Fear psychosis in fading fortunes

The latest nodding by the ruling party’s supreme committee ‘CWC’, for the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh validates the statement-‘the politics is about survival first and repercussions later’. The fading fortunes of the ruling party-as reported by various authentic agencies-is not only causing fear psychosis in the ruling regime, but also inducing it to unleash the survival strategies in hurry- and this being one of them.

Yet another survey carried by Times Now-Cvoter opinion poll has added to their woes. In order to minimize the incumbency factor-which will certainly affect their comeback chances- they are opting for the tested theory of wooing the poor voters, by showing them the dreams of a new horizon or meadow of sustenance and prosperity.
                We have seen the 'Laptop lollipop' being decisive and turning the fortunes of Smajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh with its landslide victory. Whether the same magic and effect the 'Bifurcation', the Food Security and the 'Mobiles' will create or not remains to be seen, but they certainly have the potential to change the mood of the voters.

One thing i can tell emphatically that this regime has a very little concern about the education system. Otherwise they would not have implied the multi-tasking concept in schools-where they have tried really very hard in converting the centers of education into a mess. The increasing number of victims due to this pet-project nationwide, only testifies its total failure.

They are not ignorant of the fact, that, they have failed on various fronts, and hence they are vying for the new grounds or coalitions. The whip they have given to the common man, is now menacingly falling upon themselves, with severe infliction,  it seems. And the fear of opening of the colossal-gate of corruption if they lose the coming elections is what causing their hurry and flurry.

We have seen the fate of self-acclaimed ‘India Shining’ campaign in 2004, and the division and the Food security may meet the same fate, can’t be denied.

   In our childhood we have heard the story of the ass. It gets healthier in summer-when there is less or no greenery-and slimmer in monsoon and winter-when there is so much greenery. In summer, it is said that when it turns back and sees all the greenery gone, gives it much pleasure and hence the good health-and monsoon and winter giving it the gloomy thought of not grazing anything. The parallel between the story and the current regime can be outlined now. They are in the summer season now and hence their modus operandi is centred around the thought of getting healthier by self-effacing new policies as far as they can and becoming a behemoth and a no match for the opposition.

                              You have done enough damage in ten years. Your statement -‘this inflation is ephemeral ‘ has bitten the dust every time. But, you were able to change the mind-set of the people by letting them believe that ‘inflation’ and ‘corruption’ are the integral part of governance, and for this- plaudits to your punditry!

The similar demands from other parts of the country, will now soot up with a renewed vigour. And in that storm all your mis-deeds or ‘Gates’ will be blown away, paving the way for an ubiquitous nationwide  unrest and a favourable atmosphere for your return. The timing of the declaration, for the bifurcation, induces suspicion, to your intention. And the Hindi proverb “the lamp flickers vigorously before going off”-remains to be proved, and its my earnest request to you-please don’t leave any stone unturned in proving this proverb also.

Enigmatic mess

What you will call a female, who keeps on giving birth, but cares a little about her kids ? The same can be told about the current regime. From last 10 years, we have seen a flurry of policies(And many more are in the offing) being whelped with a little concern of their maintenance and effectiveness.

The Basic Education System, Public Hospitals, Public Distribution System, Mid-day Meal to name a few, run under the aegis of the central/state governments are singing their own dirge. But, the government does not leaves any occasion of bawling itself as the pro-poor. I say yes, you are pro-poor, because you are increasing the poverty. And your inaptness in containing poverty is a testimony to my claim. For the last ten years you have failed badly on several front, but  managed to survive anyhow(CBI). You unrolled the MNREGA in the last year of your first tenure only to facilitate your return, and day-dreaming again with this Food Security Bill. For the last 10 years you didn’t care about the hunger of the poor, but these ideas often comes in your mind in the twilight of your running tenure. And the partion politics is the latest toy you have added to your bandwagon.Plaudits! then, to the Adonis bachelor, the Amazon mentor and the Argus-eyed titan of economics for surviving and reviving the chimera of yet another return.

How the CBI and the Judiciary is bent and used for government’s cause(read  survival) was on show recently. The one leader getting the Judge changed for being apprehensive of the judge of a particular caste, and the other given lax in the charges of wealth-appropriation.

The sloppiness shown in curbing the corruption behemoth, apart from redressing the common issues faced by the common-man may act as the decisive factor in hindering the current regime’s return to the 10-Janpath. And the ‘Blabbers’ are only playing a party-poopers by their reckless remarks. It is said that the road to Delhi goes through Bihar and UP and ‘tunch maal’ is treated as scurrility in these states, why then you are using these words in public? It is not a ‘Jargon’ as told by you in your defence, have you the same courage to tell this jargon near 10-Janpath  loudly?

And the latest survey by The Hindu and CNN-IBN has cast ‘Elysium’ to the opposition and ‘Stygian’ to the incumbent.

The Cerberus and Argus-eyed mandarins of the ruling regime will burn more midnight oil now to counterbalance the initial gains the opposition has had, forecasted to have gained in view of the incumbency factor and non-performance of the current ‘Raj’ on several fronts.

It will be a Herculean task for the winner of the coming poll ‘To clean the Augean stables’ of the hydra-headed ‘corruption’. The stentorian blabbing of the patriarch with a renewed vigour, in view of the latest survey report may turn out to be saturnine,- for, the Indian electorates had had  that protean mood which can swing in anyone’s favour by merely seeing the lollypop projects and policies, - if the current exuberance is not manoeuvred properly, and  the ‘Bacchanalian celebrations’ put on hold, till the goal is achieved.

Indians are set to be between Scylla and Charybdis,if the focus of the next government is again centered around survival and the public issue and effective governance takes backstage. And for this, India needs a clear mandate, not like the last one, when leg-pulling by the alliance partners, disparaged an economist cum myrmidon held in high esteem world over and stopped in his endeavor in unleashing a cornucopia of mouth-watering policies.

The Ghost account

 

Atmosphere was humid, the clouds thundering, the alley filled with mud, stench coming out from the overflowing gutters, the croaking of frogs,  clanking of beetles or crickets, raindrops drumming on the roofs and pinging the nearby trees and the intermittent lightening, all were making the ambiance extremely unpleasant and fearful. Anyone new to this type of environment will easily loose his sleep, and will be quite uncomfortable, but we, being born and brought up in the village environment, were seasoned of all these, and all seemed well and normal as it was of  little or no concern for us. Development of basic amenities and infrastructure was in its childhood then and had not penetrated to the remotest villages. The absence of electricity was making the night even darker and awful.        

It was the year 1984, if I precisely remember, and I was 9 years old then. Rainy season was at its peak-as it happens in mid-July every year in India.

Being youngest in a joint family, brings little boon and more trouble, as the youngers had to follow orders of their elders. The elders turned a ‘Babu’, when ordering their youngsters, and the youngsters were expected a total compliance to the orders without fail, either willingly, or from fear of spanking and chiding. And fortunately or unfortunately I was the youngest. 

Our family was a formidable one in my village with a good area for farming. In the farming season four-five workers were added to the herd of two permanent retinues, thus making it seven. The farms were first tilled, then levelled and then left alone waiting for the rains. When there was a heavy rain and levelled fields resembled the floods the plantation of paddy crop would start. This process was carried out to the farthest places from the village first, and nearer towards the end of the rainy season. Work on a paddy field, 3-4 Km. away was in full flow, and as per the Indian customs, the employers were to provide food to their workers. An order came from my grandfather that the food for the labourers working in the field was ready. Although, he called the name of the eldest of my cousins, it ultimately landed on my shoulders. And I being the youngest, was left with no option, but to go to the fields, barefooted (due to mud on the path) and all alone, as everyone else was either sleeping or preparing for it, I being busy going through a storybook in the faint light of the lantern, kept in the niche to rescue it from the raging air, was caught upfront.

My father was out of station since 3 days, and when this was the case, I was more like a retinue than the youngest child of my family, because everyone in the house was giving orders. That day it was raining Cats and Dogs, and the scheduled time of giving food to the workers, had already elapsed. But, just after 10 PM, the rain reduced its ferocity to some extent and situation was rife for a walk down the fields. Having had the orders, I started preparing for the visit to the field where the plantation work was underway, as I had no choice; either obeying the orders or getting the handsome spanking and scolding from the elders; and the mere thought of castigation sent eddy currents down my nerves. No one even pitied or cared to give me a torch, as there was a faint moonlight available for walking, and all assumed it to be wise not to take the metallic torch in the rains(from fear of rusting or malfunctioning). The rains reduced its ferocity within quarter of an hour, but was still drizzling, -- the Moon playing Hide and seek with the clouds,-- I don’t know with whom, because everyone was either fast asleep or preparing for it,-- and no one was in a mood of a recreation(I can’t tell about the Lovers).

Moti, the faithful dog of my family, recently been fathered of 4 puppies and his mate after her recent whelping, was always busy and cosy looking after the puppies along with him. Benevolence being my innate property I quashed the idea of taking Moti with me. So, I walked stealthily towards the fields with the food, in the incessant drizzling.

Our home was on the west-end side of the village. Where the dwellings ended, there was a mango orchard. And beyond the orchard, there were fields, fields and fields only, all filled with the rainwater.

I continued my stroll, with the ode of the God Hanumana on my lips. The full Moon continuing its ‘hide and seek’ in the clouds and the light drizzle moistening the air, the croaking of the frogs in multitude of pitches making the ambience more frightful.

After crossing a small bamboo patch I came across the small canal and a knoll after that. After crossing the knoll, I noticed a man walking at a leisurely gait, some 100 yards before me. It gave me some respite, as I didn’t feel alone now.

I continued walking, and was in a hurry to reach my destination.

I sounded twice or thrice-“O bhaiya, please stop, I’ll be with you,". But no reply came, and the man walking in front of me kept on walking. I increased my pace to go along with him. But to my dismay, the man also increased his and I could not cover the distance between us.

Then, crossing the deluged fields there came the reservoir. The man-made reservoir was used for watering the farms in case of no rain or water in the canals. My path was through the embankments of the reservoir. I lumbered through it. The man, walking ahead of me, changed its course and headed the other way, and I kept my walk on mine. Then I turned to inquire where the man had advanced, but was surprised to notice his disappearance. Although it gave me shivers, my destination was not far, so, the fear subsided. As the presence of dacoits or thief’s in the area was mostly feared then, I presumed it to be either of them.

I handed over the food stuff to one of my elder brothers supervising the plantation process there, rested a while, and after answering the question -"was there any problem?" I returned in negation and said “everything is OK, and I have no problem”.

The man puzzle still lingering in my mind.  After covering a considerable distance, I climbed the reservoir embankment once again in my return. After walking for half kilometres, and during my descend, I noticed the same man walking in front me, at the same distance, matching my pace. Then suddenly all my hair were up and I started shivering on the fear of a dacoit or a thief or an unknown, as in the Moonlight, I was able to see something glistening in his hand, and I assumed it to be a knife or so. I called once more, without getting any reply. I suddenly started running to catch hold of him to cover the remaining distance in his company. But, alas! He remained at the same distance as before. A call to stop and wait for me was again unanswered, and I was sure it was something unknown. Then I started uttering the Lord Hanumana’s song more loudly. Then I trotted past the second mound and the small canal. I hurried past the bamboo patch within 2-3 minutes. As the pathway was wet and slippery due to incessant rain, I tumbled several times unhurt, as the earth was wet and soft. I didn’t care to the mud on my body and cloths, as the fear of the unknown was more frightening than the mud. After crossing the Bamboo patches, I fell down once again, and it gave a second’s purchase to the man walking, and the man changed his course, towards the fields-the other way. I hesitatingly looked behind, but the man was no more. But, it was no fear for me now, because the orchard was very near and the dim light coming out from a lantern hung in the verandah in the nearest cottage was enough to give me inner strength.. When I entered the orchard, I was heaving heavily. When I crossed the first cottage just by the end of the orchard, Devendra’s father was still sitting on his charpoy and the lantern was still on but dimmed. He immediately noticed my gasping, and asked-“was anything wrong?”

“I saw a man, half nude with a weapon in his hand, in the path after the bamboo patch,” I returned in a hurry.

“It was a Buda-the good ‘Goblin’ then, and many people have seen it,” he replied.

“But, don’t worry! Till date I haven’t heard of him doing any harm to anyone,”  he told restfully.

“He was a labourer of our village, long ago and drowned himself while crossing the reservoir, and his soul wanders there,” he continued.

“But, from the next time, don’t go alone and do take either Moti, or anyone else with you, as the ghost is not seen when the dog or anyone else is with you,” he advised me.

               That night, I narrated the incident to my grandfather (in his late eighties). And even he confirmed to have seen the ghost, and have heard about the ghost from his father.

That night I went to bed, after having two chapattis with the cow’s milk, with the fear, joy and excitement of seeing a good goblin. And even after 25 years, the incident still lingers in my mind, still afresh.

Testifying 'Divide and Rule' theory

 The latest bifurcation bid of Andhra Pradesh state reminds me the paragraph from Jack London’s magnum opus “THE CALL OF THE WILD”.I’m quoting the snippet uncut, without twists and turns-

                                                                     “And not only did he learn by experience, but instincts long dead became alive again. The domesticated generations fell from him. In vague ways he remembered back to the youth of the breed, to the time the wild dogs ranged in packs through the primeval forest, and killed their meat as they ran it down. It was no task for him to learn to fight with cut and slash and the quick wolf snap. In this manner had fought forgotten ancestors. They quickened the old life within him, and the old tricks which they had stamped into the heredity of the breed were his tricks. They came to him without effort or discovery, as though they had been his always. And when, on the still cold nights, he pointed his nose at a star and howled long and wolflike, it was his ancestors, dead and dust, pointing nose at star and howling down through centuries and through him. And his cadences were their cadences, the cadences which voiced their woe and what to them was the meaning of stillness, and the cold and dark.” --Now go through the article with the notion that the partition instincts are innate in them.

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The Englishmen promulgated the idea of 'Divide and rule' to govern India effectively, and thwart any unrest or unification of Hindus and Muslims for Independence. Encouraged by them, Jinnah played an exquisite cameo along with a bunch of politicians, and Pakistan was born. Prolific write Mr M.J.Akbar has given a wonderful account on this subject in his book-“India: the siege within”. Congress party then, was all powerful, yet, it could not avoid the division.

After sixty six years, the political scenario is somewhat identical. Then it was Muslim league, which was hindering the Independence. Now, it is NDA which is hindering the economic independence. Because, if it came to power, it may halt or revert various bold steps taken by the current regime, to boost the economic sustainability. From two years now, global economy is grappled by the seemingly long recession and is gasping as a result of heavy workout in coming out of it. Even the second largest economy and our neighbor -China is pegged at 7.5 % economic growth.

Leaving the economic and separation issue apart, it is the matter of survival which is of prime concern to the ruling regime. And the Telangana issue must be viewed keeping this in mind. By this proposed bifurcation, Andhara Pradesh is poised to loose 80% of its revenue generating source,and will meet the Bihar’s fate in the long run. But this is of no concern to the dividers, for, they have the special status tool, to placate the sulking Andhra Pradeshites.

Canada is only second to Russia in terms of area; still it has only few states. But, the North American country lags in the population front immensely from India. And hence this thesis can’t be given to stop the proposed bifurcation of the state. They also do not have such a great variety of people and religion. So, this Indian state must be snapped for better governance.

Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh were divided on the same line of thinking by the BJP led NDA. We are witnessing the beauty and elegance of good governance from more than a decade now. And the line of thinking of UPA is- If they can do it, we also can. The demand for Gorkhaland, Mithilanchal and Vidarbha will also gain momentum by this provocation, but giving the UPA larger grounds, to harness the voters and hence their return to the helm-more comfortably.

Crux of this discussion is-getting the system right, with right attitude and right designs; will lend more wings to a good governance-not the division. Your efforts for corruption free India, the ‘Right to information Act’ is working exceedingly well in curbing the Corruption behemoth. So, it will be better to go after the reforms with iron hand and will. That will not only pave the way for a better India, but your successive return also.

Hunter-pigeon story revisited !

Have you heard the fable of pigeons and hunters? In which the elders caution the younger lot about the hunter’s designs. I still remember the rhyme-“शिकारी आएगा, जाल बिछाएगा, दाना डालेगा, जाल में फसना नहीं” (Hunters will come, plant their net, bedew the grains, and beware! Don’t fall to their prey). This story still has its significance in Indian context, especially elections’.

Every time they are targeting the 60-70 % population of poor-why? Because the remaining population is literate and can easily understand the design of the ruling party. The poor do not have vehicles; hence they are not concerned about the petrol prices. They somehow manage rice for their family, by no means then; they will be concerned about the vegetable prices. They have a meager income, so are unconcerned about the income tax rebates and slots. They are not concerned about the inflation afterall.

They targeted the poor for their valuable votes by giving their children, the lollipop –“the mid-day meal”. Every year more than thousand kids are loosing their lives nationwide, due to either poisonous food, or adulterated food, or food from rotten grains. Because, the system responsible to look after the quality of the food, is engulfed in graft and loot. Everyone involved in that program is there to make profits, by hook or by crook.

It is turn of the poor again, this time they have been shown the dream of free meal-Food Security Bill- means free death– as they didn’t get enough job in MNREGA- and even if they managed to-they were not paid properly. But who cares for the effective implementation of these programs. It is their votes that is of prime concern to them. By giving out 50,000 Corers, they looted the Indian coffers to the tune of 4 Lakh-Crore-as reported by the media and CAG. Isn’t it a very good business? In mathematical language, it is an 800% profit.

They have reduced the annual allotment of Kasturba Gandhi Vidyalay scheme by 50%, without giving any reason in Jharkhand. And I am not sure about the fate of these schools in other states.

The communal outfit has changed its snakeskin after its divorce with the communal outfit, and has no problem being laid down by a party which happens to be the reason of its birth.

Manipulations, and calculations, and mutilations (of ideology), and fractionations are on, for the next general election. This time again, the hunters are giving feathers to their designs, have plotted the net already, and have bedewed the cereals, but the poor voters are destined to meet the pigeon’s fate-the fable told in the beginning. Supreme Court can’t caution the voters, due to its limitations, but they are trying to cleanse the system.

India badly needs better literacy rate for giving its population better insight to read the design of the party, which has ruled more than 3/4^th of its time after independence. The stoic silence; of the first respected, then criticized and who knows it will be an eerie next time; primere may have had certain implications of staying in the power, but the voters do not have any such. Beware of their design, they do not wish to get the system right. What only matters to them are Votes, Votes, and Votes-nothing else? So, cast your votes;-with your eyes and ears open;- and think about the candidate before giving your support.

India badly needs 'Noah's Ark'

The severity of corruption can be gauged by this statement-“A rupee meant for some work converts into 14 paisa”-before it drills down to the grassroots. This was the situation in the 80’s. Twenty three years have elapsed, since this famous statement by a visionary-Late Rajiv Gandhi. It was well understood then, and even more clearly understood now, as the concept, that corruption can’t be eradicated -firmly rooted in 80’s-has become a dogma now, and widely perceived by the masses.

If 1 rupee converts to 14 paise, means 100 crore  will convert to 14 crore- the rest amount getting lost  to weathering(rusting), by  country’s  bureaucracy and politics. Then increase the allocation, so that at least some amount reaches to ground zero before mystically  disappearing. This was the arithmetic applied by the then think-tank of the government. The magnitude of corruption has increased many fold, with respect to the increase in the value of money. It has rather increased hyperbolically.

China recently hanged one of its politicians after his conviction in a corruption case. We can’t do like that. Because our ethics and doctrine is quite different from the dragon’s. For, dragons can’t be compared to holy cows. A dragon is of no good, as it spits fire, and is an all-devouring, but the holy cow is a vegetarian and a milch, and does no harm to anyone. Same is the case in dealing with corruption in these countries, they have grit and determination, but we have benevolence and pathos. They deal with the corrupts in a stern manner, but we deal the corrupts with awe, respect and cover-fire.

 Law takes its own course, sometimes off course, but at a snails pace. Sukhram’s case now seems pitiable, for Rs. 90 lakhs now seems miniscule with respect to 176 lakh crores. By the time the verdict on 2G scam will come, that amount will also seem meager.

As a country, India needs a sterner view, in dealing with corruption. The recent upheaval against corruption heralded the urgency of this need. The parliament sat to discuss this issue in a special session, but to no avail. There were lengthy discussions, and a GOM were given the responsibility of making the draft in a haste to tackle this behemoth. But, where is the result. And it is crystal clear now that it was a hogwash,(eyewash rather) to pacify the unrest, as India has not witnessed any radical change in dealing with the culprits of corruption since independence. We have only seen their victory and adoration in the Parliament, in connivance with the carriers of Gandhi and Nehru legacy.
                               Supreme Court is trying to restore the faith in democratic system, amid brouhaha by the politicians, to some extent. India now needs a “Noah’s ark” to save it from the wrath of this monster-‘ the corruption’, as this single Goliath is hindering its way in becoming a world power-a force to reckon with. Will SC will act as the 'Noah'?- to rescue India-is a big question.  Persons convicted of various crimes has been bestowed with the responsibility of making the law to tackle corruption and graft-what an irony !. The breed of honest home-sapiens’ is on a decline and in grave danger of extinction- in this acclaimed torch-bearer country of human civilization, and it is of-course a burning issue. God knows, when Noah will be reincarnated, and India will rediscover its lost glory.

Burgeoning slaughterhouses

Twinkle Twinkle little star !—the toddlers are singing this rhyme in chorus . The atmosphere in the classroom is wonderfully pleasurable, and, its fun all around. A little noise coming through the window, is of no concern for these minors. Suddenly a sharp piercing cry of a goat being mowed down in a near by temporary shop starts coming in, as the shop has just started its business-and within a second the fun transforms into dread. All the kids are fearfully silent, until the goat-cry stops coming. They resume the rehearsing of the rhyme again, but, the ambience is different now-full of fear and sorrow. Few are weeping, few have tears rolling down their tender cheeks, and few are on the verge of crying. Their face clearly indicating the trauma they are in now. This is a case of a school located in Jamshedpur. There are several butcher houses, which have mushroomed in and around this school in Kadma, a suburb of Jamshedpur.

What impact these scenes and sounds are creating on the developing minds of the kids, can be read easily, by watching their faces, when they cross these butcher houses. Their walking and prancing suddenly changes to a quick run, to avoid the gruesome scene. The filth around the shop is a paradise for flies and stray dogs, and a curse for the passersby, the adjacent shop owners and for the dwellers. But, all are helpless, because this is India.

Jamshedpur boasts of having the first private Integrated Steel Plant in India. The pioneer of Indian industrialization and self-dependence- Mr. J.N.Tata had directed his son, Mr. R.D.Tata to make Jamshedpur, a well planned city, with broader roads, schools, markets, playgrounds, and parks. But the dream city, which still is on the top five cleanest cities of India list, has witnessed some radical change in the people’s perceptions and the haphazard growth of the localities. As the employment opportunities are becoming less, year by year, people are resorting to other means of livelihood. These butcher houses are then looking like festoons on the lovely portrait of the landscape of Jamshedpur.

Tata Steel and Tata Motors are still the heart and prime movers of this ‘steel’ city. Tata Steel carved out a new entity-‘Jusco’ for better amenities in the city. But the entity later spared its wings to other cities and areas, only to undermine the living standards of this city, as it seems now. For, this single issue makes mockery of the authorities(District administration, police, civil bodies etc), on whose shoulders the beauty and tidiness of this city depends, for other burning issues will certainly find their voices in my coming articles. I hope that in this internet-age, this article makes to the desks of the authorities concerned, anyhow.

The unpredictable tinderbox !

 Effective transmission of signals depends highly upon the presence of  'noise level' (undesired signals ) in the transmitting media, because they can interfere with the electronic message and  cause its ramifications, and distortions, and aberrations . Signal-to-noise ratio above the threshold value ensures the validity and clarity of a signal, if below, it is very difficult to decode the intended information and the receptor is left with nothing, but,' noise'. Ambiance  also plays an important role in wireless communication, as it can contribute enough  adulteration to diminish or distort the original message. The noise created by 'Namomania' is now interfering with every bit of information and giving enough fodder to eat and chew in India-specially to the ruling party leaders. And UPA is busy giving veil to all its Gates, Petro-price hike, falling rupee and the inflation under the notional spooky canopy  utterly ruled by a goblin namded 'NAMO', and an exaggeratedly contrived scheme, boasted as a game changer-'The food security bill'.

Although Narendra Modi has been anointed only as an election campaign chief , he is touted as the prime-minister in waiting, and giving sleepless nights to the ruling party mandarins, for they seem suffering from 'phasmophobia' to such an extent that even when he is uttering something on some petty matters, the piece of information when transmitted, is getting garbled, and are received by the opposition ears perverted, and prompting them to utter headless statements.

When shootout was sanctified to contain the burgeoning dominance of the D-company in Mumbai, it didn’t made ruckus or unrest, but only inspired the film-makers. Similar was the case in other congress ruled states. The Ishrat Jahan case then is being blown out of proportion only to contain the storm called Narendra Modi. No one is interested to know the truth behind the ghastly murder. And this case will also die its natural death once the elections are over. Enough have been written about the theorized wantonness and cosiness of the victim with the other three established terrorists and I do not wish to elongate it further.

But, the validity and credibility of one of the major wings of national security system is under doubt. One wing is convicting the other to make it the scapegoat of the whole fiasco. Isn’t it alarming for the security of a nation? Both CBI and IB are supposed to work in tandem for their effectiveness. The joint-director of IB mentioned in the inquest had a very clean image until this menace. But it seems now that the retiring Joint-Director will be barred from retiring; as a special permission is needed to prosecute a retired top-cop; only to annul his arrest and thus boosting the morale of the sleuths in IB as well as fondling with the minority sentiments and converting this into votes in its favor.

Whether Ishrat will get justice or is merely a poll plank, will be clear only after the elections. Eleven years is enough time to deliver justice to a victim, but the pace of justice in India is still a matter of concern. Fast track courts were made to convert the trot of justice to a gallop, but even this effort seems to do injustice with its nomenclature. As the government formation will largely depend upon the capability of any party to collude successfully to forge an unholy alliance thus producing yet another halfway-house, we are left cogitating over the signature silence of our premiere. Uncertainty over economy as well as social fields looms large. Then mourn the death of telegram silently and think about the repercussions of the recent petrol-price hike and communal tag removal from JMM after its divorce with BJP in Jharkhand. Because everything is temporal in politics and someone has rightly said that-‘politics is about survival first and repercussions later’.

Put Snowden under the snow then

         Tibet was a sovereign Buddhist country not long long ago- without proper army, intelligence wing or other facets of governance- and what happened to it, is not hidden to anyone. That America indulges in the espionage of its allies as well adversaries was not an invention-as claimed by Snowden- as it is an integral part of governance. 

                Hubbub on Snowden or Assange makes no sense when you notice the unfathomable expertise and resources USA puts in guarding its ocean of database; personal as well international. And what were the various firewalls(FBI, IB etc) of the data-warehouse doing , when Snowden was busy giving shape to his scheme in the highest-security zone?  A little cogitation on these questions may give a more clear picture to the readers about the case :-

Set-I
Why every country have Intelligence Bureau’s ?

What is the essence of IB’s and what are their prime responsibilities?

What information they wiretap and process ?

From which resources they receive the piece of information and process it-they call intelligence input ?

What is national security ?

Set-II

What is the need of diplomacy?

What it takes to be and sustain as a World Power ?
What is the work of FBI and IB's ?
Why there was no alarming system installed in case of the copying of data by any unauthorized  person ?
What preventive measures were taken after Assange menace ?

         A rightful person is supposed to abide by the declaration of allegiance and honesty to any biz-house before getting started. And it requires best of the behaviour of a person, when the work he/she is indulged in, is so much important that USA’s national security, credibility and diplomacy is at stake,then Snowden must have adhered to the guidelines of his work. And before joining the snooping agency, Snowden was fully aware of the nature of work he was supposed to do.

 Why the whistle-blower has not quit silently and within weeks after becoming au courant of the nature of work of the US agency?- is a big question(some will say that he was planning to leave-no was shaping his design like a perfectionist). He was there to do business and the countries and Snowden only knew about the deals.

The timing of the break out of Snowden imbroglio when America's quest for an explanation and curb on Chinese hacking syndicate was at crescendo; as the last month's America-China presidential summit was centered around it;  indicates that Chinese were aware of the American espionage more or less, and the vociferous demand of Obama got a befitting reply by this disclosure of America's thirst for informations(read eavesdropping).

Leaving out the nuances of this issue -points raised by his disclosures, and reasons of countries refusing him asylum- to the avid thinkers and pundits of the subject(Diplomacy and Security), in my opinion, Snowden has broken the business rules, and USA is absolutely right in blocking his asylum to any country. He must be brought to book and tried under the US law and the Snowden issue will swiftly go into snow then.

The rescuing act and the hope

                                  Scientists pronounce that, when ever there is a vacuum(the pressure dropping considerably below atmospheric pressure) on the earth’s surface, jostling air rush to fill the vacuum, taking everything falling in its way with it, and thus giving birth to a phenomena, called whirlwind. Earth has seen the horrific and ravaging savages of these hurricanes or tornadoes or twisters or cyclones on human lives apart from the flora and fauna. Its notoriety is well known and mostly feared till date. Some term it as the ‘Nature’s fury’.

The same void or vacuum or vacancy seem to have been created in Indian political arena, with the paralysis induced on Indian democracy by the demon called ‘Corruption’. And the government’s pathetic attitude and will, in containing this dreaded demon, has left the other pillar of the democracy to take guard promptly.

Let me remind you that the four pillars of democracy are:

• Legislature (e.g Parliament)
• Executive (e.g Government)
• Judiciary (e.g Supreme Court) and
• Journalism (e.g Newspapers, Internet Media)

Each wing has its predefined domains, work and responsibility to execute.

The journalism or media acts as a watchdog and incessantly woofs on scandals or similar things, to awake the general public. But the recent disclosure of sneaking of the ‘demon’ into this pillar of democracy(paid and sponsored news etc) has indented its image. The history reckons boastfully and proudly that the people like Madan Mohan Malviya(Hindustan Times), Rudyard Kipling(The Pioneer), Charles dickens, Gorge Orwell(BBC), Earnest Hemmingway(CNN) to name a few, have beautified this profession and there still are numerous people around the world doing their job candidly and earnestly, and we are thankful to them for keeping us abreast of any misdeed or failure of the other three pillars, apart from providing a plethora of articles for the readers, listeners and audiences to  rejoice.

                                         The recent revelations made by the media about the failures of Legislative and Executive wings of democracy, has left the masses brooding with frustration and the creation of uncertainties and chaos have added to their woos, thus creating the ‘vacuum’, leaving them with the solitary hope that the other pillar, The Judiciary, will step in, to safeguard their interests and the democracy as a whole, to which, the judiciary has responded at once and is in a process of becoming the fountainhead of the democracy. The recent reprimanding of the government on various issues by the judiciary must be seen as an act of rescuing, not a dominating or domineering act, as it has left the mandarins infuriated and they conceive it as an intrusion in their territory.

                               All kudos to the Media and Judiciary then, working in tandem, to rescue the largest democracy of the world. The recent verdicts on electoral reforms by the resolute Supreme Court has given hope that India is poised to witness a radical change in its existence and vicissitudes, and it must be taken in high esteem, as it will have the lasting effect on not only the current lot, but the generations to come, and they will proudly reckon that their ancestors were the part of insurgent India sans corruption. And these lines are inspirational in this context—“ वक़्त अच्छा भी आएगा अनवर,ग़म न कर, जिंदगी पड़ी है अभी”. Let's hope that this change will occur in our lifetime.

And India moves on

 

        The concept of ‘Republic’ finds its root in Bihar, as it was in Vaishali where the seeds of democracy were inseminated between 545-525 B.C. later Greek philosopher ‘Plato’ conceptualized its manifestation-‘Democracy’- in the 5^th century B.C.. He may have been ruing from the heaven or hell(or where ever he is), for promulgating this concept. As after 2500 years,its birthplace’s progress can be seen by watching the ruins of the first republic of the world, from where, the republic India has derived its emblem of lions at the top and horse and bull at the bottom, the Bull was supposed to be the symbol of hard-work and the Horse of speed and energy, the mighty Lions symbolizing courage and power. The Lions(the power mongers)  at the top and bull(hard-workers) at the bottom, have inspired more  than the horse whose lamely gait; not gallop; speaks the volume of India’s progress in 67 years after independence(they can roam safely in Delhi only) as the graft and corruption has hoed the roads beyond the capitals.

    The regime which enacted the healthy pro-democracy ‘Right to information’ Act, later realised its repercussions and indulged in hoaxing the people’s mandate it got for the second successive tenure. The disclosures of the various Gates; not the penstock of fluid mechanics, but the scandals; left the Indian masses sulking and bulking day by day, and India saw the re-birth of a emancipator of the wound of democracy; Anna Hazare, the incarnation of Lord Krishna in the second decade of the twenty first century. Supported by the fourth pillar of democracy, anna rode the wave, and at onetime it seemed that he will supersede the parliament, but thanks to the stronger roots and plinth of democracy in India that his attempt was promptly thwarted and later weakened by the dis-integration of its team. But, he did the awakening and elections after elections it went against the Congress, Karnataka being an exception.  

The spur in the corrective measures of the government is certainly for taming and nullifying the wave, once called Anna movement. Hence, the cause and effect of the Anna’s movement is now on the show, as the ‘Executives’ have paid heed to the demands of the octogenarian and his team, to cleanse the executive system of graft and corruption(…but smartly). The proposed appointment of CBI chief by the triumvirate was the first shot in the arm, and the disqualification of MP's and MLA's from the date of conviction the second, the former being the Executive's initiative and later, the Judiciary’s.

  Fear of another movement by the purist, or satiating the sentiments and concerns of the common masses excited by Anna, so that it does not adds to the incumbency factor, and ultimately to the government’s ouster would certainly have guided the gilded guild-the think tank-to at least give them reasons to save the face, before facing the electorates. The Supreme Court’s providence in getting the points raised by Mr.Anna Hazare materialized, is praiseworthy.

                                   Although it augurs well, to see these things occur in minor top-ups, but, the timing, and the reported differences among the members of the select committee on anti graft bill and ombudsman law is disappointing and incites suspicion. They are burning the mid-night oil to erase the memoirs of the masses of its misdeeds with a flurry of  mouth watering proposals. Meanwhile, as India is set to witness the great festival of democracy this year, I’m going to relax with- “sip-sip-sip,fill, and sip-sip-sip”, because someone has rightly said- ‘time is the greatest healer’.

Turpitude for fame and money

The latest song from Javani diwani “ Jo jins pehan ke tune mare thumke to lattu padosan ki bhabhi ho gayi, confirms the downward trend in Bollywood song-writing, so as the purists say. The Hindi cinema is now replete with similar songs.

            The paradigm-shift happened in 1990’s, as the previous endeavours were minuscule in fear of being branded the im-moralist.  Bollywood saw the birth and impregnation of vulgarity in Hindi cinema at a brisk pace. Madhuri Dixit shaking up her knockers and rumps lustily with Sanjay Dutt in  “Choli ke peeche kya hai” , made song becoming a rage in the 90’s that still lingers in the memories of that generation, as it aroused their obscure libidinal impulses . Several songs followed suit, and lyricists were here to make amends, in their writing, by infusing more and more vulgarity in their songs, and it confirmed that,the transition from the standard writing to popularist, was not fugacious, but here to stay.

The use of catchy words, rode easily on the masses lips and the producers made heavy profits in lieu of the songs becoming a hit, before the film release. Few melodious songs remained pouring in, to the likes of the older people like a fresh breeze.

           If the previous century witnessed the sentimental and thought provoking songs, which made the listeners more nostalgic than desirous to dance(it may have left their pelvis or other joints in a severe pain); then the twilight of the previous millennium, and the dawn of the new, saw  the penchant of younger people towards dance than nostalgia, and it justified their being young, being capable of burning more calories than the aging lot.

What is moral and immoral is the concept of the masses, and depends upon the situation prevailing in any time or country, and sometimes the rich and powerful define it according to their convenience. Polygamy was okeyed in the Moughal era and before and was popular even among Hindu Kings, and polyandry is alright in Tibet even now, where a single wife has had to be shared by many men, as the Pandavas did, because a single man  can’t afford a single women,  due to prevailing destitution there.

In which direction the lyricism is moving, may be under the purview of the censor board, not mine, as I am enjoying the latest song “Jo Jins pehan ke”, and “Lat lag gayi”,as the censor board is full of purists, who keep a close watch on each A-grade movies, and are accountable to the Information and Broadcasting ministry and the Indian government. Let them do their job, and us, our's.