Today India celebrates 67th
Republic day.
Yesterday an interesting
interview appeared in newspapers wherein MP Shashi Tharoor stated that it is
time we have to move towards Presidential system from Parliamentary System.
This was mentioned with the grudge that Parliamentary System has not delivered
the desired objectives. Classic case is the citizen representation at some constituencies
1 MP represents lakhs (33.68 lacs – Outer Delhi – Elections of 2004). I will
bring out one note (December 17, 2011) of Shashi Tharoor here:
“The basic outlines of the
argument have been clear for some time: our parliamentary system has created a
unique breed of legislator, largely unqualified to legislate, who has sought
election only in order to wield (or influence) executive power. It has produced
governments obliged to focus more on politics than on policy or performance. It
has distorted the voting preferences of an electorate that knows which
individuals it wants but not necessarily which policies. It has spawned parties
that are shifting alliances of individual interests rather than vehicles of
coherent sets of ideas. It has forced governments to concentrate less on
governing than on staying in office, and obliged them to cater to the lowest
common denominator of their coalitions. It is time for a change.”
Here, I wish not debate about
pro or cons of Parliamentary or Presidential system. On the contrary, I wish to
remember the article written by Capt. Raj Mohindra titled When Italy opened its
arms to Indian sailors (The Hindu, April 03,2013). This article is about Second
World War how Indians displayed their culture and did not go in for spoils of
war. Despite Italians were on the other side of fighting Indians, the Indian soldiers’ behavior was well respected. I reproduce here a section of the article to
bring out the fact:
“I was invited to dinner by the
family of the late Ms. Ines Ghosh, the Italian wife of the late Surgeon Rear
Admiral J.N. Ghosh of the Indian Navy. Ghosh met Ines in Taranto where he was a
prisoner of war. There I heard heart-rending stories of World War II. They
narrated how when the British 8th Army comprising British, Australian,
Canadian, Indian and troops of other nationalities invaded southern Italy in
July 1943. The soldiers from all armies except the Indian Army indulged in
rape, molestation and plunder.
One of the elderly ladies
present told us how she was being chased by two Allied soldiers when an Indian
soldier intervened and protected her. He told them not to harm her because she
was his sister!
In another instance a posse of
Indian soldiers voluntarily guarded an apartment building and prevented
soldiers of the other Allied armies from entering it. There were numerous
stories of heroism like this. These marvelous episodes bore testimony to the
ethical standards and professionalism of the Indian Army.”
We have to understand that we
need to carry, on our shoulders the responsibilities of being an Indian.
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