I believe we can fly
It’s India’s 59th Republic Day today…
Pick whichever way you’d like to hear the greeting from this Hinglish chat conversation:
Friend: Republic Day की हार्दिक शुभकामनाऍं
Me: Happy प्रजासत्तक दिवस to you too!
On October 14th, a newly arrived Polish immigrant died at Vancouver International Airport after being Tasered by the police.
Taser is an electroshock weapon that is used by the police to fire a high-voltage electric shock at the victim in order to subdue his muscles. “Electroshock weapon technology uses a temporary high-voltage low-current electrical discharge to override the body’s muscle-triggering mechanisms. The recipient feels great pain, and can be momentarily paralyzed while an electric current is being applied. It is reported that applying electroshock devices to more sensitive parts of the body is more painful.” (Wikipedia)
Robert Dziekanski, a Polish immigrant arrived at Vancouver, Canada after his first international flight. Speaking only Polish, he was left helpless at the airport arrival lounge for over 10 hours. This left him frustrated, he turned violent, and was left dead when the police fired Tasers at him aiming to control the unarmed man. The whole incident was captured by an eye-witness Paul Pritchard on his camera.
While I strongly condemn the Taser incident there is something in the Canadian society that I think is worth appreciating:
- I respect Paul for handing over the video to the police in order to help the investigations. Note that this incident involved the police, who, were also the investigators of the incident.
- I respect the faith a common man has in the police and law enforcement officers here.
- I respect the fact that the police returned the video back to Paul, fully knowing how humiliating and embarrassing it would be – not just to the RCMP, but to Canada itself.
- I respect the freedom of press here and how the matter is being discussed openly and transparent manner.
- Finally, I respect the fact that the common here man believes that justice will be delivered, despite the police themselves being involved in the incident.
The video is here. Content warning.
Indeed, there are many things we (Indians) need to learn…
Image from CBC News
Instrumental and Vocal versions of our National Anthem [tag]Jana Gana Mana[/tag], another awesome Bharatbala production. I especially loved the instrumental version 
Happy 60th [tag]Independence Day[/tag], everyone.
![[tag]India Independence Day[/tag]](http://priyank.com/images/weblog/2007/2007-08-15_iflag.gif) ![[tag]Independence Day[/tag]](http://priyank.com/images/weblog/2007/2007-08-15_iflag2.gif){kind=small} |
“उजड़े नहीं अपना चमन, |
“आसाम से गुजरात तक, |
I feel more and more that the verses above is nothing but wishful thinking. Nevertheless, it is an occasion to celebrate.
Sixty years of [tag]Indian Independence[/tag].
Found this amazing [tag]video[/tag] few days back:
Its a [tag]BharatBala[/tag] Production, the creators of some of the finest advertisements, films and special interest videos. The theme is taken from the [tag]Bhagawad Gita[/tag]:
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन ।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ॥२.४७
The video says: A man’s [tag]karma[/tag] is to forever turn the wheel of life towards a better future for all
The website elaborates on the theme, excerpts:
The wheel of dharma is the unstoppable energy of life
…
This has been the spirit of free [tag]India[/tag] and this is the message of our film.
Indeed, a vision for our country’s future…
And an amazing video!
Last week’s Economic Times article “Where even Ethiopia is doing better than Asia” brings out the stark imbalance in [tag]India[/tag]’s [tag]economic growth[/tag]. India’s position on malnutrition is worse than that of Ethiopia – one of the most poor countries of the world.
“The Unicef analysis, done in conjunction with India’s health ministry, found that about 46% of children below the age of 3 suffer from [tag]malnutrition[/tag]. That’s a staggering figure, and one that compares with roughly 35% in sub-Saharan Africa and 8% in China. It’s even more startling when you consider India predicts growth of 9.2% this year. “
The fact that we are so casual about our future, speaks volumes about the disconnected focus of the government on ‘reforms’. What’s worse, the situation hasn’t really improved since independence. This news succeeds the recent shocking event at Puri’s Jagannath Temple reported by DNA: “[tag]Food[/tag] destroyed at temple after foreigner’s entry”.
In a country where millions go to bed hungry, Rs 1 million worth of food meant as a holy offering at Orissa’s Jagannath temple was destroyed on Friday because a foreigner had entered it — an act seen as defiling the premises.
Patrix has some creative ideas I couldn’t agree more-
If the temple authorities feared associating themselves with the ‘defiled’ food then they could have ‘conducted a yagna to disassociate’ (bear with me, trying to be a lil creative here) themselves from it and leave the food alone in a lonely corner outside the temple complex. I’m sure the ‘defiled’ food would find plenty of takers even in the most religious of towns.
60 million malnourished [tag]children[/tag] in India, while people in North America take food for granted… I can picture Gods shaking their heads in disapproval.
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