Amul’s ads are clever. A few days ago I caught their take on the revolution in Egypt. “Hosni, kranti Mubarak ho!” Translated, “Hosni, felicitations (mubarak) on the revolution (kranti)!” Wonder what Amul will say now, now that Mr Mubarak has departed for greener pastures. Hosni Mubarak, from what I gather at the wiki entry on him, was like any other corrupt ruler of a Third World country.
Here’s a bit:
While in office, political corruption in the Mubarak administration’s Ministry of Interior has risen dramatically, due to the increased power over the institutional system that is necessary to secure the prolonged presidency. Such corruption has led to the imprisonment of political figures and young activists without trials.
Hmm. What does that remind me of? Rise of corruption, imprisonment of political figures? Think Think. Ah, yes! Indira Gandhi. Let me read on.
Egypt is a semi-presidential republic under Emergency Law and has been since 1967, except for an 18-month break in 1980s (which ended with the assassination of Sadat). Under the law, police powers are extended, constitutional rights suspended and censorship is legalized.
Ah so. Reminds you of Mrs Gandhi’s ghost, doesn’t it? Corruption and heavy-handed autocratic rule. Still, I am sure that no one in India would approve of a corrupt and autocratic ruler.
Waittaminit. Hold on. I spoke to soon. It seems that the Indian government awarded Mr Mubarak the Jawaharlal Nehru Award in 1995. The award is awarded to people “for their outstanding contribution to the promotion of international understanding, goodwill and friendship among people of the world”.
What a joke, as my friend Rajan remarked. You can always depend on the Congress Party to support corruption, not only at home but also abroad.
The Congress government in power (as the senior partner in the Unholy Parties Alliance) is keeping its avowed promise of supporting corruption. So in that sense, giving the Jawaharlal Nehru Award to Mubarak is appropriate and in keeping with the hallowed tradition that Nehru started.
Mubarak is a great statesman, much like Nehru and his daughter were. They all figured out a way to keep the Third World miserably poor and backward.
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