A spark that began in Tunisia has now become an inferno that is threating the once thought to be stable regions of the gulf. Yes sure I guess the region is aptly called gulf as there is one, between the ruling aristocracy and the ordinary man on the street! A region that has been taken for granted for a long time is turning out to be something else, like a padlock opening its gates and the horses storming out free. Out of the blue the events are unfolding as I write this. Bahrainis of whom the majority had their voices muffled seem suddenly to have woken to a call from a distant land from N.Africa and are demonstrating against a corrupt, tyrannical regime of the royal family.

The winds of change are certainly sweeping across this region of Islamic nations. Once colonised by the British and after they left, power has been in the hands of monarchies who got extremely rich alongwith the benefactors especially the oil companies from the West by the oil wealth of the region. The countries that benefited from the profits have provided security to the ruling class in turn. Freedom of speech, freedom of movement, women’s rights etc that are hallmarks of  a free democratic society have been non-existant. National strategic interests and the scare of an emerging Iran in the area have made the western nations turn a blind eye to these factors that are so admired and cherished in their own countries.  Simply human rights as it is professed by the West never saw daylight here in the gulf. Never did it matter as long as profits from oil poured in & cheap oil provided to the West. Any challenger, likes of Saddam was to be eliminated.

Now here in comes the challenge to the West. Democracy as we know, does not and has not existed in the entire middle east, Turkey which is more European being the exception. Is it to do with Islam as is the general perception or have these regimes been forced down the throat with a false propaganda by the vested interests including the western media stating that the aristocracy in this hemisphere is more benevolent than what has been so well exposed during this recent explosion of sentiments. In reality if democracy does take roots here, will that be beneficial to the (vested) interests of the West including that of Israel? Why Israel because almost all all of these regimes were never elected but selected by the West to have a neutral or friendly attitude towards Israel. It has been kind of protectionist policy by the West.

But if people’s sentiments say otherwise, will the West esp. USA allow democracy to take roots at all that could be detrimental to its interests vis-a-vis Iran or Israel? I guess one has to wait & see. Barack Obama gave thumbs up it seems, to the anti-Mubarak movement in Egypt. I wonder if he really meant it and will he do the same in Bahrain or Saudi that could jeopardise the stagnation that the West so loved all these years? Wait & see is the best bet.

Is India heading towards Oligarchy or is it already being ruled by one?

This is the question placed in front of us, for those who are getting to be aware of goings on in front of us and behind us.

What I mean by Oligarchy is that in the name of democracy, are we being hoodwinked by a caucus represented by vested interests namely big corporations?

We have a Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram who in his past was a corporate lawyer who represented companies like Enron and Vedanta in their heydays or dark days, depending on how we see it.

As a lawyer for the infamous Vedanta who by their controversial presence in the tribal areas of Orissa, he defended their Bauxite mining operations in this highly environmentally sensitive region where fauna, flora and the existence of tribals have been threatened. The plight of the tribals who are losing the lands where they have resided for centuries did realize that the man who represents the corporations is deaf to their pleas and blind to their sufferings.

These big corporations are siphoning off huge profits from the ore business while India is receiving a pittance of an amount from the export & processing of these ores.

More important is the very existence of the tribals thanks to the mining operations.

The bluff of these conglomerates is there for us to see but the media and the persons defending it have made certain that in the name of democracy & free trade, these unethical practices go unnoticed. This is the danger for a country which just recently got out from the clutches of another oligarchy, the colonial type.

It is understandable the reason for his stand from where P Chidambaram comes from. He studied corporate law in the US and not surprisingly his support goes where the money is. 

Socio-economics and law & order are two separate things that are plaguing the countryside in India and they need to be handled separately. The reason for the explosion in violence in the tribal tracts of India is primarily is of socio-economic in character and not necessarily just a law & order situation as per the ex-corporate lawyer turned politician emphasizes.

The Maoist violence which has gripped the so-called Red-Corridor is a result of decades long deprivation, neglect & exploitation by these conglomerates & individuals. The sufferings & tribulations of the rural poor & the tribals which have stretched for such long periods have failed to stretch the minds of the ruling classes towards their plight. A violence by either party, whether the Maoists or the establishment has to end.

Needless to say, the violence that has exploded in this corridor has set a dangerous trend that can result in an uncontrolled response by the establishment where the tribals & the other rural poor may experience further deterioration of their living standards. A living standard that consists of lack proper healthcare, sanitation, access to education & widespread malnutrition amongst these children whom it seems, even Gods have neglected. That their turmoil which has gone unnoticed and uncared for over the decades by the general media owned by the corporates may witness further ignorance.

A question that arises now is that whether these oligarchies should be given an unabated run to rule and be protected by the government or in the true sense of democracy, should these mining & other companies must be nationalized to provide true benefits to these masses of people who have not yet seen the justice they deserve?!