Dear Friend of India,

We are all fed up.

April 17,1998. A 22-year old Indian, Suhrid Ganguly, an engineer, committed suicide in the eastern city of Calcutta... His suicide was a protest against rampant corruption after unsuccessful attempts to get his telephone fixed without paying a bribe. Ganguly's suicide note said he was taking "an extreme step" as "there is no way to change the system and get an honest right to live." B.B. Das, an official from the telephone department said: "This incident is unprecedented," but added, "I admit that taking bribes are commonplace."

Welcome to the web archive of India_Policy, a public discussion list (comprising of super-intelligent (duh!?), super-decent and super-duper Indians!) set up with the objective of preparing an Ideal Manifesto and Agenda for an Ideal Political Party for India, were such a political party to exist, i.e., if wishes could come true ... Come, let us change the "system."

Too many things in India are dedicated to people who did "big" things. This list is dedicated to the memory of all the Suhrid Gangulys of India; common folk who have been oppressed by our many-faceted, complex and soul-crushing "systems." What Suhrid did cannot pass muster as a method of protest. However, given the circumstances, it is necessary to sympathize with him. May his "sacrifice" (not to be glorified) not go in vain... After all, We are a Nation of One and the pain of each one of us counts equally. Be it our Prime Minister or our Ganguly.

Thanks for joining India_Policy and helping out the poor and oppressed of India with your ideas. This is an appeal for your ideas, your time; not for your money.