COP27 in Conversation with Gandhi...
Characters -
Indian Delegate:
S is an middle aged IAS officer from Delhi, thinks of himself as pragmatic, now
in COP27 as part of the Indian delegation.
Dialogue -
Gandhi: S, please tell me why are
you in Egypt.
S, IAS: Thank you Bapu, first of
all, happy to have your august presence here with us. We are so happy that you
could attend this historic meeting.
G: what is historic about this
meeting?
S: well, this is the first time
such a conference is being held in an African country, Egypt. So, that is a
good beginning and we hope that we will be able to highlight the plight of the
poorer countries and seek the compensation that they deserve in the first place
for all the climate change losses from the rich countries.
G: what are the losses that the
poorer countries suffer due to climate change?
S: why Bapu, as you know the
natural resources of the poorer countries are mined, destroyed or exploited for
the benefit of the rich countries. Apart from that the global warming for which the rich countries
have contributed now affect the aspirations and the goals of the poorer countries as well. They can’t
imagine themselves going in the direction of the rich countries, they have to
chart a different path for themselves. This will take effort and cost money.
G: So, this conference is
essentially for the rich countries to compensate the poor?
S: You got it right Bapu. This
will give them poorer countries with the strength to pursue their development.
G: Long ago I had spoken of
Trusteeship, however that was different from this. You talk of compensation,
will it provide the poorer countries the capacity to overcome their ecological
challenges and also economic ones?
S: Sure, Bapu. They can also
develop economically and reach the levels of prosperity of the rich countries
bridging the economic gap.
G: Wait, Why should they go in
the same path as the rich countries?
S: why can’t they? We in India
have done that. We have now more cars than many countries in Europe put
together. We have more airplanes, high speed highways, etc., that is the normal
aspiration to develop.
G: but didn’t you mention that
such development is what caused the exploitation of natural resources in the
first place in the poorer countries? So, obviously, they will be exploited even
if poorer countries were to mine or destroy them.
S: yes, but that is a choice we
need to have.
G: assuming everyone had that
choice, do you think anyone will choose another path? For instance any of the
poorer countries that you are talking about, will they do it if this COP
manages to get them the required funds?
S: that is upto them as a nation
or a society. Look at us we have adopted a more social model of development. We have incorporated all these welfare schemes
to ensure that no one is left out, we have permitted politicians to promise and
deliver all kinds of social benefits to the weaker sections in the country
though we know it is a drain in exchequer.
G: if you think it is a ‘’drain’’
why do it then?
S: well, like I said we don’t
want to leave anyone behind.
G: if you are so far ahead that
you need to ‘’drain’’ resources to bring someone to your level, don’t you think
the mistake could be with you?
S:how can that be? We have had
the privilege of several generations of education and exposure to larger world,
so, our payback to society is to ensure that we advance economically. That
cannot surely be called as ‘’moving far ahead’’. Aap aisa keisa bolte hein
bapu?
G: but do you consider yourself
from this country?
S: of course, I am a nationalist
and a patriot. hum 100% desh bakth hain!
G: what qualifies you to do that?
S: I have joined the civil
service despite having a PhD and being a student in one of the largest
universities in the country. I work day and night for the benefit of the people
of this country. I have strong views on all those who weaken this country and
its development and within whatever power I have, I will ensure that they don’t
win.
G: why do you say that ‘despite’ having a PhD
you joined the civil service?
S: well, I could have had better
paying opportunities and could have even gone abroad, instead I chose to
sacrifice all those to work for the government.
G: what exactly did you
‘sacrifice’? I understand that your father was also an officer. So, you came
from a privileged class, what is the sacrifice?
S: well, like my children have
chosen to go abroad now for their higher studies. I could have gone abroad and
got a job with far better salary.
G: so, in your eyes, getting
better salary or working abroad is a better form of development than working
for your own government? Is that why you sent your children abroad?
S: I didn’t necessarily mean it
that way Gandhiji, children need to make their own choice. You are now like the
trolls twisting my words to mean something else
G: no I am only saying what you
have said already more directly. If
serving your own people is seen as ‘’coming down’’ in payment scale or catering
to the needs of the poor and marginalized is seen as a ‘’drain’’, then
basically you are identifying yourself with someone who is not an Indian. In my
eyes, you are more closer to being what is popular these days as
‘anti-national’
S: Bapu that is a strong
accusation. We started to talk about the COP27, I don’t know how we ended up
talking about me now. I am not the subject here.
G: But your attitude and what you
have come to represent is the real problem. You mentioned earlier that you are
here in the COP27 to ensure that the poorer countries are compensated by the
rich one for dirtying the world. Yes, but if that doesn’t stop the rich
countries from further dirtying and if it encourages the poorer countries to
further dirty the world, then what is the point of the meeting or the
compensation? This is the same as what you mentioned about the marginalized
people in India as much as it is the same for the poorer countries elsewhere.
Unless such a compensation is not leading us to do a joint reflection on what
is the path of ‘economy’ that we choose and term it ‘development’ and how do we
jointly address its challenges, we continue to delude somehow that we are able
to make changes that will result in somehow a different world. We cannot create
a different world by transacting within the existing world – which is what the
compensation is – we change by changing everyone together, each one in their
space needs to change. Some may have to tax excessive wealth and consumption
heavily, but, also provide structure and systems to exit from such consumption
dependent industries. Others will have to think of how to find joy in life and
contentment without having to consume as much as those who have destructively
consumed.