A GHOST STORY- LETTER
This is my observation on Capitalism as covered by Arundhati Roy in the cover story: “A Ghost Story” dt March 26th, 2012.
We must head for a balance approach. Capitalism is an evil, and you cannot regulate evil. You have to eliminate it and replace it with something that is good for all people.
Capitalism is responsible for nearly everything that makes human existence easy and comfortable. The automobile, the supermarket, the personal computer, the washing machine, the hammer-drill, the iPhone, the airplane, the TV set, the chewing gum, electricity and countless other good things have all been birthed and mass produced by capitalism.
There is only one way in which this process can be reversed – through right education. People must be exposed to facts and information about the beneficial nature of capitalism and the deleterious effects of government intervention. Although changing the prevailing mindset is never easy, we have at our fingertips an immense amount of material to make the case. The fact that most people have never been properly exposed to it shows what a monumental fraud our education establishment is. It is our task to ensure that people get this information, so that they can see through the lies they have been taught and told. Only when enough people see the truth will we be able to restore this country's capitalist foundation. America's survival depends on it.
A commendable effort. The article might have been triggered by her visit to Antilla the 27-story home of India's richest Indian - Mukesh Ambani. (Antilla is also the most expensive residence of any living person in the world.) I have not seen it yet, but I suspect I will faint whenever, if ever I set my eyes on it. Because only a kilometre from it are the cages of Kamatipura, probably the world's worst centre of human trafficking. If I am invited into Antilla's hallowed portals, I guess I will have a heart attack. Come on, do invite me, come on!
Rumour has it that the first couple and family doesn't stay in this huge pad of their's because of bad Vastu (traditional architectural concepts) and ghosts. In my own meagre house I get a queasy feeling when wifey and Ronnie are away. So our fears become ghosts lurking in the shadows behind expensive curtains, in deserted guest rooms. Why even car parks are spooky these days.
As she says trickle-down capitalism has failed. How are India's 10 per cent holding all the wealth while people are dying of hunger in the interiors? Well, that's a question nobody is asking because we all are beneficiaries of the capitalist make-believe. We all profit from it one way or the other, even Arundhati does. However, must admit her guts in exposing the very system she may even be part of. Let's remember the hungry millions when we gorge on those expensive tarts and chocolate fudges.
Here's to Arundhati Roy's versatile pen and its vitriolic ink!
SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA,
LAWYER,
NEAR PROFESSORS’ COLONY,
BUDHARAJA,
SAMBALPUR,
ODISHA,
PIN – 768004.
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