Monday, October 31, 2011

Remembering Sardar, not forgetting Indira


Today is the birth anniversary of the iron man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. It is also the death anniversary of our late Prime Minister, Smt. Indira Gandhi.

Sardar Patel was amongst the tallest leaders of our freedom movement and newly independent India. In fact, today what we know as India is largely due to his efforts. Anyways, I guess we do remember our school books mentioning this particular aspect of our history. On the other hand, Smt. Gandhi was one of the strongest PMs India ever had. So strong, that once she curbed the very democracy that made her PM!

This post doesn’t attempt to be a history lesson. Though I hope that today’s youth understands the difference between a leader who unified India versus one who despite her many strong points, subverted the very idea of Indian democracy. (That particular episode, of forced emergency is not taught in our govt. controlled history curriculum.)

What this post attempts is to be a brief reminder of how we, largely fed by our media are gradually relegating those who really matter(ed) to only the history books while making gods out of those well, who don’t matter that much. See the number of ads devoted to Mrs. Gandhi in today’s newspapers versus the one ad remembering Sardar. All these ads have been carried out by the ruling party Congress or the various government ministries under its control. (And it is the taxpayers money, our money that fuels this sycophancy.) I would have been happy if it were only sycophancy on Congress’ part. Its dynastic cult is quite well-known to be talked about here.

What I’m more worried about is the gradual replacement of our true history by the one sponsored by those who have ruled us for the major part of our independent existence. Contrary to what Congress’ and its media managers want us to believe, Sardar and what he did for India is far more important than Indira and her way of ruling India. And this little, 370 odd words post is my attempt to set things right, in my own insignificantly significant way. Today is my day, our day, to first remember Sardar, while not forgetting Indira as well. Are you with me?

5 comments:

Pravesh said...

Hopefully the social media sharing will earn some recognition to your post and sentiment.

Nitin said...

A good write-up. It is in India's interest that the contribution of the Sardar is appreciated. All others are dwarfs vis-s-vis his achievements.

News Editor said...

Feel proud that Patel is leading on Twitter. Soon the Congress may rig Twitter trends! who knows?

How do we know said...

Sorry Adee.. this is personally a difficult day for me, and on this day, i cannot think of Sardar Patel or the woman you have mentioned here. I can only think of an entire generation wasted , rendered homeless.. i can only think of carnage84.com

Unknown said...

Adee Politique?
It becomes you
Remembering what is dear
Certainly the ground on which she stood
Was raised shaped, by those who preceeded her
We envoke the praise of the media
Only by standing on the shoulders of giants...

dreamt before

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