Wealth for the Commons.......

Turn of the millennium...... 65% of India’s population still dependent on agriculture, but contributing to less than 30% of the GDP...... More than 5 lakh farmers committing suicide, every year...... Farmers, holding on to dear life, under the gruesome tyranny of the landowners and moneylenders....... More than 42% of our population below the poverty line........ More than 45% of the population illiterate, and less than 15% reaching high school........ But our very worthy ministers prefer to spend Rs 4318 on a ‘toilet roll’. Welcome to India, 2010.

Today, the Commonwealth Games are in full swing, and our sportspersons are winning numerous laurels. My chest swells an extra two inches, hearing about the pouring in of medals, and India rising in that tally. Yet, my head hangs in shame at how we have failed to tackle so many other fundamental problems in our country, of MUCH greater importance than the Games.

Our Government is more interested in showing off to the world its rising global superiority through an event that seems inconsequential in comparison to all these monstrosities. Say, the Commonwealth Games are a success…. so what? Four years later they’d be hosted in some other country. But agriculture? Education? Poverty? These issues are not 11-day events. They are here to stay!

Let me clarify my stand.... I was only against hosting the games, But, I told and tell everybody, that now that they are happening, its no point in opposing them. I just wanted to bring forward the first part of my statement through this article. I am not criticising the Games. I am not criticising sport. I am just saying that first things first, guys! Now that the Games are finally happening, I agree that I should not be sitting and cribbing about them, but celebrating in the joy of the sport. Trust me, I AM! I do a little jig every time Sania Mirza hits that ace, every time Vijender Singh delivers that brutal punch! My cellphone ringtone is the “O Yaaron....Yeh India, Bula Liya....” anthem, and my PC wallpaper is the CWG logo. And this in no way is "fake" or "hollow" support. It is heartfelt. I am CELEBRATING EVERY MOMENT OF THESE GAMES! But I still can’t stop pitying the lack of maturity on the part of our ministers. Simply, because our country has a lot more to do, before it can start concentrating on hosting international sporting events.

I am not against the development of sports in our country! Not at all! I am only against Rs.35 thousand crore being spent on projects that do not benefit most people! I would be one of the happiest people if our athletes got worldwide recognition and fame. I personally am against the common taxpayer’s money being used for something that doesn’t work for the benefit of every individual in our country, especially when contrasted to something as fundamental as, say, agriculture.

Also, the measures being taken for beautification of the city are shocking!  Outstation students were evicted from their hostels, to house Games officials. Every single hostel, barring three, is EMPTY.  The Delhi Government is clearing off all the slums, to present a beautiful picture of the city to the tourists. So, the new rule for our Government is "If you can’t tackle poverty, hide it." “Garibi Hatao” is being interpreted as “Garib Hatao”.  Those who go back impressed with our city, will be impressed by a body, which has been excessively dabbed with make-up, to hide its physical flaws. Sure, Beijing did the same, but that is a semi-despotic Communist state...last I checked, we were living in a Democracy.

I agree that it is like a golden opportunity for any country, but what I’m saying is that India as a country doesn’t need something like the Commonwealth Games in the situation it is in. We need to prioritize. Maybe 20 years later, when most problems of the agricultural sector have been tackled, then I will be the strongest supporter of the Commonwealth Games!

Being an avid debater, I totally expect that my views would be diametrically contrasting to yours. Yet, I wanted to take this platform to express them. I also apologise to those who think that it was in bad taste to post this article at this stage; I just wanted to take this semi-private platform to showcase my views.