Tuesday, June 8, 2021
World Oceans Day
Sunday, April 25, 2021
COVID, India and multilateralism!
India is struggling with a huge spike in COVID cases in the last few weeks
plus dealing with variant versions of the virus. This is not a unique problem
to the country, but something all nations are facing. However, the huge
population and less than ideal healthcare scenario in some states and pockets
have led to current problems. Many of the variants of the virus were not
originally from India, but from UK and South Africa. As viruses do, there is
however continuous mutations and we no longer know which version we are dealing
with or how many versions are going around.
I had feared such eventual results from the start of this pandemic for my country, just due to its sheer population and my fears have now come true. India had handled the pandemic with panache so far and supplied vaccines and other medicines to the rest of the world including HCQ to the US. Many of these were to developing countries at no or very little cost. Some countries of EU had contractual agreements for supply of vaccines as well and these are the countries who started having panic attacks seeing the crisis now in India. Understandable, but their reaction at a time of global emergency is not forgivable. Chancellor Merkel completely forgot to diplomatically sympathize with the people of India, while enquiring about the promised vaccines. Her poor choice of words shocked me and apparently a good many people and governments around the world.
In case you missed it, here is what she said: “The truth is, we haven’t treated our pharmaceutical industry so well for many years…I am glad that we still have pharmaceutical production in Belgium, Holland, Germany.” Highlighting the issue of vaccine shortage, she said, “We now have a situation with India where, in connection with the emergency situation of the pandemic, we are worried whether the pharmaceutical products will still come to us.”
Merkel also cautioned, “Of course, we have only allowed India to
become such a large pharmaceutical producer in the first place, also from the
European side, in the expectation that this should then also be complied with.
If that is not the case now, we will have to rethink.”
I would very much like to know how Germany and EU have "allowed"
India to become a pharmaceutical producer? Did they come up with extraordinary
contracts, privileges, tax exemptions on imports and exports or special
sanctions? And such criticism after India along with other countries have
repeatedly requested and proposed to WTO to suspend the IP rights over COVID
medical supplies. This was blocked by the USA and EU among other developed
countries. maybe if they did not care so much about profits, India can
manufacture and supply more vaccines? USA has blocked a lot of the necessary
ingredients being exported to India which affects the vaccine production. So,
who is to blame really?
Clearly the Indian government, its people and many around the world did not
see Merkel's comments as appropriate or the threat acceptable. Many geopolitics experts around the world have found her comments extremely patronizing and very backwards in thought. The Minister of
External Affairs of the Government of India sent out a subtle tweet regarding
multilateralism. The Embassy of Germany too sprang into action with a series of
tweets expressing concern for the situation and promising full cooperation to
fight the pandemic. Of course, they also claimed responsibility and bragging
rights for two private companies Linde and TATA coming together to secure and
airlift 24 oxygen transport tanks! Few hours ago, the Chancellor herself
announced that Germany was in solidarity with India and is urgently preparing a
mission of support. What kind of support is not clear yet, but the pressure to
support is exposed?
On the other hand, the Biden/Harris government has been under heavy
scrutiny for their silence to acknowledge the crisis in India or offer any kind
of support. Over the weekend, after being trolled mercilessly on social media
for their tepid response to India's situation, the US government has finally
released a statement of support and is working to send PPE kits, rapid
diagnostic kits and ventilators. I still do not hear about suspending the IP
rights to help in producing more vaccines or unblocking export of important
ingredients for vaccine production, but hoping good sense and common sense will
ultimately prevail! Even American citizens are tweeting their support and
asking their government to release unused vaccines in storage and release
patents, enabling easier manufacture of vaccines elsewhere. At least at the
time of a global pandemic, one would think this should be fast tracked,
approved and implemented without much discussion.
Good luck India in combating this pandemic. This too shall pass and you
will once again come out with flying colours. Stay strong!
#India #COVID #Germany #EU #Merkel #Biden #KamalaHarris #USA #Vaccine
#vaccinemaitri #pharmaceuticals #SJaishankar #GoI #Externalaffairs
#multilateralism #news #politics
Saturday, April 24, 2021
Women leadership, biases and biology
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
A rape, a fast-track court and a death penalty
Monday, March 8, 2021
Remembering the Trailblazers of Iceland on International Women's Day 2021
One of my most favourite historical events took place
on the 24th of October 1975 – the day the women of Iceland went on strike!
90% of the women of the country, to demonstrate their
importance, decided to not show up to work and perform their routine responsibilities
for just one day. They came together in the streets to rally for equal rights.
The strata of each woman in society did not matter; it did not matter if she
was educated or not; it did not matter what kind of job she held. Homemakers,
cleaners, white-collar employees, business leaders, MPs, girls - all rallied
side by side. Rural women who were not able to physically join the rally in the
cities, still followed their sisters and took the day off. I cannot think of
another historical event that showcases the tremendous power, solidarity, and
strength of women as this one does. This was surely not the first women’s
movement however it was the most powerful, changing the course of Iceland’s
policies with respect to women completely thereafter.
The country came to a standstill. Businesses had to
close and, if open, dads had to take their children to work. They had to cook,
clean, and be responsible for childcare. All for just one day. Things came back
to normal the next day but with the knowledge that women are equal pillars of
society. This proved to be a watershed moment, bringing to the fore the sheer
force of and need for women.
Over the next five years, main changes included
electing the first female president for Iceland - Vigdis Finnbogadottir – a
divorced, single mother. Also, Europe’s first female president and the first
woman in the world to be democratically elected as president. She was so
popular, she remained president for the next 16 years!
While there were some reports of men not supporting
this movement, most realized that they would come across very poorly in the
face of such unity showed by the women. Some joined and fully supported the
idea behind the movement. The husband of one of the main speakers was allegedly
asked by a co-worker, "Why do you let your woman howl like that in public
places? I would never let my woman do such things." The husband shot back:
"She is not the sort of woman who would ever marry a man like you"
(BBC). How we need more such men!
On this International Women’s Day 2021, it is
important to recall such events, the strength it took, the mindset changes that
it brought about in both men and women, and the empowerment it generated.
Let us invite all men to unite with the women in
fighting for women’s basic rights, which are in fact human rights. Break your
deafening silence and join the ranks of great men who were pioneers for women’s
rights and liberation even more than women.
I honour some of such great men from India.
1) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
The first Indian man to, as early as 18th century, work for upliftment of women. Worked to abolish the barbaric practise of Sati and fought to break the shackles of caste system.
2) Jyotirao
Govindrao Phule
Activist and reformer, worked especially for women of lower castes. Together with his wife, Savitribai Phule, he started the first school for girls, despite being ostracised by their families. He advocated widow remarriage and also started an orphanage to reduce the incidence of female infanticide.
3) Dr. Bhimrao
Ramji Ambedkar
The chief architect of the Constitution of India, Babasaheb is renowned for championing the rights of Dalits and their upliftment in society. Apart from this, he was responsible for the introduction of the Hindu Code Bill - which allowed women the right to file a divorce petition, and the right to inheritance.
4) Subramania
Bharathi
One of the pioneers of modern Tamil literature who strongly opposed the caste system and worked tirelessly to uplift women through literature. He fought for the emancipation of women, against child marriage, stood for reforming Brahminism and religion.
Happy International Women's
Day. But more than happy, let us make it a thoughtful and productive day,
continuing through the years to come!