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Great example of what I look forward to from The Print. Cut the Clutter fills the void Prannoy Roy's The World This Week left. National Interest is another great product. Kudos and wishes!
sekhar ji I m undoubtedly grateful to you that you have shared a bunch of unknown information about the incident of Glasnost perestroivka and the mission of coup had fallen down in 1992 in Soviet union legislative assembly. Each and every bulletin of your valuable information kick up straight away to make me much more viable and confident enough about the Russian history
Nehru might have made Himalayan blunders.... But when you relive that era...you can not ignore his contribution in making healthy institutions and a vibrant democracy...
This is not Nehru's doing, this is hindu majority that itself is not that arrogant, see yourself the areas where there's less Hindu population those areas are still in trouble...
@@sid7186 Leave it. I dont even comment here now. People just Criticise Congress here. And Praise BJP all the time. I earlier used to debate here a lot. Now Nope.
This "failed coup" is historically overrated. Before that most soviet constituents in the Baltics and Caucasus were anyway on the irrevocable path to breakup. And USSR had already lost most warsaw pact allies like East Germany and Poland. One of the most important catalysts of soviet disintegration was Chernobyl disaster in 1986. It required massive mobilization of young people across soviet states to clean up chernobyl area, economic activity literally came to standstill for 6 months. And when investigation results were suppressed, people's anger grew. This was a great call for moving away from moscow for many of the republics. The coup was a non-event. Didnt affect anyone - Chernobyl literally affected everyone. Even Gorbachev said the same later
There was no coup it was controlled chaos to fool the west. There was no way to sustain USSR everything was collapsing. To prevent breaking out pf violence or possibly civil war people needed a hero to emerge so there need to be a villain. Communists were chosen to be villains they lost all credibility amongst most people.
Dear Shekhar, I must say, for many reasons --your experience, your sheer touring, reading, meeting a diverse kind of leaders, and from that and more, your pragmatism plus values, I could call realism, is so rare, yet simple, I really want to extend my hertful and mindful thanks, to you, and your super team. You are the saving, truly the grace, the media is. TO inform, educate, allay fears, and even give meaning. I used to frankly think, that here is a moral tone lacking, butslowly I grasped that facts matter, facts are moral, and yes, POLITICS MATTERS. Jai Hind!! Thanks and best wishes to you. I will surely take your subscripions too.
Genuine Advice: Please the Print, improve on the the audio quality. The current audio equipments are terrible! Upgrade to a better grade. I am sure the ROI on it would pay huge dividends
I recently read an article in The Print by Shailaja Bajpai. While I agree with most of what she says, I would like to mention that DK Singh's videos on national politics are equally informative, enjoyable and insightful
Hi Shekhar sir! Many of your current viewers like myself may not have viewed your earlier episodes on the current issues. It would be nice if you could share a few such episodes every week so we may hear what you had shared earlier on current events.
Thanks for helping recall the coup story. As for your first quote attributed to Gorbachev seems to be incorrect. The quote essentially is by Sheikh Sadi, a world renowned Persian sage/poet.
Nations and their primal urges. Democracy turning romantic. A historic paradigm shift that is global and thank you for bringing it to us. Timely and thought provoking.
Would Sekhar Gupta Be lucky enough to write another article captioned ' End of an Empire ', this time the country would be China. Then he would make a record of sort. As it is, Sekhar has become a sort of living encyclopedia of latter part of 20th Century and still continuing. Since I am 69 now, I can recollect many of the events he narrates everyday with a difference that while I was an observer ,he was a participant actor and fortunate person to be in the thick of action. So analysis is at this state enabling me to understand those events from the hind-sight better.
Breakup of Soviet Union is the most dissected historical event in recent times. But we haven't got all answers yet. Fact: US wanted Soviet Union to continue at least initially.
A number of events that caused the USSR to collapse. The stagnation during the Breznev era, nomenclatura out of step with the average SOVIET citizens, Perestroika was the final blow and the KGB supposedly the guardian of the state was corrupt to core after Yuri Andropov death, they should have removed Both Gorbachev and Yeltsin .
The quote was " the winds "howl" ( not blow as SG says it here) , the dogs bark and the caravan moves on". It is an old central Asian proverb that Gorbachev used to quote.
Fun fact: The USSR national anthem had "indestructible" in its opening line. Even after so many years the "dissolution" remains an enigma or perhaps it is NOT and our brain is simply unprepared to accept that the reasons for the divorce could be something as simple as the "economy". Although I am not a fan of the US, I must confess that if there is any country for us to model after then it is the United States. Religion is a major force in the US too and the divide between races is stark but Democracy in the US is largely institutional and open to public scrutiny. It is the only reason CAPITALISM did not receive ANY BACKLASH in the US. Only the US can destroy the US.
Excellent brief as ever. This highlights a common mistake often made in 'The West' about democracy. It isn't simply a magic wand which cures all ills. We get hung up so much on our inalienable rights but forget that stability of any sort and food on the table are higher priorities in some parts. The first experience of democracy in a number of former USSR republics was not a happy one. The worst excesses of capitalism asset stripped each states wealth and also took away what support there was for people from the state. I heard a comment a from a former USSR citizen a few years ago which basically said as bad as communism was, at least the pavements were maintained and the streets were kept clean.
“Moldovan” here…To continue the “at least”: had right to education and to a workplace based on meritocracy (my mother attended medical university and was paid to study-she came from low class, low pay factory workers and had another sibling-with today’s economy it’s an impossible outcome); the cities were indeed clean and the streets well kept. The majority of people were abandoned. The west wanted to destroy the union and the people…I’m appalled at how many think tanks in England and USA published works about ways to dismantle and humiliate the urrs…and its the same sentiment all over again. Russian federation is too wide and rich and independent for their liking…they much preferred it to be weak and corrupt and servile as under yeltzin…
@@domdomdom720Hey there from the UK. Yes, education is a good example. I got the impression that attitudes to women, especially regarding education, seemed more enlightened across the iron curtain at times too. A lot of time, resources and lives were wasted by 'both sides' post 1945. Both were equally convinced of the others impending aggression, and both sides leaders seemed to put beating the other sides system before the welfare of their own people, let alone people from other nations.
@@domdomdom720 As someone who read about the events and the numbers of people who died, destruction of education under IMF I agree 100 %. It also empowered the US and UK to impoverish their own working classes. In the UK now there is a wave of strikes and militancy and we are learning to fight for rights and a decent life again.
@@kmadge9820 Can't disagree with any of that either. I was worried that we'd (UK) forgotten about collective action in the real world. Everyone venting their frustration on the internet has little effect sadly. We do appear to be learning again as you say. It's important to remember we have relative poverty in the UK, the effects are far worse in most parts of the world.
As brilliant as always. The Print is an international class media house. At par with BBC, ahead of Al-Jazeera, DW, France 24 etc. Wish India Today and The Print were one!
I was actually searching for this episode yesterday when i read about mikhial G... Thanks for re-uploading ... I remember coz of the il 62 story ( air india wet leasing aeroflot aircrafts back then )
Another major consequences of the Soviet disintegration was the establishment of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) that comprises of the erstwhile Central Asian SSRs, now the five Central Asian Republic countries.
In 1991 both Police and the army in Moscow refused to support the government. They refused to arrest Yeltsin. The home minister Boris Pugo committed suicide. Pavel Grachov the commander of the army in Moscow was in touch with the American Embassy. That was the reason Yeltsin came to power. Yeltsin was not a democrat as he attacked the Russian Parliament with tanks in 1992. I was in Moscow at that time and I got married in Moscow.
When you talk of a person after his demise, you should speak about him and how he dared to change the things. When you talk of Gandhiji you talk of what he did and not about what happened after him.
Sir please do a story on why democracy survived in India besides so much of initial challenges territorially and economically as if a New born baby without colostrum having doubts of its survival taking slow breaths in a NICU... #sekhargupta #theprint #cuttheclutter
You are dreaming if you think india is a democracy. when a large percentage of people are illiterate and don’t understand/are shut out of the voting process the country is not a democracy. Indian democracy is political theatre.
I'll say it. India needs to restore Art 370. Not only that but also give similar levels of autonomy to all states. This is the best way to develop all of India.
Sorry... India by Constitution is a UNION OF STATES AND NOT A FEDERATION OF STATES (LIKE U.S.) OR CONFEDERATION OF STATES (erstwhile USSR)... Any secessionist intent by any state will face the full force & fury of the UNION Armed Forces & otherwise!
Actually many Americans are also asking what good is democracy if the country's infrastructure is crumbling, household debts are spiking, etc yet their leaders are sending billions of dollars to Ukraine or spending trillions on forever wars. It doesn't matter how long a leader rules a country but most important whether he is dedicated, capable and is far sighted. Putin has done a lot to improve the economy of Russia. So did Lee Kuan Yew.
Great insight, albeit nebulous, on the relationship between nationalism and democracy. Democracy can only take root on the soil of common national identity, and common ownership of the land! Otherwise, why allow a competing ideology take hard and consequential power by the mere fact of the soft action of voting and the ballot box?
Gorbachev died. His legacy? Russia's GDP dropped by 40%. Real wages halved. Poverty ballooned from 2.2 million in 1987-88 to 66 million in 1993-95. Millions died under the brutal regime of privatization and shock therapy. Half a million women were trafficked into sexual slavery.
Dear Shekhar Ji ! Communism was allowed to fade away in the hope of democracy but Russia and most of the former republics of USSR got hijacked by dictatorships on the way to democracy. Isn't it because the majority of human beings are psychologically weak to the extent that they not only fails rise to the occasion but they allow themselves to get terrorised, humiliated which leads to successful taming of most of them by a very few strong dictatorial kind of their own fellow beings? This tamed component then attain fake identity of true nationalist and supporter of the dictatorships. But same thing happens in democracies too, may be in subtle ways. All political parties do it. And it doesn't happen only with masses but it happens within political parties as well. Is there any country which has ideal democracy?
Excellent Retrospective Narration, SG Saab: Brook said "Men May Come and Men May Go, but I will always go on"; " Time & Tide Always Move On". Here is my two cents on Uncle Gorbey: When Reagan was in the White House, Uncle MG visited US and jokingly told Reagan, "I want to go everywhere in Washing DC, NOT just the Main Roads"! Reagan jokingly replied "You are the Boss! You take the limo to where ever you want to go, and my Boys will protect you for however long you want to be out there". So, the whole day Uncle went into small, mid & large businesses in lanes, streets & roads. What Uncle MG learnt was "The Individual Initiative, ambition & hard work to make a buck drive the People everywhere in America! It is the Competitive Capitalism at its best!" Also, Uncle learnt that Elections happen every 2 years for the House and every 4 years for the President and every 6 years for the Senate. There are multiple Parties to participate in all Elections and the Press is active. Press people are ruthless, quite educated and will go to jail for anything they write ill of any politician. Why people in Soviet Union eat and over drink Vodka all the time and EXPECT the Govt to do the heavy lifting? Why can't we motivate them to work harder to earn more than the other, so all reach economic independence? This very thought motivated Uncle to go GLOSNOST & PEROSTOIKA (Reform and Openness). The rest was history since 1991. Alas, Dictator Putin emerged exactly like Furor The Third Reich in Germany! And, America keeps growing in its PER CAPTA GDP year after year via their Competitive Capitalism based on higher Education & Technological Superiority which attracts like a magnet all the high IQ students around the world, while many restrict immigration to protect their Jewels! Totally unlike in Modern India under Modi Saab where the PRESS will be gun down by organized militia = recall Gowri Lankesh in B'lore) or sending the enemies to jail & denying bail for life! Political prisoners languish in various jails in India without a quick Court resolution and India's PER CAPITA GDP is a lowly U$ 1980 in 2021!!!! Individual Efforts, Fearless Press & High Quality Education is the mantra for REAL Democracy in the world, as the worldly experience and history instruct all of us! Cheers from Chennai! :+)))))
The talented leader, Mr. Mikhail Gorbachev took a strategic decision to free all Soviet Union States. by keeping all Russian natural resources for Russian people, Russia became a modern state. Mr. Gorbachev deserve to be honoure with peace nobleprize.
The Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and the subsequent withdrawl in 1990 because of poor quality of their weapons forced Gorbachev and the CCCP in Moscow to come to their senses. They were lagging behind USA in computers. In 1980 America made great advances in science and technology. Even today Russians r unable to make automatic gear systems for their cars . Forget computers.
Dear Sir, If possible, can you please do a video on birth rate reduction across the world and what will be its future impact? Elon musk says its a bigger problem than global warming. How lesser birth rate affects the upcoming generations?
I think it would be like if RG became PM and sold Kashmir to Pak and Ladakh Arunachal to China in name of peace. The world would give him a Nobel Peace Prize. India would hate him, and it would start the decline of democracy in India.
Gorbachev was a fool to have simultaneously embarked upon perestroika and glasnost even though he had a successful chinese model to copy from; china kept its communist political framework intact while spearheading with economic liberalisation and thus was able to withstand the shocks and tremors that emanated from its adventure with capitalism. Thanks to Gorbachev’s short sightedness today all the splinter states which were part of the USSR including russia are experiencing a pervert version of capitalism infested with oligarchs and democracy limited only to conducting of heavily rigged elections …..
"pervert version of capitalism infested with oligarchs with democracy limited to conducting only limited rigged elections " ... Eyyy you're the one who wrote that... And that perfectly describes what we've had in Latin American countries in our republican years... USA and European colonialist countries benefit from that so they're okay with it,.. And that's the reason why NOBODY COMPLAINS ABOUT IT ! ...
Democracy along with nationalism, religion and also Language matter. Hindi imposition is the end of India. You also neglect to mention the per capita income of Russia compare to the rest of the world.
Shkehar sir very long and complex topic but That's not true that Strong democratic institute outclass the pressure , Its a politician or decision maker and mentality. Your one decision create a ripple effect. In America they created a very divided society through policy and education system , appeasement. Analyze a Democratic party policy, CHICAGO number one criminal city. In America black and religious minority is more extreme than white but news shows different picture. Also In India last 75 year politician create a very bad decision for appeasement for one religious community and greed . You need a strong equal law and the people who implemented them without bias or hesitation ,
Gorbachev was awful. He ruined Soviet Union and the wonderful Russians would be astronomically more socially, culturally and industrially developed now if they had not taken the western neoliberal path. It is only being discovered now that USSR began being dismantled far earlier than popularly cited - it was gradually from the 1970s and owing to rampant British and US interference. The rate at which Russia developed (health care, science, culture, quality of life, you name it - it improved incredibly from the initial conditions) from 1920 to 1960 was astronomical and this would have continued without the western bribes and incessant political interference, climaxing with Gorbachev completely ruining the entire state. As this involved enormous property being passed to our elites and oligarchs, and creating oligarchs there merely as a byproduct, we cheer the devastation he brought, but having family in Russia I can attest that most Russians have the opposite view than our brainwashed traded stocks and private rental property obsessed narrative.
Of course Ukraine is democratic - unlike Russia, in almost every election since independence a new President has been elected. This suggests no entrenched parties. Electoral participation is also higher than in most US states. Although much lower than India. Just repeating some talking points without actually going through data or reality suggests you are the buffoon. PS have lived in Ukraine for 3 years between 2016 to 2019. Wonderful country - wonderful people
@@caesar_cipher the people of Ukraine might be totally innocent in the proceedings... But stating the elections and the electoral process as a democratic one is a western propaganda... Coups don't happen in democracy as far as I know... Like in America where people who have trespassed into Capitol hill are prosecuted and jailed... That didn't happen in Ukraine the coup leaders have coerced the democratically elected president ...so democracy is a farce in Ukraine 😁😁😁
@@krishnachaitanya1220 again half-baked logic from an ill-read person. In 30 years of independence, Ukraine had only one "coup" or rather a "revolution" as majority of ukrainians prefer to call it. I agree that the pro-russian corrupt government should have been brought down by a election instead. Also support for the Maidan revolution is overwhelming. This is the opinion of the "totally innocent" people you mention. Another proof - in the subsequent elections, the allies of the exiled president lost bad - even in the eastern provinces where they had support base. Also by your logic, Sri Lanka is also a farcical democracy because of recent "coup". I agree Pakistan is farcical democracy because military coups happen repeatedly. But to declare Ukraine undemocratic because of one "revolution", shows you know nothing - just read some talking points and blabbing here
@@caesar_cipher just few half baked Ill read questions to a genius which is the most corrupt country in Europe? What is the democracy ranking of Ukraine? Who is the Ukrainian president featured in pandora papers? What happened to opposition parties in Ukraine? Revolution 😁😁😁 Slava KOKANHE
@@caesar_cipher I can own your ass in a minute your shallow argument cannot substantiate your own logic. You call me illogical 😁😁😁 stop sniffing hunter Biden's snuff candy try to graduate your middle school and come back 😁😁😁 Slava KOKANHE
