Suddenly Famous and politically challenged

The Target - some of those "suddenly turned famous" personalities and their self perceived notion of becoming voice of authority on topics much beyond their intellectual quotient. With a specific reference to Arundhati Roy, who became famous for her One novel; the fame got her popularity and that boosted her confidence, and probably made her think why not use this fame for a more righteous cause. Besides, it is basically fashionable to be called a ‘social worker’ maybe a ‘women rights activist’ in the circles of the rich and the famous. And so this damsel probably turned into a ‘women rights activist’, and more recently ‘supporter of azaad kashmir’ doctrine. While there is nothing wrong in working as a women’s rights activist, the later cause is what drew flakes.

Now, while Arundhati cries foul on some of the Indian army’s lapses, which the Kashmiri’s have been repeating time and again; we as mature audience have to look at things without getting too emotional and not do the same mistake of looking at these isolated instances and come to a hasty conclusion. Before giving much credence to her opinions, we need to check for her background to see whether she could be the authority to talk on a topic as complex as the Kashmir issue. An issue that’s dear to a billion citizens of the world.

Born in an isolated part of the country, daughter to a women’s rights’ activist and a Bengali father; she is bound to take on the parental genes. No doubt the Bengali’s have an upper hand in English literary skills. So no surprise she wrote her only novel for which she even bagged an award. Now she writes about the plight of Kashmiri Muslims in a very heart warming manner. And when she drew sharp and negative criticism for the recent views within India, she choose to write about the same issue on NYTimes, for a larger international audience. The US, for reasons has always fancied Pakistan and would gladly encourage anyone who wishes to take shot at crying foul about India. That is probably the reason they happily chose to publish her article.

What irks the average reader is the way she approaches the problem with a simplistic view and so easily comes to conclusion. Since she has decided to be a women’s rights activist; the act of a women getting raped and murdered is the ultimate of all the un-Godly acts. And so she acutely feels for those victims in Kashmir. No one with an ability to think rationally will say this is ok or pardonable. However, it is not the main issue; it is a very small part of a much larger and complex problem.

It is rather unfortunate that there have been isolated cases where someone from the local police or the army has done this dastardly act. The ones responsible should no doubt be punished. However, when we see the plight of these Kashmiri people, why is it that almost all of the victims belong to the Muslim religion? Arundhati will be quick to reply that it is the Muslims who are in majority. And this is the problem. Most of the Hindu’s of Kashmir were forced to leave their homes and flee the state. And it was certainly not the army and the local police who were responsible for riding the Kashmiri Hindu’s out of their homeland. Since this happened more than a decade ago; some cleverly choose to ignore it. Who will decide that driving out hundreds of thousands of people out from their home and forcing them to settle out of state is an act that isless sinister than the act of a few women getting raped.

The Muslims would never have had to face the sufferings had the peace and stability of the state not been disrupted. Had they not forced the Hindu's of the state to flee.

Now when we look at this in hind site, it appears more like a planned aggression. The isolated rapes and the suffering of the muslim kashmiri's is thus part of the collateral damage. Thus picking one side of the story and publishing it in the western media is not done.

Arundhati should be the last person who can be even asked to publicly comment on such a sensitive issue. She spent her childhood in Kerala, a communist state, studied architecture as part of her acadamic background. Her second marriage was to a filmmaker, she did her cameo in films. She did several jobs including working as an aerobics instructor at five-star hotels, before she earned her cash and repute after her book became a hit seller.

And thus NYTimes choosing Arundhati's view on such a complex issue probably makes you wonder!

She can be excused for her lack of rationale thinking; she reminds me of that wood cutter who was very sincere in his work; once cut the branch of the tree on which he was himself seated. Now should we stone this dumb wood cutter or refer him as an ideal wood cutter or simply ignore him and move on…

The dead Katta kommunication lines…

‘Katta’ - a Marathi term which means a small piece of brick wall or a cement construct that is about waist high; which may or may not be built to be used as a place to sit upon but is often used as though that was the exact purpose. Typically these katta’s are the boundary walls of buildings, schools, housing society’s or any cement or wooden wall like things where a few people can rest their laurels upon. Even the small flight of stairs of a public library or college can be referred as ‘katta’ by the city urchins.

Back in the 90’s – it was the school and college days when we used to use the katta as our daily meeting place. Our katta was the boundary wall of the my building. Those were the days when mobile phone wasn’t invented; so the only mode of communication used to be the phone landlines. And back then, the local calls between landlines weren’t free and unlimited. Also, another disadvantage of a landline was that it was meant more for the entire family than as a personal and private asset. And each time it rang, it rang loud and clear for everyone inside the house to notice of a phone call. And talking with friends on the phone was and probably is even today, not considered a very welcome thing by the parents community. Thus, calling up a bunch of friends every evening and coordinating when and what time to meet would require at least 5 to 10 phone calls; more if you had a larger group. So there had to be a better way of communication.

We had two techniques – the one ring technique and the bike horn signal. While the later was used to indicate the arrival of any of the katta gang members, the prior would be used as a early warning system. So typically a missed call or a single ring on one’s landline in the evening would probably mean that one of the katta members was ready to meet at the katta; and that others should follow suit. One ring technique was very effective, as it doesn’t any charge to give just one ring and then hang up before the other person answered. This, in today’s mobile world is still a in-use technique, but is now called as missed called technique.

Come to think of it, when used effectively this one ring technique could probably be used like Morse code; maybe half as comprehensive.

So back in the 90’s, evening time would be when the first katta member would arrive and announce his arrival with a tit-ta-tee horn signal. It’s funny how the developed world has come to shun the use of horn as something that should be used only in case of dire emergency or is considered impolite if used casually. Thankfully in Pune, like in any city in India, the vehicular traffic is so high and chaotic that the use of the horn is so frequent, no-one really minds it. But yes, the Katta gang was considerate of the fact of trying to avoid the use of bike horns at night; when most of the civilized society members would be in their beds.

It is amazing to think back about those days, almost 2 decades ago, without the inventions of mobile phones and internet and broadband; there was never a situation when we felt crippled by lack of means to communicate and stay in touch. Today, when all of the katta members have grown out of their bikes and baggy jeans and are economically well off to afford all the latest means of communications including the free stuff like the social networking sites; none of the means are used to communicate or even keep in touch!

Recession, Job loss, Patriotism, Oppression

Mar 2009 - My flight on the way back from Orlando to San Jose was rather interesting. No, there wasn’t a blonde sitting besides me, wish there was. I reached the airport duly on time, got in to the security checkpoint and out again, realized I had a can of coke that I didn’t want to throw away. So I out again to finish my coke and got back in.

On the way to the airport, my Indian cab driver, who had by now become an acquaintance, who used to ferry me to and from the hotel to my office for the week that I spent in Orlando, told me a interesting news. He mentioned that they (the federal government) were thinking of passing a bill where in immigrants in the US, better known as H1B workers would get another way to gain permanent residence in the country. There are many a thousands of Indians who would want to settle down in the US. Basically, want to quit India and live their life in the land of opportunities.

I must admit, I too have contemplated of keeping myself an option of having permanent residence in US. But somehow I haven’t been fully convinced enough to take the first step, that of getting a H1B visa.

So the new proposed Bill would grant green card to those individuals who have purchased a house in the US. This is yet another bid to get some movement in the bottomed out real estate market.

I was surprised to hear this as it was in stark contrast to Obama’s stance on the H1/L1 immigrated people in the US. Just recently there were talks of making it harder for people to get H1B’s; on the other hand, he also wants to discourage companies who are engaged in the outsourcing model. While he has the right to pass any law or bill that is in the best interest of US, it is interesting how human beings evolve, define laws and fight wars against the wrong doers.

Back to my flight, it was a long 5 hour journey. Luckily I had the morning edition of US Today. I pulled it out of my bag and noticed the picture on the front page. It was a camper sitting outside his tent. While the title of the main article referred to job loss I was confused for a brief moment on how it was related to a camper.

Then as I read the under script, it dawned upon me. It was a jobless person being forced to live in a tent as he couldn’t afford to pay the rent for his apartment.

A result of current recession, thousands of people across the country have been forced out of their homes and onto streets, tents, municipal shelters and some even have chosen to live their lives out of their vehicles – mostly cars! The article quoted many American individuals, most of them singles, who had managed to have a mediocre job, some of them even maintained middle class status, having being suddenly forced to become homeless. These were the work force from the housing, construction, real estate and some even from the automobile industry.

One person quoted was an electronics graduate who worked in the auto sector. It was indeed heartening to read these first hand stories of these individuals.

The third page of US Today again caught my attention; it carried yet another interesting article titled “Tribes wait for US recognition”. One would think of these tribes to be probably belonging to some of the recently invaded countries, namely Iraq or Afghanistan. But instead the story was about a tribe of Native Americans who are strangely referred as Indians!

Per the article, there are about 562 recognized Native Indian tribes within the US while another 250 are in line to get recognized. It is very shocking to read that even after 200 after their declaration of independence, you still see justice not granted to some of the poor Native Americans who lost their beautiful land to the European settlers aka invaders!

If we put the numbers together it would appear that there would be in all 800 odd Native American tribes who originally belonged and rightfully owned this American soil. Of which 1/3rd are still awaiting to be recognized as US citizen!

It’s ironic that today the US boosts of being a world super power and takes it upon their own freewill to decide how other countries should or should not conduct. And if found inappropriate get into self proclaimed wars against injustice, all in the name of good humanity! And for such a nation, they still have to recognize 1/3rd of the original population of the native soil that these invaders proudly proclaim to be US.

If the Native Americans are being made to face such humiliation, it is easy to imagine how should one Asian Indian would treated by this land of double standards.

And if today, Obama is coming up measures to curb Asians from settling on the US soils, perhaps it is time for the Asians to learn a lesson or two from the earlier settlers at how to succeed.

Follow the leader

What’s so unique about the title of this post? The title starts with a verb, or an action, implicitly expected from the reader, encouraging all the readers to ‘follow’ a leader. An action that we often take for granted. In the corporate world quite a few workshops and training camps are conducted with an objective of helping the participants to become good leaders. There are zillions of books available in the print and electronic media highlighting the virtues of great leaders and their leadership qualities, often coaxing the readers to imitate or become like one of them. We certainly all want to be successful leaders and some of us do make a conscious attempt to imbibe the qualities of great leaders.
All these workshops and literature might suggest that it is indeed very important for an individual to learn and acquire the skills of a good leader. In doing so, these books literally suggest to anyone, or everyone who reads these books that he can become a good leader by doing x, y, z. Imagine, if this were true, we will end up having a nation, country, organization that is full of leaders. So what is so wrong about everyone turning into a good leader? For one, everyone cannot become a leader as the definition of leader is a personality that invokes many followers to follow him. Secondly, all leaders with no followers is as good as a soldier on a battlefield with all guns, but no bullets.
For even a single leader to become one, there is one vital catch, and that is he needs hundreds if not millions of followers. So in creating a successful leader there should be two forces that should come into play - one that drives ‘a’ particular individual to become a leader; and the second, more important, developing a will amongst all the others to want to become that individuals follower.
And this is problem. While all of us want to become a successful leader, how many of us are resolute to one self on wanting to become a successful follower? Becoming a successful follower is much simpler than becoming a leader. And yet we never consciously think of becoming one. Maybe today’s competitive world has made us to think that becoming a follower is a lower qualification. And since we are all very competitive, we want to become leaders instead. Many a times, our egos stop us from becoming a good follower.
If you think of the term ‘Follower’, the immediate picture that flashes is that of some religious groups, wearing saffron or white clothes and sitting in front of a bearded ‘sadhu’; maybe someone like Ramdev Baba. They are definitely his followers! There is nothing wrong in this picture. However, ‘followers’ encompass a much wider spectrum of individuals, events and groups. We as an individual are first expected to be followers. Only a successful follower can progress to becoming a successful leader.
And the ‘follower’ in us starts the day we are born. As a new born baby we observe that everybody around us seems to be walking and talking. So we start to follow as we learn and so we grow. As we commute we are expected to ‘follow’ traffic rules. A good follower will always make it a point to stop at the red light at a traffic signal before the zebra crossing. As individuals we are required to ‘follow’ defined processes in every walk of life. Even within the corporate world, we are bound to follow the processes laid out. In the BPO world, we actually belong to one process or the other. While our constitution reads our rights, we are expected to follow the law. And yet we tend to cheat, twist or bribe our way through.
Becoming a good follower is an important trait that one should inculcate. And yet, we find no workshops, trainings or books where the importance its “How to’s” are taught. Since we like to quantify things let us put some numbers. For every one leader; there has to be at least hundred followers. Let us accept this as a postulate. Now if we conduct ten leadership workshops in a corporate organization; we would proportionately be required to conduct a thousand Followership workshops to develop as many followers that will be required to make those leaders successful.
In our country of a billion individuals where all complain about not having a good leader; we can still turn thing around if we all stop complaining and start becoming good ‘Followers’ one self. We are certain to find a few good leaders.
The “how to” are three simple steps –
Introspect to yourself the core values you yourself honestly believe in
Identify the leaders around you, who according to you share’s the same values
Start following your leaders with all your trust

Sonia, daughter-in-law of Sonia Gandhi...opps!

Our politicians are so habituated as* licker's that such blunders shouldn't surprise us. I have seeing people who keep chanting "Om Namah Shivay" incessantly for their love of God. But I dismiss them as God fearing believers. That's ok...

But, in the recent decade the increasing hymns' in the name of Sonia Gandhi is causing concern, distress and a heck of an irritation! I understand she was a beautiful attractive Italian under-grad who cast her spell over Mr Rajiv the great Gandhi who wed her thus bringing a foreigner bahu in India's first family. Yes we were all thrilled! (why were we thrilled? Maybe because we felt too elated that 'our' Indian lad, then the would be Prime Minister of India, managed to woo a white lady - I guess we were just too in confident then, and maybe are even today!) Yes I love the Italian pizza' and cappuccino's and the Italian dressing! But that's it, I'll eat it, drink it, wear it and forget it! I do not love them to an extent of becoming their worshiper.

Recently, at a function organized by Jharkhand Pradesh Congress, Jharkhand's CM Madhu Koda payed 'homage' to Sonia Gandhi at her death anniversary! He went on to describe Sonia Gandhi as the person who led India reach heights in its peace and development. He continued that Sonia took bullets in her chest!

He apparently apologized later on when it was pointed out that he was saying Sonia repeatedly when he should have been saying Indira! Was this mere slip of tongue? Or Absent mindedness? Or is this result of historic ass licking mentality of congressmen!

[Side Note - Nehru spearheaded this practice! He proved to the world favoritism can work wonders, topple majority and win Presidency (in India it is Prime Minister') Now why was Nehru Mahatma Gandhi's favorite is not known. While the majority opted for Vallab Bhai Patel, Gandhi vetoed in favor of Nehru! But that's a separate story in a separate chapter]

We should not be surprised if we hear a divorce being filed for our fellow congressman when he uttered 'Sonia' instead of his wife's name at a wrong time.

For the record - It was Indira Gandhi who was a strong leader and first woman Prime Minister of India, who took bullets in her chest fired by her own guards! Hats off to the lady!

Blog'amia!

I am not a very regular blogger, neither do I have the literary background of a naturally aspired author, nor is my vocabulary exhaustive, yet i blog, once in a while. Other reason maybe that I belong to those many who are so busy doing nothing that they simply cannot find time to do anything else.

I was going through some blogs of my friends and non friends, impressive is the word that comes to my mind when i see their blogs with those tons of archive links to their previous blogs! They sure deserve to get some recognition for their blogabilities!

It makes me ponder as to how and why people blog? How do they manage to get time to blog so regularly? Perhaps, answer is in the fact that if you find something worthwhile, you automatically adjust your schedule so as to make time for that activity. Obviously the next question that pops up is 'what' do these bloggers find so compelling a reason to blog on a routine basis? Also, 'why' do they blog?

I think that answers the 'why' part of the question? Perhaps all we are now seeking for is self recognition, to boost our ego's, to make an impression, to be heard, to be complimented, to feel elated! So competitive we have become today, so very materialistic, so very self absorbed, so very developed! And yet, we feel that loneliness, that longing, that craving to find others of our liking, who will agree on our views and applaud them. Or is this a whiners analysis who always sees the world as one big black-hole? Maybe the 'why' can be explained by the surplus demand of fellow bloggers and netizens who have the hunger to read other peoples opinions, maybe since they have nothing else to do? Maybe they are intellectuals who want to know what the whole world thinks?

Some time back an article in the newspapers suggested that blogging has given us the power of self expression. Has it? It might be true, but didn't we already get this power when we were blessed with the ability to communicate with fellow beings using pictures, expressions and languages? But then why has blogging become so popular? Is it simply the human tendency to always want for more? More power to self express? Boom! there came the newspapers... Some more? Boom! books.. music... prose... Still some more? Bang! Internet... chatting... websites...skype.... blogging...social networking sites!..Some more perhaps?

Where does this end? With my power of expression, my freedom of speech, my views, my opinion, me & mine... the line starts blurring as technology gives way for newer means to feed our desire for more, making us more self absorbed than before. Result? We see so many of us blogging our thoughts, not sure how many are reading them though! Ironic it is, this new tool of blogging has definitely given us the power or freely expressing our views, with the potential to reach the entire world, assuming of-course that all over the world literate people have access to Internet!

Perhaps the need for self expression emerges from a rather dark gory reality. We are distancing ourselves from our near and dear ones, people who matter to us, those who in turn care for us! Only if we could communicate more freely, openly and frequently, to the ones who matter, if we could lend our ears to the ones whom we care about, perhaps then, this burning sense of reaching to the whole world would subside and the inner sense of gratitude and satisfaction would prevail.

Of smart ass’s and pseudo intellects

One often meets these smart people who have flair for smooth talking, who often tend to over-talk on whatever topic is dished out and who are overtly overconfident about themselves. You always find them interesting at the first impression. But when you get under the hoods, a while later, you often are left disappointed with the results. I have met quite a few such persons and am sure you must have as well. So this one is to their dedication.

On the first appearance, they all generally appear well dressed, cool, yet modest, well mannered yet smart, etc. In short they exude all the traits of someone who has attended the finishing school. As you get talking you start noticing that they can surely be referred as a person of many words. And to put it in a sophisticated yet sarcastic way they are more like – A man of thousand words, when one would do.

The one good thing is that it is highly unlikely that your conversation with them will just hang all of a sudden with a awkward blue screen (this is typical computer lingo) that seldom leaves you wriggling in an uncomfortable ‘what the hell do I do now’ feeling.

The noticeable trait about all of them is the apparent diversity of topics they can communicate on. If your conversation skims through a couple of topics of you interest, it often lets you to believe that your wavelengths match to the brim; And if this person is from the opposite sex, you find it as an amazing coincidence; And if you are single, you think its just destiny that bought you together!

As they continue to talk at lengths on any topic that you float, you start understanding the reason for their home cultivated over confidence about one selves. Some of them are so good at this apparent confidence in themselves that they can even leave a car mechanic convinced about the way he misdiagnosed a problem in their car.

They all believe or rather want others to believe that they are the ones with high intellects, and who tend to get along with people whom they can interact at a more intellectual level. Now this statement should be taken with a pinch of salt and it shouldn’t surprise you if their best mate turns out to be a blonde from Iowa.


But their diverse arsenal of interest is really something that leaves you agape. They talk of the Liverpool team just as enthusiastically as they would discuss Bermuda’s cricket teams coach or flaws in India’s and Great Britain’s constitution or Volvo buses better aero dynamics owing to its low raise driver’s seat or the nice lyrics of the Beatles songs or the AIDS research work being headed by Dr. Helsinki. It’s not the accuracy of their talks that impresses you, cause more often than not their knowledge is only skin deep, and their facts are just as accurate! But what astonishes you is the confidence with which they deliver their two plus two equals twenty-two sort of perils of wisdom.

These people also very often have better than average career paths that surprise you at the least if not leave you annoyed. And you can’t stop wondering what is more important in life, confidence or over confidence, or its street smartness and smart ass attitude of these pseudo intellects, or whether it’s the deep-rooted principles of honesty and simplicity or to posses the intelligence of the likes of Einstein.

On a serious note, if you think even deeper is it just the sheer positivism that these people posses about their abilities or more appropriately their perceived abilities?

Or for that matter who has the right and the appropriate scale to measure and demarcate confidence vis-à-vis over-confidence or intellect vis-à-vis pseudo intellect?

My friends have often argued with me that’s its just not worth the dime to talk or blog about such people. But that exactly is the point. Annoying or charming that these people are, they do leave a mark in your memory, and often this is the sole point that they want to make!

And The Wall Collapsed..

.....We are not talking of Germany or the Great Wall of China, nor is it the Pink Floyd number. Its the Cricket World Cup season and yes we are talking of The Wall of current Indian cricket team that stood rock solid, till recently. As recently as day before yesterday.

We lost one match, crucial howsoever it was for the team in the series, but it was still a match in the good old gentleman's game of cricket. A game where every team has a 50-50 % chance of winning. And suddenly the nation seems to be furious at the Indian cricket teams captain. I do not wish to support or excuse the team for their performance, but it certainly seems too unfair and unjust to start blaming, just like a decision taken at the split of a second, that often gets regretted later. The Captain of the team, who has earned his respect for all the right reasons over all these years is suddenly being questioned for his abilities. It is being contemplated, or speculated at the least, to strip away his captaincy!

This I feel is certainly going down too hard on him! Especially the timing! He sure has failed to lead the team into the next level. But if he is modest enough to give credit for the wins to the team's combined effort, shouldn't it be reciprocated by the critics and media to blame the entire team for this unwarranted debacle?

As the captain rightly said "this is the time for introspection", not only for the players, but also for the cricketing board to sit back and introspect into their own actions and policies.

Whats ironic is the mass mentality and human psychic. The person who was so fondly called as the Wall of the Indian cricket team is suddenly a target for everybody. The Wall that was the pride till a day ago seems to have come down in a jiffy like a tower of cards! Under the storm of rage in the shallow hearts of his own countrymen. Kudos Indians!

Traffic Trauma’ #1

We have done enough brain storming for what can and should be done to improve the state of traffic affairs in the Pune city. Am sure that with even a small group of 250+ (that’s the size of the Save Pune Traffic Movement group members as of Jun 06) if even 1/10th of their idea’s see it thru' then Pune will regain its lost charm... But only if.

I think what we are missing is actual efforts, physical efforts. Writing emails and articles et al might work in other nations where people have some sense of commitment towards their country's well being. We Indian's have proved that we are selfish and self-centred. Also, we are very timid, if someone whack’s a whip at us, we bloody well obey. But unfortunately today, those whip crackers, Police, have started ignoring their duties, or taken to bribery, resulting in an increasing chaos and growing indiscipline among the once a proud citizens. I do not want to take away the entire credit, as I know that with no help from the planning commission of the city and a minimal help from the Police force, the policemen currently on their duties have a steep uphill task. All I want to say is that the Police authorities themselves have slackened.

So what we need to do is to select a particular traffic signal for the day and take ourselves to task.

1) Publicise who we are.

These days what you do is less important, how you do and how well you publicize is given more importance. And if done correctly, you can walk free even after committing a crime. At the same time, even if you have saintly intentions for a noble cause, if you do not do the necessary public stunt or gimmick, no one is going to even bother to give you a second glance.

Maybe we can block roads, break shops and vehicles, or hiring some cheer girls who are scantily clad, or invite some “famous” celebrity, like Rakhi Sawant for example!

Just kidding…

Ok, since we are all educated and have noble intentions, we would look upon these stunts as mere cheap stunts. But these cheap gimmicks work wonders! Anyways…

Bottom line, we need to publicise our sincere efforts and ourselves.

2) Educate the people

Then try to convince people who are violating to adhere to basic etiquettes. Like "please stop at red signals"; "kindly stay within your lane and do not try to hurry into the wrong lane while waiting at the traffic signals" (This is one major area, where people have justified that cluttering in the wrong lane will speed the traffic flow!)

And surprisingly it’s not just the uneducated or the non-local’s that are involved in day to day breach of simple rules. Majority of office goers, educated women, college kids, even the elderly, all are unified in messing up the traffic situation. Why just blame the authorities.

3) Book the offenders

If we have any contacts in the media, then we ask those guys to come with their cameras and click us in action. If not, then one of us with a digital camera should take the snap's of the people breaking the law despite our telling.

4) Request Authorities to charge the offenders

We take their no's and along with the proof (snaps) submit to DCP's office asking to take actions. We can even take permission if required to host these snaps on our websites.

I would even like to go one step further. Beat n bash them up who will refuse to obey. Coz my experience is that the people of Pune now openly curse n makes derogatory remarks at people who follow or want to make others follow traffic rules. As the Marathi saying goes 'chhadi lage chemm chemm, vidya yayee ghumm ghumm' So, I am all for public bashing up of those arrogant violators.

I know this thought sounds like a 'typical rebel', and thus in all likelihood we should try and not use it. Just venting out my anger n frustration… :) The point that is underlined here, is that the traffic problem of the Pune city is so severe, its seems that only some drastic measures can possibly restore normalcy.

Italian Gandhi voted Indian of the Year – Part I

In the year-end viewers pole hosted by NDTV 24x7, one of India’s leading news channel, Sonia Gandhi was awarded with the ‘Indian of the Year 2005’ trophy. This is probably the most satirical event of the year where an Italian lady (by birth), who became an Indian citizen 15 years after her marriage with an Indian, received the 'Indian of the year' award. Imagine, she took 15 long years (after she started living in India) to decide whether she should take up Indian citizenship. Now, that's certainly one tough decision!

Forget being an Indian citizen by birth, a person doesn’t take up Indian citizenship after getting married to an Indian? And she didn’t just marry any ordinary Indian citizen whose only contribution goes as a vote in the general elections. She married the son of India’s then Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi. Indira Gandhi, who was the daughter of a freedom fighter and who also was the first Prime Minister of the country. Long story short, this young Italian lady got married into a patriotic Indian family, a family that was loyalist to the Swadeshi freedom struggle movement. Having married into the first family of the country (considering the fact that American's refer to their President's wife to be first lady!), it’s intriguing how did they not object this lady not relinquishing her Italian citizenship. Strange but true huh...

Now, I am pretty naïve in terms of my knowledge about active politics. Common sense suggest that it does not come as a wise idea to have a person of foreign nationality to live with the family of the Prime Minister of India. Even surprising, the country didn't object as well!

For a foreign national in India, it is understandable that one would like to keep his/her original citizenship in-case things go wrong in India some day; Something like a third world war, or perhaps another Pakistan war, it would be better to have access to go back to the homeland, than to take refuge in some other country. This line of thought makes perfect sense for a foreigner who is forced to live in India for some reasons. Since Sonia was a foreigner being forced to live in India, what she did was justified; to safe guard her own interest. Obviously, remaining an Italian gave her more comfort. Or maybe she was just too patriotic to take up Indian citizenship. I admire and respect this line of thinking.

But 15 years later "something" suddenly happened that made her change this decision. Is that not really strange? What was that something that triggered such a drastic change that happened after 15 long years? It just can’t be that one fine day she woke up in her bed in India and suddenly felt less patriotic about being Italian and decided to want to become an Indian citizen instead? Did the Gods shine on her that day and enlightened her with ‘today onwards India would be the heaven that the world shall desire, so you better take up Indian citizenship lady’. Naah... this happens only in fairy tales, right?

So what made Sonia change her mind and apply for Indian citizenship? The reason was merely political. (Monetary and selfish, if I can be blunt) She realized, or was made to realize that since she being part of India’s most influential family had the best chance or opportunity to establish herself in India like no equal. That Indira Gandhi’s successor would naturally be her son, Sonia’s husband. The only obstacle for him would be his wife’s foreign nationality. So she weighed the pros and cons, and finally decided that it was now the right time to take up Indian citizenship. The pros must have far outnumbered the cons. The comparison was to become the wife of Prime Minister of India (First Lady or First Citizen) or hold on to the Italian citizenship as a daughter of an ordinary Italian. Wise choice she made! Ms Sonia is definitely smart, ain't she!

This is a point worth pondering. I do not wish to politicise this issue, and thus do not want to brag about the same things that are known to many, yet not acknowledged by the larger community. But this I feel is an issue of simple ideology and logical thinking. Any ordinary human being capable of thinking level headedly will and should think about this.

The only feeling that I have towards Sonia is that of pure envy. She was indeed born with a golden spoon. Her gamble to take Indian citizenship paid off well; her husband did become the next Indian Prime Minister. Unfortunately he died early in his career. Some even go to the extent of linking Sonia to her husband’s death. But that’s a different story, another day.

Her stars continued to shine bright as ever; just as she started learning Hindi, the national language of India, the Congress party choose her as their President! She won huge sympathy of the Indian masses. She was even praised for the high sacrifices she had to make! Makes one wonder what sacrifices did she make! Maybe in India they consider giving up bread in return for a cake a sacrifice! But surely not elsewhere...

2004, when the Congress won the elections, she also got an opportunity to become the Prime Minister of the India herself. That would perhaps have been the brightest day in her life and the darkest day in India’s history. Fortunately, yielding to the Presidents insight, for the clause of reciprocity in the Indian constitution, or heeding to the death threats for her children, or due to other various shady secrets that the ordinary citizens of the country never come to know, her dream remained only a dream.

As a consolation to her desire, thanks to the NDTV 24x7 vote, she beat some very prominent Indian’s (from amongst all other streams like Sports or the IT Industry, or Cinema Industry for that matter) and managed to get the award for ‘Indian of the Year 2005’!

Interesting facts (or fiction) on Sonia Gandhi

Please read thru the following letters/post on the background of Sonia Gandhi, as stated by the author (Subramanian Swamy). I certainly do not know if that's a pile of cooked up or whatever..

http://www.sysindia.com/forums/General_Discussion/posts/49247.html

Whatever, it definitely makes up for an interesting reading....

Reasserting boundaries or justifying isolation!

Recently, there has been growing unrest amongst a certain sect of people of Maharashtra. Their dissent being, the non-Maharashtrian’s taking away the jobs of the local people of Mumbai and Pune. Perhaps these claims are not entirely wrong, or perhaps they are a result of an emotional outburst, having lost their patience. Or maybe they are in-fact, wrong! It’s not a matter of being judgemental and providing justification to blame the locals or the non-locals.

It is very much true, that if one visits Mumbai, she or he would find people from all parts of the country, working in the cohesive crowd of Mumbai. After all that is what metropolitan cities are meant to be like. Yes, traditionally Mumbai being in Maharashtra had Marathi majority. But, countries grow; places evolve, cities metamorphose. That’s life.

In a diverse country like India, it is but natural that people from all over the country would like to come to the land of prosperity, or endless opportunities. Mumbai in India is perhaps the combination of Los Angeles and New York in the Unites States. People in Mumbai have their own way. Any person from any discipline would find a way to make money in this city. From the poorest of poor to the Ritchie rich, everyone is well accommodated to the best of their capacity. Anyone in the country who dreams of making it big lands up in this city. Shah Rukh Khan, the hottest actor in Indian cinema, is a glorifying example. Then there are countless Shetty hoteliers running small food stalls to big restaurants, thousands of bhaiya’s running small business, the pioneers of the business community, the traders from Gujarat. The scores of small retail/grocery stores run by the Marwadi’s. Every community has a sizable amount of presence in Mumbai.

All these people from various communities and different places have given Mumbai its own charm. The Mumbaiya language commonly known as Hindi is in-fact a hybrid mix of Marathi and Hindi, plus tastemakers of Gujarati, Bihari, and numerous others. If it were to be decided to send back all the non-Marathi people from Mumbai back to their native places, the whole Mumbai charm would be all but gone.

To end this dispute what is required is to find out the root cause. And once identified, finding solutions to tackle that cause. So, let us try to dwell into the matter.

Having lived amongst the Marathi people, I feel they are for sure not an aggressive and closed community. Contrary to that belief, they are forward thinking, non-violent, contained and a welcoming race. This would probably be the reason why the British choose Mumbai to make their base in India. Some of you might suggest am being a biased author, but believe my word, having seen different people, I can say for sure that Marathi’s are the least aggressive of the lot. Aggression is born out of passion, lust, selfish yearnings, insecurity and greed. The Mumbai in the 1800’s was primarily comprised of Marathi Brahmin’s migrated from the Konkan ghats and others from the interiors, which were the intellectuals or the learned people and native fishermen.

If the city of Mumbai has grown, changed and evolved as the financial capital of the country, the residents of Maharashtra should taking this as a compliment to their virtue. Its true, Mumbai enjoyed the blessing of being a port city, and thus became the point of contact for the seafarers of the past. But definitely there has to be something besides just being the port city, for tens of cities along the entire western coast of India, Gujarat to Kenyakumari would have been a potential candidate. That’s beside the point. That’s before independence.

Post-independence, the central government, or the Indian government, has miserably failed in creating a Mumbai in every state of the country. They have let the lone Mumbai grow uncontrolled. While it is true that every Indian should have the free way to work and settle in any part of the country, it is also a fact that the city of Mumbai cannot contain the entire Indian population, with or without the good will of the Mumbaites.

While Mumbai is the financial capital of the country, it is probably the single largest contributor to the central Tax department. Also still, a litre of petrol is costlier in Mumbai than that in Delhi. This translates to a hidden fact that the people of Mumbai are being taxed more just so that the less able people of the country could be provided with free electricity, cheaper petrol and what not.

In world’s second largest populated country, if only a few cities are attracting people from the entire nation, then these cities are naturally going to get out of control. It should be the government’s topmost priority to create a city as prosperous and congenial as Mumbai or Pune in every other State. It’s a harsh reality that many people from Bihar are coming to Mumbai and Pune, seeking better opportunities. And that is absolutely ok, for if a deserving Maharashtrian can enjoy the benefits so should the others. But then why is it that there aren’t even 1/10^th of that many Maharashtrian’s going to Patna or Bihar for better job prospects? Answer: Patna is not that lucrative, safe and congenial! It would be applicable to UP, MP, Assam, Kerala, et al.

Imagine every State of India having a couple of cities like Mumbai and Pune. Imagine a country with well-distributed inter-state migrations. That would be a superlative example of ‘unity in diversity’ in its true spirit.

It would be much more constructive and wise, if people start asking the State governments to work towards such initiatives than creating unions and organizations to counter these patience tried people’s outcries.

For the political leaders of Mumbai or Pune, giving tall speeches with a ‘kick them out’ flavour would only give rise to hatred and create a further divide. Not to mention, it would also tarnish the good deeds that have done so far. It would be helpful if they guide the leaders of the other States, giving them tips and advice, of what would it take to create a Mumbai in their own state. Or indulge in a positive criticism at most. This would be very constructive and result in a win-win situation for all. It will also help them in their own political growth where people would recognize them for their entrepreneurial skills. And at the same time create a better India!

Jai Maharashtra, Jai Hind!

India secular, or is it.

Unity in diversity. Sounds great! This statement however seems to be set to lose its integrity. India, a relatively young nation, formed 50 years back, is still long-way from making its roots firmly hold-on to the ground. The conception of India, which itself is a controversy for some to keep on the abysmal debate on its legitimacy. India was not just born free of a foreign rule, but was born out of a partition. The partition that was so cleverly orchestrated by the foreign rulers; it is doing wonders even today. But we can give them the benefit of doubt. For how would those simple brains have had the capacity to envision the hell that would break loose after the partition?

There were other thinkers who did not think the partition to be the right way going forward to solve any crisis. But as history has shown time and again, the goods are always out weighted. As a result, the efforts to keep the country undivided didn’t yield fruits. There were lots of angry protests demanding the partition. To end the turmoil that had thus spun, the decision was made to finally execute the partition. This decision was sub-consciously going to become the first step in entering the ‘Chakra viewe’ (a spiral like formation in old time war strategies that you can enter easily, but have no way out; and thus get trapped). The partitioning of Hindustan into India and Pakistan though intended to solve all the problems backfired. More sadly, it didn’t back fire in all so evident manner, but in a more subtle and dispersed manner. Worst, it backfired more in the land that was parent to the partition.

The decision to proclaim the partition, when viewed today the experienced eyes, appears like another example where four wise pundits wandering in the wild discovered a skeleton of a tiger and decided to bring it back to life using their knowledge. But only to be killed by the new reborn hungry tiger, who once getting his life back, preyed on the four pundits with his natural instinct. Conclusion? Well, having enormous knowledge is a good thing only when it is supplemented with enough wisdom of knowing where to and, where not to apply it.

And yet, this is exactly what happened to the holy nation. Things were not bad even then. But no, they decided to make yet another blunder. The partition had happened because the Muslims, who were in minority, demanded a separate country where they could exercise their…. whatever. Now, when it is said Muslims were in minority, it implicitly meant that the Hindus were in majority. But as this was so damn obvious and implicit, the wise men (and the women) decided to ignore this fact. One nation was named rightly as a Muslim country. But not so evidently enough, the other nation was not named a Hindu country. Why? I think the reason behind this lies in the history, both the written and the un-written. The reasons we shall dwell upon at a later moment. The second nation, which had majority of Hindu’s, was named secular. Wow. Any sane person would think that if one were declared a Muslim nation, the other would be declared a Hindu nation!

The definition of that magic word ‘secular’ is spiritually speaking of higher values. But, the wise men on that committee did not realize the difference between ruling a bunch of holy spiritual men and that of ruling a few billion ordinary, illiterate, power and cash hungry, starving men and women. (This is not the definition for Indians alone, but this is what all the people on this planet are collectively best described as.) The rulers of the country, or the men in the parliament, or whatever and however they are comprised, stupidly believed that the masses would accept the term secular and live by its true meaning. Forget expecting the nation to accept and live with the definition of secularism. There own congressmen, members of the parliament, rulers of the states, used, misused and abused the term ‘secular’ for their own selfish benefits. There are thousands that are saying secular India is a joke, another thousands are so naive as to be resorting to blame certain political parties as threat to secular India.

It is indeed very good to treat people of all religions and castes as equal, presenting them equal opportunities. That’s being secular. And that’s being very nice and developed, and praiseworthy. But, ha ha ha! Indian politicians and lawmakers are not even close to deserve this kind of praise. They are men of lesser virtues, filled with worldly desires, selfish fetish, disgrace to being Hindus, less Indians, less humans. The country has different law for the majorities as to that of the minorities. Look at the irony, in a secular country they have managed to define terms of majority and minority based on their religions. 50 years past independence, and the country still does not have one uniform law for anybody and everybody. They have reservations for minorities; they have reservations for people from lower caste. Well, they still continue to distinguish between two people based on their caste.

What more, they even continue to and use terms like ‘upper caste’ and ‘lower caste’. How can you have an ‘upper’ and a ‘lower’, ‘major’ and ‘minor’ if you are secular?

Media hooligans!

Readers, kindly visit the blogspot at -

http://mediamenace.blogspot.com/

The media in India and world over country is going unabashed. There were times when the country’s leaders or politicians used to show the right directions to the countrymen; or maybe at times the clergies or priests had their turn to lure the masses with their rhetoric’s. These days it is the turn for the media. They decide, they create, they hype and they destroy. And they do so unchallenged. Its high time the governments of the world kerb these mis-adventures, make them more answerable, and hold them accountable.

In fact thanks to their frenzies, there is a blog entirely dedicated to them.

Ironic India

A tribute to all the freedom fighters of the pre-partition India

Mahatma Gandhi - The leader of the nation, was really one of the most successful leaders of the pre-partition India. A lot has been written and said about his greatness that no further justification or praise is required to emphasize his camaraderie. Its good to see that 50 years post independence there are still some filmmakers who think of basing a film on his principles.

While I fully agree with the vast majority of Indians in praising and remembering the greatness Mahatma or Bapuji as he was fondly called by the close ones, a thought passes my mind - are we being unjust to the thousands and more of other freedom fighters who made sacrifices to the best of their capabilities for just the same cause? Should we not instead have a plaque titled “Father’s of the Nation”, or if the plural is objectionable, then maybe “Founders of the Nation”?

By pronouncing only one of the many freedom fighters with the title of “Father of the Nation”, I think we are being very gender biased or male chauvinist or impractical. Either we have managed to weigh each individual’s sacrifices or some other measurable criteria and come to a conclusion that Bapuji’s were the most, or have we just let our emotions take over, thus sidelining all the other great men and women. Also, on a lighter note, if we were to have a father of the nation, should not rightly have a mother and a uncle and a grand father for the nation as well!!! ....hmmm…

The worst irony is; pause; we have to go a little back-date to better understand the point; to the era of Pre-independence; when we had a united India, or an undivided Hindustan, prior to the partition. That time as we know, for numerous reasons, or maybe fewer, a two nation theory was conceived. I think if we really try to trace for the reasons behind this theory, it will not be easier than figuring out the origin or birth of Hindu civilization or the so called ‘Hindu religion’ lately (By ‘lately’, I am referring to the AD era of English calendar; for the ‘Hindu’ existed a long before that. The depths and intricacies of the word ‘Hindu’ are beyond the scope of a couple of pages of explanation, and thus differed for now).

If we were to take the gist of it, the reasons and forces behind the two nation theory would be –
Firstly, the British or the English, because we have this mind-set, after being ruled by ‘them’ for over decades to give importance and superlative priority to the fair skins aka. whites or the not so racist term, the Westerners. That’s just on the lighter note, but yes, since they were the rulers of the country, they would probably be the right candidate for the numero uno reason for tearing down Bharat, India.

Secondly, would be the extremist, not just the Muslim extremist, but certain sect of Hindu extremist as well. Now, whether the Hindu extremist reacted as a response to the Muslim extremist demands, or vice versa, or no co-relation at all is a different debate all together.

Thirdly, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, also known as “Quaid-e-Azam” or “the Greatest Leader” or “Leader of the Nation” (Of-course by the term nation, it is meant the Pakistan) in history, or at least in the Pakistan history.

Fourthly, Jawaharlal Nehru, The son of prominent Congress leader Motilal Nehru.

A lot of people would object the third or the fourth reasons, or their order, or both, but these were indeed some major influential forces behind the partition.

Whatever may be the reasons behind the partition, the partition did happen, not so peacefully as some envisioned, in-fact in a much brutal manner others may say. But it did happen for good or for bad, maybe for worse.

Now, if we apply a little common sense; One thing is broken into two by someone, maybe the father or the creator of two parts, and yet, only one child-part refers to the creator as the ‘Father’. Now, if 2 nations were created by breaking an existing single nation, those two nations should both have a common and the same father. But its not quite so. Now, if Indians decide to refer Mahatma as “Father of the Nation”, so should the Pakistanis. And this is where lies the biggest irony. Only one child decided to title Mahatma as the father, not the other... Now, why did the other nation refuse on accepting Mahatma as the father of their Nation as well. Well, I wouldn’t know any better.

Its like two siblings but not a common father. Now that’s shameful indeed. But ironic nevertheless.

Yet another irony; After partition, one nation gets declared as a Muslim country. Fair enough, but then logic suggest the other half should be declared as a Hindu country. But some think tanks with better reasoning decided to name the second nation, India that is, as a secular nation. The meaning of the term secular is as dubious as the country itself. If all religions are same, if the country does not recognize any particular religion as superior or majority, they still coined the term ‘minority’. Not surprising, this term is majorly used to categorize the Muslims living in India. It damns me every time why in the first place if we had to have a minority community pre dominantly being Muslims, did they not simply name this nation as Hindu nation.

There is another chauvinist face to the secular definition of the country. There is this reservation for the lower castes! On one hand we are secular, meaning everyone is similar. And on the other hand we still distinguish between something like a ‘upper caste’ and a ‘lower caste’, and then, for doing justice to the ‘lower caste’ we declare special reservations.

Are we really secular? Are we proud of what we are? Do we know for real who and what we really are?