India rejected aid from world community claiming that it can support itself and it doesnt want the support of the world to rehabilitate the victims of tsunami. This is the second time the Govt of India is rejecting such offer, first time(NDA govt) was from Bill Gates foundation donation for AIDS. Both these actions were meant to be a part of india's gesture to the world community that "We are Big and have enough resource to tackle our problems". I accept the first decision, but not the second one.
All these actions by the government was to potray India as an emerging superpower. Such acts create a bonhomie among the public who boast of india on the path of becoming a superpower.
All these arguements are good to hear...but i take these statements with a pinch of salt.
I am sceptical for two reasons, primarily the definition of being a superpower attributed to economic power (read money) and the secondly, the money that is being given are phenomennaly high and it can really be of immense use to the needy.
First let me explain, who according to me is a superpower. No doubt the country has to be economically powerful, but is that all required to make a superpower. We should be powerful in every possible aspect that should make others emulate you. When you see USA, most countries try to emulate what is happening there. A country should have that kind of power to become a super power and more importantly to retain the status. It is the status offered by other countries looking at our mightiness and not self conferred.
On the second issue of rejecting aid from other countries, i feel it was the affected who missed the oppurtunity. I feel a sense of double standard in India's arguements. On one hand we are rejecting aid, while on the other hand, the foreign nationals are allowed to donate money either to PM's fund or to any of the NGOs in India. I really could not understand this. If you are rejecting any help from outside outright, then why have this alternate route? Somebody, please explain.
After deliberating on this topic for some time i found today's (20th Jan'2005) edition of The Hindu carrying an article on the topic "Saying no to aid" by Vaiju Naravane.
All these arguements are good to hear...but i take these statements with a pinch of salt.
I am sceptical for two reasons, primarily the definition of being a superpower attributed to economic power (read money) and the secondly, the money that is being given are phenomennaly high and it can really be of immense use to the needy.
First let me explain, who according to me is a superpower. No doubt the country has to be economically powerful, but is that all required to make a superpower. We should be powerful in every possible aspect that should make others emulate you. When you see USA, most countries try to emulate what is happening there. A country should have that kind of power to become a super power and more importantly to retain the status. It is the status offered by other countries looking at our mightiness and not self conferred.
On the second issue of rejecting aid from other countries, i feel it was the affected who missed the oppurtunity. I feel a sense of double standard in India's arguements. On one hand we are rejecting aid, while on the other hand, the foreign nationals are allowed to donate money either to PM's fund or to any of the NGOs in India. I really could not understand this. If you are rejecting any help from outside outright, then why have this alternate route? Somebody, please explain.
After deliberating on this topic for some time i found today's (20th Jan'2005) edition of The Hindu carrying an article on the topic "Saying no to aid" by Vaiju Naravane.
India does not get any offer of aid for Kashmir or Telengana rehabilitation. These are man-made and the concerned countries have to take care. But, when it is a natural disaster, when a country loses its people for no reason, countries feel sympathetic towards those who lost lives and towards a country. I think the notion of sympathy towards a country has to be seen as sympathy towards the individual.
I dream of India becoming a Super power, but not at the expense of me and you. It should decide which is more important, political signalling or the immediate impact of the aid.
(The views expresses are personel and are not meant to hurt others)
1 comment:
Hi Venky,
I thnk this is one of those days, when d net admin jus sleeps..so here I go with the comment on ur blogpsot blog...nice to c mine too after a long time..
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