Once individuals/nations get caught in a vicious web of violence/revenge/lies, it is difficult to have a level-headed discussion on any subject. But this question would always haunt us: WHAT PRICE THE IRAQI WAR?
It is the sign of our time that we have begun to view the entire ugly episode in terms of statistics regarding “how many soldiers killed”, “how many civilians killed”, etc.
Horrors of this war, as and when these are told in a truthful fashion, would again highlight the necessity to seek peaceful resolution of conflicts. We are witnessing the unending cycle of revenge and violence…and the consequent pain and brutality.
Some recent news stories have now vividly demonstrated how this “war” is clearly headed towards a cul-de-sac. The first story was about the secret memo from the US ambassador in Iraq to the Secretary of State. And the second, as reported by MSNBC.
If we add these earlier two stories to the one below, we have before us a recipe for disaster.
Here is a shocking report from Iraqi Health Ministry’s morgue in Baghdad written under the heading “Horror show reveals Iraq’s descent” in The Sunday Times. “A morgue’s grim scenes testify to a disintegrating nation.”
Swaraaj Chauhan describes his two-decade-long stint as a full-time journalist as eventful, purposeful, and full of joy and excitement. In 1993 he could foresee a different work culture appearing on the horizon, and decided to devote full time to teaching journalism (also, partly, with a desire to give back to the community from where he had enriched himself so much.)
Alongside, he worked for about a year in 1993 for the US State Department’s SPAN magazine, a nearly five-decade-old art and culture monthly magazine promoting US-India relations. It gave him an excellent opportunity to learn about things American, plus the pleasure of playing tennis in the lavish American embassy compound in the heart of New Delhi.
In !995 he joined WWF-India as a full-time media and environment education consultant and worked there for five years travelling a great deal, including to Husum in Germany as a part of the international team to formulate WWF’s Eco-tourism policy.
He taught journalism to honors students in a college affiliated to the University of Delhi, as also at the prestigious Indian Institute of Mass Communication where he lectured on “Development Journalism” to mid-career journalists/Information officers from the SAARC, African, East European and Latin American countries, for eight years.
In 2004 the BBC World Service Trust (BBC WST) selected him as a Trainer/Mentor for India under a European Union project. In 2008/09 He completed another European Union-funded project for the BBC WST related to Disaster Management and media coverage in two eastern States in India — West Bengal and Orissa.
Last year, he spent a couple of months in Australia and enjoyed trekking, and also taught for a while at the University of South Australia.
Recently, he was appointed as a Member of the Board of Studies at Chitkara University in Chandigarh, a beautiful city in North India designed by the famous Swiss/French architect Le Corbusier. He also teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students there.
He loves trekking, especially in the hills, and never misses an opportunity to play a game of tennis. The Western and Indian classical music are always within his reach for instant relaxation.
And last, but not least, is his firm belief in the power of the positive thought to heal oneself and others.