Victimizing The Rape Victim – Degraded Male Mindset

Yesterday in NOIDA,  a girl was raped by five boys in a car – all were neighbours, and knew each other. It is said that they asked her to accompany them to a party, to which she agreed, later, after the party got over, these boys who were drunk, raped her in their car.

After reading this story, many, especially men, would ask the following question:

Why the girl went alone with those boys?

And to reinforce such ‘thinking’, NOIDA SP has said that the girl was indecent. A slander and insult to the rape victim.

To those who ask above question, here is the answer:

The girl knew those boys, they were her neighbours and it is evident from the fact she went alone with them, that she trusted their character, and believed in moral integrity of boys. Just because she went for the party alone with so many boys doesn’t make her indecent, everybody want some fun, and a girl who trusted those boys would have thought she would enjoy the party in the ‘secure’ company of those boys.

It is not girl who has to change her ‘character’ or behaviour, – don’t we see Sonia Gandhi or Sushma Swaraj holding meetings late into nights with fellow parliamentarians, hundreds of them? Aren’t they respected and feared? – it is boys and men, who should stop visualizing woman as a ‘sexual object’, just because she wears less, and talks more with them.

Before asking such question as to why she went for the party alone, any man or woman, having a common sense and sympathy would ask – why those bastards raped her in first place? Have they been caught and any justice been done to poor girl? – No, to be frank, most of us, don’t ask such pro-victim questions; we in India, that too boys, have been brought up in a culture where women are ought to be inside the house looking after children, managing home and satiating husband’s carnal pleasures.

When we assume things are changing for the better with lot of ‘education’ and interaction with and within societies, incidents like this crop up and shame us all.

Even I had that mindset, that girls should wear ‘full clothes’ and should not roam with boys, alone. That was many years ago, but later got the opportunity to meet and understand good people, including my father and broaden my thinking (I grew up in hostels from 6th standard to my graduation). It would be hypocritical if I say I was born with broad thinking. However we were taught to respect girls in our school and those lessons have been helpful lately.

It was shocking to hear Mamatha Bannerjee say that a case of rape was filed in Kolkatta to defame her! . That is a hard core political mindset that looks even at crime against same gender as something ‘conceived’ by opposition parties to bring bad name to her government. Classic case of intelligent blindness and opportunism.

Coming back to the girl who got raped in NOIDA, to all those people with degraded mindset, here is a point – if that girl’s was the mistake, why on earth she would go to a police station to book a case against those boys?

Now don’t argue saying she might have had some grudges against those boys. No girl, or a woman, as far as I believe, would risk her morality and character to book such a false case. If at all someone does this, that will be revealed by investigation. Before such investigation, no one should cast aspersions on victim or the complainant.

I have many times thought that castration is a good ‘therapy’ for rapists. Recently human rights activists have opposed such move in Germany, where castration is the punishment (or corrective measure?) for raping a girl.

Of course, a debate is needed about this, and this punishment must be based on sound judgement, and should not be violent.

A major reform in the mindset of Indian men is necessary, and that should start right from homes and then in schools.

It is a bit complex issue. Whatever, it is demoralizing to see officers, and politicians, responsible to ensure security and bring justice to the people and victims, are at the forefront of victimizing the victims, especially rape victims.

India Thrashes France With 8 Goals and Books Olympic Berth In London

I am happy that I watched India vs France hockey live match!! The National stadium (Dhyan Chand stadium) was completely packed, and it seemed spectators were overjoyed!

And their joy was justified in the end. India, which lost Olympic qualifiers in Santiago, Chile in 2004, had loads of expectations from hockey fans this time, and under the superb guidance of coach Michael Nobbs, Indian team played a match in the finals that many believed was reminiscent of its golden days of 80s.

Credit must go to coach Nobbs, who has steadfastly stood by the team and has worked on their strength to build a fantastic team.

Sandeep Singh scored 16 goals in all in the tournament, and creditably won the prize for it.

Sandeep Singh

In the final match, India converted 6 penalty corners into goals out of 7. That was a superb improvement over previous match in which they could convert only 3 out of 9 penalties.

Now, the expectations will soar high from the team. They must capitalize the present sentiment, work hard and bring back medal for India. It will enhance its reputation and win back many fans.

This win is a huge boost for the national sport. We just hope, our team plays well in London and win a medal – any medal for that matter for now.

In The Honour Of “The Artist”

Below is a sketch by me – a poster of “The Artist” – a movie slated to win Oscar in the best picture category tomorrow!!

The Artist

For Now, We Men Are Safe!!

Misandrists were thrilled when they heard two researchers say that men were on the verge of extinction – in 2003, Brian Sykes, a genetics professor, in his book Adam’s Curse:A Future Without Men, predicted that men would vanish from earth within 100,000 years as their Y chromosome was slowly decaying genetically. Again in 2009, Professor Jennifer Graves of Australian National University suggested the same, but as a consolation she predicted it would take another 5 million years for men to say goodbye to earth and women.

What has Y chromosome anything to do with extinction of men?

Humans carry 23 pairs of chromosomes in each of their cells. Of these one pair is called as sex chromosomes – women carry two X chromosomes, whereas men carry one X and one Y chromosome. These chromosomes carry DNA, or the blueprint of our entire character, well packed to carry this blueprint firmly from one generation to another. In other words, these chromosomes carry genes that define us.

22 Chromosomes + X and Y chromosomes

Y chromosome is special, not because it is carried by men, but because it has changed itself over millions of years from being X chromosome once upon a time to Y chromosome now. Yes, research has proved that 166 million years ago both chromosomes were similar.

Y chromosome carries a crucial gene called SRY (sex determining region on Y) gene, which is necessary for the development of testis and production of male hormones during embryonic development.

Apart from this gene, Y chromosome also carries other genes that help make man what he is.

Now coming to extinction of men theory, it was thought so because when both X and Y chromosomes were sequenced, it was found that Y chromosome carried few genes compared to X. To be precise Y chromosome carries 45 genes, whereas X chromosome carries 1438 genes!! (this might explain why women are difficult to understand – I remember Stephen Hawking the man who unraveled mystery of our universe, saying that he found it difficult to decipher a woman’s behaviour!)

Now a question will arise – why Y chromosome is losing its genes? If you see the picture of X and Y chromosome together (see below), you will realize how this poor creature, Y chromosome has lost its weight over the years!

So, why has it lost its genes then?

Answer lies in genetic recombination and mutation. It is a process whereby chromosomes mutually exchange genes and evolve. For example, both X chromosomes present in females, recombine each other to make females evolve better, they make genes stronger and healthier.

But, when Y chromosome was evolving, giving rise to genes that would define men, this recombination started affecting X chromosome, because it did not need any genes from Y chromosome. So, Y chromosome started concentrating its all genes in the region around SRY gene, only those genes that were necessary were packed there so as to keep away from X chromosome genes. Meantime, the other region of Y chromosome started shrinking as it did not have any more genes to carry. (see picture)

X and Y chromosomes

There is another reason – high mutation in Y chromosome. As it is placed in high oxidative condition of testes, and as it undergoes multiple cell divisions during production of sperms, it is vulnerable to high mutation. Mutation is change in gene structure or sequence. As there is little exchange between X and Y chromosomes, mutations and deletions over many million years have made Y chromosome look like Lilliput compared to X chromosome. Remember, these Y chromosome is faithfully transferred as it is from father to son without much change. If father’s Y has mutation, that is passed on to son, and if son gets mutation on his Y, he will pass it on to his son.

So, the male extinction theory basically says that as Y chromosome will die, so will all the men. Without Y chromosome there are no men.

But, yesterday, BBC reported that, men need not worry, as another research has proved that it is not all true that Y chromosome is dying fast.

Another Jennifer has come to the rescue of ‘man’ Kind – Jennifer Hughes of Whitehead Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

She compared human Y chromosome with that of chimpanzee and rhesus monkey and  found that, genetic decay in human Y chromosome is minimal in recent years, and human Y chromosome has lost only one gene in last 25 million years! Presently there is no sign of any decay in the Y chromosome.

That’s a good news! for men, at least for few million years more.

And for misandrists, they will have to keep hating men for ages to come. Sad though.

But, here is a lesson for men. We are not superior. And nature has its own ways to mend our ways. We, better behave as equals, if not inferior (Y is small). I wonder, how come men dominated women with this little Y all the while!! Move on to sociology from genetics now.

Core Competence or Diversification?

I am not a student of either business administration or management, but today I came across a small article which argued that core competence of a company is what drives it towards profitability.

What is core competence then? This theory was first given by C.K Prahlad and Gary Hamel,  in their article titled “The Core Competence of the Corporation” published in Harvard Business Review. Core competence is a set of skills, or production techniques, that are unique to a company. For example, Honda’s core competence is their engines, Canon’s is their sensors.

What made me think was many Indian company’s diverse nature – how  they are making profits in spite of being in diverse businesses?

Tata is involved from manufacturing salt to high end SUVs, it is involved in production of Tea to exporting softwares to providing telecommunication services. Mahindra  has diversified from tractor manufacturing to software business. Wipro manufactures soaps and computers.

Aditya Birla group has interests in cement, realty and telecommunications.

I think it is this diversification which is making them profitable as they are well placed to meet diverse domestic demand, because I believe their ‘core competence’ is their ‘brand’ names which are household names in India.

Honda can not launch mobile network here in India, because people are used to associate it with bikes. Whereas if Tata launches Nano or Laptop, people will still buy them – because for them Tata itself a brand, not a distinct product.

If Kingfisher had not diversified, it would have built a larger empire in liquor business – its core competence. Or is it because of diversification that it is able to still survive even after grounding (almost) of its airlines?

Godrej is going places after it diversified into many businesses. Recently I read it made huge profits in realty.

I think core competency applies to only such businesses which have for long concentrated on single range of products, and that too in developed countries.

Well, I am confused. If any management student is reading this, I welcome you to clear my doubt.

Tackling Left Wing Extremism (Naxalism) – Recent Measures Taken By Union and State Governments

In Prime Minister’s words, Naxalism is the biggest internal security threat being faced by India. He is not wrong. Naxals have killed more security personnel and civilians than victims claimed by terrorists and other extremists in North East India put together.

Government has adopted both violent and peaceful strategies to tackle threat posed by naxals. But lately it seems government is keener to follow peaceful strategy of development as a tool to dissuade potent recruits from joining armed struggle in naxal hit areas.

Naxal Affected Districts

Instead of carrot and stick policy, it appears that more of carrots have been offered lately by the government. But this will not lessen the stain on its hands – security personnel have committed human rights violations in these areas in the past, and this one of the reasons why there is resentment among locals that makes it easy for naxals to recruit men and women to wage armed struggle against the state.

In a meeting conducted by home ministry, officials have been warned to adopt a fair play while dealing with naxals.

As put by TOI:

“The meeting also directed the states and paramilitary forces to take all possible steps to ensure protection of human rights of every individual, while carrying out anti-Maoist operations and countering negative propaganda of the naxals.

The home ministry also asked the states to conduct a thorough probe into allegations of abuse of power by security forces and follow standard operating procedure while dealing with naxals. The states and the Centre are also firming up their policy to counter the negative propaganda of the naxals as they have been trying to garner support among the middle class by raising the issue of human rights.”

Both home ministry and rural development ministry have evolved a sensible approach in past two years to deal with naxalism effectively. Earlier, home ministry was under fire from rights activists and civil society for waging all out war against naxals named ‘operation green hunt’.

Development is the only approach that can eliminate any discontent in the long term. Areas affected by naxalism are some of the most backward regions of India. Take for example KBK region of Orissa and Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh, latter region is where top leaders of naxal movement come from.

It was because of lack of basic infrastructure and poor governance which made life miserable for tribals and other poor residing in these regions that this movement grew in monster proportion. Harassment by moneylenders, human rights violations by local police and siphoning off the money intended for local area development by the politicians and officials that made matters worse.

National and state highways through these regions for better connectivity of inaccessible areas for movement of people to access services like healthcare and markets; establishment of schools, anganawadis and primary health centres in these remote areas; supply of electricity to these remote area; efficient PDS for all inhabitants; importantly, implementation of MGNREGA, NRLM; strengthening panchayats, forest committees and bringing land reforms – are some of the measure that needed urgent effective implementation to stop the spread of naxalism. Finally, government has put some mechanism in place for carrying out these measures.

Integrated Action Plan

The Government approved an Integrated Action Plan (IAP) for 60 Selected Tribal and Backward Districts on 25th November, 2010 and Rs. 1500 crore was released under the Scheme in December, 2010.

The IAP has been approved by the Government with a block grant of Rs. 25 crore and Rs. 30 crore per district during 2010-11 and 2011-12 respectively for which the funds are to be placed at the disposal of the Committee headed by the District Collector and consisting of the Superintendent of Police of the District and the District Forest Officer.

Districts Covered Under Integrated Action Plan

The Development Commissioner/equivalent officer in charge of development in the State is responsible for scrutiny of expenditure and monitoring of the IAP. Macro-level monitoring of the IAP is to be carried out by the Committee headed by the Member-Secretary, Planning Commission. Also, the audit of the accounts will be done by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

Home ministry has asked government to include 18 more districts and extend this scheme for 12^th plan period also. It is said that planning commission wanted to stop further funding the scheme, but at the insistence of rural development ministry it has been continued.

This scheme does not replace KBK plan (Kalahand-Bolangir-Koraput) presently implemented in 8 district of Orissa with an annual allocation of Rs 130 crores. The IAP would also focus on effective implementation of the provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, and the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.

KBK Districts

Jobs Galore                                                           

To attract youth in naxal affected areas, government announced that it would employ large number of youth from these regions in government jobs.

According to The Hindu:

Apart from ensuring the immediate appointment of 18,000 panchayat development officers and as many junior engineers, the Centre has drawn up a blueprint to provide jobs to three-lakh youth in the 60 left wing extremist affected districts in the country.

For better implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS), Mr. Ramesh has ordered that each panchayat appoint one panchayat development officer and a junior engineer for a period of 10 years from within the district. Non-residents would not be considered for these posts.

All these districts would be covered under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) by March 2013 with the objective of training and providing jobs to three lakh youths over the next five years.

Potable Water and Good Roads

According to The Hindu:

“To ensure availability of potable water, Mr. Jairm Ramesh has earmarked 10 per cent of the Ministry’s annual budget under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) which amounts to Rs.935 crore for these 60 districts. The States would have to bear 15 per cent of the project cost with the Centre footing the rest.

He has also increased the provision under the Integrated Watershed Management Programme from Rs.12,000 per hectare to Rs.15,000 per hectare and approved construction of cement concrete roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana doing away the compulsion of blacktop roads.

The cost of construction of such roads is at least 50 per cent more and the Centre will bear 90 per cent of it. “

Positive Change

In January this year, CM of MP said that IAP has brought positive changes in the naxal affected areas. This is a welcome development, and heartening to hear this from BJP ruled state when funds are coming from Congress ruled centre.

At the same time, CM of MP asked centre to include some even districts of MP in the Security Related Expenditure Scheme. This scheme was introduced in 1999 to fund states for their anti naxal programs such as compensation amount to victims, rehabilitation package to surrendered naxals, cost of training given to state police etc. Presently this scheme is in place in 83 districts of 9 states.

One should remember PM Manmohan Singh’s words when it comes to implementation of such schemes meant for poor people. It is in the implementation that time and again governments have failed. He had said:

“……..to be persuasive we must be believable, to be believable we must be credible, to be credible we must be truthful. As administrators we must have zero tolerance towards corruption. Development programmes have to be delivered with complete honesty,”

Conclusion

Naxalism is an internal security matter and is not just a law and order problem also – it has grown into a big headache for both people and government. But its roots lie in deep discontent that apathy of government bred towards poor tribes of these regions. Only through addressing those problems it is possible to stop the further spread of left wing extremism. Whenever naxals indulge in violence, and obstruct development works being implemented, government must deal with sternly but as home ministry warned officials, without violating standard operation methods.

Greek Humiliation

EC, ECB and IMF have agreed to bail out Greece second time in two years now. Offering it a package of $170 billion to allow it to repay some of its debt and keep its banks afloat with some capital in them. But, this bail out has come at a cost – humiliation and promise of severe austerity measures by Greece.

Last week Greek parliament passed a resolution to impose austerity measures as demanded by eurozone countries. This includes further cut in government spending, cut in salaries and pensions and more pink slips.

Germany demanded more of such austerity from Greece – forgetting that humiliation of Greece is a repetition of what it had once experienced after first world war in the form of treaty of Versailles. Though that was related to war, nonetheless, the humiliation it is causing to Greece is undesirable, and in the long term it breeds contempt in the minds of Greeks.

Greece has been asked to bring down its debt to GDP ratio to 120.5% by 2020 from the present figure of around 160%. This means, Greece has to endure economic recession for another decade before it limps back to normalcy.

Many accuse Greek politicians for the mess Greece is in. But, ultimately it is people on the street who are paying for the imprudent and ostentatious policies adopted and implemented by Greek politicians few years ago.

For the fifth year Greece is experiencing economic recession. Private lenders, i.e. Greek debt holders have been asked by eurozone and ECB to forego their profits to the margin of more than 50%. It makes difficult for Greece to borrow money  in the future from private lenders.

Keynesians such as Paul Krugman argue that cuts in spending will only worsen the matters for the economy. Some argue that austerity measures are necessary to improve debt to GDP ratio which will help economy rebound in the long term.

More than economics, it is livelihood of common Greeks that is the matter of concern. What this crisis has brought to the fore is that bad policies by bad politicians can cripple a whole nation.

Greece should not be humiliated for its past sins. It has learnt its lessons, and it should be rescued with dignity it deserves as the cradle of western civilization.

National Counter – Terrorism Centre – What Is It and Why There Is Opposition?

Terrorism and corruption are two sides of a same coin called inhumanness. To tackle corruption, a monster that is threatening economic progress of India, some ‘wise’ people came up with an idea called ‘lokpal‘. Government killed it.

And when Mumbai was taken hostage by gunmen from neighbouring country, the government realized that there should be an agency – all powerful to gather intelligence and thwart terrorist activities. In home minister’s words:

“As the name NCTC suggests, the goal is to counter terrorism. Obviously, this will include preventing a terrorist attack, containing a terrorist attack should one take place, and responding to a terrorist attack by inflicting pain upon the perpetrators.”

So, to tackle terrorism, government passed an executive order to establish NCTC – National Counter Terrorism Centre – which has power to arrest any individual it suspects to be terrorist, without prior sanction from the states concerned.

Now, seeing this clause states, mainly BJP ruled, and also others ruled by regional parties are up in arms against central government. They think union government is diluting the powers of states, and is weakening federalism in the name of fighting terrorism.

When it came to corruption, governments scuttled every attempt by civil society to convince our representatives of the importance of bringing powerful lokpal. Then also they argued that powerful lokpal would infringe upon the rights of states. Government at the centre was happy about it – it needed someone to kill the bill. It obliged.

We have witnessed that terrorists do not see borders. NCTC must be powerful, but government would have shown little courtesy of consulting states before executing the order.

A major worry for state governments is that, a powerful centre would misuse NCTC as it is supposed to come under administrative ambit of IB (Intelligence Bureau) - which has been used for gathering political information about opponents and electoral prospects (wikileaks). Also, this agency will function under the ministry of home affairs, but will not be accountable to the parliament.

Our constitution in 7th schedule, list II, has given policing and law and order responsibilities to states. Even CBI can not initiate investigation without prior permission from concerned state governments.

But, home minister says the same constitution vests the union government with powers to provide its citizens security from both internal and external threats.

It is because of failure in intelligence gathering that major terrorist acts have  been taken place in the country. Add to it poor infrastructure and training of police to handle such challenges.

It is said that NCTC will have National Investigation Agency, National Technical Research Organization, Joint Intelligence Committee and National Security Guards under its control.

Both central government and state governments can work out a mutually acceptable formula through consultations and negotiations in the interest of the nation and people. There is no doubt that security of citizens should be a paramount concern of all political parties whether they are in power or in opposition.

But there is little hope. Lokpal is dead now. Corruption will anyway boom with booming India. If anti-terrorism measures become the victims of political tussle, then it will weaken the security apparatus paving the way for more terrorist strikes.

I was wondering if ‘federalism’ came in the way of stopping massacres of 1984 and 2002!

 

Unrest In Syria And Geopolitical Games

When few people suggested military operation against left wing extremists (naxalites), UPA government opposed the idea. Some human rights activists and NGOs were even against the use of paramilitary forces in fighting maoist menace. Army is just not meant for operations against its own fellow citizens. Its mode of operation is different than that of  police and paramilitary. Military ruthlessly uses force to eliminate its enemies.

Even though naxalites aim to overthrough government and establish their ideology and even after cold blood murder of hundreds of ‘police informers’ and police personnel, India being a democracy is cautious in using military force to quell the ‘biggest internal security threat‘ within its borders.

Come to Syria, where freewheeling military tanks of its army are busy shelling parts of Homs - epicentre of mass protests against the rule of president Bashar Al Assad. UN General assembly condemned human rights violations in Syria yesterday. But tanks are still impounding the city. More than 7000 people have been killed by Syrian army since 2011 January.

Few days ago, Russia and China together vetoed UN Security Council’s move to pass a resolution asking Assad to step down and make way for political reforms. Russia sells its arms to Syria and it still maintains Soviet era naval base in the city of Tartus on the Mediterranean coast. Any regime change will be injurious to its regional interests, as the new regime will be a puppet of USA and EU. China’s opposition was just a choice between following USA or Russia – it chose Russia.

President Assad belongs to a minority Alwaite sect which forms less than 9% of Syrian population in a predominantly Sunni country (74%). He inherited power in 2000 after his father Hafez’s death, who  had ruled Syria since 1971. Following a one party rule and suppressing political rights of its people, the regime  did not realize that Arab spring would haunt them too. The regime has its supporter in Iran, a Shia dominated country, but it has more enemies than friends in the region. Arab league has called for arming opposition groups in Syria just as in Libya. This move has its own dangerous implications in perpetuating civil war once the ruler is gone – armed civilians, rogue elements will grow as Frankenstein’s monster. Remember Taliban?

USA and EU are hellbent on regime change mainly to weaken and isolate Iran in the region. By installing puppets in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen and in future in Syria,western powers can loot the region’s rich oil resources and use the region to counter growing influence of China and Russia.

But history and even current developments tell us different stories. In 1979 when Shah was overthrown, people of Iran voted for the establishment of Islamic republic. In 2011 Egyptians voted Muslim Brotherhood to the power – both are anti west. When  dust settles, people in the region will grow more anti west. Pakistanis hate Americans as much as they hate Indians.

Assad lost his opportunity to reform and remain in power. He can not prolong murdering his own people (though he says they are terrorists). He will go anyway, but the question is – how will the west counter growing radical Islamism in the region who are filling the vacuum created by falling regimes, which might become safe havens for Al-Qaeda and like minded terrorist organizations?

War On Iran

USA and Israel, by imposing stricter economic and political sanctions on Iran through UN and EU, are upping the ante for Iran in Middle East. Israel is seriously contemplating war with Iran to destroy its nuclear research facilities and teach a lesson.

In pursuance of this folly of war, west is playing a dangerous game in west Asia. Iran, a Shia majority country has been systematically isolated and cornered in its own region, where once it yielded immense clout. Surrounded by Sunni dominant countries, and by openly offering its unconditional support for the falling regime of Assad Al Bashar, Iran has made more enemies than friends recently.

Since 1979, the year in which Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran was overthrown by now famous Islamic Revolution, Iran has made enemy of Israel which was once its ally during Shah regime. By establishing an Islamic republic and forcing out US and UK contractors and proxies out of its borders, Iran became an avowed enemy of the west in general, and USA in particular. If ayatollah’s are still clinging to power in spite of Arab spring and unrest in rest of the Arab world, it is because of the common hatred they all share for USA.

With its abundant natural resources Iran is being looked upon as another battleground for USA and western Europe to perpetuate their hegemony in the region in the name of promotion of democracy.

In 1979, when Iranians overthrew the Shah, they overwhelmingly voted for the establishment of an Islamic republic in a referendum. Same has happened in Egypt, where people have voted for Muslim Brotherhood in a first democratic elections held in that country.

Iran, bullied by eternally insecure Israel, and always-keen-to-stamp-its-hegemony, the USA, is trying to make itself secure by resorting to nuclear program. It says it is peaceful, but there are chances that it may not be just peaceful.

Iranian president said few days ago that they were not fools to build two bombs against 25000 bombs. It seems plausible that Iran would not risk full scale war and humiliation while pursuing what it calls peaceful nuclear research.

USA by adhering to its dual-track strategy of engagement with preconditions and heavy sanctions on Iran, is not giving enough space for substantial dialogue with Iran. The issue can be resolved through negotiations and intelligent diplomacy, but regional interests of sinking worldpower come in its way to look at the logic of peaceful solution for the problem.

When Bush called Iran as part of axis of evil along with Iraq and North Korea, few doubted his intentions then. Though Obama doesn’t call it as an evil nation, he has not changed the general policy of demonizing Iran and arm-twisting it to submission. Bush successfully invaded Iraq and changed regime there to suit their geopolitical interests. Iran seems to be the next on its list. Obama, Nobel peace prize winner, should give dialogue a chance to defuse the situation.

It is humiliation of 78 million Iranians by the west. Iran has shown defiance and has endured pressure tactics of Israel and USA for past 30 years.

In 1953, USA for the first time experimented its policy of directly meddling in the affairs of sovereign nations when it overthrew Iranian PM Mosaddegah in a coup famously known as Operation Ajax. And after 60 years it is still talking about regime change in Iran. Does superpower status confer it any right to interfere and destabilize a sovereign nation?

Iran doesn’t recognize Israel, and its president famously said once that he would wipe Israel off the map. It seems as rhetoric but Iran is not all innocent here. It has armed Hezbollah in Lebanon which frequently keeps sending rockets into Israeli territory.

But, a full scale war will be a disaster for the world economy. By destabilizing the already destabilized region, USA will leave a permanent scar on the psyche of whole Arab world. Saudi kings might be salivating at the prospect of seeing a defeated Iran, but they should know that simmering discontent within their country might erupt at any moment.

India must not abandon Iran. As a responsible regional power, and to meet its ever increasing energy demand, it will be  prudent to play its own game in the region without straining its relation with either Israel or Iran. They too need India to sell their arms and oil, so India will do well to not to isolate Iran.

War must be a last resort when all civilized options fail. There are such options on the table, it is just the West and Israel are reluctant to use them.