A month in the media is a long time – so much happened!

Time of India

16 hours ago

Freelance journalist Ashali Varma has authored the biography of her father late Lt. Gen. PS Bhagat — 'The Victoria Cross: A Love Story'. She was executive producer with the International Commentary Service Inc, New York in 1990. She was the executive publisher of The Earth Times, New York (1992- 98). She has also worked as the editor of Choices Magazine, United Nations Development Programme. She writes on various issues including human rights, population and sustainable development. LESS ... MORE
I write this blog with a heavy heart, as so much has happened over the last month, and I also had health problems. My first thought is to pray for the families of the Air India crash, and I pray such a disaster never happens again anywhere in the world.
Whatever the reason, we will get to the bottom of it, as India, for sure, will get to the bottom of what caused it. Tata has not only sent people on the ground, but they have said they will pay Rs 1 Crore to the family of every victim.
We have a good safety record as far as our flights are concerned, and people must not be scared of flying, as more people die in road accidents per country than plane crashes.
Then we had a very big victory over Pakistan! Even though they presented it as a victory for them! This after some of the best war analysts in the world had extensive interviews with our major TV channels, explaining via their satellite photos how much we had crippled their command control centres, there terror infrastructure and their airfields.
Much of this is old news, and Pakistan had their own narrative and copied us by sending a team of their so-called MPs and politicians to a few countries where they thought they would get the most mileage. But they got brickbats, while our team of ministers and MPs wowed every country.
Just think what Bilawal Bhutto is against Shashi Tharoor! Let alone India, the way he spoke and presented the case, for the 88-hour skirmish, even the Pakistani public and media were jealous.
And then the master stroke of sending several MPs and ministers from different parties to speak about India, from all the religions of India, portrayed beyond any doubt that whether you are of any religion, caste or opposition party, when India speaks – it speak in unison for INDIA, it stands firm about its civilisation, its security and its special place in the world.
There were naysayers in India who would denigrate every step we take as a country, but they are more reviled both by mainstream media and social media. So the sooner they get their act together, the better for their political ambitions.
There are some hard-hitting truths that all Indians must learn:
First, you can criticise the central government, but at least come up with good data and arguments.
Second, think hard before you speak, especially in public or to the media.
Third, come up with solid, enactable solutions, not harebrained ideas. Realise you are dealing with voters who, through smartphones, know more than a one-sided messages.
Do not ever talk down to a voter or someone from the media or even social media. This is not the 1960s or even the India of 2004. More voters and their families are educated than before even though they may not be of the highest standard. More people have aspirations to bring themselves and their kids being better off than their parent's generation, and more successful.
So positive vibes and political encouragement and action are needed. Some big parties do it well but don't talk much about it—some just criticise every move but don't tell you solutions as they don't have any.
Lastly, this seems to be the era of wars, not peace. Some wars are watched closely, but others fade from the news. For instance, not many talk of the brutal civil war in Sudan, or what is happening in Syria, Baluchistan, Afghanistan, the South China Seas, or even countries in Africa.
Last night, Israel attacked the nuclear sites and the military establishment of Iran. Iran is still defiant, and I cannot get over the Iranian government leaders in power, saying loudly and clearly for the world to see and hear them —Death to America, the Great Satan, and Death to America, the little Satan. This has been their MANTRA FOR DECADES!
As I write this, the so-called little Satan has destroyed Iran's major Nuclear sites, killed the highest commanding officers in the IRGC, and destroyed several radar systems and defence infrastructure.
Iran is a big country. The youth and middle class are well educated, but for years they have been fleeing the country due to draconian Sharia laws and the civil society is fed up, and will help to dethrone the Mullahs of this regime. Even if it means a few weeks of war.
The Iranian government, as far as I am concerned, brought all this on themselves by their threats of destroying every US base and insisting that they will build their nukes and destroy Israel. They had it coming, I think.
Will this lead to a world war? I think not. No country is openly supporting Iran. Yes, a few are sending drones and other war equipment, but this amounts to little.
America will aid Israel, and several others will join or have helped by knocking out the drone swarm heading for Israel. Where will Russia and China stand? Apart from sending weapons, they will not overtly support Iran. Russia and China have their own problems, and personally, I feel they will be bystanders. After all, words don't count; action does.
Iran will definitely go through a regime change, a new, hopefully better secular government comes in that does not spew hate against any country and even more let its women dress as they want to and don't get killed for not wearing a Hijab. The population are fed up and desperately wants change. I predict it will happen.
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Views expressed above are the author's own.