Sunday, October 16, 2011

US at Sunset: China Captures No 1 Position in World

The United States is the most powerful country of the world. Nobody differs with this idea. The US is now at its highest peak. But many people think that this country will steadily proceed toward its sunset.
The world has a huge number of instances bearing the testimony that many nations had experienced their gradual downfall after reaching the highest level of advancement. The Roman and Ottoman empires are the glaring examples of this. It is not a story of very far past when the Sun never set over the British Empire. Now the condition of that country is very fragile. The country does not have any influence in the international fields. Economically the country is passing through a very hard time. Democracy has been in practice in that country for nearly 800 years. Britain is still the palpable symbol of democracy. Britain has presented the world with Magna Charta, which is considered as safeguard of democracy.
Democratic values born out of the Magna Carta. The absolute authority of British monarchy was curtailed by dint of Magna Charta and Petition of Rights. The British monarchy was deprived of right to capture lands anywhere. Britain had been recognized as the greatest nation of the world till the Second World War. Since then the downfall of British supremacy has begun. This empire was fallen apart after 1947.
Ongoing War on Terror
The journey of the US began after the Second World War. Despite its rising strength, the economy reached a very fragile state. President George W Bush (second) and Republicans are virtually responsible for this. Defying opinion of the international community George Bush engaged in war in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bloodletting began in the US at this is still continuing. The indomitable superpower the US has started suffering from anemia.
Recession in the US economy has begun to fall since the second tenure of President George W Bush. The Bush administration did not take any measure to check it. His successor at the White House President Barack Obama is now paying the price for that. The Republicans are now shamelessly shifting the responsibility of the recession to the shoulder of Obama. It is surprising that the Republicans are harassing taking advantage of their majority in the House. But George did face any obstruction to proceed with his political programs. During the second tenure of Bush, the democrats had majority in both the houses- The Senate and House of Representatives.
The mass media of the US has described as a 'political revolution' the capture of the House by the Republicans. Many analysts believe this is an expression of racism. Obama is the first black president and he has some 'Muslim smell' in his body. The racists in the United States and Europe could not tolerate the two aspects. And accordingly they have come furious.
Many have failed to understand why Obama is blamed for the responsibilities of George W Bush. It is misfortune for Obama that during his administration the US standard as a creditor has been brought down to two 'A' from three 'A'. And as a result, a storm was created in the world economy, which is still raging through.
The Republicans and the Democrats at loggerheads on the issue of reducing US budget deficit and desire for enhancing time frame of receiving credits. The Republicans want to save money putting the burden on the poor. They want to reduce expenditure in the heath sector. They also want to curtail the money of social security. The Republicans are dead against imposing additional taxes on the richer people. The main reason behind this is that the richer people and organization bore the big chunk of election costs of the Republican candidates in the last election.
At present a worldwide uproar has been created that the US dollar is not main recognized currency in the international market. The Chinese currency - Renminbi - is the claimant of that position. The price of the US dollar in the international market is decreasing. The greenback is in upswing only in the currency market of Bangladesh. The International Monetary Fund [IMF] thinks China will achieve the recognition of the number one country by 2025 superseding the United States.
Many analysts, however, believe China has already captured that position. The responsibility of overcoming the world recession has been shifted on the shoulder of China. And Beijing has successfully performed that responsibility.
International Economy
One analyst with The New York Times has expressed the view that one will be able to suppress the US dollar as the number one international currency in the coming 10 years. The present status of the greenback is very important for the international economy. The cause of this is that the biggest chunk of the world' saving is in the US dollar. The exchange rate of the dollar has been reduced by one third in the last 10 years. Before the greenback, the UK pound was the king of international currencies. The dollar took 10 years to replace the pound as the king of currency market. The US dollar covers 61 percent of the 5.3 trillion foreign currency fund. The Chinese currency Renminbi is still related with the dollar.
The world is now confronted with two major problems. One of the problems is inflation and the other corruption. There is no country in the world, which is not suffering from the two problems. The experts believe that the global economy will take a significant time to make a turnaround.
One Publication Ceremony and Some Sagas: A few days ago I joined a publication ceremony of two books written by ABM Saleh Uddin, who is like my younger brother. It was a jam-packed and lively function with huge participation of guests. The function earned the praise of all. I am passing days like a man under house arrest. And as a result, I gladly accept whenever any invitation comes. I always put forward a condition to the hosts. The condition is the hosts have to arrange my transposition to the functions.
I do not feel ease in discussion of literatures. Because, I have a very little knowledge about the subject. My conception about literature comes from Abu Rushd and Rashid Karim, who are like my elder brothers. However, I had gone through the novels -- Agatha Kristhi and P G Woodhouse -- just after passing the matriculation examination. I had gone though the novels of Rabindranath, Bankim and Sharatchandra Chattopadhaya at that time. I had no dearth in the supply of novels. My elder sister-in-law Sabera Tayeb was the librarian of reputed Lady Brebon College. The library of the college had also reputation across the country.
Inevitable Criticism
Rabindranath was known as the great poet while Bankim the novel king. But in the selling of books, Sharatchnadra surpassed the two. All most all the novels of Sharatchandra transformed into movies.
Movies were made more than one time on Sharatchandra Chattapadhaya's 'Devdas' and Shakespeare's 'Romeo Juliet.' None can determine which is the best one?
In the thirties and forties, condition of Bengali Muslims was very sad. They were backward in education. They could not cope with the situation. Awakening them was a difficult job. Sher-e-Bangla A K Fazlul Haque was the first person who could realize the pains of Bengali Muslims. He realized that there was no alternative of education to free the Bengali Muslims from the miserable condition. Thinking this, A K Fazlul Haque had launched Islamia College and Lady Breborn College in Kolkata and Eden Girls College in Dhaka. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the student of that Islamia College.
Kazi Nazrul Islam, Maulana Akram Khan and his daily newspaper-The Azad and monthly Mohammadi- were the pioneers of Bengali Muslims' awakening. Songs of Abbas Uddin, paintings of Joynul Abedin, winning spree of Mohammedan Sporting Club against the British teams were also the important factors. Jasim Uddin, Golam Mostafa, Farrukh Ahmed, Abul Hossain and Talim Hossain came out as their supportive force. No discussion on Bengali literature without making any reference to the above mentioned distinguished personalities could get perfection.
I have spent more than two decades in journalism. But many newsmen in New York have doubt about me and they frequently ask me by dint of what I claim myself as a journalist. In this regard, I will request all to remember the immoral saying of British poet and critic T.S. Eliot -- "Criticism is inevitable like breath."
But it is not wise to take cognizance of all criticisms. There are some criticisms whose acceptance helps achieving progress. For example Professor Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed a few days ago advised Saleh Uddin to read the holy Quran, the Bible, the Upanishad and the Ramayan-Mahabharat. Poet Bulbul Khan appreciated his courageous role. There are many writings in English literature, which are based on the Bible. The 'Paradise Lost' of Milton is an instance of that.

No comments: