Columnist
|
|
|
| | Prime Minister’s dysfunction! | | | The Washington Post recently carried an article, “The India’s silent prime minister becomes a tragic figure” by Simon Denyer. Simon says, “India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh helped set his country on the path to modernity, prosperity and power, but critics say the shy, soft-spoken 79-year-old is in danger of going down in history as a failure”. According to Simon, “the architect of India’s economic reforms, Singh was a major force behind his country’s rapprochement with the United States and is a respected figure on the world stage”.
Simon further observes, “The story of Singh’s dramatic fall from grace in his second term in office and the slow but steady tarnishing of his reputation has played out in parallel with his country’s decline on his watch. As India’s economy has slowed and as its reputation for rampant corruption has reasserted itself, the idea that the country was on an inexorable road to becoming a global power has increasingly come into question”.
The sudden change in Manmohan Singh’s behaviour from a savvy Finance Minister ushering in globalisation in India to a tragic figure has an uncanny resemblance to the actions and behaviour of Bill Clinton. Dr. John McDougall, M.D. says that Bill Clinton’s changed behaviour had been due to heart bypass surgery. According to him, “One of the savviest politicians of our generation, known for his wit, charm, and calm under extreme pressure, Bill Clinton appears out of character in the speeches and interviews televised since his bypass surgery September 6, 2004—and his mental deterioration may be accelerating. Remember, this is the president who withstood public impeachment before the entire world for his relationship with Monica Lewinski without once losing control. Now, he is easily angered by hecklers, and makes factual mistakes and racial slurs while aggressively defending his wife’s campaign for presidency. Everyone sees his mental and emotional decline, yet to date, no medical professionals have spoken out about the cause or offered help”.
Dr. John Mcdougall says, “Brain damage during bypass surgery is so common that hospital personnel refer to it as "pump head." The primary cause is emboli produced during surgery from clamping the aorta and from the "heart-lung machine." This machine pumps blood to keep the patient alive while the heart is stopped during the operation. Unfortunately, this pump also introduces toxic gases, fat globules, and bits of plastic debris into the bloodstream of the patient under anaesthesia. Once they are in the bloodstream, these particles migrate to the brain where they can clog capillaries and prevent adequate amounts of blood and oxygen from flowing to the brain. Essentially, all patients experience brain emboli during surgery and for many the damage is permanent”.
Even various other medical institutions have reported long term effects of bypass surgery called the “neurocognitive dysfunction”. “The goals of surgery are to reduce symptoms, improve quality of life and ultimately improve survival. Unfortunately, a percentage of patients complain of mental changes, even five years after bypass surgery. Family members report the patient is “not the same” as before surgery. This condition, termed neurocognitive dysfunction, may include symptoms of being short-tempered, memory loss, and inability to concentrate or perform basic mental tasks”.
There are no two opinions that Manmohan Singh as the Finance Minister was quite decisive and took bold steps to open up the Indian economy. He succeeded to a great extent to curtail the licence raj and the private enterprise had a free hand notwithstanding the fact that the corporates became colossal giants. In the first term as the Prime Minister he did stand up to pressures from all sides to further his agenda even though it was alleged that he was installed there by Mrs. Sonia Gandhi being a loyalist of the Gandhi family. The Indo-US nuclear deal has truly been struck because of his unflinching support against all pressures. He did truly behave as an honest gentleman. However, for some time past he does not seem to be the same person. There is a marked difference between his tenure as the Finance Minister and as the Prime Minister in the second term.
In view of these facts, we may not fault the Prime Minister for all his recent short-comings especially during his second term. He may be genuinely having the after effects of the twin bypass surgery he has undergone. Good sense and proprietary demands that he should give up the most trying and demanding responsibility of such a high office. His stay is not only sinking the Congress party and the UPA government but damaging the reputation of the entire country. Being an honest gentleman, one hopes that he would himself gracefully call it a day.
Comments at: ashrafmjk@ gmail.com |
|
|
|
|
Comment on this Story |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|