India has serious problems, but
one will consider oneself to be fortunate to be born in this relatively
peaceful part of the world, enjoying much freedom, considering how tumultuous neighborhood
of India is; with dangerous expansionist authoritarian China, Army controlled islamist
nurturing fragile democracy in Pakistan, Islamist barbarian Taliban
ruled Afghanistan (though doesn’t share immediate border but quite close for
comfort), brutal military junta of Myanmar, perpetually politically unstable Nepal, relatively stable Srilanka
with hoary recent past…Bangladesh was a peaceful nation with functioning democracy. One
common factor in this densely populated region of Indian subcontinent is
complacent entitled ruling class characterized by feudal ways. Disparities are institutionalized,
they pit people against each other to distract and manipulate to extend their rule
and influence meanwhile institutions are degraded for status quo benefits. Most
of the problems can be traced to this value system that prevents percolation of
democracy. Freedom becomes pernicious idea as aware people are seen as threat. Slowly desperate people consolidate to revolt against the system that is making democracy meaningless and doesn’t
add much value to their life. It is generally the protesting youth who are able
to channelize their genuine grievances, and very soon it is taken over by sinister opportunist forces, and if democracy is fragile then the Army stakes it claim -as they are powerful and organized to easily fill the vacuum, or else if the herd are controlled by sinister religions (more organized
worst are possibilities) then you can expect further degradation. We have seen
the textbook case in Egypt. Popular egalitarian movement against dictator was hijacked by religion which in turn was quashed by Army -as agent of progressive but
essentially blackmailing the society. Pakistan and Myanmar are examples of army
and religion sharing and consolidating their power, this consolidated power is
easy to control by sinister outside forces who really don’t give much damn
about common people except maybe by activating some NGOs to bleat and make necessary
noise. As in the case of Balkans where bigger forces like US and Russia are
playing proxy war by fueling regional conflicts Indian subcontinent is fast becoming an arena of increasingly dangerous expansionist authoritarian
China and sidelined US. Weakening US is a danger to world since democracies are
fragile and needs support. China lacks value system that favors humanitarian concern.
US too has its selfish concerns but atleast there is semblance of democracy and
is relatively free and open hence can be challenged on human rights and ethics
and is indeed responsive unlike authoritarian China. US has vibrant civil
society who are genuinely concerned and enjoy all freedom and rights unlike
sinister ways of China. World should be concerned about growth of China. Should
China be allowed access to latest technologies that could be misused and carry serious ramifications for humanity? Democracy is not a choice it is essential for every human
on this planet. The value of human being is cherished by freedom. Expansionist China
has no pretension of democracy nor any concern for human rights. This in many
ways seems similar to colonial forces and US involvements across the world during much
of 20th century. But there is a qualitative difference with China as there
are no pretentions whatsoever (as also closed authoritarian regime that severely
restricts and abuses its own citizens), and that is a significant degradation and a scary prospect for the world.
Complacent entitled leaders in
Bangladesh tried to divide youngsters by favoring few to consolidate their ideology.
They were incapacitated to perceive the desperation of common people particularly the young as they unleashed brutal crackdown. Reserving seats
is expression of feudal value system, and to expand it arbitrarily for political
gain is amazingly short sighted. Quota is against open access to opportunity. Instead
of easy measures to divide and gain a mature system would focus to ameliorate
root cause and assuage people by taking logical compassion driven measures (it is
quite possible that India could see widespread
outburst against reservations -that is also seen as increasingly corrupted and made meaningless by lack of target and misused by consolidations, that
is being used by sinister forces for divide and gain at the expense of people.
Castetva forces are evil, and have cannibalised Indian society for decades. Beware).
When PM Sheikh Hasina cut short her visit from China few days back there were clear
indications that something was seriously amiss and that the sinister forces have used
student's protests to gain control, very likely with outside agencies working to capitalize
and control. This poverty ridden nation with large population and high density severely threatened by climate change is in increasing consolidation of Islamist
network. This doesn’t augur well for the stability of the region at all. What remains
to be seen is whether Army consolidates progressive forces and arbitrates to consolidate democracy
or is it going to degrade democratic institutions by nurturing islamists and
controlling power. Bangladeshis are much vibrant people and carry passion of revolutionary
Bengalis, and so will they be controlled by regressive forces or will they
fight to gain control needs to watched. Considering endemic poverty and desperation
the system is loaded against them.
