ANARCHY over DEMOCRACY?

A brief check into the past >
August 15th, 2011: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said at the Red Fort, “Everyone should know that quick action will be taken against the corrupt and punishment meted out to them. We want a strong Lokpal to prevent corruption in high places. We have recently introduced a Bill in Parliament to achieve this. Those who don’t agree with this Bill can put forward their views to Parliament, however, I also believe that they should not resort to hunger strikes...”

August 16, 2011: Anna Hazare was deterred early morning on grounds of apprehension of breach of peace.

August 23, 2011: PM expresses his worries over Anna’s health and asks him to end his Anshan.

August 24, 2011: Government plainly states that Anna’s Anshan is not their problem ‘anymore’ and the civil activists have to handle him.

The government has played its cards well and can not be more explicit in showing its ‘double-standards’. In his speech, the PM allows freedom of expression but the very next day government arrests a non-violent almost-Gandhian man so that he cannot protest against corruption. The same government later voices its worries over Anna’s health, but the following day it makes a flat statement, “Anna ka Anshan ab aapki pareshani hai”. What do you call this multi-faceted behavior…? Well in my books it is called double-standards.
Too much has been said and done. I may add nothing new.
But I do want to say this.
The fact that PM throws a royal ‘Iftar party’ with ministers enjoying various delicacies, and this being shamelessly broadcasted on national channels at a time when Anna Hazare is fasting, is a sad and despicable act. Further the top honchos of government first agree with four points of Jan Lokpal bill, but the very next day they refuse to corporate with even a single point of the draft, this is pure mockery of people’s sentiments. And party spokesperson, Rashid Alvi casting doubts towards foreign role in this raging campaign is all the more symbolic of government's clueless and helpless political stance. Yet of all, the most pathetic fact is Manish Tiwari referring Anna as a person drenched in corruption. How can a person who has already made Ralegan Siddhi a prosperous and rich village, or a person who has played a crucial role in the RTI bill be referred as ‘corrupt’? He has in fact adopted peaceful and impactful means to address this issue, some may differ in principle that his methods are unconstitutional, but think about it. What constitutional method would have turned fruitful? Joining the government? Or patiently waiting for the bill to get addressed in the parliament? Wake up, this draft has been in waiting list for 42 long years, and patience would have added 5 more decades and nothing else.
The government is in deep shit, ‘shit’ here is corruption. And creating a powerful medium to execute their red-tapism and malpractices is a threat to their survival. Naturally, it will try its best in shelving this draft. And so it has introduced it’s own convenient version of Lokpal bill in the parliament, which is the worst case of anarchy over-powering democracy. For those still confused about the core points of Jan Lokpal bill (not Lokpal bill), here’s a summarized version:

1. Cases against corrupt people will not linger on for years anymore: Investigations in any case will have to be completed in one year. Trial should be completed in next one year so that the corrupt politician, officer or judge is sent to jail within two years.

2. The loss that a corrupt person caused to the government will be recovered at the time of conviction.

3. How will it help a common citizen: If any work of any citizen is not done in prescribed time in any government office, Lokpal will impose financial penalty on guilty officers, which will be given as compensation to the complainant.

4. So, you could approach Lokpal if your ration card or passport or voter card is not being made or if police is not registering your case. Lokpal will have to get it done in a month's time. You could also report any case of corruption to Lokpal like poor quality roads been constructed or panchayat funds being siphoned off. Lokpal will have to complete its investigations in a year, trial will be over in next one year and the guilty will go to jail within two years.

5. But won't the government appoint corrupt and weak people as Lokpal members? That won't be possible because its members will be selected by judges, citizens and constitutional authorities and not by politicians, through a completely transparent and participatory process.

6. What if some officer in Lokpal becomes corrupt? The entire functioning of Lokpal will be completely transparent. Any complaint against any officer of Lokpal shall be investigated and the officer dismissed within two months.

7. What will happen to existing anti-corruption agencies? CVC, departmental vigilance and anti-corruption branch of CBI will be merged into Lokpal. Lokpal will have complete powers and machinery to independently investigate and prosecute any officer, judge or politician.

8. It will be the duty of the Lokpal to provide protection to those who are being victimized for raising their voice against corruption.

9. Most importantly, the Lokpal would scrutinize judiciary as well as the lower government officials from where this chain probably starts (or ends). This would make sure that no one would be spared from this body’s gambit.

These salient features have been logically and intricately designed to make sure this bill works to the best of its capabilities. Although it would be foolish to expect the word ‘corruption’ to altogether vanish away from everyone’s dictionary, but again is’nt this a step towards the greater good? It will surely stir your conscious to step out of this deep shit (since after all we all are corrupt!) and though the process will drag at an insignificant pace, but it will utterly walk in a positive direction.  Will this not make the corrupt officials more alert? Will your conscious not retaliate the next time a traffic policeman hints for a bribe? And will not our taxes, instead of going into personal pockets, be better utilized for development?
The answer may waver between may be…who knows…or I don't care, but for me the answer is a solid ‘yes’.
Our country will take a step forward towards cleaner India.

THAT WEEK: An Eternity

Picturing a house all to myself and imagining scene by scene the fun 
and frolic awaiting for me, I could not be more eager for the 22nd of 
June to arrive. Late night movies, sitting by the window sill and 
reading novels for hours, plus a car available 24*7 at my disposal.

I was sure this would feel heavenly, though it all turned 
a mess pretty soon, to be accurate it turned a mess as 22nd was about 
to get changed into 23rd of that month…midnight that is.
Confused?
Well should be.
Let me be more specific. My parents were due to leave for Kerela on 
June 22nd. It was their Silver Jubilee. Since they were to enjoy their 
anniversary together, I was to guard the house for a week in their 
absence. The idea seemed grand, I could hardly contain my excitement 
about the fun I was about to have. But when I stood on the station watching the train roll away from the platform, a strange feeling unnerved me, was I happy? Or was I terrified by the idea of sleeping alone that night?

I spent the evening outside my house, determined to loiter around until sunset. When I returned home, believe me the house seemed lifeless. There was no mummy asking me to have milk and no papa to fight with for watching Television. Today the T.V set was a discarded piece of technology for me.

By midnight, a giddy sensation oozed through my nerves. I regretted not calling my sister to sleep over with me. Worst of all, I had spotted a lizard on my terrace earlier, and now I was sure it would be a nightmare for me (I’m a little…no extremely scared of lizards).

The next day I sweated over the infinite house-hold work lined up for me, and by afternoon I was completely spent. This was something I had never anticipated… no books, no fun and worst…no parents! :(

Though over the next three days I had my siblings coming over for night-stays, it never ever filled the void, that space could only be filled by my parents. And even though I started having fun, and had no one to answer about my whereabouts, life seemed ‘aimless’ and ‘bleak’.

My days were consumed by cooking tasteless food and cleaning the house and the nights were unwanted dark times I was keen on sleeping through quickly. The only cheerful moments were visits from my siblings and friends and frequent phone-calls from my parents… And alas when the seven day deadline ended, and I went to pick them up, an involuntary natural smile lit up my face when I spotted a sign saying “Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport”.

Finally, I’ll not sleep alone, not today and not in the coming days!

In the seven long days I realized one irrevocable fact, life without parents has little charm in it. For me, I’m like a flower and they are my roots. If we are connected well, I can blossom, stay nourished and transform from a bud into a beautiful flower. And in the absence of those very roots, I might as well droop and lose my charm. I never fully realized their importance until now.

And so, for the ones who have their parents invisibly supporting them from behind, cherish their company and appreciate their care. Don’t wait too long to express a word of gratitude. Some who are unlucky enough have no parents and can not fully experience their warmth.

A Sorry State of Affairs…

(The confused mind of Indian politics)

The Indian netas never fail to surprise me. Politics is a game for them and they are absolutely flawless in playing it. Our democracy is like a game of chess, the politicians and the opposition are the master players. Each move that they make is a counter attack at the opposite party, but in the process we Indians like pawns are trashed mercilessly.

The current scenario is quite similar; in between the accusations and counter allegations involved in the Jan Lokpal bill, where in BJP supports spiritual guru Ramdev baba and Congress key members like Kapil Sibal try to maintain their poise, the common man is being kicked, manipulated and romped around.

An even more ‘sorrier’ fact is that a certain minister gives supari to murder Gandhian philosopher Anna Hazare and what is ironical is the fact that the Maharashtra government promises to provide the man full-fledged security. The government threats and protects the same person! Seriously what games do these netas play?!

And during times like these I wonder what Prime minister, Dr Manmohan Singh gains from keeping absolutely mum when his ‘team of warriors’ are out there brandishing police crackdown in the middle of the night on innocent people. Remaining silent about the Rajghat folly is undermining democracy itself. The time and the scenario are both ripe when we Indians must neither encourage corruption nor its practitioners.  Following suit of Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, Yemen et al, it is quintessential that corruption is nipped in the bud. And irrespective of what political gains Ramdev baba hopes to seek, I salute the man for his endeavour because ultimately his success in ending corruption will benefit the common man as well.

Well anyway, among the infinite series of plotting, backstabbing and conspiracies I gain solace with a small silver lining… Atleast the government has nailed down some big corporate players involved in 2G and CWG scam. But yet again, while they intend to curb corruption they also want to make sure that their occupied corrupted seats do not slide away from them and so a bill intending to check on their practices is the last thing they want.

Such a sorry state of affairs!

Just one line:
I wish God created more men like DALAI LAMA...
He has all that he wants...Power, Prestige and Politics...and yet he's ready to abdicate it all!

Beyond those walls...

It has been a year and a half now. And I feel stupid enough, no not stupid but acutely unobservant to have failed to notice the thin discreet line of huts (commonly known as zhoparpattis) across our college campus.
It struck me today, when I casually glanced towards my right and saw the dilapidated shanties crumpled next to one another. A group of small kids played outside one of those huts, their feet naked, hair messy, and clothes hanging loosely off their shoulders…Their fathers were getting ready to start their day…some by setting up the tools which they would use to repair vehicles, others by cobbling shoes. This was how they earned their living...

I entered the university gates of DAVV. Inside those secured walls, the world was entirely different! We had a grand university sprawled amongst immense greenery and fresh air, this world somehow promised to bring out a bright future ahead of us. It bestowed on us an institute for education, a canteen to fill our stomachs, and freedom to roam about carelessly, yet we utilized it less and coveted for more and more.
But on the outside, just as you cross those walls, you find homeless kids working hard but with no future, playing with full energy even though their hungry stomachs were empty, gaping at us in awe when they deserved no less and being deprived of a bright future with no fault at all.
This is, what I call an “Irony”…
Indeed how sad it is that a wall can set apart two different futures for people belonging to the inner side and the outer side. 
And if you can read my blog, that surely means you belong to the inner side! Be happy for what you’ve got, we never know when the ‘sides’ are exchanged and along with that our futures!

Another Temple, another Mosque....another Dispute

Much has been hyped about the controversial Ramjanm bhoomi Ayodhya... I may add nothing new to it.
But anyways this issue has been poking me since the last few days and one can't help but feel desperate to express their wishes for peace on this matter..
First a brief history, as we all know, Ayodhya was the birthplace of the very loved and respected Shri Ramchandra. It is presumed that when the Mughals invaded India, Babur built a mosque there between 1194 and 1528. Later In the late 1950s senior members of the RSS organized a Parishad to primarily achieve the construction of a Ram Mandir, at the disputed site of the Babri Mosque. It was followed by a petition filed by Sunni-wakaf board against the temple construction. The disputes continued and got worse when on December 6, 1992 the Babri Masjid mosque was demolished by a large congregation of VHP activists and protestors, who had been camped out at the site for weeks.

Shockwaves of fear and anger swept through India's Hindu and Muslim communities. Over 10,000 Hindus and Muslims were killed across the country in the resulting sectarian violence. Not only India, but Bangladesh too faced the aftermath of the demolition in the form riots, murders and mass destruction.

A dark cloud has loomed over this issue since then.

And now when the verdict is about to be declared, spare a thought and think of it's consequences. If the verdict bends in the favour of the Muslims, they would not win but rather they would be condemned to the wrath of the Hindu fundamentalist. And similarly if the court favours the Hindus, the Muslim extremist's anger would boil over. In either case, I find both the sides losing....and losing terribly...in the form of valuable life, home and peace. Instead of taking pride in the fact that both Shri Ram and Babur graced Ayodhya with their love, we find a reason to discard the auspicious place as a 13000 square feet disputed 

land.

I would like to share my personal experience here. I completed my education in a Sikh-dominating school and later in a Protestant school. Being born in a Muslim family, I should have feared mingling with the Hindus, or the Sikhs for that matter.

But never ever have I felt that I belonged to a minority group. Instead I have received equal amount of opportunities, equal love and equal number of friends that other children (of different religions) were entitled to.

Religion was merely a description of my background, not a basis of distinction. I have, perhaps made more friends outside Muslim community whom I can blindly trust, though that also does not demean my own religion... today I'm first of all an Indian citizen and later a Muslim or a Hindu. 

What I wish to say is this....whether or not people are happy by the verdict, lets just bury the past and show that we are matured enough to avoid another Babri riot. 

God did not create this soil for Hindus or Muslim, he created it for humanity...                                                                  

The movie impact...

The recent box-office hit, "Once upon a time in Mumbai" has surely won the hearts of many Indians, specially the Mumbaikers.
The movie features the very feared era of the 80s when underworld had a strong foot-hold in every nook-n-corner of Mumbai (then Bombay) streets. The complete film portrays the life of two very prominent mafias and their ladder towards the peak of crime. 
Great acting, superb storyline and commendable direction. 
Kudos for that!
But the obvious fact that we have happily missed is that, where on one hand the film has depicted real life story of dons like Haji Mustan and Dawood Ibrahim, on the other hand it has also glamorized crime in inexplicable ways. The audience gets intrigued, later sympathizes and finally comes to respect the character of "Sultan", who despite being a poor orphan, chased his dreams and became a powerful smuggler.
It is known that the Indian audience is very sensitive and gets easily influenced when it comes to Bollywood. It loves to adopt the reel life characters. When an entertaining movie like 3-Idiots can influence students to commit suicide; can't this, being a potential film, pave way for fresh criminal minds?
Join Underworld.....Money, Power and Respect will follow you.
Moreover the entry into the underworld has been rendered as easy and sure-shot path towards fame.
What's more? The 'good-man' , Sultan is at the end killed by the 'bad-man', Shoaib, and the city of Mumbai is doomed to the pits of hell. Quite opposite to the very famous Ramayana phrase, " Victory of good over evil", is'nt it?
Indian audience is largely influenced by what the actors do. For them the hero is the ultimate God. It is therefore quite dangerous to present a real life story in such a raw form. May be it was the requirement of the story, but glamorising crime and underworld has since long attracted many strayed youth towards this dark business..

An Encounter with a stranger...

It was a hot sultry day....though the rainy season had commenced but ironically not even a single drop of water was to be seen around.
Indore was boiling hot.
I was sweating profusely, and to add to my pains I had opted to wear a full-sleeve black kurta!(what was I thinking?) 
But none of these minor galling issues bothered me. I was excited to the core, since I was ready to set off to Mumbai all by myself. My parents could barely suppress their tension, their little girl (Eighteen, officially adult and yet "little") was about to travel all alone and that too by train! The 1st class A.C coach brought little peace to their agitated souls. But still with a heavy heart they bade me farewell... 
I was to stay at my grandmother's place for a week. 
The train glided smoothly from the platform with a low screeching noise. The hurly burly was ceasing slowly. In a matter of 10 minutes, my cell phoned beeped, it was an incoming call from my father.
"Everything all right in there?" he asked with barely concealed worry. "Yes paa...don't worry, I'm fine", and with that I put my cell away in my handbag.
"So first time in train huh? Alone I mean?". The question had come from an uncle, he was in his late forties yet had a brawny physique. "Yes" I replied. 
"Aah that explains it all" he smiled a knowing smile, the smile that acknowledged the anguish my parents were going through. After all he was a father himself.
With that the ice was broken and we conversed freely about anything and everything. The topic slowly settled on my education. He some how had keen interest in what I studied. "Media student", I replied but with a sadness edging in my voice. " Don't you like your course?", he asked.
"Well, I do. But I wish I could study in Mumbai"
He sighed. "you are a girl ...." was all he could manage. The statement hung in the air between us. So me biologically being programmed as a female was the only reason why I could not study alone? This discrimination was something that always lingered in the corners of my mind, biting me inwardly, mocking me silently.
This whole world is a male chauvinist pig, I thought grumpily.
"We are in the 21st century, Uncle" I said silently. "Yes but parents are always a generation older, you see" he said and then continued, "You younger lot think that everything is possible at your age, but you often overlook the small difficulties of surviving alone. Adjusting in a new environment, living independently, doing chores, washing clothes, your life becomes very challenging. The luxuries you took for granted will be absent when you step alone in the world. Your parents are just saving their girl from that danger and when the time is right, they'll let you free"
I marvelled at his deep insight. Thinking of it, I did remember going on a school trip for a week and missing my parents sorely, since I had to pack luggage on my own and clean the room, again on my own. And I knew I was not yet ready to depart from my family, though, if only for 3 years. We youngsters often turn oblivious towards our parent's wishes, just to chase our dreams. Be it settling abroad or living in the same house and yet ignoring your parents.. Our life, just like a 'leech' has drained us of little moments of peace and bliss with our family members. Big-packaged jobs and crisp green notes are all that we're bothered about now. It was the breaking of dawn for me. The dream I so desperately yearned to chase before, now became trivial infront of my loving family.
Yes, I did take many things for granted. But now I was about to take a U-turn.

A for apple, B for ball.....T for Terror!

"Terror", a word that now sounds painstakingly familiar to our ears.
The increasing number of unusual deaths is nothing but a result of our own 'man-made' disasters. From the unfortunate Mangalore plane crash to the unrestrained Naxal attacks, India has now entered a new generation where it's inhabitants have grown numb to violence.
We have seen so much of violence around us that now we have accepted it as a part of our life, unwelcomed and yet inevitable. Watching the news of Gyaneshwari train collision (probably another Maoist doing) on our T.V. screen  makes us issue a deep sigh and lament, "Desh ki kya haalat ho rahi hai?". But even after those sympathizing moments, we casually, very nonchalantly flick through other channels. The most one can do is discuss  the country's plight for a short period, but of course normal life resumes almost immediately after that.
But what else can a common man be expected to do?
Terrorism, corruption, death and politics have become the only 'news' scoop we get to hear around. India now, not only faces terror threats from it's neighboring nations, but in fact faces a more terrible fate of internal violence at the hands of the Maoist. A child grows in an atmosphere of violence and abuse, inevitably imbibing it and becoming a part of it.
Terror has unequivocally become a part of our Indian lifestyle... And such painful news of hundreds being killed at one single blow, their relatives weeping painstakingly over their bodies and politicians using this as an opportunity to shoot accusations at one another, brings only a shocked silence from a commoner like us, wondering yet again, "Ye terrorism kab khatam hoga???"
Yes, we have indeed turned numb towards violence.

The Stranger clad in Uniform ...

He stood engulfed in the thick whirlpool of smoke, his eyes watered and itched as he strained to look ahead, his once smooth face was creased with lines of age, making his skin fall loose with multiple folds.
"Only one year more, and then I'll be happily retired", he thought as he raised his right hand straight with practiced ease and indicated the vehicles to move ahead. Various engines spurred enthusiastically and the 'air-conditioned' cars leapt forward, flying past him to cross the signal.
He sighed again. The life of a 'Traffic Policeman' was never easy.
And to add to his pains, the automatic signal had just broken down, which meant that it would take at least half a day for the mechanic to repair it. And which forced the policeman  to leave the comfortable shed of nearby tea-shop and stand here in the scorching heat. "Huh", he swept a bead of fresh sweat from his forehead and lamented ending up with this job. People always regarded the job of a traffic policeman to be careless, lethargic and easy-going, thinking they were paid for drinking tea all day near the tea stall. Though he did not deny this fact utterly, but he also believed that he put in a great deal to control the traffic which was easily thwarted by some mischievious pranksters bent on breaking the traffic rules.
His thoughts were broken when out of the blue an Apache 160 zoomed past him, "Another rule breaker", he murmured and was about to note the bike number when the biker knocked off a bicycle on its way and sped off with ferocious speed, he surely had no mood of stopping.
A big crowd gathered around the injured boy who lay unconscious on the road. The policeman quickly strode forward, speaking into his walkie-talkie at the same time. His heart beat fast, this was the second accident in the same month. He squatted to get a closer look at the boy when someone amongst the crowd commented, " What are these traffic officials paid for? Drinking tea by the tea-shop all day..??"
He closed his eyes and inhaled slowly. Such comments were not at all new to him, it was literally part of job description of any new policeman.
But there was no time for such thoughts. He had a task at hand. He was to administer this boy in the nearby government hospital. A couple of young robust policeman came to aid, and together they lifted the boy. The crowd started evaporating, no one had any intention to be of any help.
At the end of the day, he sighed with exhaustion. It was a day full of hard work, pain and efforts; in return of which he only received jests and rude comments. 
And when he proceeded back to his home, he only wished that he was anything but a traffic policeman...