HVK Archives: The H(indutva)-bomb
The H(indutva)-bomb - Rediff on the Net
Varsha Bhosle
()
May 15, 1998
Title: The H(indutva)-bomb
Author: Varsha Bhosle
Publication: Rediff on the Net
Date: May 15, 1998
Frankly, Rediff has covered the H(indutva)-bomb so all-
encompassingly that I'm convinced the darn editor wants to
make us columnists redundant. It may seem an useless exercise
for this notorious jingoist to add her militant mite to the
coverage at this late stage (besides, my w-i-i-de Lucifer-grin
must be quite evident to regular readers), but which true-
blue hawk can resist crowing over the event? What to say? It's
a five-times-over fait accompli which I've been rooting for
since many columns (much to the ire of Mr Gaurav Kampani) --
and with it, the BJP alliance has accomplished a major item on
its national agenda. Time for some capital chop-licking,
methinks.
You know what really makes me happy? It's the reaction of the
common -- the normal -- Indian, as opposed to the likes of the
rabidly leftist Praful Bidwai who writes, "I am appalled...
>from the point of view of the nation it was disastrous. There
was a movement building up in the country which believed in
nuclear containment. And that momentum will be lost." Well, I
got news for you, Mr Bidwai: The majority of your countrymen
will think you're quite cuckoo...
Then, Achin Vanaik writes, "For the insecure and those
suffering from frustrated nationalism, this will be a happy
moment. This does not concern the ordinary Indian people in
any way." It would seem most Indians are frustrated
nationalists - the dailies, especially the afternooners, are
full of positive reactions from ordinary people who are
welcoming the explosions with nothing less than euphoria.
For instance, the overwhelming response to India's move
towards joining the big league is evidenced by the Times-
Indian Market Research Bureau Poll conducted on 12 May in 6
metropolitan cities (Mumbai, Delhi, Calcutta, Bangalore and
Hyderabad). A staggering 91% approved of the nuclear tests,
82% responded that India should now build a nuclear arsenal,
and 76% felt that India will go ahead and do so. The response
to India signing the CTBT was "lukewarm" with only 39%
approving. Net: I believe that the disapproving 7% all belong
to the pen-pushing pacifist/leftist fraternity. And the don't-
knowing 2% must belong in lunatic asylums...
And how unconcerned are the so-called ordinary people? Well,
on the 12th, the BJP's Mumbai unit conducted a signature drive
at the Churchgate railway station, in which many people --
those who travel not by cars -- affixed their signatures in
*blood*. Ha!
I do wonder how the nationalistic BJP alone didn't get at
least 80% votes in the elections -- considering the number of
"frustrated nationalists" in India... When will these leftist
bozos learn that when it comes to national security, normal
Indians aren't brainwashed by their empty rhetoric and the
propaganda of self- serving foreign powers?
There's more heartening evidence: Our industrialists, the
elite, are unperturbed by the international economic sanctions
which are bound to follow in the wake of the tests. It seems
that the flow of aid, loans of multilateral institutions and
even private capital flow were all examined and discounted by
the government. And economists agree that concessional aid, in
the form of bilateral official development (ODA) "had long
ceased to play a determining role in India's economic growth."
With the ODA not amounting to more than 1% of India's GDP, the
impact of sanctions can be absorbed by the economy.
And what will Big Brother do -- call back Coke? Hell, even the
already-sanctioned World Bank loans cannot be withdrawn. Net:
If Iran can survive severe sanctions from the entire non-
Islamic world for so long, can't India? Have a little faith,
guys!
By the perverted token of these pacifists, it seems we Indians
must always, very generously, wait to be the very last to wake
up, even if there be a very real threat of the Ghauris and
Ghaznis crashing onto our heads. Why are these bozos always
moaning and groaning over any manifestation of India's
strength and self- sufficiency? Honestly, I do NOT get it. And
I'm sick and tired of trying to understand it.
Actually, I wouldn't at all be surprised if both said
gentleman have something to do with some nuclear-deterrence
outfit funded by foreign grants. I hear that at least sometime
ago, M/s Bidwai and Vanaik were on a fellowship from a
Norwegian organisation said to be backed by Greenpeace. I'm
not being paranoid: This is how it almost always works in
Third World countries -- scratch a vociferous nuke-nayer, find
a foreign subsidy lurking in the background...
For example, about 20 years ago, there used to be a loony-bin
organisation called the Moral Rearmament Force. Its members,
led by chief spokesman Rajmohan Gandhi, preached that India
should not think nuclear -- well, you know the whole holy
rigmarole. The interesting thing is that grapevine reports of
the CIA funding it were so strong that Mrs Indira Gandhi's
government ordered a crackdown on the outfit. It exists no
more. At least, not in its original avatar...
True patriots are cut from a different cloth than the
befuddled, one-track-minded Hindutva-haters: Even as the noted
Gandhian, Dr Usha Mehta, expressed happiness over the tests
("It is a good sign for the country. So far the world was
thinking that we had only the capability but today's event
demonstrated our strength once again"), Mr J B D'Souza quoth,
"It's a disaster. The tests will start a nuclear race between
the two neighbouring countries both of whom have a large
population living below the poverty line." So far, so good.
But then Mr D'Souza revealed his prejudice: "The prime
minister will get undeserved glory." Oh, is *that* the real
problem...? Sheesh!
My own opinion-meter has always been the "ordinary" taxi-
driver; sometimes, I take an aimless cab-ride just to feel the
pulse of the people. And it hasn't failed me yet. For
instance, before the actual polls, I'd long realised with a
sinking heart that the BJP didn't stand a chance in Bombay --
thanks to its alliance with the Shiv Sena: Almost all cabbies
were mad at the strong-arm tactics of the local shakha goons.
I'd thought that for once the cabbies could be wrong, but you
know the results...
This time around, Bombay's cabbies are zipping with extra rev,
and their thoughts are entirely Pakistan-centric. One such
sage said to me, "Memsaab, agar desh hi nahi rahega to paise-
latte ka kya thhikaana? Jab dekho to yahan khoon-kharaba karte
hain, Kashmir mein humare log maarte hain. Jo hua, achchha hi
hua" ("If there's no country left, where will our money and
belongings go? They are responsible for murder and violence
here, they kill our people in Kashmir. What happened, happened
for the best"). I don't think I need another reaffirmation. It
feels good to know that my "rabid," "shrill" and "hate-
mongering" opinions are not so far removed from the national
mainstream after all :)
I differ with Rajeev snookums when he focuses on China as the
major threat to India. I feel that it's Pakistan we have to
deter -- considering the non-stop proxy war on the Kashmir
front. Perhaps, even the government thinks so -- Georgekaka's
raving notwithstanding. We have no missiles that can reach the
populated areas of China, whereas the Red Dragon has
intercontinental missiles that can take even the US...
Actually, I have this sneaking feeling that we are being built
up as an "alternate" nuclear power in Asia... As the Indian
Express says apropos US reaction: "In fact, after the initial
rap on the knuckles, administration officials were quite
solicitous of the reasoning behind India's tests. James Rubin
twice said that the US understood that India's attitude
towards nuclear non-proliferation are strongly influenced by
its security concerns." Too soft...?
And, there are too many people from the "undeclared" Israel in
Delhi thesedays... Just wondering... Is international politics
only that which is reported on the front pages...? Why was
Murli Manohar Joshi moving to and fro from Washington and
speaking to Republican think-tanks all the time last year? Why
was he then given the science and technology portfolio? Should
make one think a bit deeper on things other than those which
appear on the surface. Can the international chess game be so
simple as President Clinton mouthing that which he *must*
mouth by US legislative requirement...? I think not. So stay
cool under that collar, folks. Let's wait and watch.
About the Islamic bomb, we have to remember that Pakistani
premier Nawaz Sharief's statement ("I think we can take our
decision ourselves") stems from an attitude that has always
existed there. They won't build a bomb *because* we may build
one. Unlike India's, the bulk of Pakistan's budget expenditure
has always gone into defence: they didn't shop for F-16s
because we did or didn't have any. They have always been
Kashmir-centric and India-phobic, and none of our actions
affect them. It is better that India be safe than sorry.
Oh but I can't help it: In the end, I have to be typically
Bhosle and invite all that yummy hate-mail. So here goes: You
see, I, too, have an axe to grind with the BJP government...
Why the hell did we waste the five nuclear explosions
subterraneously? Why couldn't we test them on Islamabad
instead...? Just kidding. And have a Happy Nukes Week, y'hear?
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