Blaming the developing world for climate change

During a show of the movie ‘Interstellar’, I sat up when there was a reference to an “Indian Air Force Drone”. The hero (Cooper) chases it with his car and shoots it down. He says that these drones carry excellent solar panels, as he proceeds to take out one from the shot-down drone. The whole reference to this drone is in the context of a dying earth facing the consequences of climate change, dramatically picturised through huge dust storms that ruin farming around the world. The only thing left for the human race, according to the script, is interstellar travel to a far-away planet. One of the characters in the movie refers to “six billion people who want everything!” I am quoting from memory, and so the words may be different; but the meaning of this comment was very clear to me. A lot of people in economically better off parts of the world worry about the developing world. With its large population, the developing world will need a lot of resources as its people improve their standards of life. Such large scale consumption, the worriers argue, may tip the world into irreversible climate change. The more developed countries expect the developing world to do with a lot less than what they themselves have and use, but the developing world will not take this lying down. The character making the comment was clearly echoing the sentiments of those who blame this phenomenon for climate change.

I am not going to discuss the merits of the worriers’ case here in this small blog post. I only wish to point the meaning and significance of the hero’s comment, as many participants in an online debate don’t seem to have taken note of this. Visit

http://www.quora.com/Why-did-Nolan-use-an-Indian-Air-Force-drone-in-Interstellar-Does-it-have-any-hidden-interpretation-like-reincarnation-or-something

Srinivasan Ramani 

Are punishments for the corrupt bigwigs adequate?

The way Indian society punishes the weak is remarkable. I have heard of an office where a canteen worker was frisked on his way out of the building and found to be carrying three chapattis in his lunch box. He was promptly removed from service! Today’s Times of India carries the story of a CISF constable who was found having Rs 500 on his person. The swiftness with which his case was decided and the big price he paid for his crime are worth discussion in the light of how corrupt netas and babus are treated. 

The CISF constable mentioned above was found to have Rs 500 on him while on duty on August 3, 2008; it was presumed that this 500 must have been earned illegally, since CISF rules require that their constables should not carry more than Rs 20 on them while on duty. On April 10, 2009, he was held guilty of taking illegal gratification and removed from service. Later, authorities took into account his unblemished service record of 16 years and changed the punishment to "compulsory retirement". Visit

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Bombay-high-court-upholds-rule-that-CISF-staff-on-duty-can-carry-only-Rs-20/articleshow/45040955.cms

In comparison, what do higher level employees of the state get when found corrupt? Suspensions, transfers, or in rare cases stoppage of a few increments! What about corrupt netas? Government permission to prosecute can be denied or delayed. Witnesses can turn hostile or disappear. Those who get convicted despite all this can get bail for long periods. Appeals can keep them out of jail for a few decades. Then, if at all they get finally sentenced during their lifetime, they can get a lenient sentence because of old age. Then they can be let out on parole for some treatment in a five star hospital!  It seems logical to me that if a constable can be fired for Rs 500, bigwigs cheating the nation of a crore should get a minimum of seven years RI. A chain snatcher can get rigorous imprisonment, but netas having a few dozen crores of rupees of illegally acquired wealth seem to qualify for simple imprisonment. Where is justice? 

Mr Fadnavis, CM Maharashtra, saying that Government permission should not be a prerequisite to prosecute the corrupt is a great step forward. We will watch your governance, Mr Fadnavis, to see how you put your brave words into practice and will count how many convictions your government manages to get for those who perpetrated scams!

Srinivasan Ramani