Every major religion in the world recognizes the phenomenon of Evil. But rationalists have a problem with understanding its force, or its presence. They look for a logical explanation. It does not take much rationality to recognize evil leaders and their movements: e.g. Hitler, Stalin, Idi Amin, Pol Pot, Milosevic, Taliban and Osman bin Laden. There is little point in arguing about the “provocation” for evil. Yet, some rationalist intellectuals have admonished the US for its lack of understanding of terrorism. For example, in this very space three days ago, Bharat Bhushan wrote: “Terrorism flourishes in a cesspool of grievances…If the whole world is to be homogenized relentlessly in the image of America, then how will the differences of religion, culture and indigenous ways of life survive? The McDonaldisation of the world may not be the answer that people outside America are seeking. The US needs to recognize this”.
The Iraqi incursion into Kuwait occurred on Aug. 3rd. 1990; almost six months later, Jan. 15, 1991, the US attacked Iraq. Massacres of Muslims in Bosnia and Kosovo were occurring on a daily basis for several years before it was liberated by America; this inhuman delay was entirely the responsibility of “peace-loving” Europeans. US and Britain would have gone in considerably earlier but were “restrained” from doing so – by the Europeans, and knee-jerk anti-Americans who felt that because of American mistakes in Vietnam, Cambodia and the Middle East, it had no right, moral or otherwise, to help save the Muslims from the genocidal Milosevic.
It is a month since the horrific attacks on freedom, and the campaign to get at the terrorists is well underway. The question remains – what can be expected to happen to the world economy over the next year.
The Indian reaction to the history defining speech by General Musharraf has been one of grudging approval, at best. Can one imagine any political leader in the world openly, in front of world television, taking on a domestic fundamentalist fringe minority in the manner Musharraf has done? Vajpayee – can one imagine him taking on the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, or the RSS? Why, they are even part of his government. Bill Clinton taking on the loony environmentalists and the anti-globalizers – why, they were part of his government. Or George Bush taking on the fundamental right? There is some reasoned speculation that the anti-abortionists in the US were responsible for the Anthrax murders; it is all quiet on this front in the worldwide anti-terrorist campaign. Or Arafat taking on the terrorists in his midst? Or Shoron taking on the fanatics in his government and his party, if not himself?
It is a most unfortunate reality of India that nobody ever gets punished for any crime that they commit. Let me correct that – the senior bureaucrats, the rich, and all the politicians, never get punished. The nature of the crime is irrelevant – it could be bribes, it could be stuffing ballots, it could be murder, it could be genocide.
We need to recognize a few basic facts about Indians. First, there is zero difference between Hindu fundamentalists and Muslim fundamentalists, except that the latter look more washed. Second, the vast majority (defined as ones without religious ferocity) often interprets religious fundamentalism to mean fascism, and does so correctly. Third, a large proportion of Hindus misinterpret democracy to mean majority rule, when in fact it can only mean the preservation of minority rights. Fourth, and most unfortunately, we are not a democracy, at least according to the ideologues of the party that is presently ruling India; witness their latest edict that the minorities in India are dependent for their survival upon the ‘’goodwill” of the majority Hindus. The same fundamentalist Hindus who, with decade regularity, prove to themselves and the world that genocide not only survives, but flourishes in their version of “Hindu” India. This, these so-called Hindus brazenly, and shamelessly, call an ancient civilization.
The pogrom in Gujarat has justifiably led to a considerable amount of soul-searching on the causes of mass murder. How can people, living, and working with each other, suddenly turn and kill their neighbours? For most people, the first explanation is in terms of poverty or unemployment. On closer examination, this is neither necessary nor sufficient; indeed, it might even be said that poor people do not go out and murder on a whim; who knows, they might have to turn to the very same people for food and jobs the next day.
Liberal policy wonks operate with so many moral buzz words these days that it is difficult to recognize the beginning, the origins. One is good governance. The second is institutions. The third is rule of law. If you are going to ask for governance, you might as well ask for good governance. It helps to start with no-brainers, and it even makes one look erudite. But how do you get good governance? Why, you need to set up the “rule of law”. But how can you implement the rule of law? By setting up institutions which deliver justice. And what are these institutions? Democracy, a police force, courts etc. – and good laws. You have seen this movie before ?
After a path-breaking policy change towards privatization in mid-January, the BJP has been back-pedaling with a ferocity that has left even the erstwhile socialist and present Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes speechless. The BJP not only is not a party that cannot shoot straight, it cannot shoot, period. Is it possible to go backwards so fast? Since the answer is an obvious yes, the key question is obviously why.
The war in Iraq has changed a lot of equations with the expected effect of confusion in all our minds – including mine. Not predisposed to sitting on the fence, I find myself envious of those in that position. What is going on?
