Are we really smart?

As a race we don't stop gloating about the fact that we have a rich culture, have a  long histroy, that we concern ourselves with bigger and better things namely, why we exist, why we are born, how to reach nirvana etc etc.

We may be good at pleasing the Gods but we have failed the humanity. Proof of pudding is in its eating, the proof of superior intellect is in first managing the mundane wordly affairs seamlessly, something that people can touch and feel. We have failed miserably there. Our superior intellect can not guarantee that we provide basic amenities to our people.

Major part of country plunged into darkness. The funny thing is, everybody who is a somebody in this area, knew that this is coming, but nobody did anything. It is a known fact that most of the utilities that buy electricity - State Electricity Boards - are broke. These utilities can't invest in basic distribution infrastructure. They can't pay the power generation utilities, which in turn can't setup more power generation capacity neither can they upgrade their power transmission infrastructure. The cycle is broken. It is a known fact that politicians use promises of free electricity to get votes. It is understood that it is populism at its worst, that hurts country's long term growth, but it is still done. It is a known fact that theft of electricity is widespread and is done with full connivance of the utility employees. But it still happens with impunity.

Can we call ourselves smart? I leave that question for the readers to answer. But smart or not, we definitely are a prime example of a dysfunctional state.

Literary Sojourn: Book Review : Andy Leelu

Literary Sojourn: Book Review : Andy Leelu

Irrespective whose gun booms, it is our blood that spills!

CRPF gunned down Maoist.  17 people were killed. Debate is ragging whether these were Maoist or simple villagers. Irrespective whether these were Maoist or villagers, it is a matter of grave concern that we in our own country kill so many of our own citizens.

Why do people in the Naxal belt take to guns? How are Maoist able to recruit so many in their ranks? The reason is not difficult to find. Oppression, casteism, feudalism is rampant in rural India. Governance and rule of law is confined to books only. Law is used, and abused by the powerful as and when it suits them.

All of us have had our brush with the government agencies - whether law enforcement or otherwise -  one time or the other. We  know how difficult is it to deal with them, so much so that an average person does everything possible to avoid them. Keep this in mind, that we are talking about educated people in large cities where media is active. If this is the state of affairs in cities, imagine what it must be for the uneducated, poor people living in rural India. What recourse is left for them? Any self righteous person would take to gun to protect the honor and dignity of his own, his family and his community.

It is critical to address the basic issues that make people leave their regular life and take to gun. It is difficult for me to believe that all these people, who join ranks with Maoist have a deviant mind. It is tragic that the only way we seem to be trying to solve the problem is by having a bigger gun then them!