Ashamed to be an Indian!!

The land of the Mahatma does not have the courage of conviction to come out either in words or action against the military junta in Burma (Myanmar) that has has brutally suppressed freedom to its own people for the last 45 years.

The land of Nehru no longer has the moral strength to support the democratic aspirations of people of Burma.

The land of the Buddha has decided to succumb to 'desire- the root cause of all evil.'

Today, as I write this letter, events of the last few weeks had given me hope that the people of Burma would finally be able to break the shackles of the brutal repression that the military junta has tied them in. But its shocking how the Junta has once again, using brutal force, silenced its own people. Hope seems to be dying in Burma.

India and China are the two major supporters of this repressive military regime that does not think twice before using any means including large scale massacres to suppress the aspirations of its people. And during the present "uprising" the leaders of my great country have kept silent other than issuing statements that its "Burma's internal affairs" and we should not interfere in it. Of course Nehru could have said the same about the Apartheid in South Africa or about the numerous other freedom movements that we supported both overtly and covertly during the early years of our independence.

But my "great" country needs oil and gas to run its booming economy and Burma is rich in that. So lets close our eyes to whatever is happening there as long as we get a steady supply of oil from Burma. So what if its come at the price of freedom to the people of Burma. Its the same argument that America used throughout the Post world War II era and China more recently. I hoped my"great country", would be somewhat different but I guess I was wrong.

I have defended my country in both formal and informal forums for the values it held and defended. I had felt proud that my " great" country despite the unique challenges it has faced during its path to freedom and independence and later towards growth and development felt its obligation and had the courage to support similar aspirations of people in the rest of the world. I have always believed that my "great" country was different from China that, in spite of what appears from the outside, still denies basic freedom to its own people. I felt my "great" country was different from America, that has supported despotic regimes throughout the world in its hunger for oil and other natural resources. But I guess I was wrong.

It pains me to see this "great transformation" in my country. Greed is blinding us to our moral responsibilities and no one seems to be bothered as long as we can get out sleek new cars, flat screen TVs and Ipods. We are now ready to make deals with tyrants even when the people of those countries cry out for our help.

My "great " country has hit a new low! I no longer am proud to be an Indian!!

I have received chain emails that proclaimed " proud to be an Indian" with names of some rich Indians who have gained entry into the "world's richest club" Is that all that matters now? Is money the only richness we aspire for?

So I'm starting a chain email myself!! And it says- "Ashamed to be an Indian" Ashamed how my country has responded to the crisis in Burma and ashamed of where we are going in our path to "progress".

And like those chain emails I would end this with a request to send it to as many people as you can throughout the world so that maybe it can shame our leaders into taking a moral stand and do the right thing.