The right to Aarakshan
Prakash Jha is a celebrated director in the Indian film industry, who for years has canvassed the realities of social and political issues through his work. His recent project deals with the contentious issue of affirmative actions in educational institutes. As every political and social cinema in India, even Aarakshan was subjected to caste based politicking and censure. After 64 years of independence India still refuses to eradicated itself from the tenets of caste and caste based reservations. In a global world when the balance of power around the world is changing and every country seeks its rightful position in the world, India amongst the top countries competing for this position is bickering on a system which was installed more than half a century ago. Unfortunately the very people who are trying to drive this country to the top position in the world use the caste strategy to remain in power. My opinion has always been on eradication of caste based affirmative action and replace it with a financial based system so that people who really deserve alleviation and benevolence are not left behind because of their lineage to a so called higher caste. I do not intend to moot the incorporation of caste based affirmation into the early years of post independence Indian society . The system seems to have worked to its potential mothering many underprivileged citizens to economic and social stability. So why does this system still give preference to the offspring's of those very individuals to attained this stability through the system? Why would you need the same mothering when you do not belong to the same family anymore? Newton once said-“ Every action has an equal and opposite reaction” but the people who now exploit this system fail to see the opposite reaction of this action. Reduction in intakes through merit in educational institutes and public sector industries have reduced, pushing the once privileged society towards an impecunious and distressed sect. The Ramans, the Aryabhatta’s, the Narayanmurthy’s, the Amathasen’s from the upper sect of the society have been sidelined to groom the Ramans, the Aryabhatta’s, the Narayanmurthy’s, the Amathasen’s from the underprivileged sections of the society. I do not see the harm of having two of each? If India zeal's to be amongst the best in the world it will soon have to do away with the an affirmative action based on caste and replace it with one based on the economic stability of an individual. Only then will be be able to embraces the Ramans, … who cannot afford to pay their tuition fees, hence failing to give us another ‘Raman Effect’.
American Debt debacle
What America and the world saw and experienced over the past few weeks with reference to the rise of the debt limit can be construed as a sneer towards democracy. It is lamentable when a minority of individual representing only 10% of the country can hold the countries economic stability at ransom to fulfill ideological promises. As the government finally compromised by kicking the can down the road, the Presidents performance can be portrayed on two sides of a coin. The only positive I take from this theater was his ability to compromise and find a level ground when the country is so polarized and partisan. But on the other side of the coin, his lack of assertiveness and command over the situation, especially against the Tea Party has further reduced the shine on his armor. His compromise on spending cuts and entitlement reforms with no revenue increase has disconcerted not only his base but also many independents. Most economist around the world have theorized the damage spending cuts could induce into the fragile economy in the immediate future. Such a compromise will not only strangle investment into nation building projects on education, infrastructure and technology but also the political and economic influence the country holds in the world. Which in turn will further slow down the economic recovery of the country, which with no doubt will be used as a whipping tool against the President in next years election season. So, today President Obama might have saved the country and the world’s economic system but if he needs to save his job next year he will need to take a decisive stand on how he and only he cogitates and envisages the recovery of Brand USA.
