The Sticky Fudge!

Fudge was my favourite sweet for a long time.  Filled with chocolate, sugar, cream, and nuts, its taste was simply irresistible.  One day, quite unexpectedly, Fudge introduced me to an unsavoury flavour.

It happened in 2001.  There was a huge political controversy following the release of a video tape in a sting operation.  The tape showed a politician accepting cash as 'illegal gratification' purportedly to render a service of questionable nature.

Cornered, he tried desperately to wriggle out, first blaming his political rivals, and tater pleading with an innocence that would put even a child to shame, that the tape was edited, dubbed, doctored, interpolated, and ... then came the word that rudely shook me out of my sweet slumber – ‘fudged!’  For the first time I realised (after referring to the dictionary of course) that 'Fudge’ was more than a mere sweet! It meant to falsify, fabricate, manipulate or cook (as in cooking up facts and figures).

Almost ten years have passed.  Fudge does not fascinate me any more. 'But it continues to be an all time favourite with the politicians, for it helps them to disown their words and deeds!  Fudge enables them to blame it on wrong reportage and fictitious conspiracies.  When challenged with evidence, they could go on an 'excavation spree' digging digressive parallels from the history.  Finally, when everything fails, they can resort to rhetoric beyond our common sense and comprehension.

With general elections round the corner, how many more ‘fudges’ would we have to chew?

- April 2009

Terror from Across!

The bestseller, 'Is New York Burning?' tells the story of terrorists threatening to explode an atomic bomb smuggled in to the US from Pakistan.  As tensions mount, the US President receives a word of advice from the Israeli Prime Minister, "Tell them publicly that if that bomb explodes, Pakistan's Northwest Frontier areas where these acts are coming from will disappear from the face of the earth ... And if you don't have the guts, I will do it for you".

An imaginary situation; but a typically realistic response!  That is Israel - the touchstone of pre-emptive decimation of enemies, and an inspiring symbol of fortitude. 

Look at India.  We fought 4 wars over issues that still remain unresolved.  Our neighbours with the exception of one or two are hostile or unfriendly.  The long coastline and land borders are susceptible to infiltration and inflow of explosives.

26/11 was a rude reminder of these vulnerabilities.  Two months have passed. And we are still talking!

What are we hoping to achieve?  That the world at large will do us a favour by closing down the terrorist camps in Pakistan?  That they will round up our 'most wanted criminals' hiding there and hand them over to us?

Are we trying to secure the future of this nation? Or are we prolonging the sixty two years of agony?

- February 2009

Happy New Year

2008 is history.  But history reminds us of its harsh realities, instils confidence and strength in us, and prepares us for a new beginning.

And as we gird to meet the challenges ahead in the aftermath of 26/ 11, we have only one thought, one wish, one resolution…

- that we will not be terrorised, intimidated or divided by people who do not like what we stand for

- that we will show our spirit and dignity, resolve and grit that we are determined to defend our values and way of life

- that no one will ever succeed in destroying what we hold dear to our hearts:  Freedom, Peace, and Happiness.

- that we will continue to fight disease, poverty and terrorism

We dedicate with reverence and gratitude this New Year to the memories of those gallant men who sacrificed their precious lives, so that we are safe, and are here to greet each other a Happy New Year.

-  January 2009