The subcontinent issue
Mr. Elahi is ill informed. Indian subcontinent has a much hoarier tradition of democracy. Alexander got toughest resistance from Katha, Youdheya and Malla republics. These were never headed by a king but were republics and elected representatives to run the government. They never surrendered nor capitulated like Porus, who despite all accolades heaped upon him, became a vassal of Alexander. Vajji Sangha of Lichhavis, two thousand five hundred years back, on Northern bank of the Ganges in modern day Bihar state of India was one of the most powerful republics of Indian subcontinent and was antithesis to the so called grand kingdom of Magadh. Like all republics, ancient and present, it fell to internal dissensions. Democracy is ingrained in the subcontinent in the form of Panchayats in all villages, which is a truly direct participatory democratic institution. No king or potentate created it. It came out of the genius of the people of the subcontinent. More importantly, it works. No one in the subcontinent needs proof that democracy is the best system for larger good of the majority. The tragedy is that this remains unfulfilled due to the majority being bewitched by inaction. Coming to Kleptocracy, in the absence of a widely awakened public kleptocracy cannot be avoided. Take the example of India, for the last 17 years it is not ruled by a dynasty, at-least in majority of the states of India. But Kleptocracy rules. It is neutral to political shades, sex, religion and leftist or rightists. Antidote to Kleptocracy is democracy where people have the right to speak and to be judged by an incorruptible Judiciary. It is not to be in the subcontinent, because the good people decide to sit at home and kleptocrats rule the roost. As an amusing aside, a Mughal emperor took bribe from the East India Company to give trading rights in Bengal!
The problem with emigrants, everywhere from the third world to the first world, is to decry the home country. Mr. Elahi may identify it with dynasty. But what about Factors of East India company who ruined Bengal by acting as surrogates of Indian traders and stole all customs duty payable to Bengal's Nawab. What about Halliburton and Dick Cheney, or Margaret Thatcher's son and Saudi Arabian contracts? Rule of law and an unstoppable and unrelenting public outcry against kleptocrats is the only redemption for citizens of any country, whether in the subcontinent or in the west.
As an uninterested outsider, I must register that it is not good to be an ingrate. Any denigration of Sher-e-Bangla, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib's and General Ziaur Rahman's families, till appropriate legal processes are over, in my view reflect an ingratitude to those who sacrificed their today, so that Bengal may live with honour and dignity.
In a democracy, the first requirement is respect for the judicial process, and do not prejudge a person without a fair trial!
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