THE ECONOMY & COMEDIANS

I do not understand my instincts nowadays to link almost everything I see changing around me to the economic superstardom of India. A case in point is our entertainment industry. It can be looked at from several vantage points but I tend to look at it through the prism of our scorchingly growing national economy and rising international stature. Though the inflation blues have dampened our spirits and made life tougher for the common citizen, the creativity of our entertainment sector continues to be on a roll. It all began with the boom in satellite TV channels. 'The Great Laughter Challenge' heralded a new era of innovative 'comedy shows' that made us rediscover our funny bones. This creative explosion churned out bright comedians hailing from almost every corner of India. I suspect India may soon come to be known as a 'country of comedians' rather than snake charmers and saints. I think the spate of comedy shows on various channels have made comedy a solid and dependable vocation. And thanks to the Western-style economic change and technological advances (we no longer need to stand in long queues to pay telephone and electricity bills), the Indians have got all the time to hook on to their TV sets. As an evening falls, our TVs are turned on and the funny bones begin to tickle transporting us away from the absurdities of a hectic work day. It does not take an economist to conclude that economic advancement leads to a well-rounded development of a society and a nation. When a comedian from Kanpur or Chandrapur launches an offical website, we can't help but to believe the trickle down effect of rising national income. Isn't it an example of distributive justice? Can we still say globalization and liberalization have only made the rich richer?May this 'upside' of a growing economy is not confined to entertainment and arts only but percolate down to our politics and governance also.

Mission N-Deal

It is heartening to see our government hanging on to the US nuclear deal. It is not very common to see national governments finding a mission and leaving no stone unturned to achieve it. These are the qualities we usually identify with private sector. Isn't it an example of management by objectives? The most essential point about the whole saga of N-deal is that it is not driven by any political ideology. The concerns about energy security are driving the government to burn midnight oil and bring the N-deal initiatives to their logical ends. The BJP, if it were in power, would have striven to achieve the same deal.

Were we ever seen discussing issues like energy security with such a high level of publicity, earnestness and volubility? As a nation, we have come of age. A common man now fairly knows what the N-deal is all about. If pulled off, the deal will go a long way in ensuring Manmohan Singh's august place in the annals of political history of India. Some demerits notwithstanding, the deal is historic and is of a far-reaching strategic importance to us. The deals assumes greater importance if we are serious about developing our nuclear power generation sector. On the other hand, our relations with the US will not be affected very adversely if the deal comes apart. Be that as it may, the deal and the debate it has entailed in the country augurs well for our democracy. Like good 'argumentative Indians' let us continue debating the deal. We have a government that is keen to answer our every query and dispel our every doubt.

On their part, the Left must find out the alternatives of securing our energy future if the N-deal route is not acceptable to them. They must say they are not interested in nuclear power and do not give a damn about the need for accessing the global nuclear commerce. (In fact, they have never been believers in any kind of nuclear energy development). They must also suggest an alternative model to achieve the ends which are supposed to be achieved through the N-deal with the US. In 21st century and in a country of a large upwardly mobile middle class, you cannot just play the politics outside 'circle of reason'. Nobody is going to listen to the left, if their arguments continue to have a smack of ideology. Let your message be clear and constructive. Let your arguments be reasoned and logical. You must be seen being concerned about the issues like energy security and must work hard to think up an alternative solution. Your politics cannot be effective if you make yourselves seen as perpetual naysayers by your own countrymen.

In the meantime, let us wait for a few more Mulayam Singh Yadavs to emerge from the backstage and show support to this historic initiative.