Action – better than speech

“Well done is better than well said” - Benjamin Franklin

In an earlier piece I had said that in any situation, if the intention of interpreters is the same the differences are complementary. The contrary is also true. If the intention of the perpetrators is different their actions seemingly coordinated will work at cross purposes.

Let us take the case of the absurd game being played in my backyard, in Bangalore. A democratically elected Government in Karnataka, a couple of years back enjoyed the support of just enough legislators to stay afloat. They poached some from the opposition to strengthen their legislator party.  Subsequently along the way some legislators purportedly lending their purse to the party – so that they can illegally ‘mine’ more – wanted a CM’s favourite out of the cabinet. This blue eyed legislator was wielding such powers that the money bags felt threatened and they forced the CM to remove her from the cabinet. Months later the CM reshuffles his cabinet and re-inducts the removed favourite. Now a few elected representatives who did not get a cabinet berth, revolt as they felt sidelined – in this game a hand of some opposition parties have also been cited. The game is still on with involvement of the Governor and the honourable courts also thrown in. The media on its part follows this ‘game’ stroke by stroke as is done for an international cricket match or a Indo-Pak hockey encounter. Now, where do the legislators have time for governance for which they were elected in the first place? While they were all elected to govern, governance, obviously, is not their intention.

On the wider canvass similar scenarios play out at the National level too. It is the same in world politics. Do not for a minute assume that the US, Russia or any ‘ally’ are less self serving than our humble politician. Whether it is J&K, Ayodhya, Afghanistan or Iraq the common question from those involved is ‘What is in it for me?’

When the US attacked Iraq or Afghanistan, the primary motive was not the welfare of the Iraqis or Afghans. In Iraq it was the oil and in Afghanistan it is control of central Asia. If terrorist activities are almost nix in main land USA, it is not because of their actions in Iraq or Afghanistan; it is because of tightened internal security.

How strange that most of us more often than not get taken in by what is said than what is done.

India is a young Nation. Just 64 years old. It has a unique character which is incomparable. We have to give it time to mature and the process is in place. Like wine, anything to mature has to go through a process of hardship (crushing of grapes), upheaval (stirring) and evolution (undisturbed storage).  It is then that it gets better with age. India should develop its own character. Along the way there is bound to be some collateral damage and suffering. We must learn from history and act to minimize these adverse effects.

The key is to appropriately educate as many Indians as possible. The idea is to make everybody employable. Say only properly educated Kashmiri will know what is best for him; only a prpoerly educated tribal of Central and East India and will know what is best for them. Until then the less educated will continue to be exploited.

For this it is imperative for the intention of all involved be the same.