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.