While doing my journalism course in Mumbai at K.C.College, Churchgate in the early eighties, Mrs.Vakil, one of the faculty members who was in Indian express then, enquired about the favourite journalist of each one in the class. She was a bit bulky, fair and middle aged, a good looking woman.
She approached each one of us with her question of the day.
“Arun Shourie”- I told her without any second thought.
“Why?”
“I like his fluent and poignant style. His commitment to journalistic ethics. His extraordinary ability to hit the bull’s eye. And his in-depth investigations in many a political muddle and bring out the skeletons in the cup-board,”- I told her with pride.
Mrs. Vakil gave me a warm smile and moved towards the next chap sitting close to me.
Mr Arun Shourie was basking in the glory of an investigative journalist then. If my memory is correct, he was the Editor-in-Chief of Indian Express then. Added to it the blue-eyed boy of Ramnath Goenka, the courageous, fearless, dedicated and indomitable newspaper baron of all times.
Whenever I happened to see his articles while flipping through the pages - his articles were always lengthy-I was somewhat eager to read his articles with interest and also with the deserving seriousness. His style was gripping, fluent and as I had already told to Mrs.Vakil, poignant and with the innate capacity to arouse indignation and hatred towards the corrupt, inefficient and power-hungry politicians of India who amassed crores and crores of rupees and led a life of extravagance. He exposed each and every one of them with his acid pen. The infamous Cement scandal involving extortion of huge amount by Antulay was only one among many which he had dared to expose with his untiring efforts and dedication. Abdul Rehman Antulay was the chief minister of Maharashtra then and was ruling like a ‘sultan’. He had to bow out of power as a result of the sensational exposure of corruption in which he was involved by Mr.Shourie.
Mr.Antulay is holding the charge of Minister of Minority Affairs in the union cabinet under the UPA Government now.
Much water had flowed down the Ganges since then.
The man I once appreciated, applauded and felt proud about later joined politics, took membership in BJP- ‘The party with a difference’ -a new ‘avatar’ (incarnation) really and in the garb of a cabinet minister holding the charge of disinvestment portfolio, under the BJP rule of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The BJP ruled India the full term and got prepared to contest for the next term. ie. 2004-2009 with much fanfare and glory with the ‘India shining’ campaign. Through visual media as well as Print media ‘ The India shining ‘ slogan was propagated across the nation. The party’s confidence was at its peak and had already got ready to be enthroned once again at Indraprastha.
The party was squandering crores for propaganda, and distributed sarees to poor women and other such freebies to the down-trodden allegedly by violating the Model Code of Conduct slapped by the Election commission of India on Indian political parties and its leaders.
I was writing about Arun Shourie, the then minister for disinvestment. In the name of arranging the necessary amount for infrastructure development and social welfare, a disinvestment spree followed, without taking into account the protests of major political parties. They alleged the disinvestment spree would only help the business tycoons and the ultimate loser would be the common man, and they warned-off huge loss to the exchequer and their warning came true.
I held my breath and wondered about the strange times, I was confronted with. I do not want to cast aspersions on Mr.Shourie whom I held in high esteem once and his good intentions in the long run.
‘What followed since then is history now!”
The ‘fat cats’ piled up crores and the poor farmers and the poverty stricken, malnourished hapless citizens, found themselves in the lurch. Thousands found solace in death by committing suicide.
(Contrary to their over-confident complacency, it is heard that as the election days approached, those at the highest echelons of the party got the feed back from the intelligence agencies about the not so favourite opinion prevailing in the country as the leaders sensed defeat might be true.) NDA alliance under BJP, bit the dust at the hustings and UPA Government with the outside support of leftists found themselves in power!
The other day I happened to read a news report in the The New Indian Express (dated 26-02-2009) purported to have been made by Mr. Arun Shourie. His indignation was against ‘Slum dog Millionaire’ which bagged 8 Oscars at Hollywood. The film got huge applause and appreciation and was celebrated by Indians across the world, though it was directed by a foreigner. The film is based on the story of the people of Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum. Sixty two years have passed since our nation attained Independence and it came under the rule of various parties and alliances. Still the condition prevailing in Dharavi is the same, nauseating, pathetic even without basic sanitary facilities.
Dear Mr.Shourie, your party also held power with support of allies for about five years. Did you think about Dharavi and the worst conditions prevailing there at any moment during your tenure in the NDA government? While you were also a part of the Government and you could have prodded the responsible minister to do something about it? Now you are talking about a promise made by Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi while they visited Mumbai in 2005- a promise of Rs.1260 crore package for Mumbai’s development which remains a promise even now.
While your Government was in the saddle, you could have and you ought to have cared and extended a financial package to Mumbai particularly the hapless Dharavi people. Where were you then?
Now you are shivering with anger against the celebration of “filth of Dharavi” and for basking in the glory of that filth! What is the point in it? Instead of feeling ashamed of the poor image the film is supposed to have brought out before the world, please have the generosity to do something for the poor. It was most unbecoming of you to have cast aspersions on the film and its architects, as you once stood committed to journalistic ethics, principles and integrity.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
AN ABSURD AND MEANINGLESS LIFE
I reached Thiruvananthapuram at about 5.30 in the evening. Actually I proceeded from Perumbavoor at 10 in the morning. Really a tedious journey.
After getting down at Thampanoor bus-station I briskly walked to a nearby hotel and after washing my face in the wash-basin to get refreshed, I moved towards an empty seat. As it was very near to the bus-station and the crowd, traffic, the hustle and bustle increasing day by day, it was quite natural that the hotel was running a brisk business throughout. During my previous visits to the capital city also it was the same case.
After having a single tea and paying the bill I walked out and looked for an autorickshaw coming my way. Meanwhile the street-lights opened their eyes and within no time an empty auto came to my side and driver applied the brake. The auto-driver might have seen me from a distance and sensed my purpose.
A khaki-clad, young dark man with a trimmed moustache and a clean-shaven face- he had a baritone voice. I told him my destination and he immediately got alerted and drove the autorickshaw down the road to the place.
In normal times, ie. While I am not in a hurry and in a happy mood, it is my hobby to pass my glances to the both sides and enjoy sights- the crowd rushing to and fro and Thiruvananthapuram being endowed with numerous monuments built during the period of kings, it is a treat to watch the ancient monuments, the roadside-greenery and marvel at their beauty.
But on that day I was somewhat in a pensive mood, and being a bit late, I couldn’t enjoy the sights and didn’t feel like so. I simply shut my eyes and sat as if in meditation. I wanted to have a nap, but couldn’t. His picture was in my mind alongside memories connected with him and his deadly disease and helplessness in the old-age.
The auto-driver being a smart guy dropped me infront of the sanatorium without taking much time. I paid him the auto-charge and strode towards the world of pain, groaning, sneezing, medicines, emaciated or breathing skeletons bereft of flesh and blood.
The twilight Sun was about to go down in the West, the Sanatorium was bathed in beautiful golden rays, and soon darkness would slowly engulf the whole area.
From a distance I could recognize him. Under the red shadow of a gulmohar tree bearing beautiful and blooming red flowers in the shape of glowing red umbrella,( upon seeing those flowers I was pondering over the absurd and meaningless life) he was sitting alone on a bench casting his eyes to the outside world as if waiting for somebody to receive him. He was clad in his same old ‘kavi (saffron) mundu’ (dhoti)- breathing skeleton spending his last days with much pain and sadness.
“Valiyachaa” (step-father – my father’s elder one)- I called him and bowed down before him. As if from a dream he came out from his world of thoughts or memories (?) , saw me standing before him with folded-palms. My eyes were welling up and tears were about to run down my cheeks.
He cast a beaming smile on me and with his failing eyes glowed with joy hidden inside the sockets- that was how I felt- gestured me to sit beside him on the bench.
“Atleast once in a day, I think about you, my child. Whenever I thought about you I felt immense joy, pride, affection and at the same time I underwent deep mental agony, was hopefully awaiting your arrival. Anyhow your father, when he came to see me yesterday assured me that you would come today and promised me to send you- I just wanted to see you atleast for a moment. Now I am very happy. How is your life now ?- he beamed a smile at me.
“Going on Valiyacha”. I was at a loss to say anything more. A lump in my throat prevented me from telling more about my wife and children.
The patients were inside the Sanatorium lying in their cots. I could hear them coughing with much difficulty, their broken prayers, murmurings, groaning and even cries with excruciating pain. I noticed with shock some betel leaves, one or two pieces of tobacco, small pieces of arecanut, lime and a little knife on his right side on a piece of paper.
“Valiyacha, you have not yet stopped chewing tobacco? It is very harmful. Please don’t take it Valiyacha”- I was literally beseeching him with welling eyes.
“When it is too late, why should I stop it my child? Will there be any benefit by stopping it at this eleventh hour”?- he was asking me still with his beaming smile- I sat there spell-bound. I didn’t know what to tell him.
I saw him smiling to the darkness. He might have been thinking about the absurdity of his existence.
He picked up the whole item beside him and wrapped them in the paper and asked me to throw it away.
Without any hesitation I obeyed his words. “Child, it is very late now. Thick darkness. You have to catch the bus and return home. Before that, just hold my hand and guide me to the bed”. I obeyed him. In the lighted hall, I saw cots lying from one end to the other end, all packed to capacity with patients all around, I held his hand and guided him to his cot and took out an envelope stuffed with some currencies from my pocket and handed over to him. I saw his eyes brimming with tears and unable to bear the agony I turned my face away…
“You may go soon, You have to travel a long distance. With all my blessings to my child,….”- he couldn’t complete his words and without bidding farewell to him, I hurriedly went out and wept like a child, while walking to the road in front to catch an autorickshaw…
After getting down at Thampanoor bus-station I briskly walked to a nearby hotel and after washing my face in the wash-basin to get refreshed, I moved towards an empty seat. As it was very near to the bus-station and the crowd, traffic, the hustle and bustle increasing day by day, it was quite natural that the hotel was running a brisk business throughout. During my previous visits to the capital city also it was the same case.
After having a single tea and paying the bill I walked out and looked for an autorickshaw coming my way. Meanwhile the street-lights opened their eyes and within no time an empty auto came to my side and driver applied the brake. The auto-driver might have seen me from a distance and sensed my purpose.
A khaki-clad, young dark man with a trimmed moustache and a clean-shaven face- he had a baritone voice. I told him my destination and he immediately got alerted and drove the autorickshaw down the road to the place.
In normal times, ie. While I am not in a hurry and in a happy mood, it is my hobby to pass my glances to the both sides and enjoy sights- the crowd rushing to and fro and Thiruvananthapuram being endowed with numerous monuments built during the period of kings, it is a treat to watch the ancient monuments, the roadside-greenery and marvel at their beauty.
But on that day I was somewhat in a pensive mood, and being a bit late, I couldn’t enjoy the sights and didn’t feel like so. I simply shut my eyes and sat as if in meditation. I wanted to have a nap, but couldn’t. His picture was in my mind alongside memories connected with him and his deadly disease and helplessness in the old-age.
The auto-driver being a smart guy dropped me infront of the sanatorium without taking much time. I paid him the auto-charge and strode towards the world of pain, groaning, sneezing, medicines, emaciated or breathing skeletons bereft of flesh and blood.
The twilight Sun was about to go down in the West, the Sanatorium was bathed in beautiful golden rays, and soon darkness would slowly engulf the whole area.
From a distance I could recognize him. Under the red shadow of a gulmohar tree bearing beautiful and blooming red flowers in the shape of glowing red umbrella,( upon seeing those flowers I was pondering over the absurd and meaningless life) he was sitting alone on a bench casting his eyes to the outside world as if waiting for somebody to receive him. He was clad in his same old ‘kavi (saffron) mundu’ (dhoti)- breathing skeleton spending his last days with much pain and sadness.
“Valiyachaa” (step-father – my father’s elder one)- I called him and bowed down before him. As if from a dream he came out from his world of thoughts or memories (?) , saw me standing before him with folded-palms. My eyes were welling up and tears were about to run down my cheeks.
He cast a beaming smile on me and with his failing eyes glowed with joy hidden inside the sockets- that was how I felt- gestured me to sit beside him on the bench.
“Atleast once in a day, I think about you, my child. Whenever I thought about you I felt immense joy, pride, affection and at the same time I underwent deep mental agony, was hopefully awaiting your arrival. Anyhow your father, when he came to see me yesterday assured me that you would come today and promised me to send you- I just wanted to see you atleast for a moment. Now I am very happy. How is your life now ?- he beamed a smile at me.
“Going on Valiyacha”. I was at a loss to say anything more. A lump in my throat prevented me from telling more about my wife and children.
The patients were inside the Sanatorium lying in their cots. I could hear them coughing with much difficulty, their broken prayers, murmurings, groaning and even cries with excruciating pain. I noticed with shock some betel leaves, one or two pieces of tobacco, small pieces of arecanut, lime and a little knife on his right side on a piece of paper.
“Valiyacha, you have not yet stopped chewing tobacco? It is very harmful. Please don’t take it Valiyacha”- I was literally beseeching him with welling eyes.
“When it is too late, why should I stop it my child? Will there be any benefit by stopping it at this eleventh hour”?- he was asking me still with his beaming smile- I sat there spell-bound. I didn’t know what to tell him.
I saw him smiling to the darkness. He might have been thinking about the absurdity of his existence.
He picked up the whole item beside him and wrapped them in the paper and asked me to throw it away.
Without any hesitation I obeyed his words. “Child, it is very late now. Thick darkness. You have to catch the bus and return home. Before that, just hold my hand and guide me to the bed”. I obeyed him. In the lighted hall, I saw cots lying from one end to the other end, all packed to capacity with patients all around, I held his hand and guided him to his cot and took out an envelope stuffed with some currencies from my pocket and handed over to him. I saw his eyes brimming with tears and unable to bear the agony I turned my face away…
“You may go soon, You have to travel a long distance. With all my blessings to my child,….”- he couldn’t complete his words and without bidding farewell to him, I hurriedly went out and wept like a child, while walking to the road in front to catch an autorickshaw…
Sunday, February 22, 2009
MARX IN INDIA FOR A “CORDIAL VISIT” TO THE COMMUNIST PARTY LEADERS
Once in a year Keralites across the Globe on Thiruvonam day (Thiruvonam is a Malayalam Zodiac sign) celebrate Thiruvonam festival in memory of the famous Asura king (Asuras are believed to be evil minded, Suras are their just opposite, i.e they are believed to be Gods with the aim of warding off evils and its perpetrators, the so called Asuras and make the earth a heaven) King Mahabali, a benevolent dictator. While he ruled over Kerala, Kerala was shining with prosperity and happiness and the king was very fond of his subjects. The subjects even went to the extent of worshipping him. Equality prevailed everywhere, corruption was not even heard of, all sorts of lies and deceits were absent. In short, a heaven.
The Gods, who were supposed to be the leaders of entire world, got jealous of the Asura king and out of fear or panic on the phenomenal popularity of the Asura king, who was set to conquer the entire world, met and decided to remove him from the throne.
After many a deliberation, God Vishnu took the shape of Vamana (dwarf) and in the guise of a little Brahmin boy, approached the Asura king and requested him to have mercy on him and handover three foot of land which the philanthropic king found a trivial thing and taking pity on Vamana (The dwarf), allowed wherever Vamana desired take three foot of earth. The king had a sterling quality of keeping words.
With each step the Vamana got taller and even touched the sky. Within two steps he conquered two worlds (according to the mythology prevailed at that time only three worlds existed) and there was no space for him to take another step. The king who was always determined to keep his word, sensed the treachery of Devas, and Vamana revealed himself in the form of Mahavishnu.
The king bowed politely, with devotion requested Vishnu, to take his next step by placing his foot on his head and accordingly Vishnu took the another step by placing his foot on his head and before departing from earth to Pathala (the nether world), the king humbly requested God Vishnu to make it possible for him to visit his beloved subjects on Thiruvonam day each year to visit his subjects and inquire about the welfare of all by visiting each house. God Vishnu granted his request and thus accordingly to Mythology Mahabali the Asura king, visits his prajas (subjects) once in a year on the Thiruvonam day for enquiring about the welfare of his subjects.
The festival is celebrated with pomp and pageantry once in a year by Keralaites across the World, even by pawning their Gold ornaments who don’t have the wherewithal to celebrate Thriuvonam.
As far as the Modern thinkers are concerned, the month of Chingam (in Malayalam) is a harvesting season for Keralites and to celebrate the happy occasion, somebody of yore discovered a myth- the Asura king and his philanthropic attitude and his determination to maintain equality among all and a corruption-free society…
We are familiar with the mythological story of Mahabali, the Asura king but have not heard about the great lover of equality to humanity of yester years- Karl Marx, the proponent of Marxism making an appearance in the World.
This is an imaginary account of Marx’s visit to India one day to inquire about the present state of our society and the party.. The unfortunate truth about the umpteen splits happened in the party and the existence of several communist parties in our land was seemingly not known to him.
With his grayish beard and moustache, lush hair on his head dressed in his usual dress, black pants, shirt and thick overcoats , smoking a cigar he first made his appearance, either knowingly or unknowingly at A.K.G Bhavan at New Delhi. The bust of comrade-A.K.G resting outside might have silently communicated to him the message. Hope, you have heard about silent communication?
With the cigar on his lips he authoritatively entered and found a handsome man in his prime seat wearing a half-sleeved white shirt and a black pants. He was all in smiles, his grey hair combed beautifully. Another man, curly head and grey-haired with a cigar in his lips and also blowing out smoke through his nostrils and mouth was also a handsome guy with a mischievous smile in his lips. While talking to his comrade, he was scribbling something. Marx saw his framed photo on the wall along with some other legendary leaders. It was the morning time. Peoples’ Democracy and ‘Left Word’ were found lying scattered. A typical communist party office.
“Good Morning Comrades. I am your beloved comrade Marx. Karl Marx. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, Engels could not accompany me. Happens sometimes.”- Marx took a deep puff and without seeking their permission sat on a chair just opposite to them placed close to wall.
“ You are Mr.Marx! Very-very Good Morning.” The handsome man with his bewitching smile extended a warm welcome to Marx. The other man followed and again got immersed in his duty.
It was really a shock to Marx. He didn’t expect a ‘Mr’ addressing from them. He always preferred to be called a comrade. “Changes, changes and changes.”- Marx told himself in a whispering tone. While in their duty, occasionally they were watching television and passing some comments.
“What is it?” Marx pointed out his finger at the TV channel.
“ It is called Television, Mr. Marx. Update news always available. 24 X 7, We should say like that. Science and technology development is phenomenal, Mr.Marx! Phenomenal…” You had already wrote about the ceaseless changes taking place like a flowing river. This is the era of knowledge revolution….. We appreciate you very much Mr.Marx and we are proud of you. Really.Really. The man with curly head looked at comrade Marx appreciatively.
“What about the plight of the toiling masses of India? Finally you have seized the throne at New Delhi? Organized struggles of Proletariat and farmers are taking place, even now?” – Marx queried.
They burst in to laughter. Marx sat there with an embarrassed face. Simultaneously lighted another cigar and took a deep puff. With his left hand, he caressed his beard and also his lush hairy head.
“Mr. Marx, nowadays Proletariat revolution is not at all discussed and debated anywhere in the world. Dictatorship of the Proletariat is a thing of the past. Times have changed a lot, a lot Mr.Marx. On the question of capturing the power at the centre we are not much enthusiastic. We want to be King-Makers. Helping some other party leaders to be enthroned and once in a while arm-twisting them, to implement our various demands. A revolution, particularly an armed revolution- even that concept has become out-dated for us. Changes Mr.Marx, Changes……….You have not heard about such things in your world? Pity, Pity, really Pity Mr. Marx.”
The handsome guy about to cross into old age, looked at Comrade Marx with a question mark on his face. The first time Marx was watching him sitting with a serious face.
“From what I have heard so far, I fear the relevance of my ideology is coming down!”- Marx was also in a serious mood.
“Please do not interpret our words in such a way. Every philosophy undergoes evolution in the course of time. Such evolutions have taken place among the communist parties across the world. These evolutions are in line with your philosophy, Mr.Marx. Changes, changes all the way. The Ultimate truth. Dictatorship of the Proletariat ,armed revolution by consolidating masses, it has even turned to be unimaginable, new-recruitments on contract basis, outsourcing of jobs, your dream of withering away of states getting to be impractical at present, sometimes after turning full circle, the history may repeat itself, not sure, actually we are not sure of anything nowadays, that is the sad truth, Mr.Marx”. The curly headed man was in a confused mood. His chain smoking might be the result of this confusion.
“You are in agreement with outsourcing of jobs?”- Marx went inquisitive.
“We have our reservations, Mr.Marx. But we are forced to live with it….Sad truth.. Really. Changes and changes, Mr.Marx. In a world of knowledge revolution, we have set aside dogmas.”- The leader was again in a pensive mood. Helplessness is the most apt word. Marx felt.
“What about your state of Kearla? Everything fine.?”- Marx was actually frowning. Both of the leaders looked at each other embarrassingly.
“ In Kerala, everything is fine. Party is totally united. The people are living in harmony Party has implemented certain innovations like Party channels, Amusement parks, Five-star hotels and the party leaders are always on the move to implement more and more innovations to bring cheers in the face of common man”- The leader was in an exciting mood.
Lighting another cigar, Marx took frequent puffs, sat pensively for a long time. What was he pondering over? Who knows? No mind reading machines yet…”
“Okay then. Comrades, let us hire a taxi and take a drive down the road to have a glimpse of your capital city and if possible a long journey to the villages of nearby states like UP, Uttarkhand, Haryana and a few states. I would be very much obliged to you, if you could spare this day for a long journey through rural India for an on the spot study of situation prevailing there”………-A long pause. Marx was anxiously waiting for a response……A positive response…..
“Sorry Mr. Marx. By the by, you know, the general elections are round the corner! We are contesting in eighty seats. Moreover, today a PB meeting is scheduled in a shortwhile from now and the leaders from other states are about to reach here one by one. The seats to be contested, who has to contest from each seat, the strategies to be adopted in the light of present political equations, and some international matters. Yes Mr.Marx, a tedious schedule. If you could come to grip with our predicament, we would be obliged to you ever……
The curly headed man got up from his seat, heaved a sigh, intermittent coughs followed, might be due to his chain smoking and threw his hands in the air.
Marx could understand his impatience. He was watching the man with a sense of humour.
“Okay comrades. I am not going to disturb you. I find it incredible that out of 540 parliamentary seats, you are contesting only in eighty seats. This in 2009, no? Even if you contest all the seats, suppose, by some miracle, you get a majority in the house and thus capture power, the nations’ plight will be the same.”
“Don’t think it is too late, have an introspection and take necessary steps if your party as well as your comrade parties, I know the movement has turned to a hotch-potch combination of splinter parties without any ideological bondage, fighting out in the streets. See you later, comrades…..”
Marx got up with the cigar in his lips with a serious face, got out of the AKG bhavan, the central office of the Party, and melted in the faceless crowd.
While reaching in front of the bust of A.K.G, he could hear both of them bursting out into laughter………
Changes, changes and changes…………..
The Gods, who were supposed to be the leaders of entire world, got jealous of the Asura king and out of fear or panic on the phenomenal popularity of the Asura king, who was set to conquer the entire world, met and decided to remove him from the throne.
After many a deliberation, God Vishnu took the shape of Vamana (dwarf) and in the guise of a little Brahmin boy, approached the Asura king and requested him to have mercy on him and handover three foot of land which the philanthropic king found a trivial thing and taking pity on Vamana (The dwarf), allowed wherever Vamana desired take three foot of earth. The king had a sterling quality of keeping words.
With each step the Vamana got taller and even touched the sky. Within two steps he conquered two worlds (according to the mythology prevailed at that time only three worlds existed) and there was no space for him to take another step. The king who was always determined to keep his word, sensed the treachery of Devas, and Vamana revealed himself in the form of Mahavishnu.
The king bowed politely, with devotion requested Vishnu, to take his next step by placing his foot on his head and accordingly Vishnu took the another step by placing his foot on his head and before departing from earth to Pathala (the nether world), the king humbly requested God Vishnu to make it possible for him to visit his beloved subjects on Thiruvonam day each year to visit his subjects and inquire about the welfare of all by visiting each house. God Vishnu granted his request and thus accordingly to Mythology Mahabali the Asura king, visits his prajas (subjects) once in a year on the Thiruvonam day for enquiring about the welfare of his subjects.
The festival is celebrated with pomp and pageantry once in a year by Keralaites across the World, even by pawning their Gold ornaments who don’t have the wherewithal to celebrate Thriuvonam.
As far as the Modern thinkers are concerned, the month of Chingam (in Malayalam) is a harvesting season for Keralites and to celebrate the happy occasion, somebody of yore discovered a myth- the Asura king and his philanthropic attitude and his determination to maintain equality among all and a corruption-free society…
We are familiar with the mythological story of Mahabali, the Asura king but have not heard about the great lover of equality to humanity of yester years- Karl Marx, the proponent of Marxism making an appearance in the World.
This is an imaginary account of Marx’s visit to India one day to inquire about the present state of our society and the party.. The unfortunate truth about the umpteen splits happened in the party and the existence of several communist parties in our land was seemingly not known to him.
With his grayish beard and moustache, lush hair on his head dressed in his usual dress, black pants, shirt and thick overcoats , smoking a cigar he first made his appearance, either knowingly or unknowingly at A.K.G Bhavan at New Delhi. The bust of comrade-A.K.G resting outside might have silently communicated to him the message. Hope, you have heard about silent communication?
With the cigar on his lips he authoritatively entered and found a handsome man in his prime seat wearing a half-sleeved white shirt and a black pants. He was all in smiles, his grey hair combed beautifully. Another man, curly head and grey-haired with a cigar in his lips and also blowing out smoke through his nostrils and mouth was also a handsome guy with a mischievous smile in his lips. While talking to his comrade, he was scribbling something. Marx saw his framed photo on the wall along with some other legendary leaders. It was the morning time. Peoples’ Democracy and ‘Left Word’ were found lying scattered. A typical communist party office.
“Good Morning Comrades. I am your beloved comrade Marx. Karl Marx. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, Engels could not accompany me. Happens sometimes.”- Marx took a deep puff and without seeking their permission sat on a chair just opposite to them placed close to wall.
“ You are Mr.Marx! Very-very Good Morning.” The handsome man with his bewitching smile extended a warm welcome to Marx. The other man followed and again got immersed in his duty.
It was really a shock to Marx. He didn’t expect a ‘Mr’ addressing from them. He always preferred to be called a comrade. “Changes, changes and changes.”- Marx told himself in a whispering tone. While in their duty, occasionally they were watching television and passing some comments.
“What is it?” Marx pointed out his finger at the TV channel.
“ It is called Television, Mr. Marx. Update news always available. 24 X 7, We should say like that. Science and technology development is phenomenal, Mr.Marx! Phenomenal…” You had already wrote about the ceaseless changes taking place like a flowing river. This is the era of knowledge revolution….. We appreciate you very much Mr.Marx and we are proud of you. Really.Really. The man with curly head looked at comrade Marx appreciatively.
“What about the plight of the toiling masses of India? Finally you have seized the throne at New Delhi? Organized struggles of Proletariat and farmers are taking place, even now?” – Marx queried.
They burst in to laughter. Marx sat there with an embarrassed face. Simultaneously lighted another cigar and took a deep puff. With his left hand, he caressed his beard and also his lush hairy head.
“Mr. Marx, nowadays Proletariat revolution is not at all discussed and debated anywhere in the world. Dictatorship of the Proletariat is a thing of the past. Times have changed a lot, a lot Mr.Marx. On the question of capturing the power at the centre we are not much enthusiastic. We want to be King-Makers. Helping some other party leaders to be enthroned and once in a while arm-twisting them, to implement our various demands. A revolution, particularly an armed revolution- even that concept has become out-dated for us. Changes Mr.Marx, Changes……….You have not heard about such things in your world? Pity, Pity, really Pity Mr. Marx.”
The handsome guy about to cross into old age, looked at Comrade Marx with a question mark on his face. The first time Marx was watching him sitting with a serious face.
“From what I have heard so far, I fear the relevance of my ideology is coming down!”- Marx was also in a serious mood.
“Please do not interpret our words in such a way. Every philosophy undergoes evolution in the course of time. Such evolutions have taken place among the communist parties across the world. These evolutions are in line with your philosophy, Mr.Marx. Changes, changes all the way. The Ultimate truth. Dictatorship of the Proletariat ,armed revolution by consolidating masses, it has even turned to be unimaginable, new-recruitments on contract basis, outsourcing of jobs, your dream of withering away of states getting to be impractical at present, sometimes after turning full circle, the history may repeat itself, not sure, actually we are not sure of anything nowadays, that is the sad truth, Mr.Marx”. The curly headed man was in a confused mood. His chain smoking might be the result of this confusion.
“You are in agreement with outsourcing of jobs?”- Marx went inquisitive.
“We have our reservations, Mr.Marx. But we are forced to live with it….Sad truth.. Really. Changes and changes, Mr.Marx. In a world of knowledge revolution, we have set aside dogmas.”- The leader was again in a pensive mood. Helplessness is the most apt word. Marx felt.
“What about your state of Kearla? Everything fine.?”- Marx was actually frowning. Both of the leaders looked at each other embarrassingly.
“ In Kerala, everything is fine. Party is totally united. The people are living in harmony Party has implemented certain innovations like Party channels, Amusement parks, Five-star hotels and the party leaders are always on the move to implement more and more innovations to bring cheers in the face of common man”- The leader was in an exciting mood.
Lighting another cigar, Marx took frequent puffs, sat pensively for a long time. What was he pondering over? Who knows? No mind reading machines yet…”
“Okay then. Comrades, let us hire a taxi and take a drive down the road to have a glimpse of your capital city and if possible a long journey to the villages of nearby states like UP, Uttarkhand, Haryana and a few states. I would be very much obliged to you, if you could spare this day for a long journey through rural India for an on the spot study of situation prevailing there”………-A long pause. Marx was anxiously waiting for a response……A positive response…..
“Sorry Mr. Marx. By the by, you know, the general elections are round the corner! We are contesting in eighty seats. Moreover, today a PB meeting is scheduled in a shortwhile from now and the leaders from other states are about to reach here one by one. The seats to be contested, who has to contest from each seat, the strategies to be adopted in the light of present political equations, and some international matters. Yes Mr.Marx, a tedious schedule. If you could come to grip with our predicament, we would be obliged to you ever……
The curly headed man got up from his seat, heaved a sigh, intermittent coughs followed, might be due to his chain smoking and threw his hands in the air.
Marx could understand his impatience. He was watching the man with a sense of humour.
“Okay comrades. I am not going to disturb you. I find it incredible that out of 540 parliamentary seats, you are contesting only in eighty seats. This in 2009, no? Even if you contest all the seats, suppose, by some miracle, you get a majority in the house and thus capture power, the nations’ plight will be the same.”
“Don’t think it is too late, have an introspection and take necessary steps if your party as well as your comrade parties, I know the movement has turned to a hotch-potch combination of splinter parties without any ideological bondage, fighting out in the streets. See you later, comrades…..”
Marx got up with the cigar in his lips with a serious face, got out of the AKG bhavan, the central office of the Party, and melted in the faceless crowd.
While reaching in front of the bust of A.K.G, he could hear both of them bursting out into laughter………
Changes, changes and changes…………..
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
STRANGE ARE THE WAYS OF THE WORLD
Businessmen, most often keep smiles of love, warmth, affection and sincerity. We feel their service-mindedness and the inviting smiles always attractive. You might have heard about the “business-mindedness” of most business persons in our villages, towns and cities and might have witnessed or experienced it also. Appreciative smiles and opinions are expected from most of the customers whenever you get in contact with other customers. You might feel elated on hearing such sweet words from your friends or relatives.
I was a bank-employee for about thirty years, when a VRS scheme was introduced by the management, I was one among hundreds of employees and seize the opportunity to bid a warm farewell to the institution which provided the livelihood for a long period. I didn’t want to be hypocrite anymore, actually I was fed up with wearing a mask of politeness, promises, delight, a lukewarm attitude and even rude behaviour sometimes to the customers depending upon the status of those coming to me.
All the employees from top to bottom- manger to peon- Chairman to other higher authorities- always tried to keep beaming smiles often forgetting our personal problems, provided service to those approaching us. It was and still is the norm. The Chairman through his frequent circulars reminded us all about “customer delight” and satisfaction, “customer is the king” attitude often preached by Mahatma Gandhi, and the often quoted words of business persons “ customer is always right”- attitude. Through his circulars he didn’t forget to warn the employees to follow his valuable advices or face necessary and severe actions like issuance of memos seeking explanations, suspension and even termination. The gentleman on some occasions exhorted us the magic of thinking big and inspired us always to work hard, learn hard and reach the top-ladder at the youthful age itself. I used to recall the book- “The Magic of Thinking Big” written by the great positive thinker and writer of our times David Schwartz. Books related to positive thinking have a huge market today and hence Dale Carnegie (he committed suicide later in his life is another wonderful fact), Robin Sharma (author of “The Monk Who Sold His Safari”), Stephen Covey(author of “Seven Good Habits”) , the world famous writer Paulo Coelho (the author of “Alchemist”, a really positive one and another one by him “Eleven Minutes” discovered by me “quite positive”!) and such writers. Inspite of all these the business as well as the moral atmosphere are in chaos in contemporary times…so what? Think positive…
Hope, I haven’t bored you to death.
While working in the bank, the authorities went to the extent of providing us with financial bonanza like exgratia amounting to thousands once in a year appreciating our service mentality and hardwork thus helping the bank to scale new heights. Similarly amounts involving large amounts- two or three lakhs- even though with high interest rates as personal loans, festival loans ( interest free!) and such other facilities.
Whenever we got lumpsum amounts, we used to go on a shopping spree to purchase jewels, clothes and other valuable electronic items. The next day ‘back to square one’ is another thing.
In my case, along with my family, we used to go to the jewellery to purchase some gold ornaments for my daughter and wife, valuable clothes and other items demanded by my son. Rare moments of luxury. An extravaganza in our case. You know, I am not an Ambani, Lakshmi Mittal, Bill Gates or Warren Buffet. Whenever we went to purchase the ornaments to my daughter and wife- we always made the purchases at the same jewellery from the very beginning- the young owner at the counter always gave us warm smiles and after we reveal our intention to purchase some ornaments, he would get delighted and would direct others behind the long glass boxes with glittering gold ornaments arranged in a beautiful and attractive way to provide us a good service. Really an affable, caring and loving smart young guy!
“Young men should be like him” - we used to comment.
After making all that we wanted for the moment (the amount in my pocket was the limit), they put each type of ornament in beautiful little attractive box and packed them in a costly bag along with a nice purse and would pass it to us. All in smiles, the young owner never forgot to give me a warm shake-hand with a beaming smile and gave us a good farewell with inviting eyes. Wow! What a great service!
But the life of people are not always a smooth journey through the plains filled with grass-carpet lined with colourful flowers on both sides with the beetles flying around them to enjoy the sweet nectar. Sometimes they have to tread a long path filled with thorns, gutters and “hump-like” hurdles. Those born with gold-spoon (or silver spoon) in their mouth are exceptional cases…
Once, due to acute emergency, I was badly in need of some money and was aware that by pledging the ornament at the bank, I wouldn’t get sufficient amount, I decided to sell the ornament to our beloved familiar jewellery. The other ornaments we had were already under pledge that also for an emergency case. Life is like that baba!
With my usual smile, I walked to my familiar jewellery, thank God, the young, charming and familiar owner was there and on seeing me, he extended his warm smile towards me. I heaved a sigh of relief.
“This time, I have not come for not making a purchase. I want to sell a bangle. Badly in need of some money. An unforeseen emergency.”
I was blushing actually.
The warm smile on his face vanished somewhere and with a grim face called an young man behind the long glass box and directed him to verify the quality, quantity and the eligible amount to be handed over to me after deducting their charges. The young man, who was also familiar to me, turned to be serious and strange.
Flabbergasted is the apt word! An incident never, never expected by me even in my wildest dreams.
After completing all the procedure, he gave me a smile and ordered me to pass it to the owner guy who was still in his serious and strange mood.
I blushed once more.
Meanwhile a man and his daughter-from their appearance I could make out they were from a low middle-class family- stood near me waiting for the jewellery purchased by the father for his daughter ( might be dowry for his daughter’s marriage purchased with his hard-earned money for years of hard labour or borrowed from somebody). The bag containing the ornaments handed over to him after making the bill-payment, the smart young owner was all smiles to them and extended a warm shake-hand to the man. Man and daughter got delighted and they bid farewell with polite smiles and with a ‘Namasthe’( an Indian way of expressing respect by holding together both palms placed close to the chest).
The young guy’s smile again vanished and I was made to wait for the amount for another ten minutes. Then he took out the notes,carefully counted and handed it over to me.
With a polite thanks, I left the jewellery thinking about the ways of the world.
He didn’t care to return even a single smile atleast for a single second.
Is he business-minded?
You may decide, please…
I was a bank-employee for about thirty years, when a VRS scheme was introduced by the management, I was one among hundreds of employees and seize the opportunity to bid a warm farewell to the institution which provided the livelihood for a long period. I didn’t want to be hypocrite anymore, actually I was fed up with wearing a mask of politeness, promises, delight, a lukewarm attitude and even rude behaviour sometimes to the customers depending upon the status of those coming to me.
All the employees from top to bottom- manger to peon- Chairman to other higher authorities- always tried to keep beaming smiles often forgetting our personal problems, provided service to those approaching us. It was and still is the norm. The Chairman through his frequent circulars reminded us all about “customer delight” and satisfaction, “customer is the king” attitude often preached by Mahatma Gandhi, and the often quoted words of business persons “ customer is always right”- attitude. Through his circulars he didn’t forget to warn the employees to follow his valuable advices or face necessary and severe actions like issuance of memos seeking explanations, suspension and even termination. The gentleman on some occasions exhorted us the magic of thinking big and inspired us always to work hard, learn hard and reach the top-ladder at the youthful age itself. I used to recall the book- “The Magic of Thinking Big” written by the great positive thinker and writer of our times David Schwartz. Books related to positive thinking have a huge market today and hence Dale Carnegie (he committed suicide later in his life is another wonderful fact), Robin Sharma (author of “The Monk Who Sold His Safari”), Stephen Covey(author of “Seven Good Habits”) , the world famous writer Paulo Coelho (the author of “Alchemist”, a really positive one and another one by him “Eleven Minutes” discovered by me “quite positive”!) and such writers. Inspite of all these the business as well as the moral atmosphere are in chaos in contemporary times…so what? Think positive…
Hope, I haven’t bored you to death.
While working in the bank, the authorities went to the extent of providing us with financial bonanza like exgratia amounting to thousands once in a year appreciating our service mentality and hardwork thus helping the bank to scale new heights. Similarly amounts involving large amounts- two or three lakhs- even though with high interest rates as personal loans, festival loans ( interest free!) and such other facilities.
Whenever we got lumpsum amounts, we used to go on a shopping spree to purchase jewels, clothes and other valuable electronic items. The next day ‘back to square one’ is another thing.
In my case, along with my family, we used to go to the jewellery to purchase some gold ornaments for my daughter and wife, valuable clothes and other items demanded by my son. Rare moments of luxury. An extravaganza in our case. You know, I am not an Ambani, Lakshmi Mittal, Bill Gates or Warren Buffet. Whenever we went to purchase the ornaments to my daughter and wife- we always made the purchases at the same jewellery from the very beginning- the young owner at the counter always gave us warm smiles and after we reveal our intention to purchase some ornaments, he would get delighted and would direct others behind the long glass boxes with glittering gold ornaments arranged in a beautiful and attractive way to provide us a good service. Really an affable, caring and loving smart young guy!
“Young men should be like him” - we used to comment.
After making all that we wanted for the moment (the amount in my pocket was the limit), they put each type of ornament in beautiful little attractive box and packed them in a costly bag along with a nice purse and would pass it to us. All in smiles, the young owner never forgot to give me a warm shake-hand with a beaming smile and gave us a good farewell with inviting eyes. Wow! What a great service!
But the life of people are not always a smooth journey through the plains filled with grass-carpet lined with colourful flowers on both sides with the beetles flying around them to enjoy the sweet nectar. Sometimes they have to tread a long path filled with thorns, gutters and “hump-like” hurdles. Those born with gold-spoon (or silver spoon) in their mouth are exceptional cases…
Once, due to acute emergency, I was badly in need of some money and was aware that by pledging the ornament at the bank, I wouldn’t get sufficient amount, I decided to sell the ornament to our beloved familiar jewellery. The other ornaments we had were already under pledge that also for an emergency case. Life is like that baba!
With my usual smile, I walked to my familiar jewellery, thank God, the young, charming and familiar owner was there and on seeing me, he extended his warm smile towards me. I heaved a sigh of relief.
“This time, I have not come for not making a purchase. I want to sell a bangle. Badly in need of some money. An unforeseen emergency.”
I was blushing actually.
The warm smile on his face vanished somewhere and with a grim face called an young man behind the long glass box and directed him to verify the quality, quantity and the eligible amount to be handed over to me after deducting their charges. The young man, who was also familiar to me, turned to be serious and strange.
Flabbergasted is the apt word! An incident never, never expected by me even in my wildest dreams.
After completing all the procedure, he gave me a smile and ordered me to pass it to the owner guy who was still in his serious and strange mood.
I blushed once more.
Meanwhile a man and his daughter-from their appearance I could make out they were from a low middle-class family- stood near me waiting for the jewellery purchased by the father for his daughter ( might be dowry for his daughter’s marriage purchased with his hard-earned money for years of hard labour or borrowed from somebody). The bag containing the ornaments handed over to him after making the bill-payment, the smart young owner was all smiles to them and extended a warm shake-hand to the man. Man and daughter got delighted and they bid farewell with polite smiles and with a ‘Namasthe’( an Indian way of expressing respect by holding together both palms placed close to the chest).
The young guy’s smile again vanished and I was made to wait for the amount for another ten minutes. Then he took out the notes,carefully counted and handed it over to me.
With a polite thanks, I left the jewellery thinking about the ways of the world.
He didn’t care to return even a single smile atleast for a single second.
Is he business-minded?
You may decide, please…
Sunday, February 15, 2009
THE MUMBAI CARNAGE AND THE PAKISTANI CLIMBDOWN
Nowadays, a peace-loving nation among the comity of nations, unfortunately, is very rare. But it is always the hawkish rulers and a minority of anti-social elements, ‘TERRORISTS’ in the international parlance are always the trouble makers. Insurgents, pirates, thugs, religious fanatics- in short the violent and destructive tendencies of these elements- all come in the category of terrorists.
---In this early half of the 21st century, the number of countries cherishing territorial ambitions are abnormally increasing. Be it China, Pakistan, Israel, Russia, Ethiopia, Sudan, -African nations are in the forefront of the list- genocide, poverty, malnutrition, innocent civilians fleeing their homes owing to frequent fighting among the ethnic groups, for example, Darfur in Sudan, Somalia- the Horn of Africa, the two ethnic groups of Rwanda and recently even in the developed countries like Britain, France, Germany, Russia, Italy, and USA on account of the unprecedented financial-meltdown resulting in recession, and its repercussions like unemployment among the educated youth, massive retrenchment due to the losses suffered by world famous companies ,banks and other institutions owned by business tycoons- those who have lost their jobs are running in millions, lack of health-care, poverty – ‘the sons of the soil policy’ is gaining momentum( even in a developing nation like India). After the unexpected plummeting of oil prices ,the oil-rich Gulf countries are sacking employees of countries like India, Pakistan and many other East-Asian and South-East Asian countries and deporting them. This ruthless massive retrenchment has inflicted a trauma among the returned employees and their respective countries are forced to carry the additional burden once considered assets of our nation, the deported employees have turned into liabilities. A pathetic situation indeed.
Sorry for the digression.
Let us come to the heart of the matter. India is always considered to be a peace-loving country. Aberrations are there due to the inefficiency and apathy of our rulers, the peace-loving nature of the country is always applauded by other nations across the Globe. If our rulers and bureaucrats were more vigilant and careful frequent terrorist attacks across various parts of our nation causing large-scale violent deaths and destruction of properties could have been avoided. Recall the 9/11. After that explosive terrorist attack , USA took all the precautions to prevent such a dastardly attack again by empowering the Intelligence agencies, beefing up security avoiding the over-confident complacency, thus eliminating the possibility of further attacks. Even then the arrogant attitude of ‘World Police’ has not been shed.
Even now, the people across our nation are pulling on with their daily routine always fearing a terrorist attack anywhere and hence a fear-psychosis is always in the air. It is a tragic truth that, our citizens have least confidence in the sense of responsibility and efficiency of our rulers. Imagine the plight of a nation renowned for its peace-loving nature!
The recent carnage perpetrated by LET (Lashkar-E-Taiba) militants in the financial capital of Mumbai and the subsequent responses by our leaders are worth thinking about. The leaders could immediately ascertain the militant organization which committed such a massacre and destruction of famous landmarks and the epicenter of the terrorist organization. It was meticulously planned and executed by the LET elements with the connivance of intelligence agencies of that nation. Pakistan was and still is a thorn in the flesh of India, and will continue to be so, whoever is in the saddle.
After India pointed an accusing finger at Pakistan, the rulers, military and even the Pakistani civilians raised a hue and cry against India and the hullabaloo shook the whole World. The spectre of a war with India was feared by peace-loving nations as that nation within no time deployed their Jawans along the LOC ready to confront an “attack from the Indian side”. Their fear is largely due to the possession of nuclear weapons in the arsenals of both countries. The Pak rulers were playing innocence. Simultaneously they were hiding from the World the secret of their connivance and encouragement to the dreaded organization- LET –to commit the carnage in our financial capital. It is pertinent to note here that even while Retd Gen.Musharaff was ruling that nation, LET was the blue-eyed organization of ISI and the military. Hence, LET leaders were aware of the fact that, in the event of a ban and the arrest of militants, they would remain untouched.
The help provided by FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) to India in tracing out the origin and the identity of the culprits, their native place as per the direction of former American President George W Bush, ( the parting gift of the former President to India) it was confirmed beyond doubt that our assumptions were correct. They handed over the dossiers to the leaders of both countries. The argument of Pak President Asif Ali Sardari that the culprits were non-State actors had to be dropped by that country ultimately (the month of March 2009 is going to be critical for the civilian government of Pakistan on the issue of the demand for reinstatement of former sacked Chief Justice Iftikar Chowdary as the lawyers across the country are up in arms and have decided to hold a long march to the parliament house for an indefinite period. The possibility of an army takeover is not ruled out, according to media reports.)
After repeated demands of the External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherji and also due to the international pressure, Rehman Malik, the head of Interior Ministry of the Pak Govt. finally agreed the Indian accusation that the militants were Pakistanis including the one surviving assassin, Muhammed Ajmal Kasab who is in Indian custody. Rehman Malik formally conveyed to the Indian official all the details regarding the attack and the militants and also in the presence of press persons. The gentleman even went to the extent of revealing the logistics provided by other elements elsewhere in that country.
On officially, accepting their admission of crime, our Govt. was satisfied.
Certain gentlemen holding high positions at the top echelons some even from the media developed a mellow (or soft?) attitude towards Pakistan. All of us have heard about carrot and stick policy. According to Siddharth Varadarajan, holding an important position in a National Daily, through his ‘News Analysis’ , after the admission of their crime by the Pak rulers, till then we were carrying only a stick (‘coercive diplomatic steps taken by India), now it is time for us to extent a carrot also to Pakistan side- meaning an approach of co-operation in the further investigation. The Pak investigation took time and hence the delay in arriving at a conclusion. According to him, now it is for Indian rulers to co-operate in the investigation by carrying on a search whether local elements were involved in the carnage as demanded by Pakistan. Pakistan might be feeling proud of the BJP leader, Narendra Modi, as he was the first person to demand such an investigation.
India’s immense patience and peace-loving nature should never be construed as a weakness by any nation. But the neighbouring country always have a mistaken notion that even if undeclared wars are carried out against India, the response from the Indian side would always be ‘verbal attacks’ and ‘empty threats’. Such a mistaken notion they are still having and hence, even while preaching for a smoother relationship between the two countries even while implementing some positive steps like travel by trains and buses across the border by the citizens of both countries, trade across the border and such umpteen platitudes, they can very well carry out stealth operations to undermine the very stability of the country. Kargil was one among hundreds of tragic incidents.
Time is running fast. Nations’ approach to Nations also is changing fast. Whenever Mumbai model terror strikes happen with the connivance of a nation, sitting around a round-table- diplomats, other intellectuals, political leaders (they are representatives of ‘Am Admi’ and therefore need not be intellectuals) gently, calmly and with dignity are unanimous in advising against “knee-jerk” reactions by the Govt., because they love peace and normalcy in relations. Very tender-hearted! Really!
May I ask these gentlemen one simple question?- How long the citizens- crores of them suffer terrorist attacks, deaths and fear-psychosis?
Sorry, I am also a peace-loving citizen…A Dove.
Joke of the year: George Walker Bush should be conferred with “Bharat Ratna”- by another intellectual and permanent spokesman appointed by a ruling+ Party Chief.
---In this early half of the 21st century, the number of countries cherishing territorial ambitions are abnormally increasing. Be it China, Pakistan, Israel, Russia, Ethiopia, Sudan, -African nations are in the forefront of the list- genocide, poverty, malnutrition, innocent civilians fleeing their homes owing to frequent fighting among the ethnic groups, for example, Darfur in Sudan, Somalia- the Horn of Africa, the two ethnic groups of Rwanda and recently even in the developed countries like Britain, France, Germany, Russia, Italy, and USA on account of the unprecedented financial-meltdown resulting in recession, and its repercussions like unemployment among the educated youth, massive retrenchment due to the losses suffered by world famous companies ,banks and other institutions owned by business tycoons- those who have lost their jobs are running in millions, lack of health-care, poverty – ‘the sons of the soil policy’ is gaining momentum( even in a developing nation like India). After the unexpected plummeting of oil prices ,the oil-rich Gulf countries are sacking employees of countries like India, Pakistan and many other East-Asian and South-East Asian countries and deporting them. This ruthless massive retrenchment has inflicted a trauma among the returned employees and their respective countries are forced to carry the additional burden once considered assets of our nation, the deported employees have turned into liabilities. A pathetic situation indeed.
Sorry for the digression.
Let us come to the heart of the matter. India is always considered to be a peace-loving country. Aberrations are there due to the inefficiency and apathy of our rulers, the peace-loving nature of the country is always applauded by other nations across the Globe. If our rulers and bureaucrats were more vigilant and careful frequent terrorist attacks across various parts of our nation causing large-scale violent deaths and destruction of properties could have been avoided. Recall the 9/11. After that explosive terrorist attack , USA took all the precautions to prevent such a dastardly attack again by empowering the Intelligence agencies, beefing up security avoiding the over-confident complacency, thus eliminating the possibility of further attacks. Even then the arrogant attitude of ‘World Police’ has not been shed.
Even now, the people across our nation are pulling on with their daily routine always fearing a terrorist attack anywhere and hence a fear-psychosis is always in the air. It is a tragic truth that, our citizens have least confidence in the sense of responsibility and efficiency of our rulers. Imagine the plight of a nation renowned for its peace-loving nature!
The recent carnage perpetrated by LET (Lashkar-E-Taiba) militants in the financial capital of Mumbai and the subsequent responses by our leaders are worth thinking about. The leaders could immediately ascertain the militant organization which committed such a massacre and destruction of famous landmarks and the epicenter of the terrorist organization. It was meticulously planned and executed by the LET elements with the connivance of intelligence agencies of that nation. Pakistan was and still is a thorn in the flesh of India, and will continue to be so, whoever is in the saddle.
After India pointed an accusing finger at Pakistan, the rulers, military and even the Pakistani civilians raised a hue and cry against India and the hullabaloo shook the whole World. The spectre of a war with India was feared by peace-loving nations as that nation within no time deployed their Jawans along the LOC ready to confront an “attack from the Indian side”. Their fear is largely due to the possession of nuclear weapons in the arsenals of both countries. The Pak rulers were playing innocence. Simultaneously they were hiding from the World the secret of their connivance and encouragement to the dreaded organization- LET –to commit the carnage in our financial capital. It is pertinent to note here that even while Retd Gen.Musharaff was ruling that nation, LET was the blue-eyed organization of ISI and the military. Hence, LET leaders were aware of the fact that, in the event of a ban and the arrest of militants, they would remain untouched.
The help provided by FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) to India in tracing out the origin and the identity of the culprits, their native place as per the direction of former American President George W Bush, ( the parting gift of the former President to India) it was confirmed beyond doubt that our assumptions were correct. They handed over the dossiers to the leaders of both countries. The argument of Pak President Asif Ali Sardari that the culprits were non-State actors had to be dropped by that country ultimately (the month of March 2009 is going to be critical for the civilian government of Pakistan on the issue of the demand for reinstatement of former sacked Chief Justice Iftikar Chowdary as the lawyers across the country are up in arms and have decided to hold a long march to the parliament house for an indefinite period. The possibility of an army takeover is not ruled out, according to media reports.)
After repeated demands of the External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherji and also due to the international pressure, Rehman Malik, the head of Interior Ministry of the Pak Govt. finally agreed the Indian accusation that the militants were Pakistanis including the one surviving assassin, Muhammed Ajmal Kasab who is in Indian custody. Rehman Malik formally conveyed to the Indian official all the details regarding the attack and the militants and also in the presence of press persons. The gentleman even went to the extent of revealing the logistics provided by other elements elsewhere in that country.
On officially, accepting their admission of crime, our Govt. was satisfied.
Certain gentlemen holding high positions at the top echelons some even from the media developed a mellow (or soft?) attitude towards Pakistan. All of us have heard about carrot and stick policy. According to Siddharth Varadarajan, holding an important position in a National Daily, through his ‘News Analysis’ , after the admission of their crime by the Pak rulers, till then we were carrying only a stick (‘coercive diplomatic steps taken by India), now it is time for us to extent a carrot also to Pakistan side- meaning an approach of co-operation in the further investigation. The Pak investigation took time and hence the delay in arriving at a conclusion. According to him, now it is for Indian rulers to co-operate in the investigation by carrying on a search whether local elements were involved in the carnage as demanded by Pakistan. Pakistan might be feeling proud of the BJP leader, Narendra Modi, as he was the first person to demand such an investigation.
India’s immense patience and peace-loving nature should never be construed as a weakness by any nation. But the neighbouring country always have a mistaken notion that even if undeclared wars are carried out against India, the response from the Indian side would always be ‘verbal attacks’ and ‘empty threats’. Such a mistaken notion they are still having and hence, even while preaching for a smoother relationship between the two countries even while implementing some positive steps like travel by trains and buses across the border by the citizens of both countries, trade across the border and such umpteen platitudes, they can very well carry out stealth operations to undermine the very stability of the country. Kargil was one among hundreds of tragic incidents.
Time is running fast. Nations’ approach to Nations also is changing fast. Whenever Mumbai model terror strikes happen with the connivance of a nation, sitting around a round-table- diplomats, other intellectuals, political leaders (they are representatives of ‘Am Admi’ and therefore need not be intellectuals) gently, calmly and with dignity are unanimous in advising against “knee-jerk” reactions by the Govt., because they love peace and normalcy in relations. Very tender-hearted! Really!
May I ask these gentlemen one simple question?- How long the citizens- crores of them suffer terrorist attacks, deaths and fear-psychosis?
Sorry, I am also a peace-loving citizen…A Dove.
Joke of the year: George Walker Bush should be conferred with “Bharat Ratna”- by another intellectual and permanent spokesman appointed by a ruling+ Party Chief.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
INDIAN LEFTISTS CAUGHT IN THE WEB OF OPPORTUNISM
Leaders irrespective of parties are in a hurry to bring heaven on earth these days. That much love and affection they have towards the masses across the country.
Tall promises galore. Assurances galore. Slogans galore. Processions and marches in each State galore.
As the elections are approaching the EC (Election Commission) is expected to announce the dates of elections shortly, the political leaders, of ruling parties, opposition parties and independent parties which don’t have particular affiliations either with the ruling or opposition parties (yes, such parties are also prevalent in our country- have you heard about horse-trading? I don’t want to elaborate more about it, because it is a wastage of time) are getting active and vibrant addressing meetings at various corners across the nation throwing mud against each other; there must be competition in that art during election period, to add more encouragement, fun and inspiration to the ‘Am Admi’- the common man- who becomes king of a nation atleast for a short duration.
Many faces have already plunged into the limelight and are getting huddled in front of main offices of the parties at the capital city of NewDelhi, (Let’s pray to God to ward off the possibility of a stampede leading to untoward incidents) seeking tickets for contesting elections, many are sycophants and millionaires, crores are changing hands and within a week or two those denied tickets can be seen challenging the party leaders and turn rebels to contest the ‘Great Indian Circus’ with vows to teach the parent party leaders a lesson.
The Grand Old Party (GOP), The Indian National Congress Party, has this time decided to contest elections alone at the National level, the reason being the confidence or morale booster in the unexpected victory at the NewDelhi defying the anti-incumbency factor, the victory snatched away from BJP in Rajasthan and the two-third majority obtained at Mizoram defeating the MNF (Mizo National Front) in the North-East. The report by the intelligence agencies might be- I don’t know if there was any survey conducted by them- to the advantage of the GOP, the inflation rate is at comfortable level, the consummation of Civil-Nuclear Deal, thanks to the ‘generosity’ of George W Bush, the intimate friend of ManMohanji and whom the people of India consider to be their ‘beloved friend and well wisher’ (Thank God) and the other formalities relating to Civil-Nuclear Deal is going to be completed at Vienna under the auspices of IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) thus enabling the nation to to proceed with the deal ending a period of isolation for about 34 years from the Nuclear club. Above all the energetic young leader and the young protégé of Soniaji – Rahul Gandhi has come to the forefront to lead the masses.
But the report in the media and also the criticism by some Newspaper columnists regarding his partaking as a VVIP at a friend’s marriage party while the Mumbai carnage and widespread destruction caused to the famous landmarks of Mumbai like The Taj Inter Continental, Nariman House, Leopold restaurant, Hotel Oberoi- Trident and the ruthless massacre of commuters at the Victoria Terminus (Chatrapathi Shivaji Terminus) by the ten militants of terrorist outfit Lashkar-E-Taiba based in Pakistan. The young man who is believed to be the heir-apparent of the Nation in the immediate future, it is a matter of shame.
Another factor favouring the Indian National Congress is the decline of the “Party with a difference”, BJP, particularly after the by-elections and the unforeseen down-fall in the State of Rajasthan and NewDelhi. The desertion of the former Chief Minister of UP, Kalyan Singh from the Party and his joining hands with the Samajwadi Party of Mulayam Singh and his deputy is also a mortal blow to the BJP. The Malegaon blasts and the investigation reports leading to the arrest of the fire-brand Sanyasin, Pragya Singh Thakur, Col.Srikant Purohit, both reported to be the honest followers of Sangh Pariwar and the bombing of Samjhauta Express leading to the violent deaths of 68 passengers, also point an accusing finger at BJP, thus alienating a large number of Muslims from them.
The other day Rajnath Singh, BJP National President was reported to have claimed that BJP men are the true followers of Mahatma Gandhi and he also declared his Party’s decision to follow the economic ideals of Gandhiji after getting elected to power in the ensuing elections. Whether he was cracking some jokes…? Anyhow it might have made the readers laugh a lot. During their earlier period also, they occupied the throne with the decision of following “Swadeshi Ideals” and we all witnessed the path they chose wreaking havoc on the masses especially the farmers. The industrialists were happy because they got what they wanted, disinvestment policy was in full swing causing huge loss to the exchequer, their “India Shining” slogan flashed frequently across the visual media and about 22 allies with them from the very beginning could not help them to win the elections and it was a sad and unexpected defeat at the hustings. Now, only four or five allies are with them, their strength already gone down. It will be a miracle, if they can come to power at the centre this time.
Advaniji, the Prime Ministerial aspirant seems to have shed the secular slogan by declaring the other day the Party’s determination to construct Ram Temple at Ayodhya and chanted a slogan- “Jai Sri Ram”. Change of tactics? He might be having a misunderstanding that, by inflaming communal passions, the voters’ particularly of UP could be influenced in the Party’s favour. Might be a pipe –dream.
In comes, the ‘third front’ or the ‘third alternative’. The leftists especially CPI(M) with the support of other leftists- they have no other way out- has roped in two great opportunists of Indian politics, Kumari Jayalalitha and Kumari Mayawati to form a third alternative with the purpose of defeating Congress and BJP. Then Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP ( a man with no hesitation to switch over to ‘NDA’ if he sees s slight opportunity of his former friends sense victory at the most opportune moment), Janata Dal (S) under the leadership of DeveGowda( the ‘humble farmer’ from Karnataka has a weakness for his ‘child’ Kumaraswamy and hence when Kumaraswamy aligned with BJP, the leader reluctantly went to the support of his young protege and in the previous assembly elections handed over the power on a platter to BJP and came back to the leftists, he is somewhat satisfied now).
Com. Karat is in a dilemma, he might not have foreseen such a scenario and finding no way out of this predicament has decided to swim with the current and if by chance the Left Front manages to capture atleast 60 seats , for him it is equivalent to the magical figure of 272. Once again the role of a King-Maker is more than enough for his Front. And most probably a hung parliament is awaiting us. This time if the LF’s 60 seats dream materializes it will certainly be a miracle, the reasons are self-explanatory.
Tall promises galore. Assurances galore. Slogans galore. Processions and marches in each State galore.
As the elections are approaching the EC (Election Commission) is expected to announce the dates of elections shortly, the political leaders, of ruling parties, opposition parties and independent parties which don’t have particular affiliations either with the ruling or opposition parties (yes, such parties are also prevalent in our country- have you heard about horse-trading? I don’t want to elaborate more about it, because it is a wastage of time) are getting active and vibrant addressing meetings at various corners across the nation throwing mud against each other; there must be competition in that art during election period, to add more encouragement, fun and inspiration to the ‘Am Admi’- the common man- who becomes king of a nation atleast for a short duration.
Many faces have already plunged into the limelight and are getting huddled in front of main offices of the parties at the capital city of NewDelhi, (Let’s pray to God to ward off the possibility of a stampede leading to untoward incidents) seeking tickets for contesting elections, many are sycophants and millionaires, crores are changing hands and within a week or two those denied tickets can be seen challenging the party leaders and turn rebels to contest the ‘Great Indian Circus’ with vows to teach the parent party leaders a lesson.
The Grand Old Party (GOP), The Indian National Congress Party, has this time decided to contest elections alone at the National level, the reason being the confidence or morale booster in the unexpected victory at the NewDelhi defying the anti-incumbency factor, the victory snatched away from BJP in Rajasthan and the two-third majority obtained at Mizoram defeating the MNF (Mizo National Front) in the North-East. The report by the intelligence agencies might be- I don’t know if there was any survey conducted by them- to the advantage of the GOP, the inflation rate is at comfortable level, the consummation of Civil-Nuclear Deal, thanks to the ‘generosity’ of George W Bush, the intimate friend of ManMohanji and whom the people of India consider to be their ‘beloved friend and well wisher’ (Thank God) and the other formalities relating to Civil-Nuclear Deal is going to be completed at Vienna under the auspices of IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) thus enabling the nation to to proceed with the deal ending a period of isolation for about 34 years from the Nuclear club. Above all the energetic young leader and the young protégé of Soniaji – Rahul Gandhi has come to the forefront to lead the masses.
But the report in the media and also the criticism by some Newspaper columnists regarding his partaking as a VVIP at a friend’s marriage party while the Mumbai carnage and widespread destruction caused to the famous landmarks of Mumbai like The Taj Inter Continental, Nariman House, Leopold restaurant, Hotel Oberoi- Trident and the ruthless massacre of commuters at the Victoria Terminus (Chatrapathi Shivaji Terminus) by the ten militants of terrorist outfit Lashkar-E-Taiba based in Pakistan. The young man who is believed to be the heir-apparent of the Nation in the immediate future, it is a matter of shame.
Another factor favouring the Indian National Congress is the decline of the “Party with a difference”, BJP, particularly after the by-elections and the unforeseen down-fall in the State of Rajasthan and NewDelhi. The desertion of the former Chief Minister of UP, Kalyan Singh from the Party and his joining hands with the Samajwadi Party of Mulayam Singh and his deputy is also a mortal blow to the BJP. The Malegaon blasts and the investigation reports leading to the arrest of the fire-brand Sanyasin, Pragya Singh Thakur, Col.Srikant Purohit, both reported to be the honest followers of Sangh Pariwar and the bombing of Samjhauta Express leading to the violent deaths of 68 passengers, also point an accusing finger at BJP, thus alienating a large number of Muslims from them.
The other day Rajnath Singh, BJP National President was reported to have claimed that BJP men are the true followers of Mahatma Gandhi and he also declared his Party’s decision to follow the economic ideals of Gandhiji after getting elected to power in the ensuing elections. Whether he was cracking some jokes…? Anyhow it might have made the readers laugh a lot. During their earlier period also, they occupied the throne with the decision of following “Swadeshi Ideals” and we all witnessed the path they chose wreaking havoc on the masses especially the farmers. The industrialists were happy because they got what they wanted, disinvestment policy was in full swing causing huge loss to the exchequer, their “India Shining” slogan flashed frequently across the visual media and about 22 allies with them from the very beginning could not help them to win the elections and it was a sad and unexpected defeat at the hustings. Now, only four or five allies are with them, their strength already gone down. It will be a miracle, if they can come to power at the centre this time.
Advaniji, the Prime Ministerial aspirant seems to have shed the secular slogan by declaring the other day the Party’s determination to construct Ram Temple at Ayodhya and chanted a slogan- “Jai Sri Ram”. Change of tactics? He might be having a misunderstanding that, by inflaming communal passions, the voters’ particularly of UP could be influenced in the Party’s favour. Might be a pipe –dream.
In comes, the ‘third front’ or the ‘third alternative’. The leftists especially CPI(M) with the support of other leftists- they have no other way out- has roped in two great opportunists of Indian politics, Kumari Jayalalitha and Kumari Mayawati to form a third alternative with the purpose of defeating Congress and BJP. Then Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP ( a man with no hesitation to switch over to ‘NDA’ if he sees s slight opportunity of his former friends sense victory at the most opportune moment), Janata Dal (S) under the leadership of DeveGowda( the ‘humble farmer’ from Karnataka has a weakness for his ‘child’ Kumaraswamy and hence when Kumaraswamy aligned with BJP, the leader reluctantly went to the support of his young protege and in the previous assembly elections handed over the power on a platter to BJP and came back to the leftists, he is somewhat satisfied now).
Com. Karat is in a dilemma, he might not have foreseen such a scenario and finding no way out of this predicament has decided to swim with the current and if by chance the Left Front manages to capture atleast 60 seats , for him it is equivalent to the magical figure of 272. Once again the role of a King-Maker is more than enough for his Front. And most probably a hung parliament is awaiting us. This time if the LF’s 60 seats dream materializes it will certainly be a miracle, the reasons are self-explanatory.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
THE PRIDE OF BEING AN OWNER
It was a rainy day. Huge winds were blowing from the eastern direction, the windows and doors of the house were closing violently, then opening and again closing violently. Though it was 8 in the morning, the darkness was still lingering, one might have thought it was late in the evening- similar to the moment-the moments just after the sunset. The trees in the rubber-estates on both sides of the narrow tarred road, looked like gyrating violently in the wind and torrential rain, just when I pushed open the window.
Rains always bring memories of the good, old childhood days, the teenage period and now the youthful days. In my childhood, whenever there was heavy downpour, wearing shorts, I used to jump to the premises of my ancestral house, danced like a peacock, thus got drenched. My Grandmother, father,mother, uncles or aunties would- in a cajoling tone or in fits of rage order me to enter the house, they pinched me and thrashed me which was really very painful- only my grandmother just admonished me and smiled by closing her mouth with her hand, that much she was fond of me. Now she is no more, two uncles, one auntie and father all gone after completing their life’s mission and now remain painful memories. With the disintegration of the joint family system the ancestral house live in my memories only. The blood relations in the course of the passage of time got scattered to various parts of the country leading their nuclear lives.
South-West Monsoon has started. I glanced at the calendar on the wall and found, it was June 3. My good gracious!
“I am a bit lucky. Today is Sunday and hence a holiday. I can very well take rest, enjoy the music of the downpour after a long lull, memorise the incidents related to monsoon season in my village and later in Mumbai and now in another village in Kerala, read fictions or newspapers”. – I told myself.
If it was a working day I would have to proceed early in the morning to my working place, though umbrella could be called a protective cover actually it would not be of much use in the torrential rain and lashing winds. I would have got drenched like anything.
The newscaster in the TV, Suhasini a familiar face middle-aged good-looking lady in the course of the newscast had informed the viewers, particularly fishermen who venture into the sea for fishing to refrain from doing so with the winds lashing across coastal areas between 55-65 miles per hour on account of the onset of South-West monsoon, the other day evening at certain parts of Kerala.
This rain reminds me of my first love-bird, Anu Varma in Mumbai. Anu is still in Mumbai , now leading a married life at Kandivili in the Western Railway with her husband and two pretty children- one boy, the other girl- two pretty little dolls. During occasional visits to Mumbai, I use to meet her, I don’t know whether it is a sin, we used to indulge in our romantic moments and recalled our early period of romance, even the first time we met each other and fell in love at first sight. In a city like Mumbai, it is very difficult to espy such love-birds from the secret rendezvous and ecstatic moments.
I recall that day. In the twilight sun at the Borivili National Park with golden rays peeping through the gaps between the trees while we were locked in an embrace under a tree- there are many such love-birds here and there enjoying their beautiful moments-all of a sudden as if from a bolt from the blue, a heavy down-pour, lasting more than two hours, both of us still in embrace planting kisses and with our cloths getting wet and drops of rain making us hilarious and ecstatic, oblivious of the surroundings, sat there with my head in her lap…
The first romance in the rain. An unforgettable experience.
During that period we used to visit parks, beaches like Juhu, Madh Island, Marine Drive, Gateway and film theatres like New Excelesior, Metro, Liberty and Eros. While Kamal Hassan- Rati Agni Hotri fame- ‘Ek Tuje Kelie’ (Made For Each Other) was running in packed houses, both of us enjoyed the film several times and that famous duet by Anuradha Poduval and S P Balasubramaniam was our favourite song of the period…
“Between you and me
How comes this hurdle
Don’t know dear…don’t know dear”!
During the hot scenes in the film, it was a pleasure and excitement to me to plant hot kisses on the back of her neck. She was somewhat in an inebriated state with her body in a shivering state and also with tickling in ecstasy.
At certain moments when both of us were together our imagination took wings and flew to Taj Mahal at Agra, the monument of eternal love sculpted in marble, walking with hand in hand like the legendary Shajahan and Mumtaz in the moonlit nights among the other lovers and couples moving around with excitement and also taking photographs in front of Taj Mahal with our hands around our waists.
The decision to remain unmarried was a good decision, otherwise our sweet memories romantic moments would not have lasted for long and I am sure, those moments would remain with us throughout this life.
−Where is Pinky now? Might be abroad in a nurse’s uniform making money. Whether her marriage is over? No idea. Her courage at that age was something unimaginable and my embarrassment, both in the teens.
Monsoon brings the memories of that day also. Quite natural. No?
It was 7 past thirty in the night. Usually our tuition ended only at 8 ‘O’ clock. That day, the master and both of us disciples could hear the echoes of thunder once in a while with lightning preceding.
“Today you may go early. It seems a rain is in the offing. Cold wind is also blowing, reach your homes at the earliest”- Master advised us.
I had umbrella with me. Where ever I had gone, I used to carry an umbrella, whether in Summer or in Winter. I was an ardent devotee of God and went to temple daily. Sandal paste was always there on my forehead. A typical orthodox, obedient Nair boy liked by all. Pinky was also an ardent devotee of Jesus Christ and used to go to church on every Sunday to attend the ‘Holy Communion’. She was studious also, while passing through the front of her house in my cycle, she was always seen with a book reading aloud. By rote.
While walking down the road under the street lights to our houses, to my shock- it was quite unexpected- the lights went out and it was quite dark and the rain and thunder showers began within seconds.
“Pinky, have this umbrella. Don’t get wet”- I was holding the handle of the cycle.
“No, no you also don’t get drenched. This is your property”- She was giggling.
She came to my side with the umbrella and protected me also from rains, her one hand was around my waist. I was deeply embarrassed and felt like running away. I was very shy during my teens.
Then came another shock. An unexpected kiss on my cheek by Pinky. My heart beats were audible to me. It was like the sounds of beating drums.
“Pinky, are you mad? This is a grave sin”. I murmured to her with my eyes bulging with fear.
She seemed not to hear me. Warm kisses on my entire cheeks with passion and excitement.
“I love you my cute friend. I love you like anything”
I wanted to cry. I was quite afraid. The first kiss by my girl friend…At that young age it was a harrowing experience to me and you know I am a quite different young man.
Up till now,a secret kept by us. Pinky,where are you now?...
The rain and wind all stopped. Opened the door and came outside. It was drizzling.
I saw a young boy in his teens, clad in a black pants and a full-sleeved baniyan, he was carrying in a plastic cover various pictures. On seeing me, he came in my direction. I was watching him curiously.
“Pictures Sir, beautiful pictures. You like pictures”?- he was inquisitively casting a glance at me. The innocence in his eyes touched me. The period of innocence in my life came back to my mind.
“My little friend, this is a rented house. For a man who is living in a rented house, what is the need of picture? Not much pleasure in it”- I bared my heart out.
He was spreading the pictures on the floor of the portico. Attractive beautiful landscapes with splashing streams sparkling lakes and verdant hills, Mahatma Gandhi, Vivekananda, Huge Mountains, Indira Gandhi, Gateway of India, Statue of Liberty, A beautiful house with a car-porch with a car parked there and a young man leaning over it…endless numbers of beautiful pictures…
“Okay, do one thing, you select one. Whichever you like”- I gave him the freedom to select a picture.
He glanced at me with a smiling face, and the same innocent eyes.
Within a second he selected the picture of the beautiful house. He took it and handed over to me. I felt both joy and sadness. He had read the mind of the man without a house of his own and also the aspirations and dreams…perhaps his also…
With a warm smile I gave him the price. My heart went out for him. Cute little chap. He collected all other pictures and placed them in the plastic cover and waved his hands. I was watching him walking to the road in front and slowly disappearing from my eyes. It was still drizzling.
The feeling of a proud man with a beautiful house of his! I felt elated.
Rains always bring memories of the good, old childhood days, the teenage period and now the youthful days. In my childhood, whenever there was heavy downpour, wearing shorts, I used to jump to the premises of my ancestral house, danced like a peacock, thus got drenched. My Grandmother, father,mother, uncles or aunties would- in a cajoling tone or in fits of rage order me to enter the house, they pinched me and thrashed me which was really very painful- only my grandmother just admonished me and smiled by closing her mouth with her hand, that much she was fond of me. Now she is no more, two uncles, one auntie and father all gone after completing their life’s mission and now remain painful memories. With the disintegration of the joint family system the ancestral house live in my memories only. The blood relations in the course of the passage of time got scattered to various parts of the country leading their nuclear lives.
South-West Monsoon has started. I glanced at the calendar on the wall and found, it was June 3. My good gracious!
“I am a bit lucky. Today is Sunday and hence a holiday. I can very well take rest, enjoy the music of the downpour after a long lull, memorise the incidents related to monsoon season in my village and later in Mumbai and now in another village in Kerala, read fictions or newspapers”. – I told myself.
If it was a working day I would have to proceed early in the morning to my working place, though umbrella could be called a protective cover actually it would not be of much use in the torrential rain and lashing winds. I would have got drenched like anything.
The newscaster in the TV, Suhasini a familiar face middle-aged good-looking lady in the course of the newscast had informed the viewers, particularly fishermen who venture into the sea for fishing to refrain from doing so with the winds lashing across coastal areas between 55-65 miles per hour on account of the onset of South-West monsoon, the other day evening at certain parts of Kerala.
This rain reminds me of my first love-bird, Anu Varma in Mumbai. Anu is still in Mumbai , now leading a married life at Kandivili in the Western Railway with her husband and two pretty children- one boy, the other girl- two pretty little dolls. During occasional visits to Mumbai, I use to meet her, I don’t know whether it is a sin, we used to indulge in our romantic moments and recalled our early period of romance, even the first time we met each other and fell in love at first sight. In a city like Mumbai, it is very difficult to espy such love-birds from the secret rendezvous and ecstatic moments.
I recall that day. In the twilight sun at the Borivili National Park with golden rays peeping through the gaps between the trees while we were locked in an embrace under a tree- there are many such love-birds here and there enjoying their beautiful moments-all of a sudden as if from a bolt from the blue, a heavy down-pour, lasting more than two hours, both of us still in embrace planting kisses and with our cloths getting wet and drops of rain making us hilarious and ecstatic, oblivious of the surroundings, sat there with my head in her lap…
The first romance in the rain. An unforgettable experience.
During that period we used to visit parks, beaches like Juhu, Madh Island, Marine Drive, Gateway and film theatres like New Excelesior, Metro, Liberty and Eros. While Kamal Hassan- Rati Agni Hotri fame- ‘Ek Tuje Kelie’ (Made For Each Other) was running in packed houses, both of us enjoyed the film several times and that famous duet by Anuradha Poduval and S P Balasubramaniam was our favourite song of the period…
“Between you and me
How comes this hurdle
Don’t know dear…don’t know dear”!
During the hot scenes in the film, it was a pleasure and excitement to me to plant hot kisses on the back of her neck. She was somewhat in an inebriated state with her body in a shivering state and also with tickling in ecstasy.
At certain moments when both of us were together our imagination took wings and flew to Taj Mahal at Agra, the monument of eternal love sculpted in marble, walking with hand in hand like the legendary Shajahan and Mumtaz in the moonlit nights among the other lovers and couples moving around with excitement and also taking photographs in front of Taj Mahal with our hands around our waists.
The decision to remain unmarried was a good decision, otherwise our sweet memories romantic moments would not have lasted for long and I am sure, those moments would remain with us throughout this life.
−Where is Pinky now? Might be abroad in a nurse’s uniform making money. Whether her marriage is over? No idea. Her courage at that age was something unimaginable and my embarrassment, both in the teens.
Monsoon brings the memories of that day also. Quite natural. No?
It was 7 past thirty in the night. Usually our tuition ended only at 8 ‘O’ clock. That day, the master and both of us disciples could hear the echoes of thunder once in a while with lightning preceding.
“Today you may go early. It seems a rain is in the offing. Cold wind is also blowing, reach your homes at the earliest”- Master advised us.
I had umbrella with me. Where ever I had gone, I used to carry an umbrella, whether in Summer or in Winter. I was an ardent devotee of God and went to temple daily. Sandal paste was always there on my forehead. A typical orthodox, obedient Nair boy liked by all. Pinky was also an ardent devotee of Jesus Christ and used to go to church on every Sunday to attend the ‘Holy Communion’. She was studious also, while passing through the front of her house in my cycle, she was always seen with a book reading aloud. By rote.
While walking down the road under the street lights to our houses, to my shock- it was quite unexpected- the lights went out and it was quite dark and the rain and thunder showers began within seconds.
“Pinky, have this umbrella. Don’t get wet”- I was holding the handle of the cycle.
“No, no you also don’t get drenched. This is your property”- She was giggling.
She came to my side with the umbrella and protected me also from rains, her one hand was around my waist. I was deeply embarrassed and felt like running away. I was very shy during my teens.
Then came another shock. An unexpected kiss on my cheek by Pinky. My heart beats were audible to me. It was like the sounds of beating drums.
“Pinky, are you mad? This is a grave sin”. I murmured to her with my eyes bulging with fear.
She seemed not to hear me. Warm kisses on my entire cheeks with passion and excitement.
“I love you my cute friend. I love you like anything”
I wanted to cry. I was quite afraid. The first kiss by my girl friend…At that young age it was a harrowing experience to me and you know I am a quite different young man.
Up till now,a secret kept by us. Pinky,where are you now?...
The rain and wind all stopped. Opened the door and came outside. It was drizzling.
I saw a young boy in his teens, clad in a black pants and a full-sleeved baniyan, he was carrying in a plastic cover various pictures. On seeing me, he came in my direction. I was watching him curiously.
“Pictures Sir, beautiful pictures. You like pictures”?- he was inquisitively casting a glance at me. The innocence in his eyes touched me. The period of innocence in my life came back to my mind.
“My little friend, this is a rented house. For a man who is living in a rented house, what is the need of picture? Not much pleasure in it”- I bared my heart out.
He was spreading the pictures on the floor of the portico. Attractive beautiful landscapes with splashing streams sparkling lakes and verdant hills, Mahatma Gandhi, Vivekananda, Huge Mountains, Indira Gandhi, Gateway of India, Statue of Liberty, A beautiful house with a car-porch with a car parked there and a young man leaning over it…endless numbers of beautiful pictures…
“Okay, do one thing, you select one. Whichever you like”- I gave him the freedom to select a picture.
He glanced at me with a smiling face, and the same innocent eyes.
Within a second he selected the picture of the beautiful house. He took it and handed over to me. I felt both joy and sadness. He had read the mind of the man without a house of his own and also the aspirations and dreams…perhaps his also…
With a warm smile I gave him the price. My heart went out for him. Cute little chap. He collected all other pictures and placed them in the plastic cover and waved his hands. I was watching him walking to the road in front and slowly disappearing from my eyes. It was still drizzling.
The feeling of a proud man with a beautiful house of his! I felt elated.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
OBAMA STARTS LISTENING TO MUSIC...
The euphoria has subsided. Now, it is time to face the reality. From January 20 to February 5, it is a short period. The time for an ‘assessment’ is quite difficult and not proper at this juncture. Any how, Barack Obama has started listening to music from certain quarters in USA. Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman who remained his well-wisher throughout the election campaign expecting too much from his favourite Presidential- aspirant is slowly turning tables against Obama, beginning with the issue of health-care to the Americans. At a moment when the nation is reeling under recession resulting in large-scale unemployment, retrenchment has become a daily phenomenon- leaving many employees in a hapless situation with simultaneous loss of health-care facilities. During his storm-trooping campaign across USA, Obama had given to the electorate tall promises to provide, health-care facilities to all, thus inviting the applause of the majority.
Let me quote Paul Krugman here, “Just, about all economic forecasts, including those of the Obama administration’s own economists say that we are in for a prolonged period of very high unemployment. And high unemployment means a sharp rise in the number of Americans without health insurance”.
“After the economy slumped at the beginning of this decade 5 million people joined the ranks of uninsured and that was with the unemployment rate peaking at only 6.3 percent. This time the Obama administration that even with its stimulus plan, unemployment will reach 8 percent and that it will stay above 6 percent until 2012”.
Krugman is going on spitting fire. This time against preaching of the top economic officials like Timothy Geithner and Lawrence Summers. Krugman remained stunned for a moment thinking that he was caught in a ‘time warp’- felt like he was still living in the year 2005 with Alan Greenspan still the maestro, former Federal Reserve Governor, who was reported to be the Prime accused in the financial-meltdown - recall the housing bubble and subprime mortgage crisis. His advocacy of free Market economy is in a shambles now and even then the new maestros, Timothy Geithner and Lawrence Summers are seeming to toe the line of Alan Greenspan and let me quote Timothy Geithner, “We have a financial system that is run by private share holders managed by private institutions and we would like to do our best to preserve the system”. Krugman wonders the bankers are still heroes of capitalism.
Let the days pass by and the ‘periodical internal assessments’ go on, let us have a close look at the foreign policy of the new man in the saddle. I am surprised and embarrassed when observing that even when reeling under recession, the inherent feeling in the American psyche- the World Super Cop mentality is still raging in the mind of the man occupying the throne and the majority of Americans- whether black or white. Still Obama is in hot pursuit of Taliban and Osama Bin Laden and his cohorts, who are supposed to be, yes supposed to be, safely entrenched in their havens at the mountainous terrain of North West Frontier province of Pakistan (NWFP). Whether Bin-Laden, the most wanted criminal in the World is still alive is another riddle. Obama’s plan is to have a ‘surge’ along that border with 100000 army men and logistics to counter and crush the Taliban militants with the help of Pakistani Army men, and to protect his strategic interests providing non-military support to Pakistan. With the help of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jai-She-Muhammed and such other terrorist outfits can aim their guns against their (Pakistan) traditional enemy India and cause maximum damage across the border by massacring the innocent Kashmiri civilians and their properties- in the words of our Defence Minister A.K.Antony, Pakistan always engage in undeclared wars (systemic terrorism), thus causing many a sleepless night to the civilians as well as the rulers. And intermittent militant attacks against the economic nerve-centres like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai. The recent Mumbai carnage is still sending shivers down the spines of peace-loving people of our nation. Pakistan is the epicenter of terrorism, both Barack Obama and his predecessor know it and without demolishing the terrorist networks across that nation, peace will always remain a mirage to the South Asian countries and with that grim awareness in his mind, providing support both military and non-military (‘smart’ and ‘hard diplomacy’)- to safeguard the strategic interests of USA, the peace-loving, cool and diplomatic President of America is toeing his predecessor’s steps. The age of unipolar world is over and it is high time that the young President of America has to accept that truth though reluctantly.
Before winding up this piece I want to write about an article (in ‘The New Indian Express’ dated 04-02-2009) by Anees Jillani, the eminent Supreme Court lawyer of Pakistan. I had a mistaken belief that Army was the real villain behind the frequent gun-toting militants and their bomb culture. Anees Jillani contradicts this with his points. The surviving assassin of the Mumbai carnage Muhammed Amir Kasab is a Pakistani, his name is still in the voters list and soon after the carnage in India and the news flashed across the nations that Muhammed Amir Kasab’s parents were removed from the “face of the earth” and their where abouts are still unknown. The civilian government under the President Asif-Ali-Sardari and Prime Minister Yusuf-Raza-Gilani stuck to their argument that those ten perpetrators of the carnage were non-State actors and they were not at all Pakistanis. The National Security Adviser of Pakistan disclosed the truth of Kasab being a Pakistani to the press-persons and he was immediately sacked by none other than the Prime Minister- Yusuf-Raza-Gilani.
Those in the civilian Government who once squarely blamed the former dictator Retd General Pervez Musharraf on various accounts like the long hours of load-shedding and those who promised full time power to the nation are forced to keep mum as the duration of load-shedding has now been increased upto 18 hours a day.
The rulers who promised the reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftiqar Chowdhary, who was dismissed by the (former)- Retd General Musharraf and on that very issue the whole Pakistan under the leadership of the main political parties and the lawyers flared up against the Musharraf Govt for his reinstatement is still outside the judiciary even after the new civilian Governmet had sworn in. Now the same Government is not willing to take him back, obviously due to apprehension of President Asif Ali Sardari regarding the digging up of previous cases of bribery accepted from business tycoons would be punished by the former Chief Justice because he is a judge of integrity and principles.
Anyhow I regret to note here that the soft corner extended by Anees Jillani to the army heads cannot be justified because they have also a grudge against India even now.
Let me quote Paul Krugman here, “Just, about all economic forecasts, including those of the Obama administration’s own economists say that we are in for a prolonged period of very high unemployment. And high unemployment means a sharp rise in the number of Americans without health insurance”.
“After the economy slumped at the beginning of this decade 5 million people joined the ranks of uninsured and that was with the unemployment rate peaking at only 6.3 percent. This time the Obama administration that even with its stimulus plan, unemployment will reach 8 percent and that it will stay above 6 percent until 2012”.
Krugman is going on spitting fire. This time against preaching of the top economic officials like Timothy Geithner and Lawrence Summers. Krugman remained stunned for a moment thinking that he was caught in a ‘time warp’- felt like he was still living in the year 2005 with Alan Greenspan still the maestro, former Federal Reserve Governor, who was reported to be the Prime accused in the financial-meltdown - recall the housing bubble and subprime mortgage crisis. His advocacy of free Market economy is in a shambles now and even then the new maestros, Timothy Geithner and Lawrence Summers are seeming to toe the line of Alan Greenspan and let me quote Timothy Geithner, “We have a financial system that is run by private share holders managed by private institutions and we would like to do our best to preserve the system”. Krugman wonders the bankers are still heroes of capitalism.
Let the days pass by and the ‘periodical internal assessments’ go on, let us have a close look at the foreign policy of the new man in the saddle. I am surprised and embarrassed when observing that even when reeling under recession, the inherent feeling in the American psyche- the World Super Cop mentality is still raging in the mind of the man occupying the throne and the majority of Americans- whether black or white. Still Obama is in hot pursuit of Taliban and Osama Bin Laden and his cohorts, who are supposed to be, yes supposed to be, safely entrenched in their havens at the mountainous terrain of North West Frontier province of Pakistan (NWFP). Whether Bin-Laden, the most wanted criminal in the World is still alive is another riddle. Obama’s plan is to have a ‘surge’ along that border with 100000 army men and logistics to counter and crush the Taliban militants with the help of Pakistani Army men, and to protect his strategic interests providing non-military support to Pakistan. With the help of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jai-She-Muhammed and such other terrorist outfits can aim their guns against their (Pakistan) traditional enemy India and cause maximum damage across the border by massacring the innocent Kashmiri civilians and their properties- in the words of our Defence Minister A.K.Antony, Pakistan always engage in undeclared wars (systemic terrorism), thus causing many a sleepless night to the civilians as well as the rulers. And intermittent militant attacks against the economic nerve-centres like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai. The recent Mumbai carnage is still sending shivers down the spines of peace-loving people of our nation. Pakistan is the epicenter of terrorism, both Barack Obama and his predecessor know it and without demolishing the terrorist networks across that nation, peace will always remain a mirage to the South Asian countries and with that grim awareness in his mind, providing support both military and non-military (‘smart’ and ‘hard diplomacy’)- to safeguard the strategic interests of USA, the peace-loving, cool and diplomatic President of America is toeing his predecessor’s steps. The age of unipolar world is over and it is high time that the young President of America has to accept that truth though reluctantly.
Before winding up this piece I want to write about an article (in ‘The New Indian Express’ dated 04-02-2009) by Anees Jillani, the eminent Supreme Court lawyer of Pakistan. I had a mistaken belief that Army was the real villain behind the frequent gun-toting militants and their bomb culture. Anees Jillani contradicts this with his points. The surviving assassin of the Mumbai carnage Muhammed Amir Kasab is a Pakistani, his name is still in the voters list and soon after the carnage in India and the news flashed across the nations that Muhammed Amir Kasab’s parents were removed from the “face of the earth” and their where abouts are still unknown. The civilian government under the President Asif-Ali-Sardari and Prime Minister Yusuf-Raza-Gilani stuck to their argument that those ten perpetrators of the carnage were non-State actors and they were not at all Pakistanis. The National Security Adviser of Pakistan disclosed the truth of Kasab being a Pakistani to the press-persons and he was immediately sacked by none other than the Prime Minister- Yusuf-Raza-Gilani.
Those in the civilian Government who once squarely blamed the former dictator Retd General Pervez Musharraf on various accounts like the long hours of load-shedding and those who promised full time power to the nation are forced to keep mum as the duration of load-shedding has now been increased upto 18 hours a day.
The rulers who promised the reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftiqar Chowdhary, who was dismissed by the (former)- Retd General Musharraf and on that very issue the whole Pakistan under the leadership of the main political parties and the lawyers flared up against the Musharraf Govt for his reinstatement is still outside the judiciary even after the new civilian Governmet had sworn in. Now the same Government is not willing to take him back, obviously due to apprehension of President Asif Ali Sardari regarding the digging up of previous cases of bribery accepted from business tycoons would be punished by the former Chief Justice because he is a judge of integrity and principles.
Anyhow I regret to note here that the soft corner extended by Anees Jillani to the army heads cannot be justified because they have also a grudge against India even now.
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