Tags:
Journalism of Courage
The Haneef Conundrum: Mohd Haneef, a suspected terrorist, was granted consular access to the Indian High Commission in Australia, was allowed to speak to his wife, had the services of a competent Australian lawyer who successfully got him bail which is exceptional in Australia in case of a terrorism-related offence. If an Australian were detained in India on suspicion of terrorist activity it is doubtful whether he would have received these facilities and services. In these circumstances it was inappropriate for our foreign ministry to summon the Australian High Commissioner and lecture him about providing facilities for Haneef under Australian law. As rightly observed by the Australian High Commissioner the issue is not of racism. The problem is of terrorism which has for long afflicted our country.
The twist in the tale lies in the cancellation of Haneef’s visa which makes him ineligible for employment. Haneef failed to furnish security as required by the bail order and was therefore removed to the present detention centre where under Australian law Haneef is required to be in solitary confinement in his cell which incidentally has books, magazines, religious items and a television. He has access to a private exercise yard between 7:30 am and 6:30 pm. He is allowed telephone calls, as well as personal and legal visits. Nonetheless recklessness in handing over SIM card to his relation Sabeel, a suspected terrorist, without more surely does not warrant solitary confinement which is internationally frowned upon as violative of basic human rights. Our Supreme Court has pronounced it unconstitutional. If there are details of Haneef’s contacts and communications with the suspected London terrorists, the liberal and democratic Australian government owes it to the people of India and Australia and to the international community to divulge the gist of his actions.
Panditji and Edwina: It was common knowledge in late forties that Nehru was enamoured of Edwina Mountbatten. Naughty lyrics were composed about their relationship whether it was platonic or emotional or sexual, which indeed is a matter for endless speculation. No one except inveterate prudes thought the worse of Panditji for his aesthetic taste for feminine beauty. The matter becomes complicated if Nehru’s decision to refer the Kashmir dispute to the UN was influenced by Edwina in league with her husband the Governor General of India as Pamela Mountbatten would have us believe in her recent book. Apparently there is no cogent historical evidence to support this theory. But why should we be disproportionately outraged? Right thinking and fair-minded Nehru could on his own have decided to invoke the UN machinery irrespective of Edwina. With hindsight we may bemoan that decision. However, let us not attribute too important a role to Edwina and thus help boost the sales of Pamela’s book.
Thrusting Greatness: Indians continue to hit the global scene for a variety of reasons, amusing in some cases. For example, the doctorate conferred by the University of Leeds in UK on Shilpa Shetty whose citation proclaims that the doctorate was for Shilpa Shetty’s contribution to the cultural diversity of India. What a shame that we were not aware of her talents in this field till Leeds University dispelled our ignorance. In fact many are still unaware of her specific contribution to culture. Perhaps Shilpa may give a discourse on the subject at the India International Centre and enlighten the ignoramuses.
Shilpa’s stars are continuously on the ascendant. She is going places including the Queen’s birthday party. Believers in astrology, horoscopes and the rest may explore the matter and make useful discoveries about the phenomenon of greatness, not achieved, but thrust upon Shilpa. But all this pales into utter insignificance when we with bated breath witness the pinnacle of greatness thrust upon Pratibha Patil, our first woman President to be, not because of her stars, but due to the unrelenting endeavours and ingenious manoeuvres of the Congress, the Left and its allies. May God, sorry, our stars, help us. Amen.
