For a change media has a new topic of some substance to write home about. Though in my opinion its as old as the existence of so called "Communist movement" in India. Current context is the debate between Left and the government over the 123 pact on Nuclear collaboration between India and US. Whether its an ego issue between the two or a regular tussle, that only time will decide, but for now, to me it presents a classic example of identity crisis that the Left movement faces in this country.
Communist leadership seems to have run out of ideas to hold onto their much vaulted image (amongst the "bhadra lok") and only the fear of losing their relevance can cause such absurd reactions. I mean consider this : The same set of people who left no stone unturned in criticising the then Vajpayee government for conducting the nuclear tests now talks about the souvereignty of the nation for carrying our own nuclear program.
Its a long time since Naxalbadi movement became the face of Communist movement. Yet the left leadership continues to live in a sort of cocoon of the ideals that socialism looks for. Having been born and brought up by a communist father I had the opportunity of being exposed to their ideas. Though the ideas may sound altruistic with the basic ethos of parity being a well thought of concept, India as a nation poses different challenges. If I have to list a few of them, top most in them would be its Diversity, Population, Religion and Distribution of resources/Poverty apart from others. So in this context, to believe that any socialistic idea can be replicated within Indian fabric would amount to either fooling yourself or assuming others to be.
Lets face it, over the last 60 years of independence we may have remained a vibrant democracy but we have also further deteriorated into "groups" / "herds" marked by the lines of religion or caste or region. The fact that the natural resources in the sub-continent are inequitably spread has further deepened this divide. The rest whatever remained has been paralysed by utterly dismaying political leadership that WE chose for ourselves. The result is a conglomerate of interest groups who would first drive their own interest and then if space be that of the nation. If I have to count the number of causes that these interest groups would come together for would either be arising out of Extreme (misplaced/euphoric) nationalism against Pakistan or a tendency to forget life in dreams (like in Bollywood) or a desire to look for so hard to find "role models" like in Cricket. All this the fact that what we are looking as a world order, is strongly determined by the economic strength.
In this context what does the Left do? They create a pseudo intellectual realm where truth becomes its own victim by alienating a majority - posing/distorting its own face in the hands of the right. They become the self righteous guardians of the conscience of this country. The so called protectors of minority rights (thus creating further tensions). In the garb of moving towards classless society they hasten the process of fractured caste based politics. Last but not the least, when you know that market economy is here to stay you follow contradictory strategies at centre and states.
At this point let me make it clear that I'm not questioning there intentions. Its there means that I beg to differ with and there utter inability to consider the peculiarities of this nation. Its not a Russia that can see a disruptive action through the efforts of some Lenin. Its not a China which will allow itself to be ruled by someone like Mao without questions.
Religion is a fact in India. Caste has become another reality thanks to emergence of likes of Mayawati, Lau and Mulayam. Regionalism is going to get aggravated with some states moving ahead faster than others and Naidu, Jayalalitha, Karunanidhi exploiting it to hilt. So the need is to find a factor that can make people think alike and think right. The only possible candidate for that would be Economics. Poverty is a common thread that can bind people. The challenge is to use correct means to weave this fabric. Correct means would be education and health. Preservation of our identity would automatically happen. The questions of souvereignty would fall in place by themselves.
Till then please don't rake up trivial issues and stop fooling yourself and this nation. Come out of it and face the reality. The world has changed and so should we. Instead of giving this nation political instability, be sane enough to present before it the right issues and problems that people willingly challenge and resolve. Rather than making it Left Vs Right make it an inertia Vs development fight. Unless the nation develops, all these stupid debates will continue. When History judges, you will be far behind in some corner as bunch of people who could never come out of the warp of idiosyncratic utopian idealism and who failed to make any constructive contribution to the nation.
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