Politics and politicians are not from Mars. They grow up within us and is a product of the system we follow. They just cater to the system that we have developed which is corrupt in itself. We always love to blame others for our shortcomings and we keep blaming politicians for the currupt system that is prevenlant today. But we never hesitate to forge our travel expense bills, food bills to get some extra few bucks or to reduce the property price on paper to avoid taxes or even to break queues or bribe to make our work easier. If we are to book corrupt people I guess around 90% people will be in jails.
Re: I OBJECT
by Al Ringer on Aug 22, 2012 08:49 PM
Perfectly on the DOT. You nailed it Amit.
Politicians and Bureaucrats are the same breed as the rest of us. We should not be blaming them for all the ills. They are just a reflection of what the society is made of. So, let's not waste time in throwing dirt them.
It it the value system that has broken down in India.
Can it be fixed overnight? NO
Can it be fixed long-term? YES
How? We have to start at School level: Educate, Teach and Reward (by recognition): Honesty Sincerity Fairness Justice Truth Compassion Integrity Human Rights
We can build Great India. However, we have to start with fundamental Values.
It is a good critic of Chetan's book. Well written. Nupur's arguments are lucid and nicely worded. But, the point that only India's politics and politicians are bad, is slightly deficient. I dont know how great India was in ancient time. But in present time the moral standard of general public in India is undoubtadly very low. And this is the reason they prop up bad politicians as their leaders. This is the reason that honest person can not survive in politics. Either he will leave politics or change himself. Lot of introspection remains to be done by people of India if India has to get rid of bad kind of politics and politicians.
Instaed of challenging Bhagat, it would be better to analyse the reasons for a sharp fall in moral values in past decade. Corruption (financial as well as moral) has become all pervasive. Honesty is a rarity. There is mis use of freedom. The increasing competition has lead to fudging the CVs and now almost all companies and placement agencies are struggling with fudged CVs. only 20 percent of engineering grads are employable. Why? Of course, the youth has set his ambitions quite high and ask any youth he/she will say they are ready to do any thing to get money. for them means have no relevance at all. The sharp fall in influence of religion is responsible for it. Every body (specially Hindus) understand quite well now that there is nothing like God. Fear of unknown has vanished. Money and wealth is the God and the only measure of success. It is free style wrestling for all. The failure of Anna movement against corruption is the strongest evidence of the steep fall in the character of the country. That no investigation reaches its logical outcome, no one is ready to stand witness to crimes, eye witnesses turn hostile, hardly any offender is convicted and so on... There is loot of nations natural resources but none is bothered. or rather, the offenders are becoming more and more bold.There has been unprecedented dent in the prestige of the highest democratic institutions in the country, including Presidntship. And still u say Bhagat is wrong. He 200 percent correct.
Re: We agree with u, Mr. Bhagat
by ramen das on Aug 22, 2012 04:30 PM
Corruption ha always been there... Kalmadi & Raja are not 20 somethings and hence blaming it on the youth will not work...
Besides problem with Bhagat is not what he stands for but his simplistic arguments that lack any depth or understanding. The best example being his endorsement of outsourcing India's defense to to USA.
Re: Re: We agree with u, Mr. Bhagat
by RamRahim on Aug 22, 2012 06:01 PM
The endorsement is out of frustration and based on current assessment of situation. The same thing I have been arguing that politicians are mirror images of society and do what society approves. No politician can survive going against the wishes. Unfortunately, as Bhagat wants to communicate, we have killed the systems which help develop visionaries and true leaders who can build a following and shape public opinion. If every party has corrupt, are we going to import honest? we see today competitive minoritism n reservationism as quick fixes n services as if there were no other means for reducing socio-economic inequalities and inequity. We are losing the quality of patience, and want quick n easy solutions for our ills. Moreover, every body is so insecure that their thought process keep centered on immediate needs and hardly giving a dam to future long term thinking and planning. We just do not seem to be botherd about futuer. A sort of escapism has set in. We avoid discusing the hard facts and realities and not ready to struggle. Industry is not ready to compete but putting more and more pressure on government for more and more rebates, allow them to over mining without paying taxes, lower rates of interest etc. And the governemnt of India is for quick fixes like FDI (by putting GAAR in backburner. No effort is on to stop or reduce Bangladeshi infitration but precious time of parl is wasted on debating who is behind the riots. We are fast heading to anarchy.
I detest Bhagat... the worst part of this book is where he talks about outsourcing India's defense to the US...
But at the same time this writer is also no good... her description of young India is very naive and stereotypical... Not everyone is religious or dying to be with the family...
Incidentally she is also from a B School... Indians need to listen less to these B School ppl who can only talk big but have a very limited world view...
Critics should have the intention of 'improving' the next product. whether it is book, film, product. Criticism for the sake of destructing the 'producer' of a product, is an unethical attitude. Film Producers invest crores for a film, spends sleepless nights and with one stroke 'critic' demolishes his dream. Writers hoping to gain some money and much popularity, invest their ideas and money, in a book. Critics wade their brain through the loopholes of the ideas and there goes the writer's ideas. Chetan's books are good, were good readable, even though not above mark.
