I never criticise the prime minister when he is abroad. Certain proprieties must be observed.
The Nuclear Security Summit was held in Washington DC earlier this week, under the chairmanship of US President Barack Obama. This summit met after Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had signed a significant agreement to reduce their nuclear stockpiles. They did not altogether do away with them. Enough of these nuclear warheads remain in the hands of these two countries, enough to destroy the world several times over.
Hence, all the sanctimonious rhetoric at the Washington summit sounds hollow. Genuine nuclear disarmament is a mystic chimera. The P5 have the cake and will, as always, eat it too. The summit came up with no serious solution to check nuclear terrorism. A few hours cannot ensure foolproof nuclear security. Where is enforcement mechanism?
Forty seven countries participated. Their leaders mechanically read out their speeches for the benefit of the people back home. Mr Obama had “one to one” meetings with each leader. China and Russia received special treatment. Manmohan Singh too had his “one to one”. This was followed by Mr Obama’s “one to one” with trusted ally Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. George W Bush had de-hyphenated India and Pakistan. Mr Obama has openly resorted to hyphenation. After all, being a strategic partner is one thing, but being a reliable ally is quite another.
I read history (Hons, don’t forget) at St Stephen’s College. I did rather well, obtained a first division. I was too young and immature to then question my teachers about the connection between history and progress.
Now I know better. The fact is that progress is not inherent in history. Progress is not a law of nature (I am excluding scientific progress).
The 19th century was passionately devoted to the gospel of progress. The 20th century mocked the 19th century. Two world wars, the invention and use of nuclear weapons are not signs of progress. The 20th century began on a high note — growth in human consciousness and the scientific revolution lit the horizon. But, “Darkness at Noon” soon put an end to that hope. The 21st century has so far had a very bumpy ride. 9/11 is now a melancholy part of the English language. Next, George W. Bush, whom the “people of India deeply loved”, invaded and destroyed Iraq.
What is the agenda of the early decades of the 21st century? Terrorism, drug trafficking, brutal Islamic fundamentalism, dealing with the deadly Osama bin Laden. And do not leave out the “good Taliban”, who blew up the 1,500-year-old giant Buddhas in Bamiyan. Some progress!!
In 1975 was published Voices for Life: Reflections on the Human Condition. It was edited by the late Dom Moraes. The list of contributors was formidable. Toynbee, Jiddu Krishnamurti, Indira Gandhi, Heinrich Boll, Gunter Grass (both Nobel laureates of later decades), Jonas Salk, Yehudi Menuhin, etc. The essay that made a deep and lasting impression on me was by the black writer Frank Hercules.
He wrote: “The record of the human species up to this time suggests a grave deficiency in social intelligence… The problem is, therefore, primarily genetic and only secondarily institutional.”
One more quote from Mr Hercules. This should interest our economic pundits.
“On the economic plane, traditional confusion between the standard of living and the quality of life needs to be dispelled. People are not necessarily happier because their per capita income is higher. The gross national product is not an index of gross national contentedness.”
I have quoted Frank Hercules because his writing has not dated. Since he wrote, both positive and negative changes are in evidence. Nevertheless, those in authority would do well to remember that before they make life luxurious for the very few, it is their obligation to make life bearable for the many.
What am I driving at? Something fundamental.
I am not being judgmental, nor claiming any personal superiority. Neither am I competent to provide instantaneous illumination for curing the ills and ghastly inequities of mankind. I just want to emphasise that the world sorely needs a moral upheaval.
Tailpiece: During World War II, Marshal Tito sent his trusted comrade Milovan Djilas (1911-1995) to Moscow to meet Supreme Soviet boss Joseph Stalin. Djilas, finding Stalin in one of his relaxed moods, narrated an anecdote: A Turk and a Montenegrin were talking. The Turk wished to know why the Montenegrins were constantly at war. “For plunder, we are poor and need some booty,” the Montenegrin replied and asked the Turk what he was fighting for. “For honour and glory,” said the Turk. The Montenegrin rejoined, “Everyone fights for what he does not have.” Stalin laughed, saying: “By God, that is deep.”
