Indian Politics: Where changing the Label Makes Poison Healthy

Dr Roshan Radhakrishnan
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There is a drink A that I do not like. I believe it is dirty and makes people sick. I make sure everyone knows I hate drink A. 
I love drink B. I do everything possible to make people drink drink B. I want the percentage of people drinking drink B to rise till drink A is out of the market entirely.
And yes, with time, people realize that drink A is dirty and so switch over to drink B. I am happy. I am winning.

Here is where things get funny. You see, drink B also makes people sick. But I refuse to condone it because I love drink B even though I am aware it is also dirty. 
I am winning.
When people question me about nefarious ingredients in drink B, I snap asking them why they did not ask the same questions about drink A (even though they did and eventually rejected Drink A for the same reasons earlier.)
I am winning.
I don't care if there is evidence drink B is bad for the health of people.
I am winning.
I don't care for helping clean it up so that people can finally become healthy.
I am winning.
When bottles of drink A simply change their labels to that of drink B, I rejoice as my percentage rises. The fact that it is still the same sickness-inducing drink A means nothing to me.
If it means I am winning, then I will gladly accept dirty drink A in the mix.



The people who get sick and die because of drink A and B are, in the end, irrelevant to me. All that matters to me is that I am winning.
As illness affects all around me, I do not care. 
I am winning.
As people continue to die, I turn a blind eye.
I am winning.
Hush. Just drink what I pour and question me no more.
Can't you see I am winning?

Authors note:

My seniors and peers tell me that I should be careful while talking about drinks in today's atmosphere. That I will lose friends, get beaten up, killed or worse - ostracized on social media.
That by questioning a drink, I am showing disobedience.

To them, I say - tough titties.
I am tired of people telling me that because we all drank from Drink A 'for a long time', we have no right to question the ingredients of drinks B, C and D. Everybody has a right to point out the flaws of any drink, irrespective of the label. 

Look beyond the labels and fight against corruption and intentional hate-inducing ingredients in the mix. Look beyond Kalmadi-Cola, Pinarayi PaperBoat, Maaza Modi and Jeera-Jaitley. Look beyond Rasna Gandhi, Bisleri Banerjee, Thumbs Up Tharoor and Limca Lalu.

When you need to see the label to decide whether you should defend or mock the deaths of your countrymen due to it, then understand that you don't care for the people who drink. You care only for the drink. Billions have died across the world over centuries making the same mistake and allowing their love for a drink to overrule their love for their own countrymen.
If you do not learn from history, you are doomed to repeat it.




This was my take for the prompt by #WriteTribe and #FridayReflections based on the quote "You can choose courage or you can choose comfort but you cannot have both."



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33Comments

Let me know what you think.

  1. Pretty serious thoughts ! Another case of having your drink and drinking it too!

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    1. one more serious post coming after this and then back to lighthearted stuff :)

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  2. Yes, be careful of what you drink. Apparently, cola can be used to clean rust off of machinery!

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    1. sounds about right considering how corrosive politics has become as well :/

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  3. Thoughtful, drinks be it fruit juices packed with claims of upto 6 months or ready to make or colas apparently all these are JUNK. Changing the labels or calling X is bad B is good.. sorry can't buy that.

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    1. exactly the point which applies to our system of politics

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  4. This is very clever writing, Doc! You have won!
    Yes, we need to look beyond labels. And all of us need to do that.

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    1. sigh.. there is no victory here. We cannot change the mindsets of so many even if we showcase facts as it is, in any amount of allegories.

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  5. Very good Post doc. It's very true. I don't believe in aerated drinks. I have been in circumstances where people have asked me to drink A or B casually. I have lost friends when I said No. I still care what I drink. I mostly make it water!:)

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    1. haha... well, water is it for many these days :D

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  6. As always, Roshan, you hit this out of the park. More power to you for standing up for what you believe, no matter the price! I'm so tempted to go off 'drinks'at times, in the name of positivity. I'd rather be considered 'negative' and speak out, than hide behind the shield of being nice!

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    1. off late, I have lost friends and riled up seniors because of my stand. But I don't see the point of succumbing to what is going on or allowing silly 'what aboutery' to stop me from continuing.

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  7. I can understand where it is going... I can totally relate to it... drink is same its just the packaging is of different company....superb thought

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    1. exactly.. sadly, I think people do realize it. They just don't care

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  8. That's how the power play of politics work. Thought provoking post!!

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  9. A very strong point told and raised in an equally strong voice! I avoid colas as much as I can, and most times it is water and tea.

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  10. Loved the word play and the parallels you drew here, Roshan. Like two wrongs don't make right (unless in Maths), winning on the wrong side doesn't demand respect for it.

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    1. exactly... just because one was wrong does not mean you ignore it when it points out the other is wrong too

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  11. As I read the post, the first person to pop up in my mind was P Gopichand. True athlete that he is, he had denied a big dollar endorsement of pepsi or some cola brand, I dont remember it exactly. If the drink is not gud but harmful, why endorse it and set the wrong right, was his only reason.
    Thanks for sowing the seed of a gud thought Dr!
    -Anagha from Team Mocktailmommies

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    1. Thanks. And yes, there have been stalwarts in the past who stood up against the tide

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  12. I am glad you talked about it. Infact, we should avoid all aerated drinks. There was a lot of hue and cry when it was said that these contain pesticides. But,we forgive and forget.

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    1. forgive and forget is the biggest mistake we make...

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  13. Loved the analogy between aerated drinks and politics! We seem to be blinded by labels

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    1. unfortunately, its getting worse. even educated people cannot make out the difference

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  14. The analogy on the state of affairs is powerful and how the drinks fizzle with time.

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  15. Powerful post! Choices matter.

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  16. This is a real serious issue. A very good take on the prompt. I, myself, become dependent on a particular aerated drink just because I have been drinking it since long. And i used to its taste little researching about its ill effects on me later. Strongly said either ger the courage to look beyond or enjoy the comfort level.

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    1. Important to know the ingredients before choosing - both with drinks and political parties.

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  17. Excellent take on the prompt and I really loved the way you put forth your point. It just strikes the right chord with the readers. And you are doing right by showing courage to express your views.

    Cheers
    MeenalSonal from AuraOfThoughts

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