Hang Kalmadi ! And, Declare the Games Cancelled!

Mr. Prime Minister and Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, hang Suresh Kalmadi. And do not spare Sheila Dikshit, MS Gill, Jaipal Reddy and all those responsible for proper staging of the Commonwealth Games.

And, cancel the Games.

Mr. PM and Mrs. G, India has been shamed immensely and there is nothing left to salvage anymore. Before every Commonwealth country withdraws leaving India’s shameful unpreparedness to make Delhi’s life even more miserable, please pull the plug.

Mr. PM and Mrs. G, I wonder how on the earth could we manage an assortment of the worst kind of people to organize the Games. The embarrassment is so colossal that no amount of PR will ever get India’s prestige back. With its reputation in tatters and beyond repairs, India will never be able to stage a comeback on the global high table. The hosting of this sporting event has put India in a uniquely bizarre situation from where there is absolutely no escape. The whole world is laughing at us and is aghast and amused at our incredible ineptitude. After 7 years and 70,000 crore (US $ 2 bn) we could not even manage a simple event like the CWG! It is unbelievable and hugely humiliating.

Mr. PM and Mrs. G, both of you maintained your steely silence throughout even while the country’s coffers were being looted unashamedly by a bunch of utterly corrupt officials and politicians and let the country get humiliated and mutilated simultaneously. Not even for once did you own up your leadership responsibility which is highly disappointing.

Mr. PM and Mrs. G, if it was not for the Indian Media the nation would probably never have got the exact details of the mess that the CWG and the country are in today! The rot would have remained under the carpet and the country would have woken up to the devastating realities only when international delegations would have descended in the city and would have revolted against the shocking state of affairs surrounding the Games. India today is enormously indebted to the Media (I especially thank Times Now for starting the trail of Games exposes) for bringing the nauseating truth out of the closet with relentless coverage of the scam & sham that is CWG! And, not to forget Mani Shanker Aiyar!

Mr. PM and Mrs. G, the most appalling thing is that even today – after being subjected to insults of global proportions – no one is ready to own the accountability for the chaos and crises. The buck is unapologetically being passed around. But just remember that “the buck stops with you”. Therefore, take immediate action. Sack Kalmadi and Sheila and Gill and all involved with the Games. I am sure if a similar shameful episode (never-ending soap!) had happened in China, all involved would have been hanged in public!

And, cancel the Games.

If today from “Incredible India” we have become “Unlivable India”, you two are equally responsible, Mr. PM and Mrs. G.

To sum up my anguish and anger, I use Arnab Goswami’s analogy from today’s News Hour: It is like watching an accident in slow motion. … :(

Save Romas; they are Indians!

“I feel a kinship with the Roma people …,” Indira Gandhi had shown her trademark courage while inaugurating the International Romani Festival in Chandigarh in 1983. We haven’t seen any effort even remotely close to Mrs. Gandhi’s gesture in support of Romas since then. In fact, India has historically kept itself away from monumental mess that the Roma people have been in – repeatedly - since their migration in the 14^th century.

Today the world is debating the recent escalation in banishing of Romas by countries like France and Italy but India continues with its famed silence. International publications have taken up the subject seriously but India Media has conveniently ignored the topic. Wonder if our Press has any clue about inhuman deportation of Romas.

Someone might ask: “What is so incredible about Romas that India should intervene?”

Well, as we all know, Romas are our brothers and sisters; Romas are Indians! They have always been a part of our society and culture. The only difference from international scenario is that in India we have traditionally been calling them “Banjaras”.

“Banjaras”: this nomadic tribe has adorned social landscape of India since time immemorial – quite literally and especially in Rajasthan! Just try to imagine Rajasthan in all its glory and you would find Romas walking all over! Can Rajasthan ever be depicted without painting women in colourful dresses – ghaghra & choli – and ethnic jewelry in the scene? Or its men in traditional Rajasthani costume? If Rajasthan today is one of the most favourite destinations for foreigners, then Banjaras have to be thanked profusely for making sketch of this state so attractive to international tourists! They comprehensively complement Royals in Rajasthan! Their continued trust in “Indian” beliefs and practices continues to endorse their Indian legacy!

Romas are the same Banjaras who migrated out of India post Mahmoud Gori’s invasion to escape atrocities of the invader. This had happened many centuries back – 14^th to be precise. Since then they have been roaming the surface of the earth as rootless creatures. Absurdity of fate would have it that they got mistaken as “Egyptians” by the then Eastern Europeans and had to live with their imposed “mistaken identity” of being the people having sheltered Jesus Christ during his childhood years in Egypt. And, they acquired the name “Gypsy” for being “E-gyptians”!

Humanity has remained inhuman to Romas ever since their entry into newer parts of the world. Many a times their existence has been endangered, almost wiped off the face of the earth. Series of persecutions they have been subjected to is sufficient to move any sensitive person to tears. Even Adolf Hitler did not spare them. He ordered their mass extermination.

For me, this age old barbarism towards Romas is hugely baffling. Because, Romas have always been truly nomadic in their nature: no fixed address, no fixed life – always on move – leading a “free” life, in solidarity with nature! Sorrows and sufferings have not been able to shake their resilience. Similarly adversities and atrocities have also proved inadequate to force them into renouncing societies they have embraced and integrated into, making immense contributions towards development of various aspects of those communities. Sometime they have undergone forceful assimilation too. But that’s a different “cruel” saga altogether.

Romas’ impact has been the other way too. Influence of Romani culture on enrichment of the world music and dances cannot – should not - be underestimated. Similar is their sphere of effect in India.

“Banjara” lifestyle has ensured Romas lead predominantly an uneducated life. And lack of education has led to (so-called) uncultured behaviour amongst the population. Criminal tinge is also visible in a sizeable percentage. Pervasive dislike bestowed upon them has made their survival complicated. And in recent years the world has witnessed an unprecedented increase in racial abuse towards Romas. The hate-cycle targeted against them seems to have started all over again!

Now, as erstwhile Indians the least they (would) expect from India, their country of origin and having qualified for the status of PIO i.e. People of Indian Origin - perhaps amongst the first ones to go beyond the borders, when their ethnicity is in extreme danger – history repeating itself? – is that India will extend its full support; that India will use all its geopolitical-economic might on the global stage and ensure that repatriation being perpetrated upon them by paranoid nations like France and Italy gets reversed. Romas are themselves in miniscule numbers - hardly a few millions - and their immigration cannot in any way harm rest of the population, howsoever blind the latter remains with prejudice.

India, you listening? …

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Post-script: My earnest appeal is to the Indian establishment to also “Save Vijay Kumar” so that he comes back to India soon and starts filming his next movie: “My Name is Kumar and I am Not a Terrorist!”(for screening during the forthcoming visit of the American establishment’s stalwarts including President Barack Obama).