The Great Indian SAM

An Encounter with (Our) Judicial System!

2010-07-18T13:14:00.028+05:30

Recently I went to Gurgaon Police Station (Old SP Office) to get back my Driving License. There I came to know that after one month of “Chalaan”, Haryana Police send DLs to the Court, so I had to collect it from there. Reaching court, I came to know that I should have gone there with the file number from Police Station and an affidavit. Again I went to Police Station, collected my file number and returning back to the Courtyard, I made an affidavit and went to Court No.13. Orderly informed me then, I should check in room no. 25 that whether my DL actually reached to them or not before submitting my affidavit, otherwise it’s of no use.

Now, where was room no. 25? “Go straight, from the first t-point take left, then …right…then straight… then…” Well, I headed for another treasure hunt. After asking 3-4 Policewalas I reached to a narrow corridor and saw a thin boy, asked him where room no. 25 was, he didn’t answer my question and entered to a room. A lady at the same time came out from another room and I desperately repeated my question to her.

She observed me thoroughly for few seconds and then completely ignoring my presence and my question started shouting loudly a name. That thin boy came out of the room hurriedly and she started scolding him, why strangers were roaming around her room. Sensing the boy was being punished because of my presence, I repeated my question again, this time more politely hoping, by knowing the reason of my presence she would be calm and I would finally come to know about room no. 25. She ignored my appearance completely again and started walking away.

Knowing very well that nothing I could do against this lady’s unnecessary attitude, I expressed my frustration saying, “You should have some manner at least” and started walking in opposite direction. That was my crime, a serious offence. Within next 2-3 seconds, I came to know that I was in serious trouble. Police was called and instructed to teach me Manner. What the hell was going on at my back… As soon as I turned to see, a hawaldar almost jumped upon me and grabbed my wrist. I was in shock, literally! However, the Policewala who caught me angrily seemed more upset because he couldn’t even imagine how anyone could use those words against his bhagwan, Sub Judicial Megistrate Mrs…

Now things became a bit clearer to me. I told something angrily to a Sub Judicial Magistrate which is an unforgivable offence and now I would be taught a lesson. The hawaldar was joined by other hawaldars and some sarkari babus within few seconds. They first could not understand what to do with me and what should be my punishment. Then they mutually decided that Madam Ji would decide my fate and now as she was off for lunch, they took me in their custody for next 30 minutes.

That half an hour was a horrible nightmare. Loads of questions were thrown upon me and no one was even bothered to hear what I was saying. That was simply madness. A bunch of sarkari naukars suddenly became adamant to make me feel guilty and persuading forcefully to confess for my misbehave in front of their bhagwan. That’s the only solution they could find out. They were so obsessed with their Madam Ji’s stature that they could not even understand my simple justification. I tried my best to convince them but failed very badly and realized that I was ‘playing flute in front of buffalos’, which was of no use. Only way to get out of that chaos was to accept that I did a terrible mistake and plea for mercy… I surrendered.

Sub Judicial magistrate Mrs… returned from lunch and I was put in her Court (Darwaar) before anything else. I hesitantly uttered “Sorry” and without even looking at me (with a sarcastic smile on her face), she ordered another hawaldar to leave me for the time being. While coming out from that place, obviously I was not very happy but a thought brought smile on my face- “How fast my Case has been resolved by the efficient Sub Judicial Magistrate, who the hell complains about the delays of our judicial system?”

Four hour later I was leaving the Court premise with my Driving License. The hawaldar who caught me at the first place came to me smilingly and asked “Mil gaya?” I moved my head in affirmation. He then informed me- “You are lucky that you have got your DL after such a daring offence, if Sir Ji came to know about your act, you couldn’t have got your DL in this life time.” What? Who is this Sir Ji? Hawaldar seemed surprised, “You don’t know? Magistrate Sir of Court No. 13 is the husband of our Madam Ji, Magistrate of Court No. 16.”

Holy shit… I immediately decided to forget everything and rushed for my office. The Policewala was laughing loudly at my back…!

Expression of our feelings!

2010-02-15T20:05:00.008+05:30

Sometimes we find ourselves stuck in very frustrating situations where neither we can outburst our feelings nor digest them silently. It’s very tough situation when taking breath becomes troublesome and thinking of anything else, impossible.

We try our best to get out of this disturbance as soon as possible; smoke more than average, drink if pocket allows, place anger to loved ones without reason or make our friends understand that something is not correct and seek some sort of warmness from everything and everyone around.

Times pass by and we slowly forget about the whole episode and try not to remember that another frustrating situation is waiting in the corner for right time to attack us. We all are habituated to getting fucked and find them quite general in our everyday life.

Apart from sucking office environment, diverse household crisis, inconsiderate life partners, financial troubles, unfulfilled ambitions, etc. another factor make us feel low every now and then and we all become most vocal about it among our friends and in any gathering.

It’s political system, which leaves no scope of screwing up our lives and we in return, let not go any scope of explosion of our ever increasing anger against the bloody system unused. Our no conversation (almost!) completes without scolding our almighty political leaders and their hazardous policies.

Nationalism, socialism, liberalism, and all sort of “ism” provides fuel to our fury and we curse the system for everything as our law makers have long forgotten their duties and are always busy in making our lives more maddening by imposing more and more laws (?) on our being disregarding all sort of basic “rights”.

But when it comes to expressing our feelings through any common platform, where many people can witness our thoughts and share their views and where there is scope of converting a mass opinion to a more powerful and effective voice, we suddenly loose all our words, our mouth get shut and we start behaving like stupid as if everything is normal and we have nothing to say.

I know I am not going to get any comment on this post also and it’s absolutely okay… But buddies, there is really some errors in our behavior, think about it and there are some serious issues which surely need all our attention...

NEWS CHANNELS,… Where is NEWS?

2010-01-16T21:36:00.005+05:30

Have you guys ever noticed what actually happens when we wish to watch important events of the day or try to catch something big or when look for something interesting in news channels?.....

Well, I have been observing for quite sometimes that mostly, we keep on searching and searching and searching… and get either all bogus things or nothing at all. At last we quit and move to other genres.

Whenever I fail in my exploration of News (almost everyday!), a fatal sentiment comes in mind… what the hell is going on? What’s wrong with these news channels? Where’s the news, man?

A few questions comes in my mind every now and then and I strongly believe most of you guys must have gone through these questions sometimes or other during last few years of your television watching-

* Does news means sensational stories only?

* What’s the reason that no serious debate is conducted on government policies in news channels?

* Why political mockery, cricket, page3 gossips, sex and comedy circus are only being broadcasted in the name of news ignoring countrywide dangerous crisis everywhere?

* Does politically motivated bizarre statements of our netas and special comments of self claimed intellectuals on every occasion is what we look for in news?

* Why important incidents of small states and smaller places never become news other than bomb blasts, train accidents and PM’s visit in it?

* And why ……….???

We usually think that media is keeping eyes on everything, unearthing all the conspiracies and raising voice against every misdoings. But the truth is totally different.

It seems that main objectives (may be “only”) of News Channels are to raise TRP, increase subscription and attract advertisement so that maximum profit can be generated from it. That’s the reason Jo beekta hai, sirf wohi dikhta hai…!

That’s the reason that there is no alarm during any severe crisis and we are always bestowed with entertainment in the name of news; surely, to misguide our conscience.

I guess, we all know these things but what I can’t guess is where the media and we all are heading to. Can anyone tell me what the solution is to get out of all this nonsense?

WISH YOU A TRULY HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010 !

2010-01-01T19:59:00.006+05:30

Dear Friends,

On every New Year we wish our Friends and beloved a Happy Year ahead. We wish may all their dreams come true and life become full of Joy and Peace and so on... Sometimes our messages bring smile in the face of receiver and sometimes some messages are hard to digest.

Messaging every known person on this occasion has become a mandatory activity for all of us, sort of ritual. If you miss to wish anyone then be sure, he or she would definitely pinch you whenever and wherever its possible, "Yeah yeah, you've got new friends now, why would you remember us" sort of dangerous shots.

We are also becoming smarter day by day. Only six seven years back, we used to send Greetings Card to each other and now we send our best wishes through SMS, MMS, Emails, Chatting, Blogs and many other ways. Our messages are also getting more colors day by day, thanks to internet!

It's also a fact that in earlier years sometimes the price of the Greetings Card used to decide bonding of our relations with our friends, overcoming the true hand written emotions in it; and now, the message itself has become very important overcoming the true feelings of the sender and our relation with the person. If your message is not forwardable then it's no better than a Spam.

Anyway, I want to take this opportunity to wish you something unusual. Unusual because, I am sure that you are going to be flooded with the sweet and funny New Year wishes from all around and if mine one is not so sweet, it would hardly matter. Unusual also because, though we all desire these things from waking up till falling asleep every single day, some times consciously and sometimes without knowing it but we hardly utter those things in front of others.

As we let not know others our true desires, they all think that All Izz weLL and sweet wishes are sent nonstop to make us more happy,as a result we get more bored. I guess, it's the time to open our hearts for everyone and so I am wishing you those things which would make you truly happy in your life in the coming days.

May your all financial problems get solved in this New Year. Wishing you a truly prosperous year which would bring lots of cash with it. May your salary get a huge increment in this New Year (at least 50%) and lots of MNCs get mad to hire you with exciting packages.

May your Boy Friend/ Girl Friend/ Husband/ Wife/ someone you like most starts understanding you from the very first day of this New Year. No more emotional blackmailing, no more conflicts, no more pain... a miraculous life.

May this New Year bring a shield sort of thing which would protect you and your beloved from every sickness. Wish a strong and stable physique in the coming days so that you won't have to fear about catching bus for office in the chilled morning or passing sweaty nights.

May you become very famous in your field. Wish you a year which would make everyone, including your boss capable of understanding your true potentials and bring overwhelming affection from every corner recognising what a Gem you are.

May ......................... (Please fill up the blank as you wish).

WISH YOU A TRULY HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010 !

জীবন, তোমাকে প্রাণভরা শুভেচ্ছা !

2009-12-26T20:56:00.004+05:30

হৃদেয়র গভীরের বিষন্নতা মাঝেমাঝে পেয়ে বসে

কুয়াশা ঘন হতেহতে দৃষ্টি কেড়ে নেয়

দম বন্ধ হয়ে আসে, ঘেমে শরীর একাকার

মুক্তির আশা ক্ষীণ তবু যুদ্ধ চলে অবিরাম

মস্তিষ্ক ভয়াবহ ধংসস্তুপে পরিণত হতে থাকে

সমেয়র ঘোড়াটা যেন লাগাম ছাড়া দৌড়ায়

বেঁচে থাকাটা অর্থহীন মনে হতে বাধ্য

অবাধ্য, একেঘেয় অপ্টিমিস্ম তবু হাল ছাড়তে নারাজ

মুষ্টিবদ্ধ আঘাত হানে অবজ্ঞা, অপমান আর অন্ধকার

অসহনীয় যন্ত্রণা ছিড়তে থাকে সবগুলো বন্ধন

দিনশেষর রক্তীম আভার মত খবরটা পৌছায়

আবার বাঁচতে ইচ্ছে করে, আবার সব ঠিকঠাক

নতুন বছর নিয়ে আসছে অফুরান সম্ভাবনা -

জীবন, তোমাকে প্রাণভরা শুভেচ্ছা !

WE HAVEN’T GIVEN THEM THE RIGHT…

2009-12-17T22:26:00.001+05:30

Last few days were a bit hectic for me. My team has been changed in the office and I have been introduced to a new one where I need to carry out new responsibilities. Also at the same time, I am in a resolute mission to complete a seven hundred and seventeen page novel within Sunday next.

Reaching room from the office, I am hardly spending any time in any of my day to day activities other than reading. As a result, I am completely out of knowledge of what is happening all around.

Last night one of my friends came to my room and I put the book aside for a while. While conversation was going on I switched on the TV, after all without the tea and background music (chaos!) of TV no conversation becomes lively now a days. My friend was describing something about the names of all his childhood crushes when a news caught our attention.

News is:

Narendra Modi government has decided to bring a new act in his state where every individual would be made accountable for Voting lawfully. If anyone doesn’t go for Voting due to any reason, this act will empower the government to take action against the individual and also give them the right to take away the person’s right of Voting.

Reason behind this grand (?) idea is to educate the aam admi about the importance of Voting in democracy and to increase the poor percentage of vote casting.

Though we are now habituated of every kind of nonsense and hardly any ridiculous news gives us shock but neither I nor my friend could stop our instant reaction coming out of mouth "What the hell?”

Politicians' view:
National Spokesperson of Bhartiya Janata Party, Mr. Prakash Jawrekar started elaborating the benefits of this proposal canceling all the dangerous aspects of this bill. He didn't take a second to reject the charges that Narendra Modi has actually come out with this plan to start another dirty game of religion based politics.

On the other hand Spokesperson of Gujrat State Congress started opposing the Act as obvious but grounds of his opposition are much alarming. He neither uttered a single word regarding the Rights of every individual nor questioned once who the hell are they (Narendra Modi, Government or any Politician involved in this) to force anyone to go for Vote, how can they even dare to think these kind of mockery of democracy.

One thing he did genuinely, accepted the fact that he doesn't know exactly what the Constitution says about it and whether there is any provisions or not that any state government can pass this kind of Act.

Media's reaction:
Other than a single news channel no one else gave any attention to such big news. May be, running Tele Brands and Home Shopping programs are more important to them than this. And two eminent journalists who were running a special debate on the topic were hardly sensitive about the issue. They were continuously asking standard ridiculous questions to the Political Leaders giving them more space to convince the aam admi about the importance of this law with their disgraceful theories.

It's strange that through out the program the anchors never asked the leaders who have given them the right to play with the basic rights of every citizen. They seemed concerned mainly to find out how this Act would be beneficial for Modi and how would Congress and other parties will react to it.

They didn't show any intention of condemning the idea at once. They neither used any harsh and appropriate words against the leaders nor gave them any impression that media would not tolerate this kind of autocratic behaviour of the government in the name of democracy and raise their voice if this notorious idea would not be trashed out immediately.

Common men’s Outburst:
Misuse of power by the politicians is a known fact and somewhat synonyms of the word ‘Politics’. We hardly care when Politicians bring new Acts to gain more power every new day which also gives them increased authority to suppress aam admi more lawfully.

But Narendra Modi and his colleagues’ greed has reached to such a point that they have decided themselves to bring a new law which would make Voting a compulsory duty for every citizen, those who won’t go for voting, government would have the rights to punish them and take away their future voting rights. How insane? Who the hell are they to do so?

Actually, Narendra Modi and every politician like him has forgotten that people by using and also by not using their rights of voting choose them for governance only and never gave them any right to play with the basic rights of a civil society. They have no rights to lecture us and teach us forcefully about what is good for us and what is not. And also, if they are so tensed about our ability of utilizing the rights properly then they must resign from their offices with immediate effect as we have chosen them without knowing what voting right actually is! Are you ready for that Mr. Modi?

Problem is, we all are very busy in our fight for survival and it’s hard to get time for other things. But our lack of interest in the happenings of the surrounding is becoming more and more dangerous every passing day. Politicians are taking advantage of this situation and twisting the rules according to their own bloody interests.

We usually think that media is keeping eyes on these politicians and preventing them from any misdoing by raising voice and unearthing the conspiracies. Yes, they are doing it also but there prime focus is not social service only like earlier when it used to be; now main objective of media houses is to raise TRP and increase subscription so that maximum profit can be generated from it. After all it’s also a business. Jo beekta hai, wohi dikhta hai…

So, stop depending on media, thinking it would raise alarm whenever there would be any crisis; it’s quite possible that there won’t be any sound at all or you would be given all faulty data to misguide your conscience. Raise your voice against all these hazardous activities of the mechanism called government with the utmost strength you have. Otherwise… well, we all know.

I am condemning the ill will of Narendra Modi and his government here in my post and expressing my truest anger against his deadly idea of bringing the Act which would threaten us to punish if we don’t utilize our own rights or snatch away the voting rights from us forcefully showing a damn to our own opinion.

Listen Narendra Modi saab and all you same boat brothers, you have the power but don’t forget it’s given by us and do not dare to play with our rights as we haven’t given you that right yet and we won’t ever.

I did something four years ago...

2009-12-12T18:51:00.014+05:30

During the 3rd semester of my Masters Degree, once I got a chance to work in a commercial bilingual feature film called "Kambdi Kalaai" as an Assistant Director. The opportunity came to me all of a sudden and I was really thrilled getting the opportunity.

The Director was a NRI girl came from America and she had earlier worked in some projects of Zee Telefilms I heard. The Chief Assistant Director who actually took my interview and selected me was a struggling director who had a huge experience in the fields of reporting and film making in his kitty.

During the pre-production phase I was traveling from Noida to GK everyday. Sometimes Production used to provide cab for my pick up and drops and sometimes I needed to take care of my own conveyance, but that was hardly any problem. I was reading scripts, finalizing details and most importantly, thinking of the project 24X7 and I was very happy.

As everything was finalised well before Director Ish's landing in India so pre-production didn't take much time. Soon the whole unit moved to a firm house in Chattarpur for the shoot and my traveling continued.

Everything was new to me. Yes, I had worked in some small projects earlier in my institute and I did know about the basics of camera, lighting, scripts, screen play etc. but working in a professional environment with a professional team was something very delightful and a learning experience.

Everything was going very smoothly and almost 70% film was shoot. Then one night at around 1 am I faced a situation which was unbearable and quite humiliating for me. My Director and Assistant Directors had nothing to do with it, Production Manager seemed unaware of everything and Production In-Charge requested me to pass the night somehow and everything would be sorted next morning. (Lets avoid the details).

Passing one night was not a big deal and I was trying to convince myself that bade bade desho mein aisi choti choti batein ho jati hai, if you wish to go ahead you need to go through potholes sometimes and etc. etc. ..... But I was really hurt that none of those guys with whom I was working for last so many days didn't care about my problem seriously.

After thinking from several aspects and spending more than an hour walking on the dark and narrow roads inside the jungle of Chattarpur, I decided to quit. It was almost 3 o'clock. I took up my bag and left the place forever.

Afterward, it's a simple story. I have been contacted by those guys a few times and they showed sympathy. Chief Assistant Director said sorry for the incident as he could do nothing and tried to motivate me to forget about the whole thing and to join the unit again.

Many friends who were around that time were also trying to convince me to give it another try. But hearing the whole story form one of my friends, my Maa called me and told that I had done the exact thing, she's proud of me and advised not to compromise with dignity ever in life. Sounding filmy I know, but that's the most motivating factor which helped me to forget the incident like a bad memory and I never told this story to anyone.

Now after almost four years, suddenly I have come to know about the film from one my colleagues. As decided at the beginning the movie was released from United States in DVD format. My colleague downloaded the film and gave it to me. Reaching room I was watching the movie and identifying the small details of the locations, movements, dialogues... Many memories were coming in mind which were long forgotten.

Film ended and I was thinking about the quality of the movie, whole thing came out quite nice... Then suddenly, I saw my name on the screen as Assistant Director. I was speech less for a few seconds and then an enormous happiness surrounded me. I really didn't expect this thankfulness from the unit and that's the reason I never tried to find about it in last four years.

I have no shame in accepting that I am delighted to see my name in a commercial feature film's credit list which reassures the credibility of once a Mass Communication student who used to dream to be a film maker one day.

Though the film is not a master piece nor recommendable to everyone but still if any of my friends wish to give a glance to it can click in Kambdi Kalaai.

IT’S ONLY A DEADLY JOKE...

2009-11-29T22:48:00.007+05:30

A nine years old boy was awakened by his parents hurriedly in the morning. He was rushed to take his breakfast immediately and his mother started dressing him at the same time. Everybody in the family was talking loudly and seemed to be in tension. Whatever…!, the boy thought.

A few minutes later the whole family moved towards his aunt’s house. Reaching there the boy was very happy as there were two of his cousins and they had already planned how to make fun and what would be that day’s prime games. They were five altogether, more or less of same age, so it didn’t take much time to start their fun.

They were busy in different games, so, none of them realized what’s actually going on around them. A dangerous thought was trying to come in the boy’s mind every now and then but he was determined not to think of it. It’s awesome that his mother forgot about his school and he was praying to god not to remind her about it. He didn’t want to leave this happiness for any boring place like school.

But this small kids’ happiness didn’t stay longer. No body actually told them anything but the tension which was building around them from the morning started showing its fierce nature by the afternoon. They were very small to avoid that heat.

The boy and his group came to know that they were going to be attacked. What’s called attack? His two years elder cousin taught him, when a group of people start beating you to death, burn your house and loot everything then it’s called attack. Why would anyone attack them? Because, Babri Mashjid had been demolished by hindus last day and muslims were out on the roads to take revenge and so did the hindus, riot had been spread all over. But they hadn’t demolished Babri Mashjid, where is it anyway?....

Questions after questions kept coming but the boy’s elder siblings and cousins didn’t know maximum answers. They were not aware of the meanings of many words. What on earth is called 144? The group grasped many words from their parents, Ratan Mama, Matin Chacha, Chitta Dadu, Suab Uncle and many other people gathered there.

By two o’clock it was clear to the boy that he was going to die any moment. First he was thinking what should he do, hide somewhere or run speedily leaving everything behind; but nothing came to him as appropriate. Then one of his aunts showed him the way, she started crying loudly and the boy followed the same. He cried passionately for the sake of life. He didn’t want to lose his mother, father, brothers, grand ma, aunty, … anyone.

The boy might have slept afterwards, so he can’t recall now what exactly happened later that day. How his life had not been taken by the attackers, who burnt so many nearby houses that day and what’s the reason that he never saw many known faces after that horrifying day?

The boy is grown up now, many things changed but one thing is for sure, that very day of 6th December 1992 has changed his whole family’s destiny and its path everyway. His family moved from their ancestor’s place immediately after the riot for ever. Left behind everything they knew and also they were known for.

The family actually left the town to forget every bad memory and to live a decent life where they need not to live with fear of death, where people don’t get mad in the name of religion. But they were wrong. The people of new place were not any better than the old place. Settling down in a new place is never easy for anyone and the family also went through many disgusts.

If the demolition hadn’t taken place and massacre could be prevented, the boy could have become a different man today. The boy learnt many things in last 17 years but could not find two of his childhood questions’ proper answers yet. Why did some people demolish Babri Mashjid on 6th December 1992? And why did people attack each other like animals after the demolition of an old mosque forgetting their brotherhood and humanity?

The Liberhan Commission Report has been finally tabled in the Parliament, after 17 long years, 48 extensions and over 80 million rupees spending. Hearing the news, the boy couldn’t decide first, what should be his reaction, should he smile, should he become angry or should he cry loudly. After a few hours and surfing more than dozen of News Channels, he came to know about every development regarding this incident and he hopelessly switched off the television.

Report Says:
The report says nothing new. Mr. M.S. Liberhan took seventeen years only to articulate what every Indian knows very well. Liberhan Report says, BJP’s top rung, including formar PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi were fully aware of the demolition plans. Kalyan Singh, then CM of Uttar Pradesh had full knowledge of the plans but forced his administration into ineffectiveness. Mentioning the involvement of Shib Sena, VHP and RSS top brass, report also says that BJP’s top leaders were tools in their hands. The Report has given clean chit to Narasimha Rao government……

Reactions:
BJP has already started crying how this report was leaked to media before formal tabling in the house, they as usual described this report as politically motivated and demanded Home Minister’s resignation. BJP’s leaders are questioning the grounds of mentioning Atal Bihari Vajpayees involvement in the incident whereas he has not been interviewed once. Kalyan Singh on the other hand, called press conference and made clear that he is proud of what happened on 6th December 1992. And funniest of all, VHP, RSS and Shib Sena cadres are openly challenging centre government to prove their role in the demolition……

Media Says:
BJP unlikely to gain as Ram Mandir issue has lost its electoral charisma long ago. But it could help a little to Advani in building BJP again. Sangh Parivar may also come together. Samajwadi party’s alignment with Kalyan Singh would cause its biggest loss ever and Congress could get Muslim Vote in Uttar Pradesh. Though Narasimha Rao was given clean chit but still he could be an embarrassment……

Ultimate Result:
1) Political and religious parties have again got the ISSUE for throwing dirt on each other and dividing aam-admi by spreading ridiculous ideologies and delivering horrific definitions of religion.

2) Nothing awful would ever happen to the criminals behind this preplanned demolition of the Babri Mashjid and the massacre that took place after the incident which took more then two thousands lives nationwide and made lakhs of people homeless all of a sudden.

3) The culprits would become more wealthy, more stronger and more powerful day by day no matter government or law take any action against them or not.

4) The aam-admi would thank their god that the almighty had saved them from the massacre that day and again forget the whole issue as they did seventeen years ago. The victims and their family could not forget it so easily, so, they would weep silently and pray that may their next generation don’t see anything like this.

The boy now tries to avoid this Bloody issue related programs in television but doesn’t succeed always. He witnesses what different leaders are saying about the report and its consequences with his friends and laugh or throw slang to them along with everyone. Deep in his heart, the boy worries about his parents and sometime feels as they are crying remembering the past they had gone through. He can’t directly ask them, so he frequently calls home and enquires about his heart patient parents.

IPL: Delhi to Durban

2009-03-29T14:15:00.011+05:30

Last week, I woke up in the morning hurriedly because of my libertarian friend’s non-stop crying. He was very happy and sharing his thoughts loudly with everyone around and also by catching his dearer on the phone. It took a few minutes to understand what the matter is; breaking news of Sunday morning was BCCI has decided after so many days’ tiring debate and discussions with Home Ministry and state governments to shift IPL matches from India this year. My friend was happy because at last, BCCI has announced that they would conduct the matches whenever they wish and not when the govt. would permit them to do, which is a courageous step of disobedience to the present system of government monopoly. My first reaction to my friend’s joy was “Oh....” and lit up my cigarette.

Week has passed with all the speculation of new venues for IPL, confirmation of dates, filmy dialogues of leaders with master piece performances of sadness in the media with all blah, blah, blah... A few colleagues of my office who sit in front of my desk (unfortunately) had no work during the whole week as always (I guess!) and raped my brain for last five days with the chatpata discussions of future of Indian cricket, coming Lok-Sabha Election and their own prescribed best solution for all these chaos.

I have tried to think many a times during the week that what is my opinion about all these but hardly got any answer. A few things which are very aam and often comes to aam-admis like me kept moving in my mind, these are-

a) How is it possible that India which has third largest armed force in the world and also claims itself to be the next superpower, can’t provide security for a cricket league during election days? Do we really lack security personnel for two major events at a time? When maximum state govts. deny to assure security for the players and audience or tactfully ask for a large number of forces from centre and also our Home Ministry forces for rescheduling the match dates again and again and ask for postponing the tournament after general election, then where is the space to believe that we are not a week nation? If P. Chidambaram’s statements have been considered as shocking news, then can we blame ourselves?

b) Shifting the IPL matches to a foreign soil by BCCI has made a setback for the govt. and specially, when the election is at the doorstep. Congress and the other parties of present govt. understand this well and that’s why they are giving their clarifications. On the other hand, BJP and other opposition parties are not ready to spoil the chance of utilising this incident as their newest weapon to attack govt. All of a sudden it seems that all our beloved leaders’ attention have been vested on cricket as if there is nothing else to think of, fuck off basic needs and essentials of aam-admi, CRICKET ZINDABAD! Our netas will always be kursimaniac selfish creatures, so, we hardly expect anything productive from them. But the funniest (!?) moment of this whole episode is, our Narendra Modi saab describing it as a national shame. He must have gone crazy, otherwise how can he forget Godhra-Kandh so soon?

c) If other countries call us cricket crazy nation then we can’t complain. Cricket is no more a game of 22 players here, it has become a national festival and also a sure shot business for many people. Lalit Modi, Chairman of IPL has suddenly emerged (don’t know from where) as the newest rescuer of cricket in India and after facing a few technical difficulties decided to shift match venues from Delhi to Durban and Jaipur to Johannesburg. Now, what was the hurry of BCCI that it couldn’t postpone the series only a month. There were some problems; first, from June onwards Team India is booked for a number of number of tournaments abroad and wouldn’t be free until September; second, there were pressure from the franchisees who have bought players for thousands of crores for IPL and don’t want to pay higher amounts to the players for this delay; third, and most important, BCCI’s own interest of making money as soon as possible. An estimation says that BCCI is going to earn 300 crore less from this IPL Season 2 because no country can beat India in number of audience, no matter it’s happening in South Africa or any other country. But that hardly matters BCCI because of it’s shock proof healthy balance sheet. And if they need some more money in future, then there will always be the possibility of conducting IPL Season 2.5.

Moral of the story- when anyone, be it politicians or BCCI official is expressing their sadness because of Indian people’s bad luck that they are not going to see all the best players from around the world in their home ground this year and blaming each other, they are doing nothing but business, business of power and business of money. Fuck off all those speeches they are delivering because everyone of them is responsible for playing with the emotions of cricket loving aam-Indians......

Last night I was watching a nice programme in Discovery channel when my GF rushed in my room and changed the channel. I asked her what’s the matter! She replied with anger that I don’t let her see anything and now, she would watch news channels, she wants to know what’s the latest updates of IPL matches. My reaction was “Oh...” and I lit up my cigarette.

Reality Pics

2009-02-10T15:27:00.005+05:30

Dear Buddies,
Presenting some Pics which I caught believing they would depict the real India and the life of AAM-ADMI. Hope, you would recognise yourself somewhere around the scene.

Romantic Footpath

Unreserved Indian

Protests of ....

Child Labour

Sleeping in peace? Wake Up Man! It's Blue Line

Gally Market

Some more next time......

BE CAREFUL, IT’S OUR HISTORY NOT FICTION!

2009-01-04T20:49:00.013+05:30

Last week I had a big fight again with my Libertarian friend. This time there were five of us and everyone had their own opinion as always. The sound became louder with every passing moment as the alcohol and Ganja was showing their nature and no one was ready to be defeated by other. The ‘discussion’ started because of a news in The Times of India (Delhi edition 27-Dec-08, 1st and 11th page) which says “Pak textbooks foster hate against India”. During this long argument hundreds of points and angles came across but I forgot almost all of them except only a few. I can remember, at the ending phase of our ‘discussion’ we were shouting about the role of government in education, should there be any and if yes then how much….. The impact of the news and our discussion could be understood from the fact that my libertarian friend didn’t join us in our New Year eve Party.

Briefly the news for which we were arguing-

The officially prescribed textbooks of Pakistan, especially for school students are full of references that promote hate against India in general and Hindus in Particular. Compulsory subjects like Pakistan studies and social studies are given special importance by Education Policy of Pakistan pursued since 1977 and these subjects are injecting the culture of hate and the ethos of inequality on the ground of religious faith, leading to them getting deeply ingrained in the Pakistani psyche and mindset.

The news also highlights on how History is being taught by the Pakistan government to its young innocent minds. These books explain-

* The Congress was actually a party of the Hindus.
* The British began on the one hand loot of all the things produced in this area, and on the other hand, in conjunction with Hindus, to greatly suppress Muslims.
* Muhammad Ali (Jinnah) felt Hindus wanted to make Muslims slaves. As he hated slavery, he left Congress.
* On Indo-Pak wars, the books give detailed description and openly eulogize “Jihad” and “Shahadat” and urge students to become “Mujahids”.

And there are many more dangerous and garbled version of history which has been prescribed to the children of Pakistan starting from Class III to promote hate and negative mindset. I am really unable to express my feeling for the sentence “Previously, India was part of Pakistan…”

I don’t know the reason but while reading the news I was not very surprised as it was somewhat expected. But a particular portion of the news caught my attention seriously. It is-

* In 1965, the Pakistani army conquered several areas of India, and when India was on the point of being defeated, she requested the United Nations, to arrange a ceasefire. After 1965, India with the help of Hindus living in East Pakistan, instigated people living there, and in Dec 1971 invaded. The conspiracy resulted in the separation of East Pakistan from us. All of us should receive military training and be prepared to fight the enemy. It also claims, in the 1971 war, the Pakistan armed forces created new record of bravery and the Indian forces were defeated everywhere.

Several comments and views have been registered in different media in reaction to the news from the morning it has been published. But I am feeling a bit strange that not a single reaction has come from Bangladesh. Or it would be safer if I say, I couldn’t find one.

Is it possible that no one in Bangladesh came to know about this news or no one felt the urge to make their point anywhere? I can understand about the aam-admi of Bangladesh who has no such means, but what about it’s media personnel whom I sincerely respect for their effective and impressive works, what about Bangladeshi intellectuals, it’s educationalists, politicians, government….. and most importantly what about Bangladeshi youth?

My intentions of writing this post are pretty simple.

Intention no.1: I wish to circulate the news to my friends. Instigating anyone is not at all my motive because deciding what’s right and what’s wrong is their own responsibility but for reaching any point, they should at least know what’s happening.

Intension no.2: Knowing what Bangladeshi people think about the news. I strongly believe that this particular news is not only important for India but it also seeks attention of Bangladeshi people.

The books I have read from childhood say People of East Pakistan sought independence for the sake of their mother tongue and in protest of West Pakistan’s continuous injustice and negative attitude towards Bengali people. What I am feeling might be felt by other Indians also who have come across the news but I don’t know about Bangladeshi citizen. What Bangladeshi people have gone through in past, what they have achieved, what they have lost is known by them only and no book can explain the history better. So, I want to hear from them.

I am not well...

2008-10-11T21:26:00.004+05:30

Why I made this blog? I really don’t know. I went to the bus stop with my girlfriend one morning. When I was returning back after leaving her for her office I lit a cigarette and recalling the subject matter of our last argument. A particular phrase stuck to my mind and I started thinking about other relative things. Several issues kept coming and I kept thinking about all those. When I reached home there were many things in my mind which I wanted to share with others. I forgot about last argument, I forgot to sleep; I was only thinking and finishing the packet of cigarette. I really wanted to write down the every single things coming in my mind so that those can be saved for the sake of my future. Then I thought, what’s the benefit? No one is going to read my bogus and boring writing. These will hardly be noticed by anyone and one day I, myself would forget about this morning and all these thoughts. Then suddenly the idea of blog came to my mind. It suits my condition. Here I can write whatever I wish to without any difficulty, no matter what and how bad I am writing. Fuck off all those who don’t care my thoughts and think this is nothing but another addition of madness in my bogus and boring life.

Today, I am somewhat happy that not much people know about my blog and hardly anyone reads it, because today, I am writing here those things which I can’t tell anyone and also can’t put inside me. It’s really painful. I don’t know whether I am doing the right thing or not but I am really unable to stop myself from sharing my inner feelings here as I have no other means. After all, it’s my blog and my own space. Fuck you all off who think, this is not the right place to express inner pain.

I couldn’t go to my home this year in durga Puja. Neither could I celebrate Durga Puja here in Delhi. I couldn’t go to my home not just because I have joined a company last month and didn’t get leave. There are some other things also which forced me to decide against my will. Actually, no one from my family called me there until it was very late and I got the job. My friends were planning there leave from much before so they were all gone, including my girl friend. But they called me a few times, to say, they missed me there. And I was busy here in my newly joined office and was creating POs from 9 to 6.

Before moving ahead, I must admit here that I am not very touchy about religion and love to be called an atheist. So don’t get any wrong impression about my character when I am repeating the word Durga Puja again and again. Durga Puja is not only a Puja to me and I believe this is true for many people. It means Sound of Dhaak, Durga Murti, Pandal, Lighting, Prasad, Thousands of people on the roads, New Dress, Reunion of lost Friends, Foreign Liquor, Bikes, Photographs, Girls, Egg Roll, Late Nights, Sex Talks, Fights, Dance, Childish Emotions and many more things.

Every Bengali was waiting for this Durga Puja. It came and now it’s over. But Puja came at a bad time this year. Or I can say my whole family went through very bad time during this Puja and no one could feel that it was really Puja. I was missing everything here and was cursing my luck and my Maa is bed ridden for last one week and is seriously ill there. Whenever I am calling home, she wants to talk to me but she can hardly utter words and I am not getting many of her words because her voice is too weak. But I can hear her cry clearly. I can’t recall when I have heard my Maa mentioning her sufferance so strongly last time. Has she ever cried like this before? I really can’t recall. I want to be with her and share her pain but I can’t. My Father’s leg has been swollen and is causing him severe pain and as a result he is also unable to walk properly. Churda is in very bad condition, I can understand. Calling doctors, getting medical tests done, changing medicines, cooking, performing daily Puja, taking care of Maa and Babu and after doing all these, must be thinking of, talking with and trying to manage some time for his girl friends and friends. He has surely sacrificed some great parties with his friends during Puja but I have heard that these duties couldn’t resist him from performing his scheduled Puja Special Fights and he has executed some wonderful punches and kicks twice during the Puja. Heads off to you BigB, you are really doing some great job. Honestly, I really don’t think I would ever be able to manage all these tasks so nicely. Thank You very much Churda.

I am missing you all. I love you all very much. Please Maa, don’t cry and get well soon and let me know as early as possible, when you are going to buy a new Saree with the money your worthless son sent to you from his first official salary…… I Promise you Maa, we all will surely be together in next Puja.

Happy Durga Puja

2008-10-05T19:35:00.012+05:30

My dear friends,

You would be sorry to know that this year I won't be able to go Karimganj, my hometown in Durga Puja.

In my 25 years' life, this is going to be the first time that I won't be celebrating the Durga Puja, the most important festival of every Bengali with my family members, friends and all those people whom I love most.

And this is just because I didn't get leave from my office. I am seriously going to miss every seconds of these auspicious days. I have already started feeling sorry and I don't know how much I'd be able to stop my emotions.

Buddies, you people are lucky that you are going to celebrate and enjoy the Puja with those whom you value most. So, don't spoil any single moment and enjoy the festival as much as you can. Remember, everyone is not so lucky like you...

....WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY DURGA PUJA....

Hos-Paataal………

2008-09-30T21:53:00.005+05:30

The story begins with my eye’s viral infection. My eyes have been attacked suddenly with millions (may be billions) of virus on 24th of August and my right eye failed to recuperate in such a dangerous attack and surrendered. As a result, my right eye started swelling with severe pain. I took the incident lightly and thought it would be alright after some time as every aam-admi does. But instead of recovering, the condition became worst and the pain was so unbearable that I have been forced to consult Doctor.

The Residential Society, in which I have taken room in last December, is at a very good place, if you consider it from the health care point of view. There are some private clinics on the right hand side of the society’s gate and a renowned government hospital on the left side. All of them are within five minutes walking distance.

On 26th of August I desperately left my room at around 9:15am for a private eye hospital as I could not sleep in the previous night due to serious pain. After leaving room I found myself in an awkward situation as there was no money in my wallet. Nearest SBI ATM in our area is inside the government hospital so I took the U-turn and went to the ATM.

While returning from the ATM, a strange thought came to my mind-let’s check my eyes in this government hospital. Pain was serious so experimenting with the system was not in my mind, only inciting factor was money. After thinking a few moments I found the idea somehow worthy if not exciting enough. My intuition was asking me what if I fail after investing my painful time. I made my mind with the logic that- what’s the value of time to an unemployed like me (as I was jobless at that time) and moreover if everything goes well, I’d save at least hundred rupees of doctor’s fee.

Finally I stood in the first queue at 9:28am and the system started playing with my pain. I have been made to stand in three queues (though no one and no signs had told particularly where to stand and no queue was consisting less than 50 people) before I could reach to doctor. And when I was in front of the doctor I was really puzzled whether he was listening to me or not. I made my best effort to make him understand my pain and was pleading for some effective prescription. He wrote something, hardly looking at the pad.

When I was about to leave and thanking him for his mercy, he informed me that all the medicine would be given free from the hospital’s dispensary. I was puzzled again, how could it be true! Anyway, I somehow found the dispensary and saw some huge lines; people were fighting there with each other, I don’t know why. I made my heart strong and stood in the fourth queue. After another long hour of struggle I got the medicine. To be honest I should write, I was able to collect the medicines which were being thrown out from the medicine counter.

When I returned to my room it was 12:58pm. I shared my whole experience with one of my friends happily as everything was done by mere five rupees. I was happy but my friend went speechless. He thought I was lying and I didn’t go to doctor. I was really very confused that why my friend was behaving like this and why the hell did he think I am lying. It took some time to make him believe that I am not lying and I have really consulted doctor and brought the medicines.

He described me one by one what a miracle has happened to me. Listen to his arguments-

a) An instant service without jugaar (know-how support) is impossible in the government hospitals.
b) Mostly absent doctors and stuff even if show up, hardly listen or treat you respectfully.
c) Medicine is mostly dispatched to private chemists instead of free distribution. Doctor’s particular direction for free counter delivery is strange.
d) Literacy even hardly matters; written directions, signs or symbols are rare.
e) Household gossips seem to be the duty of the doctors and the staffs for which they are paid. Any noise or outcry resulting from fighting outside queue is considered a disturbance in gossip.
f) In emergency govt. hospital is considered the last alternative. Anyone returning without a vomiting tendency is strange and rare.

These are only the outer facts of the Indian government hospitals. Now, when someone tries to get admission or luckily gets admission in the government hospital for some reason, what happens to him and his relatives can’t be explained because no language has the power to define such inhuman torture which are being done by the hospital authority. And I am also not trying to describe because every aam-admi is aware of this condition.

The background of my friend’s disbelief was now clear to me. Without knowing anything, I went to a government hospital, crossed all these barricades, consulted doctor and also taken the medicine from the hospital- and all these works have been done within mere three and half hours and also I returned to room without the feeling of vomiting tendency. This is really a great, simply…… a Miracle!

On 28th of August, after two days of my government hospital’s visit and taking sincerely the given medication, condition of my eye did not improve a bit where as the swelling improved and pain increased fourfold. My friends started scolding me for going to the government hospital and believing that the ‘third class’ government medicine would cure me, I might have gone crazy. They were forcing me physically to consult any private specialist as soon as possible. As every aam-admi I took the situation again lightly and decided to keep patience for some more time.

On 30th of August, after four days of my daring adventure, I started feeling better. The swollen eye was becoming normal and the pain was much bearable. I was truly happy that at last I was getting some relief. I thanked the govt. hospital from the core of my heart for curing me and was feeling very special that at least I’ve got something in return of the money I have been paying for last 25 years in the name of various taxes. I announced loudly to my friends about my recovery and also gave them a long speech on why shouldn’t we curse the system every time and to avoid avoiding govt. mechanism. I also tried to motivate them to utilize the Rights which have been provided to us by our Union Government……..

On 30th September, after one month of all those, I am desperately wishing to consult a private eye specialist because my eyes are not cured properly and I have been facing some problems for last one month. I think 30 days are quite a good time for wait and watch and neglecting the fact now and believing the govt. hospital any more could be dangerous.

I know my friends were right that I am an idiot. I went to the government hospital and believed that the government doctor and the medicines would cure me. But now I have learnt my lesson and going to a Private Eye Clinic as soon as possible. You people, do me a favor- please don’t tell any of my pals that I‘ve been behaving like a fool for last one month. I am not worried just because I fear that they will curse me or beat me but I am worried because I don’t want to wipe out the last (and the least) hope of my friends from the government hospitals.

Another sad day for the Court

2008-08-22T10:41:00.003+05:30

I didn’t sleep last night, again. My friends who know me, know well that this is a common thing of my lifestyle and some call me insomniac (I don’t complain as I really don’t know whether they are wrong or not!). They must be wondering why I am writing this particularly at the beginning! The reason is simple, I wish to make them aware that in most of the morning I wait for the newspaper thirstily and unless I have a look on it, I can’t think of sleep. Every day I hope that something great would be there in the paper and almost every day I get disheartened with the news. And this story has been continuing for last couple of years.

Today I was desperate (as always) that I would simply run my eyes on the paper while smoking the last cigarette of the day (or night or whatever you call it) and would finish both of these together and go to sleep. After opening the paper two news of front page instantly caught my attention. I have tried hard to brush aside them from my mind…… but failed. And here I am writing this post for my friends to make them know about it (though I know very well that they would hardly give any attention to this).

First News is- “HC bars top lawyers from court- R K Anand, I U Khan Hauled Up For ‘Criminal Contempt’ in BMW Case”; and
Second News is- “Ask mum to step in, court tells Ambanis”.

Briefly the news are as follows:
First News: The Delhi High Court convicts two high profile advocates- former Congress MP R K Anand (accused Sanjeeb Nanda’s Lawyer) and ace criminal lawyer, I U Khan (former public prosecuter in the case) for trying to influence key witness, Sunil Kulkarni, in BMW hit-and-run case. The collusion was exposed in a sting operation conducted last year jointly by a key witness in the case and a TV channel and the tapes were used as evidence by the court. Anand and Khan were found to have been “somehow or the other more than mixed up” in a bid to influence key witness Sunil Kulkarni to turn hostile and shield Sanjeeb Nanda who is facing trial on the charge of killing six persons in a road accident. Anand and Khan stripped of their ‘Senior Advocate’ tags and barred from appearing in high court and other subordinate courts for four months.

HC said about R K Anand in its 112 page verdict: “that he should indulge in sharp practices may have taken many in the legal fraternity by surprise.” As regards Khan who had been specially appointed a prosecutor in the case, HC said: “that he would betray the trust that the prosecution proposed in him, in the manner that he did, was perhaps beyond realm of contemplation of the prosecuting agency.” Referring to the principle of responsibility increasing with position, HC said: “We are dealing with senior advocates, who are expected to conduct themselves as gentlemen and role models for younger member of the Bar……they have not tendered any apology conditional or unconditional, expressed any contrition or repentance for their conduct.”

Second News: A Mumbai HC bench has asked the Ambani brothers, who have been squabbling since 2005 over an agreement for supply of natural gas from Krishna Godavari basin. The dispute concerns the agreement for supply of gas by RIL to Anil’s Reliance Natural Resource Ltd power plant. The court was hearing an appeal filed by RIL challenging a judgment came last October by the company court which directed the companies to negotiate and arrive at an acceptable agreement for supply of gas. Anil filed a cross-appeal questioning the direction for a negotiation. A bench headed by Justice J N Patel said: “Why don’t you go back to your mother? Both parties should settle. It’s not a family dispute. It’s a matter of national importance and a resolution will be in the public interest since natural gas is a national asset.”

Friends, the collusion exposed in the high profile case and the family dispute is not of my concern. Powerful accused would create pressure (forceful or monetary) on the victims or the witnesses to prove himself innocent and advocates would always be hired as a mean of pressure, that’s what they are meant for and siblings would fight over the possession of property and after every single case’s decision another case would be filed to secure their best interest. These are very common things and every aam-admi knows it very well. What happened in these cases are not very rare in our society and these are happening all around. So, what’s the big deal? The only difference is, in these cases big names are involved and media has brought the news in limelight, otherwise such cases are taking place everywhere in the country and no one is giving their slightest attention.

What has happened and what else could have been done is also not of my concern and I don’t want to add my opinion here as know nothing of the Acts, Sections Clause, etc. and fearing to type every single word as I sincerely wish not to contempt our judicial system unknowingly. The only and only thought came to my mind after reading these news is- how helpless must have our judges felt during the proceedings of the cases! Though collusion has become a part and parcel of our judicial system and no one is unaware of the practice, but the court has been forced to give verdicts after finding it’s senior advocates (R K Anand and I U Khan) involved in malpractice which has surely shaken the belief of common men again and in second case after three years continuous trial, when the court has failed to reach any result, it’s been forced to request the brothers to settle the issue with the help of their mother so that a matter of national interest can be solved.

Some people surely would not agree with the court’s decision and some would call these two verdicts as trend setter where the HCs have taken the practical route. But everyone would surely remember these two cases where the helplessness of the court has again come in front of the people, officially. It’s definitely another sad day for our Judiciary.

But guys, those who have started thinking that ‘achcha hua’ at least in two cases among the lakhs of cases pending nationwide wait…… (Picture abhi khatam nahi hua, kahani abhi baki hai mere dost), both the news concludes as follows:

First News: The district Bar Associations of Delhi have called for a strike on August 22, opposing the high court judgment. The coordination committee of all bar associations of Delhi said, ”courts don’t have the power to suspend the license of an advocate and therefore the direction issued by Delhi HC debarring the two senior advocates from practicing in Delhi Courts for a period of four months is a clear overstepping of its jurisdictional competence.”

Second News: The hearing in legal battle between the brothers turned high-octane with Jethmalani throwing in allegations of corruption against petroleum ministry. Jethmalani questioned the government’s opposition to a suggestion that RNRL be allowed to sell gas till such time that its plant is not fully set up. Jethmalani pointed out that “Government seems to be more concerned with the private interest of RIL than the commercial interest of a government company. This is scandalous.”

It’s now up to you to think again about our judiciary. Advocates and lawyers whom we believe as savior are acting as agents of the criminals. Matters of national interest are being fought between siblings over the years without any foreseeable result and government’s involvement is being seen with suspicion. Laws and Acts which are made for a securing the rights are not helpful enough to find a quick solution and appeal and cross appeal are making the situation more complex and lengthy. These are the reason that every common man fear the court and judiciary what has been built for justice.

I am not able to write anything strongly as I don’t have the knowledge of law but there are lakhs of people in India who know the laws and provisions well and can raise their voices to change the situation. We, the aam-admi have always supported the good things and this time also we won’t hesitate to appreciate your initiative. It’s your responsibility to help us to empathise the system. Sincerely, on behalf of every aam-admi I am appealing you to think again so that people’s faith on the Judiciary can be resumed and we can make a secured society altogether and also no such sad day comes again for our judiciary.

I am going to sleep now buddies. Hope, there would be some great news in tomorrow’s newspaper.

Happy Independence Day

2008-08-15T12:29:00.005+05:30

My Dear Friends,

WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY

INDEPENDENCE DAY

It’s been 61 year since we breathed in the free air for the first time as a nation after 200 years foreign rule. Independence, achieved with millions of people’s sacrifice and a battle fought with nothing but carriage and love for the country.

Independence Day, the whole nation is celebrating it with lots of enthusiasm. Kites are flying in the sky and special dishes are being made in the kitchens. Everybody irrespective of their age is doing their best to make this anniversary memorable.

Independence Day is a special day for every one of us. Children are going to schools wearing new dress for flag-hosting and singing patriotic songs, security wings are doing parades with their best effort to win shields and are being watched and applauded by thousands of people, Prime Minister has given speech for the nation and best wishes are coming from every important personality, television channels are broadcasting patriotic films and people hearing patriotic songs in their household, cars and wherever they are going, relatives and friends are sending their wishes through phones and messages……

Friends, I have been thinking from the morning what should I write in my blog today. Many things related to Independence Days (from my childhood) are coming in mind but I guess those memories are not worthy enough to describe here. I have been also thinking on the suggestions you made about my blog. Some of them are as follows:

1) Some of my friends complained that my posts are too big and I should try to write smaller ones, though they understand the importance and necessity of elaboration but still……
2) Some also suggested that I should write on some lighter issues because “bhari-bharkam” topics are not of their types and being honest, they fill bored most of the times……
3) Another loophole of my blog is, I always highlight on darker side of the story and never write on the good things happening around. It’s not correct because anyone, whose knowledge on a particular subject is limited, would get only the negative information……
4) Instead of giving information one by one I should present the data with tables so that it gives a quick view of the facts and save time……

Thank you very much for your feedback. I would try to take care of your suggestions in my future posts.

Friends, Jammu and Kashmir is in news and our mind, for last few days and lives of valley are going through a tough condition. A small piece of land has become a national issue and anti-India cries are being shouted on the roads of the state. Roads were blocked by people; marches are conducted by parties; bullets are being used to prevent the rioters and law and order is in its lowest level. War has been announced between separatists and unionists. And the latest is, boycott of Independence Day has been called by separatists. What is this land crisis? Who is guilty? Why is this happening? What is our government and political parties doing? My hands are itching to type something (at least) about all this violent activities but I am restricting myself as I am determined that I won’t write anything darker or frustrating today. After all it's Independence Day, a day of celebration.

I believe many of us don’t really know about the past and the actual reason of J&K problem properly, though we all know it’s a matter of concern and talk about it all the time. Today, I am not going to describe anything and just giving you a list of incidents which would help you to understand the background of this chaos and would also help you to talk with more efficiency in future discussions about J&K.

Ancient Era: The history of Kashmir written in the 12th century. It was then a centre of Sanskrit scholarship and later a Buddhist seat of learning.
14th Century: Islam became the dominant religion in Kashmir.
1588: Akbar invades Kashmir and it came under Mughal rule.
Early 19th Century: Sikhs took control of Kashmir. Maharaja Ranjit Singh had earlier annexed Jammu. Gulab Singh made raja of Jammu in 1820 and he soon captured Ladakh and Baltistan.
1846: After partial defeat of Sikhs in the first Anglo-Sikh war, Kashmir was given to Gulab Singh for Rs. 75 lakh. Thus the princely state of Kashmir and Jammu (as it’s then called) was formed.
Post 1857: After the first war of independence, kingdom came under the reign of British crown. Gulab Singh’s son Ranbir Singh became ruler.
1925: Ranbir Singh’s grandson Hari Singh ascended the throne.
October 1932: Kashmir’s first political party, the Muslim Conference was formed with Sheikh Abdullah as president. It was renamed National Conference in 1938.
August 1947: At the time of partition, India and Pakistan agreed that rulers of princely states would be given the right to opt for either nation. To put off a decision, Maharaja Hari Singh signs a ‘standstill’ agreement with Pakistan to ensure trade, travel and communication continue.
October 1947: Pashtun raiders from Pakistan’s NWFP invaded Kashmir. Hari Singh appeals to Governor General Mountbatten for help. India assured help on condition Hari Singh signs Instrument of Accession. He did and the Indian troops repulsed assault from across border. UN invited to mediate and insisted opinion of Kashmiris be ascertained. India initially said no to referendum until all raiders were driven out but Nehru two months later agrees to a poll. Pakistan contested accession, claimed Indian Army entered Kashmir.
January 01, 1948: India declared unilateral ceasefire. Under Article 35 of the UN Charter, India filed complaint with UN Security Council.
January 20, 1948: Security Council established a commission and adopted a resolution on Kashmir accepted by both countries. Pakistan was blamed for invading Kashmir and asked to withdraw its force. A year later, UN passed resolution calling for plebiscite.
March 17,1948: Sheikh Abdullah took oath as Prime Minister of J&K.
January 01, 1949: India and Pakistan concluded a formal ceasefire.
1949: Article 370 granting special status to J&K was inserted in Constitution.
August 09, 1953: Sheikh Abdullah arrested and imprisoned. His dissident cabinet minister, Bakshi Ghulam Mohammed, appointed Prime Minister. Abdullah jailed for 11 years, accused of conspiracy against the state in the ‘Kashmir Conspiracy Case’.
1965: Pakistan attacked India in operation codenamed “Gibraltar”. Following Pakistan’s defeat, Tashkent Agreement signed.
March 30, 1965: Article 249 of Indian Constitution extended to J&K. Designations like Prime Minister and President of the state replaced by Chief Minister and Governor.
1972: India nad Pakistan signed Shimla Agreement, promising to respect Line-of-Control (LoC) until Kashmir issue resolved.
February 1975: PM Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Abdullah signed accord. J&K made a ‘Constituent Unit’ of India.
1977: National Conference won the first post-Emergency elections.
1982: Abdullah died after naming son, Farooq, successor.
1987: Street protests and demonstrations in Srinagar against inefficiency and corruption against state government turned into anti-India protests.
1989: Armed militancy erupted. Kashmiri Pandits fled valley. State brought under central rule next year as army fought Pak-trained militants.
1990- Present: Armed militancy and terrorism, with international jihadi elements entering the arena, stalked the valley. Elections in 1996 and 2002 brought back some legitimacy to the democratic process but violence continues.

I can also provide you some other data but fearing that my friends might have already started scolding me because of this long post. Sorry Buddies. Let the description and other data remain for another post. Today, we all would enjoy and celebrate.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, again......

Watch it..!

2008-08-14T19:27:00.002+05:30

Friends, I hope you would like to watch this video.... Enjoy!

Terror Attack and the Security Concern

2008-07-31T18:46:00.028+05:30

FLASH BACK 01

Last 3 Days of My Life:

28 July 08- 6:55 am

I called my elder brother to inform that the North East Express was on time and Babu (My Father) and Mejhomaam (My maternal Uncle) have started their journey towards Assam. He was sleeping and received my message unmindfully. At 56 seconds of my call when I was about to disconnect, my BigB suddenly uttered “Listen” in an authoritative voice. I was confused. “What?” came from my mouth instantly. He told me not to loiter unnecessarily and not to think about films for next few days. What the hell? He must have gone crazy..... I was more concerned about my mobile bill but then also asked him unwontedly, what’s the matter? He started telling me about the Bangalore and Ahmedabad BOMB BLAST and news channels are telling every now and then that Delhi is under threat with some other places. Something bad is surely going to happen. Maa is also thinking about me... blah, blah, blah. I patiently assured that I would take care of myself and cut off the call. Mobile showed the summery of the last call- 6: 55 Seconds.

28 July 08- 4:14 pm

One of my friends called me and inquired about where I am? I was in cyber cafe and wishing to save my every precious moments by disconnecting the call as soon as possible. I asked her why did she call? She told me that while coming from her office she had noticed that Delhi Police was announcing the Threat of BOMB BLAST and advising people to inform the authority if anything unidentified object was seen. They were also prescribing the precautions to be taken and blah, blah, blah..... My friend went to my room and seeing lock in my door called me to made me aware. She felt this responsibility towards me because I don’t have any common sense and always loiter without informing anyone. I listened all her lecture and promised to go home direct, once the work is done and pushed the End button.

29 July 08- 3:37 pm

I picked up my Girl Friend’s call and an angry voice came from the other side. She was shouting because she had been calling from the morning and I didn’t receive any of her call. I tried to clarify that earlier I was sleeping and couldn’t get her last two calls because I was in bathroom. After a few minutes effort she became calm and asked me what I was doing? I told her that I was leaving for one of our friend’s room where I was planning to go for last six days. Hearing this, she hurriedly started persuading me not to go anywhere as everyone in her office is talking about the threat of BOMB BLAST. She made me count the prime targets of Delhi and she was almost crying when she uttered ”Delhi Metro” as I am a daily passenger of it. I tried to tell her that nothing would happen and I would come soon but she was not in a mood to listen to me. “What the hell?’ sentence came to my mind but I instantly deleted the thought and started thinking what reasonable argument I could put forward. My thought was in mid way when my girl friend gave me ultimatum that if I go anywhere, then se wouldn’t talk to me anymore and ..... We talked for a few minutes more and ended the conversation with a promise that I wouldn’t go to my friend’s house that day.

30 July 08- 2:58 pm

I took the call with anger and without hearing anything from that side started telling that my friend who was about to come has not reached yet. Actually, that was the third call from my friend’s house from the morning. My friend was coming from Assam and would stay with me for some days. I had already conveyed to his sister and father in last two calls that as soon as he arrives, to my room, I would make him call to his house. But then again they are calling and asking about him. Irritation was clear in my voice, may be that’s the reason, my friend’s younger sister passed the receiver to her father. Uncle started telling me in an apological voice that TV Channels are showing the threat of BOMB BLAST in Delhi in every two minutes. They were worried and that’s the reason they were making so many calls. Train was scheduled arrival in Delhi was 2 pm and it’s already 3 o’clock. I tried to assure him that a few hours late is very much normal and there’s nothing to worry. I would tell my friend to inform them as soon as reach here. Uncle suggested me for next few minutes to be aware and not to go outside home unnecessarily and also to stop my friend from loitering as he doesn’t know roads and all properly. What’s the benefit of taking such risks? I assured him I would take care and disconnected. A very heavy breath came out of my mouth.

30 July 08- 10:16 pm

One of my friends’ younger brother called to inform me that he has heared from his friends that a few bombs had been found in North Delhi area where accidentally I am staying now. He felt the urgency and called me immediately. I thanked him for his concern and also suggested him to take care as he is also staying in Delhi. I ended the call saying “Good Night”

PRESENT SITUATION

Headlines of the hour (Mukkhya Samachar)- 31 July 08

Instead of election oriented planning and sharper focus on economic reforms, terrorism has become the central agenda for the UPA Government with intelligence and geopolitical assessments indicating that terror groups are planning more attacks against Indian targets in the coming months.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Shivraj Patil held a High-Level meeting to review the internal security situation.

The Government’s assessments acknowledges and takes into account the deep tentacles Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islam (HuJI) have developed aided by the co-operation of home grown radical groups like Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

Cabinet Committee on Security said Maharashtra and Delhi were very much on the terror radar. More than 3000 extra Policemen has been deployed in Delhi and Army has been called for Ahmedabad.

27 new bombs found in Surat and new Emails are threatening fresh attacks in various parts of the country. Police department has been felt the need of more Bomb-Disposal Expert and telling Cyber Cafes to install CCTV.

Terror attack has injected a sense of urgency in the government’s plan to roll out its ‘Mega City Policing’ guidelines. The idea which centers around city specific policing plan with a separate budget- is aimed at providind helicopters, sophisticated gadgets and aerial surveillance equipments to police in seven big cities- Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai. It was decide to finalise the modalities of the plan at the earliest.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi floated the idea of setting up an Indian Intelligence Service (IIS) on lines of Indian Police Service (IPS). Government thinks that there is a need also to study how Mossad and KGB have been operating by creating a separate cadre.

Political Experts are saying, if the government continues to appear on the back foot over combating terrorism there would be a political price to pay.

FLASH BACK 02

Last 3 Years of Threat:

28 July 2005

Place : JAUNPUR

No.of Bomb Blast : 1

People Killed : 14

People Injured : 79

29 October 2005

Place : DELHI

No.of Bomb Blast : 3

People Killed : 61

People Injured : 200

7 March 2006

Place : VARANASI

No.of Bomb Blast : 3

People Killed : 20

People Injured : 100

14 April 2006

Place : DELHI

No.of Bomb Blast : 2

People Killed : 0

People Injured : 13

11 July 2006

Place : MUMBAI

No.of Bomb Blast : 7

People Killed : 150

People Injured : 300

8 September 2006

Place : MALEGAON

No.of Bomb Blast : 3

People Killed : 38

People Injured : 100

18 February 2007

Place : PANIPATH

No.of Bomb Blast : 2

People Killed : 68

People Injured : 125

18 May 2007

Place : HYDERABAD

No.of Bomb Blast : 1

People Killed : 16

People Injured : 50

25 August 2007

Place : HYDERABAD

No.of Bomb Blast : 2

People Killed : 42

People Injured : 50

11 October 2007

Place : AJMER

No.of Bomb Blast : 1

People Killed : 2

People Injured : 17

15 October 2007

Place : LUDHIANA

No.of Bomb Blast : 1

People Killed : 7

People Injured : 32

19 November 2007

Place : UP CIVIL COURT

No.of Bomb Blast : 6

People Killed : 13

People Injured : 40

13 May 2008

Place : JAIPUR

No.of Bomb Blast : 9

People Killed : 68

People Injured : 150

25 July 2008

Place : BANGALORE

No.of Bomb Blast : 8

People Killed : 1

People Injured : 9

26 July 2008

Place : AHMEDABAD

No.of Bomb Blast : 19

People Killed : 49

People Injured : 114

MORAL OF THE STORY

Terrorist Attacks kill many innocent people. Media starts crying day and night (Mainly because of TRP), Security agencies become hyper-active all of a sudden (To create an illusion among the ordinary people), Statements from the Intelligence wings show that they knew everything (To hide their inefficiency), Government holds some High-Level Meetings, express their concern for security, promises some effective measures, announces some compensation for the family of the victims, We, the aam-admi hear about all these and become fearful, sometimes gossip about this accidents…… And after a few days, we all- the aam-admi, Media, Security Agencies, Intelligence Wings and the Government forget about it, except the poor family members and friends who lost their beloved ones in such attacks.

Bomb Blasts, Terror attacks and the Threat to Security are common things to us. These accidents are occurring so frequently that we, the aam-admi are becoming habituated to these.

Despite numerous promises from the authority after the repeated attacks on the national security and loss of thousands of citizen, far from being assured we always hear stories of fear, complacency, apathy and negligence. We, the aam-admi are also very intelligent. We know nothing is going to change, so, we have stopped caring about such matters long ago and left everything for our Bhagya (Luck), Vidata(God) and Bhagya-Vidata(Government).

My friends would scold me because I’ve written so much just to tell this simple thing. Lack of Security is apparent in everyplace of the country, so, if a few bomb blasts, what’s the big deal? Isn’t it buddies?

WHAT THE HELL? Huh…..

Sarkar Raj (Government in a Democracy)

2008-07-12T09:27:00.001+05:30

After sixty years of independence, Democracy is still there, this is really appreciable. India’s name is being used as a successful example by many countries. And knowing some countries’ condition from our neighborhood and around the world anyone would agree that India surely deserve this appreciation.

The word ’Democracy’ has thousands of definitions but I personally like “It’s a Government of the people, by the people and for the people” taught in class IX’s Social Studies. I have been taught many things but forgot most of them. The upper sentence is one of those rests unforgotten; the reason may be it’s the simplest. Anyways, ‘Democracy’ simply means a government of all and equality of RIGHTS in society. And ‘Government’ which is a noun means system of governing; persons governing state; particular ministry in office. And lastly ‘Govern’ (verb) means rule with authority; conduct policy and affairs of (state etc.); influence or determine; curb, control.

I strongly believe that bookish knowledge and practical knowledge is very much different and my belief becomes stronger when I look at the definitions of three words ‘DEMOCRACY’, ‘GOVERNMENT’ and ‘GOVERN’ and compare them with the practical meaning of these three.

Democracy in Indian context means that we the citizen of India are not living under any dictatorship or in communist society and have the RIGHT to elect our government by using the power of vote. Now, the question is- Do we really elect our government all the time? Answer is- Hardly. And if anyone dares to ask- Do we elect RIGHT persons for the governance? The answer is- No, most of the times. In every democracy majority always decides who would be elected, we also follow the same rule but the problem is Majority here doesn’t always means what Majority really is. A mere 50-60% vote casting is considered very good in our country and the worst is there are thousands of examples where the percentage has not crossed single digit’s limit in many areas from the independence. And there are also thousands of examples where the candidates were being elected with a single digit mandate. Our Election Commission’s repeated announcement of FREE and FARE Election sounds unrealistic and funny to us as we know elections are always fought with ‘PAISA’ and ‘LATHI’ and sometimes ‘BANDOOK’. It’s simple, the more one candidate can use these weapons; the more becomes his possibility of winning. So, when these elected representatives form a Government after lots political equations, bargaining and securing there best deal of power without considering the wishes of aam-admi once, can it be a Government of all?

Being a citizen of democratic country we all have heard about FREEDOM, EQUALITY, LIBERTY and RIGHTS from the very beginning but no one has experienced these fully. These are the words written in our constitution which has tried to ensure us a society of equality but failed considerably, if not fully. These are the words we hear in our leaders’ speech all the time and forget instantly. These are the words we have been taught from very early stage of our life so that we can feel good about our country at least theoretically but starts omitting from our minds as soon as we start seeing the real picture. Aam-admi can exercise only that much Freedom, Equality, Liberty and RIGTHS which our government and politicians allow. And they allow only that much which doesn’t affect their ineffectiveness. Why? Ssshhhh, you have no RIGTHS to ask that.

When we think about ‘Government’, the first things come in our mind is corruption, power, luxury….. Isn’t it? So, to gain all these in the name of government in a democracy, Political Parties are needed. There are more than five hundred registered political parties in India. These parties are of different types, viz. Nationalist, Socialist, Communist, Secular, Religious and Regional and so on. And then there are sub-divisions depending on their ideologies. Though every political party is born on an ideology which they think are better than the others, the main objective of all these parties are to serve the people, the meaning of which we all know very well.

Development is never an election issue in India. Issues are religion, caste, region, language, etc. There is not a single party in India which doesn’t use these sentiments to get votes, no matter whether they call them secular, religious, communist or communal and they succeed all the time. In the name of development, our political leaders everytime repeat the same speech and promise us ‘Roti, Kapda aur Makaan’, which means a prosperous future where there will be no hungry and poverty and there will be happiness, satisfaction and peace all the way. We know, they are lying but still eat their words and go to complete the formality and cast our votes.

Once the candidates are elected, Horse-Trading, Shifting Parties and Power Sharing negotiations begin. And when all these settles down some unwanted (sometimes), ineligible (most of the times) and power hungry (All the times) people form government and becomes our SARKAR to rule a country of 113 crores people. They conduct policies and affairs which benefits them, their respective parties, their relatives and not the aam-admi. They determine and influence our activities. And finally, they control our lives. This is called Democracy- a Government of the people, by the people and for the people after sixty years of independence.

Everyone knows these facts, then what’s the point of writing all these? There is a point but first I should write something which everyone doesn’t know.

My last job which I quit was in a Political Research Organization where I used to work as a Research Coordinator. Once I was conducting surveys in the interior of one of the most backward states of India. I sent my subordinates to collect samples and was waiting for them inside the car. Suddenly one of my colleagues came to me and requested to go inside a house nearby. When I entered the house five people surrounded and greeted me with crying voice. After the formal introduction was done, head of the family a 70-75 years old man started telling me his son’s story. His son went to Saudi Arab 4 years ago in search of destiny and started working as a labour. Some days later he sent some money and the whole family was very happy. Suddenly, a letter came to them from a respective ministry of Govt. of India, stating the news of his son’s death in an accident. Everyone was shocked. The sky fell on them as he was the only earning member of the family. They couldn’t see any rays of hope. Hardcore reality of life soon forced the family to overcome the initial shock and the father came out of home to inquire about his son’s death and the dead body of his beloved. He has been made run office after office but he could not get any more words about his son from anywhere. He has not permitted any meeting with many people whom he thought could provide news of his poor son’s dead body. His son’s body never came back to his house.

He has been trying for last three years and telling his story to everyone with a hope that someone would help him to know about his son’s last journey. He now wants nothing but the news of his son’s dead body, whether it has been buried properly or not, so that he can die peacefully. He gave me some papers relating to the accident. I tried to make him understand my incapacity and limited reach but he requested me to bring them with me and to show them to someone whom I think can help. He also showed me that he has made several copies of these papers from his earnings from pulling rickshaw so that he can give whenever anyone comes. When he completed his story I noticed that his wife, widow daughter-in-law, daughter, all were crying silently while doing their jobs. His 5 years old grandson was seated beside me and listening his father’s death’s story with blank eyes. I was totally speechless as I was not able to think of the situation where an old father is struggling for last three years to know about his son’s dead body whose death occurred in a foreign country and is known to our government and must have been informed in detail by the Govt. of Saudi Arab immediately after his death. How can it be possible? How can any government be so irresponsible towards its citizen? This is inhuman!

When I was leaving, the old lady, mother of that poor son clasped my hands told me that everyone but the father in the family has lost their hopes that any news would come again but they still pray five times everyday so that the old father can die hearing his son was buried properly and according to the norms of Islam. She cried for help and told me that they can’t give me anything in return of this help except duaa (blessings). I left the place promising that I would try.

Returning Delhi, I have shared this story with many people with a hope that any way would come out. There were some politicians, some high ranked officials and my seniors and friends who are working in different reputed media organization. No one paid much attention to this story. Lots of people are dying everyday, who cares! People are not interested in such cases. Moreover a three year old death story can’t increase TRP, then what’s the point of wasting time?

The point of writing about Democracy, Government and telling you one of my experiences is to remind you once again that this is not the system our ancestors dreamt of, this is not the format of society we deserve. We all know many definitions and their actual meaning, we all know many such stories of injustice but we never know how we should react. Actually, we have become habituated of all these and started believing that it’s normal but it’s not true. And our souls know that. Nothing heroic is required. If every aam-admi starts understanding the situation and changes themselves and their surroundings according to the need in their respective field, then the task is not quite difficult and there are many such examples around the world. Time is moving fast and if we don’t realize the condition soon and raise our voice immediately, it would be very late.

Remember, the old father has not quit his hope yet and is hoping for a day when the Government would change and someone sensible would take the charge of the ministry and he would be informed about his son’s dead body.

Our Law and Order

2008-06-14T18:00:00.001+05:30

Whenever I get the chance, I visit the porn sites what I believe everyone does and those who don’t should start doing immediately. As I don’t have my personal computer and internet connection, so, I have to conduct this sin in public cyber cafes and for this I select only those cafes which have partitions which are made to give us privacy. In these cafes you can fulfill your inner wishes without disturbing or affecting any other person.

As far as I know my girlfriend doesn’t know about it yet but I am quite sure that whenever she would catch me, she would say it’s not RIGHT though there was separate room. She would also say it’s against morality and a shameful act and would arrange for some punishment. Well, I have to obey her judgment as I have already given her that much RIGHT. Our police department is exactly same minded and would act exactly the same way and this time I also have to obey the judgment though I have not given the authority any such right from my side. The difference would only be the nature of punishment. My girlfriend and police has something more in common, they both accept bribes. Here is also the difference is nature of bribes. Both their greed for power is similar, difference is only the nature and so on. I can write a whole article on their similarities but that won’t be RIGHT and that’s not the point also. The point is the mathematical formula ‘if X=1 and Y=1, then X=Y’ doesn’t imply here. I mean my girlfriend doesn’t equals to police department. And one thing is for sure, this formula implies to everyone, except for those whose girlfriends are in deed working in police department. RIGHT from the beginning I have noticed that my girlfriend and other friends (girl) don’t like police. In fact they hate these people. They don’t even like Army, CRPF, BSF or any other people wearing these kind of uniform brings horror to them and changes color of their face immediately. I believe many people would be agree with me, though I have no intension to generalize anything just because of a few incidents. Anyways, when I tried to find out the reason, many of them replied that those who work in these wings are not human, they are cruel, they don’t respect women, they don’t have hearts and so on. One of my friends thinks a bit different. She believes though earlier statements are true but her father who is in police department is exceptional. She is going to be married soon with an IPS officer and I am quite sure that she will soon uphold her husband’s position for being an Exceptional amongst all the unexceptional.

Politicizing of these agencies, corruption level of these wings, ineffectiveness of these forces, etc etc. are known to all. So, better not spend much time in detailing. One thing is for sure that every aam-admi irrespective of men and women fears those “Wardiwalas”. It’s a different matter that we, the men, don’t accept the fact in front of others, especially to girls. Every one of us tries to avoid them as far as possible. People don’t call security men when they need help because they feel insecure in front of them. Is this RIGHT? We have made security agencies for a secure society and are paying every time to maintain and empowering the system and their authority and in return they are terrifying us. And this horrible system would be as it’s for an unknown period of time because ask anyone about it, he would simply reply, ‘what can we do? We are aam-admi, who would listen to us? Let it be how it is.’ In addition to these he would surely tell you a story where either he/she or someone known to him/her has been tortured by this authority. I wonder sometimes, how many of us really know that we the aam-admi are paying for these Wardiwalas?

Education System of India

2008-06-14T17:58:00.001+05:30

One fine morning my parents found me big and capable enough to carry a school bag. They hurriedly calculated something and told me that from that day onwards my Date of Birth is a different one and I have to remember it always because it would be important during my matriculation and if I say my original birth date I wouldn’t be allowed to sit for the exam because there is a rule that you can’t pass 10th before a certain specified age no matter how intelligent you are. That was the start of learning government rules. I believe many of my fiends’ parents had to go through this calculation. Anyways, I was admitted in a Bengali medium Primary School. Our teachers were very much aam-admi outside the school compound but don’t know what was the matter, once they were inside the classroom, they were totally a different individuals. If you couldn’t memorize something assigned, you are liable to face his curse. Students would be beaten by teachers for smallest mistakes and that’s the rule. Sometime I used to think it’s not RIGHT but at the same time I was also convinced that teachers have all the RIGHT to beat you for anything and nothing. Actually being beaten or not beaten solely depends on teachers’ mode, nothing else. Anyways, days went by and on another fine morning I sat for Metric exam and no one stopped me. I was so happy about my parents’ knowledge of rules.

During my academic career I have memorized many things and learned only a few. Because without memorizing you can’t score marks and what matters is mark not the knowledge. Government rules and regulations are most important among the few things I have learnt. Without knowing these you can’t survive in a country like ours. I have also learnt that what a child meant to be and what a child wish to be doesn’t actually determine what he becomes in real life. The fate of a child is being written by some other factors. Caste factor is obviously a dangerous one. We all know about it RIGHT from the beginning, we all know that V.P. Singh Government saw the explosion of Mondol Bomb, the motive behind which was to create a caste matrix that could make V.P. Singh’s seat unassailable for next a few decades but this Commission’s report sat the fire which is still being used by our own political parties to burn us. I have also learnt that different Educational Board, their scoring pattern and standard of education also plays havoc to students. I have learnt many such things.

Sometimes I feel lucky that at least I found schools and colleges to enhance my knowledge. There are thousands of villages in India where there is no school at all, there are thousands more where there are schools but no teachers and the height is that there is thousands of school running smoothly but only on papers. When I was in college, Government of India first launched ‘Mid-Day Meal’ and then ‘Sarva-Shiksha Aviyan’ and allotted thousands of crores for these schemes over the years. What is the exact outcome, I don’t know and believe hardly anyone knows. But I do know that some of my friends’ pocket money was increased suddenly at that time by their fathers who were teachers. At the very same time some younger brothers and sisters of my friends started complaining that their mothers who were also teachers suddenly started torturing them by feeding milk and milkmaid sweets all the time. These schemes hardly increased the range of education but have surely increased the range of corruption and has embraced those sections of hierarchy also who were still unaffected by this virus. Another benefit of these schemes was the creation of vacancies and who doesn’t know the importance of vacancy. Those posts have immediately been filled by Political Jacking. So what if some people cried foul? Some of my seniors who were always the front runner of political activities got job that time irrespective of their qualifications. I guess every one of us would be agree that this is not only the story of these schemes. Every government schemes and policies ultimately becomes a weapon of more corruption and force us, the aam-admi to pay more tax. Am I RIGHT?

Common man's Economy

2008-06-14T17:26:00.002+05:30

During my Post-Graduation once I had to attend an extempore speech competition because of my friends’ request. They all wanted to pass some times among the beautiful girls who came from different from different colleges. I think I should not remind you that we personally never do anything wrong but our friends do. Anyways, one of my junior was upon stage and she had been given the topic “SENSEX”. The girl who was a graduate of Journalism and doing PG in the same subject started giving her speech on “CENSUS”. It took a few seconds to understand what was she saying and suddenly the whole hall started laughing. The girl stopped for a moment and realizing her fault started crying. I still reconsider the incident and try to find out the reason that what was the reason that among the hundreds of audience she chose me to attack and started referring me as a manner less…….. And then the whole auditorium locked their lips and started looking at me as I was really the one who laughed. That’s the most embarrassing moment of my campus life. Anyways, a few days later the episode ended nicely and both I and the girl have been selected for two roles of a short film being made by our seniors. Everyone except me (and may be the girl) forgot about the incident and the topic” SENSEX”.

The boom of Indian share market was just beginning that time and the Sensex was mere 5,000 plus. Within two years this figure reached 20,000 Mark. That’s really incredible and we all have started thinking that India is really shinning. There are other factors which make our smile brighter. Our own indigenous companies have started acquiring foreign companies and pocketed some marvelous deals in recent years which were beyond our imagination a few years back. Indian businessmen are making their place among the richest persons of the world and the number is increasing very fast. This is the third year in arrow when our economy has grown at a rate of 9% and above and the FDI has increased in such a pace that our current Forex Reserve has sat an example for many other developing countries. Our Per Capita Income has also grown strongly. The boom in Private Sector earned huge revenue for the country and most importantly sectors like IT, BPO, Bio-Technology, Pharmaceuticals etc. has created lakhs job opportunity.

Now, the question is if there’s so much benefit then why didn’t we open our market earlier? Well, I guess there is a mistake in the question, which is quite common and we repeat it all the time we discuss such issues. We forget that we, the aam-admi never open or close anything, precisely I can write, we never do anything because we don’t have any such RIGHT. Government whom we elect as our “Bhagya-Vidata” decides our fate by making such decisions and only when it suits their terms and conditions. There is a simple fact known to us that every individual tries to maximize his power and profit no matter whether it’s a government or Bhagya-vidata himself. An open market means governments less control and less interference, then less power resulting less importance and finally less profit. Knowing these entire how could it be done? In 1991 the country’s economy was in such a situation that there was no other single option left to the Government except Liberalization and Opening Market. Otherwise the free market concept couldn’t have entered India so easily. And now, the other question comes in mind. If we give the market freedom to decide itself what is good and what is bad for the aam-admi, then what is the usage of Government in Economy? So, our intelligent leaders never have let the control go out of their hand totally, they have only loosened the string a bit. And the string is still so much powerful that every time an aam-admi intends to do something of his wish, feels breathless under the pressure of “License-Raj”, “Laal-Fitashahi” and “Babu-dom”.

Price control mechanism which went out of fashion along with socialism is still being imposed by our government to control inflation where as it’s been long proved that through other macro-economic policies it can be handled much nicely. And the logic is quite understandable because in a country like ours inflation can change the fate of the Government and there are such previous examples also. So, no political party wants to take the chance. Indian politicians irrespective of different parties love to offer free rural power to impress our farmers, because it attracts Vote and there is nothing sweeter than this vote in a democracy. But it mainly benefits big farmers and not the poorer. But you have no RIGHT to point it out because then you would be called the enemy of India. Subsidies on oil are threatening to cross Rs. 200,000 crore this year and everyday we are witnessing the game being played by our political parties on this issue. The main objective of this game is simply to attract the aam-admi towards them and nothing else. Some of them are more generous, they are demanding more subsidies. And no one is even thinking about taking any constructive steps so that we can avoid the same situation in future. I guess if I write anything about subsidies given for kerosene and cooking gas which mainly benefits middle class, I would be treated as a crazy man and my own mother would surely stop talking with me. Political parties’ stunts over fertilizer’s subsidy are very much known to us, so better stop here. India has always under invested in infrastructure building and this is nothing but a consequence of faulty spending priorities. I wonder sometime that if I can understand that investment in infrastructure or other public spending yields large social returns in the long run then how is it possible that our knowledgeable leaders and Babus know nothing about it! Despite the decent financial sector and high quality capital markets Indian Banking System is still not free from direct control and interference of government and banks still have priority sector lending quotas. And recent addition is writing off farm loans. You think of any aspects of economy and there comes immediately the negative role (small or big) being played by our government in our mind.

One of my friends is working in a very well known liberal think-tank which works on government policies and tries to change the wrong ones. The more my friend works on these policies, the more he becomes angry. It has become a routine that whenever we would meet, he would spend half of the time scolding government. We either tease him or simply ignore his statements. But every time this formula doesn’t succeed and we fail to stop ourselves from arguments and debates. And the night passes with the discussion of broader issues of different ideologies with a little wine in all of ours stomachs. The very next day, when our employed friends snooze in their respective offices and feel embarrassed and we, the rest unemployed cancel our interviews to compensate last night’s sleep, we all promise that we won’t do this kind of unnecessary talk anymore, including my libertarian friend.