by Anthony D’Souza (Letters To The Editor, Crescent International Vol. 48, No. 8, Safar, 1441)
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Global “Goalkeeper award” to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi evoked more than its share of criticism from many quarters. A petition calling upon the foundation not to give the award to Modi garnered more than 100,000 signatures and many leading celebrities also pulled out of the award ceremony. They were protesting Modi’s horrific crimes in Kashmir.
The award itself was based on a lie. Modi had promised in his 2014 election campaign to build toilets for 550 million people in India. While this target has not been met, the constipated bureaucratic system has also thrown many hurdles in the process. Further, most people in India including Modi prefer to defecate in the open because they believe it is “good karma.” Old habits, it seems, die hard!
Anthony D’Souza
Boulder, CO, US