Defeat

We all are at war with various forces on different fronts. It may not be a conventional army of an enemy. In ancient times it was thought that wars are fought between armies of enemies only. But, today I do not think so!! A society, a country faces a war all the time, whether it is a cyber-war, an eco-war etc etc. Within a democratic nation most often it is a political war, between different parties. All aspire for a victory a win over the opposing force. Whether it ia against an external opposing force or internal; whether a state of mind or a disease! Many years ago, more then a century or two, the Indian state based on several monarchies, lost a war against the invading British forces. The result was British rule over the entire subcontinent. Later, a person known as Mahatma Gandhi, felt bold enough to lead a war against this rule, through a particular front known a satyagrah; after a prolonged battle he managed to win that battle, but did the poor, ignorant masses of Indian population really win. They continued to remain ignorant, uneducated and hence poor. Now a war is being waged against them by multinationals. They are being duped with dreams of country where the will be much less unemployment and exploitation. Their allies are in the ruling coalition government. Who will win and who will be defeated, does one know? The battle ground keeps on changing. Earlier there might have the war between the better informed, educated and powerful army of the British, against, the ignorant, illeducated army of Indian population. But now the conditions have changed. The previous British rule spurred a wave of education of the elite of the country, while the poor continue to be 'powerless'. This elite class knows what is at stake, they will not give in was easily to the designs of powerful multinationals. These multinationals might have won wars in many countries in the past, but with the help of the new weapon, information and communication now available to the elites, who are not as powerful as greedy as the political class, can indeed face the challenges they face, will face!! To conclude a quote of Malcolm S Forbes: Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat. Rakesh Mohan Hallen