Congress had the last laugh - thanks to the Indian Crab syndrome

So what was all this fuss about. The Congress party managers must be laughing their way to their hearts content. Who ever came up with this idea of "economic reforms" at this juncture must be a great visionary. The talk today in media, televison & newspapers and in society is all about survival of the minority Congress government, the aya rams and the gaya rams.

The Coal Gate scam has taken a back seat and is no more an election issue. The economic reforms - diesel price hike , LPG & FDI was only meant to deflect the attention of the public from Coal Gate and wow Congress suceeded even beyond their expectations. It was a brilliant political stroke, which took the winds out of the opposition.

So what if Mamta quits, there is the other M's - Mayawati & Mulayam falling over each other to support Congress. The Congress is even more stronger and bolder than it was ever before. On the day that Mamta announced her decision to quit the government the Government issued a notification on FDI in Retail. It was a bold decision and a slap on Mamta's face. Dr Manmohan Singh had already done his calculations and homework and even feigned a threat when he said "if he have to gone down, we will go down fighting".

The BJP which was licking its fingers and itching to go in for an election was caught on the backfoot and not the Congress. To Congress, Mamta's exit is a blessing in disguise and to BJP a huge embarassment.

Why and how did the Congress suceed in turning a calamity into an opportunity. The reason - Indian Crab syndrome. It is said that Indian crabs, if left in  a basket, are never able to escape. Each time one crab tries to get out of the basket another one would pull him down! This is the Indian crab syndrome!

Every politician be it Narendra Modi, Nitish Kumar, Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Mulayam, Jayalalitha, Mayawati and even Lalu started nursing ambitions of becoming the next Prime Minister. At a time, when they had an opportunity to defeat the Government and sieze the opportunity, the politicians within the Opposition were bickering within themselves as to who would become the Prime Minister. When unity was the need of the hour, personal ambitions came to the forefront and every politician was scheming in such a way that they did not want others to suceed. Nitish did not want Modi, Modi did not want Nitish, Mulayam did not want Mayawati to get closer to Congress, Mayawati did not want Mulayam to sieze the opportunity, Karunanidi did not want Jayalalitha to sieze the opportunity and hence he joined the bandh. Since he joined the bandh, Jaya opted out of it. Nitish siezing an opportunity suddenly wants to cosy with anyone who will give Bihar a special status (read - make me the Prime Minister) and so on....

It suited Congress perfectly and they played the old British game of "Divide & Rule". Mulayam vs Mayawati. Karuna Nidihi vs Jayalalitha, Nitish vs Modi etc.

It has emboldened the Congress even more now. They are sure of regaining power a 3rd time because of a divided opposition, fighting for power within. You will  find more scams and more loot of countrys economy and the common man on the streets will continue to be a hapless spectator and coughing more in terms of taxes and prices for his survival.

This is true not only in politics, but also in Corporate world, families and societies at large. Its not that "too many are chasing too few", but its Greed, selfishness and survival at others cost that is becoming the hall mark of the Indian Society.

Is there a hope, only time will say..........

Is the word "GRATITUDE" missing from todays dictionary

The recent political developments at the Centre is a paradox of sort. Congress has only around 206 seats and way below the majority mark. For it to survive its dependent on parties like TMC, DMK, NCP etc. But the way the Congress party has been behaving that its got an absolute majority and been roughshodding over its allies in the UPA. For its survival it is totally dependant on its allies and if they pull the rug, the game is over for the Congress.

However time and again Congress has been indifferent, insensitive and non-chalant to its allies. Behaving as if these allies dont exist. They dont find it imperative to consult them and take them into confidence on important issues (fuel price hike, disinvestment, FDI etc.) and pass unilateral decisions and then expect them to rally around them and support them.

Well this is true not just in political circles but in real life too. How often we find such characters in Corporate world, at home, in society, amongst friends.

Departments, bossess, colleagues are dependant on other departments, subordinates, colleagues for sucess but ignore them and treat them with disdain. Take all the credit for sucess and blame the others for failures.

Children, spouses, family members dependant on bread winner but treat them with utter disdain, disrespect and indifference. As if they are born to serve others.

Similarly with friends, school mates etc.

Many a times colloboration, silence is taken as diffidence, weaness and submission by the other party. Its time that people realise that they owe their sucess to the silent supporter and pay due credit and respect to them, or is it too much of an expectation.

Or has the word "GRATITUDE" disappeared from the dictionary.!!!!!!!

To Retire or not to Retire..... Sachin

Sunil Gavaskar once mentioned that "one should quit when people ask 'why' and not 'why not'". Sadly Sachin isnt listening to the original Little Master. Every conversation on cricket be it in the newspaper, TV Channels, Online Chat forums, cricket stadiums and all around the globe, one question on everyones lips is "when is Sachin calling it quits".

He has achieved every conceivable milestone, reached the pinnacle of his life and even safely perched himself in Indian Politics but sadly he doesnt think its time for him to kiss goodbye to Indian cricket. He isnt getting younger and is one of the oldest serving cricketer in the International arena. His form is wavering and the manner of his dismissals - bowled is a pointer that his reflexes are waning. He needs to play more matches but his body isnt able to hold on and he needs plenty of rests inbetween and that hinders his match preparedness and his performance.

From what started as a whisper its now turning out loud and clear that his fans dont want him to wane into obscurity but want him to quit on a high. The damage is already done and before it erodes his image any further, Sachin must call it quits. Will he dare like Saurav did announce his retirement before hand and finish of his career with a wonderful series like Saurav Ganguly did in his farewell Australian series.

No matter who you are and what ever position you may have reached, a day will come when one has to bid good bye and Sachin may well pay heed to his illustrious colleagues like Saurav, Rahul and VVS to hang his boots sooner than later.

Well will the Little Master pay heed...... only time will tell...........