Reparations and Neo-Colonialism

The current narrative around reparations is that of ignoring it, focusing on our own development, and blaming ourselves {blaming ourselves is something I look at in future articles}. It is considered a sign of weakness by some, and is generally regarded as impractical by most Indians. In the previous article – { http://reflectionsvvk.blogspot.in/2015/07/retribution-reparation-and-colonialism.html } we had looked at neo-colonialism, and had concluded with the following questions :

Why should we ask for compensation? How should we go about it? What form should this compensation take? What are the strategic repercussions or alternatives, and what are our internal pressures and realities? How is colonialism not yet dead? This is what I look at in this article

WHY DEMAND COMPENSATION?

For understanding that, let us take a look at two current parameters - the current geopolitical situation to make a current point - not one placed in the historical damage; and the concept of Neo-Colonialism or Colonialism 2.0.  

Country A gives weapons and training to country B to instigate violence in Country C because of enmity of Country A with Country D. Now things get interesting. Country B uses these weapons, gives them to its own people to go into Country E and kill civilians. {E is nowhere in the picture from start to finish. Btw - E is India}. A knows that B is killing civilians in E, and ignores this.  

That is being human? Or is this being an Animal? If this is humanity, the definition of both civilised, civilisation and humanity needs changing in all dictionaries. Or take what happened in Iraq, Or take 1971, and almost a million of dead & refugees were ignored by the Great West because of an approach to China {http://reflectionsvvk.blogspot.in/2013/10/book-review-blood-telegram-indias.html}. Or any other hot-spot in the world.

More to the point, it can be readily seen that this current geo-political construct is the outcome of the colonial past and the world order that emerged out of the past. Not only that, it also proves that we are still paying for the Colonial experience in current and practical terms : for the blind support to Country B at the expense of Country E is a direct outcome of The Second Great European War {So-Called WW2}, as the historical record proves {taken up on my blog with proof elsewhere}

In point of fact, all I am really asking is for Humans to become Humans again, not Animals. And for that to happen - you have no option but to opt for a higher objective, a nobler objective; howsoever outlandish it may seem at the current point in time. This seemingly noble and Gandhian statement has at its core a set of eminently practical parameters arising out of real-world issues and problems with a series of current repercussions. Basis current evidence, this is not happening : we are all of us, adamant on “moving on”!

But that observation yet again points to our pusillanimous subservience to The West : why else do we keep silent when their organisations scream Human Rights Violations in The East? The worst violators of Human Rights are the Western Nations themselves - this isnt even in debate! Any point, any way you look at it - high time we of the Orient, specifically Indians, started calling a spade a spade! But no, just the pusillanimous silence! And this silence and silent acceptance leads to serious issues for us as a people... that is also beyond debate!

Or we can also look at the Economic and Trade aspect: Colonialism 2.0 or Neo-Colonialism. Be it trade, economics, culture - any field; why this western universalist viewpoint? Why cant people just accept the differences and learn to live with them? And why is it so much of a problem if somone in the East tries and corrects the problem, at times going overboard in the other direction - RSS, as an excellent example? Why must we toe the obviously incorrect western created narrative?

That mindset is the core issue here - West can pay damages to the West, and no one says a word. But the East isnt even thinking of asking damages from the West, and looking inward instead. Why? The international system dictates so is one reason - western created, by the way. If we are to realise our dreams of being developed, this mindset has to go; we have to believe in ourselves, our culture, our history, our heritage, our lifestyle - everything. Apeing only creates - .....

Apes. Not tigers. It is for us to decide - are we Apes, or are we Tigers? We claim to be tigers, but behave like apes! And tigers make their own path... unless we make our own path, we will remain Apes. And be regarded as such. Tigers listen to no one; once a Tiger, always a Tiger.

NEO-COLONIALISM : THE UGLY REALITY

Next, the former colonial masters. Will they give it back? Willingly, they wont. Does that mean we put our tail between our legs and slink away beaten? Why were other nations made to pay reparations? Because the losers were Europeans? Why does the same principle not apply to India? Just because of some ludicrous stupidity that Germany lost a war? Germany is but one example, what matters is our own reality, history, justice and needs.

What about current trade policies, which are manifestly pro-western, and designed to benefit The West at the cost of the East? Why should we be forced to cut Carbon Emissions - whereas facts clearly who is damaging the Earth to what extent as just one example? Thus, we are subsidising the Western lifestyle, paying through our nose? What is different? This is rape in a different form! Ditto IPRs on pharmaceuticals, and innumerable other examples? Like the nonsense on AMS, or our food security - for which we had to fight tooth and nail against those fell-fed and rich nations? {The food security thing may be good for us, or bad, That is beside the point}

Any which way you look at it, Colonialism is alive and well. Look at the UN. Look at Arms to Pakistan. Why do we need to spend on fighting on our borders so much? Why should be have to fight terror in our own backyard? Because these  westerners looked the other way and gave free arms to Pakistan. That is a fact! There is a British former PM on record saying we should have listened to India. Indian Blood was worse than mud then, and as I see it, it still counts less than mud in 2015. Had it been otherwise, they would have stopped giving arms to Pakistan! We are still paying in blood and money, 67 years after independence!

What scares me is that we arent dealing with a race and a people known for intelligence; foresight and intelligence are not the hallmarks of The Western Civilization. We are dealing with a people with a defined and well-underscored penchant for total callousness, complete amorality, and in-your-face selfishness. This has been proven through the slavery and the colonial experience; problem is that the situation is still the same. They havent changed : witness what happened in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, or to India in 1971, or through the 80s decades. Despite unquestionable evidence of the harm of their policies in terms of blood {To India}, they went ahead for their strategic gains. This continues till date.

That is indicative of extreme callousness and brutality of an unimaginable order. It is like I said - Indian blood is cheaper than mud to them. {Sorry for the bad words- but the lovely bullets you give to my cousin Pakistan are used to kill my brethren in India. Dont expect me to be delighted about it}. The saddest aspect is that some among us strive to reach precisely those shores and that civilization that harms India no end, but that is another story 

This is also evident in all economic policies of the developed world, which are, not to put too fine a point to it, reprehensible in the extreme. I recall one such statement : "we are standing up today for the rights of our domestic producers". The incident alluded to above – and there are others  - indicates the complete unwillingness of the West to accommodate {let alone repay or adjust or apologise} genuine eastern needs, wants and developmental challenges. That is why I fear the repercussions that would be inevitable; therefore, I advise caution. We are dealing with established idiots and fools {It takes stupidity on quite a stupendous scale to do what these idiots have done in the past 250 years}.

It has to stop. Enough is enough. How do we do it? Fight them - and we lose. That is why we are willingly reducing Carbon Emissions, despite the manifest unfairness {as a small example}. It is our land, and we have to take care of it. Using underhanded tactics is also idiotic, as the West should have - but hasnt - learnt yet. We arent that stupid.

What then? Ask them to pay? They will never pay; not willingly. Had they been that intelligent, they would never have done any number of rank stupidities as is evident from History. {Shashi Tharoor has rightly ripped into the UK in a few short and blunt lines - The British were the only people stupid enough in history to make enemies of the Americans! I extend that to the entire West}. Had they been that smart, they would have read the situation that is arising, negotiated a mutual settlement. They didnt - and carried on into Neo Colonialism. The rest is history : itihaas gawaah hai!

What are we to do then?

The only logical answer : Khudi Ko Kar Buland Itna, Ke Upar Waalaa Khud Poochhe - Bataa Teri Razaa Kyaa Hai!... this is what I look at in the third and concluding article in this mini-series