<p>And as for the means, well what else could he do anyway? He was a patriot, nothing less. He wanted to use ANY means to rid us of the foreign rule. He did not “align” with the Nazis due to ideological similarities, but because he wanted the military help. And I also believe that he did more for India “underground” than he did openly. He was a great mastermind, who knew how international influence and use of force was the only means by which India could be freed, not the “satyagrah” crap of Gafcukindhi.</p>
<p>no astrix, i call it a failed democracy for obvious reasons - what % of the votes does the government in power gets? you see, a person like laloo, and then a 5th-grade-fail-woman like Rabri sits on top of the government heirarchy for 15 years and NO ONE in the entire country can dethrone her? Is that democracy or what…</p>
<p>Hey whats the scence like in India after Pak crushed us in cricket.</p>
<p>merc - i dont believe that India is a failed democracy by any means. Indians, more so than any other people (including some of the ‘developed’ countries) enjoy more freedom and democratic rights. </p>
<p>The % of people who vote might be lower than what we like. But again, it is not because the government is not affording those opportunities to Indians, it is because of their lack of interest. You, I and everybody else is equally responsible to utilize the great democratic rights that we enjoy and if we fail to do so, does not transpire into a failed democratic system (by which I presume a failed government system)</p>
<p>India has more freedom of speech and act than most of the world out there. Indians can choose their own retirement system (unlike the almost defunt ss system in the US, France, Germany, etc) or their own medical system (unlike the almost bankrupt medicare system in the US, or the awful service in the UK etc.) More than that estate law are the best than any other country out there. The legal system is vibrant and inspite of many of its drawbacks, is very functional.
Government’s interference in life is very low. Entrepreneurship, corporate enhancement and economic upliftment is available to all those who have the guts to utilize it.</p>
<p>A democracy means a free society and if you tell me that India is not a free society, i’d disagree with it. As far as laloo-rabri…i ask you a questions - as a bihari, what is it that you have done to dethrone them? Why is it that i have not read it in TOI or heard it on Zee News that a 17/18 year old guy, Prashant Vaibhav, started a movement which led to dethroning of Laloo-rabri??</p>
<p>It is very very easy to bit ch about all that is wrong…but very very difficult to actually try to change it. A democratic country is by the people, for the people and of the people and if you really want to help succeed this democracy, participate in it like every1 should - rather than be one of the spectator standing on the sideline bit ching about it.</p>
<p>and dont take it personally…but i am just fed up of ppl complaining all the time. I wish that the same people would use their time and energy…to change things around…</p>
<p>as far as the bsf incident…i agree that it is absolutely horrendeous… but at the same time, i have learned to take the indian media with a grain of salt
<a href=“http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4453297.stm[/url]”>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4453297.stm</a></p>
<p>
Started a movement? Two of my friends and me were planning something drastic which I cannot disclose on a public forum. But more importantly, you didn’t see me starting a movement for the simple reason that I am apathetic about politics. It’s a dance. That is one of the reasons I also did not participate in that email campaign.</p>
<p>What I <em>do</em> care about are issues like education, or infrastructure, or equality. That is why you might read in TOI Patna that Prashant Vaibhav of DBA proposed a 10-year action plan at this week’s Oxygen meeting, or that Sneha Smriti (my sister) is leading a group of hobbyist card makers to pay for someone’s education. Take infrastructure for example. For the past 4 or 5 years, I have met and corresponded with countless companies to get them to bring broadband connection to Patna’s homes. Ask Giriji Online (local ISP) or Sify Iway. Or reservations. This very same Prashant Vaibhav is the one who tore St Xaviers Ranchi application form right outside their doors because it asked for my Caste before my Name.</p>
<p>The point is, you work to improve what you can, and bitc-h about the rest so other people can take the pointer and work on that. You tell me, as a 17 yr old, what could my hypothetical ‘movement’ do which would dethrone Rabri? Are you going back to Gandhi’s “satyagrah” style protest?</p>
<p>I am sorry that I am preoccupied with something else right now, but I’ll post a fuller response soon.</p>
<p>merc,
i think that what you have done and accomplished is very very admirable and hats off to you to have the courage to do it. I think our country need more people like you to become ‘the country’ that it can and that it wants.
by addressing to your post, i was addressing to other participants and lurkers out there (47,000+ views!!) that if you are one of those bitc-hy types…leave it alone…dont you dare to call indian democracy a failed 1…coz it is those people who bitc h the whole day and dont do anything about it (unlike merc) who are the reason for that ‘perceived’ failure.
as for the issues like education, infrastructure, equality, etc. again, i admire you for caring and working for those issues because it is only by eradicating illetracy, providing eglatrian economic opportunities, etc. that we can become the ‘most desirable democracy’</p>
<p>as for your something ‘drastic’ would love to hear about it (pm/email) i am all for drastic/nasty stuff man…
will exchange ur drastic story for 1 of mine ;)</p>
<p>Well, to confess, one tends to work on improving things that are relevant to him/her. I’ve been bitten more than once:</p>
<p>Why did I join Oxygen? Because I was disgusted by the education system.
Why did I want cheap broadband here? Because I’ve run into tens of thousands in bills and had lines cut off multiple times.
Why did I tear the form? Because my christian friend got admitted somewhere where I was denied an application, even though I had 35% in excess of his board marks.</p>
<p>As for the “drastic” step I’ll PM it to you right now…</p>
<p>merc, dude, pm me the drastic stuff too. you’ve got my attention.</p>
<p>i ran a one man campaign in my college against reservations in the private sector. unfortunately most kids were to preoccupied with mugging text books/cricket too really bother. strange, cos it’s gonna effect them the most- i’ll prob work in america for some time.</p>
<p>I’d like to know about the drastic stuff too.
Also can you tell me more about oxygen</p>
<p>i am fine with one working on just those things that are relevant or close to them…but then i dont like them bit ching about it…</p>
<p>most people hide behind the excuse of ‘oh, i am alone’ or ‘oh, i am 16’…but most of the time, the truth is the fear inside all of us (including me) that prohibits us from doing, what we believe in (unlike you)…small things add up dude, it adds up…</p>
<p>i think that email campaign that a lot of us participated in is a very good example, how small things can add up into big results. admittedly, the emails from cc participants might be less than 0.01% of the total emails sent, but it is the 0.01% x 10,000 which brought the end result (oh, which i was so thrilled about :p)</p>
<p>you ran tens of thousands in bills??? :eek: stop surfin porn dude…stop! :p</p>
<p>:D ^^</p>
<p>i was just thinking about this…but i think my post (long 1) was unjust, because a lot of us on CC are doing a lot of stuff to change things around…i mean, merc has his hands full, flame is doing his newsletter stuff, ritz is working towards betterment of women in bihar, etc. etc.</p>
<p>there is strength in numbers…maybe we should all collobrate (if we agree on each other’s agenda) and make this into something that can yield real returns, rather than be a warrior who dies fighting alone…</p>
<p>or just get a reliance internet connection</p>
<p>650/month unlimited usage. incredible speeds.</p>
<p>hey ritz…howz pton?? <3</p>
<p>adides- i dont think an “egalitarian” economy will help.
free markets have been proven to be the most effective method of removing poverty. im hard core capitalist.</p>
<p>anyways im off to Hogs Head :eek:</p>
<p>and tomo im goin for the tottenham v/s west brom albion match @ white hart lane!!!
look for me in the crowd
(oh well, u’ll dont know what i look like, but anyways…)
signing off- more my night of debauchery</p>
<p>adides…that’s partly why I find CC so interesting.<br>
Most of my friends are indifferent to issues that concern me tremendously.</p>
<p>reliance is the worst company
i have their prepaid… it has the most erratic billing system i’ve ever seen… am afraid to go for their unlimited option… who knows if they start charging.
adides: porn? 
that was in like 8th grade :p</p>
<p>and all - i’m really scared to PM anyone cuz it’s ridiculous! lol… sorry but power went out. anyway…what the hell… i’ll pm now.</p>
<p>ritz: Oxygen is a students’ movement started right here in patna, about a year and a half ago. we (or should i say, they) hold discussions, write letters to authorities etc. and have started various initiatives to support underprivileged students (selling cards et al). the main idea is to first spread a mass awareness that students are fed up of the current system (thus the public discussions, letters and demonstrations) and then work on gradually changing it, in a target timespan of 10 years. it is supported by binod singh, convener, many gov and nongov organizations and a host of eminent personalities of the city.</p>
<p>beautiful does’nt even begin to describe it.
the students seemed really nice.
had a sorta whirlwind tour through it, would have liked to spend some more time in pton.
I’m off to h tomorrow…did i mention how excited I am…it’s the stuff that dreams are made of.</p>
<p>pv…is there any way that I can contribute to it?
about the a levels, I have a friend who plans to take these tests too. I’ll def try to find out about it, have already mailed her.</p>
<p>merc, i wanna hear abt it too, if u have not gone to off to sleep yet… :p</p>