Devotion

He is a friend of mine for last 18 years. We are not very close friends. Not like best buddies or anything. But he is a good bloke and a good friend. He was brilliant from right from the 1st grade. He topped the merit charts in 10th grade state wide examination. He repeated that feat again in 12th grade state level examination. He enrolled into Karanataka Regional Engineering College for Computer Science. The Karanataka REC is one of the top most engineering institutions in India. He obviously scored high grades through out his engineering years. After graduation he joined a software firm in Banglore with good salary and it was his time for enjoying bachelor days. But he didn’t follow the script from this point onwards. He worked hard for a year or so and then decided to do something unthinkable. With bright future in hand and lot of cash to throw around he decided to join RSS social work. His plan was to do so for at least a year and then recalculating his life path. His father is close to RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) and the kid was obviously influenced by his fathers dedication towards the organization. By joining that organization for social work he was certainly making his father proud. He wasn’t going to get paid for his work. The only thing organization did for him was to feed him and get him a room to live. He rarely stayed home, doing field work most of the time. The journey from earning attractive salary to earning absolutely nothing was not only unique but also stunning in the context of current youth in India. Everyone talks about (including this lukkha blogger) paying back to the country or working for motherland etc. But this guy actually walked the talk. And we can marvel to the end of the world at his decision but I am sure, to him, this was the right thing to do.

After finishing a year in RSS he came back to the ‘civilian’ life. He studied for an entrance exam for higher education and recently got admitted into IIT Powai for M Tech. (He scored 'only' 99.81% in the exam!)

A relative of mine – my mothers’ mamaji – is attached to RSS since his childhood. He has three kids. All of them grown up and obviously very close to RSS work. After finishing their bachelors in Economics and Science they all went to do the field work for RSS. They were so devoted to the work and so engrossed in their ideals of building a strong Indian society that none them wanted to get married. Finally, his father pleaded that at least one of them to get married and start family life. They discussed amongst themselves and one of them finally emerged as a 'candidate' to enter into ‘Grihasthashram’ i.e. married life. Two brothers are still doing field work. They get paid nothing except for food and shelter. They are never going to have families, bank balance or fancy cars. Nothing! And yet they will be winner albeit in difference sense.

There are thousands and thousands of such stories. I can fill reams of papers describing their devotion. I wish I knew all such people and I wish I could find words to describe the valor and sacrifice.

India is an ancient civilization. Well, we all say that and we all know that. Ask any India about the problems facing Indian society and he or she will give you a huge list. Some savvy citizens will throw in big words and historical perspective into their analysis. It is safe to say that most of the Indians have Doctorate in analyzing problems faced by India and Indian society. Ask them what they do to solve those problems and more often than not there will be pin-drop silence. It’s true that not everyone has to ‘sacrifice’ their lives to serve the nation. Most of the people start families. We call such people as ‘common’ man or general populace. There is nothing wrong in this either. But to ignore the work of few individuals who devote their life towards betterment of the society is all most detestable. pPeople who sacrifice their life for nation are not more patriotic than people who start families. Everyone is patriotic. It’s just that people who decided to swim against the flow, who, instead of asking questions try to find answers, are the people we should look up to.

But that’s not how it goes. The way Indian media portrays RSS and RSS work is appalling. They portray this largest non-governmental, non-profit, un-paid organization in the world as a religious fanatic akin to Taliban. The reality is far different. Not only the members (I am talking about the full time members) are highly educated but they are educated in western style education system. They all are well versed in English as well their native languages. They are aware of current affairs and they never ever force their views (i.e. they never issue Fatwa!) down people’s throat. Yet English media not only ignore the tremendous amount of work done by RSS but their interpretation raises serious questions about integrity of news media.

The truth is that these RSS people don’t really care about what English media say about them. They are very happy with their work and in spite of all the difficulties and obstacles they will continue to do their work till they achieve the goal of making our society strong.

I feel proud that I am born in the land that gives birth to such people.

Barack Obama

It’s funny to read headlines and commentaries about Barack Obama creating history. He did create history by beating formidable Hillary Clinton but most of the Pundits ain’t talking about this part. They are praising him for being first black candidate to win nomination for Presidential race. It’s true to certain extent but to anoint him as symbol of black liberation is all most as non-sense as saying Georgi boy is savior of freedom. One, Barack Obama is only 50% black. His father was black and mother was white. Second, this Harvard educated person has very few things common with the real black population of this country. Having said this, I am not questioning his capabilities. He is a hard-working, ambitious and intelligent person but let’s credit him for his abilities rather than crowning him for his skin color. Because, this country still has to cross some distance before electing a truly black person as President of United States.

Let’s talk about what I mean by ‘truly’ black president. When I say black American I am talking about the people of African heritage who suffered untold misery for last two hundred years in this land. First, as slaves and then as segregated citizens with no legal or human rights. The scars of the past are still evident in the present.

Barack Obama was born to well-to-do, highly educated black immigrant from Kenya and free-minded white woman from Kansas. Barack Obama Sr. was a brilliant student in his native country and was sent by Government of Kenya to US for higher educated. He returned to Kenya after finishing degree from Harvard. Our Presidential candidates’ mother was also highly education and after divorcing Barack Obama Sr. (she was one of his many marriages) she stayed back in US and raised her kid. Such a well-to-do and highly educated parental heritage of Barack Obama stands stark in contrast with most of the black population of United States. All though, free of slavery and official racial discrimination, the black community of United States is yet to find the firm footing in the modern world. Languished in poverty and lagging in every possible progress indicator the community is struggling to find identity, get in terms with the history and figure out where the community stands in terms of future. We have quite of few individuals who broke the glass ceiling and shone bright but for whole community to accept their past and build future will take some more generations.

Barack Obama is right when he says that he understands the pain of black community but he can never identify himself with the pain. He never suffered the crises that most of black kids go through. The gangs, the drugs, police harassments, very high High-School drop out rate and lack of role models. And yes, he can work for them. Yes, he can work with them. Yes, he can be a role model. But he can’t be one of them. In this regards, he stands on the same platform as Hillary Clinton.

I like Barack Obama. He at least sounds genuine and honest. His political life is too young to be blemished. He got no baggage to carry, except that of huge expectations. And his gaffes can be forgiven for his lack of experience. I hope he wins the election.

But it’s all most impossible to answer the question whether America is ready for a black president. They are yet to face that situation. Barack Obama is not black. He is dark skinned but let’s celebrate his achievements and his audacity to run against Clintons and let’s hope patiently that in few more years or perhaps, few more generations before we will have a genuine black guy running for American presidency.