Skip to main content

Total disconnect? It's as if Emperor Nero 'isn't aware' his Rome is burning to ashes

By Prem Verma* 
We are living in very challenging times. There are problems galore and new ones keep mounting. We have experts in creating situations which spawn fresh problems to face and solve. We are sliding down into an abyss from where escape will become increasingly impossible. The value of human life is of no consequence as long as individually the fortunate few at the top of the pyramid can continue to enjoy a lifestyle as if nothing has happened. 
Isolating yourself from what is happening around you makes you blind to the injustice and misery that the unfortunate have to suffer. It is as if God has ordained misery for the majority for the happiness of the minority and that is what it is. All our values of life taught over centuries by sages and benevolent leaders (Gandhi, Tagore, etc.) have been buried under the shroud of self survival no matter what. If people die they need to so that we can survive and enjoy.
Renowned historian Ramchandra Guha has very aptly described today’s situation in India of 2020 to Mussolini’s Italy of 1920. The similarities are astounding and they point to the same direction that Italy took under Mussolini. The future is frightening and stark violence stares us in the face. Is this what we bargained for when we got our independence from the British in 1947? 
The situation is worse under our own present Indian leadership and despair comes easily. There is total disconnect between the reality on the ground and the comfort enjoyed by the top leadership. It is as if Emperor Nero is not aware that his Rome is burning to ashes.
Well-meaning voices across the country are warning us of the disaster ahead. Instead of listening to their sane advice, the top leadership governing the country is bent on silencing them through false charges and arrests under Sedition laws, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and other draconian measures.
There is no appeal, no bail and prisons are filling up. Dissent, constructive criticism is not tolerated and any opposition is crushed through hatred and violence under the false garb of patriotism. Free speech is banned if it is against the Government and truth takes a beating if it hurts those in power.
The future is frightening and stark violence stares us in the face. Is this what we bargained for when we got our independence from the British?
In this dark scenario what shall we do? Our Father of the Nation taught us to speak the truth and this we shall at the cost of our own physical existence. India has too many good souls and physical elimination will not silence the voices of protest. Majority still have a fighting spirit not to condone the evil deeds. There is enough sympathy and empathy in the Indian population that will not allow the dangerous path we are trekking under the present leadership.
We need to speak out, protest, write, organise and oppose the divisive methods of the Government and thus protect our holy Constitution that once promised equality, freedom, equity and brotherhood.
Today we are suffering a pandemic. On the top of this we have gaping unemployment, economic collapse, astounding inequality, rural neglect, etc. Let us shout from our roof tops that enough is enough. An insensitive Government has brought us to this dismal situation and has no clue as to how we can get out of this pit of darkness. When will we awaken and save ourselves from being eliminated?
We need a people sympathetic Government not a Government that sells this nation to the few rich hoping that the rest will disappear. This nation is as much ours as anyone else’s and therefore the majority must take back its rightful place instead of a handful of Hindutva minority speaking on behalf of this great nation.
The light at the end of the tunnel beckons us to proceed full speed ahead in dismantling the ropes that bind us and speak out calling the kettle black. Our nation is far superior to any leader or party and it is incumbent on us to save our country from ruins so soon after independence in 1947.
God helps those who help themselves and we know that our nation deserves better. The vast majority of Indians have waited too long for their cup of gold and we need to take concerted action for our deprived brethren.
To sum up, the Government should:
  • Free all those arrested under draconian laws
  • Listen to voices of dissent and promote democratic spirit 
  • Stop selling country’s treasures and corporations 
  • Create massive opportunities in rural employment through small and medium units in rural areas 
  • Promote communal harmony with strict punishment for those disturbing it 
  • Empathetic of all Indians and not only of their party members 
---
*Convenor, Jharkhand Nagrik Prayas

Comments

TRENDING

'Draconian' Kerala health law follows WHO diktat: Govt readies to take harsh measures

By Dr Maya Valecha*  The Governor of Kerala has signed the Kerala Public Health Bill, which essentially reverses the people’s campaign in healthcare services in Kerala for decentralisation. The campaign had led to relinquishing of state powers in 1996, resulting in improvement of health parameters in Kerala. Instead, now, enforcement of law through the exercise of power, fines, etc., and the implementation of protocol during the pandemic, are considered of prime importance.

Reject WHO's 'draconian' amendments on pandemic: Citizens to Union Health Minister

By Our Representative  Several concerned Indian citizens have written to the Union Health Minister to reject amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) of the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted during the 75th World Health Assembly (WHA75) in May 2022, apprehending this will make the signatories surrender their autonomy to the “unelected, unaccountable and the whimsical WHO in case of any future ‘pandemics’.”

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah*   The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

Bihar rural women entrepreneurs witness 50% surge in awareness about renewal energy

By Mignonne Dsouza*  An endline survey conducted under the Bolega Bihar initiative revealed a significant increase in awareness of renewable energy among women, rising from 25% to 76% in Nalanda and Gaya. Renu Kumari, a 34-year-old entrepreneur from Nalanda, Bihar, operates a village eatery that serves as the primary source of income for her family, including her husband and five children. However, a significant portion of her profits was being directed toward covering monthly electricity expenses that usually reach Rs 2,000. 

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Work with Rajasthan's camel herders: German scientist wins World Cookbook Award 2023

By Rosamma Thomas*  Gourmand World Cookbook Awards are the only awards for international food culture. This year, German scientist  Ilse Kohler Rollefson , founder of Camel Charisma, the first of India’s camel dairies, in Pali district of Rajasthan, won the award for her work with camel herders in Rajasthan, and for preparing for the UN International Year of Camelids, 2024. 

Why is electricity tariff going up in India? Who is the beneficiary? A random reflection

By Thomas Franco*  Union Ministry of Power has used its power under Section 11 of the Electricity Act, 2003 to force States to import coal which has led to an increase in the cost of electricity production and every consumer is paying a higher tariff. In India, almost everybody from farmers to MSMEs are consumers of electricity.

'Very low rung in quality ladder': Critique of ICMR study on 'sudden deaths' post-2021

By Bhaskaran Raman*  Since about mid-2021, a new phenomenon of extreme concern has been observed throughout the world, including India : unexplained sudden deaths of seemingly healthy and active people, especially youngsters. In the recently concluded Navratri garba celebrations, an unprecedented number of young persons succumbed to heart attack deaths. After a long delay, ICMR (Indian Council for Medical Research) has finally has published a case-control study on sudden deaths among Indians of age 18-45.

'Pro-corporate agenda': Odisha crackdown on tribal slum dwellers fighting for land rights

By Our Representative  The civil rights network Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), even as condemning what it calls “brutal repression” on the Adivasi slum dwellers of Salia Sahi in Bhubaneshwar by the Odisha police, has said that the crackdown was against the tribals struggling for land rights in order to “stop the attempts at land-grab by the government.”

Deplorable, influential sections 'still believe' burning coal is essential indefinitely

By Shankar Sharma*  Some of the recent developments in the power sector, as some  recent news items show, should be of massive relevance/ interest to our policy makers in India. Assuming that our authorities are officially mandated/ committed to maintain a holistic approach to the overall welfare of all sections of our society, including the flora, fauna and general environment, these developments/ experiences from different parts of the globe should be clear pointers to the sustainable energy pathways for our people.