apr 24th, 2011 CE
my sentiments precisely.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: sri
Subject: Our farmers are dying, to hell with the World Cup
To:
Our farmers are dying, to hell with the World Cup
Narendra Shekhawat
http://www.hindu.com/op/2011/04/24/stories/2011042453592000.htm
Yes, you read it right; to hell with the World Cup; to hell with the
celebrations; to hell with all the free land and money being showered by
different governments on the players. How can I jump, scream, have
gallons of beer
and cheer for the nation when a few kilometres away the farmers and
feeders of my country are taking their own lives in hordes? Do you know that, on average, 47 farmers have been committing suicide
every single day in the past 16 years in our shining India — the next economic
power, progressive with nine per cent growth? Last month, on March 5, Friday evening, when Bangalore's watering holes
were getting filled up, when all the DJs were blaring out deafening music,
when we were busy discussing India's chances at the World Cup, sitting in
CCDs and Baristas — just 100 km away from Bangalore, Swamy Gowda and
Vasanthamma, a young farmer couple, hanged themselves, leaving their
three very
young children to fend for themselves or, most likely, die of malnutrition. ... deleted
From: sri
Subject: Our farmers are dying, to hell with the World Cup
To:
Our farmers are dying, to hell with the World Cup
Narendra Shekhawat
http://www.hindu.com/op/2011/04/24/stories/2011042453592000.htm
Yes, you read it right; to hell with the World Cup; to hell with the
celebrations; to hell with all the free land and money being showered by
different governments on the players. How can I jump, scream, have
gallons of beer
and cheer for the nation when a few kilometres away the farmers and
feeders of my country are taking their own lives in hordes? Do you know that, on average, 47 farmers have been committing suicide
every single day in the past 16 years in our shining India — the next economic
power, progressive with nine per cent growth? Last month, on March 5, Friday evening, when Bangalore's watering holes
were getting filled up, when all the DJs were blaring out deafening music,
when we were busy discussing India's chances at the World Cup, sitting in
CCDs and Baristas — just 100 km away from Bangalore, Swamy Gowda and
Vasanthamma, a young farmer couple, hanged themselves, leaving their
three very
young children to fend for themselves or, most likely, die of malnutrition. ... deleted
5 comments:
This middle class bashing is going too far. Middle class did not fall from the skies. They have worked to be where they are and are not a really happy lot. And what about the segment between middle class and starving class- those earning 3000/- per month? Are their hearts of pure gold? Are they contributing 30 rs/month to the lot of farmers? Whenever one talks of poverty, one has to abuse the middle class, and the abuser is usually a middle class chappies himself, who belongs to the middle class, but the blameless middle class, of which he and he alone is a member. However one such unique middle classer emerges everyday, who cannot make his point without sending others on a guilt trip. if you penalize your tax paying classes, you will turn into a banana republic. It is purely a matter of governance and through governance alone it can be solved. These problems were there even when the country was not crazy about cricket. so holier than thou writers, please stop prescribing such remedies, or is it the guilt you feel about yourself projected on someone else?
sir...your article is very inspiring....it is really awesome...my thoughts almost coincides with u..sir,please join me in your activities.........i want to do something to them as an indian....i know their problems because i am also daughter of a FARMER..........
Thumbs up for YOUR!
The article stands retracted, and the reasons are indeed an excellent example of sophistry.
They are correct, legal and cannot be challenged in a court of law.
However, whether the option was exercised to suppress the author's views from being spread, is something only the powers that be can answer. And of course, they are within their legal rights to do what they have done.
Legal rights are what matter. Morality and ethics are concepts that are subjective and are subservient to written down laws. Laws of the respective land. So by law, the Chinese can absolutely defend what they do in Tibet or with any other dissenters and so on with other countries.
The Editors of the Hindu follow the law.
One of the most stupid articles read for long now. How can the reporter ask How can you do this or that when couple of, dozen of or even hundreds of whosoever are committing suicide or whatsoever?
Its an independent country and right from Media to Every individual is entitled to do whatever they feel like doing, OR whatever they get pleasure or profit in. If the take is on basic humanity then its a altogether different story. Humanity could not be forced upon anyone and neither a person not showering his Humanity can be asked questions for that. We and I and you are as entitled as the reporter who is questioning our activities irrespective of our choices in this democratic country.
The flavor of the article is not on the corrective means which should be taken up or acquired in near future by the govt. to reach out for masses even below the poverty lines, but it invariantly glorifies the fact that how can individuals in our country can do whatever they find happiness in. And all this media bashing is unjustified too, as it is a profit driven market rather than a morally correct market out there. No business thrives on moral values and ethical respects in todays world. Even the farmers who have been the basic tone of the article would easily resort to agricultural techniques which will give them larger output rather than cocentrating on lower output but with higher vitamin/protein ratio in crops produced.
End of it we are a part of free society and deserve every bit of the right given to us constitutionally to indulge, enjoy and watch what interests us. Morality or humanity is a self realisation and self decision, rather than a forced conclusion like in Communist culture.
Please don't take away the free bird in us. And as John F Kennedy said "The best road to progress is freedom's road."
P.S. This is entirely my personal opinion, and don't ask me how can I write or think in this way when someone else right now in our country may be hanging himself and his family.
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