ಇವತ್ತಿನ ರೂವಾರಿ.ಕಾಂನಲ್ಲಿ ನನ್ನ ನಾಟಕ ಶೇಕ್ಸ್ಪಿಯರ್ ನ ಶ್ರೀಮತಿ ಕುರಿತು ಪಾರ್ವತಿ ಐತಾಳ್ ಅವರು ಬರೆದಿರುವ ವಿಮರ್ಶ

https://roovari.com/book-review-shekespearana-srimati-by-dr-parvathi-g-aithal-jun2026/

5. The Story of Libya’s Fall

At the end of the 1980s, after the collapse of socialist Soviet Russia and the Eastern European socialist countries, American imperialism played its game all over the world, with no challengers. Before eliminating Saddam Hussein in Iraq, the drama staged by America to invade the country and the story of how Colonel Muammar Gaddafi was removed in Libya are rarely covered in our media. Reports from Western news sources always portray Saddam and Gaddafi as villains. If we want to know the truth, we must search for it ourselves. The truth about Iraq became evident through the accounts of Indians who lived there. Similarly, Libya’s truth is unveiled through firsthand experiences. A rare book, Libya Diary, written by Uday Itagi from Koppal, Karnataka—who served as an English lecturer in Libya—provides many details that our mainstream media fail to cover. It sheds light on how powerful imperialist forces loot resource-rich nations, leading to shocking revelations. A deep dive into how wealthy countries exploit Africa, Latin America, and Asia exposes a dark and gruesome history. The U.S. imperialist strategy has always been to create chaos in resource-rich nations, eliminate their leaders, and seize control. Many leaders have fallen victim to this deception—most recently, Saddam Hussein in Iraq and Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in Libya. Reading about how they were eliminated is truly disturbing. Uday Itagi brings attention to several surprising facts. Although Gaddafi was a dictator, he was also a feminist and a secular leader. His Green Book was as famous as Mao Zedong’s Red Book. In it, he wrote about women, stating, "A woman eats, drinks, loves, thinks, hates, learns, and understands just as a man does. So why should there be discrimination?" Libya is rich in oil but has a small population. Yet, the wealth of this oil did not benefit its citizens—it was being looted by Western corporate oil companies. When Gaddafi took power in 1969, he restricted foreign oil companies and used the country's oil revenues for public welfare. Unlike royal families or political dynasties, Gaddafi was not born into power—he came from a nomadic tribal background and rose to become a national leader, making his story even more fascinating. Libya is a small country in Africa, geographically close to the Arab world. Like socialist Cuba, Libya was a resource-rich nation, attracting the greed of global capitalist powers. The biggest obstacle to their ambitions was Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, who ruled Libya for nearly three decades. Unlike Cuba’s Fidel Castro, Gaddafi was neither a Marxist nor a right-wing leader. He was a proud nationalist who stood firmly against American imperialism and religious fundamentalism at the same time. Both Saddam Hussein and Gaddafi worked for women's empowerment and the well-being of their people. They ensured that the wealth from their countries' oil resources benefited their citizens. Yet, to America, they were villains. Indian media, including Kannada media, have long portrayed Colonel Gaddafi as a villain, relying on foreign English news channels. We often believe whatever these channels broadcast as the ultimate truth. However, Libyans themselves consider these channels as false and misleading. Muammar Gaddafi: The Leader Who Defied Imperialism Gaddafi, after studying hard and receiving military training, joined the army and later overthrew King Idris, who ruled Libya. He took control of the country at a young age and was hailed as the "Che Guevara of Africa and the Arab world." Under his rule, Libya, once an underdeveloped nation, made remarkable progress in healthcare, education, agriculture, and industry. During Gaddafi's administration, Libya did not take a single penny in loans from foreign entities. There was not a single beggar in the country. He ensured gender equality, treating men and women as equals. Despite being an autocrat, he took great care of his people. He believed that everyone should have their own home and provided free education, healthcare, internet, and electricity to the citizens. Before Gaddafi came to power, only 25% of Libyans were literate. Within a few years of his rule, the literacy rate surged to 83%. The government provided jobs for most citizens, and those who remained unemployed after completing their education received salaries until they found suitable employment. His administration also sent many educated young Libyans to the UK, Australia, and other countries for higher education. Why Did Western Media Portray Gaddafi as a Villain? Because Gaddafi was a staunch opponent of American imperialism and had an affinity for communist nations. He never missed an opportunity to criticize American dominance. At a United Nations assembly, Gaddafi openly stated, "You have executed many Arab leaders who maintained friendly ties with communist China and Russia. Tomorrow, I might meet the same fate." Unfortunately, his prediction came true as imperialist forces executed him in a brutal manner. Why Did Gaddafi Lose Power? The answer is simple: Gaddafi refused to let foreign powers loot Libya's oil wealth. His upcoming economic policies would have caused significant losses to the American and European markets. He had ambitious plans to expand Libya’s railway network and to sell the country's oil resources directly in open markets. Additionally, he expelled the U.S. military base that had been established in Libya since the reign of King Idris. For these reasons, Anglo-American imperialist forces conspired to eliminate Gaddafi. They financially supported and armed rebel groups in Libya. These Western-backed mercenaries captured Gaddafi, who was hiding inside a drainage pipe for his safety, dragged him out, tortured, and killed him on the streets. American imperialism has a history of eliminating leaders who opposed their interests, including Argentina’s Che Guevara, Chile’s Salvador Allende, Indonesia’s Sukarno, Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, and Bangladesh’s Mujibur Rahman. The Role of the Media Western media, along with Indian media, have continuously ignored nationalist leaders who refused to let their country’s resources be plundered by imperialist forces. Instead, they have portrayed such leaders as villains. One notable example is Indian journalist Barkha Dutt, who visited Libya during the uprising but only met with rebel leaders and did not attempt to present an accurate account of the situation by meeting Gaddafi. Unfortunately, true information about Gaddafi's rule is rarely found. However, Kannada writer Uday Itagi has filled this gap by writing a book in simple Kannada, shedding light on Gaddafi’s real story. At a time when those who surrender to imperialism call themselves "Vishwaguru" (world leaders), leaders like Muammar Gaddafi, who stood strong against these dark forces, will remain immortal in the pages of history. Sanath Kumar Belagali Renowned Writer and Columnist (From the "Prachalita" Column, Vartha Bharati)

4. Colonel Gaddafi and Sannappa

Near our house, there is an orchard. A photographer friend from Hampi, Shivashankar Banagar, often visits it. One day, he came to our house and said, “Sir, you travel far and wide in search of artists. But there is a unique personality very close to you—Sannappa. He has lived in Libya and speaks Arabic. You must meet him.” I responded, “Why wait? Let’s go right away.” So, both of us went to Sannappa’s orchard. He had cultivated vegetables on his ancestral land, which was located in the middle of the village. There was also a Jambu Nerale (black plum) tree in his orchard. He plucked a cluster of grape-like fruits from the tree and gave them to us. As we relished the fruit, we engaged in conversation with him and looked at the pictures in his album. Sannappa, a native of Hosapete, had migrated to Mumbai years ago in search of work. From there, he made his way to Libya, a country in the Sahara Desert in Africa. In Libya, he worked as a truck driver for teams of engineers engaged in the petroleum extraction industry. Among the many stories he shared, four aspects stood out: 1. The terrifying sandstorms of the Sahara. 2. The immense popularity of Gaddafi. 3. The public participation of Libyan women, particularly their military training and role as Gaddafi’s commandos. 4. The American conspiracy to assassinate Gaddafi for plundering Libya’s oil. Sannappa deeply admired Gaddafi. He wished to see him in person. When Gaddafi once visited the oil fields for inspection, Sannappa expressed his desire to catch a glimpse of him. His colleagues warned, “You are a foreigner. The security personnel will stop you.” But Sannappa was determined. “Why should they stop me? I am his admirer,” he said. He dressed in Arab attire and stood among the locals, successfully catching sight of Gaddafi. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I could not visit Sannappa’s orchard again to hear more about his experiences in Libya. Three years later, Uday Itagi, a fellow writer from our district, sent me his book Libya Diary. While reading it, I felt that Uday, as a conscious writer, had articulated the same experiences that Sannappa had shared with me. Uday had worked as an English professor in Libya. Listening to Sannappa’s stories and reading Uday’s book made me reflect on the sources of our “knowledge” about the world, especially about Africa, China, and the Muslim countries of the Middle East. How and why did we receive this knowledge? Indians have gained an understanding of different parts of the world through three main sources: 1. In ancient times, through soldiers, kings, traders, and saints who traveled to and from these lands. 2. From travelogues and accounts written by those who went abroad for work or exploration. 3. Through literature and media shaped by the interests of European or American colonial and imperialist powers. The problem lies with the third source. This version of knowledge is embedded with religious bias, racial hatred, and capitalist interests. It portrays the world through the lens of Western self-interest—exploiting natural resources, establishing companies, flooding markets with their goods, and using local human resources as cheap labor. It constructs a narrative of “knowledge” that serves its own motives. Western media and literature demonize national leaders or governments that resist their influence, branding them as dictators and tyrants. This demonization ultimately leads to wars and violence. Colonel Gaddafi and Iraq’s Saddam Hussein were both assassinated through this very process. Even Cuba’s Fidel Castro was subjected to similar vilification. Most Indian media and academic textbooks have uncritically accepted and propagated these Western narratives as absolute truth. The fact that Indian expatriates in the US revered Donald Trump—the same man who had insulted India as a “filthy country”—is a stark example of this phenomenon. However, attempts are also being made to break such preconceived stereotypical images. This has been possible due to radical intellectuals like Edward Said or Noam Chomsky in Western countries or individuals like Shannappa or Uday, who have lived in these countries and recorded their experiences. In this context, we must also remember Kannada writers like Kanakaraju, who have been writing about Arab nations. One of the unique aspects of Uday’s Libya Diary (2018), which challenges the prejudices imposed on nations, is that it does not conceal Gaddafi’s dictatorship. It critically examines how his decision to ban English from the education system, in an attempt to resist Western imperialist schemes, was a misstep. However, the book also highlights, through data and personal experiences, how he, as a nationalist, protected the country’s wealth from being looted by Western nations and ensured comfort and stability for his people. Thus, this book is not just a portrayal of Gaddafi but also a critique of America's economic and political interests and war strategies (as indicated by its descriptive subtitle: The Secret Behind the Assassination of Mohammad Gaddafi). In this regard, we must recall an incident from when Nelson Mandela visited the United States for the first time after becoming the President of South Africa and attended a UN event. During a press conference, an American journalist asked him:"You fought against apartheid for the freedom of Black people. However, you have maintained ties with individuals like Arafat, Gaddafi, and Castro, who have a poor human rights record. Isn’t this contradictory?" Mandela’s response was: "Some people assume that their enemies are the enemies of the entire world and that their friends should be everyone’s friends. They forget that every nation has the right to choose its allies based on its own interests. When we fought against white supremacy and colonial rule, the very countries you now call ‘evil’ supported us morally." Uday’s book, written in a simple and engaging narrative, has minor flaws such as repetition. However, it offers political awareness and presents world events from the right perspective. It serves as a travelogue, a personal memoir, and a historical account. The chapter on Umar Mukhtar, the legendary Lion of the Desert, is particularly remarkable. The book also poignantly analyzes the struggles of Indian migrant workers who leave their families behind to work abroad. Regardless of language, religion, culture, or history, wherever human suffering exists, compassionate souls are present—these are the true oases in the desert. In this sense, the book is also a vivid depiction of Libyan life. As Indians, we have unfortunately reached a state where our understanding of the religions, food habits, and traditions of those living around us is shaped by media controlled by capitalists and religious fundamentalists. This is a tragic extension of the Euro-American perspective that dominates our education system’s worldview. In such a time, Uday’s experience-based book serves as an eye-opener and challenges biases. By the end of the book, one cannot help but wonder how it would have been if writers like Sannappa had also penned similar works. Rahamat Tarikere Renowned Critic Retired Professor Kannada University, Hampi