Indianexpress.com : comments : Let’s stop this poverty tourism

Let’s stop this poverty tourism

Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Discovery of India’ is following such bizarrely unconventional ways that it is impossible not to subject it to public scrutiny. Last week he thought he needed a phirang co-discoverer and hence took British Foreign Secretary David Miliband to spend a night on a charpoy in the cow ....Read more

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PatheticBy: badshah413 | Sunday , 19 Apr '09 22:13:58 PM Reply | Forward I don't who is more pathetic, the politicians or the media. Just because media does not want to talk about it enough or prefers to talk more about the emerging middle class (who is their primary customer) it would absurd for us to believe that the problem of poverty in India becomes more tolerable for the afflicted. I have seen articles in the lifestyle/city section of a competing newspaper talking extensively about one cigar club in Mumbai that sold $100 cigars and the dresses and jewelry worn by hollywood stars for the Oscars. The sad thing is that in that entire section there was not even a single mention of lose to 50% slum dwellers in Bombay. As far as politicians go the less said the better...ultimately we are getting what we deserve.

Rahul, Miliban and media hypeBy: Raj Samuel | Monday , 13 Apr '09 14:01:36 PM Reply | Forward Rather than taking moral higher ground on this particuar incident, we introspect the age old exlusions of our system that has created this behemoth,well take it or leave it, its stark naked, sitting on a high mountain top, visible without visiting it- Recommend reading " Imagining India" by Nandan N

Face Poverty Head-On, Don't Hide itBy: Abhay Shankar | Sunday , 1 Feb '09 22:41:15 PM Reply | Forward India has to acknowledge the existence of two Indias - the one upwardly mobile, and the one that is still stuck in past The 2nd India has to be spotlighted on so that people start thinking about how to improve their lot too. Unless the probem is highlighted and enlightened people are not pushed out of their comforting zone of studied ignorance, the other India will not improve. Genuinely caring young, dynamic, honest leaders should spring up from all shades, opinions and make the other India's problems's solutions a centerpiece of their agendas. This will bridge the gap between the two Indias and also place the 1st India on a more reliable footing. This will help India as a whole. There is absolutely nothing wrong with spotlighting the people of other India. I will say go for it with full-blooded honesty. Confront the problem head-on, do not hide it under the carpet, otherwise, the carpet will explode into tiny, innumerable pieces. How much can you put under the carpet, after all?

Poverty Tourism and Gucci PoliticiansBy: Dr. Ajay Kumar, England | Monday , 19 Jan '09 17:52:01 PM Reply | Forward Rahul Baba, the Gucci politician of India is in a class of his own. He and his handlers may be thinking that they are scoring points but what they achieve performing these juvenile theatricals is simply making themselves a laughing stock in the eyes of the wider world. From what we have seen of Rahul Baba untill now, well, then God help India if he ever becomes Prime Minister. One will have to question motive, competence and credibility of those who will elect him PM.And Mr. Kulkarni, Britain did not made India poor, India lost out to industrial revolution. Read "India Unbound" by Gurucharan Das to learn in detail. Also, "Honourable Company" by historian John Keay. Indians are very quick to blame others for their misfortune. They do not look themselves in the mirror. With geriatric leaders aspiring to become PM, bunch of goons walking as lawmakers and these Gucci politicians in the wings, India's future doesn't look bright. Unless, middle class wake up, join politics and vote.

brilliantBy: siddharth | Monday , 19 Jan '09 7:47:54 AM Reply | Forward well said

Good point but ...By: avinash mulye | Sunday , 18 Jan '09 21:15:10 PM Reply | Forward Good point. Another stunt after the Kalawati story. However it is important to note that Congress actually doled out Rs 60000 crores for the poor farmers. Whether it is right or wrong to do so (with tax payer's money) is a different story but ... nobody can doubt Congress's commitment to poor.

Rahul, Miliban and media hypeBy: Prasad | Sunday , 18 Jan '09 14:28:07 PM Reply | Forward An excellent article by Sudheendra Kulkarni. Rahul Gandhi is carefully involved in image building with the help of a friendly and Gandhi clan obsessed media. Hence these political stunts get wide coverage. Even senior reporters scramble to get noticed by Rahulbaba while covering the events. This is typical Congress way of working. Highlight whatever you do, exploit the ever obliging friendly media at every opportunity and finally grab the highest chair with cronies swooning all around you for attention. But while the immature Rahul may go to any extent for image building I am absolutely surprised by our spineless media which is hyping it up like anything. Shame on it.

Democracy by non-democratic peopleBy: LK | Sunday , 18 Jan '09 12:38:46 PM Reply | Forward The entire congress is full of this mindset... don't do anything yourself and keep begging for mercy and funds from the rich nations. Lower cadre in the party looks towards their 'first family' for the same. When such people rule India and states, they cultivate similar mindset that seeks ideas to develop own country and people from foreigners. What Rahul Gandhi has ended-up showing is that we don't know how to eliminate poverty even though we are ruling this country. So please help us... how to do it. Idiots!!! Surprisingly, I see a glimpse of this mindset in Indian Print and Electronic media also. Rather than inculcating democratic values in people, media keeps on highlighting Gandhi familiy as the first family of India and Rahul as its prince. Media (including this paper) hardly ever highlights that Congress is a not a democratic party so how can they represent a democratic country - India.

Poverty tourismBy: Omkar Sharma | Sunday , 18 Jan '09 11:23:35 AM Reply | Forward A very good article. It is true that it was Britain who created the Kashmir problem for us.They don´t have to advice us how remedy our problems.I cannot understand media hype projecting Rahul as PM-in-waiting as if he were Prince of Wales. This fellow has done nothing worthwhile in politics,he has no ministerial experience. Nothing to his credit except that he happens to a scion of the house of Sonia who happens to be young and fair skinned. Youth is no substitute for experience.

poverty tourismBy: S Iyengar | Sunday , 18 Jan '09 7:14:27 AM Reply | Forward Milliband is an idiot who does not understand the linkages between causes and effects. He and people like him (includes NY times editorial board) pretend that terrorism will end with a resolution (whatever that means)on Kashmir The non resolution of Kashmir did not cause London train bombings for sure. These people are either hypocrites or naive or both. At any rate, the Indian Government should not be hob knobing with idiots. But then, what else can you expect from people like Rahul Gandhi?