I was asked by NDTV to come on a show to argue with our Minister of Environment on the fact that the Himalayan glaciers are NOT receding. I wonder if he has been there ? This is not about statistics, dear minister, ask the local people. Statistics can be manipulated, as we all know. Just go there and look for yourself. Actually statistical data shows that the Himalayan glaciers are receding at the greatest rate than any other in this planet !
And now about India going Red. Naxalites and Maosists. The huge rebellion against oppression and mis-governance – that has led to ambitious armed groups to take advantage of the oppressed people to rebel. While our press and government call it a rebellion against the Indian State and Law and Order, the truth is that these people have never really seen the Indian State and the only Law and Order they have seen is the callous treatment and humiliations they have suffered at the hands of the representative of the Indian Govt or their Law and Order. And they have only felt India’s rise as a global is economic super power by the land grab for the rich resources that lie in their lands.
As the Indian army goes in for a full scale assault against it it’s own people – and this time unable to blame a foreign power, or Islamic fundamentalism – it’s time for us Indians to seriously think about ourselves.
What is it about us that allows the rich and powerful to completely over-ride not only the basic needs of a majority of our people, but oppress them, their families and their women often worse than animals. Does our constitution that gives EVERY Indian citizen the same fundamental rights not mean anything ? Or was the constitution written only for the elite, urban and powerful ?
What a contradiction. While the Indian government is (rightly) talking about Inclusive Growth, it is launching a huge armed offensive against its own people, And in the cross fire who knows how many innocents, women and children will lose their lives.
How did we ever let it get to this stage ?
Written by guest writer Shekhar Kapur.
Shekhar Kapur is a noted film maker with international repute. One of the few Indian movie directors to make a career in the U.S., Shekhar Kapur has proved his filmmaking worth in both countries.
Tags: Himalayan Glacier, India, Maoists, Rebellion, Shekhar Kapur
3 Comments
“How did we ever let it get to this stage ?”
Shekhar gets innocent with his observations sometimes..At point where the tribals and natives empowered in India..It has been the same story for several hundred years..And the natives have always been killed and pushed to the bottom of the pyramid..So the correct question is when do we correct ourselves rather than the other way around..
You are right. It is important to tackle the naxals but we need to address the demands of our tribal people. They are also Indians and they have rights guaranteed by the constitution and they must be respected. Today everywhere we see corruption, from the environment ministry to supreme court. Judging by the speed we are going, we will soon become the world’s most polluted country rather than a developed country.
When we talk about red indians, aboroginals, we comfortably forget the tribe behind our backs. All forms of violence comes up because of social & economic reasons only.