The recent earthquake in the Sichuan province of China has been very devastating. Thousands of people lost their lives and the terrain has been mauled beyond any recognition. Rivers have changed course and dams have burst. Chinese army is struggling with a war like situation in peaceful times with no conventional enemy in sight. In many places damaged dams are being exploded with ammunition for avoiding greater catastrophes. Thousands of people have been rendered homeless in a country that is considered one of the galloping nations in the global development race. Once again, natural warnings are addressed to those who tend to take Nature for granted while charting out fast track courses for development. And the more divorced one is from natural logic the more severe would be the punishment.
In the all pervading trauma that follows any earthquake there are so many subtle aftershocks that can miss our notice. The devastating earthquake has exposed many basic errors in the social development measures that Chinese had highlighted to the whole world as their own unique ones, impossible for any others to imitate. There is no doubt that China is a special country and they have tremendous advantages as a nation with predominantly one race, one language and one religion. Yet when it comes to translating developmental goals into action in terms of reforms in the society the straight jacket systems can develop chinks. Disciplined people too can come across totally unexpected obstacles while working towards goals set up by their masters. The earthquake scenario in China has thrown up many such situations and we should take note of them for avoiding the same mistakes.
Single Child
One of the sad and striking stories that have emerged from the earthquake scene is about the number of Chinese villages that will be ‘people-less’ after a few years. Several schools have been destroyed and with them the single child from most of the households. It is now too late for many of the couples to compensate for their losses. They are proud citizens who were earnestly participating in the fast track growth of their nation. But suddenly they are at crossroads with nothing to look forward to. Nobody will take care of them in their old age and all their sacrifices are in vain. They heeded to the dictates of a tough regime for accelerating national progress but now they themselves have no future. Raw logic of economics and development has ruined their lives forever. They do not have anything left in this life and many do not believe in rebirths either.
China’s single child policy has been lauded by many as something that only Chinese could decide and implement. Population control is a must for accelerating the progress of any country and it is all the more important for overloaded ones like China and India. Yet when an ‘over-democratic’ country like India attempted to implement their two-child family planning program it was cleverly sabotaged by the organized communities. External and internal agencies worked overtime to use it as an opportunity to cheat the majority and accelerate their own population growth. Enough is enough and now India must learn from catastrophe in their neighborhoods. India must say good-bye to its two-child norm and relieve the majority community from the state-induced inhibition towards larger families. The Indian majority must multiply at a higher rate for the betterment of India in every sense.
Ubiquitous Dams
Building dams anywhere and everywhere is an easy option for irrigating an ever increasing requirement of agricultural land. Unlike in India, where each dam-building project is preceded by reasonable & unreasonable objections and intimidating mass movements, it is a much easier exercise to construct dams wherever required in China which is disciplined and under a strict dictatorial regime. The umpteen number of small, medium and massive dams in every province of China is a proof of this. Environmental and ecological impact assessments are not an essential step in their decision making process. The one and only objective is development for the Chinese nation and for Chinese people. And now we know what happens when the natural terrain is mutilated without any consideration for the sake of development. The natural reaction can be much more devastating than any terrorist attack.
A damaged dam is a much greater threat to the nearby areas than any river in full flood. Chinese army is working in full steam to demolish such damaged dams in dozens. And each demolished dam will give rise to a whole lot of new problems. The flow of river will take newer paths that will call for more rehabilitation of affected people. Thus thousands of people have been rendered homeless by the careless logic of ubiquitous irrigation dams and the entire advantage has been wiped out by one earthquake. It is true that China could meet the food requirement of their massive population much easier than India, but the way they have chosen is now questionable. Natural flow of rivers cannot be hampered just for the sake of irrigating more and more lands for food.
The overall message is now loud and clear. Natural resources, natural patterns and natural logic cannot be tampered with merely for achieving material progress and development. Due consideration has to be given to everything that is related to a natural system or process while attempting to harness it for unintended purposes. Population growth and food production are just two of those natural processes that cannot be manipulated with limited objectives. Nature has its own ways to limit the population and provide food for them. Man-made governments must design their national objectives in line with the natural objectives. And not only the two objectives must match but also the government measures must be subservient to those of the all powerful Nature. No ‘undefinism’ (http://www.pseudodictionary.com/undefinism) can ever overtake the natural pace of development and progress. Any apparent acceleration will always get corrected and that too in very violent fashions. India’s planners must learn from the social aftershocks of Chinese earthquakes.
Showing posts with label china. Show all posts
Showing posts with label china. Show all posts
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Global Warning from CHINA
Voice of truth from the old & wise are often unheeded and shouted out by the unwise and crooked ones with vested interests. This is what happened to ‘patriotic rebel’ Mr. George Fernandes when he said in our august parliament that China is Enemy No.1 as far as India is concerned. He was stating this with the full knowledge and calculations as the Defence Minister of India. Yet the leftists and left-overs from the ‘Hindi-Cheeni bhai bhai’ era lost no time in condemning his statement. The hard core leftists of India, whose national interests are always suspect, continue to attack his stand and is coercing the wobbly government in power to get more friendly with the enemy. China is a demon which is being let loose by the careless international community and the consequences can be highly damaging when we consider their cunning past and future requirements.
People’s Republic of China (PRC) is almost certain to replace United States of America (USA) as the world’s biggest economy by the year 2015. It will be followed in the ladder by USA, India, Japan and Germany in that order. Economic power is fast replacing military might as the winning parameter for world power and PRC will soon start dictating its own terms in the new world order. China is a special country and it has several features that can bring about disastrous consequences for the world, especially its immediate neighbours. Perhaps the one and only way to survive a disaster is to become aware of it early enough and start preparing for its prevention or damage control. Chinese interests are definitely going to turn against India sooner or later, whatever we way look at it.
Hegemony & Fifth Columns
Someone rightly said that future wars will be fought for water and not for oil or gold. With the ill effects of global warming setting in much earlier than expected, it is definitely going to make matters worse. Snowing in Arabian Peninsula, unlimited number of cyclones and typhoons in America and unprecedented extent of snowing in China are going to make the strategy planners sit up in these parts of the world. Water for everyday life is as important as air and the most affected nations know their increasing requirements in the wake of global warming. Chinese strategists must be definitely looking for an entry into tropical areas with access to warmer seas. Their doubletalk about the state of Arunachal Pradesh in India is proof enough for this. They know that a democratic diversity like India is weak and its rulers (like Nehru) can be easily fooled.
In this background India can forget its 1962 experience only at its own peril. A much more stronger and unchallenged China can easily rip through Arunachal Pradesh and redraw its borders overnight. Then it is only West Bengal or Bangladesh that stands in its way to the Bay of Bengal. A vast majority of Maoists, Leninists, Marxists and what not, which are thriving in these parts of the world will make it easier for China to cut its glorious corridor to warm waters. No UN and no USA will come to the help of India at this juncture. Though Chinese themselves have given up Communism, it has been carefully cultivating the growth of leftist offshoots in many parts of the Asian sub-continent. All such apparently disparate groups will come together as the fifth column for the Chinese army when it wants to reach the bay. We must also bear in mind that Myanmar is much more close to China than to India.
World Policeman & Democracy
All those who can think independently about the future of this planet will agree on the need to have a responsible world leadership and world policeman. Of course we can always cherish and nurture our hopes for a just and equitable United Nations which bestows equal status for all world nations; but it will always remain a desirable target. Whenever there is a world crisis and we need some one to take decisions, the whole world looks up to UN. And its organizational mechanism has always risen to the occasion in arriving at some sound decisions. But when it comes to the difficult part of its implementation, it is always the strongest nation that can do something. During cold war era we had options, but it is not the case anymore. Like it or not, the world policeman is USA now. But it may not be the case forever.
There is a growing dislike for anything and everything American among various sections of world society for various reasons. This is bound to translate into all transactions and business between nations. The role of China becomes very important in this scenario. With its seemingly unbiased stand on almost all world issues, China is slowly and steadily pushing out USA in every sphere. Chinese rulers are utilizing its unique low cost production advantage to its fullest use in replacing USA as the preferred trading partner for all nations except its rivals. Sooner or later this is bound to reflect in the health of US economy and its position as a world policeman. A strong and resurgent China is bound to punch out USA from the world ring in not so distant future.
We have everything to lose in this scenario. No Indian and no Japanese will sleep peacefully after China anoints itself as the world policeman. The whole world must realize that it is better to have a democracy as world policeman rather than a pseudo-communist monolith. If the policeman is misbehaving there is at least a chance to correct it by voting out the incumbent leaders. But an undefined political setup like what exists in China can become dangerously robotic and inhuman. China has certain unique characteristics in terms of its race, religion, culture and nationalism. It will be another dose of Nazism, but of a much more frightening scale. Millions and millions of lives will be required to end the rule of a Chinese Hitler. It is not too late now, but only if we can heed to the voice of wise men and visionaries.
People’s Republic of China (PRC) is almost certain to replace United States of America (USA) as the world’s biggest economy by the year 2015. It will be followed in the ladder by USA, India, Japan and Germany in that order. Economic power is fast replacing military might as the winning parameter for world power and PRC will soon start dictating its own terms in the new world order. China is a special country and it has several features that can bring about disastrous consequences for the world, especially its immediate neighbours. Perhaps the one and only way to survive a disaster is to become aware of it early enough and start preparing for its prevention or damage control. Chinese interests are definitely going to turn against India sooner or later, whatever we way look at it.
Hegemony & Fifth Columns
Someone rightly said that future wars will be fought for water and not for oil or gold. With the ill effects of global warming setting in much earlier than expected, it is definitely going to make matters worse. Snowing in Arabian Peninsula, unlimited number of cyclones and typhoons in America and unprecedented extent of snowing in China are going to make the strategy planners sit up in these parts of the world. Water for everyday life is as important as air and the most affected nations know their increasing requirements in the wake of global warming. Chinese strategists must be definitely looking for an entry into tropical areas with access to warmer seas. Their doubletalk about the state of Arunachal Pradesh in India is proof enough for this. They know that a democratic diversity like India is weak and its rulers (like Nehru) can be easily fooled.
In this background India can forget its 1962 experience only at its own peril. A much more stronger and unchallenged China can easily rip through Arunachal Pradesh and redraw its borders overnight. Then it is only West Bengal or Bangladesh that stands in its way to the Bay of Bengal. A vast majority of Maoists, Leninists, Marxists and what not, which are thriving in these parts of the world will make it easier for China to cut its glorious corridor to warm waters. No UN and no USA will come to the help of India at this juncture. Though Chinese themselves have given up Communism, it has been carefully cultivating the growth of leftist offshoots in many parts of the Asian sub-continent. All such apparently disparate groups will come together as the fifth column for the Chinese army when it wants to reach the bay. We must also bear in mind that Myanmar is much more close to China than to India.
World Policeman & Democracy
All those who can think independently about the future of this planet will agree on the need to have a responsible world leadership and world policeman. Of course we can always cherish and nurture our hopes for a just and equitable United Nations which bestows equal status for all world nations; but it will always remain a desirable target. Whenever there is a world crisis and we need some one to take decisions, the whole world looks up to UN. And its organizational mechanism has always risen to the occasion in arriving at some sound decisions. But when it comes to the difficult part of its implementation, it is always the strongest nation that can do something. During cold war era we had options, but it is not the case anymore. Like it or not, the world policeman is USA now. But it may not be the case forever.
There is a growing dislike for anything and everything American among various sections of world society for various reasons. This is bound to translate into all transactions and business between nations. The role of China becomes very important in this scenario. With its seemingly unbiased stand on almost all world issues, China is slowly and steadily pushing out USA in every sphere. Chinese rulers are utilizing its unique low cost production advantage to its fullest use in replacing USA as the preferred trading partner for all nations except its rivals. Sooner or later this is bound to reflect in the health of US economy and its position as a world policeman. A strong and resurgent China is bound to punch out USA from the world ring in not so distant future.
We have everything to lose in this scenario. No Indian and no Japanese will sleep peacefully after China anoints itself as the world policeman. The whole world must realize that it is better to have a democracy as world policeman rather than a pseudo-communist monolith. If the policeman is misbehaving there is at least a chance to correct it by voting out the incumbent leaders. But an undefined political setup like what exists in China can become dangerously robotic and inhuman. China has certain unique characteristics in terms of its race, religion, culture and nationalism. It will be another dose of Nazism, but of a much more frightening scale. Millions and millions of lives will be required to end the rule of a Chinese Hitler. It is not too late now, but only if we can heed to the voice of wise men and visionaries.
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