Skip to main content

Pandemics to become new route to global power grab? Introspection on the eve of R Day

By Amitav Banerjee, MD* 

Our Constitution declares India as a "democratic republic." This confers on India the haloed status of not only being a democracy but also a republic. Since 1950, India has celebrated the Republic Day separately from the Independence Day. India's status as a Republic distinguishes it from some other democracies like Canada, Australia and New Zealand which still retain the British Monarch as their formal head. In addition to this, and more importantly, the roots of India's republic are deep and its meaning profound.
The ethos of the Indian republic as interpreted by our leaders, including Ambadekar, Nehru, J P Narayan, Lohia, Narendra Dev, M N Roy and others down the years rests on the principles of social and economic equality, the state as a public institution, an active and public-spirited citizenship, and separation of powers.
On the eve of our 75th Republic Day there are looming clouds which can undermine the ethos of our republic and threaten to convert the annual Republic Day celebrations into a mere ritual sans the soul. This can only be prevented by making our active and public-spirited citizens aware about the threat facing us and empowering them to question their elected representatives in power who are in a position to save our democratic republic.
While in an earlier era, ambitious Empires expanded their dominion with direct aggression and conquests of land and enslaving the people, modern day “Empires” are faceless, formless but nevertheless very powerful conquering and spreading their influence subtly without the conquered realizing that they are being enslaved. These entities are the greatest threat to Indian and all world democracies and republics.
History is on the verge of repeating itself and we may lose our “real” independence without the majority of Indians realizing it. Let us take a quick glimpse on how the British conquered India. And how, to the discerning, it rings a bell. The majority are in deep slumber.
India was not easy to conquer. But the British achieved it. It resorted to all possible nefarious means to enslave India. In some kingdoms they overcame the local ruler with brute military force. In others they stooped to conquer by flattery and became the de facto ruler subtly by signing “treaties” which allowed the King to rule as a figurehead enjoying “Royal Rituals” but actually becoming a puppet of the British.
Does it ring a bell? Will this bell rouse the sleeping masses and their elected representatives?
The proposed WHO pandemic "Treaty" and the amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) is designed to seduce world republics to surrender their autonomy to the WHO under the pretext of safeguarding them from future “pandemics.” As it will affect all citizens of the world understanding the implications is relevant.
The British conquered India by force and by doling out “sultanates” to petty Indian kings and signing treaties. The modern avatars of colonialism are the UN bodies like the World Bank, the WHO and the World Economic Forum, all forming a strong nexus. Their allies are ostensible philanthropies like the Gates Foundation, The Wellcome Trust and others. They are backed by the strong pharmaceutical industry. One should therefore be wary of Bill Gates praising India’s harsh lockdown and WHO calling it laudable. If our leaders get fooled by such flattery, then unfortunately, not much has changed since colonial rule.
Most medical research is funded by these agencies converting it into big business. Business, unlike true science, cannot wait for uncertainties to resolve with meticulous and cautious research. Rather all research efforts have to be directed to influence the results in favour of the pharmaceutical industry. Even medical journals cannot be trusted today to publish unbiased research. Editors of leading medical journals had expressed concerns that clinical trials were being influenced to serve the interests of the industry sposors. Richard Smith a former editor of the British Medical Journal (BMJ) says that medical journals have become the marketing arm of the pharmaceutical companies.
This is the present day “Medical Imperialism” which has overtaken “Military Imperialism.” This is driven by the pharma race which is more profitable to all vested interests than the arms race. Military Imperialism promoted wars and conquests. Medical Imperialism is poised to promote “Pandemics” and interventions driven by pharma interests. In both, people suffer. In this “pandemic mongering” which has replaced “war mongering,” WHO is taking the lead. The strategy is to replace “military treaties” with “pandemic treaties!” Even Alexander the Great would have envied this masterstroke!
Medical imperialism has overtaken military imperialism. It is driven by the pharma race, which is more profitable than arms race
Similar to the doles given to petty kings or treaties negotiated by the British to win them over, the Medical Imperialists led by the Gates Foundation in cahoots with the WHO and other bodies dole out research funds to scientists and even national scientific institutions like the ICMR to win them over. Recently, the Gates Foundation signed a Declaration of Intent with the ICMR for collaboration in research and development.
The recent pandemic exposed the WHO. It pushed harsh and draconian lockdowns for an infection which had an infection fatality rate of less than 0.03% to 0.05% up to the age of 70 years. It downplayed the strong immunity acquired by people after recovery from natural immunity to promote the untested and experimental Covid-19 vaccines benefiting the vaccine manufacturers.
During recent hearings even the “high priest” of science, Anthony Fauci, who literally assumed the role of a medical dictator during the pandemic, had to admit that most of the measures such as social distancing were not based on science. These measures caused immense harm to poor and marginalized people worldwide while the rich became richer. Instead of fixing the accountability of a handful of medical dictators and the WHO and a thorough audit of the impact of the measures taken during the pandemic, the WHO in unholy haste, is pushing the Pandemic Treaty and the amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR), which will give it enormous powers to implement the failed and unscientific draconian measures including forced vaccination, lockdowns, restriction of movements, with no questions asked and no accountability. The amendments also provide for censorship and silencing of dissenting opinions. This cannot be science which progresses by dissent and debate. This is pure dictatorship under the garb of imagined pandemics.
Dr David Bell, a former WHO scientist, said that the WHO Treaty is a terrifying power grab that will grant the WHO a central directing role and monopoly of power in global health governance. Under the treaty the WHO comprising of unrepresentative, unelected members, would not be accountable to any national government or constrained by their constitutional safeguards. He feels that pandemics will become self-serving benefiting the WHO and its minions, including bureaucrats, career scientists, and politicians, and pave the way to international fascism. Hitler would have envied this!
Concerned at the discordance of the proposed WHO Pandemic Treaty which will take away our autonomy and violate the human rights of our citizens, a group of prominent lawyers, doctors and concerned citizens, have written a letter to the Indian Prime Minister and the Minister of Health and Family Welfare urging them to reject the WHO Treaty as the provisions of the treaty are ultra vires of our constitution.
We earnestly hope our government rejects the 21st century imperialistic power grab camouflaged as the “pandemic treaty.” Failing this we fear that our “democratic republic” would be going through the Republic Day rituals every year sans the soul of a true republic.
If we fail during this “tryst with destiny,” history will not judge us kindly. Jai Hind.
---
Renowned epidemiologist, professor at D Y Patil Medical College, Pune. Having served as an epidemiologist in the armed forces for over two decades, he recently ranked in Stanford University’s list of the world’s top 2% scientists. He has penned the book, "Covid-19 Pandemic: A Third Eye"

Comments

Dr Anupama Sen said…
We need to be really wary of this
medical imperialism.
Anushri Banerji said…
Very well written Dr. Banerjee. The analogy of modern day imperialism and yesteryear imperialism and the anarchy of international treaties very well highlighted.

TRENDING

Civil society flags widespread violations of land acquisition Act before Parliamentary panel

By Jag Jivan   Civil society organisations and stakeholders from across India have presented stark evidence before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj , alleging systemic violations of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013 , particularly in Scheduled Areas and tribal regions.

When democracy becomes a performance: The Tibetan exile experience

By Tseten Lhundup*  I was born in Bylakuppe, one of the largest Tibetan settlements in southern India. From childhood, I grew up in simple barracks, along muddy roads, and in fields with limited resources. Over the years, I have watched our democratic system slowly erode. Observing the recent budget session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, these “democratic procedures” appear grand and orderly on the surface, yet in reality they amount to little more than empty formalities. The parliamentarians seem largely disconnected from the everyday struggles faced by ordinary exiled Tibetans like us.

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.

Beyond the island: Top mythologist reorients the geography of the Ramayana

By Jag Jivan   In a compelling new analysis that challenges conventional geographical assumptions about the ancient epic, writer and mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik has traced the roots of the Ramayana to the forests and river systems of Central and Eastern India, rather than the peninsular south or the modern island nation of Sri Lanka.

Manufacturing, services: India's low-skill, middle-skill labour remains underemployed

By Francis Kuriakose* The Indian economy was in a state of deceleration well before Covid-19 made its impact in early 2020. This can be inferred from the declining trends of four important macroeconomic variables that indicate the health of the economy in the last quarter of 2019.

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

​ By Syed Ali Mujtaba*  ​The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Food security? Gujarat govt puts more than 5 lakh ration cards in the 'silent' category

By Pankti Jog* A new statistical report uploaded by the Gujarat government on the national food security portal shows that ensuring food security for the marginalized community is still not a priority of the state. The statistical report, uploaded on December 24, highlights many weaknesses in implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in state.

Why Indo-Pak relations have been on 'knife’s edge' , hostilities may remain for long

By Utkarsh Bajpai*  The past few decades have seen strides being made in all aspects of life – from sticks and stones to weaponry. The extreme case of this phenomenon has been nuclear weapons. The menace caused by nuclear weapons in the past is unforgettable. Images of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from 1945 come to mind, after the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the cities.

Dr. Ram Bux Singh: Biogas pioneer’s legacy gains urgency amid energy crisis

By A Representative   In an era defined by a global energy crisis and a desperate search for sustainable solutions, the visionary work of an Indian scientist from the mid-20th century is finding renewed, urgent relevance. Dr. Ram Bux Singh , a pioneering figure in biogas and renewable energy , is being posthumously honored by the Government of India, even as his decades-old innovations provide a blueprint for today’s challenges.