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This book is a tribute to the 50 glorious years of Indian independence. The
author has taken a dig at the various issues, pertaining to India's sovereignty,
and has brought to the fore, the inconsistency, which has remained the hallmark of
our approach to these issues.
The book could not have come at a better time; a year when all those babus who,
along with their masters, have shaped the destiny of this country, are taking a
look down memory lane.
The author, being a journalist of repute, has all the credentials to dissect the
political thorns of Indian democracy. The title, India is for Sale, aptly brings
the essence of the book: for we the people of India, have been selling the
country. Here lies the thin distinction between Peter Druckers' marketing
strategies and the uncouth manner of the Indian politicians and bureaucrats who
attempted to 'sell' the policies of the nation.
The chapter on Kashmir, titled: 'Save Kashmir', specially touches the grey areas
of diplomacy. The author suggests that the babus are out there not to save the
burning issues, but to satisfy their ever growing egos. And it comes as a suspense
that New Delhi succumbs to the pressure of these white-collared civil servants and
toes to their demands.
While the need of the hour was to stand united and act in a manner which would
have brought out consensus, the warring diplomats seem to have everything else on
the agenda. expect Kashmir.
In the same chapter, the author deals at length with the murky politics and
ulterior motives of the people who gather in Geneva to discuss the crucial issue
of Kashmir and its future. While Kashmir remains the main issue, every player has
a different reason to support the cause of Kashmir.
Thus no effort is spared to coax the ignorant 'Loin' - the Kashmiri leaden The
author says "New Delhi and Loin used each other. New Delhi to say that a Muslim
leader in a predominantly Muslim state in a predominantly Hindu India bore
testimony to India's secular credentials and Loin to say he was India's only hope
in Kashmir."
While Kashmir bums, the diplomats, politicians, their mistresses and wives have
lavish evenings at the expense of the Indian taxpayer.
In spite of Loin's total ignorance, the Indian leader carried him around, giving
him royal treatment, so that he could utter those famous words, which would save
Indian skin. "I will defend Kashmir with the last drop of my blood. You have
turned my beautiful valley into a killing field. The Almighty is witness to
this."
The author is witness to these high-tension dramas year after year. She, in her
subtle satire, has attacked the unholy nexus between those so-called saviours of
Kashmir. The style of her writing is gripping which makes even a drab topic like
Kashmir interesting.
Other chapters, specially: 'Why Does India Buy Almonds from California', too make
interesting reading.
Perhaps the only grey area in the book is the manner in which the author has
quoted various sources. She has taken personalities from real life and portrayed
them as fictional characters. However, the use of "sources", "undisclosed sources"
and "reliable sources" has been often repeated which gives the book more of a
reportage touch. This lends the book the character of a fiction rather than
stories of real life incidents.
The tone of the book is cynical throughout, which could have been avoided. The
author has given the impression that the incisive writing has more to do with a
disgruntled self, rather than an unbiased and analytical narration. The book
would have been a memorable piece had the author not resorted to cynical writing.
While her background as a journalist has helped to extract vital information, she
has killed the spirit by lampooning one and all. Perhaps her long stint as a
journalist has made the writer look at things from a negative perspective. On the
whole a good book, but short of being a best-seller.
(India is for Sale by Chitra Subramaniam,
Published by UBS Publishers Distributors LTD,
Price: Rs 250)
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