The Saif drama unfolds; where it goes, wait and watch?
So, as the story goes, the script has turned out to be a thriller of sorts, don’t be surprised if an inspired producer decides to make a movie out of it! If the producer is a friend of Saif, expect it be an explanation, a defense in his honour; if otherwise, it would intend to create mischief. That is for later, but for now, the plot has thickened, with little respite. ‘Actor’ Saif got hurt in a scuffle with a robber who made good his escape, who had made as good an entry into his house at two o’clock in the morning, apparently through a duct of some kind or the other, we don’t know. How the robber entered and how he left, is still unclear as I write this column. And Saif suffered as many as six wounds. Or, was it just five. The knife or the weapon with which he was attacked, two and a half inches of that blade broke into his back, close to the spine. That had to be extricated out of him in a surgery that lasted six hours, which is a lot of time suggesting grave injury. The balance of that knife or that weapon is still to be traced as I write this. But after having been admitted into the ICU operated for over six hours, with doctors hailing his courage, Saif turned out not only a hero in ‘reel’ life, but also in ‘real’ life.
So here he was, five and a half days or so in hospital, being discharged with literally no semblance to the gravity of the injury that we were made to believe. When he came home, he had his customary swagger. He was in his trade mark jeans, which people did not fail to notice. He seemed happy. He was probably performing another ‘reel’ role, which was too good to be in real life. And we as human beings, associate such heroes more with ‘reel’ and not with real. But here the ‘reel’ seemed to be in real. And that’s where the confusion started, veering towards a suspenseful narrative, as the audience began wondering, was there such a gravity of injury that it warranted a six-hour surgery? Was the wound really as deep? Could there be such a quick recovery? Or, simply put, was Saif walking with a bravado, as he thought he must, remaining true to ‘reel’ but in ‘real’.
The larger issue that begs the question: was this bad exercise in PR, in public, in sharing of information from the family where nobody has actually come out to tell the truth or the actual story. So piecemeal, journalists are coming out with something or the other, with no authoritative statement. And the irony is that after six days of attack, the victim that is Saif himself was finally questioned by Mumbai Police. What we read in the newspaper was a small bit, with not the complete information. Whatever we do know, finally as of now, there are a few conflicting versions that one doesn’t know which one to believe. And if you believe all of them, they don’t add up. Something remains missing in the whole saga.
Missing still are answers to numerous questions. The first culprit apprehended did not appear to be the same person who was seen coming down the staircase. There is now a second person as the likely perpetrator. His photographs don’t match with that photograph of the person who was coming down. We still don’t know how he entered the flat and how he left the flat. Was his motive really robbery? If so, he didn’t even escape with anything. There was no attempt. Did he actually ask for ransom money? If he did, what happened to that demand?
This whole thing about being a Bangladeshi is most unfortunate. He may well be that, but that is incidental, whether he is Bangladeshi or Bihari or Keralite or from Delhi, it has no relevance on the crime. If he was chasing money, we still don’t know how he was actually targeting a house that belonged to Saif Ali Khan. He says he didn’t know whose home he entered. How did he choose that flat, for that matter? Was he alone in this endeavour? There are reports suggesting he may have had accomplices.
Being a high-profile case, ‘the nation needs to know’. These answers must come from the family, from the cops, and most of all, from the culprit. In this situation, given the current disposition in the national narrative, people may not be willing to come out and share their apprehensions or their understanding. The cops may also be guarded. Here’s a high-profile case, among the highest that can come out of Mumbai. There’s a Kareena Kapoor married to Saif Ali Khan. There’s a Sharmila Tagore with abundant goodwill and reputation behind her. There’s the father, the late Nawab, Tiger Pataudi. So much is at stake. Understandably, everybody would like to tread with caution. Let us not jump to conclusions. There must be an answer to all of it, and these answers will have to come from none other than Saif Ali Khan himself.
Republic Day: Time for Healing and Rejuvenation
This Republic Day, our 76th anniversary, was also a most timely reminder, in these times of shifting sands, of whatever we hold dear and precious in our Republic. A time for deep introspection into how much we have achieved, and how much more we have to go. In an increasingly polarized world, we have to secure our rightful place among the comity of nations, in terms of principles, first and foremost, for fair and equitable distribution of resources and opportunities. Increasingly, as we strive for a Nation First, or India First in our case, we must start from home, to win recognition globally as a country that treats her people equally, giving them equal opportunity to education and health facilities, treats them equally before law and enforces order uniformally, irrespective of caste and creed, colour and social and economic status.
It is a time to go deep into our centuries old psyche, discover our roots and bring back our dormant power hidden in our traditions and heritage. We need, first and foremost, harmony amongst us all, as equal citizens. Conversely, we need an abrupt halt to VIP culture, all learning to stand in the same queue for our turn to come.
The values we cherish as a Republic are enshrined in our Constitution. It has stood the test of time, and to this same constitution that owe our total commitment. It is a living testament, meant to evolve, in keeping with the demands of time, but the basics of liberty, freedom of expression, freedom to live and want in our own way, cannot be taken away. Though from time to time, their abuse must also be kept in check, especially in an environment of social media adventurism, AI and muscle power unleashed by those who have against those who do not. The paradox is here: as much as equal opportunity and freedom should be assured, as per the constitution, the threat of abuse and misinformation is getting more and more scary and a threat to security. A new check and balance need to be restored, transparently and fairly before the public at large. There is no alternative to a gaze or an enquiry, answered satisfactorily.
Aspirations for an India First policy must have shared understanding, shared goals based on universal values of brotherhood and goodwill among us all. We need a common charter, where while different shades of opinion must be respected, there are limits to such freedoms.
President Trump takes charge in his second term
He is only the second president in US history who has assumed charge for a second term, after a gap in between the two terms. Not to be caught idle, a leading Republican senator has moved a bill seeking a third term for a deserving president like Trump, in the belief that a worthy person like him may need more than four years to set America right again, as the country deserves. His early days in office have been predictable; so, we have seen opposition from expected sources. It has not been all smooth sailing – a highlight has been the 50:50 vote for acceptance of secretary of defense, with Vice President Vance casting his decisive vote. At least three republican senators voted against the choice for being ill suited to this important office.
America is undergoing upheaval, to put it mildly, with a flurry of presidential decrees signed by the president on day one as he hit the ground running. All US aid has been frozen, as each of these grants are being reviewed, globally. Mass deportations have begun as the US government seeks to send back illlegal immigrants, whether from Colombia or from other countries, including India. MEA Jaishankar is on record that India will bring illegal immigrants of Indian origin, after due verification. Trump’s plans to acquire Greenland have been initiated, no matter if such resolves shake some of America’s long trusted friendships, namely in Europe. He is reaching out, at the same time, to its biggest adversary, China, saying its time he met President Xi. What will come out of these overtures, there is no saying, as we go through a global churn. Will his efforts make America great again, will manufacturing begin in the US, as he wants; does he want global peace, when he is himself upsetting people globally, turning upside down decades of friendly neighbour status of countries like Canada.
For the time being, a number of Indian origin Americans have made it to high offices, so much so, it has unleashed a backlash, as part of the clamour for clampdown on HBi visas and against immigrants. These are Americans who have contributed significantly to their adopted country, in good measure. Hopefully, the dust is settling down, as better sense and judgement prevails.
What will these moves mean for India? We are treading, too, with caution and due deference. Foreign Secretary Misri is travelling to China, the first such meeting at his level, since the 2020 fallout; the first of the Quad meetings at the level of foreign ministers, was among the first act of the new government in Washington, just a day after the swearing in of President Trump. We are reaching out to countries like Indonesia, to establish strategic understanding of how to secure peace in the Indo-Pacific waters. Within the South Asian region, renewed efforts are ongoing to ensure the best of neighbourhood for us all.
Meanwhile, the big event has taken place, President Trump has spoken with PM Modi, kindled their strong association and shared a world view that promises an early meeting or two, in the very near future. Looks like within February it is, why not on Valetine’s Day?
The Power in the Holy Dip
At a time when religion has acquired centre stage, globally and not just in India, amidst the din and fervour, as a pure act of intervention from above, has come around the every-twelve year phenomenon of the holy dip in the Sangam, the mighty Kumbh congregation. It is open to all faiths to attend, a mass movement that brings together all classes in society. A humbling act, that makes the mighty mingle with the commoners, an act that brings you closer to the divine by submerging in the sublime.
The Kumbh Mela is also taking place around the same time as the first anniversary of the consecration of the temple at Ayodhya. The temple is expected to be completed this summer.
These are new beginnings for a practice that is perhaps as old as Hinduism, the pursuit of the pilgrim to seek blessings of the divinity by undergoing arduous treks, as in the years gone by, to holy centres such as the Char Dham, or the temples in South India. With growing connectivity, by air and road, pilgrim traffic has become the single biggest segment in Indian tourism. Hospitality majors that had traditionally overlooked this market, are eyeing this as the next big segment that they cannot miss out on. No wonder, the bigger chains have signed on projects across price points, both in Ayodhya and other centres.
It is only natural that these acts of pilgrimage signal a new chapter with Hindus embracing more openly their own religion, which often in the past was not as much. It is an act in itself, not aimed at any other, an act unto oneself, within, an awakening perhaps.
President Subianto is Chief Guest at Republic Day Parade
He is a former general in the Indonesian Army, does not consider himself a professional politician, and obviously wears his heart on his sleeve. He organized an impromptu gig with his team singing a popular Shah Rukh Khan number at the reception held by the Indian president in his honour. An Indonesian army contingent of 400 participated in the parade, a first for them to have done so, in any similar function anywhere else globally.
A comprehensive engagement that included defense most prominently, but so does aviation, cyber security and a host of wider activities. Notably, the delegation visited and studied Indian made missile system, developed in cooperation with Russia, considering to buy Brahmos for their defense. If this concludes, Indonesia will become only the second country, after the Phillipines, to buy this. India and Indonesia inked increasing the entitlement on both sides to fly 9000 passengers every week. While there are direct flights at present between Bali and India, newer connections are envisaged including more flights to their capital Jakarta.
This strengthening of ties between India and Indonesia augurs well for both countries, in these times, when the SCS area is being challenged increasingly with an aggressive China looming large, potentially challenging the sovereignty of smaller South East Asian nations. Indonesia also has a significant Indian diaspora; the countries have a long-cherished relationship – their then president was the chief guest at India’s first Republic Day celebrations.
President Subianto is replicating the system of mid-day meal schemes in India and had already earlier sent two teams to study it. He has been interested in India’s social welfare programmes, to see how they can learn from the Indian experience. Indonesia wants to send its doctors, students and technicians to train in Indian hospitals and also wants Indian hospital chains to establish hospitals in his country. Of the $30 billion of bilateral trade annually, Indonesian exports amount to a whopping $24 billion while India only accounts for the remaining $6 billion. India is therefore keen that Indian pharmaceutical and automobile sector exports increase to Indonesia, apart from exports in other sectors as well. The delegation comprised more than 100 businessmen.
Maritime safety and security cooperation between both nations would also aid in crime prevention and also bolster search and rescue efforts and capacity building. Joint exercises would also be carried out between the disaster management authorities. After the Buddhist Borobudur Temple in Indonesia, India would now also aid in the conservation of the Hindu Prambanan Temple in the Southeast Asian nation and added that the two nations were bound by common cultural traditions such as the two ancient epics Ramayana Mahabharata.
This augurs well for peace in our region. Not just for us, but for the region in totality. Together, we strengthen the voice of the Global South.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Navin Berry, Editor, CS Conversations, over five decades has edited publications like CityScan, India Debates and Travel Trends Today. He is the founder of SATTE, India’s first inbound tourism mart, biggest in Asia.