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JOGISHWAR SINGH
Before Indian ‘patriots’ start screaming murder at what I am going to say, I
Switzerland has been independent for over 800 years while India is a newly
Switzerland has a population of only 8 million while India has the second
The trigger for this set of reflections was what I saw on the 7.30 pm eve.
The Swiss President, Mr Ueli Maurer, was leaving on a five day state visit to
For any Indians (or others) who might find it difficult to believe what I have
This clip is really worth watching.
Conditioned by my personal experiences of dealing with politicians and
I remembered the countless times when I had seen the fury of Indian politicians,
I am not a psychologist. I do not know whether centuries of slavery have
Who in India, except maybe some politicians or bureaucrats, has not been
Any such inconvenience would cause an uproar in Switzerland.
In India, it does not generate even a whimper.
In this context, an incident from the not very distant past strongly lingers in my
I have noticed that Switzerland becomes a prize destination of choice for a lot
This IAS officer wanted to see Switzerland, so I acted as his local tourist
While we were going around the Swiss federal capital, Bern, it was lunch
As we took our seats at a table, a Swiss gentleman sitting at the next table,
After he had left, I asked my visitor if he knew who the man had been.
My guest thought I was making fun of him. He would not believe me so I
My Indian visitor was flabbergasted. He said, “How can this be possible?
So, what struck my visitor the most had been the fact that a VIP had
My visitor’s reaction brought back memories of when, as a serving sub-
I seldom remember any politician or bureaucrat actually paying or even
Nobody ever asked how it had been possible to lay out a lavish meal
Like a good Indian bureaucrat, I just used to pass the buck down the line to
While working as chief of staff to the President of the Swiss Commission for
The contrast to the behavioural pattern of what I had experienced in India
I am by no means suggesting that Swiss politicians are angels, but the
Each such incident deepens my gratitude to Waheguru Almighty for having
Where no roads are blocked for hours so that some VIP can, in the name
Where politicians and bureaucrats pay their bills in restaurants.
Where grossly sycophantic behaviour is not the general and accepted
Where no red-light beacons or screaming sirens signal the passage of
I might accept India as a true democracy the day I see its President or
I don’t think I will ever see such a sight in India during my lifetime.
You think, maybe, my grandchildren will?
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Ranjani Geethalaya(Regd.) (Registered under Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860. Regn No S/28043 of 1995) A society for promotion of traditional values through, Music, Dance, Art , Culture, Education and Social service. REGD OFFICE A-73 Inderpuri, New Delhi-110012, INDIA Email: ranjanigeethalaya@gmail.com web: http://ranjanigeethalaya.webs.com (M)9868369793 all donations/contributions may be sent to Ranjani Geethalaya ( Regd) A/c no 3063000100374737, Punjab National Bank, ER 14, Inder Puri, New Delhi-110012, MICR CODE 110024135 IFSC CODE PUNB00306300
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