Monday, February 18, 2008

Comparing India and Pakistan

Indian democracy by Dr Farrukh Saleem
The News, February 17, 2008

India's democracy is a 60-year story of corrupt politicians, assassinated leaders, dynastic politics, food shortages, poverty, chronic unemployment, an inefficient bureaucracy, prime ministerial scandals, bribes, tax evasions, embezzlements and an abundance of secessionist as well as faith related violence. In 2005, Transparency International found that more than 50 percent of Indians had "firsthand experience of paying bribe or peddling influence to get a job done in a public office (India Corruption Study 2005; Transparency International India)."

Shekhar Gupta must be one of India's finest of journalists (Shekhar is editor-in-chief of Indian Express and anchors the famous 'Walk the Talk' on NDTV). If memory serves me right, it was something that Shekhar wrote and that column is the inspiration behind what I am about to say.

Mahatma Gandhi, 'Great Soul', Father of the Nation, was assassinated -- shot and killed -- by Nathuram Godse, an extremist Hindu who had convinced himself that Gandhi was going out of his way to favour Pakistan. Jawarharlal Nehru, India's first PM, ruled for 17 long years but failed to arrest India's growing poverty. Under Nehru, the state of Bihar went through a series of famines, mass starvation and death. The Nehru Dynasty was founded when Nehru managed to get Indira, his daughter, elected as the president of Congress.

Gulzarilal Nanda became India's second PM (after Nehru died of a heart attack). Lal Bahadur Shastri took over from Gulzarilal (after Gulzarilal had been in office for a mere 13 days). Shastri, a 'Nehruvian socialist', failed to pull India out of an economic and a food crisis. After Shastri's death, Gulzarilal became PM for another eight-day tenure.

In 1966, Indira Gandhi became PM and remained so for the following 11 years. Indira, who remained stuck to Shastri's economic policies, confronted a severe balance of payments crisis, consecutive crop failures and a devaluation of the rupee. In 1975, Indira exposed her authoritarian streaks by imposing a state of emergency. On June 1 1984, Indira ordered Major General K S Brar to put an end to Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale's Sikh-purist theocratic movement for the establishment of Khalistan ('Land of the Pure'). Indira's 'Operation Blue Star' desecrated Golden Temple, Sikhism's holiest shrine, and the Indian Army recorded 83 deaths plus 492 civilians killed. In the immediate aftermath, an unspecified number of Sikhs deserted the Indian Army and then in October '84 Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards.

Rajiv Gandhi, a professional pilot, became India's seventh PM and the third from the Nehru Dynasty. Rajiv tried to open up India by reducing import duties. Rajiv then got embroiled in the Bofors Scandal in which he was accused of receiving kickbacks. While the Bofors case was being investigated, Rajiv was assassinated by an LTTE female suicide bomber.

Islamabad is a mere 425 miles from New Delhi. Muhammad Ayub Khan studied at Aligarh Muslim University and trained at the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. General Muhammad Ayub Khan became our youngest full-rank general and Field Marshall Muhammad Ayub Khan ruled Pakistan for nearly 11 years.

Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan went to Punjab University and finished first in his class. In 1947, Yahya was the only Muslim instructor at the British Indian Staff College. Brigadier Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan, commanding the 106 Infantry Brigade, was only 34 years of age. General Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan ruled Pakistan for nearly two years.

Muhammad Ziaul-Haq attended St Stephen's College, one of India's leading educational institutions. Muhammad Ziaul-Haq was trained at the distinguished U S Army Command and General Staff College (Fort Leavenworth). Muhammad Ziaul-Haq trained the Jordanian Army and saved King Hussein's monarchy. General Muhammad Ziaul-Haq ruled Pakistan for 10 years.

Now, look at India. Sixty years of corrupt politicians, assassinated leaders, dynastic politics, food shortages, poverty, an inefficient bureaucracy, prime ministerial scandals and an abundance of secessionist as well as faith related violence. Look at what a bad democracy has delivered.

Now, look at Pakistan. Thirty-one years of direct rule by Sandhurst-disciplined, Fort Leavenworth-trained, smartly-dressed, intelligible, meaningful, well intentioned Gentlemen Cadets.

Just look at the wide variety of fruits of a bad democracy. A democracy mere 425 miles from Islamabad.

5 comments:

The Lost Pakistani Dream said...

India was fortunate enough not to have corrupt politicain like Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, remember how he crushed Fatima Jinnah in complice with his former master Ayub, followed by the Mujib who win the most popular vote and becomed the "Top Dog" hanged by Zia "The Mard e Monin aka The Lota General. Zia Protege The Mian Sharif took the power and tried to become "The Amir ul Momeniineen". Followed by the Benezir and her 10% "Dulha Bhai" of Pakistan.
Yes Indian are more fortunate that their politian does not dance on the tune of thier American Massa.
India do have corrupt to the core politicain with a pinch of Watanfaroshi like Bhutto and Sharif families.

Unknown said...

yes,India is a country of corrupt politician,civil police and many other govt. institutes.but today India stands alone,without western support, booming eco.
..foreign inst. doesnt make good people.
..fruits are as seen good/bad.
..Lahore is afterall 30 KM from Amritsar...pakistan still stuglling 4 democracy.

Dheeru said...

Look your are talking about one side of coin.Look at the other side of coin.Today india is the largest democratic country in the world with largest population of 100 crores.today india stands top in the It sector Throught the world.i ndia is the fast growing developed countries in the world.
More than all India is Secular Country.Not run by a single religion ,caste or creed.Look development in case of Secularism ,Tourism,Security etc..
we had President a muslim ,can you show a single Hindu in any Govt Department.That is development.We have everything in our brains and hearts .Do pakistanis has that.
Today richest persons in the world like lakshmi Mittal,Ambhani are from india.
India not only has safron clad monks,but it is Modernised.Dalai Lama Buddhist monk visits India because of our culture...Speak development in case of modernisation.
when we talk about assasinated and dynastical politics ,is Bhutto's family politics are not dynastical and assasinated.
India is young,Indian youth are the most reputed,cultured and civilized men in the world.today 60% of Microsoft includes Indians.more than 10% of employees in NASA are Indians are pakistanis there,Bcoz indians are trustworthy.
With more than 50 members are dying in increased bomb blasts in pakistan weekly is that development.Peoples lifes are in secured.
Indian government is Democratic unlike pakistanis Dictitorial Military Rule.Pakistan waited for more than 1 yr to conduct elections.
When u talk about corruption is Nawaz sharif involved in corruption scandals and sent out of the country for more than 6 yrs.

Anonymous said...

What do you think of Rana Bhawan Das The Pakistani Top Judge. Bhagvan Das is not a Muslim name. The Indain loves to Bash Pakisatn Eh! Get Life, step brother.

Anonymous said...

year 2010...Pakistani's kindly leave aside your egos have a careful look at where India stands right now..worlds second fastest growing economy(growing at 9%),massive forign exchage reserves, strategic petroleum reserves, massive gold reserves, most favoured destination for FDI along with few other countries, member of BRIC(Brazil,Russia,India,china)..a popular word for emerging economic superpowers, Increasing exports, massives takeover of foriegn bigshot companies by India companies, world carmakers making India a hub for small car manufacturing for export, nearly all multi national corporations throughout the world have major business operation in India,world beating IT industry, one of the major space power with own proven satellite launch vehicles, moon missions, commercial satellite launching for foriegn countries, only country who have an option to purchase all types of weapons from all major arms manufacturer..nations even sells india nuke subs and bombers, only nation ever to have got access to nuclear technology of US , RUSSIAN, French and other powers with out even signing NPT and CTBT....just think about the attention and importance world is giving to woo India..unlike pakistan..lolol