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Ignore The Very Poor And Pay The Price
by Ramchunder Maraj on May 03, 2008 01:53 AM   Permalink | Hide replies

I agree with ARVIND ADIGA that the very poor and dispossessed will upset the status quo in present day India in the not-too-distant-future.The disparity between the haves and the have nots is steadily increasing and caste based violence is on the increase (the shocking event when a thakur threw a six year old dalit child into the fire for trespassing on his property is a case in point ).This happened in a state where the Chief Minister is a Dalit herself ! How stupid and cruel can people be ? It is no wonder there is an ever increasing number of people in the deprived areas supporting the so called Naxalites and Maoists.
The only way to rectify matters is for the educated sector and especially the intelligentsia to take an active part in politics.On TV tonight a person working in the "Silicon Valley" of Bangalore was asked if she would take part in the elections taking place in Karnataka and she replied that she would not as it would not make any difference! It is this sort of apathy that the corrupt politicians are exploiting . On a different note - it is shameful to see the popular film stars are hogging the advertising slots.As I mentioned in one of my other messages , this is only perpetuating and increasing the divide between the very,very rich and the very ,very poor.I don't think there is any other country in the world where the film stars are regarded as gods ! It is high time the youth of India made amends and stopped this hero worshipping !


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  RE:Ignore The Very Poor And Pay The Price
by Rahul Oberoi on May 03, 2008 04:02 AM   Permalink
Your agreeing or not agreeing to anything doesnt make a difference to their lives sir. The bane of our country is NOT politicans or corrupt people. The bane of this country is rotten jerks like you - very capable n intelligent people who know what is wrong with the country and only have arm chair solutions from it. We call it verbal dysentery. Boss.... you want to make a difference - walk the talk. Come back to the country and do your bit. Don't just bark idealistic talk sitting in ur ivory tower. Believe you me - even the dirt poor ion India have an opinion to improve their lives - just that they dont have the powe to do it.You have the power and the knowledge and connections in society to make urself heard. Come back and rooll up your sleevs and lets get to work.

Our country needs people who will bell the cat and make a difference. Not worthless bol bachans sitting and contributing to some other country's development while showing concern and mouthing sugary sweet nonsense about what the country's problems are.

Yes.... I did that myself. Quit my investment banking job in Wall St. to come back to one of the poorest areas of India - Koraput - and today can proudly say - two tribal villages are on the road to self sufficiency. Villages which hadnt seen electricity and were walking 5 kms everyday for a pot of water - have it there in their village - thanks to five solar street lights and 4 hand pumps I have managed to put up. Am not saying I am doinjg anything spectacula

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  RE:RE:Ignore The Very Poor And Pay The Price
by Ramchunder Maraj on May 04, 2008 12:13 AM   Permalink
Rahul Oberoi,I congratulate you in that you have returned to India and are doing your bit to improve the lot of the poor.However, your diatribe in mouthing comments as " verbal dysentery ,rotten jerks like you,sugary sweet nonsense " detract from your good intentions ! Why can't people communicate with others without using offensive language ?
For your information,I was not born in India but my grandparent on my father's side and great grandparent on my mother's side came from India. However,I have had an abiding interest in the welfare of India from my early teens.God willing ,I hope to come to India soon and do whatever I can to contribute to its welfare.I have been to India many times but,unfortunately,I don't have any "connections " in high places !
Do carry on the good work that you are doing to uplift the poor.

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  RE:Ignore The Very Poor And Pay The Price
by ashwin ms on May 03, 2008 06:18 AM   Permalink
First of all, you have done a great job, congrats and I hope many people look upon you as you have clearly set an example. But, I disagree with you that the expatriates need to come back to the villages to make a difference. There are tonnes of talented guys in our backyard and by forming a strong coalition will forward thinking NRI's, we can channelize the funds and have community model at the village level head by NRI's friend/relative to run a successful mission. I think today, the people of India are devoid of real human values and indiscriminate society.Its more sensible for NRIs to carry on and succeed in what you are doing and at the same time adopt one village or one school or one child and make a difference.Two simple steps that can eliminate disparity and uneasiness in india are:

1. Make English medium of instuction in all public schools in every vilale from Class 1.
2. Have more community programs and voluntary service as a subject in the curriculum and award people generously who excel in it . The motto should be " no discrimination on any basis - sex, class, language,religion,region,etc.

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  RE:RE:Ignore The Very Poor And Pay The Price
by Ramchunder Maraj on May 04, 2008 12:45 AM   Permalink
Ashwin ms -thanks for your helpful and constructive comments and ideas on how to improve conditions in India .I agree with you that making English the medium of instruction in all public schools would help.
The very important message would be that the media can play a tremendous part in sensitising the people about the dangers that India is facing -the ominous intentions of China,the frustration of the dispossessed in India eventually boiling over , the lack of justice because of the deficits in the judiciary and so on .However,they are pandering to the very rich and powerful especially film stars.As I had mentioned in one of my earlier messages , many of my comments to a major newspaper purporting to serve the whole of India have not seen the light of day mainly because I have been critical about their failure to alter the status quo in India.
Please read my reply to Rahul Oberoi to understand my status as an NRI and my desire to help as soon as God permits!
Kind regards and best wishes !

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