View from the Right

8220;In a US election, big money plays a big role. Where did Obama get all his billions? In his first post-election speech, he narrated with poetic passion how small trickles from far-off hamlets, factories and small units funded his campaign.

Inspiring Obama

The lead story in the latest issue of the RSS journal Organiser is on US President-elect Barack Obama. Written by editor R. Balashankar, the piece titled 8220;Obama unsettles capitalism consensus8221; observes: 8220;In a US election, big money plays a big role. Where did Obama get all his billions? In his first post-election speech, he narrated with poetic passion how small trickles from far-off hamlets, factories and small units funded his campaign: 8216;It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give 5 to10 and 20 to the cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation8217;s apathy 8212; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep8217;. Touching. Inspiring.8221; The report then raises a question: 8220;How many Indian leaders can honestly speak this language?8221;

The editorial in the RSS Organiser is titled 8220;A new history of America8221;. It says: 8220;The real America has spoken, said Obama. Barack Hussein Obama has made history. He is the first non-white President of the US. His victory is being compared as ground-breaking as that of John F. Kennedy. The demographic transition in the US and the economic crisis afflicting the poor helped this win.8221;

The editorial then adds: 8220;Nobody expected that America was ready for a Black as President. Those who believed in the victory of Obama doubted a last minute surge for a white President. There was a last minute surge, but that also proved to favour Obama. The youth and migrants voted overwhelmingly for Obama8230; America will never be the same again. A well-nurtured, hugely-overstated, but ultimately invincible white solidarity is broken like a house of cards. This is the audacity of dream and hope. 8216;We can do it, we have done it,8217; declared Obama and millions cheered with tears rolling down their cheeks in happiness and fulfillment.8221;

Ganga as 8216;national river8217;

A news item on VHP leader Ashok Singhal reports on his call to bring a bill in parliament 8220;to accord constitutional validity to Ganga as a national river.8221; The report says: 8220;VHP president Ashok Singhal has urged the central government to bring a bill in the parliament to accord constitutional validity to the Ganga as a National River. He said the declaration of the Ganga as a National River and setting of a Ganga Basin Authority for sorting out various issues related to the matter is a welcome step. But unless it is followed by a parliamentary legislation, it will remain only a hollow declaration.8221;

8212;compiled by Suman K. Jha