Raj in reverse in Britain?

Ironic it may sound, but the Raj in reveres might be the best thing to happen to the UK, writes Vijay Dutt.

Summer is the best time in London. The Sun generally comes out every morning and the breeze is gentle and cool. More significantly, as Parliament goes into recess, MPs and Ministers usually leave the city either for their constituencies or like Tony Blair they go off to exotic destinations for a vacation. So it's all quiet and nice. But, this time although Blair is away to Tuscany with the family, the political scene continues to sizzle.

The "Non" by the French to the proposed European Union constitution has had major impact on British politics and lines have been drawn for causing trouble to Blair, in particular. He is already beleaguered by speculation in various quarters about the timing of his departure. The serial rebel MPs who want to see him vacate Downing Street as quickly as possible are despondent and quite worried.

If Blair decides not to hold referendum on the constitution on the ground that it has already been killed by the French "Non", their hope that he will resign after it has faded. So they have been making noises that the referendum must be held. Tories too, want it because they believe that the British would also say no, and they will then be able to trumpet it as a disaster for Blair and a signal for him to exit. But the Tories are also busy searching for a leader to take over from Michael Howard. The contenders are naturally grounded here and so their supporters have not gone on holiday but are sticking around, politicking. So the hope of the media people to jet off on holidays has been dashed. The silly season, as the summer time, is referred to in journalistic circles, has thus evaded this year. It is business as usual in newspaper offices and the news room-wallahs do not have to fret about filling up the pages.

I remember how difficult it usually becomes at about this time of the year to file stories. With politicians away, schools closed and many members of ethnic minority communities flying off to their country of the origin, not much happens around this time. But this time we not only have clouds eclipsing the Sun making us wonder if the summer has really arrived, but also have yobs making news.

Almost routinely, we hear and read about gangs beating up somebody or the other, about rapes and murders by the unknown most of whom are asylum seekers or migrants whose background is almost unknown. Petty thefts and pick pocketing no longer make news. The days, we are being told, are over when one could take a shortcut through woods and parks. The Indian girl Jeshma did exactly that while returning from her school and became victim of a rapist and murderer. But he cannot be traced. The police suspect he was a Latvian. If he has gone back to his country, it will be a long wait before he may be apprehended and brought back for trial.

Most people even in the areas, which were considered safe, are now avoiding venturing out late in the evening. In Golders Green in north London where it is said the average income of residents is around £50000 a year, shopkeepers complain of hooliganism.

Some shopping areas have banned the young from roaming around wearing hoods as it becomes difficult to identify them on CCTVs. But I saw quite a few wearing the hood and swaggering around. The way the things are, I am afraid, the society here will have to be exorcised of the ungodly before it degenerates into a state of utter lawlessness. Much can be learnt from Southall or Wembley or Harrow, all Indian- dominated areas. They are comparatively much safer and quieter. The reason is clear, for the youth, however westernised, live in families and are still conscious of traditions. There is much for the locals to learn from them. Ironic it may sound, but the Raj in reveres might be the best thing to happen. It is the families in such areas that have helped the divorce rates to be lower, it is these communities who have least number of single parents and the least number of uneducated youth or dropouts. Can we say old is gold?

Magic age of 29

The perfect age to have that great idea is 29, say researchers. It is the time in ones lives when we have the ideal combination of education and energy to produce the first flash of inspiration. Alexander Graham Bell was 29 when he admitted his patent for the telephone. But for those who at 29, are not ready to join the ranks of great innovators, there is still time. The average age at which Nobel Prize winners and other great inventors make their big discoveries is now just under 40 - six years older than a century ago.

The likes of Leonardo da Vinci made scientific discoveries and also created artistic masterpieces, in today's world an innovator is more likely to have a narrower field of expertise. Stelios Haji-Ioannou, who founded the budget airline easyJet shortly before his 29th birthday, said it was the willingness to take risks that made the late twenties special. It's true. Richard Branson who started his business at a very young age once said he called his company Virgin because he was then a virgin.

Last word

An income is what you can't live without or within. So don't fret.