The Winter of Despair By Justice Katju

In his famous novel ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ Charles Dickens writes :

” It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

But the situation in India seems to me only the worst of times, an age of foolishness, a season of darkness, and the winter of despair. By no stretch of imagination can it be said to be the best of times, the age of wisdom, the season of light, or the spring of hope. Consider these links :

https://indicanews.com/justice-markandey-katju-lies-damned-lies-and-statistics-in-india

https://indicanews.com/justice-markandey-katju-the-truth-behind-indias-explosive-gdp-growth

https://indicanews.com/justice-markandey-katju-there-are-two-indias-in-india

 This is amply depicted by what is going on presently in Bihar.

Many years ago I wrote on my fb page ( as a joke ) that since Pakistanis are repeatedly demanding that Kashmir be given to them, we should tell them that we are prepared to give it provided they take Bihar as well. Of course this was said in lighter vein, but I was severely criticised by many Biharis ( including the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and our mostly stupid media ) for this statement, who took it seriously.

https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2024/08/03/opinion-it-is-dangerous-to-joke-in-india.html

But though what I said was in lighter vein, was I totally off the mark ? What is happening in the Bihar state assembly elections due next month casts a gloom of despair about India’s future. Rampant casteism, squabbling over tickets for the elections, infighting among the NDA and INDIA alliances, money being demanded for tickets, etc is the order of the day, and is sickening.

https://www.newsonair.gov.in/bihar-elections-mahagathbandhan-struggles-with-seat-sharing-discord

Since Februar 2015 that political acrobat Nitish Kumar, who has no principles except remaining in his chair, has been Chief Minister of Bihar, always changing sides when scenting a change in the political wind like a weathercock.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitish_Kumar

 One can compare him with the French politician Adolphe Thiers, about whom Karl Marx wrote ( describing him as a ‘monstrous gnome’ ) :

” A master in small state roguery, a virtuoso in perjury and treason, a craftsman in all the petty strategems, cunning devices, and base perfidies of parliamentary warfare; never scrupling, when out of office, to fan a revolution, and to stifle it in blood when at the helm of the state; with class prejudices standing him in the place of ideas, and vanity in the place of a heart; his private life as infamous as his public life is odious – even now, when playing the part of a French Sulla, he cannot help setting off the abomination of his deeds by the ridicule of his ostentation ”.

https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1871/civil-war-france/ch03.htm
The situation in Bihar is not an isolated one. In most of India it is almost the same. Our politicians care only for power and pelf, and are experts in polarising society and inciting caste and communal hatred to get votes, and have no genuine love for the people. Corruption is widespread, and is at all levels. Poverty, unemployment, child malnutrition, lack of proper healthcare and good education are massive, and at record levels.

Though I wish India to prosper, I regret I see only darkness, gloom and despair in the near future