Showing posts with label Chetan Ramchurn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chetan Ramchurn. Show all posts
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Sunday, June 20, 2010
latest articles
What makes us young? Column Chetan Ramchurn L’express weekly/ 11.06.2010
•June 12, 2010 • Leave a Comment (Edit)
[Column ] What makes us young? /Chetan Ramchurn L’Express Weekly/ 11/06/10
Monday evening. I’m cruising through Curepipe’s cold streets. The traffic, as I most hate it, loud and slow. For once, my windows are up… lest I lose some of that John Legend’s soulful music amidst the blaring horns. I am musing on the fact that this subject could be penned from several viewpoints. But my thoughts go back to decades ago, to Curepipe’s fateful tryst with our country’s first political assassination; Azor Adelaide’s martyrdom reminding me that being young back in 1971 also meant risking one’s life.
The condescending way in which the present young generation is viewed shall be the first of my themes. An outer view would thus be a good starting point; how our more seasoned peers tend to view GenYers as self- obsessed whiners that sulk all the time, that are more concerned with their latest Facebook avatars than the numerous societal wrongs they witness every single day, believing that they know best when all they’ve done is put their minds to sleep. Too often are we seen as modern Oblomovs… unwilling to do much, caught in indecision… Our critics are partly justified.
For the current Mauritius’s absence of ideologies and celebration of status quo should also be attributed to those at its helm… those that were brimming with leftist ideals back in the 70s.
And this is what reassures me. The Che- inebriated generation so long touted as the creators of a new world order are also those that left their dreams for the comfort of capitalism. Maybe, and I’m hoping that this is the case, our less vocal young generation might have a more telling change on the society. For has anything changed for real? Sartre has been replaced by Houellebecq, Rock has been replaced by Hip Hop and racism is still ubiquitous. The form of rebellion has certainly changed, but the philosophy has sustained the test of time.
Youth gone wild?
What should be of real concern to those who care and have the ability to change things is the rotten state of some of our country’s academic institutions, meant to act as vivier d’idées. How on university campuses across the island, racism is openly preached and practised during election time; how the vulnerability of young minds has not been alleviated with the greater imparting of moral values and education on the myriad of cultures gracing our land; how meritocracy is often forgotten and forsaken by young graduates whose first instinct is to use the easiest and cheapest of moves to secure a monthly paycheck…
Everyone is the age of their heart.( Guatemalan Proverb)
But being young is not solely about age. That which makes us youthful is also that which prevents us from falling prey to fear. And it is fright that manacles our minds, that turns well irrigated brains into dried ones, which makes us see change as an insurmountable hurdle and that forces us to see a foe in the one who is different. But being young is most importantly about being true to one’s human values and being tolerant of others.
Here’s my appeal to the naysayers: Understand that the youth of today has its share of contradictions. The pettifogger deeply engrossed in trying to increase the number of virtual friends and the thinker trying to change the world. Helping the second of these facets to bloom would do our Motherland a lot of good.
And here’s my advice to my young comrades: You don’t age unless you choose to…
Chetan Ramchurn
Posted in Uncategorized
Nil desperandum by Chetan Ramchurn/L’Express Weekly 14.05.2010
•May 14, 2010 • Leave a Comment (Edit)
“ Nil desperandum”
Hardly a week has elapsed… the gash in most purple hearts still hurting.
Still, neither have our heads gone down nor has our resolve flinched. And if there was any misunderstanding on where the MMM stood on the political spectrum, it has been cleared. Those with real militan blood have, to the best of their socialist drive, managed to fight for that which they believed in; a bona fide democratisation of the economy, greater transparency in public affairs and real change in the education sector.
I know not all the answers to the MMM’s defeat. What I know is that playing the ostrich game would do us no good and party heads might, in line with our long history of participative democracy, want to ask for the input of the soldiers on the battleground on how to correct some of the mistakes made over the last month.
My reading of things is that Mauritians in the third millennium need to assess whom they are giving the golden ticket for a power ride to. Churchill, as gifted he was a leader as talented he was with words once said “ The best argument against democracy is a five- minute conversation with the average voter.” Lest I be condescending, I would rather believe that we never were able to reach the majority of voters.
Yes readers, the much hyped majorité silencieuse is not only mum but also, and on an even more unfortunate note for the MMM, suffers from some form of hearing impairment.
For some of the results are baffling; former political nominees that were horrendous when at the head of institutions have been offered the green light by the venerable pep admirab to further tarnish the political playfield, non- descript candidates winning their respective battles against talented ones and let us never forget the use of racist speeches; all adding up to turn May 2010 into the most grotesque of months in recent times.
My disenchantment has somewhat been alleviated with competent minds such as Kee Cheong, Obeegadoo and Boollel perfectly placed to be our voice in what promises to be a cauldron of a parliament. The next five years shall be determining, for Mauritius first of all but also for the MMM as a party. First and foremost, it is key to rethink and rejuvenate ourselves, convince with bold ideas those constituencies and voters that have remained immune to our leftist words that there is an alternative. And I have no fear that this can and will be achieved.
The time is right to draw significant teachings from our past defeats and on finding the best of strategies and tactics to be the most dominating force in Mauritian politics once again.
Campaigning for the greater regulation in political financing should be high up the agenda for these elections have showed even more than the previous ones that the defining rule in politics in our era is ‘ Pay to Play’ . A real commission on the fairer distribution of wealth would also do much good to the MMM, so long and unfairly accused of siding with part of the private sector.
2010 was the year where incompetence prevailed, the slugfest of ideas was replaced with that of insults and our country’s date with destiny was missed.
2015 shall be the year of the purple.
The “ majorité silencieuse” is not only mum but also suffers from some form of hearing impairment.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tags: Chetan Ramchurn, Elections 2010, Labour Party, MMM
Revey toi n ti poem avant elections
•May 5, 2010 • Leave a Comment (Edit)
Revey toi…
Mone lire ene jour ki somey ek la mort presk identik
Dayer dans Illiad, Hypnos ek Thanatos c’est deux freres jumo, fils de Nix
Pou conscience aussi imper mem trik
Pna difference entre ene kine endormi ek ene kine mort so sens civique
Kamarad, pas laisse toi fermer par ban lespri racistes
Tous dimoun pareil dapres dna so helix
Anou empeche nou pays vine encore pli triste
Mercredi to ena sa chance unik sanz disc
Ek choisir vote pou competence au lieu ene clique
De petits copains ek jouisseurs sans moralite ou ethique
Ki to appel Stephanie, Vijay, Yogen ou Faeza
Nou tou zenfan sa pays la, pou nou li ene mama
Si tone comprend sa ban mots la bien
To leker p bat mem rythme ki moi, parole ene morisyen
Ki le 5 Mai pou change avec so vote nou Maurice so destin.
Chetan
Posted in Uncategorized
Tags: Chetan, Ramchurn, Revey toi
Economic Order: Now is the time for change/L’Express ID/27.04.2010
•April 27, 2010 • Leave a Comment (Edit)
Economic order : “ Now is
the time for change”
Chetan RAMCHURN
Like a few others in Mauritius, I have always had a thing against staunch market fundamentalists who live and die by the invisible hand. I fear they might come to me one day and say smilingly, “ Dear Chetan, we have evaluated the market demand for socialists and it stands at nil at the moment. So we have decided, with the consent of the Society of Mauritian Liberals and Proponents of Economic Inequality, to terminate you while waiting for better market conditions for humanists”. I fear, more seriously, that they might continue to put economic concerns before human ones.
There is no invisible hand. Nobel Prize winners in Economics Daniel Kahneman and Vernon Smith explained that the predictability of human behaviour cannot be ascertained with enough precision and subsequently the fundamental economic concepts do not always apply in real life. And in this young democracy of ours, what has been dubbed as “ simplistic market economics” seem to have won it against the need for a stronger government that would act as a facilitator and regulator of economic affairs. Thus, with several of our governments being led by a neo- liberal agenda, government intervention has been kept to the strictest of minimum with the few continuing to benefi t and the many continuing to suffer.
Our colonial past and post- independence years bear testimony to an economic environment marred by inequalities.
Few have tackled the socio- economic divide and tried to bring the Gini coeffi cient within acceptable norms.
Unfortunately for us, the Ramgoolam/ Rama tandem was not one of them with the gap between the rich and the poor that has widened and a large part of the private sector that has fl ourished to indecent proportions. The last government using levies, with as much aversion as a world- relinquishing monk would use money, has never been able to bring some form of equilibrium in the distribution of wealth. But then again, we had been compelled to accept that this was the only way and that Sithanen was the economic maestro that had salvaged the destiny of our motherland from the brink of doom. Few opposing voices, that included the likes of Bizlall, Subron and Kee Cheong Li Kwong Wing, were heard as the ideological warfare was being won by free marketholics.
Now is the time for change.
Any country with real concern for its citizens would follow in the footsteps of Bhutan which has decided to forgo the traditional GDP measure for a more people centric one using its now celebrated Gross National Happiness Index to gauge the prosperity of its nation. If it sounds like a term borrowed from Lewis Caroll’s book, think again. For economic thought leaders as celebrated as Amartya Sen and Joseph Stiglitz consider it as a more than credible alternative to the now passé GDP. What we need at this defi ning moment of our country’s destiny is a Welfare State that truly ensures that basic human needs are catered for. With our public schooling that has increasingly lost its sheen in favour of an expensive private one, the absence of price control resulting in the loss of purchasing power, the huge costs of insecurity resulting in the loss of human lives and an inbred form of fear and despair, the mood of Mauritians demands to be uplifted with a more caring government.
Policies that are in dire need are those that would upgrade the levels of services offered with real benchmarks of quality and effi ciency. Measures that would encourage the greater participation of entrepreneurs could include the offering of a safety net and more public- private sector partnerships that would enable the fostering of innovation and help in the creation of new sectors.
Singapore, often cited as an example to follow by our Prime Minister, is a State where the government remains, still today, a key partner in economic affairs offering a form of paternalistic benevolence in a global economic sphere where cold capitalism reigns. Lee Kuan Yew believed that high quality schools, health care and public services should be foremost in the country’s agenda. I’ll end this column with a quote from the coronation address of the King of Bhutan in 2008 : “ Our most important goal is the peace and happiness of our people and the security and sovereignty of the nation.” Qui potest capere capiat… Let him accept it who can…
•June 12, 2010 • Leave a Comment (Edit)
[Column ] What makes us young? /Chetan Ramchurn L’Express Weekly/ 11/06/10
Monday evening. I’m cruising through Curepipe’s cold streets. The traffic, as I most hate it, loud and slow. For once, my windows are up… lest I lose some of that John Legend’s soulful music amidst the blaring horns. I am musing on the fact that this subject could be penned from several viewpoints. But my thoughts go back to decades ago, to Curepipe’s fateful tryst with our country’s first political assassination; Azor Adelaide’s martyrdom reminding me that being young back in 1971 also meant risking one’s life.
The condescending way in which the present young generation is viewed shall be the first of my themes. An outer view would thus be a good starting point; how our more seasoned peers tend to view GenYers as self- obsessed whiners that sulk all the time, that are more concerned with their latest Facebook avatars than the numerous societal wrongs they witness every single day, believing that they know best when all they’ve done is put their minds to sleep. Too often are we seen as modern Oblomovs… unwilling to do much, caught in indecision… Our critics are partly justified.
For the current Mauritius’s absence of ideologies and celebration of status quo should also be attributed to those at its helm… those that were brimming with leftist ideals back in the 70s.
And this is what reassures me. The Che- inebriated generation so long touted as the creators of a new world order are also those that left their dreams for the comfort of capitalism. Maybe, and I’m hoping that this is the case, our less vocal young generation might have a more telling change on the society. For has anything changed for real? Sartre has been replaced by Houellebecq, Rock has been replaced by Hip Hop and racism is still ubiquitous. The form of rebellion has certainly changed, but the philosophy has sustained the test of time.
Youth gone wild?
What should be of real concern to those who care and have the ability to change things is the rotten state of some of our country’s academic institutions, meant to act as vivier d’idées. How on university campuses across the island, racism is openly preached and practised during election time; how the vulnerability of young minds has not been alleviated with the greater imparting of moral values and education on the myriad of cultures gracing our land; how meritocracy is often forgotten and forsaken by young graduates whose first instinct is to use the easiest and cheapest of moves to secure a monthly paycheck…
Everyone is the age of their heart.( Guatemalan Proverb)
But being young is not solely about age. That which makes us youthful is also that which prevents us from falling prey to fear. And it is fright that manacles our minds, that turns well irrigated brains into dried ones, which makes us see change as an insurmountable hurdle and that forces us to see a foe in the one who is different. But being young is most importantly about being true to one’s human values and being tolerant of others.
Here’s my appeal to the naysayers: Understand that the youth of today has its share of contradictions. The pettifogger deeply engrossed in trying to increase the number of virtual friends and the thinker trying to change the world. Helping the second of these facets to bloom would do our Motherland a lot of good.
And here’s my advice to my young comrades: You don’t age unless you choose to…
Chetan Ramchurn
Posted in Uncategorized
Nil desperandum by Chetan Ramchurn/L’Express Weekly 14.05.2010
•May 14, 2010 • Leave a Comment (Edit)
“ Nil desperandum”
Hardly a week has elapsed… the gash in most purple hearts still hurting.
Still, neither have our heads gone down nor has our resolve flinched. And if there was any misunderstanding on where the MMM stood on the political spectrum, it has been cleared. Those with real militan blood have, to the best of their socialist drive, managed to fight for that which they believed in; a bona fide democratisation of the economy, greater transparency in public affairs and real change in the education sector.
I know not all the answers to the MMM’s defeat. What I know is that playing the ostrich game would do us no good and party heads might, in line with our long history of participative democracy, want to ask for the input of the soldiers on the battleground on how to correct some of the mistakes made over the last month.
My reading of things is that Mauritians in the third millennium need to assess whom they are giving the golden ticket for a power ride to. Churchill, as gifted he was a leader as talented he was with words once said “ The best argument against democracy is a five- minute conversation with the average voter.” Lest I be condescending, I would rather believe that we never were able to reach the majority of voters.
Yes readers, the much hyped majorité silencieuse is not only mum but also, and on an even more unfortunate note for the MMM, suffers from some form of hearing impairment.
For some of the results are baffling; former political nominees that were horrendous when at the head of institutions have been offered the green light by the venerable pep admirab to further tarnish the political playfield, non- descript candidates winning their respective battles against talented ones and let us never forget the use of racist speeches; all adding up to turn May 2010 into the most grotesque of months in recent times.
My disenchantment has somewhat been alleviated with competent minds such as Kee Cheong, Obeegadoo and Boollel perfectly placed to be our voice in what promises to be a cauldron of a parliament. The next five years shall be determining, for Mauritius first of all but also for the MMM as a party. First and foremost, it is key to rethink and rejuvenate ourselves, convince with bold ideas those constituencies and voters that have remained immune to our leftist words that there is an alternative. And I have no fear that this can and will be achieved.
The time is right to draw significant teachings from our past defeats and on finding the best of strategies and tactics to be the most dominating force in Mauritian politics once again.
Campaigning for the greater regulation in political financing should be high up the agenda for these elections have showed even more than the previous ones that the defining rule in politics in our era is ‘ Pay to Play’ . A real commission on the fairer distribution of wealth would also do much good to the MMM, so long and unfairly accused of siding with part of the private sector.
2010 was the year where incompetence prevailed, the slugfest of ideas was replaced with that of insults and our country’s date with destiny was missed.
2015 shall be the year of the purple.
The “ majorité silencieuse” is not only mum but also suffers from some form of hearing impairment.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tags: Chetan Ramchurn, Elections 2010, Labour Party, MMM
Revey toi n ti poem avant elections
•May 5, 2010 • Leave a Comment (Edit)
Revey toi…
Mone lire ene jour ki somey ek la mort presk identik
Dayer dans Illiad, Hypnos ek Thanatos c’est deux freres jumo, fils de Nix
Pou conscience aussi imper mem trik
Pna difference entre ene kine endormi ek ene kine mort so sens civique
Kamarad, pas laisse toi fermer par ban lespri racistes
Tous dimoun pareil dapres dna so helix
Anou empeche nou pays vine encore pli triste
Mercredi to ena sa chance unik sanz disc
Ek choisir vote pou competence au lieu ene clique
De petits copains ek jouisseurs sans moralite ou ethique
Ki to appel Stephanie, Vijay, Yogen ou Faeza
Nou tou zenfan sa pays la, pou nou li ene mama
Si tone comprend sa ban mots la bien
To leker p bat mem rythme ki moi, parole ene morisyen
Ki le 5 Mai pou change avec so vote nou Maurice so destin.
Chetan
Posted in Uncategorized
Tags: Chetan, Ramchurn, Revey toi
Economic Order: Now is the time for change/L’Express ID/27.04.2010
•April 27, 2010 • Leave a Comment (Edit)
Economic order : “ Now is
the time for change”
Chetan RAMCHURN
Like a few others in Mauritius, I have always had a thing against staunch market fundamentalists who live and die by the invisible hand. I fear they might come to me one day and say smilingly, “ Dear Chetan, we have evaluated the market demand for socialists and it stands at nil at the moment. So we have decided, with the consent of the Society of Mauritian Liberals and Proponents of Economic Inequality, to terminate you while waiting for better market conditions for humanists”. I fear, more seriously, that they might continue to put economic concerns before human ones.
There is no invisible hand. Nobel Prize winners in Economics Daniel Kahneman and Vernon Smith explained that the predictability of human behaviour cannot be ascertained with enough precision and subsequently the fundamental economic concepts do not always apply in real life. And in this young democracy of ours, what has been dubbed as “ simplistic market economics” seem to have won it against the need for a stronger government that would act as a facilitator and regulator of economic affairs. Thus, with several of our governments being led by a neo- liberal agenda, government intervention has been kept to the strictest of minimum with the few continuing to benefi t and the many continuing to suffer.
Our colonial past and post- independence years bear testimony to an economic environment marred by inequalities.
Few have tackled the socio- economic divide and tried to bring the Gini coeffi cient within acceptable norms.
Unfortunately for us, the Ramgoolam/ Rama tandem was not one of them with the gap between the rich and the poor that has widened and a large part of the private sector that has fl ourished to indecent proportions. The last government using levies, with as much aversion as a world- relinquishing monk would use money, has never been able to bring some form of equilibrium in the distribution of wealth. But then again, we had been compelled to accept that this was the only way and that Sithanen was the economic maestro that had salvaged the destiny of our motherland from the brink of doom. Few opposing voices, that included the likes of Bizlall, Subron and Kee Cheong Li Kwong Wing, were heard as the ideological warfare was being won by free marketholics.
Now is the time for change.
Any country with real concern for its citizens would follow in the footsteps of Bhutan which has decided to forgo the traditional GDP measure for a more people centric one using its now celebrated Gross National Happiness Index to gauge the prosperity of its nation. If it sounds like a term borrowed from Lewis Caroll’s book, think again. For economic thought leaders as celebrated as Amartya Sen and Joseph Stiglitz consider it as a more than credible alternative to the now passé GDP. What we need at this defi ning moment of our country’s destiny is a Welfare State that truly ensures that basic human needs are catered for. With our public schooling that has increasingly lost its sheen in favour of an expensive private one, the absence of price control resulting in the loss of purchasing power, the huge costs of insecurity resulting in the loss of human lives and an inbred form of fear and despair, the mood of Mauritians demands to be uplifted with a more caring government.
Policies that are in dire need are those that would upgrade the levels of services offered with real benchmarks of quality and effi ciency. Measures that would encourage the greater participation of entrepreneurs could include the offering of a safety net and more public- private sector partnerships that would enable the fostering of innovation and help in the creation of new sectors.
Singapore, often cited as an example to follow by our Prime Minister, is a State where the government remains, still today, a key partner in economic affairs offering a form of paternalistic benevolence in a global economic sphere where cold capitalism reigns. Lee Kuan Yew believed that high quality schools, health care and public services should be foremost in the country’s agenda. I’ll end this column with a quote from the coronation address of the King of Bhutan in 2008 : “ Our most important goal is the peace and happiness of our people and the security and sovereignty of the nation.” Qui potest capere capiat… Let him accept it who can…
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
MMM It's all about belief/L'Express ID/16.03.2010
MMM
It’s all about belief…
Had an epiphany at the end of February. A revelation, as crystalline as the absurdity of life in a Kafka novel, that had to do with an over four decade old purple patient’s longing to finally get out of the political reanimation room to which it had been confined since 2005.
With leaks in the press of a meeting between two of the most followed domestic politicians surfacing, like others, I came to the realisation that the MMM and its leaders were not determined enough to pass the Litmus test of their credibility as a vivier d’idées and as capable decision makers in the next general elections. This latest retournement de veste is yet another one in the party’s long lineage of veering away from the true path of sticking to its core ideals. Even more dangerous is that this MMM stance offers a stark contrast to Navin Ramgoolam’s blasé style…and further widens the divide between the party and its militan and further irks the population.
And thus, the long list of recriminations against Ramgoolam Jr instantly evaporated, forgotten amidst the desire to return to power while the customary leeches saw yet another opportunity that shall allow them to suck on some of that taxpayers’ money. Members of the party that had acted as thought leaders in papers or had vocally expressed their condemnation of this regime’s actions on radio waves have seemingly quieted for their share of the cake. You would have expected the younger members of the MMM to manifest their discontent against this gluttony for power. Que nenni. Settling selfishly for an entry in the good books of the party heads, they have effectively confirmed their dearth of mettle. Having witnessed that damning ambition that cripples minds and mouths and even more so among the youth ranks of my own party, my disenchantment with Mauritian politics further grows…
My MMM days
Every now and then, with my good friends Arnaud and Benoit, we muse on those ideas that would allow our country to breathe again and dream of a land where law and order would no longer be the most aching of issues, where the education system would finally set the bases for a thinking society and when the Alliance Sociale’s mirage, the democratization of the economy would finally materialise. Our selfless conversations often become broad discussions on the ideological meaning of socialism and the importance of never thinking of our own petty interests but more importantly of that of many. It is not an easy task, I admit, to forfeit one’s needs. But it is a path that I have chosen and unconquerable my soul shall remain.
Being reasonably happy with our respective professional situations, we could have joined one of those ineffectual organisations or clubs where members fight more to be known than for the greater good of society with PR campaigns to dowse themselves in, what Warhol termed, their quarter-hour of fame. Foolishly we have decided against this great networking tactic and chosen to try and change things for real. Utopists? Definitely, but the power to dream is that vital elixir that takes a country to new heights.
An absence of values…
I now comprehend that the real issue plaguing the mauve heart is not solely its absence of ideas or competent members, which incidentally is very much real, but more importantly the lack of belief in itself. And it dates to decades ago. In 1982, with victory beckoning we chose to take on board an unneeded ally. And since then, repeatedly in 1991, 1995, 2000, 2005, our battles have been solely a question of being in a duo rather than doing it the ethical solo way. Till this deficiency in faith be cured, no return to prominence can be achieved.
The leader of the MMM, unaware of his role as the the Pied Piper of Hamelin leading his party to death, might against his own better judgment and influenced by some , be sacrificing our last drop of credibility supposedly for the greater good of the nation. The Prime Minister must be relishing his present position with the other two parties begging for his acquiescence for a 5 year ballad. The outcome if the MMM fails to get Navin's approval? Would it make any sense to fight against someone you had been courting previously?
When a party runs out of ideas and convictions, it naturally chooses the coward’s way out. Let’s be brave comrades.
Chetan Ramchurn
militan
It’s all about belief…
Had an epiphany at the end of February. A revelation, as crystalline as the absurdity of life in a Kafka novel, that had to do with an over four decade old purple patient’s longing to finally get out of the political reanimation room to which it had been confined since 2005.
With leaks in the press of a meeting between two of the most followed domestic politicians surfacing, like others, I came to the realisation that the MMM and its leaders were not determined enough to pass the Litmus test of their credibility as a vivier d’idées and as capable decision makers in the next general elections. This latest retournement de veste is yet another one in the party’s long lineage of veering away from the true path of sticking to its core ideals. Even more dangerous is that this MMM stance offers a stark contrast to Navin Ramgoolam’s blasé style…and further widens the divide between the party and its militan and further irks the population.
And thus, the long list of recriminations against Ramgoolam Jr instantly evaporated, forgotten amidst the desire to return to power while the customary leeches saw yet another opportunity that shall allow them to suck on some of that taxpayers’ money. Members of the party that had acted as thought leaders in papers or had vocally expressed their condemnation of this regime’s actions on radio waves have seemingly quieted for their share of the cake. You would have expected the younger members of the MMM to manifest their discontent against this gluttony for power. Que nenni. Settling selfishly for an entry in the good books of the party heads, they have effectively confirmed their dearth of mettle. Having witnessed that damning ambition that cripples minds and mouths and even more so among the youth ranks of my own party, my disenchantment with Mauritian politics further grows…
My MMM days
Every now and then, with my good friends Arnaud and Benoit, we muse on those ideas that would allow our country to breathe again and dream of a land where law and order would no longer be the most aching of issues, where the education system would finally set the bases for a thinking society and when the Alliance Sociale’s mirage, the democratization of the economy would finally materialise. Our selfless conversations often become broad discussions on the ideological meaning of socialism and the importance of never thinking of our own petty interests but more importantly of that of many. It is not an easy task, I admit, to forfeit one’s needs. But it is a path that I have chosen and unconquerable my soul shall remain.
Being reasonably happy with our respective professional situations, we could have joined one of those ineffectual organisations or clubs where members fight more to be known than for the greater good of society with PR campaigns to dowse themselves in, what Warhol termed, their quarter-hour of fame. Foolishly we have decided against this great networking tactic and chosen to try and change things for real. Utopists? Definitely, but the power to dream is that vital elixir that takes a country to new heights.
An absence of values…
I now comprehend that the real issue plaguing the mauve heart is not solely its absence of ideas or competent members, which incidentally is very much real, but more importantly the lack of belief in itself. And it dates to decades ago. In 1982, with victory beckoning we chose to take on board an unneeded ally. And since then, repeatedly in 1991, 1995, 2000, 2005, our battles have been solely a question of being in a duo rather than doing it the ethical solo way. Till this deficiency in faith be cured, no return to prominence can be achieved.
The leader of the MMM, unaware of his role as the the Pied Piper of Hamelin leading his party to death, might against his own better judgment and influenced by some , be sacrificing our last drop of credibility supposedly for the greater good of the nation. The Prime Minister must be relishing his present position with the other two parties begging for his acquiescence for a 5 year ballad. The outcome if the MMM fails to get Navin's approval? Would it make any sense to fight against someone you had been courting previously?
When a party runs out of ideas and convictions, it naturally chooses the coward’s way out. Let’s be brave comrades.
Chetan Ramchurn
militan
Friday, February 26, 2010
Let Cooler Heads Prevail/L'Express 26 February 2010
Let Cooler Heads Prevail…
Chetan RAMCHURN
I have always been fascinated by those who had the courage to go against the system for the powerless… and in my pantheon of martyrs, the likes of Biko ( whose murder was incidentally covered up as being death caused from self- inflicted injuries arising from a prolonged hunger strike) and Bhagat Singh have always been held in high esteem. Over the years I learned about the non violent path of combating an oppressor… how the Mahatma or Boitel would choose not to feed themselves to be heard and heeded. And to those who have the opportunity of going through the accounts of these hunger strikes, there is nothing quite as moving as a man with honest intentions who chooses the only recourse left to him.
Still, I fail to be deeply enthused by the Mauritian version of hunger strikes with the latest of them being that of Riche Terre planters. Not because I believe that their fight is unjust but simply because they have chosen a weapon that threatens to halt a country’s further development.
Diffi cult to make any sense out of the present mess. An issue that was already convoluted in 2007 fi nds itself further exacerbated with both sides claiming to be right. And since one of the sides in this slugfest is led by the Made in Mauritius Lee Kuan Yew, expect him to use these circumstances to project the image of a bold leader on a take no prisoners stance.
This new image can only be instilled by using some deeply philosophical lines such as “ To pa koner kan to pas manger to pou crever”. For once, I can’t even blame the country’s leader on his impatience with what he believes are hurdles to the country’s greater progress and prosperity.
However, we wish that our great helmsman were as bold and vocal against white collar criminals, corruption and malpractices.
The original sin The pecuniary demands of the planters might appear nonsensical to many. Still, they had an agreement that allowed them to use the land up to 2015 and have justifi ed their claims by evaluating the annual income garnered from these lands and multiplying it by the number of years left on their lease. To what extent are these people right or wrong, I do not know. But having associated themselves with l’enfant terrible of No. 5, they have made this a battleground for political interests and by using hunger strikes as bargaining chips, they have demeaned their own pursuit.
Something went dreadfully wrong at the beginning of the present year. The masses sided with Jayen Chellum, a man who had acted irresponsibly on a day where the fate of so many young souls is decided. Unlike many, I chose not to join the cohort of Government bashers and saw in this “ fight for justice” a heavy farcical touch. Most of my peers disagreed with me back then. But the repercussions are now very much real with a precedent that confi rms that in an electoral year, everything is tolerated. Now is the time to close Pandora’s box.
Today, as the concept of hunger strike is being fi rmly imprinted in the Mauritian psyche, my only wish would be to have an independent commission or fact- finding committee on the matter where the extent of truths and lies would be gauged and questions such as the following tackled: Have these lands effectively been occupied by all planters? Have the alternative terrains promised to growers already been provided to them? What would amount to a just and fair compensation to all parties concerned? Till these be answered, let cooler heads prevail.
“ In an electoral year, everything is tolerated.
Now is the time to close Pandora’s box.”
Chetan RAMCHURN
I have always been fascinated by those who had the courage to go against the system for the powerless… and in my pantheon of martyrs, the likes of Biko ( whose murder was incidentally covered up as being death caused from self- inflicted injuries arising from a prolonged hunger strike) and Bhagat Singh have always been held in high esteem. Over the years I learned about the non violent path of combating an oppressor… how the Mahatma or Boitel would choose not to feed themselves to be heard and heeded. And to those who have the opportunity of going through the accounts of these hunger strikes, there is nothing quite as moving as a man with honest intentions who chooses the only recourse left to him.
Still, I fail to be deeply enthused by the Mauritian version of hunger strikes with the latest of them being that of Riche Terre planters. Not because I believe that their fight is unjust but simply because they have chosen a weapon that threatens to halt a country’s further development.
Diffi cult to make any sense out of the present mess. An issue that was already convoluted in 2007 fi nds itself further exacerbated with both sides claiming to be right. And since one of the sides in this slugfest is led by the Made in Mauritius Lee Kuan Yew, expect him to use these circumstances to project the image of a bold leader on a take no prisoners stance.
This new image can only be instilled by using some deeply philosophical lines such as “ To pa koner kan to pas manger to pou crever”. For once, I can’t even blame the country’s leader on his impatience with what he believes are hurdles to the country’s greater progress and prosperity.
However, we wish that our great helmsman were as bold and vocal against white collar criminals, corruption and malpractices.
The original sin The pecuniary demands of the planters might appear nonsensical to many. Still, they had an agreement that allowed them to use the land up to 2015 and have justifi ed their claims by evaluating the annual income garnered from these lands and multiplying it by the number of years left on their lease. To what extent are these people right or wrong, I do not know. But having associated themselves with l’enfant terrible of No. 5, they have made this a battleground for political interests and by using hunger strikes as bargaining chips, they have demeaned their own pursuit.
Something went dreadfully wrong at the beginning of the present year. The masses sided with Jayen Chellum, a man who had acted irresponsibly on a day where the fate of so many young souls is decided. Unlike many, I chose not to join the cohort of Government bashers and saw in this “ fight for justice” a heavy farcical touch. Most of my peers disagreed with me back then. But the repercussions are now very much real with a precedent that confi rms that in an electoral year, everything is tolerated. Now is the time to close Pandora’s box.
Today, as the concept of hunger strike is being fi rmly imprinted in the Mauritian psyche, my only wish would be to have an independent commission or fact- finding committee on the matter where the extent of truths and lies would be gauged and questions such as the following tackled: Have these lands effectively been occupied by all planters? Have the alternative terrains promised to growers already been provided to them? What would amount to a just and fair compensation to all parties concerned? Till these be answered, let cooler heads prevail.
“ In an electoral year, everything is tolerated.
Now is the time to close Pandora’s box.”
Friday, February 19, 2010
Robots apres tout/L'Express/19/02/2010
Robots après tout…
School used to bore me. For most of the time I spent there, I considered it to be a prison confining young bodies and minds within four walls for seemingly endless hours where we would be trained to learn everything by heart. This suited most of those around me perfectly but the idea of being a parrot never tempted me much, so I chose to remain human.
This meant that I was often the only carefree soul amidst frenzied ones which allowed me to keep my mind fully functional, or on a more comparative style, to paraphrase Kipling’s opening line of If, I was keeping my head when all about me were losing theirs. In my high school years, my understanding of the academic world had not changed.
I was in one of the “Star Colleges” where “la crème de la crème” was pooled and subsequently pitched against each other. Throughout these formative years, I witnessed some humorous incidents that still bring a smile to my face as I pen this column learners crying because they were not in the premier position in class, mindless competition between my peers resulting in depression or the greater belief in God.
As from the age of 16, the uncompetitive nature of my world seemed too appealing to make the journey to cold Curepipe every morning. Instead, I read everything that I could find at home. Luckily for me, my parents being both teachers, I had innumerable classics to choose from. And thus I discovered Poe and Faulkner among others. And I was happy being as I was… doing what I loved to do.
Not everyone shared my happiness though. I quickly learned that the system treated ‘nonchalant’ beings who were disenchanted with the memorised learning process as ‘rebellious misfi ts’ that had to be reformed. And who else to carry this noble task of administering the cold verdict than some unthinking teachers who had decided that if you did well you were intelligent and if you could not be moulded into a robot, you had to be treated with such encouraging lines that would do wonders to your confidence ‘Sa sujet la pou ban intelligents sa. Ou pou fail ou’.
No longer do I bear any grudge against those instructors. This so-called tradition of excellence which consists solely in the transforming of children into trained monkeys has been perpetuating itself long before my passage in academia and unless we get serious about it, shall continue in the future.
The myriad of issues that is correlated to the appropriateness of a country’s education system is daunting. The creation of mechanical beings that are only concerned about themselves and who like modern Daedaluses are proud of their own attainments and whose sole satisfaction in life consists in adorning some copies of paper credentials on their walls while remaining indifferent as the world around them sinks further into decadence.
An absence of interest in active citizenship where many prefer dowsing themselves in networking on Friday evenings exchanging visiting cards in vain attempts of avoiding what they loathe most: anonymity. Instead of thinking how we could do something for that country of ours and reject the status quo. I look at this young democracy of ours with its ever-increasing number of educated citizens but few of them bothering to think and question issues. Unconcerned about what is happening around them, only preoccupied about climbing the corporate ladder.
All we need is a bit of soul in our lives…and it starts with the way we raise our children.
Chetan Ramchurn
School used to bore me. For most of the time I spent there, I considered it to be a prison confining young bodies and minds within four walls for seemingly endless hours where we would be trained to learn everything by heart. This suited most of those around me perfectly but the idea of being a parrot never tempted me much, so I chose to remain human.
This meant that I was often the only carefree soul amidst frenzied ones which allowed me to keep my mind fully functional, or on a more comparative style, to paraphrase Kipling’s opening line of If, I was keeping my head when all about me were losing theirs. In my high school years, my understanding of the academic world had not changed.
I was in one of the “Star Colleges” where “la crème de la crème” was pooled and subsequently pitched against each other. Throughout these formative years, I witnessed some humorous incidents that still bring a smile to my face as I pen this column learners crying because they were not in the premier position in class, mindless competition between my peers resulting in depression or the greater belief in God.
As from the age of 16, the uncompetitive nature of my world seemed too appealing to make the journey to cold Curepipe every morning. Instead, I read everything that I could find at home. Luckily for me, my parents being both teachers, I had innumerable classics to choose from. And thus I discovered Poe and Faulkner among others. And I was happy being as I was… doing what I loved to do.
Not everyone shared my happiness though. I quickly learned that the system treated ‘nonchalant’ beings who were disenchanted with the memorised learning process as ‘rebellious misfi ts’ that had to be reformed. And who else to carry this noble task of administering the cold verdict than some unthinking teachers who had decided that if you did well you were intelligent and if you could not be moulded into a robot, you had to be treated with such encouraging lines that would do wonders to your confidence ‘Sa sujet la pou ban intelligents sa. Ou pou fail ou’.
No longer do I bear any grudge against those instructors. This so-called tradition of excellence which consists solely in the transforming of children into trained monkeys has been perpetuating itself long before my passage in academia and unless we get serious about it, shall continue in the future.
The myriad of issues that is correlated to the appropriateness of a country’s education system is daunting. The creation of mechanical beings that are only concerned about themselves and who like modern Daedaluses are proud of their own attainments and whose sole satisfaction in life consists in adorning some copies of paper credentials on their walls while remaining indifferent as the world around them sinks further into decadence.
An absence of interest in active citizenship where many prefer dowsing themselves in networking on Friday evenings exchanging visiting cards in vain attempts of avoiding what they loathe most: anonymity. Instead of thinking how we could do something for that country of ours and reject the status quo. I look at this young democracy of ours with its ever-increasing number of educated citizens but few of them bothering to think and question issues. Unconcerned about what is happening around them, only preoccupied about climbing the corporate ladder.
All we need is a bit of soul in our lives…and it starts with the way we raise our children.
Chetan Ramchurn
Friday, February 12, 2010
Let the production of freaks continue (L'Express 12.02.2010)
Education : Let the production of freaks continue
Chetan Ramchurn
PONDERING on my scholastic journey, I now look at how things could have been better. I won’t indulge in any profound critique of what the past few Ministers of Education have tried to accomplish. Most of the endeavours initiated by them being inspired from Scandinavian best practices and going in the right direction, I would rather offer insights as a product of the system and my suggestions on how to improve the current state of affairs.
Scrap the elitist system: Finland, which is the benchmark as far as educational excellence is concerned, has a structure that thrives on equality whereby it willingly chooses to put those that do well and those that do not do so well together up to the age of 16. This form of impartiality which allows children to remain with the same cohort of friends also leads to the creation of a more humane cadre.
Rightly dubbed by experts as a “ philosophy of inclusion”, this is in line with the nine- year schooling principle. However, to achieve this, there is the need to eliminate our sordid obsession with assessments and as importantly to stop the public disclosure of results. Our discriminatory system, which in its state, is purely based on getting egos as infl ated as possible has been crippling our society for all too long.
Value teachers: Another vital condition for a novel knowledge system would be to enhance the value attached to knowledge imparters. Better salaries would be the fi rst step. This would act as a supplementary source of motivation for existing teachers and it would help attract high calibre candidates to teaching jobs. Greater accountability would also be required to ensure that corrective action is taken to help teachers.
In my own eyes and based on my personal experience, few teachers stood out. Beside being exceptionally good and creative at teaching, these educators treated pupils as human beings and not as mere machines trained to memorise everything.
While others were ever so ready to sound the hallali against those children that were not meeting their expected standards, these good instructors genuinely cared about their pupils.
Time for a mentality change for parents: this is a request to the parents reading this article. I would urge each and every one of you to accept your wards as they are and encourage them in order to nurture in them the desire to continuously discover new things and not be zombielike fi gures with no emotions at all who live and die by that all too limited book knowledge.
Another appeal would be to refrain from using children as a means of achieving your ambition. If you do so, you are
helping create future members of an unthinking majority where academic education is considered as an end in itself.
Limit the number of hours in class: While the Enhancement Programme is an attempt to cure the tuition issue, having students confi ned till 1730 does not bode anything good in the long term. Shorter timed classes are a must if we want to create a more conducive atmosphere to learning. Children cannot be expected to stay focused for this long. Cramming up minds has never been the best of ways to create educated citizens. Foster creativity in the classroom: The use of games, role play, storytelling and at secondary level the renditions of thought leaders are to be promulgated as early as possible. The dearth of moral education could in this way be addressed and greater profoundness given to academia.
Education cannot be the battleground for vested interests: the debate on the education of tomorrow cannot be perverted to cater for the vested interests of some people or ethnic organisations. This area is about our shared future. Kindly do not mess it up.
I’ll end my piece by quoting Socrates, “ I know that I am intelligent because I know that I know nothing”. Till this be understood, let the production of ‘ freaks’ continue.
Chetan Ramchurn
PONDERING on my scholastic journey, I now look at how things could have been better. I won’t indulge in any profound critique of what the past few Ministers of Education have tried to accomplish. Most of the endeavours initiated by them being inspired from Scandinavian best practices and going in the right direction, I would rather offer insights as a product of the system and my suggestions on how to improve the current state of affairs.
Scrap the elitist system: Finland, which is the benchmark as far as educational excellence is concerned, has a structure that thrives on equality whereby it willingly chooses to put those that do well and those that do not do so well together up to the age of 16. This form of impartiality which allows children to remain with the same cohort of friends also leads to the creation of a more humane cadre.
Rightly dubbed by experts as a “ philosophy of inclusion”, this is in line with the nine- year schooling principle. However, to achieve this, there is the need to eliminate our sordid obsession with assessments and as importantly to stop the public disclosure of results. Our discriminatory system, which in its state, is purely based on getting egos as infl ated as possible has been crippling our society for all too long.
Value teachers: Another vital condition for a novel knowledge system would be to enhance the value attached to knowledge imparters. Better salaries would be the fi rst step. This would act as a supplementary source of motivation for existing teachers and it would help attract high calibre candidates to teaching jobs. Greater accountability would also be required to ensure that corrective action is taken to help teachers.
In my own eyes and based on my personal experience, few teachers stood out. Beside being exceptionally good and creative at teaching, these educators treated pupils as human beings and not as mere machines trained to memorise everything.
While others were ever so ready to sound the hallali against those children that were not meeting their expected standards, these good instructors genuinely cared about their pupils.
Time for a mentality change for parents: this is a request to the parents reading this article. I would urge each and every one of you to accept your wards as they are and encourage them in order to nurture in them the desire to continuously discover new things and not be zombielike fi gures with no emotions at all who live and die by that all too limited book knowledge.
Another appeal would be to refrain from using children as a means of achieving your ambition. If you do so, you are
helping create future members of an unthinking majority where academic education is considered as an end in itself.
Limit the number of hours in class: While the Enhancement Programme is an attempt to cure the tuition issue, having students confi ned till 1730 does not bode anything good in the long term. Shorter timed classes are a must if we want to create a more conducive atmosphere to learning. Children cannot be expected to stay focused for this long. Cramming up minds has never been the best of ways to create educated citizens. Foster creativity in the classroom: The use of games, role play, storytelling and at secondary level the renditions of thought leaders are to be promulgated as early as possible. The dearth of moral education could in this way be addressed and greater profoundness given to academia.
Education cannot be the battleground for vested interests: the debate on the education of tomorrow cannot be perverted to cater for the vested interests of some people or ethnic organisations. This area is about our shared future. Kindly do not mess it up.
I’ll end my piece by quoting Socrates, “ I know that I am intelligent because I know that I know nothing”. Till this be understood, let the production of ‘ freaks’ continue.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Nail in The Coffin by Chetan Ramchurn (Le Mauricien 29.09.09)
1969-2009-MMM
NAIL IN THE COFFIN
Time to annihilate this archaic version of the MMM… let the vitriol from my Parker Sonnet flow…
My faith in the Purple Heart has not wavered since I chose to be part of it. Has not faltered, despite the hateful salvos of the arrogance-inebriated propagandists so keen on reducing the party to néant and has not vacillated in the face of accusations of our supposed surgically-precise partitioning of different communities. But the fact that we are stuck in that damning navel gazing mode where we celebrate our past glories and overlook the many inglorious episodes that have led us to be branded as obsolete have made the last few months the nadir of my young political days.
Succinctly, before our eyes, plagued by an abysmal absence of vision, the party mires into fibrillation with an intellectual side that has stopped pumping for far too long. What we should ask ourselves at this defining moment of the party’s existence is how we never managed to shake off that infamous “Le Parti des Minorités” tag that others slapped on us or how when in power we failed to bring much needed changes with electoral reforms or more transparency in the public and private sectors and as importantly in political financing, or as from 1983 onwards how everything that we stood for became confined to the realm of ideas and was never translated into action (bar the reform of the education sector), how corruption that lynchpin of so many other societal wrongs was seen to be tolerated by us…or that the self-professed Noble Party witnessed backroom shenanigans where worthless candidates were promoted in favour of more able ones for positions of power to suit the whims and wishes of some of the party heads.
Trapped in culpable inaction, the Militans, guardians of the moral sacredness of the MMM need to understand that if they follow this treacherous path, no return to the genesis of the party can be achieved. No longer can they let themselves be frogmarched into accepting the unacceptable; the promotion of insipid figures chosen because of their past affiliations, the loss of ideological foundations to our lutte. Or the relinquishing of that ingredient that was at the origin of this whole journey; the fight against all forms of racial divisions and the celebration of Mauritianism (Ene sel lepep, ene sel nation). Indeed, has the party that advocated class warfare stooped so low that our winning formula for the next elections resides in the return of that crucial missing piece that led to our defeat in the 2005 elections? (“Aujourd'hui la désillusion de l'électorat musulman face à l'Alliance Sociale est totale et il revient en masse vers le MMM.” Bérenger/ Week-End 20/09/09).
But maybe I am veering away from what I should be doing as the archetypal ‘militan’, going beyond merely being a beni-oui-oui and engaging in something that is so rare within the MMM ranks these days; thinking. My interest in and subsequent decision to be a contributor to Mauritian politics was strongly motivated by the Kaya Riots and l’Affaire Amicale, both incidents showing the sinister side of Paradise Island. The first one reminding us of the frailty of our society and the second one demonstrating the intolerance the human kind was capable of. In 2008, I joined the MMM. Convinced that if there was one party that could prevent our motherland from falling prey to intestinal divisions, it would be one that combined the teachings of former Labour greats with that of Marx and which had an unrivalled history in its formative years of fighting for the proletariat.
Listening to the self-professed opinion leaders pullulating on our radio waves, the conclusion would be that Bérenger is the root cause of all woes within the MMM. With his place alongside the likes such illustrious Mauritians like Anquetil, Curé ,Rozemont, Bissoondoyal and SSR now firmly enshrined, the leader of the MMM might have slipped into solipsism choosing to heed only to himself and has failed (until recently, with le retour aux sources) to give the needed strategic thrust to the party. And in the meantime, philanderers of the MMM temple abounded, all indulging in some form of ideological molesting with a party conceptualised by utopians.
The time has come for us to change the way we do politics. We should refrain from mechanical mudslinging and abstain from what Navin did back in 2005, rely on demagogic “Le Grand Soir” style discourses and foster ideas that are adapted to modern realities. Let us genuinely strive to alter how party members view their role and ensure that the now famous line “Dans la lutte pena recompense” is an ode to meritocracy and not simply used to thwart those petits copains that the party fails to serve. Let us stop playing the ostrich game and question ourselves and start from scratch with militans that genuinely care about the future of this nation.
I am not worried about what lies ahead. The MMM will rise again from its present ideological and intellectual blackout. Having read with optimism the paper “Qu’est-ce qu’être militan en 2009” and having spoken to some of my peers, I know that there are other inhabitants of Planet MMM that share my views. Yet, more than ever now, there is the need to discard those ideas and people that have made us so hollow over the years. The ambition of the party at its creation was to eradicate the trenches between the different communities and was based on socialist principles such as the establishment of a more egalitarian society… ideals that like the MMM simply will never die.
Here is my cri de coeur, “Thinking militans, unite”
Chetan Ramchurn
A Young Member of the MMM
NAIL IN THE COFFIN
Time to annihilate this archaic version of the MMM… let the vitriol from my Parker Sonnet flow…
My faith in the Purple Heart has not wavered since I chose to be part of it. Has not faltered, despite the hateful salvos of the arrogance-inebriated propagandists so keen on reducing the party to néant and has not vacillated in the face of accusations of our supposed surgically-precise partitioning of different communities. But the fact that we are stuck in that damning navel gazing mode where we celebrate our past glories and overlook the many inglorious episodes that have led us to be branded as obsolete have made the last few months the nadir of my young political days.
Succinctly, before our eyes, plagued by an abysmal absence of vision, the party mires into fibrillation with an intellectual side that has stopped pumping for far too long. What we should ask ourselves at this defining moment of the party’s existence is how we never managed to shake off that infamous “Le Parti des Minorités” tag that others slapped on us or how when in power we failed to bring much needed changes with electoral reforms or more transparency in the public and private sectors and as importantly in political financing, or as from 1983 onwards how everything that we stood for became confined to the realm of ideas and was never translated into action (bar the reform of the education sector), how corruption that lynchpin of so many other societal wrongs was seen to be tolerated by us…or that the self-professed Noble Party witnessed backroom shenanigans where worthless candidates were promoted in favour of more able ones for positions of power to suit the whims and wishes of some of the party heads.
Trapped in culpable inaction, the Militans, guardians of the moral sacredness of the MMM need to understand that if they follow this treacherous path, no return to the genesis of the party can be achieved. No longer can they let themselves be frogmarched into accepting the unacceptable; the promotion of insipid figures chosen because of their past affiliations, the loss of ideological foundations to our lutte. Or the relinquishing of that ingredient that was at the origin of this whole journey; the fight against all forms of racial divisions and the celebration of Mauritianism (Ene sel lepep, ene sel nation). Indeed, has the party that advocated class warfare stooped so low that our winning formula for the next elections resides in the return of that crucial missing piece that led to our defeat in the 2005 elections? (“Aujourd'hui la désillusion de l'électorat musulman face à l'Alliance Sociale est totale et il revient en masse vers le MMM.” Bérenger/ Week-End 20/09/09).
But maybe I am veering away from what I should be doing as the archetypal ‘militan’, going beyond merely being a beni-oui-oui and engaging in something that is so rare within the MMM ranks these days; thinking. My interest in and subsequent decision to be a contributor to Mauritian politics was strongly motivated by the Kaya Riots and l’Affaire Amicale, both incidents showing the sinister side of Paradise Island. The first one reminding us of the frailty of our society and the second one demonstrating the intolerance the human kind was capable of. In 2008, I joined the MMM. Convinced that if there was one party that could prevent our motherland from falling prey to intestinal divisions, it would be one that combined the teachings of former Labour greats with that of Marx and which had an unrivalled history in its formative years of fighting for the proletariat.
Listening to the self-professed opinion leaders pullulating on our radio waves, the conclusion would be that Bérenger is the root cause of all woes within the MMM. With his place alongside the likes such illustrious Mauritians like Anquetil, Curé ,Rozemont, Bissoondoyal and SSR now firmly enshrined, the leader of the MMM might have slipped into solipsism choosing to heed only to himself and has failed (until recently, with le retour aux sources) to give the needed strategic thrust to the party. And in the meantime, philanderers of the MMM temple abounded, all indulging in some form of ideological molesting with a party conceptualised by utopians.
The time has come for us to change the way we do politics. We should refrain from mechanical mudslinging and abstain from what Navin did back in 2005, rely on demagogic “Le Grand Soir” style discourses and foster ideas that are adapted to modern realities. Let us genuinely strive to alter how party members view their role and ensure that the now famous line “Dans la lutte pena recompense” is an ode to meritocracy and not simply used to thwart those petits copains that the party fails to serve. Let us stop playing the ostrich game and question ourselves and start from scratch with militans that genuinely care about the future of this nation.
I am not worried about what lies ahead. The MMM will rise again from its present ideological and intellectual blackout. Having read with optimism the paper “Qu’est-ce qu’être militan en 2009” and having spoken to some of my peers, I know that there are other inhabitants of Planet MMM that share my views. Yet, more than ever now, there is the need to discard those ideas and people that have made us so hollow over the years. The ambition of the party at its creation was to eradicate the trenches between the different communities and was based on socialist principles such as the establishment of a more egalitarian society… ideals that like the MMM simply will never die.
Here is my cri de coeur, “Thinking militans, unite”
Chetan Ramchurn
A Young Member of the MMM
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Far From the Madding Crowd/Chetan Ramchurn/Le Mauricien/10/09/09
OF MASS CONSUMPTION, CULTURE AND US
Far from the madding crowd
Port Louis can be distressing… had Descartes been through its hectic streets on a normal day, no further proof would be required for him to proclaim that mind had effectively lost against matter. A cauldron humming with very important people with very important files on their very important laptops, accents so fabricated you would swear there must be some kind of oral deficiency with those using them, discussions so very important you would think the future of the world must be depending on their outcomes, characters so shallow and pavlovian in their fabric that you would bet they were plucked from Huxley's influential work. Come Friday, the noise slowly dies… the sanctuary of consumption leaves behind desolate and desert streets.
When the HRDC haughtily announced its idea to have this concrete Mecca buzzing for 24 hours ; where there would be no noticeable difference between night and day, I shuddered. Port Louis can be excruciatingly boring during daytime, why bother replicating ennui to night time. Some say the 24/7 was all good, it showed the resilience of the Mauritian economy to the crisis, it demonstrated that Mauritians are still avid consumers and no longer fettered by the ambient economic morosity. Consumption is well and truly our soma, a blissful, self-gratifying activity that entangles us in a world where we are reduced to what we consume.
A New Mauritius cannot be built on those consumerist ideals ; certainly there must be other ways of uplifting Mauritian souls than by having them engaged in buyer-seller relationships. Would our government not be more inspired to organise a 24/7 of culture next time as opposed to last time's 24/7 of consumption ? This would give the ideal platform to creators and thinkers to show the richness of our society.
Ateliers would be on hand for aspiring entertainers, reading sessions of masters of prose like Cabon, Poe, Joyce and Balzac would allow whole generations to discover the power of words, historians would tell of the unique destinies of our land and its people, live musicians would confirm the greatness of our diversity, street theatre performers would demonstrate the mettle of our artists, local filmmakers would get to show us creations inspired by Mauritian life, contemporary sages would interact with various audiences offering a rich blend of ideas… ultimately creating an atmosphere that would make us grow as human beings.
Let us set our minds free…
Chetan Ramchurn
Far from the madding crowd
Port Louis can be distressing… had Descartes been through its hectic streets on a normal day, no further proof would be required for him to proclaim that mind had effectively lost against matter. A cauldron humming with very important people with very important files on their very important laptops, accents so fabricated you would swear there must be some kind of oral deficiency with those using them, discussions so very important you would think the future of the world must be depending on their outcomes, characters so shallow and pavlovian in their fabric that you would bet they were plucked from Huxley's influential work. Come Friday, the noise slowly dies… the sanctuary of consumption leaves behind desolate and desert streets.
When the HRDC haughtily announced its idea to have this concrete Mecca buzzing for 24 hours ; where there would be no noticeable difference between night and day, I shuddered. Port Louis can be excruciatingly boring during daytime, why bother replicating ennui to night time. Some say the 24/7 was all good, it showed the resilience of the Mauritian economy to the crisis, it demonstrated that Mauritians are still avid consumers and no longer fettered by the ambient economic morosity. Consumption is well and truly our soma, a blissful, self-gratifying activity that entangles us in a world where we are reduced to what we consume.
A New Mauritius cannot be built on those consumerist ideals ; certainly there must be other ways of uplifting Mauritian souls than by having them engaged in buyer-seller relationships. Would our government not be more inspired to organise a 24/7 of culture next time as opposed to last time's 24/7 of consumption ? This would give the ideal platform to creators and thinkers to show the richness of our society.
Ateliers would be on hand for aspiring entertainers, reading sessions of masters of prose like Cabon, Poe, Joyce and Balzac would allow whole generations to discover the power of words, historians would tell of the unique destinies of our land and its people, live musicians would confirm the greatness of our diversity, street theatre performers would demonstrate the mettle of our artists, local filmmakers would get to show us creations inspired by Mauritian life, contemporary sages would interact with various audiences offering a rich blend of ideas… ultimately creating an atmosphere that would make us grow as human beings.
Let us set our minds free…
Chetan Ramchurn
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Rethinking Mauritius (L'Express 07/07/09/Le Mauricien 10/07/09)
C’est l’histoire d’un homme qui tombe d’un immeuble de cinquante étages.
Le mec, au fur et à mesure de sa chute se répète sans cesse pour se rassurer : jusqu’ici tout va bien, jusqu’ici tout va bien, jusqu’ici tout va bien.
Mais l’important ce n’est pas la chute, c’est l’atterrissage.
(”La Haine” de Mathieu Kassovitz)
Rethinking Mauritius
Like most of you reading this column, it pains us to see our nation trapped in a tortuous downward spiral with no one bothering to send even so much as a lifesaver to it. We should all be worried, lest there should not be any sand left in the hourglass to salvage the destiny our motherland from what awaits it.
No need to be a modern day Pythia to see what lies ahead; the greater divide between the wealthy and the needy, the complete loss of trust in our political leaders (government and opposition alike, even more now when distinguishing them would require a combination of Sherlock Holmes’s and Miss Marple’s sharp minds), the burying of meritocracy, the absence of thinkers in the future (A country without thinkers is one that is bereft of a moral compass, it sails aimlessly towards an illusory destination) and the death of Mauritianism.
Those enjoying the benefits of this flawed system (the political nominees, the hardened capitalists and the conformists) will choose to believe that the views of the ones penning this article are grossly exaggerated and offer an Orwellian portrayal of our society. Yet the advocates of progressionism will recognize that if we fail to act now, we run the risk of reaching a point de non retour…For this is not only about us; this has to do with what we bequeath to the upcoming generations. Either we leave them with a society in a state of advanced moral decomposition or we choose to act now.
Here are two young idealists’ take on issues that warrant our urgent attention.
·
For a transparent political finance regime: The creation of a truly balanced mixed economy with a government that can act as the champion of the oppressed can only materialise if and when our decision makers are no longer mere puppets of financial juggernauts. In the same vein, the democratization of the economy, a must go through path to create a better society, will be translated into reality when power is effectively placed in the hands of the people and where their representatives in the Legislative Assembly are truly concerned about the lives of the masses instead of the bank accounts of their financial benefactors. The need for a truly independent political finance regulator is a must for a more prosperous nation.
·
Where education would no longer be about, what Einstein has dubbed, “the crippling of individuals”: No longer can children be mere robots trained to puke what they’ve memorised. Now is the time for young souls to finally experience the joys of learning; where one’s desire would be fueled by curiosity and where imagination and creativity would no longer be banned from classrooms. Education, if limited to the mere amassing of paper credentials, defeats its purpose. It is only when moral and ethical values gain prominence in schools and universities that we shall have a nation of responsible citizens. Another negative trait of the present Mauritian society lies in the way those that fail to achieve academically are treated. A truly humane society thrives on giving those outcasts other paths than academia where they would feel valued and respected. The makings of an ‘intelligent’ society would require that we do away with an archaic method and embrace an educational system that would reap thinking individuals.
· The creation of a real rainbow nation:.. Where strength to love shall be possessed by one and all where we would learn to understand and tolerate the differences that exist between us and celebrate the common traits that bind us. Of equal importance is the understanding that until we ostracize religious leaders that have at heart only their personal gratification and create a laical society where socio-cultural organizations would not dictate the future of a country, we will remain divided.
·
Ode to meritocracy: With clear examples of those at the end of the ladder having to foot the bill for the poor decisions of unmeritorious people grabbing headlines on a daily basis, our country can no longer afford to let those who have failed be entrusted with new positions of power. No more can the private and public sectors be allowed to operate opaquely. Herein lies our doom…
To those that share our hellish view of the present situation, now is the time for them to come forward and start making a telling difference. Yes a Sisyphean task awaits us, but there is still hope. Together, we definitely can.
Chetan Ramchurn & Arnaud
Le mec, au fur et à mesure de sa chute se répète sans cesse pour se rassurer : jusqu’ici tout va bien, jusqu’ici tout va bien, jusqu’ici tout va bien.
Mais l’important ce n’est pas la chute, c’est l’atterrissage.
(”La Haine” de Mathieu Kassovitz)
Rethinking Mauritius
Like most of you reading this column, it pains us to see our nation trapped in a tortuous downward spiral with no one bothering to send even so much as a lifesaver to it. We should all be worried, lest there should not be any sand left in the hourglass to salvage the destiny our motherland from what awaits it.
No need to be a modern day Pythia to see what lies ahead; the greater divide between the wealthy and the needy, the complete loss of trust in our political leaders (government and opposition alike, even more now when distinguishing them would require a combination of Sherlock Holmes’s and Miss Marple’s sharp minds), the burying of meritocracy, the absence of thinkers in the future (A country without thinkers is one that is bereft of a moral compass, it sails aimlessly towards an illusory destination) and the death of Mauritianism.
Those enjoying the benefits of this flawed system (the political nominees, the hardened capitalists and the conformists) will choose to believe that the views of the ones penning this article are grossly exaggerated and offer an Orwellian portrayal of our society. Yet the advocates of progressionism will recognize that if we fail to act now, we run the risk of reaching a point de non retour…For this is not only about us; this has to do with what we bequeath to the upcoming generations. Either we leave them with a society in a state of advanced moral decomposition or we choose to act now.
Here are two young idealists’ take on issues that warrant our urgent attention.
·
For a transparent political finance regime: The creation of a truly balanced mixed economy with a government that can act as the champion of the oppressed can only materialise if and when our decision makers are no longer mere puppets of financial juggernauts. In the same vein, the democratization of the economy, a must go through path to create a better society, will be translated into reality when power is effectively placed in the hands of the people and where their representatives in the Legislative Assembly are truly concerned about the lives of the masses instead of the bank accounts of their financial benefactors. The need for a truly independent political finance regulator is a must for a more prosperous nation.
·
Where education would no longer be about, what Einstein has dubbed, “the crippling of individuals”: No longer can children be mere robots trained to puke what they’ve memorised. Now is the time for young souls to finally experience the joys of learning; where one’s desire would be fueled by curiosity and where imagination and creativity would no longer be banned from classrooms. Education, if limited to the mere amassing of paper credentials, defeats its purpose. It is only when moral and ethical values gain prominence in schools and universities that we shall have a nation of responsible citizens. Another negative trait of the present Mauritian society lies in the way those that fail to achieve academically are treated. A truly humane society thrives on giving those outcasts other paths than academia where they would feel valued and respected. The makings of an ‘intelligent’ society would require that we do away with an archaic method and embrace an educational system that would reap thinking individuals.
· The creation of a real rainbow nation:.. Where strength to love shall be possessed by one and all where we would learn to understand and tolerate the differences that exist between us and celebrate the common traits that bind us. Of equal importance is the understanding that until we ostracize religious leaders that have at heart only their personal gratification and create a laical society where socio-cultural organizations would not dictate the future of a country, we will remain divided.
·
Ode to meritocracy: With clear examples of those at the end of the ladder having to foot the bill for the poor decisions of unmeritorious people grabbing headlines on a daily basis, our country can no longer afford to let those who have failed be entrusted with new positions of power. No more can the private and public sectors be allowed to operate opaquely. Herein lies our doom…
To those that share our hellish view of the present situation, now is the time for them to come forward and start making a telling difference. Yes a Sisyphean task awaits us, but there is still hope. Together, we definitely can.
Chetan Ramchurn & Arnaud
Monday, April 20, 2009
From the heart... (21.04.09/ Le Mauricien)
From the heart...
"Quand le sage désigne la lune, l'idiot regarde le doigt "
Chinese Proverb
Dear MMM,
Your ears must be hurting by now with all the foul things that have been said about you over the last few weeks. Fuelled by media propagandists that are bent on putting you in that most insufferable political coffin, the anti-MMM movement has seemingly gathered enough ammunition to threaten your 40-year old journey. Leading this pack is the personal friend of world leaders, the God-anointed Saviour of the people, Navin. The Chosen One in yet another of his hubristic fits even predicted that he will be the one with the shovel gleefully digging your grave and who will reduce you to political abyss.
But are all those that have made themselves heard filled with destructive venom? No, a few who genuinely care about your wellbeing have been prescribing medication that will help keep the ‘zom magouyeurs’ and similar diseases away. G.Ahnee pertinently raised the need for clarification on the values and the vision you stand for and posed to your followers a question that has been addling the minds of most of us; ‘Quel est le sens de votre combat?’
Let me add my voice to his, for this perceived dearth of ideas and absence of farsightedness has been plaguing you since 2005. There is the need to come forward with credible solutions to the following strategic issues; how do we reduce the gap between the haves and have-nots, do we keep an archaic education system that thrives on parrot learning or do we finally set the bases for a thinking society, how do we put reins on the capitalism beast and help create a greener society. My beloved MMM, what you need more than anything at this defining moment of your existence is lifeblood in the form of strong ideas, and they, unlike some of your members, will not waver with time…
Let me also request that you do not forget the reasons that have lead some of your children to leave your bosom. Some of your disillusioned disciples felt (and I believe that their case was not totally unfounded) that the last promotion exercise was one that did not give much consideration to meritocracy and was merely a public relations exercise that had been amateurly executed. Let us all hope that other meritorious candidates who have been denied that much-sought ticket for a ride on the power wagon will choose patience over haste and will remain steadfast in their commitment. Let us also pray that the internal wars finally cease and that your members stop tearing you apart. It is not too late to get yourself rid of the haughty young and old incompetents that pretend to love you only for their personal gains. Not when you have able people that are sincere in their dedication but who are overlooked.
The MMM cannot afford to fail. Not now. Now when the country’s future looks bleak and you are its sole ray of hope…
Your loving son,
Chetan Ramchurn
18.04.09
P.S: May I remind all of your adherents of their pledge when they joined the party
« Tout membre du MMM doit se plier a la discipline du Parti, militer activement au sein du Parti, étudier l’histoire du MMM, s’imprégner de ses valeurs, s’efforcer de se doter d’une solide formation politique, se mêler au peuple et y rester proche et au besoin l’aider, pratiquer l’ entraide avec les camarades du Parti, pratiquer l’autocritique quand nécessaire, n’avoir aucune activité ou conduite qui puisse nuire a l’image du Parti … »
"Quand le sage désigne la lune, l'idiot regarde le doigt "
Chinese Proverb
Dear MMM,
Your ears must be hurting by now with all the foul things that have been said about you over the last few weeks. Fuelled by media propagandists that are bent on putting you in that most insufferable political coffin, the anti-MMM movement has seemingly gathered enough ammunition to threaten your 40-year old journey. Leading this pack is the personal friend of world leaders, the God-anointed Saviour of the people, Navin. The Chosen One in yet another of his hubristic fits even predicted that he will be the one with the shovel gleefully digging your grave and who will reduce you to political abyss.
But are all those that have made themselves heard filled with destructive venom? No, a few who genuinely care about your wellbeing have been prescribing medication that will help keep the ‘zom magouyeurs’ and similar diseases away. G.Ahnee pertinently raised the need for clarification on the values and the vision you stand for and posed to your followers a question that has been addling the minds of most of us; ‘Quel est le sens de votre combat?’
Let me add my voice to his, for this perceived dearth of ideas and absence of farsightedness has been plaguing you since 2005. There is the need to come forward with credible solutions to the following strategic issues; how do we reduce the gap between the haves and have-nots, do we keep an archaic education system that thrives on parrot learning or do we finally set the bases for a thinking society, how do we put reins on the capitalism beast and help create a greener society. My beloved MMM, what you need more than anything at this defining moment of your existence is lifeblood in the form of strong ideas, and they, unlike some of your members, will not waver with time…
Let me also request that you do not forget the reasons that have lead some of your children to leave your bosom. Some of your disillusioned disciples felt (and I believe that their case was not totally unfounded) that the last promotion exercise was one that did not give much consideration to meritocracy and was merely a public relations exercise that had been amateurly executed. Let us all hope that other meritorious candidates who have been denied that much-sought ticket for a ride on the power wagon will choose patience over haste and will remain steadfast in their commitment. Let us also pray that the internal wars finally cease and that your members stop tearing you apart. It is not too late to get yourself rid of the haughty young and old incompetents that pretend to love you only for their personal gains. Not when you have able people that are sincere in their dedication but who are overlooked.
The MMM cannot afford to fail. Not now. Now when the country’s future looks bleak and you are its sole ray of hope…
Your loving son,
Chetan Ramchurn
18.04.09
P.S: May I remind all of your adherents of their pledge when they joined the party
« Tout membre du MMM doit se plier a la discipline du Parti, militer activement au sein du Parti, étudier l’histoire du MMM, s’imprégner de ses valeurs, s’efforcer de se doter d’une solide formation politique, se mêler au peuple et y rester proche et au besoin l’aider, pratiquer l’ entraide avec les camarades du Parti, pratiquer l’autocritique quand nécessaire, n’avoir aucune activité ou conduite qui puisse nuire a l’image du Parti … »
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Sithanenomics will lead us to oblivion by Chetan Ramchurn (26.06.09 Le Mauricien/ L'Express 23/06/09)
“Jeunes hommes avides, croyez-moi. Il n’existe que deux manières de gagner la partie: jouer coeur ou tricher. Tricher est difficile; un tricheur pris est battu. Jouer coeur est simple. Il faut en avoir, voilà tout. Vous vous croyez sans coeur. Vous regardez mal vos cartes.”
(Jean Cocteau)
Sithanenomics will lead us to oblivion
The unlikeliest of turnarounds and the most splendid of image makeovers …all in barely seven days. And in came the new Che, the guardian of public weal, the one man that understands the pain of the downtrodden, the Honourable Sithanen who discovered that winning the heart of the population only meant the sacrifice of macroeconomic policies. How the governing alliance morphed from one that collected scandals as badges to a caring government might stun some, but not the thinking man. 2010 is not that far away and the clock has started ticking…
The application of internationally accepted standards might be lauded by several experts but no one should be fooled, the deepening of the trenches between the rich and the poor is well under way. While the microeconomic decisions now afford some breathing space to those in dire need, the absence of any clear cut long term vision is appalling but should not surprise anyone. Sithanen as highly knowledgeable as he claims he is in his field does lack the ability to go beyond what has been laid down in books; a boon so important in the long term survival of a nation. Alain Ah-Vee’s words might not rank high on the flowery language meter but he said it best; “Enn Minis Finans ti bizin pli prevwayan”. Unable to sow the seeds for the building of a new Mauritius during his mandate, Navin should know that as good a storyteller he is, the absence of any real change will lead to his fall from grace and ultimate downfall.
Let not the formidable post-budget PR campaign by the governing alliance blind you from the future economic hurdles that await our motherland. For this promise-laden budget raises even more questions than before. Will the hype generated by the micro initiatives geared at creating the ‘Maurice Ile Durable’ be translated into reality? How does the economic mastermind that Sithanen is tame the inflation beast? How do we put a halt to the continued disintegration of moral values and tackle the law and order issue? How do we breathe new life into the various ailing sectors of our economy? The jury is out and the countdown has begun…
Chetan Ramchurn
(Jean Cocteau)
Sithanenomics will lead us to oblivion
The unlikeliest of turnarounds and the most splendid of image makeovers …all in barely seven days. And in came the new Che, the guardian of public weal, the one man that understands the pain of the downtrodden, the Honourable Sithanen who discovered that winning the heart of the population only meant the sacrifice of macroeconomic policies. How the governing alliance morphed from one that collected scandals as badges to a caring government might stun some, but not the thinking man. 2010 is not that far away and the clock has started ticking…
The application of internationally accepted standards might be lauded by several experts but no one should be fooled, the deepening of the trenches between the rich and the poor is well under way. While the microeconomic decisions now afford some breathing space to those in dire need, the absence of any clear cut long term vision is appalling but should not surprise anyone. Sithanen as highly knowledgeable as he claims he is in his field does lack the ability to go beyond what has been laid down in books; a boon so important in the long term survival of a nation. Alain Ah-Vee’s words might not rank high on the flowery language meter but he said it best; “Enn Minis Finans ti bizin pli prevwayan”. Unable to sow the seeds for the building of a new Mauritius during his mandate, Navin should know that as good a storyteller he is, the absence of any real change will lead to his fall from grace and ultimate downfall.
Let not the formidable post-budget PR campaign by the governing alliance blind you from the future economic hurdles that await our motherland. For this promise-laden budget raises even more questions than before. Will the hype generated by the micro initiatives geared at creating the ‘Maurice Ile Durable’ be translated into reality? How does the economic mastermind that Sithanen is tame the inflation beast? How do we put a halt to the continued disintegration of moral values and tackle the law and order issue? How do we breathe new life into the various ailing sectors of our economy? The jury is out and the countdown has begun…
Chetan Ramchurn
Paradise Lost by Chetan Ramchurn (12/09/08 Le Mauricien/ 03/09/08 L'Express)
“Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste
Brought death into the world and all our woe…”
Paradise Lost
John Milton
Paradise Lost
Mark Twain’s now famous quote linking Mauritius to paradise now sounds like a bitter remembrance of what our fledgling democracy used to be. The state of moral decay that is gangrening our nation leads us to one conclusion; our motherland deserves a better class of leaders.
All guilty
Who should take the blame for further soiling our moral values? All of us are equal partners in crime. We, the “peuple admirable” for having and continuing to bear with hoards of self-centered egomaniacs that have and continue to fool us with lofty words and false pledges. Religious leaders for stooping to unknown levels of immorality in their quest for personal power. Political leaders from successive governments who failed to understand the nobility of serving of one’s country.
Dr Navin Mr Ramgoolam
Navin Ramgoolam, in the role of the greatest agent of chaos and now renowned for his inability to take bold decisions, has helped further tarnish the moral sanctity of our society. Our P.M carries the role of the incompetent leader with such aplomb that he makes the case for his cohort of even more ineffectual bootlickers. Navin is together with all those around him the silent culprits responsible for creating a system that thrives on incompetence and corruption.
From someone who represented change back in the mid 1990s to the master manipulator that he now is, Navin symbolises the degeneration of moral values our country has experienced over the last decade. Declared politically dead in 2000, he has managed a tour de force return to power heavily infused with newly acquired communication skills that focused on an all talk and no action stance .
The leader of the Labour Party has mastered the art of communication and understood that image is everything. Case in point: a scandal filled month with the Boskalis case, Cindy Legallant, Sada Curpen, Valayden’s resignation, Cunningham’s sudden departure, Bel Ombre S.E all making headlines and the only image that will be left in the voter’s mind will be Navin’s sega dancing skills at Le Morne.
Call to arms
The successive list of scams involving bearers of power is a cause for concern but what is even more distressing is that corruption and incompetence are now an ingrained part of our culture. There is no secret mantra to end this but only the will to stand for what is right. Dear co victims, let us extirpate ourselves from our lethargic state and bury those who have repeatedly failed us. Let us not be confined to a state of slumber, lulled in a sense of comfort and security by propagandists. Let us rise above the muck before it is too late.
Chetan Ramchurn
Brought death into the world and all our woe…”
Paradise Lost
John Milton
Paradise Lost
Mark Twain’s now famous quote linking Mauritius to paradise now sounds like a bitter remembrance of what our fledgling democracy used to be. The state of moral decay that is gangrening our nation leads us to one conclusion; our motherland deserves a better class of leaders.
All guilty
Who should take the blame for further soiling our moral values? All of us are equal partners in crime. We, the “peuple admirable” for having and continuing to bear with hoards of self-centered egomaniacs that have and continue to fool us with lofty words and false pledges. Religious leaders for stooping to unknown levels of immorality in their quest for personal power. Political leaders from successive governments who failed to understand the nobility of serving of one’s country.
Dr Navin Mr Ramgoolam
Navin Ramgoolam, in the role of the greatest agent of chaos and now renowned for his inability to take bold decisions, has helped further tarnish the moral sanctity of our society. Our P.M carries the role of the incompetent leader with such aplomb that he makes the case for his cohort of even more ineffectual bootlickers. Navin is together with all those around him the silent culprits responsible for creating a system that thrives on incompetence and corruption.
From someone who represented change back in the mid 1990s to the master manipulator that he now is, Navin symbolises the degeneration of moral values our country has experienced over the last decade. Declared politically dead in 2000, he has managed a tour de force return to power heavily infused with newly acquired communication skills that focused on an all talk and no action stance .
The leader of the Labour Party has mastered the art of communication and understood that image is everything. Case in point: a scandal filled month with the Boskalis case, Cindy Legallant, Sada Curpen, Valayden’s resignation, Cunningham’s sudden departure, Bel Ombre S.E all making headlines and the only image that will be left in the voter’s mind will be Navin’s sega dancing skills at Le Morne.
Call to arms
The successive list of scams involving bearers of power is a cause for concern but what is even more distressing is that corruption and incompetence are now an ingrained part of our culture. There is no secret mantra to end this but only the will to stand for what is right. Dear co victims, let us extirpate ourselves from our lethargic state and bury those who have repeatedly failed us. Let us not be confined to a state of slumber, lulled in a sense of comfort and security by propagandists. Let us rise above the muck before it is too late.
Chetan Ramchurn
Le delit de sale gueule (Le Mauricien 16/12/08)
Le délit de sale gueule…
Digne des plus grands vaudevilles, le spectacle burlesque offert au parlement mardi dernier a permis aux députés de la majorité de donner dans la bassesse. Certes, la phrase de Bérenger faisant référence au physique du ministre des finances est une maladresse…mais en la replaçant dans son contexte, nous ne pouvons que nous poser la question de savoir s’’il est humainement possible de rester calme devant tant d’arrogance et de condescendance ? Ce qui s’ensuivit fut le déclenchement d’une véritable hystérie collective des membres de la majorité… et le paroxysme de la bêtise fut atteint quand le leader de l’opposition fut traité de colon.
Le lien évident entre la couleur de peau de Bérenger et cette invective devrait tous nous interpeller. Le combat du MMM et de son leader est la suite logique de la lutte commencée par les Rozemont, Curé et Seeneevassen…Difficile ainsi de croire que celui qui fut inspiré par les mots de Frantz Fanon ait un quelconque penchant colonialiste. Des propos nauséeux, inquiétants et inacceptables de ce type confirment une fois de plus que nos dirigeants sont toujours à l’affût du moindre incident pour donner dans l’agressivité verbale. La PNQ du leader du MMM devait nous apprendre plus sur le gaspillage des fonds publics, sur le cas du QG de la BAI… à sa place nous avons assisté aux clowneries de certains de nos parlementaires.
Le député David, dont le rôle de porte flingue du parti travailliste lui sied à merveille, et auquel nous reconnaissons volontiers des qualités de grand travailleur, est sans doute un de ceux les mieux placés pour comprendre la pertinence d’une question ayant trait aux dépenses inutiles qui sont payées avec l’argent des contribuables. Le titre de « Serial Offender » attribué à Bérenger ne peut que nous faire sourire. Nous nous souvenons tous de l’épisode peu reluisant de « sa vie le rat blanc », le titre qui sérierait mieux à Bérenger serait celui de « Serial Victim ». La lecture de l’excellent ouvrage « De la question sociale à la question raciale? » s’impose à nos députés. Un des auteurs de ce livre a défini la race comme étant une « construction mentale qui fait que l’on traite différemment des personnes en fonction de leur couleur de peau, de leur mode de vie, de leur religion même… » . La race existe uniquement dans nos têtes. Nous pouvons, si nous le voulons, penser différemment.
Notre tissu social est fragile, les inégalités demeurent. Elles datent en partie de l’époque coloniale et nous sommes tous conscients que l’ascenseur social reste bloqué. Arrêtons de souiller cet espace démocratique qu’est le parlement avec des comparaisons honteuses. Pour que notre société change, nos représentants doivent commencer par eux-mêmes. Avec de tels dérapages verbaux, nous tuons l’espoir d’un avenir meilleur.
Chetan R.
Digne des plus grands vaudevilles, le spectacle burlesque offert au parlement mardi dernier a permis aux députés de la majorité de donner dans la bassesse. Certes, la phrase de Bérenger faisant référence au physique du ministre des finances est une maladresse…mais en la replaçant dans son contexte, nous ne pouvons que nous poser la question de savoir s’’il est humainement possible de rester calme devant tant d’arrogance et de condescendance ? Ce qui s’ensuivit fut le déclenchement d’une véritable hystérie collective des membres de la majorité… et le paroxysme de la bêtise fut atteint quand le leader de l’opposition fut traité de colon.
Le lien évident entre la couleur de peau de Bérenger et cette invective devrait tous nous interpeller. Le combat du MMM et de son leader est la suite logique de la lutte commencée par les Rozemont, Curé et Seeneevassen…Difficile ainsi de croire que celui qui fut inspiré par les mots de Frantz Fanon ait un quelconque penchant colonialiste. Des propos nauséeux, inquiétants et inacceptables de ce type confirment une fois de plus que nos dirigeants sont toujours à l’affût du moindre incident pour donner dans l’agressivité verbale. La PNQ du leader du MMM devait nous apprendre plus sur le gaspillage des fonds publics, sur le cas du QG de la BAI… à sa place nous avons assisté aux clowneries de certains de nos parlementaires.
Le député David, dont le rôle de porte flingue du parti travailliste lui sied à merveille, et auquel nous reconnaissons volontiers des qualités de grand travailleur, est sans doute un de ceux les mieux placés pour comprendre la pertinence d’une question ayant trait aux dépenses inutiles qui sont payées avec l’argent des contribuables. Le titre de « Serial Offender » attribué à Bérenger ne peut que nous faire sourire. Nous nous souvenons tous de l’épisode peu reluisant de « sa vie le rat blanc », le titre qui sérierait mieux à Bérenger serait celui de « Serial Victim ». La lecture de l’excellent ouvrage « De la question sociale à la question raciale? » s’impose à nos députés. Un des auteurs de ce livre a défini la race comme étant une « construction mentale qui fait que l’on traite différemment des personnes en fonction de leur couleur de peau, de leur mode de vie, de leur religion même… » . La race existe uniquement dans nos têtes. Nous pouvons, si nous le voulons, penser différemment.
Notre tissu social est fragile, les inégalités demeurent. Elles datent en partie de l’époque coloniale et nous sommes tous conscients que l’ascenseur social reste bloqué. Arrêtons de souiller cet espace démocratique qu’est le parlement avec des comparaisons honteuses. Pour que notre société change, nos représentants doivent commencer par eux-mêmes. Avec de tels dérapages verbaux, nous tuons l’espoir d’un avenir meilleur.
Chetan R.
Who shot our Phaeton Rubicola? by Chetan Ramchurn ( Le Mauricien 27/01/09)
Air Mauritius
Who shot our Phaeton Rubicola?
Dubbed the “Soul of Mauritius”, the much hyped ambassador of Mauritius, our premier company, our very own national airline is in deep mire. Amidst rumours of takeovers, leaked secret conversations and XLD’s almost too little too late attempts to turn back the tide, lies a venerable institution in tatters.
Welcome to Navinland
While some have sniffed blood and are now on the prowl for further damning evidence against the architects of Air Mauritius’s doom, we watch once again with awe the appalling absence of leadership at the head of the state. While the first rats have begun to leave the sinking ship, the much hoped sanctions against those who have failed have yet to come. In truth, in Navinland, the axe never seems to fall on those who are guilty of sacrilegious wrongs…
This latest saga will be remembered as yet another Ramgoolam botched moment, yet another missed opportunity to rise to the occasion and soothe a scandal-weary population. In times of chaos, we turn to those who wield power to show us the way forward; or as Faye Wattleton says “The only safe ship in a storm is leadership.” Alone we stand in these troubled times…
Arrogant fools
Accessorius sequitur comes to mind when deciding on who should be punished. The blame should first and foremost be attributed to those that were at the gambling table with our money. The absence of any exit clause attached to a hedging contract of that magnitude is a gaffe that deserves no clemency. And what do we have instead of unequivocal professions of guilt? Interviews of arrogant fools that abound in our newspapers where all claim to have made the right decisions regardless of evidence to the contrary. What terrifies us is the sight of those who have previously given glaring demonstrations of their incompetence who are rewarded with hefty paychecks and renewed positions of power. No doubt Cunningham had to leave…
In these times of economic and financial havoc, what we need more that anything is a guiding figure in whom we trust. These are defining times for our country… times where real leaders emerge and fake ones crumble…
Chets Ramchurn
Who shot our Phaeton Rubicola?
Dubbed the “Soul of Mauritius”, the much hyped ambassador of Mauritius, our premier company, our very own national airline is in deep mire. Amidst rumours of takeovers, leaked secret conversations and XLD’s almost too little too late attempts to turn back the tide, lies a venerable institution in tatters.
Welcome to Navinland
While some have sniffed blood and are now on the prowl for further damning evidence against the architects of Air Mauritius’s doom, we watch once again with awe the appalling absence of leadership at the head of the state. While the first rats have begun to leave the sinking ship, the much hoped sanctions against those who have failed have yet to come. In truth, in Navinland, the axe never seems to fall on those who are guilty of sacrilegious wrongs…
This latest saga will be remembered as yet another Ramgoolam botched moment, yet another missed opportunity to rise to the occasion and soothe a scandal-weary population. In times of chaos, we turn to those who wield power to show us the way forward; or as Faye Wattleton says “The only safe ship in a storm is leadership.” Alone we stand in these troubled times…
Arrogant fools
Accessorius sequitur comes to mind when deciding on who should be punished. The blame should first and foremost be attributed to those that were at the gambling table with our money. The absence of any exit clause attached to a hedging contract of that magnitude is a gaffe that deserves no clemency. And what do we have instead of unequivocal professions of guilt? Interviews of arrogant fools that abound in our newspapers where all claim to have made the right decisions regardless of evidence to the contrary. What terrifies us is the sight of those who have previously given glaring demonstrations of their incompetence who are rewarded with hefty paychecks and renewed positions of power. No doubt Cunningham had to leave…
In these times of economic and financial havoc, what we need more that anything is a guiding figure in whom we trust. These are defining times for our country… times where real leaders emerge and fake ones crumble…
Chets Ramchurn
The Navin Show by Chetan Ramchurn (L’Express 06.02.09/ Le Mauricien 07.02.09)
THE NAVIN SHOW
And thus spake the Great One…
Citizens of Mauritius, feel blessed to have been addressed by the Chosen One. Our hardworking Prime Minister, in his great benevolence, took some of the precious time he usually spends discussing with the likes of Chirac and Sarkozy to deal with the trivial Mauritian issues.
Revealing his misery and loneliness, the compassionate Navin also disclosed that he will be gracing President Obama with that great intelligence of his and we certainly believe that he will seize this opportunity to teach him a trick or two about how bold decisions are taken in tough times. Our leader talked at length about the fruits of his intelligent decisions using references spanning from the Bible to Kissinger and admitted that the No.8 elections were of little interest to him for he is now more than ever focused on the economy.
When our beloved P.M highlighted the hassles of holding his much coveted title, all of us sympathised with him. How can we let this often betrayed great ruler stay in such conditions with hardly any friends and suspicions on the few that he has? No, we cannot and should not let Ramgoolam Junior suffer more than he has already endured for our sake. We should relieve him of his great distress and it is now our moral duty to offer him salvation in the coming general elections.
Hubris
Last Thursday’s marathon speech which was nothing more than an unsavoury potpourri of quotes, examples from other failed hedging experiments and incoherent ramblings clearly smacked of hubris. So much arrogance from a man who has so lamentably failed time and time again should have irked most of us. But, nothing of that sort happened as a sizeable proportion of the “peuple admirable” chose to put style over substance and saw in SSR’s heir’s insufferable mumbo jumbo some kind of verbal prowess that the rest of us must have missed.
Ramgoolam’s power ride has been a bumpy one and the grotesque masquerade that this public relations exercise was proved once again that his all talk and no action attitude is likely to continue…until we finally decide to punish him…
Yeshwant Ramchurn
And thus spake the Great One…
Citizens of Mauritius, feel blessed to have been addressed by the Chosen One. Our hardworking Prime Minister, in his great benevolence, took some of the precious time he usually spends discussing with the likes of Chirac and Sarkozy to deal with the trivial Mauritian issues.
Revealing his misery and loneliness, the compassionate Navin also disclosed that he will be gracing President Obama with that great intelligence of his and we certainly believe that he will seize this opportunity to teach him a trick or two about how bold decisions are taken in tough times. Our leader talked at length about the fruits of his intelligent decisions using references spanning from the Bible to Kissinger and admitted that the No.8 elections were of little interest to him for he is now more than ever focused on the economy.
When our beloved P.M highlighted the hassles of holding his much coveted title, all of us sympathised with him. How can we let this often betrayed great ruler stay in such conditions with hardly any friends and suspicions on the few that he has? No, we cannot and should not let Ramgoolam Junior suffer more than he has already endured for our sake. We should relieve him of his great distress and it is now our moral duty to offer him salvation in the coming general elections.
Hubris
Last Thursday’s marathon speech which was nothing more than an unsavoury potpourri of quotes, examples from other failed hedging experiments and incoherent ramblings clearly smacked of hubris. So much arrogance from a man who has so lamentably failed time and time again should have irked most of us. But, nothing of that sort happened as a sizeable proportion of the “peuple admirable” chose to put style over substance and saw in SSR’s heir’s insufferable mumbo jumbo some kind of verbal prowess that the rest of us must have missed.
Ramgoolam’s power ride has been a bumpy one and the grotesque masquerade that this public relations exercise was proved once again that his all talk and no action attitude is likely to continue…until we finally decide to punish him…
Yeshwant Ramchurn
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