Thursday, May 13, 2010

BILL GATES IN INDIA - REALLY???


Last week we witnessed the quite expected media hype of Indian cricket team’s debacle at T-20 world cup, Jairam Singh’s attack on Indian home ministry in Beijing and Ambani brothers fighting over gas price. And as usual women’s cricket team, hockey team’s performance at Azlan Shah and chess glory (courtesy Viswanathan Anand) was not given the deserved limelight. Amidst all this one story which really made me smile was Bill Gates visit to India. Headlines which were splashed across news papers with captions “Bill Gates in Bihar, Amethi”, “Bill Gates to aid Bihar projects”, “Gates checks up polio eradication” caught my eye.



But unlike what I thought that he would meet the Ambanis, Birlas and top notch Indian personalities he was spotted touring in rural Indian villages with Rahul Gandhi playing guide and interpreter both. “What about caste? Is it not possible that people from influential castes might be polio immunization among children and mothers of their own caste groups?” the Microsoft founder asked the officials accompanying him a tribal village in Bihar(God knows who can eradicate Caste division in our country, try Gates if you can!!). Gates who is used to travelling continents in his private jet took a boat ride. Bill gates visited the rural India which we refuse to accept, which is indeed truth and the India which is overlooked.



He wants his company Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to tie up with Rajiv Gandhi charitable trust. Really hope that happens. Both Rahul and Gates showed no discomfort even though most rooms did not have fans and electricity or cooling systems in Amethi. Rahul Gandhi is now synonyms with rural India and his idea of change is well known. Who can forget his extensive campaign during Lok Sabha elections last year? But we saw Bill Gates in places where our businessman rarely have time to go or for that matter even our politicians(they don’t have time because they are busy fighting within their own party). His visit to Amethi and Bihar is worth applauding.


He asked few kids there “why there is no power?”. Well that’s one question which Rahul Gandhi can only answer. He asked young kids “to read English and learn computers”. Well I really hope his desire comes true and every Indian becomes educated. So what brought Gates in this 43-degree heat to rural India? Gates being the individual he is replied “The beauty of the land and the serenity of the rivers, it is a wonderful feeling. I feel very good. You can notice it.” Well beauty and exquisiteness of India and Indians is something that attracts everybody across the globe. Here’s hoping Indians continue to promote the beauty of our country so that it truly becomes a developed nation, a nation which is sought after……

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