In his masterpiece essay "Satellitis" John
Priestly Boynton a British writer of name and fame deplored the race to go to
the Moon by the main victorious powers in the World War II, namely the Soviet
Russia, USA and Britain. This essay he wrote after the end of WWII by hard
hitting the British of thinking to join the other two WWII partners in this mad
race of sending Satellites into outer space. He termed this as desease called "SATELLITIS"
coined on the pattern of Appendicitis and Bronchitis.
John Priestley Boynton warned British
government not to embark on Moon mission as US and Soviets were doing because in
the WWII Britain suffered too much of losses in men and material. To recover these losses it is very difficult
and when this is the case Britain
cannot afford to spend more money in this useless venture.
Sending Satellites
into the Orbit is wasting country's resources and instead Britain should
invest the same amount in the development of its people living on their soil
and who require more attention than anything else.
Britain paying heed to this advice and
realising the uselessness of getting afflicted with the desease called
Satellitis, diverted its attention and resources on its development in the
country and managed to reach where it is today. Blinded by the fake honour of
competing with US and Soviets, Britain
wanted to enter into this useless race but saner counsel prevailed and this
made Britain
to put an end to this desease called Satellitis.
In this context I would like to comment on the
recent Indian Mars mission of sending a Rocket into the Planet Mars. India is a vastly developed country
scientifically and because of this development this achievement of sending
Rocket into the Mars is realised. Scientifically it is a great achievement. But, is it worth in embarking on this costly
mission for a poor country India? This mission cost India Billions of Rupees
which could have been better utilised for the development of poor Indians who
are still struggling to lead a decent life.
Though scientifically it is a big achievement
but economically it is not. India is craving for honour to outpace China in this
field but by doing so what economic benefits poor Indian masses will get in the
success of this mission? Gaining access to Mars and neglecting its own people’s
development on this Planet is not only foolish but also a major sin Indian
government is committing against its own poor masses.
China is taking good care
of its people and because of this Chinese people are happy there while our
people are begging on the roads and when we have such beggars, is it right on
our part to spend crores of Rupees in the Mars mission from where we will have no
benefits?
Soviet Russia under its leader Nikita
Khrushchev acquired this desease of “Satellitis” and thru this desease sent its
spacecraft “Sputnik” under the command of Astronaut Yuri Gagarin into the outer
space thinking this mission will pave the way for Soviet Russia to control USA
and other World powers from outer planet.
Then came USA under President John F. Kennedy who in his inaugural
speech prophetically told the American people that "United States of America will land its men
into the Moon before the end of this decade (Seventies)". USA also had the same type of ambition as that of Soviets.
Both the World Powers succeeded in their initial goals
but failed in their ultimate aims.
Realising their folly of dreaming empty dreams, Soviets put an end for
their empty dreams and US accepted the fact that there is no gains in further
pursuing this goal because it is a useless goal. The greatest achievement for
USA in the Moon mission was to keep the Holy Cross and Holy Bible on the
surface of the Moon along with American Flag and bring from the Moon as Souvenirs some pieces of Rocks.
Will India realise the folly of Russia and USA
and wisdom of Britain and put an end to this costly affairs and spend the same
amount of money on the development of its begging people? I have all the rights to say this because as
a tax payer I don’t want India to fritter away my money for reckless and
useless expenditures. The Mars mission of India will be nothing but just an
empty show of its scientific advancement and may be a booster for the Congress
Party in the coming election.
Kuwait.
