భారతీయ కోణం లో తీయనాన్మెన్ స్క్వేర్

 

ది హిందూ దినపత్రిక లో చైనా గురించి భారత మాజీ విదేశీ వ్యవహారాల కార్యదర్శి విజయ గోఖలే సర్ వ్రాసిన పలు వ్యాసాలు చదివి నేను వారికి అభిమాని గా మారాను. 2017 డోక్లామ్ వివాదం అప్పుడు నిప్పులు చెరుగుతున్న చైనా విదేశీ వ్యవహారాల మంత్రి వాంగ్ యి కి చిద్విలాసం గా చిరునవ్వులు చిందిస్తూ షేక్హ్యాండ్ ఇస్తున్న విజయ్ గోఖలే గారి ఫోటో ఇప్పటికే చాలా మందికి తెలుసు. అమెజాన్ వెబ్సైటు లో వారి పేరు మీద ఈ పుస్తకం చూసినవెంటనే చదవాలనిపించింది. వారు వ్రాసిన మొదటి పుస్తకం ఇది. ప్రపంచంలో గౌరవించదగ్గ చైనా ఎక్స్పర్ట్స్ లో వారు ఒకరు. సరిహద్దు లో గొడవలు జరిగినప్పుడు జాతీయవాద భావనలు పొందడం తప్పితే, భారతీయుల లో, చైనా యొక్క రాజకీయ, ఆర్ధిక వ్యవస్థల గురించి అవగాహన తక్కువ అని రచయిత ముందుమాట లో పొందుపర్చడం నిర్వివాదాంశం.

ఇక, పుస్తకం లో విషయానికి వస్తే, చైనా ని, ప్రపంచాన్ని షాక్ కి గురిచేసిన 3-4 జూన్ 1989 నాటి తీయనాన్మెన్ స్క్వేర్  ఉదంతం అసలు ఎందుకు జరిగింది? అట్టి ఉదంతం లో కీలక పాత్ర పోషించిన వ్యక్తులు, విశేషాల గురించి చక్కని విశ్లేషణే సారాంశం. పుస్తకం చిన్నదైనా , 80 వ దశాబ్దపు చైనా ని పాశ్చాత్య దేశాలు, ప్రపంచ మీడియా ఎంత తప్పుగా గా అంచనా వేశాయో చక్కగా వర్ణించారు. బీజింగ్ నగరం లో అవెన్యూ అఫ్  ఎటర్నల్ పీస్ వంటి పలు వీధులు, కూడళ్ల వర్ణన ఎంత ఉన్నతంగా ఉంది అంటే, కేవలం పాలకొల్లు లో మా ఇంట్లో కూర్చుని, 80ల నాటి డెంగ్ జావోపింగ్ గారి రాజకీయ చతురతని ప్రత్యక్షంగా వీక్షించినట్టు గా వుంది.    

బూర్జువా లిబెరలిస్ం పేరు తొ తిరుగుబాటు చేయదలచిన ఒక విద్యార్థి ఉద్యమాన్ని ఏక పార్టీ దేశమైన చైనా నిర్దాక్షిణ్యంగా అణచివేసింది - ఇది పైకి ప్రపంచానికి తెలిసిన విషయమైనా, అసలు 1989 నాటి సంఘటనలు కేవలం చైనీస్ కమ్మూనిస్టు పార్టీ లో కొంత మంది వ్యక్తుల మధ్య జరిగిన power struggle కి అడ్డం పట్టాయని వివరించిన తీరు తో ఏకీభవించాలి. ముఖ్యంగా ఆఖరి చాఫ్టర్ 'డబ్లింగ్ డౌన్' లో డెంగ్ నాయకత్వం లో చైనా, పాశ్చాత్య దేశాల కళ్ళు కప్పి, ఎలా అభివృద్ధి పధం లోకి దూసుకుపోయిందో విశదీకరించిన తీరు అద్భుతం. రాజకీయ సంస్కరణ, వ్యక్తి స్వేచ్ఛ లేకొండా, ఆర్ధిక అభివృద్ధి ని సుస్థిరపర్చడం గొప్ప విశేషమే! జార్జి ఆర్వెల్ వ్రాసిన 1984 గుర్తుకి వచ్చింది.

మొత్తంగా, ఈ పుస్తకం చాలా బాగా నచ్చింది - బహుశా, కొన్ని భాషల లోకి తర్జమా కూడా అవ్వవొచ్చు. మన అందరికి చైనా గురించి తెలుసుకోవాల్సిన అవసరం ఎంతైనా వుంది - గాడీఫాథర్ లో మైకేల్ కార్లాయోనే అన్నట్టు - 'Keep your friends close and your enemies closer'. 

 

Book (English) - Tiananmen Square - The Making of a Protest - A Diplomat looks back by Vijay Gokhale (Harper Collins India)

 

Maheeth Veluvali, 

Friday, 11th of June, 2021,. 

16 Saladi Jamindar Street, Palakollu,.    

Tiananmen Square from the Indian Perspective

A few articles on People's Republic of China in The Hindu made me a ardent fan of the former Foreign secretary, Vijay Gokhale sir. During the Doklam crisis of 2017, I could never forget the powerful image of a smiling Vijay Gokhale shaking hands with his smirking Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi. And so, when I came across this book in the Amazon, it was a foregone conclusion that I shall have to possess and read it. Which I did to my heart's content. Apart from the jingoistic frenzy that surrounds few border clashes, the average Indian's knowledge of China, especially in political and economic spheres is limited. That's what perhaps the author alludes to, when he wishes for a deeper understanding of our northern neighbor, in the prologue. 

In short and simple terms, the book gives a ring side view of the events surrounding the Tiananmen Squre incident of 3rd-4th June, 1989 that shook China and the World. The small but detailed account lays bare the misjudged perceptions of the West and the International media regarding China of the Eighties. The description of places of interest in Beijing viz, the avenue of eternal peace is striking and it seemed as if I was a live witness to the mastery of Deng Xiaoping, just sitting at my home in Palakollu.

An authoritarian one party state is pitted against it's students and intellectuals regarding the so called 'Bourgeois Liberalism', but beneath the veneer of secrecy, in essence, it was a power struggle between various factions and personalities of the Communist party of China that shaped the destiny of events of 1989. One is chillingly reminded of George Orwell's dystopian novel, 1984, as the author brilliantly analyses the rise of China (1989-2010s), and how the West became an unintended and reluctant hand maiden in birthing the hegemony of 21st Century China, in the brilliant final chapter, 'Doubling Down'. 

Overall, I loved the book, and I consider it as one of my favorites! It's a must read for anyone interested in learning about our northern neighbor without prejudice. 

 

Book (English) - Tiananmen Square - The Making of a Protest - A Diplomat looks back by Vijay Gokhale (Harper Collins India)

 

Maheeth Veluvali, 

Thursday, 10th of June, 2021,. 

16 Saladi Jamindar Street, Palakollu,.    

India's World

 

"India's Word : How India's Prime Ministers shaped Foreign Policy" by Rajiv Dogra is a well researched book that details and demonstrates the imprint left by Eight of India's Prime Ministers on Foreign policy. The father of History, Herodotus lamented and rued that men do not rule circumstances, rather it is circumstances that rule men - hence, it may not be a good prospect to ascribe policy failure/success to a single individual. Nevertheless, the book offers a balanced view in this regard. I've previously read another fine work by the author, called 'Durand's Curse'. 

People interested in polity & international affairs would find the work entertaining, to say the least. For instance, India was offered a permanent seat at UNSC twice - by USA (1950) and USSR (1955), but turned down the offers and instead chose to support China's candidature! Pandit Nehru, ever the idealist, a towering persona had to endure the humiliating loss to China in 1962, but withstood the joint US-UK pressures during 1963 negotiations with China. Shastri, his successor fought with Pakistan and left an imprint in his short tenure. Indira Gandhi's and perhaps India's finest moment came during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. 

Rajiv Gandhi's tenure was a juxtaposed mixture in foreign policy arena with IPKF misadventure. PV Narasimha Rao, a much aligned and now highly regarded PM braved the 1991 Economic crisis, started ties with Israel, initiated Look East Policy, visited post revolution Iran and reset ties with China and USA, braving the Punjab Insurgency. Vajpayee, like Nehru was a towering figure whose policy failures and flip flops were often glossed over due to his charisma. Manmohan Singh, the only PM of India to hold a Doctorate till date successfully negotiated Civilian nuclear deal with USA, but sadly with Pakistan, India seemed to run out of ideas on how to deal. The chapter on the current Indian Prime minister, is a work in progress, but is a challenging one with the global arena appearing bleak for Indian prospects despite the PM's highly personalized aggressive diplomacy. 

Overall, it was a pleasurable read! 

 

Book - "India's World : How Prime Ministers shaped Foreign Policy" by Rajiv Dogra (English) - Rupa Publications

 

Maheeth Veluvali, 

Friday, 4th of June, 2021,.

16 Saladi Jamindar Street, Palakollu,. 

A life in Diplomacy

Sensing that communist China is set to acquire nuclear weapons, Kennedy's USA offered India the chance to conduct nuclear tests in early 1960s. That offer was ultimately turned down by Nehru's India, ostensibly on two reasons - that the then USSR could isolate India and due to India's commitment to non-alignment - a decision lamented to date! Why did Indira Gandhi give a vague reply to Brehnev's query on Afghanistan? The analysis and scathing assessment behind the reasons for taking decisions like the above is brilliant in the terrific work called 'A life in Diplomacy', authored by distinguished career diplomat and former ambassador, Maharajakrishna Rasgotra. This book offers great insights on Indian foreign affairs right from Nehru's tryst with destiny to Rajiv's follies. 

An abject assessment of non-career diplomats in the beginning chapters of the book offer finer points on diplomacy. A key strand is the fact that highly personalized style of functioning based on emotions and theories wrecks havoc in the arena of Diplomacy. Nixon-Kissinger's folly during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation war is a classic example. It is interesting to encounter some interesting personalities in the book - the volte faced Nepalese king Mahendra, the stoic and yogi like external affairs minister Sardar Swaran Singh, the other side of Margaret Thatcher during whose reign ties with India improved. 

The book offers some good lessons in dealing with India's neighbors and the Versailles Syndrome that plagues India's strategic establishment vis a vis Pakistan. It felt really great to read a polished gem of work!

Book - "A Life in Diplomacy" by Maharajakrishna Rasgotra, Penguin India (English)

Maheeth Veluvali, 

Thursday, 3rd of June, 2021, 

16 Saladi Jamindar Street, Palakollu.

A case of exploding mangoes

At Bahawalpur in Pakistan, August 1988, when the supposedly impressive demonstration of M1 Abrams Battle tanks was a damp squib, little did General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq realize how close he was to his death. A string of events, comical and tragic, real and surreal lead to the assassination of the Pakistani Dictator. The brilliant fictional work, 'A case of exploding mangoes', a sort of roman a clef, by Mohammed Hanif offers interesting and fresh insights in this regards. The book is a first person account of fictional Pakistani Air Force Junior under officer Ali Shigri. It is also the tale of a General worried of his legacy after a brutal 11 year old rule. The portrayal of the General, stripped of flowery contexts of power, as a hen-pecked husband, a man perpetually afraid of everyone around him is hilarious and realistic. 

I'm quite amused, with the chapter where the celebrated General wishes to provide relief urgently to widows on a short notice, and the informational minister had to arrange the window dressed widows from his own department - this is a damaging reality that's happening all around us, not just in Pakistan. As Lord Acton observed, Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Overall, the book is good, but it borders on being great too, with a punch of black comedy. I enjoyed the work. In an era of intolerance, works like these, enrich the freedom of speech and expression, and offer at the same time, an unbridled sense of enjoyment and thrill. For the power craved by the Generals and Politicians is trivial before the works of pen that entertains and enthralls the common man!

Book - 'A Case of Exploding Mangoes' by Mohammed Hanif (English) - Penguin Random House India (2008)

Maheeth Veluvali, 

Tuesday, 1st of June, 2021.

16 Saladi Jamindar Street, Palakollu,.