Thursday, December 14, 2006

Who Wants the Indian Farmer's Grammy ?

I certainly hope that one day, there will be a glittering cermenony, where all the men and women featured, on the intricate pages of Global Who's Who pages, or the Intellectual's Encyclopedia will assemble, to laud and applaud, the person who is given the one and only, ladies and gentlemen, hold your breath, the great, Indian farmer's Grammy.
One may wonder why do Indian farmers need to institute the thoroughly acclaimed and not so widely discussed, farmer's grammy ?
Well, the answer is, afterall, awards are given for genuine contributions, made by notable people, to notable causes.
Indian politicians and economists, are however not very keen on the Indian Farmer's Grammy. They somehow have this lurking suspicion that it may turn into a double whammy for them.
Indian farmers are visited by the politicians, of various hues and colours usually, approximately one year before election time, and sometimes when an issue like floods or starvation deaths or large scale farm debt related suicides, or farmland acquisitions, for industrial and car project purposes at non corporate prices, gain disproportionate media attention.
Indian politicians, seem to prefer awards bestowed by foreign governments, paradoxically, for the services of politicians, to "constructive nationalism" displayed, by these politicians, in the discharge of their official duties, while in office. The poor Indian farmer, feels that his humble trophy will not find many takers.
After all, notable trophies, are for notable politicians, making notable contributions to notable causes. The Indian farmer's cause is Indian farming, certainly not a notable cause, the contributions made are not notable, for afterall, the contract farming management experts, restyling themselves as corporate India's knights making their charge into Indian agriculture, are all busy telling the farmer how to improve his efforts. And yes, no notable politicians line up for the Indian farmer's notable awards, given away at glittering ceremonies where the international glitterati is clapping softly and making faces at the camera and comparing their perfumes.

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