Today, on the way to my office, I noticed hundreds of posters put all along the way, wishing one Mr. Pachamuthu on his birthday. I learnt that this man is the chancellor of the SRM University. He was eulogized with very many words in all those posters. Well - this person may have the money and would like to celebrate his birthday in a grand manner flouting all norms of decency. What this man aims by such self advertisement is not known !! May be he is aspiring to become a MLA or MP !! Well, that is his wish - but having his banners and posters all along an already narrow Ramapuram road, is undigestable.
The posture culture has reached monstrous proportions that we need to curb it as soon as possible. You cannot name any other single element that spoils the city/state as worse as this posters. Even if one of the political bosses passes by car through an area, the local "chamchaas" (a nice hindi word) - display 'n' number of posters all along the way. The local "chamchaas" ensure that they prominently have their own (ugly) faces printed at the bottom of the poster, so that the 'boss' is impressed by the loyalty shown by the individual. You name any occasion and you can see a poster pasted somewhere in this dirty city (Chennai).
No political 'leader' in India can win a seat merely based on his/her credentials. Its the rowdyism, money power and 'star' value that decides the winner and loser. All these makes me wonder on what sort of 'culture' do we have?? What sort of culture do we intend to pass on to our next generation?? Lets try to list a few -
(a) Cell phone culture - where every girl on the street wont walk without a cellphone stuck to her ears - talking and laughing madly (and sometimes loudly) to someone;
(b) Dance culture - where parents feel so happy seeing their kids dance in scantily clad dresses in front of hundreds and thousands;
(c) TV culture - where every festival is being celebrated in front of TVs and daily soaps consume most of the people's time.
But, no change is worse than the decay in political standards. We, as always, keep bragging about "Tamil/Indian" culture - thoroughly forgetting to remind ourself that there is no use in living in the past. What our present day culture is a deep cause of concern - for, we are heading in a direction where we are setting nothing but filth and waste to the next generation.
The posture culture has reached monstrous proportions that we need to curb it as soon as possible. You cannot name any other single element that spoils the city/state as worse as this posters. Even if one of the political bosses passes by car through an area, the local "chamchaas" (a nice hindi word) - display 'n' number of posters all along the way. The local "chamchaas" ensure that they prominently have their own (ugly) faces printed at the bottom of the poster, so that the 'boss' is impressed by the loyalty shown by the individual. You name any occasion and you can see a poster pasted somewhere in this dirty city (Chennai).
No political 'leader' in India can win a seat merely based on his/her credentials. Its the rowdyism, money power and 'star' value that decides the winner and loser. All these makes me wonder on what sort of 'culture' do we have?? What sort of culture do we intend to pass on to our next generation?? Lets try to list a few -
(a) Cell phone culture - where every girl on the street wont walk without a cellphone stuck to her ears - talking and laughing madly (and sometimes loudly) to someone;
(b) Dance culture - where parents feel so happy seeing their kids dance in scantily clad dresses in front of hundreds and thousands;
(c) TV culture - where every festival is being celebrated in front of TVs and daily soaps consume most of the people's time.
But, no change is worse than the decay in political standards. We, as always, keep bragging about "Tamil/Indian" culture - thoroughly forgetting to remind ourself that there is no use in living in the past. What our present day culture is a deep cause of concern - for, we are heading in a direction where we are setting nothing but filth and waste to the next generation.
9 comments:
Gowri,
You may add one more culture... i.e. "blaming others". Always blaming politicians, when the people are real culprits. Yes, it is the rowdyism, money power and star value that decides the winner and loser(of course, in most of the cases).
Take the case of Madurai. One honest sitting MP was pitted against Azhagiri. The contest was between good and bad. Everybody agreed at this point. So, the Azhagiri group decided to corrupt the people so that they cannot talk about honesty. He won. Who is at fault? It is the people and not Azhagiri.
Even you say, No political leader in India can win a seat merely based on his/her credentials. What is that credential...? The first credential should be that he must be a full-time politician. He should not be involved in any other business. The source of income should be from his party only. For your kind information, almost all the CPI(M) MPs are full time politicians. They hand over the entire salary to the party and take the allowance. This allowance is same for all the full time workers of the party.
Ganesh, I agree with your comments. People should know the difference between the good and the bad. I also agree with you that CPI(M) party leaders, mostly, have a clean slate and stand for certain principles. But, it is the principles of the party that I cannot agree with. There is no other healthy alternative. So, I do not have any meaningful alternative. And, I also know that there is a big section of people out there like me. Guess, I should contest for the next elections. :)
What are those principles, you do not agree with?
Ganesh/Subbi Sir,
I am referring to those principles that broke Russia; The principles that wrecked so many nations. The principles that supports every crap about China; the principles that opposes everything about America; The principles that is turning West Bengal into a State of naxalites. The principles that does not allow any industry to come into Kerala; the principles that is driving every educated youth out of Kerala in search of jobs. Do you want to hear more ??
1. The breaking of Russia did not help that country. Almost 40 percent of Russians are struggling to get three meals a day.
2. The communist principles did not wreck so many nations. Only the deviation from that spoiled the party. Communist principles and the revolution united them when they were divided.
3. In Arunachal Pradesh's case we do not support China's theory. Regarding Sikkim we do not approve. When they invaded Vietnam we opposed that. Quote me one incident, where our party went overboard to support China?
4. This is a very old complaint against us. We support the Americans when it comes to their role in taking the human society to new heights. We only oppose the establishment. It is not the people of America, who creates havoc all over the world. The establishment that is controlled by the arms manufacturers and the big business groups are responsile for that.
4. The naxalites problem is more severe in Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. Do you mean that it is the principles of CPI(M) that is responsible for this?
5. As far as the industry in Kerala, most of the industries that have come up in Kerala have come during LDF rule. Even the latest proposal, Rail Factory in Palakkad is the brainchild of LDF. One more thing on Kerala, geographically it has the problem regarding setting up the industries. But, will you please allow me to take credit on the achievements regarding both Health and Education. On these two, Kerala competes with the developed countries.
6. Driving every educated youth out of Kerala - Infact in India, every youth is being driven away from his home state. West Bengal and Kerala, for that matter like any other state, functions under the Capitalist rules. I have said this many times to you. Communism cannot be implemented in West Bengal and Kerala. The law of the nation does not allow that.
7. CPI(M)'s principles are based on Indian sense. It believes in multi-party system. You are just going by what the media says. Go through the party programme of CPI(M). Your views are in general nature.
8. Just quote one political party that can answer so many quetions... be it on principles, corruption, functioning, approach etc... That is why I had said earlier, CPI(M) is the only alternative. Yes, this alternative needs to be finetuned. To do that, our presence is required.("our" includes you).
My reply to the comments above:
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1. The breaking of Russia did not help that country. Almost 40 percent of Russians are struggling to get three meals a day.
That, I think is the impact of communism. The impact has been so deep. Things have been swept under the carpet for so long and the level of rot was never known. The communist governments were busy fighting the US while their own system was decaying
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2. The communist principles did not wreck so many nations. Only the deviation from that spoiled the party. Communist principles and the revolution united them when they were divided.
I do not agree with you. We have enough proofs to show how many nations have suffered due to communism. Communist principles may be good on paper (I haven't read it). But the people who implement it are not holistic. Even if you say that the communist principles are holy - there are always deviations. You can always see that communist principles works only upto a level, after which, they are always twisted to suit the implementors that ultimately create havoc.
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3. Supporting China/Opposing US : In Arunachal Pradesh's case we do not support China's theory. Regarding Sikkim we do not approve. When they invaded Vietnam we opposed that. Quote me one incident, where our party went overboard to support China?
Quote me incidents where you went overboard opposing China as you ALWAYS do when it comes to US. You may not approve some of China's theory - but those protests are always muted and silent. That is the tactics communism follows everywhere around the universe.
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4. Naxalites: I agree that its even worse in many other states. But we are talking about better Indian States - right ?? If you claim that communism is the medicine for all ailments - then why such a status in a communist governed state - that was my question ?? Well, if you want to compare your communist government with that of the Bihar and other spoiled States - that is your liberty.
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5. Kerala : I agree to the level of education and health in the State. But what about industries??? This State is proof enough for my claim that communism helps only to an extent. Beyond a level, communism does not help a nation to grow or develop. Secondly, how is that you take credit for all good things and blame other parties & geographical conditions for failures???
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6. Inability to implement Communism in Kerala & West Bengal. Good that you were not able to do it so far; else, both the states would have been Bihars by now.
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7. Views are in general. I am an average Indian citizen. Not an elite.
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8. Yes, I agree that CPI(M) is doing a good job in fighting corruption. They do a decent job in raising valid issues in parliament. CPI(M) MPs, in general, do good home work. I agree. "To be fine tuned" - YES, it needs to be done. Communism, in general, need to be fine tuned. Taking away the hard earned money and giving it to those sitting idle is not one of those things that I like - as like so many other principles.
1. It was Communism that brought end to the unemployment and poverty in Russia. 80 percent Russian were reeling under poverty in pre-revolution period.
2. You did not refute my contention. It was the communist government that brought the Soviet Union. The end of communism in Soviet Union, had split that nation.
3. China did not bomb so many countries in the world. And when they did in Vietnam, we opposed it. That was the time, when our party was dubbed as non-communist party by both Russia and China. We did not mind. It is history. Just take the case of Iraq. Now, one by one, the truth is coming out. There is no Weapons of Mass Destruction. Even the Terrorist danger alarm that was heard in 2004 has turned out to be false. It was done with the eye on the Presidential elections.
4, 5 & 6 - Why are you so adamant to my point. I am clearly saying that we cannot implement the communist principles in the present set-up. We are functioning under the constitution that framed on capitalist principles. I think you will understand, how must strength is required to change the constitution... //This State is proof enough for my claim that communism helps only to an extent.// How can you say this, when the communist is not implemented...?
7. You claim that you are an average citizen. I do not agree with that. Because, you expected(supported???) BJP to win in the recent election. You see them as the atlernative. It is they who promised during the 2004 elections 2 lakh Urdu teachers posts for Muslims in UP (Where is the need..??). Promised Gujjars, the ST status. Opposing the scheme houses for MLAs, but supports building a bungalow for the MLA in his constituency. The list is long....
8. Yes, the Communist itself required to be fine tuned. Infact, the Marx himself said, Everything changes...
1. Communism brought end to the unemployment and poverty in Russia.
Not just Communism - any form of 'proper' governance could have done that.
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2. The end of communism in Soviet Union, had split that nation.
Yes - suppression and ruling with Iron hand brought in a forced unity and projected a false image to the world. God knows what would happen to China when communist government ends.
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3. China did not bomb so many countries in the world as US....
This argument will not end here. So, let us agree to disagree on this. :)
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4, 5 & 6 - I am clearly saying that we cannot implement the communist principles in the present set-up.
So, do you want to state that the growth in Kerala and West Bengal, that you claim, is not due to Communist principles ??
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7. You expected(supported???) BJP to win in the recent election. You see them as the atlernative.
Given the present condition, during next elections, BJP may not even get the number of seats that they now have. Congress - I wont support them for the single reason that they, under the hood of secularism, support all the nonsense that the Muslim terrorists do!! I strongly believe that one day, when the Muslim population becomes majority and when they start ruling our Nation, it is going to spell doom for freedom, secularism and happiness - for, it would be the mullas, who will ultimately take over!!! CPI(M) - as said, I do not vouch your principles. BJP, Congress, CPI(M) - all are out of my list !!!
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8. Yes, the Communist itself required to be fine tuned. Infact, the Marx himself said, Everything changes...
Good to see you accept atleast one point. :)
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1. Quote me one 'proper' governnance... Except the Communism, no ism has solved so many problems.
2. Suppression/ruling with iron hand... all these words are being used by the media in West Bengal too... It is the Communists who suffers.
3. We try to solve the problems within the capitalist principles. We cannot sit idle by saying that we will do only when the communism comes into force. The suicides of farmers have been stopped by the present LDF government's timely response. Even this is a temporary remedy. We firmly believe that only the implementation of Socialism and Communism can alleviate the basic problems.
4. My attitude is different. To solve the problems around us, only political solution is required. As I earlier told you, I prefer to wear the best available dress, instead of remaining naked. This is what I am doing. At the last point you have said, //Good to see you accept atleast one point.// Yes, If there is an better organisation that can perform better than the CPI(M), I will be happily part of that.
5. But, how come you believe that the BJP, that released terrorists in Kandahar, can deal with the terrorists firmly...?
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