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It has been more than a week since Bobby Jindal was elected the Governor of Louisiana but Rediff, India’s premier news portal still can’t get over it. See the attached screenshot from their website as taken on 28th October. It is not only the top headline but also has a dedicated black link atop all headlines, giving it almost an aura of a great story. I have already talked about the stupidity of such blind love for anything with an Indian name. But then maybe I was missing out on what may indeed be a big story. Sure! Jindal was the first non-white governor of a state known for its racial prejudices. In that case, you would see the state’s primary newspaper The Time Picayune carrying the story for at least as long as Rediff if not more, right? So let us see what does the Picayune have on its website at the same time.
Ah! Ironically, the only Jindal story in its list of headlines is the love of the Indian media for him. Louisianans must be wondering, did we really vote for an American or was Jindal a sleeper Indian cell that somehow got elected as Governor and will now outsource all jobs to India. The headline makes India sound desperate for vindication from the West. Why? Why must Rediff do that? I doubt that even Indian-Americans who check Rediff for news don’t care that much for Jindal. I’m sure, they want to know what’s happening in India and don’t tell me that it has been a slow news week. If nothing, then at least have your columnists write on the recently-released Gujarat riots report by Tehelka. I’m sure people would want to know about that. But apparently even by Indian standards, it is a non-issue. Mukeshbhai superseding Bill Gates makes everyone more happy. Trying to be the next ’super power’ is not just about economic growth but ensuring your citizens (all of them!) enjoy civil liberties and basic rights otherwise all that prosperity is ephemeral. I know, I can be such a killjoy.
by Patrix | on Monday, October 29th, 2007 at 12:58 pm | 
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October 29th, 2007 at 1:24 pm reply
Now that we are seeking to be a superpower, we have *got* to curb civil liberties and freedoms. I can say that we have a great precedent for doing that, so I am highly optimistic. ;)
October 29th, 2007 at 1:40 pm reply
Ashutosh, sadly we look to the China model of superpower rather than the U.S. You would be surprised at how many Indians agree that we would be better off under a dictatorship. On the flip side, the U.S. or at least this administration is increasingly going the other way too.
October 29th, 2007 at 2:22 pm reply
I am of the opinion myself that a good dictator (I know contradictory right?) is better than a bad democratically elected leader. Given the choices our countrymen have made over they years… I think we are in need of a dictator who can bring in some self respect to Indian junta.
If anything’s that lacking in Indian media, especially, it is self respect; very often I see it with people too; anything American is absolutely swashbuckling and worth noting - anything Indian, nay… doesnt deserve much merit.
Come to think off it, all my friends in India know up-to-date status of California wildfires….
S
October 29th, 2007 at 2:52 pm reply
Supremus, I get where you are coming from regarding the ‘good dictator’ part but history has told us that we are more likely to end up with Hitler or Stalin rather than Lee Kwan Yew (Singapore). In the end, power corrupts and especially so in Indian politics. India is simply too diverse and large to have one dictator decide our fate. This is simply the tip of the proverbial iceberg in arguments against dictatorship in India without going into why it would never happen.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:09 pm reply
rediff’s coverage of Bobby Jindal is made up by its lack of coverage on Indian issues : like the march of the dispossessed or the gujarat carnage or the ecological disaster that is going to be Setu Samudram or what ever…
most Indians who read English newspapers possibly think that he is related to the Jindal steel family :)