States having slipped from the enviable AAA. As the word goes, when the US sneezes, the World gets a cold. By standards, India seems to be on Malaria. Share Prices have fallen to an all time low in14 months. And just when we thought the worst was over for us.

Its just the tip of the iceberg I fear. Indian Corporates (the same guys who celebrated Diwali when Congress won its 2nd Term) are now fearing that the era of Indian Economic Reforms is probably nearing its inevitable end. The Government on the other hand, is caught up in a shameless face saving act, doing nothing but getting embroiled in all sorts of scams and controversies. And then making a great show of denying the same.

All this while Sonia Gandhi quietly undergoes some major surgery in a US Hospital (of course the chances of getting "mis" treated at the hands of a "Degree-Buyer"  Doctor or a "Caste/Religion Bought" Doctor is pretty less there.)

So much for the nation. God speed!