Body is Maya ...

“Maya” is “Illusion” in English.

“Body is Maya, then why do we obsess about it?” said MF Hussein matter-of-factly in a private conversation with somebody – I am not revealing his name here – who was close to him and is also known to me. The context was the crazy brouhaha over some of his controversial paintings and his leaving his beloved country – India – and taking up a residence in Dubai.

Watching Mayawati unveil her own statues today in a place touted as her “Dream Park” made me recall Hussein Saheb’s words. I wondered, as always, “Why does Mayawati obsess about her own self – her body – so much that she decided to splurge into an extravagant indulgence by installing her own statues?” Own statues!

Own statues!!?

I am not a fan of Mayawati but I admire her for having risen to her current position of becoming the chief minister of the largest state of India and being hailed as one of the most powerful women on this earth. It is anybody’s guess that Mayawati’s political journey must have been immensely challenging. Not only because she is a woman – India is a staunchly patriarchal society – but predominantly because she belonged to a poor Dalit family. (Dalits, the lowest castes - are rarely rich in a deeply caste-biased divided Indian society.) Therefore, to see her repeatedly squander her chances of “doing something” for her folks – I’m talking about the historically oppressed dalits here – even after acquiring a very powerful political position many times and, in the process, also “doing something” for herself about which she is, as evident, clearly obsessed, is hugely disappointing.

It is also not difficult to understand her anatomy as a politician and as an administrator. She must have seen a lot in her life while growing up as a dalit woman. Life must have been pretty difficult, that’s for sure. Thus, now that she has the power - political power is the maximum level of power anybody can attain at least in India - she thinks – in her own insecure way – that she will take “revenge” – revenge from “manuwadis” – non-dalits – by showing to them that she is their boss now! That she cannot be treated like a dalit anymore. Period.

But this is only one side – and the non-acknowledged core – of Mayawati. The other side of her personality – and that is quite glaring – is her behavior like a typical politician. We all know the side-effects of “absolute power”!

The reason Mayawati has been repeatedly voted into power in the otherwise “backward” state of Uttar Pradesh is because its big dalit populace wanted to have somebody of their “own” who would listen to their voice and “do something” for them ultimately, which they so otherwise deserved as humans. To put it simplistically: Mayawati is the manifestation of dalits’ desire to have their share in the state’s polity. But what the dalits of U.P. have got back in the bargain is for everybody to see.

If I were Mayawati, I would have built schools – and hospitals – and would have given them the so deserved quality education opportunities and would have helped my “folks” – by virtue of being their chief minister - become competent enough for the big-bad world! Because, whosoever anybody is today in this world is primarily due to his/her education – leaving aside the very few God-blessed talented ones. In my opinion this is the only way to uplift any oppressed strata of society. The process could have been a bit time consuming but I would have become the catalyst for change. I, as Mayawati, wouldn’t have been required to repeatedly resort to political rhetorics and exorbitantly built Dream Parks. My people would have ensured that my legacy lives on.

I, as Mayawati, would have simultaneously carried along with the “manuwadis” – the non-dalits – and would have cemented my position in the political landscape of my country. I would have ensured that my state became one of the most progressive and I would have felt extremely proud of my achievements. And, by fulfilling my roles and responsibilities as the chief minister of a highly gifted state, I would have paved my road towards the highest political seat of my country. India, with its elaborate spectrum of caste system, would have felt immensely proud of seeing me become the prime minister!

Honestly, if I were in Mayawati’s shoes (I get reminded of Julian Assange!) , I would have readily seized the immense opportunities – political power – bestowed upon me by my people and I would have ensured that “I did” enough to ensure that I were not required to erect my own statues myself; instead, my people would have happily and respectfully felt the need to remember me – after I was done and gone, of course! – by installing my statues…

Ms. Mayawati, if Hussein Saheb were alive today, he would have told you that “Body is Maya; why do you obsess about it?”…

International Diplomacy in the Times of WikiLeaks

Julian Assange should be hailed, not jailed. He should be respected, not suspected. Because, in a hugely “manipulated” world – in more ways than one – he had the “audacity” (Great, keep it up!) to expose the real.

Human beings are essentially weak. We are also incapable of taking care of our life. And, we do not know how to live in our world. Thus, we have “forced” the “stronger” in the world to “take care” of us – our life – in more ways than one. The world history is full of such instances. Otherwise, the earth wouldn’t have had suffered footsteps of numerous monsters and dictators. Sadly, the torment continues even in contemporary times.

In today’s world, “diplomacy” is the buzz word which legitimizes all forms of manipulations by the self-appointed world powers and powerful. The lesser mortals – nations - are subjected to forceful adoption of their whims and fancies – foreign policies! - suited to their grand plans for self gratification. International diplomacy; diplomat; negotiations; back channel talks; track II diplomacy; foreign policy; bilateral discussions; demarche; dispatch; protocol; sanctions; rapprochment; interlocution; treaty; diplomatic illness; privileges and immunities; declaration; delegation; attaches; ambassadors; diplomatic bags; espionage; counter-intelligence; arbitrations and mediations; recognition; thinktanks; friendly nation; hostile nation; geopolitics; cultural diplomacy; multilateral diplomacy; state diplomacy; paradiplomacy; hard power; soft power; … - terms are numerous which are beyond comprehension of normal humans – citizens of a country – but are capable of trapping world population in a manipulative maze.

Interestingly, the world seems to be quite comfortable with all these wheeling and dealing which go unperturbed – intentionally - in the name of international diplomacy. What is apparent is not quite the case often. Friendly handshakes are merely photo-ops. The definition of “friend” spreads across a wide spectrum with dimensions aplenty. Underneath active are major calculations devoid of any principles or reasons. Equations in international relations are kept “balanced” with diplomatic maneuvers. A nation gets used – abused – by powerful to maintain the latter’s supremacy. In spite of full-proof cases – 26/11 – countries find difficult to garner international support to nail the culprits. “National interests” including “security” concerns always come as refuge in diplomatic negotiations and areas like economy, trade, arms purchases, defence deployments, environment protection, human rights, etc. get majorly influenced in order to advance strategic advantages of the mighty. In short: the real world diplomacy is quite dirty and ugly.

And Julian Assange’s WikiLeaks has simply put a mirror to the murky world of manipulative geopolitics exercised by international diplomats all across the globe. The exposes have left the world leaders enormously uncomfortable. The cloaks of fake friendliness exhibited by the so-called strategic allies have slipped off and what lies beneath is not palatable. The inaccessible world of diplomacy has suddenly entered parlance of a common citizen’s everyday’s existence. Governments have been left red faced. Therefore, we see all the “impacted” – exposed – diplomats and leaders scurrying for cover – diplomatic curtains - and busy issuing apologies and explanations. The otherwise drab world of diplomacy - for ordinary public only - has suddenly acquired an incredibly interesting hue. And it is going to remain so for times to come.

But what is NOT “interesting” is the arrest of Julian Assange. When the world powers could not “control” the leaking of “classified/secret” documents detailing dishonest dealings of diplomats on WikiLeaks, they “falsely” – I feel strongly – implicated Julian Assange in sexual molestation cases and got him arrested. By doing so, they have proved their culpability and guilt, therefore. If the powerful nations, including a democratic America advocating freedom of speech amongst various human rights, are feeling the diplomatic heat and are indulging into dirty diplomatic tactics to silence the founder of WikiLeaks then it is an immensely sad state of affairs. In fact it once again bursts the myth of a free world.

All those talks of escalating tensions in international relations and global security getting jeopardized due to WikiLeaks exposure is a sham. Everybody knows how cohesively non-state actors and states work and spread terror on the globe and how incapable the powerful nations find themselves in containing the rogue states like Pakistan – crucible of terror - and abandon terrorism. Instead, they opted for the easier option: forcing the shutdown of WikiLeaks. Gagging and wrongfully nabbing Julian Assange will not ensure a safe and secure world. Soon there would be many more Julian Assanges “leaking” the truths to the world.

The world always knew how diplomatic machinery worked. The only difference WikiLeaks has created is that the practice of duplicity-in-diplomacy has become a common knowledge now. Though the world of international affairs will continue to function as it has been since time immemorial, still the damage is done. Credibility - ??? – of international diplomats is the victim. Nobody is ever going to believe in rhetoric – great speeches?! - being indulged into by heads of states on their state visits, howsoever loved or respected they are - had been - in host nations.

Global leadership cannot be practiced without moral authority. And moral authority is not a legitimate right of mighty even in the arena of geopolitics; it has to be acquired through transparency and honesty. A global leader should be sincere with impeccable integrity and not a mere geo-politician. (Barack Obama, I have always put you in this category.)

Now, I do not have even an iota of doubt about the global geopolitics heading towards any kind of reforms to salvage its prestige post WikiLeaks. Rather, it would try to enhance opacity of its functioning even more. The mechanisms would be employed so as to prevent any further “leaks” and make the system absolutely “WikiLeaks-proof”. Diplomats will soon be back practicing masquerades. The diplomatic charade will continue in name of international diplomacy – WikiLeaks or no WikiLeaks.

Still, I throw a challenge – at the cost of sounding extremely naïve and juvenile – to all those global leaders – Barack Obama in particular – that they should show courage and release Julian Assange from detention and face the changed world of diplomacy – a world of diplomacy in the times of WikiLeaks.

My challenge is also to the people of the world to come out in full support for Julian Assange and continue his crusade forward for a transparent world, a world free of manipulation of lives and humans...

Julian Assange, soon hope to see you back updating WikiLeaks! :)