लोकतंत्र के महापर्व की हवा

एक दूसरे को नीचा, कमजोर, कामचोर, भ्रस्ट और निकम्मा दिखने कि होड़ है; कीचड़ उछालना, भद्दी-भद्दी गालिआं देना, कुछ पे चुनाव आयोग का डंडा चलना, सभी पार्टिओं को आचार-संहिता का पालन करनेकी नसीहत देना आम बात है। कुछ अपनी मर्दानगी से मतदाताओं को डराने में लगे है, तो कुछ अपने मोह-पाश में सबको बांध लेने में। कुछ तो बाकि सारे नेताओं के नस्ल को ही चोर-चुहाड़ कहने में लगा है तो कुछ काल-भैरव (कुत्ता)से आशीर्वाद लेने में। जिसकी जहाँ बन पड़ रही है, वहीँ निकटवर्ती मंदिरों में सर झुकाये, ललाट पे टिका चन्दन लगाये या, मस्जिदों, मज़ारों पे चादर चढ़ाते दिख रहा है।  श्रद्धावश नहीं , लालच-वश-- वोट का लालच, नोट का लालच, कुर्सी, जुत्ता, शक्ति, और न जाने क्या क्या चीज़ का। ये दिखावा , दम्भ में डूबे आशान्वित प्रत्याशी लालायित हैं, जीत के लिए। सब तो नहीं, पर ज्यादातर दिखाऊ और भयंकर लोभी ही हैं। जी हाँ, हवा भी बड़ी जोरदार चल रही है, या, चलने का हौवा दिखाया जा रहा है, पता नहीं; पर चाल, चरित्र हाव-भाव तो बस यही बता रहे हैं कि विश्व के सबसे बड़े लोकतंत्र के महापर्व में ये किसी और कि हवा निकालें न निकलें अपनी हवा ख़राब ज़रूर करेंगे, और कर भी रहे हैं।  वैसे सबकी सांस अटकी है कि आने वाला समय भारत किस दिशा में जायेगा, पता नहीं। आप पर निर्भर है ये दिशा क्या होगी, ऊंट किस ओरे बैठेगा या किसकी हवा निकलेगी?

Anarchic BJP

Call it sheer desperation or something else, in order to grab the power at the center, BJP is doing things, which is taking it nowhere. Once a party with a difference is looking like a party with differences.

Riding comfortably on the Modification wave, the party's top honcho has started castle-building to early, and taking steps which not only is denting its image, but, is decimating the morale of its grass-root level workers also.

Sidelining and demoralising the veterans; giving red carpet welcome to the refugees of other parties; garlanding the corrupts; cordially hugging the mafiosi; and arrogance, are few points, which are exacerbating  the prospects of the party: and the triumvirate is to be blamed for. The party was not moulded in a day; it is not the patrimony of  the few avaricious people, should be clear to the triad--now becoming notorious in decision making.

The trinity of leaders should be reminded that they are very learned, suave, and masterpieces in their fields; but, please store your master-strokes for coagulating post-poll alliances. Otherwise, the populace is intently watching your every move, and days to come can easily be presaged.

Ironically, few steps--decisions rather--taken by the triad of BJP leaders has slackened party's advantage over its adversaries, when discipline and principles are taken into account. For the time being, it has no principle, no discipline, and no foresightedness, it seems. Quick recap on the basic principles of BJP is what it requires most. And earlier it makes amends in its ways of functioning, the better. Otherwise, anarchic label is ready to be conferred to it, sooner than later--and unceremoniously.

Helplessness of the octogenarian couple

As the atmosphere in India at present is of electioneering, I nodded to be part of a team to awaken and entreat the voters to come out and vote. We were requesting all we met, to use their conscience and vote. In the process I chanced to meet an octogenarian couple, who were eager to vote, but were worried about not being included in the voter list after retiring from a leading vehicle manufacturer company of the world.

Seeing the couple's eagerness in talking to us, we gave an earnest listening to their woes. Here is the gist of the talk between us.

She has two offspring; the daughter an executive in Delhi and the son also an executive in Banglore. They own a car but can't drive. They also owned a scooter, but, can't drive it too. Their offspring send money erratically, and a visit too rare. The old-man was happy to talk to us, and promised us that they will go out to vote, if they can. For, as per them verbatim-'we are pulling somehow; had opted for domestic help with a handsome pay several times, but were robbed every time; and so they now have opted for food from outside.'

We moved onto other doors in our pursuit of covering maximum people. But, the words of the old-age couple still lingers in my mind. Will we meet the same fate, once we are old ? Where are the Indian tradition, we boast of? In the quest for excellence in our chosen fields, we have forgot to look after our parents, and have opted for the western traditions instead. But, there are people who look after their parents very well and are the real winners in this mortal world.

My salute to those who look after their parents and keep them happy, not to those meek; and weak; and coward  people who leave their parents to die their natural death in isolation.

Ironically, as the senior citizens are a dying factor, they are bound to get no mention, in the manifesto of any political party--big or small--in 2014 general elections, for, no one pays much attention to the setting Sun. 

Khushwant's malice leaves the angels defenceless

The man with a razor-sharp wit left for the heavenly abode a few days ago. And it is learnt that the angels there are feeling the heat--the ogling of a reticent sardar--ever since the old man of Indian Journalism, held in highest esteem in India, has whined in in the God's territory--the Heaven--sulking, for not making it to the celebrated list of centurions and missing by a whisker, for he died aged ninety-nine.And the angels are sulking in return, for Heaven not having any harassment at workplace bill. Unable to complain against the nonagenarian(on the Earth) and the new entrant (in Paradise), the angels have resorted to the Indian way, and thus they have conveyed the intelligence regarding his foibles to Kawal Malik; who is laughing boisterously on the intelligence and then retorted the angels that such hearsay have hastened her departure from earth twelve years before and now she really wants to rest in peace; let him fulfill his wishes. And mind all of you that goggles are not allowed in the heaven, and he can't see properly without them, but beware ! he has a myopic view; so keep at a safe distance.

N.B.-Khuswant Singh was seen loitering near an angels sorority and even after severe reprimanding by the Heaven guards he held, and held, and still holding his ground there--the way he had had held the ground in India and had even threatened to saunter into the Hell--where there is no hope, and every thing there remains in an utter chaos. But, the grand old man of Indian journalism fears the inferno, and so, has rescinded his plan of playing the peeping Tom in the bash of the nudist Hell.

Waverings of the Namo wave

The way the veterans--including the patriarchs--are being treated in BJP, is very saddening. Many such instances have been reported recently. Doesn't it seem preposterous in the name of party management?

All the old and tested horses of the Indian politics are regaled and insulted daily: be it Mr Lalji Tondon or Dr Murli Manihar Joshi or Mr Jaswant Singh or Mr L.K.Advani; all are mistreated with the same fervor and disrespect.

The new poll management team headed by the party's last CM in UP is upbeat from its expectations of the anti incumbency to such an extent that now the once acclaimed party of discipline and culture looks similar--sometimes worse also--to other parties in the rat race. Where is the guiding principles, the respect for Indian tradition, the culture? 

No doubt, BJP is a different party now--certainly not a party with a difference. But, will these GenX leaders will doubt that those leaders have worked very hard to bring BJP to the place where it is. And hardly the forefathers of BJP would have envisaged such a scenario when they will be insulted so often. 

If the new leaders think that they are going to make it alone, with a red carpet welcome to the refugees, but insulting the elders; let me reiterate that they will meet the same fate once they are old; for, one gets what one gives. And these precedents does not augur well for BJP.

Ironically, the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate is loosing his sheen on theses matters and all the happenings point to the fact that this new vote waiver will waver the expectations out of the expecting people of India very soon. Mr Modi and Mr Singh earlier you mend your ways, the better; for Genx leaders are ready to take over the mettle--the baton--with elan--sans your haughtiness and disrespect for elders-- for the next 2019 elections.

The end justifies the means will come into the picture only when you will inch closer towards the magic figure--by hook or by crook(the Machiavellian principle) or coalescing new tie-ups, before or after the polls. But, shenanigans like these--the insults--will not only dent your image of an iron man; but you will lose some valuable votes of those voters who still value the Indian system also.

A stitch on time...

If there is really a wave, why then these astute leaders are opting for a safe seats. Why don't they believe in the waves they have created? Everyone is begging for a comfort zone, barring few courageous[ sic] leaders who are on a roll. But, who'll tell them that rolling ball gathers no moss. And if he is told so, he won't be as red as beetroot, for, he has exchanged all the goodness for naught.

The nine days wonder has withered; no sooner he got the red carpet in Delhi than he opted out. His itchy foot is to be blamed for his iridescent behaviour or conduct. He has conditioned himself to be charlatan all the time. And conditioning moulds a man the pundits say. No road-map, no homework before taking the plunge, no spadework, no line-up to don the gloves of governance, still his wishes to metamorphose India--doesn't it seems chimerical?

The scion has now taken the backstage, and now again he is seen rolling his sleeves up. It seems that he will take time to take the center-stage. His body language confirms that he has accepted the defeat before the real battle.

Politics has remained an enigma in India and will remain so ad-infinitum, for , it involves people who are a puzzle in themselves. Those who see their future secured, remain stuck with their party; those who don't, switch sides at the blink of the eye. Is this politics? or a Pole-tricks?

The party, tipped to take over the reins is either busy hobnobbing or giving shelter and importance to the refugees.Will these activities not subterfuge the main aim of this highly ethical party? May the Almighty give them wits to act judiciously, for, a stitch on time...  .

काशी और कुत्ते !

पुरानी कहावत है-' सब कुत्ते काशी जायेंगे तो हड़िया कौन ढून्-ढुनायेगा ? अब इस कलयुग में काशी की महत्ता बढ़ी है या घटी है , मैं यह तो नहीं कहूंगा; पर इतना अवश्य है कि वर्त्तमान चुनावी परिदृश्य में इसकी चर्चा खूब होगी। सरे झंझावातों से लड़कर माननीय मोदी जी अब इस संसदीय क्षेत्र को सुशोभित  करने के लिए कमर कस चुके हैं। और पंडितों ने भविष्यवाणी कि है कि अगर काशी से भगवन भोले शंकर का आशिर्वाद मिल गया तो फिर दिल्ली की राजगद्दी पे राजतिलक शायद ही कोई रोक पायेगा।

अभी देश का राजनितिक परिदृश्य देखने लायक है, जिसकी जहाँ दाल गल रही है वहाँ पहुँच रहा है, गाजे-बाजे के साथ। द्वापर युग से  भगवान् कृष्ण के पूजक  दल तो मग्न है वर्त्तमान सरकार के कु-कृत्यों पर, सो, अभी भगवा और भगवान् से दूरी ही श्रेयस्कर है।

पर, भारतीय राजनीती की उस  नयी नवेली दुल्हन का क्या जिसकी दुर्दशा इतनी जल्दी होगी , सबने नहीं सोचा होगा ; उनलोगों ने भी ऐसी कल्पना नहीं की होगी। मैं कसम खता हूँ कि ये नहीं करूँगा--अभी ये बात फिज़ां में गूंजती ही रहती है की वो कर देते हैं। इतनी मानसिक अस्थिरता ? भगवान् भी नहीं जानते होंगे कि अगले पल वो क्या करेगा। अब काशी कि राह पकड़ी है, भोले शंकर की मज़बूरी है, आशीर्वाद तो एक को ही दे सकते हैं; बाकि आशीर्वाद काशी के लोग दे देंगे। पता नहीं, सनकी नेता अपने साथ कुत्तों कि फ़ौज़ लेके आयें, सो कुत्ते भी गुर्राएंगे अपने अधिकार क्षेत्र कि रक्षा के लिए। और कुत्तों के काटने से सुई कितनी लगती है, बताने कि ज़रुरत है क्या?

But we are unhappy

From the time our journey on this planet began there was happiness all around. When we were born, there was happiness in our family; when we started toddling, there was applaud from everyone; when we progressed from nursery to higher classes, there was happiness as well as encouragement. When we traversed to higher classes with flying colours, there was happiness and expectations all around. Then our hard work was paid and we got a job: some after rigorous training; some after passing out from a technical college. There was happiness all around. Our journey continued, and was accentuated with happy moments: it was marriage, the honeymoon, getting kids, or a promotion, or a new car or gadget; our life was full of felicity to the brim. Then we aged; got experience;  made the acquaintance with the vicissitudes of lives; and our happiness metamorphosed into resentment. Our lives started stagnating and we were devoid of the happiness. A flashing point occurred when our own child started performing well and even got to premiere institutions. Now, we get happiness in quantized form, but, we don’t let our faces to emit happiness. Rather, we try to be sad in our appearance—for reasons, God only knows and permeate sadness all-around. Why?

To this point, we already have travelled a lot far in our lives; already have achieved certain things, and are on the verge of possessing other—only to leave our friends, family members, subordinates or colleagues to envy from our achievements, excellence, possessions or ascent in our lives. Everything is there sans happiness. Why? The answer lies with you. The aspirations, inspiration and perspiration have taken a backstage. Let them take the center-stage—the guiding principle—now, and for ever, and happiness will be back with a bang again. Let the things happen, which is beyond our control, but happiness must remain and inspire our lives. And our wandering will transform into jogging, jogging into ambling, ambling into trembling, trembling into trotting and trotting into gallop. Whether we inspire the generation next or not, we can propagate happiness: in our homes, or at our works, or in our society. And don’t bother about the mark we will leave, bother about happiness, right attitude and the friendship or kinship we develop around ourselves. The departure from this planet, although will be painful to some, but, when people will think about you, they will boast about the happiness we have permeated in and around ourselves. So, be happy and perform well in every facet of our lives--is the catch line.

From Hero to Zero

Few months back, he was a pleasure to watch; was talking turkey; was having great expectations; expectations of the forever suffering common man; and now he  stands nowhere, and if he is, is looking like a prankster highly supercilious; who loves the limelight in his natural habitat--the road. He has not only made mockery of himself, but to the very promise, the expectations and the future prospect he has shown and thrown to the common man.

Day by day he along with his cohorts is indulging in such political overtures, which only invites ridicule. What a man he was, and what a noble cause he was fighting for. But now everything looks pathetic. He has made himself a 'loose canon' of Indian politics.

That his party will emerge as an option in the coming elections looks chimerical, rather it is becoming a Hobson's choice for Indians. In my previous posts, I have presaged several things: Arvind's Aan Party(AAP) will vanish after the general elections 2014 ; Mr Rajnath Singh may fritter the gains of his party(the BJP) by some gawky decisions; Mr Rahul Gandhi after taking center-stage in his party(INC) will need time to flourish as a mass-leader etc.

Coming back to the once seemingly shrewed technocrat-cum-activist-cum-politician; let me presage one more thing: he may took an asylum after the elections. In a recent India Today conclave he was answer-less, indecisive and unattractive. Where the charisma, the prowess, the obduracy for a corruption free India, and the expectation has gone? Will he be back in his elements once again?--is the question haunting most Indians for the time being. In the meanwhile, mudslinging has stopped(in fear of the election Commission's whip) and new opportunistic alliances(read contrivance) are taking place very rapidly and hogging the limelight. So, let's be part of the mega show--the festivity--of the largest democracy of the world; and cogitate on these:-
Anna Aashirwad Party
Anna Arvind Party
Arvind Arrogance Party...

Every cloud has a silver lining

Indian cricket, from the last one year or so seems to continue its slump, from the time the fixing scandal in IPL was unearthed. The losing streak fails to cease and the gloomy phase continues. After the fab four of Indian cricket bid adieu, it was feared that it will take time to rebuild the team. And there it is.

Many new faces were tipped to fill the spaces left vacant by the departure of Sachin, Sourav, Laxman and Dravid: And they have shown it on few occasions that they have the grit and determination to do so; But, alas! the consistency of the current lot is more worrisome than the hope of a revival of the team. And the captain's name being dragged in the fixing scandal has added to their woes.

It is said that Rome was not built in a day, so it will take time to rebuild Indian cricket team, and a Herculean effort too to get it back on winning ways. For, what the team under the new bellwether needs is--getting their act together with lots of blood, sweat and tears before they will start to deliver. Indian team has started on a new odyssey--the remolding--and they are poised to meet few losses in the start. And the current loosing streak may be assumed to be that, but the good times will come sooner or later, for, every cloud has a silver lining, and that to happen sooner than later, every department needs attention; not only batting, but bowling and fielding also.